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Omaha zoo adding Asian Highlands exhibit to grounds

henry-doorly-zooOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium in Omaha has begun work on an Asian forest exhibit designed to create a habitat for tigers, leopards and other species, including red pandas.

The $20 million, eight-acre Asian Highlands is under construction in an empty northeast corner of the zoo.

The tropical and deciduous forest habitat is being built on a hillside that last hosted the “Dinosaurs Alive” exhibit in 2013. It’s hoped half the exhibit will open by summer 2018 and the rest will open the following summer.

Amur tigers, snow leopards and Indian rhinos already living at the zoo will get upgraded homes. In addition to the red pandas, newcomers will include sloth bears, white-naped cranes, and two kinds of deer and goat-antelopes.

Nebraska: Kansas’ annual smoke management review not enough

fireTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Nebraska mayor is pushing for changes in Kansas’ oversight of prairie and ranchland burning after smoke from the Flint Hills spurred health warnings in Nebraska’s capital city.

Lincoln, Nebraska, Mayor Chris Beutler sent a letter Friday to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment pressing for action.

KDHE environmental division director John Mitchell says Kansas’ prairie-burning protocol will get an annual review this spring. Mitchell was responding to the Nebraska mayor’s complaints about the smoke.

Kansas farmers and ranchers burn land to help control undergrowth that can fuel wildfires. Burning also helps grow nutritious grass for grazing cattle.

But farmers and officials say the burn season was cut short this year by heavy rain, so simultaneous burns by many farmers created more concentrated smoke.

Edyth Francis Schomp

edyth-schomp

Edyth Francis Schomp, age 93 of North Platte, passed away Wednesday April 26, 2017 at Linden Court.

Edyth was born April 17, 1924 in Whitman, NE to Harry and Laura May (Moran) Romell.  She was born at George and Hattie Moran’s ranch west of Whitman.  Dr. Howell came to Hyannis to deliver her.  There were six children in her family, Fred, Mildred, John, Edyth, Howard and Dean.  She attended school through 5th grade at Mullen, Seneca until half way through 6th grade, and then Chadron to finish 6th grade.  From there she went to Victory Hill, a country school north of Scottsbluff.  After graduating from high school in 1943, she went to work at The Great Western Sugar Company, running the dryers to keep the granulated sugar dry.  While working in the sugar beet factory, she met the love of her life and husband to be, Eldon Walter Schomp.  They were married on November 2, 1946.  A few months later they moved to Hay Springs onto the Mirage Flats where Eldon and his Uncle John Schomp built a garage; that’s what Eldon and Edyth called home and where they started their farming and ranching business with a little Allis Chalmers tractor.  Edyth would go out to the field and ride on the tiny bench seat, alongside Eldon, on that Allis Chalmers.  In 1959 they bought the Johnny Ray place down on the Niobrara River.  While on this ranch they raised two sons, Steve and Ben.  Edyth went and stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Schomp in Mitchell when it came time to have her first son, Steve Walter, who was born on August 3, 1949 in Alliance, NE.  Fourteen months after having Steve, Edyth gave birth to her second son, Ben Carmen, on October 29, 1950 in Scottsbluff, NE.  I’m guessing you could say that Edyth had her hands full with two boys in just 14 months!  After years of raising two naughty boys, Granny was blessed with her first grandchild, Pam, the daughter she never had.  Little did she know many more grandkids and great grandkids were to follow.

Edyth and Eldon’s lives revolved around their sons, grandchildren, their farm, ranch and rodeo.  From a young age, they would haul those two boys to rodeos, near and far.  Edyth loved to fish and play cards.  She was always ready to play a game of pitch or rummy.  She also took great pride in her flower beds and a big garden and was on a bowling league for many years.  In 1989 Edyth and Eldon moved to North Platte, which they’ve called home ever since.  Edyth was the matriarch of her family.  To those that knew her, she was and always will be, known as “Granny”.  She was a woman with the kindest and gentlest of hearts.  She was a nurturing woman and nothing meant more to her than her family.  She was the master of telling every story or nursery rhyme and teaching it to all of her grandchildren.  It didn’t matter how many times you asked to hear it again, she’d kindly smile and start all over.  A kind, caring, warm individual who welcomed her grandchildren and great grandchildren with open arms, Edyth was a mother in every sense of the word.  You could walk into Granny’s home knowing you’d be welcome and always, always be treated to her wonderful meals.  You never left hungry, and if you did, it was your own fault, because there was enough to feed a small army!  She was notorious for making almost everything from scratch and when asked, “how much of this or how much of that?”, she’d usually answer “somewhere between a pinch and a dash”!  After the passing of Eldon, “Pa” in 2009, Granny said “I’m boss now”!  She was by far the greatest gift any husband, son or grandchild could ask for.  She was the one person you could go to and visit with about anything, whether it was just to spend the day, to ask for advice on cooking, cleaning, raising children, or just to have a cup of coffee or cold beer, cheetos, chocolate or a salty bag of popcorn.  Her presence in any room made us all feel at ease and our lives complete.  As we mourn the loss of an incredible woman, we also remember the many memories she gave us; and as we bow our heads to pray, we smile, and maybe even chuckle, as we hear her words echo, “where’s the salt”?!

