LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 65-year-old Lincoln prison inmate has died.
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says Joe Rodriquez died at 11:55 p.m. Sunday at the State Penitentiary. His cause of death has not yet been determined, but officials say he was being treated for a long-term medical condition.
The department says Rodriquez had been serving a life sentence for two counts of first-degree murder in Hall County. His sentence began Sept. 12, 1988.
Arthur Levi Castor, Jr., age 65, of North Platte, NE, died Saturday, April 15, 2017, at Good Samaritan Health Care Center in Alliance, NE.
Arthur was born May 3, 1951, to Arthur Levi, Sr. and Lola Bernice Brown Castor in North Platte and grew up in Maxwell. Arthur graduated from Maxwell High School then started working as a painter for his dad. He later worked for Doris Gregg Painting and Advanced Painting until he had a work related accident that left him disabled.
Arthur was raised in the Assembly of God Church and was a past member of the Moose Lodge.
He is survived by his mother, Lola Castor, of Alliance; siblings, Roger Castor and Sharon (LeRoy) Perkins, of Maxwell, Linda Houchin and Alice Foster, of North Platte, Esther Castor, of Lusk, WY, and Gladys (Bud) Welch, of Alliance; as well as many nieces, nephews and other family.
Arthur was preceded in death by his father, Arthur Castor, Sr.; sister, Barbara Bates; nephew, Michael Reed; nieces, Melissa Bates and Angela Zimmerman; and the love of his life, Patty Jo Bowen.
Cremation was chosen. Memorial Service will be 1 p.m. on Monday, April 24, 2017, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore Pastor Joe Cissell officiating. Inurnment will follow in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or prior to the service at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorials are to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Alliance Hospice
SCHUYLER, Neb. (AP) — A man with a history of drunken driving has been charged with manslaughter and drunken driving in the crash death of a 15-year-old girl in Schuyler.
23-year-old Angel Lopez is accused of driving drunk during a brief police chase June 15 and then ramming into a tree in Schuyler, fatally injuring Isabella Brandt.
Online jail records say Lopez remained in custody Tuesday, pending $500,000 bail. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press. Lopez’s next court appearance is set for April 25.
Court records say Lopez was convicted of driving under the influence three months ago in Platte County and convicted of reckless driving in 2014.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that seeks to reduce property taxes appears to have stalled in the Nebraska Legislature amid concerns from urban senators and coalitions of farm groups and schools.
Supporters said Tuesday they don’t believe the measure has enough support to overcome a filibuster. Lawmakers debated the bill for roughly three hours but stopped before reaching a vote. It’s unlikely to get debated again this year unless backers can show they have the 33 votes required to force a vote on it.
The bill by Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte would lower Nebraska’s school property tax levy cap and limit the percentage of district funding that could come from property taxes. Schools would have seen an increase in state aid.
Urban senators say it could increase costs for their constituents.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would prevent Nebraska from splitting its electoral votes in presidential elections is headed to the full Legislature for debate.
The Republican-backed winner-take-all proposal advanced out of a legislative committee on Tuesday on a 6-1 vote.
Supporters say the state should speak with one voice in presidential elections. Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Legislature say the bill would reduce the incentive for Omaha-area voters to participate in elections because conservatives hold a strong majority in the state.
Nebraska and Maine are the only states where it’s possible to divide electoral votes between presidential candidates in a general election.
Sen. John Murante of Gretna says he’s hopeful lawmakers will debate his bill this year. The bill hasn’t received a priority designation but could be amended onto another measure.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would require schools to accommodate pregnant and parenting students is headed to a final vote in the Nebraska Legislature despite opposition from rural lawmakers.
Senators advanced the bill Tuesday after defeating an amendment backed by conservative lawmakers that would remove most of the requirements. Opponents argue the measure is an unfunded mandate on school districts.
The bill would require schools to give breastfeeding students a space to express and store milk and adopt written policies for how to handle absences and coursework.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha, says the measure’s requirements are necessary to ensure teen parents have the flexibility they need to raise children and finish high school.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police have issued an arrest warrant for a man in the fatal shooting death of another man in an apartment complex parking lot.
The warrant charges 30-year-old Antoine Johnson, of Omaha, with second-degree murder and a weapons count in the Easter death of 29-year-old Trent Stutheit.
Police say officers sent to investigate reports of gunshots found Stutheit around 8:05 p.m. Sunday. He was taken to Creighton University Medical Center, where he died.
Police said Tuesday that Johnson should be considered armed and dangerous.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 27-year-old Lincoln woman is recovering falling and accidentally stabbing herself in the abdomen with a butcher knife.
Police say the woman was walking in her kitchen while carrying the knife. Officer Katie Flood says she slipped on some water, fell and stabbed herself.
Flood says another woman in the house came to the stabbed woman’s aid when she heard her screaming.
The woman was taken to the hospital with injuries not considered to be life-threatening.
During the evening hours of Friday, April 14, 2017, the Nebraska State Patrol conducted alcohol compliance checks at retail outlets in Red Willow County.
12 businesses were checked, with one of them, Sehnert’s Bakery, 312 Norris Ave, McCook, found to be non-compliant after selling alcohol to a minor. The retail outlets checked included convenience stores, liquor stores, restaurants, and bars.
Law enforcement performs compliance checks to ensure businesses are complying with the state’s alcohol laws and to decrease youth access to alcohol. The compliance checks were conducted thanks in part to a grant from Region II Human Services
UPDATE (4/18/17 5:42 pm)
Parents of students in the North Platte Public School system received a message at around 5:35 p.m., on Tuesday, stating that students who are not fully vaccinated will not be able to return to school or attend school-related activities until April 27, 2017.
