OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Eight middle-school confirmation class members have decided against joining an Omaha Methodist church in protest at the denomination’s renewed ban on same-sex marriage and gay clergy.
The Omaha World-Herald reports that the eight were scheduled to become part of the congregation Sunday at First United Methodist Church. But the seventh- and eighth-graders declined and issued a written statement instead.
It says that if they were to join now, that would send the inaccurate message that they approve of the United Methodist Church’s “immoral” policies on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage.
On Friday, the denomination’s judicial council upheld key portions of a plan adopted in February by the church’s legislative assembly and designed to strengthen the bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ pastors.
Mid Plains Community CollegeThe public is invited to attend the 2019 Spring Commencement Ceremony at North Platte Community College on May 10.
The event will begin at 3 p.m. in the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium on NPCC’s South Campus, 601 W. State Farm Rd. A livestream will be available on the college’s Facebook page and at: https://npccknights.com/sports/2014/1/5/KnightsVideo.aspx?tab=knightsvideo.
The following students will be recognized (NPCC).
Associate of Arts Degree
Gothenburg – Keisha Blake
Hershey – Joshua Connell
Imperial – Jessyca Briggs, Taylin McNair
Maxwell – Seth Woracek
North Platte – Nicholas Bussard, Maria Dancer, Craig Freeburg, Tatum Goodell, Jonathan Hastings, Alexandria Hatch, Elizabeth Heskett, Ashley Husemoller , Megan Johnson, Tacie Lucas, Robert Markley, Kathleen McIntyre, Caelea Ostergard, Karissa Parker, Mindy Schmadeke, Melinda McCuiston, Seth Smith, Jonathan Spradlin, Wendi Stover, Devin Wolcott
Ogallala – Jared Austin
Papillion – Emily Marsden
Sutherland – Ashley Hanneman, Alyssa Weber
Colorado
Fleming – Shaylee Johnson
Texas
Overton – Hailey Wilkins
Utah
Salt Lake City – Mikayla Gibson
Associate of Fine Arts Degree
North Platte – Chelsea Leal, Maximus Wohler
Ogallala – Devin Brixius
Associate of General Studies Degree
Brady – Case Axthelm
Grant – Mitchell Sestak
Hershey – Amanda Reiber
Juniata – Tracee Hinton
North Platte – Brandon Dancer, Alessandra Haddan, Jayden Miles
Sutherland – Alexandra Baker
Arkansas
Benton – Richard Henry
Hawaii
Ewa Beach – Annastasia Casida
Poland
Jakub Karwowski
Maputo
Nelo Nducuia
Associate of Science Degree
Broken Bow – Christina Buskey
Cozad – Ashley Linke
Dunning – April Smith
Gering – Kaylee Bohnsack
Gothenburg – Dillon Higgins, Jacob Myers
Grant – Crystal Jones
Imperial – Mikaela O’Brien, Rogelio Vargas
Lincoln – Mandi Martinez
North Platte – McKinzee Ambrose, Nathaniel Baxter, Kari Bell, Phoenix Clemmons, Evan DeKok, Taitiana Ditch, Kayla Douglas, Kelsey Epp, Leslie Flory, Joshua Golden, Christine Grauerholz, Jonathan Hastings, Kameron Hope, Lindsey Jensen, Megan Johnson, Abby Jones, Cole Kleinow, Dasia Lively, Robert Markley, Brian Mixer, Hallei Morales, Kendal Naranjo, Lindsi Orr, Madelyn Peters, Philip Pleiss, Joseph Pucket, Amber Rathbun, Aubri Rose, Bailey Shurigar, Jordynn Simpson, Jessica Slattery, Christopher Smith, Seth Smith, Nathan Snider, Karly Stahl, Patricia Tofilau, Emma Young
Ogallala – Jade Max, Skylar Vak
Overton – Andrea Vargas
Papillion – Emily Marsden
Stapleton – Kaylie Beierman, Ashley Houser
Sutherland – Alexandra Baker , Maggie Morris, Scott Taylor
Valentine – Annie Brickner, Jeffrey Moore, Brittany Stone
North Platte – Hannah Anderson, Courtney Blake, Ashleigh Cardwell, Rebecca Daniel, Jami Lynn Davis, Sarah Dillenburg, Tiffany Gies, Micaelia Hernandez, Dezarae Herrick, Haylee Medich, Samantha Miller, Natasha Nutt, Amber Rathbun, Ashley Sandoval, Jeanie Sutherland
Ogallala – Jamie Rivas, Skylar Vak
Thedford – Ronda Haumann
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Auto Body Technology:
North Platte – Larry Allen, Joseph Pafford
Automotive Technology:
