February 2015 – Page 42 – North Platte Post Archive

Minatare Officers Suspended for Noncompliance

Posted on February 13, 2015

MINATARE, Neb. (AP) — The Minatare Chief of Police says that he and two of his officers will be reinstated after having their law enforcement certification suspended for failing to meet annual requirements.

Police Chief Robert Regester and officers Jim Lawson and Mike Youngquist were suspended on Feb. 11 because they failed to meet annual firearms training and continuing education requirements. Regester and Youngquist failed to meet both requirements, while Lawson only failed to meet the firearms training requirement.

Each year, officers are required to take a firearms test to certify their handgun skills, and complete 20 hours of continuing education. Each department must submit certification documents by Dec. 31.

The director of the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center said that the Minatare department was the only agency that had issues meeting compliance this year.

Kearney Company Faces $7,600 in Fines from Workers’ Falls

Posted on February 13, 2015

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Kearney company faces $7,600 in penalties because two of its workers fell from a roof last year in Grand Island, and one died.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is citing Roeder Construction. The agency says Roeder didn’t provide fall protection or appropriate safety training to prevent the death of a 42-year-old worker who fell off the residential roof and another worker who was injured in the same accident.

Roeder has 15 business days to request an informal conference with the OSHA area director or to contest the findings.

A public phone listed for Roeder Construction is no longer in service.

In Close Vote, Utah House OKs Firing Squad Proposal

Posted on February 13, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A controversial proposal that resurrects Utah’s use of firing squads to carry out executions has advanced in the state legislature by a handful of votes.

Utah’s House of Representatives initially voted 35-35 on the proposal Friday morning, but after three missing lawmakers were summoned the floor and one lawmaker switched, the measure passed 39-34.

It now faces an unclear fate in Utah’s GOP-controlled Senate, where leaders have declined to say if they’d support it.

Republican Gov. Gary Herbert has not revealed if he will sign the bill.

The bill from Republican Rep. Paul Ray would call for a firing squad if Utah cannot get lethal injection drugs 30 days before an execution.

Critics say the firing squad is a gruesome relic of Utah’s Wild West past and would bring international condemnation upon the state.

Carson James Butler

Posted on February 13, 2015

Carson James Butler, age 4 of North Platte, passed away Thursday February 12, 2015 at Great Plains Health.
Carson was born on November 25, 2010 in Omaha, NE to John and Julia (McCullough) Butler. The family lived in Omaha until 2012 when they moved to Camp Comeca near Cozad. They moved to North Platte in November 2014. Carson was a happy child, always smiling, laughing and giggling. His infectious personality brightened a room wherever he went. He was a loving son, brother, and grandson who loved to snuggle.
Carson is survived by his parents John and Julia, and siblings Caleb, Chase, Cecilia and Camryn all of North Platte; grandparents Mark (Joyce) Butler, Joyce McCullough, and Harry (Ronda) McCullough all of Omaha; great grandparents Robert Storms of Omaha, Caroline Butler of Littleton, CO and Marilynn McCullough-Simms of Omaha; and his aunts and uncles Cal Butler, Kelly McCullough and James McCullough all of Omaha.
Memorials are suggested in his name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday February 16, 2015 at First United Methodist Church with Reverend Dr. Douglas Delp officiating. Those wishing to do so may sign the register book from noon until 6:00 p.m. Sunday February 15, 2015 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements. The family will be receiving friends at 6:00 Sunday at the First United Methodist Church.

Ten Huskers in Second Coaches Panel Rankings

Posted on February 13, 2015

All 10 Husker starters earned spots in the second Coaches Panel Rankings, released by the NCAA on Friday.

Two more sets of rankings will be released during the season, with the final poll being used to determine qualifiers for the NCAA Championships. The NCAA Championships are slated for March 19-21 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.

Two-time All-American Robert Kokesh leads the way with the top spot at 174 pounds. Kokesh holds a perfect 27-0 record heading into Friday’s Senior Night dual against Stanford at the Devaney Center. Three-time All-American James Green is ranked third at 157 pounds.

Junior Anthony Abidin rounds out the Huskers in the top 10 with the No. 7 spot at 141 pounds. Sophomores Tim Lambert (11th at 125), TJ Dudley (17th at 184), Justin Arthur (20th at 149) and Aaron Studebaker (20th at 197) are also in the top 20.

Collin Jensen is ranked 23rd at heavyweight, Eric Montoya is 28th at 133 pounds and Austin Wilson is 30th at 165 pounds.

