April 2019 – North Platte Post Archive

Property tax reduction package headed to full Legislature

Posted on April 30, 2019

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that seeks to lower property taxes by raising Nebraska’s sales tax, eliminating sales tax exemptions and boosting state aid to K-12 schools is headed to the full Legislature for debate.

Members of the tax-focused Revenue Committee voted 6-0 on Tuesday to advance the bill, with two senators abstaining. Lawmakers could begin debate on the measure as early as next Tuesday.

The vote follows a drawn-out dispute among committee members over who should benefit most. Some rural lawmakers say it doesn’t do enough for farmers who have seen the largest property tax increases even though farm incomes have fallen in recent years.

It’s also certain to face opposition from Gov. Pete Ricketts, who opposes any bill that lowers one tax by raising another.

Nebraska moves toward age limit of 19 for e-cigarettes

Posted on April 30, 2019

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would set the minimum legal age to use electronic cigarettes at 19 years old has won first-round approval from Nebraska lawmakers.

Senators advanced the bill Tuesday on a 40-0 vote after rejecting an attempt to increase the minimum age to 21 years old.

The measure by Sen. Dan Quick, of Grand Island, seeks to address to a statewide epidemic of young people who are using vaping products in schools.

E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that turn liquid often containing nicotine into an inhalable vapor. They’re generally considered a less dangerous alternative to regular cigarettes, but health officials have warned nicotine is harmful to developing brains.

No Lincoln County businesses cited in recent alcohol inspections

Posted on April 30, 2019

During the evening hours of Friday, April 26, Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) conducted alcohol inspections in Lincoln County.

This project was supported in whole or part by grant #93.959 under the SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Region II Human Services, and the Nebraska DHHS Division of Behavioral Health.

In total, 15 businesses were inspected. None of the businesses sold alcohol to a minor for a 100% compliance rate. All of the businesses checked the minor’s ID. The businesses included liquor stores, convenience stores, restaurants, and bars in North Platte, Hershey, and Sutherland.

While conducting the inspections, investigators observed a vehicle with open alcohol containers inside, resulting in an arrest for driving under the influence and another citation for minor in possession.

NSP and other law enforcement agencies conduct alcohol inspections in an effort to keep alcohol out of the hands of youth.

Driver dies after rollover crash on I-80 in western Nebraska

Posted on April 30, 2019

KIMBALL, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say a driver was killed when she lost control of her sport utility vehicle and crashed on Interstate 80 in western Nebraska.

The crash occurred around 4:15 p.m. Sunday, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) west of Kimball. The Nebraska State Patrol says the westbound SUV went out of control and into the median. The patrol says the driver overcorrected and her SUV ended up rolling in the north ditch after crossing the westbound lanes.

The patrol says the driver and her adult male passenger were ejected, but a child restrained in the back seat didn’t appear to have been injured. The adult passenger was taken to a hospital.

The names of those involved haven’t been released.

Native American group opposes draft social studies standards

Posted on April 30, 2019

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Native American education advocates say Nebraska’s proposed social studies standards fall short of teaching a comprehensive history of Native Americans.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the newly formed Nebraska Indian Education Association is raising concerns about the statewide standards that were unveiled this month. The Nebraska Department of Education is currently seeking public input on the drafted education guidelines.

The group wants the standards to better disprove misconceptions and emphasize local tribes.

They say schools should teach about tribal sovereignty and Indian science and horticulture. They also want the state to teach about the centuries before European settlement when their civilization thrived.

Nebraska State Board of Education President John Witzel acknowledges that the proposed standards’ approach to Native American topics is “pretty general.” He says there’s time to make changes.

Former employee accused of setting fire at chicken operation

Posted on April 30, 2019

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — A former employee has been accused of starting a fire that killed around 20,000 chickens and destroyed a barn at a poultry operation in southeast Nebraska.

Johnson County Court records say 52-year-old Kimberly Bohling is charged with 10 felony counts, including arson and burglary. A phone listed for her in Tecumseh was not in service Tuesday. Her attorney didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press.

The records say Tecumseh Poultry had fired Bohling on Jan. 23 and that the first incident occurred Feb. 2 at the company site 3 miles (5 kilometers) north of Tecumseh. Someone turned on heaters and turned off fans at two poultry barns, imperiling the chickens.

Similar incidents occurred Feb. 23, March 30 and on April 5, the night one of the barns was set on fire.

Dorothy Louise Davis (1920 – 2019)

Posted on April 30, 2019

Dorothy Louise Davis, 99, of North Platte, passed away Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Peters, Missouri.

Born on March 26, 1920 to William A. and Maude (Miller) Campbell in North Platte, Nebraska, Dotty was the fifth of eight children. She met and fell in love with Jack L. Davis while living in Cheyenne, Wyoming where he was stationed with the United States Army. They married on March 7, 1938 in Kearney, Nebraska and were blessed with four daughters; Sandy, Sherry, Karen and Kathy.

Dotty was primarily a homemaker throughout her married life. During World War II, when the men were called to war, Dotty was one of the first ten women in North Platte to be hired by the Union Pacific to fill the men’s positions. She and the other women of the railroad were honored during North Platte’s 2011 Rail Fest and in the book “Powered Up” by Ann Milton. She was also one of the many women in North Platte who provided refreshments and hospitality at The Canteen to the soldiers traveling through. In order to provide a better life, Jack and Dotty moved their family to California in 1957 where they enjoyed the sunshine and loved maintaining their beautiful yard and growing flowers year-round. Although they lived several places over the course of their 63 years of marriage, North Platte was always Dotty’s true home, so upon retirement in 1978 they returned to North Platte to live out their golden years. They joined the 21 Dance Club and Dotty continued dancing weekly at the Senior Center until the age of 97. Dotty had a great sense of humor, she enjoyed reminiscing, story-telling, dancing, music, dressing up, flower gardening, paying cards and games, visiting with friends, her cats, and she loved her family more than life itself.

