April 2014 – Page 46 – North Platte Post Archive

Neb. Schools Could See Intervention Team

Posted on April 12, 2014

(AP) — Underperforming schools will soon be aided by a state intervention team, under a bill signed into law this week.

Gov. Dave Heineman signed the bill Wednesday. The new law allows the State Board of Education to designate up to three “priority schools” at a time that will receive an intervention team to help the school address issues affecting student achievement.

Speaker of the Legislature Greg Adams, who introduced the bill, says it’s not about punishing schools. He says the state can’t stand back anymore and hope schools fix their problems.

Nebraska Commissioner of Education Matthew Blomstedt says the intervention teams could help by providing special services for students.

New Website Promotes Nebraska Ecotourism

Posted on April 12, 2014

(AP) — Creators of a new website hope to guide people in discovering ecotourism opportunities in Nebraska.

The site is www.visittheprairie.com and is a window to the Visit the Prairie coalition of the Center for Great Plains Studies at the University of Nebraska, Switzer Ranch and Nature Reserve and the Grand Island Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Nebraska has a variety of these ecotourism opportunities, including river tubing and forest hiking, bird watching and horseback riding.

For a rancher like Sarah Sortum of Switzer Ranch, ecotourism helps keep her family employed on the land. She says it also helps wildlife, habitat conservation and local communities.

Bumgarner Hits Grand Slam, Giants Edge Rockies 6-5

Posted on April 12, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Madison Bumgarner hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs to overcome a shaky outing on the mound, sending the San Francisco Giants to a 6-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.

Bumgarner hit a sacrifice fly off starter Jorge De La Rosa in the third inning, then connected for a towering home run in the fourth. It was Bumgarner’s third career homer and only the second grand slam by a Giants pitcher since the team relocated from New York to San Francisco in 1958.

Brandon Crawford added two hits and scored twice for the Giants.

Carlos Gonzalez homered for Colorado, which played short-handed after injuries sidelined two of its top hitters.

Creighton’s Doug McDermott Accepts Wooden Award

Posted on April 11, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Doug McDermott of Creighton has accepted the John R. Wooden Award, one of several honors the senior won this year as college basketball’s player of the year.

The women’s award went to Chiney Ogwumike of Stanford on Friday night.

McDermott received 3,930 points in nationwide voting. He was announced as the winner last week at the Final Four in Arlington, Texas. Jabari Parker of Duke finished second with 2,569 points.

McDermott’s father, Greg, who coached his son at Creighton, was on hand.

Russ Smith of Louisville finished third with 2,228 points, followed by Cleanthony Early of Wichita State with 1,907, and Nick Johnson of Arizona with 1,758.

Players Know Pitchers Try for Better Grip on Ball

Posted on April 11, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Using a suspicious substance for a better hold of the baseball on cool days is not such a sticky situation.

Whether it’s the Yankees’ Michael Pineda with a mysterious brown goo on his hand, Boston’s Jon Lester with a green smudge in his glove or Houston’s Josh Zeid spraying something on his forearm before entering a recent game, most major leaguers don’t care whether pitchers get a little help — even though it’s against the Official Baseball Rules.

To some, it’s preferable.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino says “it’s an unwritten rule in the game. I’m sure a lot of pitchers do it.”

NPCC Knights Siarra Velasquez Signs with William Penn

Posted on April 11, 2014

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Knight’s Siarra Velasquez signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her softball career at William Penn University, a NAIA institution, for her junior season.

“I chose to go to William Penn because I like both the academic and athletic opportunities I am offered through the school and softball program,” said Velasquez.

Last season, Velasquez appeared in 36 games and had 108 at bats. She compiled 36 hits, including eight doubles and two homeruns to go along with 10 RBIs and 25 runs scored. Her batting average was .380.

This season Velasquez has appeared in all 24 games and leads the team with 69 at bars. She has compiled 20 hits, including a double, two triples and two home runs good for a .290 batting average. Velasquez also leads the team with 22 runs scored 10 walks.

