Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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SCHUYLER – His eyes are tired from scanning the conveyor belt. His feet and back are sore after hours of standing in his steel-toed boots. His brain is fried from searching for faulty welding and chipped paint on the more than 1,000 metal pieces that whiz past him on the belt during the graveyard shift. Marco Gutiérrez has spent the past eight hours inspecting tiny parts that will become car seats in Ford F-150s and Chevy Malibus. Before that, he put in a shift at Panda Express, cooking ba...
'Tis the season to help everyone reach their destinations safely. Over the final few weeks of 2024, troopers will be on patrol across Nebraska working to keep holiday travel safe. "The holidays come with all sorts of celebrations, many involving alcohol," said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. "It's critical to always drive sober, for your own safety and the safety of everyone else on the road." The Nebraska State Patrol is teaming up with police agencies across...
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced on Dec. 10, that Shelby Olson, 46, of Kearney, was sentenced Dec. 10, in federal court in Lincoln, for distributing 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Olson to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Olson is released from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. On June 23, 2022, a confidential informant purchased 57.2 grams of meth from Olson. On June 30, 2022, the CI p...
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jessica Binegar, a.k.a. “Jessica Keo”, 8, of North Platte, was sentenced on Dec. 12, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of distribution of five grams or more of meth. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Binegar to a total of 43 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Binegar’s release from prison, she will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Beginning in 2021, the FBI and CODE Drug Task Force opened an investigation into drug traffic...
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Joey G, Romero, age 37, of North Platte, was sentenced on Dec. 12, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Romero to a total of 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Romero’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Between July 2022 and February 2023, Romero, Jamie Hopkins, Michael Stroble, Luke...
The Nebraska State Patrol has completed a season-long effort to keep fans safe as they travel to and from Husker football games. Troopers spent gamedays patrolling roadways, monitoring from the air and assisting with security in and around Memorial Stadium. On gamedays this fall, troopers made 54 arrests for driving under the influence. Troopers also issued 46 citations for speeding, 16 for driving under suspension, 19 open alcohol container, 12 no seat belt, and eight improper child restraint. Troopers also assisted 219 motorists in need of...
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol removed 52 impaired drivers from the road during the Make It Click campaign, which ran from Nov. 23 through Dec. 1. Troopers arrested 52 drivers for driving under the influence and issued 44 citations for seat belt and child safety seat violations. Troopers also issued 1,027 citations for speeding, including 47 citations for speeding at over 100 miles per hour, 30 no seat belt, 14 improper child restraint, 25 open alcohol container, seven minor in possession and 69 driving under suspension....
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...
