The Class A boys tennis state tournament opens up today in Omaha. Six North Platte Bulldogs will compete in the tournament. Senior Cameron Bargell competes at number one singles, and senior Michael Odle is North Platte’s entry at number two singles. The Bulldog’s top doubles pairing consists of seniors Charlie Halligan and Tyler Halligan, and the number two doubles team is Troy Hlavaty and Nick Wilkinson.
Month: October 2012
Rockies to Interview Bench Coach Runnells For Managerial Vacancy
The Colorado Rockies have scheduled their first interview for their vacant managerial position. Bench coach Tom Runnells will formally interview for the job this afternoon. Runnells had been the bench coach under former manager Jim Tracy for the last three seasons, and has been in the Rockies organization in some capacity for the last nine years. A native of Greeley, Colorado, Runnells’ previous major league managing experience came when he piloted the Montreal Expos in the 1991 and 1992 seasons, compiling a 68-81 record. Another in-house candidate, Triple-A manager Stu Cole, is also expected to meet with Rockies brass about the job this week. One other in-house possibility is a current player. Jason Giambi, who has played for the Rockies the last four years, has said he would retire if he were considered for the job.
Fundraising Event Helps Fuel College Scholarships For Local Women
On Friday, October 12th, The North Platte Business and Professional Women (BPW) club will host its annual fundraising event. The yearly event is the club’s only fundraiser, with all proceeds going toward club-sponsored scholarships for female students at Mid Plains Community College.
This year’s Wine and Brew event features tastings of a variety of specially selected microbrews as well as a unique variety of wines. The event runs from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Depot restaurant. Enjoy a variety of wines, microbrews, gourmet cheeses, and delicious appetizers.
The event also features a silent auction. Tickets are $25 per person, available in advance at the North Platte Chamber & Development Office, First National Bank, NebraskaLand National Bank, or from any BPW member. Tickets may also be purchased at the door on October 12th.
BPW President Lindy Hiatt stresses that, “This is not a women-only event. The entire community is invited to join in the fun, enjoy some wonderful wines, brews… and support the goals of BPW.” Hiatt says that proceeds from the 2011 event allowed the BPW club to sponsor $2,000 in scholarships for local female college students.
The mission of BPW is to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education, and information. On a national level, BPW fosters the success of working women by providing career advancement resources, work-life strategies and personal and professional connections.
The North Platte Club meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 12:00 p.m. at The Depot. Contact Lindy Hiatt at 660-1159 for more information or for event tickets.
Lincoln County Has The Most Reported West Nile Virus Cases In NE. Statewide Total: 103
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 103 cases of the West Nile Virus have been reported state wide as of October 9th, 2012. In a previous report on cases of the WNV, 29 cases were reported state wide on September 4th, 2012. Nebraska’s number of reported cases increased by 75 in 35 days.
There are 15 reported cases of the WNV in Lincoln County, an increase of five since the last report of 10 in September. The U.S. Geological Survey lists counties with reported cases as of October 9th, showing 32 counties in Nebraska where WNV has been reported. Lincoln County has highest number of reported cases. Douglas County has 14 reported cases, on October 3rd Douglas County had the highest reported cases.
The numbers reported by the CDC are based on reported cases, the WNV is a gamble on how intense the symptoms will be, “The West Nile Virus can be as mild as the common cold but again it can be deadly,” explained Shannon Vanderheiden, Executive Director at the
West Central Health Department. Not everyone with WNV gets checked by their doctor, which means the actual number of cases may be higher.
In 2009, 52 cases of WNV were reported. In 2010, 39 cases of WNV were reported showing a drop of 13 state wide cases. In 2011, 29 cases of WNV were reported showing a drop of 10. So far in 2012, 103 cases of WNV have been reported state wide showing in increase of 74 cases. The highest number of reportedstate wide cases was in 2003 totaling at 1942 cases, causing 29 fatalities.
According to the CDC, Texas has the highest number of cases in the country at 1,520. The country has 4,249 total cases where 168 caused death.
Wallace Wildcat Sports Update – October 10
The Wildcats pulled off a close win on the gridiron last week. Head coach Gary Hager talks about the win and the challenge ahead in his team’s season finale. Also, the Lady Wildcat volleyball team is on fire. Hear all about it in this week’s Wallace Wildcat sports update!
Hershey Panther Sports Update – October 10
The Panther football team lit up the scoreboard in a victory last week. Head coach Ryan Smith says his team is starting to play with a welcome sense of urgency. Also, see how the Lady Panther volleyball team got back on track. It’s all here in this week’s Hershey Panther sports update!
Wednesday Sports Day – USADA to Reveal Lance Armstrong Doping Evidence
11 teammates testified in case against Armstrong
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency says 11 of Lance Armstrong’s former teammates testified against him in its investigation of the cyclist, revealing “the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen.”
USADA will deliver its reasoned decision against Armstrong later Wednesday, a summary of the facts it used to hand him a lifetime suspension and erase his seven Tour de France titles.
In a news release previewing the decision, USADA CEO Travis Tygart listed 11 of Armstrong’s former teammates, including George Hincapie, Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton, as among those providing evidence that led to the sanction.
In delivering the report to the International Cycling Union, Tygart called for the federation to create a program to help clean up the sport.
Former NFL and TV/movie star dies
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alex Karras has died.
