Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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The Honorable Donna Taylor bound five felony cases over to district court when she presided from the Antelope County court bench at the courthouse in Neligh on Feb. 15. Michael J. Mueller, 26, of Clearwater appeared in front of Taylor for a preliminary hearing on multiple first-degree sexual assault charges, Class 2 felonies alleged in two separate cases involving separate minor victims. Antelope County attorney Joe Smith requested the cases be combined. “They are related,” he said. There was no objection from Mueller’s attorneys. He is repre...
Barbara Youngblood, 42, O’Neill, appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last week for a pretrial hearing on Count I, third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and Count II, disturbing the peace, a Class 3 misdemeanor, both alleged Set. 24, 2022. “I would like to go to trial,” Youngtree told the judge. Taylor set the case for jury trial March 27 and issued instructions to attorneys. A status report filed by Antelope County atorney Joe Smith in January estimates trial will last one to two d...
PROCEEDINGS ANTELOPE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Neligh, Nebraska Feb. 14, 2023 Chairman opened the meeting. Notice of meeting published as required by statute. Approved agenda. Approved payroll. Approved vendor claims. General: AMERICAN SCREENING ex 255.00; AMERITAS LIFE INS CORP ex 18,885.34; ANTELOPE CO COURT ex 17.00; APPEARA ex 35.77; APPLIED CONNECTIVE TECH ex 3,928.70; BLACK HILLS ENERGY ut 4,407.66; BCBS ins 61,241.44; BOMGAARS ex 305.15; BORDERS INN/SUITES ex 288.00; CARNEY LAW ex 36,000.20; CASEYS ex 129.20; CITY OF NELIGH ut...
Morgan K. Anson, 24, Orchard waived her right to a preliminary hearing when she appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Feb. 1. Anson is charged with a Class 2A felony, theft by receiving stolen property and three Class 4 felonies, possession of methamphetamine, operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest and possession of burglar tools, all alleged Dec. 9, 2022. Taylor bound the case over to the Antelope County district court, where arraignment is set Feb. 22. The judge further ordered that...
PROCEEDINGS ANTELOPE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Neligh, Nebraska Feb. 7, 2023 Chairman opened meeting. Notice of meeting published as required by statute. Approve agenda. Approved minutes of the Jan. 10, 2023, Board of Commissioner meeting and Jan. 10, 2023, Board of Equalization meeting. Correspondence was reviewed. Zoning administrator report. Zoning permit report, clerk of the district court report; treasurer’s fund balance and miscellaneous revenue reports. Approved pay application - Ashfalls North. Approved change order - 519th Avenue....
Joe Smith will serve as Antelope County Attorney until the term, vacated following the death of Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler last month, ends in 2026. County commissioners appointed the acting deputy attorney Tuesday, during a meeting in Neligh. Chairman Charlie Henery said Smith had agreed to step in and take the job. “I’m very pleased,” Henery said. A contract for the position will be in place, due to the appointment. Smith told commissioners that state statue lets a board fill a vacancy. “No special election is required,” he said. Acc...
Ron Crumly, 74, Page, appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Feb. 1, for arraignment on Class 4 misdemeanor alleged March 1, 2022, violation of statewide burn ban. Crumly waived his right to counsel and pleaded guilty. Taylor set sentencing for March 1. Sarah J. Ward, 46, of Oakdale faced Taylor on Class 4 felony, possession of controlled substance (methamphetamine) alleged Jan. 4. Ward requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor appointed Antelope County public defender Pat Carney and set...
Joseph McNally appeared in the Antelope County court in Neligh, as prosecutor in cases involving violations to a Village of Orchard ordinance. Three defendants were recently charged with maintaining dangerous buildings in the village, alleged in November 2022. Jennifer L. Trease, 54, of Orchard appeared for arraignment on the misdemeanor violation Feb. 1. She waived her right to counsel, pleaded no contest and was found guilty by the Honorable Donna Taylor. Sentencing is set May 3. Jay Pettijohn, 63, of Royal did not appear for his...
