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Nardella Named USHL Defenseman of the Week

Bobby Nardella Tri-City StormKEARNEY, Neb. – Tri-City Storm defenseman Bobby Nardella was named the USHL’s Defenseman of the Week by the league office Monday after assisting on four goals in the Storm’s victories over Omaha and Sioux City over the weekend.

The Rosemont, Ill. native had three assists in the first period of Friday night’s 5-1 win against the Lancers, and added another helper on the first goal of the game during the second period on Saturday.

Three of the four assists came while Tri-City was on the man-advantage, where Nardella is a mainstay working with forward Chris Wilkie, the USHL’s leader in power play goals (13).

A Notre Dame commit, Nardella is 5th in defensive scoring among all USHL blueliners with six goals and 20 assists. He also leads all defenseman with 15 power play assists.

Now in his second USHL season, Nardella won a gold medal playing for Team USA in the World Junior A Challenge in Kindersley, Saskatchewan during December.

The honor is Nardella’s first of the season, joining defenseman Mattias Goransson and goaltender Alec Dillon as Storm players to receive league awards thus far during the 2014-15 season.

Tri-City is in second place in the Western Conference standings with 57 total points.

This weekend the Storm will take on the Lincoln Stars in a home-and-home series on Friday and Saturday, before heading back to Sioux City for aSunday afternoon battle.

Friday’s game is in Lincoln at 7:05 p.m. before the teams take the rivalry to Kearney on Saturday, also at 7:05. Saturday is also Pack-It-In-Purple at the Viaero Event Center. Fans are encouraged to wear purple and will receive rally towels upon entry.

For more information and to purchase tickets, contact the Viaero Event Center Box Office at 308.338.8011 or visit www.stormhockey.com.

NPCC Plans Run to Benefit Children of Stapleton Woman Killed in Crash

npccNursing students at Mid-Plains Community College are planning a benefit to help the children of a woman killed in a vehicle accident Nov. 26. Michelle Lynn Heisz, 34, of Stapleton had been riding in a minivan just north of North Platte when it crossed the center line and struck a semi.

Heisz’s daughter, Anjellycka Heisz, 3, and mother, Vicky Allen, of Stapleton, had been in theminivan with Michelle and were both critically injured. Michelle was mom to two other children in addition to Anjellycka: Jennifer and Christopher.

The MPCC chapters of the Nebraska State Student Nurses Association and the Licensed Practical Nurse Association of Nebraska have decided to host a benefit 5K run/walk for the kids.

“Our nursing students wanted to do something to give back to a local community member, and about the time they started discussing that, the crash happened,” said Nicole Kissinger nursing instructor. “The college is all about giving back, and as nurses, we’re also into health promotion. That’s where the idea for a 5K came from.”

The event is scheduled for March 14. Registration will be from 7:30-8:30 a.m. at the north doors of NPCC’s Health and Science Center. A kids’ 1-mile race will begin at 9 a.m. for anyone 14 and younger. That will be followed by a 5K for ages 15 and older at 9:30 a.m.

The entry fee is $25 for children and adults, which includes a long-sleeved t-shirt, coffee bar and other refreshments. It’s a St. Patrick’s Day-themed event, so contestants are encouraged to wear green or a costume. Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each division.

The priority deadline to enter is March 1. Participants who sign up by then will be ensured a t-shirt on race day – everyone else may have to wait for a shirt. Registrations will be accepted until 8:30 a.m. the day of the race.

Registration forms are available from nursing students, in Room 105 of the Health and Science Center and online at https://www.mpcc.edu/post.cfm/benefit-run-planned-at-npcc.

UNL Lecture to Focus on Creative Learning for Children

UNLLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An expert on education and creative learning is set to set to speak about nurturing curiosity in children in a lecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Milton Chen will present “Creativity, Curiosity and Learning” at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Chen’s career has spanned four decades at the intersection of pre-K-12 education, media and technology.

Chen will talk about successful schools and afterschool programs that emphasize creative learning through projects, the visual and performing arts, and experiences in authentic places such as the national parks.

Chen is senior fellow and executive director emeritus at the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit operating foundation in the San Francisco Bay area.

His remarks are part of the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues.

Bellevue Police Seek Man Who Hit Mom Twice with SUV

bellevue-police-patchBELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Police are searching for a 32-year-old man who they say twice struck his mother with an SUV in an attempt to evade an officer.

