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Month: March 2019

Sandbags added to levee that protects Nebraska nuke plant

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BROWNVILLE, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska utility is adding sandbags to the levee that protects its nuclear power plant along the swollen Missouri River.

Nebraska Public Power District spokesman Mark Becker told the Omaha World-Herald on Thursday that if the river hits the level of 45.5 feet (13.9 meters) projected by the National Weather Services this weekend, the plant would have to be shut down.

At 43.5 feet (13.3 meters) workers will start barricading internal doorways and take other precautions. During the historic summer flooding in 2011, Cooper sandbagged and barricaded the doorways but kept functioning.

Becker says the district will get power through its own facilities or through a power-sharing network if Cooper’s power generation must halt.

The plant sits near Brownville about 59 miles (95.5 kilometers) south of Omaha.

Nebraska property tax package could include income tax cut

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers are starting to shape a property tax package that could include an income tax cut as well as a tobacco tax increase and a sales tax imposed candy and soft drinks.

Members of the Revenue Committee floated the ideas Thursday during an executive session. The plan would provide more than $509 million in its first year to reduce the amount home- and landowners have to pay in property taxes.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, the committee’s chairwoman, says the income tax cut could help build enough support to pass the measure. Property tax measures have stalled over the last several years.

The package could include an increase in tobacco taxes. It also might eliminate sales tax exemptions for zoos, soft drinks and candy.

NPPD: Power restoration efforts limited due to weather conditions

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Due to the combination of blizzard and flood conditions, and accessibility of many roadways across the state, Nebraska Public Power District’s response to power outages will be limited.

Crews are currently limited in responding to outages due to blizzard conditions in the western Panhandle of the state while the eastern half of the state crews are dealing with closed roadways due to flooding conditions. Restoration efforts will continue but under the current conditions will be difficult for crews to reach many areas in a timely manner, and those customers affected should remain patient. Please do not venture into standing or rushing water for your safety.

Also, due to flooding and evacuation conditions, NPPD’s call center has been temporarily relocated with focused support on outage restoration. If you have an NPPD power outage, please utilize NPPD’s mobile application or automated telephone system (877-ASK-NPPD or 877-275-6773) to record your NPPD power outage. For all other billing and payment needs, please utilize NPPD’s ‘My Account’ on-line services at www.nppd.com for the next few days to accommodate support of power outages.

Berneice “Ann” (Ellis) Musil

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Berneice “Ann” (Ellis) Musil, 73, of North Platte, passed away on March 8, 2019 at Bryan Medical Center West in Lincoln, Nebraska.  She was born on August 6, 1945 to Wesley and Louise (McDowell) Ellis at Stratton, Nebraska.

She graduated from McCook High School and later went on to McCook Beauty Academy, becoming a beautician and instructor.

Ann was employed at Wal-Mart and worked at the Goodwill Store before becoming the manager for South Oaks Manor of North Platte, NE.

Survivors include her children, Angela Kelley, Rob Musil and Kris (Stacy) Musil; grandchildren, Kelsey Kester, Kit Kester, Michaela Nothnagel, Camille Musil, Wyatt Musil, Bailey Musil and Jessica Newman; great-grandchildren, Avery Kester, Henry Nothnagel, Liam Nothnagel, and Remy Newman; her brothers, Ron Ellis and Dennis Ellis; great-nieces, Jenny Howell and Ronna Ellis; great-nephew, Justin Ellis; and other relatives.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Wesley and Louis Ellis; grandparents, Arthur and Lena McDowell and Alvin and Margaret Ann (Nelson) Ellis.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte with the Rev. Dr. Douglas A. Delp officiating.  Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook, Nebraska.  The casket will be closed.  Friends may come to sign Ann’s memorial book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in care of arrangements.

Jean H. Odbert

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Jean Odbert, 88, of Overland Park, Kansas, formerly of North Platte, peacefully passed away at home on March 12, 2019 at Overland Park, Kansas.  Jean was born on March 8, 1931 to Harry J. Hameloth and Emma E. Harold Hameloth in Grand Island, Nebraska.  She grew up on their farm and graduated from Grand Island Senior High School in 1948.

She worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, where she met and later married Richard Gordon Odbert of Lone Pine, Nebraska on July 29, 1966.  She later attended beauty school but found her interest in law enforcement.  Jean was among some of the first deputized women in the State of Nebraska, and was a deputy sheriff in Grand Island, Nebraska.

The family relocated to North Platte, Nebraska in 1972 opening Odbert’s Chocolate Shop, and there she also began working for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.  Here she dutifully served the people of Lincoln County for a full career, retiring as office manager.  In post-retirement she later worked for a receptionist for Midlands Family Practice.

She is survived by her three sons, Michael (Patricia) Spencer of Carroll, Iowa, Darryn Odbert and Donald Jochum of Overland Park, Kansas, and Richard B. (Kati) Odbert of Columbus, Nebraska; and one sister-in-law, Jean Hameloth of St. Paul, Nebraska; six grandchildren: Jeff Spencer, Amber Podraza, Andrea (fiance Derek Barrett) Odbert, Emmie (Josh) Whitmore, Gracie Odbert, and Chloe Odbert; as well as five great grandchildren, Brenden, Aiden, and Caylen Podraza, Chloe Spencer and Henry Richard Whitmore.

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard G. (Dick), parents, and two brothers, Gordon and Harold Hameloth.

Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 18, 2019 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with Pastor Dennis Leitner officiating.  Burial will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, NE.  Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.  Visitation with family receiving friends will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in care of arrangements.

Keyona Lee Nolda

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Keyona Lee Nolda, 45, of North Platte passed away March 12, 2019 at Great Plains Health.

Memorials are suggested to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com

Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses with Terence Ristov officiating.  Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Oklahoma man sentenced to 15-25 years in Nebraska stabbing

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – An Oklahoma man has been given 15 to 25 years in prison for paying his sister $200 and meth to cut off his wife’s hair and scar her face in a 2016 Nebraska stabbing.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Eddy Stabler was sentenced Wednesday for the attack on Jacinda Stabler.

Deputy Lancaster County Public Defender Shawn Elliott had argued for probation. He says Eddy Stabler’s sister, Athea Stabler, was more responsible because she carried out the attack.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Chris Reid alleged that Eddy Stabler was culpable because he’d planned the attack a month before.

Athea Stabler pleaded guilty to assault. An arrest affidavit says Athea Stabler told police that her brother was upset about a pending divorce. She’ll be sentenced in April and faces up to 20 years

Grand Island police say officer fatally wounded attacker

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GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Grand Island police say an officer fatally wounded a person who’d used a knife to attack the officer.

The shooting occurred around 9 p.m. Wednesday. A department news release says the officer had been at the address on North St. Paul Road earlier in the evening. The release says the officer fired when the male suspect attacked and injured the officer. The suspect was taken to a Grand Island hospital and pronounced dead later.

The officer was taken to the hospital for treatment of knife wounds that are not believed to be life-threatening.

The names of those involved and other information about what led to the violent confrontation have not been released.

Nebraska Republican Party names new executive director

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Republican Party has named a new executive director.

The party announced Wednesday that Ryan Hamilton has taken the job. Hamilton is a veteran of local and statewide races and most recently worked as the vice president of j3 Strategies, a Nevada-based consulting firm. He is a graduate of Catholic University of America.

Hamilton replaces Kenny Zoeller, who took a job as Nebraska’s chief government performance officer in the administration of Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Nebraska GOP Chairman Dan Welch says Hamilton’s experience and energy will help the party.

Nebraska bill targets human trafficking of adults, minors

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers are considering another effort to clamp down on human trafficking by increasing and in some cases eliminating the statute of limitations for the crime.

A bill presented Wednesday to the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee would increase the statute of limitations for labor or sex trafficking of an adult and abolish it if the victim was a minor.

The bill by Sen. Julie Slama, of Peru, won support from the Nebraska attorney general’s office and advocates for women.

Meghan Malik of the Women’s Fund of Omaha says survivors don’t always report the crime right away out of fear that their traffickers might retaliate. Many are traumatized.

The Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys Association cautions that eliminating a statute of limitations for one crime opens the door to doing so for others.

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