Post Staff – Page 290 – North Platte Post Archive

University of Nebraska-Lincoln decentralizes honors ceremony

Posted on March 28, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will no longer hold a university-wide honors convocation to recognize its high-level academic achievers.

The convocation will be replaced with smaller, more intimate ceremonies hosted by individual colleges.

The ceremony held about two weeks before commencement wasn’t well-attended, said Annette Wetzel, the university’s director of special events.

“All the deans were in agreement and a lot of them were already doing their own things within their own colleges,” she said.

Wetzel said the event had undergone several transformations in its 90-year history, becoming a source of confusion for students and families. The ceremony also became a hardship for many who had to travel long distances to Lincoln twice in one month.

The College of Arts and Sciences will recognize the top 10 percent of its students at its annual Celebration of Excellence event on April 27.

The college has been making the ceremony more student-focused in recent years, said Terri Pieper, the college’s communication director.

“In the last few years, we’ve added senior reflections where we select graduating seniors who represent humanities, social, mathematical and natural sciences to share moments from their college experience,” Pieper said.

The College of Business pushed its honors convocation to the fall to consider students’ final spring semester grades, according to Sheri Irwin-Gish, the college’s executive director of communications, marketing and external relations.

Wetzel said the university is “hoping this will be better for students and parents, and just a better experience for all.”

Lincoln City Council bans bump stocks

Posted on March 28, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The city of Lincoln has banned bump stocks and other items that can raise the firing rate of semi-automatic weapons.

The City Council voted unanimously Monday to adopt an ordinance barring the sale or possession of the gun accessories. Lincoln joins a handful of states and cities to ban the devices in the wake of several mass shootings in recent years.

Councilwoman Leirion Gaylor Baird said the ban will take effect May 1 to give residents one month to dispose of any multi-burst trigger activators. She said the ordinance ends a loophole that allowed residents to modify semi-automatic guns into machine gun-like weapons, making them even deadlier.

“I am glad we in Lincoln are moving forward to protect our neighbors and our children,” Gaylor Baird said. “Because people are tired of waiting for the federal government to get this done.”

President Donald Trump has called for the Department of Justice to ban bump stocks. The agency will soon begin a 90-day public comment period on the proposal.

City Attorney Jeff Kirkpatrick said the crime will be considered a misdemeanor in Lincoln, with possible punishment of up to a $500 fine along with or instead of six months in jail.

City officials don’t know of any crimes committed with bump stocks or trigger cranks in Lincoln or Nebraska, said Councilwoman Cyndi Lamm, who voted for the legislation. She said most law enforcement officers hadn’t heard of bump stocks until the October mass shooting at a Las Vegas music festival that left 58 dead and hundreds wounded.

“In passing this symbolic legislation, we’re really only making ourselves feel better,” Lamm said. “Because we are not addressing the real problems that leave our children and our elderly feeling depressed, isolated and angry.”

Councilman Carl Eskridge agreed that the legislation is limited in scope, but he said it’s a step in the right direction.

“It’s not the last thing we should do,” Eskridge said. “We still have a need to make our schools safer. Safer in other parts of our community. But it’s one thing we can do.”

Nebraska governor hopeful Krist drops ballot-law challenge

Posted on March 28, 2018

Krist said Tuesday that his standing in the federal lawsuit has changed, now that he’s set to appear on the Democratic primary ballot. But Krist says ballot access for independent candidates remains an important issue for him, and called on lawmakers to overturn such restrictions in next year’s session.

Krist, a state senator, had challenged restrictions that require independent candidates to get roughly 120,000 signatures to appear on the ballot. He later decided to run as a Democrat to challenge Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Nebraska bill to adjust SSI brackets for inflation advances

Posted on March 28, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have advanced a bill to ensure that the state’s tax on Social Security Income changes to compensate for inflation.

Senators gave the measure first-round approval Tuesday on a 36-0 vote. Two additional votes are required before it goes to Gov. Pete Ricketts.

The bill seeks to address cost-of-living benefit increases that can bump taxpayers into a higher bracket, where they end up paying more. The bill would compensate by automatically adjusting the state’s tax brackets for Social Security income.

The bill by Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha wouldn’t go into effect until 2020. It would cost an estimated $1.3 million by fiscal year 2021.

Lawmakers passed a similar law for individual income taxes in 2014.

