January 2017 – Page 3 – North Platte Post Archive

Games, crafts, other activities may safeguard aging brain

Posted on January 30, 2017

CHICAGO (AP) — Even in your 70s and beyond, simple activities including web-surfing, playing bridge and socializing may help stave off mental decline.

That’s the conclusion of a study released Monday.

It didn’t look at costly, computer-based games that purport to keep the brain sharp. Instead, it found a benefit from activities many seniors have access to: computer use; making crafts; playing games including chess or bridge; and going to movies or other types of socializing.

Those activities appeared to help prevent mild cognitive impairment. That condition involves problems with memory, thinking and attention that don’t interfere much with daily life but which increase risks for developing Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

Results appear in the journal JAMA Neurology.

Omaha woman sentenced in airline voucher scam case

Posted on January 30, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha woman who sold thousands of worthless airline vouchers has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison.

Patricia Urbanovsky was sentenced Monday.

Federal Judge Joseph Bataillon says the sentence was warranted because of the sophisticated scheme Urbanovsky ran, the number of victims and amount of the loss.

Urbanovsky was the owner of Creative Creations in Omaha. Authorities say she ran a scheme to sell discounted airline travel vouchers, most of which turned out to be worthless.

Urbanovsky pleaded guilty last year to 16 counts of wire fraud. In exchange, federal prosecutors dropped nine counts of money laundering.

Omaha police officer shot in ankle before returning fire

Posted on January 30, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha police officer was shot in the ankle before she returned fire and wounded a man Monday afternoon.

Both the female officer and the man she shot were hospitalized in critical condition after the incident in midtown Omaha around 1p.m.

Deputy Police Chief Dave Baker says someone reported a suspicious person near 33rd Street and Turner Boulevard. Baker says the officer stopped a man who had a gun.

Witness Greg Powell says the man sat down but didn’t put his hands behind his back, as instructed. Then the man pulled something out of his jacket or backpack.

The officer was wounded before firing at the man several times.

Authorities did not immediately identify the officer or the suspect.

Nebraska Gov. Ricketts defends Trump order on refugees

Posted on January 30, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is defending President Donald Trump’s order to temporarily suspend immigration for citizens from seven majority Muslim countries.

Ricketts acknowledged Monday that the decision was disruptive for travelers from those countries but argued that it could help the United States avoid the problem of terrorists entering the country by claiming to be refugees.

Ricketts says the federal government should move quickly to put a new vetting process in place so immigration can resume.

He also is urging Nebraska residents who are concerned to get involved with the state’s three resettlement agencies: Catholic Social Services, Lutheran Family Services and the Refugee Empowerment Center.

Joseph P. Corkle

Posted on January 30, 2017February 1, 2017

Joseph P. Corkle, 66, of North Platte, passed away peacefully January 28, 2017 at his home. He was born January 16, 1951, to George and Martha Lydia (Praeuner) Corkle at Norfolk, NE. Joe attended and graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

On October 27, 1984, he was united in marriage to his wife, Peggy of 32 years. He was an accountant with McChesney, Martin Sagehorn, PC in partnership for over 45 years. He served as a past president for Nebraskaland Days and Crime Stoppers, a member of Lincoln County Democrats and North Platte Ambassadors. In support of our country’s military he continued to be involved with bringing the sailors of the USS Nebraska to Nebraskaland Days events. Joe enjoyed golf, photography, hunting and camping.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, George T. Corkle. He is survived by his wife, Peggy; a son, Joel (Dori) Trausch; grandchildren, Porter and Maeve Trausch; sister, Cathleen (James) Kent; sister-in-law, Mary Virginia Corkle; brother-in-law, Roger Sandeen; nephews, Tom (Dacia) Kent and Brian (Natalie) Kent; nieces, Ellen (Luigi) Cazzaniga and Marne (Bob) Hamilton; and many great nieces and nephews.

Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church or Fur the Love of Paws. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 2, 2017 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Josh Brown as celebrant. Family will be receiving friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, with a Rosary to follow at 7:00 p.m. at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in care of arrangements. The casket will not be open. Cremation will follow the funeral mass.

Ricketts rallies Nebraska business owners behind tax plan

Posted on January 30, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts is rallying Nebraska’s business community behind his plan to cut the state’s top income tax rate.

Small business owners on Monday touted the measure, which would lower the top rate from 6.84 percent to 5.99 percent over eight years.

