LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police say a Lincoln woman has died after being hit by a bicyclist along the Antelope Valley Trail.
Sgt. Kathleen Phillips says Paulette Johnson had suffered head injuries when she was struck along the Lincoln trail Friday morning while picking up trash. The 62-year-old Johnson died Saturday.
Police say no one has been cited or arrested as a result of their crash investigation.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha councilman wants the city to commit taxpayer dollars to a sports organization in which police officers work with at-risk youths.
Councilman Pete Festersen will propose amending the city’s 2017 budget to give $20,000 to Police Athletics for Community Engagement. The council will vote Aug. 23 on the proposed $917 million budget, along with any amendments.
The city indirectly supports the organization through the officers’ volunteer work and the organization’s use of city parks. But Festersen said this would be the first time the city contributed money directly.
He says that, given recent protest nationwide about police shootings, he thinks it’s important for cities to focus on prevention and police-community relations.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lancaster County officials say they want to handle Lincoln’s juvenile court cases and plan to notify the city of their consolidation wishes.
The county won’t ask the city for financial support. City Attorney Jeff Kirkpatrick has said he won’t be able to cut his staff if all juvenile cases were to move to county prosecutors.
A task force looking at a county-city merger recommended in 2013 that county prosecutors handle all juvenile cases to avoid confusion for youths and their families. Judges also have said having one office handle the cases is in the best interest of those directly involved.
The city attorney’s staff handles only cases involving juveniles ages 16 and 17 who are accused of committing misdemeanors within the city limits.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Opponents of the death penalty have released an economic study estimating the cost of administering the severe penalty in Nebraska.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss estimates that the state spends about $1.5 million more on death penalty prosecutions than on cases involving life sentences.
Nebraska voters will decide whether to reinstate capital punishment in November. Lawmakers abolished the death penalty in 2015 before a petition drive forced the vote.
Bob Evnen with Nebraskans for the Death Penalty questioned the study’s conclusions. He says the Legislature evaluated the cost of the death penalty when lawmakers repealed it and didn’t find significant savings.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police say combined weights for a 10-year-old boy and two other people riding a raft with him at a water park when he was killed were within the ride’s limits.
Caleb Schwab died August 7 while riding the 168-foot “Verruckt” at Schlitterbahn WaterPark in Kansas City, Kansas. Riders are weighed to ensure each raft carries between 400 pounds and 550 pounds.
Police Monday released a report showing one rider at 140 pounds, another at 170, and an unclear weight for Caleb. He would have to weigh 90 pounds to make the trio’s weight reach 400 pounds.
But police said weights taken at a hospital after the accident show one person weighed 275 pounds, another weighed 197 pounds and a third weighed 73 pounds, putting the combined weight at 545 pounds.
Catherine Marie Webb, age 90, of North Platte, NE, died Saturday, August 13, 2016, at Great Plains Health in North Platte.
Catherine was born November 11, 1925, to James and Ella Breckenridge at Pine Bluff, AR, then the family moved to Manitowoc, WI, the following year. Catherine grew up in Manitowoc and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1944.
On September 7, 1946, Catherine was united in marriage to Floyd Henry Webb at Manitowoc. They later moved to Appleton, WI then to Sacramento, CA where they lived until 1991. Floyd and Catherine then moved to Watertown, NY, and partnered with their daughter, Bonnie, in the Plaza Sports Center until it was sold in the mid ’90’s. They eventually left New York to live in North Platte where their son, Bob, lived and here they could enjoy full retirement from all work.
Survivors include her husband of 70 years, Floyd, of North Platte; their daughter, Mary Ellen (Joseph) Anthony Fiorentino, of Watertown; six grandchildren, Doug (Chandra) Webb, Tammy (Randy) Davis, Lisa (Joseph) Lajoie, Joseph Fiorentino II, Matthew (Cari) Bates and Dawn Workman; 10 great-grandchildren, Maddox Webb, Bridgette Davis, Jason Davis, Mason Bates, Gabriel Lajoie, Giavana Lajoie, Makayla Fiorentino, Travis Workman, Colin Workman and Logan Pete; and other family.
Catherine was preceded in death by her son, Robert, and daughter, Bonnie Lou Hector; parents, James and Ella Breckenridge; and two brothers, baby Howard and Robert Breckenridge.
Cremation was chosen. Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 20, 2016, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or prior to the service. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.
Ardith Marie Morse, age 76, of North Platte, formerly of Chadron, NE, passed away Saturday, August 13, 2016, at Great Plains Health in North Platte.
Ardith was born February 5, 1940, to Arthur William and Mildred Isabelle Skinner Navis at Hershey, NE, and grew up in Hershey and North Platte. Ardith graduated from North Platte High School in 1957 then began her career with Northwestern Bell Telephone. By 1979 she transferred to San Diego, CA, eventually retiring from there in 1990.