In the message, Simpson said this action was taken in accordance with State regulations.
He also asked that people who have traveled to Lincoln, Omaha, Denver or Minneapolis, from March 12-17, and show signs of Measles to contact the West Central District Health Department.
A case of measles has been identified in Lincoln County and three additional persons are being tested due to measles-like symptoms. The West Central District Health Department and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services continue to investigate but no link to the confirmed case in Omaha last month has been identified at this time.
To ensure early recognition, appropriate testing, and thorough epidemiologic investigation of suspected cases, it is strongly encouraged that providers contact their local health department immediately if they suspect a measles diagnosis. This is very important for public health’s ability to identify transmission and provide recommendations to affected persons.
Persons known to have been exposed are being notified.
What are the signs and symptoms of Measles? The signs and symptoms of measles generally begin about 7‐14 days after exposure. A typical case of measles begins with mild to moderate fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes and a sore throat. Two or three days after the symptoms begin, tiny white spots, called Koplick’s spots, may appear inside the mouth. Three to five days after the start of symptoms a red or reddish‐brown rash appears. The rash usually begins on the face at the hairline and spreads downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet.
Exposures Included:
Madison Middle School April 1, 2017 to April 10, 2017 North Platte Public Transit April 3, 207 to April 10, 2017 New Life Church Youth Group April 5, 2017 (6:00pm – 10:30 pm) Great Plains Health Emergency Room April 10, 2017 (6:00pm – 2:30 am) Precise Family Care April 11, 2017 (8:00am – 2:00pm) Great Plains Health Pavilion in Pathology Services April 11, 2017 (11:00 am – 3:00pm) and April 17, 2017 (12:30pm to 2:30pm) Eisenhower Elementary School April 2, 2017 to April 13, 2017 North Platte Airport Diner April 17, 2017 (11:00am – 3:00pm) Suspect Exposure at GNAC Soccer Tournament April 7, 2017 to April 8, 2017 Adams and Madison Soccer Fields, Restrooms, and Concession Areas Big Apple in Kearney, Nebraska April 15, 2017 (4:00pm – 10:30pm) Shell Gas Station (108 2nd Ave in Kearney, Ne) April 15, 2017 (8:00pm – 10:30pm) Kwik Stop (4th and Poplar in North Platte, Ne) April 17, 2017 (4:30pm – 6:30pm)
What should I do if I attended one of these locations? Watch closely for the onset of signs and symptoms of measles. Those who were infected at the locations listed above could develop symptoms up to 21 days after their exposure. If you attended one the of locations on the dates and times listed above and develop symptoms of measles, call your healthcare provider right away to discuss your symptoms and potential exposure before showing up at a clinic. The provider will advise you to either come to the clinic or arrange a visit at a different location so that other people are not exposed.
We want to hear from you: Nebraska had a measles case in and around Omaha over North Platte Public Schools Spring Break (March 9 – 15, 2017). If you have traveled to Omaha and attended any of the below locations, please contact West Central District Health Department at (308) 696-1201. Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum March 13, 2017 (8:00am-2pm) Delta flight 798 from Minneapolis to Omaha March 12, 2017 (8:00pm-10:30pm) Eppley Airfield South Terminal, Omaha March 12, 2017 (10:30pm – 1:30am) Eppley Airfield South baggage claim, Omaha March 12, 2017 (10:30pm – 1:30am) Hampton Inn, 12331 Southport Pkwy La Vista March 12, 2017 – March 17, 2017 Urgent Care of Papillion, S 73rd Plaza March 15, 2017 (6:00pm – 8:30pm) CHI Urgent Care, S 96th St La Vista March 15, 2017 (7:00pm – 10:00pm) Bergan Mercy Hospital ED, Omaha March 15, 2017 (8:30pm – 12:00am)
If I have been vaccinated or had measles in the past am I protected? You are protected against measles if you have been adequately vaccinated against measles or if you have had measles in the past.
• People born prior to 1957 are considered to be immune because at that time most people were infected with measles as children.
• Most persons under 40 years of age who were compliant with school entry requirements have had two doses of MMR and have a very low risk of developing measles if exposed. Persons who were non‐compliant with that requirement are at high risk if exposed to a person shedding the measles virus.
• Preschool children 12 months of age or older should have had at least one dose of measles‐ containing vaccine.
• Infants less than 12 months of age are too young to be vaccinated and should be monitored closely for symptoms if they attended one of the events listed above. Call your health care provider if your infant has been exposed and is too young to be vaccinated to discuss options. Healthcare personnel and frequent international travelers should have 2 MMR doses.
Adults born in or after 1957 who are not healthcare personnel or frequent international travelers and cannot confirm that they have been vaccinated or had measles in the past should consider getting a dose of vaccine at this time to minimize the risk of acquiring measles in the future.
What should I do if I have questions about my vaccination status? You can call your healthcare provider or the West Central District Health Department at (308) 221- 6831 or (308) 696-1201 to discuss your immunization history and whether you need to get a vaccination at this time. Where can I get vaccinated against measles? You can call your healthcare provider or West Central District Health Department at (308) 221-6831 or (308) 696-1201.
RELATED CONTENT
https://www.northplattepost.com/2017/04/17/unconfirmed-case-of-measles-reported-at-np-elementary-school/
https://www.northplattepost.com/2017/04/15/updated-breaking-news-officials-investigating-lab-confirmed-case-of-measles-in-np/
