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Lady Knights volleyball signs Ogallala’s Amanda Kroeger

Ogallala High School senior Amanda Kroeger signs letter of intent to play volleyball for the North Platte Community College Lady Knights. Seated, L-R, Dad Ward Kroeger, Kristi Kroeger, Amanda, Ogallala Head Coach Steve Morgan. Standing: Alexa McCall, NPCC Head Volleyball Coach.
Ogallala High School senior Amanda Kroeger signs her letter of intent to play volleyball for the North Platte Community College Lady Knights. Seated, L-R, Ward Kroeger, Kristi Kroeger, Amanda, Ogallala Head Coach Steve Morgan. Standing: Alexa McCall, NPCC Head Volleyball Coach.

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team has announced the signing of Amanda Kroeger of Ogallala to their 2017 recruiting class.

Kroeger, a 5’ 10” outside hitter played for the Ogallala High School Lady Indians under head coach Steve Morgan.

In her career, Kroeger played in 167 sets, recording 397 kills, 248 defensive digs, 34 total blocks and 53 service aces.

“We are excited to complete our roster with Amanda because she is a great kid that comes from a great program.” Lady Knights Head Coach Alexa McCall said, “She is an outside and we will look for her to be a contender for the outside position. She’s a solid player all the way around.”

Kroeger is the Lady Knights ninth and final recruit for the 2017 season. Kroeger joins her high school teammate Jade Max from Ogallala, Neci Sundquist from Dayton, Wyo., Carly Moss from Loveland, Colo., 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.

Jack Edwin Creel

jack-edwin-creel

Jack Edwin Creel, age 87 of North Platte, went to meet his beloved wife in paradise on Thursday March 2, 2017.

Jack was born October 6, 1929 in Sour Lake, TX to Benjamin J. and Effie G. (Hardie) Creel.  He enlisted in the US Navy at 19 years old and was very proud of his service.  He served from 1948 to 1952, in Navy Occupation, China Service, and the Korean Service.  He served aboard the USS Antietam CV-36, USS Valley Forge CV-45, and USS Block Island CVE-109.  With that service he was awarded the 4 Star UN Medal along with a Good Conduct Medal.  Upon his discharge in San Francisco, CA he met his future wife, Mary Ernestine Miles in Oakland, CA.  They married on August 31, 1952.  He settled in North Platte with his new wife and started working for the Union Pacific Railroad, only starting his own business, Creel Auto Electric, when laid off.  When called back, he returned to the railroad as an I.B.E.W. electrician, retiring after 27 years.  Jack was a Texan to the end with a friendly nature and a Texas twang.  He was loved by all his family and he knew it.  He was a wonderful husband, father and grandpa who will be greatly missed.

Jack is survived by his son James Newport Creel of North Platte; daughters Carol Ann McKain of North Platte, Julie Perez of North Platte, and Ann Marie Richardson of Kearney; 15 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren with one coming in September; his first cousin and best friend Alton (Bo) Jordon of Kountze, TX; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in TX, AK, LA and CA; as well as many other extended relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ernestine Creel; parents Ben J. and Effie Creel; parents-in-law Ernest and Mary I. (McNeel) Miles; grandson Luke McKain; great granddaughter Elli Perez; brother and sister-in-law Franklin H. and Helen Creel; sisters Clara Ann Fee, Mary Francis Cook, brothers and sisters-in-law Terry and Peggy Miles, Richard and Virginia Diener, and nephews Mick and Thomas Diener.

Memorials are suggested in his name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Christian Wake Services will be 12:30 p.m. Monday March 13, 2017, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with Reverend C.P. Varghese as Celebrant.  Inurnment will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with military honors.  Those wishing to do so may sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday, March 9th and 10th, at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

 

2 inmates killed in Nebraska prison revolt identified

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have identified the two inmates killed in a riot at a Nebraska prison where a similar deadly incident occurred two years ago.

The state Department of Corrections said Friday that 39-year-old Damon Fitzgerald and 31-year-old Michael Galindo died in the Thursday revolt at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.

