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NP St Pats: Banquet Winners 2018-19

The following student-athletes were recognized as award winners at the annual St. Patrick High School All Sports Banquet, Monday at the

St. Patrick Parish Hall.

 

Football

Most Improved – Dolan Branch

The “Intensity” Award – Talan McGill

Most Valuable Teammate – Nick Niesen

 

Lifter of the Year – Justin Schroll

 

Volleyball

 

Hustle: Brooke McClellen

Most Improved: Kinsey Skillstad

Most Valuable Teammate:Kaleigh Kummer

Female Lifter: Calli Groseth

 

Wrestling

 

Outstanding Wrestler- Talan McGill

Outstanding Underclassman – Landon Klasna

The Pinner – Hunter Deeds

The Takedown- Talan McGill

 

Golf

Msgr. L.A. Portrey Outstanding Golfer: Jacob Swift

 

Girls Basketball

 

Most Improved – Calli Groseth

Hustle Award – Abbi Allberry

Most Valuable Teammate – Kaleigh Kummer

Rebounder – Jocylin Sellers

 

Girls and Boys Track & Field

Outstanding Female Track Athlete – Too close to call!

Outstanding Male Track Athlete – Tyler Ferguson

 

Outstanding Cross Country

Female Athlete: Kelsie Folchert

Male Athlete: Logan O’Malley

 

Boys Basketball

 

MVT (Most Valuable Teammate): Nick Niesen

Most Improved:Tyler Ferguson

Hustle Award: James Roberts

Rebounder: Nick Niesen

 

Special Recognitions:

 

Dan Steffes Memorial Sportsmanship Awards: Gracie Rippen & Patrick O’Neill

Sheriff seeks dismissal from lawsuit over anti-protest laws

By BLAKE NICHOLSON Associated Press

A western South Dakota sheriff is seeking to be dismissed from a lawsuit challenging new state laws that target disruptive demonstrations by anti-oil pipeline activists.

Attorney Rebeca L. Mann said Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom must enforce state laws but isn’t responsible for defending them.

“Pennington County is not a proper party to defend the constitutionality of state statues nor should it be burdened with the expense of defending statutes it has no power to change,” Mann argued in court documents filed last week.

Pennington County is one of eight South Dakota counties along the route of TransCanada Corp.’s planned Keystone XL pipeline to move Canadian crude through Montana and South Dakota to Nebraska, where it would connect with lines to Gulf Coast refineries. The $8 billion project has the backing of President Donald Trump but is being fought in the courts by opponents.

Activists and American Indian tribes also plan on-the-ground protests against construction. Such protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline in North Dakota in 2016 and 2017 resulted in 761 arrests and cost the state and Morton County $38 million. Texas-based pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners also is seeking to recover millions of dollars in protest-related damages from Greenpeace, an effort the environmental group is fighting.

In March, South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem and GOP leaders passed legislation allowing officials to pursue criminal or civil penalties from demonstrators who engage in “riot boosting,” which is defined in part as encouraging violence during a riot. Noem has said the law is meant to address problems caused by “out-of-state rioters funded by out-of-state interests.”

The American Civil Liberties Union and tribes contend the law stifles free speech, and the ACLU is suing Noem, Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg and Thom in federal court on behalf of activists.

Thom is named as a defendant because he’s sheriff in the county in which the activists are working, according to Courtney Bowie, legal director for the ACLU of South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming. Plaintiffs include the Rapid City-based NDN Collective nonprofit, which advocates for indigenous peoples and climate change awareness.

Mann argued, “there is no jurisdictional basis for suing Sheriff Thom to challenge the constitutionality of state statutes.” She also argued more broadly that since activists have pledged peaceful protests against Keystone XL, there is no “realistic fear of prosecution.” Attorneys for Noem and Ravnsborg made a similar argument earlier this month.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys have not yet responded to Thom’s argument, but Bowie in a statement to The Associated Press said: “our complaint alleges a chilling of free speech, which is itself an injury that our clients have suffered and continue to suffer.”

“They do not have to wait for prosecution to bring a claim and, with the way the laws are written, they are subject to later civil or criminal liability for their organizing work,” Bowie said.

The law states that people who solicit or pay someone to break the law or be arrested would be subject to paying three times the amount that would compensate for the detriment caused. The ACLU maintains it fails to adequately describe the speech or conduct that could subject protesters and organizations to penalties.

Nebraska panel close to finishing its property tax proposal

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska legislative committee is nearly finished with its proposal to lower property taxes by raising other taxes and boosting state aid to K-12 public schools.

Members of the Revenue Committee continued debate Monday on their package, but it’s not clear whether every member will support it. Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, the committee’s chairwoman, says she hopes to vote on it Tuesday.

