Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 226 - 250 of 263
A recent effort by Holt County court staff resulted in $149 payment for a two-year-old citation and recall of a bench warrant issued in the case. An Omaha man paid a $100 fine and costs nearly two years after he was cited by a Nebraska Games and Parks officer for fishing without a permit at Spencer Dam in June 2018. Dajhaun M. Wells, 21, was cited for the Class 2 misdemeanor June 2, 2018, and given until June 19, 2018, to file a waiver or appear in Holt County court to contest the charge. Wells failed to appear in court. A bench warrant,...
The Holt County supervisors approved purchase of a vehicle for the sheriff’s department, when they met at the courthouse in O’Neill on May 18. The lease-purchase through the Nebraska Association of Counties Leasing Corporation, was approved by resolution, in an amount not to exceed $26,900, with an interest rate of not more that 2.5%. The supervisors unanimously approved a $2,722,583 bid from Knife River Midwest from Sioux City, Iowa, for asphalt overlay projects near Page, Emmet and Stuart. Knife River was the only bidder. Proposals from 10...
Andrew J. Harris, 34, of Atkinson was sent to prison by the Honorable Mark Kozisek in the district court of Holt County on Monday. Harris was sentenced to concurrent 18-month terms in an institution under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Corrections, with credit for 136 days served, for convictions of counts I and II, attempted burglary and attempted theft by unlawful taking, both Class 3A felonies committed Jan. 3 near Stuart; and two concurrent 12-month prison terms, to be served consecutive to the 18-month terms, for...
Charles E. Krysl, 44, of O’Neill was sentenced by the Honorable Mark Kozisek last Monday, May 4, in the Holt County district court. Krysl pleaded no contest March 9, pursuant to a plea agreement reached with Brent Kelly, Holt County attorney. In return Kelly dismissed counts I, III, IV and VI, first-degree false imprisonment, Class 3A felony, third-degree domestic assault, Class 1 misdemeanor, disturbing the peace, Class 3 misdemeanor, and child abuse, Class I misdemeanor, respectively; as well as a separate Holt County court case, and a...
The Holt County supervisors approved a road-use agreement for duration of potential construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, despite the county leaders’ denial of a construction permit in February. Consideration of the road-haul agreement was on the agenda when the supervisors met in the courthouse for an in-person meeting April 30. The agreement had been drafted by Omaha attorney David Domina, with Brent Kelley, Holt County attorney, proceeding, at the request of the supervisors, to negotiate terms with TCE officials. Kelly was present in t...
Joel Schrader, 48, of Martel, one of three men convicted in a 2018 burglary at a business in Atkinson, was granted continuance of his sentencing, due to COVID-19 concern. Schrader, who pleaded guilty to a Class 3 felony charge of attempted burglary in January this year after reaching a plea deal in Holt County district court and was to be sentenced by the Honorable Mark Kozisek on March 30, is now set for sentencing Oct. 19. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and defense counsel’s wish to keep himself, his family and those around him safe, defense...
The Holt County supervisors held a regular meeting at the courthouse in O’Neill last Tuesday, March 31, with all seven supervisors in attendance. The supervisors adopted a resolution, declaring a state of emergency in the county, beginning Jan. 31 and continuing, due to the health and safety of county citizens in relation to a global pandemic. The declaration allows expenditure of emergency funds if deemed necessary. Chad Thies with Zelle Human Resource Solutions in Lincoln discussed a proposed contract via phone conference. The board took t...
An O’Neill man was sentenced March 23 by the Honorable Mark Kozisek in the Holt County district court. Gabrino Rosales-Hernandez, 38, was convicted of three counts Jan. 13, pursuant to a plea agreement with Holt County prosecutor Brent Kelly. Rosales-Hernandez entered guilty pleas to amended charges, Count I, operating a motor vehicle during time of revocation, subsequent offense, a Class 2 misdemeanor; Count II, failure to yield right of way, an infraction; and attempted false reporting, also a Class 2 misdemeanor (original charge - c...
