March 2015 – Page 2 – North Platte Post Archive

Fire at Omaha Recycling Center Blankets City in Smelly Haze

Posted on March 31, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Smoke from a large fire at an Omaha recycling center wafted across the city and lingered as a smelly haze long after after flames were extinguished.

Several fire crews responded to the fire around 5 a.m. Tuesday at International Paper Co. in east Omaha and remained on the scene for hours, working to put out smoldering paper and cardboard that had been awaiting processing.

A breeze blew smoke from the blaze toward parts of downtown and midtown Omaha, bringing with it a prominent odor. Health officials cautioned residents about the health risks associated with visible smoke.

An employee with the company estimated that hundreds of tons of paper and cardboard had been outside when the fire sparked. No injuries were reported in the fire.

Trial Set for Woman Accused of Drowning Puppy at Grand Island Airport

Posted on March 31, 2015March 31, 2015

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A June trial has been scheduled for a Florida woman accused of drowning a puppy in a south-central Nebraska airport bathroom.

In a document filed in Hall County District Court on Friday, 57-year-old Cynthia Anderson waived her right to a preliminary hearing and asked that a plea of not guilty be entered. Anderson, who is from Edgewater, Florida, is charged with felony cruel neglect of animals. Her trial is set to begin June 8.

On Jan. 23 Anderson was barred from boarding a flight at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island because the puppy was so young and not properly contained.

Authorities say Anderson then was seen entering the bathroom. Another woman soon reported finding a dead Doberman puppy in a toilet.

Lincoln County Marriage Licenses (Week of March 23)

Posted on March 31, 2015March 31, 2015

Aaron Lee O’Brien, 24, Wallace NE and Lauren Elizabeth Carl, 22, North Platte

Andrew Scott Peters, 32, North Platte and Tara Kay Maunder, 27, North Platte

Shaquille Michael Merksick, 21, North Platte and Shirley Ann Keck, 22, North Platte

Joshua Jacob Malsbury, 26, North Platte and Lindsey Elizabeth Wernsman, 26, North Platte

Ryan Glenn Smith, 26, Tyron NE and Christy Ann Kathman, 26, North Platte

Joshua Ryan Grauerholz, 20, Wallace NE and Chelsea Marie Sowle, 20, Wallace NE

Officials Investigate Suspicious Package at Nebraska Capitol

Posted on March 31, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Officials are investigating a suspicious package found on the second floor of the Nebraska Capitol.

The item found Tuesday afternoon delayed the start of afternoon debate in the Legislature.

Nearby offices were cleared and Capitol staff members were keeping onlookers restricted to the northern side of the building. The area outside the main legislative chambers, beneath the Capitol rotunda, was also blocked off.

Patrick O’Donnell, the clerk of the Legislature, says the item is a briefcase left unattended with some things that “don’t look quite right.”

Hazel Melvina Wisdom

Posted on March 31, 2015

Hazel Melvina Wisdom, 96 years, of North Platte, NE, passed away Monday, March 30, 2015, at North Platte Care Center.

Hazel was born September 27, 1918, to Hans and Helma (Berg) Bjerknes in Gonvick, MN, where she grew up. Hazel graduated from Gonvick High School at the age of 15 then attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.

Hazel met Harry Allison Wisdom and they were married on December 10, 1938, in Fargo, ND. Harry worked for Nash Finch and was transferred several times with the company before moving to North Platte in 1960.

Hazel was an active member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church. She volunteered at the North Platte hospital for many years and was a member of R.S.V.P. Hazel enjoyed golfing, playing bridge, working crossword puzzles and reading, but most of all she enjoyed her family. She will be remembered for her thoughtful support, concern for others and a smile that could “light up a room”.

Hazel was a devoted mother and grandmother who will be dearly missed by her three children, Harry (Kathy) Wisdom, of Burnsville, MN, Tom (Judy) Wisdom, of Lexington, NE, and Linda (Al) Schimek, of North Platte; nine grandchildren, Brian (Megan) Schimek, Jeff (Sarah) Wisdom, Jennifer (Pat) McPartland, Marc (Tara) Wisdom, Dan (Melissa) Wisdom, Suzi (Chadd) Hoeft, Joel (Anne) Wisdom, Amy (Tommy) Strese and Ty Wisdom; 11 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry; parents, Hans and Helma Bjerknes; sister and brother-in-law, Adeline and Arnt Aune; and sister-in-law, Julie Pettibone.

Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Friday, April 3, 2015, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Chaplain Gary Smith officiating. Inurnment will follow in the North Platte Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday with family greeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore.

