LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska state government tax collections came in higher than projected in February.
The Department of Revenue reported Thursday that net tax collections for the month were $296 million, which is nearly 2 percent higher than the state’s certified forecast.
The department says net sales-and-use taxes were more than 1 percent below the forecast. Net individual income tax receipts were more than 1 percent higher than projected, net corporate income tax receipts were nearly 99 percent higher than expected and net miscellaneous taxes were more than 7 percent higher than expected.
The comparisons are based on the forecast set by the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board in October.
Gov. Pete Ricketts says officials must continue to proceed with caution. By law, the additional review will go to the state’s cash reserve.
The North Platte Public Schools Foundation is pleased to announce their 2018 “Teacher of the Year”, “Staff Member of the Year,” and “Administrator of the Year;” award winners. These exemplary district employees will be honored at our upcoming Education After Hours event on April 6th
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There is two Teacher of the Year Award Winners.
Lane Swedberg
The 2018 6-12th grade “Teacher of the Year”, is Madison Middle School Math Teacher Lane Swedberg Lane Swedberg graduated from Wallace High School and then continued his education at Chadron State College. He has his Bachelor’s degree in Middle School Education with Field Endorsements in both Math and Science. Lane is heavily involved outside the classroom coaching middle school football and basketball as well as a varsity track. He assists with quiz bowl, student council, and FCA. He is also active in community theater most recently starring as Mr. Bucket in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Tara Foster
The 2018 PreK-5th grade “Teacher of the Year”, Lake 4th Grade Teacher Tara Foster. Tara Foster is originally from Tryon Nebraska. She graduated from McPherson County High School in 1998 and graduated from Chadron State College in 2002. She taught at Our Redeemer Lutheran school for three years, before taking a job at Lake Maloney School teaching 3rd and 4th grade. Mrs. Foster started a STEAM team of third and fifth graders that meet every Monday after school to build their skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. She is also part of the NPPS science curriculum writing team and technology team, HAL coordinator for Lake and is very active with the schools PTO.
Dan Koehler
The 2018 “Staff Member of the Year” is McDonald Elementary Custodian Dan Koehler Affectionately called “Big Dan” by students and staff at McDonald Elementary, Dan Koehler was nominated and awarded staff member of the year. An avid musician Dan brings his songs alive for the students by singing happy birthday with his guitar and even giving guitar lessons to students who earn them by doing good. Dan not only cleans the school, he is an active participant in assemblies and school projects. He is excellent at his job and creates a culture at McDonald that includes and appreciates everyone.
Greg Fruhwirth
The 2018 “Administrator of the Year”, is Washington Elementary Principal Greg Fruhwirth. Greg Fruhwirth graduated from Larimore High School and received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota in Elementary and Special Education, and a Master’s degree is in Educational Leadership from Colorado State. He is married to Barb who is employed as a 1st-grade teacher at Eisenhower. They have 3 children. In 2013 He became the Principal at Washington Elementary. Before Washington, he was a principal at Wray Elementary for 8 years in Wray, Colorado. His teaching career lasted 25 years, he taught Special Education, 4th and 6th Grade in Fowler, Colorado. Greg also coached Girls Basketball, Football, Baseball, and Track. Greg’s contribution to NPPS has led to Washington Elementary becoming a district leader in student performance. Greg is often seen participating in school events throughout the district and running distance races around the state.
Nominations for these outstanding staff members were made by students, parents, community members and employees from the North Platte Public School District. These awards recognize and encourage superior professional effort to improve instruction and to cultivate the continuation of education excellence in our schools. Teacher and Staff Member Award Winners will receive a plaque and a $250 cash award. Administrators will receive a plaque and $1000 extra budget authority for their building/administrative area.
Awards will be presented at North Platte Public Schools Foundation “Education After Hours” event on Friday April 6th from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express. Tickets are $25 each ($20 for NPPSD staff) and available online at nppsf.org or at the Foundation office. Please call 696-3325 in advance to schedule pick up.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would have required courts to appoint an attorney for juveniles charged with a crime has stalled in the Nebraska Legislature.
Supporters failed on Wednesday to break a filibuster led by Sen. Mike Groene, of North Platte, who argued that the measure was a solution in search of a problem. Lawmakers voted 31-8 to force an end to the legislative debate, two short of what was required to bring it to a vote.
Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, of Lincoln, says she introduced the bill to ensure juveniles’ constitutional rights are protected. She says many youths don’t understand the potential long-term consequences of having a criminal conviction on their record, and they and their parents could struggle to navigate through the court system.
