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Warren David Kennedy

Warren David Kennedy, age 86, of Sutherland, NE, passed away on Saturday, July 29, 2017, at Great Plains Health.

Warren was born June 15, 1931, to Louis David “Dave” and Myrtie Bell (Humphrey) Kennedy on the family farm north of Sutherland. He grew up on the farm and attended Sutherland Public School, graduating in 1949. In 1951, Warren enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the 82nd Airborne Division. Following his discharge in ’54, he returned to Sutherland and farmed with his dad, which he did all his life.

On May 26, 1957, Warren was united in marriage to Geraldine Ann “Gerry” Schwieger in Grand Island, NE. They continued living and working on the family farm where they raised three children, Sherry, Larry and Kenneth, and had celebrated 60 years of marriage. Warren loved farming and liked to see his feedlot full of cattle. He was able to live the dream of farming with his dad, his sons and his grandkids.

Warren was active in the Sutherland community, serving on the Sutherland Co-op Board of Directors, the School Board, and 4-H Club where he was a club leader and started the Beefmakers 4-H Club in 1968 with Jim Colburn; the club is still active today. He was also a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Along with farming, Warren loved fishing and taking fishing trips to Canada where he was also a founding owner of KenRo Fish Camp. Most importantly, he dearly loved his family, especially his grandkids, and always took an interest in their activities. Warren will be deeply missed and remembered for his great sense of humor.

He leaves behind his loving wife, Gerry, of Sutherland; children, Sherry (Frank) Thompson, of Columbus, NE, and Larry (Annette) Kennedy, and Kenneth (Renee) Kennedy, all of Sutherland; his stepmother, Rosie Kennedy, of Sutherland; grandchildren, Cassidee (Eric) Grubaugh, Sean (Adrienne) Kennedy, Jess Thompson, Sarah Kennedy (fiancé, Ben Rivera), David Kennedy, Samantha Kennedy and Talon Crago; great-grandson, Breccan Kennedy; sisters, Virginia (Lon) Wisdom and Jeanie Kennedy (Ross Dinwiddie), and sister-in-law, Iris Kennedy, all of Sutherland; and other family.

Warren was preceded in death by his parents, Dave and Myrtie Kennedy; brother, Don Kennedy; and granddaughter, Katie Kennedy.

Cremation was chosen. Memorial Service will be 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 2, 2017, at the Sutherland Presbyterian Church. Inurnment with military honors will follow in the Riverview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the Warren Kennedy Memorial, which will be designated later. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements.

Nebraska agencies make special preparations for eclipse

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State agencies are making special preparations for the solar eclipse that’s expected draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to Nebraska.

Gov. Pete Ricketts outlined the plans Monday with officials from the state’s parks, tourism, transportation, law enforcement and emergency management agencies.

Officials estimate Nebraska will see between 100,000 and 400,000 visitors because it’s a prime location to view the Aug. 21 eclipse. A large swath of the state will experience a total eclipse, in which the moon completely obscures the sun’s light for a few minutes.

The Nebraska State Patrol and Department of Transportation are bracing for a large increase in road traffic. The transportation department plans to temporarily reduce the number of construction and maintenance projects scheduled for that day.

Tourism officials are working with cities on viewing parties.

Inmate accused of assaulting staff member at Nebraska prison

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prison officials say an inmate punched and kicked one of their staff members in the face and then fled when other employees arrived to intervene.

Officials say the assault took place Monday in a dining hall at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. They say the staff member suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Officials say the injured staffer was punched in the face several times and fell to the group, at which time the inmate kicked the staff member. The inmate, who was not publicly identified, was restrained by other staff members shortly after the assault.

Prison officials say the Nebraska State Patrol is investigating and will provide details to a local prosecutor to see whether charges should be filed.

Dolores Marquez

Dolores Marquez, 96, of North Platte passed away July 30, 2017 at Centennial Park Retirement Village.

Dolores was born on April 4, 1921 in Muzquiz Coahuila, Mexico to Damaso and Maria (de los Angeles) Maldonado.  She grew up in Mexico; her husband’s family were migrant workers and Dolores stayed in Hershey, NE when her children were school age so they didn’t have to travel with the workers.  She married Placido Marquez in North Platte in 1954.

