Thursday, September 24, 2020

Morgan Jo Krueger Hansen December 18, 1995 to September 22, 2020

 




It is with great sadness that the family of Morgan Jo (Krueger) Hanson (Mojo) of Juniata, Nebraska, announces her passing after a long battle with Angiosarcoma.

Morgan’s last battle was fought on September 22, 2020, at Bryan East Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, surrounded by her family and friends.

A celebration of life will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 28, at Faith Lutheran Church in Hastings with Pastor Paul Dunbar officiating. Following the service, a luncheon will be held at the Eagles Club in Hastings. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the family for a memorial to be established at a later date. For the health and safety of others face masks are recommended for those attending the service, your cooperation is appreciated. Since there are material sharing restrictions, we ask that you bring your own pen for signing the registration book or memorial envelopes. If you do not bring one, we can do that for you. Private condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family.

Morgan Jo, 24, was born on December 18, 1995, in Hastings to Timothy Krueger and Jody Hitesman. She graduated from Hastings High School in 2014. She was active in Skills USA, softball, track, and various leadership organizations. She graduated from Central Community College in May 2016 with an associate’s degree in applied science in the area of Electrical Technology. She worked as an electrician in the surrounding area. She was joined in marriage to Cody Hanson on August 4, 2018, after originally being brought together early in the year of 2013.

“Even on the darkest days, I will stand tall and find the sunlight.” –sunflower quote.

Morgan was always full of positive energy that radiated all around her. She kept the sunlight on everyone else and never made herself the center of attention. She shared her zest for life everywhere she went. Morgan was an avid fan of country music, cars, animals, and sunflowers. She was a jack-of-all-trades, there wasn’t anything she couldn’t fix, create, or build. Morgan and Cody shared a love for the outdoors, nights around the fire with friends, taking care of their animals, working on cars, and racing.

Morgan battled Angiosarcoma with all her might and never gave up. She had a passion and drive that couldn’t be matched. When you think of Morgan, celebrate the good memories you have of her. Remember life is precious so live life to the fullest. “We are not here for a long time, we’re only here for a good time.” –Joe Hunt

She was preceded in death by her father, Timothy Krueger; mother-in-law, Rhonda Hanson; grandfathers, Ken Krueger and James “Red” Hendrickson; aunt, Dianne Gilbert; uncle, Scotty Hendrickson; cousin, Kylie Hendrickson; great-grandparents; and friends Matthew Hull, Simon Smith, and Travis Witte.

She is survived by husband, Cody Hanson; parents, Bill and Jody Hitesman; sisters, Kayla (Brad) Priest of Washington, Iowa, Whitney (Derek) Van Veldhuizen of Rock Rapids, Iowa, Tori (Mason) James of Hastings; stepsisters, Nicole (Denne) Brodbeck of Calmer, Iowa and Heather (Joe) Norsworthy of Nacogdoches, Texas; multiple nieces and nephews; grandmothers, Mariel Krueger of Blue Hill and Jeanette Hendrickson of Harvard; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

SARA BOCKSTADTER TO BE RECALLED

 Sara J. Bockstadter

Attorney
The County Attorney has a duty to prosecute or defend all civil or criminal suits in which the state or county is a party or interested, on behalf of the state or county. The County Attorney shall appear before any magistrate and conduct any criminal examination, prosecute all civil suits before any magistrate in which the state or county is a party or interested. When the County Board or county officers request opinions or advice concerning duties of the offices or matters in which the state or county may have an interest, the County Attorney shall give opinions or advice for no fee. The County Attorney shall perform all duties enjoined by law upon the county coroner and shall be ex-officio county coroner.

Citizens across Webster County are seeing that this county attorney is neglecting her duties and using her office to harass and persecute tax payers.  They have had enough and are coming forward to sign a petition to recall her.   

LUCILLE WINTERTEIN OCTOBER 2, 1930 TO SEPTEMBER 20, 2020

 Lucille M. Winterstein left this earth for heavenly home on Sunday morning, Sept. 20, 2020 at the age of 89. 

