August 2013 – Page 41 – North Platte Post Archive

Kearney Planning Board Drops Efforts to Limit Medical Helicopter Routes

Posted on August 17, 2013

(AP) — A city planning board has scrapped efforts to limit routes for medical helicopters flying to and from a Kearney hospital after hospital officials said it didn’t have the authority to do so.

Doug Wulf, Good Samaritan Hospital’s chief flight nurse, told the board Friday that limiting the routes to and from Kearney Regional Medical Center would hinder landing and takeoff.

And, he said, the Federal Aviation Authority is the only entity that can control airspace.

The planning board opted, instead, to recommend a warning light be placed atop an 80-foot observation tower in a city park.

Boyfriend of Woman Found in Omaha Grave Arrested

Posted on August 17, 2013

(AP) — Police say the boyfriend of an Omaha woman found dead in an open grave has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection with her death.

The arrest of Mikael Loyd late Friday came a week after a warrant was issued for his arrest on a misdemeanor assault charge involving 19-year-old Melissa Rodriguez, whose body was found Thursday in a freshly-dug grave in an Omaha cemetery intended for someone else.

Loyd, also 19, allegedly assaulted Rodriguez in June. According to an affidavit, officers who spoke with Rodriguez reported that she had bruises on her arms and legs. Rodriguez said she didn’t want to press charges, but her family voiced concerns that she was in an abusive relationship.

Rodriguez was a student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Huskers Complete Second Week of Fall Camp

Posted on August 17, 2013

Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska football team completed week two of its 2013 football fall camp Saturday afternoon, going through a two-hour practice in full pads inside the Hawks Center and outside at the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice facility.

Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini met with the media after practice, noting that the team has been through a long week of practice, but likes the team’s direction with two weeks to go before the season opener.

“We just finished up a long week—a good week, got a lot accomplished, still got a ways to go as a football team, but we got a lot accomplished this week.” Pelini said, “I’m liking the direction this football team is heading in right now, but we got a lot of work ahead of us. We are not game ready yet, but I am seeing a lot of progress in a lot of areas.”

A key position the Huskers need to find depth in during the 2013 season is tight end, with the losses of graduating seniors Ben Cotton and Kyler Reed. Senior Jake Long will be one of the guys in the mix this upcoming season, and according to Pelini, even though Long suffered a minor injury at the start of camp, the senior Elkhorn native will be ready for the start of the season.

“Jake Long is way ahead of schedule right now. He will be coming back any day right now.” Pelini said, “He will be ready for game week, and he will probably be ready sometime this week.”

According to Pelini, even though it is only two weeks into the 2013 football season, the offense is already a well-primed machine, with an experienced core group coming back.

“I think we are a deeper group right now which really excites me.” Pelini said, “We have more depth and some of our younger guys are really competing for some playing time. We have a lot of guys that can play, and can play well, and hopefully that will continue.”

On the defensive side, one newcomer who has stood out in the early portion of camp has been freshman linebacker Josh Banderas, and Coach Pelini talked about his development during fall camp.

“Josh Banderas has done well, he still has a long way to go, we are putting a lot on him and throwing a lot at him.” Pelini said, “The thing I am most excited about Josh is, we knew he could run, he is physical and is showing tremendous instincts for the position. But it hasn’t been too big for him, for somebody who plays Mike linebacker and has to make a lot of calls and do a lot of things that we put on him. He has handled it extremely well. He is going to be a tremendous football player.”

Pelini announced that sophomore defensive tackle Kevin Williams will miss the season due to a knee injury. Williams, a third-year sophomore, played in five games in 2012 after returning to the lineup following a knee injury, and had four tackles, including a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hurry.

“This is the second time he has had a knee injury. I just feel for the kid.” Pelini said, “He’ll come back, it was a pretty clean injury. We think he will be able to rehab, and he will be just fine going forward.”

Nebraska will be back on the practice field on Monday for the start of week three practices in fall camp. Check back at Huskers.com for all of your preseason football practice coverage including the latest news, photos and video features.

*Post practice video can be found on Huskers.com

Rockies Closer Betancourt Activated from DL

Posted on August 17, 2013

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have activated right-handed reliever Rafael Betancourt from the 15-day disabled list.

Betancourt was put on the DL on July 20 with appendicitis. The 38-year-old closer is 2-3 with a 3.16 ERA and has converted 15 of 16 save opportunities.

Before the Rockies faced the Orioles on Saturday, Colorado manager Walt Weiss said, “”Rafe is ready to go. We’re going to make sure he’s mentally ready to go and then throw him into the fire.”

Rex Brothers served as closer in Betancourt’s absence.

Colorado made room for Betancourt by optioning right-hander Manuel Corpas to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Corpas pitched in 19 games for Colorado this season after beginning the year with Colorado Springs. He was 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA.

