Post Staff – Page 856 – North Platte Post Archive

Panel tells embattled Nebraska senator to resign by Friday

Posted on August 29, 2016August 29, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A legislative committee is telling an embattled Nebraska senator to resign by Friday or face consequences that could include expulsion from office.

The Legislature’s Executive Board voted 9-0 Monday to send a letter to Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion calling on him step down. Kintner was fined $1,000 for misuse of state property after admitting that he engaged in cybersex on a state laptop with a woman he met online.

Kintner has rejected previous calls for his resignation from high-ranking officials, including Gov. Pete Ricketts and Speaker of the Legislature Galen Hadley. Executive Board members say they’ll reconvene on Sept. 8 if he declines again.

The vote came after a hearing in which some conservative activists defended Kintner.

A Kintner staffer says the senator will respond in a statement.

Omaha couple dies from carbon monoxide poisoning

Posted on August 29, 2016August 29, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha Police say a couple that was found dead in their home last week died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Mark and Phyllis Duranski were found Friday after 73-year-old Phyllis Duranski failed to meet friends at a concert.

Officers found 63-year-old Mark Duranski dead in the master bedroom upstairs. Phyllis Duranski was found dead in an upstairs bathroom.

Investigators determined that the couple left a car running in the attached garage, and that was the source of the carbon monoxide. The car ran out of gas in the garage.

NPHS student cited for disturbing the peace after argument with teacher

Posted on August 29, 2016August 29, 2016

A North Platte High School student is facing a criminal charge following an argument with a teacher.

Shortly after 11:30, The Post was made aware by students at NPHS that they had been told to leave a classroom by the North Platte Police Department’s School Resource Officer and school administration, during class, following a disturbance involving a fellow student.

According to Investigator John Deal, at around 11:30, a female student became involved in a verbal argument with a teacher.

“The student failed to follow guidance and instruction from the teacher, principal and school resource officer Jeremiah Johnson,” Deal said.

The decision to clear the classroom was made in an attempt to not further disrupt the school function, according to Deal.

Once other students were cleared from the classroom, the disruptive student was taken into custody, cited for disturbing the peace and was released to a parent.

Class resumed as normal as soon as the girl was removed. Police say the other students were never in any danger.

It is unknown if the girl faces any disciplinary action from NPHS.

2 Chase County businesses fail NSP alcohol compliance check

Posted on August 29, 2016

On Friday, August 26, the Nebraska State Patrol conducted alcohol compliance checks at retail outlets in Chase and Perkins Counties.

During the effort, five businesses were checked in Chase County and four businesses were checked in Perkins County. Two of nine businesses checked were found to be non-compliant after selling alcohol to a minor.

The two non-compliant businesses were in Chase County, and were identified as Tequilas Mexican Grill, 140 East 12th Street, Imperial and Broken Arrow Cellars, 73892 322nd Avenue, Imperial.

The retail outlets checked included convenience, liquor and grocery stores as well as restaurants and bars.

Law enforcement performs compliance checks to ensure businesses are complying with the state’s alcohol laws and to decrease youth access to alcohol. The compliance checks were conducted thanks in part to a grant from Region II Human Services.

Disturbance at local bar, fight with police lands NP woman in jail

Posted on August 29, 2016

A 26-year-old North Platte woman is facing felony charges after a disturbance at a local bar and a fight with police.

At around 1:42 a.m., on August 27, police responded to Shooters, 2221 East 4th Street, on the report of a disturbance in the parking lot.

Officers arrived and found Melissa Ohlson yelling at another individual. Officers asked Ohlson to disperse but, according to Investigator John Deal, she insisted on continuing to “go after” the other person.

At this time, Deal says Ohlson pushed one of the officers in an attempt to get by him. The officer ordered Ohlson to back away, but Ohlson pushed him again and was told she was being placed under arrest for obstruction of justice.

As officers attempted to place her in handcuffs, Ohlson allegedly continued to struggle and refused to put her hands behind her back.

She was eventually subdued, placed in a patrol car and taken to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Deal says, once at the jail, Ohlson continued to put up a fight and it was determined that she needed to be put in a restraint chair.

As detention officers and police attempted to place Ohlson in the chair, she reportedly kicked a Detention Officer in the groin, kicked at another while she had metal ankle restraints on and hit the same officer she kicked in the groin in the hand.

Ohlson was eventually booked into the jail on charges of obstruction, felony assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.

She was still in jail on Monday morning, according to jail records.

