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Nebraska lawmakers work to retain more young professionals

workforceLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — All Nebraska lawmakers younger than 40 have joined a bipartisan group with a goal of recruiting and retaining more young people in the state.

The Legislature’s 11 senators under age 40 announced the group Next Generation Nebraska. They make up nearly a quarter of the 49-member body.

The effort is part of a national effort called the Millennial Action Project.

The issue is especially important in Nebraska, where people with college degrees are significantly more likely to leave than move into the state.

Sen. Adam Morfeld, who will lead the group with Sen. Brett Lindstrom, says group members will listen to young professional groups across the state before introducing legislation based on their feedback.

Omaha police saying little about city’s first homicide

omaha-policeOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police are seeking the public’s help as they investigate the city’s first homicide of the year.

Police will say little about the death of 40-year-old Seth Hansen but confirmed it was a homicide.

Officers and medics were called to a west Omaha gasoline station Saturday to check reports of shots being fired.

Hansen, who worked at the gas station and convenience store, was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Police are seeking the public’s help with a reward of up to $25,000 for a tip leading to an arrest.

A prayer vigil is planned outside the gas station Monday.

Omaha, Council Bluffs respond to ash tree-killing bug

EmeraldOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials in Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa, are taking different approaches toward handling an expected infestation of an ash tree-killing insect.

Omaha plans to treat up to 5,000 of its 11,000 ash trees and to remove the rest.

In Council Bluffs, officials plant to treat most of the 1,260 ash trees on city property, then evaluate the situation in 10 years. Crews removed 30 unhealthy trees last year and treated 200 trees. Workers will treat about 1,000 trees this spring.

At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, workers will treat about 10 percent of the 368 ash trees on campus.

Officials must take action because of the emerald ash borer. Since being found in 2002 in Michigan, the insect has killed millions of trees across the country.

Letha O. ‘Lee’ Brown

lee-brownLetha O. ‘Lee’ Brown, age 90, of North Platte, NE, passed away Wednesday, January 4, 2017, at Great Plains Health.

Lee was born January 16, 1926, to Andrew L. and Emma M. McMullen Andersen on the farm in Gage County, NE, where she grew up. Lee graduated from Broken Bow High School in 1942 then worked for the Arrow Hotel in town.

On April 28, 1945, Lee was united in marriage to Wayne William Brown and they lived in San Francisco, CA, for a short time. They eventually moved to North Platte where Lee worked for Montgomery Wards and Allen’s Self Service before going to work as a receptionist for Dr. Miller until she retired.

Lee was a member of the First Christian Church. She was a kind and caring person who enjoyed helping others. She was a volunteer with R.S.V.P. and helped start the Thrift Connection. Lee also liked to knit, sew and make ceramics and enjoyed playing bridge.

She is survived by her children, Karen Richardson, of North Platte and Connie (Jon) Cole, of Lincoln, NE; daughter-in-law, Judy Brown, of Greeley, CO; seven grandchildren, Diana (Kurt) Fleer, Mark (Lynda) Richardson, Jack (Thea) Cole, Jennie Cole-Mossman, Brenda (Travis) Pittman, Sarah Brown and Brandon (Jessica) Brown; 11 great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces, nephews and other family.

Lee was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, Sr., and their son, Wayne, Jr. ‘Bill’; her parents, Andrew and Emma Andersen; infant sister, Oma, and sisters, Verna Raymond, Opal Markle and Lois Doggett; and two brothers, Curtis and Alfred Andersen.

Graveside Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 13, 2017, in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens with Pastor Jan Ekstedt officiating. Visitation will be Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the Thrift Connection or First Christian Church.

Thomas Dean Brunz

thomas-brunz

Thomas Dean Brunz, 64, of Sutherland passed away Thursday January 5, 2017 at Great Plains Health surrounded by his family, following a brief illness.  Tom was born October 16, 1952 in Scottsbluff, NE to William H and Naomi G (Harmon) Brunz, the youngest of three boys.  He grew up in Milford, NE and moved with his family to Millard, NE during his junior year of high school and graduated from Millard High in 1971.  He returned to Milford to attend the technical college, studying Electronic Technology, graduating in December 1972.

He went to work for Nebraska Public Power District on January 1, 1973 and just completed 44 years of service.  He began at the Sheldon Station in Hallam, NE as a Station Operator and transferred to Cooper Nuclear as an I & C Technician in May of 1973.  In December 1976 he made the permanent move to the Gerald Gentleman Station at Sutherland where he held various positions including I & C Supervisor, Operations Manager and most recently, Production Consultant.

Tom married Patricia Savery in Crete, NE on September 15, 1973.  Just prior to his illness, they celebrated their 43rd anniversary.  Together they had two sons, Jason Thomas and Eric Michael.  He was the proud “Papa” to granddaughter Bentley Sue and grandson Kyler Thomas.

Tom was active in youth activities in Sutherland for many years.  He was a founding member of the Sutherland Youth Program serving as its first president as well as serving on the Tri-County Youth board.  During those years he coached baseball and youth basketball.  He served two terms on the Sutherland School Board and was very interested in implementing technology in the school system.  Most importantly, as an avid hunter himself, he cared about the safety of young hunters and taught Hunter Safety to hundreds of Sutherland youth.  In 2010, he received an award from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for 30 years as a volunteer instructor.

