Carol Lyn Ristov, 72, of North Platte, died June 28, 2018, at Great Plains Health. Services are pending at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore.
Month: July 2018
Gloria Jeanne Ferguson Adkins
Gloria Jeanne Ferguson Adkins, 88, died June 21, 2018, in Kona, Hawaii.
She was born on Nov. 29, 1929, in Buda, the daughter of Lawrence T. and Rose I. Ferguson. Her father was with the Union Pacific Railroad and the family soon moved to North Platte, where she would live the first part of her life, attending school there and graduating from North Platte High School in 1947.
She was active in the First Baptist Church there for many years, leading the youth group with her husband. She was a Blue Bird/Campfire Girl and Cub Scout leader. She actively participated in North Platte Community Theater, including a stint as Hand-Car Hannah for the Nebraskaland Days celebrations.
Gloria married James Morris Adkins Sr. on Oct. 5, 1947, on his return from the Pacific theater where he served in the U.S. Navy. The couple lived in North Platte, where Jim was both circulation and advertising director of the Telegraph Bulletin. They also lived in Idaho, where he worked for a newspaper chain prior to moving to Cozad, where he worked as well prior to returning to North Platte.
In 1971 the couple moved with their three youngest children to Parker, Colorado, living in both Castle Rock and Parker since that time, when they went into partnership to own and operate the Parker Press and the Douglas County News, Elbert County Press and Elbert County News and the Aurora/Southeast Suburban Press newspapers with Jerry Brock and daughter, Jeanne, who later joined the partnership.
All who knew Gloria were blessed by the beautiful voice God had bestowed on her. Winning state competitions in high school, she continued in her lifetime to use that gift in choirs, singing at events and nursing homes and singing karaoke. The evening before leaving for a Hawaiian Gospel Music cruise she was singing karaoke in Castle Rock with friends. The room would quiet as the music flowed through her and enveloped her audience. A highlight of her life was being selected to sing in the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, best-known as the home of the Grand Ole Opry.
Besides her music, many residents in Nebraska and Douglas County, Colorado, knew her through her weekly column — Coffee With Gloria — which she wrote for many years focused on her children, their lives and her expanding number of grandchildren. She was active in the Castle Rock Senior Center, an election judge and caucus participant and a member of the Denver First Church of the Nazarene, although she attended New Hope Presbyterian in Castle Rock.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her infant daughter, Jeri Maree; her husband, Jim; and her brother, Charles.
She is survived by her seven children, Jeanne of Castle Rock, Jim Jr. (Ann) of Parker, Janice (Riaz) Vaziralli of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Jeff (Marsha) of Centennial, John (Lori) of Coulee Dam, Washington, Jodie (Mike) Anderson of Castle Rock, and Jacquie (Bob) Murphy, Mobile, Alabama; daughter-in-law, Michelle, Parker; 20 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; a great-great granddaughter; her brothers, Donald Ferguson of Palm Springs, California, Lawrence T. Jr. (Pat) of North Platte; sister-in-law, Barbara Ferguson of Greenwood Village; many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Denver Rescue Mission.
Services will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 3, at New Hope Presbyterian Church, Castle Rock. The family welcomes those who wish to share the service to a lunch following the service in the church hall.
Nebraska flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Annapolis tragedy
LINCOLN – Today, Governor Pete Ricketts, in accordance with a proclamation from President Donald J. Trump, announced that all U.S. and Nebraska flags are to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims of the tragedy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Flags will be flown at half-staff until sunset on July 3, 2018. The President’s proclamation can be found here.
Nebraska to continue providing aging resource centers
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraskans with disabilities and those who are at least 60 years old can continue to receive services through a state program made permanent by Gov. Pete Ricketts.
The Aging and Disability Resource Centers were part of a 2016 pilot program that was overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services. They’re designed to help people with disabilities gain access to a variety of long-term care services while also working with families and caretakers. The decision to make them permanent was announced Monday.
The centers include counselors who provide unbiased information that is relevant to each person’s specific needs and preferences.
More information is available at https://nebraska.networkofcare.org/aging/ or by calling 1-844-843-6364. Offices are located in Lincoln, Omaha, Beatrice, Norfolk, Hastings, Kearney and Scottsbluff.
High winds cause damage to Nebraska sports complex
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — High winds from a weekend thunderstorm have caused extensive damage to a Lincoln sports complex.
The winds on Sunday burst the bubble-shaped dome that covered a playing field and tennis courts at the Abbott Sports Complex. They also bent fences around the complex’s soccer fields and peeled off part of the roof from the building that houses basketball and volleyball courts.
The Lincoln Airport reported winds gusting to 49 mph at 1 a.m. Sunday. Northern parts of Lancaster County were included in a severe thunderstorm warning at the time.
Dan Lesoing of the Lincoln Sports Foundation says the damage to the dome is unrepairable. He says the damage to the roof of the separate building can be repaired in two or three weeks.
