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Month: February 2019

Patricia Ann McEntire

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Patricia Ann McEntire, age 75 of North Platte, passed away Sunday February 10, 2019 at her home surrounded by her loving family after a very recent diagnosis and battle with cancer.

Pat was born June 25, 1943 in Kearney, NE to Raymond and Lilly (Olson) Stubbs.  She attended school first in Kearney, then North Platte, graduating from North Platte High School with the class of 1962.  She married the love of her life, Arthur Ennis McEntire, on October 8, 1962, and they were blessed with four wonderful children.  Pat held many jobs through the years as an interior decorator, buying and selling antiques, she was the manager of Palmer Brother Monuments, and was most proud of her nursing career as an LPN at St. Mary’s Hospital, Great Plains Hospital and the American Red Cross.  She was a member of the Assembly of God Church where she helped her husband with ministry, music worship.  She had a wonderful sense of humor which she passed on to her children, and she will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Pat is survived by her daughters Lori (Patrick) Clinch, Pattie (Pat) Condon, and Misti (Michael Torres) McEntire all of North Platte; 14 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; special daughter and granddaughter Carolyn O’Brien and Bailey O’Brien; sister Jean Triplett of North Platte; brothers`-in-law Bill Olson and Rick McEntire both of North Platte; as well as numerous other family members and friends; not to mention her beloved dog Arfie.

She was preceded in death by her parents Raymond Stubbs and Lilly Stubbs-Johnson; stepfather Jason Johnson; husband Arthur in March of 2018; son Artie in August of 2016; 3 brothers and 2 sisters.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday February 14, 2019 at the Assembly of God Church with the Reverend Gary Goodwin officiating.  Burial will follow at the North Platte Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday February 13, 2019 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

 

Man charged after dozens of cattle deaths gets probation

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Eugene Wempen, Sr.
LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) – One of three family members charged with animal cruelty following the deaths of dozens of cattle on a Nebraska farm has been given probation.

Dawson County District Court records say 60-year-old Eugene Wempen Sr. was sentenced Monday to 30 months of probation and barred from owning, possessing or residing with any animals for 15 years. He’d pleaded no contest to a lone count of animal abandonment or cruelty resulting in death.

He also was sentenced to 91 days of jail and credited for one day served. The remaining 90 days can be waived if he follows his probation terms.

His wife, Diane Wempen, and their 34-year-old son, Eugene Wempen Jr., have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial in May.

Deputies reported finding at least 65 carcasses on the Wempen property near Overton, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) west of Lincoln. About 75 live cattle, along with llamas, donkeys, miniature ponies, horses, goats and sheep, were relocated.

Authorities ID man who died after going into grain bin

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UNADILLA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a man who died in southeast Nebraska’s Otoe County after climbing into a grain bin to clear a jammed auger.

The Otoe County Sheriff’s Office has identified him as 69-year-old Dennis Meyer, who lived in rural Nebraska City.

Rescue workers and medics were called to a farm northeast of Unadilla around 2:45 p.m. Saturday. The sheriff’s office says rescue workers cut into the bin to reach the man later identified as Meyer, but they were too late. He was declared dead at the site.

Autopsy results are pending.

Passenger dies in Nebraska Panhandle pickup crash

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LEWELLEN, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say a passenger was fatally injured when the pickup truck he was in crashed in the Nebraska Panhandle.

The crash occurred around 1:10 a.m. Saturday, about 2 miles (3 kilometers) south of Lewellen in Garden County. The Nebraska State Patrol says the pickup was headed west on a county road when it ran off the roadway into a ditch and rolled, ejecting the passenger.

He’s been identified as 48-year-old David Schwartz. He lived in Lewellen. The pickup driver has been identified as 40-year-old Molly Raymer, of Milliken, Colorado. It’s unclear whether she was injured. A patrol representative didn’t immediately return a message Tuesday from The Associated Press.

Official says man killed by falling tree 

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WEST POINT, Neb. (AP) – An official says a man was killed when a tree fell on him in northeast Nebraska’s Cuming County.

The accident occurred Saturday on a farm southwest of West Point. Cuming County Attorney Dan Bracht says 53-year-old Bernard “Bernie” Hunke was cutting trees when one fell on him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He lived in West Point.

Hunke was the veterans services officer and emergency manager for Cuming County.

Nebraska RB Washington faces charges tied to assault video

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California authorities have filed criminal charges against Nebraska running back Maurice Washington, who is suspected of possessing a video of his underage high school girlfriend being sexually assaulted by two other people and sending it to the girl less than a year ago.

Clarissa Hamilton, supervisor of the sexual assault unit in the Santa Clara County Attorney’s Office in San Jose, California, said Washington faces two charges: a felony count of possessing a video or photograph of a person under 18 who is engaging in or simulating sexual conduct and a misdemeanor count of posting a video or photograph of a person engaging in or simulating sexual conduct without consent, leading to the person suffering emotional distress.

Hamilton said Washington was not present during the 2016 assault. She said the assault case was adjudicated in juvenile court and those records are sealed.

Washington obtained a video of the assault and sent it to the girl on March 2, 2018, Hamilton said, and the girl or her family contacted police shortly thereafter.

The Nebraska athletic department said the Nebraska Attorney General’s office and university police notified athletic officials last fall that California authorities were interested in interviewing Washington.

