Cinda Baker, of Cinda’s Accents in North Platte, Nebraska, won first place in the custom framed art on canvas category in Larson-Juhl’s third annual Design Star: Framing Edition competition.

 

Hundreds of custom frame designs were submitted to the framing competition held at the world’s largest event in the picture framing industry, West Coast Art & Frame in Las Vegas.  Custom framers from around the world sent in photographs of their creative framing projects in seven categories: Objects, Mirrors, Textiles, Documents, Art on Canvas, Art on Paper and Photography.  Comprised of industry experts, the panel of judges selected first, second and third place winners in each category.

 

Cinda Baker won first place in the custom framed art on canvas category for beautifully framing a western-themed painting.  Baker framed this piece in a moulding by Larson-Juhl.

 

Larson-Juhl CEO, Drew Van Pelt, shared, “The Design Star framing competition is an excellent opportunity to showcase the creativity and ingenuity of the very talented custom framers who are also our customers, and we’re grateful to have the chance to host an event that garners such positive results.” Established more than a century ago, Larson-Juhl, a Berkshire-Hathaway company, is the world’s premier designer, manufacturer and distributor of fine custom frames of enduring style and craftsmanship.

 

Located in North Platte, Nebraska for over two decades, Cinda Baker has established a company renowned for its attention to detail.

To learn more about Cinda’s Accents, please visit www.cindasaccents.com.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Attorneys on both sides of the legal fight over Nebraska’s ban on gay marriage have turned in final written arguments on a motion to quash the ban immediately.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska sued the state last year on behalf of seven same-sex couples challenging the voter-approved ban.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon heard arguments on the ACLU’s motion for an injunction to block enforcement of the ban while the lawsuit is pending. Bataillon asked for both sides to submit additional information Monday, which they did.

An attorney for one of the couples submitted an affidavit detailing the negative effects of the ban on their health insurance and survivor benefits.

The state countered that the affidavit is inadmissible hearsay.

Bataillon will rule on the motion later.

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha-based private equity firm has bought a company that serves several Nebraska communities with ground and aerial ambulances and wheelchair vans.

Panorama Point Partners has acquired all of Columbus-based Platte County Ambulance Co., which also is known as Midwest Medical Transport. Terms were not disclosed.

Kim and Jill Wolfe founded Midwest Medical Transport in 1987 with one used ambulance they kept in a Columbus storage unit. They’ve since grown to 13 ground ambulance locations and two bases for its helicopter service.

Fifty-seven-year-old Kim Wolfe says he wants to retire and enjoy life. His wife, Jill Wolfe, says, “It’s time to move on.”

General manager Jeff Shullaw has worked for the Wolfes for 15 years, and he’s taking over as chief executive officer.

Former Army Ranger, Security and Military Consultant, Kris “Tanto” Paronto will visit NebraskaLand National Bank in North Platte on March 12^th to present first-hand details of the Attack on Benghazi.

Mr. Paronto was part of the CIA Annex security team that responded to the terrorist attack on the US Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya, September 11^th, 2012, helping to save over 20 lives while fighting off terrorists from the CIA Annex for over 13 hours.  Mr. Paronto’s story is told in the book “13 Hours” written by Mitchell Zuckoff and his five surviving annex security team members.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase.  The book, “13 Hours” is the riveting story that takes readers into the action-packed story of heroes who laid their lives on the line for one another, for their countrymen, and for their country.

The event will take place on March 12, 2015 at NebraskaLand National Bank Main Branch, 1400 South Dewey.  The public is invited to join us for a Meet and Greet with Kris Paronto and a book signing from 3:00-5:00pm.  A special flag dedication will be performed at 5:30pm by members of our local VFW in memory of Cal Stratton.  Following the flag dedication, Mr. Paronto will begin the presentation, entitled “13 Hours: the harrowing, true account from the brave men on the ground who fought back during the Battle of Benghazi”.  The lecture will take place in the 3^rd Floor Banquet Room.

Advance registration is required for the lecture as seating is limited.  Please call 308-534-2100 or email dnichols@nlnb.com to reserve your seat.

GERING, Neb. (AP) — Opening statements are expected to be given Tuesday in the Gering trial of a man accused in the death of a 2-year-old girl more than six years ago.

Twenty-eight-year-old Dustin Chauncey is charged with child abuse resulting in the death of Juliette Geurts.

A jury of nine women and three men, plus a man and woman as alternates, was selected on Monday. Twenty-seven witnesses are expected to testify during the trial, including the girl’s mother, Charyse Geurts. Chauncey was her boyfriend in July 2008, when little Juliette Geurts died. An autopsy report says she died of blunt force trauma, specifically injuries to her liver.

Two other charges against Chauncey — manslaughter and providing false information — were dismissed because of the statute of limitations.

COZAD, Neb. (AP) — A 38-year-old Cozad man has been given 35 to 45 years in prison for sexually assaulting children while baby-sitting them.

Lael Arpan was sentenced on Monday in Dawson County District Court. He’d pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting a child. A third count was dropped in exchange for Arpan’s pleas.

Arpan was arrested on August following an investigation by the Cozad Police Department into allegations made by two families. A court affidavit says Arpan lived with one of the families and provided baby-sitting to both of them.

• Today: Sunny, with a high near 49. West northwest wind 9 to 13 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. West southwest wind 6 to 8 mph.
• Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 41. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 8 to 13 mph becoming north 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.
• Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9. Wind chill values as low as -4. Blustery, with a north wind 13 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
• Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 19. North wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have kicked off a debate on whether to reinstate the winner-take-all-system in presidential elections. Such a change would eliminate the current practice that allowed President Barack Obama to win one vote from Omaha in 2008.

The GOP-backed bill faced immediate resistance from Democrats and some moderate Republicans in the officially nonpartisan Legislature.

Nebraska and Maine are the only states where it’s possible to split electoral votes between opposing presidential candidates, though other states have considered the practice.

The bill’s sponsor, Republican Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha, says the current system allows presidential candidates to only speak to districts that are competitive while ignoring the state as a whole. Democrats say the bill would remove any incentive to campaign in Omaha, which borders Iowa with its first-in-the-nation caucuses.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A proposed ballot measure to let Nebraska lawmakers serve up to 12 consecutive years is under review in a legislative committee.

Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus presented a new constitutional amendment Monday that would let future lawmakers serve up to two consecutive six-year terms. Schumacher says it would preserve institutional knowledge which he sees as lacking in committees.

Schumacher says a 2012 measure to expand term limits to three four-year terms didn’t pass because it was accompanied by salary increase. Schumacher’s measure focuses only on terms and would not apply to any senator currently in office.

Committee members took no action on the resolution, but some say if it advances it should be written simply and clearly to keep floor debate focused on the issue.

• Dylan Michael Bourke, 24, North Platte and Meagan Nicole Ross, 24, North Platte

 

• Preston Alan Wallace, 30, North Platte and Jasmine Rose Moore, 30, North Platte

 

• Schad C Nelson, 21, North Platte and Hannah N Toelle, 19, North Platte

 

• Andrew James Schwalb, 29, Omaha NE and Megan Faye Wecker, 25, North Platte

 

• Jason Lee Norman, 30, North Platte and Megan Ann Wilson, 28, North Platte