Raymond R. Rico, 82, of Hershey, passed away at home surrounded by his
family on Friday, May 10, 2019.

Raymond was born April 11, 1937, to Florentino and Rosalia (Rivera) Rico
at Hershey where he lived all his life.  After graduating from high
school in 1956, Raymond worked for Kuroki Farms, Miller Farms and Joe
Dye Ford.  He then hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad and worked
as an Engineer until retiring in 1999.

Raymond loved watching football, especially the Huskers, and was a big
Ford Man who loved his Ford truck.  He was also known as “Mr. Clean”
since he kept everything so clean and tidy and had to have a perfect
yard.  Raymond especially loved his family and was a very humble man,
thankful for what he had and could share with others.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Florentino and Rosalia Rico;
sisters, Julia Cervantez and Connie Garza; and brothers-in-law, Mike
Cervantez and Alex Tinajera.

Raymond is survived by his sisters, Eva Rico and Mary Rico, both of
Hershey, and Anita Tinajera, of Arvada, Colorado; brother-in-law, Lucio
Garza, of Hershey; numerous nieces, nephews and other family.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at Odean
Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Pastor Dale Fischer officiating.
Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7
p.m. Tuesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in
charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the local
food pantries or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.  Online condolences may
be shared at odeanchapel.com.

During the evening hours of Friday, April 26, Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) conducted alcohol inspections in Lincoln County.

This project was supported in whole or part by grant #93.959 under the SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Region II Human Services, and the Nebraska DHHS Division of Behavioral Health.

In total, 15 businesses were inspected. None of the businesses sold alcohol to a minor for a 100% compliance rate. All of the businesses checked the minor’s ID. The businesses included liquor stores, convenience stores, restaurants, and bars in North Platte, Hershey, and Sutherland.

While conducting the inspections, investigators observed a vehicle with open alcohol containers inside, resulting in an arrest for driving under the influence and another citation for minor in possession.

NSP and other law enforcement agencies conduct alcohol inspections in an effort to keep alcohol out of the hands of youth.

North Platte – The American Legion 2019 JR and SR squads were announced on the 10th of April by the new coaches. They are:

Juniors:

Coaches: Coach Barker, Coach Janas & Coach Kruse

Players:
Blake Barner
Trey Barker
Cole Wright
Cody Wright
Tate Janas
Jeremiah Seamann
Carson Johnson
Tyler Tobey
Carter Kelley
Cy Wagner
Will Coe
Derrick Kuhlmann
Bryce Butterfield
Nathan Moats
Jaylan Ruffin

Seniors:

Coaches: Coach Ty Brockmoller, Coach Benny Brockmoller & Coach Justin Janas

Players:
Eli Cox
Jacob Swift
Tyler Ferguson
Brayden Stiffler
Miles Morrell
Avery Munson
Jacob Tobey
Dylan Younghans
Sam Malsbury
Caden Messersmith
Carter Johnson
Dolan Branch
Gus Kreber
Andrew Lindemeier

It’s not often a basketball team overcomes a two and a half-month winless streak (12 games) to earn a berth in any post-season tournament — let alone on the national stage — but that’s what the North Platte Community College women have done and they are embracing the chance to keep playing basketball for at least two more games.

After a 4-22 start to the season, North Platte has put together a four-game win streak (three in the post-season) that earned them a slot in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Tournament. The Knights, who are the 16^th seeded team among the 16 teams still playing, will take on top-seeded and No. 1 ranked, Illinois Central Community College Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Pioneer Pavillion, Harrison Ark.

“We had a solid week of workouts as we prepared for Illinois Central and the National Tournament,” said first-year North Platte Coach Jeff Thurman. “Our focus, energy, and effort was present all week. We are definitely looking forward to this amazing opportunity for our program and our student-athletes.”

It’s a national tournament field with 10 of the 16 teams ranked in the NJCCA top 20, and three more teams receiving votes but just outside the top 20. There are 12 teams with 20-win seasons and all but North Platte have won at least 15 games. So there is really no question, what sort of approach the Knights – who lost 17 of their first 19 games — will take for the tournament.

“We have been the ‘underdog’ all postseason and it’s worked well for us this far,” Thurman said.

North Platte opened the Region IX Tournament with a 78-67 win at home Feb. 27 over Southeast Community College (9-20) then went to Columbus March 3 to beat Central Community College (10-15) 68-60 for the Region IX Division II title. That set up the District F championship at North Platte’s McDonald Belton Gym March 9 against United Tribes Technical College of Bismark, N.D. The Thurnderbirds came into the game 15-16.

United Tribes led 22-19 with 3:22 left in the second period when a wide-spread power outage knocked out electricity on the south side of North Platte. After a 30 minute delay, the game was moved to North Platte St. Pat’s high school and there the Thunderbirds went on a run and led by 13 points mid-way through the third period before the Knights staged a comeback and won 57-55 in what Thurman called “a program-changing win.”