“Coach Christner’s coaching philosophy is very straight forward and similar to what I experienced here at NPCC,” said Velasquez

“Although I am leaving a great program here at NPCC with Coach Higgins, I will take everything I learned both on and off the field and transfer it over to continue to grow both as a student and athlete into the program at William Penn University. I am very blessed and excited for this opportunity that I have been given.”

“We are excited to have Siarra here at William Penn University,” said William Penn head coach Mike Christner. “Siarra is a hard worker and we believe will be a good fit here at WPU. We look for her to be a contributor to the Statesmen program over the next couple of years.”

At the Movies!!

Posted on April 11, 2014

PLAYING FRIDAY 4/11
Screen #1
God’s Not Dead….4:15, 7:15, 9:45
Screen #2
Rio 2D….9:30
Rio 3D….4:00, 7:00
Screen #3
Captain America 2D….10:00
Captain America 3D….4:00, 7:05
Screen #4
Draft Day….4:00, 7:00, 9:30
Screen #5
Divergent….4:05, 7:15, 10:15
Screen #6
Noah…. 4:00, 7:00, 10:05

PLAYING SATURDAY 4/12 & SUNDAY 4/13
Screen #1
God’s Not Dead….1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 9:45
Screen #2
Rio 2D….1:00, 9:30
Rio 3D….4:00, 7:00
Screen #3
Captain America 2D….1:00, 10:00
Captain America 3D….4:00, 7:05
Screen #4
Draft Day….1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:30
Screen #5
Divergent….1:05, 4:05, 7:15, 10:15
Screen #6
Noah…. 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:05

PLAYING MONDAY 4/14 – THURSDAY 4/17
Screen #1
God’s Not Dead….4:15, 7:15
Screen #2
Rio 3D….4:00, 7:00
Screen #3
Captain America 3D….4:00, 7:05
Screen #4
Draft Day….4:00, 7:00
Screen #5
Divergent….4:05, 7:15
Screen #6
Noah…. 4:00, 7:00

Vera Anna May Cross

Posted on April 11, 2014

Vera Anna May Cross, age 87 formerly of North Platte, passed away in Lincoln, NE on Friday April 11, 2014.
Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Assoc. or Our Redeemer Lutheran church and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday April 16, 2014
at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home with the Reverend Robert Wiest presiding. Burial will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until 9:00 p.m. Tuesday at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

NPCC Knights Softball Signs Shelby Clark of Greeley, Colo.

Posted on April 11, 2014

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Softball team announced the signing of a National Letter of Intent by Shelby Clark of Greeley, Colo. Clark will play 1st and 3rd base for the Knights.

“I’m excited to play softball at the next level here at North Platte Community College,” said Clark. “I loved that I fit in not only with the team, but on campus as well.”

“I’m looking forward to what the next two years will bring and being a part of Coach Higgins’ program,” said Clark.

“Shelby will give us depth on our corner positions,” said head coach Janelle Higgins. “She will be able to add depth power wise in our batting line up.”

Traffic Stop Near Lincoln Nets 243 Pounds of Pot

Posted on April 11, 2014

A traffic stop on Interstate 80 near Lincoln, led to the seizure of more than 200 lbs. of marijuana and the arrest of a Florida man.

Just after 7:00 a.m., Friday, April 11, a trooper conducted a traffic stop on an eastbound, 2007 Chevy pickup, for failure to signal on Interstate 80 near the I-80/I-180 Interchange in Lincoln. The trooper was given consent to search the vehicle. The search led to the seizure of 10 bales of marijuana. The marijuana weighing 243 lbs. was located in a cardboard box in the bed of the pickup.

The driver of the pickup, Michael R. Catalano, 50, Palm Bay, Fla., was lodged in the Lancaster County Corrections on a charge of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Deliver.