June 2014 – Page 38 – North Platte Post Archive

Husker Cowboys Pepper Contestant List for Buffalo Bill Rodeo

Posted on June 16, 2014

Steer wrestler Brady Hageman, McCook, competes with the help of a fellow Nebraskan, Jeff Johnston, from Thedford. World champions and Huskers alike will be in North Platte for the Buffalo Bill Rodeo June 18-21.

North Platte, Neb. – June 16, 2014 – The contestant list has been set for the 2014 Buffalo Bill Rodeo, and 362 cowboys and cowgirls will make their way to town for thrills and spills for rodeo fans, and gold buckle dreams for the contestants.

The list is peppered with world champions and hometown cowboys alike. The reigning Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association Saddle Bronc champion Chad Ferley is entered, along with past champions like Will Lowe (bareback riding), Jeff Willert (saddle bronc riding), and Nebraska’s own two-time steer wrestling world champion Dean Gorsuch.

For Gorsuch, a Gering resident, the North Platte rodeo will be his first pro rodeo in several weeks. He tore an elbow ligament in practice and even though it doesn’t hurt while he’s steer wrestling, it hurts to do everyday things. “I tore it just practicing, and I didn’t know I’d tore it. It’s all braced up.” He will hit the rodeo road after North Platte, competing in Pleasant Grove, Utah and Reno, Nevada next week. Gorsuch will have Tommy John surgery in December, after he hopefully qualifies for his ninth National Finals Rodeo, pro rodeo’s world championship.

Dan Barner, Hershey, is another of the five dozen Huskers who will be at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo. The steer wrestler has won money at the rodeo, but has never won it. “I’ve come in about every place but first,” he joked. “It’s my hometown rodeo, and it’s a hard one to win.”

Barner and Gorsuch both competed at the Wild West Arena for state high school finals rodeo in the late 1990’s, and now it’s Dan’s son Braxten’s turn. Braxten, the five year old son of Dan and his wife Kellie, will compete on the Sunday after the rodeo. “He was in his first junior rodeo there last year,” Barner said, “and we’ve got him entered again this year. He loves it, he really loves it. It’s fun to watch him get into something I’ve enjoyed so much.”

For Gorsuch, it’s enjoyable to compete close to home. “A lot of the Sandhills people I know are there, a lot of family and friends.” Dean and his wife Bekah have three sons, ages nine, five and 14 months, and they will be in North Platte, cheering him on.

Of the eight champions from last year’s rodeo, five are returning to compete again. Jesse Bail (saddle bronc riding), Ty Blasingame (team roping), Nick Guy and Reed Petersek (who tied for the steer wrestling title), and Brittany Pozzi (barrel racing) will all ride or run in North Platte.

The rodeo, which runs June 18-21, begins at 8 pm each night. Rodeo clown and barrelman Justin Rumford will entertain. Bullfighters Quirt Hunt, Hershey, and Andy Burelle, Ardmore, Okla., will work the bull riding, and Hadley Barrett and Randy Corley, the father-in-law/son-in-law duo, will announce. Barrett grew up in the North Platte area, and Corley lived there for about twenty years. Beutler and Son Rodeo Co., Elk City, Okla., will provide the bucking horses and bulls.

Slack, the extra competition that doesn’t fit into the performances, will be at 7:30 am on June 18 and 19 and is free to the public.

Tickets for the rodeo 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.

Nebraska cowboys by event and day they will compete at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo

Note: Cowboys and cowgirls may not compete due to injury or other reasons, or they may compete in a different performance than listed.

(Subject to change.)

