Post Staff – Page 307 – North Platte Post Archive

Violet Leona Towne

Posted on March 7, 2018

Violet Leona Towne, 84, beloved wife of the late Lyle Towne, mother and friend, passed Feb. 18, 2018, in Mountain Home, Idaho.

Violet enjoyed traveling, talking on the phone, Yahtzee and spending time with family and friends.

Violet spent her last few years in Idaho, where she enjoyed the Mountain Home Senior Center and attending the Christian and Baptist Church in Mountain Home. During this time, she looked forward to her summer visits to North Platte, where she put down the books that were always in her hand and hosted a social in the park.

Violet will be lovingly remembered and missed by her daughters, Debra (Paul) Shrum of Mountain Home and Judi (James) Murray of South Carolina; son, Art Towne of Nebraska; sister, Joyce Inman of Missouri; brother, John (Diane) Nichols of Missouri; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be at a later date in Missouri. Cremation was chosen. Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, Mountain Home, Idaho, is in charge of arrangements.

Rolle player of the year; O’Connor coach of the year in the NCCAC

Posted on March 6, 2018

North Platte – The Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference men’s and women’s basketball teams have been announced for the 2017-18 season.

Two Lady Knights, Naria Hall and Nahatabaa Nacona, were named to the team.

Hall, a sophomore transfer student, from Wichita, Kans., averaged 14 points per game, five rebounds per game and one steal per game. Hall led the Lady Knights in scoring. She was a transfer from Colby Community College.

Nacona, a freshman from Chinle, Ariz., averaged 9.7 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 2.3 steals per game, and 2.3 assists per games. Nacona led the Lady Knights in steals and assists.

Other members of the team are: Payton Blanke, Quenshae Love, and Maddy Wolfe of Central Community College; Sam Hinkle and Aliyah Foote from McCook Community College; and Sebit Gatluak, Erika Goracke, and DeAsia Walker of Southeast Community College. Co-coaches of the year were Billy Perkins of Central Community College and Lynn Schlake of Southeast Community College.

On the men’s team, NPCC sophomore Godfrey Rolle was named the most valuable player in the NCCAC. Rolle averaged 19.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.3 assists per game, and 1.3 ppg. Rolle finished his Knights career with 931 points, which is 21st on the Knights all-time scoring list.

Joining Rolle on the first team was freshman Jakub Karwowski from Kanie, Poland. Karwowski averaged 8.9 ppg. 6.4 rpg., 1.9 blocked shots per game and had a 64.7 shooting percentage, which was 14th in the nation.

Honorable mention was sophomore Goy Lew from Omaha. Lew averaged 7.4 ppg, and 3.1 rpg.

Other NCCAC men first team members are: Malik Mooving and Latrell Talley from Central Community College; Peanut Cunningham, D’Von Moore, and Chinedu Okonkwo from McCook Community College; Kalen Hardaway, Daniel Quesenberry, and Jalen Wilkins-McCoy from Southeast Community College. The other honorable mention was Bennett Nelson from Central Community College.

NPCC Knights Coach Kevin O’Connor was named NCCAC Coach of the Year for the 18th time in his career.

Fire forces evacuation of part of southwest Nebraska town

Posted on March 6, 2018

MCCOOK, Neb. (AP) — A wildfire is forcing the evacuation of part of McCook in southwest Nebraska.

Officials ordered the evacuation of the northwest corner of the city on Tuesday because fire was spreading rapidly as winds gusted up to 50 mph.

Sixteen people were treated at the local hospital for burns and smoke inhalation, but the severity of their injuries wasn’t immediately clear.

The fire damaged at least one home in northwest McCook and was threatening several others Tuesday afternoon.

The area evacuated north of Q Street and west of Norris Avenue includes McCook Elementary School. The students were relocated to McCook High School and the local YMCA.

Fire departments from several other towns in the area are sending crews to help battle the grass fire.

Nebraska online sales tax measure clears key hurdle

Posted on March 6, 2018

By GRANT SCHULTE , Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill intended to help Nebraska collect more online sales tax revenue cleared a key hurdle in the Legislature on Tuesday and appeared to have enough support to survive Gov. Pete Ricketts’ expected veto.

The measure would require online retailers to send customers a notice of their total taxable purchases unless the businesses collect the sales tax themselves. Retailers would also have to send an annual report to the Department of Revenue showing the total amount paid by its Nebraska customers.

