Post Staff – Page 645 – North Platte Post Archive

Douglas County grand jurors: Officers should have cameras

Posted on March 3, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Douglas County grand jury is recommending all law enforcement officers be equipped with body cameras.

The grand jurors issued the recommendation Thursday after reviewing the deaths of seven people who died while in the presence of police.

The 16 grand jurors opted not to issue any indictments in connection with the deaths but offered the camera recommendation after reviewing some cases where there was video and others without video.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine says having video “makes everybody’s job easier.”

Omaha police have more than 100 body cameras and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and other city police use cameras, but not all officers have them.

Nebraska Crane Trust prepares for 2 migrations

Posted on March 3, 2017

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The Grand Island area is preparing for the annual migration of about 600,000 cranes through central Nebraska — and thousands of bird-gazing tourists.

Chuck Cooper is president and chief executive officer of Crane Trust, a nonprofit that works to protect crane habitat. He says there are actually two migrations, with people coming from around the world to see the cranes.

Cooper says Crane Trust guests have included people from China. He says workers from Houston, Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio, are also planning to visit this year.

Anne Winkel with Rowe Sanctuary says the quantity of cranes is what makes viewing them popular in central Nebraska.

Cooper says that at one point last year, there were 430,000 cranes on Crane Trust’s land.

Nebraska passes bill extending military plates to reservists

Posted on March 3, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force Reserves will qualify for military honor license plates under a bill passed by the Nebraska Legislature.

Senators voted 46-1 Friday on the bill sponsored by Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse. It would create five new license plate designs.

Watermeier says the bill will honor reservists who have served their country.

Officers of the United States Public Health Service or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also could apply for the plates.

Veterans and active members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and National Guard already qualify for military honor plates. The plates cost the same as standard license plates.

Nebraska councilman fined after profiting from contracts

Posted on March 3, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Sutton city councilman has been fined $2,000 after a construction company he owns did work on several city projects.

The Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission said Friday that Sutton City Councilman Jeff Schelkopf erred in not making sure three contracts between his company and the city had public discussion and action at city council meetings.

Schelkopf’s company, Quality Builders, built a concession stand at the city’s baseball field complex, repaired a city building’s roof and fixed a community center door. In all, the city of Sutton paid Quality Builders more than $100,000 for the projects.

Schelkopf did file disclosure reports noting he owned the business and says he did not intend to break the law. He has agreed to pay the fine.

Grand jury clears York officers involved in shooting death

Posted on March 3, 2017

YORK, Neb. (AP) — A grand jury has cleared officers involved in the shooting death of a 53-year-old York man during a confrontation as a hospital.

The grand jury found no criminal conduct in the Dec. 10 shooting death of Timothy Case at York General Hospital.

Police have said officers were called to the hospital because Case was threatening staff and an emergency room doctor with a knife. Police say that when Officers Roger Wolfe Jr. and Christopher Jespen arrived, Case refused orders to drop his knife. Authorities say Case was shot once as he advanced on Wolfe while holding the knife.

State law requires a grand jury investigation any time a person is killed in custody or while being arrested.

Lady Knights volleyball signs Ogallala’s Amanda Kroeger

Posted on March 3, 2017March 3, 2017

Ogallala High School senior Amanda Kroeger signs letter of intent to play volleyball for the North Platte Community College Lady Knights. Seated, L-R, Dad Ward Kroeger, Kristi Kroeger, Amanda, Ogallala Head Coach Steve Morgan. Standing: Alexa McCall, NPCC Head Volleyball Coach. — Ogallala High School senior Amanda Kroeger signs her letter of intent to play volleyball for the North Platte Community College Lady Knights. Seated, L-R, Ward Kroeger, Kristi Kroeger, Amanda, Ogallala Head Coach Steve Morgan. Standing: Alexa McCall, NPCC Head Volleyball Coach.

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team has announced the signing of Amanda Kroeger of Ogallala to their 2017 recruiting class.

Kroeger, a 5’ 10” outside hitter played for the Ogallala High School Lady Indians under head coach Steve Morgan.

In her career, Kroeger played in 167 sets, recording 397 kills, 248 defensive digs, 34 total blocks and 53 service aces.

“We are excited to complete our roster with Amanda because she is a great kid that comes from a great program.” Lady Knights Head Coach Alexa McCall said, “She is an outside and we will look for her to be a contender for the outside position. She’s a solid player all the way around.”

Kroeger is the Lady Knights ninth and final recruit for the 2017 season. Kroeger joins her high school teammate Jade Max from Ogallala, Neci Sundquist from Dayton, Wyo., Carly Moss from Loveland, Colo., Carlie Wytulka from Nucla, Colo., Luisa Hernandez from Yuma, Colo., Shaylee Johnson from Fleming, Colo., Jordyn Simpson from North Platte, and Taylin McNair from Imperial are the other signees.