Edyth is survived by her sons Steve (Joyce) Schomp of Chamberlain, SD, and Ben Schomp of Hershey, NE; grandchildren Judd (Jamie) Schomp of Martin, SD, Thad (Devan) Schomp of Elkton, SD, Brooke (Doug) Moeller of Chamberlain, SD, Pam (Todd) Hollenbeck of Long Pine, NE, Cole Schomp of North Platte, Trey (fiancé Troy Hermelbracht) Schomp of Homer, NE, and Josey Schomp of Pueblo, CO; great grandchildren Hadley and Sadie Schomp, Dailynn, Josclynn and Hayes Schomp, Bristol Moeller, Jorden Hollenbeck, Britt and Jhett Hollenbeck, Trent (Hope) Schomp and Tevon Schomp; and great great grandchild Harlow Schomp.

She was preceded in death by her parents Harry and Laura Romell; husband Eldon Walter Schomp; siblings Fred, Mildred, John, Howard and Dean; and sister-in-law Marion Claussen.

Memorials are suggested in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday May 1, 2017 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church with the Reverend Steve Berke officiating.  Burial will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery.  Visitation will be from noon until 6:00 p.m. Sunday April 30, 2017 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

NPCC Knights Softball Games Postponed

NPCC Knights on ESPNNorth Platte – The Region IX Division II Softball tournament scheduled for Saturday and Sunday April 29 and 30 has been postponed until Tuesday, May 2.

The best of three series will be: Game one at 3 pm.  Game two will be at 5 pm, and the if necessary game three will be held at 7 pm.

There will be a $5.00 admission charge.  No season passes will be accepted.  Only North Platte Community College faculty, staff, and students will be admitted free with their college ID’s

Ex-player takes assault plea deal in Nebraska college brawl

Jeffland Neverson
Jeffland Neverson

AUBURN, Neb. (AP) — A June 21 sentencing hearing in southeast Nebraska has been scheduled for a former Peru State College basketball player who took a plea deal in an assault case stemming from a brawl.

25-year-old Jeffland Neverson, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded no contest and was convicted Thursday in Nemaha County District Court of felony assault. Prosecutors dropped two related charges in exchange. His trial had been set to begin May 1.

Authorities say the crimes occurred after a fight broke out Sept. 17 last year about a block from the Peru State stadium in Peru, which is 56 miles (89 kilometers) south of Omaha. Several Peru State football and basketball players were involved. At least three of the athletes required medical treatment.

Nebraska city to build indoor athletic facility

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Google Maps

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) — Two athletic groups have partnered with South Sioux City on plans to build a new indoor soccer and tennis facility along the Missouri riverfront.

The proposed recreational venue would be located in Scenic Park in space currently used for athletic fields. It’s expected to cost between $2.5 million and $3 million.

The center would contain two tennis courts and a soccer space with room for expansion, to help accommodate indoor sports that have difficulty finding space to play.

City grant administrator Tami Bailey says South Sioux City plans to apply for a state grant of up to $600,000 to help fund the project.

Bailey says the city expects the remaining cost will be covered through grants and fundraising among area leagues and clubs.

Inmate faces more Nebraska prison time for assaulting guard

Brendan Horner
Brendan Horner

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska inmate already serving 35-40 years could be sentenced to 20 more years because he assaulted a prison guard.

Online court records say 25-year-old Brendan Horner pleaded no contest Thursday after prosecutors lowered the charge in exchange for Horner’s plea. His sentencing is scheduled for June 15.

Horner grabbed the guard March 26 last year at the Nebraska State Penitentiary when the guard entered the cell to look for marijuana the guard smelled. Prosecutors say Horner threw the guard to the floor and punched the guard several times before other guards intervened.

Horner’s been serving time for shooting a man during a June 2012 road rage incident in Lincoln.

Crop-duster landed after hitting power line, authorities say

otoe-county-sheriffNEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a crop-dusting plane landed in an open field after striking a power line in southeast Nebraska.

The Otoe County Sheriff’s Office says the pilot found a spot to alight about 6 miles (10 kilometers) southwest of Nebraska City near where the line was hit Thursday evening. Chief Deputy Mike Holland said Friday a farmer who’d seen the plane land took the pilot to a hospital, where the pilot was treated and released.

Holland identified the pilot as 39-year-old Kyle Gress, who lives in Unadilla.

Federal officials have arrived to investigate the accident.

Exotic dancer wins lawsuit against Nebraska club

adults-onlyLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln judge has ruled in favor of an exotic dancer who sued a club where she performed, saying she qualifies as an employee and is owed thousands of dollars in back pay.

Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong ruled this week that the club, called Shakers, owes Elizabeth Mays more than $7,500.

Mays had a lease agreement with Shakers, where she worked from March 2012 to February 2014 and kept tips.

Shakers attorney Bob Creager argued Mays was neither an independent contractor nor an employee and shouldn’t get hourly pay because she benefited from the lease agreement.

But the judge ruled that Mays qualified as an employee under state law.

Shakers’ attorney didn’t immediately respond to phone messages left by The Associated Press seeking comment Friday.

Judge lets Nebraska beer stores near reservation stay open

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Google Maps

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A judge has overturned a decision to bar four Nebraska beer stores from selling next to an American Indian reservation in South Dakota that struggles with alcohol-related problems.

The ruling on Thursday was a setback for advocates who want to close the stores in Whiteclay, an unincorporated village with nine residents that sells millions of cans each year next to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Lancaster County District Court Judge Andrew Jacobsen agreed with the stores’ arguments that the decision by state regulators was arbitrary and unreasonable.

The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission ruled last week that it would not renew the stores’ licenses, citing a lack of adequate law enforcement in the area. Whiteclay is known as a spot where people drink, sleep and sometimes fight in public.

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