March 2015 – Page 17 – North Platte Post Archive

NP Man Charged After Wild Night at Local Restaurant

Posted on March 25, 2015March 25, 2015

A 22-year-old North Platte man is facing several charges after he caused a scene with his ex-wife and others at a local restaurant.

At around 10:00 p.m., on March 24, officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to a disturbance at Wild Bill’s Wings and Bowling, 1100 South Jeffers Street.

A 32-year-old female told officers that Zachary Spencer, who was intoxicated, had assaulted her and his 25-year-old ex-wife.

She said Spencer then drove North on South Dewey at a high rate of speed.

Officers spoke with Spencer’s ex-wife, who said she had arrived at the eatery with some friends when she observed Spencer in the establishment.

She alleged that Spencer grabbed her by the wrist and attempted to get her to go onto the dance floor.

When she refused, police say Spencer became angry and left the area.

According to the victim, Spencer then returned and tried to fight with one of the victim’s male friends, before he began to push her and several other people, including an employee who tried to intervene.

He then reportedly left the scene again.

Officers eventually located Spencer and placed him under arrest.

He was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center, and charged with 3rd degree domestic assault, 3rd degree assault, disturbing the peace, driving under the influence of liquor and refusal to submit to a chemical test.

According to jail records, Spencer is being held on $5,000 bond.

NPCC Knights Softball to Host Trinidad State

Posted on March 25, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights Softball team will host the Trinidad State Junior College Lady Trojans in a doubleheader onFriday, March 27 at the Wayne Dowhower Memorial Softball Complex.

The Knights are 10 – 18 on the season. The Knights are led offensively by Sara Villalobos with a .460 batting average. Villalobos has a .644 slugging percentage, four home runs, 20 runs and 19 runs batted in. Brittney Odum leads the Knights with six home runs and 22 runs batted in. Odum also is hitting .425 and has a .667 slugging percentage.

In the ring, the Knights pitching staff has a 3.85 team earned run average. Baileigh Oleson leads the team with a 3.19 earned run average. Oleson is 2 – 6 on the year, has allowed 31 earned runs, 27 walks, 13 home runs and has struck out 27 hitters. Shannon Lieber has a 3.60 earned run average, has allowed 23 earned runs, seven home runs and 15 walks. Lieber has struck out 46 batters and has a 3 – 6 record.

The Lady Trojans are 17 – 8 on the season. The Lady Trojans are led in hitting by Macie Christian with a .535 batting average. Christian has a .733 slugging percentage, three home runs, 28 runs and 19 runs batted in. Samantha Glover leads the Lady Trojans with five home runs and 21 runs batted in. Courtney Vigil has four home runs, batting .476 and has a .833 slugging percentage, which leads the Lady Trojans.

On the mound, the Lady Trojans are led by Demi Madalena and Jessica Salbato. Madalena is 7 – 3 on the season with a 2.95 earned run average. Madalena has allowed four home runs, 27 earned runs and nine walks. She has also struck out 49 hitters. Salbato is 7 – 3 on the season with a 3.45 earned run average. Salbato has struck out 34; allowed two home runs and has only walked nine hitters.

Times for the games are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. CDT

ESPN Radio 1410 will be broadcasting both games. They can also be heard on the internet on www.northplattepost.com. They will be live streamed on www.coachesaid.com.

ZOOperstars! To Appear At Storm Game Saturday (Video)

Posted on March 25, 2015March 25, 2015

KEARNEY, Neb. – Saturday night’s Storm game against the Fargo Force will have no shortage of entertainment both while the puck is in play and during intermission as the world famous ZOOperstars! will be performing in Kearney for the first time.

ZOOperstars! is a cast of outrageous inflatable characters that perform a combination of hilarious stunts, dances, maneuvers and tricks in huge costumes.

The characters also have clever hockey names such as Whale Gretzky, Squidney Crosby and Bobby Orrangutang.

Named one of the best halftime performances in college basketball by the Sporting News.com, the ZOOperstars! have been entertaining fans since 1998. The group has performed at hundreds of different sporting venues across the world, and has made multiple appearances on America’s Got Talent.

To learn more, click here to see a video of the ZOOperstars! performance.
Tri-City continues their six-game homestand this weekend when the Fargo comes to town for a weekend series. Friday’s game starts at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday’s contest begins at 7:05.

