January 2015 – Page 28 – North Platte Post Archive

Williams Hired as Nebraska Assistant Coach

Posted on January 21, 2015

Keith Williams has been hired as an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska, completing Coach Mike Riley’s first full-time coaching staff with the Cornhuskers.

Williams will coach the Nebraska wide receivers and joins the Husker program from Tulane University, where he has spent the previous three seasons.

“Keith Williams is a tremendous addition to our Nebraska staff, and brings a great background in coaching wide receivers,” Riley said. “With Keith’s addition, I’m excited about the completion of our full-time staff. It is a mix of quality individuals who bring great skills as teachers, coaches, mentors and recruiters.”

Williams, who had eight former receivers in the National Football League in 2014, is eager to join Riley’s staff at Nebraska.

“I am really excited to join Coach Riley’s staff and thankful for the opportunity he has given me at Nebraska,” Williams said. “I have had a great respect for Coach Riley’s career from afar, and I’m ecstatic to be here at Nebraska and be a part of this program. This is one of those places that if you pay any attention to college football, you know about Nebraska. I have seen that ‘N’ my whole life.”

In his role on the Tulane staff, Williams coached the Green Wave wide receivers the past three seasons, and was also the out-of-state recruiting coordinator in 2014. This past season, the top target in the Green Wave passing game was true freshman Teddy Veal, who led Tulane with 40 receptions in his first season under Williams’ direction.

Williams was instrumental in the success of Tulane wideout Ryan Grant who completed his career in 2013. Grant finished his career with 196 receptions for 2,769 yards. Grant topped 75 receptions in each of his final two seasons, and produced a pair of 1,000-yard receiving campaigns. Grant spent the 2014 season with the Washington Redskins.

In 2013, Williams’ receivers combined for nearly 1,900 receiving yards and 18 receiving touchdowns, helping the Green Wave to a 7-6 record and trip to the New Orleans Bowl.

Before his time at Tulane, Williams served as the receivers coach at Fresno State for three seasons. While with the Bulldogs, Williams coached three All-Western Athletic Conference receivers and helped Fresno State to two bowl appearances.

Williams also has NFL experience, spending the 2008 season with the San Diego Chargers in a minority internship coaching position. He was also an assistant coach at San Jose City College, San Jose State and Solano (Calif.) College.

Nebraska Senator Seeks to Ban Drivers from Using Cell Phones

Posted on January 21, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraskans could be fined for using a cell phone while in the driver’s seat of vehicle under a bill proposed to the Nebraska Legislature.

Sen. Merv Riepe of Omaha introduced a bill Wednesday that would prohibit drivers from using the devices on the road, even to make a phone call.

Riepe says the bill is aimed at texting while driving, but would define all games, photos and data transmission as a secondary driving offense. Officers could only ticket motorists after stopping them for another reason.

The bill excludes emergency phone calls to and from doctors, law enforcement and fire departments. Under the measure, drivers could use their phones only if they have pulled off of the road to a safe stop.

Arson Trial Begins for Omaha Man Over 2008 Fire at His Plant

Posted on January 21, 2015January 21, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A federal trial has begun for an Omaha businessman accused of paying someone to set fire to his manufacturing plant near Fort Calhoun in eastern Nebraska.

Prosecutors say 52-year-old Thomas Schropp was in financial trouble and hoped to gain around $4 million in insurance proceeds for the destruction of his PK Manufacturing plant. It burned down on Nov. 20, 2008. The trial began Tuesday.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Russ Mayer says Schropp promised Billy Richards $20,000 if he’d torch the plant. Richards has since pleaded guilty to malicious destruction of a building by fire. He’s expected to testify against Schropp.

Defense attorney Alan Stoler says the government can’t prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Schropp was involved with the plant fire.

Nursing Degree Program Intended to Boost RNs in Nebraska

Posted on January 21, 2015January 21, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing is offering a new program to help boost the number of registered nurses in the state.

The nursing school says it will provide early, guaranteed admission in the RN to BSN program for qualified students enrolled in associate degree nursing programs at the six community colleges in the state.

The six community colleges are: Central Community College in Kearney and Grand Island; Metro Community College in Omaha; Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte; Northeast Community College in Norfolk; Southeast Community College in Lincoln; and West Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff.

Juliann Sebastian, dean of the UNMC College of Nursing, hopes the agreement helps Nebraska reach its goal of attaining 80 percent of registered nurses with BSN degrees.

After State of the Union, Obama Heads to Conservative States

Posted on January 21, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is heading to conservative-leaning Idaho to sell the economic proposals he outlined in his State of the Union address.

It’s the first time Obama has visited Idaho as president, though he did headline a rally in the state during his 2008 White House campaign.

