July 2012 – Page 32 – North Platte Post Archive

NPCP Presents “Jungle Book” admission is a free-will donation

Posted on July 17, 2012July 17, 2012

NORTH PLATTE- NEB- Over fifty local youth have been preparing to bring the timeless tale “Jungle Book” to life during The North Platte Community Playhouse Summer Children’s Theatre Program. The workshop, which started July 9, runs for two weeks and concludes with public performances on July 21 at 7:00PM and July 22 at 2:00PM. During the workshop, students learn about all aspects of theatrical production, as well as developing skills in cooperation, communication and creativity.

Adapted from the Rudyard Kipling novel by Vera Morris, “Jungle Book,” tells the story of Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves, and his amazing adventures with the creatures of the jungle. Mowgli is taught the law of the jungle by his teachers and friends Baloo the Bear, Kaa the Python and Bagheera the panther. Mowgli also encounters the evil tiger Shere Khan and his minion Tabaqui as well as many other creatures. Join Mowgli as he learns the lessons of life and rises to the top of the jungle hierarchy.

The workshop is made possible by the support of Kwik Stop Food Stores as well as the support of Playhouse patrons and season members. Directors are Scott Carlson and Lou Fornander along with Assistant Directors Brin Brauer and Britnee Fear. Admission is a free-will donation to support The North Platte Community Playhouse.

CAST

Mowgli-Luke McKeon

Nyra-Emma Petersen

Chitra-Courtney Pelland

Rikki-Tikki-Savanna States

Baloo-Cassie Brown

Bagheera-Case Axthelm

Father Wolf-Jacob Granger

Mother Wolf-Tallyn Simpson

Tabaqui-Ciera Carlson

Kaa-Seth Mavigliano

Mang-Emma Wilkinson

Mor-Beth Goentzel

Wolf 1-Drew Phillips

Wolf 2-Whitney Miller

Wolf 3-Breanna Patterson and Isabel Roberg

King Monkey-Derek Patterson

Monkey 1-Ashley Kosmicki, Chloe Wiegand

Monkey 2-Kinsley Ballentine, Abby Young

Shere Khan-Tabitha Sprunk

Messua-Zoe Hipp

Toomai-Bridget McKeon

Cobra-George Gipe

Villagers-Morgan Baker, Morgan Fischer, Tierney Coons

Wolves-Valerie Harper, Tayten Wilson, Paige Van Skiver, Natalie Miller, Katelyn Moenning, Jenny Moenning, Joshua Nila, Andy Kittle, Jett Simpson and Aidan McAdam

Jungle Creatures-Nick Anderson, Noah Pettit, Riley Pettit, Rebecca Ady, Abby Carter, Taylin McCreery, Aiden Linden, Delaney Bocott, Shayna Buker

Stage Managers-Grady Lashley, John Kelly

Monday Sports Wrap – Forte, Rice Get Paid

Posted on July 17, 2012

UNDATED (AP) – Pro Bowl running backs Ray Rice of Baltimore and Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears have agreed to long-term contracts. Rice has accepted a five-year, $40 million deal after leading the NFL with 2,068 yards from scrimmage last season. Forte took what the Chicago Sun-Times says is a four-year, $32 million deal with $18 million guaranteed.

CINCINNATI (AP) – The Cincinnati Reds will spend the next three to four weeks without first baseman Joey Votto, who needs surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee. The 2010 National League MVP hurt the knee while sliding into third base June 29 in San Francisco, but continued to play until Sunday. General manager Walt Jocketty said Votto didn’t have an MRI before yesterday because the first baseman didn’t think he needed one.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Carl Edwards has a new crew chief just 19 races after losing last year’s championship to Tony Stewart on a tie-breaker. Roush Fenway Racing says Tuesday that Bob Osborne will become a senior member of the organization’s management team and steering committee. Chad Norris was chosen crew chief for the No. 99 Ford. Osborne had run the team since 2004, and Edwards took over that ride for the final 13 races that year. Edwards and Osborne won 18 races, and tied Stewart for the championship last season. Stewart won the title based on victories, and Edwards is stuck in a 52-race losing streak dating back to Las Vegas last season. Edwards is currently 11th in the point standings and in danger of missing the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Detroit 8, L.A. Angels 6
N.Y. Yankees 6, Toronto 3
Boston 5, Chicago White Sox 1
Cleveland 3, Tampa Bay 2
Minnesota 19, Baltimore 7
Seattle 9, Kansas City 4

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Arizona 5, Cincinnati 3
Miami 5, Washington 3
St. Louis 3, Milwaukee 2
Colorado 5, Pittsburgh 4
Houston 2, San Diego 0
Philadelphia 3, L.A. Dodgers 2

NYC bus driver becomes hero…after a days work

Posted on July 17, 2012July 17, 2012

By: Kris Allen

New York City is filled with all kinds of people, luckily a hero before he knew it was walking down the street when he heard the commotion around an apartment building on Monday.

City bus driver Stephen St. Bernard was walking home after a day of work (mind you driving a bus all day can be extremely exhausting) stopped when he noticed a young 7 year old child standing on an air-conditioning unit. Of course no one knows how she got there, or where the parents were at the time.

