September 2018 – Page 10 – North Platte Post Archive

Ernest ‘Ernie’ Lehmkuhler

Posted on September 13, 2018

Ernest ‘Ernie’ Lehmkuhler, 81, formerly of North Platte, died at his home in Dodge City, Kansas, on Monday, September 10, 2018, after an extended illness.

Ernie was born July 21, 1937, at Arnold, Nebraska, to Ernest and J. Pauline (Vian) Lehmkuhler. He grew up on the family farm at Stapleton, Nebraska, and attended Banner School then graduated in 1956 from Baker Rural High School in Stapleton.

In 1957 Ernie was united in marriage to Ardis Shively at the First Presbyterian Church in Stapleton and on Friday, September 7^th of this year, they had celebrated 61 years of marriage.

Ernie joined the Army Reserves in 1956 and received an honorable discharge in ’63. He was employed by the City of North Platte Municipal Light and Water where he worked as a truck driver and later inventory clerk. Ernie retired in 2002 after working 46 years for the City of North Platte.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in North Platte and Dodge City. He was a member of Platte Valley Lodge #32 AF & AM for 51 years and served as Master in 1979. Ernie also served as Grand Tiler for the State of Nebraska Grand Masonic Lodge in 1986, was a member of Tehama Shrine and the North Platte Shrine Club, and was a volunteer fireman in North Platte for many years.

Ernie’s hobbies included yard work, photography, woodworking and metal design, leaving behind many treasured gifts. He also enjoyed attending events, camping and traveling the U.S. with family, friends and especially his grandkids. Ernie was a great person who enjoyed doing things for others.

He is survived by his wife, Ardis, and son, Paul (Elaine) Lehmkuhler, all of Dodge City, Kansas; daughter, Lauretta (L.W. ‘John’, Jr.) Vian, of Moravian Falls, North Carolina; grandchildren, Jennifer (Ryan) Jones and Ryan (Katie) Lehmkuhler, DDS, of Dodge City, Kansas, and Heather (Steve) Maly, Michael (Ashley) Clark and Samuel (Hannah) Clark, all of Lincoln, Nebraska; great-grandchildren, Finley, Jack and Alexis Maly and Reagan Jones; brother, Virgil (Karen) Lehmkuhler; sister, Charlene (Dwayne) Berger; sister-in-law, Barbara Lehmkuhler; and other family.

Ernie was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Pauline; and brother, David.

Cremation was chosen. Memorial Service will be 10 a.m. Friday, September 14, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Douglas A. Delp officiating. Inurnment with Masonic Rites will follow in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Shrine Hospitals for Children or the First United Methodist Church.

Sutherland woman accused of stealing from Legion Baseball club

Posted on September 13, 2018September 13, 2018

A 44-year-old Sutherland woman is facing theft charges after authorities say she stole from the local Legion Baseball club.

According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, investigators received information in early August of a possible embezzlement case involving the Hershland American Legion Post 279 Baseball League.

It was reported that the organization was missing a significant amount of money.

Investigators contacted a local Forensic Accountant and it was determined that around $38,000 was unaccounted for over the last two years.

The investigation revealed that Robin Hiatt was solely responsible for the finances of the organization and investigator’s attempts to speak with her about discrepancies were ignored, according to LCSO.

On September 12, with the assistance of the Keith County Sheriff’s Office, an arrest warrant was executed on Hiatt for felony theft by unlawful taking.

Hiatt was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Officials say the investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending.

Authorities say Gordon teen killed in Sheridan County crash

Posted on September 12, 2018

GORDON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 15-year-old boy died after losing control of the pickup truck he was driving in the northern Nebraska Panhandle.

The accident occurred about 5:30 p.m. Saturday on a gravel road about a mile northeast of Gordon. Sheridan County Attorney Jamian Simmons says Eli Hunter was killed when the pickup went out of control and rolled. An unnamed juvenile passenger with him was treated later for minor injuries.

Simmons says the teen was driving under a school permit.

The Gordon-Rushville school district has canceled Friday classes so staffers and student can attend funeral services. Hunter lived in Gordon and was a freshman on the football team.

Ex-Nebraska player scheduled for trial in Iowa

Posted on September 12, 2018

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A former University of Nebraska football player is scheduled to go on trial next week on charges that he cashed fraudulent checks at casinos in western Iowa.

