Lynn E. Phillips, the youngest child of Clarence and Jessica (Brott) Phillips was born in the home of his grandparents Edwin and Margaret Brott in Mullen, NE on August 17, 1933 and departed this life on December 7, 2016 at his home in Mullen. For the first two years he lived in a sod house on his grandparent Phillips’ homestead 30 miles north of Whitman and then the family moved to a ranch 13 miles northeast of Mullen where he grew up. He rode his pony 2 ½ miles to the Virginia school and later graduated from the Mullen High School in 1951. He married Joellen Loudon on March 23, 1951 and except for 6 months in Arkansas, they lived on the home ranch north of Mullen. In 1959 the family moved to Mullen and opened Phillips Tire and Service and provided auto body repair, general auto mechanics, Allis Chalmers farm equipment, and tires. When his father decided to retire in the early 1970s they sold the business and purchased the ranch and cattle and moved back to the country. When his sons married he turned the ranch over to them. At this time, his father-in-law, Roy Loudon, who lived north of Thedford, was in failing health so he helped him and took over the management of the place upon Roy’s death in 1985. When Joellen retired in 1998 they moved to the place in March and back to Mullen in late November and this they have continued to do. Lynn loved the Sandhills and his goal in life was to preserve them. He did everything he could to protect and care for the hills. Lynn liked to travel and he and Joellen, and often their youngest daughter Barbara, visted almost all the states. The highlight of their trips was a 6 week camping trip to Canada and Alaska when they were in their early 70s.
Lynn is survived by Joellen “Jody”, his wife of 65 years; his children, Rosalee Crofutt of Paxton, NE, Lyle (Twila) Phillips and Leonard (Alisa) Phillips both of Mullen, and Joyce (Bob) Hardy and Barbara Olson both of Chadron, NE; as well as 13 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by an infant son and daughter; his parents; sister Jacqueline Lange; brother Clarence “Bud” Phillips, Jr.; and two sons-in-law Wayne Crofutt and Larry Olson.
Memorials are suggested to the 1st United Methodist Church in Mullen or Cedarview Cemetery and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. MT Monday December 12, 2016 at First United Methodist Church in Mullen. Burial will follow at the Cedarview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. MT Sunday December 11, 2016 at First United Methodist Church in Mullen with Family Receiving Friends from 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Adams and Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Author: Post Staff
Mabel Jane Brooks
Mabel Jane Brooks, 100, of North Platte died December 8, 2016 at Centennial Park Retirement Village.
She was born November 7, 1916 in Chesterfield, Nebraska to Dean Warwick and Merle (King) Wood and grew up in the Cherry County and Mullen area. She Married Lawrence P Brooks June 20, 1941 in Valentine.
They lived in the North Platte, Arnold, Brady and Ogallala areas. She worked for TRW in Ogallala for 15 years. Her family and friends were precious to her.
Mabel loved to sew, crochet, knit and quilt. Mabel loved to make quilts for her grandchildren and family and was always planning her next project. She also loved to paint. Mabel made many friends at Cardiac Rehab. She leaves behind special friends, Viola and Karen. Mabel possessed a strong will, a quick wit and lived on her own until May of 2016. Mabel enjoyed celebrating her 100th birthday in November. She believed the secret to life was hard work and keeping busy. She was very proud of and had a great love for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchild.
Mabel leaves behind a son, Orrin (Barb) Brooks of North Platte; a daughter, Gloria (Darwin) Grooms of Bassett, Ne; Mabel’s grandchildren are as follows: Gary Brooks, Brenda Hills, Gerald Brooks, Julie Cooper, Loretta Grooms, Jason Brooks, Loni Waddell, and Tyler Brooks; great-grandchildren include, Austin Brooks, Kylin Brooks, Taylor Hills, Cameron Hills, Jessica Brooks Reed, Jess Cooper, Olivia Brooks, Caroline Brooks, Hayden Brooks, Beckham Waddell, Joceyln Waddell, Abby Brooks, Ethan Brooks, Eli Brooks, Avery Brooks and Aspen Brooks; and great-great-grandchild, Madison Reed.
Preceding her in death were her husband; 2 sons, George “Buddy” Brooks and Roger Brooks; and 2 brothers.
Memorials will be donated to a hospice family in need this Holiday season, and donations may be mailed to Loni Waddell 1340 South 162nd Ave. Omaha, NE 68130. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 17, 2016 with Chaplain Richard Karr officiating at Adam and Swanson Funeral Home. Visitation will be 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Friday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
Northeastern erases 25-point second half deficit, defeats NPCC Knights 73-72
North Platte – The Northeastern Junior College Plainsmen ended the North Platte Community College Knights winning streak at seven, defeating the Knights 73-72 on Wednesday night at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.
The Knights started out the game with a 16-2 lead. They maintained their lead throughout the first half, leading by 18 at halftime 47-29.
The Knights extended their lead at the beginning of the second half, starting out on a 10-3 run for their biggest lead at 57-32.
The Plainsmen began to chip away at the Knights lead on a barrage of three pointers. The Plainsmen made eight three-pointers in the second half and a total of 10 for the game. Kei’shon Parker and Garrett Baggett each had five three-pointers.
The Plainsmen took their only lead on a three-pointer by Parker in the last minute of play.
The Knights could not connect in the last few seconds of the game to fall for the first time this season.
