As Nebraskans work to recover from March flooding, they should be on guard for suspicious activity involving potential fraud, scam artists and other criminals who prey on disaster survivors.
The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urge survivors to be aware of the following examples of common post-disaster fraud activities to help avoid becoming a victim:
Fraudulent phone calls or home visits
Individuals may falsely claim to be from FEMA or another government agency, but do not have proper photo identification. To guard against this, know that:
Survivors will be asked to provide their Social Security number and banking information only when registering for FEMA assistance. They should never give this information to contractors.
Ask to see the inspector’s identification badge. A FEMA or U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) shirt or jacket is not proof of someone’s affiliation with the government. Federal employees and contractors carry official photo identification.
FEMA inspectors will already have an applicants’ nine-digit FEMA registration number when they arrive for inspection.
FEMA inspectors will never ask for banking or other personal information.
If in doubt, survivors should not give out any information.
Fake offers of federal aid
A phone or in-person solicitor may promise to speed up the insurance, disaster assistance or building-permit process for a fee. Other scam artists promise a disaster grant and ask for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.
Federal workers do not solicit or accept money.
FEMA and SBA staffers will never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or for assisting individuals in filling out applications.
Fraudulent building contractors
Disasters also attract fraudulent contractors who offer to begin work immediately and request a cash advance payment. When hiring a contractor:
Residents should only use licensed local contractors who have reliable references. Get written estimates from at least three contractors that include the cost of labor and materials.
Residents should insist that contractors carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage.
Dishonest pleas for donations
Dishonest solicitors may play on the emotions of disaster survivors. These solicitations may come by phone, email, letter or face-to-face.
Residents should verify legitimate solicitations by asking for the charity’s exact name, street address, phone number and website address, then phone the organization directly and confirm that the person asking for funds is an employee or volunteer.
Residents should not pay donations with cash.
Residents should request a receipt with the organization’s name, street address and phone number.
Investigators have arrested an Exeter man on numerous charges following a collaborative investigation with the Nebraska Brand Committee, Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office, and the Nebraska State Patrol.
Aaron Ogren, 30, of Exeter, was arrested by Fillmore County Sheriff’s Deputies Tuesday afternoon without incident. Earlier Tuesday, an arrest warrant was issued for Ogren on the charges of one count of theft by unlawful taking, two counts of prohibited sale of livestock, and 26 counts of cruelty to animals.
Last week, investigators found more than 200 deceased cattle and one deceased horse on Ogren’s property near Exeter. Additionally, more than 200 living cattle were removed from the property after having been found in questionable to poor condition. Those cattle were transported to a nearby ranch and have since received care.
Ogren was lodged in Fillmore County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in Fillmore County Court Wednesday morning. The investigation remains ongoing.
Tom Gorman retired from Mid-Plains Community College in 2011 as the area dean of economic development and training.
Tom Gorman was “Mr. Mid-Plains.”
It was a fitting title for a man who dedicated the majority of his life to his community and to the promotion of higher education.
Gorman died Sunday at the age of 76. Although his physical presence may be gone from North Platte, his memory will live on through the many people he empowered and the lives he touched during his tenure at Mid-Plains Community College.
“Tom earned the nickname ‘Mr. Mid-Plains’ because ever since he first came on board as a business teacher, and through all the different positions and titles he held, he served the students, clients and the college,” said Marilyn McGahan, former college vice president. “I can’t recall a single incident when he said, ‘No, I can’t help with that.’ If he determined there was a need, he found a way to provide for that need.”
One of the college’s early pioneers
McGahan began working with Gorman shortly after he was hired in 1970. At that time, the college was housed in North Platte’s old 1913 Post Office building, currently the Prairie Arts Center, and it was known as the North Platte Junior College.
McGahan was an adjunct instructor who taught one typing class, while Gorman was hired to teach typing, accounting and other business courses. He also replaced Jim Ihrig as director of the fledgling non-credit adult education classes – targeting a new market of students that community colleges were just beginning to tap into.
