February 2018 – Page 16 – North Platte Post Archive

U. of Nebraska supporters pack hearing to oppose budget cuts

Posted on February 14, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — University of Nebraska administrators, faculty members, students and their allies are imploring lawmakers to reject the state budget cuts proposed by Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Supporters of the university crowded into a legislative hearing Wednesday in hopes of sparing the university from the proposed $11 million cuts in the current budget year and $23 million in the next budget year.

University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds says the cuts would force the elimination of academic programs in geography, art history and electronics engineering. It also would force the closure of extension offices statewide and the Haskell Ag Lab in Concord.

Lawmakers face a projected $173 million state revenue shortfall that they need to balance this year.

Lincoln man pleads to lesser charge in sex assault case

Posted on February 14, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man who had his attempted sexual assault conviction overturned by the Nebraska Supreme Court has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor in the case.

31-year-old Curtis Lavalleur pleaded no contest last week to third-degree sexual assault and was sentenced to 360 days in jail. Because he was given credit for the 422 days he’d already served, he won’t serve more time, but he will have to register as a sex offender.

Prosecutors had accused Lavalleur of sexually assaulting a co-worker after a night of drinking in 2012. He was convicted of attempted first-degree sexual assault the next year and sentenced to two to three years in prison. But the state’s high court ordered a new trial in 2014, saying the trial judge wrongly applied the state’s rape shield law in refusing to allow a defense attorney to question the victim.

Nebraska bill aims to notify about immigration enforcement

Posted on February 14, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska senator is proposing a bill that would require state and local law enforcement agencies to provide public notice before they agree to enforce federal immigration laws.

Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha said Wednesday he introduced the measure following news that Dakota County’s sheriff had enrolled in a federal program to deputize local forces.

The bill would require agencies would to provide notice to their local government 30 days prior to entering an agreement so it can be discussed at the next meeting.

Supporters say the bill promotes communication and transparency. They say the programs could incur large costs to taxpayers and create distrust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, which could lead to decreased crime reporting.

Opponents say they want increased enforcement of immigration law.

Daryl Kevin “Pickle” Higginbotham

Posted on February 14, 2018

Daryl Kevin “Pickle” Higginbotham, 64, of North Platte, passed away February 9, 2018 at his home with his wife and animals. He was born to Willie John and Helen (Yates) Higginbotham on September 22, 1953.

For those who knew him well, he was “Pickle” and he would give you the shirt off his back. He was a one of a kind human being, loved his family very much and was especially fond of sports and hanging out with his friends.

Daryl and his brother, John, started in business with their loving aunt and uncle, Millie and Roger Grosh. They ran Roger’s Fine Food Restaurant in the community for forty years, retiring due to health problems.

Daryl is survived by his wife, Cindy; his mother, Helen; sisters, Debbie and Lisa; nieces, Erica and Andrea Kraetz, Cassidy and Savanna Arnold; nephew, Logan Arnold; aunts, Florence Yates Peterson and Louise Houghtelling; uncle, Raymond Yates and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his father, Willie John; brother, John; sisters, Marcia, Ronna and Janis Higginbotham; aunt and uncle, Millie and Roger Grosh.

Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, Feb. 19, 2018 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with the Reverend Matthew Nash as celebrant. Rosary will be 7:00 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be from 5 – 7 p.m. on Sunday, prior to the rosary at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in care of arrangements.

Terrel Leland Dixon

Posted on February 14, 2018

Terrel Leland Dixon, 77, passed away February 10, 2018, at Linden Estates in North Platte. Terrel was born on November 14, 1940, to Florence and Leland Dixon in Leroy, Kansas, where he grew up and graduated high school. On June 13, 1959, Terrel married Sharon Lee Dupuy in Humbolt, Kansas. They lived in Topeka, Kansas for five years before moving to several different towns and States as part of Terrel’s job working for a company that buried underground telephone cable. In 1974, they settled in Paxton where Terrel worked for the telephone company. In 1987, they moved to Wallace where they retired in 2005. Terrel was a hardworking man who enjoyed working around the house and in his yard after he retired. He loved to travel with Sharon, especially to Hawaii, where they spent numerous vacations. Terrel was a loving and devoted husband to Sharon for 55 years until she passed in 2015.

Terrel was preceded in death by his parents. He leaves behind one son, Keith, a daughter-in-law, Peggy, and two grandchildren, Justis and Allison, who live in Maryland. Online condolences may be shared at www.carptermemorial.com. Cremation was chosen and services will be a private family affair. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in care of arrangements.