Supporters painted the legislation as a way to level the playing field between online retailers and brick-and-mortar businesses, which have to collect and remit the tax. Nebraska already requires residents to report how much they spend online each year when they file their income tax returns, but few people comply, costing the state an estimated $30 million to $40 million annually.

“The longer we wait to pass legislation like this, the harder it will be for the general public to understand that this is not a new tax,” said Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse, the bill’s sponsor.

Nebraska imposes a 5.5 percent sales tax on eligible purchases, and local governments can levy an additional tax of up to 2 percent. The proposal has won endorsements from leading business and farm groups and a coalition of cities.

The newly revised bill advanced to a third and final vote Tuesday with more support than it received when it was first debated in last year’s session. Senators voted 34-7 in favor of the proposal after overcoming a filibuster, compared to the 28-13 vote the previous year. Supporters need to win just one more vote before it goes to the governor’s desk. At least 30 votes are needed to override a gubernatorial veto.

Under the bill, online retailers would automatically have to collect a sales tax if allowed by Congress or the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled in 1992 that states can only tax businesses with a physical presence within their borders, but the court is revisiting the issue with a case involving a South Dakota internet sales tax law. A ruling is expected by June.

In a statement, Ricketts said the bill remains flawed and imposes “unnecessary red tape on companies doing business in Nebraska.”

Opponents criticized the measure as toothless because it currently lacks a collection requirement and said it would impose burdensome reporting requirements on smaller businesses. The bill would apply to companies with more than $100,000 in sales or more than 200 separate transactions in a year. Online retail giant Amazon started collecting Nebraska sales taxes voluntarily last year.

“This bill gives false hope to retailers that this is somehow going to correct the imbalance” between online operations and brick-and-mortar businesses, said Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion.

Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln said lawmakers should wait until the high court rules before proceeding. Ricketts argued last year that the bill was unconstitutional.

Sen. Theresa Thibodeau said lawmakers shouldn’t pass legislation that could restrict e-commerce.

“Too often, innovations like online retail are seen as threats by policymakers even long after consumers have embraced them,” said Thibodeau, a day care and preschool owner from Omaha.

The bill that advanced Tuesday was watered down from an earlier version, which would have required businesses to collect the sales tax or send detailed transaction records to customers and the state to ensure the tax gets paid.

Watermeier said he made changes to address concerns about disclosing the online purchases of customers to the state. The bill was shelved last year because several supportive senators were absent the day of a key vote.

Man convicted of 2007 slaying of aunt in Omaha

Posted on March 6, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 35-year-old man has been convicted of beating and stabbing to death his aunt in Omaha more than 10 years ago.

A jury found Charles Simmer guilty Monday of first-degree murder in the slaying of 50-year-old Joy Blanchard in her home in November 2007.

Authorities say he’d been a suspect since her death, but prosecutors weren’t able to assemble a convincing case until additional DNA tests in 2016 further implicated him. Also, a high school friend of Simmer told police after Simmer was arrested that he’d told her in 2008 that he’d killed someone.

Simmer’s conviction brings a life sentence.

Inmates who’d barricaded selves in cell give up peacefully

Posted on March 6, 2018

GERING, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say three inmates peacefully ended their brief disturbance at a jail in the Nebraska Panhandle.

Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Mark Overman says the three had barricaded themselves in a cell at the jail in Gering around 7 p.m. Monday and refused to come out. They were armed with broken handcuffs and other makeshift weapons.

But Overman says they surrendered around 8:30 p.m. after talking to deputies and after several officers from the Gering force and the Nebraska State Patrol showed up to help.

No injuries were reported.

2nd of 3 people charged in Hastings death pleads not guilty

Posted on March 6, 2018

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — Another of the three people suspected in the slaying of a Hastings man has pleaded not guilty.

Court records say 19-year-old Deante Mullen, of Lincoln, entered his pleas Monday in Adams County District Court to charges of first-degree murder and to use of a firearm. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 9.

Mullen and 21-year-old Daniel Harden, of Hastings, are accused of shooting to death 19-year-old Jose “Joey” Hansen on Sept. 11 during a robbery attempt. Hansen’s body was found by a couple out for a walk.

Mullen’s girlfriend at the time, 21-year-old Katherine Creigh, of Hastings, faces an accessory charge. She’s accused of helping Mullen and Harden avoid arrest after the shooting. Her next hearing is scheduled for April 16.

Former deputy sentenced for kidnapping, molesting woman

Posted on March 6, 2018

BENKELMAN, Neb. (AP) — A former Dundy County sheriff’s deputy has been imprisoned for kidnapping and molesting a woman in his patrol car.

