March 2015 – Page 33 – North Platte Post Archive

Huskers Sweep Sycamores, Improve to 7-0 at Home

Posted on March 18, 2015

Lincoln – The Nebraska baseball (14-6, 0-0 Big Ten) team hung on to a one-run lead for the second straight day, as they completed a two-game sweep of the Indiana State Sycamores (8-9, 0-0 MVC) on Wednesday afternoon with a 3-2 victory. The Huskers are now 7-0 at Hawks Field and continue their 16-game homestand on Friday at 6:35 p.m.when they open Big Ten play with a three-game series against the Michigan Wolverines.

Hits and base runners were at a premium on Wednesday, with the two teams combining for 15 hits. Junior catcher Taylor Fish led all players with three hits, his second career three-hit game. Both pitching staff pounded the zone, as each team issued just one walk. Three Husker freshmen combined for 10 strikeouts on the afternoon, including five from starter Zack Engelken, who went 4.1 innings. Jake Meyers earned the win in 2.2 innings of relief, while Nate Fisher tossed a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts.

Senior Josh Roeder shut the door for the second straight day to notch his seventh save of the season. Roeder is now seven saves away from breaking Brett Jensen’s NU career saves record of 31.

The Huskers scored all three of their runs in the fourth inning, capped by a two-run homer from Austin Darby that landed in the visitor’s bullpen beyond the right-field wall. It was Darby’s first home run of the season and snapped an 0-for-9 slump for the senior right fielder. Scott Schreiber got the Huskers on the board earlier in the inning he delivered a deep fly ball to left field that scored Blake Headley, who led off the inning with his seventh double of the year.

The Sycamores broke in the scoring column in the fifth when Manual Estevez led off the inning with a home run. Two batters later, Meyers took over for Engelken with the tying run at the plate and promptly got a pair of outs to keep the Huskers in front 3-1.

Tyler Friis led off the eighth with a double for the Sycamores, and the Huskers turned the ball to Fisher, who gave up a RBI single to Landon Curry. Fisher then retired three straight batters, including back-to-back strikeouts to end the eighth. Roeder took the mound in the ninth and sat down Indiana State’s 6-7-8 hitters in order to complete the two-game sweep.

Following Friday’s series opener, the Huskers and Wolverines will meet at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday before wrapping up the series at 11:05 a.m. on Sunday.

NPCC Knights Softball Team Travels to McCook

Posted on March 18, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights Softball team will travel to play the McCook Community College Lady Indians at the Jaycee Sports Complex on Thursday, March 19.

The game has been designated as a Purple-Out softball game. The McCook Community College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa has teamed up with Abbee Terry and her family, the Lady Indian and Knights softball teams to make this event happen. They will be selling bracelets, hair ribbons and t-shirts. They will be auctioning off a signed softball from both McCook Community College and North Platte Community College. This will be a silent auction, so you must be present to win. There will be a donation jar at the game. All proceeds will go to the Epilepsy Foundation. Abbee will throw out the first pitch of game one.

The Knights are 10 – 14 on the season and 4 – 0 in Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference play. The Lady Indians are 20 – 6 on the season and 6 – 0 in the conference.

The Knights are led offensively by Sara Runia. Runia is batting .429 with six doubles, five home runs and 23 runs batted in. Sara Villalobos is batting .403 with three doubles, three home runs and 16 runs batted in. Brittney Odum leads the Knights with six home runs on the season. The Knights, as a team have hit 20 home runs in 24 games and have a .433 team slugging percentage.

The Knights pitching staff has a team earned run average of 6.13, led by freshman Baileigh Oleson with a 4.37 earned run average and sophomore Shannon Lieber with a 5.81 earned run average.

The Lady Indians started the season 4 – 6 but have reeled off 16 straight wins. They are led offensively by sophomore Miranda Santiago with a .482 batting average. Santiago also has seven doubles, two home runs and 30 runs batted in. Robin Harrison leads the Lady Indians with four home runs.

