LODGEPOLE, Neb. (AP) — A county attorney says a fire in a trailer home killed a woman in the southern Nebraska Panhandle.

Firefighters were dispatched early Monday morning to battle the Lodgepole blaze. Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub says the body of 70-year-old Sandra Reichman was found inside the home after the fire. He says she was also known as Sandra Grabowski.

Schaub says an autopsy showed the woman died of heat and smoke inhalation.

Investigators say a space heater started the fire in the living room.

Serve your neighbor! Serve your community! Serve your country! North Platte Area RSVP is doing just that! Volunteers of all ages are making quite an impact! Volunteers provide service to local non-profit organizations such as the RSVP Literacy Program, Grace Ministries Food Pantry, Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross, just to name a few.

In the past 45 years, RSVP volunteers have reported a total of 3,924,824 ½ hours of volunteer service to meet community needs. 3,924,824 ½ hours is valued at $96,903,916.91 in volunteer support and manpower needed to make our community the unique and wonderful place it is today!

Currently, there are 669 enrolled volunteers. In the past 12 months, volunteers have served a total of 91,432 hours.
On December 16th, 2018 at the North Platte Area RSVP Volunteer Recognition Event six volunteers were recognized for serving the most volunteer hours during a twelve month period (from October 1st, 2017-September 30th, 2018). The three ladies recognized for serving the most hours were Kathy Jacobsen (1,241 hours), Sharon Heiser (1,832 ½ hours) & Alma Bullington (2,208 hours). The three men recognized for serving the most hours were Hervy Saathoff (1,052 hours), Larry Pedersen (1,162 hours) and Chuck Scripter (1,793 ½ hours).

Volunteers were also recognized for their Years of Service. Volunteers who reached a milestone year (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30) are as follows:

5 years of volunteer service – Dennis & Sharon Barkley, Elizabeth Barnhill, Robert & Clydene Britton, Tom Camargo, Dennis & Sonja Campany, Virginia Evans, Robert Guy, Paula Hanson, Kathleen Hoatson, Jody Isabell, Lavina Johnson, Jona & Vanessa Knapp, Deb LaHaye, Jean Leibbrandt, Patricia Lunkwitz, Bea Martin, Roselyn McFarland, Arlene Miller, Lester O’Donnell, Sandra Olive, Betty Pinkerton, Gary & Carolyn Rickett, Sharie Riese, Debra Rogers, Lezlea & Corbin Ryan, Daniel & Eloise Shuck, Carson Songster, Gary Stengle, William Ward, Donnita Williams and Jeffery Williams.

10 years of volunteer service – Karen Becvar, Pat Dannat, Russell & Lanita Evans, Joan Forrey, Marge Hehnke, Susan Hopson, Mary Hughes, Shirley Jeske, Dean & Cheryl Kurth, Marion & Gloria Lipinski, Bob & Dixie Mays., Vicki McCarty, Gary & Jerry Neal, Judy Oliver, Mary Ruth Patterson, Mary Rasmussen, William Richardson, Daniel & LouAnn Rochford, Robert Smith, Marlene Songster, Paulette Stefka, Sheila Thomlison and Robert Wilkinson.

15 years of volunteer service – Rita Catlin, Joseph Grachek, Mitzy Hayes, Margaret Jensen, Charlotte Markwardt, Agnes Moritz, James & Shirley Nisley, Deanna O’Donnell, Larry Pedersen, Judy Rolfes, Bonnie Smith, Marion Thomsen and Chris Zook.

20 years of volunteer service – Gwen Dickinson, Beth Dunbar, Marion & Donna Effenbeck, Gael Heck, Hilda Jeffers, Arlene Jepsen, Sharon Karre, Milton Lehman, LaDonna Longmore and Sara Morris.

25 years of volunteer service – Dorothy Blomstedt, Joe & Dorothy Conger, Fern Fogland, Florice Gadway, Richard Sedlacek and Milo Shavlik.

30 years of volunteer service – Donna Brase.

Wauneta Schomer was recognized for serving RSVP for the past 34 years and 8 months. She has the most years of service.

RSVP would like to thank the following business/organizations for sponsoring a table: Carpenter Memorial Chapel, Centennial Park Retirement Village, City of North Platte, Community First Bank, Eakes Office Plus, First National Bank, Flying Needles Quilting Group, Fraternal Order of the Eagles #2839, Golden Spike Tower & Visitors Center, Great Plains Health, Great Western Bank, Home Instead Senior Care, Linden Court, NebraskaLand National Bank, North Platte Chamber & Development, North Platte/Lincoln County Convention & Visitors Bureau, North Platte Community College Athletic & Music Departments, North Platte Public School District, North Platte Union Pacific Employees Credit Union, RSVP Advisory Council and RX Express.

