February 2015 – Page 25 – North Platte Post Archive

Trimble Scores 26, No. 16 Maryland Edges Nebraska 69-65

Posted on February 19, 2015

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Melo Trimble scored 26 points, including a pair of pivotal 3-pointers down the stretch, and No. 16 Maryland squeezed past Nebraska 69-65 Thursday night in the first-ever meeting between the teams.

Dez Wells and Jake Layman each scored 14 for the Terrapins (22-5, 10-4 Big Ten), who were locked in a tie game with 5:38 left before Trimble took over.

After Wells made two free throws, Trimble beat the shot clock with a jump shot from atop the key. The freshman guard connected again from beyond the arc with 2:18 remaining for a 62-54 lead.

That was just enough to provide Maryland with another close win. The Terrapins have won their last three games by a total of 11 points and are 8-0 in games decided by six points or fewer.

Lincoln Police Captains with Wealth of Knowledge Have Retired

Posted on February 19, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Three Lincoln police captains with a combined total of 123 years of experience have retired within a three-week period.

David Beggs, Kim Koluch and Doug Srb left the Lincoln Police Department this year after starting their careers in the 1960s and late 1970s.

The captains spent 46, 36 and 42 years on the police force, respectively. Koluch was commander of the center team, which includes downtown Lincoln, when she retired. Beggs and Srb were both duty commanders just before their retirement.

The three captains elected five years ago to be a part of a deferred retirement option program, which allowed the department time to find replacements.

During their careers, Lincoln’s population increased 60 percent, and the number of officers went from 122 to 322.

Sex Offender Gets 20-30 Years for Attempted Rape in Lincoln

Posted on February 19, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A twice-convicted sex offender has been sentenced to 20 to 30 years in prison for attempting to rape a woman in a Lincoln alleyway.

59-year-old Abejide, who goes by one name, was sentenced Thursday for attempted first-degree sexual assault and terroristic threat convictions. Abejide must serve a full 20 years before he is eligible for parole.

At trial last month, the 41-year-old woman who accused Abejide of the attempted rape testified that he pulled her into an alley and pulled down her pants. A police officer found Abejide pressing the woman against the wall, but Abejide says the interaction was consensual.

Abejide says the charge and subsequent sentence were based on “lies and deception.” Prosecutors say Abejide needs to take responsibility for his actions.

Former Omaha Computer Engineer on Trial for Tax Evasion

Posted on February 19, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former Omaha computer engineer who says he hasn’t filed federal individual income tax returns since 2000 is on trial for three charges of tax evasion.

The case against 59-year-old Chet Lee West, of Nebo, North Carolina, began Wednesday. If convicted, West faces up to 15 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.

West, who is representing himself, says he’s exempt from paying income taxes, and he told that to Infocrossing Inc. in Omaha while he worked there from 2007 until 2009.

Federal prosecutor Donald J. Kleine says West failed to pay more than $52,800 in income taxes over the two-year period in which he earned more than $270,000. Kleine also says the IRS told West in 2007 that he wasn’t exempt from income taxes.

Huskers Rally in Ninth for 6-3 Win

Posted on February 19, 2015February 19, 2015

Peoria, Ariz. – After getting into a 3-0 deficit in the first inning to the BYU Cougars, the Nebraska baseball team fought back and tied the game 3-3 in the sixth and Blake Headley delivered a three-RBI double in the top of the ninth with two outs that gave the Huskers their first lead of the game. Nebraska’s pitching staff held the Cougars scoreless over the game’s final eight innings, including a shutout bottom of the ninth by Josh Roeder, as the Huskers posted a 6-3 victory in the opening game of a four-game series with the Cougars.

Headley made the most of his lone hit on the afternoon, while Ryan Boldt led the Huskers with a 3-for-4 performance. Jeff Chesnut picked up the win and Roeder earned his second save of the season, as four Husker relievers combined to throw 4.0 innings of shutout relief.

BYU’s Mason Marshall retired the first two Huskers he faced in the ninth before Austin Darby started a two-out rally with a single that was followed by a single from Steven Reveles. BYU turned the ball over to Michael Rucker to face Boldt, and the sophomore never got a chance to pick up his fourth hit of the day as BYU intentionally walked him after a wild pitch by Rucker put two Huskers in scoring position. With the bases loaded and two outs, Headley lined the first pitch he saw from Rucker into the left-center field gap to clear the bases and put the Huskers in front 6-3.

Roeder took the mound in the ninth and retired the first two batters he faced before BYU got back-to-back singles that brought the tying run to the plate in clean-up hitter Dillon Robinson. Roeder dug in and retired Robinson 6-3 for his 20^th career save.

Neither starter factored into the decision, as both left with the game tied 3-3. Sophomore Derek Burkamper struggled early for the Huskers, but rallied and got stronger as the game went on. The right-hander gave the Huskers 5.0 inning in his second career start and sat down the final seven Cougars he faced. Kolton Mahoney tossed 6.0 innings for BYU, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out six.

The Cougars got after Burkamper, who was making his first start since February 16 of last year, with three runs on five hits in the first inning. Burkamper retired the first batter he faced, but then gave up four straight hits, including a two-RBI triple to Robinson that was followed by a RBI single by Dallen Reber.

The Huskers were in position to produce a big inning in the third when three straight singles from Austin Christensen, Jake Schleppenbach and Christian Cox loaded the bases with no out for the top of the lineup. Darby stepped to the plate for his second at bat of the game and hit into a 4-6-3 double play that did score a run, but it also put an end to NU’s momentum. Mahoney then retired Reveles, limiting the damage to just one run.