NCAA Division I Coaches Panel Rankings (Feb. 13, 2015)
125: #11 Tim Lambert
133: #28 Eric Montoya
141: #7 Anthony Abidin
149: #20 Justin Arthur
157: #3 James Green
165: #30 Austin Wilson
174: #1 Robert Kokesh
184: #17 TJ Dudley
197: #20 Aaron Studebaker
HWT: #23 Collin Jensen

It’s Official, All-Star Game to be Played in Miami in 2017

Posted on February 13, 2015

MIAMI (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has made it official — the Miami Marlins will host the 2017 All-Star Game.

Manfred made the announcement Friday at a news conference at Marlins Park. Among those attending were Florida Gov. Rick Scott, the Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Fernandez, and several former players, including Gary Sheffield and Mike Lowell.

The event included a color guard and performance of the national anthem and had a celebratory tone because it was a long time coming.

The Marlins started play in 1993 and two years later were awarded the 2000 All-Star Game at Pro Player Stadium. After founding owner Wayne Huizenga dismantled the roster of the team’s 1997 World Series champions, Major League Baseball took away the game in 1998 and awarded it to Atlanta.

Mildred L. Brockelsby

Posted on February 13, 2015

Mildred L. Brockelsby, 92, of North Platte, formerly of Grand Island, passed away February 12, 2015 at Linden Court. She was born February 4, 1923 to Edward V. and Lucille Alice (Mason) VanDevier at Grand Island. She graduated from Grand Island High School. Mildred was employed as a claims technician at the Social Security Administration for over 30 years, retiring in 1984. She resided in Grand Island most of her life, moving to North Platte in 1976. Mildred was a member of Bethel Evangelical Free Church, NARFE, RSVP and the Eagles Club. She enjoyed gardening, music and was an avid reader. She is survived by her two daughters, Melinda (James) Crow and Teresa (Loren) Sweley both of North Platte; seven grandchildren, Jennie (Mauricio) Cabrera, Robyn (Robert) Kopzynski, Carol Jean (fiancé Brandon Morrison) Sweley, Sam (Sarah) Sweley, Abby Sweley, Rebecca and Michael Crow; and five great grandchildren, Toby, Zackery, Aaron, Hannah and Kolton. She was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Harold and Ronald VanDevier. Online condolences may be shared www.carpentermemorial.com. Graveside services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at the Grand Island Cemetery with Pastor Gary Schulte officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.

Unnecessary Roughness Rule Changed for High School Football

Posted on February 13, 2015

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The National Federation of State High School Associations has changed a football rule involving unnecessary roughness to minimize the risk to players.

The association said Friday that its board of directors has approved revising the rule to ban unnecessary roughness against defenseless players. The group also has revised its spearing rule. That rule now bans players contacting an opponent at or below the shoulders with the crown of their helmets.

Brad Garrett is chair of the NFHS’s football rules committee. He says minimizing risk to players must be “at the forefront of the game.”

The association says its 2013-2014 survey shows football is the most popular high school sport for boys with more than 1.09 million players. About 1,800 girls played football during the 2013-2014 season.

AP Source: Nebraska Aide Charlton Warren going to North Carolina

Posted on February 13, 2015February 13, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska defensive backs coach Charlton Warren is leaving the Cornhuskers to take a similar job at North Carolina.

A person with knowledge of Warren’s hiring told The Associated Press on Friday that Warren would replace cornerbacks coach Dan Disch, who was fired. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the North Carolina has not made an announcement.

The departure of Warren is a blow for new Nebraska coach Mike Riley. Warren was the only assistant retained from Bo Pelini’s staff, and he was considered one of the Huskers’ best recruiters.

Riley said Warren told him he is taking a job at another university, but Riley did not name the school.

The statement below was made by the University of Nebraska football coach Mike Riley:

“Charlton Warren has informed me of his plans to take a similar coaching position at another university. This is an opportunity that Charlton feels is right for him and his family, and I respect his decision. We appreciate the valuable role Charlton has played in our transition to the University of Nebraska and wish him and his family nothing but the best. Charlton is an outstanding man and a bright, energetic football coach with a great future ahead of him in this profession.

“We will search for a talented teacher, coach and recruiter to fill the open position on our defensive staff. This is a high priority, but we will take the necessary time to find the individual who is the right fit to help lead the young men in the University of Nebraska football program.”

Monument to a Teen’s Rite of Passage Comes Down in Lincoln

Posted on February 13, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A concrete monument to a teenager’s rite of passage has been demolished at the school district’s Seacrest Field in Lincoln.

The old tower for driver’s education instructors has made way for new bleachers and an expanded press box.

The tower hasn’t been used in more than three decades. In its heyday, the tower held instructors who could — in elevated safety — watch a dozen cars and use one-way radios to train the fledgling drivers. Former instructor Bob Eyth recalled that there was one word the teenagers needed “to understand right off the bat, and that’s stop.”

In the mid-1980s the state stopped reimbursing schools for teaching driver’s education, so most districts stopped the courses.