January 2017 – Page 7 – North Platte Post Archive

Rules spat threatens to bring Nebraska Legislature to a halt

Posted on January 27, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A proposal that would make it easier for Nebraska lawmakers to overcome a filibuster is threatening to bring this year’s legislative session to a halt.

Legislative debate slowed to a crawl once again on Friday as senators worked behind the scenes to try to reach a compromise. The proposed rule change would increase the burden on senators who are trying to block a bill when they’re outnumbered by supporters.

Conservative-leaning senators who hold a majority in the Legislature say they’re frustrated that progressive lawmakers have blocked their priorities and prevented them from passing bills they believe most voters support.

Progressive senators say the conservatives are trying to silence minority voices and change the culture in the ostensibly nonpartisan Legislature, which has traditionally relied on compromise.

Fraternity in Nebraska denies vulgar comment allegations

Posted on January 27, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An adviser to a University of Nebraska-Lincoln fraternity says allegations of vulgar comments made by its members during the Women’s March on Lincoln are false.

Adviser Joe Skradski of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity chapter at the university says an internal investigation into those allegations turned up no wrongdoing. Skradski says the allegations have created an “onslaught of criticism” that harms the fraternity’s reputation.

The university is currently conducting a Title IX investigation after many people complained that 21 fraternity members made vulgar and sexually harassing comments at participants in the Women’s March on Jan. 21. Nicole Church of Lincoln says she heard “no means yes” chanted at marchers, as well as derogatory statements about female genitalia.

The university is looking at individual students, not the fraternity as a whole.

Man died after highway crash, Jefferson County sheriff says

Posted on January 27, 2017

JANSEN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a driver died after his car ran off a highway and into an embankment in southeast Nebraska’s Jefferson County.

The crash was reported a little before 10:30 p.m. Thursday. Beatrice radio station KWBE (https://bit.ly/2jwP0eC) reports that Sheriff Nelson Sorensen says the car was westbound on U.S. Highway 136 when it crashed about two miles southwest of Jansen, ejecting the driver.

The driver was pronounced at the scene. Sorensen identified him as 49-year-old Kent Pfingsten, of Fairbury. Investigators suspect alcohol consumption played a role in the crash.

Lincoln woman convicted of abandoning dog that died in cage

Posted on January 27, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say the owner of a dog whose carcass was found inside a cage in Lincoln has pleaded no contest and been convicted.

22-year-old Leslie Byron could get probation or up to two years in prison when she’s sentenced in April for animal neglect or abandonment resulting in death.

The kennel and dog carcass were spotted March 1. Byron told investigators that she had trouble finding a place to live that would allow dogs, so she left the Labrador retriever, Diamond, in the kennel in some woods and would visit and feed her.

Byron says she got busy and didn’t visit Diamond for about three weeks and then discovered the dog had died.

Mistrial declared in Omaha murder case

Posted on January 27, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A mistrial has been declared in the trial of a man accused of killing his uncle’s girlfriend in Omaha.

The ruling came Thursday in the trial of Kevin Mariscal, who’s charged with first-degree murder in the July 2010 slaying of 50-year-old Barbara Gonzales. Investigators have said Mariscal was upset with Gonzales, blaming her for his car being towed.

Judge Thomas Otepka made the mistrial ruling after it was learned that an Omaha police detective hadn’t turned over several phone records to the defense.

A new trial date hasn’t been set. Mariscal already is serving prison time for an unrelated kidnapping conviction in Sarpy County.

Marilyn Ruth Sommers

Posted on January 27, 2017

On June 24, 1936, Marilyn Ruth Sommers was born on the plains of DeKalb, Illinois. She loved to play tennis and dreamed of becoming a teacher. It was in college, where she was pursuing that dream that she came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. From that time on she grew in her relationship, loved Him dearly, and desired to see everyone around her come to know Christ the way she did.

She earned a bachelors degree from Northern Illinois University, and a Master’s degree from University of Northern Colorado, were both in Education. She spent her career substitute teaching while her kids were young and retired as a full-time elementary teacher in 1999 from North Platte Public Schools. She had a great passion for teaching and loved to read anything she could get her hands on. Marilyn also had a love for travel and had been to Russia, France, and Italy. She lived in and loved the beautiful landscapes of California and Colorado and spoke of them often. She also lived in Idaho and Nebraska.

In Nebraska, Marilyn was a member at Bethel Evangelical Free Church in North Platte and helped with many ministries through the years, including some mission trips to Russia which were dear to her heart. She also loved helping with Awana and really enjoyed her Sunday School classes and Bible studies there. There were many times when Pastor Dan Reimer was mentioned after she moved away from North Platte. His teachings and the friendship she had with the Reimers meant a lot to her.

In May of 2016, Marilyn made the decision to sell her home and move to Chattanooga, TN to be near her son Daniel. While there, she lived at The Terrace at Mountain Creek in independent living. She quickly made friendships there and touched many lives. Often she would ask for prayer for her friends there. She enjoyed the time spent with Daniel and her daughter-in-law Connie. On January 24, 2017, Marilyn succumbed to the return of breast cancer and went home to be with her Lord. She prayed she would not suffer long and desired to be reunited with her daughter Amy and her parents in heaven.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her daughter Amy Sommers and parents Donald and Elsie Schaefer. She is survived by her brother Donald Schaefer, her son Daniel Sommers and daughter-in-law Connie Sommers. Funeral services will be at Bethel Evangelical Free Church, Monday, January 30, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. and a graveside service following. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, January 29, at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in care of arrangements.

