Donald Dean Hamilton, age 81 of Maxwell, passed away Friday December 15, 2017 at the Fullerton Care Center in Fullerton, NE. Services are pending at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home.
Month: December 2017
Frank E. Speck
Frank E. Speck, 79, of North Platte, passed peacefully surrounded by family December 13, 2017, at Great Plains Health. He was born July 8, 1938 to Harry and Gwendola (Lawson) Speck at Kearney, Nebraska.
Frank served in the United States Navy from 1957 to 1961 where he served as a non-commissioned officer and an Electrician’s Mate. He conducted multiple sea tours on the USS Vulcan and was responsible for the operation of his ship’s electrical power generation systems, lighting systems, and electrical equipment. He later used the trade he learned in the Navy to get a job as an electrician at the Union Pacific Railroad where he retired after 40 years of dedicated employment.
Frank married his high school sweetheart Marcia S. Applegate on August 13, 1958. They were married for over 50 years until Marcia passed away in 2008. They enjoyed fishing, camping, and boating at nearby lakes. Later in life, Frank learned the game of golf and would offer “advice” to anyone willing to listen. He was a wonderful golfing partner and could be frequently found out on the course or laughing and having fun with this Applebee’s Family.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Marcia; a son, Ronald Dean Speck and his parents.
Frank is survived by his son, Richard (Diane) Speck of North Platte; his daughter, Suzanne Johnson of Lincoln; nine grandchildren, Kyle (Anna) Johnson, Amy (Dominic) Rioux, Jessica (Tim) Johnson, Jeannie (Alex) Roeder, Jennifer Hoagland, Heather, Amberlea Sue, Cody Speck and Danielle Lee and 19 great grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December18, 2017 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with Job Vigil officiating. Burial will follow at Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00 – 5:00p.m. on Sunday , December 17 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel.
Online condolences may be shared on his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/frank.speck.395
Phillip Gonzales Contreras, Sr.
Phillip Gonzales Contreras, age 91 of North Platte, passed away Tuesday December 12, 2017 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE.
Phillip was born on March 26, 1926 in Chanute, KS to Cosmo and Concha “Pearl” (Gonzales) Contreras. He lived in Crook, CO until the age of 10 when he moved with his family to North Platte in 1936. He married Amanda L. Tappan in Lexington, NE. He joined the US Marines in 1952 and served stateside during the Korean War. After his discharge he returned to North Platte where he worked for PFE on the Railroad, and for the Armor Packing Plant. He later became a dealer for Saladmaster, selling cookware. He found his calling with this career and with his charismatic personality became very successful.
Phillip is survived by his children, Sharon (Jim) Ruffing of North Platte, Phyllis Contreras of North Platte, Phillip Jr. (Jennifer) Contreras of North Platte, Andrea Contreras of Lincoln, NE and Stephanie (Ed) Contreras – Tucker of North Platte; 7 grandchildren, Kimberly Contreras of Portland, OR, Shelly Patzer of Pierre, SD, Brad Contreras of Lincoln, NE, Greg Contreras of North Platte, Seth Pflaster of Omaha, NE, Nick Pflaster of Hastings, NE, and Max Contreras of North Platte; sisters Rose Jurado of North Platte and Mickey Perez of TX; brother Joe Contreras of Omaha, NE; as well as numerous extended family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and wife Amanda in January 2017.
Memorials are suggested to Amazing Facts, P.O. Box 1058, Roseville, CA 95678-8058
and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday December 22, 2017 at the Seventh Day Adventist Church with Reverend Joseph Carty officiating. Burial will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Thursday December 21, 2017 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
Investigators say Nebraska man had shot wife before he died
PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — Sarpy County Sheriff’s officials have revealed more information on an incident in an Omaha suburb that left a woman with a gunshot wound to her head and her husband dead.
Chief Deputy Greg London said Thursday in a written release that deputies sent to the Lakewood Villages housing addition on a welfare check Wednesday found 68-year-old Karl Langill dead in the home’s garage. His 67-year-old wife, Cheri Langill, was found wounded in the basement.
Investigators say Karl Langill shot his wife once in the head with a .22 caliber pistol during a domestic dispute nearly a week earlier, on Dec. 7. Cheri Langill is currently in stable condition at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
An autopsy indicates Karl Langill died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Average US gas price drops 3 cents to $2.51 for regular
CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average price of a gallon of regular-grade gasoline dropped 3 cents nationally over the past two weeks to $2.51.
Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey said Sunday that further declines are likely because U.S. gas supplies are flush.
The current gas price is 25 cents above where it was a year ago.
Gas in San Francisco was the highest in the contiguous United States at an average of $3.22 a gallon. The lowest was in Jackson, Mississippi, at $2.14 a gallon.
The U.S. average diesel price is $2.88, holding steady from two weeks ago.
Lincoln police say 19-year-old man dies from crash injuries
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police say a 19-year-old Lincoln man has died after being critically injured in a crash that involved a school bus and three other vehicles.
Malik Asaad died Thursday after being injured Wednesday afternoon in the north Lincoln crash.
Investigators say Asaad was driving south on a city street when his sedan collided with a northbound pickup truck. Police say another car behind Asaad’s swerved to avoid the crash and hit a school bus. The car’s driver suffered minor injuries; none of the 27 children on the school bus or its driver was injured.
Asaad was taken to a Lincoln hospital, where he later died.
The crash remains under investigation. No citations or charges have been issued.
92-year-old Omaha woman hospitalized after home break-in
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 92-year-old Omaha woman has been hospitalized after an intruder broke into her home, knocked her down and tied her up before ransacking the house.
The break-in happened midday Wednesday in southeast Omaha. Neighbors say the woman’s husband came home to find her tied up on the floor.
The woman was listed in fair condition Thursday and was being visited by family.
Police are investigating. No arrests have been reported in the case.
Man suspected in Lincoln road rage crash arrested in Detroit
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police say a man suspected of intentionally hitting a man with his car in a Lincoln road rage incident that saw the victim’s leg amputated has been arrested in Detroit.
28-year-old Deaubre Gardner was arrested Tuesday in Michigan. He’s being held in the Wayne County Jail in Detroit, awaiting extradition to Lincoln on charges of first-degree assault, and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.
Police say Gardner was behind the wheel Aug. 31 when he hit 39-year-old Steven Collins.
Police say the incident began when both men got out of their vehicles following a crash, then Gardner got back into his car and intentionally hit Collins, severely injuring Collins’ leg. The leg had to be amputated at a hospital.
Popular Offutt Air Force Base air show to return in 2018
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AP) — After a year off, a hugely popular air show at Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha is back on next summer.
A news release from the base says the Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air and Space Show is scheduled to return Aug. 10-12 and again June 1-2, 2019.
This year’s show, which had been set for July 1-2, was canceled. At the time, Col. Marty Reynolds, 55th Wing commander, cited increased demands for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions for the cancellation.
The 2018 show will be co-headlined by the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II demonstration teams.
‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ boasts $45 million opening night
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is off to a death star-sized start at the box office. Disney says Friday that the eighth installment in the space franchise has earned an estimated $45 million from Thursday night showings.
It’s the second-highest Thursday night preview tally following the $57 million start for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which kicked off this modern trilogy in 2015.
“The Last Jedi” is expected to net around $200 million throughout the weekend, which would make it the fourth-biggest opening of all time. It’s set to play on 4,232 screens in North America.
Rian Johnson wrote and directed “The Last Jedi,” which stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Adam Driver.