May 2014 – Page 28 – North Platte Post Archive

Number of Nebraska State Wards Down Since 2012

Posted on May 20, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services says the number of state wards has fallen more than 25 percent since 2012.

Department officials say the state had 4,498 wards as of Monday. In March 2012, Nebraska had 6,121 state wards in its protection.

Thomas Pristow, the state’s director of Children and Family Services, says a new evidence-based safety assessment tool used by case managers has allowed more children to remain at home when they can do so safely.

Pristow says some juvenile offenders have moved to probation as a result of a state law that passed last year. The law shifts the supervision of juvenile offenders in a community from DHHS agencies to the state’s probation office. The law also places an emphasis on diversion programs.

Fremont Man gets Prison in Sexual Assault Case

Posted on May 20, 2014

FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — A Fremont man has been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting two teenage girls.

20-year-old Nathan Hancock was given eight to 10 years in prison Monday for first-degree sexual assault. He must register with the state as a sex offender.

Hancock was accused of assaulting 14- and 15-year-old girls.

Hancock’s attorney had asked for probation for his client and argued that he had no criminal history prior to the case. Deputy Dodge County Attorney Tim Sopinski said Hancock’s case represents a pattern of behavior that would fit the description of a sexual predator.

Huskers Selected for Big Ten Sportsmanship Awards

Posted on May 20, 2014

The Big Ten Conference announced its 2014 outdoor track and field individual award winners on Tuesday. Nebraska senior Travis Englund was selected as the Huskers’ sportsmanship award honoree for the men, while senior Annie Jackson was honored on the women’s side. Englund and Jackson join Trevor Vidlak and Ellie Grooters, who were both named sportsmanship award honorees during the indoor season.

The Huskers competed at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships last weekend, with the women finishing second and the men third. Earning first-team All-Big Ten honors for the women were Annie Jackson and Maggie Malone, while Ellie Ewere claimed second-team accolades. Jake Bender, Levi Gipson, Cody Rush, Miles Ukaoma, Drew Wiseman and Chad Wright captured first-team honors for the men, while Patrick Raedler and Christian Sanderfer earned second-team accolades.

Nebraska will now turn its attention to the NCAA West Regional in Fayetteville, Ark., on May 29-31.

Minneapolis Awarded 2018 Super Bowl

Posted on May 20, 2014

ATLANTA (AP) — Minneapolis has been awarded the 2018 Super Bowl by NFL owners.

The owners rewarded the Vikings for arranging to build a new stadium on the site of the old Metrodome by choosing Minneapolis over New Orleans and Indianapolis.

The big game will be staged in the Twin Cities for the second time. It was there in 1992, when Washington beat Buffalo.

Minneapolis’ new $1 billion stadium is scheduled to open in 2016.

New Orleans has staged the Super Bowl 10 times, tied with South Florida for the most, but its bid might have been damaged by the blackout that interrupted the 2013 title game. Indianapolis had it in 2012.

Next year’s game is in Glendale, Arizona, followed by Santa Clara, California, for the 50th Super Bowl, then Houston.

California Chrome Arrives in NY for Triple Try

Posted on May 20, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — California Chrome has arrived in New York to begin preparations for his bid to become horse racing’s first Triple Crown winner in 36 years.

The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner arrived at Belmont Park by van from Baltimore on Monday.

He was backed off the van and then led into the barn by assistant trainer Alan Sherman. California Chrome walked several laps around the barn before being taken outside to pose for the cameras on the grass and settling into his stall.

California Chrome will start training on the track daily beginning Wednesday.

The 3-year-old colt is set to run in the Belmont Stakes on June 7. He owns a six-race winning streak. No horse has swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont since Affirmed in 1978.

Chiefs Sign Love, Cudjo in Series of Moves

Posted on May 20, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs signed defensive tackles Kyle Love and Jermelle Cudjo and placed defensive tackle Cory Grissom and linebacker Ridge Wilson on waivers in a series of roster moves Tuesday.

The Chiefs also signed defensive lineman Kona Schwenke, a rookie free agent.

The 6-foot-1, 315-pound Love spent some time with the Chiefs last season, and has also played for New England and Jackson. The 6-2, 304-pound Cudjo spent his first four seasons with the Rams, starting four of the 38 games that he played.

Schwenke played collegiately at Notre Dame.