“Details were not shared and there was no additional follow-up with the Nebraska Athletic Department,” the statement said. “Recently, we were made aware that charges may be filed against Maurice in California. We have not had a chance to review the charges, and will continue to monitor this ongoing legal process.”

John C. Ball, Washington’s attorney, said his 19-year-old client would cooperate with authorities.

“The narrative put forth today is that Mr. Washington used a video as a weapon to re-victimize his former high school girlfriend. That is not true,” Ball said. “Without a doubt, Mr. Washington had absolutely nothing to do with that sexual assault. The communications between these two young people are yet to be fully determined, and there are additional facts and circumstances that give context and perspective to this situation.”

Hamilton said she decided to file charges Dec. 17 and is now waiting for a judge to sign a warrant for Washington’s arrest. She said it typically takes two or three months for a warrant to be signed after charges of this type are filed. Once a warrant is signed, Washington would face extradition from Nebraska or he could return to California on his own and surrender to authorities.

Washington was a star at King’s Academy in Sunnyvale, California, before he transferred to another school in nearby San Jose following his sophomore year. He later attended high school in Texas.

Washington was considered a top player in Nebraska’s 2018 recruiting class, and he earned immediate playing time. He appeared in 11 games and started against Ohio State and Iowa. He finished with 455 yards rushing and 221 yards receiving. He also was Nebraska’s top kick return man.

Allen Henry Robey

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Allen Henry Robey was born January 21, 1954, in North Platte, NE to Jean and Shirley (Bruhn) Robey. He passed away February 6, 2019, in Oberlin, KS at the age of 65.

Allen graduated from North Platte High School. He then served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Allen worked at Rayes Grocery Store for over 30 years. He enjoyed riding motorcycles and was a people person.

Allen is survived by his brother, Terry Robey and wife Mary of Wichita, KS and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Condolences may be left at www.paulsfh.com

Beverly J. Middleton

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Beverly “Bev” J. Middleton, 86, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, died on February 7, 2019 at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg.  “Death took her body, but God took her soul.”

Bev was born on December 2, 1932 on the family farm near Home, Michigan, the daughter of Murl & Helen (Roepke) Swayze.  The family moved to Chicago when she was 3 years old; then they moved to Montana where she started elementary school.  They then moved to Wisconsin for a couple of years before moving to Stillwater, Minnesota.  Bev graduated from Stillwater High in 1953.  A year later, she married and to this union four children were born: Sandy, Bryan, Randy and Joy.  The marriage later ended in divorce.  While living in Minnesota, she worked for St. John’s Hospital as a private nurse before moving to Nebraska.  In 1973, she married Sumner Middleton, the love of her life.

She enjoyed cooking and baking, and then sharing these gifts with family and friends.  She also had a large garden which she gave away or canned.  Sumner and Bev built a home at Jeffery Lake soon after they were married and they lived there for the next 23 years.  After his passing, she continued to live there for a few years until moving to Gothenburg.

Bev was a member of the “Red Hats” and was a Calendar Girl with the Brady Beauties.  She enjoyed reading and was a member of the Library.  She loved helping people whenever she could.  She taught preschool Sunday School Classes at Church for many years.  She was a member of the Extension Club.  She spent many hours crocheting and made a crib size blanket for each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Bev was known for her sense of humor and the great love she had for her family.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Sumner, her parents, daughter Joy Kuhlman, son Randy Haugen, step-son, Dave Middleton, and brother, Gene.

Survivors include her family Sandy (Tom) Burnett, Bryan (Tracy) Haugen, Deb Middleton, Steve (Kathreine) Middleton, Cathy Russo; grandchildren Bob (Peggy) Bailey, Brenda Bailey, Tara Reinheart, Danielle Haugen, Matthew Haugen, Josh Haugen, Nick Sitorius, Jake Sitorius, Sonie Kuhlman, Ellie (Rob) Krysl, Ben (Amy) Middleton, Sam Middleton, mary (Blake) Streeter, Will Middleton, and Alysha Haugen; great-grandchildren Hanna, Loren, MaKinsey, Teagan, Trenton, Bailey, Dakotah, Summer, Ryder Haugen; Aspen, Jadyn, Nathan, Quinton, Kaitlyn, Natalie Sitorius; Miles, Maggie Streeter, and Leo Middleton; and her devoted dog, Princess.

Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg, Nebraska on Thursday, February 14, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.  Funeral services will be held at Blase-Stauser Memorial Chapel, 620 Tenth Street, Gothenburg, Nebraska on Friday, February 15, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.  Inurnment will be at a later date in the Peckham Cemetery in Gothenburg.

Memorials may be given to the Brady United Methodist Church, 301 N. Market Street, Brady, Nebraska 69123 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept 142, Memphis, TN  38148.

Nebraska senators postpone vote on bill to raise loan caps 

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska lawmakers have postponed a vote that would let personal loan companies charge a higher maximum interest rate after some senators objected to the proposal.

Senators moved past the bill Monday without advancing it through the second of three required votes. Some senators say it could force consumers to pay higher interest rates on installment loans.

The bill would allow lenders to charge interest of up to 29 percent per annum. Current law lets them charge up to 24 percent per annum on principal amounts up to $1,000 and 21 percent per annum on any remaining unpaid balance. It was requested by OneMain Financial, a loan company with Nebraska branches.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha, says he will work with to try to find a compromise.

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