There was good news for Douglas County taxpayers. The County Commission approved a preliminary 1983 budget that would reduce the tax levy by 2.29 mills, taking the rate from 30.85 to 28.56 mills. Spending, however, was to rise $1.37 million, from $12,974,007 to $14,346,482.

A 17-year-old girl was to be tried as an adult for the June murder of her great-uncle, Douglas County District Judge James Paddock ruled. Adult charges against Lisa Bigenwalt were to be filed in District Court. The victim had been Donald L. Hatchell, 49.