She is survived by many who loved her, including her daughters, Sheryl (Dennis) Desy of St. Louis, Missouri, Karen Stearns and Kathy Davis of North Platte; son-in-law, Buck Ripple of North Platte; 6 grandchildren, Michael (Carol) Ripple and Mark Ripple of North Platte, Pamela (Eric) Krause, Julie Oliver and Jennifer Desy of St. Louis, and Gregg (Lisel) Stearns of Lincoln, Nebraska; 10 great-grandchilren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; brother, Alvin Campbell of Springfield, Missouri; sister, Lela Aboe of Grants Pass, Oregon and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Dotty was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jack; daughter, Sandra Ripple; step-granddaughter, Theresa Vierya; son-in-law, Dave Stearns; and her sisters and brothers-in-law, Viola (George) Halsey, Evelyn (Ernest) Johnson, Helen (Earl) West, Kathryn (Howard) Everley, Betty 9Bill) Strauss; brother-in-law, Dean Aboe; and sister-in-law, Evelyn Campbell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, PAWS-itive Partners in North Platte, or the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.

Dotty is at peace now, God having taken her gently by the hand to end her terrible struggle with dementia and reunite her with loved ones that reached Heaven before her. She will be missed by all those who knew and loved her. The family wishes to thank her special care givers from Home Instead and her loving care givers at the Villages of Saint Peters Memory Care.

Cremation was chosen. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2019 at Adams & Swanson Chapel with Chaplain Gary Smith officiating. Inurnment will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska. Those wishing to do so, may sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, 2019 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home, 421 West 4th Street in North Platte, which is in charge of arrangements.

Wrong-way driver collision claims 2 lives near Milford

Posted on April 30, 2019

Two people are deceased following a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 near Milford.

The crash occurred just before 5:30 p.m. Monday evening on I-80 near mile marker 381. A Jeep Grand Cherokee was driving the wrong way in the westbound lanes when it came over a hill and struck a westbound Chevrolet Silverado. The Silverado then struck a westbound semi, disabling the semi.

The drivers of the Grand Cherokee and Silverado were both pronounced deceased on the scene. Those drivers were the sole occupants of those vehicles. The semi driver was not injured.

The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating the crash, with assistance from the Seward Police Department and the Seward County Sheriff’s Office. Names of those involved are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Californian man imprisoned for looting Nebraskans’ account

Posted on April 30, 2019

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A California man has been imprisoned for looting a bank account of three Nebraska residents.

Federal prosecutors say 60-year-old Robert Goldman, of Palm Desert, California, was sentenced Monday to 27 months in prison. He also was ordered to pay restitution of more than $221,000. U.S. District Court records say he’d pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

FBI investigators say Goldman fraudulently obtained the personal bank account information. The investigators say Goldman made about 180 unauthorized wire transfers from the bank account to Goldman’s credit card account between January 2016 and August 2017.

Hastings College JVs win twice against Knights

Posted on April 30, 2019

The North Platte Community College softball team lost a pair of games Monday against the Hastings College JVs, 15-0 and 9-1.

“It was a cold day for softball that’s for sure,” said North Platte Coach Janelle Higgins. “Mentally we struggled today, it got colder a lot faster than we were anticipating and didn’t adjust well.”

Early errors led to eight unearned runs in the first inning of Game 1 and North Platte was unable to get back on track.

“We fought and never gave up but we gave them too much too quick and couldn’t recover,” Higgins said.

North Platte goes to 14-26 on the season. The Knights close out the regular season Tuesday, weather permitting, with two games at McCook for the annual Purple Out games for epilepsy awareness.

“At the end of the day this team continues to push and get better — it might not show it in the win-loss columns — but they do and we know they are capable of greatness they just have to believe it,” Higgins said.

On Saturday, North Platte will go to Columbus to begin the Region IX Division II tournament against Central Community College. That is a best-of-three series with the winner advancing to the Region IX championship series the following weekend at Beatrice against Southeast Community College.

GAME 1 – Hastings College JV, 15, North Platte CC 0: The junior Broncos came out and scored eight runs in the top of the first and put the game away in five innings, added two runs in the second inning, one in the fourth and four in the fifth inning.

North Platte was out-hit 10-2 and the Knights committed four errors leading to 10 unearned runs.

Mikayla Gibson (West Valley, Utah) had a third inning double and Maddie Liddle had a fourth-inning single.

Ashylnn Krueger (Littleton, Colo.) started in the pitching circle and went 2.2 innings. She allowed one earned run and five hits, one walk and three strikeouts. Hailey Wilkins (Tyler, Texas) went the final 2.1 innings allowing four earned runs on five hits, four walks and one strikeout.

GAME 2 – Hastings College JV 9, North Platte CC 1: While the Knights kept Hastings College JV off the scoreboard in the first inning of this game, the Broncos scored two in the second and scored in five straight innings.

After Hastings took a 2-0 lead in the second, North Platte got on the scoreboard for the first time on the day in the bottom of the inning. Megan Hernandez-Bellew (Broomfield, Colo.) led off with a bunt single, went to second on a bunt from Maddie Liddle and scored on a Bronco error.

The Hastings JV’s added three runs in the third, one in the fourth, two more in the fifth and a run in the sixth.

Emily Marsden (Papillion) went six innings for the Knights, allowed 12 hits, six earned runs, two walks and she struck out five.

NPCC had five hits in the game – all singles, from Mikayla Gibson, Willow Chitty (North Platte), Marsden, Hernandez-Bellew, and Kayleigh Bucio (Rialto, Calif.).