March 2015 – Page 21 – North Platte Post Archive

Study: Male Nurses Scarce But Paid More Than Female RNs

Posted on March 24, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) — A new study says that the gender pay gap exists even in nursing, an occupation dominated by women.

The researchers found that among registered nurses, women’s salaries average about $5,000 less than men’s. That gap isn’t as big as in other occupations, but it hasn’t budged in more than 20 years.

They say the findings are surprising, since about 90 percent of the nation’s more than 2 million registered nurses are women.

The reasons are unclear but one factor may be that when women nurses leave to have children, they re-enter the workforce at a lower pay scale than their male peers who never took time off.

The study appears in Tuesday’s Journal of the American Medical Association.

Man Convicted in Southeast Nebraska Hit-and-Run Death Case

Posted on March 24, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 33-year-old man has taken a plea deal in the hit-and-run death of a rural Hickman resident in southeast Nebraska.

Court records say James Gibbs, of Panama, pleaded no contest to manslaughter on Monday. Prosecutors dropped a charge of failing to stop and render aid in return for Gibbs’ plea.

Authorities say Gibbs was driving his pickup home from a bar when he hit 62-year-old Gregory Nicklas around 11:30 p.m. on May 29 last year while Nicklas was out walking his dog. Gibbs left the scene but later turned himself in.

Man Accused of Stealing Car from Lincoln Dealership

Posted on March 24, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man has been arrested after Lincoln police say he stole a vehicle from a car dealership.

Sgt. John Walsh says workers at DuTeau Chevrolet reported on Monday afternoon that someone had stolen a 2015 Chevy Camaro. Nebraska State Patrol troopers tracked the car for about an hour before Lincoln police officers began a pursuit.

Walsh says officers tried to arrest the 21-year-old suspect, but he rammed the vehicle into a patrol car before taking off. Police worked with the car dealership’s employees, who reached out to OnStar to shut the car off remotely.

Walsh says officers eventually were able to arrest the man on suspicion of felony theft, fleeing to avoid arrest and other charges.

Iowan Who Managed Nebraska Apartments is Sentenced

Posted on March 24, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 41-year-old Iowa woman who was managing property in northeast Nebraska’s South Sioux City has been sentenced for lying to federal officials.

Federal prosecutors said Monday that Melissa Edwards, of Sioux City, Iowa, was given a year and a day in prison and was ordered to pay more than $179,000 in restitution. She must serve three years of supervised release when she leaves custody.

Prosecutors say Edwards falsified applications and recertifications for Section 8 housing subsidies from October 2011 to October 2013.

In August Edwards was placed on probation in Iowa’s Woodbury County District Court after pleading guilty to theft for stealing more than $8,000 while manager of a Sioux City apartment complex.

Carlson to Be Recommended as Next Principal at Adams Middle School

Posted on March 24, 2015

North Platte Public Schools Associate Superintendent Tami Eshleman will be recommending Vikki Carlson to the North Platte Public School District’s Board of Education for Adams Middle School principal starting in the 2015-2016 school year.

According to Eshleman, the interview team included incoming Superintendent Dr. Ron Hanson, district administrators, building administrators, and staff from Adams and Madison.

The position was posted on the school website, as well as on the Teach in Nebraska website, CareerBuilder, Omaha World Herald and the Nebraska Council of School Administrators website.

“When visioning what the future holds for North Platte Public Schools, Vikki would be a valuable principal in the reformation in the future,” said Eshleman. “She has established a positive rapport with students, parents, and staff. Vikki is a team player and is supportive in her role as assistant principal where she has been in very collaborative settings at both the high school and the middle school with the building principals.”

Carlson is a graduate of North Platte High School. She graduated from University of Nebraska at Lincoln with a Bachelors of Arts with a Language Arts Endorsement. She received her first Masters from Doane with a degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

She received her second Masters from University of Nebraska-Kearney in Educational Administration and has 13 years experiences as a teacher and five years as serving as an Assistant Principal.

In a letter of recommendation, outgoing Adams Middle School principal, Jeff Steinbeck, wrote, ““When she (Mrs. Carlson) started at Adams, it was evident that she had a strong rapport with the teachers. Everyone in this building is comfortable with her leadership and they know that she can be trusted and will treat everyone fairly. Her effect on the culture of this building in the years she has spent here as a teacher and administrator are invaluable. She is truly a contributor to the good things that are happening at Adams Middle School.”

Steinbeck will be leaving at the end of the 2014/2015 school year to become the seventh through twelfth grade principal for Hershey Public Schools.

Carlson and her husband, Lance, have two children, Jack and Drew.

The recommendation will be made the the North Platte Public Schools Board of Education at their regular meeting on April 14.

Ex-Husker Football Coach Charged with Domestic Assault

Posted on March 24, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former University of Nebraska football coach has been charged with domestic assault after Lincoln police say he threw a picture frame at a 33-year-old woman.