Ronald E. Smith

Posted on January 27, 2017

Ronald E. Smith, 89, of North Platte, passed away January 24, 2017 at Great Plains Health.

He was born on September 18, 1927 in Maywood, Nebraska to William and Hetty (Nichols) Smith. Ronald graduated from North Platte High School. He taught at many Colleges and Universities throughout his life. Beginning in Indianapolis, Indiana and then Storm Lake College in Iowa. Ronald decided that area was too cold and moved to Modesto, California, teaching at Modesto Junior College from 1980 to 1995 as a professor to nursing students and students of anatomy.

Ronald loved nature and was a member of the Sierra Club, which is a nature conservation group. He was also a graduate of the University of Nebraska where he studied mortuary science and worked on cadavers. He was also a professor after graduation. Many people believed he was a medical genius. After retiring, he moved back to his parent’s home in North Platte. He enjoyed spending time outdoors and received North Platte’s beautiful yard award. Ronald enjoyed ornithology, botany, fish and wildlife, including squirrels and prairie dogs. He was an avid reader and loved the beauty of the sunsets.

Ronald is survived by his cousins, Eileen Merrihew and Gloria Burke; special friend, Paul Smith and many friends and colleagues. Online condolences may be shared at carpentermemorial.com. Graveside services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 28, 2017 at the Maywood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in care of arrangements.

North Platte Forecast-January 27

Posted on January 27, 2017

Today

Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. Wind chill values as low as zero. Breezy, with a west-northwest wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Northwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. Northwest wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Northwest wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Tuesday

Partly sunny, with a high near 38.

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Wednesday

Partly sunny, with a high near 35.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 17.

Thursday

Partly sunny, with a high near 37.

Knights host Central CC in Kevin O’Connor’s 1000th game as NPCC head coach

Posted on January 26, 2017

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Knights and Lady Knights basketball teams will host the Central Community College Raiders on Friday, Jan 27 at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

The night is designated as “scout night”. All scouts, both boy and girl scouts, and their leaders will be admitted free by wearing their scouting uniform.

The women’s game will be a Region IX Division II contest.

The Lady Raiders are 8-9 on the season and have not played a Region IX Division II game yet. They are averaging 78.4 points per game and allowing 84.1 ppg. Teisha Snyder leads the Lady Raiders in scoring at 21.9 ppg. That scoring average leads Region IX Division II. Snyder also leads the Lady Raiders in rebounding with 7.7 rebounds per game. Keyia Parker is the only other Lady Raider averaging in double figures, averaging 11.2 ppg.

The Lady Knights are 5-12 on the season and 0-1 in Region IX Division II. The Lady Knights are averaging 61.5 ppg and allow 66.6 ppg to their opponents. Thomesha Wilson is second in Region IX Division II in scoring behind Snyder at 13.2 ppg. Wilson does lead Region IX Division II in rebounding at 8.4 rebounds per game.

The men’s game does not count toward Region IX standings but it is a Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference game. The men’s game is also Knights Head Coach Kevin O’Connor’s 1000th game as the Knights head coach.

The Raiders are 12-8 on the season. They are 0-2 in the NCCAC, losing to McCook Community College twice on the season. The Raiders like to shoot from the perimeter. 41.6 percent of their shots come from behind the three-point line. They are making 39.4 of their three-point shots. The Raiders are averaging 88.4 ppg and allowing 86.4 ppg. The Raiders have five players averaging in double figures, led by Logan Fleming at 18.5 ppg. Marco Fabietti is second on the team at 16.0 ppg. Jerome Dixon is averaging 14.7, Ruben Fuamba is averaging 12.5 and Luke Cadzow is averaging 10.0 ppg. Fuamba is averaging 10.4 rebounds per game to lead the Raiders.

The Knights are 12-5 on the season and 2-0 in the NCCAC, defeating both McCook and Southeast Community College. The Knights lead the Region IX South Sub-Region and sixth in the nation in field goal percentage at 53.4 percent. The Knights average 89 points per game and allow 71.6 ppg. The Knights also have five players averaging in double figures. Diontae Champion leads the Knights at 16.2 ppg, followed by Mike Amius at 13.1 ppg. Samuel Kearns and Godfrey Rolle are each averaging 12.1 ppg. Victor Lewis is the fifth Knight in double figures averaging 11.0 ppg. Amius leads the Knights in rebounding at 6.2 rpg.

Tip-offs for the games are at 5:30 pm CST for the women, and the men at 7:30 pm CST.

Both games will be broadcast on ESPN 1410 and on the Internet at www.northplattepost.com. They will also be live video streamed at www.npccknights.com.

Nebraska woman must pay back former Iowa employer

Posted on January 26, 2017

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A judge says a Nebraska woman must pay back $260,000 she took from her former employer in Iowa.

Beth Beutler, of Waterloo, Nebraska, was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to charges of theft and ongoing criminal activity. Several other counts were dropped in exchange for her pleas. She was given a suspended prison sentence of 25 years, a jail sentence of 60 days and five years of probation.

Police say Beutler used a checking machine to withdraw thousands of dollars. The machine lets truck drivers access funds from across the country by giving clerks at truck stops an authorization code to pay for fuel, services or get cash.

Police say Beutler got the authorization codes while working at McMullen Brothers Trucking in Carter Lake.