June 2018 – North Platte Post Archive

Omaha man charged with Lincoln bank robbery in federal court

Posted on June 30, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Federal prosecutors have charged an Omaha man with robbing a Lincoln bank last week.

30-year-old Kevin Brown appeared before a judge in Omaha on Monday.

Prosecutors say Brown and another person went into the Great Western Bank branch in southeast Lincoln on June 22, acted as though they had a gun and demanded bank employees to lie on the floor.

Officials say the pair stole nearly $85,000.

No customers were inside at the time of the robbery, and no one was hurt.

Prosecutors say Brown has no prior record but characterized the bank robbery as a violent crime.

Drone Flight School returning to Metro Community College

Posted on June 30, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Metropolitan Community College will again offer Drone Flight School as part of its non-credit lineup.

The series is designed for people seeking to learn how to fly drones for leisure or business while preparing students for the FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Exam.

The series opens with “Intro to Drone Pilot Training” on July 14 at the college’s Fort Omaha Campus. Students will be introduced to rules and regulations needed to fly drones and will finish the course by navigating drones through an indoor obstacle course.

The series continues with FAA drone pilot certification training on July 21 and July 28. The 14-hour training class gives students in-depth instruction on FAA laws before they take a certification exam.

MCC is also adding another Drone Flight School course beginning in August.

5 charged in child care payments fraud scheme

Posted on June 30, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The owners or directors of six child care centers in Lincoln and Omaha have been accused of stealing more than $350,000 by defrauding a federal program.

Federal prosecutors say five people were charged with theft. Two of them also were charged with money laundering.

They were accused of submitting false claims for reimbursement for dates and times they’d provided care for qualifying children. The children qualified for federal help under the Child Care and Development Fund Program. To qualify they have to be under 13 or up to 19 if physically or mentally incapable of caring for themselves, plus live with family members who qualify for the program financially and are working or attending job training or school.

Omaha mayor wants fewer hours, days of fireworks

Posted on June 30, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha mayor wants to shorten the hours and days that fireworks can be set off in Nebraska’s largest city.

Mayor Jean Stothert has proposed an ordinance that would allow only five days of fireworks around the Fourth of July instead of 10. They couldn’t be used until noon each day from June 30 through July 3 but could be used starting at 8 a.m. on July 4.

The proposal also would bar fireworks from being set off until noon each day from Dec. 28 through Dec. 31. The current daytime start is 8 a.m. The season would run from noon Dec. 28 through 1 a.m. on Jan. 1.

Vendors still couldn’t sell fireworks during the New Year’s season.

The proposal goes before the City Council next month and so wouldn’t affect next week’s Independence Day celebrations.

President approves disaster declaration for Nebraska

Posted on June 30, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — President Donald Trump has approved a disaster declaration for Nebraska to help with recovery efforts from an April blizzard.

The White House issued the announcement Friday. The declaration allows for federal funding to supplement state and local recovery efforts in areas affected by storms and straight-line winds from April 13-18.

The areas affected include 31 counties mostly in central to east-central Nebraska from the state’s southern to its northern borders.

Federal funding will be available on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work, the repair or replacement of facilities and for hazard mitigation measures.

LPN students honored with pinning ceremony

Posted on June 30, 2018

Fourteen Licensed Practical Nursing students were recognized during a pinning ceremony Friday at North Platte Community College.

Pictured back row, left to right are: Brett Niemeth, area nursing support coordinator; Students Emily Gottschal, Broken Bow; RaeLynn Foster, Sarah Griesfeller and Shalee Fillmer, North Platte; Randii Byrd, Mullen; Beth Helmink, McCook; Jennifer Gaston, Trenton and Lana Albrecht-Watson, nurse educator/clinical coordinator.

Pictured front row, left to right are: Dr. Kathy Harrison, director of nursing/nurse educator; Students Nichole Powers, Broken Bow; Crashell Foster and Kelsey Hanson, North Platte; Amber Wehrbein, Valentine; Jasmyn James, McCook and Nicole Kissinger, nurse educator. Not pictured were: Sasha Taylor, Ainsworth and Jean Kelley, Blair.

Authorities: Man electrocuted after power arcs to truck boom

Posted on June 29, 2018

PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. (AP) — Eastern Nebraska authorities say a man has died after power arced from an overhead line into a truck boom.

Medics were sent to the Omaha Fish & Wildlife Club around 4:50 p.m. Thursday. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says the man was operating the truck with the raised boom when the accident occurred. The sheriff’s office says witnesses reported that the boom didn’t touch the line, but electricity arced into it and down through the truck into the worker. He was pronounced dead later at an Omaha hospital.

He was identified as 31-year-old Justin Mason, who lived in Bellevue.

The club sits on the south side of the Platte River on the north end of Cass County.

University of Nebraska may see mid-year tuition hike

Posted on June 29, 2018June 29, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska may implement a mid-year tuition increase should lawmakers withhold a portion of the school’s state appropriation, according to the university’s president.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved raising tuition by 3.2 percent for the upcoming school year on Thursday. Regents also gave university President Hank Bounds the power to hike tuition further for the second semester, if necessary.

“I hope we don’t have to,” Bounds said. “We will only implement it if there is a need to make another midyear rescission. We need that flexibility because we are out of quick options.”

