Irene Antoinette Romero, age 71 of North Platte, passed away Friday February 27, 2015. Cremation was chosen and services will be held at a later date. Adams and Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Month: February 2015
Eddie R. Swendener Memorial Service
Eddie R. Swendener, 67, of Mullen, died Monday, Feb. 23, 2015 at his home in Mullen
Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, March 4, 2015, 10 AM MST at Mullen Funeral Home
Inurnment is at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, NE at 3 PM CST
Memorials are to Mullen American Legion Post #109 or VFW #5541
Book signing will be at Mullen Funeral Home Tuesday from 4-7 PM MST
CNH Announces More Layoffs at Grand Island Plant
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A farm implement plant in Grand Island will be eliminating the jobs of 136 more employees.
CNH Industrial America said in a news release Thursday that the indefinite layoffs result from market conditions and that they will begin in May and be finished by July.
In August the company announced layoffs of 170 full-time company staffers and 68 agency employees, and in May the company said it would cut 200 third-party agency positions.
On Friday CNH North America spokeswoman Kathleen Prause (prows) declined to tell The Associated Press how many workers still would be on the plant payroll after the 136 people are let go. She also would not say whether the plant was still producing combine harvesters and self-propelled windrowers.
Gov. Rickets Signs Nebraska Veterans’ Bill Despite Concerns
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts has signed a bill to extend educational benefits to veterans and their spouses, despite concerns that it could contradict Nebraska’s same-sex marriage ban.
The Republican governor announced his decision Friday in a letter to lawmakers. The bill was passed to comply with congressional mandates so veterans can collect federal education benefits.
Ricketts says he agrees with the bill’s goal, but is concerned about federal guidance that suggests states have to recognize same-sex marriages to participate in the federal program. He says he’ll challenge any efforts to undermine Nebraska’s constitution, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman.
Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue says her bill was carefully crafted, and she disagrees with the governor but will work with him if a problem arises.
Nebraska Nurse Practitioner Bill Wins Legislative Approval
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have approved a bill designed to give nurse practitioners more independence.
Senators voted 46-0 Friday to pass the bill, which was vetoed last year by then-Gov. Dave Heineman. Last year’s session ended before lawmakers had a chance to attempt an override.
The bill by Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue would remove a requirement that nurse practitioners get a written agreement to consult with a doctor before they can practice. The so-called integrated practice agreements are designed to ensure that a physician is available for collaboration or referral if a patient doesn’t respond to treatment.
Supporters of the bill say the agreements make it harder to recruit well-trained nurses and keep them in the state. Doctors expressed concerns about patient safety.
Senators Confirm Frakes as New Nebraska Corrections Director
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lawmakers have confirmed Scott Frakes as the new director of Nebraska’s embattled corrections department.
Senators on Friday voted 41-0 for Frakes, a former deputy director in Washington state’s prison system. Frakes was appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts.
Frakes told a legislative committee that he’ll work to restore the department’s reputation and to reduce crowding.
Frakes replaces Michael Kenney, who announced his retirement earlier this month after nearly a year and a half as director. The department has faced criticism for miscalculating hundreds of prison sentences, overcrowding and the use of a re-entry furlough program that some senators say is illegal.
It also has come under fire for releasing inmate Nikko Jenkins without supervision. Jenkins went on to kill four people in Omaha.
Ex-Sheriff’s Office Employee Drops Lawsuit Against Merrick County
CENTRAL CITY, Neb. (AP) — Court records say a woman acquitted of theft has dropped a lawsuit she filed against the sheriff of Merrick County.
Lori Sautter filed the lawsuit in October, saying that Sheriff Kevin Campbell invaded her privacy and painted her in a false light within the community. Sautter was charged with theft after a 2012 state audit determined that nearly $17,300 was missing from the department. All but about $5,900 was later found. Sautter had been the office manager but was fired. Sautter was found not guilty at trial.
