The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, March 02, 1999, Image 1

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    SPORTS
Big fella 1
Venson Hamilton was named to the first-team
All Big 12 team. Hamilton and Cookie Belcher f
were named to the All-defensive team. PAGE 7
A & i
-T
Chained to music
In Nebraska, the numbers of independent record
stores have dwindled to exactly one in the past 10
years, but Homer's is going strong. PAGE 9
TUESDAY
March 2, 1999
Wind-Wind Situation
Windy and cooler, high 45. Clearing tonight, low 20.
Former teacher testifies in murder trial
Witness cites disbelief, sexual relationship as reasons for not reporting confession
By Josh Funk
Senior staff writer
A former Lincoln Regional
Center teacher testified Monday that
she did not report Michael
Schmader’s murder because she did
not believe his murderer's confession.
At Tony Galligo’s murder trial,
Karen Brown said she did not believe
Timothy Hopkins' confession in June
1996.
“I was not sure he was truthful,’’
Brown said. “I thought he may be
having trouble with his medication.”
Brown admitted that she smoked
marijuana with Hopkins and Galligo
on several occasions, and that she
started having sex with Hopkins
about a month after his first confes
sion.
Brown said that after she began
having sex with him she did not
report Hopkins' confession because
she >vas worried about what would
happen if the details of their relation
ship became known.
Brown said that Hopkins told her
he and Galligo had planned to kill
Schmader and that Galligo helped in
the killing.
In September 1997, Hopkins offi
cially confessed to Schmader s mur
der, and now Galligo is on trial for his
role in the 1995 murder.
On Oct. 18, 1995, Schmader was
brutally beaten and stabbed in ary
Antelope Creek storm-drainage tun
nel under 48th Street for stealing two
cartons of cigarettes from Hopkins
and Galligo.
On the stand Hopkins told how he
stabbed Schmader more than a dozen
times while Galligo watched.
Hopkins said Galligo grabbed a
rock and dropped it on Schmader’s
head. Then Hopkins picked up the
rock and slammed it down on
Schmader several times, he said.
Schmader’s body was buried in
the creek bed until it was discovered
on Dec. 22, 1995.
Brown, who worked at the region
al center from August 1992 to
February 1999, taught all three boys
when they were admitted to the center
in late 1994.
In the summer of 1995, Hopkins,
Galligo and Schmader moved into the
same group home in south Lincoln,
and Brown continued to tutor
Hopkins and Galligo.
Brown said that she had a sexual
relationship with Hopkins from July
1996 to late August 1997, just before
Hopkins confessed to police.
Please see TRIAL on 3
Legislature
considers
bar hours
■ The General Affairs
committee hears a proposal to
extend closing time to 2 a.m.
By Jessica Fargen
Senior staff writer
The proximity of Iowa and the lure
of its bars’ 2 a.m. closing times are why
many Nebraskans drive across the bor
der to drink, a state senator said.
But Omaha Sen. John Hilgert wants
to put a stop to that with LB501, which
would let Nebraska bars in tourism,
trade and convention areas stay open
until 2 a.m.
Hilgert asked the Ueneral Attairs
Committee on Monday to advance
LB501 for two reasons: to keep
Nebraskans in the state and give Omaha
the opportunity to compete with other
Midwestern convention towns that have
later closing times.
“We would like to compete with
Kansas City, (Mo.) and St. Louis, and
put ourselves on the map,” Hilgert said.
“I think it’s valid. I think it's do-able.”
Missouri law allows bars in specific
areas of Kansas City and St. Louis to
stay open past 1a.m.
Under LB501, the following areas
would be eligible for 2 a.m. closing
times:
■ Areas where conventions are held
on a regular basis.
■ Areas where tourism is consid
ered a significant source of income.
■ Areas where trade is considered to
be a significant reason people are in that
area.
A town could have more than one of
these areas.
Several senators questioned the con
stitutionality of the bill, saying it could
result in unfair competition among
Please see BARS on 3
Heather Glenboski/DN
FOCUS PARTY presidential candidate Paul Schreier said he would bring his philosophy of hard work
and paying attention to detail to ASUN’s top office. Schreier, a senior computer engineering major
and current chairman of the Committee for Fees Allocation, has held many positions at UNL.
Read the Daily Nebraskan on the World Wide Web at dailyneb.com
FOCUS
on the
Schreier, Focus
oppose at-large
senate amendment
Editor's note: This is the second in a Po
part series profilingASUNpresidential candi
dates for Wednesday s election. Monday s pro
file featured Andy Schuerman, Voice presiden
tial candidate.
By Kim Sweet
Staff writer
It’s all in the details.
At least that’s what Focus party presiden
tial candidate Paul Schreier will tell you if you
ask him how to efficiently use student fees,
create a campuswide policy for e-mail use or
determine where funds from the technology
fee should go.
The current ASUN senator’s careful atten
tion to details has landed him spots on adviso
ry boards and allocations committees across
campus.
And that attention to detail was ultimately
what confirmed his decision to run for student
body president, Schreier said.
Accompanying current ASUN President
Sara Russell to the Chancellor’s Cabinet one
day, Schreier became one of the lone voices of
dissension when discussing a parking propos
al.
Please see FOCUS on 3