July 2015 – Page 20 – North Platte Post Archive

Nebraska guard will transfer from women’s basketball team

Posted on July 21, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska sophomore guard Chandler Smith plans to transfer from the Husker women’s basketball team.

Nebraska coach Connie Yori said in a statement released Tuesday that Smith, a 6-foot guard from Brewster, Washington, wanted to be closer to home.

Yori called Smith “a good person and a good player,” adding she was disappointed in her decision but wished her the best.

Smith played in 18 games in her freshman season, with one start. She was hampered by a foot injury that limited her playing time early in the season.

She averaged 1.8 points and 1.9 rebounds a game.

Smith was a two-time Washington Class 1A player of the year.

Chiefs waive rookie Cox after domestic assault charge

Posted on July 21, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs have waived defensive back Justin Cox, who was charged with domestic assault, burglary and trespassing for an incident that occurred Monday in Starkville, Mississippi.

Cox was being held on $40,433 bond. The case is still under investigation.

This is the second time in the past year that Cox has been arrested for an incidence of domestic violence, though the previous charge was ultimately dropped. Cox instead pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of trespassing in January.

Cox signed with the Chiefs after going undrafted out of Mississippi State, in part because of his off-the-field issues. He was suspended the final three games last year after his arrest.

Nebraska Nuke Plant Shuts Down After Coolant Pump Leaks

Posted on July 21, 2015July 21, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant has been shut down for repairs roughly a month after a planned outage for maintenance and refueling.

The Omaha Public Power District shut down the nuclear plant Monday after a water leak was discovered in one of Fort Calhoun’s four reactor coolant pumps after a seal failed.

The utility says the coolant water that leaked was contained inside the plant and treated.

A spokeswoman says Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors are monitoring the repairs.

Fort Calhoun sits along the Missouri River about 20 miles north of Omaha.

OPPD says the length of this outage will be determined by the repairs. If needed, the utility will buy electricity from other sources to maintain service.

OPPD has more than 360,000 customers in 13 counties in southeast Nebraska.

Norman E. “Ed” McCown

Posted on July 21, 2015

Norman E. “Ed” McCown, age 78, of Maxwell, passed away Monday, July 20, 2015 at Great Plains Health. He was born September 4, 1936 near Wallace, NE to Norman E. and Neva (Dyer) McCown. Ed grew up on a farm northwest of Wallace and attended school in Elsie and Wallace, graduating with the class of 1954. He later married June Fletcher and worked as an electrician throughout the United States. Ed moved to Maxwell in 1990 and later was united in marriage to Viola Malm. He was a family man and enjoyed music, yard work, and home improvements. Survivors include his wife, Viola of Maxwell, children, Katherine Santos of Scottsbluff, Peggy (Ken) Coulter of Gering, Emma McCown of Maxwell, David McCown of North Platte, and Elizabeth McCown of Maxwell, sisters, Norma Jean (Mike) Omelanuk of IL, Wynona McCown of OH, Mary Ruth Bresley of IA, and Ethel Moore of OH, brothers, Leslie (Sandy) McCown of MS, Ron (Margrit) McCown of FL and Steve (Denise) McCown of Omaha, 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Mike McCown, grandson, David Moore, brothers, Gerald “Gerry” (Marta), Robert “Bob” (Bessie), and Wendell “Windy” (Karen). Memorial services will be 2:00 pm Friday, July 24, 2015 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Ed chose to be cremated, and inurnment will be at a later date. Those wishing to sign his register book may do so from 9 am to 5 pm Wednesday and Thursday at the funeral home or online at www.carpentermemorial.com. A memorial has been established in his memory. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Nebraska Appeals Court Reverses Drunk Driving Conviction

Posted on July 21, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Court of Appeals has reversed a drunken driving conviction for a Wisner man who argued his constitutional rights were violated when a police officer stopped him to gather information about someone else’s possible criminal activity.

The reversal comes in the DUI case of Adam Woldt, who was convicted last year of drunken driving. Woldt argued that none of the evidence gathered after he was stopped in September 2013 should have been allowed. Woldt reasoned that because the officer had no suspicion that Woldt had committed a crime when he was stopped, his constitutional right to be free of unreasonable search and seizure had been violated.

The appeals court agreed, saying that the officer’s need to question Woldt and his concern for public safety didn’t outweigh Woldt’s liberty interest.

