LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is kicking off its 150th anniversary with four new initiatives to promote volunteerism, fitness, a sense of history and knowledge about the state.
Nebraska’s first lady, Susanne Shore, unveiled the programs Wednesday with Gov. Pete Ricketts and organizers.
The Nebraska Impact initiative encourages residents to volunteer at least 150 hours next year and track their progress online.
The Nebraska 150 Challenge is a web-based fitness program that challenges residents to walk, run, bike or swim at least 150 miles in 2017.
The Now You Know Nebraska program is a series of 174 short online videos with snippets of interesting facts about the state.
The I Am Nebraska initiative is an effort to collect oral histories of Nebraska.
Nebraska became the nation’s 37th state on March 1, 1867.
A North Platte man is facing a felony child abuse and a weapons charge after he allegedly assaulted his teen daughter’s boyfriend.
On December 28, at around 3:12 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 800 block of South York Avenue after it was reported that someone had broken into the home by kicking in the back door.
As officers were responding to the scene, a woman called the North Platte 911 Center to report that her 16-year-old son had been assaulted at the same residence where the alleged break-in had occurred, and that she was taking him to the Emergency Room.
An officer was dispatched to the Emergency Room at Great Plains Health, where he met with the boy and his mother. The boy told the officer that he had been communicating with his 13-year-old girlfriend via telephone when she asked him if he would meet her outside her house, and wait in the alley.
The boy reported that, when he arrived at his girlfriend’s house, he saw the back door open and assumed it was her. Instead, it was her father, 31-year-old Sean Naliielua, who was armed with what police are referring to as a “brass knuckle taser.” The victim said Naliielua repeatedly punched him in the face with the weapon before he was finally able to escape and contact his mother.
Meanwhile, officers met with Naliielua at the residence. Naliielua claimed that he had been sleeping when an unknown male kicked in his back door and entered the residence, so he began to punch him. According to Investigator John Deal, Naliielua showed officers a splintered door jamb and claimed that was the point of entry.
However, the officers noticed that the door jamb had already been repaired, and found it strange that a door would be repaired shortly after a home invasion was reported.
The officers then interviewed Naliielua’ daughter. She reported that she had been communicating with her boyfriend when her dad heard her phone alert. When he discovered that she was communicating with the boy, she said he told her to ask him to meet her in the alley. She said she did this and, when he texted that he had arrived, her dad exited the house. She said when he came back inside, he was holding the brass knuckle stun gun which had blood on it.
Officers investigated further and discovered a set of plastic brass knuckles built onto a stun gun in the trash can of the home. Deal the weapon still had blood on it when it was recovered.
Additionally, Deal says no blood was found in the home, but officers did discover blood and signs of a struggle in the alley behind the home.
In the end, Deal said it was apparent that Naliielua had made up the story about the home invasion and had lured the boy to the home so he could assault him.
Naliielua was placed under arrest and transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center. He’s been charged with felony aggravated child abuse and use of a weapon to commit a felony. He’s being held on ten percent of $50,000 bond.
Deal says the 13-year-old was removed from the home.
The boy’s injuries aren’t believed to be life threatening.
Charles Everette ‘Chuck’ Wilcox, age 68, of North Platte, NE, died Tuesday, December 27, 2016, at Centennial Park Retirement Village.
Chuck was born November 2, 1948, to Marlyn Dale and Lois Hougham Wilcox in North Platte. He grew up and attended school in North Platte then went to work for Reinhardt Plumbing. Chuck later moved to Alliance, NE, where he hired on with the Burlington Northern Railroad as a Pipefitter. He returned to North Platte in 1985 and went back to Reinhart’s before working for himself. Chuck had owned several business then started A-1 Services which he owned until 2010 when he started a scrap metal service. He had worked until recently when his health declined.
On February 8, 1969, Chuck married Marilyn Kay Kuehl in North Platte and they were together for nearly 48 years. He loved fishing, hunting, wood working, and watching movies. He was also a member of the Arnold Nazarene Church.
