May 2014 – Page 33 – North Platte Post Archive

Man Arrested for Protesting City’s Rental Permits

Posted on May 19, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The small Nebraska city of Fremont has made its first arrest related to an ordinance requiring anyone who wants to rent there to obtain a license and swear they have legal permission to live in the country.

A Washington state man was arrested on suspicion of trespassing after protesting the rules aimed at restricting illegal immigration, but otherwise local officials say the process has been going smoothly.

Fremont Police Chief Jeff Elliott says more than 200 rental licenses have been issued to people who applied and paid the $5 fee since the city started the process on April 10.

Only applicants who say they aren’t U.S. citizens are investigated. Elliott says fewer than 10 of the applications warranted that follow up by checking with a federal database.

Route Being Set for New Gas Pipeline to Norfolk

Posted on May 19, 2014

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — Blacks Hills Energy has been meeting with landowners along the likely route for a new natural gas pipeline to serve Norfolk.

The 50-mile line will run from the Northern Natural Gas interstate pipeline at Bancroft and allow the area to receive gas from multiple pipelines and ease the capacity bottleneck at Norfolk.

The Norfolk Daily News says (https://bit.ly/1jZi20r ) the line will supply natural gas to Houston-based Tejas Tubular Products among other customers. Tejas Tubular plans to build a plant next year near Nucor Steel.

Most of the underground line will be north of and parallel to Nebraska Highway 51 and U.S. Highway 275.

Black Hills Energy company says the pipeline cost hasn’t been determined yet.

North Platte Woman Volunteers Home for USS Nebraska Sailors

Posted on May 19, 2014

Belle Edwards, a volunteer with the NebraskalandDays, poses with visiting USS Nebraska sailors in 2002.

North Platte, Neb. (May 19, 2014) – Belle Edwards has “unusual” house guests every June.

For the past twenty years, she’s been opening up her North Platte home to sailors, members of the USS Nebraska submarine crew.

Each year, NebraskalandDays celebration in North Platte invites the Commander and several sailors from the submarine named after the Cornhusker State to spend several days in town, and to house the men, local volunteers are called upon.

Belle and her late husband, Clayton, got the call from Ron Brooks in 1994 and were glad to help. Every year since then, they have had one to two sailors from the USS Nebraska in their home.

The sailors spend four or five days in North Platte, and are the honorary guests at lots of NebraskalandDays activities, from the pancake feed to the beef barbecue, the art show, the parade, the rodeo, and everything in between. The sailors bake one of the cakes during the cake auction, and it’s often one of the higher selling cakes. Each year’s crew tries to outdo last year’s cake bakers for money paid for the sailors’ cake. “It’s important to them, that their cake auctions for a lot of money,” Belle said.

The sailors wear their Navy uniforms everywhere they go, and are greeted warmly. “They are feted everywhere they go,” Belle said. “The patriotism of the people of North Platte is unparalleled, starting with the Canteen (from World War II). It seems like we’ve gained a reputation of really welcoming the military.”

The sailors are transported to each day’s activities, and each night, come home to their hosts’ house. Belle usually leaves the door open for them, and there are snacks and drinks on hand when they come home to relax. After Clayton died in 1999, she moved from Indian Hills to a condo, and now the sailors stay in the “west wing,” of her home, with their own bedroom and bathroom. “We encourage them to make themselves at home.”

She has become friends with several of the sailors, including Commander Dittmer and his wife Lauri. Commander Dittmer has been one of the few men who have come to NebraskalandDays twice, and when the USS Nebraska came into port at King’s Bay in Georgia in 2000, Belle was invited to go on the tour with the families of the crew. It was the first year after her husband’s death, and she was concerned about traveling to Georgia, staying at a hotel, and finding the port. But the Dittmers took care of her, having her stay in their home. She got to go out in the sub as it took a brief trip. “I even sat down at the controls!” she laughed.

She loves the sailors who visit. “They are all respectful and wonderful, just wonderful. It’s my honor and privilege to have them here, my opportunity to give back.”

Belle will celebrate her thirtieth year as a real estate broker next year. She doesn’t plan to retire, and she doesn’t plan to quit hosting sailors, either. “As long as I’m needed, I’ll certainly be available. It’s little enough to do, considering the huge responsibility they take on to keep all of us safe.”