For more information about how to get involved with the North Platte Area RSVP, contact (308) 535-6777, check out our website at www.ci.north-platte.ne.us/volunteer/rsvp or like us on Facebook at NPRSVP.

Investigators with the WING (Western Nebraska Intelligence and Narcotics Group) Task Force have arrested two men and broken up a marijuana growing operation in Scotts Bluff County.

In the morning hours of Tuesday, December 18, the WING Task Force, with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol, Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office, and the 1057 Military Police Unit, served a search warrant on a residence at 160283 CR 20, outside of Gering.

During the search, investigators found approximately 75 marijuana plants hidden behind a false wall in a potato cellar. Investigators also discovered a butane hash oil extraction lab, nine firearms, and a small amount of methamphetamine.

Robert Newton, 46, and William Burkhardt, 50, both of Gering, were arrested for cultivating marijuana, manufacturing hash, and possession of a controlled substance. Both men were lodged in Scotts Bluff County Jail. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be added.

The WING Task Force is made up of investigators from the sheriff’s offices and police departments that cover the eleven counties of the Nebraska panhandle and the Nebraska State Patrol.

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) have arrested two men and seized 50 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near Kimball.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. MT Sunday, December 16, a trooper observed an eastbound 2018 Ford EcoSport speeding near mile marker 18 on I-80. During the traffic stop, the trooper detected criminal activity and conducted a search of the vehicle.

During the search, troopers found 50 pounds of marijuana in heat-sealed bags concealed in luggage in the rear of the vehicle.

The driver, Jasmon Watson, 34, of Kansas City, Kansas, and Marzett Davis, 31, of Sacramento, California, were arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver, and no drug tax stamp. Both men were lodged in Kimball County Jail.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — Scottsbluff police have arrested a woman and her son the day after they opened a shop offering products containing cannabidiol, derived from hemp.

The Scottsbluff Star-Herald reports police on Friday charged Heather Kaufman Berguin and her son Dreyson Beguin with possession of a controlled substance.

They were arrested a day after opening KB Natural Alternatives and despite having conversations with police, who advised them cannabidiol products were illegal in Nebraska.

Beguin says she realized there were risks in opening the shop but argued other stores in Omaha and Lincoln sold lotions containing cannabis oil.

Scottsbluff Police Chief Kevin Spencer says Nebraska is among three states that don’t allow sales of any cannabis products.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A Nebraska attorney who works for the office of state Sen. John Murante will soon replace his boss in the Legislature.

Gov. Pete Ricketts announced Monday that he is appointing Andrew La Grone, an attorney and small business owner from Gretna, to fill the upcoming vacancy in Legislative District 49.

Murante is stepping down Jan. 9 to take office as state treasurer. He was first elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016.

Ricketts says La Grone is well-prepared to serve given his experience in private practice and work in the Legislature.

The 28-year-old is the founder of La Grone Law, LLC, in Gretna, and legal counsel to the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee in the Legislature. He previously clerked for Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska wildlife officials say a fatal deer illness has been confirmed in Keya Paha and Valley counties.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said Monday that testing done on deer killed by hunters in November showed evidence of the disease. Keya Paha County is in north-central Nebraska. Valley County is in central Nebraska.

Chronic wasting disease affects deer and elk and is always fatal. No human cases have ever been recorded.

The disease was first discovered in Nebraska in 2000 in Kimball County. CWD has now been found in 42 Nebraska counties, but no population declines attributable to the disease have been identified.

More information about the disease is available online .

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska and Akron announced an agreement Monday addressing the Sept. 1 season-opening game between the two that was canceled because of bad weather.

Nebraska wanted to play Akron the following day, but the Zips couldn’t find a hotel for Saturday night and the Huskers said Akron turned down Nebraska’s offer to house players in vacant dormitories and provide breakfast. Oct. 27 and Dec. 1 were believed to be possible dates to play the game, but for various reasons did not happen and other opponents were found.

Under the agreement, Akron will play at Nebraska on Sept. 6, 2025, for a guarantee of $1.45 million. The Huskers will also pay Akron $650,000 for the canceled game, more than half the $1.17 million guarantee.

After the game was canceled, Nebraska played Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 27, an open date, and paid the MEAC school a guarantee of $800,000. Akron played at South Carolina on Dec. 1 in a game that helped the Gamecocks make up for an earlier cancellation due to Hurricane Florence.