Post Staff – Page 766 – North Platte Post Archive

Peggy Gray

Posted on November 17, 2016November 18, 2016

Peggy Gray, age 46 of North Platte, passed away Tuesday November 15, 2016 at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, NE.
Peggy was born on July 12, 1970 in North Platte, NE to Floyd and Patricia (Negley) Gastineau. She grew up in the area and attended North Platte Public Schools. She married LeRoy Gray on June 1, 2007, and recently left her job at Linden Court to work side by side with her husband for Adams Construction as a flagger. She will be remembered as a warm, soft hearted, generous and loving person. Peggy had her stubborn side but was a champion and rock for her family. She treated her nieces and nephews like her own children. She enjoyed camping, boating, music and dancing and especially spending time with her family and being outdoors. She enjoyed the holidays and loved to host her family.
Peggy is survived by her husband LeRoy Gray of North Platte; children Travis Basile of North Platte, Robert Basile of North Platte, LeRoy Gray Jr. of North Platte, Elizabeth (Brendan) Hathaway of Kearney, Tamara Gray of Ocean Springs, MS, and Timothy Gray of North Platte; siblings Lynn Allen, Jamie (Rebecca) Gastineau and Karen (Duffy) Hopkins all of North Platte; 6 grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Floyd Ray “Butch”, Steven and Robbin; and twin grandchildren Kierra and Kieran.
Memorials are suggested in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 20, 2016 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home with Pastor Ben Schumacher officiating. Cremation was chosen and inurnment will be at a later date. A reception will follow the funeral at Groovy Granny’s in downtown North Platte. Visitation will be from noon until 6:00 p.m. Saturday and noon until service time Sunday at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Brand Committee hires new director for the agency

Posted on November 17, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska agency that inspects cattle and investigates stolen livestock has hired a new executive director.

William Bunce has been hired as the new agency director. He had been leading New Mexico’s livestock agency.

Bunce will take over from Shawn Harvey who resigned after a state audit raised concerns about Harvey’s management of the agency.

But Harvey took another position with the agency, so he will likely still be there when Bunce takes over.

Federal government estimating number of homeless people

Posted on November 17, 2016

HONOLULU (AP) — The federal government is estimating the number of homeless people nationwide.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development will announce state-by-state figures Thursday.

Officials say homelessness has declined nationwide in recent years, especially among military veterans. They credit a program initiated by President Barack Obama which urges every community to have a plan in place to prevent and reduce homelessness.

But there are parts of the country such as Hawaii where homelessness has been increasing. The island state is struggling with an affordable housing shortage.

The federal government releases the numbers after volunteers across the country count the homeless people in their local areas. The volunteers count people they find living outside, on the street or in shelters.

Conservation group offers $1,000 reward in elk poaching case

Posted on November 17, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A western Nebraska conservation group is offering $1,000 to double the reward being offered in an elk poaching case.

A total of $2,000 is now being offered to help determine who killed a bull elk last weekend in northwest Nebraska.

The elk that was abandoned in a wheat field southeast of Crawford was killed outside of the hunting season that ended Oct. 23.

Doyal Lund is president of the Panhandle Conservation Club of Scottsbluff. He says what bothers him the most is the waste of leaving the elk’s carcass to rot.

North Platte Weather-November 17

Posted on November 17, 2016

Today

A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 48. North northeast wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Tonight

Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 11pm, then gradually ending. Areas of blowing snow before 2am, then areas of blowing snow after 3am. Low around 27. Blustery, with a north-northwest wind 14 to 19 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Friday

Patchy blowing snow between 10am and 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Breezy, with a northwest wind 11 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 15. Northwest wind 3 to 8 mph.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 44. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 21.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 55.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 58.

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Tuesday

A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 56.

Driver killed in semitrailer crash on I-80 near Cozad

Posted on November 16, 2016

COZAD, Neb. (AP) — Investigators say an early morning crash left the driver of a semitrailer dead after the big rig apparently drifted off Interstate 80 over a guard rail and crashed into a ravine.

The crash happed around 6 a.m. Wednesday four miles west of Cozad on I-80. The Nebraska State Patrol says 39-year-old Walter Reed, of Kearney, was killed.

The patrol and Cozad firefighters responded to the crash and had to use equipment to remove Reed from the wreckage.

The patrol says Reed was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Man killed in crash of utility vehicle in western Nebraska

Posted on November 16, 2016

BROKEN BOW, Neb. (AP) — The Custer County Sheriff’s Office says a man has died in a utility vehicle crash on private property in western Nebraska.

