April 2014 – Page 43 – North Platte Post Archive

Pro Sports Becoming More Open to Paternity Leave

Posted on April 14, 2014

When New York Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy was criticized on talk radio for spending three days with his family after the birth of his son, teammates, coaches and opponents leapt to his defense.

The four major pro sports leagues in North America are becoming increasingly open to paternity leave as more players express a desire to be with their families when a baby arrives.

Major League Baseball is the only league with a standardized policy written into its rulebook. But the NFL, NBA and NHL have all shown willingness to give their players some time when that day comes.

Players say that kind of compassion is a welcome change from decades ago, when athletes often missed one of life’s biggest moments to stay with their teams.

Neb. Officials Fight Deposition in Ward Theft Case

Posted on April 14, 2014April 14, 2014

(AP) — The attorney for a western Nebraska woman accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from state wards is seeking to question State Auditor Mike Foley and Nebraska State Court Administrator Janice Walker under oath.

Sterling Huff, attorney for Judy Widener, filed a motion to depose Foley and Walker. In response, the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office filed a motion to quash the request.

On Friday, Huff argued before a judge that he should be able to question Foley on his office’s role in the charges against Widener. He wants to question Walker about whether the Nebraska Supreme Court and the Court Administrator’s Office took part in the criminal investigation of Widener.

Motorcycle Driver Dies in Neb. Crash

Posted on April 14, 2014April 13, 2014

(AP) — Omaha Police have identified the motorcycle rider who was killed in a weekend crash after failing to negotiate a corner in the road.

Omaha police say 27-year-old David Plassmann of Bellevue died Saturday afternoon while out riding with others.

The accident happened shortly after noon along John J. Pershing Drive near the Missouri River on the northeast edge of the city.

Police say Plassman failed to negotiate a corner in the road, lost control and slammed into a tree.

Some of Plassman’s fellow riders and paramedics tried to revive him, but he died at the scene.

Plassman was wearing a helmet.

Longtime Neb. Rabbi Who Invested with Buffett Dies

Posted on April 14, 2014April 13, 2014

(AP) — A longtime Omaha rabbi who became a philanthropist after investing with Warren Buffett in the 1960s has died.

Rabbi Myer Kripke died Friday at the age of 100.

Rabbi Steven Abraham says his predecessor at Omaha’s Beth El Synagogue remains beloved by the congregation he led from 1947 to 1975.

Kripke stayed active in the community long after becoming rabbi emeritus at Beth El, and he often gave talks explaining his faith to non-Jewish audiences.

Kripke was able to become a philanthropist later in life because he invested with his friend Buffett, who he’d met during the 1950s.

One of the bigger gifts Kripke and his wife made was a $7 million donation to the Jewish Theological Seminary he attended in New York City.

North Platte Weather-April 14th

Posted on April 14, 2014

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 45. Breezy, with a northwest wind 14 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 21. North northwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming light and variable. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 62. South southwest wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. South southwest wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Breezy, with a northwest wind 11 to 16 mph increasing to 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph.
Wednesday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 1am, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday: A slight chance of snow before 1pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

The North Platte Bulldogs Soccer Teams Compete at the GNAC

Posted on April 13, 2014

The North Platte Bulldogs boys and girls soccer teams competed in the Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference tournament in Scottsbluff over the weekend. The Lady Dogs placed third and the boys finished eighth in the tournament.

The North Platte girls (6-2) were the No. 2 seed in the tournament and beat No. 7 Gering 11-1 in the first round on Friday. Taylor Banark filled the stat sheet in Friday’s game by leading the Lady Dogs with three goals and four assists. Abby Stark had eight saves in earning the win as the goalkeeper. The Semifinal game on Saturday was a battle for North Platte against No. 3 Columbus. The Lady Dogs fell in a shootout 3-2. Banark scored another goal and added an assist and Madalynn Doughty scored a goal in the loss. In the 3rd and 4th place game North Platte played No. 7 Gering and won 5-1. Marisa Martinez led the way with three goals and an assist.

