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Girl found unresponsive in Fremont classroom dies

fremont-policeFREMONT, Neb. (AP) — Police say a 7-year-old girl who died in Fremont had been face down in a beanbag chair in her elementary school classroom for about five minutes before she was found.

Kira Hales was found unresponsive Dec. 8, in her special education classroom at Milliken Park Elementary. She was taken to an Omaha hospital and pronounced dead on Dec. 10.

Fremont police detective Brandon Lorenson says an autopsy has been conducted, but more tests need to be done to determine Kira’s cause of death.

Kira’s father, Jerrad Hales, says his daughter, who had a genetic disorder, used a wheelchair but frequently spent time in a beanbag chair at school.

Freemont Public Schools superintendent Mark Shepard and principal Susan Farkas referred questions about Kira’s death to police, citing the ongoing investigation.

George “Tiny” Jackson Star Jr.

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George “Tiny” Jackson Star Jr. age 92, of North Platte, NE passed away Sunday, December 11, 2016 at the North Platte Care Center.
George was born on July 28, 1924 to George Sr. and Sadie (Tetterton) Star in North Platte, NE. He was the third of four children born to the family, Mildred, Glen, George “Tiny”, and Lydia “Marge”. Tiny spent 11 of his 12 school age years at the rural Platte Valley District #8 Schoolhouse. His senior year was at Hershey High School in 1943. He talked of the horse and buggy days and getting to school early to anchor a spot inside the barn.
George was baptized and confirmed Lutheran and a member of the Maria Lutheran Church in Hershey, NE. He had a son, Terry D. Star, born to his first marriage to Tad Trego.
On August 28, 1953 he married Anna S. (Peterson) Hamilton in Colorado Springs, CO. Ann was from Paxton, NE and had a daughter, Judy. Together they had a son, Mike.
In his younger days Tiny was a regular in the bronc riding events at many of the local rodeos and occasionally ventured to some of the bigger rodeos in Cheyenne and Denver.
Tiny with his brother Glen, took over the farm and ranch operation their father had began in 1917 with a real estate purchase north west of North Platte. This was the farm where Tiny and siblings were born and where Tiny made his home his entire life. In 1963 his brother, partner, and best friend, Glen, was killed in an accident on the farm. This left Tiny and his wife, Ann as the sole operators as his father had retired. This is where they raised their three children and managed to keep things together. Today the same operation is known as Star Cattle Company, involving the fourth generation of the Star family. He enjoyed tending to crops and livestock and whatever else it took to run the business. He was known to work day light to dark most every day of the year. His true passion was for cattle, horses, and the wide open spaces found in the Sandhills. At sun up most everyday Tiny could be found on a JD 4020 tractor pulling a feed wagon off to feed cattle. This was the life Tiny choose and he loved doing it. He stayed active in the business and did what he could as long as his health enabled it. Tiny was a faithful husband and father and had lots of friends and when you could get him to stop he would love to visit.
Preceding him in death were his parents, George Sr. and Sadie Star; his wife, Anna (Peterson) Star; a daughter, Judy Wagner; a granddaughter, Shelli Wagner; all his siblings, Mildred (Mid) Bignell, John “Glen” Star, Lydia “Marge” Daugherty (who’s funeral was Monday, December 12th); two brothers-in-law, Jim Bignell, and Raymond Peterson; and two sisters-in-law, Rosalie Peterson, and Judy Peterson.
Survivors include his sons, Terry (Mary) Star of Two Rivers, WI, Mike (Jeanie) Star of rural North Platte, NE; son-in-law, Gene Wagner of Sterling, CO; two brothers-in-law, Jim Daugherty of Downingtown, PA, and Harold Peterson of Paxton, NE; eight grandchildren, Mindy (Jeff) Stewart, Tyler (Shelley) Wagner, Todd, Theresa and Tanya Star, Robert (Jill) Star, Jason (Kayla) Star, and Jacqueline Star; twelve great-grandchildren, McKenzie & Riley Stewart, Ryan, Caden, Kye, and Reece Wagner, Cheyanna Star Baker, Anastacia & Kingston Baker, Taylor Graham, Quinton Star and Elliott Star, and another one very soon. George had some very special nieces and nephews, Jim (Georgia) Bignell, Carol (Mark) Huxta, Brian Daugherty, Randy (Jennifer) Peterson, Jolene (Dave) Morgan, Kendra (Regis) Fletcher, Scott Peterson, as well as many great-nieces and nephews.
Memorials are suggested to the Hershey Volunteer Fire Department and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, December 17, 2016 at Maria Lutheran Church in Hershey, NE with the Reverend Erin Dunlavy officiating. Burial will follow in the Paxton Cemetery. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday with the family receiving friends 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Friday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Dawson County officials ID body found near Lexington

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The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office has identified the human remains found at a rural Lexington farmstead Monday as that of 37-year-old Jose Hernandez.

Chief Dep. Sheriff Mike Hudson says the preliminary results of the autopsy has ruled the manner of death as homicide due to blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.

Investigators believe Hernandez had ties to the Lexington area but, were unsure where he had been residing at the time of death.

A timeline for when the death occurred is still under review.

Hudson says Hernandez’s remains were found outside on the farmstead and under a pile of wooden pallets and fencing materials.

The investigation into the case continues.as found.

HIGHLIGHTS: Career highs from Lewis, Kearns propel Knights past Dodge City CC 87-69

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Knights basketball team ended their two-game skid by defeating the Dodge City Community College Conquistadors 87-69, Wednesday night at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

Josh Boutte started the scoring off to give the Conquistadors a 2-0 lead. That was the only lead that the Conquistadors would have. Samuel Kearns made a 3-pointer to start an 11-0 run to give the Knights an 11-2 lead. Dreon Lewis made a basket to cut the lead to seven at 11-4. That was the closest that the Conquistadors would get. The Knights led at halftime 45-32.