Some rural Nebraska advocates oppose governor’s tax plan

Posted on March 28, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Some groups that advocate for rural Nebraska and farms are voicing opposition to Gov. Pete Ricketts’ tax plan, despite his efforts to unite agricultural and business groups.

Five organizations sent a letter to lawmakers on Monday, urging them to reject the package. The letter was signed by representatives of Nebraska Women Involved in Farm Economics, Nebraska Grange, the Center for Rural Affairs, the Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska and the Nebraska Farmers Union.

The groups argue that the governor should focus more on state funding for K-12 education as a way to lower property taxes.

Ricketts has rallied several agricultural groups behind his plan, including the Nebraska Farm Bureau, the Nebraska State Dairy Association, Nebraska Pork Producers and the Nebraska Soybean Association.

Bills to address Nebraska’s prison overcrowding stalls

Posted on March 28, 2018

By TESS WILLIAMS , Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — With limited time left in the legislative session, lawmakers hit a roadblock Tuesday in their efforts to address overcrowding and other problems in the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.

Sen. Laura Ebke, of Crete, said the package of five bills was intended to be noncontroversial and make small progress toward reducing the prison population. The corrections department faces a state-mandated deadline to significantly reduce the number of incarcerated inmates by 2020.

With only ten working days remaining in the session, the bill’s fate is up in the air because of a filibuster.

Nebraska’s prisons held a combined daily average of 5,229 prisoners last year in facilities that were designed to hold 3,275, placing them at roughly 160 percent of their design capacity, according to the department. Lawmakers imposed a July 1, 2020, deadline to lower that total to 140 percent of capacity.

If the agency doesn’t reach that goal, an “overcrowding emergency” will be declared and officials will have to consider paroling all eligible inmates.

For years, Gov. Pete Ricketts and lawmakers have attempted to address increasing problems within the corrections department, including overcrowding, understaffing, two deadly riots in a two-year span and the June 2016 escape of two inmates. Despite meetings with national consultants, increasing funding for prisons and passing several major laws designed to reduce the crowding, limited progress has been made.

Measures in the package would require a regular staffing analysis to look at employment levels and needs within the mental health department, and require agency officials to create a plan to accelerate the parole review process in the event of an “overcrowding emergency.” The package would also allow the early release of inmates who are terminally ill and create a procedure that would attempt to reduce recidivism by protecting inmates who are at risk of overdosing on opioids after their release.

Many senators voiced concerns that the package did not go far enough to address longstanding issues.

Sen. Bob Krist, of Omaha, said the measure was watered down by attempts to appease department officials and compromises intended to remove anything remotely controversial. The original bill included nine measures, but four were removed. Krist said the package would have been stronger if all the bills remained.

Sen. Ernie Chambers, of Omaha, said legislators were focusing too much on opinions from other agencies and branches of the government, and mounted a filibuster to try and derail the bill. He said the filibuster had “nothing to do with the bill itself,” but was “collateral damage” because the Legislature needs to act independently and without agency influence.

Ebke said the Judiciary Committee tried to screen for potential objections prior to Tuesday’s debate by talking with lawmakers and department officials to find constructive feedback. With only ten working days remaining, she said she is worried legislators may not have the chance to improve corrections this year.

Ebke said she pulled the bill from the floor, and she’s unsure if enough votes remain to bring it back. She said she is hopeful to reach a compromise with Chambers and advance the legislation swiftly next week.

Former youth pastor takes plea deal in sex assault case

Posted on March 28, 2018

PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — A former youth pastor accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl has made a plea deal with Sarpy County prosecutors.

Court records say 34-year-old Klint Bitter pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted sexual assault. Prosecutors lowered the charge in exchange for Bitter’s plea. He’s scheduled to be sentenced May 23 in Sarpy County District Court in Papillion (puh’-PIHL’-yuhn).

Authorities say he’d found the girl in an online classified ad for an 18-year-old girl and had sex with her in February. Bitter has said he had asked the girl whether she was underage.

Officials say Bitter was youth pastor at Christ Community Church in Omaha but was fired after he was charged.

“Joe” David C. Little Death Notice

Posted on March 27, 2018

“Joe” David C. Little, age 65 passed away Tuesday March 27, 2018 at Great Plains Health. Cremation was chosen and services will be held at a later date. Adams and Swanson Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Elnora Miller

Posted on March 27, 2018

Elnora Miller, 85 went to be with her Lord and Savior March 22^nd, 2018.

