June 2015 – Page 10 – North Platte Post Archive

Jury Convicts 27-Year-Old Omaha Man of Murder

Posted on June 25, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 27-year-old Omaha man faces an automatic life term in prison for killing another man after an argument about a prostitute.

A Douglas County jury in Omaha convicted Corleone McCurry after nearly five hours of deliberation on Wednesday. He was found guilty of first-degree murder and two weapons counts in the slaying of 41-year-old Timothy Marzettie at Marzettie’s house on June 25, 2014.

Prosecutors say the two had gotten into a dispute about a woman who had once worked as prostitute for Marzettie.

Former Northeast Nebraska Village Clerk Sent to Prison

Posted on June 25, 2015

OAKDALE, Neb. (AP) — A former village clerk convicted of stealing from her village in northeast Nebraska village has been given two to four years in prison.

Online court records say 31-year-old Megan Brandt had pleaded no contest and was convicted of theft. Prosecutors dropped a second charge in exchange for Brandt’s plea. At her sentencing Wednesday in Antelope County District Court, Brandt also was ordered to make restitution of more than $25,000.

The village has about 320 residents.

An arrest affidavit says bank records indicate Brandt signed and forged numerous checks from village of Oakdale accounts in 2013 and 2014 made payable to her or her husband. Brandt also was accused of making unauthorized withdrawals from village accounts using an ATM card.

Safety Agency to Investigate Lincoln Construction Death

Posted on June 25, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation after authorities say a worker was killed at a construction site.

A 41-year-old man from Sedalia, Missouri, died Wednesday when a piece of metal fell 130 feet from a crane and hit him in the head . The metal shattered his hard hat.

According to police, the incident happened on the southeast edge of the downtown campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Lincoln Police Sgt. Ed Sheridan said the man’s co-workers performed to CPR to try and save him, but he died before paramedics arrived.

Nebraskan Whose Boyfriend Beat Her Daughter Takes Plea Deal

Posted on June 25, 2015

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — An August sentencing has been scheduled for a Scottsbluff woman whose 3-year-old daughter had been severely beaten by her boyfriend.

Online court records say 25-year-old Cassandra Miller pleaded no contest and was convicted of misdemeanor child abuse by neglect. Prosecutors had lowered the charge from a felony in exchange for Miller’s plea. Her sentencing is set for Aug. 14.

Prosecutors say the girl was taken to a hospital in September by her grandmother. Doctors determined the girl had several injuries, including a lacerated liver, brain bleeding, a broken rib and bruises covering her body. Scottsbluff police say there was little food in the home, and the girl’s clothes and bedding were stained with urine.

Miller’s boyfriend, Cody Olbricht, has been sentenced to 18 to 30 years in prison.

57,000 Nebraskans Will Keep Receiving Health Care Subsidies

Posted on June 25, 2015June 25, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nearly 57,000 Nebraskans will continue to receive subsidized health insurance now that the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a conservative challenge to the Affordable Care Act.

The court’s ruling on Thursday helps avoid a situation in which premiums would have soared by an average of 265 percent.

The Kaiser Family Foundation says enrollees in Nebraska’s marketplace receive an average tax credit of $257 per month to help cover insurance costs.

Nebraska’s credits were at risk because it’s one of 34 states that defaulted to an insurance marketplace created by the federal government, rather than setting up its own.

Insurance industry leaders say a ruling that struck down the tax credits would have made coverage unaffordable for low- and middle-income people, which then could have destabilized the entire individual market.

Patricia J.G. White

Posted on June 25, 2015

Patricia J.G. White, 66, of Wellfleet, NE, passed away Thursday, June 25, 2015, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE.

She was born September 4, 1948, in Kearney. Patricia lived with her husband, Keith White, near Wellfleet, NE and worked as an x-ray technician at Great Plains Health in North Platte.

Cremation was chosen and a private family inurnment will be at a later date in the Wellfleet Cemetery. Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Nebraska Baby Run Over by Mom’s Pickup

Posted on June 25, 2015

UEHLING, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 1-year-old eastern Nebraska girl is expected to recover after being run over by a pickup driven by her mother.

The accident occurred Wednesday morning in the Dodge County community of Uehling.

Matt Schott, who is police chief for Hooper and Uehling, says the infant’s mom was backing out of a driveway and didn’t see her.

