June 2017 – Page 8 – North Platte Post Archive

FDA approves quicker-to-administer drug for blood cancers

Posted on June 22, 2017

U.S. regulators have approved a more convenient version of a blockbuster drug for treating three common blood cancers.

The Roche Group’s Rituxan, on the market for 20 years, is administered in a hospital or clinic through an intravenous drip that can take several hours.

On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration approved the Swiss drugmaker’s new version, Rituxan Hycela (RIH’-tux-en HEYE’-cell-uh). It’s injected in about six minutes, shortening clinic visits.

It’s given every three weeks for six months to treat diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, for a total cost of about $48,600 without insurance — the same as for Rituxan.

Rituxan Hycela also was approved for treating follicular lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Rituxan, which will still be available, is Roche’s top seller. It had 2016 sales of $7.5 billion.

Drexel Jerome Smith

Posted on June 22, 2017

Drexel Jerome Smith, 86, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, passed away June 20, 2017.

He was born on Dec. 19, 1930, in North Platte to Harold and Leita (Messersmith) Smith. Drexel grew up in North Platte until he moved to Corvallis, Oregon, with his family when he was 13. He returned to North Platte four years later.

He married Ardis Jean Staples on Feb. 1, 1948. The couple lived in North Platte until January 2010 and then moved to Mountain Grove.

He was an active member of the Wesleyan Church in North Platte and became a member of the Faith Community Church of the Nazarene after moving to Mountain Grove. He was a wonderful Christian husband, father and grandfather.

He was hired by Union Pacific Railroad as a fireman oiler in 1949. He retired as a conductor in 1992.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Donlay and Gordon Smith; daughter, Kathy Boldt; and granddaughter, Carrie Elizabeth Smith.

Survivors include his wife, Jean; children, Steven Smith of Louisville, Colorado, Vicki (Steve) Thompson of Norwood, Missouri, Andy (Kathy) Smith of Sabetha, Kansas, Doug (Mary Beth) Smith of Norman, Oklahoma, and Bette (Mike) Brandewie of Corpus Christi, Texas; one sibling, Blaine (Juanita) Smith of North Platte; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Faith Community Church of the Nazarene, Mountain Grove, c/o Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, at Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home with the Rev. Gene Edwards officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery, Mountain Grove. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, June 23, at Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mountain Grove, which is in charge of arrangements.

Michael Frederick Stark

Posted on June 22, 2017

Michael Frederick Stark, age 62, of North Platte, NE, went home to his Lord on Sunday, June 18, 2017, at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Mike was born November 20, 1954, to Marvin and Joyce Stark at Sutherland, NE. He grew up on the family farm in the North Platte River Valley, north of Sutherland, and attended school in town.

Mike proudly served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam. After he was honorably discharged in 1975, he returned to Sutherland and farmed with his dad until he hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad. Mike worked his way up to being an engineer and was awarded Engineer of the Year in 2008. After 37 years on the railroad, he retired due to illness.

Mike was an avid hunter and fisherman and in his younger days, enjoyed trapping. He adored his horses and dogs and enjoyed grilling and smoking meals for his family. He was a member of the Sutherland Presbyterian Church, V.F.W., American Legion, and a life member of the N.R.A.

On September 6, 1997, Mike was united in marriage to Cindy Cain Foster in North Platte. He always said, “I married the woman I waited my whole life for.”

Along with his wife, Cindy, of North Platte, Mike is survived by his son, Travis Stark (fiancée, Natalie Lower), of North Platte; daughters, Darcy Stark (fiancé, Julius Reed) and Courtny (Justin) Foust, of North Platte, Jennifer Stark, of Louisville, KY, and Mary Jo Stark, of Neligh, NE; stepchildren, Eric (Lindsey) Foster and Fauna Garcia, of McCook, NE; sisters, Kathy (Roy) Bailey, of Roscoe, NE, Laurie Stark (special friend, Patty Bear), of Lexington, NE; stepmother, Jean Stark, and stepsisters, Pam Wescoat and Lisa Wescoat, all of North Platte; his dogs, Angel and MOJO, and cat, Pooker; 21 grandchildren; as well as his nieces, nephews and other family.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Marvin Stark; mother, Joyce Stark; brother, Steven Dale Stark; and stepdaughter, Terra Foster.

Cremation was chosen. Memorial Service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 28, 2017, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Ned Cooper officiating. Inurnment with military honors will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. The family requests casual dress or camouflage (Mike’s favorite) for the service. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to H.E.X.

Man suspected of shooting at Kansas trooper held in Nebraska

Posted on June 21, 2017

LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man suspected of shooting at a Kansas state trooper has been arrested in south-central Nebraska.

The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office says 39-year-old Richard Gathercole, of San Jacinto, California, was arrested early Tuesday morning at a gas station on the south side of Lexington. A sheriff’s deputy had spotted a pickup truck that Kansas authorities had said was stolen by a man who’d fired at the trooper Monday along Interstate 70 near Goodland. The trooper wasn’t hit.