LINCOLN, Neb. – The public is encouraged to attend one of four upcoming informational meetings about mountain lions in Nebraska. The meetings are hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
The meetings will include an overview of what the Commission knows about mountain lions in the state. Topics will include an update on research and details of the new mountain lion management plan. Staff then will receive feedback and answer questions.
All meetings will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., local time. The meeting schedule:
March 22 – North Platte, Holiday Inn Express, 300 Holiday Frontage Rd.
April 3 – Chadron, Chadron State College Student Center Ballroom, 1000 Main St.
KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — An Amherst man has pleaded no contest to attempted sexual assault in a 2017 case involving a 14-year-old girl.
20-year-old Tyler Baker will be sentenced in May on the felony conviction. In exchange, three other charges related to the case were dropped, including sexual assault, enticement with an electronic device and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Court records say Baker abused the girl on Sept. 19. Baker faces up to 20 years in prison when he’s sentenced.
Over the past week a malicious virus was discovered on point-of-sale
Drew Purviance, Eagle Technology Solutions
machines at more than 160 Applebee’s locations. This virus has exposed credit card information from unknowing diners. In Kansas, three of the restaurants have been identified to have been infected, Topeka, Emporia, and Manhattan.
The dates on which the stores were hit vary, but the majority were found to have occurred in November 2017, and several throughout December and January. All things considered RMH, who owns the restaurants, responded quickly and contained the malware by early February. RMH was able to enlist the help of several cyber security forensic firms and reported the issue right away.
POS malware is becoming more and more prevalent for all retailers and medical industry businesses. Already in January, Forever 21 revealed that their POS machines had been infected for almost eight months in its stores before being discovered.
RMH and the other companies strongly urge customers to monitor their bank accounts at this point. RMH acknowledges that the ultimate safeguard against this kind of malware must come from the retailers themselves.
All-in-all you really need to monitor your credit cards and bank accounts regularly if you use debit/credit cards on a regular basis. RMH responded promptly and extremely well to this issue but you never know what business is currently infected and businesses often don’t have any clue. Be wary and be cautious as malicious entities can be everywhere. If you have any questions or concerns on possible malware or scams give us at ETS a call at 785.628.1330 and we will help you out!
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a driver died after a crash on a Scotts Bluff County road in the Nebraska Panhandle.
The crash occurred a little before 5 p.m. Monday, about 3 miles (5 kilometers) west of Lake Minatare. Witnesses say the vehicle was moving below the speed limit before turning slowly across the center line and into a roadside ditch, where it rolled onto its top.
Sheriff Mark Overman says it’s unclear whether the person died of a pre-existing medical issue or of crash injuries. No name has been released.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts has received four finalists to fill a vacancy on the Nebraska Supreme Court.
The Judicial Nominating Commission for the Supreme Court, 4th District sent the governor four names Monday that he can consider. The candidates are Christine P. Costantakos, Jonathan J. Papik and John A. Svoboda, all of Omaha; and Cathy S. Trent-Vilim of La Vista.
The 4th Judicial District consists of portions of Douglas and Sarpy counties. The vacancy is due to the resignation of former Nebraska Supreme Court Judge Max Kelch.
Kelch resigned on Feb. 15 after less than two years on the high court. Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha is seeking to have Kelch disbarred after Kelch was named in a judicial ethics complaint, which has remained confidential.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A California-based payments service provider will open an operations center in Omaha, creating more than 300 new jobs.
The company, i2c , said Tuesday the center is expected to open by July and will expand the company’s account management, operations and client services divisions as well as house a network operations center.
The company says the center represents a $30 million financial commitment over four years, creating more than 300 positions in its first year of operation and more jobs in the future.
The company is based in Redwood City, California.
David Brown is president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, and he says Omaha is a “natural target” for companies like i2c because the Omaha area has several payment service providers, including PayPal and First Data.
KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A May sentencing has been scheduled for a man accused of causing the drunken driving deaths of two people in south-central Nebraska.
Court records show 24-year-old Kalen Pfeiffer, of rural Amherst, pleaded no contest Friday in Buffalo County District Court to two counts of manslaughter. Prosecutors dropped a charge of drunken driving in exchange for the pleas and agreed to ask the judge to order concurrent sentences. The sentencing is set for May 21.
The crash occurred just before 3 a.m. on Feb. 4 last year on a gravel road northwest of Amherst in Buffalo County. Investigators say a large pickup driven by Pfeiffer and carrying five other adults ran off the roadway and rolled.
Twenty-one-year-old Amber Frerichs, of Bassett, and 29-year-old Neal Maloley, of Kearney, died at the scene.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska state government tax collections came in higher than projected in February.
