Local – Page 919 – North Platte Post Archive

Child Advocates Back Changes to Neb. Truancy Law

Posted on March 22, 2014

(AP) — Children’s advocates are supporting a proposal moving through the Nebraska Legislature that would change how schools handle students with excessive absences.

Current law says when a child misses 20 or more days of school and any of the absences are unexcused, the school must report that to the county attorney.

On March 18, lawmakers advanced an amendment that would require schools to have at least one meeting with a parent or guardian of the child to develop a collaborative plan to reduce barriers to regular attendance. The amendment also would eliminate mandatory referrals to the county attorney at 20 days of absences.

The measure faces one more vote in front of the Legislature.

NP Man Federally Indicted for Distribution of Meth

Posted on March 21, 2014March 21, 2014

A 46-year-old North Platte man has been federally indicted for distribution of methamphetamine.

A federal grand jury handed down the indictment to Brian Spotts.

A news release from United States Attorney, Deborah Gilg, says that beginning in February of 2013, and continuing to on or about February 12, 2014, Spotts conspired with others to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine.

The maximum possible penalty. if convicted. is 5 to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine, a 4-year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.

The indictment also states that any and all property directly or indirectly derived from any proceeds obtained directly from the crime, including cash, will be forfeited to the United States.

Spotts was charged with possession of 353 grams of meth in Lincoln County earlier this month.

Lincoln Co. Marriage Licenses (Week of March 17)

Posted on March 21, 2014

Buddy Joe Brown, 35, North Platte and Kristina Ann Wallace, 31, North Platte

Nicholas Andrew Pflaster, 26, North Platte and Samantha Lee Blase, 21, North Platte

Brandon Michael Rice, 21, North Platte and Doris Katherine Butler, 25, North Platte

Kevin Jason Tidyman, 29, North Platte and Lindsay Lee Bell, 29, North Platte

Californian Gets Life for Murder of Sidney Man

Posted on March 21, 2014

(AP) — A 35-year-old California man has been given life in a Nebraska prison for fatally shooting someone during a dispute over drug money.

Jason Custer, formerly of Chico, Calif., was sentenced on Thursday in Cheyenne County District Court. He’d been convicted in January after a weeklong trial. He was found guilty of killing 35-year-old Adam McCormick, of Sidney, in November 2012. Custer also was convicted of two weapons charges.

Prosecutors say Custer shot McCormick at a Sidney house after the two men argued over $160 in drug money.

Nebraska Jobless Rate Up to 3.6 Percent

Posted on March 21, 2014

(AP) — A newly released report says Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate inched up a tenth of a point in February, hitting 3.6 percent.

The rate is four-tenths of a point under the 4 percent Nebraska posted in February 2013. The state Department of Labor released the employment data on Friday.

The new Nebraska figure remained well below the national unemployment rate of 6.7 percent in February.

NSP Participated in ‘Drive to Save Lives’ Campaign

Posted on March 21, 2014

The Nebraska State Patrol joined law enforcement agencies from across the United States on Thursday, March 20, to pledge support for a national effort to save lives by lowering the number of traffic deaths on our nation’s roadways by 15% in 2014.

Command members of the Nebraska State Patrol, along with their law enforcement counterparts from more than 40 states, participated in a news conference for the “Drive to Save Lives” campaign kick-off. The event in New Orleans, La., was held in conjunction with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) mid-year conference.

“This campaign shines the national spotlight on the devastating and often preventable effects of serious injury and fatality crashes,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Our troopers will join their counterparts across the United States to engage motorists in this effort, through education and special enforcement activities designed to encourage voluntary compliance with all traffic safety laws.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), highway fatalities rank as one of the top 12 causes of death in the United States and are the leading cause of deaths among teens. More than 33,000 people are killed each year on our nation’s roadways.

In 2013, Nebraska recorded 207 roadway fatalities. To date in 2014, 41 people have died on Nebraska roads, a nine-percent reduction when compared to the same period in 2013.

Colonel Sankey said, “We are headed in the right direction and encourage everyone to do their part as we drive to save lives.

The Patrol encourages all motorists to do their part in keeping our roadways safe by obeying the posted speed, never driving impaired or distracted and always buckling up

Rowdy Night at NP Motel Ends with 3 Arrests

Posted on March 21, 2014

Three North Platte men are facing charges after they raised a ruckus at a North Platte motel, then fought and argued with police.

At around 1:00 a.m. on Friday morning, officers responded to the Days Inn on the report of a noise disturbance in one of the rooms.

The front desk clerk at the motel told officers that there was a lot of yelling coming from one of the rooms, and other guests were complaining.

According to Investigator John Deal, officers went to the room and made contact with several intoxicated individuals, including Rodger Roose, Jacob Hughes and David Hughes.

Officers warned the people in the room about the noise, but Deal said it did no good.

Knowing that Roose had an active warrant, officers placed him under arrest.

Jacob Hughes took exception to his friend being placed under arrest, and physically intervened to keep officers from arresting Roose. Deal said Hughes yelled and lunged at the officers.

He too was placed under arrest and taken to a cruiser where Deal said he kicked the door and continued to be uncooperative.

At this time, David Hughes began to protest Jacob’s arrest by yelling at officers and refusing to leave the scene. Deal said at one point, David went as far as to put his hand on the open door of a cruiser to prevent the officer from closing it. As a result, he was also placed under arrest.

In the end, Jacob Hughes was charged with felony resisting arrest, obstructing the police and disturbing the peace, David Hughes was charged with obstruction and disturbing the peace, and Roose was jailed on the warrant.

NPPD Crime Log (3/20-3/21)

Posted on March 21, 2014

Courtesy of the North Platte Police Department

03/20/2014