February 2017 – Page 25 – North Platte Post Archive

Lawsuit: Chadron State College officials failed in duty to abused student who committed suicide

Posted on February 7, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A lawsuit filed by the mother of a 19-year-old student-athlete who killed herself says Chadron State College officials didn’t do enough to protect her from alleged abuse.

The federal lawsuit filed by Lissette Roohbakhsh says her daughter was a victim of dating violence. The body of Fatima Larios, of Seaside, California, was found in January 2015. Her death was ruled a suicide.

The lawsuit says Larios had told some softball teammates her boyfriend was beating her. They told an assistant coach, who passed the information up the line to the athletic director and college human resources director.

The lawsuit accuses officials of offering some help but not following state and federal requirements. The boyfriend wasn’t prosecuted.

Court records don’t show a response by the college. The state attorney general’s office declined comment Tuesday.

NPCC Lady Knights volleyball signs Carly Moss

Posted on February 7, 2017February 7, 2017

Carly Moss, second from left, signs letter of intent to play volleyball at North Platte Community College in the 201 season. Pictured is dad Max, Carly, mom Lisa, and Coach Caleb Howard from Resurrection Christian School in Loveland Colo. Standing is Vicki Hopping, recruiting assistant for NPCC. — Carly Moss, second from left, signs letter of intent to play volleyball at North Platte Community College in the 2011 season. Pictured is dad Max, Carly, mom Lisa, and coach Caleb Howard from Resurrection Christian School in Loveland Colo. Standing is Vicki Hopping, recruiting assistant for NPCC.

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball announced the signing of Carly Moss from Loveland, Colo., to the 2017 recruiting class.

Moss, a 5’ 6” outside hitter played for Resurrection Christian School in Loveland, under Head Coach Caleb Howard.

She played varsity for two seasons. In 150 sets played, Moss had 88 kills. She also had 10 total blocks, 210 defensive digs, 36 service aces and had a 83.3 percent serving percentage.

“Carly has played volleyball at a high level. She is a very solid player that will add depth to our outside position.” Lady Knight Head Coach Alexa McCall said. ”We are excited to have her become a part of our team and to see what she can do here at NPCC.”

Moss is the sixth signing for the Lady Knights 2017 season. Carlie Wytulka from Nucla, Colo., Luisa Hernandez from Yuma, Colo., Shaylee Johnson from Fleming, Colo., Jordyn Simpson from North Platte, and Taylin McNair from Imperial are the other signees.

Ila Faye Smith

Posted on February 7, 2017

Ila Faye Smith, age 80, of North Platte, died February 4, 2017 at Linden Court. Faye was born on June 9, 1936 in Watson, MO to Ross and Marie (Fisher) Murry. Faye attended elementary school in Langdon, MO, and graduated from high school at Rock Port, MO.

Faye married Harold Smith in 1956 and they made their home in Rock Port until moving to North Platte in 1968, when Harold bought a dry cleaners. Besides being a homemaker, Faye worked in many retail stores in North Platte, including Schwesers for nine years, and Herbergers for 11 years.

When the children were growing up, she was a room mother for each, a den mother for son’s scout troops, and a 4-H leader for her daughter. Faye was also a Sunday School teacher for several years. Faye’s hobbies include sewing, reading, and decorating her home. She loved working in the yard and taking care of her flowers. She will be greatly missed by her family.

Survivors include her loving husband Harold of North Platte; two children, Jody (Cindy) Smith of North Platte, and Lisa (Don) Moody of Collins, IA; a daughter-in-law, Jo Smith of North Platte; 10 grandchildren, Michael (Jodi) Smith of Omaha, Derek Smith of Lincoln, Ryan (fiancé Haley Roberts) Smith of Colorado Springs, CO, Megan (Marcus) Doughty of North Platte, Cassie Smith of Lincoln, Sarah Moody of Ames, IA, Olivia Moody of Collins, IA, and Chelsey (Dave) Lane of Long Pine, NE; 5 great-grandchildren, Caiden and Ceagen Smith, and Parker, Riley, and Emerson Doughty; a brother, Ed (Janice) Murry of Rock Port, MO; a sister, Sue (Joe) Powell of Maryville, MO; two sisters-in-law, Phyllis (Ronnie) Sutter, and Judy (Gary) Burke all of Rock Port, MO; and numerous other family members and many friends. Faye was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Kelly Smith; a great- grandson, Carter Smith; her in-laws, Tommy Smith and Helen Winkler; and 2 nephews, Jerry Sutter, and David Lininger.

