We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Month: July 2012

Another Case of West Nile…Health Department Spokeswoman says It’s Still Early…

Posted on

YORK, Neb. (AP) — The second confirmed human case of West Nile virus in Nebraska this year has been reported in Butler County.

Christine Lawrence, a spokeswoman for the Four Corners Health Department says a man over the age of 50 has the virus, which is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito.

The first case was reported last week in a Hamilton County man in his 70s.

Lawrence says the cases are earlier than usual. West Nile usually shows up in the late summer or early fall.

State health officials say West Nile activity is increasing across the state. Residents should use mosquito repellent and dress in long sleeves when outside.

Mosquitoes in Adams, Douglas, Hall, Madison, Scottsbluff, Sheridan and Richardson counties tested positive as have birds in Madison and Phelps counties

Rockies Lose (LISTEN LIVE TONIGHT on ESPN Radio 1410)

Posted on

The Colorado Rockies will lose yet another series, making it four straight since the All-Star Break. They’ve dropped the first two of three against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix after last night’s 6-2 defeat. Rookie southpaw Edwar Cabrera, making his second career start for the Rockies, was erratic in his three and a third innings, allowing just two runs but walking four and allowing four hits. Arizona broke the game open on Chris Young’s two-run homer in the fifth inning and added two more runs in the seventh on a Miguel Montero single. Michael Cuddyer hit a pair of solo homers for the Rockies in the losing effort. The Rockies hope to salvage one game from their trip to the Valley of the Sun tonight. ESPN Radio 1410 has all the action, with pregame coverage at 8:05 and the first pitch at 8:40.

Broncos Sign Osweiler, Hillman on Eve of Training Camp

Posted on

When the Denver Broncos open their training camp today, they’ll do so with all seven of their 2012 draft picks under contract. The Broncos agreed to terms with quarterback Brock Osweiler and running back Ronnie Hillman yesterday. Osweiler, who was Denver’s second-round pick out of Arizona State, signed a four-year deal worth $3.1 million dollars. Hillman, the San Diego State standout who was selected in the third round, also inked a four-year deal. Hillman will be counted on as a backup to starting running back Willis McGahee right away, while Osweiler will ideally apprentice under Peyton Manning for the length of his rookie contract. The Broncos will have their first team meeting at their Dove Valley facility in suburban Denver this afternoon, prior to their first of 17 open-to-the-public practices on Thursday morning.

Huskers Well-Represented in Summer Olympics

Posted on
Lincoln – The University of Nebraska will be well represented in the upcoming 2012 Summer Olympics, as 17 athletes or coaches with Husker ties will be in London beginning this week.  Huskers will represent eight countries and cover eight events. Action begins prior to the Opening Ceremonies with the start of the soccer competition on Wednesday.  Former Husker standouts Brittany Timko and Karina Leblanc will be among the first Olympians in action, as they will represent Canada in soccer.
 
Huskers.com has complete Olympic coverage, including bios on each of the Nebraska athletes in London, as well as event schedules and a complete history of Huskers in the Olympic Games. In all, Husker athletes have won 36 medals in Olympic competition, including 10 gold medals.
 
The most decorated Olympian among the current Husker contingent is former swimmer Therese Alshammar, who will appear in her fifth Olympic Games. She is a three-time medalist, winning two silvers and a bronze medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Alshammar is one of five former Huskers making multiple appearances in the Olympic Games. Wrestler Jordan Burroughs and volleyball star Jordan Larson headline the contingent of eight first-time Olympians, as Burroughs is the reigning world champion at 74 kg (163 pounds) while the U.S. volleyball team is ranked first in the world heading into the London Games.
 
In addition to 13 former athletes, one future Husker will also be in action, as incoming track recruit Janis Leitis will run for Latvia in the 400 meters. In the coaching ranks, former gymnastics and track standout Peggy Liddick will be coaching the Australian women’s gymnastics team for the fourth time after coaching Shannon Miller in both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. Current Husker wrestling coach Mark Manning will serve as an assistant coach for Team USA, the third time he has been chosen to serve in that capacity.
Former Student-Athletes
Country Name Sport Olympics Competed at Nebraska
Australia Aleks Maric Men’s Basketball 1st 2005-06-07-08
Canada Chelsea Aubry Women’s Basketball 1st 2004-05-06-07
Canada Karina Leblanc Women’s Soccer 2nd 1997-98-99-00
Canada Brittany Timko Women’s Soccer 2nd 2003-04-05-06
Great Britain Carl Myerscough Men’s Track & Field 1st 2000-01-02-03-04
Hungary Gyorgyi Farkas Women’s Track & Field 1st 2007
Latvia Ineta Radevica Women’s Track & Field 2nd 2003-04
Nigeria Ade Dagunduro Men’s Basketball 1st 2008-09
Sweden Therese Alshammar Women’s Swimming 5th 1998-99
United States Jordan Burroughs Men’s Wrestling 1st 2007-08-09-11
United States Amber Neben Women’s Cycling 2nd 1994
United States Jordan Larson Women’s Volleyball 1st 2005-06-07-08
United States Chante McMillan Women’s Track & Field 1st 2007-08-09-10-11