A Bellevue police spokeswoman says an officer on Saturday afternoon spoke briefly with Anthony M. Flud’s mother outside a home.

Flud was sought on felony arrest warrants after being charged in late December with operating a vehicle to avoid arrest and felony theft.

The spokesman says that while the officer and the mother were talking, Flud was inside a vehicle and hit his mother in the driveway. Flud struck his mother a second time and the officer’s patrol car before driving away.

Police followed Flud’s vehicle but called it off for safety reasons.

Flud’s mother was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Report: Many Sex Offenders Killed in California Prisons

prisonSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Federal statistics show California prison inmates are killed at a rate that is double the national average and far higher than that of other large states.

What’s more, an Associated Press analysis of corrections records shows that sex offenders account for a disproportionate number of California’s victims.

Male sex offenders made up about 15 percent of the prison population but accounted for nearly 30 percent of homicide victims since 2007.

The deaths — 23 out of 78 — come despite the state’s creation more than a decade ago of special housing units designed to protect the most vulnerable inmates, including sex offenders. They often are marked men because of the nature of their crimes.

Those units also house inmates trying to quit gangs but now have their own gang problem.

Nebraska District Buys Flood-Prone Land Along Missouri River

missouri-river-omahaBELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — The last round of buyouts has been completed of flood-prone property at a development along the Missouri River south of Bellevue.

The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District board last week approved the buyouts at Iske Place. The secluded riverside community sits just south of where Papillion Creek empties into the river, north of the mouth of the Platte River.

The properties targeted for buyout were on the river side of a levee. Authorities sought to get residents out of the floodway to reduce the cost of evacuation and cleanup when the river floods again. The combined purchase price for all 25 lots on the 35-acre property amounts to roughly $1.5 million. Three-quarters of that is being covered by the federal government.

Lincoln Brewery Owner Wants to Repoen Robber’s Cave

craft-beersLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln brewery owner wants to reopen Robber’s Cave and use its local lore to help sell some beer.

Legend has it that outlaw Jesse James used the cave as a hideout, but a local historian says there’s no evidence of that. In 1869 Lincoln Brewery enlarged the cave and stored barrels of beer and beer ingredients there.

Brian Podwinski, who owns Blue Blood Brewing, said he has a deal to buy the property and construct a building above ground to house his brewery and an expanded taproom and restaurant.

He was drawn to the site because of its history, and he says the Jesse James tale — true or not — is a perfect marketing peg for Blue Blood’s Outlaw line of beers.

17-Year-Old Killed During Russian Roulette Game

russian-rouletteCARSON, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department says a 17-year-old boy shot and killed himself early Monday during what they are describing as a game of Russian roulette with other teens.

Deputies responding to a call about a gunshot in an unincorporated area between Los Angeles and Carson found the boy with a wound to the head.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Family members in the apartment at the time of the shooting just after midnight told authorities they did not realize there was a gun nearby. Authorities say they do not expect charges.

Nebraska Natural Resources Director Wants Leave to Teach in China

lower-south-platte-natural-LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Board members for a natural resources district are considering action on a colleague who wants to remain on the board despite being out of the country until June, teaching in China.

Steve Larrick represents west Lincoln on the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District board. He won a third four-year term in November.

Laws governing the districts say that if a director has more than two consecutive unexcused absences from monthly meetings, the board can declare the seat vacant. The board granted Larrick excused absences for its October and November meetings but not for December and January. If the board at Wednesday’s meeting denies Larrick an excused absence for February, that kicks in the public hearing process required before declaring the seat vacant.

Ogallala Man Identified as Victim of Hershey Fertilizer Plant Accident

simplot accident fullAn Ogallala man has been identified as the victim in an industrial accident at a Hershey fertilizer plant.

At around 11:50 a.m., on Saturday, Lincoln County deputies responded to the report of an accident at Simplot Soil Builders, on the northeast side of Hershey.

Deputies and rescue personnel arrived and found that the victim, 59-year-old Russ Peterson, was already deceased.

According to Chief Deputy Roland Kramer, Peterson was working with a crew of several men, when he climbed a fertilizer leg at the plant.

Kramer said the leg appeared to be rusted out at the base, which caused it to give out and collapse onto the roof of the building.

He said Peterson became trapped inside the ladder’s safety cage, between the grain leg and the roof of the building.

Peterson was pronounced dead at the scene.  Kramer said the cause of death has been ruled accidental.

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