The beginning of the second half, the Conquistadors pulled within 10 at 48-38. The Knights went on a 26-9 run to take their biggest lead at 27 points, 74-47.

Sophomore Victor Lewis scored a career high 24 points to lead the Knights in scoring. Four other Knights scored in double figures. Kearns matched his career high with 17 points. Diontae Champion and Mike Amius each added 12 points, and Nate Duda had 10 points.

Amius made his presence known on defense with seven defensive rebounds, 11 total, and two blocked shots. It was Amius’ first career double-double.

The Conquistadors, now 9-4 had two players in double figures led by Mike Jones with 22 points. Boutte added 16 points, and had 11 rebounds.

The Knights enter into the semester break at 8-2.

The Knights are next in action on January 6, when they host Region IX foe Western Nebraska Community College.

North Platte Weather-December 15

forecast-graphic-december-15-2016Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 30. Wind chill values as low as -5. South wind 8 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. South southeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming east northeast after midnight.
Friday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. Northeast wind 5 to 11 mph.
Friday Night
A 40 percent chance of snow. Patchy blowing snow between 1am and 5am. Cloudy, with a low around -4. North wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Saturday
A 20 percent chance of snow before noon. Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 5.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around -8.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 25.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 3.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 34.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 9.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 39.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 15.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

Bellevue father arrested in death of infant daughter

bellevue-police-patchBELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — A 21-year-old Bellevue man has been arrested on suspicion of causing the death of his 5-month-old daughter.

Police say Cameron Ludi was arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of child abuse resulting in death.

Bellevue police say an autopsy and investigation into the July 3 death of his infant daughter, Cassidy Kennedy, showed the baby girl died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Ludi told police at the time of the baby’s death that she had fallen off a bed where he had placed her before going outside to smoke. He told police that when he returned, he found the baby face down on the floor.

Ludi remained jailed Wednesday and could not be reached for comment. Online court records do not indicate whether Ludi had an attorney Wednesday.

Memorial service held for Burwell teen killed in crash

burwell-neBURWELL, Neb. (AP) — A memorial service has been held for a Burwell teen killed last weekend in a rollover crash.

Authorities say 16-year-old Bryanna Izaguirre, a sophomore at Burwell High School, died after a pickup carrying her and three other teens crashed late Friday in north-central Nebraska east of Burwell.

Izaguirre was pronounced dead early Saturday at Valley County Hospital in Ord. A memorial service was held Wednesday morning at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burwell.

Investigators say the pickup left a gravel road, rolled and hit a tree.

The 17-year-old driver from Ericson and two other 17-year-olds suffered minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital.

The crash remains under investigation by Garfield County authorities and the Nebraska State Patrol.

Charlotte Gertrude Gress Weitzel

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Charlotte Gertrude Gress Weitzel, age 89, of North Platte, NE, passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2016, at Linden Court.

Charlotte was born March 5, 1927, to Charles Franklin and Fern Gertrude McNeal Gress in North Platte where she grew up. She graduated from North Platte High School with the Class of 1945 then attended Parks Business School in Omaha, NE.

On July 15, 1945, Charlotte married Harold Henry Weitzel in North Platte where they made their home and raised three sons. In later years, Charlotte enjoyed traveling with her sons and their wives. She also liked to sew for her family.

Charlotte had been a member of the First Baptist Church for over 50 years.

She is survived by her sons, Hal (Donna) Weitzel and Rod (Deb) Weitzel, of North Platte and Rickey (Connie) Weitzel, of Port Charlotte, FL; five grandchildren, Hally Weitzel, of Highlands Ranch, CO, Kristopher (Gena) Weitzel, Nikki (Paul) Wiezorek and Jenny (John) Zachry, all of North Platte, and Josh (Andrea) Weitzel, of Port Charlotte, FL; 15 great-grandchildren, a great great-grandson; and other family.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Fern Gress; her husband, Harold, in 1995; and granddaughter, Alexis Wiezorek, in 2015.

Funeral Service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, December 20, 2016, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Chaplain Richard Karr officiating. Burial will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. A memorial has been established to the First Baptist Church or Great Plains Hospice in Charlotte’s memory.

Cabela’s holds brief shareholder meeting with no questions

cabelasSIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — Cabela’s first shareholder meeting in more than a year didn’t last long, and executives didn’t address questions about the company’s proposed $4.5 billion sale to rival Bass Pro Shops.

The brief Cabela’s meeting attracted about 20 shareholders to its hometown of Sidney, Nebraska, on Tuesday.

The company plans to hold a separate shareholder meeting, so investors can vote on selling Cabela’s to Springfield, Missouri-based Bass Pro. Tuesday annual meeting had been delayed from the spring while Cabela’s weighed its options.

One of the big questions for Cabela’s is how many jobs will be lost in Sidney after the sale.

Shareholder Jean Lashley has held Cabela’s stock since it went public in 2004. The 76-year-old from Mitchell, Nebraska, says she was expecting more information.

Nebraska fire truck company to be sold

firedptSNYDER, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska company that specializes in making fire trucks is being sold to a publicly traded Michigan company for $36.3 million.

It’s not immediately clear how the deal announced Tuesday will affect Smeal Fire Apparatus’ 400 employees in Nebraska, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Spartan Motors of Charlotte, Michigan, says the deal is set to close in January.

Smeal currently buys about $30 million worth of structural framework from Spartan.

Spartan marketing director Samara Hamilton says the Michigan company would determine what would happen to Smeal’s manufacturing locations and employees.

About 230 people work at the Smeal’s headquarters in Snyder. Smeal also has operations in Neligh.

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