“Our student-athletes play with so much heart and willingness not to quit — which as a coach is something that I’m most proud of,” Thurman said. “We will be no different this week down in Arkansas.”

After a 1-6 start to the season, the Knights posted a 77-75 win over Air Force Prep on Nov. 17. The next win didn’t come until Feb. 2 when North Platte beat Lamar Community College (Colo.) 59-58. The Knights had gone winless in December and January to fall to 2-17 on the season.

An important 77-62 win on Feb. 9 over Region IX foe Southeast Community College on the road in Beatrice Neb. proved to be a critical Region IX win as the team went 3-5 in February.

Coach Jeff Thurman was named the Region IX Coach of The Year and three players were named to the all-Region IX team including sophomores Nahatabaa Nacona, (Chinle, Ariz.) and Madisyn Francis, (Houston, Texas) and freshman Emily Joseph, (St. Petersburg, Fla.).

The team is averaging 57.8 points per game and giving up 72.5 points per game. North Platte shot 31.7 percent from the field this year, 23.6 percent from the 3-point line, and 63.7 percent from the free-throw line. The team averages 35.1 rebounds per game and 13.3 turnovers.

Individually, Nacona leads the Knights with 11.5 points, per game. She is shooting 35.6 percent from the field and 24.1 percent from the 3-point line. Her backcourt mate Francis is averaging 11.4 points per game, shooting 25.6 percent from the field and 24.1 percent from the 3-point line. In the District F championship the two sophomores hit key free-throws down the stretch combining for a nine-for-12 showing. On the season Nacona is shooting 79.2 percent from the line and Francis 75 percent.

Emily Joseph (St. Petersburg, Fla.) is averaging 10.9 points per game. Freshman Katie Cox (New Port Richey, Fla.) leads the team with 7.2 rebounds per game.

“As for Illinois Central, we have a tough task ahead but we’re eager to play and are embracing the challenge,” Thurman said.

ABOUT THE MATCHUP WITH ILLINOIS CENTRAL

The Cougars have an overall record of 31-1 and enter the tourney on a 31-game winning streak, with their only loss coming to North Iowa Area (currently ranked No. 2 in the nation) on Nov. 2nd. Illinois Central has a rich tradition with six NJCAA national championships; this year’s squad added to the tradition by notching the program’s 1,300^th win in school history on Dec. 29. They have been a very balanced team all season with many different statistical leaders, but strong defense and unselfishness is what has punched their ticket to nationals. They are led by the trio of Summer Stoewer (13.4 points per game, 2.8 assists), Abby Coates (12.8 points, 5.4 rebounds), and Marquitta Easley (12.4 points, 2.8 assists), with Coates having made the nationals’ all-tourney team as a freshman. Point guard Kathy Pinnock-Branford leads the team in assists at 4.6 per game.

“Our half-court defense has to be like it’s been the last three games and we have to stop them in transition as well,” Thurman said. “If we can do those two things along with limiting second-chance opportunities, we will out ourselves in a great spot.”

A win Tuesday would put North Platte into the quarter-final game against the winner of the game that follows between 13^th ranked and No. 8 seed South Suburban (Illinois) and 18^th ranked and No. 9 seed Union College (New Jersey). The quarter-final game would be played Thursday at 6 p.m.

A North Platte loss would put the Knights into the consolation round Thursday at 11 a.m. against the loser of the South Suburban/Union College game.

All Tournament games will air live on NJCAA TV (www.njcaatv.com). Broadcasts will be available for download (purchase) following the conclusion of each game.

For more information about the tournament you can visit the official tournament web site at:

www.northark.edu/campus-life/athletics/NJCAA-Tournament/

NJCCA DIVISION II

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

FIRST ROUND GAMES

Here is the schedule for the first-round matchups Tuesday at the Pioneer Pavillion in Harrison, Ark. (seedings in parenthesis). All times Central.

9 a.m. – (3) Kansas City Kan. (26-4) vs, (14) Chesapeake (20-5)

11 a.m. – (6) Pima (18-11) vs. (11) Lake Michigan (22-5)

1 p.m. – (7) Cape Fear (21-4) vs. (10) Metropolitan (Mo.) (15-9)

3 p.m. – (2) North Iowa Area (21-5) vs. (15) Wayne County (Mich.) (17-12)

6 p.m. – (1) Illinois Central (27-1) vs. (16) North Platte Community College (8-22)

8 p.m. – (8) South Suburban (Ill.) (25-5) vs. (9) Union County (N.J.) (23-4)

Wednesday games

11 a.m. – (4) Moraine Valley 29-1 vs. (13) Lackawanna (Penn.) (23-5)

1 p.m. – (5) Niagara County (29-0) vs. (12) Sinclair (Ohio), 22-4)