NebraskalandDays takes place June 18-28 in North Platte with a variety of activities, from parades to the Buffalo Bill Rodeo June 18-21. Lady Antebellum is in concert onJune 27, with David Nail opening, and Billy Currington closes down NebraskalandDays with a concert on June 28. For more information, visit the website at Nebraskalanddays.com or call 308.532.7939.

Tornadoes, Hail Reported in Nebraska Panhandle

Posted on May 19, 2014

ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) — The National Weather Service says it has received several reports about tornadoes, funnel clouds and hail in the Nebraska Panhandle.

A storm chaser reported several funnel clouds or tornadoes around 6:30 p.m. Sunday in an open area seven miles north-northeast of Lake Minatare and later at Lake Kilpatrick in Box Butte County.

A weather service employee reported a tornado or funnel cloud a little after 6:30 p.m. about 15 miles northeast of Scottsbluff. A service employee also reported seeing hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter around 8 p.m., four miles north of Alliance.

It’s unclear whether any of the reports were different sightings from the same storm.

A Box Butte County dispatcher said Monday morning that no injuries or damage have been reported.

Buffalo Bill’s Tradition Continues

Posted on May 19, 2014May 12, 2014

D.V. Fennell, Porum, Okla., rides at the 2013 Buffalo Bill Rodeo.

North Platte, Neb. (May 19, 2014) – North Platte is the home of the original Western Showman, Buffalo Bill Cody, and his entertainment.

And June 18-21, the tradition continues.

Several hundred cowboys and cowgirls, horses, bulls, calves, steers, and trucks and trailers will converge on North Platte for the annual rodeo named after the showman, to compete for prize money and gold buckles.

For cowboys, the Buffalo Bill Rodeo is the unofficial kick-off to the Fourth of July run, the most lucrative time of the year for pro rodeo cowboys and cowgirls. With North Platte’s central location, cowboys compete and often go on to the Reno, Nev. rodeo.

For the fans, the Buffalo Bill Rodeo committee hires some of the best personnel in the business and several with local ties. Announcers Hadley Barrett and Randy Corley call the action. Barrett was born and raised in the North Platte area and Corley lived there part of his adult life. Bullfighters Andy Burelle, Ardmore, Okla., and Quirt Hunt, Hershey, will work to protect bull riders each night. Beutler and Son Rodeo Co., Elk City, Okla., will bring their bucking bulls and horses to North Platte. They’ve provided their award-winning livestock to the Buffalo Bill Rodeo since 1949.

New to this year’s rodeo is barrelman and clown Justin Rumford. The Ponca City, Okla. man, who is a two-time Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association Clown of the Year, will bring his brand of comedy to entertain fans.

The committee works hard to make it good entertainment for fans. “It’s a top-notch rodeo,” said Shelli Arensdorf, co-chair of the committee and a resident of Hershey. “Good personnel translates to a good rodeo for fans. (Personnel) really involve the fans, keep them entertained, involved and informed, and that two hours of rodeo flies by.”

And the aura from the old showman, Buffalo Bill, doesn’t hurt, either. “It’s where Buffalo Bill got his start. He had one of the first rodeos in North Platte,” Arensdorf said. The Wild West Arena is within view of Buffalo Bill’s home, which he built in 1886. “We’re across the parking lot from his home and the barn” where the shingles proclaim “Scout’s Rest Ranch.

The Buffalo Bill Rodeo takes place at 8 pm each night, June 18-21. Tickets are $20 for reserved seating and $13 for adults and $7 for kids ages twelve and under in the upper grandstand. They can be purchased at the NebraskalandDays office, online at NebraskalandDays.com, and at the gate. For more information, visit the website or call the office at 308.532.7939.

Lincoln County Raceway Opening Night a Success

Posted on May 19, 2014

Getting the season started off right were the foursome of Bryan Herrick, Mikey Dancer, Kyle Bond and Tanner Jones along earning trips to the winners circle in IMCA competition along with Rocky Mountain Lightning Sprint Association (RMLSA) hotshoe Troy Ullery during opening night at Lincoln County Raceway in North Platte, Nebraska on Saturday evening.