“I honestly didn’t know what adult education was, but I told people in the town that I was leaving [Minden] that I would probably find out what it was,” Gorman said to a reporter years later. “Little did I know that I would become involved with an exciting, somewhat new type of education and that it would become my passion.”
Through Gorman’s leadership, the continuing education offerings expanded into a dynamic, thriving program. From 1969 to 1978, they grew from 10 classes with an enrollment of 189 students to 180 classes with an enrollment of more than 2,600 students.
As Gorman watched enrollments increase year after year, he began to realize that he was riding a wave that showed no signs of cresting.
“I remember thinking that when our total number of students who had taken classes reached 500 that we’d pretty much educated the whole town on anything they could ever be interested it, but it just kept snowballing,” he would recall later. “In the early 1970s, I made the comment that it would be great if everyone was required to have continuing education. At that time, there were very few careers that required it, but today nearly every type of job requires some type of annual continuing education.”
Dedicated to serving others
Gorman was promoted to dean of continuing education in 1975, and eventually, his department was offering classes seven days a week – a hectic schedule that often kept him working around the clock.
“He made time to do what needed to be done whenever it needed to be done – night after night, weekend after weekend, Saturday or Sunday – it didn’t matter,” said McGahan. “If that was when a certain activity was needed, then he made sure he covered it.”
Crystal Welch, Business and Community Education coordinator, was present for that experience.
“Tom gave every ounce of himself to the college and forever changed the department I’ve been a part of for 15-plus years,” Welch said. “When I had the privilege of being his assistant, we served about 10,000 students a year through our program. There was not one seminar, workshop or class he did not have a part of.”
Gorman didn’t let the stress get the best of him, however. Calling him “one of the most influential people” in her life, Welch said Gorman saw the good in every person and situation.
“He provided the best customer service with a positive attitude all the time,” said Welch.
Bill Eakins, area dean of career services, remembered Gorman’s optimistic outlook as being contagious. He partnered with Gorman on numerous events and committees that impacted both his and Gorman’s departments.
“I worked with Tom for over 25 years and considered him to be, not only a great friend of the college, but also a personal friend,” Eakins said. “He had a wonderful outlook on life and never seemed to have a bad day. He was respected by all who knew him.”
A pillar of society
Gorman received numerous accolades for his leadership abilities and commitment to higher education. The most recent, the Golden Senior Award, was presented to him last summer during the opening ceremonies of the NEBRASKAland Days Golden Games.
Gorman was named Educator of the Year by the North Platte Chamber of Commerce, Administrator of the Year by the Nebraska Community College System, Outstanding Adult Educator for Nebraska by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Advocate of the Year Award by the Small Business Administration and the Connecting Nebraska Award from the Nebraska Development Network.
He also received the History Maker Award from the Learning Resources Network and the title of Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska. In 2012, the North Platte City Council honored him with a Cody Scout Award, the highest award the city can bestow.
Additionally, Gorman represented the college on various professional organizations at both the state and local levels.
Nationally, he served on the Learning Resources Network board of directors and presented customer service seminars at 20 national conferences. LERN recognized him as one of the top 25 leaders in adult and continuing education in 2003.
Retired…almost
By the time Gorman ended his career at MPCC, he had worked his way up the ranks to area dean of economic development and training.
He retired from MPCC in 2011 after 41 years of service, but never really left. Gorman remained a constant source of positivity and inspiration at college events including ribbon cuttings, board meetings, fundraisers, golf tournaments and scholarship receptions.
He also served as chairman of the North Platte Community College Foundation, an organization near and dear to his heart.
Always willing to lend a helping hand wherever needed, Gorman was an active member of Holy Spirit Church for more than 40 years and served on the advisory council for the North Platte Area Ready to Serve Volunteer Program since its formation in 1973.
His absence will be felt by everyone he left behind.
“He was innovative and creative – a good friend and colleague,” said McGahan. “Those of us who had the privilege of working with Tom for so many years are better people because of the influence he had on us. I will miss him.”
A mass of Christian burial is scheduled for Tom Gorman at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with burial to follow at the North Platte Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Memorials are suggested to the Tom and Lynda Gorman Scholarship Fund through the North Platte Community College Foundation.