Lexington – Ricardo Gaeta
North Platte – Alex Lawson, Jade Osborn
Valentine – Chism Miller
Building Construction Technology:
Broken Bow – Preston Sanchez
Imperial – Diana Benitez Aguilar
Lexington – Luis Gomez
Maywood – Dayne Littell, Devon Littell
Walton – Austin Jensen
Business:
Ansley – Jodi Dethlefs
Bennington – Sarah Jones
Broken Bow – Ina Bradley, Lezlee Griffiths
Curtis – Rylie Brown
Gothenburg – Jim Thayer
Grant – Whitney Spencer
Hershey – Kelsey Sides
North Platte – Brittanya Allen, Kayla Douglas, Bowen Land, Sarah Ryan
Sargent – April Hansen
Valentine – Michelle Witt-Moore, Kyle Osnes
Wyoming
Cheyenne – Jeannette Carmel
Business Office Technology:
Lewellen – Ramona Steward
North Platte – Lora Kreiling, Jamie Lauderdale
Omaha – Ashley Ellingson
Sutherland – Shelly Compton
Dental Assisting:
Indianola – Kayela Parker
Lexington – Bianca Gomez
Colorado
Littleton – Ashlynn Krueger
Diesel Technology:
Albion – Branden Roberg
Arnold – Dayne Kulp
Callaway – Chase Ell
Paxton – Justin Neilsen
Electrical Technology:
Bartley – Kaleb Sughroue
Brady – Jerry Mull
Callaway – Grady Lashley
Hershey – Konner Sonneman
Maxwell – Jeremy Ochsner
North Platte – John Diaz, Jed Dizmang, Tyler Floro, Taylor Hills, Parker Zakrzewski-Aten
Colorado
Haxtun – Christopher Kelley
Wyoming
Laramie – Luke James
Fire Science Technology:
North Platte – Angelica Diones
Graphic Design/Visual Communications:
Brady – Jared Most
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology:
North Platte – Jordan Christner, Eric Travis
Information Technology:
North Platte – Taylor Pantenburg
South Dakota
Aberdeen – Karley Downham
Medical Laboratory Technician:
Cozad – Adriana Buss
North Platte – Elizabeth Honeywell, Tanis Sack
Paxton – Ashley Lugar
Welding Technology:
Hershey – William Schillinger
Memphis – Cody Horton
North Platte – Troy Dye
Diplomas
Automotive Technology:
Grant – Kaitlynn Heinemann
North Platte – Frank Griffiths, Shawn Simpson, Brandon Tolle, Ryan Weekly
Smithfield – Samuel Siekman
Stratton – David White
Building Construction:
Colleen Werve Mortensen
Dental Assisting:
Culbertson – Rylie Adams
Curtis – Payton Kahler
Lexington – Katy Esquivel
North Platte – Emily Bagley
Diesel Technology:
McCook – Kyle Van Pelt
North Platte – Matthew Pickering
Ogallala – Tyler Schroeder
Sargent – Lance Collins
Stapleton – Brady Baumgartner, John Main
Electrical Technology:
McCook – Zachary Burkey, Ian Shepherd
Emergency Medical Services:
Morrill – Tina Lara
Graphic Design/Visual Communications:
Brady – Jared Most
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology:
McCook – Jerimeiah Jaramillo, Jacob Roberts,
North Platte – Taime Hill, Lyndell St. Clair
Sutherland – Bradley Whitworth
Valentine – Luke Hockenbary
Wallace – Shane Anders
Kansas
Oberlin – Benjamin Glading
Practical Nursing:
Bassett – Jessica Hollenbeck, Jurnee Saner
Cozad – Elisha Keim
Hershey – Cindy Glos, Yvonne Witt
Maxwell – Angelia Smith
North Platte – Anna Junker, Karisa Rodriguez, Cortney Scott, Mindy Schmadeke, Courtney Viter
South Dakota
Kadoka – Robyn Jones
Certificates
Accounting:
North Platte – Jonathan Spradlin
Agribusiness:
Sargent – April Hansen
Business Administration:
North Platte – Jayden Miles
Customization and Restoration:
Iowa
Hubbard – Ricks Polk
Entrepreneurship:
North Platte – Jayden Miles
Leadership:
Ansley – Jodi Dethlefs
Logistics:
North Platte – Joseph Pucket
Medical Billing and Coding:
Lewellen – Ramona Steward
Madrid – Daina Markussen
North Platte – Angie Bringewatt, Christine Grauerholz
Omaha – Ashley Ellingson
Medical Transcriptionist:
Lewellen – Katlin Dikeman, Ramona Steward
North Platte – Jamie Lauderdale, Erin White
Omaha – Ashley Ellingson
Multimedia Design:
Maxwell – Seth Woracek
Nonprofit Management:
North Platte – Robin Schneider
McCook Community College
The 2019 McCook Community College Spring Commencement Ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 10 in the Graff Events Center. The ceremony is open to the public and will be livestreamed at: https://evideo.mpcc.edu/Watch/MCCSports.
