April 2014 – Page 53 – North Platte Post Archive

Storm Represented Well At Frozen Four

Posted on April 9, 2014

KEARNEY, Neb. – Three former Tri-City Storm players will be in Philadelphia this weekend, attempting to capture a national championship at the 2014 Frozen Four.

The standouts include goaltender Adam Wilcox with Minnesota, forward Michael Vecchione with Union and forward Andrew Panzarella of North Dakota.

Vecchione’s Union Dutchmen will go up against the Boston College Eagles on Thursday at 5 p.m. EST, before Wilcox’s Golden Gophers face-off against Panzarella and North Dakota at 8:30. Both semifinal games can be seen on ESPN2.

The national champion will be crowned at the completion of the final game, Saturday night at 7:30 on ESPN.

Wilcox, who was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, has been outstanding all season for Minnesota. The netminder has won 25 games while posting a 1.89 goals against average and a .934 save percentage.

In regional play, Wilcox backstopped the Gophers to a 7-3 win over Robert Morris, before shutting out St. Cloud State 4-0 the following day.

The goaltender played 34 games for the Storm in 2011-12 and led Tri-City to the 2012 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs.

Vecchione, who led the Storm with 26 goals a season ago, has had a breakout year as a freshman. The Saugus, Mass. native has put up 31 points in 36 games in his first season on campus that included 12 goals and 19 assists.

With Union as a No. 1 seed in the East Regional, Vecchione played a big role as one of the team’s top centers in a 5-2 win over Vermont and a 3-1 triumph against Providence.

North Dakota winger Andrew Panzarella also played in both his teams’ regional wins over Wisconsin and Ferris State. The junior has registered a goal and an assist in 20 games.

Panzarella, a Washington, DC native, had a four-year USHL career with Des Moines, Tri-City and Waterloo.

The up-to-date 2014 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey bracket can be found here.

Future Pro Bowls to be Played in Arizona, Hawaii

Posted on April 9, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The next Pro Bowl will be played in Arizona at the site of the Super Bowl.

The NFL announced Wednesday that the game would return to Hawaii the following year. South Florida most recently hosted both games in 2010.

The game will remain a week before the Super Bowl as it has the last five years. The new format introduced after last season, which scrapped the AFC vs. NFC matchup, will be retained.

The Pro Bowl after this coming season will take place Jan. 25, 2015, at University of Phoenix Stadium. A year later, the game will be held Jan. 31, 2016, at Aloha Stadium.

MLB Names Reliever Awards after Rivera, Hoffman

Posted on April 9, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Now that they’re no longer receiving awards, Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman are getting their names on some.

Major League Baseball said Wednesday it created a “Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award” and a “Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award.”

Rivera, a 13-time All-Star, retired after last season with a record 652 saves. Hoffman, a seven-time All-Star, retired after the 2010 season and is second with 601 saves. Both spent their entire careers in one league.

The new honors replaces MLB’s “Delivery Man of the Year Award,” which was given to one winner annually from 2005-13. It will be voted on by nine retired relievers, with Rivera and Hoffman joined by Hall of Famers Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Rich Gossage and Bruce Sutter along with Lee Smith, John Franco and Billy Wagner.

Mary Sanchez

Posted on April 9, 2014

Mary Sanchez, age 89, of North Platte, died April 8, 2014 at Linden Court.
Mary was born on January 1, 1925 in Omaha, NE to John and Christina DiBiase. Mary was raised in Omaha and on May 30, 1942, she married Marcelino Sanchez. In 1976, she and the family moved to Denver for Marce’s promotion. He retired in 1985 and he and Mary moved to North Platte to be closer to their daughter Kathy and her husband. Mary was a great cook and a wonderful woman who was dedicated to her husband, children, and grandchildren. She always put her family first before herself. She told everyone that she loved them no matter who you were. “I love you with all my heart and soul.”
Mary is survived by her children John (Barb) Sanchez of Cheyenne, WY, Jim (Vicki) Sanchez of Cleveland, OH, Kathy (Stu) Lauver of North Platte, Rick (Suzanne) Sanchez of Castle Rock, CO and Mark (Neva) Sanchez of Colorado Springs, CO; 10 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Marce; granddaughter Tiffany Lauver; brother Mike DiBiase; sister Betty Lou Kirby; half brothers Tony, Louie, Bennie, and Sam DiBiase; and half sister Connie Romano.
A memorial has been established in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Cremation was chosen and a graveside memorial service will be held at a later date. Adams and Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Beatrice “Ione” Rundstrom

Posted on April 9, 2014

Beatrice “Ione” Rundstrom, 97, of North Platte, NE, passed away Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at Centennial Park Retirement Village in North Platte.

Ione was born September 25, 1916, to Harvey Obler and Agnes Audrey Hajek Viersen at White in Hayes County, NE. She started school in Maywood, NE and finished at Curtis, NE. In January 1943, Ione married Clarence Arthur “Art” Rundstrom in Rochester, MN and they made their home in North Platte where they have lived since.

Ione was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was active in church groups. She did volunteer work for the Red Cross, Thrift Center and her church. Ione enjoyed gardening and loved her flowers. She also spent a lot of time with her son and his family.