On January 20, 1960, Ardith married James Bouws in Denver, CO, then later divorced. In 1972 she was married to Dale Morse and they later divorced.
Following her retirement, Ardith returned to Nebraska and enrolled at Chadron State College where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology then a Master’s Degree in Sculpture. She loved art and made amazing pieces.
As a teenager, Ardith loved horses and belonged to Roman Riding Travel Group. She also loved her family and was a kind and generous person. While in Chadron, Ardith was a member of the United Methodist Church and active in an art club. She also volunteered as a foster grandparent for Job Corps and Head Start, was on the Daws County Historical Museum Board, and did in-home care for others. On April 4, 2014, Ardith was recognized for her service when she received the Nebraska First Ladies Award for Outstanding Community Service and was presented with the National Service Volunteer of the Year Award. She had recently returned to North Platte to be closer to her daughter.
She is survived by her children, Patti (Randall) Paxton, of North Platte and Gary Bouws, of Phoenix, AZ; four grandchildren, Jennifer (Ryan) Schulkey, Jason (Megan) Baker, Christopher Baker and Robby Baker; 10 great-grandchildren; two nieces; and other family.
Ardith was preceded in death by her parents, Art and Mildred Navis, and stepmother, Dorothy Tharp Navis; brother, Ernest ‘Bill’ and wife, Lucille Rose ‘Sugar’ Navis; infant grandson, Zachary Bouws; and great-grandson, Brandon Schulkey.
Cremation was chosen. Memorial Service will be 2 p.m. Thursday, August 18, 2016, at the First Christian Church with Pastor Jan Ekstedt officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Plainview Cemetery, south of Maxwell. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to the Callahan Cancer Center or the Donor’s Choice.
Randall Ray Willard, age 58, of North Platte, NE, passed away unexpectedly at home on Sunday, August 14, 2016.
Randy was born December 1, 1957, to Lynn Alvin and Dorothy Marie Collins Willard at Sterling, CO. He grew up in the North Platte and Stapleton, NE area, graduating from Stapleton High School in 1976. Randy went on to Mid-Plains Community College and earned his Associate’s Degree in Diesel Mechanics then hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad. He worked as a Diesel Mechanic and trained apprentices.
On July 23, 1977, Randy was united in marriage to Lisa Kay Ewoldt at Stapleton. They lived in North Platte where they raised two sons. Randy was a member of the First Christian Church and Great Plains Corvette Club. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman and a Big Red fan. Most of all, Randy loved his family, especially his grandchildren, and was a good son and son-in-law. He was always willing to help others but was content staying home and taking care of his cars. Randy will be greatly missed.
He leaves behind his wife, Lisa, two sons, Josh (Sandy) Willard and Justin (Ashleigh) Willard, and mother, Dorothy Willard, all of North Platte; two grandchildren, Ashton and Hailey; sisters, Cheryl (Roger) Beem, of North Platte and Deb Merritt, of Omaha, NE; brothers, Larry (Carmen) Willard, of Stapleton and Tim (Karen) Willard and Douglas (Sharla) Willard, of North Platte; parents-in-law, Alfred and Clara Ewoldt, of Stapleton; brother-in-law, Allen (Velma) Ewoldt, of Thedford, NE; his dog, Lucy; as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and other family.
Randy was preceded in death by his father, Lynn; infant brother, Tommy; grandparents, Harry and Edna Willard and Milton and Edna Collins; nephew, Brian Willard; and sister-in-law, Mary Ewoldt.
Memorial Service will be 11 a.m. Monday, August 22, 2016, at the First Christian Church with Pastor Jan Ekstedt officiating. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday with family greeting friends from 6 to 7 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, cremation will follow. The memorial book may also be signed at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to First Christian Church or Callahan Cancer Center. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.
COZAD, Neb. (AP) — Cozad, Dawson County and state authorities are investigating the death of a 4-month-old girl.
Medics were sent to a Cozad day care around 9 a.m. Wednesday to help the unresponsive infant. Authorities say she was taken to a local hospital before being flown to an Omaha hospital, where she died that night.
Autopsy results, the child’s name and other details haven’t been released.
BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — A 53-year-old Lincoln man accused of trying to sell stolen cattle has been given two years in prison.
Cork Tyan was sentenced Friday. Tyan had taken a deal in which he pleaded guilty to theft and attempted theft. Prosecutors lowered one of the theft charges in exchange for Tyan’s pleas.
Authorities say Tyan went to a Gage County sale barn in February and tried to sell some calves that later proved to have been stolen from a rancher in Hayes County. Authorities also say Tyan admitted stealing barbed wire from a Beatrice store.
