March 2015 – Page 32 – North Platte Post Archive

NPCC Knights Softball to Host Williston State

Posted on March 19, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights softball team will host the Williston State College Lady Tetons in a doubleheader on Friday, March 20 at the Wayne Dowhower Memorial Softball Complex.

The Knights, who are 10 – 14 on the season, are led at the plate by Sara Runia with a .452 batting average and a .729 slugging percentage. Runia has six doubles and five home runs, which is currently tied for 13^th in the nation. Brittney Odum leads the Lady Knights in home runs with six, which is tied for 10^th in the nation.

The Knights as a team has hit 20 home runs in 24 games. The 20 home runs is seventh in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division One team home runs.

The Knights pitching staff has a 6.13 earned run average and is led by freshman Baileigh Oleson with a 4.37 earned run average. Sophomore Shannon Lieber has a 5.81 earned run average and has struck out 40 opposing hitters, which is tied for 31^st in the nation.

The Lady Tetons are 5 – 7 on the season. They are led in hitting by Myria Riffel with a .463 batting average. Riffel has two doubles and one triple along with five runs batted in. Martina Marquardt and Emily Cairns lead the Lady Tetons in home runs with two each. Cairns also leads the team with 15 runs batted in.

The Lady Tetons pitching staff has a 3.22 team earned run average. They are led by Jalen Creech with a 3.00 earned run average in 39.2 innings pitched. Creech has two wins and two losses on the season.

The times of the games have changed from the printed schedule to noon and 2:00 p.m. The games may be seen on www.coachesaid.com.

As a reminder, the games on Saturday between the same two teams have been cancelled.

Thomas Ray Beckius “Tom”

Posted on March 19, 2015

Thomas Ray Beckius “Tom”, age 75, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and uncle passed away Monday March 16, 2015. Tom was born in North Platte, Nebraska on August 7, 1939 to the late J. Paul and Cecilia (Davis) Beckius. He graduated from St. Patrick’s High School with the class of 1957. Following high school, Tom enlisted in the United States Navy in Omaha, Nebraska on February 28, 1958; he served our country proudly and held rank in Fundamental Aviation until February 27, 1962, when he was honorably discharged. After serving in the military Tom continued to serve through the Fire Department, starting his career at Denver, CO, with 25+ years of service, retiring from the Orlando Fire Department.

Tom was united in marriage to Anna Tochet` in 1960. Their union was blessed with an only child, Tim. Tom later married Juanita Griner and four step children were added to his family.

Tom is survived by his wife, Juanita Beckius; his son, Tim Beckius of Shreveport, LA, two granddaughters Amy Gauther and family of Boyce, LA. and Megan Crews and family of Shreveport, LA; brother, Jerry (Sharon) Beckius of North Platte; his step children, Elaine Barton, Jack Eldon Griner Jr, Joyce Chancellor, and David Griner; 8 step grand-children; 21 step great-grandchildren; and two nephews, Chris and Court Beckius of North Platte.

He was preceded in death by his parents, J. Paul & Cecilia Beckius; and a niece, Heather Beckius.

Funeral Services for Tom were held at the Church at South Lake, Clermont. Interment was at Oak Hill Cemetery, Clermont.

Deputies: Alcohol Appears to Be Factor in Rural Lincoln County Crash

Posted on March 19, 2015March 19, 2015

Deputies say alcohol use is suspected in an early morning crash in Lincoln County.

At around 1:18 a.m., on Thursday, deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to an injury accident near the intersection of East Swanson Road and South Gilman Road, in rural Lincoln County.

An investigation revealed that a Ford F-250, driven by 22-year-old Warren Schultz, of Gothenburg, was traveling on Gilman Road and failed to negotiate a curve.

The vehicle left the roadway and rolled several times.

Deputies say neither Schultz or his passenger, 20-year-old Abigail Hanson, of Seward, were wearing their seatbelts. Schultz was ejected from the vehicle.

Both Schultz and Hanson were transported to a Gothenburg hospital with serious injuries.

Deputies say it does appear that alcohol was a factor in the crash.

The investigation is ongoing.

The conditions of Schultz and Hanson are unknown at this time.

North Platte Woman Killed in Crash with Semi

Posted on March 19, 2015March 19, 2015

A 61-year-old North Platte woman has died following an accident south of North Platte.

At around 8:33 p.m., on Wednesday, deputies with Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of an injury accident at the intersection of North Lake Road and US Highway 83.

Deputies and troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrived and found that two vehicles were involved in the crash, a 2003 Peterbilt semi, pulling an empty trailer, and a 2011 Hyundai Sonata.

According to deputies, the driver of the Hyundai, Celestina “Tina” Mohr, was turning north onto Highway 83, and didn’t see the southbound semi in the passing lane.

Deputies say the semi struck Mohr’s vehicle on the driver’s side.

Mohr, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was transported to Great Plains Health, where she died shortly after arrival.

Authorities say it does not appear that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash.

The driver of the semi was not injured.

The investigation into the accident is ongoing.

Great Plains Health to Host Month of Madness & Men’s Health Event at Wild Bill’s

Posted on March 19, 2015

March marks a month of madness in sports, and Great Plains Health sees an opportunity to use the captivated male audience to talk about men’s health issues.

On Thursday, March 19 from 6 to 7 p.m., Great Plains Health is hosting the Month of Madness & Men’s Health event at Wild Bills Wings & Bowling in North Platte.

