April 2016 – Page 4 – North Platte Post Archive

NPCC Music Students Receive Awards

Posted on April 27, 2016

Students in the NPCC Music Department were honored Tuesday during an “End of the Year Concert” in the McDonald-Belton Theater. Pictured back row, left to right are: MaKenna Ketter, Brianna Mason, Ryan Carey, Justin Morgan, Malachi Murtaugh, Trevor Pochop and Bailey Rickertsen. Pictured front row, left to right are: Valerie Most, Jade Higgins, Walker Baird, Jacob McNeel, Katie Roessler and Amy Taft. Directing is Elizabeth Peters. The collaborative accompanist is Carmen Allen. (Courtesy Photo) — Students in the NPCC Music Department were honored Tuesday during an “End of the Year Concert” in the McDonald-Belton Theater. Pictured back row, left to right: MaKenna Ketter, Brianna Mason, Ryan Carey, Justin Morgan, Malachi Murtaugh, Trevor Pochop and Bailey Rickertsen. Pictured front row, left to right are: Valerie Most, Jade Higgins, Walker Baird, Jacob McNeel, Katie Roessler and Amy Taft. Directing is Elizabeth Peters. The collaborative accompanist is Carmen Allen. (Courtesy Photo)

North Platte Community College music students were honored Tuesday during an “End of the Year Concert” in the McDonald-Belton Theater.

Instructors Elizabeth Peters, Carmen Allen, and Ron Daly recognized music ensemble members who will graduate with an associate degree in May.

Those students included: Valerie Most, of Brady, Katie Roessler, of North Platte, Bailey Rickertsen, of Gothenburg and Walker Baird, of Lewellen.

Baird will also be one of the first two students at NPCC to graduate with an Associate of Fine Arts degree.

The following were recognized with individual awards:

Spirit Award – Trevor Pochop, North Platte

Forte Award – Justin Morgan, North Platte

Outstanding Vocalist – Malachi Murtaugh, North Platte

Outstanding Instrumentalist – Walker Baird, Lewellen

Musician of the Year – Katie Roessler, North Platte

Hitchcock County Authorities Investigate Apparent Murder-Suicide

Posted on April 27, 2016April 27, 2016

Hitchcock County authorities say they are investigating an apparent murder-suicide in the small town of Trenton.

The Hitchcock County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to the report of two deceased adult males early on Wednesday morning.

The bodies of the two men will be sent to the Central Nebraska Forensics Center, in Gibbon, where autopsies will be conducted.

The names of the men have not been released pending the notification of family members.

Trenton, population 560, is about 25 miles west of McCook.

Julie Thompson

Posted on April 27, 2016April 27, 2016

Julie Thompson age 72, of North Platte, died April 26, 2016 at Great Plains Health surrounded by her family.
Born October 16, 1943 to Ray and Evelyn (Kutlas) Anderson in Deshler, Neb. Julie spent her youth in Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming moving as the family grew and her father followed his career. Julie was the oldest of nine daughters. She married G.V. (Jerry) Thompson, D.V.M. on May 25 of 1963 in Sutherland, Neb. They were married 53 years and had three children; Jerry Ray (Cristy) Thompson, Jodi (Doug Lowe) and Justin (Missy) Thompson.
Julie was a partner to Jerry in all things and supported his veterinarian practice in many capacities for over 50 years. She was also a skilled book-keeper, shop-owner and event planner.
Julie will be remembered as a strong woman who loved fiercely. She was a champion to the underdog and never gave up a challenge if it meant helping someone else. She cared for her sisters in an exceptional way and when the need arose opened her and Jerry’s home to them. She thought her children were the best of anyone’s and taught them important things – love, loyalty and passion for the little things in life. Her grandchildren were very special to her; she loved showering them with gifts.
Genealogy – any one’s – was a favorite hobby of hers and she spent many an hour researching history’s stories. Her pets were close to her heart and she loved her Great Danes. Julie loved to celebrate with her family and friends; a reason was not necessary. Rodeo was a wonderful past time for Julie and she immensely enjoyed following and hosting cowboys. She loved surprises if she was the one planning the surprise.
She will be forever missed and is survived by her husband and children; her grandchildren, Aden and Lane Thompson, Taylor and Quade Lowe, Kaden, Ella and Avery Thompson; her sisters, Patti (Keith) Saathoff, Donna (Jimmy) Simmons, Angela Most, Christy (Dan) Smith, Kaycee Anderson, Barbara (Gil) Fowler; her brothers and sisters-in-law: Frank (Sherry) Thompson, Robert (Nadine) Thompson, Carol Budnick, Rosalie Thurber, Dwight (Michal) Thompson, Donna Stewart, Dennis Thompson, Madeline (Ronald) Shewmaker; and many nieces and nephews.
Julie was preceded in death by her parents; infant brother Michael; sisters, Linda Winder and Jackie Luken; her father and mother-in-law, Jack and Jessica Thompson; brothers-in-law Bill Thompson and Francis Budnick.
Memorials may be made to the family to be used for a youth rodeo scholarship in Julie’s name. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Christian Wake Services will be 7:00 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2016 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 2, 2016 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with the Reverend James Golka as celebrant. Burial will follow in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be noon until 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

2 Arrested in Salina Homicide, Including 1 After Chase

Posted on April 27, 2016April 27, 2016

SALINA, Kan. (AP) — One of two suspects in a Salina homicide has been arrested after a police pursuit.