The package would reduce property taxes by an average of 20 percent, although the exact amount would vary throughout Nebraska.

The bill would pay for it by eliminating $98.7 million in sales tax exemptions on 31 goods and services, including junk food, pop and bottled water, dry cleaning, hair care and dating and escort services. It also would impose a half-cent sales tax increase and raise cigarette taxes.

NP officers serving search warrant hear gunshots, 3 arrested

North Platte Police serve a search warrant in the 2600 block of West 21st Street on Monday

A quiet Monday morning in North Platte quickly became extremely active in the northwest part of the city.

At around 10:00 a.m., on April 29, officers were assisting the Department of Health and Human Services in the service of a search warrant in the 2600 block of West 21st Street. Police say the purpose of the search warrant was to remove two children from the residence, a one-month-old and a three-year-old, due to substance abuse and prior child abuse issues.

According to police, DHHS had already made contact with the parents, 28-year-old Taylor Hensley and 30-year-old Ashly Hensley, but they had retreated inside and refused to open the door.

Officers set up a perimeter around the residence and requested a search warrant.

As they waited, at around 11:30 a.m., officers heard four or five gunshots approximately 50 yards away from the house they were surrounding.

They quickly located 37-year-old Dana Foster in the front yard of his residence. Foster was taken into custody and police seized a handgun.

An investigation revealed that Foster and a female had gotten into an argument inside the residence and Foster had exited the residence and fired at their vehicle to prevent the female from leaving.

The victim, according to police, had minor injuries and Foster was arrested and jailed on charges of terroristic threats, domestic assault, use of a weapon to commit a felony and prohibited discharge of a firearm.

Soon thereafter, the search warrant was served on the initial residence, but no one was inside. A neighbor reported that before officers arrived, the Hensleys had left out the back door, with the children.

At 2:13 p.m. officers were able to locate the Hensleys and the children in the 2200 block of West 16th Street.

The children were placed in DHHS custody.  The Hensleys were jailed and charged with violating a child custody order, a class four felony.

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Timothy James McQuade (1949-2019)

Timothy James McQuade, 70 of North Platte, Nebraska passed away with his family by his side on April 11, 2019.

His larger than life persona, eccentric personality of charm and feistiness will not be forgotten.

He was born March 19, 1949 in Valentine Nebraska to Thomas and Betty (Auhl) McQuade.

Tim attended Valentine school until his family moved to North Platte his junior year.

He graduated North Platte High school in 1967. March 27, 1971 he married Janet Connery of Cody, Nebraska. They had two children Travis and Trea. He worked as a sheet metal worker/ water service welder for Union Pacific railroad until 1991.

Tim enjoyed hunting coyotes, wild turkey, bobcats, and deer. More of his hobbies included arrowhead hunting, shooting archery, ice fishing and bowfishing. He had many master angler awards and multiple state records.

A teller of tales, enjoyed outlaw country music, loved wildlife shows, Dr. Pepper, eggnog and coconut cream pie.

Tim was fascinated with petrified wood, fossils, artifacts, antiques, and native American life. He collected guns and favored pre 1964 Winchester shotguns and rifles.  Tim loved to take photographs and home videos on his adventures. He entertained friends and family playing his harmonica, banjo, jews harp, and spoons.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years Jan McQuade of North Platte. His sister, Yvonne Connery (Dan) of Mitchell, Nebraska. A brother-in-law Gary Connery (Kay) of North Platte. A sister-in-law Mary McQuade of North Platte. His children, Travis McQuade and Trea (McQuade) Stone and her husband Josh of Kearney, Nebraska. He has 5 grandchildren; Madison Oates (Brandon) Sierra McQuade (Tyler Perry), Austin, Kaden and Jayna.  Two great granddaughters Laikynn and Hartley. Many nieces and nephews.  He was extremely proud of his grandchildren and enjoyed telling them stories from the “good ole days” He didn’t get along with technology easily. His grandchildren got a kick out of his old fashioned ways and still laugh about the time he tried to use the tv remote to make a phone call.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters (Judy McQuade) Schaffert (Larry) and Bernadette (McQuade) Bales (Carl “Buzz”) of North Platte. A brother, Tom McQuade of North Platte. His lifelong best friend Gary Galloway of Valentine, Nebraska and numerous family and friends.

Online condolences may be shared at awww.carpentermemorial.com.  A memorial has been established in his memory. Those wishing to sign his memorial book may do so from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday May 2nd and May 3rd at Carpenter Memorial Chapel.  Cremation was chosen.  Services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in care of arrangements.

