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McCook man accused of abusing girlfriend’s son gets probation

child-abuseMCCOOK, Neb. (AP) — A McCook man accused of abusing his girlfriend’s 5-year-old son has been given a year of probation.

Online court records say 39-year-old James Clermont was sentenced June 6 in Red Willow County District Court. He’d pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of negligent child abuse, no injury. Prosecutors had lowered the charge from felony intentional child abuse, no injury.

Clermont was accused after his girlfriend’s son was found to have bruises and abrasions on his back. Authorities say the injuries resulted from Clermont punishing the boy for wetting his pants.

NPPD investigator wins national award

Investigator Roger Freeze (Courtesy Photo)
Investigator Roger Freeze (Courtesy Photo)

A North Platte Police Department investigator has been honored with a national award.

On June 10, Investigator Roger Freeze received the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Law Enforcement Award.

The VFW says Freeze was awarded for several reasons, but especially for being an exceptions example of all who wear the badge, which reflects the VFW’s proud ideals and high standards.

Investigator Freeze has been employed by the NPPD since 1995 and was promoted to investigator in 2000. He also created the No Limits mentoring program in 1998 and has taught life skills to hundreds of at-risk juveniles in the community.

Freeze is married to his wife, Tiffany, and they have two sons, Andrew and Adam.

North Platte Weather-June 17

forecast graphic june 17 2016Today
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Light and variable wind becoming east-southeast 6 to 11 mph in the morning.
Tonight
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. East wind 6 to 11 mph.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 93. South southeast wind 6 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South southeast wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 96. South wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 68.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Monday Night
A slight chance of thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 86.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 61.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 90.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 63.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 90.

Repeat dreams; Wyoming cowboy hopes to win back to back titles at Buffalo Bill Rodeo

A bareback rider grits his teeth at the Wednesday, June 15 performance of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte. Photo by Dott’s Shotts Photography
A bareback rider grits his teeth at the Wednesday, June 15 performance of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte. Photo by Dott’s Shotts Photography

North Platte, Neb. (June 16, 2016) – Chet Johnson is working on his second Buffalo Bill Rodeo gold buckle.

The Lusk, Wyo. cowboy is the high score in the saddle bronc riding after two nights of the rodeo in North Platte, with an 84 point ride aboard Beutler and Son Rodeo Co.’s horse Painted Desert. Continue reading “Repeat dreams; Wyoming cowboy hopes to win back to back titles at Buffalo Bill Rodeo”

Survey suggests rural economy remains weak in 10 states

economyOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A monthly survey of bankers suggests there’s been a slight improvement in the weak economic outlook for rural areas of 10 Western and Plains states.

A report issued Thursday on the Rural Mainstreet Index says it rose to 43.9 this month from 40.9 in May. Survey officials say any score below 50 on any of the survey’s indexes suggests that factor will decline.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the overall index has remained below growth neutral for 10 months. He says that over the past 12 months, farm prices are down 9.5 percent, grain prices are off 4 percent and livestock prices are down 15 percent.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

Nebraska utility to close nation’s smallest nuclear plant

fort-calhoun-dryOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha Public Power District has voted to shutter the nation’s smallest nuclear power plant in Fort Calhoun.

The power utility said in a written statement Thursday that the board decided it was in the best financial interest of the utility and its customers to close the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station by the end of this year.

The utility says the closure is expected to keep the general rate from increasing through 2021.

Once closed, a nuclear plant must undergo a decommissioning process to remove or decontaminate materials and equipment that have been exposed to radioactivity. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires decommissioning to be completed within 60 years of a plant’s closure.

Cleaning up the site after its closure is estimated to cost more than $1 billion.

Lake Cunningham campground in eastern Nebraska closed

Google Maps
Google Maps

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The public campground at Lake Cunningham near Omaha’s airport has been closed after testing showed traces of E. coli in the well water.

The campground was closed Thursday after a water sample tested Wednesday showed the presence of E. coli.

E. coli is a bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and, in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, the elderly and those with weak immune systems are the most susceptible.

Water samples are taken weekly and tested by the Nebraska Health Department.

Officials say the state will treat the water before the campground can reopen.

Campers using the Lake Cunningham campground will get a refund and have the option to move to the nearby NP Dodge campground.