Bareback riding

Wednesday, June 18

Wyatt Gewinner, Weeping Water

Friday, June 20

Nate McFadden, Elsmere

Steer wrestling (2 go-rounds)

Slack Wednesday, June 18 and Performance Saturday, June 21

Logan McDonald, Alliance

Dillon Simonson, Purdum

Collin Chytka, Broken Bow

Jeff Richardson, Fullerton

Slack Wednesday, June 18 and Performance Friday, June 20

Jake Kraupie, Bridgeport

Brett Gumb, Burwell

Del Ray Kraupie, Bridgeport

Slack Wednesday, June 18 and slack Thursday, June 19

Richard Coats, Hastings

Brady Hageman, McCook

Carter Coble, Ogallala

Brady Wakefield, O’Neill

Kyle Sanderson, Chambers

Ty Talsma, Verdigre

Chad Johnson, Thedford

Trevor Haake, Grand Island

Jeff Johnston, Thedford

Kyle Whitaker, Chambers

Ty Melvin, Arthur

Mike Stephen, Springview

Dustin Dailey, Long Pine

Gabe Taylor, Valentine

Linn Churchill, Valentine

Dru Melvin, Hebron

Performance Wednesday, June 18 and slack Thursday, June 19

Dan Barner, Hershey

Miles Spickelmier, Henderson

Tyler Kester, York

Slack Thursday, June 19

Dean Gorsuch, Gering

Tie-down roping (2 go-rounds)

Slack Wednesday, June 18 and Performance Saturday, June 21

Troy Pruitt, Gering

Bridger Chytka, Curtis

Slack Wednesday, June 18 and Performance Friday, June 20

Kyle Whitaker, Chambers

Garrett Nokes, McCook

Brady Wakefield, O’Neill

Boe Brown, Valentine

Riley Pruitt, Gering

Slack Wednesday, June 18 and Slack Thursday, June 19

John Klooz, Purdum

Levi Fisher, Hershey

Saddle bronc riding

Wednesday, June 18

Bryce Miller, Nelson

Thursday, June 19

Tanner Olson, Bartlett

Callan Connelly, Ogallala

Friday, June 20

Ryan Bestol, Hyannis

Saturday, June 21

Travis Sheets, Hyannis

Team roping (2 go-rounds)

Performance Wednesday, June 18 and Performance Saturday, June 21

Terry Graff, Long Pine

Jeff Johnston, Thedford

Matt Kasner, Cody

Ken Kohl, Surprise

Dustin Harris, O’Neill

Brady Wakefield, O’Neill

Ty Talsma, Verdigre

Performance Thursday, June 19 and Performance Friday, June 20

Jeff Richardson, Fullerton

Todd Pinneo, Rising City

Brandon Wyckoff, Bayard

Dustin Wyckoff, Broken Bow

Trent Barrett, North Platte

Levi Tyan, Wallace

Travis Warren, Mullen

Tucker White, Hershey

Performance Thursday, June 19 and Performance Friday, June 20

Brent Reichmuth, Humphrey

Barrel racing

Slack Thursday, June 19

Brenna Kohle, Stuart

Ginalee Tierney, Broken Bow

Cheryl Wallace, Broken Bow

Becky Pearson, Broken Bow

Lindsey Salestrom, York

Bailey Lord, Potter

Robyn Neal, North Platte

Performance Thursday, June 19

Jimi Hurlbut, Overton

Gayle White, Dickens

Performance Saturday, June 21

Jessica Leach, Rockwell

June Holeman, Arcadia

Kori Conley, Roca

Annie Haselbalch, Bennet

Bull riding

Wednesday, June 18

Bart Miller, Oshkosh

Thursday, June 19

Cody Sierks, Brewster

Buck Moon, Sargent

Jordan McAllister, Gering

Trey Kerner, Sutherland

Great Plains Regional Medical Center is Now Great Plains Health

Posted on June 16, 2014

We’ve all seen the major changes going on at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. From the multi-million dollar construction project, to parking lot expansion, to the addition of medical specialists-change is in the air.

Hospital officials announced one more major change this morning; their name.

Great Plains Regional Medical Center is now Great Plains Health.

“At Great Plains Health, we know how important it is to offer the highest level of care, close to home,” said interim CEO, Mel McNea.

McNea noted the remarkable growth the hospital has seen in the past five years, including the expansion from 70 physicians to 90, the creation of nearly 30 medical specialty programs, the new patient tower and much more.

According to McNea, the new name reflects their growth from a hospital to a regional health care system.

McNea says the hospital’s new and bigger mission is to “inspire health and healing by putting the patients first-always.