Doris L. Thrash

Posted on August 29, 2016August 29, 2016

Doris L. Thrash, 91, formally of North Platte, passed away August 27, 2016 at Hill Top Estates in Gothenburg. Doris was born November 24, 1924 on her parent’s farm near Stillwell, IL. She was the youngest child of Willard F. and Mary May Short. She was baptized at the age of 9 in the United Methodist Church in Stillwell. She received her High School education in Illinois before moving to Burlington, IA in 1941, then to Grand Island in 1942. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Doris married LaMoine Bomark in 1948 in Grand Island. They moved to North Platte in 1949 where they would establish the Danish Pastries bakery. She worked alongside of LaMoine until his health forced him to close the business. He passed away in 1961 leaving Doris to raise their four children. In 1964 she married JR (Dick) Pittman giving “Papa Dick” an instant family! He passed away in 1988. Doris and William (Bill) Thrash were married in 2002 and immediately started traveling to Zapata, TX for the winter. She thoroughly enjoyed those years with Bill! He passed in 2014. Besides her parents and husbands, Doris was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Erin Lynne Shearer, a son-in-law Ernie Fresquez, brother and sister-in-law, Marshall and Mary Short and Sister and brother-in-law, Wilma and Jack Cohee. She is survived by daughters Margo Fresquez of Cheyenne, WY, Lynne (Larry ) Jeffers of Hayes Center, sons Steve (Donna) Bomark of North Platte and Mark (Joan) Bomark of Cheyenne, WY; Step sons William Thrash, Jr of North Platte and Robert Thrash of Amarillo, TX; grandchildren Robin Fresquez of WY, Kim (Vince) Rivera and Tawnya (Mike) Ruff of Colorado, Tracey (Treg) Kearney of North Platte, Mindy (Nat) Warren of Thedford, Kristen (Josh) Corfield and Jason (Sarah) Bomark of North Platte, Travis (Maryann) Shearer of Florida, Troy (Tonya) Shearer of Illinois, Lane Bomark of Central City, Emily (Kyle) Norman of Lincoln. Step-grandchildren Conna (Matt) Wiese, Lincoln, Christopher Jeffers of TX, Cody (Cheyenne) Jeffers, Hayes Center, Seth Swink, CA, Clifton (Laurie) Swink North Platte, Amy (Ryan) DeMello CA; 28 great grand kids with another due in January, 5 great-great grand kids, 11 step great grand kids with another due in February. Also special to Doris were her, nephew, Dennis (Deb) Short, “other son” Don (Judy) White, of Mullen, step great nephew, Rick (Deb) Pittman, NP, step-niece, Max Mulder, the June Moriarty family, and step great-great grandson Greg Mooney, NC and many , many more step-grandchildren and nieces and nephews! The family will meet friends Thursday evening from 6-8 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel; graveside services will be at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, NE at 11:30 AM Friday, September 2, 2016. Carpenters Memorial Chapel is in care of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to the Central Plains Home Care and Hospice in Cozad or donor’s choice.

Jean LaVaughn Peterson

Posted on August 29, 2016

Jean LaVaughn Peterson, age 93, of North Platte, passed away August 21, 2016 at Great Plains Health.
Jean was born on January 21, 1923 in Culbertson, Nebraska to Jake and Mollie (Wagner) Wacker. She attended school District #75 and Culbertson High School. On March 2, 1940 she married Clarence E. Peterson in Oberlin, Kansas. To this union 4 children were born.
Jean loved doing crafts, sewing, reading, gardening, and most of all she loved her family so very much.
Survivors include her daughters, Sandra Ostendorf of North Platte, Janet (Jared) Interholzinger of Fort Collins, CO, and Kathy Bricher of Cheyenne, WY; son, Larry (Linda) Peterson of North Platte; a sister in law; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; 9 step-great-grandchildren; and 1 step-great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents; beloved husband, Clarence; 5 sisters; 6 brothers; 1 granddaughter; and 2 great-grandsons.
Memorials may be made to Great Plains Hospice or the Alzheimer’s Association and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Graveside services will be held 2:30 p.m. on Friday September 2, 2016 with Job Vigil officiating at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell. Those wishing to sign the register book may do so Thursday September 1, 2016 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. until service time at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

North Platte Weather-August 29

Posted on August 29, 2016

Today

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Light southeast wind becoming south southeast 6 to 11 mph in the morning.

Tonight

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 4am. Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Tuesday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Light southeast wind becoming east 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Tuesday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. East wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Wednesday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. East southeast wind 5 to 11 mph.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Friday

Partly sunny, with a high near 82.

Friday Night

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Saturday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.

Saturday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.

Sunday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85

Visitor misbehavior abounds as US parks agency turns 100

Posted on August 28, 2016

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — Record visitor numbers at the nation’s first national park have transformed Yellowstone National Park’s annual tourist rush into a sometimes dangerous frenzy.

Photo-snapping visitors routinely break the rules, getting too close to elk, grizzly bears, wolves and bison.

Officials say the rule-breaking puts visitors in harm’s way, damages resources and displaces wildlife.

Law enforcement records obtained by The Associated Press suggest such problems are on the rise.

Yellowstone rangers are seeing more wildlife violations, more people treading on sensitive thermal areas and more illegal camping.

It’s an illustration of the pressures facing America’s most treasured lands as the National Park Service marks its 100th anniversary. From the Great Smoky Mountains to the Grand Canyon, major parks are grappling with vandalism, theft of resources and other misbehavior.

Fire blocking Yellowstone National Park entrance smolders on

Posted on August 28, 2016

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — Firefighters working on steep hillsides are chopping down trees and searching for hotspots as they battle a wildfire that’s blocking an entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

Wildfire managers say their top priority is clearing a highway in the area and protecting campgrounds, buildings and archaeological sites. They’re also making sure there are no flare-ups or falling trees that could cause injuries or death.

Strong winds blew down several trees Saturday, blocking some roads. Travelers have been warned to be cautious on area roads that are still open around the park.

The fire that began last month is blocking Yellowstone’s south entrance near Jackson, Wyoming. The park also has entrance stations in Montana and near Cody, Wyoming.

Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks and Bridger Teton National Forest all have area closures in effect, but both national parks are open to visitors.