Post Staff – Page 238 – North Platte Post Archive

Authorities say jogger killed along York County road

Posted on June 7, 2018

LUSHTON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man was killed when he was struck by a vehicle while jogging along a road in York County.

The York County Sheriff’s Department says 55-year-old Mark Kliewer was struck around 6:25 a.m. Wednesday, about a half-mile (1 kilometer) east of Lushton.

Sheriff Dale Radcliff says the vehicle driver immediately called 911 about the accident. Radcliff says the driver reported that he didn’t see Kliewer on the road. The sheriff didn’t disclose the driver’s name.

Kliewer lived in rural Lushton.

California woman killed by car after lying on Omaha street

Posted on June 7, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say a 20-year-old California woman has died after being hit by a car on the northwestern edge of Omaha’s Creighton University campus, where she was a student.

Omaha police say Vindhay Puttagunta, of Folsom, California, was walking with a man along a street around 1 a.m. when he sat down on a retaining wall. Police say Puttagunta lay down in the middle of the street in an attempt to get the man’s attention. Investigators say she was still lying in the street when a sedan ran over her without stopping.

Puttagunta was taken in extremely critical condition to Nebraska Medical Center, where she died.

AG Sessions won’t attend Omaha opioid news conference

Posted on June 7, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A day after announcing that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions would visit Omaha this week, the Justice Department now says that Sessions will not make the trip to Omaha.

Sessions had been set to appear with law enforcement officials in Omaha on Thursday for an announcement about plans to combat the opioid crisis.

A spokesman for the office of U.S. Attorney for Nebraska said Wednesday that Sessions had a family emergency, keeping him from traveling to Omaha. Officials did not elaborate on the nature of the family emergency.

The news conference will still be held Thursday, with Gov. Pete Ricketts, U.S. Attorney for Nebraska Joe Kelly and Robert Patterson, acting director of the Drug Enforcement Administration, attending.

Police: Omaha father left boys in van overnight to get drunk

Posted on June 7, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha father has been arrested, accused of leaving his two young sons in a van overnight while he got drunk in a bar and left with a woman.

Omaha police say they were called early Saturday morning about a van left running in the Benson Library parking lot. Arriving officers found two boys, ages 4 and 5, and a dog in the van.

Police say their father, 28-year-old Charles Bibbs, had left them there around midnight Friday to go to a bar. Bibbs told police he planned to be at the bar for a couple of hours, but forgot about the boys and spent the night with a woman he met. A strong thunderstorm swept the area while the boys were alone in the van. Police say they were cold and hungry, but otherwise unharmed.

Just hours before leaving the boys, Bibbs had been released from prison for a fourth-offense drunken driving conviction.

He is being held on $75,000 bail on two counts of felony child abuse.

University of Nebraska wins $92M grant from US military

Posted on June 7, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska has won a $92 million grant from the U.S. military.

Officials said Wednesday that five-year grant is the biggest research grant in the university system’s history and is an affirmation of the work already done by the university system’s National Strategic Research Institute.

System spokeswoman Melissa Lee says the award is more of a contract extension than a typical research grant. It extends the $84 million grant the system was awarded by the military in 2012.

The National Strategic Research Institute has worked several projects, including improving a vaccine for the poison ricin; developing vaccines for anthrax and other diseases; improving metals on military vehicles; the psychology of terrorist groups; and using laser technology to find explosives.

Automated shuttle expected to arrive soon for Lincoln test

Posted on June 7, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An automated shuttle is expected to arrive soon to carry people around Lincoln’s Haymarket area.

The Navya shuttle — a loaner — will be in the city through early August, part of a study on using the technology downtown in the future.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the general public will be able to take rides in the Haymarket after initial testing at Nebraska Innovation Campus.

Lincoln is able to test the shuttle because of a $100,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Lincoln was chosen earlier this year as one of 35 Champion Cities by

Bloomberg as finalists in the 2018 Mayors Challenge. The nationwide competition encourages city leaders to develop bold ideas in meeting challenges.

NP man accused of assaulting, holding knife to woman’s throat

Posted on June 6, 2018

A 42-year-old North Platte man was arrested on Tuesday afternoon after he allegedly assaulted a female and held a knife to her throat.

At around 12:39 p.m., officers responded to the 1400 block of Rodeo Road on the report of a disturbance.

Officers made contact with Matthew Knight and a female.

The female alleged that Knight had thrown her to the ground, then struck her.

She told police he then grabbed a knife held it to her throat and made threats about killing her and himself. Knight allegedly held the knife to the victim’s throat before releasing her.

