June 2014 – Page 48 – North Platte Post Archive

North Platte Library Suffers Roof Damage

Posted on June 11, 2014June 12, 2014

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — Days of rain have caused water damage at the North Platte Public Library, shortly after an employee discovered a bedbug infestation.

Rain caused ceiling tiles to fall inside the building on Sunday night. No one was injured, but the incident caused significant water damage.

It comes on the heels of a bedbug discovery in late May, which forced the library to temporarily shut its doors.

The library is still open despite the water damage, but employees have roped off some areas of the first and second floors.

Sara Aden, the library’s information systems manager, says water started dripping over the circulation desk on the main floor on Saturday.

Rockies Recall LHP Matzek, Send Down RHP Bettis

Posted on June 11, 2014

Chad-Bettis-Colorado-Rockie — Chad Bettis

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have recalled left-hander Tyler Matzek from Triple-A Colorado Springs and optioned right-hander Chad Bettis to the Sky Sox.

Matzek will start Wednesday’s game against Atlanta in his major league debut.

Matzek is the fifth Rockies pitcher to make his major league debut this season and the third in a six-day span. Eddie Butler started Friday’s game against the Dodgers and Christian Bergman made his debut in Monday’s series opener against the Braves.

Butler has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with right rotator cuff inflammation.

Matzek, the 11th pick in the 2009 draft, was 5-4 with a 4.05 ERA in 12 starts for Colorado Springs this year.

Bettis was recalled Monday and he allowed three runs on four hits in one inning against Atlanta on Tuesday.

Initial Nebraska Roads Projects Ahead of Schedule

Posted on June 11, 2014June 11, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska officials say the first roads projects covered under a 3-year-old state law are ahead of schedule.

The work began after lawmakers passed the Build Nebraska Act, which commits one-quarter of a cent out of the state’s 5.5-cent sales tax to roads projects. Gov. Dave Heineman and Department of Roads Director Randy Peters said Wednesday that the projects scheduled for fiscal 2014 and 2015 are moving forward.

Projects include highway construction between Blair and Omaha, bypass projects in Kearney and Wahoo, and three projects around Interstate 80 in Omaha. Future projects will include roadwork around Lincoln, Plattsmouth, Bellevue, Hastings, Schuyler, Fremont, Nebraska City and the Heartland Expressway to Alliance.

The law was approved in 2011 in an effort to accelerate work on construction that was delayed for years.

Nebraska High Court Backs LA Lawyer in Fee Dispute

Posted on June 11, 2014June 11, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has upheld a jury decision against a Lincoln law firm that was seeking a bigger share of fees paid a California lawyer.

Former Lincoln lawyer Dan McCord argued in his lawsuit that he should have been paid $562,500 more than the $2.25 million he was paid. McCord said he was supposed to receive 25 percent of the fee paid to Michael Piuze, of Los Angeles. The two represented Penny Shipler, who was partially paralyzed after a 1997 Lincoln accident. Shipler eventually settled her safety issues lawsuit against General Motors for $22.5 million.

In July 2012 a jury sided with Piuze. McCord appealed to the Nebraska Supreme Court.

The high court ruled against McCord last week, saying his arguments were meritless.

Mining Firm to Meet with Nebraska Landowners

Posted on June 11, 2014June 11, 2014

ELK CREEK, Neb. (AP) — The Canadian mining firm exploring a Nebraska deposit of a rare mineral used to make steel plans to meet with landowners Wednesday.

NioCorp Developments says top officials from the company will update landowners on the project and talk about their plans for the next year.

NioCorp resumed drilling samples from beneath the ground near Elk Creek last month for the first time since 2011. There are two drilling rigs working on the site.

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

NioCorp previously estimated that more than 100 tons of niobium rests several hundred feet below the ground, but it’s not yet clear whether a mine will be built.

Royals use 4 Sacrifice Flies to Beat Indians 4-1

Posted on June 11, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yordano Ventura dominated the Indians for seven stingy innings, and the Kansas City Royals scored all of their runs on sacrifice flies in a 4-1 victory over Cleveland on Wednesday.

The four sacrifice flies tied a franchise record, and the Royals became only the second team to score four runs all on sacrifice flies since it became an official stat in 1954. The Expos did it in an 8-4, 14-inning loss to the Cubs on May 28, 1980, according to STATS.

Kansas City won its fourth in a row.

Ventura (4-5) allowed six hits while striking out three without a walk to win back-to-back starts for the first time. Greg Holland worked a perfect ninth for his 19th save.

Jarrod Dyson, Omar Infante and Alcides Escobar hit sacrifice flies off Trevor Bauer (1-3). Billy Butler later added another.

Texans, Broncos to Hold Joint Practices in August

Posted on June 11, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos and Houston Texans will conduct three joint training camp practices leading up to their Aug. 23 preseason game at Sports Authority Field.

The Broncos and Texans will practice together Aug. 19-21 at the Dove Valley training headquarters in Colorado.

It’s the first time the Broncos will have hosted another team at that facility since practicing with the Dallas Cowboys in the 2008 preseason.

The Texans and Broncos last held joint practices in 2003 and 2005 in Houston.

All-Star Managers Choose Their Coaches

Posted on June 11, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Ron Gardenhire will be in the dugout with the AL All-Stars at his home stadium.

The Minnesota manager was chosen along with Cleveland’s Terry Francona as coaches to join AL manager John Farrell of Boston in the July 15 All-Star game at Target Field.

For the NL, manager Mike Matheny of St. Louis chose Clint Hurdle of Pittsburgh and Fredi Gonzalez of Atlanta as his coaching staff.

Francona has himself managed the AL team before — in 2005 and 2008. In that second one, Farrell served as his pitching coach for the game. Gardenhire, who has managed the Twins since 2002, has been an AL coach in 2003 and 2007.

Union Fights Lincoln Chief’s Order to Use Pickup

Posted on June 11, 2014June 11, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Lincoln firefighters union has challenged the fire chief’s order to use a pickup instead of a firetruck to respond to some medical calls.

The union filed a grievance two weeks ago after Chief John Huff sent a directive about the truck on May 12. He told captains at Station No. 1 to use what’s called the alternate response vehicle or report why they didn’t.

City Public Safety Director Tom Casady says the pickup isn’t being used as often as it should be used.

City officials say the pickup is a more cost-effective way to get paramedics to patients more quickly. But union leaders say the savings are minimal and come at the expense of safety.

Body Found at Omaha Landfill, Authorities Say

Posted on June 11, 2014June 11, 2014

WASHINGTON, Neb. (AP) — A garbage truck driver has found a body at the landfill for the Omaha area.

Authorities say the driver spotted a limb or two in his rear-view mirror as he dumped his load around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday at the landfill southwest of Washington.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Capt. Steve Glandt says investigators know where the truck had been earlier that morning but declined to share the information. Glandt said the person hadn’t been dead long and was fully clothed. Glandt wouldn’t say whether the body was that of a male or female.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Thursday.