The North Platte boys (2-6) soccer team went 0-3 in the GNAC tournament and lost all three games by one goal. The Dogs were the No. 6 seed and lost in the first round to No. 3 Hastings 2-1 on Friday. Rashawn Bryant scored the lone North Platte goal in the loss. In the consolation semifinal Saturday morning the Dogs lost to Scottsbluff 3-2, Brady Mason and David Mata each scored in the game. In the 7th and 8th place game on Saturday the Dogs lost in a shootout to Gering 2-1. Mason scored the lone goal in the loss. The Bulldogs have now lost six matches in a row after starting the season 2-0.

The brackets for both the boys and girls GNAC tournaments can be seen by clicking on the links below.

GNAC Soccer 2014 Boys Final Bracket

GNAC Soccer 2014 Girls Final Bracket

Bubba Watson Wins Another Green Jacket at Augusta

Posted on April 13, 2014

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Bubba Watson has won the Masters for the second time in three years.

Watson claimed another green jacket by shooting a 3-under 69 in the final round Sunday, fending off Jordan Spieth’s bid to become the youngest major champion since 1931.

The 20-year-old Texan led by two shots heading to the eighth hole, but the tournament changed suddenly.

Watson made two straight birdies, Spieth took back-to-back bogeys — and just like that, Watson was up by two strokes at the turn.

The left-hander led the rest of the way, adding to the 2012 title he won in more spectacular fashion with a playoff victory. The winning score was 8-under 280.

Spieth finished with a 72, his worst score of the week. He was 283 overall, tied with Sweden’s Jonas Blixt.

Giants Beat Rockies 5-4 in 10 Innings

Posted on April 13, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Brandon Crawford led off the 10th inning with a splash homer to give the San Francisco Giants a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.

Pablo Sandoval homered and Angel Pagan drove in two runs for the Giants, who bounced back from a 1-0 loss on Saturday to take two of three in the series.

Wilin Rosario and Justin Morneau homered for the Rockies, who have lost 15 of their last 18 games in San Francisco and have not won a series here since 2010.

Crawford turned on the second pitch thrown by Rex Brothers (1-1) and drove it into McCovey Cove for his first career walkoff homer and first splash homer.

Sergio Romo (1-0) pitched a scoreless 10th for the win.

Davis’ Throwing Error Sends Twins over Royals

Posted on April 13, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Pitcher Wade Davis made a wild flip home on a comebacker in the eighth inning and the Minnesota Twins rallied past the Kansas City Royals 4-3 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

After the Royals scored three times in the eighth for a 3-2 lead, reliever Aaron Crow (0-1) walked two Minnesota batters to start the bottom half.

Davis struck out Joe Mauer, but Trevor Plouffe walked to load the bases. Chris Hermann then hit a tapper back to the mound and Davis, hoping to begin an easy double play, hesitated briefly after getting the ball out of his glove.

Davis’ toss sailed past catcher Salvador Perez. Pedro Florimon scored the tying run and Brian Dozier slid home under Perez’s return throw to Davis covering the plate.

Casey Fien (1-0) got one out and Glen Perkins posted his third save.

Utah Woman Arrested After 7 Dead Babies Found

Posted on April 13, 2014

(AP)–Police accused a Utah woman of killing seven babies she gave birth to over 10 years after they found the tiny bodies stuffed in cardboard boxes in the garage of her former home.

Megan Huntsman lived in the Pleasant Grove home until three years ago and was arrested Sunday. Police say the 39-year-old birthed the infants from 1996 to 2006.

Police Capt. Michael Roberts says officers responded to a call Saturday from Huntsman’s estranged husband about a dead infant at the home about 35 miles south of Salt Lake City. Officers then discovered the six other bodies.

Roberts says the man had lived with Huntsman but isn’t a person of interest.

Huntsman was booked into jail on six counts of murder. Roberts says it wasn’t clear if she has an attorney.