She was born on Oct. 2, 1930 at Bay City, MI to Emil and Helen (Walter) Bieberich. She graduated from Michigan Lutheran Seminary High School in Saginaw in 1948 and attended Dr. Martin Luther College in Minnesota. 
Lucille and William W. Winterstein were married on July 22, 1951. Lucille was a teacher in small Lutheran schools for 40 years, spending 10 of those years in Blue Hill, and 10 years near Hanover, KS. 
After retirement they made their home in Beatrice and were members of the First Trinity Lutheran Church, R. Beatrice. Lucille was active with LWML and the quilt group for many years. She enjoyed putting together bulletin boards displays in the fellowship hall and making flower arrangements from her own garden for the altar. 
In her free time Lucille enjoyed working in her flower and vegetable gardens and watching birds in her yard. 
Survivors include two daughters, Bonnie Yoder and husband, Brady of Omaha, and Beth Lohse and husband, Jim of Beatrice; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. 
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William of 67 years (2018); and her sister. 
Funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at the First Trinity Lutheran Church, R. Beatrice with Reverend Timothy Wagner officiating. Interment will be at the Evergreen Home Cemetery preceding the funeral. The body will lie in state Wednesday from 2-8 p.m. at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel and not at the church. 
The family will greet friends Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the family’s choice with the funeral home in charge. Sign Lucille’s online guest book at view her video tribute when completed at www.ghchapel.com
These services have been entrusted to the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.

Guide Rock Man Gets 4 years for Child pornography

 

Guide Rock man gets 4 years for child pornography

Posted Sep 21, 2020 7:30 AM

News Release US Attorney's Office

OMAHA, Neb.-United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Robert Rose, 65, of Guide Rock, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 18, 2020, in Lincoln, Nebraska by Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard to four years’ imprisonment for Possession of Child Pornography. There is no parole in the federal system. Rose was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution. After his release from prison, Rose will have to serve a 12-year term of supervised release and be required to register as a sex offender.

On July 19, 2018, investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol executed a search warrant at Rose’s residence in Guide Rock. Rose’s laptop was seized during the search warrant and it was forensically examined by the Nebraska State Patrol. On Rose’s laptop, investigators found more than 600 images and videos of children under the age of 18 years old, including infants and toddlers, nude and/or engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Rose admitted to obtaining these images from the internet.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.


Casey Cassell Of Kenesaw guilty of Robbery in Bladen

 BLADEN, Neb. — One man charged in a robbery in Bladen changed his plea on Monday and is set to be sentenced in November.

 The man behind a bizarre home invasion robbery last spring in Bladen stands convicted of felony robbery and may be facing prison.

Casey Cassell, 19, Kenesaw, is believed to the the man behind a bizarre home invasion robbery in Bladen, Nebraska last may.  Monday Cassell pleaded no contest to felony Robbery.   A Judge scheduled Cassell's sentencing for the crime for November 16.

Cassell and two juveniles were accused of breaking into a Bladen man’s home on May 5 to steal property and weapons.  After beating the man they fled the scene but their victim didnt give up easy and fired at the fleeing robbers.  Although no-one was wounded and the suspects dropped most of the property, mostly guns and ammunition that they were attempting to steal.

Cassell’s robbery conviction carries a max penalty of 50 years in prison.

Nineteen-year-old Casey Cassell, of Kenesaw has changed his plea of not guilty on a count of robbery to no contest, according to court records. As a part of a plea agreement, a second charge was dismissed.
Court documents state the court then found Cassell guilty of robbery.

Friday, September 18, 2020

DHHS Friday COVID-19 Update


 The state Case total, as of 5:45 p.m. CT today is 40,387, an increase of 2,546 from last Friday. There were eight new COVID-19-related deaths in the state, for a total of 442. A total of 30,509 Nebraskans diagnosed with COVID-19 have since recovered.

The daily average of positive cases for Sept. 12-18 is 364 compared to a daily average of 311 last week, and 318 and 259 in recent weeks.

Continue COVID-19 Prevention

All Nebraskans are urged to continue taking the following preventive actions below to help limit COVID-19 transmission:

In addition, all Nebraskans are encouraged to get flu vaccine this year to help limit the spread of respiratory illnesses, lower the need for medical visits and hospitalizations, and reduce strain on the health care system during the pandemic.

The CDC recommends flu vaccine for everyone age 6 months and older, especially those at high risk for influenza complications, including infants and young children, children with neurologic conditions, pregnant women, adults age 65 and older, and those with certain underlying medical conditions.

More information on this year's flu vaccine is available at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2020-2021.htm .

New COVID-19 Testing Partnerships

The state is launching new partnerships to expand the availability of COVID-19 testing through Test Nebraska. This week, DHHS announced collaborations with the state's largest school district, Omaha Public Schools (OPS) and Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha to support easy testing access in and around Omaha.

The partnership with Children's Hospital will provide mobile COVID-19 testing within a 200 mile radius of Omaha. The mobile testing team staffed by Children's pediatric experts can be dispatched by the state to support schools, child care centers and other educational institutions seeing a rise in COVID-19 symptoms or cases.

