September 2011 – Page 4 – North Platte Post Archive

Murdered Mitchell girl laid to rest

Posted on September 29, 2011September 29, 2011

MITCHELL, Neb. (AP) – Funeral services for a slain 8-year-old Nebraska girl whose body was found last week is scheduled for Thursday. Funeral services for Kerra Wilson are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the Scotts Bluff County Event Center in Mitchell. Burial will follow in the Mitchell cemetery. The third-grader’s body was found Sept. 22 in a rugged area of remote ranchland in Sioux County, north of Mitchell. She was reported missing by her mother the day before. The girl’s stepfather, 32-year-old Salvador Lopez, is charged with first-degree murder in her death and is being held without bond. Autopsy results have not been released.

Wallace Wildcats Sports Update – September 28

Posted on September 28, 2011

Lincoln Public Schools Arsonist faces 20 years

Posted on September 28, 2011September 28, 2011

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A former Lincoln Public Schools district worker has pleaded not guilty to starting a fire that destroyed the district headquarters building. Forty-four-year-old Sharon Brewster made her plea Wednesday in Lancaster Country District Court. Brewster remains free on bond. She was arrested on Aug. 15. Prosecutors allege that Brewster set flame to some papers on May 30 on a supervisor’s desk over frustration about how she was being treated. The fire caused an estimated $20 million in damage. If she were convicted of the arson charge, Brewster would face up to 20 years in prison. Her trial has been scheduled to begin on Nov. 7.

Heineman: Oil pipeline likely a ‘done deal’

Posted on September 28, 2011

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Gov. Dave Heineman says he’s concerned the proposed Keystone XL pipeline route through Nebraska is a “done deal,” but pointed to the Obama administration as the final decision-maker. Heineman said Wednesday that the Obama administration could effectively force pipeline operator TransCanada to reroute the line if it denied the permit. Heineman said the company would likely rather move the pipe than lose the project altogether. Farmers, ranchers and other Nebraskans who oppose the project are urging the U.S. State Department to deny the permit during hearings this week. The Republican governor has said he opposes the proposed pipeline route through the Ogallala aquifer, a massive underground U.S. water supply, but would support the project if it was moved somewhere else.

Cairo water OK

Posted on September 28, 2011

CAIRO, Neb. (AP) – A boil order has ended for the central Nebraska town of Cairo. Harmful bacteria had been found in the town’s water supply, but the latest water test showed the water is OK now. The town of about 700 people is just northwest of Grand Island. Village Board chairman Bill Heger said that a test done Monday afternoon “came back clear.” He says it wasn’t E. coli in the system but didn’t know for sure what kind of bacteria it was. The system has been flushed and chlorinated.

Midland University guarantees 4-year graduation

Posted on September 28, 2011

FREMONT, Neb. (AP) – Midland University in Fremont will soon guarantee a four-year path to graduation, starting with the 2012 freshman class. The guarantee comes with certain conditions, including that students declare a major by the start of their sophomore year. They must also maintain a typical course load as a full-time student and earn passing credit. If a student meeting the conditions doesn’t graduate in four years, Midland will cover tuition and fees for as long as it takes the student to complete the degree. The initiative is intended to combat a trend of declining four-year degree-completion rates in the U.S. Midland is not the first to address the trend. A handful of U.S. colleges have begun offering three-year programs, the norm for undergraduate degrees in Europe.

North Platte man goes to prison for violating probation

Posted on September 28, 2011September 28, 2011

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – A North Platte man who shot someone else during an argument over firewood is headed to prison for violating the terms of his probation. 39-year-old James Wilson was sentenced recently to three years in prison for the probation violation. In February, Wilson was sentenced to probation for shooting a man twice in 2009 with a .22-caliber pistol during an argument over firewood. Then in March Wilson was arrested for driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance. And in June he was charged with assaulting another inmate at the jail. Wilson made a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to the DUI and controlled substance charges. In exchange, the assault charge was dropped.

Prep Volleyball Results – September 27

Posted on September 28, 2011

The North Platte Bulldog volleyball team picked up a three-sets to none victory at Lexington last night. The Bulldogs ran off a 13-point run in the first set and won it easily 25-17. They were even more dominant in the second set, winning it 25-11. The Minutemaids hung around in the third set, but the Bulldogs were able to put them away by winning the set 25-22 and completing the sweep. The win improves the Bulldogs to 7-10 on the season. They are in Columbus for a single-day tournament this Saturday.

Elsewhere, Maxwell went 1-1 at a triangular, defeating Hayes Center in three sets and falling to unbeaten Paxton in two sets. Maxwell’s record moves to 8-7.

Wallace also split a triangular at home, beating Maywood but losing to Brady. The Eagles topped Maywood in the other match.

Gothenburg lost two heartbreakers at a triangular, falling to both Perkins County and Chase County in three sets.

St. Pat’s swept Mullen in three sets.

Huskers Offense Must Step Up Against Badger D

Posted on September 28, 2011

The Nebraska offense has averaged over 40 points per game in their first four games of the season. But they have not faced the caliber of defense that they will see this Saturday, when they visit the seventh-ranked Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers rank seventh in the nation in total defense and are only giving up 8.5 points per game through their first four contests. After yesterday’s two-hour practice, Huskers offensive coordinator Tim Beck told the press he is fully aware that his team will have to be at their very best in Madison. “They’re a good football team all the way around. Their front seven is good, their secondary is good,” Beck said. “They can run. They’re physical guys. It’s a big challenge for us. We have to have guys step up and make plays for us.” The Huskers return to the practice field tomorrow.

Rockies Lose 11th of 13, End Season Today

Posted on September 28, 2011

2011 is officially the Rockies worst season in seven years. Loss number 89, the most in a season since the 95 losses in 2005, was a 7-0 shutout loss in San Francisco against the Giants last night. Rockies starting pitcher Alex White allowed three runs on six hits in four innings of work to take the loss. Offensively, the Rockies mustered just three hits against three Giants pitchers. Kevin Kouzmanoff, Jordan Pacheco, and Mark Ellis had one hit apiece. For the Giants, Brandon Belt and Conor Gillaspie hit two-run home runs, Gillaspie’s an inside-the-park job in the seventh inning. The Rockies conclude their miserable failure of a season this afternoon in San Francisco. ESPN Radio 1410 has the action for the final time in 2011 with the pregame show at 2:05 and the first pitch at 2:45.