November 2016 – Page 9 – North Platte Post Archive

Kansas waterslide on which boy died to be demolished

Posted on November 22, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Operators of a Kansas water park where a state lawmaker’s 10-year-old son was killed on a waterslide last summer say that ride will be demolished.

Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts and the family that runs it said in a statement Tuesday that the 168-foot “Verruckt” at the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kansas, will eventually be torn down.

The ride has been closed since authorities say Caleb Thomas Schwab was killed Aug. 7 while on the Verruckt, which is German for “insane.” Two other riders in Caleb’s raft, both women, were injured.

Attorneys for Caleb and the women are investigating the accident. No charges or lawsuits have been filed as of Tuesday. Messages left by The Associated Press for the attorneys were not immediately returned.

Fire heavily damages businesses in southwest Nebraska town

Posted on November 22, 2016

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. (AP) — A weekend fire forced two main street businesses to relocate to temporary quarters in the southwest Nebraska town of Cambridge.

The former grocery store building that held First Central Bank of Cambridge and Cambridge Telephone sustained significant damage Sunday morning.

Cambridge fire chief Delaine Soucie says the bank building is a total loss. Nearly 100 firefighters from Cambridge and surrounding towns were needed to extinguish the blaze.

Soucie says the fire was difficult to fight because the building had been remodeled to divide the space, and the two businesses shared a basement.

Bank CEO Don Moore says he’s confident the bank’s vault is OK, and electronic information is backed up once a day.

Lincoln man sentenced to up to 50 years for child sex abuse

Posted on November 22, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 53-year-old Lincoln man has been sentenced to up to 50 years in prison for sexually assaulting a girl hundreds of times over nearly a decade.

Jack Borkowski was sentenced Monday to 40 to 50 years in prison. Even with so-called good time credit, Borkowski will be at least 80 before he’s eligible for parole.

Prosecutors say he began inappropriately touching the girl when she was 6 and soon began raping her before she reached puberty. The abuse continued until the girl was in her teens.

Police say Borkowski admitted during a police interview to committing more than 200 sexual assaults on the girl.

Heroic Nebraska banker, Iowa teen to be honored

Posted on November 22, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Three Omaha men and two eastern Iowa men will be honored during halftime of the Nebraska-Iowa “Heroes” football game on Friday.

Brett Bailes, Chris Holbeck and Dennis Wilson rescued several people involved in a fiery two-car crash on an Omaha street. Bailes used his coat to put out flames that had engulfed a passenger. He, Wilson and Holbeck also pulled a driver and another passenger from a burning car.

In Iowa, Cedar Rapids firefighters credit Ken Blazek and Brock Staley for saving a badly burned woman trapped in her house after an explosion.

“Citizen heroes” from the two states, an honor sponsored by Hy-Vee food stores and the American Red Cross, are recognized every year at the post-Thanksgiving Day game.

Southeast Nebraska teacher accused of slapping student

Posted on November 22, 2016

ODELL, Neb. (AP) — A veteran teacher has been accused of slapping a student in southeast Nebraska.

The incident occurred last week in an agriculture classroom at Diller-Odell High School in Diller. Authorities say a student was leaning against or otherwise moving a desk, causing the desk legs to make a squeaking noise. The teacher told the student to stop moving the desk and, while standing behind the student, slapping a side of the boy’s face.

The teacher described it to a Gage County Sheriff’s Office investigator as a light slap. The teacher was ticketed for misdemeanor assault. Online court records don’t yet show that he’s been formally charged.

Superintendent Mike Meyerle declined to comment Tuesday but said the teacher had worked 31 years for the district.

January sentencing set for Iowan in fatal Nebraska crash

Posted on November 22, 2016

DAKOTA CITY, Neb. (AP) — A 45-year-old Iowa man has been found guilty of vehicular homicide in the crash deaths of three people in northeast Nebraska.

Online court records say Christopher Cox, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, pleaded no contest to three counts last week in Dakota County Court. He’s scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 4.

Authorities say Cox’s car ran off U.S. Highway 20 west of Jackson on June 9 and struck a concrete creek barrier. He told officers he swerved to avoid hitting a deer.

Two of his passengers died at the scene: 57-year-old Connie Fauzae and 9-year-old Espinoza Lara, both of Council Bluffs, Iowa. A third passenger died later at a Sioux City, Iowa, hospital: 10-year-old Jose Lara, also of Council Bluffs.

Cox was treated for minor injuries.

Bellevue man gets prison in sex assault on group home resident

Posted on November 22, 2016November 22, 2016

PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — A Bellevue man convicted in the sexual assault of a group home resident has been given 10 to 21 years in prison.

