January 2015 – Page 53 – North Platte Post Archive

NLD Parade Route Altered for 2015

Posted on January 12, 2015January 12, 2015

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.–If you have a favorite spot to watch NEBRASKAland Days on Parade, you may have to hunt for a new one this summer.

NLD officials announced Monday, that the parade route will be altered for the 2015 celebration, due to a construction project by the City of North Platte and the Nebraska Department of Roads that will take place along Jeffers Street/Highway 83.

NLD Executive Director, David Fudge, said in a news release that the parade will still head west down Fourth Street, but will then turn South on Dewey Street, and conclude at H Street, where parade entries will be routed east to disperse.

Fudge said the route had to be changed because crews will be reconstructing Jeffers Street, from First Street to Sixth Street.

“We’ve talked about this a lot in the last 18 months,” said Fudge. “We consulted with the City and the State, and jointly decided that Dewey was the best option.”

Organizers are asking parade-goers to be patient as they do everything possible to make the experience enjoyable for all.

“We understand the new route will be a bit of an adjustment for everyone involved,” Fudge said. “We’re hopeful that those impacted will understand our predicament this year.”

This year’s celebration is June 17-27, with the parade being held on June 20. For more information, visit nebraskalanddays.com.

Medical Expert to Discuss Ebola at UNK

Posted on January 12, 2015January 12, 2015

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A medical and emergency preparedness expert is set to discuss the Ebola virus at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Dr. Sharon Medcalf will speak about the symptoms, origins and transmissions of Ebola, Nebraska’s bio-containment unit, and other issues on Jan. 19. The event will take place at Cunningham’s Journal bar and grill in Kearney at 5:30 p.m.

Medcalf is an assistant professor in the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health. She’s also the co-director of the Center for Biosecurity, Biopreparedness and Emerging Infection Disease.

The talk is presented by UNK’s chapter of Sigma Xi’s Science Cafe program. It’s free and open to the public.

North Platte Community College Hosts Special Olympics Night

Posted on January 12, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights will host the Laramie County Golden Eagles on Wednesday at McDonald – Belton Gymnasium.

The game has been designated as “Special Olympics Night.”

There will be a reception for the Special Olympic Athletes in the VIP room starting at 6:00 p.m. They will be recognized during halftime of the game, and then an autograph session with the men’s basketball team after the game.

The first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois in 1968. Eunice Kennedy Shriver was a driving force in its development.

The game will feature the Knights and the Golden Eagles in a key National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX South sub-regional game.

The Knights are 12-4 overall and 5-1 in the sub-region. The Golden Eagles are 14-4 and 5-1 in sub-region play. Both teams are tied for first in the sub-region standings along with Northeastern Junior College. The top four teams in both the North and South sub-region will host first round games on their home floor for the Region IX tournament.

The Knights are led in scoring by Cameron Williams, who is averaging 22.4 points per game. Shyquinn Dix and Marco Pascolo are the other Knights in double figures. Dix is averaging 12.1 points per game and Pascolo is averaging 11.4 points per game.

The Golden Eagles have four players scoring in double figures and are led by Spencer Svelcar with a 15.5 point per game average. Other Golden Eagles in double figures are Darien Fernandez is averaging 15.4 points per game, Kamari Robinson averaging 12.6 points per game, and Alexis Dargenton averaging 12.1 points per game.

The game may be heard on ESPN 1410 radio or at www.northplattepost.com . It will be live streamed at www.coachesaid.com . Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. CST.

Attorney: Landowners Still Have Options in Pipeline Dispute

Posted on January 12, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska opponents of the Keystone XL oil pipeline say they’ll continue to fight the project even though the state’s Supreme Court allowed its planned route to stand.

Omaha attorney Dave Domina said Monday that landowners on the route can challenge the project again once pipeline developer TransCanada uses eminent domain to get access to their property. Domina says such cases could take two to three years to resolve.

The court on Friday ruled against three landowners who tried to invalidate Nebraska’s pipeline-siting law. Four judges deemed the law unconstitutional, but the other three wouldn’t review the issue, saying the landowners lacked legal standing. Five were needed to overturn it.

A TransCanada spokesman says offers to landowners will expire this week, at which point the company can begin eminent domain proceedings.

