We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Bill would cap local elected officials’ salaries in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker is proposing a cap on the salaries of local elected officials after a county board’s members gave themselves several pay raises.

Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha introduced a bill Thursday that would prevent city councils, county boards and other local governments from paying their members more than twice the annual salary of a state senator. Senators currently make $12,000 a year.

The measure follows the Douglas County Board’s vote last month to give its members a 4 percent annual pay raise over four years. Board members’ annual salaries will increase to $51,879 in 2019, followed by a 4 percent increase each year until the salaries reach $58,356 in 2022.

County board members previously gave themselves raises for 2017 and 2018 that amounted to a 34 percent increase.

Rhonda Kaye (Hartzog) Johnson

Rhonda Kaye (Hartzog) Johnson was born the oldest child of Kenneth Ronald Hartzog and Marylou (Hageman) Hartzog on April 23, 1952 at The Health Center in Phillipsburg, KS.  Rhonda passed away on January 2, 2018 in North Platte, NE at the age of 65 years old.

Rhonda lived with her family in Phillipsburg until 1961, when her dad was transferred with the Debus Bread Company to Ogallala, NE.  She attended Ogallala Public Schools from the 4th grade until she graduated from OHS in 1970.  After graduation, she moved to Denver, CO and attended Swedish Hospital School of Radiology.  On July 3, 1971, Rhonda married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, James B. Johnson at the Congregational Church in Ogallala.  After their marriage they moved to Sheppard Air Force Base, where Jim was enlisted in the U. S. Air Force.  They later moved to Chanute Air Force Base in Champaign County, IL.  Jim was then stationed at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, WY where he received his honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1975.  Rhonda accompanied her husband through his Air Force career and was an outstanding military wife.  During their stay in Cheyenne, Rhonda and Jim’s first daughter was born, Mindy Ruth.  After Jim’s discharge, Rhonda, Jim and Mindy remained in Cheyenne until 1976 when they moved to Lincoln, NE where Jim attended the University of Nebraska.  Rhonda chose to be a stay at home mother and while in Lincoln they welcomed their second daughter, Jami Lynn.  In June of 1977, the family moved to North Platte, NE, where they have resided for 40 years.  When Rhonda’s children were a little older, Rhonda started her 31 year career as a checker at West Field Sixth Street Food Store, which later became SunMart.  She enjoyed her career and meeting her many customers, who she called her friends.  After her retirement, Rhonda enjoyed her time with Jim, and she especially enjoyed the ability to spend more time with her grandchildren, who were the light of her life.  She would do anything for her grandchildren, even listening to current popular rock music in the car with them!

Rhonda was preceded in death by her daughter, Jami Lynn Wilcox; father Ronald Hartzog; brother, Bradley Hartzog; and brother-in-law, Mark Stutzman.

Rhonda leaves to cherish her memory her husband of 46 years, Jim Johnson; and daughter Mindy Crow, both of North Platte; mother, Marylou Hartzog of Ogallala; sister, Jan Stutzman and her special friend, Dan Janak of Ogallala; brothers, Michael Hartzog and his wife Barbara of Orleans, NE and Bruce Hartzog and his wife Roxie of Ogallala; her loving grandchildren, Tyler Crow and his fiancé Kylie Morrison-Sloat of Kansas City, MO; Braden Langemeier of Lincoln; Jensen and Ali Crow of North Platte; and Kailey and Kassidy Wilcox of Indianola, NE.  She is also survived by her many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and her many, many friends.

A memorial fund has been established and will be designated by the family at a later date.  Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 6, 2018 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home with Pastor Brent Montgomery officiating.  Those wishing to do so may sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Friday January 5, 2018 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Luke Paul Ranck Death Notice

Luke Paul Ranck, age 74 and long time resident of North Platte, passed away in Lincoln, NE on Wednesday January 3, 2018.  Services are pending at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home.

Rhonda Kaye Johnson Death Notice

Rhonda Kaye Johnson, age 65, of North Platte, passed away Tuesday January 2, 2018.  Cremation was chosen and services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday January 6, 2018 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home with Pastor Brent Montgomery officiating.

Omaha educator remains jailed on $500K bail in sex case

Matthew Fedde

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Prosecutors say a 45-year-old suburban Omaha assistant high school principal had sex with a 15-year-old student on school grounds.

The details were made public Tuesday when a judge upheld Matthew Fedde’s $500,000 bail. Fedde remained jailed Wednesday.

Investigators say Fedde had multiple sexual encounters with the student on school grounds starting in September. Fedde was arrested last week after the girl’s parents found references to a sexual relationship with Fedde in her diary. An arrest affidavit says investigators also found text messages between the girl and Fedde.

Fedde’s lawyer, Matthew Bond, says Fedde is innocent and will fight the two felony counts of sexual assault of a child.

Fedde is on administrative leave from the Millard School District.

Last of Nebraska youth center escapees captured in Oklahoma

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — The last of the three teenagers who escaped from the state Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Kearney has been captured in Oklahoma.

Kearney police were notified early Wednesday morning that the 17-year-old was taken into custody in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and a car owned by a Kearney man was recovered.

That teen, another 17-year-old and a 16-year-old fled the center Saturday evening. Authorities say two of them were captured later that night after the stolen car they were in crashed on Nebraska Highway 92, about 2 miles (3 kilometers) east of Ansley. They were treated at hospitals and then returned to the center.

Spilled spuds forces I-80 closure in south-central Nebraska

GILTNER, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a load of potatoes that spilled across the roadway forced closure of eastbound Interstate 80 in south-central Nebraska.

The Nebraska State Patrol says a semitrailer driver veered onto the interstate shoulder to avoid another vehicle a little before noon Wednesday. But the semi soon struck the underside of an overpass around 2 miles (3 kilometers) east of the Giltner exit. The trailer separated from the tractor and spilled the spuds.

A piece of heavy equipment was brought in to remove the potatoes, and the patrol says the lanes reopened about 4 p.m.

The truck driver wasn’t injured.

Police say Lincoln recorded no homicides last year

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say the Nebraska capital city of Lincoln recorded no homicides last year, matching the 1991 mark of zero.

Records say the city homicide toll in 2016 was 11, breaking a record that had stood for 30 years. Two years ago the city had one homicide.

Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said he believes the lack of homicides last year “is a testament to the expectations of those that live here.”

Officer Angela Sands says Lincoln police investigated 259 deaths in 2017, including 47 cases in which the cause and manner of death were not immediately apparent.

Bliemeister and city Public Safety Director Tom Casady attribute the lack of homicides last year, in part, to fewer shootings.

Shirley Ann Keck

Shirley Ann Keck, age 90 of North Platte, passed away Wednesday January 3, 2018 at Great Plains Health.
Memorials are suggested to the North Platte Catholic Schools Endowment Fund.  Christian Wake Services will be held 7:00 p.m. Friday January 5, 2018 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday January 6, 2018 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with the Reverend Josh Brown as celebrant.  Visitation will be from noon until 5:00 p.m. Friday January 5, 2018 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Omaha man imprisoned for acts after slaying of Lincoln man

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man has been sentenced for helping move the body of a slain man in Lincoln.

Court records say 26-year-old Sidney Jackson was given two years in prison at his sentencing Tuesday in Lincoln. He’d pleaded no contest to tampering with physical evidence. The judge credited him with 351 days already served in custody.

Jackson is one of 10 people charged in connection with the December 2016 death of 41-year-old Jamie Watson. The man believed to have pulled the trigger, Jamez Henderson, was earlier sentenced to 54 to 65 years in prison for manslaughter and drug charges.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File