Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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After more than a year of discussion about possible expansion of the Clearwater Public Library, village officials and library board members will enlist the help of Patrick Moore of Goodlife Architecture, based in Kearney, to complete conceptual drawings for the project. The boards met in special joint session, Feb. 26, to discuss the best way to move forward with the project that would include remodeling the old ambulance bay at the village building. The meeting was facilitated by Bobbi Pettit, owner of Five Rule Rural Planning. Library board...
SPECIAL JOINT PROCEEDINGS Village of Clearwater BOARD OF TRUSTEES February 26, 2024 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a special meeting Monday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Purpose of the meeting was to take action on liquor license applications and discuss the library and village office building remodel with the library board. Meeting opened at 7 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in “Summerland Advocate-Messenger,” was posted at US Post Office in Clearwater, Cle...
Ed. note: This is the second in a series about Clearwater's downtown revitalization efforts. When Clearwater village officials receive the Downtown Revitalization Capital Improvement Plan, it will include proposed improvements at focus areas, which were unveiled Nov. 8, during an open house at the American Legion. Additionally, it will outline what types of infrastructure and streetscape improvements may best fit the village, based on feedback from visitors during the open house. Bobbi Pettit,...
Clearwater residents received a sneak peak of what the village's business district could look like, Nov. 8, during an open house at the American Legion. Bobbi Pettit, owner of Five Rule Rural Planning, along with other members of the planning team, shared concepts designed by architect Patrick Moore, an architect with Good Life Architecture, in Kearney; landscape architect Austin Arens, with RDG Planning & Design in Omaha; and John Zwingman, civil engineer with Advanced Consulting Engineering...
The Honorable Donna Taylor, presiding from the bench in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Oct. 4, found enough evidence to bind an Elgin man over to the district court on an allegation of felony child abuse. Robert J. Suhr, 26, of Elgin faced Taylor, alongside his attorney, Brad Ewalt of Norfolk, for a preliminary hearing on the Class 3A felony alleged Sept. 2, in Elgin. A bond hearing was held with Taylor again denying a defense request to amend a condition for no contact with the juvenile victim’s mother or her two children, e...
Michael F. Doty, 29, of Page faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County court in Neligh last Wednesday, July 6, on two Class 3A felony counts of making terroristic threats and a Class 3 misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace, all alleged June 28 in Orchard. If convicted of the crimes, Doty faces up to $10,000 fines and/or three years of incarceration for each of the felony counts and up to a $500 fine and/or 90 days for the misdemeanor. Doty requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor appointed Antelope County public defender...
Aaron C. Poellot, 38, of Osmond, who is accused in a May 2 gas drive-off from Royal One Stop, faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on June 1 for arraignment on a Class 2 misdemeanor theft charge. Poellot requested court-appointed counsel. Taylor found him indigent and appointed Antelope County public defender Patrick Carney of Norfolk. Further arraignment is set June 15. Personal recognizance bond of $1,500, filed May 17, is continued. Jessy L Dirks, 30, of Elgin faced Taylor for arraignment on a...
The Honorable Mark Johnson presided over the arraignment of several defendants Wednesday, April 27, in the Antelope County district court in Neligh, including three teenagers charged in connection with March 21 break-ins at two Neligh businesses, Neligh Vape Shop and the Fit Stop. Trinity Graham, 18, accompanied by his court-appointed attorney, Brad Montag of Norfolk, pleaded not guilty to counts I and II, burglary, Class 2A felonies, and Count III, a Class 4 felony, theft by unlawful taking, more than $1,500. Jury trial is set July 18, with a...
Brian G. Tibbens, 51, of Elgin, appeared in front of the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, April 27, for a restitution hearing and sentencing on a Class 2A felony, first-degree assault. Antelope County prosecutor Joe Abler called Cynthia Cadena to the witness stand. Cadena testified that her husband, Frank Cadena, the victim of Tibbens’ assault, had been unable to work, going without pay for two weeks following the September 2021 assault. She also answered questions regarding medical b...
Andrew F. Sternberg, 32, of Creighton faced the Honorable Donna Taylor, on Wednesday, April 20, in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on a Class 2A felony, theft by unlawful taking, more than $5,000, alleged Feb. 23. Sternberg waived his right to preliminary hearing and was bond over to the Antelope County district court, where he was set to appear for arraignment April 27. Taylor reduced bond to $25,000, 10% cash. Taylor appointed Antelope County public defender Patrick Carney of Norfolk on April 18. Taylor signed a warrant for Sternberg...
Five defendants were sentenced by the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, Feb. 23. Debra F. Jordan, 55, of Norfolk was sentenced to 364 days in the Antelope County Jail, with credit for 69 days previously served, for her conviction of theft by unlawful taking, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Jordan was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution in the amount of $210.71 and restitution, in the amount of $360, to JB Mart in Tilden. Jordan, who was represented by Antelope County public defender...
Andrew J. Stephenson, 20, of Richland, Washington, did not appear for his arraignment in Antelope County district court last Wednesday, Feb. 23, on three counts. His attorneys, Jeff Courtney and Frankie Hass of Omaha, had filed a written not guilty plea Feb 18, on his behalf. The Honorable Mark Johnson found the written plea insufficient and set further arraignment March 30, at which time Stephenson is ordered to appear in person. Bond, in the amount of $10,000, 10% cash, posted Jan. 7, is continued. Stephenson is charged with a Class 4...
