The Leonard and Judy Strobbe residence at 11740 Brightwell in rural Platte County caught fire last Wednesday night. the blaze was discovered about 8 p.m. by Strobbe when he was outside doing chores. He said he looked up to see a fire about five to six feet in diameter on the roof. He believes the blaze started when sparks from the chimney caught shingles on fire. The Strobbes and their two children escaped without injury, saving only a few mementos. Strobbe said his family was renting the house and did not have insurance to cover their losses. Red Cross is providing them assistance, he said. It took firefighters from South Platte, Central Platte, and West Platte fire departments about 90 minutes to bring the fire under control. One Central Platte firefighter, Kevin Burge, suffered burns on the back of his neck and hands. He was treated at a hospital and released.
Thomas T. Tobin, the former Camden Point police chief accused of making more than $20,000 in unauthorized telephone calls to a 1-900 psychic from City Hall, will face his preliminary hearing Wednesday, March 6 at 9 a.m. The hearing is set for Jackson County, having been moved there on a change of venue that was approved by Platte County Circuit Court Judge Owens Lee Hull earlier this month. Tobin is charged with felony stealing by deceit. Investigators say the unauthorized calls were made September through December. Tobin posted bond of $5,000.