It’s unclear what led to the shooting. A Kansas Bureau of Investigation representative didn’t immediately return a call Wednesday.

Gathercole is charged in Nebraska with theft and with possession of stolen firearms. He remains in Dawson County Jail on Wednesday. Nebraska court records don’t list the name of his attorney.

Nebraska secretary of state hires new elections deputy

Posted on June 21, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska county election commissioner will serve as the state’s new deputy secretary of state for elections.

Sarpy County Election Commissioner Wayne Bena will replace Neal Erickson, who retired in December 2016 after 22 years with the secretary of state’s office. Secretary of State John Gale announced the appointment Wednesday.

Bena will report to Gale, the state’s chief elections officer, starting Sept. 1.

Bena has served as Sarpy County election commissioner since 2010. His new role will include managing the secretary of state’s elections division and coordinating with 93 county election officials, among other duties.

Bena was appointed Sarpy County election commissioner in 2010 by then-Gov. Dave Heineman and reappointed in 2014. Election commissioners are appointed in counties with more than 100,000 residents. Gov. Pete Ricketts will appoint Bena’s replacement.

Nebraska man accused of cattle rustling pleads not guilty

Posted on June 21, 2017

RED CLOUD, Neb. (AP) — A south-central Nebraska man accused of cattle rustling has pleaded not guilty.

Court records say 26-year-old Austin Petr entered the plea last week in Webster County, where’s he’s charged with theft. His next court hearing is scheduled for Aug. 7. Authorities say the rural Blue Hill resident sold calves Jan. 13 at a Clay County sale barn that had been stolen earlier that day from a property in Webster County.

Petr’s charged in Clay County with seven counts of prohibited sale of livestock. His preliminary hearing in that case is scheduled for Aug. 1.

Lawyer contests constitutionality of Nebraska death penalty

Posted on June 21, 2017

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — An attorney for an inmate accused of strangling his cellmate has asked a judge to declare Nebraska’s death penalty unconstitutional.

Concerns over the lethal injection procedure are among the 11 arguments in a motion filed Monday by Todd Lancaster, attorney for Patrick Schroeder.

Capital punishment was repealed in 2015 but recently reinstated by voters.

The move prompted a delay in Schroeder’s arraignment that was set for Tuesday.

Schroeder has been serving a life sentence for murder but now also faces a potential death sentence for allegedly choking cellmate Terry Berry Jr. to death in April at the Tecumseh State Prison.

Lancaster says the state’s death penalty is racially and geographically discriminatory. He says the decision to seek it is arbitrary because it’s left to individual county attorneys.

Flu vaccine ineffective for people 65 and older last winter

Posted on June 21, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) — The flu vaccine was ineffective in protecting older Americans last winter against the illness, even though the vaccine was well-matched to the flu bugs going around.

U.S. health officials on Wednesday released new vaccine data. They showed the vaccine did a so-so job overall— it was about 42 percent effective in preventing illness severe enough to send a patient to a doctor’s office.

But it did a poor job protecting some age groups. That includes people 65 and older — the group that’s hardest hit by flu, suffering the most deaths and hospitalizations.

The data were presented at a medical meeting in Atlanta. Annual flu shots are recommended for virtually all Americans age 6 months or older.

Salvation Army in Omaha opens cooling stations to beat heat

Posted on June 21, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — With a heat index creeping into the triple digits, the Salvation Army in Omaha is opening cooling stations in Omaha and neighboring Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The cooling centers will offer an air-conditioned reprieve from the heat Wednesday and Thursday, as well as bottled water to help people hydrate.

The centers are located at the Burrows Center in eastern Omaha, the Kroc Center in southeastern Omaha, North Corps in northeastern Omaha and Council Bluffs Corps across the Missouri River in western Iowa. Most of the centers are open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on weekdays. The Kroc Center is open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

The temperature in Omaha by mid-afternoon Wednesday was around 95 degrees (35 Celsius), but the heat index was over 100 degrees (37.78 Celsius).

Omaha woman sentenced again in worthless travel voucher case

Posted on June 21, 2017June 21, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha woman already serving time in federal prison for selling millions of dollars in worthless travel vouchers has been sentenced again, this time for state charges in the case.

Patricia Urbanovsky was sentenced Wednesday in Douglas County District Court to seven to 11 years in state prison. She had pleaded no contest to writing bad checks to her employees to repay them for thousands of dollars she borrowed from them to keep her business afloat.

Urbanovsky was sentenced earlier this year to more than five years in federal prison for money laundering and wire fraud. Her state sentence will run at the same time as her federal sentence.

Authorities say Urbanovsky ran a scheme through her business to sell discounted airline travel vouchers, which turned out to be worthless. Hundreds of customers discovered their vouchers wouldn’t be honored.