Holt County supervisors are considering the engagement of a human resources firm to help navigate employment issues. A telephone conference was held with Chad Thies from Zelle Human Resource Solutions in Lincoln during the March 16 meeting at the courthouse in O'Neill. After hearing what the firm offered in services, chairman Bill Tielke asked Thies to submit a proposal. Supervisor Steve Boshart estimated an annual cost of $36,000 to $40,000. "It will be high," Tielke said. "But the thing is, if...
Lindsey A. Rokahr, 37, of Ewing faced the Honorable Kale Burdick on March 17 in the Holt County court for arraignment on three counts: Count I, possession of marijuana, less than one ounce, second offense, a Class 4 misdemeanor; Count II, possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction; and Count III, no valid registration, a Class 3 misdemeanor. She pleaded guilty to counts II and III and Count I was dismissed, without prejudice, by Holt County attorney Brent Kelly. Rokahr was fined $100 on Count II, $25 on Count III and taxed $50 costs of...
The Honorable Kale Burdick sentenced four Holt County residents when he presided over the Holt County court last Tuesday, March 10. Harold A. Rockford, 61, of Chambers was sentenced to concurrent terms of 30 and two days in the county jail, respectively, for convictions of first-degree criminal trespass, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and criminal mischief, less than $500, a Class 3 misdemeanor. The sentences were ordered consecutive to a jail sentence ordered in a Holt County district court case. He was also ordered to pay $52 costs and $40 restitutio...
A Chambers man was sentenced by the Honorable Mark Kozisek last week in the Holt County district courtroom. Harold A. Rockford, 61, was handed a 30-day jail sentence, with credit for six days previously served, on a count of resisting arrest. He was also taxed $147 costs of prosecution. Rockford pleaded guilty to the Class 1 misdemeanor Jan. 13, after reaching a plea agreement with Knox County prosecutor Brent Kelly. In return, Kelly dropped a Class 3A felony count of assaulting an officer and a trespassing charge in another county court case,...
Six Holt County supervisors listened as nearly 50 citizens presented testimony last Friday afternoon. A public hearing regarding TC Energy's application for a pipeline construction permit was held in the district courtroom at the Holt County courthouse. Pipeline opponents, from elementary students to 90-year-old grandparents, packed the courtroom, filling approximately 100 seats, and spilled out to the second-floor hallway. Speakers were called in order of sign-up, which had begun in the morning...
This Friday, Holt County Supervisors will consider whether a conditional use permit will be granted for TC Energy or if a recommendation from the Holt County Planning and Zoning Board will take precedence. A public hearing is set to begin at 1:30 p.m., in the district court room at the Holt County Courthouse in O'Neill. At a Jan. 28 hearing, zoning officials voted 6-1-1 to recommend the board of supervisors to deny the application as incomplete, per section 2.1, paragraph three, until...
A Ewing man was sentenced to three years in a facility under jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Corrections on Monday. Tyler J. Napier, 21, was sentenced by the Honorable Mark Kozisek in the Holt County district court for three crimes committed in August 2018. Kozisek sentenced Napier to serve 24 months, less 169 days credit for time previously served, on Count III, criminal attempt of terroristic threats, a Class IV felony; 12 months on Count VIII, third-degree domestic assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, to be served consecutive to...
Benjamin Parks, 22, of O’Neill appeared in Holt County court last Tuesday, Feb. 18, for a preliminary hearing on two charges filed by chief deputy Nebraska Attorney General David Bydalek last November, Count I, tampering with a witness, a Class 4 felony committed May 6, 2019, and procuring alcohol for a minor, a Class 1 misdemeanor. A plea deal was struck with prosecutor Mariah J. Nickel, assistant attorney general, and Parks attorney, Allison Rockey Mason of Norfolk. In exchange for a no contest plea to Count II, Nickel dismissed Count I. T...
The Honorable Kale Burdick presided over Holt County court last Tuesday, Feb. 11, handing down four sentences. Conrad A Lurz, 29, of Ellington, Missouri, formerly of O’Neill, faced Burdick for sentencing on two counts, second-degree false imprisonment, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and disturbing the peace, a Class 3 misdemeanor. He was sentenced to concurrent sentences of 30 days and five days in the county jail, respectively, and $60 costs of prosecution. Lurz was given credit for 10 days previously served for the May 4, 2019, offenses. Lurz changed...
