Whitney Edwards (left), Zulema Viescas (Center) and Haley Cochran (right) sign their letters of intent.
North Platte – The North Platte Community College women’s basketball team announced the signing of three players to National Letters of Intent for the 2014-15 season. Whitney Edwards of Garland, Texas, Zulema Viescas of El Paso, Texas and Haley Cochran of Kamloops, British Columbia are the newest members of the Lady Knights basketball team and will all be freshman as the Lady Knights look to defend their back-to-back Region IX Division II Championships.
Whitney Edwards will join the Lady Knights after graduating from Lakeview Centennial High School. The 5’8″ Edwards will join the Lady Knights back court and bring depth at the small forward position.
“We were mainly drawn to her competitiveness and skill level,” said head coach Richard Thurin.
Zelema Viescas will join the Lady Knights after graduating from J.M. Hanks High School. The 5’2″ point guard was named 1st Team All-Region after leading her team to the conference championship, sectional championship and a regional runner-up finish.
“Zulema is a very quick guard who averaged six assists per game,” said coach Thurin.
Haley Cochran will join the Lady Knights after graduating from Sa Hali Secondary. The 5’11” forward will play either the small forward or power forward position.
“Haley’s high school team has been very successful and she does a good job getting to the basket,” said coach Thurin. “We are excited to welcome all three girls to our team and we can’t wait to get them on campus this fall.”
CEDAR BLUFFS, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a man who was fatally injured in a Saunders County crash.
He was identified as 45-year-old Terrance Lessig, of Fremont.
The Saunders County Sheriff’s Office says the crash occurred around 8 p.m. Friday at the intersection of two county roads near Cedar Bluffs. Investigators say Lessig’s pickup didn’t halt at the intersection stop sign. It left the roadway and ended up in a ditch. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Helga Mae Freeze, age 97 of North Platte, passed away June 15, 2014.
Helga was born on January 18, 1917 in Hershey, NE to Oscar and Minnie (Palmer) Fransen. She grew up in Hershey and graduated as Valedictorian with the class of 1934. She continued her education with the Commercial Extension Group. She married Howard T. Freeze on July 31, 1938 in Julesburg, CO. The couple moved to North Platte where she loved being the caregiver of her family. She belonged to the First Christian Church, she enjoyed her bowling leagues, the outdoors, camping and fishing.
Helga is survived by her children Butch (Karen) Freeze of Hershey and Gerri Lou (Gary) McCandless of North Platte; 8 grandchildren Jeff (Jill) McCandless of Gothenburg, Troy (Korene) McCandless of Blair, NE, Cody (Melanie) Freeze of North Platte, Leigh King of Roanoke, VA, Kim (Steve) Tatum of Lincoln, Kelly Wilnes of San Antonio, TX, Tessa (Tom) Ficher of Blair, NE and Wendy (Clint) Bell of Woodlake, NE; great grandchildren Samantha (Josh) Thomas, Josef and Kyle McCandless, Jack and Callie McCandless, Andy and John Tatum, Josie, Macie, Cade and Jace Freeze, Taylor and Cory King, Forrest, Emeralde and Jake Weeth, Lyssa Micheel, Concho and Tanner Bell; and great great grandchildren Sadie, Selah, Scarlett, Cooper and Paisley.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Howard in 1994; son Jerry Freeze in 1943; daughter JuDee Wilnes in 1994; great grandson Seven; four sisters Ruth Ungles, Elsie Leonhardt, Grace McMichael and Bernice McMichael; and one brother Art Fransen.
Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday June 18, 2014 at the First Christian Church with Pastor Tim Adams officiating. Burial will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Tuesday June 17, 2014 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — High winds have damaged the state champion silver maple tree in the southeast Nebraska city of Beatrice.
Part of the tree landed early Sunday morning on a sign the city bought to describe the tree, which is scientifically known as an Acer saccharinum.
The tree is believed to be the largest silver maple in the state. The Nebraska Forest Service website says that when measured in 2002, the tree had a circumference of more than 22 feet, was 100 feet tall and had a spread of 118 feet. It’s grown since.
The tree sits in Chautauqua Park on the south side of Beatrice.
DAKOTA CITY, Neb. (AP) — The Dakota County Courthouse in Dakota City will be closed during cleanup from the weekend storms.
Courthouse employees in the older part of the building were being advised to wear work attire with rubber footwear for cleanup on Monday. The new addition apparently suffered no leaks or damage.
Heavy storms Saturday night and early Sunday drenched the area. Sioux City, Iowa, for example received 6.15 inches of rain from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon.
WATERLOO, Neb. (AP) — Waterloo firefighters have rescued seven tubers from a sandbar in the rising Elkhorn River.
