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Phyllis Jean Beckius

phyllis-jean-beckius

Phyllis Jean Beckius, age 85 of North Platte, passed away Friday January 27, 2017 at Linden Court.

Phyllis was born on October 25, 1931 in St. Francis, KS to Jacob and Ida (Miller) Schaffer, one of six children.  She grew up mostly in North Platte, moving to Omaha during her high school years.  She returned to North Platte after finishing school where she met Jim Beckius.  The couple was married on February 20, 1950.  She worked as a waitress at King Fong when they were first married, then the Dunes Motel and Lakeway Lanes and then was able to stay home to raise her family.  She was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, The Sweet Adelines, and loved to bowl, golf and play cards.

Phyllis is survived by her husband Jim of North Platte; children Marsha (Rex) Reece of North Platte, and John (Wendy) Beckius of Glenwood Springs, CO; 5 grandchildren, Chad (Lea) Reece of North Platte, Josh (Juanita) Reece of Lincoln, Joe (Denise) Beckius of Pensacola, FL, Cody (Alisha) Beckius of Ft. Collins, CO, and Shane Beckius of Glenwood Springs, CO; 7 great grandchildren, Brian Engel, Mina Reece, Jaiden Gott, Roman Reece, Destini Beckius, Journey Beckius and Ethan Beckius; brothers Bill and Ronald Schaffer; special relative Cindy Schroeder of Phoenix, AZ; as well as numerous other family members and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandson Jesse; brothers Bob and Harold Schaffer; and sister Lucille Beans.

Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton or the Great Plains Hospice and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Christian Wake Service will be 7:00 p.m. Tuesday January 31, 2017 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.  Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday February 1, 2017 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton with Reverend Mark Seiker as Celebrant.  Burial will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery.  Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Tuesday January 31, 2017 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

 

Leo Charles Smith

leo-smith

Leo Charles Smith, age 85 of North Platte, passed away Friday January 27, 2017 at Great Plains Health.

Leo was born on February 20, 1931 in North Platte to Elmer and Emma (Burch) Smith.  He grew up in North Platte and graduated from North Platte High School.  He was a Corporal in the Army from December 1951 until November 1953, serving in Korea.  He married Beverly J. Brown on March 31, 1957.  After her death in 2003, he married Betty Glebe on May 12, 2007.  Except for two years in Boulder, CO and his time in the military, Leo was a lifelong resident of North Platte.  He worked as a Carman on the UPRR for 18 years.  He was a member of The Rock Church, had a passion for cooking and baking, especially pies, and enjoyed fishing, gardening and joke telling!

Leo is survived by his wife Betty of North Platte; children Sandy (Mark) Mason of North Platte, Allan (Brenda) Smith of Aurora, CO, and Leslie Smith of North Platte; siblings Waldo (Leona) Smith of WA, George Smith of AK, Sidney (Bonnie) Smith of North Platte, and Anna (Jack) Hayford of CA; stepchildren Catherine (William) Kolf of  IL, and Marcia (Jim) Warner of Lincoln, NE; 3 grandchildren Matthew (Amy) Smith of Detroit, MI, Leah Smith of Denver, CO, and Brianna Mason of North Platte; 3 step grandchildren Emily (Joe) DeHaven of KY, Jerome Kolf of GA, and Erika Warner of Lincoln, NE; as well as other extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Beverly Jean (Brown) Smith on July 21, 2003; brother Earl (Freida) Smith, sister Luella (Noel) Cluck, brother and sister-in-law Francis and Katherine Smith.

Memorials are suggested to The Rock Church or NP Local Alzheimer’s Support Group and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday January 31, 2017 at The Rock Church with Pastor Vaughn Fahrenbruck officiating.  Burial will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with full military honors.  Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Monday January 30, 2017 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

 

North Platte Forecast-January 30

forecast-graphic-january-30-2017Today
Sunny, with a high near 56. Breezy, with a west wind 11 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
Tuesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Calm wind becoming east northeast 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. North northeast wind 7 to 10 mph.
Wednesday
A slight chance of snow between 8am and noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. North northeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night
A 20 percent chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15.
Thursday
A 20 percent chance of snow before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15.
Friday
Partly sunny, with a high near 34.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 41.

Planetarium offers chances to learn about eclipse beforehand

UNKKEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Before parts of Nebraska experience a total solar eclipse in August, people will have a chance to learn about it at a planetarium in Kearney.

The University of Nebraska at Kearney is planning to offer five different programs related to the solar eclipse between February and May.

The programs will help prepare people to experience the eclipse. Kearney is expected to be in total darkness for nearly 2 minutes starting at 12:57 p.m. on Aug. 21.

