Eddie McClain, 74, of North Platte, passed away August 19, 2017 at Bryan West in Lincoln. Services are pending at Carpenter Memorial Chapel.
Month: August 2017
John Bryan “Jack” Kyne
John Bryan “Jack” Kyne, of North Platte, NE, passed away on Sunday, August 20, 2017, at the Sutherland Care Center, at the age of 88.
Jack was born July 28, 1929, at Tryon, NE. He was one of 12 children born to Everett Elden and Cora Faye Kyne. He grew up and attended school in McPherson County then joined the U.S. Army in 1954. After serving 16 months in Korea, Jack was honorably discharged in 1956.
Following his discharge, Jack returned to Nebraska and went to work for the State Highway Department for 8 years before hiring on with the Union Pacific Railroad. He worked as a Fireman/Oiler for 24 years then retired.
Jack accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and became a baptized member of the North Platte Baptist Church. He was a member of the church for over 30 years and was a life member of P.R. Halligan Post #163 American Legion.
Jack loved hunting and fishing, with big game hunting being his favorite. He was a member of the North American Hunting Club and a life benefactor member of the NRA. He also enjoyed bowling and had bowled two 700 series in his lifetime.
He was preceded in death by his parents and all 11 of his siblings, Nora Keesler, Gladys Keesler, Theda Lucille Kyne, an infant sister, as well as his brothers, Marion, Wallace Ray, Elden, Cort, Leonard, Harlow and Elno “Tag” Kyne.
Jack is survived by his many nieces and nephews including Virginia Hambleton and Norman Kessler, of Nampa, ID; sister-in-law, Sharon Kyne, of El Cajon, CA; his special friends, Ken and Lisa Neitzel and Lynette Britton, all of North Platte; and other family and friends.
Graveside Funeral Service with military honors will be 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 24, 2017, in Fort McPherson National Cemetery with Pastor Bill Reeves officiating. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com.
Police say 8-year-old killed crossing street in east Omaha
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say an 8-year-old child has been fatally injured while walking across a street in east Omaha.
The accident was reported around 4:20 p.m. Monday. Police say the child didn’t enter the street at a crosswalk and was struck by a passing car.
Police say the child was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a hospital. The child has been identified as Jalen Duncan, who lived in Omaha. The car driver has been identified as 23-year-old Noel Rangel.
The accident is being investigated. No arrest or citation has been reported.
Lightning blamed for fire at Lincoln fraternity building
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have blamed lightning for a fire that damaged a University of Nebraska-Lincoln fraternity building.
The fire was reported around 8 a.m. Sunday and took about 20 minutes to control. Fire Capt. Dave Engl says the building is rented to Kappa Sigma for office space.
No injuries have been reported. Damage was estimated at $50,000.
Lincoln City Council struggles with property tax windfall
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — As local governmental units prepare to vote on budgets and set property tax rates for next year, Lincoln officials are struggling with what to do about a property tax windfall.
Lincoln City Council passed a resolution in March defining windfall as the increased property tax revenue resulting from the higher residential property valuations.
Lincoln has seen a nearly 9 percent valuation increase from last year due to rising home prices and the county assessor’s decision to reassess residences across the area one year ahead of schedule.
Some City Council candidates promised this spring to shield property tax payers from the windfall.
The Lincoln Independent Business Association PAC says local elected officials should reduce tax rates and not tap into the windfall.
University of Nebraska system to decrease mileage refund
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Some University of Nebraska system faculty members say a big drop in vehicle mileage reimbursement will be tough to weather.
The system intends to drop reimbursement when faculty members use their own car from about 50 cents per mile to 25 cents per mile beginning next month, citing challenges with the state budget.
System extension educators and faculty members in rural settings say the decision is especially burdensome for them because they drive long distances to work as well as to programs, meetings and events.
System President Hank Bounds says reducing mileage reimbursement is one of many ways to deal with a $49 million budget gap caused by state funding problems and rising costs. The system hopes to save about $550,000 a year with the drop.
Authorities say teen killed, another injured in crash
MEMPHIS, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 16-year-old has been fatally injured and another hospitalized after a car crash in eastern Nebraska.
The accident was reported around 5:30 p.m. Sunday, about 2 miles (3 kilometers) south of Memphis in southeast Saunders County. The Sheriff’s Office says the northbound vehicle went out of control and rolled several times.
