August 2013 – Page 23 – North Platte Post Archive

Omaha Man Appeals Life Sentence for Drug Dealer’s Death

Posted on August 24, 2013August 25, 2013

(AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court will hear the appeal of a 23-year-old man sentenced to life in prison for his role in the 2011 death of an Omaha drug dealer.

Nicholas Ely was one of three people convicted of first-degree murder last year and sentenced to life for the July 2011 death of Kris Winters.

Winters was killed after a botched robbery attempt at his home. Ely was one of four men who sent a teen girl in to Winters’ home to pose as a marijuana customer before the robbery.

Ely argues in his appeal that there was not enough evidence to convict him and that his trial judge gave a faulty jury instruction and wrongly admitted some evidence.

The high court will hear arguments in the case on Sept. 3.

NPCC Lady Knights Improve to 4-0

Posted on August 24, 2013

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights (4-0) volleyball team continued their winning ways Saturday morning as they defeated the Eastern Wyoming Lady Lancers in three straight sets (25-19, 25-12, 25-12). The Lady Knights then defeated the Colby Community College Lady Trojans in highly contested five set battle (25-22, 25-27, 26-24, 20-25, 15-9).

The Lady Knights jumped ahead early and cruised to a 25-19 win in their opening set of the day. The second and third sets were much of the same as the Lady Knights won both 25-12. Sandrina Hallahan led the team in kills with 13 while Kylie Wroot chipped in 8. Laura Beckman had 15 assists and Joli Hopping had 12. Shannon Liewer led the Lady Knights with 14 digs and Samantha Kennedy paced the team with 3 blocks.

“I thought we played really good defense,” said head coach Sally Thalken. “We played very aggressive at the net. I thought the key to the game was that we controlled the net. We will have to come ready to play against Colby.”

In the second game of the day and fourth of the tournament, the Lady Knights emerged victorious over the Lady Trojans. In the first set the Lady Knights pulled out a 25-22 victory. The Lady Trojans responded by winning the second set 25-27. The third set again was back and forth before Sandrina Hallahan had a kill and Sabrina Hallahan dinked one over for the 26-24 victory. Colby fought right back with a 20-25 win in the fourth set.

The fourth set saw the Lady Knights jump out to an early 5-1 lead and they never looked back en route to a 15-9 fifth set victory. The Lady Trojans cut the deficit to 7-6 before the Lady Knights scored six straight points before closing the game out. Samantha Byrn led the Lady Knights with 16 kills while Sam Kennedy (11), Kyle Wroot (10) and Sabrina Hallahan (10) were all in double figures. Joli Hopping had 28 assists and Laura Beckman had 19. Shannon Liewer led the team with 25 digs.

“I think every coach wants to open up their season 4-0,” said coach Thalken. “Did I think we could? I thought we were young but talented. This gives our kids a ton of confidence and even more excitement for the rest of the season. I am very proud of our kids.”

“I thought we played pretty good for our first game of the year,” said sophomore Laura Beckman. “Our defense was good; we played scrappy and talked. We got down and didn’t stop fighting and came back strong.

Final tournament standings were Northeastern Junior College 4-0, North Platte Community College 4-0, Colby Community College 2-2, Williston State College 1-3, Sheridan College 1-3 and Eastern Wyoming College 0-4. An All-Tournament team will be named on Monday. Click here for all scores, standing and all-tournament team: Subway Invite Tournament Home

The Lady Knights continue their season Wednesday August 28 as they travel to Seward to take on Concordia University JV at 7:30 p.m. You can listen to game both on the airwaves on ESPN Radio 1410 and online at www.northplattepost.com. Robert Lovell will be there on the call.

Recent Omaha Killings Noted for Oddity and Savagery

Posted on August 24, 2013

(AP) — A recent spate of random, violent killings around Omaha have stood out, even in a city that about 80 percent of Nebraska’s homicides.

The cases include the May killings of a Creighton University professor and his wife in what police say was the work of a serial killer. In June, a 93-year-old woman was raped and beaten to death in her home. Earlier this month, the body of woman was found in a freshly dug cemetery grave. And on Wednesday, a mother of three was found shot to death in a suburban Omaha intersection.

University of Nebraska at Omaha criminology professor Ryan Spohn says the killings are unusual for their brutality and back-to-back occurrences and because the victims are “not who we think of as the typical homicide victim.”

Selig, MLB Honor Civil Rights Pioneers

Posted on August 24, 2013

CHICAGO (AP) — Major League Baseball has made significant strides from the days of segregation and bigotry, but the sport’s top figures say the work is not complete.

Commissioner Bud Selig, Hall of Famers and current players honored Jackie Robinson and other civil rights heroes at an awards luncheon in dowtown Chicago before MLB’s Civil Rights Game between the White Sox and the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.

Selig says “We salute the pioneers who enriched our game and, by extension, our culture.”

Weekend events, sponsored by the Chicago White Sox, coincided with commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the civil rights march on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King’s landmark “I Have a Dream” speech.

The Beacon Awards honored retired major leaguer Bo Jackson and entertainer Aretha Franklin.

Seven Husker Walk-Ons Earn Scholarships

Posted on August 24, 2013

Lincoln, Neb.-Nebraska wrapped up preseason camp on Saturday morning with a light workout inside Memorial Stadium. The Huskers practiced in helmets and shorts, wrapping up three weeks of intense work, as Nebraska now turns its attention to game preparation with the season opener with Wyoming a week away.

Following Saturday’s practice, Head Coach Bo Pelini announced that seven Husker players who originally joined the program as walk-ons will be on scholarship for the 2013 season.

The group includes three 2013 seniors who were on scholarship during the spring semester and will remain on scholarship for their final season as Huskers. That trio includes quarterback Ron Kellogg III, tight end Jake Long and safety Wil Richards.