Raymond Wiley Barnett

Posted on July 21, 2015

Raymond Wiley Barnett, 89, of North Platte, NE, passed away Monday, July 20, 2015, at Centennial Park Retirement Village in North Platte.

Ray was born December 29, 1925, to Donald Ray and Eva Stenner Barnett at North Platte where he grew up. Ray graduated from North Platte High School in 1943 then joined the U.S. Navy in January 1944. Following his discharge in 1946, Ray returned to North Platte and went to work for Sinclair Gas Station and later Fairmont Dairy. In 1960 Ray began his career as a Fireman/EMT with the North Platte Fire Department and retired after 30 plus years of service.

On June 5, 1954, Ray married Frances Alice McKenney at North Platte where they made their home and were members of the Berean Church. Ray enjoyed helping others. He was a Boy Scout leader, volunteer and head coach for Special Olympics and a volunteer at the Senior Center. Ray also loved to watch Big Red Football, the Denver Broncos and wrestling.

Survivors include his children, Connie Saighman, of Omaha, NE, Sandra (Robert) Lakey and Tommy Barnett, of North Platte, Randall (April) Barnett and Bradley (Beth) Barnett, of Dallas, TX, and Jeffrey (Nita) Barnett, of Centerton, AR; 13 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; and other family.

Ray was preceded in death by his wife, Frances; son-in-law, Jim Saighman; his parents, Donald and Eva; stepfather, Shorty Lookhart; a brother, Russell Barnett; and his sister, Janet.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Monday, July 27, 2015, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Pastor John Stone and Bob Teters officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com.

Police: Passed Out Dad Also Put Drugs in 2-Year-Old’s Cereal

Posted on July 21, 2015

HELLERTOWN, Pa. (AP) — An eastern Pennsylvania man has been jailed on charges that he put prescription anti-anxiety medicine in his 2-year-old daughter’s cereal bowl after first snorting the drug and passing out from it.

Lower Saucon Township police say they were called to 26-year-old Joseph Wilson’s home Sunday afternoon after someone saw another toddler unattended in a stroller and crying.

Police found Wilson in his apartment passed out, with a friend slapping his face trying to revive him.

Police say Wilson told them he and the friend had been snorting Klonopin and Wilson acknowledged also putting the drug in the girl’s cereal. She was found in her crib.

Online court records don’t list an attorney for Wilson, who remained in the Northampton County Jail on Tuesday on charges including drug possession and child endangerment.

Nebraska Jobless Rate Holds Steady at 2.6 Percent in June

Posted on July 21, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new report says Nebraska’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent in June and was still the lowest state rate in the nation.

The Nebraska Labor Department said in the report released Tuesday that the preliminary June rate is seven-tenths of a point under the June 2014 rate of 3.3 percent.

The new Nebraska figure remained well below the preliminary national unemployment rate of 5.3 percent in June. U.S. Labor Department figures say Nebraska is trailed by North Dakota at 3.1 percent and Utah at 3.5 percent.

Becoming a Dad? Expect to Gain 3 to 5 Pounds Study Suggests

Posted on July 21, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — A new study suggests that fatherhood often comes with a weight gain of 3 to 5 pounds.

The research wasn’t designed to prove fatherhood causes weight gain and raises more questions than it answers. But one outside expert said it is provocative work and should spark further study.

The researchers found a typical 6-foot-tall man who lives with his child will gain an average of about 4½ pounds at some point after the birth. They also found that a same-sized man who doesn’t have kids may actually lose a little weight.

The study was published online Tuesday by the American Journal of Men’s Health.

Scottsbluff Man Gets Jail for Stealing from Dad, Possessing Drugs

Posted on July 21, 2015

GERING, Neb. (AP) — A 27-year-old Scottsbluff man accused of stealing from his father has been sentenced to jail.

Online court records say Dustin Leonhardt was sentenced on Monday to two terms of 365 days, to be served at the same time, and was fined $1,300.

Records say Leonhardt pleaded no contest and was convicted of misdemeanor forgery, misdemeanor attempted possession of a controlled substance and convicted of a drug possession infraction. The charges had been lowered and two other charges dropped in exchange for his pleas.

A court affidavit says Leonhardt used his father’s check card three times this spring and wrote a check on his father’s account. The affidavit says the drugs were discovered on Leonhardt and in his father’s backyard shed, where officers found and arrested Leonhardt.