Court records say 39-year-old Adrian Galbreath was sentenced Monday in Sarpy County District Court. He’d pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault and two counts of abuse of a vulnerable adult. Prosecutors lowered the assault charge in exchange for Galbreath’s pleas.

The judge credited Galbreath with 396 days already served.

Court records say Galbreath worked at Hands of Heartland and had invited the group home resident to Galbreath’s Bellevue apartment on Sept. 23 last year. Authorities say Galbreath pushed down and began to assault the man after the man became intoxicated.

A Hands of Heartland official has said Galbreath is no longer an employee.

Merle F. Axford

Posted on November 22, 2016November 22, 2016

Merle F. Axford, 51, of North Platte passed away November 19, 2016 in North Platte.
Merle was born April 30, 1965 in Fort Carson, Colorado to Francis and Beverly (Runyon) Axford. He graduated high school in Warren Township, IL in 1983 and attended Iowa State University, graduating in 1989. On June 13, 1992 he married Karla Forsch in Ames, Iowa. Merle started working with Wal-Mart and worked in stores in several states including, Wyoming, Illinois, Montana, and Kentucky. The family moved to North Platte in January 2013 where Merle was an operations manager for Wal-Mart. He will be remembered as a great boss and mentor.
Merle was a member of the Episcopal Church of Our savior, was involved with Kiwanis, the United Way, and was an Eagle Scout; enjoying doing Boy Scout projects with his boys.
Survivors include his wife, Karla of North Platte; children, Austin, Tyler, and Mason all of North Platte; mother, Beverly Axford of Converse, TX; sisters, Julie (Steven) Bissell of Converse, TX, Jackie (David) Bishop of Louisville, CO, and Kathy (Mike) Klein of Derby, KS; 5 nephews; and 2 nieces.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Memorials are suggested to The United Way in Butte, MT and the Callahan Cancer Center in North Platte, and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 3, 2016 at the Episcopal church of Our Savior with Father Jeffrey Nelson officiating. Visitation will be 12: 00 – 9:00 p.m. with family receiving friends 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday, December 2, 2016 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Robert W. “Bob” Allen

Posted on November 22, 2016November 22, 2016

Robert W. “Bob” Allen of North Platte, passed away on November 18, 2016 at Great Plains Health. He was born on November 7, 1951 in Tilden, Nebraska to Vernon and Juanita (Rogers) Allen. Bob grew up in Petersburg, Nebraska, graduating from Petersburg High School in 1970. He went on to Northeastern Nebraska College where he played basketball then transferring on to Chadron State College continuing his basketball career and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

After graduation he moved to North Platte where he worked for Dowhower Construction. He then worked with his father at Welty’s TV and Appliance. They later changed the name to Allen’s TV and Appliance operating the store until 1990. Bob went on to start his own business, Allen’s Appliance Repair in 1990.

On October 5, 1984 Bob married Karen Miles in North Platte. They are members of Messiah Lutheran Church.

Bob’s love for hunting created a new business for him as a Taxidermist in his spare time, winning numerous state and national awards for mounts he had done. Bob enjoyed spearfishing, boating, jet skiing and camping with family and friends. He traveled the world hunting more exotic animals and mounting them for display. He loved riding motorcycles, trikes and go cart racing with his grandkids.

Survivors include his wife Karen Allen of North Platte; three children, Sonja (Kevin)Pearson of Grand Island, Amy Allen of Scottsbluff and Robert (Joy) Coons of Hershey; five grandchildren, Robin, Chris and John Pearson of Grand Island, Kelsey Salazar-Allen of North Platte, Calina Allen of McCook; four siblings, Terri (Stan) Timm of Omaha, Ken (Cheryl) Allen of Castle Rock, Colorado, Randy Allen of North Platte and Merri (John) Brownell of Omaha; sister-in-law Karen Miles of San Diego, California; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; step mother Gloria Allen, two sons, David James and Scott Robert Allen; in-laws, Jack and Edith Miles; and a brother-in-law, Kent Miles. Online condolences can be made at www.adamsswanson.com. Memorials may be made to the North Platte Animal Shelter.

Services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 26, 2016 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Platte with the Reverend Tim Eighmy officiating. Burial will be at Floral Lawns Memorial Garden. Visitation will be Friday, November 25, 2016 from 12-9:00 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8:00 p.m.. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

North Platte Weather-November 22

Posted on November 22, 2016

Tuesday

Rain and snow likely, becoming all rain after 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 41. North wind 8 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday Night

A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Northwest wind 8 to 13 mph.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. South southeast wind around 6 mph.

Thanksgiving Day

Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Breezy.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 23.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 52.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 23.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 54.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 47.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.