March 2016 – Page 11 – North Platte Post Archive

Man’s Body Found in Southern Nebraska After Winter Storm

Posted on March 26, 2016

BRUNING, Neb. (AP) — A man’s body has been discovered in southern Nebraska following a midweek winter storm.

Authorities Thursday morning found the body of 69-year-old Dale Wilkening near Bruning. Fillmore County Sheriff William Burgess says a housekeeper called police Thursday after she came to clean the man’s home and couldn’t find him.

Police believe Wilkening experienced car trouble Wednesday night and decided to walk to his destination even though he was not wearing appropriate clothing for a winter storm that covered much of the state that evening.

Authorities found his body less than a quarter mile from his vehicle.

An autopsy is pending.

Madison Mayor Targeted for Recall

Posted on March 26, 2016

MADISON, Neb. (AP) — A recall drive is targeting the mayor of Madison in northeast Nebraska.

Alvin Brandl was elected in November 2014 and has drawn some local fire for his appointment to various city boards. A document filed with Madison County says Brandl should be recalled because his conduct in appointing officials has resulted “in needless conflict, confrontation and the inability of the city to function properly.” The document also says Brandl doesn’t conduct city business openly.

Brandl says it’s his job as mayor to make appointments and also says the city is doing very well.

The recall petition needs 170 registered Madison voters to sign it for a special recall election to be held.

Nebraska’s February Jobless Rate Remains Unchanged at 3 Percent

Posted on March 26, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new report says Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3 percent in February.

The Nebraska Labor Department said in the report issued Friday that the rate matched January’s revised rate and was two-tenths of a point higher than the 2.8 percent reported for February 2015.

The new Nebraska rate remained well below the preliminary national unemployment rate of 4.9 percent in February. The U.S. Labor Department says Nebraska’s and Colorado’s rate was three-tenths of a point higher than the 2.7 percent for New Hampshire and South Dakota and a tenth of a point higher than North Dakota’s 2.9 percent.

Billy Dean Wiggers, Sr.

Posted on March 25, 2016

Billy Dean Wiggers, Sr., age 81 formerly of North Platte, left to join our Savior on Thursday March 24, 2016 at Sutherland Care Center.
Billy was born on April 2, 1934 in St. Joseph, MO to August J. “Willie” and Vesta Meryl (Andersen) Wiggers. He graduated high school in Marysville, KS. He then became a First Class Airman in the Air Force, and was in the Army Reserve. After his service, he worked for 39 years as a clerk at the Union Pacific Railroad, retiring in 1996.
Bill is survived by his wife Marilyn Wiggers of North Platte; son Billy Dean (Collen) Wiggers of North Platte; step-son Tim (Debra) Elson of Venango, NE; grandson Zane Wiggers of South Dakota; and great granddaughter Madison of South Dakota.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and granddaughters Casey and Victoria.
Memorials are suggested in his name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Cremation was chosen and memorial services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday March 28, 2016 at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with full military honors. Reverend Jan Ekstedt will be officiating. Adams and Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Everett “Dwight” Rosso

