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Pedro T. “Pete” Castillo

castillo

Pedro T. “Pete” Castillo, age 72 of North Platte, entered into eternal rest October 8, 2016, surrounded by his family after a short, but courageous battle with cancer.
Pete was born January 5, 1944 in Cheyenne, WY to Manual and Florence (Ramirez) Castillo. Pete graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 1962, from there he went on to service in the Nebraska Army National Guard, graduating from Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood Missouri, and Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Sill Oklahoma in 1963. In 1965 he attended, and later graduated from Officer Candidate School at Camp Ashland Nebraska being commissioned a 2nd LT. and eventually reaching the rank of a 1st Lt.
On April 30th 1966 Pete married Eva Valdez of Mitchell, NE and to this union came three children, Rhonda, Scott, and Jon. They lived in Scottsbluff for five years before moving to North Platte, NE in 1971. Pete was a plumber/pipefitter for many years; in 1986 he ventured out on his own to establish Pete’s Plumbing which he operated until his retirement in 2002.
Pete’s life revolved around his family; you would seldom see him do anything for himself. He was a man of faith, values, and his word. A handshake to him was as good, if not better than, anything in print. Pete was also an avid sports fan. He enjoyed a good baseball game, watching boxing, and he was a diehard football fan. He enjoyed his early morning swims at the Rec Center with his friends, where he logged an impressive 398 miles as of this past May. As his children and grandchildren grew, he followed whatever activity was in season and was always their greatest fan.
Pete will be remembered as a man that was willing to help anyone in need; he was a “measure twice, cut once” kind of guy. He had a sense of humor and was a loyal husband, father, and friend. His greatest gift to his children was his unconditional love for his wife Eva. Their souls have been together for over 50 years this past April 30, 2016.
Survivors include his three children Rhonda Sue, Stuart Scott, and Jonathan Michael (Stephanie Castillo); a special friend Leah Vigil of Colorado Springs; grandchildren Kelanie Marker, Tanner Castillo, Abigail Castillo, Graci Castillo, Keanan Castillo, Kaley Castillo; and great grandchildren James Brody and Rylee; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Pete was preceded in death by his beloved wife Eva; his parents Manuel and Florence; and his brother Tom Castillo.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested in Pete’s name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Christian Wake Services will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday October 13, 2016 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Friday October 14, 2016 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with Reverend Josh Brown as Celebrant. Inurnment will be at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Adams and Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Theresa Susan Vieyra

Vieyra

Theresa Susan Vieyra, age 61 of North Platte passed away October 6, 2016 at Great Plains Health, surrounded by her family.
Theresa was born April 8, 1955 in North Platte to George M “Buck” and Patricia Ann (Shay) Ripple. She graduated from North Platte High School in 1973. On January 19, 1974 in North Platte she was united in marriage to Marco F. Vieyra. Theresa attended Mid Plains Community College. She worked for the Union Pacific Railroad, J.L. Schmidt, and A.R. Tucker Funeral Home. She enjoyed spending time with family, especially her children and grandchildren. She was very involved in helping animals through the shelter and Pawsitive Partners. She liked reading, cooking, crafting, fishing, traveling with all the kids for their sports, and painting nails, especially her granddaughters’. She was always seen enjoying her coca-cola.
Theresa is survived by her husband, Marco of North Platte; father, Buck Ripple of North Platte; daughters, Alana C. (Amanda) Vieyra, Sasha (Sean) Vieyra, and Arnetia (Alex) Vieyra all of North Platte; brothers, Mike (Carol) Ripple and Mark Ripple all of North Platte; grandchildren, Joel (Victoria) Vieyra, Katie Vieyra, Sam Vieyra, Ben Vieyra, Eliciana Fernandez, Isabella Sanchez, Jeremiah Sanchez, Audrianna Solis-Vieyra, Alexavior “Javi” Solis-Vieyra and Kaleb Gray ; great-grandchild, Kendall Avery Melton; sisters-in-law Sharon (Ray) Vieyra of CO, Lila (Rocky) Sandoval of CO, Keke (Ramon) Vieyra of North Platte, Diana (Orlando) Martinez of CO, Carol (Tony) Alvarez of NM, Elaine Simon of Maywood, and Veronica (Adrian) Vieyra of CO; as well as numerous other family members and special family friends Shawn Melton and Miguel Fernandez.
She was preceded in death by her birth mother, Patricia Ripple; step mother, Sandra Ripple; grandparents, George and Nettie Ripple, and Aunt and Uncle Ray and Lucille “Dude” Boltz.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in her name at Adams Bank and Trust. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Christian Wake Services will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 14, 2016, with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 1:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with the Reverend Josh Brown as Celebrant.

Nebraska Sen. Sasse to publish book about young adults

Sen. Ben Sasse
Sen. Ben Sasse

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse will make a national debut in bookstores next year.

The Nebraska Republican known for his opposition to Donald Trump has signed a deal with St. Martin’s Press for a book about the difficulty young people have in transitioning to adulthood. The publisher said Tuesday the book will be released in May 2017.