Hope M. Petite, 27, of Orchard appeared in the Antelope County district court last Wednesday, Aug. 25, alongside her court-appointed attorney, Martin Klein of Neligh, for pretrial hearing on five counts. Charges included, Count I, second-degree assault, a Class 2A felony; Count II, third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor; Count III, leaving scene of property- damage accident, a Class 2 misdemeanor and counts IV and V, willful reckless driving, Class 3 misdemeanors. Klein announced a plea agreement. In return for Petite’s guilty pleas to cou...
A Norfolk woman, who was bound over to Antelope County district court on a felony burglary charge is claiming there was not enough evidence to support the burglary charge. Debra F. Jordan was scheduled to face the Honorable Mark Johnson for arraignment on charges of burglary and theft by unlawful taking in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, Aug. 25. Jordan appeared with her court-appointed attorney Patrick Carney of Norfolk. A plea in abatement was filed by Carney on Jordan’s behalf, claiming a “defect in the rec...
The Honorable Mark Johnson handed down two sentences last week when he presided from the bench in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh. Michael G. Loy, 51, of Elgin appeared on a conviction of a Class W misdemeanor, driving under the influence of alcohol, less than .15 grams, first offense. Johnson found Loy was not a suitable candidate for probation, that a sentence less than incarceration would depreciate the seriousness of the crime and there was substantial risk Loy would engage in additional criminal activity during a period...
The Honorable Mark Johnson, presiding from the bench at the Antelope County courthouse in Neligh, sentenced three individuals for felony convictions last Wednesday, June 30. Travis D. Mace, 35, of Orchard faced Johnson for sentencing on two crimes committed Jan. 30 in Neligh.On Count II, possession of methamphetamine, a Class 4 felony, Johnson sentenced Mace to 18 months in an institution under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Corrections, with credit given for 143 days previously served. Mace was sentenced to an additional six...
Tyler J. Napier, 31, currently held at the Antelope County Jail, appeared in front of the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district court last week for a pretrial hearing. County attorney Joe Abler made an oral motion for continuance of both the pretrial conference and a jury trial. Johnson sustained the motion. Pretrial is continued to Aug. 25, with the jury trial scheduled Sept. 20. It was noted that an amended complaint was filed by Abler, adding a third count of strangulation to the five original charges. Charges on the...
Plea bargains were announced in two Antelope County district court cases last Wednesday, May 26, when the Honorable Mark Johnson presided from the bench of the courtroom in Neligh. Michael G. Loy, 51, of Elgin faced Johnson for a pretrial hearing on a felony count of driving under the influence of alcohol, (.15 grams or more) and an infraction open container violation. A plea deal was announced. Antelope County prosecutor Joe Abler reduced the felony DUI charge to to a Class W misdemeanor count, DUI, less than .15 grams, first offense, and...
Travis D. Mace, 35, of Orchard appeared in front of the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, for a pretrial hearing. Mace was accused of four counts, Count I, possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, a Class 3 felony; Count II, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), a Class 4 felony; Count III, violation of protection order, a Class 1 misdemeanor; and Count IV, possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction. A plea agreement was announced. Antelope County...
Dennis C. Statler, 50, of Neligh faced the Honorable Donna Taylor last Wednesday, Sept. 2, in the Antelope County courtroom for sentencing on a Class 1 misdemeanor count of domestic assault, cause body injury, committed March 31. He was sentenced to a 12-month term of probation, including related fees totaling $390 and $60 costs of prosecution. In addition to standard terms of probation, Statler was ordered to complete a co-occurring evaluation and to follow recommendations; complete an initial diagnostic interview for Batterer’s I...
Ronald E. Frazier, 48, of Neligh faced the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district courtroom last Wednesday, Aug. 26, for arraignment on count of making terroristic threats. Frazier faces a possible penalty, if convicted of the Class 3A felony alleged July 6 at a Neligh bar, of up to three years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine, or both. Accompanied by public defender Patrick Carney of Norfolk, Frazier entered a not guilty plea. Pretrial hearing is set Sept. 30, with a jury trial scheduled for Jan. 19, 2021. Bond, in the...
A dad, who had been remanded to the county sheriff’s custody to serve a jail sentence, drove away from the courthouse in a private vehicle last Wednesday, with his children as passengers. Shane Sleister did not go directly to jail. Instead of proceeding north toward the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center, Sleister’s vehicle headed west on 5th Street, followed by Antelope County deputy and courtroom bailiff, Lyle Juracek, The 46-year old Oakdale man faced Taylor for sentencing on a Class 3 misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace, a cha...
Roger D. Stuckwisch, 78, of Tilden, was convicted of six crimes in a sexual assault case with victims as young as four years of age. Charged with 12 counts of sexual assault of a child, five first degree and seven third degree, Stuckwisch was adjudged guilty by the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district court last week, after he pleaded no contest, pursuant to a plea deal, to subjecting six different children to sexual abuse between 2005 and 2016. He was convicted of Count I, as...
The Honorable Donna Taylor presided over an array of cases last Wednesday, stemming from fights, traffic crashes, driving while intoxicated or under suspension, to dog attacks. In a rare move, Taylor chose not to follow a sentencing recommendation county attorney Joseph Abler offered as part of a plea deal. Abler recommended a fine only for Smokie J. Pike, 24, of Kearney, in exchange for Pike's no contest plea to third-degree assault, fight by mutual consent, a Class 2 misdemeanor. After...
Justin W. Bennett, 24, formerly of Lancaster, California, currently incarcerated at the Antelope County Jail, appeared before the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom Wednesday, June 17, on an extradition request from Los Angeles County, California. Prior to facing the judge, Bennett informed county attorney Joe Abler he intended to request a hearing, to find out what the California charges are about. Documents in possession of Antelope County officials listed allegations by code only. Abler said he had not looked up...
