A special enforcement effort in Hamilton County on Thursday, August 20, led to several traffic stops resulting in the seizure of a total of 206 lbs. of marijuana.

Just before 5:00 p.m. Thursday, August 20, a trooper stopped a 2015 Hyundai Sonata for speeding two miles north of the Giltner interchange. A probable cause search led to the seizure of 101.7 lbs. of marijuana and 3.5 lbs. of hashish. The drugs were contained in three duffle bags in the trunk of the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle, Derick L. Rivero (M), 29, New Britain, Conn., was lodged in the Hamilton County Jail on a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver.

Just after 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, a trooper stopped a 2014 Toyota Corolla for a stop sign violation at the Giltner Interchange.  An NSP canine indicated to the odor of drugs coming from the car. A search of the car led to the seizure of 21.6 lbs. of marijuana. The marijuana was located in a duffel bag in the trunk of the vehicle. A loaded shotgun was also located in the trunk of the car.

The driver of the vehicle, Trenton Hall, (M), 28, Gansevoort, N.Y., and two passengers, Daniel J. Walker, (M), 31, Ballston Lake, N.Y., and Yohanns C. Carr, (M), 31, Denver, Colo., were all lodged in the Hamilton County Jail, each on a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver and Possession of a Firearm during a Drug Violation.

Just before 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, a trooper stopped a 2015 Ford Taurus, just south of the Giltner interchange, for failure to signal. An NSP canine indicated to the odor of drugs coming for the vehicle. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 82.9 lbs. of marijuana. The marijuana contained in four duffle bags located in the trunk of the car.

The driver of the car, Geoffrey G. Wright, 40, Midvale, Utah, was lodged in the Hamilton County Jail on a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver.

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is seeking information involving a case of deer being illegally harvested in the Omaha area.

In the early morning of August 9, a trail camera in the Ponca Hills area took photos of two individuals – at least one with a firearm – dragging a deer. The camera was placed on private land in the vicinity of Ponca Road and Shongaska Road in Douglas County.

The individuals appear to be in their late teens or early 20s. A dark-haired individual was wearing a shirt with horizontal strips and shorts. The other individual had dark hair and was wearing a light hooded sweatshirt and cuffed pants.

Anyone with information about this case should call Nebraska Wildlife Crimestoppers at 1-800-742-7627 or a conservation officer. You can remain anonymous and might be eligible for a cash reward.

Hunters scouting for the upcoming deer season had permission to place cameras on the property. They noticed the individuals when they went to check the camera, and then notified the landowner, who contacted Game and Parks.

No deer season is currently open in Nebraska.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say a suspect in a shooting in northern Omaha has turned himself in.

Omaha police say 22-year-old Laron Chatmon Jr. was booked on charges Thursday after he voluntarily visited the department’s headquarters. A warrant for his arrest was issued Tuesday.

Officers responded Tuesday afternoon to a residence on the city’s north side after a report of a shooting. Witnesses told officers a passenger in a truck fired shots at residents.

No one was injured in the shooting. Chatmon was later identified as a suspect.

Chatmon faces several charges, including attempted felony assault and use of a gun to commit a felony. A message left for his attorney was not immediately returned Tuesday.

Additional information about the shooting has not been released.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Humane Society says more than two dozen dogs, 14 chinchillas, two parrots and a horse rescued from a residence in western Iowa will be up for adoption soon.

Officials say the animals were surrendered by their owner after authorities in Mills County, Iowa, visited them at a residence on Aug. 7.

Pam Wiese, a humane society spokeswoman, said the owner of the animals became overwhelmed trying to care for them. Some of the dogs were in poor medical condition.

Wiese says many of the animals have been medically cleared, though several of the older dogs are still too weak to be available for adoption. They are currently in foster homes.

PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. (AP) — A Plattsmouth couple has launched three separate companies to capitalize on every aspect of hops, from growing the crop to processing and packaging it.

Bruce and Annette Wiles celebrated Wednesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony at their Nebraska Hop Yards. It’s on the site of a former golf club along U.S. Highway 75.

The couple is investing $3.5 million in site improvements, construction of hops harvesting, drying and pelletizing operation and other buildings and equipment. The project is expected to create as many as 20 jobs.

Lt. Gov. Mike Foley attended the ceremony and said developing the crop strengthens the state’s agribusiness profile. He called the Wiles’ efforts an “exciting venture,” adding that the state was happy to pitch in with a $50,000 grant to help get them started.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A federal court has filed a default judgment in a wrongful death lawsuit against a Nebraska prison inmate suspected in the disappearance of a college student.

Online court records say a judge granted a motion Tuesday filed by the attorney for the family of Tyler “Ty” Thomas. The motion said defendant Joshua Keadle had failed to respond to the family’s lawsuit.

Thomas was 19 when she disappeared days before Christmas in 2010 after leaving a party near the Peru State College campus. Keadle, who’s serving a sentence for an unrelated 2008 rape case, has not been charged in Thomas’ disappearance. Authorities have said he made several statements that led investigators to believe he was involved.

On July 28 the court dismissed the Nebraska State College Board from the lawsuit.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A loggerhead sea turtle in Omaha is turning 20 years old.

Officials at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium say they will celebrate Harold’s birthday on Thursday.

Harold, who is a girl, was born in 1995 near Wassaw Island, which is southeast of Savannah, Georgia. She was rescued from her nest along with 11 other sea turtles. She lived at another facility before she was brought to Omaha in 2004.

Harold is on display in the underwater tunnel of the aquarium’s shark reef exhibit. Officials say loggerhead sea turtles can live 50 years or more.

NELIGH, Neb. (AP) — The Antelope County clerk says the counting of the Neligh (NEE’-lee) recall petition signatures should be finished by the end of the week.

The petitions were turned in last week against all four Neligh council members but none against Mayor Joe Hartz.

County clerk Lisa Payne, who also serves as election commissioner, says her office has until Aug. 28 to count and verify the signatures. She says, though, that the work likely will be completed by the end of this week.

The recall petition affidavits cite the council members’ support for annexing some property without regard for future costs. The council voted in July to annex areas on the east and west ends of U.S. Highway 275 as it passes through town.