Online court records say the dismissal order was filed Feb. 9. It’s unclear whether there was a settlement. Lawyers for Sautter and Campbell didn’t immediately return messages left Friday by The Associated Press.
Huskers Hope to Send Seniors Off Sunday with Win Over Buckeyes
The Nebraska women’s basketball team closes its 2014-15 home schedule by sending off the most successful senior class in school history when the Huskers take on Ohio State Sunday afternoon in Lincoln.
Tip-off between the Big Red (20-8, 10-7 Big Ten) and the Buckeyes (20-9, 12-5 Big Ten) at Pinnacle Bank Arena is set for 4 p.m. (CT) with tickets available now at Huskers.com. Tickets can also be purchased the day of the game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena Box Office beginning at 2 p.m.
Live national TV coverage will be provided by BTN with Kevin Kugler and Brenda VanLengen on the call. Live radio coverage from the Husker Sports Network is available with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch calling the action on stations across the network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln, 1110 AM KFAB in Omaha and 880 AM KRVN in Lexington. Free live audio is available on Huskers.com.
Nebraska, which is coming off its most complete game of the season in a 74-50 pounding of Minnesota on Tuesday in Lincoln, will celebrate the careers of Emily Cady, Brandi Jeffery, Tear’a Laudermill and Hailie Sample with Senior Day ceremonies following the game with Ohio State.
The win over Minnesota secured NU’s seniors their fourth consecutive 20-win campaign, becoming the first senior class in school history to accomplish that feat. It was also the 95th win of their impressive careers in Lincoln, establishing a record for the most victories by any class in Husker history.
The senior class has combined for 3,734 points, 2,411 rebounds and 815 assists in their careers. Cady 6-2, F, Seward, Neb.) leads the group with 1,396 points, 1,076 rebounds and 301 assists while starting all 128 games over the past four years. Laudermill (5-9, G, Moreno Valley, Calif.) has joined Cady in NU’s 1,000-point club with 1,086 while adding 291 rebounds and 146 assists. Laudermill has started 58 straight games alongside Cady.
Sample (6-1, F, Flower Mound, Texas) has made 127 starts and owns 700 points, 687 rebounds and 218 assists. Jeffery (5-7, G, Vacherie, La.) owns 35 starts, 552 points, 357 rebounds and 150 assists. Together, the seniors have combined for 500 appearances and are 55-10 at home.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (20-8, 10-7 Big Ten)
3 – Hailie Sample – 6-1 – Sr. – F – 7.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg
23 – Emily Cady – 6-2 – Sr. – F – 12.2 ppg, 10.3 rpg
1 – Tear’a Laudermill – 5-9 – Sr. – G – 13.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg
5 – Natalie Romeo – 5-7 – Fr. – G – 7.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg
13 – Brandi Jeffery – 5-7 – Sr. – G – 7.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg
Off the Bench
33 – Rachel Theriot (OUT) – 6-0 – Jr. – G – 16.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg
22 – Allie Havers – 6-5 – So. – C – 4.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg
31 – Anya Kalenta – 6-3 – Jr. – F – 3.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg
30 – Chandler Smith – 6-0 – Fr. – G – 1.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg
34 – Jasmine Cincore – 5-8 – Fr. – G – 1.4 ppg, 0.3 rpg
12 – Emily Wood – 5-5 – Fr. – G – 0.3 ppg, 0.6 rpg
11 – Esther Ramacieri – 5-8 – So. – G – 0.1 ppg, 0.5 rpg
50 – Darrien Washington – 6-2 – Fr. – F – Redshirting
Head Coach: Connie Yori (Creighton, 1986)
13th Season at NU (261-150); 25th Season Overall (456-290)
Ohio State Buckeyes (20-9, 12-5 Big Ten)
22 – Alexa Hart – 6-3 – Fr. – F – 11.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg
3 – Kelsey Mitchell – 5-8 – Fr. – G – 24.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg
13 – Cait Craft – 5-8 – Jr. – G – 7.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg
14 – Ameryst Alston – 5-9 – Jr. – G -20.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg
20 – Asia Doss – 5-7 – Fr. – G – 5.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg
Off the Bench
32 – Shayla Cooper – 6-2 – So. – F – 10.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg
1 – Kalpana Beach – 6-1 – So. – F – 4.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg
21 – Lisa Blair – 6-6 – So. – C – 2.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg
25 – Amy Scullion – 6-0 – Sr. – G – 1.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg
Head Coach: Kevin McGuff (St. Joseph’s College, Ind., 1992)
2nd Season at OSU (37-27); 13th Season Overall (292-126)
Buffalo Engineers Seek to Build Better NFL Schedule
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Two industrial engineering students at the University at Buffalo have been working on a new NFL schedule to minimize competitive imbalance.
