March 2016 – Page 34 – North Platte Post Archive

Kearney Attorney Named to District Judgeship

Posted on March 9, 2016

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Kearney attorney has been named a district judge in Nebraska’s 9th Judicial District.

Gov. Pete Ricketts’ office says he selected John Marsh to replace Judge John Icenogle, who retired.

The 57-year-old Marsh is a partner at Knapp, Fangmeyer, Aschwege, Besse & Marsh in Kearney and has been deputy Buffalo County public defender since 2007. The governor’s office says Marsh also has been Dawson County attorney, a deputy Lincoln County attorney and an associate in the law office of Louie Ligouri.

Marsh earned his bachelor’s from Hastings College and holds a law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law.

The 9th Judicial District covers Buffalo and Hall counties, with the primary office in Kearney.

FBI Agents Investigated Over Shots Fired During Standoff

Posted on March 9, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon investigators have concluded that state troopers who shot and killed a key figure of the weekslong occupation of a national wildlife refuge were justified in doing so.

But an FBI team that was also on the scene is under federal investigation for not disclosing they fired two shots that missed Robert “Lavoy” Finicum.

An investigation by Oregon law officials concluded Finicum was going for a gun during the Jan. 26 confrontation with state troopers and FBI agents on a remote road.

But investigators also discovered that FBI agents failed to disclose that they had also fired two shots, neither of which hit Finicum.

The U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General said it is investigating the FBI team’s actions, working with Oregon officials.

Dorchester Man Sentenced in Child Sex Assault Gets New Trial

Posted on March 9, 2016

DORCHESTER, Neb. (AP) — A man found guilty of first-degree sexual assault of a child in 2014 has been granted a new trial by the Nebraska Court of Appeals.

The appeals court said 36-year-old Raymundo Perez-Cruz’s trial court judge abused his discretion by denying Perez-Cruz a jury trial because he waived it while trying to work out a plea agreement.

Prosecutors argued that Perez-Cruz grabbed a 13-year-old girl and put her in the backseat of his car before driving her to a lake near Crete, where prosecutors say the girl said he forced himself on her.

Perez-Cruz had been sentenced to 25 to 40 years in prison last year. The conviction and sentence have been reversed and the case will go back to Lancaster County District Court.

Douglas County Gets $1.75 Million Grant for Jail Inmates

Posted on March 9, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Douglas County Corrections Department is set to receive $1.75 million to start a re-entry program aimed at helping inmates avoid going back to jail.

The Sherwood Foundation’s three-year grant will pay for eight social workers, who will evaluate incoming inmates and work on plans for when inmates are released from jail.

Justine Wall, the department’s in-house program coordinator, told the Douglas County Board Tuesday that release plans for inmates will include connecting them with service providers in the community.

The grant will pay for the total cost of the program, as well as for researchers from the University of Nebraska at Omaha to track and evaluate the program’s effectiveness.

The Sherwood Foundation is a Nebraska-based organization that promotes social justice.

Juanita ‘Jennie’ Luna

Posted on March 9, 2016

Juanita “Jennie” Luna, age 87 of North Platte passed away March 7, 2016 surrounded by her family.

She was born December 3, 1928 to Luis and Nicolasa (Garcia) Ponce in Clearwater, Kansas. On November 27, 1948 in North Platte she married Petronilo “Pete” Luna. Jennie was a Social Worker in Lincoln County for 20 years.

Jennie was a life time member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, was a member of the Holy Family, Eucharistic Minister to the homebound, the elderly, and to nursing homes for 10 years. Jennie coordinated the St. Patrick’s BBQ for 2 years, and assisted Fr. Bernard with cooking at the homeless shelter. She and Pete donated a Statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe Statue and alter candles to the church. She assisted with the renovation of the Tabernacle, promoted and started the Girl Scout Group at St. Pat’s, was active in the Knights of Columbus, assisting with dinners and other activities. Jennie was also very active in the community. She along with Bob Rogers and Project 93 promoted and started Meals on Wheels from Memorial Hospital for .25 per meal. She was on a committee and was a board member that started the Housing Authority/Autumn Park and Low Income Housing which included helping design the homes. Later, Mayor Bob Phares asked her to join the Planning Commission for Great Plains Regional Medical Center/Great Plains Health. In her retirement years she was involved and active in the church, providing services for the drive for a new Parish Hall.