3 nominees sent to Gov. Ricketts for Nebraska judgeship
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Three finalists have been sent to Gov. Pete Ricketts for an open seat on the district court judicial bench in eastern Nebraska.
The nominees are Denise J. Kracl, of Schuyler; Christina M. Marroquin, of Seward; and Jason D. Mielak, of Columbus. The governor’s office said Monday it received the names from the Judicial Nominating District, 5th Judicial District.
The 5th Judicial District consists of Boone, Butler, Colfax, Hamilton, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Polk, Saunders, Seward and York counties.
The judge who is chosen will be located in either Wahoo or Schuyler. The vacancy was created with the retirement of Judge Mary C. Gilbride.
Troopers seize 52 pounds of marijuana in traffic stop near Aurora
JULY 2, 2018 (GRAND ISLAND, NEB.) — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) have arrested two men and seized 52 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop on Interstate 80.
The stop occurred at approximately 1:45 p.m. Sunday near Aurora, when a trooper observed an eastbound 2018 Jeep speeding near mile marker 329. During the traffic stop, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity and conducted a search of the vehicle.
The search revealed marijuana inside two large boxes in the rear of the vehicle. Additional packages of marijuana were found hidden in the tire compartment. The total weight of the marijuana seized was 52 pounds. The estimated street value is $156,000.
The driver, Fahiem Faiyaz, 23, and passenger, Ameer Ghafoori, 21, both of California, were arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver, and no Drug Tax stamp. Both men were lodged in Hamilton County Jail.
Bourque named director of Great Plains Health Care Foundation
After an extensive candidate search, the Great Plains Health Care Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed Kathy Bourque as the new executive director.
“We are excited to have someone of Kathy’s caliber carry on the work of the Foundation and grow it throughout the region we serve,” said Leland Poppe, Great Plains Health Care Foundation chairman.
The mission of the Great Plains Health Care Foundation is to inspire philanthropy that will enhance the quality and availability of healthcare services for the patients and communities served
by Great Plains Health. In 2017, Foundation donors made direct contributions to patient care totaling more than $550,000 among 23 specific projects. In addition, Foundation donors contributed $8.5 million toward the expansion of the Great Plains Health emergency department, a project that is currently under construction.
“Since the Foundation’s formation in 1992, donors have dedicated a tremendous amount of time and dollars advancing the health of our community,” said Mel McNea, Great Plains Health chief executive officer. “Kathy’s leadership skills and passion for serving the patients of our region will be an excellent fit as the Foundation Board continues its mission.”
Prior to accepting the position of Foundation executive director, Bourque served as
Great Plains Health’s senior director of patient experience. She is a former Great Plains Health Board member and chairman and a former Great Plains Health Care Foundation Board member.
Bourque holds a bachelor’s degree from Chadron State College in interdisciplinary studies and a master’s degree in management and leadership from Western Governors University.
“The Foundation is where my passion lies because it is about making the patient experience better,” said Bourque. “My husband and I have been supporters of the Foundation for more than 10 years. We realize the difference that GPHealth makes in our region every single day.”
Bourque will begin in her new role on July 16. She follows Libby Lashley, who stepped down from the position to become a business owner in North Platte.
Barbara Joyce O’Brien Notice of Service Times
Barbara Joyce O’Brien, age 87 of North Platte passed away Thursday June 28, 2018 at North Platte Care Center.
Memorials are suggested to the North Platte Care Center and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Cremation was chosen and a memorial service will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday July 10, 2018 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home with Pastor Gary Smith officiating. Inurnment will follow at the North Platte Cemetery. Those wishing to do so may sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday July 9, 2018 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
Police: Mental health investigations in Lincoln increasing
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln police are struggling to respond to more mental health calls as mental health services are at or near capacity, according to police officials.
Lincoln police Chief Jeff Bliemeister told The Lincoln Journal Star that officers responded to more than 3,500 mental health calls last year. He said the department has seen a nearly 10 percent increase through May when compared with the same period last year.
While mental health calls make up about 2.5 percent of calls, they tend to take longer, said Officer Luke Bonkiewicz.
“With mental health calls, there’s much more gray area,” he said. “There’s also the challenge of taking a long-term view of assisting mental health consumers.”
Calls often involve creating a rapport with an individual, calling treatment facilities and considering placement options, Bonkiewicz said. Officers want to help everyone, but resources sometimes aren’t available, he said.
Bliemeister recently told the City Council at a budget meeting that an officer had to transport a person going through a mental health crisis nearly 100 miles west to the nearest hospital that had an opening. Bryan West’s 66-bed mental health unit was full, as were the 16 beds at the Crisis Center.
“While these levels of demand for mental health services are not always overwhelmed, they are increasingly at or near the capacity,” he said.
Bonkiewicz said the Lincoln Police Department has spent the past few decades improving their response to mental health calls. Officers are trained how to respond to mental health calls and are encouraged to perform a threat assessment and de-escalate a situation, he said. Officers are also encouraged to work with community mental health resources.