The North Platte Genealogical Society is fund-raising to add an electronic directory to the North Platte Cemetery to be available for use at anytime. Vice President of the NPGS, Ruby Coleman, announced during a City Council work session October 2nd, that the NPGS has so far raised $10,140 for the directory. The NPGS is only $2,360 away from hitting the halfway mark of the funding goal at $25,000. Since April 18^th, $4,470 has been raised.

The directory is described as an interactive map that will be available 27/7, supplying a route to locate any specific grave.

A grave directory is available online at http://www.ci.northplatte.ne.us, though if  maintenance staff aren’t around, finding a specific grave can be a challenge, after all the NPC is home to over 12,500 graves.

According to project plans found on the NPGS website, a small building near the east entrance of the cemetery would be re-purposed to house the directory and the required software to maintain the data base.

Alliance City Cemetery, Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook and McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell have electronic directories as well. The NPGS would like to have an electronic directory available by Memorial Day next year.

The North Platte Cemetery Directory Fund is a non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of  the United States Internal Revenue Code, so If you’re interested, all donations to the North Platte Cemetery Directory Fund are tax deductible!

Donations can be made though:

NP Cemetery Directory

c/o North Platte Genealogical Society

120 W 4th ST

North Platte NE 69101

A coal train hauling more than 100 cars derailed yesterday morning at around 5am. The Associated Press reports that 29 cars derailed heading eastbound between Ashby and Hyannis.

No injuries occurred from the derailment. The derailed cars are still on their side, investigation and cleanup has begun.

 

 

 

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Today: Sunny, with a high near 87. Breezy, with a south southeast wind 7 to 12 mph becoming west northwest 17 to 22 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph.

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Breezy, with a north wind 20 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. North wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

 

**Friday: A chance of rain and snow before 1pm, then a chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 43. Northeast wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: A slight chance of rain before 1am, then a slight chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

A McCook police officer has been fired after multiple incidents, the decision was supported the McCook Civil Service Commission.

Officer Donald Smith Jr. was fired by City Manager Jeff Hancock in July. Poor-performance and many alcohol related situations let to the ultimate decision.

Smith was suspended from work four times while employed as an officer from various incidents in 2010, resulting in alcohol evaluations in January of 2011 and 2012. In  June, Smith had a blood alcohol level 0.119 after he called in sick for work.

The managers of Nebraska’s biggest reservoir will reduce water supplies to irrigators next year.

The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District’s board of directors on Monday voted to limit farmers to 10 inches of water an acre. Normally, irrigation customers could expect up to 18 inches an acre over 12 weeks.

The state remains gripped by a drought that has raised demand for irrigation water from district resources that include giant Lake McConaughy  near Ogallala in western Nebraska.

McConaughy ended the irrigation season at 53 percent of capacity. Since Oct. 1 last year, inflows were about 750,000 acre-feet, compared with a historical average of 929,000 acre-feet. The district inflow projection for the coming water year of Oct. 1, 2012, through Sept. 30, 2013, is about 546,000 acre-feet.

On Sunday, September 30^th, at around 10PM, a 911 call reports a Melbeta man allegedly assaulting his wife over an argument that became obscurely violent.

The suspect, 50-year-old Larry Spurling, began to argue with Ms. Spurling about how it’s her fault that he lives in the country and that he suffers of boredom because of that. According to Ms. Spurling, her husband consumed three 24-ounce cans of malt liquor while they argued.

Ms. Spurling was over the conversation so she fixed herself a sandwich and retreated to the bedroom for the night. According to arrest documents, Mr. Spurling followed her to continue the argument in the bedroom where the violence began with both parties pushing each other around. Mr. Spurling allegedly pulled his wife’s hair, threw her on the ground and rubbed the sandwich on her face.

Ms. Spurling washed the mayonnaise from her face and hair before authorities arrived to the residence though her shirt did have a stain as a result of the confrontation.

Mr. Spurling was found near the residence face down in grass, he claims he was the one who was assaulted.

Mr. Spurling was arrested for domestic assault, and faced charges of disturbing the peace in Scottsbluff County Court on Monday. Mr. Spurling remains in jail.

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Today: Areas of frost before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 80. Light southwest wind becoming south 6 to 11 mph in the morning.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. South southeast wind 7 to 9 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 80. South wind 6 to 9 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.

The American Red Cross reminds eligible donors that the need for blood is constant and the blood supply must be regularly replenished. By making an appointment to donate blood, dedicated donors can help the Red Cross meet the needs of patients – locally and across the nation.

