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Accused Sidney Killer Ruled Incompetent to Stand Trial

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SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska Panhandle man who is accused of killing his girlfriend has been found incompetent to stand trial.

 

Craig Johnson

Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub says Judge Derek Weimer made the ruling on Thursday. The judge had reviewed a report from the state psychiatric hospital in Lincoln.

In January not-guilty pleas were entered for 46-year-old Craig Johnson to charges of second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony.

Johnson is accused of killing 42-year-old April Smith in December at the home they shared eight miles west of Sidney.

Schaub says the judge determined there’s a “substantial probability” Johnson may be competent in the foreseeable future and ordered Johnson back to Lincoln for treatment. A review hearing is scheduled for Aug. 12.

Wisconsin Couple Killed in I-80 Crash

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A car-semi trailer truck crash on westbound Interstate 80 near Ogallala has claimed the lives of a Wisconsin couple.

The crash occurred Thursday, March 22 just before 10:00 a.m., (MDT), on I-80, 1.5 miles east of the Ogallala Interchange. Troopers investigating the crash say the driver of a 1992 Buick sedan was eastbound on I-80 when he lost control of the car while attempting to pass a semi. The car crossed the median and slid into the westbound lanes of I-80 where it was struck on the driver’s side by a westbound semi trailer truck.

The driver of the Buick, Michael J. Phillips, 69, and his wife, Joann L. Phillips, 62, both of Manitowoc, Wis., were killed in the crash.

The driver of the semi, Tacy M. Balkcom (FM), 55, Adairsville, Ga., and a co-driver, Michael I. Balkcom, 42, Adairsville, Ga., were not injured in the crash.

Seat belts were in use by both drivers and the passenger in the sedan. The crash closed westbound lanes of I-80 for approximately three hours.

JUDGE IRWIN NAMED CO-CHAIR OF MINORITY JUSTICE COMMITTEE

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The Nebraska Minority Justice Committee is a joint effort of the Nebraska State Bar Association and the Nebraska Supreme Court. Since it’s inception in 2003, the Committee has developed and implemented a number of policy reforms, research projects, and educational initiatives aimed at 1) addressing racial disparities in both the juvenile and adult justice systems; 2) ensuring equal access to justice; and 3) promoting the diversity of Nebraska’s judicial workforce and legal profession

The Nebraska Supreme Court has appointed Court of Appeals Judge John Irwin to replace long time co-chair Hon. John Gerrard, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in January to the U.S. District Court. “Judge Irwin has had a long term commitment in assuring that all lawyers and litigants experience an even playing field in Nebraska courts. He is innovative and together with co-chair Linda Crump will lead the committee to a high level of excellence”, said Justice Gerrard. A Court of Appeals Judge since 1992, Judge Irwin served on the original Minority Justice Task Force (2001-2003) and has Co-chaired one of the Minority Justice Committee’s Subcommittee’s since inception (2003-2012). Of Judge Gerrard, Judge Irwin quoted Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ‘The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service.’ Judge Gerrard’s active charity and willing service, in themselves, are a mark of distinction for Judge Gerrard, as well as a mark of distinction for Nebraska.
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In addition to its local impact, the Committee has received national attention for its work: pioneering research and legislative reform to improve the extent to which juries are representative of the communities that they serve, receiving an American Bar Association Award for its programming to diversify the legal profession, examining ways in which communities can reduce failure to appear among communities of color, and by providing technical assistance to Commissions being established in other states.

In May of 2012, the Committee will have another opportunity in the national spotlight as it hosts the 24th Annual Conference of the National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts. Since 2010, Judge Irwin has chaired the planning committee for this event. Explaining the annual conference, Judge Irwin highlighted the facts that the National Consortium brings together thought-leaders and delegates of state justice systems from around the country to share their collective knowledge about best practices within their court systems for achieving fairness and access to justice for all. This is the first time the conference has been hosted in the Midwest, presenting a new opportunity to show case the work being done in Nebraska and to engage neighboring states in addressing these issues. The conference will take place at the Hilton Hotel in Omaha on May 9-12, 2012 and offers an impressive agenda filled with nationally renowned speakers on a broad range of topics related to: addressing language barriers, enhancing diversity and cultural competence, addressing racial disparities, and building the capacity to effect change (registration information is available online at www.nebar.com).

