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Renovations almost done at iconic central Nebraska hotel

BROKEN BOW, Neb. (AP) — Renovations are almost finished at an iconic central Nebraska hotel after nearly 12 years of work, the latest chapter in the long history of the Arrow Hotel.

The hotel’s owners have been working to restore the old hotel back to its glory days, around the time it was built in 1928.

The hotel had fallen into disrepair over the years and had many owners. One of the former owners went so far as to convert 25 hotel rooms into more than 70 apartments.

The current owners have worked to salvage as much of the original structure as possible. They returned the hotel to 25 guest rooms. They’ve also expanded it to include an “Arrow East” addition that will open later this summer.

Colorado boy hurt in accident at Lake Minatare

LINCOLN, Neb. – A 9-year-old Colorado boy was hospitalized with serious injuries following a boating accident July 3 at Lake Minatare in Scotts Bluff County.

The boy was taken by ambulance to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. Scottsbluff radio station KNEB reported the boy was later transferred to a Denver hospital. The boat operator, who is from Briggsdale, Colorado, is the grandfather of the victim.

Conservation officers were notified of the accident just before 1:30 p.m. Witness statements indicated that the operator pulled into the boat dock to unload a group of people and load another group. The operator put the boat in reverse to back up from the dock when the boy fell off a paddle board and was run over by the boat.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is investigating, with the assistance of the Nebraska State Patrol, Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office, Scottsbluff Fire and Rescue and an area dive team.

Alcohol does not appear to have played any role in this incident.

Pink slime’ defamation trial boosts some area businesses

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The trial to determine whether ABC defamed a South Dakota meat producer’s products that critics dubbed “pink slime” provided a boost to area business before it ended with a settlement.

The biggest beneficiaries from the case that lasted more than four weeks were hotels and restaurants in the Sioux City area where the legal teams for ABC and Beef Products Inc. stayed.

The trial that was held in Elk Point, South Dakota, wrapped up last week.

ABC’s team used 30 to 35 rooms at the Marina Inn Hotel and Conference Center in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Hotel manager Ralph Bobian says the trial provided a nice boost to business.

BPI’s team stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Sioux City.

Mayoral race in Omaha sets spending records

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The mayoral race in Omaha this spring has set spending records.

Republican Mayor Jean Stothert and Democratic challenger Heath Mello spent about $3.8 million combined during the campaign. The candidates surpassed the previous spending record for the fourth time in the past six city elections.

Outside groups, including Firefighters for Better Government, spent an additional $750,000 to sway voters.

Paul Landow is a political science professor at University of Nebraska at Omaha. He says Omaha residents can expect the cost of future mayor’s races to increase.

Landow estimates the 2021 mayoral election could top $5 million. He says the influx of money into local elections follows a national trend.

Stothert won re-election with just over 52,500 votes compared to Mello’s more than 46,700 votes.

Nebraska AG seeks phase-out of youth immigration program

Doug Peterson

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s attorney general is asking the Trump administration to phase out an Obama-era program that was designed to protect youths who entered the U.S. illegally.

Doug Peterson joined nine other Republican attorneys general in asking the Trump administration to reverse its earlier decision to allow the affected youths to stay legally in the country. The program’s supporters expressed disappointment Monday with that decision.

More than 3,000 young immigrants live in Nebraska under the protection of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The state attorney general asked that the program be phased out by refusing to renew or issue any new program permits.

Danielle Conrad of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska says it’s wrong to play politics with the people affected.

Marijuana sales in Nevada exceed stores’ expectations

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Recreational marijuana sales have exceeded the expectations of Las Vegas area store owners.

Eager pot customers on Monday again lined up before dispensaries opened their doors. That’s after thousands swarmed the pot stores over the weekend.

Nevada on Saturday became the fifth state with shops selling pot to the public, jumpstarting a market that is expected to be fueled by the tens of millions of visitors that Sin City welcomes each year.

Jim Ferrence is the marketing coordinator for Euphoria Wellness dispensary, which had about 50 customers in line Monday morning. He says budtenders helped at least 1,000 customers during the first two days of legal recreational pot sales.

Those 21 and older with a valid ID can buy up to an ounce of pot. Consuming the drug in public remains illegal.

Carol Lynn Chrisp

Carol Lynn Chrisp, 77, of North Platte passed away July 1, 2017 at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg, Ne.