The OPS partnership will provide regular testing of teachers and staff as the district begins a phased return to in-person classroom learning over the next month.

Test Nebraska will provide the test kits to supply both partnerships.

Those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 or who are experiencing symptoms can receive a free test through Test Nebraska. Symptoms can include a fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, tiredness, muscle aches, headaches, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. 

Visit Testnebraska.com , or use TestNebraska/es  for Spanish, to schedule a visit at one of more than 60 locations across the state.

Nebraskans with general questions about testing or who need help completing the online assessment can call the Test Nebraska hotline at (402) 207-9377.

DHM Update – Counties Move to Phase 4

Monday's move to Phase 4 of the state's Directed Health Measures applies to every health department jurisdiction in the state, but Lancaster County is keeping some Phase 3 restrictions in place. Phase 4 will continue until Oct. 31 unless hospitalizations change dramatically.

A summary of DHM phases is available online at http://dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/COVID-19-Outline-of-Changes-to-DHMs-ALL-Phases.pdf .

Nebraskans seeking information or help with general questions can call the DHHS COVID-19 information hotline at (402) 552-6645, or toll-free (833) 998-2275. The COVID-19 hotline is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. CT, 7 days a week. DHHS will continue to share new information via the DHHS website, http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Webster County Board Of Commissioners