Chuck leaves behind his wife, Marilyn, two daughters, Chari (Tony) Znaniecki and Tina Gastineau, and mother and stepfather, Lois and Charles Baker, all of North Platte; his father and stepmother, Marlyn, Sr. and Beverly Wilcox, of Texas; five grandchildren, Markus, Matthew, Corbin, Ethan and Sebastian; sisters, Ronda Schultz, Teresa Silcox, and Judy (Chuck) Schanfish; brothers, Marlyn, Jr. (Ellen) Wilcox, Danny (Un Chu) Wilcox, and Stanton (Brenda) Wilcox; friend, Kim Ziel, of North Platte; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Stephen Wilcox; sister, Michelle Bernt; and an infant brother and sister.
Cremation was chosen. Memorial Service will be 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 4, 2017, at the Parkview Community Church of the Nazarene. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or prior to the service at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.
Macayla K. Razes, 21, of North Platte passed away Friday, December 23, 2016, as a result of a car accident near Sterling, CO.
Macayla was born December 11, 1995 in North Platte. She attended pre-kindergarten in Iowa, and returned to North Platte where she attended Lincoln Elementary, Madison and Adams Middle Schools, and graduated from North Platte High School in 2014. Macayla came to North Platte to live with her father in November 2000, and was currently living with her aunt Cathy.
Macayla enjoyed swimming and hanging out at the lake, listening to music, climbing, watching scary movies, Law and Order, and Forensic Files. Her favorite things were spending time with her siblings, cousins, and friends. Macayla especially loved being a mommy to her son Raiden. Noone was a stranger to her and she claimed many friends as her brothers and sisters.
Survivors include her son Raiden Maddox Smith and his father Aaron Smith, both of North Platte; father, Dennis Razes of North Platte; mother, Amber Bachman (Darren) Strough of Pinewood Springs, Colorado; aunt Cathy Razes (who raised her) of North Platte; grandparents, Denise and Bruce Brummer of Merna, Terry and Kathy Collins of North Platte, Tom Bachman of Auburn, Iowa, and Cindy Fertig of Lakeview, Iowa; great-grandparents, Janet Razes and Lewis Collins of North Platte, and Nancy Fertig of Lakeview, Iowa; sisters, Charity Flippo of WA, Amanda Prososki of Schuyler, Morgan Nowatzke of Huron, SD, Baily Schrader and Shaylin Talbot of Atkinson, Marissa and Madison Strough of Pinewood Springs, CO; brother, Tyson Hunter of Carroll, IA; special aunts, Brenda Heinzle of North Platte, Tia Collins of Lincoln, and April Derra of Omaha; special cousin, Joshua Tudor of Lincoln; and many other aunts, uncles, cousins, and special friends.
Macayla was preceded in death by her angel baby; great-grandparents, Dennis Razes, Othmar and Betty Bachman and Jim Fertig; and an uncle, Brett Brummer.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be established in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 31, 2016 at Salvation Army Church with Captain Anthony Bowers and Pastor Job Vigil officiating. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. with the family receiving friends 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday, December 30, 2016 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
Terry L. Haney, 66, of North Platte passed away at his home on December 27, 2016 from complications of Idopalatic Pulmonary Disease.
Terry was born December 7, 1950 in North Platte to Robert C. and Lola (Arterburn) Haney.
He grew up in North Platte, NE attending North Platte schools and served in the National Guard from 1970 – 1976. Terry was employed with the Union Pacific Railroad until 2011, when he retired. He met and married Sandy (Houpt) Morris on September 24, 1988. Terry attended the North Platte Berean Church.
Terry’s interests were deer, pheasant, and duck hunting, and four wheeling with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was a member of the NRA and Platte River Sportsman Club. He loved his family, friends, and Christmas.
Survivors include his wife, Sandy of North Platte; daughters, Toni (Bennie) Campton of Littleton, CO, and Tammi Griffis of Maxwell; sons, Travis Harris of Littleton, CO, and Darrin (Darla) Morris of Maxwell; grandchildren, Ty (Erinn) Campton, Vincent Campton and Zach (Britta) Campton, Taime (Jess) Hill, Evan Griffis, Brandon Worth, Chelsea Worth, and Ashley Pratt; 11 great-grandchildren; best friend, George (Linda) Somerhalder of Arlington, TX; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Tammy Lynn: and brothers, Robert, Donnie, and Dennis Call and his beloved dog, Pine Cone.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Great Plains Hospice, Paws-i-tive Partners or the Berean Church of North Platte. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 29, 2016 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home with Jason Davis officiating. At Terry’s request, family and friends are to dress casual. Burial will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Wednesday with the family receiving friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
Bruce C. Becker, 80, of North Platte, died December 25th, 2016 at the North Platte Care Center.