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

Jana Lee Petersen

Posted on March 25, 2015

Jana Lee Petersen, 55, of North Platte, passed away March 24, 2015 at her home. She was born March 19, 1960, to Robert C. and Joann (Schueler) Hill at North Platte. She graduated from the North Platte High School with the class of “78”. On June 17, 1978, Jana was united in marriage to Robert G. Petersen in North Platte. She had various hobbies including, camping, hiking, bowling league for 28 years, and various horse groups including the Sheriff’s Posse and the Velvet Spurs. Survivors include, her husband, Robert G. “Bob” Petersen of North Platte; her daughter, Melissa (Jason) Smith of Wahoo; her parents, Robert C. and Joann Hill of North Platte; brothers, Tom Hill and Ron (Regina) Hill both of North Platte; mother-in-law, Sharron (Jim) Meston of North Platte; brothers-in-law, Mike (Mary) Petersen of Lakemoor, IL, Scott (Sarah) Petersen of Pontiac, IL and Calvin Petersen of North Platte; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends. Jana was preceded in death by her grandparents; and her father-in-law, Raymond LeRoy Petersen. Memorials are suggested to Callahan Cancer Center. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 27, 2015 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with the Reverend James Novakowski as celebrant. Rosary will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 26, 2015 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with family receiving friends from 5 to 7 Thursday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.

Coroner: Ex-Chadron Official Likely Died in Horse Accident

Posted on March 25, 2015March 25, 2015

CHADRON, Neb. (AP) — Officials are investigating the death of a former Chadron city manager.

Sandra “Sandy” Powell died Sunday.

Dawes County Attorney Vance Haug, acting as county coroner, says early information shows Powell likely was killed in a horse-related accident, suffering head trauma.

Powell was city manager from April 2007 until October 2011. She then went to work for Nebraska Northwestern Railroad.

No Room for March Madness in Nebraska State Capitol

Posted on March 25, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers will have to watch the Big Dance after work.

Nebraska Chief Information Officer Brenda Decker told legislative and judicial administrators in an email that websites for streaming the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament are blocked on the Capitol’s network. Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha read the message to his colleagues on Wednesday, saying the information office has received complaints about difficulties watching games online.

Decker says the state purchases bandwidth based on normal day-to-day activities. When government employees stream lengthy video, it eats into the network’s capacity for regular state business.

Decker says the state has prevented websites from showing March Madness for at least a decade as well as other major events, including Tiger Wood’s return to public competition in the 2010 Master’s Tournament.

Chief: 75-Year-Old Man Died at Hospital After Central City Fire

Posted on March 25, 2015

CENTRAL CITY, Neb. (AP) — A 75-year-old man has died after a fire that burned his apartment at a housing complex for senior citizens in Central City.

Police Chief Mark Hogue says 75-year-old Larry Ronnfeld Sr. died of his injuries after Monday afternoon’s fire at Bader Villa. Hogue says a lit cigarette likely started the blaze.

Ronnfeld called his son for help, and his son pulled his dad from the burning apartment after arriving. They were flown to a Lincoln hospital, where the older man died. His son was treated for smoke inhalation and released.

Lincoln Public Schools to Secure School Entrances

Posted on March 25, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln Public Schools will spend more than $3 million to make sure 32 schools in the district have secured entrances.

They are the last of the district schools to have physical barriers put in place between the entrance and the rest of the school. But it may not be an easy task. Older buildings have entrances that are far from school offices, making it difficult to place security in an ideal location. Another obstacle for placing security is that many visitors use doors that are convenient than the main entrance.

The project is one of the security measures implemented after a man walked into an elementary school about a decade ago and sexually assaulted a boy in a bathroom.

The district has been securing entrances since 2006.

Feds to Investigate Safety of Lumber Liquidators Flooring

Posted on March 25, 2015

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating the safety Lumber Liquidators laminate flooring made in China.

Chairman Elliot F. Kaye said Wednesday the agency is taking the issue seriously and is working to get answers for consumers.

The move comes after a report on CBS’ “60 Minutes” earlier this month that said that Lumber Liquidators’ Chinese-made laminate flooring contains high levels of formaldehyde, a carcinogen.

The Toano, Virginia-based discount hardwood flooring retailer has said it complies with applicable regulations for its products and has reassured consumers that its flooring is safe.

Two senators have since called for investigations following the broadcast.

Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc. has more than 350 locations in North America.

Ford Recalls 213,000 Police Vehicle to Repair Door Springs

Posted on March 25, 2015

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford is recalling about 213,000 police vehicles in North America to fix springs that may not keep doors closed in a crash.

The recall affects Ford Explorer and Police Interceptor utility vehicles from the 2011 through 2013 model years.

The company traced the problem to a spring that controls the interior door handles. The spring can become unseated and may become unlatched in a side-impact crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Ford said it doesn’t know of any crashes or injuries from the problem.

Dealers will inspect all four doors and fix or replace the handles if needed, free of charge.

Ford also is recalling about 6,500 Super Duty ambulance and emergency vehicles from 2011 through 2015 with 6.7-Liter diesel engines. The exhaust gas temperature sensors can malfunction.