The following students will be recognized.
Associate of Arts Degree
Culbertson – Courtney Searcey
Indianola – Alec May
McCook – William Brown, Taye Collicott, Allison Johnson, Lindi Johnson, Taylor Patterson, Madison Riemenschneider, Brandon Smith
Oconto – Seth Pearson
Paxton – William Babbitt
Arkansas
Bella Vista – Hailey Tiles
Colorado
Denver – Amadou Dieye
Parachute – Samantha Hinkle
New York
New York – Ronald Rice III
Virginia
Fort Belvoir – Preston Parry
Associate of Fine Arts Degree
Bartley – Erin Greenlee
Holdrege – Tatiana Young
McCook – Mary Kain, Elizabeth Schutz
Associate of General Studies Degree
Cambridge – Hunter Mowry
McCook – Steven Keenportz, Jessi Keslin, Brigham Larington, Helen Reiners
Wallace – Abbey Rohde
Wauneta – Cheyenne Cavanaugh
Hawaii
Makawao – Maysen Medeiros
Florida
Hialeah – Ricardo Jimenez
Texas
Austin – Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli
Associate of Science Degree
Arcadia – Clay Bauer
Bartley – Erin Greenlee
Blair – Mark Starks
Culbertson – Taylor Ford
Indianola – Drew Hofman, Genna Vogel
McCook – Abby Kalinski, Allison Johnson, Brantleigh Morgan, Casey Quagliano, David Brewster, Easton Gillen, Emmerie Roth, Jenifer Carbajal, Kyle Geisler, Lindi Johnson, Mary Kain, Nicholas Bingham
Oconto – Seth Pearson
Ord – Ashley Carson, Chance Williams, Wyatt Williams
Mrs. Evelyn Viola Reece, 90, of North Platte, died unexpectedly at her home on Tuesday, April 30, 2019.
Evelyn was born at home with the help of a midwife on March 26, 1929 in Walnut, Nebraska. She was the 7th child born to Fritz and mary (Linquist) Block. The family moved to the North Platte, Nebraska area in 1935 where they settled on the North Platte River to farm.
Evelyn went on to graduate from Hershey High School in Hershey, Nebraska in 1947, then married a little while later. She was united in marriage to William Don Reece in Oberlin, Kansas on June 22, 1947 and the couple made their home in North Platte where they raised four children – Diana, Cathy, Rex and Kris.
In 1959, Evelyn went to work for Merle Norman Cosmetics, then purchased the business in 1973. She owned and managed the Merle Norman Studio in North Platte for 45 years until retiring in 2004. She loved what she did and enjoyed helping countless girls and women look their best. Evelyn also loved all her longtime customers as well as her newcomers and was proud to be a part of the Miss Nebraska and Miss Nebraska Rodeo Pageants, doing makeup for the contestants for several years.
Evelyn had a strong faith in God and had been an active member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church since 1939. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #163 and B.P.W. (Business & Professional Women’s group).
Evelyn was a great wife, mother and grandmother. She loved her family and friends and will be greatly missed.
She leaves behind her children, Diana Davis of North Platte, CAthy (Richard) Mikoloyck of Oshkosh, Nebraska, Rex (Marsha) Reece of North Platte, and Kris (Art) Hasenauer of Wellfleet, Nebraska; nine grandchildren, Chad (Lea) Reece, Josh Reece, Carrie (Brent) Begley, Lana (Brian) Stewart, Amy (Michael) Wilson, Michael Fought, Don (Kellie) Pell, Nicholas (Jessica) Mikoloyck and Jobi Hasenauer; many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Liela Block of Alaska; as well as many other family members.