Survivors include her husband, Petronilo “Pete” Luna of North Platte; children, Erlinda (Jerry) Scovill of North Platte, Stephen (Angie) Luna and Alfred (Susan) Luna all of Omaha, Gloria (Michael) Hernandez, and Phillip (Marilyn) Luna all of North Platte; grandchildren, Chris (Brenda), Nick (Serena), Joseph (Angelica), Monica (Brian), Becky (Justin), Tony (Bonnie), Jenny (Charles), Pete (Nicole), Andrea (Ryan), Matt, Nicole, and Danielle; 22 great-grandchildren and one on the way; many nieces and nephews; sister, Mary Carreras; and brother, Joe Ponce both of North Platte.

Memorials may be made to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Jesse Ponce, Anita Carrizales, Raymond Ponce, Georgia Hernandez, and Lupe Ponce.

Christian Wake Services will be 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10, 2016 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 11, 2016 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with Deacon Stephen Luna and the Reverend James Golka as con-celebrants. Burial will follow at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell.

Visitation will be noon. until 9:00 p.m. Wednesday and from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Thursday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

North Platte Weather-March 9

Posted on March 9, 2016

Today

Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Calm wind becoming west southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Tonight

A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. West southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming north northwest in the evening.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 65. West northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 30. South southeast wind 5 to 7 mph.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 70. South wind 6 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 35.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.

Saturday Night

A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 36.

Schreiber Hits Two Homers, Huskers Blank Bears 8-0

Posted on March 8, 2016

Scott Schreiber was 3-for 5 with two home runs (Photo Courtesy Scott Bruhn/Nebraska Communications)

Lincoln – The Nebraska baseball team (4-6, 0-0 Big Ten) won its 38^th straight home opener on Tuesday afternoon at Hawks Field with a 8-0 shutout of the Northern Colorado Bears. Sophomore Scott Schreiber drove in a career-high four runs with two home runs and a double, while fellow sophomore Garett King tossed 6.0 scoreless innings for his first win of the year. Continue reading “Schreiber Hits Two Homers, Huskers Blank Bears 8-0”

Three NPCC Lady Knights Basketball Players Selected to All-Conference Team

Posted on March 8, 2016March 8, 2016

North Platte –The Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference has announced its All-Conference Women’s basketball team for the 2015-16 season.

Two North Platte Community College Lady Knights players were named to the team and one was named Honorable Mention. Sarah Mahr and Djimonii Jackson were named to the team and Zulema Viescas was named Honorable Mention. Continue reading “Three NPCC Lady Knights Basketball Players Selected to All-Conference Team”

Ricketts Confident Panel Will Advance Property Tax Reform

Posted on March 8, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts says he’s still confident lawmakers will debate property tax reforms this year, even though a legislative committee hasn’t yet voted on his signature proposal.

Ricketts reiterated Tuesday that he’s open to changes to his property tax package, but he says lawmakers need to take some action this year.

One of the two bills introduced on the governor’s behalf hasn’t yet moved out of the Revenue Committee. Committee members met again on Tuesday but still have not settled on a proposal. They’re scheduled to meet again on Thursday.

Committee members are considering whether to provide additional state aid for every student in Nebraska on the condition that local school boards use the savings to lower property taxes.

U. of Nebraska Plan to Close Leadership Searches Advances

Posted on March 8, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska is gaining support for its plan to reduce the number of leadership candidates who are revealed to the public during a search.

Lawmakers voted 36-1 Tuesday to advance a measure by Gretna Sen. John Murante that would require the university to name only a single finalist for key administrative positions. The finalist would be subject to a 30-day public vetting period.

Current statutes require the university to disclose application materials for four finalists.

Supporters say the open search puts the university at a disadvantage compared to its peers, because the best candidates are already working at top institutions and don’t want news of their job search going public.

Opponents say taxpayers have the right to know which candidates are being considered.