Knight was placed under arrest and jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center on charges of domestic assault, terroristic threats and use of a weapon to commit a felony.

Knight is still in jail, pending an appearance in County Court.

Connie Louise Wood-Boss

Posted on June 6, 2018

Connie Louise Wood-Boss, 56, of North Platte, passed away May 18, 2018, at Great Plains Health.

Connie Louise Wood was born on Nov. 20, 1961, in Valentine, to Russell Boyd and Clara Joyce (Seaton) Wood. She grew up in North Platte and worked at several businesses.

She was always helpful to other employees and customers. Connie loved the outdoors, she enjoyed nature and all its beauty. She loved Cody Park and enjoyed fun times at the river. She loved all of her family and friends and had fun playing cards with her mom and sisters, and enjoyed a good game of Cad. She loved animals. Her current cat, Murphy, was so loving and special to her. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents; and her sister and best friend, Carol Lynn Wood.

Connie is survived by her father, Russell Wood of Cambridge; mother, Joyce McNeal of North Platte; siblings, Cathy (Gary Twidwell) Wood of North Platte, Clare (Gene Naber) Wood of Hambolt; niece, Toni Bargell of Lincoln; nephew, David Bargell of North Platte; great-nieces, Makenna, Evelynn and Ellanor; special friend, Denny Bedker of North Platte; as well as other extended family members and many friends.

Memorials are suggested in her name and online condolences may be shared at adamsswanson.com.

Services will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6, at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens with Pastor Deb Dishman officiating. Adams and Swanson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Gary R. Ross

Posted on June 6, 2018

Gary R. Ross, 71, entered eternal rest on May 23, 2018, at Corning Specialty Care, Corning, Iowa.

Gary Roland Ross, the son of Clifford Eugene and Dorothy Margaret (Esser) Ross, was born on May 11, 1947, in Greene, Iowa. Gary graduated from Greene High School with the class of 1965. He then attended Elsworth Junior College for a short time.

Gary was united in marriage to Barbara Poppe on June 18, 1966. Two children were born to this union, Tammy and Jason. They later divorced. Gary served his country entering the National Guard in 1967. He was honorably discharged in 1976.

Gary was a businessman, owning two car washes in Waterloo, Iowa, the University Car and the PDQ. He was also the owner of the Cardinal Lounge in Hudson, Iowa, for a short time. He then went back to school in 1985, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Northern Iowa, and graduated with honors in 1986. He then began working for the Social Security Administration in Creston, Iowa.

He would later meet Sally Ann Mills and they were married on Sept. 12, 1987, in Waterloo, Iowa. Gary’s family grew to include Sally’s children, Jason and Shelly. Shortly after they were married, they moved to North Platte, then to Denver, Iowa, and in 2000, to Rolla, Missouri, where he would continue working for the Social Security Administration until his retirement in 2003.

In August 2016, Gary and Sally moved to their home in Corning.

Gary was a former member of the Elks Club and Rotary Club. He was member of the Gasoline Dealers Association, of which he was a former president. Gary had a huge love for golf, joining local country clubs wherever they lived. He also loved deer hunting. Gary had a love for dogs and enjoyed taking his kids around BMX racing, when they were younger. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Preceding Gary in death were his parents, and brother, Robert Ross.

Left to cherish Gary’s memory are his loving wife, Sally of Corning; children from his first marriage, Tammy (partner, Charles Hall) Sutton of Gilbert, Arizona, Jason (Shelly) Ross of Waukee, Iowa; children from his second marriage, Jason (Dennae) Wilkening of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Shelly Parsons of Creston, Iowa; grandchildren, Amanda, Noele, Tiffany, Savanna, Kylie, Paige, Cheyenne, Cooper, Carsyn; four great-grandchildren; brothers, Gene (Sandra) Ross of Greene, Iowa, and Dennis (Mary Jane) Ross of Greene, Iowa; sisters, Nancy (David) Boehmere of Waterloo, Iowa, and Susan Ross of Texas; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Online condolences may be shared at Mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. In lieu of flowers, the family request to have memorials directed to Care Initiatives in Corning, Iowa 50841.

Services will be on Saturday, June 9, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home, Marshalltown, Iowa, which is in charge of arrangements.

Royce T. Willerton Death Notice

Posted on June 6, 2018

Royce T. Willerton, 72, of Tucson, Arizona, formerly of North Platte, died May 20, 2018, surrounded by his family. Services were on May 25, at Capilla del Sol Christian Church, Tucson. Cards may be sent to the immediate family to Sherry Willerton c/o Capilla del Sol Christian Church, PO Box 89357, Tucson, AZ 85742.