Memorials can be made to the First Evangelical Lutheran Church or the donor’s choice. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Chamber of Commerce: Counterfeit Bills Passed in North Platte

Posted on March 31, 2015

The North Platte Area Chamber of Commerce is warning local businesses after counterfeit bills were passed in the North Platte area.

Officials say at least one bank in North Platte has received counterfeit bills in the past week.

The bills are said to be of very good quality, and have been seen in both $1 and $100 denominations.

The Chamber is telling businesses who handle cash to be aware of the situation and be vigilant.

If you have any information, or believe you have received a counterfeit bill, contact local law enforcement immediately.

Three Huskers To Transfer

Posted on March 31, 2015

Lincoln, Neb. – Nebraska volleyball head coach John Cook announced on Tuesday that Alexa Ethridge, Maddie Haggerty and Kira Larson are leaving the Nebraska volleyball program. Each player has been given a full release to transfer.

“We are very thankful for the contributions these three young women have provided to our program, both on and off the court,” Cook said. “Alexa, Maddie and Kira are great talents and special people with high character. They all have bright futures ahead of them, and we wish them nothing but the very best. We are totally supportive of their decisions.”

Ethridge was a defensive and serving specialist for the Huskers the past two seasons, appearing in 66 career matches. Larson played in 15 matches this season as a redshirt freshman, registering 13 kills and 10 blocks. Haggerty sat out her freshman season with a lingering injury.

The Huskers, who just wrapped up their third sand season with a 6-2 record, will now begin preparing for their only spring match on April 25 against Kansas State in Grand Island.

Kubat and Dilday Earn Big Ten Honors

Posted on March 31, 2015

Lincoln – Following a 4-1 week for the Nebraska baseball team, that included a sweep of the nationally-ranked Texas Longhorns, senior Kyle Kubat was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week and freshman Elijah Dilday was named Big Ten Co-Freshmen of the Week by the conference office on Tuesday morning. The Huskers have earned three weekly awards from the league office this season, as Ryan Boldt was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Feb. 23.

One day after being tabbed as one of Collegiate Baseball’s Louisville Slugger National Players of the Week, Kubat earned his first career weekly honor from the Big Ten office. The senior lefty has been lights out for the Huskers on Saturdays this season and was on top of his game against the No. 16 Longhorns. Kubat tossed 8.0 shutout inning and notched a career-high nine strikeouts for the second straight week. Following a two-out single by Brooks Marlow in the fourth, Kubat retired the final 13 Longhorns he faced. It was the senior’s third career outing of at least 8.0 innings and trailed only his 8.2-inning effort against Michigan at last season’s Big Ten Tournament.

Kubat, along with relievers Jake Hohensee, Colton Howell and Jeff Chesnut limited the Longhorns to four hits and three walks on the day, while piling up 19 strikeouts. The most strikeouts by a Husker staff since 2009 when NU notched 22 punch outs in a 15 inning game against Louisiana-Lafayette. After the Longhorns produced three hits through the first three innings, they then didn’t record another hit until Ben Johnson led off the 14^th with a single. Texas totaled just seven base runners and had a runner in scoring position only twice all game.

After missing the first 20 games of the year with a shoulder injury to his non-throwing arm, Dilday has quickly made his impact on the Husker offense and defense. The St. Charles, Mo., native started all five of NU’s games last week in left field and hit .462 on the week with at least one hit in every game. The 6-1 Dilday notched his first career multi-hit game, including a two-out RBI double in the third, in NU’s sweep clinching win over the Longhorns on Sunday. Dilday struck out once all week, while slugging .538 with an on-base percentage of .500, and he also played stellar defense with multiple diving catches.

Top Prosecutor Named for Box Butte County

Posted on March 31, 2015

ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) — The deputy county attorney for Cheyenne County has been named county attorney for Box Butte County.

Box Butte County commissioners swore in 55-year-old Charlotte Hood on Monday.

Hood will be taking over next month from Joe Stecher, who became interim county attorney after Kathleen Hutchinson’s resignation in January. He’d been offered the job but declined, citing personal circumstances.

FBI Identifies Man Killed After NSA Shooting

Posted on March 31, 2015

FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) — The FBI has identified a man fatally shot at a National Security Agency gate after disobeying orders from guards there.

Spokeswoman Amy Thoreson says the dead man was 27-year-old Ricky Shawatza Hall. His passenger and an NSA police officer were injured and hospitalized and have not been identified.

Thoreson says the two men were dressed as women but “not in an attempt to disguise themselves from authorities.”

Authorities say they had stolen a sport utility vehicle minutes before from a 60-year-old man who had picked them up in Baltimore and brought them to a Howard County motel to “party.”

NSA police officers opened fire on the SUV after the men failed to follow instructions for leaving a restricted area.