NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (North Platte Post) – A residential house fire on Tuesday afternoon has left a local family without a home. Firefighters battled the blaze on North Jessie Street for about an hour before getting the fire under control. According to Fire Marshall George Lewis, the fire started due to a faulty floor furnace. One person was in the house when the fire broke out but managed to escape. A fund has been set up for the residents of the home, Daran and Carol Crosier, at NebraskaLand National Bank. Although the house may be a total loss, no injuries were reported as a result of the fire.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.- (North Platte Post)- North Platte St. Pat’s Senior, Josiah Allison, has been named one of approximately 16,000 Semifinalist students from across the country in the National Merit Scholarship program.
These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships worth more than 34 million dollars. To be considered for this award, semifinalists must; have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be recommended by the high school principal and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.
Students will be notified in February if they advance to the next level of competition. Josiah has been involved in Chorus, Cross Country, Track, Wrestling, Knowledge Masters, Student Council, Swing Choir, and is an Eagle Scout. Josiah is the son of Dr. Kent and Jacque Allison.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska’s unemployment rate remained stable in October at 4.2 percent for the fourth month in a row.
The state Department of Labor said Tuesday that Nebraska’s jobless rate remains less than half the national rate of 9 percent.
Both the Nebraska and national unemployment rates are better than a year ago when the state rate was 4.4 percent and the national rate was 9.7 percent.
The preliminary unemployment rate for Omaha declined to 4.3 percent in October from last year’s 4.6 percent.
Lincoln also recorded an improvement as its unemployment rate declined to 3.4 percent from 3.6 percent.
The Labor Department said both the trade, transportation and utilities sector and the education and health services added jobs in October.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – Water from a broken pipe has forced closure of the Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center at a rail yard in North Platte.
The pipe broke in the office area on Monday.
Executive director JoAnn Hoatson says repair workers have been called in. Hoatson says it’s unclear when the Golden Spike will reopen to the public, but she’s hoping that will happen by Dec. 5.
The 120-foot-tall tower overlooks Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard, which is believed to be the world’s largest rail yard. The tower contains educational and historical displays.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – State lawmakers are urging the U.S. Postal Service to reconsider a study that could lead to post office closures in rural Nebraska.
The resolution by Sen. LeRoy Louden of Ellsworth comes in response to a federal review of 90 postal outlets in Nebraska, mostly in small towns. The Postal Service released a list in July of about 3,700 outlets nationwide that could be closed.
Louden says the Post Office should study pension costs and other expenses before closing offices that are widely viewed as crucial to small-town economies.
Some urban lawmakers voiced similar concerns. State Sen. Jeremy Nordquist says the closure of two post offices in his south Omaha district ranks among the biggest concerns he has heard from constituents.
Lawmakers approved the measure (LR8) with a 34-0 vote.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (North Platte Post) – An employee owner of Eagle Radio and a member of the North Platte Post family passed away Saturday after being involved in a two vehicle car accident.
35 year old Laura Osborne died of injuries sustained in the crash. Her daughter Karlie was also in the vehicle and remains hospitalized. Karlie is expected to recover from her injuries.
The accident occurred in Paxton. Laura’s vehicle struck another vehicle that was stopped to turn. She died on the way to the hospital.
Our entire Eagle Communications family is deeply saddened by the loss of Laura. Her positive, vibrant energy will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Osborne family.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – A North Platte man accused in the stabbing death of another man now faces charges of manslaughter and weapon use in Lincoln County District Court.
24-year-old Nathaniel Polanco will face the charges in Lincoln County District Court after waiving his preliminary hearing Thursday.
Polanco is accused of killing Michael Fernau on Oct.22. Police say Fernau was stabbed at his home, and died at a hospital. Police say the two men had been arguing.
A county judge also reduced Polanco’s bail from $500,000 to $250,000.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – A judge has reduced bail for four people charged with child abuse after police found two boys locked in a dog kennel in their home.
The four adults saw their bail reduced from $50,000 each to $25,000. They also had their cases bound over for trial in Lincoln County District Court on Thursday.
The boys’ mother, Ashly Clark, and three others – Lacy Beyer, Bryson Eyten and Samantha Eyten – are each charged with two counts of felony child abuse and two counts of false imprisonment.
The four were arrested on Oct. 24 after police found two boys, ages 3 and 5, inside a wire dog kennel inside a filthy trailer.