McNea said Great Plains Health will continue to work hard to inspire good health in the community through programs like Couch to 5K training, the Great Plains Get Moving Club, the Platte River Fitness Series partnership, the GPFit community health series and free smoking cessation classes.

Great Plains Health has more than 940 employees and serves nearly 120,000 people.

North Platte Weather-June 16

Posted on June 16, 2014June 16, 2014

Today: Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Southeast wind 9 to 14 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. South southwest wind 7 to 9 mph becoming east southeast after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 93. West southwest wind 6 to 13 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. South southwest wind 8 to 13 mph becoming southeast in the evening.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. South southwest wind around 11 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.

College World Series Day 2 Recap

Posted on June 15, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Mike Papi’s RBI double into right-center with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Virginia a 2-1 victory over Mississippi in the College World Series on Sunday night.

The Cavaliers’ win came after Nathan Kirby and Artie Lewicki combined for the first one-hitter at the CWS since 1983.

The Rebels elected to pitch to Virginia’s top hitter and RBI leader even though first base was unoccupied. Aaron Greenwood (3-2) ran the count full before Papi drilled the ball into the gap, allowing Nate Irving to score from second.

Virginia (50-14) plays TCU in a winners game on Tuesday night. Ole Miss (46-20) meets Texas Tech in an elimination game in the afternoon.

Lewicki (2-0) earned the win in relief after Kirby gave up one hit and one run over seven innings. Ole Miss converted two walks and a groundout to tie it in the eighth.

Earlier in the day Boomer White drove in the go-ahead run in a dramatic eighth inning, and TCU beat Big 12 rival Texas Tech 3-2 in the College World Series on Sunday.

The Horned Frogs (48-16) fell behind in the top of the eighth after starting pitcher Preston Morrison left the game, but they came back in the bottom half against Tech closer Jonny Drozd.

TCU, the No. 7 national seed, moves to a Tuesday game against Virginia, a 2-1 winner over Mississippi on Sunday night. Texas Tech (45-20), in the CWS for the first time, will play the Ole Miss in the afternoon.

TCU closer Riley Ferrell (3-1) earned the win in relief of Preston Morrison, who allowed five singles and struck out a career-high 10 in 7 1-3 innings. Drozd (7-1) took the loss.

Spurs Beat Heat 104-87 in Game 5 to Win NBA Title, Leonard MVP

Posted on June 15, 2014

Manu Ginobli dunks over Chris Bosh in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs won their fifth NBA championship, beating the Miami Heat 104-87 on Sunday night to win the series in five games.

Kawhi Leonard had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who added this title to the ones they won in 1999, 2003, ’05 and ’07. They nearly had another last year, but couldn’t hold off the Heat and lost in seven games. Leonard was named the MVP for his efforts in the final three games, all blowout wins for San Antonio.

The rematch was no match at all.

San Antonio rebounded from an early 16-point deficit by outscoring the Heat 37-13 from the start of the second quarter to midway in the third.

LeBron James had 31 points and 10 rebounds as Miami’s two-year title reign ended.

Progress Made on ‘Bionic Pancreas’ for Diabetics

Posted on June 15, 2014

(AP)–Scientists have made big progress on a “bionic pancreas” to free some people with diabetes from the daily ordeal of managing their disease.

Doctors say that a wearable, experimental device passed a real-world test by constantly monitoring blood sugar and automatically giving insulin or a sugar-boosting drug as needed.

Doctors tested it for five days in adults and teens with Type 1 diabetes, the kind often diagnosed in childhood. It improved blood-sugar control more than standard monitors and insulin pumps did.

The device was developed at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston University. Results were featured Sunday at an American Diabetes Association conference in San Francisco and were published online by the New England Journal of Medicine.

First Nationals are Champions of Bubba’s Bash Tourney in Colorado

Posted on June 15, 2014

The North Platte First Nationals went 5-0 this weekend in Canon City, Colo. and brought home the championship trophy of the Bubba’s Bash 2014 tournament.