She is survived by her son, Ron (Cathy) Heffner, of Lemoyne, NE; two grandchildren, Sherri (Tony) Edwards and Ronda (Tony) Johnson, all of Ogallala, NE; two step grandchildren, Daniel (Debra) Coakley, of Sterling, CO and Ronald Coakley, of Tucson, AZ; five great-grandchildren, Cortney and Chase Edwards, Samantha and Austin Johnson and Lindsey Perlinger; four step great-grandchildren, Justin, Jessica and Taylor Coakley and Shannon (Wade) Wright; nine great great-grandchildren, Zachery, Isaac, Nicholi, Emily, John, Erin, Kinley, Jackson and Carter; her nephews, Biff (Rae) Dodsen, of Oregon, Leonard (Betty) Viersen, of Glennallen AK; a nieces, Linda Jane (Ron) Erickson, of Courtland, KS; her cousin, Jack (Maxine) Viersen, of North Platte; special friends Monte and Twila Madson, of North Platte; many great nieces and nephews and other family.

Ione was preceded in death by her husband, Art; her parents, Harvey and Agnes Viersen; two brothers, Merle “Andy” and wife, Vivian Viersen and Martin and wife, Arlene Viersen; a sister, Roma, and husband, Jack Tucker; and a grandson, Bobby Joe Heffner.

Cremation was chosen and at her request there will be no services. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

2 NPHS Students Cited for Marijuana Possession After Search

Posted on April 9, 2014April 9, 2014

Two North Platte High School students have been cited for marijuana possession following a search of the school and school property by police.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, five law enforcement officers, three K-9s and school administrators spent about an hour conducting a search at NPHS on Tuesday.

Brown said the event was pre-planned, and the school was placed in lockdown during the search.

K-9s provided by the Broken Bow Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office sniffed approximately 1,200 lockers and just under 500 parking stalls.

Brown said the dogs alerted on nine lockers and seven vehicles.

While no contraband was found inside the building, Brown said two students, 18-year-old Karina Wright and a 17-year-old male juvenile, were both cited for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia following vehicle searches.

North Platte Public Schools policy states that students should have no expectation of privacy regarding items left on or in school property.

A similar search was conducted at Adams Middle School last month, but no contraband was recovered.

Matt Thomas of Elkhorn South Inks with NPCC Knights

Posted on April 9, 2014

North Platte – The North Platte Community College men’s basketball team announced Wednesday the signing of Elkhorn South’s Matt Thomas to a Letter of Intent to play basketball with the Knights next year as the first member of the 2014 signing class.

Thomas joins the Knights after leading the Elkhorn South Storm to a third-place finish in the 2014 Class B State Tournament after a fourth-place finish in 2013. The 6’0 guard led the Storm to an undefeated regular season and a 26-1 final record. Thomas averaged 18.9 points per game, good for 14th in the state and second in class B to go along with 4.3 assists per game, 2.4 steals per game and 2.2 rebounds per game.

Thomas was named to the Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star’s All-Nebraska second-team along with being named first-team Class B and the honorary captain by both publications. Thomas was also named to the All-Class State Tournament All-Tournament Team and Class B State Tournament All-Tournament Team.

Thomas competed with the Omaha Sports Academy National team during the summer.

“We are excited to have Matt join our program,” said head coach Kevin O’Connor. “He is everything we look for in a student-athlete. He is a very talented all-around basketball player that can really score and is a very quality young man.”

Colorado Tumbleweeds Overrun Drought Areas

Posted on April 9, 2014

(AP) — An expected effect of drought has caught parts of the West off guard.

Mini-storms of tumbleweed have invaded the drought-stricken prairie of southern Colorado, blocking rural roads and irrigation canals, and briefly barricading homes and an elementary school.

The invasion of the tumbleweed, an iconic symbol of both the West’s rugged terrain and the rugged cowboys who helped settle it, has conjured images of the Dust Bowl of 80 years ago, when severe drought unleashed them onto the landscape.

County governments have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to get rid of the weeds that have clogged the roads. Counties must also deal with miles of irrigation ditches that are choked by the invasive weed.

Parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas are also affected.

Sentencing Pending in Texas Shoe Stabbing Case

Posted on April 9, 2014

(AP) — A Texas jury that convicted a Houston woman of fatally stabbing her boyfriend with the 5 1/2 -inch stiletto heel of her shoe is set to hear more testimony before deciding on a sentence.

The punishment phase in the trial of Ana Trujillo (troo-HEE’-yoh) is scheduled to begin Wednesday morning in Houston. The jury took just two hours to reach a verdict in the case Tuesday.

Prosecutors say Trujillo used the shoe to strike 59-year-old Alf Stefan Andersson at least 25 times in the face and head during an argument at his Houston condominium last June.

Trujillo’s attorney argued that the 45-year-old woman was defending herself against a violent attack by Andersson.

Andersson’s friends have described him as kind, mild-mannered and not violent.

Feds Say Oil Trains Should Have Two-Man Crews

Posted on April 9, 2014

(AP) — Federal regulators say they will propose requiring at least two crew members on trains transporting crude oil, as well as regulations aimed preventing parked train cars from coming loose and causing an accident.

The Federal Railroad Administration proposals are a response to several accidents involving oil trains from the Bakken region of North Dakota. Last July, an unattended parked train came loose, sped downhill into the town of Lac-Megantic in Quebec, Canada. More than 60 tank cars caught fire and several exploded, killing 47 people and destroying much of the town.

The train was manned by only one railroad employee, who wasn’t present at the time the cars came loose.

Freight rail industry officials have been divided over whether one-crew member trains should be allowed to continue.