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June Esther Gosnell

June Esther Gosnell, of North Platte, NE passed away on June 26, 2018.  She recently celebrated her 98th birthday at Linden Court and was so happy to visit with relatives and friends.

June was born in North Platte, NE.  Her parents were Arthur and Getty (Greeley) Stewart.   Her mother passed away when she was fourteen years old; being the oldest of the children she helped care for her four siblings.  She graduated from North Platte High school in 1938.  In 1937, she met Bernard Gosnell when he was working for her Dad on the Stewart family Ranch.  On November 15, 1939 June and Bernard and Bernard’s brother, Alfred and his wife to be Marie ran away to Oberlin, Kansas. They had a double wedding that resulted in many great memories.

June and Bernard were members of the Foursquare Church.  June spent many years teaching Sunday School, chasing kids and playing games.  They had two sons, Larry and Jerry and had many other children in and out of their home.  June was “Mom” “Aunt” and “Grandma” to many.  June loved having friends and family around her and would often call on the spur of the moment to say “I’m cooking today and why don’t you come and eat with us.”  She did this even in her 80s.  June and Bernard also loved to travel in their camper to many places visiting as they went along.

June is survived by her sons Larry Gosnell and Jerry (Linda) Gosnell all of North Platte.  Grandchildren Jerrilyn (Dave) Crankshaw, Shane Gosnell, Jessica Gosnell, all of North Platte, Lenn Gosnell, Littleton , CO. Sister, Donna Keithley, North Platte.  Great grandchildren Jestynne Crankshaw, Josh Crankshaw and Drew Brown, honorary grandchildren Sue, Joe, Merle and Chad Spurgin and many other nieces and nephews.

June is preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Getty Stewart, her husband, Bernard in 2011, siblings Richard (died at birth), Lawrence, Chester and Elnora Stewart, granddaughter Christina Brown, stepmother, Pearl Stewart and stepbrothers, Marion and Sherman Larsen.

Online condolences may be shared a www.carpentermemorial.com. Services will be 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 2, at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation with family receiving friends will be Sunday, July 1, from 3-5 p.m. at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in care of arrangements.

 

John Stetson Peckham Death Notice

John Stetson Peckham, 91, of Gothenburg, died June 27, 2018, at Gothenburg Health. Services will be a 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 2, at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg. Burial will follow at the Peckham Cemetery, Gothenburg. Visitation will be from 1-4 p.m., with the family present from 1-3 p.m., Sunday, July 1, at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg. Memorials are suggested to the Gothenburg Public Library, 1104 Lake Ave., Gothenburg, NE 69138. Online condolences may be shared at blasestrauser.com. Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Florence Jackson Death Notice

Florence Jackson, 90, of North Platte, died June 28, 2018, at Centennial Park Retirement Village. Services are pending at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore.

Sheila Dale (Strong) Lortz

Sheila Dale (Strong) Lortz, 66, of North Platte, died June 27, 2018, in Kearney.

Sheila was born on March 16, 1952, in Lincoln, to George Lloyd Strong Sr. and Betty Jane (Dearwester) Strong.

On June 26, 1969, she was united in marriage to Thomas LeRoy Lortz in Lincoln. To this union one daughter was born.

From 1971 to 1985 the family resided in Lincoln. She worked in the public school system and in private personal care for youth and elderly. From 1985 to 1992 they resided in Milford. From 1992 to 2008 and her husband moved back to Lincoln, where she continued working in the private care sector. From 2008-16 they retired to Sargent. Due to family health in 2016, they moved to Hershey. In 2017 until her death she lived in both Premier Estates and North Platte Care Facility.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas LeRoy Lortz in August 2016; parents, George Sr. and Betty Strong; sisters, Julia Marie and Georgia Lynn Strong; brother George Strong Jr.

Survivors include her daughter, Olene (Scott) Beck of Hershey; brother, Alan (Barbara) Strong of Sprague; grandson, Travis (fiancé, Rebecca Robinson) Beck of North Platte; several nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family and may be sent to 627 Vannoy Drive, Hershey, NE 68143

Services will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, at Dubas Funeral Home, Stromsburg. Burial will be at the Stromsburg Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to service at Dubas Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements.

Barbara J. O’Brien Death Notice

Barbara J. O’Brien, age 87 of North Platte, passed away Thursday June 28, 2018 at North Platte Care Center.  Arrangements are pending at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home.

Authority won’t disclose bidders for convention center name

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The group that operates the city-owned convention center and arena in Omaha is refusing to disclose what companies bid for the naming rights that were won by CHI Health.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority has told the newspaper that the authority isn’t subject to Nebraska public records laws.

The authority also says the information sought by the World-Herald’s public records request would fall under exemptions covering trade secrets even if the authority were required to follow the records laws.

CHI Health acquired the naming rights in a 20-year deal will cost CHI Health almost $24 million. The facility opened in 2003 as the Qwest Center and was renamed CenturyLink Center in 2011 after CenturyLink acquired Qwest.

The facility will be called CHI Health Center Omaha starting Sept. 1.

 

Officials say officer hurt in crash involving drunken driver

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a police officer was injured in a crash involving a drunken driver in northern Omaha.

The crash occurred around 3 a.m. Thursday. A police union tweet says the officer was treated and then released to recover at home.

It’s unclear whether the other driver was injured. The other driver’s and the officer’s names and other details haven’t been released.

The officer was in a sport utility vehicle cruiser.

Nebraska veterans court graduates first participants

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s first problem-solving court for military veterans has graduated its first four participants to complete the program.

The Douglas County Veterans Treatment Court held a ceremony Wednesday honoring the graduates and dismissing their felony charges. The graduates were facing prison sentences before entering the diversion program.

The court requires participants to adhere to a strict regimen of keeping a job, treating addiction, paying restitution and frequently meeting with the judge. It’s the first of its kind to be funded by Nebraska lawmakers.

Larry Hart is one of the graduates. He says his program included addiction recovery and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

District Judge Mark Ashford oversees the court. He says he’s glad Nebraska funded the court because PTSD and substance abuse are pervasive among veterans.

Nebraska judge rejects implicit bias video for man’s trial

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska judge has declined a request to play jurors a video on implicit bias at an upcoming Lincoln trial for a black man accused of sexually assaulting a white woman.

Lancaster County District Judge Robert Otte rejected a motion to show an 11-minute video for jurors to consider hidden biases they might bring into the courtroom.

Public Defender John Jorgensen had asked the court in May to consider playing the video. He says the jury-selection process can identify explicit bias but that implicit bias is more subtle.

Social scientists define implicit bias as unconscious personal attitudes people hold about race, gender, nationality and other characteristics.

Otte says jury instructions already warn jurors not to indulge speculation or allow sympathy or prejudice to influence them.

Neighbors sue to reverse approval of chicken feeding farm

SCHUYLER, Neb. (AP) – Neighbors who don’t want a chicken feeding operation in their eastern Nebraska community have sued the Colfax County Board of Commissioners for approving a permit.

The lawsuit was filed June 19 against the board, commissioners and the two men who sought the permit, Thomas and Josh Faltys (FAHL’-tiss).

The nine plaintiffs seek no damages but do want a judge to overturn the commissioners’ May 22 permit approval for a maximum 380,000-chicken feeding operation. The plaintiffs say among their allegations that the operation “will cause great and irreparable harm because it will severely diminish their property rights.”

The operation would be erected southeast of Clarkson. Josh Faltys and his brother, Clint, want to contract with the planned Costco poultry plant in Fremont.

The county attorney and Josh Faltys didn’t immediately return calls Thursday from The Associated Press.

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