Robert Lee Mitchell

mitchell

Robert Lee Mitchell, Sr, 68, of North Platte, gained his heavenly wings on June 12, 2016 in North Platte, Ne. He was born in Jasper, Alabama to Georgia May Richardson on May 21, 1948. He enjoyed fishing, playing dominoes, watching western shows, and most of all spending time with his family. Robert is proceeded in death by his mother (Georgia May) and a brother, Charles Mitchell. Survivors include his wife of many years Valerie Mitchell, daughter Keisha Johnson of Denver, Co, son Robert (Brandi) Mitchell of North Platte, daughter Samantha Mitchell of Aurora, Co, grandchildren Chelsea Thompson, Myesha Dickens, Ashuntie Johnson, Zavion Mitchell, Nalign Mitchell, and Tayvier Mitchell, multiple sisters and brothers along with numerous nieces and nephews. Cremation was chosen. Private family services will be held. Online condolences can be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.

William Andrew Callahan

callihan

William Andrew Callahan, age 43 of Brady passed away Monday June 13, 2016 at his home.
Will was born July 11, 1972, in Cozad, NE to Thomas and Donna (Meredith) Callahan.
Will was raised south of Brady and spent most of his childhood on the family ranch. He was mentored by many, but most of all Uncle Bud Callahan. Will never spoke a bad word of Bud. The lessons learned from him he shared with the next generation.
Will graduated from Brady High School in 1990. After graduation Will did what he did best, he was a cowboy! He rode bulls until a career-ending injury put an end to that dream. In February 1991, his son Jesse Callahan was born, and Will took on a new roll. He had moved to Kearney, and as always, made many new friends. He worked at Fort Kearney Feeders. He moved to Northern Nebraska to pursue a dream of working on a ranch. In May of 2000 his daughter, Madison Hughes was born. He moved to Axtell and spent his time mentoring Jesse with the lessons he had learned. Their time was consumed with Jesse’s sporting events and with some of their most memorable moments shared during the Nebraska High School Rodeo season. In 2003 Will started working as a rep for Walco International. During that time he made lifelong friends with several of his customers. One of those customers was his wife, Sheryl. She managed two of the feedlots that were in his territory. He was the starched shirt and jeans, polite, clean-cut cowboy who many knew and could win you over in a heartbeat. Over the years they became best friends, and in 2007 their relationship changed. On April 21, 2011, they became man and wife at the Mirage in Las Vegas, NV. Will gained two daughters in this marriage, Jamie Sehi and Kelsie Goc. Will and Sheryl made their home southwest of Brady and the WS Callahan Ranch was born.
Will is survived by his wife, Sheryl of Brady, NE; children, Jamie (Derek) Sehi of Neligh, NE, Jesse (Carly) Callahan of Imperial, NE, Kelsie Goc of Brady, NE, Madison Hughes of Flagstaff, AZ; brothers, Joe (Kelli) Callahan of Kearney, NE, Cody Land of Omaha, NE, Bowen Land of Omaha, NE; parents Donna (Meredith) Land of Gothenburg, NE, Thomas (Martha) Callahan of Omaha, NE; grandmother Lois Meredith of Gothenburg, NE; granddaughter Rain Duda and grandson Trysten Callahan.; as well as uncles, aunts, cousins and many, many friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents Pat and Leila Callahan and Kenneth Meredith.
Memorials are suggested to the Brady Fire Department or the Nebraska High School Rodeo Assoc. and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Cremation was chosen and a memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday June 18, 2016 at the Brady High School Gymnasium with Reverend Janie Freeman officiating. Those wishing to do so may sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 16th and 17th, at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Senators: Nebraska prison escape highlights broader problems

jailLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers say the recent escape of two convicted sex offenders highlights larger problems within the state prison system that have not yet been addressed.

Several senators said Thursday that the Department of Correctional Services is under stress because of staffing shortages, overcrowding and a lack of pay increases based on seniority. The department has struggled with employee turnover because of excessive overtime, the stressful environment and better-paying jobs at county jails.

Corrections Director Scott Frakes says prison employees have been reassigned following the escape, but Nebraska State Ombudsman Marshall Lux says that isn’t enough to solve the problem.

The department also announced Thursday that it has invited prison administrators from Virginia to conduct an independent investigation of the escape to determine what went wrong.

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