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Tina Marie Wallace

Tina Marie Wallace, of North Platte, NE, passed away at Great Plains Health on Thursday, July 13, 2017, at the age of 60.

Tina was born December 8, 1956, to Emil Loren and Velda Marguerite Minton Kern in Ransom, KS. She grew up in Park City and Wichita, KS, then after her schooling she was married to Terry Watts. They had three children and later divorced.

In September of 1986, Tina was set up on a blind date with Douglas E. Wallace and a year later, the two were married on December 19, 1987, at the Baptist Church in Norwich, KS. The couple later lived in Salina, KS, Wakeeney, KS, Atwood, KS, and in 1999 they moved to North Platte. In 2006 they moved to Baltimore, MD, for two years then returned to North Platte where she had her own daycare, Tina’s Daycare, which she operated until just recently.

Tina loved children and being a mom. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, going to garage sales, reading and solving crossword puzzles. Her willingness to help others in need, and her infectious and contagious laugh will be greatly missed by all.

She leaves behind her husband, Douglas Wallace, of North Platte; sons, Robert Watts, of Bristow, OK, and Shawn (Michelle) Wallace, of North Platte; daughters, Sandi Watts, of Cushing, OK, Dusty Watts, of Drumright, OK, and Shannella Wallace, of North Platte; grandchildren, Ethan, Hayden, Logan, Lillie, Triston, Taryn, Eli, Ean, Katilyn, Carter, Aubrey, Khloe and Paisley; sister, Donna (Jim) Stafford, of Derby, KS; brothers, Jack Kern, of Wichita, KS, and James Kern, of Bel Aire, KS; as well as many nieces, nephews and other family.

Tina was preceded in death by her parents, Emil and Velda Kern; brothers, Joseph and Jere Kern; sister, Barbara Nance; and grandson, eXavier Wallace.

Cremation was chosen. Memorial Service will be 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or prior to the service at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the Callahan Cancer Center.

Red Willow County crash claims 2nd life

JULY 16, 2017 (NORTH PLATTE, NEB.) — A second person has died as a result of an accident in Red Willow County in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 9.

Holly Myers, 19, of Horace, Kansas passed away Saturday as a result of injuries suffered when the pickup driven by Aaron Jones, 23, of Cambridge, lost control a rolled on Road 399 a few miles east of Indianola. Both were ejected from the vehicle during the crash. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. Myers was
transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash and neither person in the truck was wearing seat belts.

Man hospitalized after watercraft accident at Calamus Reservoir

LINCOLN, Neb. – A 40-year-old man was hospitalized when a personal watercraft he was operating collided with another personal watercraft July 15 at Calamus State Recreation Area.

A 29-year-old man, who was operating the second personal watercraft, was charged with boating under the influence and reckless operation in connection with the incident, which happened just before 6 p.m. west of Little York Point on Calamus Reservoir.

Witnesses told investigators that both operators were weaving their craft back and forth when they collided. The injured man transported to Valley County Hospital in Ord and later flown by helicopter to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission conservation officers and the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the incident.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office seeking to hire deputies

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is recruiting candidates to fill deputy ranks.

The office, located in Omaha, says the entry-level selection process includes written tests, a physical fitness assessment, structured interview, polygraph, background, psychological and medical examinations, and a drug-screening test.

Some of the minimum qualifications include having a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver’s license, being a U.S. citizen, the ability to carry a firearm, and being at least 21.

Registration forms are available online at www.morrowhr.com, and a $50 non-refundable registration fee is required. Registration for the exam is open until Aug. 2. The exam date is Aug. 26.

Official: Omaha school improved enough to end intervention

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska school official says an Omaha elementary school has made enough progress in one year to remove it from priority status and discontinue state intervention.

State assessment scores during the 2015-16 school year showed that Druid Hill Elementary increased in several grade levels.

Principal Cherice Williams says the “culture” of the school has changed.

Druid Hill was one of three schools that were tapped for intervention in December 2015 based on the state’s first-ever performance ratings.

Nebraska Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt says he’ll recommend that Santee Middle School and Loup County Elementary remain listed for another year.

Blomstedt plans to request Druid Hill’s removal during the State Board of Education meeting in August.

Omaha area property damage from June storms could hit $400K

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Property damage claims from separate June storms in the Omaha area could top $400 million.

An estimated 52,000 could be filed from June 16 and June 29 storms.

State Farm Insurance, the state’s largest insurer, says its clients have filed 6,670 claims for hail damage to cars and 3,730 claims for hail damage to houses, plus wind damage to 410 cars and 2,210 houses. That’s about 13,000 claims from both storms.

State Farm holds about one-fourth of the state’s property insurance policies, so the total number of claims could top 50,000 for all insurance companies.

Drug charges tossed against man following unlawful stop

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Evidence obtained from an unlawful stop of a man on a bike in Lincoln cannot be used against him at trial.

53-year-old Charles Sales Jr. had been facing three felonies: possessing methamphetamine with intent to deliver, possessing money while violating drug laws and resisting arrest with a prior offense.

But a Lancaster County District judge recently tossed out the drug charges because a Lincoln police officer stopped Sales last August for riding his bike in a crosswalk. That’s not against the law.

The officer said he found a bag of meth in Sales’ sweatshirt pocket. Because the stop was unlawful, the meth can’t be admitted into evidence.

The judge agreed with prosecutors that Sales can still be tried for resisting arrest.

South Bend man killed when motorcycle hits semitrailer

EAGLE, Neb. (AP) — A 47-year-old motorcyclist has died in a crash involving a semitrailer in eastern Nebraska.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office said the crash happened around 9 a.m. Friday on U.S. Highway 43.

Investigators say Chris Badman, of South Bend, was driving his motorcycle northbound when he hit a loaded flatbed semitrailer as it turned left.

Badman was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation into the crash continues.

Nebraska lawmakers discuss cash, perks to lure new residents

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers who want to preserve the state’s small towns are considering a new approach — paying people to move there.

Senators are looking into relocation incentives designed to draw residents back to rural areas. Small cities such as Curtis offer free land, down payment assistance for a house and golf club memberships to try to entice young families to live in the area.

A legislative hearing scheduled for Aug. 24 in North Platte will explore the issue. Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango says his staff is researching the matter to see what if anything Nebraska state officials can do.

Hughes says he wanted to study relocation incentives out of concern for Sidney. The city faces an uncertain future after its largest employer, Cabela’s, was sold to Bass Pro Shops.

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