Injured Worker Settles With Western Nebraska CC

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SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit in an accident that injured a worker who fell 30 feet while removing an old scoreboard at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff.

The school’s insurance carrier settled the lawsuit for $915,000.

Mack Downey and his wife, Deborah, sued over his fall at Cougar Palace in 2003. A trial court divided the negligence at about 33 percent among Downey, the college and a sign company.

The school appealed. The Nebraska Supreme Court in January released the sign company from liability and returned the case to the lower court to apportion the sign company’s share of the negligence between Downey and the school.

WNCC attorney Phil Kelley says instead of continued litigation, its insurance carrier settled the lawsuit.

Fire That Killed NE Man Was Intentionally Set

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An investigator says a fire at a Lincoln apartment where a man died last week was intentionally set.

City Fire Investigator Tony Chapp says it’s not clear who set the fire, and he wouldn’t say if police are looking for suspects.

Authorities say firefighters found the body of 67-year-old John Strobel Jr. in his second-floor apartment where the fire started last Friday. No cause of death has been released, pending results of an autopsy.

Nat’l Weather Service Says Four Tornadoes Touched Down Sunday Night

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NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – The National Weather Service has completed its survey around North Platte and now says four
tornadoes were spawned by the powerful supercell thunderstorm that passed over the area. Authorities say Sunday night’s twisters injured at least four people and damaged homes, farm buildings and vehicles and derailed or knocked over 31 railroad cars. Two of the tornadoes were rated on the EF3 on the enhanced Fujita scale, with winds between 136 and 165 miles an hour. One was rated an EF2, with winds between 111 and 135 mph, and the remaining tornado was rated at EF1, with winds between 88 and 110 mph.

Tax Cut Compromise Reached… Wait… Government Compromise? That Can’t Be Right…

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The state senator who sponsored Gov. Dave Heineman’s tax cut plan says lawmakers have reached a compromise that will allow them to lower taxes.

Bellevue Sen. Abbie Cornett said Tuesday that an amendment to the bill would amount to a “down payment” on the tax relief that the Republican governor had promised.

Heineman’s original plan would have cost the state $327 million over a three-year period. The original measure would lower corporate and individual income tax rates, and eliminate an inheritance tax imposed by counties.

The new, whittled-down proposal would phase in lower individual income tax rates over three years, and provide about $56 million annually in cuts when fully enacted. It would not affect corporate income taxes or the inheritance tax.

NE Legislature Advances Measure to Create State Tourism Commission

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have advanced a measure that would create a state tourism commission.

Lawmakers voted 31-1 Tuesday to give the bill first-round approval.

The proposal by Ellsworth Sen. LeRoy Louden seeks to enhance tourism in Nebraska, with a commission that would brainstorm ways to promote the state. Tourism is Nebraska’s third-largest industry.

The bill would establish the commission in place of Nebraska’s Travel and Tourism Division, which is part of the state Department of Economic Development. Louden says the new commission would be more independent, and could work more directly with Nebraska’s tourism industry.

The commission would be required to develop a statewide plan to attract tourists.

Livestock Producers Warned Of Tornado Debris

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NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — Livestock producers are being warned to watch out for plastic, insulation and other debris in pastures and in feed from Sunday night’s tornado that hit North Platte.

Randy Saner is the extension agent for Lincoln and McPherson counties with the University of Nebraska. He says insulation and plastic are apparently spread across a wide area and can cause problems if eaten by cattle, sheep or goats.

Saner says fiberglass isn’t toxic, but it can block the digestive system.

Saner recommends picking up insulation and plastic found in fields and discarding hay and other feed heavily contaminated with tornado debris.

An EF3 tornado, with winds up to 165 mph, hit North Platte, injuring four people, damaging homes and vehicles and derailing railroad cars.

The weather service says the strongest damage in North Platte appears to be to homes along a city street on the west side and to power line trusses southwest of the city.

Another tornado was reported Sunday night in the northern Nebraska town of Valentine. No injuries or damage were reported.

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