The Lady Indian pitching staff is led by Harrison who has a 1.87 earned run average in 15 appearances. McKenzie Bilger with a 2.39 earned run average in seven appearances. The Lady Indians have a team earned run average of 2.49.

Game times are at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. CDT and may be seen on www.coachesaid.com.

NPCC Knights Softball Game Time Changes against Williston

Posted on March 18, 2015

The game times between the North Platte Community College Knights softball team and Williston State College on Friday and Saturday have been changed.

The Friday games have been moved to noon and 2:00 p.m.. The games on Saturday have been cancelled. The games will not be made up.

Storm To Don Special Jerseys For Concrete Cares

Posted on March 18, 2015

KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm will wear specialty jerseys Saturday against the Des Moines Buccaneers as part of Concrete Cares Night presented by Kearney Concrete.

The uniforms, which will be auctioned on EBay, were designed by Kyle Poff of Kearney Concrete. Proceeds from the auction will go to Concrete Cares of Nebraska, which helps cancer stricken patients in the state of Nebraska who are in need of assistance.

Kearney Concrete is also sponsoring a puck giveaway for the first 1,000 fans through the doors of the Viaero Event Center on Saturday night.

Now in its second year, Concrete Cares of Nebraska has raised nearly $10,000, mostly coming through an annual event at The Archway in Kearney.

The original vision for the organization came from Mike Murray with Decorative Concrete Supply Company in Shawnee, Kan. He hoped to raise awareness of breast cancer by placing pink concrete nationwide, in hopes that by installing something pink and permanent, the concrete industry could show how much they care.

Earlier this month, Kearney Concrete was awarded the 2015 Concrete Cares Award by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association.

The Poff family is preparing for a third-annual event this September, once again at The Archway in Kearney.

Unfortunately Poff himself is struggling with the disease, currently undergoing treatment for an acute leukemia blood cancer known as AML. Poff underwent a blood transplant nine days ago and is unable to attend the game.

The EBay auctions for the Concrete Cares jerseys are scheduled to run from Friday until Monday, March 23 at 12:00 p.m. The Storm will provide more information on the auction this weekend via the team’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Tri-City has a chance to clinch a playoff berth this weekend, facing Des Moines in a two-game series. Friday’s contest begins at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday’s is 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.

Storm Raise Funds For Ag Scholarship

Posted on March 18, 2015

KEARNEY, Neb. – During the annual Ag Appreciation Night last Saturday, the Tri-City Storm raised $622 for the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Scholarship Fund.

The KACC Ag Committee scholarship will go to a current high school senior wishing to pursue a career in agriculture.

For the third consecutive year the Storm partnered with the chamber and committee members to provide a rebate on a percentage of tickets purchased.

A reception sponsored by Landmark Implement was held prior to the game with over 150 attendees.

Corporations that helped contribute to this fund include Bank of the West, Contryman & Associates, CW Farms, Edward Jones, Farm Credit Services, First National Bank, Heartland Bank, Landmark Implement, NebraskaLand National Bank, NU Tech Seed, Town & Country Bank, and UNL Extension.

Tri-City is currently at the top of the USHL’s Western Conference with 70 points, one ahead of second place Sioux City.

The Storm will have a chance to clinch a playoff berth this weekend, hosting Des Moines for two games. Friday’s contest begins at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday’s is 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.

Ricketts Signs Nebraska Carbon Monoxide Bill

Posted on March 18, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has signed a law to require carbon monoxide detectors in many new homes, starting in 2017.

The new law approved on Wednesday will require the detectors in any residence sold, rented or issued a building permit on or after Jan. 1, 2017.

Sen. Sara Howard of Omaha has said she introduced the measure in response to past carbon monoxide deaths and close calls.

The city of Wahoo became one of the first in Nebraska to require detectors in 2006, after a father and son died in their home from poisoning.