Evelyn was preceded death by her husband, Don; parents, Fritz and Mary Block; all her siblings, Fritz Jr, Raymond and George Block, Irene Inman, Louise Stone, Matha Black and Mildred Young; great-grandson, Max Begley; and a great-great grandson.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 3, 2019 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church at 1400 East E Street in North Platte with Pastor Bob Deardoff officiating. Burial will follow in Fort McPherson Natoinal Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, 2019 at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore in North Platte, which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials in remembrance of Evelyn can be made to Our Redeemer Lutheran School.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A man shot while trying to flee officers in Lincoln has been imprisoned.
Lancaster County District Court records say 27-year-old Thomas Sailors, of Blue Springs, was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison. He’d pleaded no contest in March to assaulting a police officer and operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest. The judge credited Sailors with 476 days already served in custody.
Lincoln police say two of its officers and a federal marshal tried to serve Sailors with a warrant Jan. 5, 2018, while Sailors was in a sport utility vehicle in an apartment building parking lot. Police say that as Sailors drove away, he hit at least four cars, including one driven by the U.S. marshal. The marshal then fired shots into the SUV, wounding Sailors.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new report says an April survey of business supply managers suggests there will be solid economic growth over the next three to six months in nine Midwest and Plains states.
The report issued Wednesday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index dropped to 55.9 last month from 58.2 in March. The February figure was 57.9.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says finding and hiring qualified workers remained the chief threat to the manufacturing economy for the region.
The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth. A score below that suggests decline.
The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Crews evacuated people from some buildings and cars Tuesday afternoon after a flood barrier failed along the Mississippi River, sending floodwaters rushing into downtown Davenport, Iowa.The National Weather Service sent an alert around 4 p.m. of a flash flood emergency in Davenport, urging people downtown to immediately seek higher ground. Public works officials reported that a temporary flood barrier had failed and that many people sought shelter on the rooftops of downtown buildings.
“It was just the one barrier, so we’re not expecting the flooding to spread beyond what we’re seeing now,” Davenport Public Works Director Nicole Gleason said. “That could change with heavy rain.”
Gleason said crews and volunteers scrambled Tuesday afternoon to fill sandbags for other downtown businesses looking to keep the floodwaters out of their buildings.
The breach hit as communities in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri prepare for record or near-record crests along the river. The National Weather Service already issued flood warnings for areas directly on either side of the river in 10 states, “all the way to the Gulf of Mexico,” said meteorologist Mike McClure in Davenport.
The floodwaters had overtaken vehicles and the first floors of some buildings on the river’s edge, and rescue crews could be seen launching boats into the floodwaters to retrieve people stranded by the sudden surge.
Mayor Frank Klipsch said there were no reports of injuries. He asked that people stay away from downtown while officials work to evacuate the area.
“This is a couple blocks of one part of our city. It’s, fortunately, a relatively small area being flooded,” Klipsch said.
In Iowa, some cities on the river’s banks — including Davenport and Muscatine — had already closed some low-lying streets and erected flood walls and sandbag barriers.
Flood watches have been issued for larger tracts around in the river in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, as well as sections of Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, as heavy rain that began in some places Monday was set to continue into Wednesday.
The rain comes as the Mississippi River is set to reach record or near-record crests in Iowa, Illinois and northern Missouri.
In suburban St. Louis, the river is expected to reach 9 to 10 feet above flood stage Saturday at several locations in northeast Missouri and at Quincy, Illinois. With up to 4 inches of rain possible in the region through Friday, the weather service cites a high risk of flash flooding and warns that river forecasts could rise even higher.
If the river reaches the projected 24.2 feet in Louisiana, a town of 3,300 residents some 90 miles north of St. Louis, roads and highways will be covered, railroad tracks will be swamped, and the Champ Clark Bridge crossing the river will have to close, Pike County, Missouri, Emergency Management Director Al Murry said.
Water that high also could threaten levees that protect thousands of acres of farmland.
“The potential for cropland damage if you have a levee burst — that’s a really big deal,” Murry said.
At 5 p.m., the Mississippi River at Davenport was recorded at 21.88 feet — the fifth highest for the spot ever recorded, according to the National Weather Service. That’s approaching the record crest of 22.6 feet set in July 1993.
The river’s expected to crest Wednesday evening a few inches short of the record.
The gauge in nearby Muscatine showed the river just under 3 feet below the July 1993 record of 25.6 feet (7.8 meters). It’s expected to crest a little more than a foot under the record at Muscatine, where officials have placed new berms and are diverting downtown traffic.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Eight middle-school confirmation class members have decided against joining an Omaha Methodist church in protest at the denomination’s renewed ban on same-sex marriage and gay clergy.