The baby was taken to a Fremont hospital and then transferred to the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Schott told the Omaha World-Herald that he’d talked to the girl’s father, who said she didn’t have any broken bones and that it looked like she was going to be OK.

Lincoln Airport Considers Adding $4.50 Ticket Fee

Posted on June 25, 2015June 25, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A $4.50 fee that the Lincoln Airport is considering adding to the ticket of every departing passenger could bring an estimated $675,000 a year.

The airport’s executive director, David Haring, said it’s important to look at all potential funding streams even though the airport is financially in good shape.

The fee is levied at around 400 airports nationwide and is called a Passenger Facility Charge. In Nebraska, airports in Grand Island, Kearney and Scottsbluff have the fee. Omaha’s Eppley Airfield doesn’t.

Money from the fee can be used to pay for local projects that are approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and directly related to air travel.

Yvonne J. “Vonnie” Easton

Posted on June 25, 2015

Yvonne J. “Vonnie” Easton, age 82, longtime North Platte resident, passed away in Golden, Co on June 23, 2015. Vonnie was born to Ruby Snyder Kunce and Charles William Kunce in Odell, Ne and lived in Arthur, Bellevue, Ogallala and North Platte, where she graduated from high school in 1950. As a child, Vonnie was a contortionist and performed in Ripley’s Believe It or Not, tap dancing on the back of her head. And when she was 16 years old, she went to Hollywood, CA to dance with the Charlie Baker Dancers. In 1951, she married Richard (Dick Easton) and they made their home here in North Platte. In addition to raising their four children, she also worked as a hairdresser. Vonnie was a member of St Patrick’s Catholic Church and later Holy Spirit. She was also a member of the Sweet Adelines and Newcomers. Prior to moving to Colorado to be close to her oldest daughter, she enjoyed playing cards, Jazzercise, and volunteering at her church. Vonnie’s children and grandchildren were her passion, as well as keeping a beautiful home. She had a strong belief in family and helped her nieces and nephews whenever she was needed. Vonnie is survived by her daughters, Pamela Easton Kearns of Lakewood, Co and Kim Easton Oltman of North Platte; two grandsons, Daniel Wayne Dotson of Kearney, NE and Kody Bo Oltman of Lincoln NE. Preceding her in death were her husband, of nearly 50 years, Richard (Dick) in 2000; her son, Richard Jr. (Rick) in 2001; and her daughter, Lori Lynn in 2009. Memorials are suggested to the Paws-itive Partners Humane Society in North Platte, NE. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with the Reverend James Golka as celebrant. Burial will be at the North Platte Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-6 pm Friday, June 26 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Rosary will follow at 6 pm at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.

JoAnn W. Bettinger

Posted on June 25, 2015June 26, 2015

JoAnn W. Bettinger, age 81 of North Platte, passed away at Centennial Park Retirement Village on Thursday June 25, 2015.
JoAnn was born in North Platte on November 14, 1933 to Orlo E. and Wilma L. (Todd) Eglehoff. She grew up in the area and attended Lincoln Elementary School and then North Platte High School, graduating in 1951. She went to work early in life due to the death of her father in France during WWII. She started at the Paramount Theater, then moved on to Northwestern Bell Telephone Systems as an operator on the night shift. It was there she met Elmer L. Bettinger who was on the night shift at the North Platte Police Department. They were married on February 18, 1956. JoAnn worked as a private secretary at Murphy’s Modern Music and later she and her mother, Wilma, started Jo’s Stitchery. They started out in Jo’s home and later moved to a shop downtown, where her daughter Vicki Schoenwald joined in after the death of Wilma. As the shop grew, she started offering a selection of quilting fabrics and notions, and began taking on commissions for embroidery and repair work for ceremonial church pieces, and for some of the country’s and state’s rodeo queens. She was a generous and loving person who was well known for her embroideries and needlepoint. She loved her shop and all the people who came through her door. After 35 years in business, JoAnn retired from her shop and worked as a desk clerk at the Royal Colonial Inn.
JoAnn is survived by her husband Elmer of North Platte; daughter Vicki (Daniel) Schoenwald of North Platte; sister Patricia Young; as well as other extended family members; and her beloved pets.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother-in-law Dorrall Young.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the WestField Small Animal Clinic for the Elmer and Jo Bettinger Memorial Fund c/o Dr. Craig Kelly, 1821 West A St., North Platte, NE 69101 and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Cremation was chosen and memorial services will be held at a later date. A register book will be available for those wishing to sign at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.