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Wayne Eugene Vollbrecht


VOLLBRECHT

Wayne Eugene Vollbrecht, 84, of North Platte, passed away June 23, 2014 at Great Plains Health. He was born May 27, 1930 to Herbert G. and Nora B. (Nicholson) Vollbrecht at Grand Island. He grew up in Bartlett and graduated from North Platte High School. On September 12, 1948, he was united in marriage to Kathleen Bailey in North Platte. He was employed in various businesses, including, a ranch hand in Chambers, NE, truck driver and route salesman for Coca Cola, Kitty Clover, Dakota Snack Sales in Rapid City, SD, Best Linen, administrator for the Moose Lodge and Magic Spray Car Wash until his retirement in 2006. Wayne loved to fish at the Lake Maloney Inlet. He is survived by a son, Kent of North Platte; four daughters, Marcia (Richard) Fugate of North Platte, Carol Rudisale of North Platte, Nancy (John) Flores of Alliance and Vickie (Terry Sandstrom) Snyder of Wheatland, WY; 12 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren; and an adopted daughter, Peggy Stark. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife and one brother, Herbert Lee. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 27, 2014 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Burial will be at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.

Wet, Stormy Weather Slows Nebraska Fieldwork

usdaLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Wet and stormy weather last week slowed fieldwork in Nebraska, but helped improve soil moisture levels.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says reports of 2-to-3 inches of rain were common in central Nebraska, and up to 6 inches of rain was reported in northeast Nebraska.

Significant storm damage was also reported in northeast Nebraska. Crops, livestock, irrigation equipment and grain storage facilities were all damaged by tornadoes near Pilger and Wakefield.

The USDA says 80 percent of the topsoil had adequate or surplus moisture, and 68 percent of the state’s subsoil had adequate or surplus moisture.

About 68 percent of the corn is in good or excellent condition. And 69 percent of the soybeans are in good or excellent shape.

5th Teen Arrested in Slaying of Omaha Man, 23

Jail-Bars-and-Cuffs_mediumOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A fifth teenager has been arrested in the slaying of a 23-year-old Omaha man.

Omaha police said Monday that the 15-year-old boy was booked on a charge of being an accessory to a felony.

He and the four other boys are accused in the June 7 shooting death of Brandon Wallace, who was found fatally wounded on the front porch of his home. The other boys are ages 13, 15, 16 and 17. The Associated Press generally doesn’t name juveniles accused of crimes.

Study: NBA Maintains Strong Diversity Numbers

NBA-BasketballORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The NBA remains the leader in diversity among professional sports leagues.

According to a report released Tuesday, the NBA received an A-plus grade for racial hiring and B-plus for gender hiring on its annual Racial and Gender Report Card. The league received an overall grade of A.

This is the sixth consecutive overall A grade the NBA has received in the annual report by the Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sport.

With Michael Jordan the Charlotte Hornets’ majority owner and Vivek Ranadive the new controlling owner of the Sacramento Kings, the NBA is the first major pro league to have two owners of color.

The league set records this season with assistant coaches of color at 46.7 percent and 48.4 percent of its referees.

83-Year-Old Dies in Southern Nebraska Collision

fatal-crashSTRANG, Neb. (AP) — An 83-year-old woman has died after a collision on U.S. Highway 81 near Strang in southern Nebraska.

The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office says the accident occurred a little before 2:45 p.m. Sunday. The office says Joan Hendrickson was turning north off Nebraska Highway 74 onto U.S. 81 when her car was struck by a southbound sport utility vehicle.

Hendrickson, of Shickley, was fatally injured. The two people in the SUV were treated at a nearby hospital and released.

Nurses Aide Convicted of Raping 92-Year-Old Woman

judgeshipCINCINNATI (AP) — A former aide at a Cincinnati nursing home has been convicted of raping a 92-year-old resident who was confined to her bed and unable to communicate.

A judge on Monday found 22-year-old Samuel Onyenweaku guilty of the woman’s Nov. 24 rape at the Amber Park Nursing Home.

A prosecutor says the woman died in February from an unrelated condition.

A nursing supervisor testified that she had tried to enter the resident’s room, but the door was locked. When she finally opened it, she says she found the resident naked from the chest down and Onyenweaku in her private bathroom.

Onyenweaku was convicted of rape, felonious assault and patient abuse.

He could face 20 years in prison when he’s sentenced July 28.

Woman Arrested After Leaving Baby in Car at Platte River Mall

Kristen Smedley
Kristen Smedley

A 34-year-old Pennsylvania woman has been charged with misdemeanor child abuse after she allegedly left her baby in the car while at the Platte River Mall.

At around 8:00 p.m., on June 23, officers with the North Platte Police Department were dispatched to the Platte River Mall on the report of a small child being left unattended in a vehicle near the front entrance.

Officers located the 23-month-old female toddler in a locked Chrysler Town and Country van with Pennsylvania plates.

Officer Rodney Brown said officers were able to determine that the child’s mother, Kristin Smedley, of Bainbridge, Pennsylvania, had forgotten her daughter in the car and went into the mall.

Brown said officers were able to gain access to the car and took temporary custody of the child approximately 30 minutes after a witness first noticed her.

Smedley was located inside JC Penney and, following further investigation, was charged with misdemeanor child abuse.

Smedley was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

The child’s father was summoned from Gothenburg and took custody of the little girl.

Brown said it is unknown exactly how long the child was in the car.  He said drugs and alcohol are not believed to be involved in the incident.

Children Win Broader Access to Donor Lungs

unosPHILADELPHIA (AP) — A national transplant board has permanently adopted a rule that gives children a better shot at donor lungs.

The vote comes a year after a Pennsylvania girl’s need for new lungs sparked a national debate on donor rules.

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network says the issue affects about 20 children a year. On Monday, the group approved a rule that lets children apply for adult lungs.

A federal judge had ordered the network to add 11-year-old Sarah Murnaghan, of Newtown Square, to the adult list last year. After two transplants — one failed — Sarah is now breathing on her own.

The network says a dozen children have asked to be added to the adult list. However, it says most are still matched with donor lungs from children.

Workers Round Up, Remove Goslings at Lincoln Lake

Nebraska_game_and_parksLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State workers have rounded up and moved some young geese away from a Lincoln lake.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission workers removed about 25 goslings at Pine Lake.

The move followed complaints that the Canada geese population had soared at the lake in southeast Lincoln and that the goslings were eating plants and leaving droppings on sidewalks and the swimming beach.

The goslings were taken to a wildlife management area outside Lincoln. No adult geese were moved because they would have led the younger birds back to Pine Lake once they could fly.

The commission took the action at the request of the Pine Lake Association.

Doctors to Parents: Start Reading to Kids Early

Medical-ChartCHICAGO (AP) — The nation’s largest pediatricians’ group says parents should read aloud to their children every day starting in infancy.

Doing so can enhance child development and prepare young minds for early language and reading ability.

That’s according to a new policy from the American Academy of Pediatrics issued Tuesday.

The academy wants pediatricians to spread the message to parents of young children and to provide books to needy families.

To help promote reading, the doctors’ group is teaming up with the Clinton Foundation’s Too Small to Fail program, children’s book publisher Scholastics Inc., and a group called Reach out and Read. That nonprofit group works with doctors and hospitals to distribute books and encourage early reading.

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