Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 201
In 2020, as the country voted in and then sweated out a razor-thin presidential election, the voters of Clay County in rural south-central Nebraska participated in numbers never seen in this century. The number of potential voters living in the county had barely budged since 2016. And yet, during the 2020 election, some 507 more voters cast ballots than had in 2016 – a 16% spike. In total, some 84% of Clay County's 4,271 registered voters cast ballots, far higher than Nebraska's statewide t...
After being unable to produce a sample for a chemical test, prior to being sentenced in Antelope County Court, on Sept. 25, a 33-year-old Oakdale man remains in custody after testing positive to a test later that day. Christopher B. Brady appeared before the honorable James G. Kube in the Antelope County District courtroom for sentencing on a charge of third-degree assault - domestic, a Class I misdemeanor. Antelope County Attorney Joe Smith told Kube the defendant was unable to provide a...
An interlocal agreement may be required if Antelope County assists the Village of Clearwater with updates to a portion of River Road, from Highway 275 to the first bridge, heading north. The key word: If. During Tuesday's commissioners' meeting, Brian McDonald, highway superintendent, learned that Clearwater officials asked for a quote to fix the road. "I think you run into some obligation authority on spending county funds on city roads," McDonald said. "I have mixed emotions about dealing...
Joaquin S. Echeverria, 28, of Brenham, Texas, (in custody) appeared for pretrial hearing on a Class 1C felony, possession of more than 28 grams of methamphetamine, with intent to deliver. Pursuant to a plea agreement with Antelope County attorney Joe Smith, Escheverria pleaded guilty to an amended charge, attempted possession with intent to deliver, a Class 2 felony. Kube ordered a presentence investigation and set sentencing Oct. 30. Escheverria is represented by Carney. He was remanded to the custody of Antelope County sheriff Bob Moore,...
In a long-running Antelope County court case that included many continuances while he was serving in the military, Julius Tauber, 22, was sentenced last week at the courthouse in Neligh for a crime committed Sept. 17, 2022. After entering a plea agreement with Antelope County attorney Joe Smith, Tauber pleaded guilty on Aug. 21, to one of two counts of intimidation by telephone call. Smith dismissed the second count and agreed not to oppose a fine-only sentence. Tauber was represented by Doug Stratton of Norfolk. Taylor fined Tauber $500 and...
Kade G. Coble, 39, of Magnolia, Minnesota, failed to appear in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, Aug.7, for arraignment on a Class 4 felony, possession of a controlled substance. Public defender Pat Carney requested continuance. Antelope County attorney Joe Smith objected. The Honorable Donna Taylor ruled a bench warrant be issued with new bond set at $20,000, 10%. Bond filed July 3, in the amount of $10,000, 10%, is subject to forfeiture. A warrant was issued Aug. 5, for the arrest of Christopher L. Graae, on a charge of...
Tricia A. Zobrist, 44, of Oakdale faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Aug. 7, charged with four Class 2 misdemeanor counts of issuing bad checks. Zobrist waived her right to counsel and pleaded guilty to all four counts. Taylor fined her $200 on Count I and $10 each on counts II, III and IV. She was ordered to pay $101.54 restitution to Thriftway Market and $163.64 to Mr. S’s (three checks) and was taxed $50 costs. Daley J. Bearinger, 18, of Clearwater was sentenced to a six-month term of probation f...
Joaquin S. Echeverria, 28, of Brenham, Texas, (in custody) appeared in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh on July 31 for further arraignment on a Class 1C felony, possession of more than 28 grams of methamphetamine, with intent to deliver. If convicted, he faces up to 50 years of incarceration, with a five-year mandatory minimum. No good time is awarded to mandatory minimum time. He pleaded not guilty and requested jury trial. The Honorable James Kube set pretrial hearing Aug. 28 and jury trial, Oct. 21. Echeverria is represented...
Two defendants waived their rights to counsel, admitted to committing offenses and were fined by the Honorable Donna Taylor when they appeared in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on July 17. Taylor Hasebroock, 19, of Oakdale was fined the statutory amount, $300, for possession of marijuana, $10 for possession of drug paraphernalia and $49 costs. She was cited when she was stopped May 14 by a Nebraska State Patrol officer for speeding. Cole R. Aschoff, 26, of Plainview was fined $100 for each of two counts of no proof of financial...
The Honorable Donna Taylor continued several hearings to a later date when she presided from the bench in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last week. Justin A. Paulsen, 37, of Oakdale was granted a continuance so he could hire an attorney. Paulsen faces a charge of violating requirements of the Sexual Offender Registry by failing to register his vehicle with the Antelope County sheriff. Arraignment is set Aug. 7. If convicted, Paulsen faces up to a $10,000 fine and/or up to three years im...
Shane R. Farrier, 32, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, did not appear for preliminary hearing, as scheduled in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last week on a theft allegation but his attorney, Antelope County public defender Pat Carney did. Carney advised that his client had been sentenced out of Platte County district court and is now in the custody of the department of corrections. An oral motion to continue was sustained. The Honorable Donna Taylor continued the hearing to July 17, with an order to transport pending....
Douglas J. Jacobs, 32, of Elgin faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Neligh courtroom Wednesday July 3, for preliminary hearing on a Class 4 felony, possession of methamphetamine, alleged May 18 at the Oakdale Cemetery. Taylor reviewed evidence and heard testimony from Antelope County deputy Trent Howard, after which she found there is probable cause for the case to continue. She bound the case over to the Antelope County district court, where Jacobs is set for arraignment July 31. Bond posted May 28, in the amount of $10,000, 10% cash, is...