Kyle Cunningham and Niraj Pandy say they’ve developed an algorithm that comes close to matching — and in some cases improving — a schedule the NFL produces each year.
They say they’ve reduced the number of times that teams play more-rested opponents coming off a bye week or a Thursday night game. They eventually developed a program that produced a variety of schedules in which no team played more than two games against more-rested opponents per season.
The study was prompted in 2013 when the Buffalo Bills complained their schedule included six games against opponents coming off extended breaks.
The students are presenting their findings today in Boston.
Nine Huskers in RPI, Coaches Panel Rankings
Nine Husker wrestlers earned spots in this week’s RPI Rankings and Coaches Panel Rankings. The NCAA also announced its qualifier allocations for the NCAA Championships.
Senior Robert Kokesh (174) took the top spot in the Coaches Panel Rankings, and holds the No. 2 position in the RPI Rankings. Two other Huskers are in the top 10 in both sets of rankings: James Green (157) and Anthony Abidin (141). Green, a three-time All-American, is sixth in the RPI and third in the panel rankings. Abidin is eighth in both rankings.
2014 NCAA qualifier TJ Dudley is 11th in the RPI and 15th in the panel rankings at 184 pounds. Sophomore Tim Lambert (125), who also went to nationals last year, is 13th in both polls. At 149 pounds, Justin Arthur claimed the No. 19 spot in both rankings.
Sophomores Collin Jensen (HWT) and Eric Montoya (133) also achieved spots in both sets of rankings. Jensen is 17th in the RPI and 25th in the panel rankings. Montoya is 24th in both polls. Junior Austin Wilson (165) garnered the 24th spot in the RPI Rankings, while sophomore Aaron Studebaker (197) took the No. 15 position in the panel rankings.
The Big Ten has the most allocated qualifiers of any conference with 86. There are 12 spots at 133 pounds, while 174 and 184 pounds each have 10 spots. There are nine spots at 197 pounds and heavyweight, while eight spots are allocated for 141, 157 and 165 pounds. There are seven at 149 and five at 125.
The Huskers travel to Columbus, Ohio next weekend for the Big Ten Championships. The tournament’s first three sessions will be streamed on BTN Plus (subscription required) and the final session will be televised on the Big Ten Network. The NCAA Championships are set for March 19-21 in St. Louis, Mo.
RPI Rankings (Feb. 26, 2015)
125: #13 Tim Lambert
133: #24 Eric Montoya
141: #8 Anthony Abidin
149: #19 Justin Arthur
157: #6 James Green
165: #24 Austin Wilson
174: #2 Robert Kokesh
184: #11 TJ Dudley
HWT: #17 Collin Jensen
NCAA Coaches Panel Rankings (Feb. 26, 2015)
125: #13 Tim Lambert
133: #24 Eric Montoya
141: #8 Anthony Abidin
149: #19 Justin Arthur
157: #3 James Green
174: #1 Robert Kokesh
184: #15 TJ Dudley
197: #15 Aaron Studebaker
HWT: #25 Collin Jensen