May 2019 – Page 23 – North Platte Post Archive

Hilda M. Jeffers (1928-2019)

Posted on May 9, 2019May 13, 2019

Hilda M. Jeffers, 90, of North Platte, peacefully passed away at home on Wednesday, May 8, 2019.

Hilda was born September 18, 1928, to William and Gertrude (Paitz) Gibbons north of Kearney. She attended Pleasanton School and graduated from there in 1945 then went to Kearney State College for a year, earning her teaching certificate and later received her BA in Elementary Education. Hilda taught country school in Buffalo County. She later taught in Lincoln County at Osgood Elementary for many years then went on to teach at McDaid Elementary for 20 years.

On June 7, 1950, Hilda was united in marriage to Rexford Lee ‘Si’ Jeffers at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at Prairie Center, Nebraska. They eventually settled in North Platte with Si’s job on the railroad and raised three children.

After retiring from teaching, Hilda helped at the Senior Center delivering Meals on Wheels. She enjoyed doing needle work and many other crafts as well as camping trips with Si. Hilda loved her family and being with friends. She was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and volunteered at the Bargain Bin.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 69 years, Si, of North Platte; children, Sylvia Thornton, of McCook, Colleen (Jim) Larsen, of North Platte and Gary Jeffers, of Ozark, Missouri; grandchildren, Gianna (Luis) Nolda, Jessamy Thornton (Mike Generette), Micah Larsen, Jeremy (Carolyn) Larsen, Brian (Toshanna) Jeffers and Christina (Thomas) Dodson; great-grandchildren, Steffani, Lexis, Evie, Henry, Harmony, Alexia and Stephen; and other family members.

Hilda was preceded in death by her parents, William and Gertrude Gibbons; brothers, Paul and Dennis Gibbons; sister, Irene Macek; and infant sister, Margaret.

Cremation was chosen. A gathering of family and friends will be Monday, May 13th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Jeffer’s home, 2317 Anna Avenue. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to St. Patrick’s Catholic School Endowment Fund. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or
at the house. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Firearm found in restroom at Nebraska State Office Building

Posted on May 9, 2019

At approximately 10:10 a.m. today, troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) Capitol Security Detail were notified that a handgun had been found in one of the restrooms at the Nebraska State Office Building.

Troopers responded immediately and secured the weapon. An investigation has determined that the weapon was mistakenly left in the restroom by an investigator with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

NSP asks that any person who finds an unattended firearm immediately report it to the authorities

Utah artist thanks North Platte with mural

Posted on May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

Sienna Pfaff, of Elk Ridge, Utah paints a mural on a wall at the Super 8 by Wyndham motel in North Platte. Pfaff is a member of the NPCC Knights softball team. (Courtesy Photo)

By Heather Johnson-MPCC

A Utah native is leaving her mark on North Platte one brushstroke at a time.

Sienna Pfaff, of Elk Ridge, Utah has spent the past month painting a mural at the Super 8 by Wyndham motel in North Platte. The mural features a locomotive roaring through a Nebraska landscape.

The train is a replica of the one on display in Memorial Park. For the landscape, Pfaff found inspiration in the places she has traveled to during her time at North Platte Community College.

“Watching it all come together has been exciting,” Pfaff said. “I didn’t want the mural to look cartoony, but the size of it has been a challenge. I had to really concentrate on accurately representing the perspective and on mixing exactly the same tone of paint every time. It takes a lot of paint to cover a wall, so I use it up quickly. Because the mural is outside, my light also changes as the sun goes down.”

Art is a creative outlet that’s relatively new to her. Although Pfaff’s parents are both artistic, she started painting just two years ago in high school.

“I paint everything now,” Pfaff said. “I use acrylics and have done owls, trains, canyons, waterfalls – you name it. I’m taking art classes at NPCC, so through those I’ve also done some still life.”

Pfaff is in North Platte because NPCC head softball coach Janelle Higgins recruited her. Higgins is also the person who got her the job painting the mural.

“Coach’s friend manages the motel, and she was looking for someone who could paint a mural on a bare wall,” Pfaff said. “Coach recommended me.”

Pfaff chose to paint a train because North Platte is home to Bailey Yard and because the first acrylic painting she ever did was of a train. That piece won an art scholarship in Utah.

“Looking back, that really predicted my future here,” Pfaff said. “Not only did I get my college education in North Platte, but I also met my fiancé here. I think it was meant to be.”

The popularity of Pfaff’s work has skyrocketed the past couple of years. Her art has hung in the Utah State Capitol and was selected to receive a scholarship from the Utah State Senate. She has been selling her creations on Facebook and also did some commissioned pieces for NPCC employees.

Despite that, she was hesitant to start on the Super 8 mural.