NPCC Lady Knights Volleyball Signs Palmer

Posted on January 12, 2015

The North Platte Community College Women’s Volleyball team recently signed Josie Palmer from Brady, Nebraska for the upcoming 2015 season.

Palmer is new head coach Alexa Hopping’s first recruit. She is a 6’0 Middle Hitter from Brady.

The Brady High School Eagles were 21-8 on the season and qualified for the state volleyball tournament.

In the state tournament game against Ansley-Litchfield, Palmer had six kills, two blocks, two service aces, and one set assist.

For her career, Palmer had 263 kills, 55 blocks, 24 service aces, and 173 digs.

Her senior year, Palmer was Honorable Mention to the 2014 Associated Press D-1All-State Volleyball Team. Palmer was also named to the D-1 Third Team All-State team by Nebraska Prep Volleyball.

“I am excited for her height and experience,” Hopping said. “She started all four years of high school on a competitive high school team and will be an impact player for us.”

Olympians Lolo Jones, Jordan Burroughs Join State Games of America Team

Posted on January 12, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (January 9, 2015) — Olympic hurdler and bobsledder Lolo Jones and Olympic wrestler Jordan Burroughs are encouraging eligible athletes from across the country to join them at the 2015 State Games of America (SGA) in Lincoln, Nebraska, July 28–August 2, 2015. Jones and Burroughs will appear at the opening ceremonies and host events for 2015 SGA competitors.

The State Games of America is the largest Olympic-style sports festival in the nation. The 2015 SGA is expected to draw 20,000 athletes to compete in more than 60 sports. Most of the competitions are organized by age divisions and skill levels.

Jones competed in the Iowa Games after her high school career in Des Moines and says the event was her first exposure to a broader range of competitors. She calls the State Games of America concept “brilliant” because the opportunity to perform with athletes from around the country can bring out the best in competitors. She says the SGA also offers an experience similar to the Olympics.

“It’s quite thrilling. You get to meet people from different places who are training hard and trying to do their best at a sport they love, just like you,” said Jones. “It opens a floodgate of new friendships. Some of my best friends are people that I never would have met if we hadn’t competed against each other.”

Burroughs continues to train and compete with Team USA and is an assistant coach for the University of Nebraska wrestling team. He competed collegiately for Nebraska, where he won two national titles. Following his college career, he successfully transitioned to international competition winning a World Championship in 2011 and an Olympic Gold Medal in 2012.

Burroughs will conduct a wrestling clinic for 2015 SGA competitors on July 30. Jones will meet athletes and fans during an event at the track and field venue.

“I can’t wait,” Jones said. “I’m looking forward to being around other athletes who are pushing themselves to perform their best.”

Online registration is open at SGA2015.com, along with details regarding events and eligibility.

The State Games of America is sanctioned by the National Congress of State Games. The Nebraska Sports Council (NSC) will organize and oversee the event. The NSC’s Cornhusker State Games recently celebrated its 30th anniversary and is one of the largest State Games events in the nation.

Kentucky still No. 1 in AP Top 25 – Though not Unanimously

Posted on January 12, 2015

Kentucky remains No. 1 in the AP Top 25, though two overtime games loosened its hold on the top spot a bit.

The Wildcats (15-0) were atop 63 of 65 votes cast Monday, ending a run of five straight weeks as the unanimous No. 1. Kentucky beat Mississippi at home in overtime then won in double overtime at Texas A&M.

Virginia (15-0) earned the other two first-place votes and moved up a spot to No. 2 as the only other unbeaten team after Duke’s loss at North Carolina State.

Gonzaga was third, followed by Duke — which fell from second and was among five top-10 losers — and Villanova.

Northern Iowa, Oklahoma State and Wyoming were new to the poll, with 25th-ranked Wyoming in for the first time since 1988.