 

Those looking for another way to increase the lifesaving impact of blood donation can become an advocate by encouraging friends and family to become dedicated blood donors, too. Just 3 percent of theUnited Statespopulation gives blood, and one of the top reasons people say they haven’t given blood is because no one asked them to.

 

Help the Red Cross increase the number of blood donors and maintain a stable blood supply for those in need by making an appointment to donate and encouraging others to give, too.

 

How to Donate Blood

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.  Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

 

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at blog.redcross.org.

 

Blood Donation Opportunities:

LINCOLN COUNTY

10/16/2012, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm, American Legion Hall,108 E. 2nd Street, Hershey

 

10/16/2012, 11:00 am- 6:00 pm,North PlatteBloodDonationCenter, 1111 South Cottonwood,North Platte

 

10/18/2012, 11:00 am- 6:00 pm,North PlatteBloodDonationCenter, 1111 South Cottonwood,North Platte

 

10/23/2012, 1:00 pm- 7:00 pm, Eagles Club, 620 N Chestnut,North Platte

 

10/23/2012, 11:00 am- 6:00 pm,North PlatteBloodDonationCenter, 1111 South Cottonwood,North Platte

 

10/25/2012, 11:00 am- 6:00 pm,North PlatteBloodDonationCenter, 1111 South Cottonwood,North Platte

 

10/26/2012, 1:00 pm- 7:00 pm,MessiahLutheranChurch,2700 West A Street,North Platte

 

10/30/2012, 11:00 am- 6:00 pm,North PlatteBloodDonationCenter, 1111 South Cottonwood,North Platte

 

On Saturday September 29^th, officers from the North Platte Police Department responded to a possible burglary of a home.

Several individuals were allegedly loading a pickup with items taken directly from a home in the 700 block of North Bryan. When officers arrived, the several individuals, like the merchandise, were gone.

The described vehicle, driven by suspect Stanley Churchwell, 26, was located shortly after officers responded. According to the NPPD, Churchwell said he was cleaning the property as requested by the owner of the home although the owner claims he didn’t give anyone permission to be on the property.

After investigation Churchwell was arrested for two felony offences: Burglary and Theft By Taking. Most if not all of the stolen merchandise was recovered.

As for the several other individuals, Churchwell allegedly convinced them he was hired to clean the property and they apparently agreed to help him.

 Later That Night…

At around 10:30 PM on Saturday, someone reported a disturbance in the 1600 block of west 9^th street. Officers met with the suspect, 28-year-old Randall Northey who appeared intoxicated and the victim who was later identified as Northey’s girlfriend.

Northey allegedly caused an argument the three children witnessed. Northey threw his girlfriend on the floor where a bottle of alcohol was broken. Northey’s girlfriend received cuts and bruises from the incident.

Northey was arrested on two misdemeanor offenses: 3^rd Degree Domestic Assault and Child Abuse

The Very Next Day…

On Sunday, September 30^th at around 1:15 PM, 911-dispatch answered a call of a male subject reporting an armed intruder inside his home while duly noting that he himself was also armed. According to the NPPD, the caller sounded intoxicated and gave the 911 dispatcher a false address.

The 911 Dispatch Center uses advanced technology that supplied officers with a general location that the call was made, once in that area the officers heard gunshots. That’s when they saw a man armed with a handgun in a nearby yard. The man was taken into custody.

Investigation revealed that the man armed with the handgun was the same who made the call to 911 reporting an armed intruder. The man was taken into Emergency Protective Custody for the safety of himself and others.

One of the fastest growing specialty retailers, Rue21, announced in a press release that the Rue21 at the Platte River Mall in North Platte will “Open their doors this month,” without actually mentioning a date.

The Platte River Mall announced in July that Rue21 will be the newest addition to arrive in the coming months. The next closest Rue21 is in Grand Island.

Assistant Mall Manager of the Platte River Mall Cassie Condon says “We’re very excited to have Rue21 opening up this month in the Platte River Mall, it gives our mall shoppers a bigger variety of what to choose from here at the mall.”

Rue21 says in a press release:

Rue21 offers a broad assortment of the newest emerging fashion trends in apparel and accessories for girls and guys. Using a competitive pricing strategy, Rue21 makes a specific, unique statement by offering fashion at a value. Wide selections of styles are always available for the fashion-conscious customer.

 

Rue21 operates over 850 stores in 46 states with an aggressive expansion plan to open 100 stores annually. With customers of all ages, Rue21 appeals to all who have a flair for fashion!