March 2014 – Page 8 – North Platte Post Archive

Study: Married Folks Have Fewer Heart Problems

Posted on March 28, 2014

What’s good for the heart? Marriage, researchers say.

A study of more than 3.5 million Americans finds that married people are less likely than singles, divorced or widowed folks to suffer any type of heart or blood vessel problem.

This was true at any age, for women as well as for men, and regardless of other heart disease risk factors they had such as high cholesterol or diabetes.

The study by researchers at New York University involved people who sought screening tests for cancer or other conditions from a private company offering them in community settings around the country.

Married people had a 5 percent lower risk of any cardiovascular disease compared to singles. Widowed people had a 3 percent greater risk and divorced people, a 5 percent greater risk.

Heineman Vetoes Bill to Ban Mountain Lion Hunting

Posted on March 28, 2014

(AP) — Gov. Dave Heineman has vetoed a bill that would outlaw mountain lion hunting in Nebraska.

In a message to lawmakers on Friday, Heineman said the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission should have the power to manage the mountain lion population for the health and safety of residents. Nebraska approved its mountain lion hunting season in 2012, with then-unanimous support in the Legislature.

Heineman says he also was concerned that the bill could be unconstitutional because of a recent statewide vote that placed hunting, fishing and trapping rights in the Nebraska constitution.

The bill to end the season was introduced by Sen. Ernie Chambers. Chambers, of Omaha, has said the mountain lions pose no real threat to humans.

Police Investigate Fatal Shooting of Lincoln Man

Posted on March 28, 2014

(AP) — Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 38-year-old man during gambling at his home in north Lincoln.

Officers who were sent to the house early Friday found Nathaniel Morton Sr., who had a bullet wound on the left side of his chest. Police say he died later at a Lincoln hospital.

Police Chief Jim Peschong (peh-SHAHNG’) said that around 20 people had gone to Morton’s home Thursday night to gamble and throw dice. Peschong says Morton argued with one of them over money and got into a fight. Peschong says the other person then pulled a gun and shot Morton.

No arrest has been reported.

Creighton’s Wragge Entered in 3-Point Competition

Posted on March 28, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Creighton forward Ethan Wragge will participate in the 3-point shooting contest that will be held in conjunction with Final Four weekend in the Dallas area next week.

The 26th annual event is Thursday at Moody Coliseum on the SMU campus.

Wragge was one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in Creighton history and this season made 47 percent of his attempts. Wragge started the week ranked fifth nationally in 3-point shooting.

Wragge will be the third Creighton player in 12 years to take part in the contest. Kyle Korver finished second in 2003. Booker Woodfox did not advance to the semifinals in 2009.

NPCC Knights Softball Lose at McCook, Cancel Friday Games

Posted on March 28, 2014

McCook – The North Platte Community College softball team (4-17) travelled to McCook Thursday afternoon where they dropped two games to the McCook Community College Indians (19-8) by the score is 1-2 and 1-9. The Knights have cancelled their games Friday with Iowa Western Community College.

In game one, the Knights fell by a score of 1-2 to the Indians. Katharine Savolt took the loss on the mound giving up one unearned run, three hits, three walks and had one strikeout. Shannon Lieber also pitched for the Knights giving up one hit and one walk.

Siarra Velasquez and Jazmin Change had the only hits for the Knights. Velasquez had a double, a stolen base and score the only run for the Knights on a sacrifice fly by Brooke Wakefield.

In the second game, the Knights again lost 1-9. Rylee Murphy took the loss on the mound on six runs, including three earned runs, three hits, three walks and one strikeout. Lieber again threw for the Knights giving up three earned runs on three hits, one walk and one strikeout.

Velasquez had the only run of the game for the Knights with a solo homerun in the first inning.

“For the first time this spring our defense was locked in for 7 innings (in the first game),” said head coach Janelle Higgins. “We didn’t get the wins but today was a good day for our softball program.”

“McCook has a solid team and the first game was a great game to watch. Game two we got a little too relaxed and allowed a few unearned runs, had a few errors and they found a couple gaps for a couple runs.”

“The last week we have really been focusing on improving our defense and it has finally showed.”

The Knights games with Iowa Western Community College on Friday have been cancelled. The Knights are scheduled to square off with Iowa Western on Saturday, weather dependent. The games on Saturday are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Nebraskans Warned About Scam IRS Callers

Posted on March 28, 2014

(AP) — The office of Attorney General Jon Bruning is warning Nebraskans to be wary of a phone scam reported by the IRS.

Victims have reported threats of driver’s license suspension, arrest and deportation.

Bruning’s office says the calls may seem legitimate because, for example, the callers often know the last four digits of their potential victims’ Social Security numbers.

The scammers demand payment for taxes owed and also may contact the victim with bogus follow-up emails.

Bruning’s office says the IRS usually contacts people by mail about unpaid taxes.

Lincoln Man Accused of Having Bomb Making Materials

Posted on March 28, 2014March 27, 2014

(AP) — A Lincoln man faces a felony charge after police say bomb-making materials were seized from his apartment.

39-year-old Jacob Wyrrick is charged with unlawful possession of explosives. Court records do not list an attorney.

Police say the materials were taken from his apartment on March 14. They allegedly included shotgun shells and a can of either gasoline or kerosene.

An affidavit says Wyrrick told police he mixed those materials with drywall pieces to create a firecracker. But he says he never attempted to ignite it.

Nebraska Man Pleads Guilty in Child’s Death

Posted on March 28, 2014March 27, 2014

(AP) — A northeast Nebraska man has pleaded guilty to a federal child abuse charge in connection to the death of a 14-month-old boy.

22-year-old Mark Grant entered the plea Thursday in U.S. District Court in Omaha to one count of child abuse causing death. He faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on June 19.

Court documents say Grant was caring for Julius Harlan, his girlfriend’s 14-month-old son, on Sept. 10 when the boy received brain injuries. The child died the next day at a hospital.

Grant initially pleaded not guilty to the case in October. Investigators say Grant provided different stories about the circumstance behind the injury.

North Platte Weather-Weekend

Posted on March 28, 2014March 28, 2014

Today: A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Breezy, with a south southeast wind 6 to 11 mph becoming west northwest 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. North northwest wind 11 to 16 mph becoming northeast 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 72. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. South wind 6 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. South wind 5 to 13 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. Breezy.

5 Biggest Nebraska Counties All Growing Fast

Posted on March 28, 2014March 27, 2014

(AP) — Nebraska’s most-populated counties continue to grow at a fast pace.

New population estimates based on the U.S. Census were released Thursday.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s David Drozd says the fastest growing Nebraska counties between April 2010 and last July were the state’s five biggest counties.

Sarpy County led all counties with at least 1,000 residents with 6.6 percent population growth in the Omaha suburbs.

Lancaster County, which is home to the capital of Lincoln, ranked second with 4.1 percent growth.

Douglas County, which includes Omaha, and Buffalo County, which includes Kearney, both recorded 3.9 percent growth.

Hall County, which is home to Grand Island, ranked 5th with 3.6 percent population growth.

The Census estimates also show that 31 of Nebraska’s 93 counties added population between 2010 and 2013.