January 2015 – Page 25 – North Platte Post Archive

Omaha Police Investigate Separate Fatal Shootings of 2 Men

Posted on January 22, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police are investigating the deaths of two men in different areas of Omaha.

The Police Department says officers were dispatched a little after 6:30 a.m. Thursday to investigate a report of shots fired in north-central Omaha. Officers found an adult male with a gunshot wound, and he was declared dead at the scene.

The second shooting was reported a little after 8:30 a.m. in southeast Omaha. The wounded man was taken to Nebraska Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The men’s names haven’t been released.

No arrests have been reported in either shooting, and there’s no word yet on whether the shootings are related.

Health Worker Exposed to Ebola Released from Omaha Hospital

Posted on January 22, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An American health care worker who has been under observation at an Omaha hospital after he was exposed to the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone did not develop the disease and has been released.

The Nebraska Medical Center said in a statement that the patient was released Thursday morning after 21 days of monitoring, the virus’ incubation period. The patient arrived in Omaha on Jan. 4.

The hospital has released no identifying information on the patient at the patient’s request.

Nebraska Medical Center treated three people with Ebola last fall. One died and two recovered. One of the survivors, Dr. Rick Sacra, said earlier this month that he’s returning to Liberia, where he was infected.

Cops: Twins, 9, Left Mostly Alone for Months, Parents Abroad

Posted on January 22, 2015

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Police in New Hampshire say 9-year-old twins were left mostly on their own for four months while their parents went to Nigeria.

Manchester police say the parents had asked an uncle to care for the boys, and he would stop by every couple of days to drop off food. But police say when they intervened in November, they found no edible food in the refrigerator and only ramen noodles in a cabinet.

The uncle, Giobari Atura (jee-oh-BAHR’-ee ah-TOO’-ruh), was charged with neglect.

The boys’ parents went overseas in July. They were due to return in August but said illness and passport problems delayed them.

The boys are in foster care.

Atura is free on $500 bail. His phone number isn’t listed. It wasn’t immediately clear if he had a lawyer.

Darlene M. Finke

Posted on January 22, 2015

Darlene M. Finke, 73, of North Platte passed away January 11, 2015 at the Littleton Adventist Hospital in Littleton, CO surrounded by her family. She was born July 23, 1942 in Odessa, MO to George and Edna (Hartsel) Shaw. She graduated from Ogallala High School in 1959 and worked at a CPA’s office and the Keith County Bank. On April 2, 1967 Darlene married Gerald A. “Jerry” Finke in Syracuse, NE. They lived in Ogallala until they moved to North Platte in 1972. She was a member of the Keystone Presbyterian Church and the First Presbyterian Church of North Platte. Darlene worked as the secretary for the Presbyterian Church for a number of years. She also worked for attorney’s office Kay and Kay and later Elliott and Brouillette.
She will be remembered as being an upbeat and kind lady who courageously battled cancer for many years.
Survivors include her husband of 47 years, Jerry of North Platte; daughter, Kirsten (Travis) Bayne of Windsor, CO; sisters, Donna (Frank) Macek and Deanna (Ken) Nolan; 3 nieces; and a nephew.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, George and Edna Shaw; and a niece, Angela Macek.
Memorials may be made to the Callahan Cancer Center and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Memorial Services will be 11:00 a.m. January 24, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Polly Deppen-Williams officiating. Those wishing to sign the register book may do so 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. today, Thursday, and Friday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Local Students Encouraged to Apply for Rotary’s RYLA Leadership Program

Posted on January 22, 2015

The North Platte Noon and Sunrise Rotary Clubs are encouraging youth who are sophomores or juniors in high school and have an interest in learning about and developing their leadership potential, to apply for the RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) program.

RYLA camp is July 19-24, 2015 in Halsey, Nebraska and is a co-ed leadership camp designed to develop leadership skills through problem solving, communication, and team building while learning about the value of service, the importance of community, and the role of Rotary locally and internationally.

Rotary International is the oldest service organization with 1.2 million members worldwide.

Applications and additional information can be found at www.greatplainsryla.org.

NPCC Knights Travel to Face Colorado Foes

Posted on January 22, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights take to the road this Friday and Saturday to face Region IX opponents Trinidad State Junior College and Otero Junior College.

The Knights will face the Trojans of Trinidad State on Friday, January 23 in Trinidad, Colorado. The Trojans upset the Knights on November 22, 82-74, giving the Knights their only Region IX loss on the season.

The Knights come into the weekend with a 15-4 overall record and 6-1 in Region IX.