A second felony sexual assault complaint has been filed by deputy Antelope County attorney Joe Smith against a Clearwater man. Michael J. Mueller, 26, of Clearwater appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Neligh courtroom Wednesday, Feb. 1 for a preliminary hearing on first-degree sexual assault, a Class 2 felony alleged Christmas night. An oral motion to continue by Mueller’s attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh, was granted by Taylor. Mueller also faced the judge for arraignment on another count of first-degree sexual assault, a...
The third juvenile involved in the Aug. 28, 2022, theft of an all-terrain vehicle from Big Red Motorsports in Neligh, was adjudicated by the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last week. The female juvenile was ordered to serve a nine-month term of probation and pay $49 costs of prosecution. She was driving the ATV, lost control and hit a mailbox, resulting in one of the other youths being pinned under the ATV with non-life-threatening injuries. Another female juvenile was adjudicated Aug. 31, 2022, placed on 18 m...
The case of a Clearwater teenager, who is accused of making terroristic threats last fall regarding a Summerland Public School bus, was arraigned in the Antelope County district court last week by the Honorable James Kube. Koda K. Fernau, 18, of Clearwater faced Kube on Jan. 25, alongside his court-appointed attorney, Ryan Stover of Norfolk. He entered a not guilty plea to a count of making terroristic threats and requested jury trial. If convicted of the Class 3A felony, Fernau faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and/or a...
Two defendants were arraigned in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh recently, while, in the wake of a pending winter storm, many either had their appearances continued to February or just didn’t show up. One defendant had his case dismissed. Austin R. Bertschinger, 30, of Oakdale appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor on Jan. 18 for arraignment on a count of possession of tramadol, a Class 4 felony alleged Dec. 10. Bertschinger requested court-appointed counsel. After holding an indigency hearing, Taylor appointed Antelope C...
Haiden Sleister, 19, of Tilden appeared in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, Jan. 25, to be sentenced for attempted possession of a stolen firearm, a crime committed March 19, 2022. Sleister, who arrived late to court, had not yet produced a specimen for pre-court drug/alcohol testing when the Honorable James Kube called his case. Kube advised Sleister that he would revoke bond and keep him incarcerated until he tested clean. The judge further advised that he only held court in Antelope County one time a month, wi...
Antelope County Commissioners approved a 20% pay increase for the county’s public defender during the board’s Jan. 10 meeting in Neligh. According to deputy county attorney, Joe Smith, the last approved contract expired in 2015. Currently, Patrick Carney, of Norfolk, fills the role for the county and receives $38,000 annually. He reported to commissioners he would like to continue in the position, which is an appointed office. After an analysis, Smith recommended an increase of 20%, or $7,...
Jake R. Short, 22, of Meadow Grove appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County court in Neligh on Jan. 18, alongside Antelope County public defender Pat Carney, to be sentenced for second-degree forgery, a Class 2 misdemeanor committed nearly one year ago. Taylor fined Short $200 and assessed $50 costs. Restitution of $433.73 had been paid and a second forgery count was dismissed by deputy Antelope County attorney, Joe Smith, as agreed to by the late county attorney, Joe Abler, in an October 2022 plea agreement....
An elected official from Antelope County died Monday. Joe Abler was elected to serve as Antelope County Attorney in 2010. He was reelected in 2014, 2018 and in the November 2022 election. Madison County Attorney Joe Smith, who also serves as deputy attorney for Antelope County, told SAM, "Joe died about 2:15 Monday afternoon, quietly with his family by his side." A Mass of Christian burial for Abler, 48, of Norfolk, will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 23, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in...
