Workers prepare to stencil the North Platte Community College Knights logo onto the floor of the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium on Monday. The floor has been striped, and a finish will be applied over the top. The painting is being done by Weissert Hardwood Flooring of Elwood.
The gym will remain closed until the first week of August. Check out all pictures of gym renovations in our online gallery: https://www.mpcc.edu/photo-gallery.
A North Platte man is in jail following a burglary on Sunday morning.
At around 9:01 a.m., on July 19, officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to the report of two men fighting in the 1800 block of West C Street.
According to Officer Rodney Brown, by the time officers arrived, a neighbor had separated the two men.
Officers began to investigate and learned that one man was a resident of the house, and the other was a would-be burglar.
Brown said the resident of the home had taken his child for a short walk. When he returned home, he told officers he discovered the suspect, 27-year-old Zachary Perez, inside.
The victim said Perez was wearing gloves and a mask and was holding a crowbar.
The victim said, at this point, Perez hit him with the crowbar and a fight ensued.
The fight moved from inside the house to the driveway, where a neighbor heard the victim calling for help and contacted police.
Following further investigation, Perez was placed under arrest and transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center.
He’s been charged with felony burglary, felony possession of burglary tools, felony 2nd-degree assault, and use of a weapon to commit a felony.
As of Monday morning, Perez was being held without bond.
Violet Viola Russell was born August 1, 1920, the fourth child of Benjamin Theodore Russell and Della Mae West Patch Russell at Sargent, Ne. and the ninth child of Della Russell.
She attended Antelope School thru the eighth grade. She was promoted up two grades in a year allowing her to be in her sister Irene’s class. They attended Sargent High School together and graduated in 1937. After graduation she received her teaching certificate and taught in the communities of Antelope, Coburg, and Oxford near Sargent for 5 years.
She became the war bride of James Victor Kovanda of North Platte, Ne, June 29, 1942, in California. They lived at Camp Little Rock, Arkansas and Camp McCoy in Wisconsin before Jimmy received orders in 1944 to fight in the European theater. He was killed February 9, 1945, while leading his men into France form Luxembourg during World War II.
In October of 1948 she was united in marriage to Gaylord Earl Clausen of North Platte, Ne. They lived in the O’Fallons, Hershey and Platte Valley School districts before moving to the farm near Stapleton, Ne., in 1963. She moved in 2008 to Arnold, Ne., making her home with her daughter.
Violet became a follower of Jesus Christ while teaching school. This faith sustained her through the many challenges of every phase of her life. She believed in God, country and freedom. She believed that as a good citizen it was her privilege and duty to be involved in the politic and legislation of freedom, teaching her family those values.
She loved writing and reading poetry; family picnics and getting the family together anytime and life on the farm. She was a member of the Happy Neighbor Extension Club for many years; taught Sunday school at the Assembly of God Church in Stapleton and Arnold. Later, as member of the Arnold Church of the Nazarene.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her in laws, Victor (Emma) Kovanda, Gilbert (Euphemia) Clausen; her spouses; her brothers, sisters and spouses, Hugh (Grace) Russell, Wayne Russell, Irene (Harold) Ottun, Earl (Martha) Patch, Glen, Ralph, Lola (Charlie) Williams, Eunice (Earl) Baer, and Son-in-law, Rodney L Watson.
Those who mourn her passing are her sons, Rodney J Kovanda, Monet, Mo., Lyle G (Janella) Clausen, Eddyville, Ne., daughter, Carol E Watson, Arnold; eight grandchildren, Sterling (Brenda) Kovanda, Michael (Madge) Kovanda, Angela (Chris) Lewis, Shelly (Brent) Apperson, Cameron (Leslie) Clausen, Molly (Ken) Donahoo, Renae (Jeff) Eastman, Robert (Lana) Watson; 19 great grandchildren and 10 great, great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Waneta Russell of Arizona; numerous nieces and nephews and good friend Melanie Albrecht.
Memorial service will be Saturday, July 25, 11:00am at the First Baptist Church Arnold, Ne., with Pastor Dynette Oberg officiating.
Cremation was chosen. Inurnment at West Union Cemetery, Sargent, Ne.
A Memorial has been established to the Arnold Church of the Nazarene. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.
Carpenter Memorial Chapel of North Platte, NE is in charge of the arrangements.
YANKTON, S.D. (AP) — An inmate who went missing from the minimum-security state prison in Yankton is back in custody.
South Dakota Corrections officials say 35-year-old Jack Williams was apprehended in South Sioux City, Nebraska, early Monday.
Williams had been placed on escape status on Sunday after he failed to return from his work-release shift at a local business.
Williams is serving time on forgery- and drug-related convictions in Union County.
DENVER (AP) — Microscopic bugs and mildew can destroy a marijuana operation faster than any police raid. And because the crop has been illegal for so long, neither growers nor scientists have any reliable research to help fight the infestations.
When most marijuana was grown in basements and backwoods, mold and spider mites could ruin only a few plants at a time. But as legal pot moves to warehouses and commercial fields, pests can quickly create costly problems for growers.
Some are turning to chemicals, raising concerns about safety.
Pesticides and herbicides are regulated by the federal government, which still regards almost all marijuana as an illicit crop. So there’s no roadmap to help pot farmers.
Chemists and horticulturalists can’t offer much assistance either. They sometimes disagree about how to combat the problem.