The Chiefs begin a three-day rookie minicamp this weekend. They begin full-squad organized team activities next week.

Convict in Torture-Murder Case Wins Commutation

Posted on May 20, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State officials have commuted the lifetime parole sentence of a Nebraska man who participated in two cult-related murders in 1985.

The Nebraska Board of Pardons voted unanimously Tuesday to grant 52-year-old Timothy Haverkamp’s request to end his parole supervision. Haverkamp was paroled in 2009, after serving 23 years in prison.

Haverkamp was convicted of second-degree murder for his role in the torture and murder of James Thimm, a fellow cult member, at a farm near Rulo. He pleaded guilty and testified against cult leader Michael Ryan, who remains on death row.

Esther Casmer, chairwoman of the state parole board, says Haverkamp has shown exemplary behavior and earned the rare privilege of only having to check in with his parole officer every six months.

Haverkamp’s parole will end later this year.

Joyce Noteboom

Posted on May 20, 2014

Joyce Noteboom, 92, of North Platte, NE, passed away Monday, May 19, 2014, at Centennial Park Retirement Village in North Platte.

Joyce was born January 10, 1922, to Charles Orville and Evelyn Yates Tilton at Loveland, CO. She grew up in Gregory, SD and graduated from high school in 1939 from Sioux Falls, SD. Joyce then completed a two year business program from Nettleton Business School.

On December 24, 1941, Joyce married Kenneth Martin Noteboom in Sioux Falls, SD and they made their home in Appleton, WI. They later moved to Nebraska where Joyce was the manager of the Senior Citizen Food Program in Sidney, NE and volunteered at the Sidney Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop.

Joyce was a member of the Sidney Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and the Light Memorial Presbyterian Church in Sidney where she was active in women’s organizations. She enjoyed ceramics, reading and playing bridge. She was also the recipient of the Aksarben Good Neighbor Award. When Joyce moved to North Platte she volunteered at Great Plains Regional Medical Center and was active in the First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her daughters, Connie (Tom) Golden, of North Platte and Lisa (Rev. Ron) Kuszak, of Longton, KS; two sons, Ken, Jr. (Myra) Noteboom, of Grove, OK and Ron (Dianna) Noteboom, of Skiatook, OK; 9 grandchildren, Robyn (Todd) Anderson, Jennifer (Chris) Baker, Kate (Jody) Hawks, Jessica (Jesse) McColm, Mandy (Corey) Doggett, Haley Noteboom, Tim (Kelly) Noteboom, Dale Golden and Kris (Cortney) Kuszak and Chris Perrotto; 18 great-grandchildren; her half brother, Robert (Deb) Tilton, of Mitchell, SD; and other family.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Ken, Sr.; a son, Elliott; her brother, Martin (Janice) Tilton; her parents, Charles and Evelyn Tilton; a granddaughter, Kristi Perrotto; and two great-grandchildren.

Cremation was chosen. Services will be at a later date and inurnment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney. The memorial book may be signed from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore or online at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Mining Firm Resumes Drilling at Rare Mineral Site

Posted on May 20, 2014

ELK CREEK, Neb. (AP) — Drilling is set to resume in southeast Nebraska this week as a Canadian mining firm looks for more evidence of a sizable deposit of a valuable and rare heat-resistant element used in steel.

NioCorp Developments said Tuesday it has hired West-Core Drilling of Elko, Nevada, to collect more core samples from the niobium deposit near Elk Creek.

This summer’s drilling will be the first since 2011 at the site. The company is trying to determine whether it would be profitable to build a mine to harvest the niobium from several hundred feet underground.

The U.S. currently imports nearly all the niobium that’s used in this country to harden steel and make it more heat-resistant for industrial uses.

3 Killed in Fiery Northeast Nebraska Crash

Posted on May 20, 2014

WEST POINT, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say at least three people have been killed in a fiery three-vehicle crash in northeast Nebraska.

The crash happened just after 9 a.m. Tuesday in Stanton County at the intersection of Highways 15 and 32. Witnesses say a sport utility vehicle ran a stop sign and struck a tanker truck, which was then hit by a semitrailer. All three vehicles erupted in flames.

Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger says the victims were burned beyond recognition, so it will take time to identify them and notify their families. Authorities did not say in which vehicle or vehicles the fatality victims were.

Witnesses say a roads department crew was at the intersection at the time of the crash replacing a stop sign.