Carbon monoxide has no color, smell or taste, and produces symptoms often mistaken for the flu.

Nebraska Abortion Rights Supporters Fear Bill Limits Clinics

Posted on March 18, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Supporters and opponents of abortion rights are clashing over a bill that would impose tougher regulations on Nebraska’s three abortion centers.

A legislative committee heard testimony Wednesday on a measure that would reclassify facilities that perform five or more abortions a month as ambulatory surgical centers.

Advocates say the measure by Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha is a women’s health initiative, but opponents say it’s a veiled attempt to limit access to abortions. McCoy is an outspoken abortion opponent.

Senators also heard testimony on a bill by Papillion Sen. Bill Kintner that would require abortion clinics to post signs reiterating the importance of informed consent.

Neither bill has a priority designation, limiting the chances that either will pass this year.

Nebraska Bill Would End Fathers’ Rights in Rape Cases

Posted on March 18, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The biological fathers of children conceived through a sexual assault would lose their parental rights under a proposal reviewed by Nebraska lawmakers.

Sen. Tommy Garrett of Bellevue presented the proposal to the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Garrett says women who are sexually assaulted often feel pressure to terminate their pregnancy or put the child up for adoption to keep their assailant out of their lives.

Garrett says 29 other states have passed laws to end fathers’ parental rights in rape cases. Supporters of the bill say 25,000 to 32,000 pregnancies occur because of rapes each year.

Garrett says the bill allows fathers to reclaim parental rights if their convictions are overturned. He says the bill still needs some work, but creates important protections for women.

Francis Dale McFarland

Posted on March 18, 2015March 19, 2015

Francis Dale McFarland, 87, of North Platte, passed away March 17, 2015 at Centennial Park Retirement Village. He was born July 11, 1927 to Asa O. and Edna L. (Miller) McFarland at St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island, NE. Dale served in the United States Merchant Marine during WWII until his honorable discharge and later served in the National Guard in North Platte. On November 25, 1946, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Jean Macomber in Kansas and to this union three sons were born. Dale was proud of his sons and their accomplishments. In 1948, he was hired at the Union Pacific Railroad as a switchman, yardmaster and retiring as a brakeman in 1992. On May 6, 1983, Dale married Florence “Susie” Arnold. He enjoyed dancing and playing pool on the Brothers Pool Team. He is survived by his three sons, James (Kim) McFarland of Lincoln, NE, Robert (Roselyn) McFarland of North Platte, NE and Mark (Marcia) McFarland of Albion, NE; 9 grandchildren, Doug McFarland of Lincoln, NE, Jamie McFarland of New York; R. Brian (Stephanie) McFarland of Concrete, OR, Greg (Heather) McFarland of Lee Summit, MO, Jody (Travis) Lawson of Pleasant Hill, CA, Keri (Steve) Dowler of Merriam, KS, Staci (Mike) Kelly of Lawton, IA, Leslie (Andrew) Feeney of Omaha, NE and Jana (Brent) Turner of Grant, NE; numerous great grandchildren; and a sister, Virginia Decker of Kearney. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Florence “Susie” McFarland; and a brother, Donald McFarland, Sr. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Memorials are suggested to the North Platte Public Schools Foundation or Down Syndrome Foundation. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 23, 2015 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.

NSP Investigating Death of Yutan Woman

Posted on March 18, 2015

The Nebraska State Patrol in conjunction with the Saunders County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation.

Around 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, on March 18, the Saunders County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a body found on the east side of the community of Yutan.

On their arrival, authorities discovered the body of a white female lying beneath a railroad bridge located just off of Highway 92.

The body has been identified as that of Nancy Cummins, 56, of Yutan.

“Upon initial investigation the death does not appear to be suspicious in nature,” said Nebraska State Patrol Lt. Robert Frank. “An autopsy will be conducted tomorrow to determine cause of death.”