Firefighters in their rescue boat on Sunday found the group of tubers on a sandbar between Waterloo and King Lake. The tubers had stopped on the sandbar to eat lunch.
Authorities say the river rose 3 feet in just four hours, thanks to rain upriver. The fast current and floating debris raised the danger to the tubers.
In an effort to reduce the potential for fatality crashes by removing impaired drivers from Nebraska roadways, the Nebraska State Patrol Troop D Headquarters-North Platte along with local law enforcement will hold special enforcement activities during upcoming summer celebrations.
High visibility patrols and DUI checkpoints will be held in conjunction with both the Nebraskaland Days celebration in North Platte and the Big Sky Days in Anselmo. The special enforcement efforts are paid for thanks in part to a $1,045 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS).
“Popular events such as these mean an increase in traffic volume on area roads,” said Captain Lynn Williams, Commander Troop D-North Platte. “We hope the high visibility of our officers will translate into voluntary compliance with all traffic safety laws and in turn reduce the potential for serious injury and fatality crashes.”
The special enforcement efforts will be conducted June 20-22 and June 27-28 in North Platte and June 28 in Anselmo. Motorists are reminded to always wear their seat belt, obey the posted speed limit and never drive impaired or distracted.
Troopers will be vigilant in identifying individuals under age 21, who consume alcoholic beverages in violation of state statute.
Captain Williams said, “We want everyone to have a good time and to do so in a safe, responsible manner.”
Jenna Hoover shows off her bronze medal at the USA Weightlifting Youth National Championships.
North Platte’s Jenna Hoover and Clay Johnson made the trip to Daytona Beach, Fla. last week to compete in the USA Weightlifting Youth National Championships and Hoover placed third in the Clean and Jerk competition.
Hoover and Johnson train at Cain Athletics and are coached by Jace Cain, who accompanied them to Florida for the competition. Both of the weightlifters are 13 years old. Hoover competed in the 13 and under division while Johnson competed in the 14-15 year-old division. Nearly 500 youth weightlifters from across the nation competed in the event that took place June 12-15.
Hoover was the first of the two athletes to compete Friday morning. The Snatch lift was first with each competitor getting three lifts during the meet. Hoover successfully completed two of her lifts and finished at 31 kg which put her fourth in her weight class. The Clean and Jerk competition followed and Hoover successfully completed all three of her lifts, finishing at 44 kg to place third in the event and win the bronze medal. She also placed fourth overall in the total combined lift. There were a total of 10 girls competing in Hoover’s weight class and division.
Jenna Hoover, Clay Johnson and Jace Cain.
Johnson competed Friday evening in both the Snatch and Clean and Jerk lifts. Johnson followed Hoover’s footsteps and was successful in two of his three Snatch lifts, topping out at 44 kg which is a new personal record for him. The lift tied him for fourth in the Snatch. Johnson then completed all three of his Clean and Jerk lifts, finishing at 53 kg. He finished the meet fifth overall in his division and weight class.
Wellfleet resident Madison Clark competes in the team roping at a high school rodeo. She has qualified for the state high school finals rodeo in Hastings June 19-21.
Hastings, Neb. (June 16, 2014) The entry list has been set for the Nebraska State High School Finals Rodeo, to be held in Hastings June 19-21 at the Adams County Fairgrounds.
Nearly 150 high school rodeo athletes will compete in twelve events. The top four competitors in each event will earn a berth at the National High School Rodeo Finals in Rock Springs, Wyo., July 14-20, where they will represent Nebraska.
Included in the contestant list are North Platte residents Bailey Brown in the breakaway roping; Kandace Ward in the barrel racing, girls cutting and pole bending; Ryan Cox in the steer wrestling and team roping, and Levi Brott in the team roping. Hershey resident Cooper White will team rope, and Shawnie Stone-Swedburg will barrel race and do pole bending. Wellfleet resident Madison Clark will breakaway rope. Clark is the 2013-2014 Miss Nebraska High School Rodeo Queen.
The twelve events include bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, breakaway roping, goat tying, pole bending, barrel racing, boys cutting, girls cutting, and bull riding.
The Finals, the culmination of 29 regular season rodeos, will be held at 10 am and 6 pm on June 19-20, with the short go-round on June 21 at 1 pm. After Thursday and Friday’s performances, the top ten contestants in each event will advance to the short go-round on June 21. The cutting will be held at 7 am on June 19-20, with the short-go round at 8 am on June 21. For more information, visit www.AdamsCountyFairgrounds.com or call 402.462.3247. For information on the Nebraska State High School Rodeo Association, visitwww.hsrodeo-nebraska.com.