No details have been released about how the inmates died or what led to the incident.

Some lawmakers are accusing prison officials of trying to downplay the incident at the prison, where two inmates were killed in a May 2015 revolt that caused millions of dollars in damage and demands for upgrades and better staffing.

Thursday’s riot involved about 40 inmates who refused to return to their cells. Galindo was serving 12 to 21 years on robbery and other charges. Fitzgerald was sentenced to hundreds of years in prison for crimes including sexual assault.

John “Jack” James Thalken

john-thalken

John “Jack” James Thalken, age 91, of North Platte passed away February 28, 2017 at Great Plains Health.

Jack was born on December 27, 1925 in Laramie, WY to George and Catherine (Welsh) Thalken.  At an early age, the family moved to North Platte, NE.  Jack attended McDaid Elementary and St. Patrick’s High School, graduating with the class of 1945.  He entered the Army after graduation and was discharged as Cpl. in 1946.  In November 1946 he began working at the First National Bank, retiring in 1991 after 44 years.

In April 1947 Jack married Betty Hoefer, his high school sweetheart.  They celebrated almost 70 years of married life.  He belonged to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Knights of Columbus Council 1211 as a 3rd and 4th Degree and also the American Legion.  He volunteered with the Lincoln County Historical Museum, RSVP, and AARP.  He was instrumental in obtaining the steam locomotive 3977 and Centennial locomotive 6922 in Cody Park.

Survivors include his wife, Betty; sons, Stephen (Debra) Thalken of Peoria, AZ, and David (Bette) Thalken of Granbury, TX; daughters, Cindy (Bill) Mills, of North Platte, Patricia (Phil) Bahl of Omaha, Mary (Blake) Gigax of Hayes Center, and Diana (Terry) McCarty of North Platte; 19 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; sister Ruth Hastings; as well as other extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Eileen and Ceclia; and brother George.

In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the North Platte Catholic Schools and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Christian Wake Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 7, 2017 with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with the Reverend Josh Brown as Celebrant.  Inurnment will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at Fort McPherson National Cemetery with military honors.  Visitation will be from noon until 9:00 p.m. Monday, March 6, 2017 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

 

 

North Platte Weather-March 3

forecast-graphic-march-3-2017Today
Sunny, with a high near 62. South southeast wind 7 to 11 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 21. West northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming south southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 29. South wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 72. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Breezy.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 23.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 59.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 66.

Disturbance leaves 2 inmates dead at Nebraska prison

nebraska-corrections-patch-TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — Officials say two inmates died and others were injured in a disturbance at a Nebraska prison.

Corrections officials say in a statement that two inmates died Thursday in the incident at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.

Officials didn’t provide details about how the inmates died but noted the disturbance involved about 40 inmates who refused to return to their cells.

No prison staffers were injured.

The Tecumseh prison was the site of a deadly riot in May 2015 that also left two dead and extensive property damage.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

A Nebraska prison was placed on lockdown for roughly three hours Thursday after inmates in a housing unit refused to return to their cells and a fire was started in a yard.

Prison officials said about 40 of unit’s 128 inmates were involved in the disturbance at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, the site of a deadly riot in May 2015. An emergency response team secured the inmates and extinguished a fire in a prison yard, a corrections department spokeswoman said early Thursday evening.

No injuries were reported. All staff members were safe and accounted for, and the incident was isolated to half of the housing unit and a small fenced yard, said Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman Dawn-Renee Smith. Smith said the public was not at risk. Prison officials announced the lockdown around 2:45 p.m. and said around 5:30 p.m. that the housing unit was “habitable and secure.”

Inmates in gray hooded sweatshirts could be seen waving their arms in the yard Thursday afternoon as prison guards watched them from behind a razor wire fence. Smoke billowed from the open yard and a helicopter circled overhead. County and state officials were at the scene, along with a prison emergency response team.

The 2015 riot at the prison in southeast Nebraska injured several staff members, caused widespread damage and left two inmates dead.

