May 2017 – Page 5 – North Platte Post Archive

Driver of truck discovered on tracks died while driving

Posted on May 28, 2017

WOOD RIVER, Neb. (AP) — Officials say sheriff’s deputies checking on a dump truck stopped on railroads tracks in central Nebraska found the driver dead inside the cab.

The discovery was made about 6:25 a.m. Friday. Officials say 64-year-old Gary Rouse, of Gibbon, died of a medical condition while driving a Mack dump truck in Wood River.

Investigators say Rouse was eastbound on Highway 30 when he had a medical issue that caused him to leave the roadway and come to rest on the railroad tracks.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

No other vehicles were involved.

Lincoln man accused of fleeing stop with officer in car

Posted on May 28, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 43-year-old Lincoln man has been jailed after authorities say he fled a traffic stop with a Lincoln police officer in his car.

Lepreece Wilkinson was stopped Thursday morning on suspicion of running a red light. Officer Briana Gaston says in court records that she could smell marijuana and air freshener as she approached Wilkinson’s car and called for backup.

Gaston says during the stop, Wilkinson got back in his car. When she reached in to turn his car off, he hit the gas and drove for “about 100 feet with me on his lap.”

The car hit a curb, knocking Gaston out of the car and injuring her. Police say Gaston ran but was soon captured.

He’s charged with assaulting an officer and a drug count. His public defender could not be reached for comment Saturday.

Police: Fourth suspect arrested in fatal Omaha shooting

Posted on May 28, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say a fourth suspect charged in a warrant for a north Omaha shooting death has been found and arrested.

Omaha police say in a news release that 49-year-old Melton Felder was found and booked into an Omaha jail Friday night. He was wanted in the death Wednesday of 21-year-old Brandon White. Felder has been charged with first-degree murder in the case.

He joins three others already charged. A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old have been booked into Douglas County Youth Center on suspicion of first-degree murder. The Associated Press generally doesn’t name juveniles accused of crimes.

Police say 18-year-old Allana Smith surrendered Friday. Court records say she’s charged with first-degree murder, robbery and use of a weapon to commit a felony. The records don’t list an attorney for her.

Nebraska sheriff plans to use seized vehicle to fight drugs

Posted on May 28, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A county sheriff in the Nebraska Panhandle says spoils taken from out-of-state drug dealers will help his office and other area law enforcement agencies crack down further on illegal drugs.

Cheyenne County Sheriff John Jenson said three vehicles seized from out-of-state drug traffickers will be used in future drug investigations.

Jenson says his office and the Cheyenne County Attorney’s Office have completed forfeiture orders on three of five vehicles used in a car-hauling operation that was a front for carrying marijuana and hashish.

Two of the seized vehicles will be used by the Western Nebraska Intelligence & Narcotics Group drug task force. The third, a large SUV, will be used by his office in Sidney for administrative purposes.

Fourth suspect charged, sought in fatal Omaha shooting

Posted on May 26, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police have charged a fourth suspect in a warrant for a north Omaha shooting death carried out earlier this week.

In a news release Friday, Omaha police said they are seeking 49-year-old Melton Felder for what they say was his role in the death Wednesday of 21-year-old Brandon White. Felder is charged with first-degree murder in an arrest warrant.

He joins three others already charged in the shooting death. A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old have been booked into Douglas County Youth Center on suspicion of first-degree murder. The Associated Press generally doesn’t name juveniles accused of crimes.

Police identify man whose body was pulled from Omaha lagoon

Posted on May 26, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police have identified the body of a man pulled from a downtown Omaha lagoon.

Police say 31-year-old Hector Castaneda-Vasquez died in the lagoon, named ConAgra Lake, in Heartland of America Park.

Sonar operated from a rescue boat found Castaneda-Vasquez’s body Thursday morning. Long poles were used to bring the body to the surface. A 911 caller reported around 10 p.m. Wednesday that a man was crying for help from the lagoon. A subsequent search was called off after about three hours and resumed Thursday.

The lagoon is up to 19 feet deep in some places.

Officials reminded the public that swimming in the lagoon, which features a large fountain, is not allowed.

Man arrested, charged in April shooting death of Omaha man

Posted on May 26, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A suspect has been arrested and charged in a fatal north Omaha shooting earlier this year.

Omaha police say in a written release that 20-year-old Malcolm Ward, of Omaha, was arrested Wednesday. Online court records show he was charged Thursday with first-degree murder and two weapons counts in shooting of 29-year-old Brandon Mutum. Ward’s public defender did not immediately return a message Friday seeking comment.