 WEBSTER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS The Webster County Board of Commissioners met at 8:30am on Tuesday, September 15th, 2020 for a regular business meeting at the Courthouse in Red Cloud. The following Board Members were present for roll call: Dan Shipman (District One), Trevor Karr (District Two), TJ Vance (District Three), Keith Buschow (District Four) and Gary Ratzlaff (District Five). Chairman Buschow gave notice of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act Laws. Motion was made by Ratzlaff, seconded by Vance to approve the minutes of the September 1st meeting. Voting in favor: Buschow, Ratzlaff, Vance, Karr and Shipman. Voting no, absent or abstaining: None. Motion carried. Motion was made by Shipman, seconded by Ratzlaff to pay claims and payroll. All members present voted in favor. Motion carried. At 8:35am, Paul Stoner met with the Board. The crews are busy working on and repairing roads, and widening out intersections. They also discussed roadsides, tree problems and spraying plum thickets. At 9:00am, Paul showed bids received by email for New Excavator Bid Letting and Plate Compactor Bid Letting. Bids were received from Nebraska Machinery Co and Wear Parts & Equipment Co. After discussion, motion was made by Shipman, seconded by Karr to go with Nebraska Machinery Co.bids on both the Excavator and Compactor. This decision will be approved based on performance expectations when they review the machines. Voting in favor: Buschow, Ratzlaff, Vance, Karr and Shipman. Voting no, absent or abstaining: None. Motion carried. At 9:15am, Deputy Assessor Tami Scheuneman met with the Board. Motion was made by Shipman, seconded by Vance to go into Board of Equalization. Voting in favor: Buschow, Ratzlaff, Vance, Karr and Shipman. Voting no, absent or abstaining: None. Motion carried. Deputy Scheuneman presented 3 Tax Corrections for the Board to approve. They are all on the same property. Motion was made by Karr, seconded by to approve the 3 tax corrections. Voting in favor: Buschow, Ratzlaff, Vance, Karr and Shipman. Voting no, absent or abstaining: None. Motion carried. Motion was made by Vance, seconded by Karr to go out of Board of Equalization. All members voted in favor. Tami also discussed internet service, MIPS and Great Plains hook up problems to be looked at in the future. At 9:20am, the Board approved Resolution 36-2020 transferring $150,000.00 from General Fund to Capital Construction Fund and Resolution 37-2020 transferring $195,000.00 from General Fund to Road Fund. Motion was made by Vance, seconded by Karr to allow both transfers. Voting in favor: Buschow, Ratzlaff, Vance, Karr and Shipman. Voting no, absent or abstaining: None. Motion carried. At 9:30am, Treasurer Janet Knehans presented Resolution 38-2020 .0Letter of Credit for $500,000.00 with expiration date of 09/17/20. Motion was made by Karr, seconded by Vance to approve this Letter of Credit. Voting in favor: Buschow, Ratzlaff, Vance, Karr and Shipman. Voting no, absent or abstaining: None. Motion carried. At 9:40am, Janet & Liz visited with the Board about a different way of doing pledged securities. Jamie Kosse from South Central Bank had presented this Single Bank Pooled Collateral Program option to them. Janet will get more information from other counties and report to the Board at our next meeting. The Board discussed Noxious Weed Superintendent, Brian Pedersen and felt they needed to meet with him directly to see if he had any questions or needed anything for his job. The Board felt Brian was doing a good job. The Household Hazardous Waste pickup will be in Blue Hill, September 19th from 8 to 10am. The Board discussed the handicapped area west of the Courthouse for possible changes to make it more visible for safety purposes. Floors will be done when time permits and the Extension floor is being discussed with Carmichael Construction Co. The Board reviewed the Imprest Account Report and the Clerk of District Court Report submitted. A letter had been received from the State of Nebraska Jail Standards Board stating the jail facility was in full compliance for 2020. At 10:00am, motion was made by Ratzlaff, seconded by Vance to go into Executive Session. Voting in favor: Buschow, Ratzlaff, Vance, and Karr. Voting no: Shipman. Motion carried. Motion was made by Ratzlaff, seconded by Karr to go out of Executive Session at 10:50am. Voting in favor: Buschow, Ratzlaff, Vance, Karr and Shipman. Motion carried. GENERAL FUND: Ameritas Life Insurance Corp (Retire)-$7030.55; Black Hills Energy (Utility)-$93.05; Blue Cross/Blue Shield (Health/Life)-$17,934.93; Blue Hill Leader (Publish)-$422.99; Brite (Supply)-$244.00; Business World Prod/Hastings (Supply)-$99.79; Carpenter & Skalka Crt Reporting (Fee)-$77.65; Consolidated Management Co (Supply)-$8.74; Cooperative Producers, Inc (Fuel)- $1930.95; DAS State Accounting/Central Finance (Fees)-$225.52; S.S. (Fica)-$7470.45; Eakes Office Solutions (Supply)-$1008.57; First Concord Benefits Group (Fee)-$15.00; First Concord Benefits Group (Fees)-$202.50; Glenwood (Phone)-$105.00; Hometown Market (Supply)-$849.41; Jared’s Auto Expert (Repairs)-$142.43; Kenny’s Lumber & Home Center (Supply)-$16.47; Cheyenne Knehans (Contract)-$1050.00; Krueger Land Surveying (Fees)-$1050.00; Leaf (Lease Pmt)-$424.45; Madison National Life Ins Co, Inc (Life)- $34.34; Med-Tech Resource LLC (Supply)-$402.63; Midland Area Agency on Aging (Funding)-$5236.00; Mips Inc (Support)-$2285.22; Nebraska Co Assessors Assn (Dues)-$50.00; Nebraska Labor Law Poster Service (Supply)-$89.50; Nebraska Tech & Telecom, Inc (Phone)-$56.95; Quadient Finance USA, Inc (Postage)-$1000.00; Red Cloud Chief (Publish)-$32.50; Secretary of State (Supply)- $10.00; Self-Insured Dental Fund (Premiums)-$2861.00; Sullivan Shoemaker P.C. L.L.O. (Counsel)-$436.10; Superior Publishing Company Inc (Supply)-$39.49; Ken VanWey (Repairs/Mowing)-$1302.00; Verizon Wireless (Phones)-$240.06; Village Pharmacy (Supply)-$36.78; Web Co Sheriff-Petty Cash Fund (Replenish)-$258.80; Webster County Treasurer (Transfer)-$195,000.00; Webster County Treasurer (Transfer)-$150,000.00. ROAD/BRIDGE FUND: Ameritas Life Insurance Corp (Retire)-$2645.33; Black Hills Energy (Utility)-$70.59; Bladen Sand & Gravel, Inc (Gravel)-$24,958.89; Village of Bladen (Utility)-$56.63; Blue Cross/Blue Shield (Health/Life)-$9321.80; Cooperative Producers, Inc (Fuel)-$1741.25; Country Corner (Fuel)-$160.51; S.S. (Fica)-$2945.69; First Concord Benefits Group (Fee)-$10.00; Fleetpride (Repairs)-$207.51; Glenwood Telecommunications (Phones)-$159.34; Village of Guide Rock (Utility)-$85.45; Hometown Market (Supply)-$8.78; J&A Auto Supply (Repairs)-$76.27; Jared’s Auto Expert (Repairs)- $103.41; Kenny’s Lumber & Home Center (Repairs)-$219.63; Krueger Land Surveying (Fees)-$187.50; Pat Kucera (Expense)-$150.00; Madison National Life Ins Co, Inc (Fee)-$4.10; Mips Inc (Support)-$108.98; Nebraska Machinery Company (Repairs)-$6775.95; Olson Enterprises LLC (Fuel)-$1264.61; Power Plan, Dept 77871 (Repairs)-$176.96; Self-Insured Dental Fund (Premiums)-$884.00; South Central Bobcat, Hastings, NE (Repairs)-$281.49; Timm’s Service (Repairs/Fuel)-$1276.59; Werner Construction Company (Surfacing)- $16,995.99; Western Pathology Consultants (Testing)-$28.25. ROAD/BRIDGE CONST FUND: Bladen Sand & Gravel, Inc (Gravel)- $1078.48. MODERN RECORDS FUND: Mips Inc (Support)-$138.00. SELF-INSURED DENTAL FUND: Hastings Family Dental 1, LLC (Dental)_$219.20; Robert G Money, D.D.S. (Dental)-$106.40. HOSPITAL BOND FUND: Union Bank & Trust Company (Fee)-$524.00. NOXIOUS WEED FUND: Ameritas life Insurance Corp (Retire)-$233.10; Cooperative Producers, Inc (Fuel)-$144.26; S.S. (Fica)-$264.18; J&A Auto Supply (Repairs)-$5.88; Madison National Life Ins Co, Inc (Life)-$3.15; Self-Insured Dental Fund (Premiums)-$34.00; South Central ATV (Repairs)-$147.50. AMBULANCE FUND: Black Hills Energy (Utility)-$33.11; Cooperative Producers, Inc (Fuel)-$163.52; Ron’s Pharmacy (Supply)-$63.52. Total Wages - $143,435.54. Being no further business, Chairman Buschow adjourned the meeting at11:10am. The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 6th 2020 at 8:30am. A current agenda and complete minutes are on file in the County Clerk’s Office and at www.co.webster.ne.us. Dated this 15th day of September, 2020 Webster County Board of Commissioners ATTEST: Louise Petsch Webster County Clerk