Planetarium director Mariana Lazarova says solar eclipses are unusual celestial events because most people stop and observe them.

All the programs will be held at 7 p.m. They will be offered on Friday, March 3, March 17, March 31 and April 28.

Lady Knights win second straight two-point game, 58-56 over Doane JV

NPCC Knights LogoNorth Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team won their second game in a row, defeating the Doane College Junior Varsity Lady Tigers 58-56 on Sunday afternoon at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

The Lady Knights jumped out to a 9-2 lead to begin the game. The Lady Tigers charged back to outscore the Lady Knights 13-7 to trail the Lady Knights at the end of the first quarter 16-15.

In the second quarter, there were four lead changes with the biggest lead of the second quarter being a Lady Tiger lead of 24-20. The Lady Knights held a 26-25 half time lead.

The Lady Knights started the third quarter on a 16-10 to take a 42-35 lead. The Lady Tigers went on their own 5-0 run to pull within two at the end of the third quarter at 42-40 lead for the Lady Knights.

The game remained close throughout the fourth quarter. Allison Tichy hit a pair of free throws to put the Lady Knights up 57-54 in the final minute. Lexi Ryan of the Lady Tigers made a putback to pull the Lady Tigers with one. Jessica Lovitt added a free throw to seal the win.

The Lady Knights are now 7-12 on the season. Lovitt led the Lady Knights with 23 points. Thomesha Wilson added 11 points as the only other Lady Knight to score in double figures. Mickenzie Brennan had nine rebounds to lead the Lady Knights.

The Tigers were led by Ryan who had 12 points. Madi Vogel had nine rebounds.

The Lady Knights are next in action on Tuesday when they travel to Sterling, Colo., to play the Northeastern Junior College Plainswomen.

The game will be part of a women and men doubleheader. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN radio 1410 and on the Internet at www.northplattepost.com. Tip-off is set for 6:30 pm CST.

Protests against Trump travel ban held in Omaha, Lincoln

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Michael Vadon)
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Michael Vadon)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Roughly 1,500 people gathered in an Omaha park Sunday to object to President Donald Trump’s suspension of refugee entry into the U.S.

The crowd assembled in Turner Park at Omaha’s Midtown Crossing development carried signs declaring refugees are welcome here.

A couple refugees addressed the crowd and talked about their own experience of coming to America from Afghanistan and Kenya.

Several hundred people gathered in Lincoln for another protest Sunday afternoon on the steps on the Nebraska capitol building.

Trump’s executive order barring citizens of seven predominantly Muslim nations entry into the U.S. has sparked weekend protests around the country.

Nebraska prosecutors must determine how people die

gavel-and-scaleGRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prosecutors sometimes have to make difficult decisions about whether to order an autopsy when it’s not clear how someone died.

Those decisions are part of the county attorney’s coroner role to determine the cause of death.

State law requires autopsies for anyone younger than 19, and the procedure is routinely ordered when there is no clear explanation for a death.

Hall County Attorney Jack Zitterkopf says he tries not to order an autopsy if there aren’t suspicious circumstances. But it’s a tougher call when a 40-year-old dies with no apparent explanation.

When someone dies in their 90s or after a recent hospital stay, he says those decisions are easier.

‘A Dog’s Purpose’ opens to $18.4 million amid controversy

box-officeLOS ANGELES (AP) — “A Dog’s Purpose” has underperformed slightly at the box office as it opened in theaters amid controversy over animal treatment on set and calls for a boycott.

Based on early projections, the family film was expected to open in the mid $20-million range, but studio estimates Sunday indicated it took in $18.4 million for a second-place start.

Yet it’s hardly a bomb for a movie that cost only $22 million to produce.

First place went again to M. Night Shyamalan’s multiple personality thriller “Split.” It grossed $26.3 million, representing a 34 percent drop from its first weekend.

Rounding out the top five were “Hidden Figures” with $14 million, new opener “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” with $13.9 million, and “La La Land,” which has now earned over $100 million.

Omaha woman set to be sentenced in airline voucher scam case

gavel-moreOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha woman who sold thousands of worthless airline vouchers is set to learn Monday whether her plea agreement will be accepted by a federal judge.

Patricia Urbanovsky’s sentencing and restitution hearing is set for Monday in Omaha’s federal court.

Last year, Urbanovsky pleaded guilty to 16 counts of wire fraud. In exchange, federal prosecutors dropped nine counts of money laundering. She faces up to six years in prison. She has asked the court for a sentence of three years, with her attorney, Steve Lefler, saying she “had no intention of stealing from anyone.”

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.

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