Police say officers were sent to a north Omaha home a little after 3 a.m. on April 20 for a reported shooting and found Mutum wounded. He was taken to Nebraska Medical Center, where he died.

Officials say Mutum had been shot several times.

Creighton University plans to cut about 60 nonteaching jobs

Posted on May 26, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Creighton University plans to cut about 60 nonteaching positions at the Omaha Jesuit institution.

The university president, the Rev. Daniel Hendrickson, informed college workers via a letter sent earlier this week. Some of the cutbacks will come from elimination of open positions, but Hendrickson also said most of the reduction will come from dismissals.

The cuts are expected to begin early next month. After the cuts are realized, the nonfaculty workforce will number more than 1,300.

Hendrickson says the university must reduce expenses to ensure Creighton’s long-term stability.

Nebraska retailer sought sale before hedge fund pressure

Posted on May 26, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Financial documents show Cabela’s had been trying to sell itself months before an investor declared its big stake and publicly pushed for the sale.

Documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission this week detail the yearlong process to sell the Nebraska-based outdoor gear retailer.

Filings show Cabela’s management privately discussed selling the company as early as June 2015.

Elliott Management, a New York-based hedge fund, declared an 11 percent stake in October 2015, saying it would press for a sale. Elliott was in contact with Cabela’s before its declaration.

Bass Pro Shops announced in October 2016 it would buy Cabela’s for $5.5 billion, consolidating headquarters in Springfield, Missouri. Cabela’s is currently headquartered in Sidney, a city west of Omaha.

Dennis P. Fitzpatrick

Posted on May 26, 2017

Dennis P. Fitzpatrick passed away peacefully to eternal life in Sun City West, AZ on May 13, 2017 with his wife of 43 years by his side. He bravely endured many medical tribulations with courage and dignity.

Denny was born in North Platte, NE on December 11, 1941. He attended St. Patrick’s schools, graduating with the class of 1960. In his young years he was a Golden Gloves Boxer and was runner up at the National Finals in Chicago Illinois. He enjoyed his friends and had many adventures to share. Following High School graduation he enlisted in the US Navy and was stationed in San Diego, CA, Great Lakes, IL, and Kansas City, KS. He married Beth Henningsen (Boyle) in 1960 and they had three children: Kathleen (Fitzpatrick) Mercure, Dennis P. Fitzpatrick Jr. and Matthew S. Fitzpatrick. He married Kay (Gilster) Fitzpatrick in 1974 and her three daughters, Kristy, Vangi and Jodi Lindstedt joined his family.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University, College of Animal Science in 1972, where he teamed with pioneers developing the science of Artificial Insemination in cattle. He worked for Boyle Ranch Company in Hershey, NE for many years. He loved the cowboy life and treasured many happy memories from those times. His lifelong career was with the Union Pacific Railroad, in North Platte, Cheyenne WY, Grand Island NE, and Ogden UT. He served in many roles, including Switchman, Brakeman, Conductor, and Engineer. Prior to the mudslides in Utah he served as a UPRR Officer with duties as a Trainmaster, retiring in 1993.

Denny was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Evelyn Fitzpatrick, his brothers Jim Fitzpatrick and Mike Fitzpatrick, daughter Jodi Lindstedt and his brother- in- law Matt Boyle.

Survivors include his wife, Kay Fitzpatrick of Sun City West AZ, his brother Tony (Sarah) Fitzpatrick of North Platte, his sons Denny Fitzpatrick of Fort Collins CO and Matt Fitzpatrick of Johnstown CO, daughter Kathy Mercure and her sons, Sam Mercure and Jordan Mercure, all of Fort Collins CO. Also happy to have shared his life are his daughters Kristy (Mark) Anthony and sons Cpl. Bryar (Karen) Anthony of Camp LeJeune, NC and Tyler Anthony of North Platte, Vangi (Jonathon) Stewart of Bar Harbor Maine and sons Taylor Stewart and Dakota Stewart, his brothers-in- law Bob (Carol) Henningsen of North Platte and Jerome (Kathy) Boyle of Omaha, sisters- in- law Erin (Steve) Dent of Mullen, Kathie Fitzpatrick of Papillion, NE, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Denny’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday June 9, 2017 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home. He will then be laid to rest at Fort McPherson National Cemetery with military honors. All friends and family are invited to attend a lunch gathering at St. Patrick’s Parish Hall. On-line condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.