Pottawattamie County court records say 45-year-old Reggie Baul has pleaded not guilty to one count of theft, 15 counts of forgery and one of ongoing criminal conduct. He’s accused of cashing the checks from April into July at the Ameristar and Horseshoe casinos in Council Bluffs.

His trial is set to start Tuesday.

Baul joined the Husker football team as a receiver in 1993 and played through two national championship seasons.

Baul has served jail time in Nebraska for drug and other crimes since.

Omaha police release name of wounded officer

Posted on September 12, 2018September 12, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police have released the name of an officer who was shot during a traffic stop.

Police identified the officer as 42-year-old Ken Fortune, who’s been on the Omaha force for nearly 11 years.

Deputy Chief Scott Gray says the shooting happened about 4 p.m. Tuesday in northeast Omaha near Miller Park. Fortune was among three officers conducting the traffic stop when a passenger in the vehicle fled on foot, shooting at officers. Officers returned fired, wounding the passenger.

Police do not believe Fortune’s or the passenger’s wounds are life-threatening. They were taken to Nebraska Medical Center.

Police have not identified the passenger or the driver, who was arrested.

Bellevue man pleads no contest in south Omaha shooting death

Posted on September 12, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Bellevue man has pleaded no contest to manslaughter and a weapons count in the south Omaha shooting death of his friend.

32-year-old Matthew Arnold entered the plea Tuesday in a deal with prosecutors.

Police say an argument and name-calling led to the December shooting of 32-year-old Matthew Johnson.

Arnold will face up to 70 years in prison when he’s sentenced in November.

Senate hopeful Raybould seeks USDA records on Fischer

Posted on September 12, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Jane Raybould is requesting correspondence and any records of financial assistance between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a Nebraska ranch co-owned by Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer.

Raybould submitted the Freedom of Information Act request Tuesday as part of her ongoing criticism of Fischer, a first-term incumbent in a GOP-dominated state.

Raybould has attacked Fischer’s campaign donations and personal finances, noting that her net worth has increased substantially while in office. Fischer, who ranches with her husband, has previously said she values her integrity and doesn’t appreciate the attacks by a campaign desperate for attention.

The request seeks to uncover whether Fischer, her husband or their ranch received various forms of USDA assistance.

Officials say man serving life sentence dies in prison

Posted on September 12, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 74-year-old man serving a life term has died in a Lincoln prison.

State prison officials say Elijah Jones died just after 4 p.m. Monday at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln.

Officials have not said what caused Jones’ death, but acknowledged that Jones was being treated for a long-term medical condition.

Nebraska law requires a grand jury investigation anytime someone dies in state custody.

Jones had been in the prison system since 1983, when he was convicted of first-degree murder for the 1979 shooting death of Elijah Kelly in an Omaha club.

Nebraska woman on life support to allow organ donation

Posted on September 12, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska woman who was critically injured after a deer crashed through her car’s windshield remains on life support to allow for the donation of her organs.

Sara Steiner, 35, was taken to Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy after the Friday crash, The Omaha World-Herald reported .

Kara Cordell of Nebraska Organ Recovery declined to comment on Sara Steiner’s case specifically, but said it can take several days after an accident before a donor’s organs can be recovered. Organs are sometimes injured in an accident, but can heal while a donor remains on a ventilator, she said.

The organ donation is just one example of Steiner’s generosity, said Tammy Trahan, her mother.

Trahan said her daughter is also known for being outgoing and having a bubbly personality.

“She just had zest,” her mother said.

The accident occurred Friday morning while Steiner was on her way to work, officials said. Another vehicle initially struck the deer, which sent the animal airborne and into Steiner’s car, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. The deer hit Steiner in the head and then exited through the vehicle’s rear window.

Sara Steiner had married Joseph Steiner in November. She was almost five months pregnant with a baby boy, who has died, Trahan said. She also has a five-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, according to her family.

Her mother-in-law, Julie Steiner, called her a “ray of sunshine.”

“She’s just got a wide open smile,” Julie Steiner said. “So much love to spread.”

Nebraska search-rescue team responding to hurricane threat

Posted on September 12, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska search-and-rescue team is joining the emergency forces responding to Hurricane Florence as it heads toward the Eastern Seaboard.

More than three dozen members of Nebraska Task Force 1 left Tuesday morning for Raleigh, North Carolina. The deployed members include two K-9 search units.

The task force is composed of firefighters from Lincoln, Omaha and other departments, as well as civilian members: doctors, structural engineers and rigging specialists. Members helped out last September when Hurricane Irma struck Florida and Hurricane Harvey hit Texas.