The Sheriff’s Office says passenger Nolan Thomas Beckenhauer, of Ceresco, was pronounced dead after being flown to a hospital. The driver, Conner David Buettner, of Manley, has been reported in stable condition at an Omaha hospital.
Authorities investigate man’s death on York County road
YORK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a man who apparently was struck by a vehicle on a rural road in York County.
Deputies found the man’s body in a roadside ditch Saturday night, about 3 miles (5 kilometers) west of York. They’d been sent to check a report about an abandoned vehicle, which was found on the roadway.
Sheriff Dale Radcliff identified the victim as 41-year-old Chad K. Chapman, of York.
The driver of the vehicle believed to have hit Chapman contacted the sheriff’s department and that the matter was now considered a “hit accident.” He says it initially had been handled as a hit and run.
Radcliff says an autopsy was performed Sunday.
Robert Leon Morrison
Robert Leon Morrison, 73, of North Platte, passed away April 29, 2017, at Great Plains Health in North Platte.
He was born on Feb. 22, 1944, to Clarence P. and Darlene (Landry) Morrison on a farm outside of Gandy, where he grew up before moving to Arnold. Robert graduated from Arnold High School with the class of ’62.
He moved to North Platte in 1963 and began working at Snell Electric. On Dec. 14, 1963, he married his beautiful wife, Sandra Jameson. In 1973, they purchased Snell Electric; in 1984, Hansen Plumbing and Heating; in 1985, Cox and Hyde Refrigeration; and in 1986, changed the name to Snell Services Inc.
He was a North Platte Ambassador and served on the Nebraskaland Days board as well as North Platte Chamber of Commerce, where he served a short time as president of both the Ambassadors and Chamber of Commerce.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, socializing and spending time/spoiling his grandkids.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Darlene; and a brother, Ronnie.
He is survived by his wife, Sandra; children, Todd (Deb), Monica (Roger) Fuhrman and Brad (Brooke), all of North Platte; grandchildren, Jason (Tonya) Morrison, Chad Knoedler, Chad Triplett, Jesse Morrison, Derek Knoedler and Kasch and Karsen Morrison; great-grandchildren, Brookelynn, Syncere, Chance, Hannah and Hailey; a sister, Judy Groome of Denver; a brother, Jim of Washington; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Keystone Fire and Rescue of Keith County. Online Condolences may be shared at carpentermemorial.com.
A celebration of Bob’s life will be from 2-4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, at Rivers Edge Golf Course. Cremation was chosen.
Robert Wayne Biltoft
Robert Wayne Biltoft, age 75, of North Platte, NE, died Friday, August 18, 2017, at Great Plains Health.
Bob was born December 26, 1941, to Earl and Mildred Vandeventer Biltoft in Todd County, SD. The family lived in Nebraska, in the New Port and Bassett area, and resided in an old basement with 10 kids. Bob went to school through the 8th grade then worked various construction jobs.
While working he met Carolyn Beth Keith and they were married on April 3, 1960, in Geneva, NE. They moved to Thedford, NE, in the late ’60’s and Bob went to work for Pearson Livestock, hauled cattle for various ranchers then started his own haying business. He was a skilled fabricator who did lots of handy work for people around the area.
After Carolyn died in 1998, Bob moved to Sutherland, NE, then to North Platte where he spent his time fishing. Bob enjoyed working in the yard and was always willing to lend a helping hand to others, but he especially loved his grandkids.
He is survived by his sons, Loren (Mona) Biltoft, of Hoxie, KS, Leigh Biltoft, of Spokane, WA, and Lynn (Kaylen) Biltoft, of Columbus, NE; six grandchildren, Jeff, Amber, Jordan, Brandy, Sean and Logan; nine great-grandchildren; his brother, John (Patty) Biltoft, of Alabama; as well as many nieces, nephews and other family.
Along with his wife, Carolyn, Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Mildred; sisters, Dora May Cross and Doris Biltoft; and six brothers, Melvin, Elmer, Raymond, Marvin, Frank and Charles Biltoft.
Funeral Service will be 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 23, 2017, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Chaplain Gary Smith officiating. Cremation will follow the service. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family has established a memorial.