OGALLALA, Neb. (AP) – The Nebraska trial of a Kansas man charged with the traffic deaths of four Iowa motorcyclists has been delayed until August.
Keith County District Court records say the trial was scheduled to begin Tuesday for 23-year-old Jeser Cisneros-Hernandez, of Liberal, Kansas. He’s pleaded not guilty to four counts of vehicular homicide, one of reckless driving and one of failing to drive in his lane.
The records say the judge last week granted the delay because the attorneys have not completed the pretrial discovery process. The new starting date is Aug. 6.
Prosecutors say Cisneros-Hernandez’s vehicle hit two motorcycles carrying two people each on July 1, 2017, near Ogallala.
Authorities say 54-year-old Sheila Matheny and 61-year-old James Matheny, from Bedford, Iowa, were on one motorcycle. The other motorcyclists were 58-year-old Michal Weese and 59-year-old Jerolyn Weese, who lived in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The North Platte Community College softball team gave up 26 runs on Tuesday but found a way to score 29 runs, and swept Northwest Kansas Technical College 11-9, 18-17.
“It was a great day for ball, the weather was perfect and we came out with two wins, we couldn’t ask for anything more,” said North Platte Coach Janelle Higgins.
Hallei Morales (North Platte) went four-for-four with a pair of home runs and six RBIs to help fuel the Knight offense in the first game. In the second game Willow Chitty (North Platte) and Kayleigh Bucio (Rialto, Calif.) were a perfect nine-for-nine at the plate combined, scoring 10 times and driving in 10 to lead the 20-hit Knight attack.
“Hitting is contagious and once it gets going the atmosphere gets hyped and good things happen, Higgins said. “It’s great when we have athletes — who have been struggling in some aspect of the game — respond with a great at bat or great day on the mound or in the field.”
North Platte improves to 11-17 on the season and will be in action Saturday at home against Central Community College in games at 1 and 3 p.m. and on Sunday against Southeast Community College in games at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
“Every day we are able to get games in we get stronger as a unit and we will only continue to get stronger as the season progresses,” Higgins said.
Game 1 – North Platte CC 11, Northwest Kansas Tech 9: Willow Chitty broke up a 7-7 game in the fifth inning with a go-ahead home run to propel the Knights to the win.
“We started out a little slow and tight in Game One but ended up hitting the ball well and our defense held strong to come out on top,” Higgins said.
Hallei Morales homered twice, doubled and singled in four at bats to help fuel the Knight offense. She doubled in the first, homered in the third, homered in the fourth, and singled in the fifth.
Emily Marsden (Papillion) was in the circle for Knights. She surrendered nine runs on 11 hits over seven innings.
“Our athletes showed a ton of grit today, they never stopped and never gave up. From the top of our order to the bottom to the dugout everyone was in sync,” Higgins said.
Kayleigh Bucio (Rialto, Calif.) had a four bagger in the fourth inning. Mikayla Gibson (West Valley, Utah) had a three-hit game. North Platte also got multi-hit games from Chitty, Bucio, and Alea Binkly (Council Bluffs, Iowa).
Game 2 – North Platte CC 18, Northwest Kansas Tech 17: With the game tied at 15-15 in the sixth inning, Kayleigh Bucio delivered a two-run triple (one of four hits she had in the game) to put North Platte in the lead for good.
The Knights had built a 13-7 lead in the fifth inning but Northwest Kansas Tech scored eight times in the sixth to take a 15- 13 lead.
Ashylnn Krueger (Littleton, Colo.) was credited with the victory for Knights. She went five innings, allowing ten runs on ten hits, striking out four and walking none. Hailey Wilkins (Tyler, Texas) threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen to earn the save for Knights.
Bucio went yard in the second inning. She tripled and singled twice scoring five runs in the game along with seven RBIs. Chitty went five-for-five, scoring five runs and driving in three. The Knights also got three-hit games from Emily Marsden and Maddie Liddell (Glenwood, Iowa).
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, one of the poorest areas in the nation, is bracing for another major winter storm and the prospect of renewed flooding that is also forecast to hit a wide swath of the Plains and Midwest just a month after the last weather blast.