North Platte has three players averaging in double figures. Cameron Williams leads the Knights with a 23.5 points per game average. Shyquinn Dix is averaging 11.9 points per game and Marco Pascolo is averaging 11.9 points per game.

The Trojans come into the contest sporting a 9-11 record overall and 3-5 in Region IX play.

Trinidad is led in scoring by Elijah Valdez, who is averaging 15.4 points per game. In the earlier game against the Knights Valdez scored 23 points.

Other Trojans scoring in double figures are: Joe Smith, averaging 14.7 points per game and Preston Bungei, averaging 11 points per game.

Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. CST

On Saturday, the Knights travel to La Junta, Colorado to face Otero Junior College. The Knights defeated the Rattlers 91-77 at North Platte on November 21.

The Rattlers are 11-8 overall and 2-6 in the region.

Josh Blaylock leads the Rattlers in scoring with a 15.8 points per game average. Blaylock scored 22 points against North Platte earlier.

Tre O’Neal and Brandon Wilson are the other Rattlers scoring in double figures with 12.4 and 10.9 points per game respectively.

Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. CST

Pelini Hires Longtime Huskers Assistant Ron Brown

Posted on January 22, 2015

Longtime Nebraska assistant football coach Ron Brown is joining Bo Pelini’s staff at Youngstown State as associate head coach and running backs coach.

Brown said Thursday he wanted to stay at Nebraska but never was in line for a job on new coach Mike Riley’s staff.

Brown has attracted national attention for using his position as a platform for expressing his Christian faith. He was lauded in 2011 for leading a prayer at midfield at Penn State after the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal broke. He was also criticized in 2012 for testifying to the Omaha City Council against an ordinance to protect gay and transgender people from discrimination.

Brown came to Nebraska in 1987 when Tom Osborne hired him to coach wide receivers.

NPCC Lady Knights to Host Northeast

Posted on January 22, 2015

The North Platte Lady Knights Basketball team will host the Northeast Community College Lady Hawks on Friday, January 23 at 2:00 pm CST. The game was originally scheduled for 3:00 pm but was moved up due to the South Platte Valley Association basketball tournament held at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

The Lady Knights come into the game with a record of 10-8. They are led in scoring by sophomore April Stull with a 16.2 scoring average. Aliyah Brown is averaging 10.2 points per game. Sarah Mahr of Sidney is averaging 7.7 points per game and is coming off back-to-back double-doubles.

The Lady Hawks are 16-3 on the season and are led in scoring by Megan Trinder, who is scoring 12.2 points per game. The other Lady Hawk scoring in double-figures is Janea Bunn, averaging 11.9 points per game. Bunn also leads the Lady Hawks in rebounding with 7.3 rebounds per game.

The Lady Hawks average 72.9 points per game while holding their opponents to 54 points per game.

The Lady Knights are averaging 61.3 points per game and allowing 58.2 points per game.

The game may be viewed online at www.coachesaid.com .

NP Man, 23, Accused of Having Sexual Relationship with 15-Year-Old Girl

Posted on January 22, 2015

A North Platte man is facing sexual assault charges after his relationship with a 15-year-old girl was discovered by the girl’s mother.

Last September, the North Platte Police Department opened a sexual assault investigation, after receiving a complaint from the mother of a female juvenile.

The mother alleged that her daughter and Eric McClain, who was 23-years-old at the time, were involved in a consensual sexual relationship.

In January 2015, the girl was interviewed at the Bridge of Hope, regarding her relationship with McClain.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, the girl reported that she and McClain had sexual intercourse on multiple occasions at different locations. The girl said she and McClain had met while she was in 8th grade.

An investigator met with McClain on January 21 and, following further investigation, determined that there was probable cause to charge McClain with felony 1st degree sexual assault.

Nebraska law prohibits anyone over the age of 19 from having sexual intercourse with anyone younger than 16.

McClain was placed under arrest and jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

O’Reilly’s Tying Goal helps Avalanche to SO Win over Bruins

Posted on January 22, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Ryan O’Reilly tied the game with 1:45 left in regulation, and Nathan MacKinnon had the only goal in the shootout as the Colorado Avalanche rallied to beat the Boston Bruins 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Jarome Iginla also scored for Colorado, and Semyon Varlamov stopped all three Boston shots in the tiebreaker.

Torey Krug and Brad Marchand had Bruins goals in regulation in the final game for both teams before the NHL All-Star break.

Trailing 2-1, Colorado, which went 0-6 on the power play, pulled Varlamov for an extra attacker with just over two minutes remaining. In a scramble in front of the net, O’Reilly lifted a backhanded shot over sprawled goalie Tuukka Rask to tie it.