Dolores enjoyed cooking, crocheting, and especially her flower gardens.  She will be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother, and a very hard worker.

Survivors include daughters, Mary (Dr. Jerry) Edelman of Jordan, NM and Olga (John) Caudillo of North Platte; son, Antonio Marquez of Stockton, Ca; grandchildren, Dr. Kent (Sherry) Edelman of Clive, IA, Dr. Kevin (Jill) Edelman of Eagan, MN, Kim Edelman of Minneapolis, MN, and Greg Caudillo of North Platte; great-grandchildren, Lucy, Natalie,  and Annie Edelman of Clive, IA, Jake, and Tommy Edelman of Eagan, MN, Gregory and Marcus Caudillo of North Platte; brother, Milo Maldonado of Mexico; several nieces, nephews, and other family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Placido; and a son, Federico.

Memorials may be made in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com

Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday August 2, 2017 at the North Platte City Cemetery with the Reverend Matthew Nash officiating.  Visitation will be 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

 

Authorities ID body found in southern Nebraska cornfield

FUNK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a woman whose body was found in a southern Nebraska cornfield.

Phelps County Attorney Michael Henry said in a news release Monday that the woman had been identified as 51-year-old Cynthia Lammers, who lived in Kearney. A final determination on the cause of her death awaits final autopsy results.

Phelps County Sheriff Gene Samuelson has said an agronomist found the body July 11, just north of Funk. Samuelson said it appeared the body had been there about a week.

No arrests have been reported in the homicide investigation.

Northeast Nebraska mayor charged with child sexual abuse

RANDOLPH, Neb. (AP) — The mayor of a northeast Nebraska city has been charged with intentional child abuse and four counts of child sexual abuse.

Court records say 61-year-old Dwayne Schutt has bonded out of custody. He declined to comment Monday when reached at a Randolph number listed for him in court records. Schutt’s attorney didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press.

A court appearance for Schutt is scheduled Wednesday in Hartington.

Schutt has been mayor of Randolph since 2011. The Cedar County city has about 940 residents.

DHHS Will Ship Thousands of Tons of U.S.D.A. Food to About 425 Nebraska Schools, Child Cares

Lincoln – Just as families are gearing up for the start of school, the Department of Health and Human Services this week also is preparing orders to make monthly deliveries of more than 4,900 tons of food to about 425 Nebraska schools and child care programs through its Food Distribution Program.

DHHS’ Children and Family Division distributes U.S. Department of Agriculture foods donated to schools and child cares across the state. U.S.D.A. supports domestic agriculture by purchasing surplus commodities, and provides it in support of the agency’s child nutrition programs.

“As the distributors of U.S.D.A. food to our state’s young people, we’re glad to coordinate deliveries so our students receive nutritionally rich foods to help them excel at school,” said DHHS CEO Courtney Phillips. “Along with our support of Nebraska citizens through other programs, the Food Distribution Program complements our mission to help people live better lives.”

Students will be glad to note that their three favorites – cups of strawberry, applesauce and diced peaches – once again will be available this year. Favorite main course meals like whole grain breaded chicken nuggets and patties also will be served. New additions to the menu will be pulled pork and tuna.

In all, DHHS offers 160 different U.S.D.A.-donated foods. Last school year, DHHS distributed 374,581 cases of American grown or produced food worth more than $10 million to Nebraska schools and child cares. The no-cost food comprises 15-20 percent of the food they will serve.

Besides those savings, DHHS applied for and received funds from U.S.D.A.’s State Administrative Expenses for Child Nutrition to pay nearly all transportation and warehousing costs, saving schools and child care programs more than $1 million. The Food and Distribution Program contracts for warehouse and delivery services and pays the contractor with the funds.

Additional savings will be achieved with DHHS coordinating the direct shipment of about 80,000 cases of U.S.D.A. food to larger school districts. That move will avoid state transportation and warehousing costs, and savings are expected to exceed $300,000.

Betty June Dowhower

Betty June Dowhower, age 89, of North Platte, NE, passed away at Linden Court on Friday, July 28, 2017.

Betty was born January 24, 1928, to Carl Albert and Mary Aileen Witter Halverson in Wellfleet, NE. The family later moved to Maxwell, NE, then North Platte where Betty graduated from North Platte High School in 1945.

