LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – The Nebraska State Patrol collected more than 50 pounds of marijuana in three different traffic stops along I-80 this week.
The Patrol said in a release Thursday that four people were arrested Wednesday in the traffic stops.
A trooper found 37.3 pounds of marijuana after stopping an SUV in Cass County for speeding around 5 p.m. The driver from Brigantine, N.J. was arrested.
Another vehicle was stopped near Lincoln around 4:30 p.m. for following too closely, and troopers found 11.2 pounds of marijuana inside. The driver and passenger, both from Waterloo, Iowa, were arrested.
A third stop around 10:30 p.m. near Kearney yielded 2 pounds of marijuana and one more arrest. The patrol says a .45-caliber handgun was seized, and a man from Stockton, Calif., was arrested.

 

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The Nebraska Supreme Court has again upheld the conviction and sentence of a man serving 45 years-to-life for murdering his girlfriend in their Overton home in 2000.
Timmy Timmens argued in his latest appeal that his trial lawyer was ineffective because he failed to raise the defense that Timmens was too drunk to make a decision to kill 35-year-old Tracy Giugler.
Timmens also claimed his appellate attorney was ineffective for failing to argue that the trial attorney should have raised the issue of intoxication.
The Nebraska Supreme Court rejected Timmens’ arguments on Friday.
The high court also upheld Timmens’ conviction in 2002. In that appeal, Timmens had argued a lower court erred by allowing testimony about how Timmens did not show up for a meeting with police investigating the killing.

 

AUBURN, Neb. (AP) – Charges against a man accused of raping a Peru State College student and suspected in the disappearance of another have been dropped.
Eight Nemaha County charges, including sexual assault and weapon use, against Joshua Keadle were dropped Wednesday following a hearing on new evidence in the case. Keadle’s trial was to have begun Monday.
The hearing centered on 38 pages of Facebook messages from the alleged rape victim to Keadle. County Attorney Louie Ligouri argued he should be able to see Keadle’s replies and asked for the trial to be postponed. Following a recess, Ligouri’s request to dismiss the charges was granted.
Neither Ligouri nor Keadle’s defense attorney could immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.
Keadle still faces rape charges in Dodge County.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A new state audit shows Department of Revenue employees received free meals, movie tickets and admission to a golf tournament from vendors and other groups that work with the Nebraska Lottery.
State Auditor Mike Foley said Tuesday that the expenses deserve legislative attention. He says the charity golf tournament in May was problematic because employees played during normal work hours in Nebraska City, a two-hour round trip from Lincoln.
Nebraska Tax Commissioner Doug Ewald says the expenses were all legal, and blown out of proportion in the audit.
Ewald says the audit found no improprieties. He says such meal costs have declined consistently over the last five years, and the golf outing was part of a fundraiser the Lottery had advertised to fight problem gambling.

 

GERING, Neb. (AP) – Officials say a Gering family fled unharmed from a fire that destroyed their home.
The fire was reported just before 3:15 a.m. Monday.
Gering Fire Chief Jay Templar says Chris Tarr, his wife and their four children got out of the house safely. Templar says the fire was under control within 10 minutes of the firetrucks’ arrival.
The fire cause is being investigated. Templar says the blaze began on the back porch of the house. A vehicle parked near the porch also was destroyed.
The damage total is estimated at between $75,000 and $100,000.

 

MINDEN, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say a Minden woman escaped unharmed after finding her basement in flames when she returned home from taking her three children to school.
Minden firefighters were called to the home by Rose Ormelas Gomez around 8:10 a.m. Monday.
She told authorities that she smelled smoke when she returned from the school.
Minden firefighters contained the fire to the basement, but smoke and heat damaged the house and the family’s possessions.
The cause is considered accidental but remains under investigation.

 

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) – A Nebraska animal shelter could win $25,000 to support its program that uses juvenile offenders to help train service dogs.
The Kearney Area Animal Shelter’s program is one of five finalists in an online contest sponsored by veterinary supply company Heska.
The Kearney shelter works with students at the juvenile corrections center to provide advanced training for dogs. Students must complete a pet training course and have good behavior to participate.
Online votes will help determine which of the five finalists wins the $25,000 grand prize and which wins the $5,000 second prize. Votes will be accepted at http://www.heska.com/action until Dec. 17.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (North Platte Post)- Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) issued 189 citations and warnings for seat belt violations and 19 child restraint citations and warnings during the nationwide “Click It or Ticket” campaign. The special enforcement designed to encourage driver safety through seat belt usage encompassed the heavily traveled Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

There was one fatality recorded over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Arlyne Borja, 66, of Chicago, IL was killed Saturday, Nov. 26, when the eastbound vehicle she was riding in rolled on I-80 near the Minden Interchange in Buffalo County. The one fatality in 2011 compares with two fatalities over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2010.

Troopers and Communications Specialists with the NSP worked overtime hours during the “Click It or Ticket” campaign thanks in part to a $15,000 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS).

The following statistics are a reflection of statewide activity by the Nebraska State Patrol during the enforcement period Nov. 21-27.

189- Seat Belt Citations & Warnings

19- Child Restraint Citations & Warnings

40- Driving Under the Influence (DWI)

44- Driving under Suspension

1,117- Speeding

38- No Proof of Insurance

16- Outstanding warrants

284- Motorists Assists

Nebraska’s Seat Belt law is a secondary law meaning drivers can be cited for non-compliance only if stopped for a separate violation. Violation of Nebraska’s seat belt law carries a $25.00 fine for each offense.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (North Platte Post)- Two separate traffic stops by troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol, on Interstate 80 led to the seizure of 88 lbs. of marijuana.

Just before 9:00 p.m., on Sunday, Nov. 27, a trooper stopped a westbound 2011 Nissan Altima, for following too close on I-80 near mm 307 in Hall County. An NSP canine alerted to the odor of drugs coming from rear of the vehicle. A probable cause search led to the seizure of 25 lbs of marijuana. The marijuana was located in a plastic tote in the truck of the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle, Robert D. Penn Jr., 39, Omaha, was lodged in the Hall County Jail on a charge of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

A traffic stop on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011, for speeding, led to the seizure of 63 lbs of marijuana. Just before 6:30 p.m., on Tuesday, a trooper stopped an eastbound, 2008 Ford pickup for speeding on I-80 near Kearney. A probable cause search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 63 lbs of marijuana from the bed of the pickup.

The driver of the pickup, John A. Ibarra, 32, Willits, CA was lodged in the Buffalo County Jail on a charge of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A 42-year-old Lincoln man who prosecutors say smoked crack with a teenage girl and then had sex with her has been given 15-to-20 years in prison.
Howard Brown was sentenced on Monday. He’d pleaded no contest to attempted sexual assault.
Investigators say DNA evidence linked Brown to the June 2007 incident.
Court records say the then-13-year-old girl told police she sneaked out of her home to meet Brown. She says they smoked crack, then he drove her elsewhere and they had sex.