In-state students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln can expect to see the average course load cost rise by $211 next school year under the overall system’s tuition increase. Non-resident students at the Lincoln school can expect to pay $664 more for total annual tuition cost.

Bounds could decide to increase tuition rates again ahead of the spring semester if state revenue projections decline.

The University of Nebraska has been forced to absorb midyear losses over the past two years after state allocation was held back. The university system lost $13 million in the 2016-17 school year and $11.4 million in 2017-18.

Bounds formed teams several years ago to find efficiencies and trim waste, including a hiring freeze, travel restrictions and other discretionary spending cuts. Bounds said he’d rather bring in more tuition revenue to offset losses instead of further endangering the university’s fiscal position.

Lincoln Regent Tim Clare said he trusts Bounds to keep tuition affordable. “I know he has students’ best interests at heart and will do the right thing,” he said.

Omaha Regent Howard Hawks said Bounds considering raising tuition in the middle of the year sends a message to residents and lawmakers that the university system only has one way to respond to a midyear recession.

Florence Evangeline Jackson

Posted on June 29, 2018

Florence Evangeline Jackson, age 91, of North Platte, NE, passed away at Centennial Park Retirement Village on Thursday, June 28, 2018.

Florence was born January 2, 1927, to Tolmie and Ruth Ann (Bratten) Forseberg on the family farm in Wild Horse Valley, north of Brady, NE. She attended Wild Horse Valley School through the 8th grade then went to Brady Public School. Florence moved to North Platte in her late teen years and went to work at Woolworth’s and the Pawnee Hotel before taking a job at J.M. McDonald’s for a number of years until she stopped working in the early ’70’s.

When Florence was a teenager, she met a young man, Arvid Virgil Jackson, at the Legion Hall in North Platte. They had their first date on March 29, 1944, then Arvid left for the Navy three months later. On August 15, 1945, while on leave in San Francisco, Arvid proposed to Florence and gave her a diamond engagement ring then left the next day to continue his service. He returned home after his discharge in 1946 and the two were united in marriage on July 14, 1946, at the Svea Dal Church in Wild Horse Valley. They lived in Omaha for a short time before returning to North Platte in 1948. Florence and Arvid celebrated nearly 72 years of marriage and had four sons.

Florence had a strong faith in God. She taught Sunday School and was involved in missionary groups for many years. She was a member of the North Platte Berean Church and was active in a Christian Women’s Club for over 30 years.

She leaves behind her husband, Arvid, of North Platte; sons, Dave (Nancy) Jackson, of Phillipsburg, KS, and Jim (Sally) Jackson and Tim (Karen) Jackson, of North Platte; seven grandchildren, David, Jr., Tiffany, Jordana, Chris, Rachel, Alicia and Tyler; 10 great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other family.

Florence was preceded in death by her son, Tommy Jackson; parents, Tolmie and Ruth Forseberg; and sister, Gladine Hudoff.

Funeral Service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 3, 2018, at the North Platte Berean Church with Pastor John Stone officiating. Burial will follow in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to Marinatha Bible Camp or the American Cancer Society.

Wanda Calhoun Tuenge

Posted on June 29, 2018

Wanda Calhoun Tuenge, 95, of North Platte, NE, passed away Saturday, June 9, 2018, at Linden Court in North Platte.

Wanda was born February 15, 1923, to James Manley Calhoun, Jr. and Edna Anna (Van Eman) Calhoun on her parents’ dairy farm north of North Platte. She graduated from North Platte Senior High School in 1939 and attended business school in Chillicothe, MO. She then returned to North Platte and worked as a bookkeeper for First National Bank.

On December 31, 1941, Wanda was united in marriage to Cecil Herbert Tuenge at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Platte. In the fall of 1942 Cecil joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed with the U.S. Marines in the South Pacific Theatre during WWII. Wanda worked for the war effort in San Diego, California, then returned to her job at First National Bank in North Platte.

Wanda and Cecil started their family in 1945 and began farming and ranching. They moved from the ranch into North Platte in 1995 but remained active in ranching until 2004. Wanda and Cecil enjoyed going to dances throughout Nebraska with their close friends. Most of all, they enjoyed their many international travels, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Wanda was an active member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church throughout her life and was also a member of Eastern Star and Job’s Daughters.

She is survived by her children: identical twins Rodger (Fran) Tuenge, of Haines, AK, and Rod (Linda) Tuenge of Lafayette, CO, Lisa Tuenge, of College Station, TX, and Karen Tuenge, of Madison, WI; grandchildren: Tamara (Michael) Murphy, Erica (Andrew) McClure, Jason Tuenge, Peter (Erika) Tuenge, Marty (Ivy) Davis, Jacob Tuenge, Kallie (Kyle) Shepherd and Zachary Wiese; six great-grandchildren: Hunter and Isabel Shepherd, Jack and Luke Tuenge, and Owen and Graham McClure; three step-grandchildren and six step great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews and other family members.

Wanda was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil, and their daughter, Carol; her parents, James M. and Edna Calhoun; and brothers, Bruce and James Lawrence Calhoun.

Cremation was chosen. Memorial service will be 9 a.m. Saturday, July 7, 2018, at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church with Pastor Steve Berke officiating. Inurnment will follow in the North Platte Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed online at odeanchapel.com or at the church. Memorials are suggested to Great Plains Hospice or the church. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.