Incoming Student-Athlete
Country Name Sport Olympics  
Latvia Janis Leitis Men’s Track & Field 1st  

Coaches with Nebraska Ties
Country Name Sport Position at NU (Athlete) At NU (Coach)
Australia Peggy Liddick Women’s Gymnastics Head Coach 1977-78-79 1989
Canada Jan Bidrman Swimming Assistant Coach 1990 1992-96
United States Mark Manning Men’s Wrestling Assistant Coach – 2000-present

 — Seamus McKnight, Nebraska Sports Information

Husker Swimming – Two Earn Academic All-America Honors, New Assistant Women’s Coach Named

Posted on

Nebraska women’s swimmers Shannon Guy and Bailey Pons recently earned Scholastic All-America recognition from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America.

Two of Nebraska’s leaders in the classroom and in the pool, the 2012 sophomores both claimed honorable-mention recognition to the CSCAA Scholar All-America Team.

In addition to earning CSCAA Scholastic All-America honors, Guy and Pons were both named Big Ten Distinguished Scholars following the season. The academic All-Big Ten selections were both named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in both the fall and spring semesters of 2011-12.

Guy, an Omaha native and graduate of Millard West High School, posted 13 top-five finishes in the pool as a sophomore, including five victories. She also moved into the No. 2 spot in the Husker record books with a time of 54.23 in the 100-yard butterfly at the Big Ten Championships. During the summer of 2012, she participated at the U.S. Olympic Trials at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha.

Pons, a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, added 14 top-five finishes on the year, including eight event titles. She was unbeaten in the 1,000-yard freestyle on the season and swam a personal-best in the 200-yard free at the Big Ten Championships.

Also, Nebraska Head Coach Pablo Morales announced the addition of Assistant Coach Patrick Rowan to the Husker women’s swimming and diving staff on Tuesday, July 24.

Rowan, a former volunteer assistant for the Huskers and a long-time coach in the Nebraska Aquatics program, rejoins the Nebraska staff after spending the past five years at Missouri. As an assistant for the Tigers, Rowan helped build the program into one of the nation’s top 15 programs.

“We are very excited to have Patrick come back to Nebraska,” Morales said. “He brings extensive and successful coaching and recruiting experience at the collegiate level.  Patrick has a tremendous work ethic and an unmatched passion for Nebraska. He will make an immediate impact on this program and play a key role in helping us achieve our Big Ten Conference and NCAA goals.”

A Nebraska native, Rowan helped orchestrate a steady rise into national prominence at Missouri. In his first season at MU, the Lincoln Southeast High School graduate helped the Tiger women’s team finish 38th at the 2008 NCAA Championships. After a 28th-place showing in 2009, the Tigers climbed to 23rd in 2011 before finishing 14th at the 2012 NCAA meet.

— Jeff Griesch, Nebraska Sports Information

Team USA Tops Spain in Final Tune-Up

Posted on

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Gold medal at stake or nothing at all, the U.S. Olympic basketball team is too good for Spain.

Carmelo Anthony came off the bench to score 23 of his 27 points in the first half, and the Americans beat Spain 100-78 on Tuesday night in a rematch of the gold-medal game — and possible preview of the next one.

LeBron James added 25 and Kevin Durant had 13, including 10 in the first 3 ½ minutes of the third quarter to help the U.S. break open the teams’ final exhibition game before heading to London.

The teams played a memorable gold-medal game four years ago, the Americans pulling away for a 118-107 victory after leading by only four points with under 2½ minutes left.