Gary Porter Reed, 81, of Hershey, NE, passed away Saturday, July 18, 2015, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE.
Gary was born July 1, 1934, to George and Delpha Reed at Shambaugh, IA where he grew up on a farm. Gary attended Shambaugh Grade School and graduated in 1953 from Clarinda High School in Clarinda, IA. He then attended the Gale Institute in Minneapolis, MN, and graduated in 1954. Gary was employed by the C.B.&Q. Railroad as an agent-operator for a couple years before he went to work for the Nebraska Public Power System in Bellevue. He worked for NPPS and the merged systems for 34 years.
On June 26, 1955, Gary married Katherine Maurine Teeters in New Market, IA. They lived in Bellevue and Cortland-Princeton, NE for a number of years. Gary served on the Cortland Volunteer Fire Depart. for 16 years and was a member of Highland Lodge #194 AF&AM.
They moved to Hershey in 1977 and were members of the Hershey United Methodist Church. Gary was active in the Hershey community. He served on the Booster Board, Volunteer Fire Dept. and Lions Club, and supported Hershey Youth Baseball for 28 years and spent 27 years doing stats for the Hershey High School football games. Gary was also an avid bowler and member of the North Platte Bowlers Hall of Fame. He served on the North Platte Men’s Bowling Board as well.
He is survived by his children, Gayle (Dave) Beran, of North Platte and twins, Gary Kevin (Darcie) Reed, of Heartwell, NE, and Gena Kim Reed, of Hershey; six grandchildren, Trevor (Heather) Stringham, Ashley (Richard) Perkins and Katrina Beran, all of North Platte, Kyle (Shawna) Stringham, of Merna, NE, and Nolan Reed and Arabella Reed, both of Heartwell; five great-grandchildren; his sister, Janess Warren, of Shambaugh; sister-in-law, Kathleen Teeters, of New Market; and many nieces, nephews and other family.
Gary was preceded in death by his wife, Katherine; parents, George and Delpha; and his sister, Joyce Hoy.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, July 23, 2015, at the Hershey United Methodist Church with Pastor Kola officiating. Burial with Masonic Rites will follow in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, with family greeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to the Hershey Volunteer Fire Dept. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.
Bernard D. “Ben” Norton, age 83, of North Platte, died July 17, 2015 at Centennial Park Retirement Center. He was born on February 22, 1932 in Valley Falls, Kansas to Ross and Beulah Belle (Alcock) Norton.
Ben Began his career driving trucks in the Valley Falls area. He entered the US Army, serving during the Korean War as an MP. After his discharge, he returned to Kansas where he married Phyllis N. Clark in Kansas City, MO in 1956. The couple lived in Winchester, KS until 1971, where Ben worked for the Lansing, KS Penitentiary. They then moved to North Platte where Ben worked for Consolidated Freightways. In the 80’s they were transferred with CF to Lincoln. Ben also worked with the Borden Potato Chip Company in Lee Summitt, MO. They eventually moved back to North Platte where Ben finished out his career with Armadillo, retiring at age 77.
He enjoyed crossword puzzles and working with his tools, but his true love was driving over the roads in 18 wheelers. Ben will be remembered as having a big heart, and always helping those around him.
Survivors include a son Tom (Doreen) Norton of North Platte; a daughter, Katherine (Robert) Trembly of Hershey; 7 grandchildren, Mike Norton, Tommy Norton, Richard Norton, Tim Norton, Johnny (Megan) Norton, Caleb (Amy) Trembly, all of North Platte, and Megan Trembly of Hershey; 11 great-grandchildren, Jamie, Fabian, Alexander, Christopher, Nicholas, Keedyn, Avery, Jaedyn, Kaylee, Karlee, and Rylee; a sister, Bernita Miller of Merced, CA; a brother, Robert (Sue) Norton of McLouth, KS; sister-in laws, Joan Peters of Lee Summitt, MO, and Jean Clark of Winchester, KS; a brother-in-law, Paul Lindsay of Liberty, MO; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; siblings, Wilma Lines, Beverly Shatswell, Wanda Jackson, Cecil Norton, Willis “Bill” Norton, and Russell Norton.
A memorial has been established to the VFW Post 1504 in North Platte, and online condolences can be made at www.adamsswanson.com.
Memorial Graveside Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday July 24, 2015 at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell with full military honors. Register book signing will be Thursday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are investigating after a 5-year-old Lincoln girl died at a Grand Island water park.
Grand Island Public Information Officer Wendy Meyer-Jerke said the girl was found unresponsive Saturday afternoon by city fire officials in the Island Oasis wave pool. Meyer-Jerke said the wave pool operates in 10-minute intervals and was not running at the time of the incident.
Ferguson said a coroner’s report for the girl is expected to be released Monday.
Grand Island City Administrator Marlan Ferguson said the water park will continue to operate as the investigation continues.
Today
A cold-shooting second half proved costly for Terran Petteway and the Atlanta Hawks in a 75-68 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Las Vegas Summer League semifinals on Sunday.
The Hawks, who finished 4-3 in Las Vegas, built a 12-point halftime lead, but shot just 10-of-37 (27 percent) the second half, as the Spurs advanced to Monday’s title game.
Petteway, who had double-figure outings in each of his last two games, had seven first half points, but missed all eight of his shots from the floor after halftime. He finished with seven points, three rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 26 minutes of work.
Petteway finished the Las Vegas Summer League averaging 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in seven games, including six starts.
