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Marion L. Gertsch

marion-gertschMarion L. Gertsch, 83, of North Platte passed away December 22, 2015 at his home as he would have wanted.

He was born July 3, 1932 to Calvin T. and Mattie C. [Pilling] Gertsch, Columbus, NE.  Marion graduated from Lincoln North East High School in 1949, entered the military and served with the Navy from January 1951 until his honorable discharge on November 3, 1952. He was united in marriage to MaryLou Parli on August 1, 1953 in Lincoln Nebraska.

Marion served as a Boy Scout leader, a 4H club leader, he was also a member of the Lincoln County Fair board and various other organizations.  He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He retired after 31 years of service from the Soil Conservation Service in December, 1989.

Marion is survived by 4 children, David [Donita] Gertsch, Plattsmouth NE; Douglas [Marie] Gertsch, North Platte; Dwight [Sandy] Gertsch, Chandler AZ; and Dawn [Chuck] Kincaid, North Platte; grandchildren, Stephanie Gertsch, Ross Gertsch, Steven [Michelle] Gertsch, Brian [Janae] Gertsch, Jenna [Chris] Gertsch-Wood, Maxwel Gertsch, Sarah Brown, Lindsey [Mike] Richards, Wes [Randi] Kincaid, ten great grandchildren, his sister Ellen [Ken] Weller and brother, Russell [Norma] Gertsch, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, MaryLou in 2000, an infant sister, 4 brothers, Clyde, Wayne, Jack and Lester Gertsch, and his sister Alice Dietrich.

Graveside services will be 11:00 am Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with military honors graveside. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 Tuesday with family receiving friends from 5 to 7pm at Carpenter Memorial Chapel.

Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.

Sidney’s Former Police Chief Continues to Appeal Verdict

sidney-policeSIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — Sidney’s former police chief has filed with the Nebraska Appeals Court a challenge to his conviction and 30-day jail sentence for obstructing government operations.

The lawyer for Byron Wilkinson filed the appeal earlier this month, repeating arguments made in an unsuccessful appeal to the Cheyenne County District Court. Wilkinson says the trial court didn’t have a factual basis to find him guilty, that an amended prosecutors’ complaint didn’t adequately charge a violation of the statute, and that Wilkinson’s sentence was excessive.

State prosecutors say Wilkinson failed to pursue criminal charges against John Hehnke, who then was Sidney’s public works director, after Hehnke’s ex-girlfriend filed a complaint against him in January 2014.

Lincoln Fugitive Caught After She Falls Through Ceiling

lancaster-county-sheriffLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 36-year-old woman hiding from deputies was caught after she fell through the ceiling of an adjoining duplex unit in Lincoln.

Kristina Frerichs was taken to a hospital after her fall Wednesday and then to jail. Online records say she remained there Friday. Attempts to reach Frerichs’ attorney were unsuccessful.

Deputies say they saw Frerichs through a window at her residence but couldn’t find her when the duplex owners let them in. Deputies say residents on the other side of the duplex soon reported that someone had fallen from the attic through the ceiling of their living room. Frerichs was found hiding at the bottom of a nearby staircase.

Court records say Frerichs was sought on warrants stemming from four felony drug possession convictions in three cases.

Lincoln Zookeepers Give Treat-Filled Presents to Animals

lincoln-childrens-zooLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — At the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, even the animals shared in the holiday spirit.

In keeping with a zoo holiday tradition, on Thursday keepers presented their animals with treat-filled presents.

Zoo director John Chapo said the treats are an enrichment for the animals, and “the keepers have a great time with it.”

Carson and Tenzing, two of the zoo’s red pandas, found bamboo, bananas and apples in their box. Ranney, the snow leopard, savored meatballs. A naked mole-rat feasted on baby pears.

Boys Hospitalized After Falling Through Lake Ice in Holdrege

ambulance-lightsHOLDREGE, Neb. (AP) — Two boys have been treated at a local hospital and released after falling through lake ice at a park in the south-central Nebraska city of Holdrege.

Bystanders and Holdrege police officer Martin McIntire helped the boys reach shore and safety on Wednesday evening. McIntire told the Holdrege Daily Citizen that the boys were walking on the ice to test its depth when they broke through into the frigid water at the lake in North Park.

The boys were identified as 13-year-old Gage Huston and 7-year-old Roman Urbom, who live in Holdrege. They were released around 10 p.m. Wednesday from Phelps Memorial Health Center.

1 Person Hospitalized After Fire at Beatrice Apartment

fire-graphicBEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say one resident has been hospitalized and at least four others have been displaced by a fire at an apartment complex for seniors in Beatrice.

The fire was reported just after 4 p.m. Thursday when someone saw smoke coming from an apartment window. Firefighters rescued a man from inside the apartment. He was taken to a local hospital and then to Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. His name hasn’t been released.

Authorities say fire damage was contained to the apartment’s bedroom, but there was smoke and water damage elsewhere in the building.

Fire investigators say the blaze was caused by a discarded cigarette.

Kansas Man Killed in Nebraska Crash

fatal-accidentRED CLOUD, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a Kansas man has been killed in a south-central Nebraska highway crash.

The accident was reported around 5 p.m. Wednesday on Nebraska Highway 78, east of Red Cloud in Webster County.

The Webster County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as 75-year-old George Pfrimmer, of Mankato, Kansas.

Driver Goes to Hospital After Snowplow Overturns in Omaha

snowstormOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say the driver of a snow plow in Omaha sought medical attention after his vehicle overturned while he was on the job.

The Omaha Police Department says the snow plow was in use Thursday night when it began to slide sideways on an ice-covered hill. The front of the vehicle and its tires struck a wooden utility pole and a raised curb, causing it to overturn onto its side.

Bryan Luttig, a plow driver for the city of Omaha, was taken to a local hospital following complaints of pain. He was later released.

The stretch of street where the snow plow overturned was closed for several hours. The vehicle was eventually towed away.

Christmas Eve Crash in Eastern Nebraska Kills Husband and Wife

fatal-crashSEWARD, Neb. (AP) — A husband and wife have been killed on Christmas Eve following a two-vehicle crash in eastern Nebraska.

The Seward County Sheriff’s Office says 37-year-old Quincy Bearce-Kimsey and 33-year-old Jessica Kimsey were killed Thursday morning after their vehicle struck a car driven by Cory Ficken.

Authorities say Bearce-Kimsey was unable to yield his vehicle at a stop sign because of snow in the area.

Bearce-Kimsey and Kimsey, both of Seward, were pronounced dead at the scene. Ficken was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Deadly Storm Scatters Damage Across the South

severe-weatherHOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. (AP) — Residents of northern Mississippi and across the Southeast were beginning to take stock after fierce storms that killed at least six across the region whipped through.

The deadly spring-like storms killed three in Mississippi, two others in Tennessee and one in Arkansas before the worst passed Wednesday night.

Mulester Johnson says he and relatives were inside his house in Holly Springs, Mississippi, when the storm hit.

He says the wind tore the back of his house from its foundation and multiple sheds were missing afterward. Trees rested atop several trucks on his property, and slabs of brick walls were strewn throughout his yard.

Officials say a 7-year-old boy died in Holly Springs, Mississippi, when the storm picked up and tossed the car he was riding in.

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