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Jan. 11, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week’s ranking:

	Record	Pts	Prv
1. Kentucky (63)	15-0	1,623	1
2. Virginia (2)	15-0	1,561	3
3. Gonzaga	16-1	1,446	6
4. Duke	14-1	1,432	2
5. Villanova	15-1	1,358	8
6. Louisville	14-2	1,264	5
7. Wisconsin	15-2	1,200	4
8. Utah	13-2	1,185	9
9. Kansas	13-2	1,100	12
10. Arizona	14-2	1,037	7
11. Iowa St.	12-2	922	17
12. Notre Dame	15-2	903	13
13. Wichita St.	14-2	832	15
14. Maryland	15-2	801	11
15. North Carolina	12-4	719	18
16. West Virginia	14-2	627	14
17. VCU	13-3	578	20
18. Oklahoma	11-4	485	16
19. Arkansas	13-2	431	23
20. Texas	12-4	345	10
21. Seton Hall	13-3	298	19
22. Baylor	12-3	278	21
23. N. Iowa	14-2	212	—
24. Oklahoma St.	12-3	132	—
25. Wyoming	15-2	71	—

Others receiving votes: Ohio St. 70, Michigan St. 67, Dayton 55, Providence 17, Indiana 15, LSU 12, St. John’s 10, Alabama 7, Georgetown 7, NC State 6, Green Bay 3, Syracuse 3, Butler 2, Oregon 2, San Diego St. 2, TCU 2, Colorado St. 1, Davidson 1, Hofstra 1, Old Dominion 1, SMU 1.

Ex-Nebraska Union Official Takes Plea Deal, Pleads Guilty

Posted on January 12, 2015January 12, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An April sentencing has been scheduled for a retired Nebraska union leader who pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $100,000 in union funds.

Ray Lineweber made his plea Friday, after striking a deal with prosecutors who promised to seek dismissal of 28 other counts. Lineweber had rejected a plea deal offer last month.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Mickle says evidence shows Lineweber embezzled nearly $103,000 from the United Transportation Union between January 2008 and May 2012, when he was legislative director for the union’s Nebraska State Legislative Board 30. Lineweber said in court Friday that he used most of the money on union members.

His sentencing is scheduled for April 17.

Russell Dean Smiley

Posted on January 12, 2015

Russell Dean Smiley, of North Platte, NE, formerly of Florida, died at the age of 52 as the result of a car accident in Tifton, GA, on Sunday, October 19, 2014.

Russ was born March 19, 1962, at Highland, IL to Eddie L. and Darla M. Patterson Smiley. He grew up in Illinois and later joined the U.S. Army, serving in the 82nd Airborne in Fort Bragg, NC. Following his discharge Russ started his trade as a plumber which he was doing at the time of his death.

On June 20, 2008, Russ married Deanna Jo Shirley Klatt at Hudson, FL where they made their home. In December 2013, Russ and Deanna moved to North Platte. Russ loved motorcycles and was a Harley Rider.

He is survived by his wife, Deanna Smiley, and his in-laws, Vernon ‘Sonny’ and Eileen Shirley, all of North Platte; a daughter, Tiffany McCoy, of Melbourne, FL; stepson, Jeremiah Klatt, of Odessa, FL; four grandchildren; his siblings, Eddie, Jr. (Pam) Smiley, of Hudson, FL, Dana (Tommy) Rowland, of Spring Hill, FL and Sherrie (Rusty) Davidson and Shelly Henderson, all of Illinois; his step siblings, Amber Smiley and Darin (Erika) Smiley, all of New Port Richey, FL and Jill (Steve) Mamalou, of Hudson, FL; eight nieces; eight nephews; and other family.

Russ was proceeded in death by his father, Eddie, Sr.; his sister, Shelly; and two days after his death, his mother, Darla Demkey, passed away.

Cremation was chosen. A graveside memorial service with military honors will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2015, in Fort McPherson National Cemetery with Rev. Dr. Douglas A. Delp officiating. Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Hank Bounds Chosen as Next University of Nebraska President

Posted on January 12, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Hank Bounds, the commissioner of higher education for the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, has been chosen as the University of Nebraska’s next president.

The university announced the Board of Regents voted unanimously Monday to approve the 47-year-old for the job. Bounds was one of four finalists for the job to replace J.B. Milliken, who left last year to become chancellor of the City University of New York.

As president, Bounds will oversee campuses in Lincoln, Omaha and Kearney and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis.

Bounds has led Mississippi’s eight public universities since 2009. He was the state’s superintendent of K-12 schools from 2005 to 2009 and was superintendent of the Pascagoula school system from 2001 to 2005. Earlier, he worked as a high school principal.