 

2 arrested after pursuit, manhunt in Wayne County

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) arrested two people following a pursuit and four-hour manhunt Friday afternoon in Wayne County.

At approximately 10:20 a.m. Friday, April 26, a trooper was dispatched to the area near 579th Avenue and 847th Road south of Wayne to a report of a possible vehicle fire. Once the trooper found the vehicle, a Chevrolet Silverado, the vehicle then fled.

The truck was determined to be stolen. After a short pursuit, the vehicle drove into a field and troopers and law enforcement partners set up a perimeter. The NSP Aviation Support Division and Police Service Dog Division were called in to assist in the search. Officers with Nebraska Game and Parks and the Cuming County Sheriff’s Office also assisted.

After nearly four hours, both suspects were found in separate locations about a mile apart, close to where the pursuit began. Both were arrested for possession of stolen property, flight to avoid arrest, and possession of methamphetamine.

Rodney King, 49, of Centerville, South Dakota, and Connie Dominguez, 45, of Wayne, Nebraska, were lodged in Thurston County Jail.

Man convicted in parking lot slaying of former girlfriend

Marcus Wheeler
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man who shot to death his former girlfriend in a parking lot just north of Omaha has been found guilty.

Jurors convicted 20-year-old Marcus Wheeler on Monday of second-degree murder. Prosecutors say he killed 21-year-old Kay Nelson on April 18 last year.

Prosecutors say Wheeler shot Nelson as she sat in the driver’s seat of her vehicle and her 2-year-old son sat in a car seat in the back. Police say he had been fighting in the parking lot with a brother of Nelson’s new boyfriend before grabbing a gun and shooting her.

Nebraska National Guard pursues $62M plan to rebuild camp

ASHLAND, Neb. (AP) – The Nebraska National Guard plans to rebuild its Camp Ashland training site by fortifying its buildings and raising them on stilts after recent flooding caused extensive damage to the facility.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Guard is pursuing a more than $62 million project to protect the 1,184-acre (479-hectare) facility on the Platte River from future flooding.

The camp has been working to repair damage from floodwaters that filled classrooms and barracks after the river knocked down a levee last month.

The plans call for putting seven new buildings on stilt pilings at least 7 feet (2 meters) off the ground. The Guard also wants to extend a concrete bulkhead that runs inside the river’s levee.

Officials requested funding from the National Guard Bureau in Virginia. The money would come from federal tax dollars if approved.

NP man charged with DUI after driving through yards, into vehicles

Joseph Brosius
A 53-year-old North Platte man has been charged with Driving Under the Influence after he drove through yards and struck vehicles and other objects.

At around 7:19 p.m., on April 27, officers responded to the 1500 block of West 3rd Street after receiving reports that a vehicle was driving through yards and hitting things.

Officers made contact with the driver, Joseph Brosious, who was seated in the vehicle after it struck a tree.

Police say Brosius admitted to officers that he was drunk and showed “significant signs of being drunk.”

Brosius was unable to perform a standard field sobriety test, but a breathalyzer revealed his blood alcohol level was .332.

After complaining of pain, Brosius was taken to Great Plains Health.

Due to his level of intoxication and injuries, police say Brosius was cited for Driving Under the Influence of Liquor and left at the hospital for treatment.

No injuries to others were reported, however, there was significant damage done to vehicle and other property.

Here is a video submitted by Tiffany Hernandez that shows the incident taking place.

Robert Eugene Williss (1929-2019)

Robert Eugene Williss, 89 of North Platte passed away April 26, 2019 at his home.

Bob was born in Gage County, Nebraska on September 6, 1929, the oldest of 5 children, to James and Sally (Cripe) Williss.

He was united in marriage to Vivian Bernice Roschewski on July 3, 1951.  To this union two children were born, Mickey and Vickie.

Bob worked in Beatrice, NE in the police force for many years.  He later moved to North Platte and worked for Nebraska Machinery and was later employed at the Union Pacific Railroad where he then retired.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Bernice, and son, Mickey; and 2 sisters, May and Marjorie.

Survivors include his daughter, Vickie (Bruce) Brinker of North Platte; grandchildren, Mike & Staci Cart of Kansas City, Tanille (Thomas) Keefer, and Cyrus Tilford; step-grandchildren, James (Shauna) Brinker of Englewood, CO, Stacy (Reece) Brinker of Tulsa, OK; a brother, Russell (Jean) Williss of Lincoln; a sister, Shirley (Dick) Jirovec of Crete, NE; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the North Platte Red Cross and the North Platte Senior Center Friday Nights Card Players.  Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Dr. Douglas Delp officiating.  Burial will follow at the North Platte Cemetery.  Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family receiving friends 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

 

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