Mike Marvin, who heads the union that represents corrections employees, said he was told that inmates had taken mattresses out into the prison yard and threw them into the fire. Marvin said he didn’t know why the inmates were protesting, but he believes the incident is taking place in the same unit as the 2015 riot.

“We don’t know a lot at this point,” he said.

Drug screening bill for welfare recipients hits resistance

aclu-nebLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would require drug screenings for Nebraska welfare recipients is raising objections from civil liberties groups and advocates for low-income residents.

The measure presented to a committee on Thursday would require applicants to complete substance abuse and job skills programs if they test positive for illegal drugs.

Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango says he introduced it not to punish recipients but to help those with substance abuse problems. Hughes says the bill isn’t yet ready to advance, but he’ll work with groups that have raised concerns.

Amy Miller of the American Civil Liberties of Nebraska says the bill violates recipients’ constitutional rights by subjecting them to invasive tests. Miller says there’s no proof that recipient drug abuse is a problem in Nebraska.

NP man who escaped deputies during traffic stop arrested

Christopher Tagwerker
Christopher Tagwerker

A North Platte man who was able to elude deputies in late-February has been arrested.

On February 28, a deputy with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office checked on a suspicious vehicle parked at the Tail Race, where the NPPD canal meets the South Platte River.

The Deputy observed that the vehicle was occupied by a male and female who were acting very suspicious.  Also in the vehicle was a “large, aggressive” dog.

The deputy contacted the female passenger, 33-year-old Melissa Stafford, of North Platte, and asked her to step out of the vehicle.  As she did, she allegedly dropped a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine.

The deputy reported that Stafford became agitated and uncooperative.

As the deputy was dealing with Stafford, the male driver, later identified as 34-year-old Christopher Tagwerker, moved to the passenger side of the vehicle.  The deputy also noticed that the glass pipe was gone.

Once the deputy secured Stafford, he attempted to detain Tagwerker, who also became uncooperative and noncompliant and resisted the deputy’s attempts to place him in custody.

According to Chief Deputy Roland Kramer, Tagwerker was able to get back in the vehicle and lock the doors.  He then started the vehicle and took off, after backing up and nearly running over the deputy.

Kramer says since Stafford was detained, the deputy was unable to pursue Tagwerker.

Stafford was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center where she was cited for obstructing the police and released.

Deputies and area law enforcement began to search for Tagwerker.

On March 2, at around 12:15 a.m., deputies located Tagwerker at a residence in North Platte and took him into custody.  He’s been charged with flight to avoid arrest, resisting arrest and obstructing the police.

Kramer says more charges may be forthcoming.

 

West Omaha neighbors oppose plans to build a sports court

omahaOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Neighbors are fighting plans by a man who tore down a $600,000 house behind his west Omaha home so he could build a backyard sports court.

Tom Eagan Jr. asked re-zoning to allow him to build a concrete sports court on a vacant land he owns at a City of Omaha Planning Board meeting Wednesday.

Two lawyers representing nearby homeowners and neighbors are opposing the request. They argue that Eagan is trying to turn a front yard in their Ronson Heights neighborhood into an unsightly backyard.

Eagan says the lot would be for his children to play on. He says he plans to make the lot appealing with landscaping, including 30-plus pine trees.

Ford recalling 36,000 vehicles for air bag defect

airbagDETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co is recalling more than 36,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada because their air bags may not inflate properly.

The recall affects the 2016-2017 Ford Edge, 2016-2017 Lincoln MKX and 2017 Lincoln Continental. Most are in the U.S. but around 4,300 are in Canada.

The air bags were made by Japanese supplier Takata Corp., but they don’t have the same deadly problem that has led to a recall of millions of Takata air bags.

In that case, air bags can inflate with too much force and spew shrapnel at occupants.

In Ford’s case, the air bags may not fill completely because of misaligned components.

Ford is not aware of any injuries associated with the defect.

Dealers will replace affected air bags for free.

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