On August 1, 1946, Betty was united in marriage to Raymond Leonard Dowhower in Oberlin, KS, and they made their home in North Platte. The couple loved riding their motorcycle and traveling on vacations. They later bought a motor home which they enjoyed traveling in. Betty and Raymond were married for nearly 57 years when he passed away in 2003.

Betty had worked as a clerk at Montgomery Ward’s for many years. She was an avid golfer and liked crocheting, knitting and making afghans for the Senior Center. Betty especially loved her cats and backyard squirrels.

She is survived by her daughters, Linda (Randy) Blake, of North Platte, Carol (Mark) Kauffman, of Keensburg, CO, and Allison Yeagley, of North Platte; 10 grandchildren, Brandi Weinman, Clayton Weinman, Kyle Weinman, Traci (Shawn) Peterson, Kris (Ed) Judd, Jeri (Dennis) Rector, Matthew Kauffman, Jason (Tina) Yeagley, Jacob (Rhonda) Yeagley and Sarah (Andrew) Eshleman; many great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews and other family.

Along with her husband, Raymond, Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Carl, Sr. and Mary Halverson; sisters, Barbara Bare and Dorothy Foster; brothers, Kenneth, Carl, Jr., James, Richard, Gordan, Gale and Don Halverson; two granddaughters; and a great-grandson.

Cremation was chosen. Graveside Memorial Service will be 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 2, 2017, in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdayat Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for PAWS-itive Partners.

Marjorie Ann Citta

Marjorie Ann Citta, age 88 of Sutherland, passed away Friday July 28, 2017 at Centennial Park Nursing Home in North Platte.

Marge was born on July 21, 1929 in Omaha, NE to Bernard and Margaret (Simanzik) Dose.  She graduated from Bellevue High School.  She married Joe Citta on June 5, 1948 at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Omaha and the couple lived in Bellevue for 40 years where she worked for the Bellevue Public Schools for many years.  They moved to Hershey in 1976 where Joe was a shift supervisor at the Gerald Gentleman Station.  They moved to Sutherland in 1988 where she was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, as well as the Altar Society, American Legion Auxiliary, and was an RSVP volunteer.  She loved to knit and crochet, was an excellent cook and baker, enjoyed polka music and dancing and loved her black Labradors and fishing.  Marge and Joe are the center of their family and she always had a kind ear for anybody who needed her; she will be dearly missed.

Marge is survived by Joe, her husband of 69 years; children Joe Jr. (Sue) Citta of Columbus, Linda (Patrick Scolla) Citta of Fallston, Maryland; grandchildren David (Lisa) Citta, Jessica (Jim ) Reay of Lincoln, Jason (Meghan) Citta of Hershey, Joe (Amber) Citta III of Columbus, Debbie (Tom) Ford of Omaha; great grandchildren Lane and Sam Citta, Emma and Ashley Gartner, Miah Ford, Eastyn and Joe IV Citta, Owen and Ella Reay; daughter-in-law Wendy Citta of Lincoln; sister-in-law Lou Dose of Omaha; as well as many other extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Bernard and Margaret Dose; son David; and brothers George and Hank.

Memorials are suggested to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church or to the donor’s choice and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Christian Wake Services will be held 7:00 p.m. Monday July 31, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sutherland.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday August 1, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Reverend Josh Brown as Celebrant.  Burial will be 2:30 p.m. Wednesday August 2, 2017 in Omaha at the Westlawn Hillcrest Cemetery.  There will be a reception at 1:00 p.m. at the Westlawn Funeral Home prior to the burial.  Local visitation will be from noon until 5:00 p.m. Monday July 31, 2017 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Ruling on juveniles serving life prompted change in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nearly all of the Nebraska prisoners serving life without parole for crimes they committed as juveniles got new sentences in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, but for some it made little difference.

Nebraska lawmakers overhauled the state’s sentencing laws in 2013 in response to the high court’s ruling the previous year that banned mandatory life sentences for crimes committed at age 17 or younger.

The law eliminated mandatory life without parole for juveniles and set a new sentencing range of 40 years to life for those who commit first-degree murder or kidnapping.

However, some inmates received new sentences of 80 or 90 years to life, which critics say is effectively a life sentence.

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