December 2016 – Page 6 – North Platte Post Archive

Jetliner lands in Lincoln so passenger can get medical help

Posted on December 27, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a Cleveland-bound United Airlines flight was diverted to Lincoln Airport so a passenger with heart issues could be taken to a hospital.

The Boeing 737 landed a little after 5:45 p.m. Monday. The plane was on the ground for about an hour as the woman was taken off. Lincoln Airport Executive Director Dave Haring says the jet was refueled before departing, and its oxygen supply was topped off to replace the oxygen given the woman as doctors among the other passengers attended to her.

The flight had originated in San Francisco.

Neighbors resist proposed prisoner re-entry center in Omaha

Posted on December 27, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Some residents oppose plans by a nonprofit that operates re-entry programs for federal prisoners to open a residential center in a riverfront industrial park near Omaha’s Eppley Airfield.

Dismas Charities Inc. wants to provide housing alongside job readiness and placement programs for up to 95 soon-to-be-released prisoners.

Several neighbors oppose the plan, including Neal Drickey of NBG Enterprises, who says he’s concerned about theft and the safety of his employees.

The Kentucky-based nonprofit wants to secure a contract with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons to build and operate the center. The bureau expects to pick a contractor by Friday.

The Omaha Planning Board has recommended that the city council grant Dismas a permit to allow transitional living in an area with industrial zoning.

Gary R. Cooper Celebration of Life

Posted on December 27, 2016December 27, 2016

Gary R. Cooper, age 73, of North Platte, died December 13, 2016 at the Denver Hospice. A Celebration of Life Service will be January 7, 2017 at the Quality Inn and Suites from 5-8. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Duane Alvin Dodson

Posted on December 27, 2016

Duane Alvin Dodson, age 83, of Maywood, NE, passed away of pancreatic cancer at his home on Sunday, December 25, 2016.

Duane was born September 18, 1933, to Harold and Dorothea (Loghry) Dodson in Frontier County, NE, and grew up on the ranch. During grade school he attended a one-room school in Buchanan School District #73 in rural Lincoln County then graduated from high school at the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis, NE, in 1951. Duane later served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Korea from 1953-55. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1955 then returned to Nebraska.

On October 14, 1956, Duane was united in marriage to Beverly L. Gale of Cody, NE. The couple made their home in Well Canyon where they raised four children. Duane was a lifelong rancher, longtime 4-H leader, and member of the Maywood Christian Church where he served as elder.

Duane was also very active in the community, serving on various boards which included the Maywood Co-op, Federal Land Bank, Middle Republican Natural Resources District, McCook Public Power District, Nebraska Generation & Transmission, and the Maywood School Board for 24 years. His past memberships included the Nebraska Stock Growers, Lincoln County Cattlemen, Nebraska Cattlemen, Loess Canyon Rangeland Alliance (LCRA), American Legion and V.F.W. Duane had received the Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher Award in November 1968, the Middle Republican NRD Conservation Award in 2000, and the Nebraska Society of Range Management Rangeland Award in 2002.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Beverly, of Maywood; children, Bruce (Sherri) Dodson, of North Platte, NE, Dallas (Kandi) Dodson, of Valentine, NE, Jan (Todd) Deatrich, of Maywood, and David (Chris) Dodson, of Ainsworth, NE; and his sister, Eileen (Sonny) Shirley, of North Platte.

Survivors also include his grandchildren, Devin (Julia) Dodson, of Park City, KS, Chase Dodson, of North Platte, Lindee (Shane) Miller, of North Platte, Nate (Beth) Dodson, of Chicago, IL, Shoni (Davin) Doyle, of Yuma, CO, Miranda Dodson, of Kearney, NE, Dex (Jill) Dodson, of Cambridge, NE, Tell (Bekah) Deatrich, of Maywood, Dotti (Greg) Loomis, of Stuart, NE, Darbe Dodson (fiancé, Trevor Ramm), of North Platte and Davi Dodson, of Ainsworth; great-grandchildren, Declan, Gwen and Lizzy Dodson, Braelee and Landyn Miller, and Merrick and Ian Doyle; as well as many nieces, nephews and other family.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Dorothea Dodson; sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis and Bud Mayfield; and grandson, Landon Dodson.

Funeral Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, December 29, 2016, at the Maywood Jr.-Sr. High School gymnasium with Pastor Dale Heimer officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Maywood Cemetery. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore or prior to the service in Maywood. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the Maywood Community Hall, Maywood Christian Church, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Donor’s Choice. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Mother of man killed at Offutt Air Force Base files lawsuit

Posted on December 26, 2016

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — The mother of a Lincoln man killed by an Offutt Air Force Base guard during a police chase has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the guard and Air Force commanders.