March’s “bomb cyclone” — an unusual weather phenomenon in which air pressure drops rapidly and a storm strengthens explosively — dumped heavy snow on Pine Ridge that led to severe flooding. The high waters trapped hundreds of people in their homes, damaged or destroyed hundreds of miles of roads and dozens of buildings disrupted water supplies to thousands and prompted the governor to send in the National Guard.
The prairie reservation is roughly the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined and is home to nearly 20,000 people, many of whom live in deteriorating houses or cramped mobile homes. About half live in poverty, and the unemployment rate hovers around 75 percent. The tribe will be seeking help for flooding-related infrastructure repairs from the federal government as well as charities and nonprofits, but many private property owners are looking at the prospect of funding extensive repairs on their own.
“Damage is going to be in the hundreds of millions,” tribal spokesman Chase Iron Eyes said. “Things are beginning to dry out, but now there’s a huge blizzard predicted. On this reservation, it’s kind of a constant crisis the way we live here, and these disasters just put us in a perilous position.”
The storm moving east out of the northern Rockies Wednesday and Thursday could be similar to last month’s. It will pack heavy snow and strong winds and produce life-threatening conditions in parts of the Plains and Upper Midwest, according to the National Weather Service. The heaviest-hit areas are expected to be from southeastern Wyoming through Nebraska and South Dakota into southern Minnesota. Snow is forecast to expand into parts of the Upper Great Lakes, with rain stretching from the central Plains east into the Middle Mississippi Valley and Western Ohio Valley.
The storm deemed “potentially historic” by the Weather Prediction Center brings the specter of renewed flooding to a part of the country where massive flooding over the past month has caused billions of dollars in damage.
Nebraska is not expecting a repeat of the catastrophic flooding it experienced last month because the ground is no longer frozen and ice has melted from the rivers, though there might be localized flooding across the state, according to weather service meteorologist Van DeWald in Omaha. The biggest threat will remain along the already swollen Missouri River, he said.
“It’s really just going to exacerbate that flooding and prolong it,” he said. “We’re probably looking at that surge hitting those Missouri River areas in Nebraska and Iowa three to five days after the storm.”
In northwest Missouri’s Holt County, where the raging Missouri River ravaged roads and highways, Emergency Management Director Tom Bullock is urging residents to be prepared to get out if another surge of water arrives after this week’s storm.
“We don’t have any protection,” he said. “Our levees are all broke.”
The storm crept slowly across Idaho and Montana on Tuesday, dumping rain and snow and prompting blizzard warnings for Wednesday and Thursday in parts of Wyoming and Colorado.
The storm might not be as bad as last month’s but “will be near record intensity for April for this area,” Colorado State Climatologist Russ Schumacher said.
Pine Ridge could see up to 15 inches of snow and winds gusting in excess of 50 mph (80.46 kph). Tribal officials are examining weak spots in the response to the March storm, particularly medical evacuations. Last month, three people who suffered medical problems died before ambulances slowed by floodwaters could get to them..
Henry Red Cloud owns a solar energy business and green energy training center that was heavily damaged by floodwaters against which it was not insured.
“A lot of stuff is near and dear to me — you can’t put a price tag on it,” he said. “But looking around here, I’m going to say, probably a quarter million dollars (in damage). We’re reaching out to any kind of support we can get.”
In the meantime, Red Cloud is hoping the nearby White Clay Creek stays in its banks after this week’s storm.
The new snowmelt will swell creeks and rivers in South Dakota, but likely not to the levels they rose last month due to the absence of a wet snowpack on the ground this time around, according to weather service hydrologist Mike Gillispie in Sioux Falls.
Rivers in Minnesota and neighboring Wisconsin also are expected to rise again after the storm, and “The National Guard stands ready,” said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
The storm is not expected to add a lot of moisture to the Red River Valley of eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, where major flooding is occurring, according to weather service meteorologist Greg Gust in Grand Forks. It’s not causing big issues in the Fargo-Moorhead metro area, but overland flooding is a problem in many rural areas.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man has been sentenced to life in prison for the August 2015 killing of a fellow gang member.