BYU then loaded the bases in the bottom of the third with one out and looked to break the game wide open, but Burkamper got a 5-3 double play off the bat Jarrett Jarvis that ended the inning and kept BYU’s lead at 3-1.

Burkamper retired the Cougars in order in both the fourth and fifth to keep Nebraska in range, and NU’s offense came through with a pair of runs in the sixth to even the game at 3-3. After a wild pitch put Boldt and Headley in scoring position with one down, Tanner Lubach hit a slow roller to second base where Tanner Chauncey tried to cut Boldt down at home, but the NU centerfielder easily scored to cut BYU’s lead to one run. Christensen then nearly gave NU a 5-3 lead with a deep blast to right field, but the Eric Urry made the catch at the warning track and Headley scored on the sacrifice fly to tie the game. The Huskers later had Lubach at third base with two outs, but Mahoney struck out Cox to end the inning.

Nebraska’s bullpen kept doing its job and Nebraska’s offense finally broke through in the ninth to complete the comeback.

The Huskers and Cougars continue their series tomorrow with a doubleheader that is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. (CT). Chance Sinclair is set to start game one and Kyle Kubat is scheduled to start game two for the Huskers.

Ogallala Man Accused of Killing Wife in 1978

Posted on February 19, 2015February 19, 2015

An Ogallala man is awaiting extradition to California after authorities charged him in connection with the 1978 murder of his wife.

According to Sgt. Jason Hail, with the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (California), Butte county authorities have been conducting an ongoing investigation in the disappearance of Deborah Diane Owens.

Owens was reported missing by her husband, Marvin Gail Owens, now 62, on November 21, 1978.

Hail said Deborah was living with her husband, in Oroville, California, when she was last seen.

To date, no one, including Deborah’s now grown children and other relatives, have seen her.

According to Hail, Marvin Owens has long been suspected of killing Deborah and disposing of her body.

Hail said former Butte County Sheriff, Perry Reniff, has been working on cold case homicides and spearheaded this investigation.

As a result of Reniff’s investigation, the Butte County District Attorney has filed a felony arrest warrant charging Marvin Owens with Deborah’s murder.

Marvin, who has been living in Ogallala, was arrested by the Keith County Sheriff’s Office.

He is currently being held at the Lincoln County Detention Center. Hail said it is unknown when Owens will be extradited to California.

Authorities believe Marvin may also be connected to the disappearance of another woman, Essie Margarette Hiett, who also disappeared in 1978.

The investigation is ongoing.

NP Man Charged with Felony for Harassing Letters

Posted on February 19, 2015

A North Platte man is facing a felony charge after he allegedly repeatedly attempted to contact a woman who had an active protection order against him.

According to North Platte Police, an adult female reported that she was receiving letters from Douglas Olson. Police say the woman had an active protection order that restricted Olson from contacting her.

The woman reported that the content of the letters indicated that they were from someone other than Olson, but she told police she believed he was the one writing them because the handwriting appeared to be his.

An officer on patrol observed Olson at the Post Office mailing a letter.

The officer met with a postal inspector, who located a letter that looked like the one Olson had mailed. Authorities say surveillance video also corroborated what the officer saw.

The officer placed his initials on the envelope and the letter was mailed.

Several days later, the victim contacted police to report that she had received another letter from Olson. The officer viewed the envelope and saw his initials.

On February 18, the officer met with Olson and placed him under arrest for violation of a protection order and stalking.

Police say Olson was also arrested for violating the order on January 29. Because of that, the recent charge was enhanced to a felony.

Former Inland Truck Parts Employee Accused of Theft

Posted on February 19, 2015

A Big Springs woman, who formerly lived in North Platte, has been charged with a felony after she allegedly stole from her employer.

On January 23, at around 11:15 a.m., an officer from the North Platte Police Department responded to Inland Truck Parts, 3820 South Newberry Road, on the report of an employee theft.

Management alleged that former employee, Ronda Buntain, failed to deposit around $4,800.00, in November of last year.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, a subsequent audit, conducted by Inland Truck Parts, revealed multiple discrepancies beginning in May of last year to present.

The company reported what they believe to be another $6,200.00, which was stolen during that time.

Following further investigation, officers determined that there was probable cause to arrest Buntain, and charge her with felony theft.

On February 18, an NPPD investigator met with Buntain at the Lincoln County Detention Center and placed her under arrest.

Brown said Buntain was booked into jail and posted bond.

USDA: Nebraska Farm Numbers Decline 500 in 2014 to 49,100

Posted on February 19, 2015February 19, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in a new report that the number of farms and ranches in Nebraska continues to slide.

In an annual report released Thursday the USDA says Nebraska farms fell to 49,100 last year, 500 fewer than the year before. The small farm category, those with annual sales of less than $100,000, fell by 800 farms while larger farms exceeding $100,000 in sales increased by 300.

Land in farms and ranches in Nebraska totaled 45.2 million acres, down 100,000 acres from 2013. The average size of operation, at 921 acres, was up 8 acres from the year earlier.

Nationally, the number of farms fell by 18,000 to 2.1 million. Total land in farms is at 913 million, down from just over 1 billion acres in 2013.

Historic Beatrice Auditorium Receives Grant to Paint Interior

Posted on February 19, 2015

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — The Keep Beatrice Beautiful program has been awarded a $10,000 grant by the Keep America Beautiful Community Paint Donation Program to help upkeep the interior of the Beatrice City Auditorium.

Officials will use the money to purchase 400 gallons of cream-colored, specialized paint to coat the interior walls.

Public Properties Director Mark Pethoud estimates that the last time the building received a fresh coat of paint was 25 years ago.

Construction of the building was started in 1939 and was completed in 1940. The historical auditorium was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.