September 2013 – Page 3 – North Platte Post Archive

Johansson Shines In Opening Night Win

Posted on September 30, 2013

KEARNEY, Neb. – Swedish goaltender Jacob Johansson didn’t disappoint in his first game for the Tri-City Storm, making 37 saves and coming up big late in the contest, a 2-1 shootout win at the Viaero Event Center on Saturday night.

Newcomers Robbie Payne and Chris Wilkie scored for the Storm in the shootout, sending the Kearney fans home happy with a win in their first game of the season.

Lincoln’s Jason Stephanik opened the scoring with a power play goal at 9:56 of the first, giving the Stars an early 1-0 lead.

The first period also saw two fights, as Steven Haydon went at it with Zach Frye and Robbie Payne battled Zack Pittman.

Tri-City evened the score in the second with a power play tally of their own on a deflection in front by Chase Berger. It was Berger’s first USHL goal and both Cutler Martin and Dan Labosky were credited with assists.

The goaltenders took it from there, not allowing any more scoring plays in either regulation or overtime. Johansson finished with 37 saves for Tri-City, while veteran Michael Bitzer stopped 30 pucks.

At the end of the third period a penalty shot was awarded to Stephanik with just 47 seconds remaining. As he moved in on Johansson the goaltender stood his ground and made a blocker save to force the game to overtime.

Garrett Gamez had the best opportunity for the Storm in the extra session, sending a shot off the crossbar that missed by inches.

The Storm went 2-for-2 in the shootout with goals from Payne and Wilkie before Johansson stopped Magnus Hoff in Lincoln’s final attempt.

Tri-City will stay in Kearney and host the Sioux City Musketeers for the first time this season on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

No. 16 NPCC Lady Knights Go 1-1 on Saturday at Johnson County Invite

Posted on September 30, 2013

The No. 16 North Platte Community College Lady Knights (15-7) split their games on Saturday as they defeated the Iowa Lakes Community College Lady Lakers in a hard fought five set battle (25-19, 23-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-12) and fell to the Coffeyville Community College Lady Ravens (19-25, 28-26, 23-25, 15-25) to finish out the Johnson County Invite with a 1-3 record.

The Lady Knights first game of the day turned into a battle with Iowa Lakes Community College. The Lady Knights drew first blood as they handled the Lady Lakers in a 25-19 first set victory. The Lady Lakers would then win the second set 23-25 to even the match. The Lady Knights responded by winning the third set 25-23. The Lady Knights could not end the match as the Lady Lakers won the fourth set 22-25. The Lady Knights would get their first win of the Johnson County Invite as they knocked off the Lady Lakers in the fifth and final set 15-12.

Sabrina Hallahan led the Lady Knights with 12 kills in the match. Taylor King and Samantha Kennedy were also in double figures with 10. Kennedy led the Lady Knights with four blocks. Joli Hopping paced the Lady Knights with 27 assists and Shannon Liewer did in digs with 25.

The second game of the day was another hard fought battle for the Lady Knights. Coffeyville took a 1-0 set lead as they won the first set 19-25. The Lady Knights would fight back and win the second set 28-26. The Lady Ravens would end the match with victories in the third and fourth set by the score of 23-25 and 15-25.

The Lady Knights were led by Samantha Byrn with 11 kills. Sabrina Hallahan, Sandrina Hallahan, Samantha Kennedy and Kylie Wroot all had nine kills in the match. Shannon Liewer had 17 digs for the match while Joli Hopping had 23 assists and Laura Beckman had 16.

The Lady Knights return home next week on Thursday October 3 for a match against Northeast Community College at 7 p.m. It is the first of a three game home stand and the last three home games of the year for the Lady Knights.

Rural Neb. Nonprofits Ready for Health Marketplace

Posted on September 29, 2013September 29, 2013

(AP) — Nonprofit groups in rural Nebraska say they’re ready to start enrolling residents in the new health-insurance marketplace, despite the vast areas they have to cover.

The groups have turned to churches, libraries and food banks to address one of their biggest challenges: Spreading word that the marketplaces will open Tuesday for a six-month enrollment period as part of the Affordable Care Act.

The largest nonprofit, Community Action of Nebraska, plans to have 62 insurance “navigators” hired and trained to help with enrollment at its local offices throughout the state.

Meredith Collins, of Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, says her organization has held public meetings in McCook and North Platte. The group has hired a full-time insurance navigator to enroll consumers, and trained staff in five of its 27 counties.

Man Shot While Driving with Two Young Children in Omaha

Posted on September 29, 2013

(AP) — A 28-year-old man is recovering after being shot in northwest Omaha while he was driving with two young children in the car.

Omaha Police said the shooting happened near 144th and Maple streets — far from the neighborhoods where shootings are common — around 10 p.m. Saturday.

Police say Lafayette Carodine was driving south on 144th Street when a Chevrolet Impala started tailgating him. The shots were fired from the Chevrolet.

Carodine continued south with his 5-year-old and 2-year-old children in the car before crashing near Blondo Street. He fled the car but collapsed nearby.

Carodine was hospitalized but his injury is not believed to be life-threatening.

The children, who were not wounded, are with their mother.

Feds to Test New Pollution Control System at Gerald Gentleman

Posted on September 29, 2013September 29, 2013

(AP) — A new system to capture one of the main gases linked to global warming will be tested at a Nebraska coal plant over nearly four years.

The U.S. Department of Energy chose the Nebraska Public Power District’s Gerald Gentleman plant near Sutherland for the $19 million project that starts Oct. 1.