“I didn’t know what to expect, and I was worried about the dimensions being off,” Pfaff said. “I freehand all my work, but do use photographs for reference on the bigger paintings. In the case of the mural, I snapped a photo of the train in the park and look at it on my phone.”

Pfaff started the project the first week of April and has been working on it two hours per day every three days or so since then – as weather allows.

Her goal is to finish the painting by Friday when school ends and she has to go back to Utah. She has enjoyed the project, but not enough to become an artist full-time.

“After NPCC, I plan to transfer to Southern Utah University to major in dentistry and become and oral surgeon,” Pfaff said. “This mural is my way of saying, ‘Thanks,’ to North Platte and to NPCC. I’ve had an amazing experience here, and I’ll never forget this place.”

Judge mulling verdict in lawsuit over gas price signs in North Platte

Posted on May 9, 2019

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A judge is considering his verdict in a lawsuit that says six convenience stores along Interstate 80 in Nebraska posted misleading signs about prices.

A nonjury trial was held last in week in Lincoln in a February 2017 lawsuit filed by several individuals and the Coalition for Ethical Petroleum Marketing. It accuses North Platte-based Wilkinson Development of violating the Nebraska Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Nebraska Consumer Protection Act.

Wilkinson is accused of advertising low prices to attract travelers to its Fat Dog stores but then selling gas at those prices only at a limited number of pumps, intentionally hoping travelers accidentally filled up with more expensive fuel. The company president has denied the accusation.

The judge is awaiting written closing arguments before rendering a verdict.

Bonnie Jean Purcell Maline (1927 – 2019)

Posted on May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

Bonnie J. Maline, 92, of Gothenburg, Nebraska died on May 7, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Bonnie Jean was born on May 5, 1927 to Ernest and Cora (Kilmer) Purcell at Arnold, Nebraska, arriving with her twin sister Betty Ieleen. They were the babies of the family, joining their three older brothers and a half sister. They grew up on the farm southwest of Arnold. In 1945, Bonnie and Betty graduated from Arnold High School. Being twins, they did everything together, even getting married on the same day, February 13, 1949. They had a beautiful double wedding as Bonnie married Wayne Maline and Betty married Leland Larreau. It was hard on their dad to walk them down the isle, one on each arm, and give them away.

Bonnie and Wayne made their home north of Gothenburg and were blessed with three children, Sandy, Kay and Tim. Bonnie’s life was spent being a busy farm wife and mother. She was a great cook. In fact, it seemed like she was always cooking! Something she was known for by her kids and grandkids. She grew and canned a lot of produce, raised and froze chickens, always working, busy all day long.

One of her great loves was working for her church. She was a member of the Gothenburg Seventh Day Adventist Church. She held nearly every office over the years, including working on the church’s “Dorcus Society” where used clothing was given away.

Bonnie and Wayne left the farm and moved into Gothenburg in 1997. They had only lived there for four months when Wayne had a stroke. The next eight months were spent lovingly caring for him until he passed away in October of 1997. He was just 69 years old. Bonnie now had lots of time to fill as she lived another 21 years. She enjoyed her many nice neighbors on 17th Street. Then it came time for her to downsize, and she moved into Hillcrest Retirement Apartments, where she lived for the next nine years. She loved it there and made many friends and enjoyed all the activities.

Bonnie remained healthy and active past the age of 90. Still driving around town and baking pies and other goodies for potluck dinners. She moved into Hilltop nursing home as a result of a back fracture and remained there for a year and a half. She made many friends there of both residents and staff. Bonnie suffered a fall that took her to Lincoln where she passed away. She was loved by many and will be missed.

Bonnie is survived by her children: Sandy Bosch and her children Stacie (John) Harrington and Kelly Bosch; Kay (Rob) Johns and their children, Jessie (Bryan) Dodds and Holly (Nate) Buss; and Tim (Tricia) Maline and their children, Peyton (Korey) Ahlenstorf, Hailey (Hayden) Gibson and Courtney Maline; nine great grandchildren: Joshua, Matthew, Michael, and Brandon Harrington, Macy and Gavin Dodds, Keaton, Brinley and Tycen Buss; and her sister-in-law Carmen Purcell.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Cora, her husband Wayne, son-in-law Tom; sisters Betty, Zolmia and baby Hazel; brothers Wilber, Edward (Barbara) and Duane (Eileen); brothers-in-law Leland Larreau and John Horn.

Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, 620 Tenth Street, Gothenburg, Nebraska on Saturday, May 11, 2019 from 3:00 p.m. to f:00 p.m.

Funeral Services will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel on Monday, May 13, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Joseph Carty officiating.

Internment will follow in the Gothenburg Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to Amazing Facts, PO Box 1058, Roseville, California 95678.

