Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Whether the luck of the Irish was with them or if a divine power intervened, emergency personnel are thankful that no fatalities or major injuries were reported in an explosion that rocked O'Neill before sunrise on Monday. At approximately 5:55 a.m., an explosion occurred in the St. Patrick's Parish Center, in the 300 block of Benton Street. KBRX Radio owner Scott Poese, of O'Neill reported flames as high as 50 to 60 feet were visible in the early-morning skies shortly after the blast occurred....
An investigation into the cause of a Monday morning explosion at St. Patrick’s Parish Center in O’Neill is believed to be the result of a vehicle striking a gas line that fed into the building. In a press release issued Tueday by Holt County Attorney Brent Kelly, first responders identified a vehicle they believe was associated with the incident. The vehicle was driven by a 58-year-old Guatemalan national. “The O’Neill Police Department initiated an investigation into the cause of the inciden...
The Nebraska State Patrol is urging Nebraskans to exercise caution when communicating online. In the past several weeks, NSP has received multiple reports of scammers impersonating State of Nebraska officials. One victim has reported losing $5,000 in crypto currency because of the scam. The fraudulent scheme typically originates with a look-alike social media profile for a government official. When the scammers establish communication with a victim, the malicious actors typically move the...
Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol, working with the SNARE Drug Task Force, have arrested a Norfolk man as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation. On Sept. 5, at approximately 7 a.m., the NSP SWAT Team made contact with residents of a home in the 1300 block of West Park Avenue in Norfolk. All residents of the home exited voluntarily. Investigators then performed a search warrant at the residence and located suspected cocaine and a handgun. One of the residents, James Woodall, 33, was arrested for possession of a controlled...
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...
Jayden D. Garett, 23, of Stuart was sentenced to 90 days in the Holt County Jail for a Class 1 misdemeanor assault conviction, with credit given for two days previously served. He was taxed $60 costs. Garett pleaded guilty July 9, pursuant to an agreement with Holt County prosecutor Brent Kelly. Kelly dismissed a driving during suspension charge. Garett was represented by Holt County public defender Rod Smith. According to an arrest affidavit filed by an O’Neill officer, Garett was arrested M...
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...
A 21-year-old O’Neill woman who had been given an opportunity to avoid prison, has given up that chance and will spend up to four years in prison. McKenzie A. Dow faced the Honorable Mark Kozisec in the Holt County district courtroom in O’Neill last Monday, July 29, to be sentenced for crimes committed in June 2022. Dow had pleaded guilty Dec. 12, 2022, to Count I, theft by receiving stolen property, a Class 2 misdemeanor; Count II, possession of a financial transaction device, a Class 4 felony; Count III, criminal possession of a fin...
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...
Every candidate for governor always promises two things – to cut property taxes, and eliminate the “waste” in state spending. Both of those pledges are awfully easy to make -- and play well on a TV ad -- and much harder to achieve. Current Gov. Jim Pillen is finding that out this year with his property tax reduction ideas. But he’s adopted a different tactic in cutting the fat from state spending by hiring a high-priced consultant to suggest reductions. He enlisted Epiphany Associates, a Utah-ba...
Adam D. Lorenz, 33, of Springfield, South Dakota, faced the Honorable Kale Burdick via Zoom from a South Dakota Department of Corrections’ facility on July 2, to be sentenced for two Class 3 misdemeanor counts of unauthorized use of financial devices, committed in February 2023. Burdick sentenced Lorenz to 10 days in the Holt County Jail on each count, to be served concurrently and concurrent to sentence he is currently serving in South Dakota. He is ordered to pay $158.87 restitution to Julie Tielke and was taxed $60 costs. Lorenz pleaded g...
The Honorable Kale Burdick, while presiding from the bench in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill last week, signed a bench warrant for the arrest of an Ainsworth man who failed to appear for arraignment. Burdick signed the warrant calling for the arrest of Brenton K. Mann, 39, who failed to appear for arraignment on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, high test, a Class W misdemeanor alleged April 29. He was arrested by a Holt County deputy after he became stuck in a ditch along 478 Avenue, about one mile north of Highway 2...
Three defendants recently faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill for driving under the influence of alcohol. Avery A. Dilsaver, 43, of O’Neill faced Burdick June 11 for sentencing on a DUI charge, a Class W misdemeanor committed in the city in December 2023. Burdick placed Dilsaver on probation for nine months, fined him $500 and ordered him to serve two days in the Holt County Jail, with credit given for one day previously served. The jail sentence was suspended until June 21. His driver’s license was revok...
