Grant Richard Thomas, age 75, father of Neva (Ned) Cooper of North Platte, passed away on Friday, January 22, 2016, at Linden Court.
Cremation was chosen and a family service will be at a later date. Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.
Karen Fay Fisher, age 68, of Cozad, NE, formerly of North Platte, NE, passed away Thursday, January 21, 2016, at Great Plains Health in North Platte.
Karen was born November 26, 1947, to Lloyd Richard and Rosetta May Smith Bowker at Sutherland, NE and grew up in Nebraska, Colorado and California. Karen later worked as a Correction Officer in Weld County, CO for a short time.
In 1990 Karen married Vernon Wessel in Las Vegas, NV and adopted his four children. They lived mainly in Western Nebraska and later divorced. Karen married Jack Fisher in 2001 in North Platte and they moved to Erie, PA. Karen later returned to North Platte after they divorced and had been living at the Golden Living Center in Cozad, NE the last two years.
She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Karen leaves behind her children, David (Whitney) Wessel, of Wheatland, WY, Henry (Hannah) Wessel, of Los Angeles, CA, Kristina Wessel, of Eugene, OR, and Brian Wessel, of Erie, PA; three brothers, Richard (Mary) Bowker and Robert Bowker, all of North Platte, and Lloyd, Jr. (Marsha) Bowker, of Sterling, CO; sisters, Shirley (James) Smothermon, of Tacoma, WA, and Marjorie (Louie) Freeman, of Chappell, NE; six grandchildren, Kaelyn Wessel, Abby Wessel, Alex Wessel, Savannah Wessel, Jasmin Wessel and Chase Wessel; and many nieces, nephews and other family members.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd, Sr. and Rosetta Bowker; and an infant sister, Darlene.
Cremation was chosen. Memorial Service will be 11 a.m. Monday, January 25, 2016, at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Bishop Dan Hitch officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date in the Big Springs Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker is taking aim at a sales tax break for food sold at political events, saying it only benefits politicians while other groups are forced to pay the tax.
Sen. Dave Bloomfield of Hoskins argued Friday that the current exemption amounts to tax break that elected officials gave to themselves.
Bloomfield’s proposal before the Revenue Committee would reinstate the tax at events held by candidates, political parties, ballot measure groups and independent committees.
Some lawmakers questioned the measure. Sen. Mike Gloor of Grand Island says it could inject more money into politics by forcing candidates to increase their fundraising to cover the additional expense.
Bloomfield proposed a sales-tax exemption last year for food sold by veterans’ groups, but the measure remains in committee.
__
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The 32-year-old son of a Lincoln councilman and a federal judge has been acquitted of a sexual assault charge.
Online court records say Jonathan Camp was found not guilty Thursday by a Lancaster County District Court jury. The charge was felony sexual assault of an incompetent person. The case went to the jury on Wednesday.
Authorities say the woman reported that he’d drugged her at a home on the night of Sept. 8, 2014. She reported that she fell asleep and awoke later to find Camp sexually assaulting her.
His parents are Councilman Jon Camp and U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A judge has ruled that a former doctor accused of killing four people with ties to an Omaha medical school is competent to stand trial.
Douglas County District Judge Duane Dougherty issued an order Thursday saying 42-year-old Anthony Garcia is mentally fit enough to stand trial. The ruling came a week after three experts testified that Garcia is competent.
Garcia is charged with first-degree murder in the 2008 deaths of the 11-year-old son of Creighton University pathologist William Hunter and the family’s housekeeper, and the May 2013 deaths of Creighton pathologist Roger Brumback and his wife.
Authorities say Garcia was motivated by revenge for being fired from Creighton’s pathology department in 2001.
FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — Midland University students have staged a protest as part of class on life in the 1960s.
39 students took to the streets Thursday afternoon to protest high college tuition as part of the American Culture in the 1960s course. Students brainstormed ideas about what they wanted to protest, and unanimously chose tuition rates as their cause.
Class instructor Janet Lack said the protest provided students with the opportunity to see what others did to peacefully bring about change during the 1960s.
Lack said she contacted university officials and the Fremont Police Department to let them know that student protest would take place.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 37-year-old former English teacher has taken a plea deal in his Omaha sex-with-a-student case.
Online court records say Bryan Black pleaded no contest Thursday and was convicted of attempted sexual assault of a child and visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct. Prosecutors dropped an enticement charge in exchange for Black’s pleas. He’s scheduled to be sentenced April 13.
Prosecutors say Black began a relationship with a Millard North High School student in September 2014. The girl made her allegations in March 2015, a day before Black was arrested.
Black no longer works for the district.
In this week’s edition of “What’s Your Issue,” News Director Scott Carlson sits down with Tami from the West Central District Health Department to discuss what can be done to prevent the flu and keep your family and co-workers healthy.
https://soundcloud.com/eagleradio-1/preventing-the-flu-with-the-west-central-dist-health-department
Katherine “Kathy” Diane Lierley, age 69 of Paxton, passed away Thursday January 21, 2016 in Omaha at the Creighton Medical Center.
Kathy was born on December 31, 1946 in Denver, CO to Ernest and Virginia (Rummerfield) McClure. As a youth she was a very active member of the Calvary Temple Church and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1965. In 1971 Kathy met Ken Lierley in Paxton and the couple was married on January 22, 1972 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. Most of her early married life she spent as a homemaker, taking care of her family. During this time she continued to be active in the church by teaching Sunday School, leading the youth of the church and sponsoring various youth group trips. Once her kids were close to being their own adults, she decided that she needed something else to do and began a career as a nursing aide at Indian Hills Manor from 1990 to 1994. In 1994 she decided that she really liked nursing and chose to earn her LPN degree from Mid Plains Community College and graduated in 1996. She spent the next 10 years as an LPN, during which time she worked for Ogallala Community Hospital and Indian Hills Manor. She also taught CNA classes during this time. During her life she was part of many Christian groups including Aglow, Christian Women’s Club, and numerous bible studies. She was a charter member of the Paxton Newlife Lutheran Church. Kathy will be remembered for her strong Christian beliefs and for being a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
Kathy is survived by her husband Ken Lierley of Paxton; children Robert “Rob” (Ruby) Waibel Jr. of Phoenix, AZ, Janice “Jan” (Brian) Neilsen of Paxton, Casey (Jocile) Lierley of Mesa, AZ; grandchildren Jordan Waibel, step granddaughter Ashley Meyer, step grandson Aaron Cogan, Justin, Clay and Kyle Neilsen, Gannon and Xander Lierley; 3 great grandchildren; mother Dawn McClure of Denver, CO; siblings Donna (Dean) Allen of Denver, CO, Sharon (Doyle) Shockley of Arvada, CO, Dennis McClure of Buena Vista, CO; brother-in-law Fred Lierley of Paxton; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her father.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Paxton Newlife Lutheran Church, the NE Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Assoc. or the Donor’s choice. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Cremation was chosen and memorial services will be 10:00 a.m. MT Monday January 25, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Paxton with the Rev. Dr. Craig Loving officiating. Inurnment will follow at Paxton Cemetery. Those wishing to do so may sign the register book from noon until 6:00 p.m. Sunday at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha woman has been accused of illegally providing cellphones to inmates while working as a guard at the state prison in Tecumseh.
She’s charged with three felony counts of unlawful acts by a corrections employee. Court records say she was fired in March.
Officials suspected that up to five phones were taken into the prison.
A phone listing couldn’t be found for the 22-year-old woman, Kiahna Arquilla. Her attorney didn’t immediately return a call Friday from The Associated Press, seeking comment on her behalf.