Posted on March 25, 2016

Everett “Dwight” Rosso, age 80 of North Platte, passed away Thursday March 24, 2016 at Great Plains Health.
Dwight was born on July 3, 1935 in Bartlett in Wheeler County in Nebraska to Everett Ernst and Helen Rose (Sturek) Rosso. He grew up in the area and attended Wheeler Central High School where he played a lot of sports and graduated in 1954. He moved to Grand Island in 1959 where he met and married Evelyn June Dybdahl on May 19, 1962. They were later sealed in the Denver Temple. The couple lived in Grand Island for 17 years before moving to North Platte in 1978. He worked for a few years for Missouri Valley Construction and Cornhusker Ordnance Plant with his father and brother before going to work for the Union Pacific Railroad, retiring in 2002. Dwight had a lot of pastimes including fishing, puzzles, and collecting stamps. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and a member of the Buffalo Bill Stamp Club. He loved sports of all kinds, especially the Chicago Cubs baseball team and the NE Cornhuskers. He loved spending time with family and friends and his most favorite thing was attending his grandkids band and choir concerts, musicals and any other award ceremonies they were involved in.
Everett is survived by his daughters Dorothy (Mike) Hiserote, Helen Rosso, and Karen (Michael) Hall all of North Platte; grandchildren Lcpl. Zachary Hiserote, stationed in Okinawa, Japan, Brandon Hiserote of North Platte, and Tiffany and Zoey Hall of North Platte; siblings Robert (LaVonne) Rosso of Grand Island, Beverly Kennedy of Bartlett, Yvonne (Ronald) Field of Papillion and Ann (Ken) Kasselder of Ericson; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife Evelyn in 2011; parents Everett and Helen Rosso; infant sister Rita Rose Rosso; and brother-in-law Bill Kennedy.
Memorials are suggested in his name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday March 28, 2016 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in North Platte. Burial will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Sunday March 27, 2016 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Chadron State Student Accused of Selling Pot from Dorm Room

Posted on March 25, 2016

CHADRON, Neb. (AP) — A Chadron State student has been accused of selling marijuana, operating out of a dorm room.

Authorities say 19-year-old Dominique Smith is charged with possession for sale and related crimes. Dawes County Jail records say Smith remained in custody Friday, pending $10,000 bail. Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for Smith.

Chadron Police Chief Tom Lordino says in a news release that officers found marijuana, marijuana-filled cigarettes and drug paraphernalia in Smith’s room on the second floor of Kent Hall.

Nebraska Man Acquitted of Sex Assault Charge

Posted on March 25, 2016

GERING, Neb. (AP) — The second of two western Nebraska men accused of plying teenage girls with liquor to have sex with them has been acquitted of sexual assault.

Court records say 23-year-old Gage Soto, of Gering, was found not guilty Tuesday of sexual assault of an incompetent person but was convicted of eight counts of procuring alcohol for a minor. Soto’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 28.

Soto and Joseph Moore were arrested after a 17-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl told police that they’d been assaulted in May after becoming intoxicated at a Gering party. Both men said the sex was consensual.

Last month the 23-year-old Moore also was acquitted of the assault charge and convicted of procuring alcohol.

North Platte Weather-Easter Weekend

Posted on March 25, 2016

Today

Partly sunny, with a high near 53. South southwest wind 8 to 13 mph.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. West northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Saturday

Partly sunny, with a high near 42. North northwest wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 18. North northwest wind 8 to 13 mph becoming light and variable.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 59. Light west wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 26.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 67.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Wednesday

A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Breezy.

Nebraska Property Tax Relief Bill Advances Out of Committee

Posted on March 24, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska property tax bill championed by Gov. Pete Ricketts is headed to the full Legislature for debate.

Members of the Revenue Committee voted 7-0 on Thursday to advance the measure even though some senators continue to have reservations.

Farm and ranch landowners could receive a larger credit to offset some of their local property taxes if the measure passes, while the amount available for commercial and residential property owners would stay the same. The legislation would also impose new budget restrictions on community colleges, which rely partially on property taxes.

Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion abstained from the vote, saying he’s concerned that agricultural groups are expecting to remain “at the front of the line” next year while small businesses and residents ask for income tax reductions.

More Former TierOne Executives Sentenced to Prison

Posted on March 24, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two more former bank executives have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a fraud scheme that led to Lincoln-based bank’s collapse.

Former TierOne president James Laphen was sentenced Thursday to 34 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of mail and wire fraud. Don Langford, the bank’s former chief credit officer, was also sentenced Thursday to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to similar charges.

Both men testified against their former boss and CEO Gilbert Lundstrom, who was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in prison after being convicted of 12 counts related to the 2010 failure of the bank.

Prosecutors have said that Lundstrom and bank officers hid losses from regulators and shareholders.

Regulators took over TierOne in 2010.