The crash happened late Tuesday afternoon in a pasture five miles southeast of Broken Bow. Investigators say 45-year-old Kevin McAbee died after losing control of the UTV and rolling the vehicle.

Officials say McAbee was thrown from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Nebraska lawmakers brace for $1.2 billion budget shortfall

Posted on November 16, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska will face a projected $1.2 billion shortfall when lawmakers convene in January, but legislative leaders aren’t planning yet for a special session.

Members of the Tax Rate Review Committee say they believe they can still balance the budget during the session that begins in January. The committee adjourned on Wednesday without recommending any action, but senators are already developing plans and explaining the situation to newly elected lawmakers.

Sen. Heath Mello, who leads the Legislature’s budget-writing committee, says lawmakers may have to tap the cash reserve and other cash funds. In addition, Gov. Pete Ricketts has imposed spending restrictions on state agencies.

Budget officials say low commodity prices are largely responsible for state revenue coming in below projections, as is a strong U.S. dollar that has hurt exports.

Judicial panel find death penalty can apply to Nikko Jenkins

Posted on November 16, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A three-judge panel has found enough aggravating factors for the death penalty to apply to a man convicted of killing four people in 2013.

Now, the panel will weigh mitigating factors — such as the mental fitness of the defendant — presented by the public defender to determine whether Nikko Jenkins will be sentenced to death. That decision will be determined at a later date.

The aggravating factors found by the panel Wednesday include that Jenkins killed multiple people and has a history of violence.

Jenkins pleaded no contest to the August 2013 shooting deaths in and around Omaha of Juan Uribe-Pena, Jorge Cajiga-Ruiz, Curtis Bradford and Andrea Kruger. The shotgun deaths in three separate attacks occurred over a 10-day period just weeks after Jenkins’ release from prison.

Jack Dean Harkreader

Posted on November 16, 2016November 17, 2016

Our beloved Jack Dean Harkreader of North Platte, NE passed on November 15, 2016 at 81 years old. Our Almighty Father called him to Heaven for eternal life.
Jack was born on December 5, 1934 in Okmulgee, OK to James Robert Harkreader and Mary Magdeline Edwards. Jack graduated from Boys Town High School in 1953 in Omaha, NE. He was a cable splicer, then became manager for Northwestern Bell and U.S. West. In 1955, he served in the Army Reserves as a Signal Corp and Sergeant in Omaha, NE and was honorably discharged in 1961. Jack and his wife of 61 years, Patti Harkreader, raised 9 children while living in North Platte, NE.
Jack was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Lincoln County Planning Commission and Lake Maloney Home Owners Board as a member and president. He was a Boy Scout leader for Troop 292 and Explorer Post 292. He lived in North Platte/Lake Maloney for 50 years, and was an avid fisherman and Master Angler.
Jack inspired and influenced every person he met with his pranks, jokes, and quality story telling. He was a leader, mentor, and taught not only his family but all those he encountered. Now, he’s off to see his little angel, MaryJane Harkreader, in Heaven. Jack’s gone fishin’.
Donations may be made to St. Patrick’s Catholic School Endowment, Lewy Body Dementia Association, and Lake Maloney Fish Habitat. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson .com.
He is survived by wife, Patti Harkreader; sister, Velma Wert, Lincoln, NE; sister-in-law, Margretta Dwyer, Omaha, NE; brother-in-law, Thomas and Rosalin Dwyer, Omaha, NE; children, Jim and Theresa Harkreader, Palisade, CO; Mike Harkreader, Saipan; Kevin Harkreader and Virginia Martin, Franktown, CO; Tom and Cathy Harkreader, Trapper Creek, AK/Cochrane, Alberta Canada; Annie and Andy Fox, Evergreen, CO; Margaret and Shaun Remus, Littleton, CO; Joe Harkreader and Hilde Sample, Franktown, CO; Kathy and Chris Stevenson, Durango, CO; grandchildren: Daniel Harkreader, Palisade, CO; Nicole Harkreader, Palisade, CO; Jessica Harkreader, New York City, NY; Adam Harkreader, Anchorage, AK; Tanner Remus, Littleton, CO; Austin Remus, Littleton, CO and Avery Stevenson, Durango, CO.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, MaryJane Harkreader; 4 brothers; and 3 sisters.
Memorial Services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday November 19, 2016 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with Monsignor Robert Tucker and Reverend Josh Brown officiating. Those wishing to sign the register book may do so 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Friday, November 18, 2016 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.