The Knights, now 7-1 and 0-1 in the Region IX South Sub-Region were led in scoring by Mike Amius, who finished with 20 points. Diontae Champion finished with 18 points and Samuel Kearns had 15 points. Amius had eight rebounds to lead the Knights.
Parker finished with a game high 24 points and Baggett ended with 22 to pace the Plainsmen, who are now 8-3 overall and 2-1 in Region IX South Sub-Region play. Parker and Badgett were the only two Plainsmen in double figures for the Plainsmen.
The Knights go on the road to face the 15th ranked Lamar Community College Lopes on Saturday, December 10. Tip-off is set for 8 PM CST.
NPCC Lady Knights basketball team defeats Northeastern 76-59
North Platte – The North Platte Community College added to the number in the win column by defeating the Northeastern Junior College Plainswomen 76-59 on Wednesday night.
The Lady Knights jumped out to a 16-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the first 4 the Knights shot seven of 16 from the field for 43.8 percent while holding the Plainswomen to 29.4 percent.
The Plainsmen came back in the second quarter, going on a 7-0 run to take the lead at 19-16. The lead changed hands twice in the quarter, with the Plainswomen leading at halftime 31-26.
The Lady Knights came out firing in the third quarter, starting off on a 19-4 run to lead by 10, 45-35. They outscored the Plainswomen 25-8 in the third quarter, shooting 10 for 24 including three three-pointers to take a 51-39 lead at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Lady Knights outscored the Plainsmen 25-20 to seal the win.
The Lady Knights are now 4-7 on the season. Four Lady Knights finished the game in double figures led by Jessica Lovitt, who scored a career high 20 points to lead all scorers. Aljahnay Duncan and Allison Tichy each scored14 points and Thomesha Wilson added 13 points. Lovitt and Wilson each recorded a double-double by grabbing 14 and 13 rebounds respectively.
The Plainswomen are now 6-6 on the season. They were led by Jennae Fieldgrove with 18 points. Nicole Muragarren Clavier added 15 points and Katie Diakaby finished with 12 points. Diakaby also had a double-double with 13 rebounds.
The Lady Knights are in action on Friday, when they host York College Junior Varsity on “Pink Out” night. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 PM.
North Platte Weather-December 8
Air show at Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha canceled
BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Officials with Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha say the base’s popular annual air show and open house set for next summer has been canceled.
The base’s 55th Wing sent a news release Wednesday announcing the cancellation of the 2017 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show, which had been scheduled for July 1-2. The Navy’s Blue Angels precision fighter jet team was to headline the show.
Col. Marty Reynolds, 55th Wing commander, cited increased demands for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions for the cancellation.
The last time the base canceled the show was in 2015 for runway repairs.
Officials: Elwood teen charged in fatal crash distracted by text
LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — Officials have charged an 18-year-old Elwood woman with felony vehicular homicide for a fatal crash they say was caused because she was distracted by a text.
Police believe Hailey Boutin read a text message on her cellphone Sept. 19 moments before running a stop sign about 10 miles south of Cozad and slamming into another vehicle. The impact caused the other vehicle to roll several times, killing a passenger, 59-year-old Mary Robertson. The crash seriously injured Robertson’s husband, 64-year-old Monte Robertson, who was driving.
Boutin faces up to three years in prison if convicted. Her bond was set Wednesday at $1,500. Her preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 16.
The Dawson County public defender did not immediately return a call left late Wednesday afternoon.
Nebraska lawmaker bashes report on failed execution drug buy

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker says he’s disappointed by a new state auditor’s report about the state’s failed attempt last year to purchase execution drugs from overseas.
The report released Monday details efforts by the Department of Correctional Services to buy more than $54,000 worth of drugs from a provider in India. The state never received the drugs because federal agencies blocked the import.
Sen. Ernie Chambers, an independent, says the audit “does not really shed light on the issue.” He suggested the report amounted to Republicans closing ranks.
State Auditor Charlie Janssen defended the report, saying everything his office does is nonpartisan.
Democratic Sen. Burke Harr says he was pleased with the report. He says it demonstrates the benefits of openness and transparency about executions.
Lincoln chancellor informs faculty of possible cutbacks
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln chancellor has told the faculty that the state’s projected revenue shortfall could require the Lincoln campus to cut $6 million from its budget next spring.
Last month university system President Hank Bounds ordered a hiring freeze and travel restrictions as the system prepared for fallout from a nearly $1 billion budget gap forecast for state government. Last week Gov. Pete Ricketts said he would propose a flat two-year budget to state lawmakers in January.
Chancellor Ronnie Green informed the Faculty Senate on Tuesday that administrators were told to plan for a 4 percent cut to the university at a minimum. He says the governor’s proposal could result in broad cuts across the university.
Woman accused of stealing from trust set up for ailing son
PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — An Alabama woman has been accused of stealing from a trust set up for her and her ailing son in Nebraska.
42-year-old Pamela Rawlinson is charged with felony theft by deception. Court records say Rawlinson lives in Wetumpka (weh-TUHMP’-kuh), Alabama.
Investigators say Rawlinson forged signatures on court documents and stole $10,000 from the trust.
Her attorney, Thomas Petersen, said Wednesday the trust was for her and her son, Joshua, as joint beneficiaries. He says the $10,000 was a loan from the trust and that the loan was repaid.
Petersen said Rawlinson is maintaining her innocence.
Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 3 in Sarpy (SAR’-pee) County Court in Papillion (puh-PIHL’-yuhn).