Royals’ Tejada Suspended 105 Games for PED Use

Posted on August 17, 2013

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Miguel Tejada has been suspended 105 games by Major League Baseball for violating its joint drug program, one of the longest suspensions ever handed down.

The 39-year-old Tejada had previously tested positive under the league’s amphetamine policy, so he was subject to a 25-game ban for a second test and an 80-game suspension for a third, both of which occurred while playing for the Kansas City Royals this season.

Tejada, who signed a one-year deal with the Royals last offseason, will begin serving the suspension while on the 60-day disabled list with a strained calf muscle. He would need to fulfill the remainder of the suspension next season before he’s eligible to play.

Tejada was hitting .288 with three homers and 20 RBIs in 53 games before getting hurt.

Roll Tide! Alabama No. 1 in AP Preseason Poll

Posted on August 17, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) — Alabama will begin this season the way it ended the last two — No. 1.

Nick Saban and the two-time defending national champion Crimson Tide are top-ranked in The Associated Press preseason college football poll as they try to become the first team to win three straight national titles.

Much like the BCS championship game against Notre Dame, the vote was an Alabama landslide. The Tide received 58 of 60 first-place votes from the media panel to easily outdistance No. 2 Ohio State and match Florida in 2009 for the highest percentage of first-place votes received in the 63-year history of the preseason rankings.

The Buckeyes received one first-place vote.

Oregon is No. 3, followed by Stanford and Georgia, which received the other first-place vote.

Trial Set for Former Buffalo County Strip Club Owner Who Made Gun Threat

Posted on August 17, 2013August 17, 2013

Trial is set to begin next week for a former central Nebraska strip club owner accused of pulling a gun on patrons last year.

Jury selection will begin Monday for the trial of 43-year-old William Sheldon.

Sheldon is charged in Buffalo County District Court with use of a firearm, tampering with evidence and making terroristic threats.

Prosecutors say that in June 2012, Sheldon pointed a handgun at two brothers outside the club during a fight and asked them if they wanted to live or die.

Sheldon owned Jammers Roadhouse which was located near the Odessa Exit on Interstate 80.

The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission cancelled Jammers’ liquor license in June of 2012 due to an assault charge Sheldon was convicted of earlier in the year.

If convicted on the newest charges, Sheldon faces up to 60 years in prison.

15-Year-Old Overton Boy Killed in Crash

Posted on August 17, 2013August 17, 2013

(AP)–A 15-year-old boy has died in a crash near Overton in south-central Nebraska.

The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office says 15-year-old Jackson Egge, of Overton, died in the Friday night crash.

Officials say Egge was driving a car that appeared to be speeding. The car rolled several times after entering a ditch.

An 18-year-old passenger, also of Overton, was taken with minor injuries to a Lexington hospital.

The sheriff’s office says neither teen was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

NP Woman Accused of Roughing Up Her Estranged Husband Who Later Lands in Jail with Her

Posted on August 17, 2013August 17, 2013

A North Platte woman is facing a felony charge after she allegedly assaulted her estranged husband, who would later join her in jail.

At around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, North Platte Police responded to a reported domestic assault in the 200 block of South Cottonwood.

Upon arrival, Officers made contact with Burgess Running-Enemy who said his estranged wife, Jerrita Running-Enemy, had assaulted him. Burgess told police that Jeritta thought he had been with another girl, which lead to the assault.

Investigating Officers reported that Burgess did have visible injuries from the alleged assault.

Jeritta had left the scene, but she was soon located and placed under arrest for Domestic Assault. The charge is a felony due to a prior Domestic Assault conviction.

Then at around 2:30 a.m. on Friday, an Officer responded to the 800 block of East 8th after receiving a report that Burgess was in the backyard of a residence.

The reporting party indicated that they had a protection order that forbids Burgess from being within 100 feet of the property.

A Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy made contact with Burgess at 8th and Poplar and, after confirming the protection order, placed him under arrest.

Jerrita and Burgess were both incarcerated the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Arizona Sheriff Opposes Appointment of Independent Monitor Amid Profiling Scandal

Posted on August 17, 2013

(AP) — An Arizona sheriff’s office found to have racially profiled Latinos is opposing the appointment of an independent monitor to help remedy the issue.

The move disclosed in a court filing Friday could result in a judge ordering the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office to comply with constitutional requirements.

In May, U.S. District Judge Murray Snow found that Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s office singled out Latinos, and that deputies unreasonably prolonged detentions, marking the first finding by a court that the agency engages in racial profiling.

Arpaio’s office is appealing.

Snow delayed issuing orders in the case in June after both parties indicated they wanted time to work toward an agreement.

The joint filing on Friday indicated the judge would have to provide more guidance during an Aug. 30 status conference given the lack of agreement on a proposed consent decree.