Janey Bonita Peterson (1933 – 2019)

Posted on May 9, 2019

Janey Bonita Peterson, 86, went to be with her Lord on May 1, 2019 at Homestead Rehabilitation Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Janey Bonita Carlson Peterson was born on March 20, 1933 to Lloyd LeRoy Carlson and Minnie Lavina Bressler Carlson on the family farm near Gibbon, Nebraska.

The family moved to a farm near the Cozad/Gothenburg, Nebraska area. The first half of her high school years were at Cozad High School. She finished high shool at Gothenburg, graduating in 1950. Her senior year she won a superior for her singing of Ava Maria at the State Contest. Janey was not able to attend her Commencement service because of a severe case of mumps. She attended Kearney College for two summers and taught two years at District 83.

Janey married Gene Peterson on March 30, 1952 at the Evangelical Free Church in Gothenburg. To this union was born four children, Cindy, Linda, Greg and Tim. The couple were charter members of the New Hope Church in Custer County, Nebraska. Later they became part of the Evangelical Free Church in Gothenburg. She worked as a nurse aide, and bookkeeper, after her children were in school. Her final working years were at the Gothenburg Times weekly newspaper, retiring after 37 years of service.

Singing was a joyful part of her life. Church choir was a favorite, especially special cantatas given for the congregation. She also sang and served in the Gothenburg Community Choir. She served as a Sunday School Teacher, Christmas program director, and in many other church ministries.

Janey loved decorating her home and making it a welcome place for all to come. Hospitality was her and her husband’s gift. If anyone needed a meal or a place to stay, she offered her home. She really loved holidays, especially Christmas. It was the most wonderful time of the year for her and her family.

Janey’s primary gift was visiting with friends and strangers alike. She always took the opportunity to give a greeting and show she cared. Her greatest thrill was introducing people to her best friend, Jesus Christ. Even during the last couple of weeks of her life, she shared her faith with everyone she came in contact with.

Above all else, she loved her kids and grandkids. She followed all of them in their endeavors such as singing in choir at school, playing in the band, and going to many, many sporting events. She gave them her unconditional love.

Suruviors are her two daughters and two sons: Cindy Peterson and Linda (Doug) Sittler, all of Lincoln, Nebraska; Greg Peterson of Sterling, Nebraska and Tim (Lynn) Peterson of Gothenburg. six grandchildren: Kelsey (Bret) Marschman, Kiley Peterson, Kaitlyn (Drake) Beranek, Kira Peterson, Cryssa (Evan) Bartels, and Dani Sittler. Five great grandchildren: McKenna Peterson, Myka Peterson, Kinley Beranek, Cohen Bartels and Kayda Beranek. Two sister-in-laws: Ruth Carlson of Gothenburg, Margilu Peterson of Cozad, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Joann and Boyd Phillippi of Cozad, and numerous niecees and nephews and extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene, her parents, Minnie and Lloyd Carlson, a brother, Lloyd George, a sister and brother-in-law, Claribel and James Crews, her brother, Wallace Carlson, brother-n-law and sister-in-law, Duane and Lavonne Peterson, brother-in-law, Don Peterson, niece and nephew, Mary and Clay Crews and niece, Brenda Peterson Gilg.

Celebration of Life service will be May 13, 2019 at the Evangelical Free Church at 1721 Lake Avenue in Gothenburg at 1:30 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.

More charges filed against man accused of neglecting cattle

Posted on May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

GENEVA, Neb. (AP) – Authorities have filed more charges against a man already charged in connection with the discovery of hundreds of dead and ailing or neglected cattle at his farm in southern Nebraska’s Fillmore County.

Court records say 30-year-old Aaron Ogren now faces one felony count of theft, nine felony counts of prohibited sale of livestock and 30 felony counts of cruelty to animals. His next court hearing is scheduled for May 29 in Exeter. His attorney, Bradley Kalkwarf, declined to comment Thursday.

The new charges focus on the prohibited sale of livestock. Prosecutors say Ogren sold bulls he didn’t own.

Local and state officials removed about 200 surviving head of cattle from the feedlot about 3 miles (5 kilometers) northwest of Exeter. Another 200 head of cattle were dead when investigators arrived on the scene in March.

Defendant loses bid to see any death penalty communications

Posted on May 9, 2019

WILBER, Neb. (AP) – A judge has rejected a defendant’s motion to see any communications that might show whether Nebraska’s governor is behind the prosecutors’ decision to seek the death penalty for the defendant.

Lawyers for 52-year-old Aubrey Trail had filed a discovery motion last month in Saline County District Court, seeking documents regarding communications between prosecutors and any members of Gov. Pete Ricketts’ office about the death penalty in criminal cases and especially in Trail’s case and that of his co-defendant, Bailey Boswell.

