LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A western Nebraska man has died after his kayak capsized in a private pond near Ogallala.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commissions says 64-year-old Glen Bassett of Ogallala was pronounced dead Tuesday at a local hospital after the incident before 10 a.m.

Authorities say a Colorado Springs man who was visiting swam to Bassett and attempted CPR. Bassett was not wearing a life jacket.

The commission says Bassett’s death is the first boating fatality in Nebraska since October 2012. It’s the 31st boating accident reported so far this year. Commission officials and the Keith County sheriff’s office are investigating.

By: Jacque Harms

The words “I forgive you” sometimes come easily.  You may say “forgive me” as you pass a fellow shopper at the grocery store or bump into someone in the hallway.  But can you forgive the sister who deeply hurt your feelings, or a brother who may not understand the pain after a family fight?

Imagine forgiving the people who killed most of your family in the Rwandan genocide in 1994.  Immaculee Ilibigaza survived that horrific slaughter after hiding in a tiny bathroom with seven women for 91 days as people with machetes and guns murdered a million of her Tutsi tribe violently in their homes and streets.

A neighbor protected her with great risk to his life and the lives of his family.  As she stood shoulder to shoulder with those women in a small, hidden bathroom, she spent hours and days using her rosary and her faith to fight the pangs of hunger and fear of death. Immaculee prayed to God for survival and the ability to forgive.

Immaculee now travels the world, sharing her message of forgiveness and love.  Her book “Left To Tell” and her retreats encourage people to embrace prayer and her message.

“We have a God; we have so much to be happy about. Don’t let anything take away your peace. That’s including your anger; it’s not worth it to be angry; to be hateful,” says Immaculee, “Love is Everything! And God is Almighty.”

Immaculee will be in North Platte, Nebraska, November 14-15, 2014, for a Friday evening and Saturday morning retreat at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.  She shares with people the power of prayer, and the reasons to forgive.  “There’s a craving in me  that when I meet someone who is needy, sad or feeling like there is no way,” says Immaculee, “that I want to reach out to them and tell them ‘NO!  You still have so much to be happy about.’ ”

She recognizes that it very hard for people to forgive.  Immaculee says, “How do I let it go and for what? There is a little bit of reward, a little bit of sweetness in being angry.”  She agrees that people feel power through their anger and lack of forgiveness because they feel as if they are doing something about the situation.

“Sometimes we think, ‘if I forgive so does it mean that then they’re right and I’m wrong? Does it mean that I agree with what they did?’ It’s none of that,” Immaculee says.

People can register for the Immaculee retreat, “Healing and “Hope,” through the www.Immaculee.com website, or by calling Marilyn McGahan in North Platte at 308-520-4851.  The retreat is $57 a person, or $95 for two people.  She will autograph her best-selling books plus offer items through her retreat store.  Special guest, singer and song writer, Anne Karto, will also be appearing with her.  People of all faiths are invited to attend her retreat.

Even after almost 20 years after the Rwandan genocide, Immaculee prays daily, “I put my hands and my family in the hands of God. And He finds a way always. He finds a way.”

Boy Scout Popcorn sales begin this week.

Many scouts throughout the Buffalo Bill District will  begin selling “Trails End” popcorn products. You will be able to identify scouts selling popcorn  by their recognizable Scout uniforms, their warm smiles and courteous greeting.

These products make terrific Christmas gifts for that “hard to buy for” colleague or family  member.

There are a host of products including the traditional popping corn, microwave  popcorn and various scrumptious flavors.  There is even a collector’s tin which celebrates the  University of Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Scouts will also offer an opportunity to purchase popcorn  which is sent directly to support our military personnel serving overseas.

70% of the proceeds from the sale of popcorn support local Scouting programs such as camping  and other scout related activities. Jim Parish, Buffalo Bill District Executive says, “One of the life  skills that scouting teaches is that a Scout is thrifty.  He learns to pay his own way through his  efforts and work.”    The sale period begins September 24th and runs through November 3rd .

All products will be  delivered at the end of November, just in time for early Christmas giving.

For more information, please contact the Overland Trails Council office in North Platte at: (308)  532‐3110.

NORTH PLATTE – The 12th annual G.R.E.E.N. fundraising event for the North Platte Catholic Schools is planned for Saturday, October 4th at the Quality Inn & Suites.

Generating Resources for Educational Excellence Now is the largest single event of the year for the North Platte Catholic Schools Endowment-Trust, which works year- round to generate over $600,000 for McDaid and St. Patrick’s schools.

G.R.E.E.N. features a silent auction with over 150 items, a live auction with 36 items, a gourmet dinner, entertainment, as well as multiple chances at cash prizes. The G.R.E.E.N. “Lucky Lotto” offers two $5,000 prizes and a $1,000 second prize. Lotto tickets are $100 each, and only 300 will be sold.

G.R.E.E.N. guests can also play the Irish Heads or Tails game for a chance at another $1,000 cash prize, participate in the Husker pool for cash prizes, and purchase tickets for chances to go home with a fully stocked “spirit wagon.”

Endowment Director Wendy Dodson invites the entire community to join in the fun at G.R.E.E.N. to help support the North Platte Catholic Schools.