The former defensive tackle of the Detroit Lions, who had a successful movie and TV career after retiring from the NFL, passed away at the age of 77.
Karras played all 12 of his NFL seasons with the Lions and was an All-Pro four times.
His reputation grew as the result of author George Plimpton’s book, Paper Lion, about his attempt to try out for the team. When the book was turned into a movie, Karras played himself. He later appeared in the Mel Brooks comedy,”Blazing Saddles”, as Mongo. One of his most memorable scenes was when he punched a horse in the mouth, knocking it down.
Karras also had success on television, both in the broadcast booth for Monday Night Football and as an actor. He starred in the sitcom, “Webster.”
His attorney, Craig Mitnick, says Karras died at his home with his family. He had been suffering from dementia and was a leader in the lawsuit filed against the NFL regarding the league’s treatment of head injuries.
Busy day of play
UNDATED (AP) — All eight teams vying for advancement in the playoffs are in action today. There are two day games and two this evening.
First up, in Washington, D.C., the National League East champion Nationals are enjoying their first-ever home playoff game. The Nats and Cardinals are tied at 1-1 after splitting the opening games of the best of five series in St. Louis. The pitching matchup has Chris Carpenter going for the Cards against Edwin Jackson. Carpenter, who missed most of the season because of surgery, joined the club on Sept. 21 and turned in three starts. He was 4-0 in the playoffs last year with the Cards when they won the World Series. Jackson is the only member of the Nationals pitching staff who has prior playoff experience. He was roughed up by St. Louis for nine runs in 1 1/3 innings of work on Sept. 28.
Game 4 in the series will take place tomorrow in Washington.
The other day game is in Cincinnati as the Reds are facing the Giants in game 3 of their series. Cincy won the opening two games of the series in San Francisco before dropping a 2-1 decision last night at home to the Giants. Barry Zito gets the ball for San Francisco. The Giants have won eight of the last 11 games started by the left-hander. In six career starts against the Reds Zito is 0-2 with a 6.10 earned run average. The Reds have not yet named their game 4 starter starter.
The fifth game will be played tomorrow in Cincinnati.
The first of the evening games has Baltimore playing in New York. The Yankees took the first game of the best of five affair while the Orioles came back to win the second. This evening’s pitching matchup has Miguel Gonzalez going for the Birds against Hiroki Kuroda for the Yankees. Gonzalez has pitched well on the road and is 2-0 against the Yankees with a 2.63 ERA in two career starts in the Bronx. This is Kuroda’s third post season appearance as he went to the NLCS with the Dodgers in 2008 and 2009.
Game four is tomorrow in Yankee Stadium.
The final game of the night will feature the Athletics at home to the Tigers. Oakland kept its playoff hopes alive with a 2-0 win last night on the home turf. The win came after the Tigers won the first two games of the series in Detroit. On the mound for the Tigers is right-hander Max Scherzer, who is pitching on six days rest. He’ll be facing 24-year old rookie A.J. Griffin, who joined the A’s in June from the minor leagues. He was drafted in the 13th round of the draft two years ago from the University of San Diego. This is his first post season appearance.
Should the A’s win tonight’s game, the fifth and final game will be played Thursday in Oakland.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Baltimore at N-Y Yankees 6:37 p.m.
Detroit at Oakland 8:37 p.m.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
St. Louis at Washington 12:07 p.m.
San Francisco at Cincinnati 3:07 p.m.
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PRESEASON
Toronto at Detroit 6:30 p.m.
Indiana at Minnesota 7:00 p.m.
Oklahoma City at Houston 7:00 p.m.
Atlanta at San Antonio 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Sacramento 9:00 p.m.
Portland at L-A Lakers 9:00 p.m.
UNL Behlen’s 40th Anniversary Of Free Sky Observation
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Behlen Observatory will mark its 40th anniversary with a free viewing night for the public.
The event is scheduled to run from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 19.
Provided the sky is clear, visitors will be able to see several celestial objects with the observatory’s 30-inch telescope and with smaller telescopes set up outside the observatory in Mead, which is in eastern Nebraska
There will be a special talk on the history of the observatory, beginning at 8 p.m.
The observatory also will be open to the public from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Nov. 16. Additional public nights are planned for the spring semester.
More information can be found on the observatory website, https://astro.unl.edu/observatory.
Grand Island City Council Rejects Anti Discrimination Proposal
The Grand Island City Council has rejected a proposal to extend anti-discrimination protection to homosexual, bisexual and transgender people.
The council voted 8-2 against the proposed ordinance on Tuesday night.
If the ordinance had been adopted, it would have been illegal in Grand Island to fail to hire or promote someone based on sexual orientation. Bias in housing or retail settings also would have been barred.
State and federal laws already bar discrimination based on race, ethnic origin and other factors in jobs, housing and other settings. But neither state nor federal laws expressly bar discrimination against homosexual, bisexual or transgender people.
Fatal Crash Kills Two Young Girls In Omaha, Authorities Suspect Drinking Involved
Two girls were killed when a sport utility vehicle ran off a road on the northwest side of Omaha.
Authorities say the crash occurred about 12:15 a.m. Wednesday in the Irvington area.
Both girls were under the age of 5. The car driver, another young passenger and a woman were hospitalized. Their names have not been released.
Authorities say the SUV didn’t stop at a T intersection and flipped over after it ran into a ravine.
Officers suspect the driver may have been driving drunk.