Kellogg III served as Nebraska’s No. 2 quarterback last season and is a prime candidate for that role again this fall. Long was part of Nebraska’s regular rotation at tight end the past two seasons and is the likely starter at the position in 2013. Jake Long joins his twin brother, Spencer, as walk-ons who have went on to earn a scholarship as Spencer Long received the honor last fall. Richards has been a key member of the Nebraska special teams the past two years.

Four additional Huskers have been placed on scholarship for the first time including senior defensive tackle Brodrick Nickens, senior linebacker Colby Starkebaum, junior center Mark Pelini and sophomore fullback Andy Janovich.

Nickens made the move from offensive line to defensive tackle in the spring, and is in line for playing time this fall. Starkebaum is a second-generation Husker, following in the footsteps of his father, John, who lettered for NU from 1972-74. The younger Starkebaum has been a reserve linebacker and key scout team performer throughout his career.

Pelini is in a battle for the starting center position after serving as the backup at the spot last season. Janovich played as a true freshman at fullback last season and is expected to share playing time with the top unit at that spot in 2013. Janovich earned a scholarship in just his second season in the program, the quickest any player has moved from walk-on to scholarship under Pelini.

Overall, the group of new scholarship recipients includes four native Nebraskans in Kellogg, Long, Janovich and Nickens. Richards joined the NU program from Lee’s Summit, Mo., Pelini is a Youngstown, Ohio native, while Starkebaum joined the NU program from Sterling, Colo.

Saturday’s announcement continues a long Husker tradition of walk-ons earning scholarships during their career at Nebraska. In fact, Pelini has now placed 26 former walk-ons on scholarship during his six seasons as Nebraska’s head coach.

When asked if this was one of his favorite parts of the job, Pelini quickly responded affirmatively.

“Absolutely, they put in such hard work and obviously they don’t have all the luxuries or the advantages being on scholarship financially, and obviously they are on the football team and have the same requirements as kids on scholarship.” Pelini said, “That’s what makes this program special and different, the walk-on tradition continues and it will continue forever.”

Pelini took a wait and see approach on where he thinks the team is at going into game week, saying, “Well we will find next week, I like our camp, I think we got a lot done and a lot accomplished.”

Pelini also noted that incoming freshman linebacker Marcus Newby is on campus and will join the football team next week. Newby was a top 150 prospect according to multiple recruiting services and joins a young NU linebacker corps.

Nebraska will return to the practice field on Monday afternoon as the Huskers get ready for their prime-time matchup with Wyoming next Saturday. Monday will also mark the first day of the fall semester on the UNL campus.

Skies over MetLife Stadium a Focus for Super Bowl

Posted on August 24, 2013

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Will it snow?

That’s a main question for next year’s Super Bowl at the Meadowlands, the first to be held in a cold-weather locale.

Behind the scenes, the focus is on much more, including how to move people in and around — and over — MetLife Stadium.

Federal aviation officials say they’re working on flight restrictions over the stadium for Super Bowl Sunday. It’s a challenge because MetLife Stadium sits a few miles from Teterboro Airport to the north and several miles from Newark Liberty International Airport to the south. Those two airports and New York’s LaGuardia and JFK combine to make the most congested airspace in the country.

No-fly zones have been used at Super Bowls since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Ty Lawson Domestic Hearing Delayed until September

Posted on August 24, 2013

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — An initial hearing in the domestic violence case against Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson is being delayed until September.

Prosecutors asked for the postponement on Friday to give them more time to investigate.

Both Lawson and his pregnant girlfriend Ashley Pettiford were arrested following a fight at their home Saturday. Pettiford said she heard Lawson on the phone with another woman and said Lawson pushed her as she packed her things. She’s accused of breaking Lawson’s phone.

Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson tells KMGH-TV that the conflict “was a mutual situation.” Both were arrested and held over the weekend.

One Killed in East-Central Nebraska Crash

Posted on August 24, 2013

(AP) — One person has died in a rollover crash near Palmer in east-central Nebraska.

The crash happened late Friday night.

Investigators say a car went out of control on a county road near Palmer, rolled and hit a tree. The patrol says both the driver and a passenger, who were not wearing seat belts, were thrown from the car. The passenger died at the scene.

Authorities say the driver was taken to a Grand Island hospital.

The patrol has not released the name of either person, pending notification of their families.

Nebraska Lawmakers Look to Ease Prison Overcrowding

Posted on August 24, 2013

(AP) — Nebraska’s prisons are woefully overcrowded, and one state lawmaker says the state will have to get creative to alleviate the problem.

Omaha Sen. Heath Mello says the state justice system will need big reforms to keep it from having to build a new prison. Mello’s comments came Friday during an informal meeting of several lawmakers looking for ways to address prison overcrowding.

Nebraska’s nine prisons have room for 3,175 inmates, but hold about 4,800 — about 151 percent of capacity. State prisons are projected to hit 171 percent by 2020, unless changes are made in how Nebraska treats offenders.

Some states have cut their prison populations by diverting more drug offenders into treatment programs and instituting sentencing reforms.

Nationals Rally Back, Hold off Royals 11-10

Posted on August 23, 2013

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jayson Werth hit a two-run homer, Bryce Harper drove in three runs and the Washington Nationals rallied from a six-run hole before holding off the Kansas City Royals for an 11-10 victory Friday night.

Harper also made a terrific catch in the ninth for Washington, which scored seven times in the fourth inning of its fourth consecutive win. Ian Desmond had a pair of hits during the outburst.

Denard Span, Ryan Zimmerman, Tyler Moore and Anthony Rendon also had RBIs as the Nationals piled up 11 runs for the second time in three games — they beat the Cubs 11-6 on Tuesday night.