We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Pro Bowl Officials to use Tablets for Video Reviews

Pro Bowl NFLGLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The NFL will test having game officials use tablets for video reviews in Sunday’s Pro Bowl

Coaches and players for the first time have been using the Microsoft Surface tablets on the sidelines all season to look at photos of previous plays.

Having the referee look at replays to determine if calls were correct could lead to eliminating the official going “under the hood” for reviews.

An NFL staffer will wear a backpack containing wireless radios, and will hold a Surface Pro 3 tablet and headphones during the game.

When a video review is needed, that staffer will hold the tablet and the referee will don the headphones. It is hoped this will speed up the entire process.

The league also will debut use of in-game video on the tablets for coaches and players to review during the Pro Bowl.

Marie Annette Bonney

Marie-BonneyMarie Annette Bonney, 86 years, of North Platte, NE, died January 23, 2015, at the North Platte Care Center.

Marie was born on March 2, 1928, to Robinson W. and Helen Monnett Simmons at Prince Frederick, MD. She was confirmed at St. Paul Episcopal Church and graduated from Calvert County High School with the class of 1945.

Marie then moved to Baltimore, MD where she attended Strayer-Bryant & Stratton Business College, graduating in November 1946. She was employed by the pharmaceutical manufacturers Hynson, Westcott & Dunning, from December 1946 through May 1952.

On November 19, 1950, Marie and Clifford LeRoy Bonney, Jr. of North Platte, were united in marriage at Prince Frederick. They lived in Baltimore, MD for several years until moving to North Platte in April 1971. Marie then went to work at Memorial Hospital for the next four years. After 42 years of marriage, Cliff passed away in 1992.

Marie was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lois Circle and was active in W-ELCA.

Survivors include her children, Lois Jean (Ron) Reed and Roy Neil Bonney, of North Platte; four grandchildren, Laura Ann Soto, of Denver, CO, Timothy Brian Mynes, of Maine, Michelle Marie Robinson, of North Platte and Allison Ashley Mynes, of Kearney, NE; 12 great-grandchildren, Anthony, Brittany, Nathan, Raelyn, Aubrey, Kaiden, Madden, Serenity, Wyatt, Savannah, Harlo and Calvin; a great great-grandson, Hunter; foster son, Charles Robert Clark, of Jacksonville, FL; a brother, Jack W. Simmons, of Prince Frederick, MD; and other family.

Along with her husband, Cliff, Marie was preceded in death by their daughter, Linda Marie Fowler; her parents, Robinson and Helen Simmons; and great-granddaughter, Jayla Robinson.

Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 27, 2015, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Pastor Frank Fitch III officiating. Inurnment will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the First Evangelical Lutheran Church or the North Platte Senior Center. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore which is in charge of arrangements.

John Alfred Hellmuth

John-Alfred-HellmuthJohn Alfred Hellmuth, Jr., 83 years, of Hershey, NE, died Friday, January 23, 2015, at the North Platte Care Center.

John was born on August 24, 1931, to John Sr. and Esther Carrie Braatz Hellmuth at Brookfield, WI. In 1947 the family moved to Keenesburg, CO. John graduated high school in 1950 then moved to Hershey, NE that summer to play baseball and has lived there ever since. He worked at Ted’s Store as a meat cutter and did so until 1978 when he bought the store from Ted Young.

On August 7, 1955, John married Betty Ann Stevenson at the Maria Lutheran Church. Over the years John played an active role in the Hershey community where he served as mayor, was on the School Board and Village Board, and was president and charter member of the Lions Club. While he was mayor, John and Betty had the honor of joining President Ronald Reagan for lunch when he visited North Platte.

John was a supporter of youth activities which included Hershey School sports, music events and the Summer Youth Program. He was also a member and church board treasurer at Maria Lutheran Church.

John had a zest for life. He was a very giving and welcoming person, and rarely without a smile. His excellent sense of humor allowed him to share that smile with others. He thoroughly enjoyed his time spent with family and loved ones.

John will be missed by his wife of nearly 60 years, Betty, of Hershey; sons, Jason (Loretta) Hellmuth, of Lincoln, NE, and Jared Hellmuth, of Hershey; daughter, Janice (Neal) Creekpaum, of Blair, NE; four grandchildren, Bryson (Skyler), Baylor, Ryan and Amanda Hellmuth; and several nieces, nephews and other family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John, Sr. and Esther; brother, Jerry; and his sister, Shirley Edwards.

Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Monday, January 26, 2015, at the Maria Lutheran Church with Pastor Erin Dunlavy officiating. Inurnment will be 2 p.m. in the North Platte Cemetery. The memorial book can be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday with family greeting friends from 4 to 6 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. Memorials are suggested to the Hershey Youth Baseball Program or Maria Lutheran Church. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Nebraska State Fair Planning 2 Big Concerts in 2015

state-fair-logo-generalKEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska State Fair organizers are planning two big concerts this year, including one with internationally known entertainers.

The fair is scheduled to run from Aug. 28 through Sept. 7 this year.

Executive director Joseph McDermott says the fair’s board approved the budget for this year’s fair, with more money set aside for entertainment. Organizers are planning the first big outdoor concerts since coming to Grand Island in 2010.

The first concern is scheduled for the fair’s first day. The second is set for Aug. 29, with internationally known entertainers with whom the fair is now in negotiations.

The fair held two outdoor concerts in 2009, the year it before it moved to Grand Island from Lincoln.