Carol was born in Lewellen, Ne on December 25, 1939 to Paul and Bertha (Brooks) Benzen.  She attended country and town grade schools and graduated with the LRHS class of 1957.  At an early age, she was baptized and later joined the United Methodist Church.

Carol married Bruce A. Gordon and to this union were born three children; Pamela Sue, Timothy Bruce, and Polly Mae.  The family lived in various places in Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska where Bruce was a Brand Inspector.

In 1993 Carol married Jerry L. Chrisp of Sargent, NE, and they were currently living in North Platte, NE.

Her children, grandchildren, and other family members were always foremost on her agenda.  Carol was an excellent cook and enjoyed entertaining as well as computer work and knitting.  Carol and Jerry enjoyed traveling and playing golf; they liked to dance and were active with a dance group as long as their health permitted.  Carol also belonged to Knitting Group from Hershey that makes prayer shawls as a mission.

Carol was preceded in death by her grandparents; parents; parents-in-law; and a sister, Jacqueline Miller; and sisters and brothers in-law, Mickie Gordon, Imogene Regorrah, Clarence Chrisp, and Dennis Johnson.

She is survived by her husband, Jerry Chrisp of North Platte; children, Pam Gordon of Grand Island, Tim (Rhonda) Gordon of Newcastle, WY, and Polly Dimmitt of Pierre, SD; grandchildren, Brenna and Gracie Dimmitt of Pierre, SD; sister, Kay Tapp of Lewellen, NE; sisters and brothers in-law, Curtis Miller, Ray and June Stone, Bob and Rosie Barnsdale, Gary Gordon, and Linda Johnson; and many other relatives and friends.

Memorials may be made to the Hershey Prayer Shawl Ministry and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.

Services will be 10:00 a.m. CST Friday, July 7, 2017 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home with Pastor Del Unruh officiating.  Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. MT at Ash Hollow Cemetery near Lewellen, NE. with Pastor Jennifer Brand officiating.  Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. with family receiving friends 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, July 6, 2017 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

NSP’s continuing safety education works to reduce teen crashes

The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP), in conjunction with partners at the Nebraska Department of Transportation, continues efforts to educate youth on safe driving.

Troopers throughout Nebraska conducted 90 safety presentations from April through June, with a focus on seat belts and teen drivers. The presentations included the Rollover Simulator, Seat Belt Convincer and Driving Simulator, reaching roughly 30,000 people with the message that seat belts save lives.

Beginning in July and running through September, NSP will continue educational efforts utilizing grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office (NDOT-HSO).

According to the Nebraska Strategic Highway Safety Plan, teen drivers ages 16-20 represent the highest number of unbelted fatalities. More than half of young drivers involved in a fatal crash were not wearing seat belts, with males representing 68% of young, unbelted drivers.

“We’re in the midst of the summer driving season, so continuing NSP’s education efforts throughout the state is critical,” said Major Russ Stanczyk, Acting Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “The programs run by our troopers show the importance of wearing your seat belt and encourage safe driving. That information, along with following traffic laws, could save lives.”

Those interested in scheduling a safety presentation can visit the Community Policing/Safety Programs page of  the NSP website for information.

Levern Leonard Pflaster

Levern Leonard Pflaster, 88, of North Platte was born in Sherman County near Loup City on March 27, 1929, to Andrew and Clara Pflaster (Dembowski).

In 1950, the family moved to Custer County, where Andrew worked on a ranch. After four years, they moved to Ash Creek, where the family farmed and he started school. Here he met his wife, Jane Kepler. They were married on Sept. 16, 1951, and moved to Ash Creek, where they farmed and began their family with the birth of Diane and Randy.

In 1957, the family moved to the Kepler farm east of New Helena, where they farmed and ranched until 1979. They added Doug, Terry, Pam and Calvin to their family during their years there.

In 1980, they moved to North Platte, where Levern began trucking for Nebraska Salt & Grain & Baker Trucking for 21 years before retiring in 2001.

Levern was preceded in death by his wife, Jane; parents; and four brothers and two sisters.

Survivors include his children, Randy of Broken Bow, Diane of North Platte, Doug of Cozad, Terry (Marilynn) of Goodyear, Arizona, Pam of North Platte and Calvin (Laurie) of Queen Creek, Arizona; eight grandkids; and eight great-grandkids.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 5, at Govier Brothers Chapel, Broken Bow, with the Rev. Bill Williams officiating. Burial will be at the Broken Bow Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4, at Govier Brothers Mortuary, which is in charge of arrangements.

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