Ricketts says lowering the rate would encourage businesses to hire more people and invest more in their operations.

Critics of the plan point to tax cuts in Kansas, which failed to create any major economic growth and triggered a state budget crisis. Ricketts says his proposal is different because it’s incremental and relies on cutting expenses first.

Nebraska’s top bracket kicks in at $29,831 for single taxpayers and $59,661 for married couples. People whose taxable income is less after claiming deductions would see no savings.

Woman takes plea deal in fatal Platte County collision

Posted on January 30, 2017

TARNOV, Neb. (AP) — A 25-year-old Columbus woman has reached a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to the crash death of a man in Platte County.

Online court records say Mikala Phillips made the pleas to misdemeanor charges of vehicular homicide and first-offense driving under the influence. Prosecutors reduced the homicide charge from a felony in exchange for Phillips’ pleas. Her sentencing is scheduled for March 8.

The records say that in her plea deal, Phillips agreed to be sentenced to the maximum probation on each charge. The agreement is not binding on the judge, however.

Authorities have said Phillips’ car collided with a pickup driven by 33-year-old William Sorensen, of St. Edward, on June 9 last year. He was pronounced dead at the rural intersection about a mile west of Tarnov.

Stuck tunneling rig to cost city an extra $2.75M for project

Posted on January 30, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha will have to pay $2.75 million extra to complete one of its sewer overhaul projects because a tunnel boring machine got stuck.

The machine was 70 feet underground between the downtown Heartland of America Park and the Missouri River when it ran into boulders and watery gravel. It had to stop 900 feet short of its destination.

The City Council has agreed to pay the contractor for digging a shaft down to the machine and taking it out and then pay for the lowering of a heavier duty drilling rig into the tunnel to finish the work.

The project now is expected to be delayed at least until the end of his year — about one year later than the original completion date.

Nebraska inmate serving murder sentence died, department says

Posted on January 30, 2017

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are awaiting autopsy results from the body of an inmate who died at the state prison in Tecumseh.

The Nebraska Correctional Services Department says 78-year-old Floyd Derry was serving 48 years to life for second-degree murder and a weapons conviction in Deuel County.

Derry began his sentence in November 1994. The department says he died Jan. 21.

The department says Derry had been under medical care.

Clarence “Wayne” Cunningham

Posted on January 30, 2017

Clarence “Wayne” Cunningham, 98, of Loveland, Colorado, passed away January 26, 2017 at his home. Wayne was born to Clarence and Pearle (Adamson) Cunningham on a farm 13 miles west of Fullerton, Nebraska on November 4, 1918. He attended school in Fullerton.

On September 5, 1933, Wayne accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and in his own words, “I felt a calmness and my burdens lifted, and I have had a good prayer life and spiritual fellowship all these years.”

In February, 1937, he moved to Arnold, NE when his dad purchased the Gambles store and became a partner in the business in 1940.

On January 29, 1942, he was drafted into the army and fought in World War II, being stationed in the Aleutian, Marshall, and Philippine Islands. He was wounded on December 20, 1944 and was honorably discharged July 10, 1945. He earned the Purple Heart medal, the Bronze Star medal, the WWII Victory medal, and many others. Upon his return home, he continued his work at Gambles.

On June 6, 1948, he was married to Marilyn Tarr. Wayne and Marilyn ran the Gambles store with partner, Robert May, until 1981 when they sold the business and retired. Wayne was a member of the United Methodist Church in Arnold, as well as a member of Rotary Club, American Legion, and Chamber of Commerce. Wayne and Marilyn relocated to Loveland, CO in 1995, where he lived the remainder of his life.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marilyn, of Loveland, son Ron (Renee) Cunningham of Frederick, CO, daughter Sharon (Steve) Bailey of Mead, CO, four grandchildren, Wendy Stelk, Colin Cunningham, Austin Bailey, Kaylin Bailey, and two great granddaughters, Isla and Zadi Cunningham. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Pearle, sister, Evelyn, and brother in law, Dick Young.

Funeral Services will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Loveland, Thursday, February 2, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Visitation will take place from 3-5:00 p.m., Wednesday at Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home. Burial will be at the Arnold cemetery in Arnold, NE, Friday, February 3, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church in Loveland, CO or American Legion Post 130 in Arnold, NE in care of Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home.