Philip “Buzzard” Sawyer II

Posted on

Philip “Buzzard” Sawyer, II, 56, of North Platte passed away July 23, 2012 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center.
He was born October 23, 1955 to Philip and Carlotta (Fisher) Sawyer at Winterset, Iowa. He grew up in Colorado, graduated from Mapleton High School then went on to receive his associate’s degree in business. He was on the board of Advisory @ NPCC & business student of the month. Phi Theta Kappa and Phi Beta Lambda. He married his high school sweetheart, Loretta on August 24, 1973 in Colorado. He served in the U.S. Army and moved to North Platte in 1985. He worked for Rich Watson, BG&S Transmission, Murphy Tractor and Fairbanks International. He loved woodworking, Harley motorcycles, drowning worms and especially family and music. Avid Bronco & Husker fan and active member of the Red Cross. He was preceded in death by Kevin Shelton, his mother and father in law, Eli and Bernice Whitehead and his grandparents.
Philip is survived by his wife, Loretta of North Platte; his parents of Longmont, CO., a daughter, Apryl (Bill ) Lee, of North Platte; two sons, Dave Pearce of Hastings, NE. and Jesse (Tawnie Burke) Sawyer of Littleton, CO., three grandchildren, Dakotah Hansen, Madalynne Sawyer, Lydia Pearce; 2 sisters, Gail (Mark) Martich of Frederick, CO. and Patti (Chris) Overbeck of Seward, AK., special brother, Robert Campbell of North Platte, many other special children & their families, and his dog, Shadow.
Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, July 26, 2012 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Memorials in His Memory are suggested to the family.
Memorial services will be Friday, July 27, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, with inurnment at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with military honors.
Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com

Uland C. “Bud” Jackson

Posted on


Uland C. “Bud” Jackson went “home” on July 21, 2012 at the age of 93 years and 24 days in Grand Island, Nebraska. He was born June 27, 1919 on a farm near Cordova, Nebraska to Zeb H. and Anna M. (Herbst) Jackson. He grew up on farms in York County and later Lincoln County with his parents and two sisters Estella and Lorene.

He began his high school education in McCool Junction and graduated high school at Ingham, Nebraska in 1937. After completing a general business education at North Platte School of Commerce in 1940 he worked for Sound & Kiewit Construction Company in Washington State.

In June of 1941, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Bud reported to Fort Leavenworth Kansas the day after his 22nd birthday. His tour of duty in Europe from September 1943 through September 1945 took him to England, France, Belgium, and Germany. He was a member of the 3rd Armored Division of the 32nd Armored Regiment. Nicknamed SPEARHEAD because First Army orders so frequently read, “The Third Armored Division will spearhead the attack,” the Division spent 221 days in combat and is credited with the decisive destruction of 14 German Divisions. Spearhead took 76,720 prisoners (5 times it’s own total strength) and destroyed 6,751 pieces of enemy equipment, including 1794 tanks and 942 special purpose guns, while holding it’s own casualty figure to 10,371. From June 1944 through May 1945 the 3 Armored earned five Battle Stars; Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. Bud returned to the United States September 28, 1945 and was discharged from the military service on October 9, 1945.

Following his service to his country he received on-the-job training with Frank M. Bowen Public Accounting Company in North Platte. For several years he worked in Gothenburg for Gothenburg Farm Equipment and Lepp & Osterloh Inc. In 1957 he moved to Denver and began a career with Massey Ferguson, Inc. as accountant and office supervisor.

On May 4, 1958, he was united in marriage to Dylores May Berg at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gothenburg. They established their home and were employed in Denver until their retirement. After several years of retirement in Denver with visits to friends and relatives in Arizona they made the move to Sun City, Arizona in 1994. During their retirement years they enjoyed entertaining family and friends, Willowbrooke United Methodist Church activities, traveling to the 3” Armored Reunions across the United States, playing cards, dining out, and maintaining an immaculate home and yard. Bud was a member and officer of the Lions Club, a member of Sun City Nebraska Club, a 50 year member of the Mason and a 50 year member of the VFW.

In November, 2009 Bud and Dee returned to Nebraska to reside in an Independent Living Apartment in Grand Island.

May 4-7th, 2012; Bud had the privilege of traveling to Washington, D.C. as a member of the Hall County Hero Flight for World War II Veterans. The highlight for him was visiting the World War II Memorial.

He is survived by his sister, Estella Tillotson, Gothenburg; a brother-in-law, Ted Whittingham, Denver; nephews, John L (Kay) Schurr and Jerry (Linda) Schurr both of Farnam; niece, Janet (John) Speck of St. Paul, Nebraska. Great-nephews Heath (Tiffany) Reinders & Adrianna, Jerud Schurr, Chase & Ryleigh, Ty Schurr, Marty (Shelly) Schurr, Adalyn & Gavon, and Ryan (Kari)Schurr & Luke and Great-niece, Paige (Jeff) Kreycik, Presley, Dawson & Jack, and numerous cousins and friends.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife Dylores in 2011, a sister, Lorene Whittingham, Brothers-in-law, John J. Schurr and LeRoy Tillotson and a great nephew Wayne Schurr.

Bud will be greatly missed by many friends and relatives. He is remembered for his sharp wit, broad smile, honesty and integrity, sharing of stories and jokes and all the qualities of those of the “Great Generation”. As he heard so many times on his trip to Washington, D.C. “Thank you for your service to your country”. And thank you for being a true friend to so many and a treasured family member.

Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, Nebraska; Sunday, July 29, 2012 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

Funeral Services will be held at First United Methodist Church, July 30, 2012 at 2:00 pm with Dr. Jeff Thurman officiating.

Interment will follow in the Gothenburg Cemetery, Gothenburg, Nebraska.

Memorials may be given to the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 80526, Lincoln, NE 68501, Farnam Senior Center, or First United Methodist Church, 1401 Lake Ave Gothenburg, NE 69138. To sign the online guest book, go to www.blasestrauser.com.

Wildfires Prompt Need to Check Travel Plans

Posted on

By: Deb Collins
(Lincoln, Neb.)- The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP), in conjunction with the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) are encouraging motorists with travel plans in areas of Nebraska affected by wildfires to check travel routes for road closures.

“From motorcycle traffic headed to Sturgis, to campers and family vehicles on their way to vacation destinations, this is a very busy time on Nebraska roads,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Wildfires burning across north-central Nebraska mean an increase in emergency vehicles and road closures, which could affect travel plans.”

As of Tuesday, July 24, wildfires continue to burn in Keya Paha, Brown and Cherry Counties.  Highway 12 from the Keya Paha County line to the Cherry County line (Springview to Valentine) is closed. Travelers headed to South Dakota are encouraged to avoid Highway 12 as well as Highway 7 at this time. Highways 83 and 183 remain open for travel.

Motorists are encouraged to utilize 511, Nebraska’s Automated Traveler Information System to determine a preferred route of travel.  511 can be accessed via web at www.511.nebraska.gov  or by calling 511 or 800-906-9069 from any landline or cellular phone.

Travelers are reminded to allow extra time for unanticipated delays as they may encounter normal seasonal highway construction work and maintenance operations on other highways north and south across Nebraska.

Colonel Sankey said, “We thank everyone for their patience and encourage all travelers to take a little extra time to plan ahead.”

Tuesday Sports Day – Storm Chasers to Host ‘Peanut-Free Night’

Posted on

PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers and coach Mike Tomlin have agreed to a new five-year contract that will keep him with the franchise through 2016.

Financial details of the deal, signed Tuesday, were not disclosed. Tomlin’s previous contract ran through the 2013 season.

Team president Art Rooney II called Tomlin one of the best coaches in the NFL. The 40-year-old Tomlin is 55-25 in five seasons in Pittsburgh, winning three AFC North titles, two AFC championships and the 2009 Super Bowl.

The team made Tomlin a surprise selection to replace Bill Cowher following the 2006 season. Under Tomlin’s guidance the Steelers have consistently been among the best teams in the league. The Steelers have ranked first in defense three times during his tenure and averaged 7 Pro Bowl selections a year.

LONDON (AP) – World Anti-Doping Agency President John Fahey says more than 100 athletes have been kept out of the London Olympics because of doping. Fahey says that through mid-June at least 107 athletes drew doping bans, ruling them out of the games. Fahey adds that not all would have qualified to compete in London.

He says: “I am pleased to say that they are not with us.”

Fahey tells IOC members that intelligence was shared by WADA, sports federations and London organizers to target athletes under suspicion.
Fahey says athletes who dope should know that “their chances of avoiding detection are the smallest they have ever been.”

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Anyone going out to the Omaha Storm Chasers ball game on Aug. 1 won’t be able to buy peanuts or, for that matter, Cracker Jack.

The Pacific Coast League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals will take anything containing peanuts off its concessions menu for the game against the Reno Aces. The Storm Chasers and an Omaha allergy clinic are holding Peanut Free Night to bring awareness to people who have peanut allergies.

Several minor-league baseball teams have held peanut-free games for years, and major-league teams occasionally reserve sections of their stadiums for people who have peanut allergies.

About 3 million Americans are allergic to peanuts or foods containing peanuts.

BASEBALL
American League
Detroit at Cleveland, 6:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.
Oakland at Toronto, 6:07 p.m.
Boston at Texas, 7:05 p.m.
Minnesota at Chicago White Sox, 7:10 p.m.
Kansas City at L.A. Angels, 9:05 p.m.
N.Y. Yankees at Seattle, 9:10 p.m.
National League
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.
Milwaukee at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.
Atlanta at Miami, 6:10 p.m.
Washington at N.Y. Mets, 6:10 p.m.
Cincinnati at Houston,7:05 p.m.
L.A. Dodgers at St. Louis, 7:15 p.m.
Colorado at Arizona, 8:40 p.m. (LISTEN LIVE on ESPN Radio 1410)
San Diego at San Francisco, 9:15 p.m.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File