(AP) — A judge has set bail at $500,000 for a 16-year-old inmate charged with aiding and abetting in the strangulation of a Scotts Bluff County jail guard.

Guy Eagle Elk, of Lisco, is charge as an adult in the case. He would have to pay $50,000, or 10 percent of the bail, to be released from jail.

Investigators say 15-year-old Dylan Cardeilhac lured 24-year-old Amanda Baker into his cell on Feb. 14, then choked her before taking her keys in an attempt to escape. Police say Eagle Elk advised Cardeilhac on how to choke the guard.

Cardeilhac, or Torrington, Wyo., has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder.

(AP) — A legislative panel has advanced a proposal to ensure that Nebraska’s income-tax brackets keep pace with inflation.

The Revenue Committee bill seeks to address cost-of-living salary increases that can bump taxpayers into a higher bracket, where they end up paying more. Committee members moved the measure Friday with an 8-0 vote.

Sen. Galen Hadley, the committee chairman, says indexing the brackets to track inflation amounts to a significant long-term tax cut.

Nebraska’s top income tax rate for a married couple filing jointly kicks in at $58,000. If the brackets had been inflation-adjusted in 1993, that couple wouldn’t pay the top rate until their income hit $84,400.

The bill would also exempt some Social Security income that falls below certain thresholds.

The Nebraska Supreme Court has disbarred a former western Nebraska county prosecutor who, as a private attorney, mishandled clients’ money.

The state’s high court said Friday that former Deuel County Attorney Doug Palik voluntarily surrendered his license to practice law in Nebraska.

In 2012, Palik had his law license suspended for one year for mishandling the administration of a woman’s estate and lying for months to cover his mishandling of the case.

On Friday, the state’s high court said Palik surrendered his license last year after a new grievance was filed against him. He admitted that he had comingled clients’ money with that in his personal accounts and that in three instances over an 11-year period, he had mismanaged clients’ funds in three different states.

Chappell is the county seat of Deuel County.

(AP) — Court hearings have been set for two teens charged as adults in the strangulation of a jail guard.

Scotts Bluff County Attorney Doug Warner says a March 17 preliminary hearing has been set for 16-year-old Dylan Cardeilhac, of Torrington, Wyo. He is charged as an adult with first-degree murder in the Valentine’s Day death of 24-year-old Scotts Bluff County Detention Center guard Amanda Baker.

Warner says 16-year-old Guy Eagle Elk, of Lisco, was to appear in court Friday for a bond hearing. He is charged as an adult with aiding and abetting Baker’s death.

Investigators say Cardeilhac lured Baker into his cell on Feb. 14, then choked her before taking her keys in an attempt to escape. Police say Eagle Elk advised Cardeilhac on how to choke the guard.

It is time once again to get into the Irish spirit.

The North Platte Catholic Schools will be hosting the 39th Annual Irish Fest, Sunday February 23 at St. Patrick’s High School, 500 South Silber.

Originally called “Mardi Gras,” the event was first celebrated by the North Platte Catholic Schools on Tuesday, February 11, 1975.  In the early years, it was held on “Fat Tuesday” prior to the start of the Lenten season.  Later, it was changed to Sunday, which has become tradition ever since.

“For the past 39 years, Irish Fest has involved hundreds of volunteers,” according to North Platte Catholic Schools Endowment-Trust Executive Director Wendy Dodson. “Proceeds have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to the operation budget of the North Platte Catholic School system,” Dodson added.

This year’s event features a homemade chicken and noodles dinner served from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.  It will feature mini carnival games and prizes, Fun Jumpz, a silent auction, bake sale and raffle.

This year’s raffle offers a 55″ Smart HDTV, a Windows tablet, $1,000 cash, an iPad Mini and more.

Raffle tickets are on sale now for $2.00 each, and can be purchased from any McDaid or St. Patrick’s student, at the North Platte Catholic School Endowment (601 South Tabor, or at the McDaid or St. Patrick’s schools.  Raffle tickets will also be sold at the event, with the drawing taking place at 2:50 p.m. on the 23rd.  You do not have to be present to win.

Dodson says the event is open to the entire community, and promises a day full of family fun.

A North Platte woman is facing a felony child abuse charge after her 3-year-old daughter tested positive for methamphetamine.

On February 13, an officer was requested to conduct a welfare check on the child who lived with her mother, Teresa Graser, in the 1400 block of West 14th Street.

According to Investigator John Deal, the report indicated that there was no electricity in the home and that Graser was using drugs around the child.

The officer went to the residence, but received no response.

Police later met with Graser and determined that she was currently living at another residence in the 1400 block of West 14th Street.  The residence in question had recently been searched as part of a theft investigation, at which time items of drug paraphernalia, that would later test positive for meth, were found.

The toddler was taken into custody and transported to the Child Advocacy Center where a hair follicle test was completed.  The test came back positive for methamphetamine.

The investigator then contacted Graser and placed her under arrest for felony child abuse.

It was determined that Hollis Littlefield, who was currently incarcerated on separate charges, also lived at the residence.  He too was charged with felony child abuse.

Both Graser and Littlefield are lodged at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

A North Platte man who was wanted on a Lincoln County warrant has picked up an additional charge.

At around 2:07 p.m. on Thursday, an officer with the North Platte Police Department responded to the 100 block of South Chestnut in an attempt to make contact with Austin Welch, who was wanted on a warrant for failure to appear.

The officer knocked on the door of the residence which was answered by a male subject who was not Welch.

The subject then invited the officer inside the home.  Once inside, the officer smelled marijuana and observed drug paraphernalia in plain view.

Shortly thereafter, Welch arrived at the residence and was placed under arrest for the warrant.

The officer was given consent to search the residence and located less than an ounce of marijuana, numerous items of drug paraphernalia, digital scales and packaging material.

The officer learned that the items belonged to Welch and another individual who was not present.

In addition to the warrant, Welch was also charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.

Investigator John Deal said the investigation is ongoing.

A fundraiser has been set for a Sutherland woman who is battling cancer.

In October, Donna Eckhoff was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer, leading to enormous medical and travel expenses.

Since the diagnosis, she has lost her job and been evicted from her home.

As a result, her friends and family are reaching out to the citizens of our area for help.

A fundraiser will be held February 23 at the Moose Lodge in North Platte from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

In addition to a soup supper, there will also be a silent auction.  Admission is a free-will donation.

Donation jars can also be found at businesses throughout North Platte, and a fund has been established at Wells Fargo.

(AP) — A 36-year-old man has been given Nebraska prison time for helping a Californian flee Sidney after a fatal shooting.

Billy Fields was sentenced earlier this week to 20 to 60 months in prison. Fields had pleaded guilty to being an accessory to a felony.

Prosecutors say Fields helped 35-year-old Jason Custer flee Sidney after Custer killed Adam McCormick in November 2012. Custer, formerly of Chico, Calif., is scheduled to be sentenced on March 18.

• Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 9 to 19 mph increasing to 19 to 29 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 38 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. West northwest wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
• Saturday: A 20 percent chance of snow after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. North northwest wind 6 to 10 mph.
• Saturday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 15. Northeast wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Sunday: A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. East northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable.
• Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.