After yelling at the girl to go back inside assuming she was on the edge of a suicide trip, she fell. Bernard acted heroically and caught the girl from a three story drop. Imagine how heavy a 7 year old is, and how hard it would be to catch one.

The girl suffers minor injuries and a torn tendon.

Neighbors say the child is a special needs child, so suicide is out of the picture thankfully, no charges were filed against the parents, though how she ended up on the air conditioning unit remains a good question…

A hero can be found in anyone. Good people do remain in this world!

Here’s another story about a hero who was just an average guy with a good heart.

Diaz comes clean with Prosecutors – Facing 50 years in

Posted on July 17, 2012July 17, 2012

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — A North Platte man suspected of killing his wife has made a deal with prosecutors and pleaded no contest to attempted second-degree murder.

Thirty-five-year-old Rogelio Diaz was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 35-year-old Michelle Diaz at their home on June 25 last year.

Rogelio Diaz faces up to 50 years in prison when he’s sentenced on Aug. 27.

He’d first told investigators that Michelle Diaz had passed out because of the heat, and then told them they’d fallen off of their porch and he’d landed on top of her.

Prosecutors say Diaz finally admitted that he and his wife had been fighting and that he’d tossed her off the porch.

Update on State Crops: 43 percent good or excellent, the average for this time of year is usually 79 percent…

Posted on July 17, 2012

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The summer heat continues to put stress on Nebraska’s crops, and some farmers have been forced to stop irrigating because of low river levels.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued its weekly update on the state’s crops on Monday.

The USDA says the heat moderated a bit in Nebraska last week, but the state’s main crops still aren’t in great shape.

About 43 percent of Nebraska’s corn crop is in good or excellent shape. That’s well below the average for this time of year of 79 percent.

The soybean crop rates even worse with 34 percent in good or excellent condition. Normally, about 77 percent of the soybeans are in good or excellent shape.

The wheat harvest is now about three weeks ahead of normal and 97 percent done.

Attorney of one out of four charged in killing pizza delivery man says his mistake was letting his friends use his cell phone to order pizza

Posted on July 17, 2012July 17, 2012

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man has been sentenced to 4 to 6 years in prison for his role in death of a pizza deliveryman.

Larry Fountain was sentenced on a charge of conspiracy to commit robbery on Monday in Douglas County District Court. He pleaded guilty in April.

Christopher Taylor was stabbed to death in 2010.

Fountain’s attorney says Fountain made the mistake of letting others use his cellphone to order a pizza, luring Taylor to a vacant apartment where he was killed.

Three others were charged in the case.

Dontavis McClain was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder. Bryton Gibbs is serving 100 years for second-degree murder. Marcus Robinson was sentenced to 10 to 15 years for conspiracy to commit robbery.

Chadron rancher finds human remains

Posted on July 17, 2012July 17, 2012

CHADRON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the discovery of human remains in Dawes County in western Nebraska.

County Attorney Vance Haug says a rancher found the remains on his property Monday morning while moving cattle near the South Dakota border and called law enforcement.

The sheriff’s office and the Nebraska State Patrol are collecting evidence at the scene.

Haug, who also serves as county coroner, has ordered a forensic examination to determine a positive identification and cause of death.

No other details were immediately released.

Man sexually abuses not only his kids, but grandchildren too.

Posted on July 17, 2012July 17, 2012

DAKOTA CITY, Neb. (AP) — A South Sioux City man has been given up to 24 years in prison for molesting his grandchildren.

The 58-year-old man had pleaded guilty after making an agreement with prosecutors. He was given 20 to 22 years for first-degree sexual assault and 20 to 24 months for incest.

The Associated Press is not using the man’s name, to protect the privacy of his victims.

Prosecutors say the man molested two of his grandchildren for years in their home and in the bathroom of his workplace.

Court documents also contain reports that the man sexually abused the children’s mother and her brother when they were children.

Man sentenced for Meth sales, Judge might also be a Magician..

Posted on July 17, 2012

YORK, Neb. (AP) — A 44-year-old York man has been given 10 to 20 years in prison for possessing and trying to sell methamphetamine.

Judge Alan Gless, of York County District Court, sentenced Sammy Keezer Jr. on Monday.

Gless told Keezer that he’d seen his cases for several years and that there comes a time when judges must make “problem defendants disappear.”

Gless gave Keezer 10 to 20 years for the attempted sales and 20 months to five years for meth possession. They will be served at the same time.

Homer Loy Branting

Posted on July 17, 2012

Homer Loy Branting, 84, of North Platte, passed away July 15, 2012, at Broken Bow.
He was born Sept. 3, 1927, in Lincoln County, to Reuben and Lydia Mogensen Branting. Homer grew up in Lincoln County. He worked as a railroader, farmer, policeman and fireman in the North Platte area. Homer enjoyed spending time visiting with his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Eileen, of North Platte; daughter, Jan (Mike) Rich, of North Platte; son, Darryl (Laureen) Branting, of Herndon, Va.; grandsons, Erik Conor Branting and Jason Kane Branting, both of Herndon, Va.; and numerous other relatives and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Reuben and Lydia Branting; sister, Dorothy Branting; and a brother, Lauren Branting.
Memorials are suggested to the North Platte Senior Center and online condolences may be shared at adamsswanson.com.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 18, at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home. Those wishing to sign the register book may do so from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home.