The tournament featured eight teams from four different states, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas and of course Nebraska. The First Nationals went 3-0 in pool play Thursday and Friday to earn the No. 1 seed in the National League division. North Platte (15-10) had Saturday off before playing the No. 2 seed from the American League Division, Air Academy (Colorado) Sunday.

Air Academy struck first with a run in the top of the second inning, but the First Nationals quickly responded by scoring four runs in the bottom half to take a 4-1 lead. All four of North Platte’s runs in the second inning were with two outs and the inning was highlighted by an RBI triple from Jack Kenny. The First Nationals scored one run in the third inning to add to their lead before scoring three runs in the fifth inning. Luke Volz led the fifth inning off with a double to get the bats rolling. North Platte gave up three runs in the top of the sixth inning then shut the door in the seventh to get the 8-6 win.

Riley Vierya pitched the first five and one-third innings for the First Nationals giving up six runs on eight hits while striking out five batters and earning the win. Kenny came in for the final one and two-thirds innings to earn the save. Kenny didn’t allow a base runner and struck out two batters. The win propelled North Platte to the Bubba’s Bash Championship game.

In the Championship North Platte played the No. 1 seed from the American League Division, Hays, Kan. The championship was more of a pitcher’s duel as the First Nationals won 4-3. Hays took an early 2-0 lead by scoring two runs in the top of the second inning. North Platte took its first lead in the fourth inning by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Volz highlighted the inning with an RBI double and Drew Callaghan drove in two runs as the first four batters of the inning got a hit for North Platte. Hays tied the game in the top of the fifth inning with a run scored before the First Nationals scored the winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a passed ball that Alec Wesslund came home on.

Darian Allberry pitched a complete game and earned the win for North Platte. Allberry gave up three runs, one earned, on seven hits and struck out nine batters.

The First Nationals return to Bill Wood Field on Tuesday, June 17 to play a doubleheader against Scottsbluff. North Platte traveled to Scottsbluff for the first two games of the season and lost 7-0 and 11-10. Tuesday’s games begin at 5:30 and 8:00 pm.

Omaha Police: Man Hit in Traffic Fleeing Scene of Accident

Posted on June 15, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say a man hit by a car as he ran across two lanes of interstate traffic was fleeing the scene of an earlier crash.

Police say 29-year-old Anastacio Calderon-Colesio was hit by a car on U.S. Highway 75 late Friday night. He was taken to an Omaha hospital with serious injuries, including a broken arm.

Police say Calderon-Colesio had been involved in an unrelated crash that damaged property and was fleeing on foot — jumping over a median barrier — when he was hit.

Investigators believe Calderon-Colesio was drunk at the time of the crash and when he was hit by the car. Police say they will be seeking a DUI arrest warrant for him.

Morneau’s Big Hit Gives Rockies 8-7 Win vs Giants

Posted on June 15, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Justin Morneau hit a two-run double in the eighth inning as the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 8-7 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep with another comeback victory.

Morneau’s pinch-hit highlighted a four-run rally for the Rockies, who scored in the ninth in each of the first two games of the series for the win.

Troy Tulowitzki had three hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs for the Rockies, who won extended their season-high winning streak to five games.

Madison Bumgarner pitched seven innings and homered for the Giants, who have lost six of seven and were swept at home for the first time.

Matt Belisle (2-2) pitched an inning for Colorado. Juan Gutierrez (1-2) allowed four runs on three hits for the Giants.

Wagons West Event to Include Music, Activities in Kearney

Posted on June 15, 2014

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — The annual Wagons West Celebration in Kearney will offer live music and family-friendly activities.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 28 at the Buffalo County Historical Society Trails and Rails Museum. Acoustic musician Paul Siebert will present a program titled “Echoes of an Era,” with live music followed by a question-and-answer segment. The performance will include a live history demonstration of seven instruments and period dress.

Other activities include quilting, rope-making, woodcarving and blacksmithing demonstrations. Archivists with the Buffalo County Historical Society’s Archives will provide genealogical research assistance. Children can also participate in carnival games and scavenger hunts.

Guests can also attend a book-signing of “Kearney’s Historic Homes,” by Brian Whetstone and Jessie Harris.