Friday, September 11, 2020

KATHRYN L. ANDERSON APRIL 3, 1955 TO SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

 Kathryn L. Anderson, 65, Blue Hill, Nebraska passed away on Monday, September 7, 2020 at her home surrounded by her beloved family.  Rosary service will be Saturday, September 12, 2020, 10:30 a.m. with Funeral Mass to follow at 11:00 a.m., both at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, south of Lawrence, Nebraska with Father Corey Harrison Officiating.  Viewing and Visitation will be Friday, September 11, 2020 from 1:00-8:00 p.m. with family present from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Merten-Butler Mortuary, Blue Hill, Nebraska.  Private family burial will take place at a later date.  Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the donor’s choice.  Private condolences may be sent to the family at www.mertenbutlermortuary.com.  Merten-Butler Mortuary, Blue Hill, Nebraska is in charge of arrangements.

Kathy was born on April 3, 1955 to Donald D. and Jean (Arnold) Koch in Hastings, Nebraska.  She graduated from Hastings High School in 1973, and then attended Kearney State College.  She began her career in banking in 1975 at Hastings State Bank, and later worked for South Central State Bank in Blue Hill, where she retired in May of 2020.  On July 9, 1977, she married the love of her life, Darrell J. Anderson, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Hastings, Nebraska. Kathy and Darrell made their home at the Gilsdorf-Anderson Farm in 1980.  She was a member of St. Stephen’s Catholic Church and St. Stephen’s Altar Society.  She loved spending time with her daughters and spoiling her seven grandkids.  She kept a beautiful home, spent her spare time cross-stitching, and made the best cheesy potatoes, chocolate chip cookies and apple pie you’ve ever had.  Her special, kind and loving heart touched many people, and memories of her will be forever cherished.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Darrell, Blue Hill, Nebraska; daughter Alicia and Chauncey Gibreal, and grandchildren Alexander, Dinah, Cullen and Bethany, Axtell, Nebraska; daughter Amy and Morgan Desmond, and grandchildren Grace, Ayden and Easton, Yoder, Wyoming; brother Steven and Jeanne Koch and family, Palm Springs, California; sister Marilyn and Allen Cramer and family, Hastings, Nebraska; brothers and sisters in law and family, Catherine and Vic Henry, Fremont, Nebraska, Eugenia and Kenneth Aulner, Hastings, Nebraska, Patricia and Rey Anderson-Sifuentez, Lincoln, Nebraska, Paulette and Dr. Steve Crisman, Idaho Springs, Colorado, Marice and Don Erickson, Parker, Colorado, Gregory and Angie Anderson, Juniata, Nebraska, Geoffrey Anderson and special friend Michelle, Minden, Nebraska, Tom and Lona Anderson, Denton, Nebraska, Susan and Tom Caniglia, Omaha, Nebraska, Jeanette Anderson and special friend, Craig, Wood River, Nebraska, Steven Anderson, Hastings, Nebraska.  Kathy was preceded in death by her parents and parents in law, Bernel and Althea Anderson.