A private family memorial service will be held. Carpenter Memorial Chapel in charge of arrangements
Partly sunny, with a high near 46. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 38 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 16. West northwest wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 42. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 11 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 16. West wind 6 to 11 mph becoming light and variable.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 53. West wind 5 to 9 mph.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 35.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 18.
New Year’s Day
Mostly sunny, with a high near 41.
Sunday Night
A slight chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18.
Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 29.
Monday Night
A slight chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 6.
Tuesday
A slight chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 17.
Many Americans like to ring in each New Year with some friends and some adult beverages. While it’s fun in the moment, it’s not fun when your drive home ends with red and blue lights in your rearview mirror.
Janssen Auto Group wants to make sure that your night doesn’t end like that.
The car dealer will be offering free safe rides home on New Year’s Eve, and will be running a shuttle service within a five-mile radius of North Platte, Holdrege, McCook, York and Larned, Kansas. Organizers say the shuttle will run from 8:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
To take advantage of this free service, contact Buddy Enyeart at 308-520-7784 or Clayton Mathieu at 308-539-8878.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Christmas is the season of giving, and January the month of returns.
UPS expects to deliver 1.3 million packages back to retailers on Jan. 5, celebrated by the delivery service, but no one else, as “National Returns Day.”
Surging online sales have been followed by a surge of returns by air and if UPS is right, it will be its busiest returns day ever, topping last year’s 1 million.
By the end of January’s first week, the Atlanta company said Tuesday that it will likely have returned 5.8 million packages, topping last year’s 5 million, which was also a record.
A survey by the National Retail Federation estimated that more than $260 billion worth of merchandise was returned 2015.
Sarrah Frances Kuhl, 79, of Hershey passed away December 26, 2016 at Centennial Park Retirement Village.
Sarrah was born April 1, 1937 in Wallace, NE to Sidney and Mary (Holub) Zimmerman. She graduated from Wallace High School in 1954. Sarrah took Normal School Training in McCook and following that taught several years at small country schools. On February 8, 1957 Sarrah married William Kuhl Jr. in North Platte. The couple lived in Rapid City, Valentine, and Dawson County, before settling in Hershey in 1968. Sarrah graduated from Kearney State College in 1980. After graduating, she was a substitute teacher in North Platte before returning to teaching where she taught at Platte Valley for 8 years.
Sarrah belonged to Hershey United Methodist Women, where she was a very faithful devotional leader. She was a member of the extension club of Hershey and a 4-H leader. She loved her gardening, and flowers, enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, sewing, and making many of her children’s clothes. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the center of her life.
Survivors include her husband William Kuhl Jr. of Hershey; daughters, Terri (Gene) Woodward of Wichita Falls, Texas, Jo (Curtis) Smith, and Cherilyn Kuhl all of North Platte; and a son, William Kuhl III of Hartford, SD; sister-in-law, Darlene Zimmerman of Lexington; grandchildren, Jerry, Christina, Joseph, Brad, Tony, Wes, Brittany, and Eli; and several great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law, William and Elsie Kuhl; sisters, Genevieve Kline, Lucy Brisbane, Annie Pace, and Elsie Buller; brother, Frank Zimmerman; and a grandson, Aaron Kuhl.
Memorials are suggested to the Hershey United Methodist Women or to the Hershey Volunteer Fire Department. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com
Graveside Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 30, 2016 at Morningview Cemetery near Wallace with Pastor Mark Baldwin officiating. There will be a dinner following the graveside at the Hershey United Methodist Church. Those who are unable to attend the service are welcome to attend. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Thursday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is kicking off its 150th anniversary with four new initiatives to promote volunteerism, fitness, a sense of history and knowledge about the state.
