February 2015 – Page 38 – North Platte Post Archive

Wildlife Officials Investigating Death of Eagle in Lincoln

Posted on February 15, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is looking into the recent death of a captive bald eagle at the Pioneers Park Nature Center in Lincoln.

The bird, named Hali, died Jan. 25. Nature Center coordinator Andrea Faas says the eagle suffered from twisted intestines.

The bird was about 12. Eagles can live as long as 30 years in captivity.

Hali had been on exhibit at the nature center since 2003, when she was rescued after being injured near Valley. The bird could not be returned to the wild because part of her left wing was amputated.

Bob Harms, a Fish and Wildlife biologist in Grand Island, says it is policy to look into any death of an eagle or migratory fowl.

Schools Start Treating E-Cigarettes as Drug Paraphernalia

Posted on February 15, 2015

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Some schools are getting tougher on e-cigarettes, even punishing possession of the devices more harshly than regular cigarettes.

The devices, which heat a nicotine solution to create a vapor instead of burning tobacco, have passed traditional smokes in popularity among teenagers. Schools are clamping down because e-cigarettes, sometimes also known as vaporizers, can also be used for illegal substances like marijuana.

Most schools have folded e-cigarettes into their anti-tobacco policies, which typically punish students with detention, a letter home and sometimes a tobacco education class.

But other schools in states including North Carolina, New Jersey, Washington and Connecticut, are grouping the devices in with bongs and pipes, meaning students could face long suspensions and required drug tests and have possession of drug paraphernalia marked on their school record.

Seminar to Focus on Tax Policy In and Around Nebraska

Posted on February 15, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Economists from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will discuss tax policies in Nebraska and other Plains states in an upcoming seminar.

The free lecture will kick off the Paul A. Olson Seminars in Great Plains Studies. The event is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Great Plains Art Museum in Lincoln.

Economists Eric Thompson and John Anderson will talk about tax debates in Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota and Colorado. They will focus on how the states balance popular demands for tax cuts against the need for social services.

Another seminar on March 18 will focus on drought management, food and water security. A third on April 15 is titled “The Civil War in the Great Plains.”

Nebraska Bill Would Close Campaign Disclosure Loophole

Posted on February 15, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Politicians who use campaign money illegally could have a harder time hiding their violations under a bill that will go before Nebraska lawmakers this week.

The measure by Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue would close a loophole that allows candidates and office-holders to self-report the amount of money in their campaign accounts. If it’s approved, candidates would have to submit bank statements to the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.

Supporters say the bill might have helped officials catch former Omaha Sen. Brenda Council earlier, before she gambled away $63,000 in campaign money.

Frank Daley, the commission’s executive director, says most of the reporting errors his office sees are innocent mistakes, but they can build up over time.

A legislative hearing is set for Thursday.

Tri-City Earns Shootout Win In Sioux City

Posted on February 14, 2015

SIOUX CITY, Ia. – The shootout tandem of Chris Wilkie and Cody Milan propelled the Tri-City Storm (26-11-5) to a 3-2 win over the Sioux City Musketeers (28-11-4) on Saturday night at the Tyson Events Center.

Wilkie also scored his 24th goal of the season in the second period, while Garrett Gamez had a power play tally for his 11th of the year.

Storm netminder Jared Rutledge made 37 saves through regulation and overtime, before stopping both attempts he faced in the shootout to get the win.

The game was scoreless through the first 20 minutes, but Tri-City earned a power play with five seconds to go in the frame that carried over to the middle period.

Just 49 seconds into the second, Wilkie blasted a puck past Musketeers’ goalie Collin Olson to make it 1-0. It was the second power play goal of the weekend for Wilkie, who continues to lead the USHL with 13 goals on the man-advantage.

Sioux City tied the game 1-1 at 12:54 of the period with a power play goal of their own by Neal Pionk.

1:05 later, Gamez put the Storm in front 2-1 with another power play goal.

Tri-City forward Mason Appleton had the first assist on both tallies.

After Sioux City’s Joel Janatuinen hit the crossbar on a penalty shot at 16:06, the Musketeers re-tied the game at 2-2 on a goal by Robert Carpenter at18:11.

In the second period there was a combined total of 14 penalties, including a double minor to Tri-City’s Joel Herbert for checking from behind, a major head contact penalty to Sioux City’s Jake Durflinger and a flight between Durflinger and Mattias Goransson.

The game stayed even through the third period and overtime and led to the Storm’s sixth shootout victory of the year.

Tri-City gained one point on the Musketeers in the Western Conference, and sits in second place with 57 total points. Sioux City is the top team in the USHL, earning 60 points in 43 games.

Next week 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 a Sundayafternoon battle. Friday and Saturday’s games start at 7:05 p.m., while Sunday’s contest gets underway at 3:05.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel and Wade Allison, along with defenseman Gordi Myer and goaltender Alec Dillon…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
(no scoring)

2nd Period

Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (power play) (Mason Appleton, Bobby Nardella) 0:49
Sioux City – Neal Pionk (power play) (Adam Johnson, Robert Carpenter) 12:54
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez (power play) (Mason Appleton) 13:59
Sioux City – Robert Carpenter (power play) (Joe Snively, Jake Ryczek) 18:11

3rd Period
(no scoring)

Overtime
(no scoring)

