04-Mar-2019 / Scottsbluff PD
On 03/03/2019 Officers responded to a call of lewd and lascivious conduct in the stairwell of the apartments located at 19 W19th Street. Upon arrival officers made contact with individuals at that location. During the contact a male later identified as Jesse Smith pushed the door shut and would not allow officers into the apartment complex. At this point Smith began making threats to law enforcement and officers began to evacuate occupants from the building. Officers from Gering Police Department, Scottsbluff County Sheriff’s department and the Nebraska State Patrol arrived on scene to assist. Smith then retreated from the stairwell into his apartment and would not comply with Officers commands to exit the apartment. After the apartments had been evacuated a decision to enter Smiths apartment was made. Officers entered the apartment and Smith was taken into custody without further incident. Smith was transported to the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center where he was charged with Terroristic Threats and Obstructing a police office
25-Feb-2019 / SBPS Release
On 2/25/19 at approximately 01:17, Scottsbluff Police were initially dispatched to a vehicle versus train collision at the Broadway railroad crossing. Upon arrival by police it was determined no vehicle was involved. The investigation found that a south bound pedestrian had been struck by an east bound BNSF train. The pedestrian was deceased on police arrival. The pedestrian was identified as David Sound Sleeper (29) of Scottsbluff, NE. The railroad crossings of W. 20th, Broadway, and 5th Ave were closed for approximately 2.5 hours while the investigation was completed. The investigation found that the train crossing arms and audible horns were functioning properly at the time of the incident. Scottsbluff Fire and Valley Ambulance also responded to the scene.
21-Feb-2019 / Ryan Baker / NSP
News Director Ryan Baker talked to Police Chief Dennis DaMoude tonight after the shooting in Holdrege Thursday afternoon.
Press Release from Nebraska State Patrol
A Holdrege man has been arrested following the shooting deaths of two people and the wounding of a third person in multiple incidents that occurred in Holdrege during the afternoon hours of Thursday, February 21.
At approximately 2:30 p.m., the Holdrege Police Department responded to a report of a shooting at 416 Logan Street. Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the incident. Additional crime scenes were then identified in multiple units at the Sunrise View Apartments at 1422 12th Avenue.
A short time later, a vehicle owned by the suspect was seen traveling in the north part of Holdrege. A short, low-speed pursuit ensued and the suspect drove to the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office where he was taken into custody without further incident.
The suspect, Manuel Gomez, 45, of Holdrege, has been lodged in Phelps County Jail. Gomez is the only suspect in all three shootings.
The victims are identified as Raymond Burton, 65, David Rogers, 54, both of whom were found deceased in separate units of the Sunrise View Apartments. The third victim, Doyle Morse, 64, was able to call 911 after being shot at 416 Logan Street. He has been life-flighted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney in critical condition.
The Nebraska State Patrol has been assisted by the Holdrege Police Department, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office, and South Central Area Law Enforcement Services in the investigation. The investigation is ongoing.
Interview with Dennis DaMoude
20-Feb-2019 / KRGI
14-Feb-2019 / WESTCO PR
WESTCO and the Land O’ Lakes Foundation continued their support of local food pantries with a $10,000 donation to Panhandle Love in Action on Wednesday. The contribution was made possible by the Land O’ Lakes Foundation’s Member Coop Match Program, Feeding Our Communities, which focuses specifically on helping alleviate hunger in rural America.
The Member Co-op Match Program matches dollar-for-dollar the cash donation of member cooperatives, thus doubling the funds available for hometown projects and programs.
“As a part of our commitment to rural communities where Land O’Lakes, Inc. members, employees and facilities are located, Land O’Lakes Foundation is pleased to match donations by member cooperatives which help enhance the quality of life in their local communities,” said Lydia Botham, Executive Director for the Land O’Lakes Foundation.
WESTCO General Manager David Briggs added, “WESTCO is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Land O’ Lakes once again in supporting local food pantries. Panhandle Love in Action continues to provide a vital service year-round and we hope these funds can help them with their goals of alleviating hunger in the community.”
06-Feb-2019 / Scottsbluff PD
On 2/5/19 at approximately 21:43, Scottsbluff Police responded to the intersection of Hwy 26 and 5th Ave in reference to an injury accident involving two vehicles. The investigation found that a blue 2005 Chrysler Pacifica driven by Austin Rhamy (20) of Scottsbluff and a gray 2004 GMC Yukon driven by Raquel Wurdeman (23) of Gering were involved in the accident. It was found that the Chrysler was north bound on 5th Ave and the GMC was east bound on Hwy 26. The Chrysler and GMC collided in the intersection. Both drivers reported they each had the green traffic signal in their respective directions of travel. There were no witnesses on scene to confirm which direction of travel had the green traffic signal. Both vehicles were estimated to have $7000 in damages. Both vehicles were required to be towed from the scene. Wurdeman and one passenger in the GMC had complaints of pain, but declined to be transported by ambulance for treatment. Scottsbluff Fire Department and Valley Ambulance responded to the accident. Eastbound lanes of Hwy 26 at 5th Ave were closed for approximately 45 minutes while the accident was investigated.
05-Feb-2019 / Ap
KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are trying to find the mother who left her newborn male twins after their birth at a central Nebraska hospital.
Kearney police officers were sent to CHI Good Samaritan hospital Monday afternoon and learned the mother had provided false information to the hospital when she was admitted. The babies were born Saturday.
The twins have been placed in state custody. Police investigators are working with the hospital and state Health and Human Services Department officials on identifying the boys' mother.
It's not clear whether the mother left her boys at the hospital under provisions of the state's safe haven law. Nebraska lawmakers approved the law in 2008 to protect newborns from abandonment.
05-Feb-2019 / Ap
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Backers of an effort to legalize medical marijuana in Nebraska have filed formal paperwork for a statewide ballot campaign.
Nebraskans for Sensible Marijuana Laws submitted their proposed constitutional amendment Tuesday to the Nebraska Secretary of State's office.
State Sens. Anna Wishart and Adam Morfeld, of Lincoln, are co-chairing the effort to place the issue on the 2020 ballot.
Wishart has introduced a bill that would allow lawmakers to legalize the drug for medicinal purposes, but it faces stiff opposition from state and local law enforcement, Gov. Pete Ricketts and prominent Nebraskans including former Husker football coach Tom Osborne.
Legalization supporters have said they will pursue the ballot campaign if lawmakers don't pass a measure this year.
05-Feb-2019 / Ap
CHAPPELL, Neb. (AP) — A murder charge has been filed against a woman accused of stabbing a man outside a mobile home in the Nebraska Panhandle.
Deuel County District Court records say 49-year-old Susan Glenn was charged Friday with first-degree murder and a weapons crime. A woman who answered the phone Tuesday at her attorney's office said there would be no comment from the attorney. Glenn's next court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 21.
Glenn had been charged with assault and use of a weapon.
The court records say a witness who'd been standing outside the home talking to Robert Mick on Jan. 13 in Chappell was on the phone with 911 dispatchers when Glenn came out of the residence, stabbed Mick and fled in her car. He died four days later.
The records say she's acknowledged to investigators that she stabbed Mick.
30-Jan-2019 / Ap
COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A 19-year-old driver is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 26 for the Platte County crash death of a motorcyclist.
Court records say Daisy Gonzalez, of Madison, pleaded no contest Tuesday to misdemeanor vehicular homicide. Prosecutors dropped a related charge in return for her plea.
The records say the collision occurred Aug. 2 at the intersection of Nebraska Highway 91 and 490th Street. The records say her minivan collided with the motorcycle driven by 22-year-old Joshua Gasper, of Columbus. He died days later of his injuries.