The motion says Ricketts and his family spent heavily in support of a referendum to reinstate the death penalty after the Legislature voted to abolish it in 2015.

The judge ruled Wednesday that Trail’s request was premature because Trail has yet to be convicted.

Trail and Bailey Boswell are accused of killing 24-year-old Sydney Loofe in November 2017, dismembering her body and dumping the remains in rural Clay County.

Butterfly survey citizen science training opportunities available

Posted on May 8, 2019May 8, 2019

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will be host two citizen science trainings in June to prepare volunteers to assist with the Monarch and Regal Fritillary Surveys project.

This workshop is for anyone interested in completing transect surveys looking for monarch and regal butterflies between June 15 and July 15, 2019.

The first training will be June 11 from 10-11 a.m. at Nine-Mile Prairie near Lincoln. Contact Alie Mayes at alie.mayes@nebraska.gov for more information.

The second training will be June 17 from 10-11 a.m. at Wildcat Hills Nature Center near Gering. Contact Amanda Filipi at amanda.filipi@nebraska.gov to sign up.

Midwest downpours prompt more evacuations, flash flood fears

Posted on May 8, 2019

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and JIM SALTER Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Rain swamping the nation’s midsection forced people from their homes in Kansas, stranded dozens of Texas children at school overnight and strained levees along the surging Mississippi River in Illinois, Missouri and elsewhere Wednesday prompting yet more flash flood concerns.

The flooding began in earnest in March, causing billions of dollars of damage to farmland, homes and businesses across the Midwest. Rivers in many communities have been above flood stage for more than six weeks following waves of heavy rain.

Some parts of Kansas received up to 10 inches from Tuesday through Wednesday morning, said Kelly Butler, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Wichita. She described that as a “ridiculous amount of water” on top of grounds that already were saturated by days of rains. Several Kansas districts canceled classes, and numerous water rescues were reported.

Emergency management officials began evacuating people from their homes near the Kansas college town of Manhattan around 5 a.m. Wednesday as Wildcat Creek overflowed its banks. The Cottonwood River spilled over in Marion County, prompting more evacuations and the surging Slate Creek also forced people from their homes in Wellington and closed a stretch of the Kansas Turnpike near the Oklahoma border.

“It seemed like our poor fire department folks were going out constantly overnight, whether it was sandbagging, barricading streets or assisting citizens,” said Keri Korthals, the emergency management director in Butler County, where crews rescued around a dozen people from vehicles stuck in rising water from the Walnut and Whitewater rivers.

Flash flood watches also are in effect in Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, as well as flood warnings along the Mississippi River.

A severe thunderstorm caused flash floods in the Houston area Tuesday, leading to abandoned vehicles and drenched homes. About 60 students had to spend the night at an elementary school after flooded roads prevented buses from leaving and parents from picking them up.

The rainfall didn’t compare to the deluge Houston experienced during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, but flooding is an experience one expert said was becoming the new normal.

“We’re going to have to learn to live with flooding in Houston and we haven’t quite accepted that reality yet,” said Jim Blackburn, co-director of the Severe Storm Prediction, Education, and Evacuation from Disasters Center at Rice University in Houston.

The national Storm Prediction Center said rain remained in the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday in the Central Plains and Mississippi Valley, which could cause more problems because the soil is so saturated.

While the river was slowly going down from St. Louis and to the north, it continued rising in southern Missouri and southern Illinois. The Mississippi was nearing an expected 44-foot crest in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, 12 feet above technical flood stage. A concrete floodwall there protects the historic downtown, but low-lying areas of Cape Girardeau and neighboring communities were underwater.

The Illinois River remained nearly 10 feet above flood stage at Peoria, Illinois, where sandbags were helping to fortify downtown. One major concern in Peoria and other Illinois River towns was that the water level is expected to remain extraordinarily high into next week.

Other parts of the country also were dealing with flooding.

Buildings and roads were flooded along the St. Clair River in Algonac, Michigan. The river links Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair, and flooding is possible along those lakes as well as the Detroit River and western Lake Erie.

Among several high water rescues reported in Oklahoma, a school bus became stranded as it carried students to school Wednesday morning near El Reno, about 30 miles west of Oklahoma City. Firefighters said the bus driver was trying to avoid high water on the road and got stuck on a verge while attempting to turn around. Students were picked up by another vehicle and taken to school.

Meanwhile, a stretch of Interstate 29 in northwestern Missouri opened Wednesday for the first time since floodwaters shut it down in March. Many other roads and highways in northwestern Missouri and southwestern Iowa remain closed due to damage from late March and early April flooding on the Missouri River.