Forty-year-old Rick Kaczenski was Nebraska’s defensive line coach from 2012 to 2014. Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Carolyn Bosn charged him with third-degree domestic assault Monday.

A Lincoln police officer says police were called over the weekend to a Lincoln home about an argument between two people. Police found the woman with a cut to her forehead and scratches to her face and neck.

Kaczenski was jailed Sunday on suspicion of committing third-degree domestic assault. He was released on bond Monday night.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Kaczenski has an attorney.

Free Weather Radios Being Handed Out in 5 Nebraska Towns

Posted on March 24, 2015

COLERIDGE, Neb. (AP) — Free weather alert radios will be distributed in five northeast Nebraska towns on Tuesday.

The event is sponsored by the Northeast Nebraska Long Term Recovery Team, a volunteer group formed after tornadoes struck northeast Nebraska last summer.

The radios may be picked up from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wakefield Fire Station in Wakefield and the Coleridge Fire Station in Coleridge. Other distribution points are the Wisner Fire Station in Wisner and the swimming pool in Pilger, both from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and the Stanton Fire Station in Stanton from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The radios will be preprogrammed for the appropriate county/counties. There is a limit of one radio per household.

Fire Danger High in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming

Posted on March 24, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Dry weather and winds forecast to gust to around 45 mph are expected to raise the risk of wildfires across the eastern half of Colorado as well as parts of Wyoming, Nebraska and Kansas.

The National Weather Service has posted red flag warnings Tuesday for areas including southeastern Wyoming, the Nebraska Panhandle and western Kansas. In Colorado, the warning area extends up and down the Front Range and south to Trinidad and east to the border as well as the San Luis Valley.

New fires can quickly spread out of control in the forecast conditions and the weather service is warning against any outdoor burning.

Elaine Mae Odean Stagemeyer

Posted on March 24, 2015

Elaine Mae Odean Stagemeyer, 85 years, longtime resident of Hershey, NE, passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2015, at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg, NE.

Elaine was born January 28, 1930, to George Livingston and Ruby Elizabeth Owen Humphrey at Sutherland, NE where she grew up. Elaine graduated from Sutherland High School in 1947.

On November 2, 1947, Elaine married Delmar Delaine Odean in Sutherland and they made their home in Hershey. To this union three children, Kenneth, David and Elizabeth, were born. Delmar and Elaine later divorced. She married Eugene ‘Gene’ Stagemeyer on June 19, 1978, at Hershey. They lived in Hershey before moving to North Platte in 1991. She returned to Hershey in 2007 to be closer to her family and enjoyed spending time with her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. Elaine and Gene also enjoyed traveling until he passed away in 2003.

Elaine was a member of the Hershey United Methodist Church and was the first woman bus driver for Hershey school. She also worked as a waitress at the North Platte Elk’s Club and Hershey Truck Stop. Elaine enjoyed crocheting, gardening and yard work, and liked her coffee.

Survivors include her children, Elizabeth ‘Liz’ (Steve) Ellerd, of Platteville, CO, and Kenny (Cindy) Odean and David (Julie) Odean, of Hershey; stepchildren, Brenda (Bill) Perry and Mike Stagemeyer, of Elwood, NE; six grandchildren, Javin Odean, Stevi (Clayton) Rawles, Scott Wilson, Stephanee (Bryan) Borquez, Jeremiah (Jamie) Ellerd and David Ellerd; 16 great-grandchildren; three great great-grandchildren; her sister, Lila (Clarence) Arensdorf, of Sutherland; a brother, George (Aubra) Humphrey, of Sutherland; sister-in-law, Marjorie Goedert, of Sutherland; brother-in-law, Don Karash, of Arapahoe, NE; and many nieces, nephews and other family.

Along with her husband, Gene, Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, George and Ruby Humphrey; two brothers, Jack and LeRoy Humphrey; sister-in-law, Dolores Karash; and a great-grandson, Elijah Ellerd.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 26, 2015, at the Hershey United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Riverview Cemetery south of Sutherland. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to the Hershey United Methodist Church. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Statewide Tornado Drill to Be Held Wednesday in Conjunction with Severe Weather Awareness Week

Posted on March 24, 2015

The week of March 23-27, 2015 has been designated as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Nebraska.

The week provides opportunities for public, government and private businesses to raise awareness, prepare, test and practice procedures for what to do during a severe weather event.

As long as no severe weather is expected or occurring, the statewide tornado drill will be conducted by the National Weather Service on Wednesday, March 25th between 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. CDT (9 a.m. to 10 a.m. MDT).

In the event of active weather on March 25th, the tornado drill will be completed on March 26th.

The purpose of the drill is to ensure that Nebraskans can adequately receive a tornado warning and to practice any actions which would be taken to protect your life in the event of a real tornado. The test warning will be sent through all communication channels which are normally used for severe weather dissemination.

Officials say this tornado drill presents an excellent opportunity for everyone at work, school, or home to practice their safety measures.

Severe Weather Awareness Week provides the National Weather Service the opportunity to get potentially lifesaving information out to the public.