The federal lawsuit filed last week alleges that shooting 21-year-old Zachari Johnson amounted to excessive force. Douglas Bickal, an Air Force security contractor, shot Johnson in the chest when he crashed a car through a base entrance in June 2012.

Air Force officials have said the guard was following procedure.

The Sarpy County sheriff’s office says Johnson was driving a stolen Honda Civic when he raced north and tried to leave the base. The guard fired at the car three times.

The defendants haven’t yet responded to the allegations.

Most Iowa, Nebraska customers are power back, utilities say

Posted on December 26, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Utility companies have restored power to most of their Iowa and Nebraska customers following the high winds and heavy rains on Christmas.

The National Weather Service says wind gusts of 70 mph were recorded Sunday night at the Norfolk and Wayne airports in Nebraska, and gusts exceeding 60 mph knocked out power to more than 4,300 customers in the Sioux City, Iowa, area.

MidAmerican Energy in Des Moines said Monday morning that fewer than 200 customers were still without power. Nebraska Public Power District says only a dozen or so of its customers haven’t gotten back their electricity.

In Nebraska, nearly an inch of rain was recorded in Fremont and Lincoln over the past 24 hours. In Iowa, more than eight-tenths of an inch was reported in Council Bluffs.

Questions arise about new occupants for old auditorium site

Posted on December 26, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The demolition of the Civic Auditorium on the north side of downtown Omaha raises a question: What’s going up to replace it?

Developer Tetrad Property Group already has dropped its proposal for an office tower. Mayor Jean Stothert (STAH’-thurt) says Tetrad is looking at developing more public space for a nonprofit or a government entity.

Stothert acknowledged that there’s been discussion about moving the YMCA, the Children’s Museum or a city library to the four-block site. None of those organizations’ officials report any current plans to move, although a YMCA official says there have been talks with Tetrad about its plans.

Tetrad’s CEO and board chairman declined to comment on the project.

NP man accused of holding knife to girlfriend’s throat, threatening to harm dogs

Posted on December 26, 2016

A 39-year-old North Platte man was arrested on Christmas Eve after police say he held a knife to his girlfriend’s throat and threatened to harm her dogs.

At around 2:30 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 2100 block of West 5th Street on the report of a domestic assault that had occurred earlier.

Officers met with a 45-year-old female who alleged that she and her boyfriend, Joey Ziegler, had become involved in a verbal argument.

During the argument, the female reported that Ziegler threatened to harm her dogs. She said that when she asked Ziegler if he really intended to harm the dogs, he produced a pocket knife, opened the blade and held it against her throat.

According to Investigator John Deal, Ziegler then told the victim that he would “cut her throat” before he would harm the dogs. He then left the residence.

Deal says officers located the knife that was allegedly used in the incident, near where Ziegler had reportedly been sitting.

The officers then left to attempt to locate Ziegler when, a short time later, a call came in that he had returned to the residence.

Officers responded and took Ziegler into custody. He was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed on charges of felony 3rd-degree-domestic assault, use of a weapon to commit a felony and felony terroristic threats. Deal says the domestic assault charge is a felony due to prior convictions.

Death penalty reinstatement voted 2016’s top Nebraska story

Posted on December 26, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The death penalty has been voted the top Nebraska story for 2016 by newspaper and broadcast members of The Associated Press and by AP staffers.

Nebraska voters reinstated the death penalty on Nov. 8 when they overturned the Legislature’s decision last year to abolish capital punishment. The Legislature’s action topped the AP list for 2015.

In order, the rest of the 2016 stories were the Wisconsin crash death of Husker punter Sam Foltz; Cabela’s sale to Bass Pro; the death of an Omaha boy at a Walt Disney park; staffing shortages at state prisons; the award of $28.1 million to six people wrongfully convicted of a 1985 murder; a state legislator’s cybersex scandal; the Legislature’s electoral shake-up; the state tourism director’s firing; and the budget woes facing the Legislature.

Community gardens sprouting up throughout Nebraska

Posted on December 25, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has seen a bumper crop of community gardens take root over the last five years, but a new report says other states have done more to help them flourish.

The report by a legislative task force identified 184 community gardens throughout the state, mostly on land owned by churches, schools, daycares and local governments.

Community gardens have become popular as a way to eat healthier, reduce grocery costs and build relationships with neighbors, but the report says some in Nebraska have faced logistical hurdles.

The Nebraska task force report calls for a rewrite of land-use laws so gardeners have more places to plant, policies that make it easier and more affordable to access water, and tax incentives that will encourage landowners to allow community gardens on their property.