Two defendants recently waived their rights to preliminary hearings on felony charges and were bound over to Holt County District Court by the Honorable Kale Burdick. Torrey T. Peterson, 30, of O’Neill waived his right to a preliminary hearing when he faced Burdick on May 21. Burdick bound Peterson over to the district court on three felony counts, Count I, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver (140-plus grams), a Class 1B felony; Count II, possession of a controlled substance (meth), a Class 4 felony; and possession of a c...
Christopher Brady, 33, of Oakdale appeared in the Antelope County courtroom for first hearing on a Class 3A felony, third-degree domestic assault, second offense, alleged May 13. If convicted of the felony, Brady faces up to a $10,000 fine and/or up to three years of incarceration. He requested court-appointed counsel. The Honorable Donna Taylor appointed Antelope County public defender Pat Carney and set preliminary hearing for June 5. Bond was set at $10,000, 10% cash, with order for no contact with the alleged victim. “You can’t live wit...
Two cases with charges from 2021 and 2023 reached resolution in the Holt County court last week when the Honorable Kale Burdick presided from the bench at the O’Neill courthouse. Mark J. McCrea, 63, of Correctionville, Iowa, pleaded no contest to an amended charge in a nearly three-year-old case, pursuant to a plea agreement with Holt County attorney Brent Kelly. On March 16, 2022, Kelly charged McCrea with criminal impersonation, a Class 4 felony alleged Nov. 22, 2021. He provided an O’Neill police officer with an incorrect name and date of...
Governor Jim Pillen issued the following statement in the aftermath of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes that resulted in damage across eastern Nebraska Friday: "Suzanne and I extend our deepest prayers to all those impacted by today's storms. I have ordered that state resources be made available to assist with the emergency response and to support local first responders as they assess the damage. Nebraskans are tough, resilient people, and our neighbors and communities will rally around...
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...
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....
James L. Palik, 23, of O’Neill faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill on April 9, for sentencing on nine counts committed Dec. 7, 2023. Burdick sentenced Palik to a 12-month term of probation for attempted possession of a controlled substance (concentrated THC), a charge that was reduced from a Class 4 felony, pursuant to a plea agreement. As part of the probation conditions, he was ordered to serve 24 days in the Holt County Jail unless waived; obtain a chemical dependency evaluation and complete any tre...
Nebraska roadways are off to a speedy start to 2024. In the first 100 days of the year, Nebraska state troopers issued more citations for speeding at over 90 miles per hour and speeding at over 100 miles per hour than any year in the past decade. This year, troopers have stopped 289 drivers for speeding at over 100 mph and 1,385 for over 90 mph. Those figures represent a 60% increase for 100 mph-plus and a 35% increase for 90 mph-plus over the previous 10-year average. “Excessive speeds reduce your reaction time and greatly increase stopping d...
On Friday, April 12, at approximately 7 p.m., the Holt County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Holt County Attorney’s Office, O’Neill Police Department, Atkinson Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol and Antelope County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant in Ewing. The search warrant was served at a camper located at the northeast corner of Highway 20 and Highway 45B. Substances alleged to be controlled substances and several items believed to be drug paraphernalia were found during the execution of the search warrant. Torrey Peterso...
The Nebraska State Patrol recently unveiled a new vehicle that will be utilized in several ways to keep Nebraska safe. The vehicle was donated to NSP by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Radiological Security. The new mobile command post will be stationed in North Platte. "This generous donation by our partners at the Department of Energy will benefit the people of Nebraska for years to come," said Colonel John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. "This mobile outreach...
Joaquin S. Echeverria, 28, of Brenham, Texas, (in custody) appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last week for preliminary hearing. Escheverria is accused of a Class 1C felony, possession of more than 28 grams of methamphetamine, with intent to deliver. Antelope County attorney Joe Smith called Nebraska State Patrol trooper Seth Miller to the stand. Miller testified that Escheverria possessed 74-76 grams of methamphetamine when he was stopped for speeding Feb. 19. Miller also testified that...
A March 6 crash, near Neligh, claimed the life of an Orchard man and injured another individual. The collision occurred at approximately 3:49 p.m., near the Antelope County Road Department shed, east of Neligh on Highway 275, said Antelope County Sheriff Bob Moore. Billy Ziegenbein, 76, of Orchard, was traveling west in a 1997 Ford pickup when the front driver’s side tire blew out, causing the pickup to swerve into the eastbound lane, resulting in a head-on collision with another vehicle. Dean Baker, 76, of Columbus, was driving a 1997 Ford E...