“G.R.E.E.N. is truly a fun evening that benefits the community of North Platte because it helps strengthen the Catholic school system,” Dodson said.

She said the Endowment is extremely thankful for the generosity of local businesses and individuals who have donated and sponsored auction items and underwritten the cash prizes.

“This event couldn’t happen without the support of our community and a large group of volunteers.” Dodson added.

Dodson said Husker fans need not worry about the Nebraska vs. Michigan State game on Oct. 4th, as the game broadcast will be shown on the big screens in the G.R.E.E.N. room at the Quality Inn.

To make your reservation for G.R.E.E.N, call the Endowment office at 308-534-5939, or stop by 601 S. Tabor.

Dinner tickets are $60 per person. Lucky Lotto tickets are $100 each. The lotto drawing will take place during G.R.E.E.N.’s live auction on Saturday, October 4th, but you do not have to be present to win.

The evening begins at 5:00 p.m. with the silent auctions and social hour. Dinner will be served at 7:00 with the Heads or Tails game, live auction and lotto drawing to follow.

Register your mobile phone for text-bidding, view the auction catalog, and bid from your computer at: Qtego.net/qlink/green. All silent auction bidding is done via text or through the mobile/online “qsite.” Anyone can register to bid, and you do not have to be present at the event to place silent auction bids.

Dodson says the Catholic Schools are on the cutting edge with auction event technology. She says the QTEGO text and mobile bidding system sponsored by NebraskaLand National Bank adds a whole new element of fun to the G.R.E.E.N. event.

Over the past 12 years, over $1.1 million has been raised through the G.R.E.E.N. event for the North Platte Catholic Schools. These funds have supported a teacher retirement fund, supported the general operations of McDaid and St. Patrick’s, funded school improvements and special projects, improved technology, and fulfilled teacher and school wish lists.

A North Platte woman has been charged with a felony after she allegedly stole a check from an elderly woman she was helping.

At around 11:15 a.m., on September 22, North Platte Police opened a fraud investigation after receiving a complaint from a 78-year-old woman.

The woman alleged that 33-year-old Randisa Purvis was hired to help her around her home.  At some point, Purvis allegedly stole a personal check from her, and wrote the check to herself for $500.00.

Following further investigation, investigators determined that there was probable cause to arrest Purvis and charge her with 2nd degree forgery, a felony.

Purvis was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

A 31-year-old North Platte man is in jail on felony drug charges following a traffic stop and short foot pursuit.

At around 7:25 p.m., on September 23, an officer with the North Platte Police Department observed a blue Jeep Cherokee being operated by Jason Sullivan.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, the officer had prior knowledge that Sullivan’s license was revoked.

The officer followed Sullivan’s vehicle and made contact with him as he exited the Jeep near Oak Street and West 5th Street.

Brown said Sullivan then fled on foot west on 5th Street, north on Oak, then back on west 6th Street, where he stopped running and the officer took him into custody.

A subsequent search of Sullivan’s vehicle revealed drug paraphernalia commonly used with marijuana and a white powder that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.

Sullivan was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed on charges of felony possession of methamphetamine, resisting arrest, driving under revocation and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sullivan has been arrested at least four times within the last year in Lincoln County.

 

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new report ranks Nebraska ranks fourth nationally in the amount spent per voter on political television ads during this election cycle.

The Center for Public Integrity says spending in Nebraska’s races for governor and attorney general has reached an estimated $4.1 million so far. That’s about $3.12 for each eligible voter. The report released Wednesday is based on a review of political advertising on national cable and broadcast television in all 210 of the major media markets.

Nebraska ranked 19th in overall estimated spending.

Spending in Nebraska was up dramatically compared to 2010 because of the hotly contested Republican primary race for Nebraska governor. Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman easily won re-election in 2010, but can’t seek the office again because of term limits.

Railroad regulators say some federal workplace safety standards should be extended to workers on and near the tracks.

The National Transportation Safety Board is issuing a draft report after investigating 15 deaths of railroad “roadway” employees in 2013. The number was up from eight in 2012 and five in 2011.

Among the report’s findings is that differences between regulations of the Federal Railroad Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration can be confusing.

It recommends that the railroad administration include OSHA standards during job briefings for roadway workers.

It said causes of deaths included workers hit by trains, falls from bridges, electrocution and a mudslide.

Accidents such as train crashes and derailments were not part of the study.

• Today: Areas of dense fog before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 87. Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
• Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. East southeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm after midnight.
• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Light southeast wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the afternoon.
• Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. South southeast wind 6 to 9 mph.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Light and variable wind becoming south 13 to 18 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
• Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 82.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A company has entered a settlement agreement over its solicitations to Nebraska corporations and businesses.

The Attorney General’s Office announced Tuesday that Corporate Records Service has agreed to change the content of its mailings, which consumers complained looked like government documents.

State officials say the solicitations claimed to fulfil Nebraska corporate record-keeping requirements. They called them deceptive and misleading.

Corporate Records Service has also agreed to give a full refund of $125 to consumers charged by the company. State officials say the settlement affects more than 1,000 Nebraska businesses.