PENALTIES

1st Period
Sioux City – Jacob Wilson – (Holding), 2 min, 19:55

2nd Period

Tri-City – Garrett Gamez – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 3:11
Sioux City – Jake Montgomery – (Hooking), 2 min, 4:33
Tri-City – Joel Herbert – (Checking From Behind), 4 min, 10:51
Tri-City – Joel Herbert – (Checking From Behind) (Game Ejection), 10 min, 10:51
Sioux City – Sam Kurker – (Slashing), 2 min, 12:32
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (High Sticking), 2 min, 12:41
Sioux City – Joel Janatuinen – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 13:55
Sioux City – Jake Durflinger – (Head Contact), 5 min, 16:53
Sioux City – Jake Durflinger – (Head Contact) (Game Misconduct), 10 min, 16:53
Sioux City – Jake Durflinger – (Fighting), 5 min, 16:53
Sioux City – Jake Durflinger – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 16:53
Tri-City – Mattias Goransson – (Fighting), 5 min, 16:53
Tri-City – Mattias Goransson – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 16:53
Tri-City – Dan Labosky – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 16:53

3rd Period
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 7:27

Overtime
(no penalties)

Power Play

Tri-City – 2/4

Sioux City – 2/6

Shots

Tri-City: 8, 10, 6, 1 = Total: 25
Sioux City: 10, 16, 10, 3 = Total: 39

Saves
Tri-City – Jared Rutledge – 37/39
Sioux City – Collin Olson – 23/25

Iginla, Tanguay Score, Avalanche Beat Stars, 4-1

Posted on February 14, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Alex Tanguay had a goal and an assist, Semyon Varlamov stopped 24 shots and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Dallas Stars 4-1 on Saturday night.

Jarome Iginla and Nathan MacKinnon had goals for the Avalanche, who snapped a four-game skid.

Jason Spezza scored and goaltender Jhonas Enroth had 26 saves in his first start since being acquired from Buffalo on Wednesday.

Dallas came into the game short-handed. Leading scorer Tyler Seguin is out 3-6 weeks with a knee injury suffered in Friday night’s win over Florida, and Ales Hemskey and Patrick Eaves were also out.

The injuries are a big blow to the Stars’ playoff hopes. They came into the night three points out of the last wild card spot but have a tough schedule ahead.

Man Killed in Accident at Hershey Fertilizer Plant

Posted on February 14, 2015

A 59-year-old man has died after an accident at a fertilizer plant in Hershey.

Between 11:00 a.m., and 11:30 a.m., on Saturday, deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a report that a man had been injured in an industrial accident at the Simplot Grower Solutions fertilizer plant, on the northeast side of Hershey.

According to Chief Deputy Roland Kramer, Hershey and Sutherland Rescue responded to the scene, but the man was deceased upon their arrival.

Kramer said the investigation showed that the man was working on a fertilizer auger with large equipment when the accident occurred.

The name of the man has not been released, pending the notification of family members.

Kramer said more information will be released on Tuesday.

Valentine’s Day Fire in NP Severely Burns 2

Posted on February 14, 2015February 15, 2015

Two North Platte men are are receiving treatment for severe burns after a Saturday afternoon fire.

According to fire officials and neighbors, Brent Farley and his son Nathaniel were performing work on a motorcycle in a garage at 416 South Chestnut, at around 1:00 p.m., when gasoline vapors were ignited by a heater.

The Farleys were both transported to St. Elizabeth Burn Center in Lincoln.

A source close to the situation said that Nathanial suffered 3rd degree burns to over 80% of his body, and Brent suffered 3rd degree burns to over 90% of his body.

The garage is considered a total loss, but friends say material things can be replaced. What they are asking for is prayers for Brent and Nathaniel.

The Post has also received information that Nathaniel does not have insurance, and will need assistance with medical expenses. A Facebook page, Nathanial Farley Medical Expenses, has been created for those wanting to help.

The fire was brought under control at around 1:40 p.m.

Curry Wins 3-Point Contest, LaVine Takes Dunk Competition

Posted on February 14, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Curry bested Golden State Warriors teammate Klay Thompson and six others to win his first 3-point contest, and Minnesota’s Zach Lavine put on a spectacular aerial display to take home the dunk competition during All-Star Saturday night.

Curry scored 27 points in the final round. He connected on 13 consecutive shots until missing his final attempt, bringing fans and celebrities roaring to their feet after every swish at Brookyln’s Barclays Center.

Thompson, who had an opening-round best of 24, scored only 14 points in the final round. Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving finished second with 17 points in the three-man final.

LaVine, the 19-year-old Timberwolves rookie, scored a perfect 100 in the opening round highlighted by a threw-the-legs, one-handed reverse slam on his first attempt. He had a final round of 94 to overtake Orlando’s Victor Oladipo, who struggled to convert his first attempt and finished with a 72 in the championship round.

Silver Seeking ‘Dramatic’ Improvements in NBA Scheduling

Posted on February 14, 2015February 14, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Commissioner Adam Silver is determined to make a schedule that keeps NBA players fresh, and he is willing to discuss starting the season earlier or ending later.

Change could come as early as next season, with fewer stretches of games on back-to-back nights, or four in five nights. He says Saturday during his All-Star press conference that he is concerned with the wear and tear on players.

Silver says he believes the league can make “dramatic” improvements in those areas.

Just beginning his second year in charge, Silver says his priority is improving the game, where much of his early successes were on off-the-court areas.

But business couldn’t completely be ignored, with Silver acknowledging the league and players association are early in discussions about how to handle to the influx of revenue coming when the new TV deals kick in in 2016.