From Boise, Obama heads to Kansas, another state that typically backs Republicans.

White House officials say Obama deliberately chose conservative states for his first stops following his annual address to Congress.

Among the economic proposals that he outlined was a tax increase on the wealthy to pay for programs for the middle class.

Obama’s plans have been panned by the Republicans who now control Congress.

Senate Backs Bill to Lower Suicide Rates Among Vets

Posted on January 21, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bill aimed at reducing a suicide epidemic among military veterans has cleared a Senate committee, and lawmakers say they hope the measure will soon be signed into law by President Barack Obama.

The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill named for Clay Hunt, a 26-year-old veteran who killed himself in 2011. The bill is aimed at reducing a suicide epidemic that claims the lives of 22 military veterans every day.

The House-passed measure would require the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs Department to submit to independent reviews of their suicide prevention programs and make information on suicide prevention more easily available to veterans. It also would offer financial incentives to psychiatrists who agree to work for the VA and assist military members leaving active duty.

Columbus Woman, Boyfriend Accused of Abusing Her Children

Posted on January 21, 2015

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A Columbus woman and her boyfriend are accused of physically abusing her 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son.

20-year-old Jodie Shelly and 24-year-old Ryan Roberts were arrested on Monday. An investigation started after the girl was taken to a local hospital last week.

Investigator Gregory Sealock says in a court document supporting the arrests that Shelly acknowledged having an anger problem and that “she grabs her daughter too firmly when she is whining or arguing with her brother.” The document says Shelly acknowledged angrily tossing her daughter onto a couch from a few feet away.

The document also says Roberts reported that he’d backhanded the boy in the mouth after the boy had bitten him.

Online court records don’t list attorneys for Shelly or Roberts.

Another Mountain Lion Sighting Reported in South-Central Nebraska

Posted on January 21, 2015January 21, 2015

GIBBON, Neb. (AP)–Another mountain lion sighting has been reported in south-central Nebraska.

The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office says a resident called around 10 a.m. Tuesday to report a mountain lion moving north along the Wood River on the north side of Gibbon. Officers didn’t find the big cat.

A Kearney police officer reported seeing a mountain lion about 4 a.m. Saturday near Horizon Middle School in Kearney.

Huskers to Host #AveryStrong Day on Saturday

Posted on January 21, 2015

Photo from Avery's Army Facebook page. — Photo from Avery’s Army Facebook page.

Lincoln – As part of the NABC Suits and Sneakers Awareness Week, the Nebraska men’s basketball program is teaming with the American Cancer Society to promote #AveryStrong Day…Bone Marrow Donor Drive to Fight Cancer! For the Huskers’ game with Michigan State on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The Husker basketball program has been affected by leukemia, as Avery Harriman, the son of assistant coach Chris Harriman was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when he was 2 years old. Avery has undergone a pair of bone marrow transplants with the most recent one coming last September, with the donor found through the bone marrow registry. Avery and other children battling pediatric cancer will be honored during pregame ceremonies on Saturday.

To honor the fight that Avery has gone through, the first 1,500 students at Saturday’s game will receive a special #AveryStrong shirt provided by the Husker Sports Radio Network, turning the Red Zone yellow on this special day. Yellow is the color of pediatric cancer and orange is the color for leukemia symbolizing Avery’s battle.

Students and other fans in attendance can also help the cause of Avery and other kids battling pediatric cancer by learning more about the National Marrow Donor Program. Fans can sign up for the bone marrow registry, as volunteers will be on hand to distribute information throughout Pinnacle Bank Arena. In addition, fans, who are age 18-44, can also receive match kits/swabs and take the test to be a potential bone marrow match at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Saturday. Fans outside the age group can become donors, but must visit bethematch.org for more information.

The annual Suits and Sneakers Weekend is coordinated by the Coaches vs. Cancer program, a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Since its inception in 1993, the American Cancer Society Coaches vs. Cancer initiative has raised more than $87 million to support the Society’s mission. For more information on Suits and Sneakers Awareness Week, please visit www.coachesvscancer.org.

Volunteers from the American Cancer Society and UNL students will be on hand passing out information on UNL’s Relay for Life event later this spring to raise awareness for the continued fight against cancer.

Senate Committee to Examine Standardized Testing in Schools

Posted on January 21, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-controlled Senate education panel is beginning its revision of the landmark No Child Left Behind education law.

It’s focusing first on the thorny issue of federally mandated testing of America’s schoolchildren.

The law mandated that states annually test in reading and math for grades three to eight and once again in high school. Critics say that mandate has led to a high-stakes testing culture and teaching to the test. But supporters say the testing is an important way to track student learning.

Republican Lamar Alexander of Tennessee leads the Senate’s education committee. He says he’s open to listening to all sides of the testing debate.