A smoker that overheated at a North Platte business caught fire on Wednesday morning.
Just after 8:00 a.m., employees at Kelley’s Custom Pack, 1600 East 8th Street, reported a fire.
North Platte Fire and Rescue responded and determined that an overheated smoker was the source of the fire.
Fire officials say the fire was quickly extinguished and no one was injured and the business did not appear to sustain any major damage.
City Fire Marshal George Lewis is investigating the fire.
KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a pedestrian who died after being struck by a car near Kearney in south-central Nebraska.
The accident occurred around 8 p.m. Tuesday, about a mile and a half west of Kearney. The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office says the car was westbound on a gravel road when it struck the man. He died later at a Kearney hospital. An autopsy has been ordered.
The sheriff’s office identified the pedestrian as 18-year-old Hunter Rheome, of Kearney, and the car driver as 46-year-old Gary Boyd, who lives in rural Kearney.
Lincoln County District Court records say 44-year-old Michelle Seidler entered her pleas Monday to two counts of theft by deception and one of criminal impersonation. Her next hearing is scheduled for March 11.
Police say she was named director of Kids Academy in August 2016. Police received reports of theft in April this year.
Prosecutors have charged Bailey Boswell with first-degree murder and have said in a Saline County filing that they intended to seek the death penalty for her. In August her attorney filed the legal challenge, saying the state’s sentencing procedure in death penalty cases is unconstitutional.
Judge Vicky Johnson said in a ruling issued Tuesday that Boswell’s challenge was premature, because Boswell has not yet been convicted nor has her case been deemed eligible for the death penalty.
Prosecutors say Boswell and Aubrey Trail strangled Sydney Loofe and Boswell helped Trail cut up Loofe’s body and stuff the remains into trash bags. The remains were found Dec. 4 in Clay County, weeks after Loofe was reported missing.
KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a pedestrian died at a hospital after being struck by a car near Kearney in south-central Nebraska.
The accident occurred around 8 p.m. Tuesday, about a mile and a half west of Kearney. The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office says the car was westbound on a gravel road when it struck the man. He died later at a Kearney hospital. An autopsy has been ordered.
The names of those involved haven’t been released.
Saline County Court records say 41-year-old Matthew Hoffman, of Dorchester, was given two years in jail Tuesday and fined $2,000. The judge credited Hoffman with 13 days already served.
Hoffman had pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor sexual assault without consent. Prosecutors lowered the charges from felonies in return for Hoffman’s pleas.
Law enforcement accounts that led to Hoffman’s arrest have been sealed from public view.
Hoffman resigned his Crete High School position in February.
As travelers hit the road over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Nebraska State Troopers will be out in force to help keep Nebraska roadways safe. The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) is also urging drivers to be prepared for potential winter weather that may arrive in the latter part of the weekend.
“Thanksgiving brings some of the busiest travel days of the year,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Our troopers are prepared not only to enforce Nebraska’s traffic safety laws, but also to help motorists who need assistance.”
Troopers and dispatchers will be working throughout the holiday weekend from border to border in Nebraska. Any motorists who need assistance can call the NSP Highway Helpline at *55 from any cell phone. The public can also use *55 to get a direct connection to NSP dispatch to report impaired or reckless drivers.
Nationwide, AAA is projecting 48.5 million people will travel by car over the Thanksgiving weekend, the highest travel volume since 2005. With the potential for rain and snow in some parts of Nebraska this weekend, travelers should pay close attention to local forecasts and also check the weather and road conditions before their return trip.
Nebraska 511, Nebraska’s Advanced Traveler Information System, is the best way to stay up to date on travel conditions throughout the state. The system is available at all times via phone by dialing 511, online at www.511.nebraska.gov, or Nebraska’s 511 smartphone app.
“Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends,” said Bolduc. “With law enforcement and the public working together, we can make sure everyone arrives at their destination safely and all the seats at the table are filled.”
For those traveling outside Nebraska, most other states maintain a system similar to Nebraska 511, also available via phone by dialing 511 when present in that state.
Roxann ‘Roxie’ Pickard, of North Platte, died Tuesday, November 20,
2018, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Lincoln. She was 63 years old.
Roxie was born April 11, 1955, to Bernard Leroy and Lois Joyce (Jacoby)
Lambert at North Platte. She graduated from Wilcox High School in 1973
then came to North Platte to work for W.C. Grants.
On September 18, 1974, Roxie was united in marriage to Jack Pickard in
Wilcox and they made their home in North Platte. A few years later the
couple welcomed their daughter, Sherri Renee. Along with W.C. Grants,
Roxie worked for the North Platte Public Schools as a teacher’s aide.
Roxie enjoyed traveling and seeing many places, fishing and camping. She
had a strong faith and was an active member of the First Baptist Church
where she was a leader for Women’s Bible Study and participated in the
quilting club.
She enjoyed crafting, sewing and painting. She also enjoyed making
gifts for all those around her, never keeping them for herself. Roxie
especially loved making Christmas ornaments for all her nieces, nephews,
great-nieces and great-nephews and at Christmas time she would hide the
pickle on the Christmas tree. Family was important to Roxie, she liked
cooking and hosting family gatherings. She was a great wife, loving
mother and a special person who will be greatly missed.
She leaves behind her husband, Jack, and daughter, Sherri, of North
Platte; her twin sister, Becky Lambert (Larry Duval), of Holdrege;
brother, Tom Lambert, of Wayne; as well as many nieces, nephews,
great-nieces, great-nephews and other family and her many special
friends including Konnie Wemple.
Roxie was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard and Lois Lambert;
sister and brother-in-law, Connie and Bill Silas; and her grandparents.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday, November 23, 2018, at the First
Baptist Church with Pastor Clint Walker officiating. Burial will follow
in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 1 to 7 p.m.
Wednesday 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, the family has established a memorial.
Odean Colonial Chapel – 302 South Sycamore – North Platte NE 69101 –
308-532-1450
The Blue Print Nebraska officials will be hosting a Town Hall meeting format for the citizens of North Platte on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018 at the Holiday Inn Express. A box lunch will be provided for the participants.
This is an exciting opportunity for you to participate in a public town hall that will influence the future of Nebraska – our future. The town hall is a continuation of Blueprint Nebraska’s effort to engage business leaders and the public. Working to create a new standard of sustainable economic prosperity for all Nebraskans, Blueprint Nebraska is a new, citizen-led, statewide economic development initiative that seeks to establish a comprehensive and pro-active plan to stimulate the state’s economic growth, competitiveness and prosperity, while building on Nebraska’s numerous strengths.
On November 27, Lance Fritz, CEO of Union Pacific Corporation, and Owen Palm, CEO of 21st Century Holdings, will join Jim Smith, Executive Director of Blueprint Nebraska, for a public discussion in North Platte. We also ask that you extend the invitation to friends, colleagues and others.
The town hall will be held in North Platte from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. CT at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites at 300 Holiday Frontage Rd., North Platte, NE 69101. Attendance is free, open to the public, and does not require pre-registration. Media is invited and will be present.
Wauneta Thelma Morton age 82, of North Platte passed away November 20, 2018.
Wauneta was born October 6, 1936 to Alva and Myrtle (Christensen) Morton in North Platte where she
graduated from high school in 1956. She received the Aksarben Good Neighbor Award in 1988. She was
a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
She is survived by a sister, Alpha Milburn.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church or the Lincoln County Chapter
of the American Red Cross. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Inurnment will take place at a later date. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