Jack Edwin Creel

Posted on March 3, 2017March 8, 2017

Jack Edwin Creel, age 87 of North Platte, went to meet his beloved wife in paradise on Thursday March 2, 2017.

Jack was born October 6, 1929 in Sour Lake, TX to Benjamin J. and Effie G. (Hardie) Creel. He enlisted in the US Navy at 19 years old and was very proud of his service. He served from 1948 to 1952, in Navy Occupation, China Service, and the Korean Service. He served aboard the USS Antietam CV-36, USS Valley Forge CV-45, and USS Block Island CVE-109. With that service he was awarded the 4 Star UN Medal along with a Good Conduct Medal. Upon his discharge in San Francisco, CA he met his future wife, Mary Ernestine Miles in Oakland, CA. They married on August 31, 1952. He settled in North Platte with his new wife and started working for the Union Pacific Railroad, only starting his own business, Creel Auto Electric, when laid off. When called back, he returned to the railroad as an I.B.E.W. electrician, retiring after 27 years. Jack was a Texan to the end with a friendly nature and a Texas twang. He was loved by all his family and he knew it. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandpa who will be greatly missed.

Jack is survived by his son James Newport Creel of North Platte; daughters Carol Ann McKain of North Platte, Julie Perez of North Platte, and Ann Marie Richardson of Kearney; 15 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren with one coming in September; his first cousin and best friend Alton (Bo) Jordon of Kountze, TX; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in TX, AK, LA and CA; as well as many other extended relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ernestine Creel; parents Ben J. and Effie Creel; parents-in-law Ernest and Mary I. (McNeel) Miles; grandson Luke McKain; great granddaughter Elli Perez; brother and sister-in-law Franklin H. and Helen Creel; sisters Clara Ann Fee, Mary Francis Cook, brothers and sisters-in-law Terry and Peggy Miles, Richard and Virginia Diener, and nephews Mick and Thomas Diener.

Memorials are suggested in his name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Christian Wake Services will be 12:30 p.m. Monday March 13, 2017, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with Reverend C.P. Varghese as Celebrant. Inurnment will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with military honors. Those wishing to do so may sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday, March 9^th and 10^th, at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

2 inmates killed in Nebraska prison revolt identified

Posted on March 3, 2017March 3, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have identified the two inmates killed in a riot at a Nebraska prison where a similar deadly incident occurred two years ago.

The state Department of Corrections said Friday that 39-year-old Damon Fitzgerald and 31-year-old Michael Galindo died in the Thursday revolt at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.

No details have been released about how the inmates died or what led to the incident.

Some lawmakers are accusing prison officials of trying to downplay the incident at the prison, where two inmates were killed in a May 2015 revolt that caused millions of dollars in damage and demands for upgrades and better staffing.

Thursday’s riot involved about 40 inmates who refused to return to their cells. Galindo was serving 12 to 21 years on robbery and other charges. Fitzgerald was sentenced to hundreds of years in prison for crimes including sexual assault.

John “Jack” James Thalken

Posted on March 3, 2017

John “Jack” James Thalken, age 91, of North Platte passed away February 28, 2017 at Great Plains Health.

Jack was born on December 27, 1925 in Laramie, WY to George and Catherine (Welsh) Thalken. At an early age, the family moved to North Platte, NE. Jack attended McDaid Elementary and St. Patrick’s High School, graduating with the class of 1945. He entered the Army after graduation and was discharged as Cpl. in 1946. In November 1946 he began working at the First National Bank, retiring in 1991 after 44 years.

In April 1947 Jack married Betty Hoefer, his high school sweetheart. They celebrated almost 70 years of married life. He belonged to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Knights of Columbus Council 1211 as a 3^rd and 4^th Degree and also the American Legion. He volunteered with the Lincoln County Historical Museum, RSVP, and AARP. He was instrumental in obtaining the steam locomotive 3977 and Centennial locomotive 6922 in Cody Park.

Survivors include his wife, Betty; sons, Stephen (Debra) Thalken of Peoria, AZ, and David (Bette) Thalken of Granbury, TX; daughters, Cindy (Bill) Mills, of North Platte, Patricia (Phil) Bahl of Omaha, Mary (Blake) Gigax of Hayes Center, and Diana (Terry) McCarty of North Platte; 19 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; sister Ruth Hastings; as well as other extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Eileen and Ceclia; and brother George.

In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the North Platte Catholic Schools and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Christian Wake Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 7, 2017 with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with the Reverend Josh Brown as Celebrant. Inurnment will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at Fort McPherson National Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be from noon until 9:00 p.m. Monday, March 6, 2017 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

North Platte Weather-March 3

Posted on March 3, 2017

Today

Sunny, with a high near 62. South southeast wind 7 to 11 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 21. West northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming south southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 29. South wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 72. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Breezy.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 23.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 59.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 30.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 66.