Aaron C. Poellot, 39, of Osmond was sentenced in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Dec. 28, for the May 2 theft of gasoline from a Royal convenience store. Poellot appeared, alongside Antelope County public defender Pat Carney of Norfolk, before the Honorable Donna Taylor on Wednesday for pretrial hearing on a charge of theft by unlawful taking. Madison County attorney Joe Smith served as prosecutor. A plea agreement was announced, which included Poellot changing his plea to guilty and agreeing to pay restitution, in return for...
Antelope County Commissioners will do double duty, Jan. 10, when they meet at the Antelope County Courthouse Annex at 8 a.m. The board’s Jan. 3 meeting was canceled due to approximately eight inches of snow and a thin layer of ice that blanketed the region. Items currently on the agenda include: • reappointment to the planning commission for three-year terms; • approval of an administrative plat; • review of semi-truck bids; • discussion of a vacated road on 529 Avenue, southwest of Oakdale;...
The last of four young men charged in connection with March 21 break-ins at two Neligh businesses, Neligh Vape Shop and the Fit Stop, appeared in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on Dec. 21, with the Honorable Mark Johnson presiding. Madison County attorney Joe Smith again represented the State of Nebraska in the stead of Antelope County attorney Joe Abler, who was absent due to illness. Smith told the judge he anticipated being sworn in as deputy Antelope County attorney later Wednesday. Harley Snyder, 20, of Oakdale faced...
Five of seven defendants who were set for arraignment Dec. 7 faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh. Two others were truant. Madison County attorney Joe Smith represented the state as prosecutor. Smith said he was covering for Antelope County attorney Joe Abler, who was absent due to illness. “I am not sure how long that illness will last,” Smith said. Roland Hurtig, 61, of Orchard appeared for arraignment on Count I, a Class W misdemeanor, driving under the influence of alcohol, second offense; and two inf...
A felony case against Justin M. Golter, 47, was dismissed in Antelope County court last week. Golter is currently incarcerated at the Nebraska Department of Corrections Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln. Antelope County attorney Joe Abler filed a document Dec. 5, dismissing a 2022 Class 1D felony charge, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. The charge stemmed from meth allegedly found in a vehicle Golter had driven to the courthouse Aug. 31, the day he fled from officers after a district court appearance for a similar...
Antelope County’s planning and zoning board will take a look at current regulations regarding pipelines. On Tuesday, commissioners approved to request the board to meet and adopt similar regulations drafted by Holt County, at a minumum, for pipelines. Commissioner Dean Smith said his motion would give “Summit Carbon Solutions consistent regulations.” During discussion, Smith showed photos illustrating destruction from the Keystone I pipeline spill, south of Steele City, Nebraska. He said the l...
Koda K. Fernau, 18, of Clearwater appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor on Dec. 6, beside his court-appointed attorney Ryan Stover of Norfolk, for a status hearing on a felony count of making terroristic threats and for arraignment on two misdemeanor counts of disturbing the peace. Stover asked for a continuance, “not out very far…Koda has been in the Antelope County Jail since September.” He then asked for review of Fernau’s $25,000, 10% bond. “I am sure he would like to be home with his family for Christmas. His mom agreed to...
Justin M. Golter of Orchard will spend at least four years in prison for a crime committed more than two years ago. Golter, 47, faced the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on Nov. 30, for sentencing. Golter faced up to 50 years of incarceration for his conviction of a Class 1D felony, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, committed Aug. 13, 2020. Antelope County attorney Joe Abler brought to the judge’s attention incidents that occurred after Golter’s Aug. 31 conviction, when he fled the...
The Honorable Mark Johnson, presiding from the Antelope County district court bench in Neligh last week, dealt with three out-of-state defendants accused of possessing drugs with the intent to deliver. The judge arraigned an Iowa couple and a Colorado man, who claimed stormy weather kept him there, then showed up for a makeup court date under the influence of drugs. Darrion J. Cescolini, 28, of Denver did not appear Wednesday for his pretrial hearing on two counts, a Class 2A felony, possession of heroin with intent to deliver, and a Class 4 fe...