He enjoyed camping, hunting and fishing with his family.  His favorite place to be was sitting in a duck blind on the river with his black lab Maggie.

Tom was preceded in death by his grandparents; his wife’s parents, Norm and Janet Savery; several aunts, uncles and cousins.  He will be missed by his wife, Patti; his parents, Bill and Naomi Brunz; his sons, Jason (Lisa) Brunz and Eric (Cathy) Brunz; and grandchildren, Bentley Sue and Kyler Thomas.  He is also survived by his brothers, Bill (Cindy) Brunz and Bob (Linda) Brunz; sister-in-law, Sue (John) Hall and brother-in-law, Kelly Savery.  Also step-grandchildren, Alicia (Steven) Cabrera, Christopher Sandoval and step-great granddaughter, Nevaeha and many other aunts, uncles, cousins, family and friends.

Memorials are suggested for the Sutherland Youth Program and the Sutherland Schools Foundation.  Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.  Cremation was chosen.  Those wishing to sign the memorial book may do so from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday at the Carpenter Memorial Chapel.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Sutherland. Inurnment will be at the Riverview Cemetery at Sutherland.

Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in care of arrangements.

Elsie Bernice (Frisch) Fisher

elsie-fisher

Elsie Bernice (Frisch) Fisher, 82 of North Platte, formerly of Scottsbluff, passed away January 6, 2017 at home.

She was born on February 19, 1934 in Lynch, Nebraska to August and Nellie (Cook) Frisch.  In 1938 she moved to Scottsbluff, Nebraska with her family.  In 2007 she moved to North Platte.

Elsie attended schools at Lake Alice, Victory Hill and Liberty High School.   She attended and graduated LPN training from The University of Nebraska Omaha.   She had several jobs in healthcare in the Scottsbluff area including Regional West Medical Center, GraMar Nursing Home in Scottsbluff, NE and Mitchell Care Center in Mitchell, NE.

Elsie was a member of Parkview Community Church of the Nazarene in North Platte.  She volunteered weekly at the Church by folding the bulletins.  She was also a volunteer with the RSPV program and an Adopted Grandparent at Cody School until she became ill.

In 1950 she married Calvin Warren Fisher. To this union 5 children were born.  Calvin passed away in 1988.   In 1990 she married Roy Lawrence Straetker.  Roy passed away in 2013.

Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands; brothers, Gail and Archie Frisch; sister, Irene and husband Al McFarlane; grandson, Josh Baker, great granddaughter, Adaira Stoll and several sister & brother in laws.

Elsie is survived by sisters, Dorothy (Hal) Harriger of Mitchell, NE, Donna Hurley of Rapid City, SD; sister-in-laws, Verna Monk of Yutan, NE, Betty Frisch of Broadwater, NE; daughters, Ellen (Bill) Stoll of Scottsbluff, NE, Glenda (Larry) Covey of North Platte, NE,  Marsha (Larry) Satur of Gillette, WY; sons, Rick (Jackie) Fisher of Scottsbluff, NE, Greg (Theresa) Fisher of Colorado Springs, CO;  Grandchildren, Nicki, Dan, Travis, Gwen, Lana, Justin, Jaime, Teyona, Kyra, Jason; Step grandchildren, Carrie, Mike, Tina; 25 great grandchildren and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be given to the family and they will be distributed to The Callahan Cancer Center, Great Plains Hospice and Parkview Community Church of The Nazarene in North Platte, NE. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.

Visitation will be at Carpenter Memorial Chapel on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 9, 2017 at Parkview Community Church of the Nazarene with the Reverends Jack Atteberry and Richard Karr officiating.  Burial will be at 3:00 p.m. at the Sunset Memorial Cemetery at Scottsbluff, NE.  Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in care of arrangements.

North Platte Weather-January 9

forecast-graphic-january-9-2017Today
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Southeast wind 7 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. South southwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming west northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. West northwest wind 7 to 11 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. South southwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. North wind 8 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with a high near 22.
Thursday Night
A slight chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 5.
Friday
A chance of snow, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 20.
Friday Night
A chance of snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 30.
Saturday Night
A slight chance of snow. Partly cloudy, with a low around 12.
Sunday
A slight chance of rain and snow. Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

Proposals could help expand telehealth services in Nebraska

Medical-ChartLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A lack of health care in rural Nebraska is prompting a new push by lawmakers to expand telehealth services.

Two bills introduced last week would encourage more providers to adopt the technology, which lets doctors and patients connect through webcams and smartphones.

Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward says the bills would help smaller communities that have clinics but no full-time doctors.

One proposal would require insurance companies to cover any service offered through telehealth that’s already covered for an in-person consultation.

The other would require Nebraska to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, an agreement that offers expedited licensing for doctors who want to practice medicine in other member states.

Doing so would allow out-of-state doctors to treat Nebraska patients remotely, and Nebraska doctors to examine patients in other states.

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