Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 283
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...
Joaquin S. Echeverria, 28, of Brenham, Texas, (in custody) appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Feb. 21 for first hearing on a Class 1 C felony. Echeverria is charged with possession of more than 28 grams of methamphetamine, with intent to deliver, alleged Feb. 19. If convicted of the felony, Echeverria faces up to 50 years in prison, with a minimum of five years. Echeverria requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor appointed Antelope County public defender Pat Carney. Preliminary hearing...
On March 8 at 9:29 a.m., the Holt County Sheriff's office and the O'Neill Police Department, with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol and Nebraska Brand Committee, executed six search warrants in Stuart. A search warrant was served at a fifth-wheel camper, located at 221 N. Main Street, in Stuart. A handgun and four rifles were found during the search of the camper. Christopher Deepe, 48, of Broken Bow, resides at the camper. Deepe was arrested for alleged possession of a deadly weapon by...
Antelope County Commissioners approved rental of four license plate readers during its Feb. 13 meeting. Antelope County Sheriff Bob Moore told commissioners license plate readers are going up across the state. “They’re paying huge dividends.” The sheriff explained how a stolen car in the county led authorities to discover the missing vehicle in Sarpy County, thanks to a plate reader. “It actually captured that plate in Omaha. The officers converged on a Walmart parking lot and apprehe...
The Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from the Knox County Sheriff's Office and Bloomfield Police Department, is investigating a double-homicide that occurred this morning, Feb, 20, in Bloomfield. Additional details on the deceased are being withheld while officials work to make family notifications. The scene is secure. Multiple persons of interest have been detained as part of the investigation. Law enforcement believes there is no ongoing threat to the public. NSP crime scene...
A rural Elgin woman was found deceased, Wednesday, Jan. 17, according to Wheeler County Attorney Joe McNally. According to a press release issued by McNally, at approximately 12:45 p.m., on Jan. 17, Wheeler County Sheriff's Office was notified of a death that occurred at 50859 Highway 70. Once WCSO officers were on site, Debra Grothe, 64, was found deceased at the address. A search warrant was obtained and, with the aid of the Nebraska State Patrol and Greeley County Sheriff's Office, the...
Rowdy L. Burke, 52, of Elgin faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday on a felony charge of driving under revocation, alleged Nov. 14, 2023, in Elgin. Represented by Martin Klein of Neligh, Burke waived his right to a preliminary hearing and Taylor bound the case over to the Antelope County district court. Burke is set for district court arraignment Jan. 31. Bond, in the amount of $10,000, 10% cash is continued. Burke was stopped Nov. 14, 2023, in Elgin by a Nebraska State Patrol officer on two...
Jeffrey A. Reinke, 35, of Omaha faced the Honorable Donna Taylor last Wednesday, Jan. 17, in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh, in a five-year-old case. He was charged with Count I, leave accident, fail to furnish information, a Class 2 misdemeanor, and Count II, no operator’s license, a Class 3 misdemeanor. Reinke’s attorney, Gregory Pivovar of Bellevue, had filed a motion to dismiss or discharge, on Jan. 14. He indicated, in the motion, that neither the complaint filed Feb. 26, 2018, nor a warrant issued in May 2018, were ever ser...
A rural Elgin woman was found deceased, Wednesday, according to Wheeler County Attorney Joe McNally. According to a press release issued by the attorney's office, at approximately 12:45 p.m., on Jan. 17, Wheeler County Sheriff's Office was notified of a death that occurred at 50859 Highway 70. Once WCSO officers were on site, Debra Grothe, 64, was found deceased at the address. A search warrant was obtained and, with the aid of the Nebraska State Patrol and Greeley County Sheriff's Office, the...
Former Neligh chief of police, Michael D. Wright, was fined $500 last week for firing his service weapon and injuring 38-year-old Josie Auld of Norfolk, while on duty in Neligh in May 2022. Wright pleaded no contest to a Class 1 misdemeanor, third-degree assault, when he faced the Honorable Ross Stoffer in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh. Wright was represented by Gary Young Jr. of Lincoln and the case was prosecuted by assistant Nebraska Attorney General David Bydalek. The case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol. Bydalek...
