April 2014 – Page 22 – North Platte Post Archive

Granlund Gives Wild 1-0 Win in Game 3 over Avs

Posted on April 22, 2014

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Mikael Granlund’s diving swing at his own rebound 5:08 into overtime gave the Minnesota Wild a 1-0 win over Semyon Varlamov and the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 on Monday to pull within 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

Varlamov stopped 45 of 46 shots, a franchise playoff record number of shots on goal for the Wild.

Granlund cut toward the net for a wrist shot, and as he was falling forward took a stab at the puck to finally put one past Varlamov.

Darcy Kuemper made 22 saves, but the Wild goalie in his first career playoff start was just as good as his counterpart.

Game 4 is at Xcel Energy Center on Thursday.

Inmate Pleads No Contest in Neb. Prison Van Crash

Posted on April 22, 2014April 21, 2014

Jeremy Dobbe (NE Dept. of Corrections Photo)

(AP) — A Nebraska inmate has pleaded no contest to manslaughter in the death of a Lincoln woman who was struck and killed by a state prison van he was driving.

36-year-old Jeremy Dobbe entered the plea Monday in the death of 47-year-old Joyce Meeks. She was killed on June 25 in Lincoln. A no-contest plea acknowledges there’s sufficient evidence to convict but is not an admittance of guilt.

Dobbe was seen speeding and swerving before he struck Meeks’ minivan. Dobbe was transporting inmates as part of a state work-release program.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Nick Freeman said that in exchange for the plea, the state agreed not to file additional charges.

Dobbe faces up to 20 years in prison when he’s sentenced in June.

Kentucky Inmate Starves to Death

Posted on April 22, 2014April 21, 2014

(AP) — One doctor has been fired and another is being dismissed from the Kentucky State Penitentiary after an inmate went on a hunger strike and committed suicide by starving himself to death.

According to documents obtained by The Associated Press, the Department of Corrections terminated physician Steve Hiland and will soon cut loose psychologist Jean Hinkebein. The firings stem from the Jan. 13 death of 57-year-old James Kenneth Embry, who was serving a nine-year sentence for drug offenses.

An internal investigation done by the Corrections Department concluded that the doctors missed multiple signs that Embry was slowly committing suicide by refusing food and that Hiland signed off on nurses’ notes without seeing patients.

Hiland has denied wrongdoing. Hinkebein declined to comment.

The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office is conducting a criminal review of Embry’s death.

Eugene V. Greeley

Posted on April 22, 2014

Eugene V. Greeley, age 81, of North Platte passed away April 20, 2014, at the Sutherland Care Center. Eugene was born December 22, 1932 in North Platte to Clifton and Velma Sukraw Greeley.
After graduating high school Eugene was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska where he was in charge of sled dogs. On September 27, 1959, he married Glennis Knotts in North Platte. Eugene was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad for 38.6 years, retiring in 1994. He liked his cattle and enjoyed having his children and grandchildren help raise the cattle. He also enjoyed putting up hay and working on the ranch. Eugene moved to his present home in March 1933 and lived there his entire life. He was a member of the American Legion and the Railroad Union. Eugene was a great husband and father who loved his family very much.
Survivors include his wife, Glennis Greeley of North Platte; daughters, Casandra (Burton) Anthony of Hyannis, NE and Susan Greeley of Grand Island; son, Daniel Greeley of North Platte; grandchildren, Alexus Anthony, Austin Anthony, Zeb Greeley and Danielle Greeley; sister-in-law, Jo Coffman; brothers-in-law, Rod Pueppka, Dick Fogel, Lyle Johnson, and Rex Coffman; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Lois Fogel and Carol Pueppka; and an infant brother, Myron.
Memorials may be made in his name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Memorial Services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 24, 2014 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home with Pastor Gary Smith officiating. Those wishing to sign the register book may do so from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. today and Wednesday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Nebraska Farmers Starting to Plant Spring Crops

Posted on April 22, 2014April 21, 2014

(AP) — Nebraska farmers are just beginning to plant their spring crops, but the U.S. Agriculture Department says conditions remain dry across a large part of the state.

The USDA says much of western Nebraska continues to experience severe drought.

And only about 46 percent of the state’s topsoil and 39 percent of its subsoil has adequate or surplus moisture.

The USDA estimates that 59 percent of Nebraska’s winter wheat is in good or excellent shape.

About 4 percent of the corn crop has been planted, which is a bit behind the average of 6 percent at this point in the year.

Chadron to Dedicate New Firefighting Air Base

Posted on April 22, 2014April 21, 2014

(AP) — The city of Chadron will host an airport fly-in breakfast to dedicate its new firefighting air base.

The event is scheduled for Saturday morning at the Chadron Municipal Airport. The base will help provide service to a new Single Engine Air Tanker, an airplane that will be stationed there part-time to fight wildfires.

Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The dedication ceremony is set for 10 a.m., with Nebraska state Sen. Al Davis and Chadron Mayor Karin Fischer.

The event is open to the public, and Young Eagle airplane rides will be available. Firefighters and fly-in pilots can eat for free; others eat for a donation.

Chadron City Manager Wayne Anderson says the event seeks to recognize the team effort required to finish the air base.

North Platte Weather-April 22

Posted on April 22, 2014

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Breezy, with a south southeast wind 20 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. South southeast wind 13 to 16 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 69. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 13 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Better Technology Cited in NSP Consolidation

Posted on April 22, 2014April 21, 2014

(AP) — Officials say better technology is allowing the Nebraska State Patrol to save money as it consolidates its dispatch centers down to three from six.

For example, the new technology will let a dispatcher in Omaha send a trooper in Scottsbluff to a call in Alliance.

The patrol superintendent is Col. David Sankey, and he says that although dispatchers will be farther from the troopers they’re directing, he doesn’t think that will pose problems.

But Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger says he’s concerned that dispatchers elsewhere won’t know the layout of northeast Nebraska.

The first dispatch operation to close will be the Norfolk center in May. The second phase will be implemented by summer 2015. A committee will determine which center will close next.

The consolidation is expected to save $750,000.

Nikko Jenkins Gets Lawyer for Death Penalty Phase

Posted on April 21, 2014April 21, 2014

(AP) — A Nebraska man convicted of killing four people shortly after he was released from prison last summer will have lawyers representing him when it’s decided whether he should be executed.

Douglas County District Judge Peter Bataillon (buh-TAL’-yuhn) decided to reappoint lawyers for 27-year-old Nikko Jenkins after accepting his no contest pleas last Wednesday.

Bataillon wrote in court documents that he decided to reappoint lawyers because of the complexity of the death penalty sentencing process.

Jenkins had been representing himself in court for the past several months.

Jenkins has been convicted of fatally shooting Juan Uribe-Pena, Jorge Cajiga-Ruiz, Curtis Bradford and Andrea Kruger in three separate ambushes over 10 days last summer after his July 30 release from prison without supervision.

AP Source: Suh Won’t Attend Lions’ Voluntary Camp

Posted on April 21, 2014

DETROIT (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says Ndamukong Suh is not attending the Detroit Lions’ voluntary minicamp this week.

The person, who says Suh will attend the team’s voluntary workouts in May and mandatory minicamp next month, spoke Monday night to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Suh was not announcing his plans.

Detroit’s first-year coach Jim Caldwell said last week he wished the defensive tackle was at previous voluntary workouts, adding he has spoken to Suh more than any other player on the team since being hired.

The two-time All-Pro has skipped voluntary workouts in the past, and the 6-foot-4, 307-pound Suh has stayed in good shape.

Suh is entering the last year of his contract.