She was born on May 14, 1932 to Helen and Reinhold Schortzmann and was raised in rural Alpena, South Dakota with her four sisters Ruth, Ida, Esther and Anne. She graduated from Alpena High in 1950.

Elnora married the love of her life Dr. Thomas Miller on Aug 10, 1952 and they were married 65 years. To this union two daughters were born. Tamera (Tammy) who is married to Mike Daigle to whom was born Alexandra (Alex) of Aurora, CO. and daughter Dr. Renee who is married to Dr. Larry Piper to whom was born Garrett and Haley of North Platte, NE.

Elnora attended Dakota State in Madison, SD where she earned her teaching certificate. She loved teaching First grade and she taught in both Brookings, SD and Huron, SD. While Tom was in Dental School she worked at the Administrative Offices of UNL. She also was Tom’s Chairside Dental Assistant and Office Manager for over 35 years. Elnora and Tom lived in Huron SD, San Antonio TX, Colorado Springs CO, Leipheim Germany, and Lincoln NE before settling in North Platte NE in 1962.

Elnora was an active member of First Lutheran Church since 1962 and Ruth Circle. She was a member of Chapter AK P.E.O., a Camp Fire Blue Bird Leader, participated in Bible Classes, as well as belonging to many bridge clubs that kept her mind as sharp as a tack until the end. She loved to read, paint and travel but her greatest joy was traveling to Disney World with her grandchildren and watching them grow-up at the Lake. She was a cancer survivor of 14 years but in the end her cancer came back and took her life.

Elnora was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Thomas Miller, her parents Reinhold and Helen Shortzmann, In-Laws Glenn and Julia Miller, Sisters Ruth Judd and Ida Winter and brothers-in-law Bob Erickson and Curt Winter.

Elnora is survived by her two-daughters Tamera (Mike Daigle) Miller of Aurora, Co, Renee (Larry) Piper of North Platte, NE; Grandchildren Alex Daigle of Aurora, CO, Garrett and Haley Piper of North Platte, NE. Sisters Esther Erickson, Anne (Rich) Schultz, brother-in-law John (Darlene) Miller and several nieces and nephews.

In Lieu of Flowers, memorials will be given to the Family’s Choice or the Donor’s choice. Online condolences may be shared at carpentermemorial.com

Graveside services will be at 10 am Friday, March 30^th at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell. Services will follow at 11 am Friday, March 30^th, at First Lutheran Church. Visitation will be from 9am-8pm with Family greeting friends from 6-8 pm Thursday, March 29^th at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.

Esther Sanchez Guerra

Posted on March 27, 2018

Esther Sanchez Guerra, age73 of North Platte passed away March 25, 2018 at her home.

Esther was born on November 26, 1944 in Sarbin, NE to Arnulfo and Soccoro (Salvador) Sanchez. She grew up in North Platte. Esther married Cecil Guerra “Buck” in 1965 and the two made their home in North Platte where she raised their 8 children. Esther had an amazing faith base and her church was very important to her. She was an excellent cook, who loved cooking for her family and friends with her specialty being her burritos! Esther enjoyed doing hair and makeup, oldies music, she loved to dance and give dance lessons and liked tattoos. The center of her life was her family, who she always put first. She was truly the rock of her family. She will be remembered as the best woman, mother, and grandmother.

Survivors include her children, Vicki (Jerry) Estrada of Lincoln, Mario (Olivia) Guerra of North Platte, Cecil (Sanjuanita) Guerra of Lincoln, Tracey (Javier) Hinojosa, Donna (Wesley) Kohl, Elizabeth (Alex) Tirado, Philip Guerra, Mario Sotelo, and Angelina Guerra all of North Platte; siblings, Richard (Vicky) Sanchez of Grand Island, Alex (Helen) Sanchez, Margaret Ramos, Mary (Johnnie) Serrano, Arnulfo “Sam” (Delia) Sanchez, Rosie (Santos) Castellanos all of North Platte, and Ofilia Leyva of Grand Island; sisters-in-law, Donna Sanchez, and Anita Sanchez; 31 grandchildren: and 51 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Cecil; 2 children, Manolito and Michael; granddaughter, Raquel Ann Estrada; grandson, Roy Hernandez; and siblings, Albert and Hank Sanchez, and Jessica Polanco.

Memorials may be made in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Services will be held 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at Harvest Christian Church with the Reverend Dean Bailey officiating. Burial will follow at the North Platte Cemetery. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. today at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.