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol removed from the road 65 impaired drivers during the holiday season. During the final two weeks of 2023, troopers participated in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, which ran from Dec. 15 to Jan. 1 and included hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the country. “The holidays are always a busy time of year on Nebraska roadways, and with a winter storm right in the middle this year, our troopers were working around the clock to keep roads safe,” said Colonel John Bolduc, sup...
Nathaniel N. Fonseca, 22, of O’Neill faced the Honorable Kale Burdick, in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill on Dec. 19, 2023, for sentencing on charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, first offense. Burdick fined Fonseca $500, revoked his driver’s license for 60 days and placed him on probation for six months. The probation order includes fees totaling $210 and he was ordered to pay $105 costs. Fonseca, who was represented by Brad Montag of Norfolk, pleaded guilty Oct. 17 after reaching a plea agreement with Holt County attorney Br...
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol responded to nearly 150 weather-related incidents on Nebraska roadways on Christmas Day. Troopers responded to 28 crashes and performed 117 motorist assists as much of the state experienced a white Christmas. The vast majority of the incidents did not involve injuries. One crash, which occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. Monday, resulted in the closure of eastbound Interstate 80 for approximately three hours while cleanup took place. There were no injurie...
The Nebraska State Patrol and Nebraska Department of Transportation are urging travelers be prepared for a winter storm that will bring potentially hazardous driving conditions. "The expected severity of this storm has increased over the last couple of days and will now pose significant travel challenges across the state," said Vicki Kramer, director of the NDOT. "NDOT is ready as this storm affects Nebraska, but we urge travelers to assess whether their travel is absolutely necessary before...
Governor Jim Pillen wants all state government employees at their desks in their assigned departments beginning next month. He said the pandemic-era remote is over, although both empirical and anecdotal evidence nationwide show a workplace change that was pandemic caused has become the new normal. Oh, and never mind the fact that some state agencies have remote and telework policies that have been in place for 15 years. And, of course, not every department has the physical space available for...
Jerry F. Homolka Jr., 57, of Chambers faced the Honorable Kale Burdick on Nov. 14, in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill, for sentencing on a count of driving under the influence of alcohol, first offense, a Class W misdemeanor. Burdick find him $500, revoked his driver’s license for 60 days and placed him on probation for six months. He was ordered to pay $210 in probation fees and $105 costs. Homolka was represented by Ron Temple of Norfolk. Homolka was arrested by an O’Neill police officer May 22, with a preliminary breath alcohol conte...
Jennifer L. Nekolite, 46, of O’Neill had one of four cases heard in the Holt County court last Monday, Nov. 20, bound over to the Holt County district court. Nekolite waived her right to a preliminary hearing on a charge of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, a Class 4 felony alleged May 10. The Honorable Kale Burdick bound the case over to the district court, where arraignment is set Dec. 18. Bond in continued in the amount of $1,000, 10% cash, with multiple conditions as set in other pending county court cases. She is r...
Gerald C. Strackbein, 32, of O’Neill appeared in front of the Honorable Kale Burdick on Nov. 7, in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill, for sentencing on a count of first-degree criminal trespassing. Burdick sentenced Strackbein to a 12-month term of probation, including $390 in fees, and taxed him $62 costs for the July 17 crime. Strackbein pleaded no contest Sept. 19, pursuant to a plea agreement with Holt County attorney Brent Kelly. In return Kelly dismissed a count of attempted burglary. According to an arrest affidavit filed by an O’N...
A Neligh couple, whose June 29 argument became physical, were each sentenced to seven days in jail for counts of third-degree assault, by mutual consent. Plea agreements had been negotiated with Antelope County attorney Joe Smith by the respective court-appointed attorneys for Melissa A. Murberger, 48, represented by Martin Klein of Neligh, and Ronald E. Murberger, 48, represented by public defender Pat Carney of Norfolk. The agreement included staggered jail sentences so one of them would be available to care for their children and Smith’s a...