Earning the hardcharger award should have been Bryan Herrick of Curtis, Nebraska; as he led the final five laps of the Feature race in the IMCA Northern Sport Mod division to finish where he left off this past season after starting in the fifth row. Herrick is the reigning champion in the division. North Platte’s Dillon Schultz snared the led at the end of lap six from his brother Zach Schultz, who retired from the feature with mechanical issues after leading the initial six laps of the event. Dillon Schultz held on to earn runner-up honors. Earning a place on the podium with a third place finish was heat race winner Terry Dressel of North Platte.

Storming to the front and then being consistent on each and every lap, Mikey Dancer of North Platte claimed the checkers in the IMCA Stock Car division on opening night. Dancer started in the third row and drove around the top on the opening circuits to get the lead on the third lap. Dancer never looked back and won the feature in fine fashion. One step away from getting the top honors, Wallace, Nebraska driver Kyle Clough was heavy on the loud pedal in charging into contention during the waning laps to earn runner-up honors. Heat race winner Casey Werkmeister of Maywood, Nebraska finished third overall, using the cushion to his advantage to overcome his fifth row starting position. Kyle Werkmeister of Maywood and North Platte’s Dan Eller won opening night heat races as well.

Running away and hiding from the field throughout the feature was Gibbon’s Kyle Bond in winning the IMCA Hobby Stock Feature in dominant fashion. Bond started in the third row and was able to drive to the lead on the seventh lap and never look back to earn the victory. Making the long haul from the fourth row into the runner-up finishing position was the Benkelman Bullet Austin Davis. Davis didn’t get into second place until there were just two laps remaining, so his chances to run down Bond dwindled as the final laps were completed. Hobby Stock rookie Jacob Olmstead of Overton, Nebraska had a stellar opening night at North Platte, with a third place finish after leading the five six laps of the event. Bond and Davis won the heat races in the Hobby Stock division.

Starting on the pole and staying up front was the winning formula for North Platte’s Tanner Jones to win the IMCA Sport Compact Feature. Jones extinguished all challengers to lead every lap of the feature. Cozad, Nebraska’s Devin Bjorklund started in the second row and was able to advance into the runner-up position near the halfway point and hold onto the place position. North Platte’s Andrew Baumgardner slipped back on the opening circuits, only to charge back into contention with gumption to finish third overall after winning the heat race earlier in the evening.

During the first of two visits this season, Troy Ullery of Lakewood, Colorado won the Feature for the RMLSA. Ullery would complete the pass on the highside to win after leading only the final three circuits. In the mix to win throughout the whole feature was Jeff Gieg of Johnstown, Colorado. Gieg finished the night in second place in his winged sprinter. Driving a new car didn’t diminish the hopes of Steve Becker of Lakewood, as he earned third place honors. Scott Wilson of Thornton, Colorado led the first 17 laps of the feature before having mechanical issues.

Racing action returns to the fast-paced dirt oval on the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in North Platte, Nebraska this coming Saturday night, May 24th with the drop of the green flag at 7 p.m.

Unoffical Results:

–Northern Sport Modified Feature: 1. 0-Bryan Herrick; 2. 55d-Dillon Schultz; 3. 13-Terry Dressel; 4. 848-Troy Douglas; 5. 1-Paul Donovan; 6. 22w-Brady Weinman; 7. 20b-Brandon Clough; 8. 3-Gary Long; 9. 69-Adam Kackmeister.

Heat Race 1: 1. 55z-Zach Schultz; 2. 55d-Dillon Schultz; 3. 11h-Henry Henderson.

Heat Race 2: 1. 13-Terry Dressel; 2. 20b-Brandon Clough; 3. 11-Tim Cooper.

Heat Race 3: 1. 0-Bryan Herrick; 2. 848-Troy Douglas; 3. 79s-James Stewart.

–Stock Car Feature: 1. 45-Mikey Dancer; 2. 11k-Kyle Clough; 3. 24w-Casey Werkmeister; 4. 50c-Colton Osborn; 5. 42w-Kyle Werkmeister; 6. 6c-Cale Osborn; 7. 24-Bob Chalupa; 8. 09h-Bob Hoing; 9. 75-Dan Eller; 10. 99k-Dave Easterday.

Heat 1: 1. 75-Dan Eller; 2. 09h-Bob Hoing; 3. 00-Sara Klein.

Heat 2: 1. 42w-Kyle Werkmeister; 2. 50c-Colton Osborn; 3. 72-Robert Walker.