Trial set for passenger accused of stopping Amtrak train

Posted on February 14, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A trial has been scheduled for a Missouri man accused of stopping an Amtrak train in Nebraska.

Court records say pleas of not guilty were entered Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Lincoln for Taylor Wilson, of St. Charles, Missouri. He’s charged with attempting to disable a train and attempting to interfere with an engineer or conductor. His trial is set to begin April 16.

Authorities say the charges stem from an Oct. 22 incident in which Wilson enabled an emergency brake as the eastbound California Zephyr train traveled through western Nebraska. The conductor and others subdued Wilson, then held him for sheriff’s deputies to arrive where the train stopped in Oxford, about 200 miles (322 kilometers) southwest of Omaha.

Authorities say Wilson was armed with a revolver.

Woman accused of bilking people she met on dating websites

Posted on February 14, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A woman has been charged in Nebraska with bilking thousands of dollars from people she met on dating websites, including more than $279,000 from one Omaha victim.

Douglas County Jail records say 38-year-old Julie Cahlaway was taken into custody Tuesday and is charged with two counts of theft by deception. Court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for her.

Investigators say she preyed on the sympathy of the Omaha man, spinning a tale of medical and legal problems that led to her obtaining more than $279,000 from him.

TECH SCOOP: Weather not the only thing stalling Olympic Games

Posted on February 14, 2018February 14, 2018

With the eyes of the entire world on Pyeongchang, South Korea, nothing

Drew Purviance, Eagle Technology Solutions

makes for a better target for hackers and malicious attack groups.

The Olympic Committee has reported it has had several machines succumb to a new malware referred to as “Olympic Destroyer.” With the 2014 Sochi Olympics making about $53 million in revenue, the Olympics are a huge target for ransomware attacks. Money though isn’t always the motive, though. In this case, it appears the attackers just want to disrupt the games and show off their skills.

The Olympic Destroyer malware’s current goal is making devices totally unusable, achieving this by deleting files critical to allowing the operating system of the machines to run but, at the same time, using network devices to further its progression to other machines. This sophisticated malware is also stealing credentials from the machines it has infected. Olympic Destroyer contains two modules it uses to steal credentials — one of them steals the credentials from an internet browser and the other from the local machine’s administrator credentials.

You might have noticed on Feb. 9 that the official Winter Olympics’ website was down for the majority of the day — roughly 12 hours — which left attendees unable to print tickets to events. The malware was able to take down the website with the malicious attack, and it also brought down several television feeds. In January, researchers for various companies reported a Russian hacking group had been sending phishing emails with malicious attachments to South Korean organizations as well as groups that work with the Olympics.

Russia’s foreign ministry has denied any allegations and has said “no evidence would be presented to the world.” So far, investigators of the attacks have made no claims as to who has initiated this attack on the Winter Olympic Games.

At a time when the world is supposed to come together for the love of sports, there are still people out there with malicious intentions fixating on poisoning any happiness this world can get.

If you are concerned about Ransomware in your organization, contact ETS about employee training and ways to help educate your staff and have the necessary “safety nets” in place in the unfortunate event you experience a compromise

Grand Island man pleads not guilty to murder charge

Posted on February 14, 2018

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — An August trial has been scheduled for a Grand Island resident accused of fatally shooting another man on New Year’s Day.

24-year-old Herbey Portillo Jr. pleaded not guilty Tuesday to first-degree murder and a weapons charge. His trial is set to begin Aug. 6.

Police arrested Portillo on Jan. 2 after finding him hiding in a Grand Island garage. He’s accused of killing 19-year-old Trevor Sok. Police found Sok injured around 3:45 a.m. Jan. 1 at a Grand Island home. He later died at a hospital.

Nebraska trial scheduled in Christmas pot presents case

Posted on February 14, 2018

YORK, Neb. (AP) — A trial on drug charges has been scheduled for a California couple who have said the marijuana they are accused of hauling through Nebraska was intended for Christmas gifts.

Court records say 70-year-old Barbara Jiron, of Clearlake Oaks, California, pleaded not guilty Monday to four felony charges, including two for pot possession. Her husband, 80-year-old Patrick Jiron, also has pleaded not guilty. Their trial is set to begin May 22 in York.

Authorities have said that when the Jirons were arrested Dec. 19 along Interstate 80, they said they didn’t know it was illegal to transport marijuana through Nebraska. They told authorities the 60 pounds (27 kilograms) of pot was intended as presents for relatives in Vermont and Massachusetts.