Matthew R. Thomas, 37, of Neligh appeared in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on July 3 to be sentenced for third-degree assault, a Class 3 misdemeanor committed nearly three years ago - in October 2021. Antelope County attorney Joe Smith told the judge that Thomas’ former wife, who was not present at the hearing, had requested he receive some jail time so their children would see he got some punishment. Thomas’ attorney, Michelle Schlecht of Norfolk asked for probation. The Honorable Donna Taylor sentenced Thomas to a 12-month term of...
Julius Tauber, 22, formerly of Camp Lejune, North Carolina, appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last week on two counts of intimidation by phone call, Class 3 misdemeanors alleged in May 2023. If convicted of the charges, he faces up to $500 fines and/or 90 days in jail on each count, which jail terms may be ordered served consecutively. Tauber filed a written not guilty plea in January and acknowledged in writing that multiple continuances granted over the past year do not count against...
Hector A. Perez, 46, of Orchard appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last week for sentencing on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, second offense, a Class W misdemeanor committed April 23, one mile west of Royal. Perla Alarcon-Flory appeared as interpreter, via Zoom. An enhancement hearing was held. Taylor found sufficient evidence of a previous DUI conviction, making the crime second offense. Taylor sentenced Perez to a nine-month term of probation, including related fees...
The Honorable James Kube saw a short criminal court agenda when he presided from the bench of the Antelope County District Court last week. Rowdy Burke, 52, of Elgin appeared without counsel for a hearing on the status of his bond. Burke was given a deferred jail sentence by Kube last month, and subsequently failed to show up at the Antelope County Jail on April 28 as ordered for his co.viction of driving under suspension. He was arrested in Lincoln on April 29. Antelope County attorney Joe Smith, who had initiated the hearing “declined to g...
Antelope County’s primary election resulted in only 1,080 ballots being cast. The structure of the party-line election, and lack of multiple candidates in many of the races, may have led to the low turnout. Only one county race took place, which was for the District 4 commissioner seat. Incumbent Charlie Henery advances to the general election after receiving 123 votes. Challenger Harlan Brandt, a former Antelope County supervisor, ended the night with 58 votes. President Joe Biden received 54 v...
Antelope County Commissioners revisited the question of who is responsible for upgrades to an unimproved road when they met May 7 at the Antelope County Courthouse in Neligh. Last month, officials denied a zoning permit for Gary Yoder, for property adjacent to 512 Avenue, where Yoder is constructing a residence. County attorney Joe Smith told commissioners the property is owned by an Amish family, who is constructing a house at the location. "The first quarter mile going up to it isn't bad. The...
Hector A. Perez, 46, of Orchard appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last week on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, second offense, a Class W misdemeanor committed April 23, one mile west of Royal. Perla Alarcon-Flory appeared as interpreter, via Zoom. Perez waived his right to counsel. His waiver was verified by Taylor, through Alarcon-Flory, numerous times during the hearing. She asked if he had ever been represented by counsel in the past. “Si,” he answered. He also answ...
James A. Brady, 69, of Neligh faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on May 1 to be sentenced for third-degree assault. Antelope County attorney Joe Smith recommended probation, pursuant to conditions of a plea agreement. He said issues with alcohol and violence had been addressed. Brady’s attorney, Joel Carlson of Norfolk, told Taylor that his client disagreed with a statement in the presentence investigation report, regarding throwing a phone. “He didn’t think it hit them,” the attorney said. “The good new...
An Elgin man, who was given a deferred jail sentence by the Honorable James Kube last month, did not show up at the Antelope County Jail on April 28 as ordered. However, Rowdy Burke’s attempt to avoid incarceration failed. Burke, 52, is now in custody. Burke was sentenced by Kube on April 24 to a 24-month probation term with conditions that included 90 days in the county jail, for a Class 4 felony charge of driving under revocation. Sixty days of the jail time were ordered immediately. Burke’s attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh, requested Burke b...
April 24 saw a short criminal docket in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh. The Honorable James Kube sentenced two individuals, sustained a motion to withdraw a not guilty plea and two motions to continue. Haiden Sleister, 22, who was ordered by Kube to reside at the Norfolk Rescue Mission when he appeared in March, admitted violating provisions of post-release supervision as part of a plea deal with Smith. In return, the prosecutor recommended one year of incarceration. Kube revoked Sleister’s PRS and sentenced him to a o...
Cassandra Howell, who was in the custody of Antelope County sheriff Bob Moore, admitted violating terms of her probation when she faced the Honorable James Kube in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, Jan. 31. She also admitted failing to appear at a hearing last October. Howell waived her right to counsel, expecting to be resentenced that day, to time already served. However, Kube insisted a report be prepared by an officer with the Nebraska probation office before he will pass sentence. “You may be sentenced to tim...
Shane Sleister, 49, (in custody), appeared in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, April 17, for sentencing in two similar cases. The Honorable Donna Taylor sentenced Sleister to terms in the Antelope County Jail on each of two charges in each case. In the first case, committed Sept. 20, 2023, Sleister was committed to the Antelope County Jail for 60 days on Count I, obstructing a peace officer, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and 10 days on Count II, driving under suspension, a Class 3 misdemeanor, and he was taxed $1 costs....
An elderly Tilden man was sentenced in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, April 17, to a one-year term of probation for violating a domestic abuse protection order. The protection order was issued April 13, 2022, and renewed April 13, 2023, in Boone County district court, with the 90-year-old man’s former spouse listed as the protected party. She alleged mental and physical abuse. Antelope County attorney Joe Smith said Nebraska probation officials recommended jail in a presentence investigation report. He said a mental h...