37-year-old Charles Thibedeau was sentenced Monday to six to eight years for kidnapping, a year for sex assault and six months for oppression under the color of office.

Prosecutors say Thibedeau sent Facebook messages to the 26-year-old victim last year, asking her to meet him in a remote location to discuss a law enforcement matter. Prosecutors say Thibedeau lied to the woman about an imminent police search of her home and then demanded to touch her breasts. When she refused, Thibedeau threatened her with a fictitious warrant, handcuffed her and placed her in his patrol vehicle. He touched her bare breasts and later released her.

Beulia E. Sonneman

Posted on March 6, 2018

Beulia E. Sonneman, age 96, of North Platte, passed away March 4, 2018 at Centennial Park Retirement Village. She was born August 4, 1921 at Wellfleet, NE to Neal and Mildred (Shirley) Schrecongost. Beulia attended school at the Echo School near Wellfleet. She was united in marriage to Charlie Sonneman on May 13, 1940 at North Platte. They farmed south of North Platte for many years and she also worked at the Sale Barn Cafe for 10 years. Beulia loved to work outdoors and enjoyed being a farmer’s wife. She was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran church and past member of the Eagle’s Auxiliary.

Survivors include her son, Albert (Arta) Sonneman, daughter, Linda (Dan) Evans, daughter-in-law, Neva Sonneman, grandchildren, Alee Stout, Alan (Becky) Sonneman, Alex (Jodi) Sonneman, Joe (Brooke) Rivera, Brad (Tracie) Evans, Stephanie (Clint) Strong, and Kent (Sara) Sonneman, 14 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, Gilbert Sonneman, brothers, Herbert, Billy, and Georgie Schrecongost, sisters, Clara Favinger and Marie Kelsey, and an infant great-grandson, James Stout. Services will be 1:30 pm Friday, March 9, 2018 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with the Reverend Steve Berke officiating. Burial will be at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Memorials are suggested to Great Plains Hospice or to the First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Visitation will be from 9am to 7pm Thursday with the family receiving friends from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at Carpenter Memorial Chapel which is in care of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com

Juanita Deane Herrada

Posted on March 6, 2018March 6, 2018

Juanita Deane Herrada, of Hershey, passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at Linden Court.

Juanita was born October 20, 1929, to Lauren William and Deane Anderson Grove at Judith Gap, Montana. She grew up in Judith Gap and graduated from high school in 1947. Juanita worked for J.C. Penny’s in Lewistown, Montana for a few years before getting married.

On February 26, 1950, she married Odas Benson at Texarkana, Arkansas, and they later had a daughter, Verna. The couple lived in Greensbayou, Texas for a while then moved to Venezuela for three years. When they returned to the United States they moved to Wellington, Texas, and bought combines to do custom combining for farms stretching from Texas to Canada. By 1970 they settled in Hershey where Juanita drove the school bus and got to know many of the kids, which she really enjoyed, and worked at Butch’s from 1975 until retiring in 2013.

Juanita was united in marriage to Pedro “Pete” Herrada on July 3, 1993, at Maria Lutheran Church in Hershey. They enjoyed being together for over 20 years and liked spending time with Pete’s family. When the smoke was rising around her house, it meant the barbecue was going and fun was rolling in and the family was pitching quarters.

Juanita was a member of Maria Lutheran Church, V.F.W. Post #1504 Auxiliary, Paul R. Martin Post #279 American Legion Auxiliary and a life member of D.A.V. Orlo E. Eglehoff Auxiliary. Juanita loved to do crossword puzzles and was a beautiful seamstress. She sewed everything from wedding dresses (which were not easy) to hemming coats, pants, shirts and dresses and she especially loved quilting, cross-stitching and needle point.

She is survived by her step family she called her own, James (Shannon) Herrada and Stella (Brent) Larreau, of Hershey, Pete Herrada, Jr. (Allan Miliam), of San Antonio, Texas, and Donna Herrada Fuentes, of North Platte; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and other family.

Juanita was preceded in death by her husbands, Odas Benson and Pete Herrada; daughter, Verna Benson; sisters, Lucille Buschman and Lorene Sears; brother, Duane Grove; her parents, Lauren and Deane Grove; and stepchildren, Rolando Herrada, Simon Herrada and Carmen Summers.

Cremation was chosen. Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Pastor Erin Dunlavy officiating. Inurnment will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Hershey Senior Center or PAWS-itive Partners.