The book draws from Sasse’s experience as Midland University’s president in Fremont. It offers a critical view of what he views as his students’ passivity and inability to solve problems without adult help. Sasse acknowledges the role of video games, phones and “helicopter parenting,” but argues cultural problems are the root cause.

The book is entitled, “The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming of Age Crisis — and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance.”

Developers, investors pull out of downtown Hastings project

Google Maps
Google Maps

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — Developers and investors have pulled out of the proposed $25 million City Block Project in downtown Hastings after nearly three years of planning and negotiations.

Mayor Vern Powers said at Monday’s City Council meeting that the two out-of-town developers and a local investor decided to invest their money elsewhere because of uncertainty about the project’s future. A public vote on the project was set for Nov. 8.

Plans included 42 apartments for Hastings College students, at least 75 hotel rooms, health care space, retail and office space and a publicly owned conference area adjacent to the existing Hastings City Auditorium.

North Platte Weather-October 11

forecast graphic october 11 2016Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph becoming east northeast in the afternoon.
Tonight
A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Breezy, with a north wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. North wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Wednesday Night
Patchy frost after 1am. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 32. Light and variable wind becoming south southeast around 6 mph after midnight.
Thursday
Areas of frost before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 63. South wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 77.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 44.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 77.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.

MPCC President named Pacesetter of the Year

Pacesetter - Mid-Plains Community College President Ryan Purdy receives the Pacesetter of the Year award from Erin Edlund, director of the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations District 5, during the district’s annual conference in Kansas City, Mo. on Oct. 2.
Pacesetter – Mid-Plains Community College President Ryan Purdy receives the Pacesetter of the Year award from Erin Edlund, director of the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations District 5, during the district’s annual conference in Kansas City, Mo. on Oct. 2.

Mid-Plains Community College President Ryan Purdy has been named as the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations District 5 Pacesetter of the Year for 2016.

 

The Pacesetter of the Year award recognizes a community college president or CEO who has demonstrated special leadership and support in community college marketing and public relations.

 

It is awarded annually in each of NCMPR’s seven districts. District recipients automatically become a nominee for the national award, which is presented at the national conference every spring.

 

As a nominee for District 5, Purdy was up against community college presidents from Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, the Canadian province of Manitoba, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

 

Purdy became president of MPCC in May of 2013 after spending more than a year as the college’s interim president.

 

Since taking over the helm, Purdy has been instrumental in growing enrollment from 7,837 in 2012 to 9,150 in 2015 – making MPCC the only community college in Nebraska with positive enrollment increases. 

 

He has also focused resources to deliver a 60 percent rating in full-time student retention, accomplishing the growth with either no increase or a reduced local property tax asking for the past seven years.

 

Purdy has supported the development of new programs in health occupations, including Fire Science, and helped implement new curriculum for the college’s Associate Degree of Nursing program.

 

He put into action significant distance learning upgrades – raising the number of download sites from three to seven. 

 

Purdy was a driving force behind a new Sunday College two-year, associate degree program which utilized the newly expanded distance learning system to provide that programming throughout MPCC’s 20,500-square-mile service area. 

 

Purdy has also been instrumental in committing more than $3 million in equipment upgrades to the college’s career and technical programs. 

 

He has continuously been at the forefront of working with local communities to raise the funds required to build new campuses. In July, MPCC broke ground on an almost $2 million campus in Valentine. Purdy spent countless days and repeated trips meeting with community leaders to secure $1 million for that project.

 

At the state level, Purdy has spent the past two years as chair of the CEO Council that represents Nebraska’s five community colleges. During the 2015-16 legislative session, he repeatedly was asked to provide testimony related to the state’s portion of the funding formula. He focused on several bills that attempted to provide property tax relief, but in doing so, would have severely damaged the growth potential for the state’s community colleges.

 

During the legislative session, he was also requested to be in Lincoln to serve as the leader of the Nebraska community college system and to help convince opponents to consider the consequences of the bill.

 

President Purdy was recognized with the Pacesetter award during the annual NCMPR District 5 conference in Kansas City, Mo. on Oct. 2. The national conference will beMarch 27-29 in Charleston, S. C.

Corinne M. Rogers Service Notice

Corinne M. Rogers, 89, of Little Rock, Ark, passed away Oct. 8, 2016. Services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, 2016 at the Presbyterian Church with Pastor Steve Nofel officiating. Burial will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Duck hunter rescued from marshy muck in northeast Nebraska

madison-neSTANTON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have rescued a rural Madison man who got stuck in mud and water while duck hunting in northeast Nebraska.

The Stanton County Sheriff’s Office says 56-year-old John Johnson was hunting alone Saturday morning southeast of Stanton when he moved into a marshy area and his hip waders began filling with water. He soon was mired up to his neck.

Johnson and his predicament were discovered by a game warden who was in the area to check hunting permits. Rescuers called to the scene in Wood Duck Wildlife Management Area used ropes and a boat to get Johnson back on solid ground. He was taken to a hospital.

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