UNL to Host Discussion on Cyberbullying

UNLLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is hosting a discussion about the growing national problem of cyberbullying.

The event sponsored by the College of Journalism and Mass Communications is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Nebraska Union auditorium.

The free, public discussion will be led by Sue Burzynski Bullard, a UNL associate journalism professor; Zach Myers, a doctoral candidate; Abi Beatty, a middle school counselor; and Jason Lucht, a former staff member at the university’s LGBTQ Resource Center. Journalist Bobby Caina Calvan will moderate.

The college is partnering with the Asian American Journalists Association and the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association as sponsors.

Irrigation Water Use Dropped by 30 Percent in Nebraska

waterLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new report says Nebraska irrigators used 30 percent less water last year compared to 2014 across a wide swath of the state.

Water use averaged 7 inches per acre in 2014, compared to 10.1 inches the previous year.

Terry Martin, president of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts, says the decline is partly due to increased precipitation. He also credits Nebraska’s 23 NRDs for carefully managing the groundwater.

A recent report by the U.S. Geological Survey indicates that, on average, the condition of the Ogallala Aquifer is stable and significantly healthier in Nebraska than in all other states.

Of the six states that overlie a significant portion of the aquifer, Nebraska has experienced the smallest decline in water since the 1950s.

Tribute to Nebraska Capitol’s Designer to Go Up in Lincoln

NE-State-CapitolLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A monument honoring the architect of the Nebraska Capitol has been approved to go up in a Lincoln neighborhood.

The Capitol Environs Commission approved the monument to recognize Bertram Goodhue on Thursday.

The Near South Neighborhood Association in Lincoln plans to install it before May 10.

The concrete monument will be placed at Goodhue Boulevard and A Street in honor of the New York architect. The association plans to use a $2,500 grant it received from NeighborWorks Lincoln to pay for it.

Ed Zimmer, the city’s historic preservation planner, says the language for an engraved plaque still needs to be approved.

Goodhue Boulevard is one of the four axial streets that radiate out from the Capitol.

Nebraska Teacher’s Group Calls for Board of Ed Member’s Resignation

Pat McPherson
Pat McPherson

The Board of Directors of the 28,000-member Nebraska State Education Association on Saturday voted unanimously to censure Nebraska State Board of Education member Pat McPherson and to call for his resignation.

McPherson is the founder, editor and a contributor to a blog that repeatedly posted bigoted racial, ethnic and other discriminatory slurs. He was elected in November to represent a slice of central Omaha and rural Douglas County, including Waterloo, Valley and Bennington.

NSEA President Nancy Fulton, who earlier denounced McPherson’s blog, said the NSEA Board wanted to be clear that it stands united in its condemnation of the blog and call for McPherson’s resignation.

“We believe Pat McPherson is unfit to provide leadership as a Nebraska Board of Education member that sets educational policy for our state’s public schools, students and teachers,” said Fulton. “Mr. McPherson’s blog illustrates that he does not have the ability to dispatch his duties on the Board fairly and effectively with the interest of each and every Nebraska child at heart.”

“Our Association’s core values include showing respect for all people. We believe that our public schools should promote mutual respect as well as an understanding of diversity,” Fulton said. “We value diversity as being vital to the education process and integral in preparing students to function in a democratic society that protects human and civil rights.”

NSEA’s Board of Directors is elected by its membership. There are 32 board members from across the state. They represent 28,000 teachers and other public education employees.

There have been calls for McPherson’s resignation from Gov. Pete Ricketts, U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, the Omaha and Lincoln chapters of the NAACP, several Nebraska newspaper editorial boards, dozens of pastors from the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, and more.

Founded in 1867, the NSEA has 28,000 members across the state.

Nebraska Agency Approves Grants for Outdoor Projects

Nebraska_game_and_parksLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has approved several grants for various outdoor recreation projects.

The 2015 Land and Water Conservation Fund Stateside Assistance Program provides funding for community outdoor recreation projects across the state. The program provides reimbursable matching grants for 50 percent of project costs.

Among the grants approved last week were one for $30,000 to build three handicapped-accessible fishing piers in Lexington and another for $100,000 to replace an existing playground and walkways in Omaha.

The commission also approved $84,750 to build a new splash pad in Firth, $50,000 to renovate a playground in Gordon, $50,000 to renovate a playground, repair a shelter and other amenities in Lincoln and $38,600 to acquire a lot and develop recreational vehicle camping pads in Bloomfield.

NPCC Knights Defeat Trinidad State on Road

npcc-knightsThe North Platte Community College Knights avenged an earlier loss by defeating the Trinidad State Junior College Trojans 71-67 on Friday night. The Trojans defeated the Knights in November by a score of 82-74.

The Knights and Trojans were tied at 35 at halftime.

The Knights, 16-4 on the year and 7-1 in Region IX, were led in scoring by Cameron Williams with 23 points which led all scorers.  Marco Pascolo finished the contest with 14 points and CJ Polk chipped in 12 points.

Pascolo recorded a double-double by grabbing 12 rebounds.

The Trojans, 9-10 overall and 3-6 in Region IX play were led in scoring by Joe Smith with 14 points.  Preston Bungei had 12 points.  Treyvon Andres and Antonio Parker each added 10 points.  Andres grabbed 7 rebounds to lead the Trojans.

The Knights continue their road trip on Saturday as they face Otero Junior College in La Junta, CO.  Tip-off is 4:00 pm CST.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File