Police Capt. Chris Trocheck says the chase began Tuesday morning after 21-year-old Adonis Loudermilk, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was found fatally shot in a Salina motel parking lot.

Trocheck says a passing train forced the suspect to turn around west of Salina. The truck then headed back into town, where the suspect hoped a curb and traveled about 200 yards in a railroad right-of-way. With two tires busted, the suspect and his passenger bailed and were arrested after a short foot chase.

The driver and a woman are jailed on suspicion of felony murder and robbery, and the passenger on suspicion of obstruction. The woman was taken from the homicide scene for questioning and later arrested.

Southern Nebraska Flood Threat Forces Nursing Home Evacuation

Posted on April 27, 2016

DESHLER, Neb. (AP) — Heavy rainfall from a night of storms has caused flooding in two southern Nebraska cities, forced the evacuation of a nursing home and led officials to cancel some school classes.

Thayer County Emergency Manager Bill McPherson says Hebron and Deshler both saw minor flooding in streets, but no property damage was reported. Around 45 patients and residents from Parkview Haven Nursing Home and Meadowlark Heights Assisted Living in Deshler spent the night at Deshler High School because of flooding concerns but returned Wednesday morning.

Classes at Deshler Public Schools were canceled because of some road flooding.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jerilyn Billings Wright says a radar-estimated 6 to 8 inches fell Tuesday and overnight to the west of Deshler. Flooding forced closure of U.S. Highway 136, but it’s been reopened.

Nebraska Lottery Says Ticket Sold in Lincoln Worth $1M

Posted on April 27, 2016April 27, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Lottery says a Mega Millions ticket sold in Lincoln is worth $1 million to the buyer.

The $1 ticket for Tuesday’s drawing was sold at the U-Stop near 84th and Holdrege on the east side of Lincoln. It matched the five winning white ball numbers of 14, 16, 17, 28 and 48 but not the Mega Ball number of 2. The jackpot Tuesday was $108 million.

Lottery spokesman Neil Watson said Wednesday the winner has not yet stepped forward. Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed in person at lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Winning tickets expire 180 days after the drawing.

Officials say the odds of winning $1 million in the Mega Millions game are 1 in nearly 18.5 million.

Man Charged for Omaha Motorcyclist’s Death

Posted on April 27, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 34-year-old man has been charged with vehicular homicide for the crash death of a motorcyclist in Omaha.

The Douglas County attorney’s office said in a news release Wednesday that Joseph Madej also is charged with driving under the influence. Madej remains in Douglas County Jail. Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

Police say the accident occurred a little before 7 p.m. Monday when Madej’s westbound pickup didn’t halt at a stop sign and collided with the northbound motorcycle. The impact knocked the motorcycle into another pickup that was parked nearby, and both caught fire.

Police say 48-year-old Daniel McDonald, of Omaha, was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife was riding with him, and she was hospitalized.

Lincoln School District Amends Controversial Issues Policy

Posted on April 27, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Lincoln Board of Education has updated its policy on handling controversial issues, saying that the purpose of having conversations on such topics is to develop critical thinkers.

The portion of the policy that says teachers will notify parents in advance so they can opt out of topics they find distasteful was essentially unaltered, except to specify that such notice be made with ample time to arrange alternative activities.

The amended policy also clarifies that teachers can continue with a conversation about a controversial topic without notifying parents if it spontaneously comes up during class discussion.

District critic Lee Todd says he wanted the policy to be altered to include all sex education topics.

Lancaster County Corrections Administrator Suspended

Posted on April 27, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Lancaster County corrections administrator has been suspended with pay for two weeks.

The Board of Commissioners’ chief administrative officer, Kerry Eagen, said the suspension of Mike Thurber was effective Tuesday but declined to comment further. County Attorney Joe Kelly also declined to say anything.

Thurber’s wife, Pamela Thurber, said Wednesday that she and her husband would not comment.

Mike Thurber has run county corrections for more than a dozen years.

McDonald’s Testing McNugget Recipe without Preservatives

Posted on April 27, 2016

NEW YORK (AP) — McDonald’s is testing Chicken McNuggets with no artificial preservatives as it works to revive its U.S. business.

The world’s biggest hamburger chain says it began testing the new recipe in about 140 stores in Oregon and Washington in March.

It’s the latest move by McDonald’s as it works to stage a turnaround of its business, which has lost customers in recent years. The company has conceded that it failed to keep up with changing tastes and that it is looking to improve its core menu items.

Last week, McDonald’s said sales rose 5.4 percent at established U.S. locations during the first three months of the year. But the company did not say how much of that came from an uptick in customer visits, versus higher prices.