A memorial has been established to the Callahan Cancer Center in North Platte, and online condolences can be made at www.adamsswanson.com.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 9, 2017 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home with the Rev. Ryan Alexander officiating. Burial will be at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, NE. There will be a luncheon following the service at the Calvary Baptist Church, 900 East 2^nd. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. -9:00 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

North Platte Weather-February 7

Posted on February 7, 2017February 7, 2017

Today

A 20 percent chance of rain after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 45. West wind 5 to 11 mph becoming north northeast in the afternoon.

Tonight

A chance of rain and snow before 7pm, then a chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 19. Northeast wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday

Partly sunny, with a high near 33. East wind 5 to 7 mph becoming north in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. North northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Friday

Partly sunny, with a high near 68.

Friday Night

A slight chance of rain before 5am, then a slight chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Saturday

A slight chance of rain and snow before 10am, then a slight chance of rain between 10am and noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 44.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 20.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 50.

Jail inmate hospitalized after altercation with guards

Posted on February 6, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 47-year-old Douglas County Jail inmate remains hospitalized after a weekend altercation with several guards.

Douglas County Corrections Lt. Daniel Scherer said Monday that Robert Groenjes assaulted several corrections officers Saturday night.

After guards subdued Groenjes he was taken to a hospital for treatment. Details of why he was hospitalized weren’t immediately released.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Sgt. John Pankonin told the Omaha World-Herald that the incident remains under investigation, so some details of what happened are unclear.

Groenjes has been in in the jail since Jan. 29 on suspicion of second-degree assault.

Corn spills into field from rail cars in Nebraska derailment

Posted on February 6, 2017

BELDEN, Neb. (AP) — Several rail cars have spilled corn into a field from a train derailment in northeast Nebraska’s Cedar County.

The accident was reported a little after 10 p.m. Saturday, near U.S. Highway 20 about a mile from Belden.

A BNSF spokesman says the train had 114 units but only nine of them derailed. No injuries have been reported.

Students get involved in redesign of Omaha middle school

Posted on February 6, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A group of Omaha high school students will participate in a local chapter of a nationwide mentor program so they can eventually design a new addition for Norris Middle School.

Nearly 80 students from four high schools will meet weekly with professional mentors during the spring semester as part of the Architecture, Construction and Engineering Mentor Program. The mentors come from nearly 30 participating companies in Omaha and will help students work on their design and collaboration skills.

Norris Middle School is scheduled for a $26.5 million renovation and addition. School officials hope the students in charge of designing the addition will gain exposure and connections to future jobs.

The students toured the school last week and will present their designs in May.

Nebraska Gov. Ricketts touts ‘major’ property tax bill

Posted on February 6, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is touting his property tax proposal as a major change to the way agricultural land is valued even though the state’s largest farm groups say it doesn’t do enough to help them.

Ricketts surrounded himself Monday with farmers and ranchers to draw attention to his measure before a hearing on Wednesday.

The bill would switch the state from a system that relies on land sale prices to value property to one that focuses on how much income it could potentially produce. It’s designed to more closely align land values with commodity prices, which have fallen in recent years.

Groups such as the Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Nebraska Farmers Union say the proposal could help but doesn’t deliver the reforms sought by rural and urban residents.

Ricketts picks Elmwood banker for Nebraska legislative seat

Posted on February 6, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An Elmwood banker will fill an open seat in the Nebraska Legislature.

Gov. Pete Ricketts announced Monday that he has chosen Robert Keith Clements to replace former state Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion. Ricketts praised Clements as a “numbers guy” with experience as a businessman, actuary and banker at American Exchange Bank.

Clements was not among the 35 people who applied to fill Kintner’s seat. Ricketts says his staff sought other candidates for the seat representing District 2, which includes Cass and portions of Sarpy and Otoe counties. The governor interviewed 10 applicants in person.

Kintner resigned in January after a pattern of behavior that included cybersex on a state computer and retweeting a comment that implied women’s march protesters were too unattractive to sexually assault.

Dick Thurin to retire as Lady Knights Basketball Head Coach

Posted on February 6, 2017

North Platte – North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball coach Richard Thurin has announced his retirement, following the 2016-17 basketball season.

Coach Thurin has been coaching the Lady Knights since the 2001-02 season. Entering into the 2016-17 season, Thurin has a record of 206 wins and 236 losses.

Coach Thurin has led the Lady Knights to four Region IX Division II Championships and two NJCAA Division II National Tournament appearances in his career. The Lady Knights won the Region IX Division II Championship in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013. Coach Thurin has taken the Lady Knights to two NJCAA Division II National Tournaments by winning District F in 2011 and 2013.

Before coming to North Platte Community College Coach Thurin started the girls’ basketball program at Grant High School. Coach Thurin compiled a 304-100 career coaching record at Grant while winning 12 district titles and making 12 state tournament appearances including a state runner-up finish in 1985.

A search for his replacement will begin in the near future.