29-year-old Marcus Short was sentenced Tuesday for the August 2015 shooting death of 19-year-old Garion Johnson outside Johnson’s girlfriend’s house.
A co-defendant, Preston Pope, was sentenced to life in prison in November for Johnson’s death. He also received another life sentence for the shooting death of 23-year-old DePrecia Neelon, who was killed two days before Johnson. Short was also charged in Neelon’s death but was acquitted by a jury.
As Nebraskans continue to deal with the aftermath of the last major winter storm, the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) is urging preparedness for another dangerous winter storm projected to impact the state Wednesday and Thursday.
“We may have turned the page to spring across most of the state, but this storm is expected to pack a major winter punch over the next couple days,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Being properly prepared can save lives in a situation like this.”
The National Weather Service is projecting as many as 18 to 24 inches of snow in portions of north-central Nebraska. With winds in excess of 50 miles per hour, blizzard conditions are expected to impact a large portion of central to western Nebraska.
Motorists are encouraged to stay up to date on forecasts and conditions during the storm and to plan ahead as travel may become difficult or impossible in some areas. Nebraska 511 is the best resource to monitor road conditions and closures. Motorists can also view real time conditions with the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s Plow Tracker system.
Troopers will be on the road to assist any driver who needs help. Anyone in need of assistance can call *55 from a cell phone to reach the NSP Highway Helpline to speak directly with an NSP dispatcher.
“During last month’s major blizzard in the Panhandle, people were prepared and stayed off the roads for the most part,” said Colonel Bolduc. “We ask that people do the same with this dangerous storm and only travel when necessary and safe to do so.”
Drivers are urged to maintain a winter weather survival kit in their vehicle with necessities in case they become stranded at any point of travel during the storm. More information on winter driving safety can be found here.
Duane P. Befort, 89, of North Platte, Nebraska, passed away on April 8, 2019 at Centennial Park Retirement Village. Duane was born on February 22, 1930 to Albert and Florine (Drieling) Befort in Weskan, Kansas. Duane was raised in Sharon Springs, Kansas where he graduated from Wallace County High School in May of 1947.
Duane joined the Army in December of 1950, serving in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 with the 7th Division 48th Field Artillery Battalion, retiring from the U.S. Army Reserve in 1988.
Duane had four children from a previous marriage and was a wonderful father to them. In July of 1967, he married the love of his live, Beverly (Johnston) McCormick, who brought three children from her previous marriage. This is when they started a lifelong journey with seven kids and two loving parents.
After retirement, Duane and his living wife, Beverly, loved traveling in their motor-home. He also enjoyed working around the house and taking care of his yard.
Duane and Beverly are members of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and both feel strongly about their faith.
Duane is survived by his loving wife, Beverly; sons, Rex of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Mark (Tammy) of Sharon Springs, Kansas, Michael McCormick of Kearney, Nebraska, and Rnady McCormick of Locust Grove, Oklahoma; daughters, Joni (Charles)Turk and Michelle (Lester Seibert) Collins all of Sharon Springs, Kansas; granddaughter, Molly (Brandon) Freeze, who have been so helpful in caring for her grandpa and grandma; brother, Edwin (Ardell) Befort; sister, Judy (Robert) Bedford all of North Platte; sisters-in-law, Delores Befort, Maxine Brittenham, Pat (Ed) Weichel, and June Wolf; brother-in-law, Ed Johnston; 22 grandchildren; 37 great grandchildren; 10 great great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ron, Don, Jackie and Oliver; sister, Veleria Cooper; son, David McCormick; grandsons, Chad, Charles “Chucky”, and David “Dusty” Turk.
Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Memorials are established in Duane’s name to the Callahan Cancer Center and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Cremation was chosen. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in North Platte with the Reverend Josh Brown as celebrant. Innurnment will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with military honors by the North Platte Veterans organizations. Carpenter Memorial Chapelat 1616 West B Street is in care of arrangements.
As Nebraskans work to recover from March flooding, they should be on guard for suspicious activity involving potential fraud, scam artists and other criminals who prey on disaster survivors.