The event is designed to engage men in the importance of taking care of their health, but doing so in a way that taps into their love of sports. The event will be held in a casual and informal setting with the opportunity to watch the NCAA tournament on the big screen TVs. Brief health information sessions will be presented by:

Mark Nielsen, MD, an internal medicine physician with Midlands Family Medicine, who will be sharing information regarding general men’s health, prevention and screenings
Arshad Ali, MD, an interventional cardiologist with Great Plains Heart & Vascular Center, will discuss heart health and cardiac event symptoms
Michael Gallentine, MD, a urologist with Great Plains Urology, will provide an overview of men’s urologic health

The event is offered to community free of charge and no registration is required. Complimentary wings and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. The event is part of the Great Plains Health GPFit! initiative developed last year as part of the health system’s focus on improving health in the region.

“Our goal is to provide opportunities in the communities we serve to help inspire health and wellness.” said Fiona Libsack, vice president of marketing and support services. “If we can make an impact through helping others see the many benefits associated with living a healthier lifestyle, then our GPFit! initiative will be successful.”

Colorado Woman Accused of Cutting Baby from Pregnant Woman’s Womb

Posted on March 19, 2015

LONGMONT, Colo. (AP) — Police in northern Colorado have arrested a 34-year-old woman accused of stabbing a pregnant woman in the stomach and removing her baby.

The baby didn’t survive.

Officers were called to a home Wednesday afternoon and found the pregnant woman stabbed and beaten. She underwent surgery at a hospital and is expected to recover.

Satur says the suspect arrived at the hospital with the baby and told staff she had suffered a miscarriage.

Investigators have not released the names of the suspect and the pregnant woman but say they did not know each other.

Satur didn’t say what charges the suspect might face.

Police were getting a search warrant for the suspect’s home Wednesday evening.

North Platte Weather-March 19

Posted on March 19, 2015

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Light northwest wind becoming north northwest 8 to 13 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 74. West southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. West wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 74. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.

Yard Goats is Rockies Affiliate Hartford’s New Minor League Team Name

Posted on March 18, 2015

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Hartford’s new minor league baseball team will be the Yard Goats.

Team and city officials announced the name Wednesday, complete with two goats, after a contest to rebrand the former New Britain Rock Cats.

The Colorado Rockies’ Double-A affiliate will begin playing in Hartford next year in a new ballpark just north of downtown.

About 6,000 fan suggestions were winnowed down to the railroad name for an engine the moves cars in a rail yard. The team said that fits a minor league team that works “away from the big city lights” to keep a major league affiliate on track.

Anthony Castora, a UConn graduate from New Jersey, entered the winning name, which he said he heard from his railroad buff father-in-law.

The other finalists: Hedgehogs, Praying Mantis, River Hogs, and Whirlybirds.

Nebraska’s Riley Must Pick and Choose what Offense Can Do

Posted on March 18, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — New Nebraska coach Mike Riley says he has a hunch the entirety of his pro-style offense won’t be game-ready come fall.

Riley said Wednesday that he and his staff will spend next week’s spring break studying practice video and paring back the number of plays they’ll work on the rest of the spring practice.

He said he wants to head into the fall with his offense “pretty good at a few things and not average at a whole bunch of stuff.”

Riley said the quarterbacks need to complete a higher percentage and cut down on interceptions.

Presumptive starter Tommy Armstrong Jr. stood on the sideline for Wednesday’s practice because of tightness and spasms in his lower back.

Husker Offense Continues Learning Curve

Posted on March 18, 2015

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team completed its seventh practice of the 2015 spring football season on Wednesday afternoon. The Huskers practices for just over two hours outside on the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice fields in full pads.

Nebraska Head Coach Mike Riley spoke with media members following practice, as he mentioned that the Husker quarterback corps has been doing really well learning all of the new commands in Riley’s offense.

“I think the quarterbacks have done a nice job of having a lot to learn and making some plays. I guess it’s remarkably like practice for me, some of it looks good, some of it doesn’t,” he said. “You go back and look at the film, but you know what, for the most part considering learning a new language—even the stuff as simple as a new cadence—I think they have done ok.”

Riley added that the Husker quarterbacks need to cut down on some of their interceptions before the annual Red-White Spring Game. Riley mentioned that location of the football and making good choices with the football are the keys to cut down on the interceptions and make good quarterbacks.

During practice Wednesday, things got a little chippy during the scrimmage portion of the Husker practice. Riley loved the team’s intensity during practice, but said that the team needs to be smart, as some of their actions can result in personal foul penalties.

“I like the spirit, but I think that you have to practice self-control because that is a penalty plus you get kicked out,” Riley said. “You are just practicing something that is bad for your team, so we don’t have that.”

Junior quarterback Tommy Armstrong sat out practice Wednesday. According to Riley, Armstrong has been battling a minor back injury that should not keep him off the field for long.

“He has had some lower back (spasms) so he has had a hard time, he has struggled through a couple of practices with it, so we just decided to keep him out today,” Riley said.

Overall, Riley said he is pretty impressed with the Huskers spring practice season so far, noting the team still has a long way to go, as the evaluation process continues.

“I think that it is interesting, I am impressed with a lot of the volume that we have in, I am not yet impressed with how we execute it all yet. I think we are going to now have to be very selective on the rest of spring and what we do for fall camp.”

Nebraska returns to the practice field on Friday for its eighth workout of the spring. Check back at Huskers.com for updates.