The project will test a carbon dioxide capturing system designed by Ion Engineering of Boulder, Colo.

NPPD Vice President Tom Kent says the utility wanted to participate to get a good real-world test of the concept. If it’s successful, a system like this could help reduce pollution at NPPD’s coal plants.

A $15 million federal grant will cover most of the cost. Ion and its partners will pay most of the rest. NPPD is contributing in-kind services worth about $750,000.

Western Nebraska Cleaning Up After South Platte Flooding

Posted on September 29, 2013

Western Nebraska residents are cleaning up after record flooding on the South Platte River now that the water is receding.

The river overflowed earlier this month after the rainwater that inundated parts of Colorado flowed into Nebraska.

Hershey residents built sandbag walls all along the river to protect the town from flooding. Volunteers came out Saturday to help remove the sandbags now that the threat is gone.

Village Clerk LeAnn Ellis says it’s going to take a while to get everything back to normal, but Saturday’s cleanup will help.

The volunteers were joined by inmates from the Lincoln County Detention Center who have been helping throughout the flood fight over the past two weeks.

City of North Platte employees will begin picking up sandbags around the city on Monday. Officials are asking residents to help by placing the sandbags upright on the curbs.

Gretna Woman Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

Posted on September 28, 2013

(AP) — A Gretna woman accused of embezzling more than $4 million from the tobacco and candy business where she worked has pleaded guilty to three counts of tax evasion.

The Nebraska Department of Revenue and the Sarpy County attorney opted to pursue the tax evasion charges against 54-year-old Caroline Richardson after her former employer, Colombo Candy and Tobacco Wholesale Co, declined to press charges against her.

Instead, the company has gone after an Iowa casino. In a federal lawsuit, Colombo says Ameristar Casino should have known that Richardson was gambling with ill-gotten money.

In exchange for her pleas, prosecutors dropped three counts of filing a false income tax return.

She faces up to 15 years in prison when she’s sentenced on Dec. 16.

Nebraska Man Placed on Probation Ordered Not to Date

Posted on September 28, 2013September 29, 2013

(AP) — A northeast Nebraska man convicted of an attempted felony has been sentenced to three years of probation — and no dating.

Authorities say 21-year-old Jeffrey Hoadley, of Carroll, helped plan the Dec. 5 burglary of an auto parts store, but backed out as he and an accomplice approached the business.

Hoadley was initially charged with burglary, but he pleaded guilty in June to the lesser offense.

On Friday, Judge Mark Johnson sentenced Hoadley to three years’ probation and a 120-day jail term that could be waived if he successfully completes the terms of his probation — including an order not be involved in any romantic relationships during his probation.

In explaining the condition, the judge told Hoadley, “You need to focus on you.”

Geneva V. Neal

Posted on September 28, 2013

Geneva V. Neal, age 96, of Tryon, died September 27, 2013 at Centennial Park Retirement Village. Geneva V. Neal was born Feb. 14, 1917 in Lacona, Iowa to Harry and Nellie (Bennett) Lancaster. When she was very small they moved to a ranch near Flats in McPherson County. She attended grade school at Diamond Bar School and her family was very active in the Methodist church at Flats.
She graduated from McPherson County High School in 1935and took training and worked as a nurse at the Sutherland hospital. She returned to the Diamond Bar School to teach 1936-1938. Geneva was united in marriage to Donald E. Neal on April 8, 1939. To this union two children were born, Gary and Donna. In 1948 Don and Geneva purchased a farm/ranch southwest of Lake Maloney. They were very active in the Union Sunday School at the Meadowlawn School
house and helped organize a hymn sing, held in different homes once a month. Don and Geneva worked at the sale bam in North Platte on Fridays and at Don’s father’s sale barn in Tryon twice a month. In the spring of 1957 they rented out the farm, and purchased the service station and tank wagon delivery service in Tryon. Geneva did the book work for the
station and also worked at the Post Office as a clerk and later as Officer in Charge
for 23 years. Geneva joined the Tryon Rebekah Lodge in 1969 and was a life long member. She was also a member of the United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. One of the biggest parts of her life besides loving and caring for her
family was the work she was able to do in the church, Sunday school, and United
Methodist Women.
Geneva is survived by her daughter Donna (Larry) Campbell, son Gary (Jerry) Neal, all of North Platte; grandchildren Trent (Sheila) Neal, Brett (Cindy) Neal, Mindy (Brian) Hope, Troy Whited, Brad Whited; 8 great-grandchildren; and 2 great
great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Don, her parents, a sister Maxine, a brother Gerald Lancaster, and great granddaughter Kylee Neal.
A memorial has been established in her name and online condolences can be made at www.adamsswanson.com.
Services will be 1:00 p.m. Monday September 30, 2013 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home with the Rev. Shanon Williams officiating. Burial will be at the Miller Cemetery near Tryon. Visitation will be today from 12:00 p.m. until 6 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 4-6. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Lincoln Man Pleads No Contest to Fatal Crash Charges

Posted on September 28, 2013

(AP) — A 29-year-old Lincoln man who was out on parole when prosecutors say he stole a truck and caused a fatal crash has pleaded no contest to three charges in the case.

Jefferson Potter entered the pleas Friday in Douglas County District Court to manslaughter, theft and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

Police say Potter was speeding while driving a stolen pickup and trailer that collided in June with several other vehicles. Jennifer Siemens, of Bellevue, was a passenger in one of the vehicles hit and died from her injuries.

Police say Potter climbed out of the pickup and fled but was caught and held by witnesses.

He will remain in jail until he’s sentenced on Jan. 7.