July 2014 – Page 4 – North Platte Post Archive

Nebraska Dentist Pleads Not Guilty to Gold Theft

Posted on July 31, 2014July 30, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln dentist has pleaded not guilty to stealing nearly $17,000 worth of precious metals from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Omaha.

Randall Toothaker appeared in federal court Wednesday and entered his plea.

Prosecutors say a lab technician reported seeing the 57-year-old dentist open a locked cabinet where precious metals used in dental procedures, including gold, were kept.

While VA officials investigated the missing metals, prosecutors say Toothaker tried to leave the property. Officers pulled him over and found the missing metals in a bag in his vehicle.

Toothaker told officers he didn’t know how the metals got into his bag.

Toothaker declined to comment after Wednesday’s court hearing.

While Pastor Hears Confession, Thief Steals Cash

Posted on July 31, 2014July 31, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A pastor at an Omaha church says while he was distracted by hearing a man’s confession, another person stole about $4,000 from the church’s morning collection.

The Rev. Jony Espinal said that after finishing Mass on Sunday morning at St. Agnes Church, he was approached by a man seeking money to buy food. Espinal gave him $5, but the man followed him into the church and sought more.

Another man then entered the church, saying he needed to confess his sins.

When Espinal returned from the confession, he found about $4,000 donated that morning was missing.

A thief had managed to open a locked cabinet and take three bags of cash.

The money was supposed to go toward salaries for pastors and upkeep of the church.

Columbus Woman Stabbed to Death, Grandson Arrested

Posted on July 31, 2014July 30, 2014

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A Columbus woman had died after being stabbed, and police have arrested her grandson in connection with the killing.

Columbus police say 58-year-old Deanna Micklevitz called for help Wednesday afternoon, saying she had been stabbed.

She was taken to Columbus Community Hospital and then was flown to Bryan Health Medical Center in Lincoln, where she was pronounced dead upon her arrival.

A suspect ran from the stabbing. Columbus police, Platte County sheriff’s deputies and state patrol officers searched the area and arrested 19-year-old Chase Micklevitz.

Chase Micklevitz was held at the Platte County Jail, and police say he will be charged with 2nd degree murder.

Details about whether he had an attorney weren’t available Wednesday night.

North Platte Weather-July 31

Posted on July 31, 2014

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. West wind 5 to 9 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. North wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 87. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. East wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south after midnight.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 90.

Rockies Beat Cubs 6-4 in 10 Innings

Posted on July 30, 2014

CHICAGO (AP) — Brandon Barnes hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the 10th inning, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4 on Wednesday night.

Colorado loaded the bases on two walks and Michael McKenry’s third hit of the game before Barnes singled to left with one out against Wesley Wright (0-2). Drew Stubbs then scored on a wild pitch, helping the Rockies stop a three-game slide.

Rob Scahill (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for his second major league win and Adam Ottavino got three outs for his first career save. Scahill was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs before the game, bolstering Colorado’s bullpen after it used eight relievers in Tuesday night’s 16-inning loss.

Perez Helps Royals Struggle to 3-2 Win over Twins

Posted on July 30, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez triggered a go-ahead rally with a double in the sixth inning and made several spectacular plays behind the plate, helping the Kansas City Royals to a scrappy 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas had RBI doubles during the Royals’ charge, which wiped away a 1-0 deficit. Jason Frasor earned his first win since arriving in Kansas City by striking out Chris Colabello to leave the bases loaded in the sixth inning.

Scott Downs and Kelvin Herrera gave back a run in the seventh, but Herrera struck out Brian Dozier and Josh Willingham with runners on second and third to preserve a one-run lead.

Wade Davis worked a perfect eighth, and All-Star closer Greg Holland survived two wild pitches that sent Eduardo Nunez to third base by striking out Sam Fuld for his 28th save.

Lions RB Joique Bell Enjoys Homecoming at Wayne St

Posted on July 30, 2014

DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell says a lot of people counted him out when he was undrafted out of Wayne State.

Four years later, Bell has established himself as player valued enough to get a multimillion-dollar contract.

Bell was back on his college field Wednesday night with his NFL teammates for a public practice.

He won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II Player of the Year in 2009, but no one drafted him.

Buffalo, Philadelphia, Indianapolis and New Orleans gave him chances over his first two years in the league. Bell played in every game the previous two seasons for the Lions, putting him in a position to get a $9.3 million, three-year deal in March.

NFL Retirees Lose Round in Concussion Settlement

Posted on July 30, 2014

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A federal judge has rejected an attempt by seven former professional football players to intervene in a tentative class action settlement of concussion claims that would cost the NFL at least $765 million.

Senior U.S. District Judge Anita Brody issued an order in Philadelphia late Tuesday denying the NFL retirees’ motion to intervene in the case.

The players object to the settlement, calling it a “lousy deal” for ex-players whose symptoms don’t qualify them for compensation. Brody’s order said that players who object to the deal can raise their concerns at a fairness hearing scheduled for Nov. 19, or opt out of the settlement.

Brody gave preliminary approval to the settlement earlier this month.

The group includes 2008 Pro Bowl player Sean Morey, now Princeton University’s sprint football coach.

Meat Processors for Hunters Helping the Hungry

Posted on July 30, 2014

LINCOLN – Twenty-one meat processors will participate in the 2014 Hunters Helping the Hungry program. Administered by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Hunters Helping the Hungry provides ground venison to Nebraskans in need.

Deer hunters may donate deer at any contracted Hunters Helping the Hungry processor beginning with the start of the archery season on Sept. 1, 2014. The most up-to-date list of processors accepting deer for the program will be available at OutdoorNebraska.org/HHH.

Participating meat processors include Amherst – Belschner Custom Meats Inc.; Bayard – Bayard Processing; Bridgeport – KDK Meats LLC; Broken Bow – Broken Bow Pack; Elwood – SteakMaster Inc.; Franklin – Franklin Locker; Humphrey – Country Butcher; Johnson – Pelican’s Meat Processing; Lindsay – Melcher’s Locker; North Bend – Bob’s Custom Meats LLC; North Platte – Kelley’s Custom Pack LLC; Oakland – Oakland Processing; Omaha – B. I. G. Meats Inc., Stoysich House of Sausage; Orleans – Harlan County Meat Processors; Oxford – Oxford Locker Inc.; Panama – Panama Locker; Ralston – Van Fleet Meats; Table Rock – Den’s Country Meats; Ulysses – The Butchery; Wahoo – Wahoo Locker.

Founded in 2012, Hunters Helping the Hungry is allows hunters to donate deer at participating processors. The deer is processed into ground venison, which is then distributed to food pantries and soup kitchens. The processing is paid for entirely by donations. Learn more about this unique program at OutdoorNebraska.org/HHH or contact Teresa Lombard at 402-471-5430 or teresa.lombard@nebraska.gov.

Players Describe Punch that Killed Soccer Referee

Posted on July 30, 2014

LIVONIA, Mich. (AP) — A man who witnessed a soccer player fatally punch a referee says the victim wasn’t expecting the attack during an adult-league game in suburban Detroit.

Bassel Saad is charged with second-degree murder in the death of referee John Bieniewicz (BEN’-uh-wits).

During a probable-cause hearing Wednesday, Jamal Saleh testified that the 44-year-old referee “did not see the punch coming.” Saleh played for Saad’s team during the June 29 game in Livonia.

Two players from the opposing team also testified that Saad knocked Bieniewicz to the turf with one punch after the referee said he was throwing Saad out of the game.

Saad’s attorney says prosecutors’ second-degree murder case is extremely weak.

The hearing will determine whether to send the case to trial. It is scheduled to resume Thursday.