Heat 3: 1. 24w-Casey Werkmeister; 2. 11k-Kyle Clough; 3. 45-Mikey Dancer.

–Hobby Stock Feature: 1. 0-Kyle Bond; 2. 22-Austin Davis; 3. 88j-Jacob Olmstead; 4. 2c-Tyson Canas; 5. 72h-Kevin Hagan; 6. 7s-Scott Gibson; 7. 1-Tanner Clough; 8. 72b-Jacob Hagan.

Heat 1: 1. 0-Kyle Bond; 2. 72h-Kevin Hagan; 3. 5-Chuck Ledbetter.

Heat 2: 1. 22-Austin Davis; 2. 2c-Tyson Canas; 3. 7s-Scott Gibson.

–Sport Compact Feature: 1. 12t-Tanner Jones; 2. 28d-Devin Bjorklund; 3. 44u-Andrew Baumgardner; 4. 22b-Charlie Blowers; 5. 33-Andrew McClellen.

Heat 1: 1. 44u-Andrew Baumgardner; 2. 28d-Devin Bjorklund; 3. 22b-Charlie Blowers.

–RMLSA Feature: 1. 1t-Troy Ullery; 2. 18-Jeff Gieg; 3. 31-Steve Becker; 4. 56-Troy Simpson; 5. 11-Glenn Waterland; 6. 96-Shane Stanley; 7. 7-Scott Wilson; 8. 69-Paul Babich.

Heat 1: 1. 11-Glenn Waterland; 2. 1t-Troy Ullery; 3. 18-Jeff Gieg.

Nebraska Couple Test Remotely Controlled Store

Posted on May 19, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An entrepreneurial Nebraska couple hope customers will grow comfortable buying from a remotely controlled retail store that sells pots and flowers.

Clark Plihal told the Lincoln Journal Star (https://bit.ly/ROL9Z3 ) that he and his wife, Kelli, have had difficulty finding seasonal help to sell their Bump Up Pots. They are flowers already planted in a removable-bottom pot so the flowers can be transferred to a larger pot or planted in the ground.

So the Plihals set up a test store on a vacant lot in downtown Crete. At the front of the store is a wooden console with a large computer screen. Their goal is to run the store remotely from their headquarters store in Shelton. Two Skype accounts let staffers in Shelton interact with customers in the Crete store.

Rhode Island Man Leaves Bar, Notices He was shot

Posted on May 19, 2014May 19, 2014

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Rhode Island man has told police he was leaving a bar when he noticed he’d been shot.

Police tell the Providence Journal (https://bit.ly/1lAWSlQ ) that 22-year-old Hector Aguayofuentes, of Providence, was shot in the leg early Saturday.

He tells police he was leaving the bar with a friend shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday when they both noticed he was bleeding.

They went to Hernandez’s house but were unable to stop the bleeding. He was eventually taken to a hospital, and police were notified.

Police say Aguayofuentes hasn’t provided any other details or explained how he might have been shot.

Nebraskan Accused of Abusing Nursing Home Patients

Posted on May 19, 2014

WAVERLY, Neb. (AP) — A 49-year-old woman has been charged with assault and abuse of a vulnerable adult, following accusations that she mistreated patients at a southeast Nebraska nursing home.

Barbara Fallon, of Lincoln, is accused of slapping three elderly patients when she worked at Waverly Care Center. Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner says Fallon on May 10 slapped the arms of women ages 79 and 89 to make them let go of a railing and also roughly moved them around. Wagner says Fallon also is accused of slapping a 73-year-old woman about a month ago.

The center says it has terminated Fallon.

A public phone listing for Fallon couldn’t be found. Online court records don’t list the name of her attorney.

Utilities Discuss Flood Risks at State Nuke Plants

Posted on May 19, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — For the second time this month, Nebraska’s two biggest utilities will meet with regulators to discuss flooding hazards at their two nuclear power plants.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission already met with representatives of the Nebraska and Omaha Public Power Districts earlier this month about flood concerns. Now a follow-up meeting has been scheduled for May 22.

The utilities are re-evaluating flood risks at Cooper and Fort Calhoun nuclear power plants as part of the industry’s response to the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.

Both nuclear power plants in Nebraska sit on the banks of the Missouri River.

The utilities have asked for an extended deadline on their report about flood risks because they didn’t receive key flood data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers until earlier this year.