The Holt County supervisors spent nearly two hours at a meeting last week, reviewing a road-haul agreement brought to the table by TC Energy representatives last October, paragraph by paragraph, despite having a new agreement drafted by Dave Domina in hand. The scrutiny came after Holt County attorney Brent Kelly presented a preliminary agreement drafted by the Omaha attorney who was hired by the county officials on a 4-2 vote Oct. 31, 2019, to negotiate a road-haul agreement with TC Energy. At Kelly’s suggestion, the supervisors held an execut...
Budd D. Sholes, 40, of Norfolk was sentenced last week in Holt County district court for December 2018 and January 2019 crimes committed in Holt County. The Honorable Mark Kozicek ordered Sholes to serve four terms in a facility under jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. If he loses none of his good time, Sholes must serve 15 months, less five days credited for time served in the county jail, before becoming eligible for parole, and 60 months (five years), less five days, before mandatory release. Sholes pleaded...
The Honorable Kale Burdick, in Holt County court last week, sentenced Joshua A. Boettcher, 28, to serve 30 days in the Holt County Jail for a Class 2 misdemeanor count of theft, less than $500. The complaint, filed in June 2019, stated Boettcher took movable property of another between Jan. 9, 2018, and Jan. 9, 2019. Boettcher will serve a 45-day sentence at the same time on a conviction of second-degree forgery, a Class 2 misdemeanor committed Oct. 27, 2018, included in the same complaint. As part of a plea agreement entered in October 2019,...
Holt County citizens filled the county supervisors’ meeting room in the courthouse last Friday morning as the county leaders took care of business. Bryan Steskal of Steskal read a letter penned by his wife, Diana Steskal, who was unable to attend the meeting. In the letter, Steskal wrote the Holt County zoning board members denied TransCanada’s conditional use permit until two conditions are met, including one that requires obtaining easements. Many, she said will most likely be appealed. She also cited three federal court cases filed aga...
Michael Braband, 25, of Elgin faced the Honorable Kale Burdick Jan. 21, in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill on a Class 2 misdemeanor count of issuing a bad check, less than $500. He entered a guilty plea per terms of a plea agreement reached with prosecutor Brent Kelly. Burdick sentenced Braband to pay a $50 fine, $34.01 restitution to First Stop in Atkinson and $50 costs. Braband wrote the check Sept. 4, 2019. Rowdy J. Berger, 26, of O’Neill entered an amended plea of guilty to a Class 3 misdemeanor count of driving under suspension aft...
Sergio V, Velasquez, 31, of O’Neill was sentenced by the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County court last Tuesday, Jan. 14, on three counts, Count II, no operator’s license, a Class 3 misdemeanor; Count III, refuse to submit to pretest, a Class 5 misdemeanor; and Count IV, refuse to submit to test, first offense, a Class W misdemeanor. Burdick sentenced him to fines of $75, $100 and $500, respectively; eight months’ probation, including fees totaling $210; and $50 costs of prosecution. Velasquez changed his not guilty pleas to guilty on the...
Jade T. Buss, 19, of Atkinson was fined by the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County court last week, after changing his pleas to no contest on two counts amended pursuant to a plea agreement reached with Holt County prosecutor Brent Kelly. Burdick judged Buss guilty of the July 2 offenses and sentenced him to pay a $175 fine on Count I, failure to report a property damage accident, a Class 2 misdemeanor; and $175 on Count III, reckless driving, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and $60 cost of prosecution. Kelly reduced Count I from a Class 3A...
Three defendants were sentenced by the Honorable Mark Kozisek for crimes committed in 2018, on Monday, Jan. 13, in the Holt County district courtroom in O’Neill. Preston D. Janzing, 39, of Atkinson was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with credit given for one day previously served; a 24-month term of probation, including $930 fees; and a $1,000 fine. After deliberating about two and one-half hours, a jury found Janzing guilty of three of four counts Sept. 11, 2019, Count I, aiding and abetting kidnapping; Count II, strangulation; and Count IV, f...
