BROKEN BOW, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 72-year-old man has died after an accident along Nebraska Highway 70 in Custer County.
The accident occurred Thursday about nine miles east of Broken Bow. The Sheriff’s Office says an eastbound pickup ran across the highway into a roadside ditch, hit a culvert and then rolled onto its top.
The driver was identified as Richard Keefe, of Sargent.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Parents are voicing concern about a grant that would bring new federal money to Wakonda Elementary in Omaha, but would require that half the school’s teachers and its principal to be replaced.
Omaha Public Schools’ administrators are applying for the federal school improvement grant that would give the school, which is listed as one of the state’s lowest-achieving, about $1 million over three years for student improvement.
Superintendent Mark Evans told parents at a meeting Thursday that the principal has decided to retire, and that a replacement would be hired if the is approved. Teachers would also have to reapply for their jobs, but only half of them would be rehired.
Many parents are worried their children will have trouble adjusting to new faces and teaching styles.
LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — A man who was convicted of shooting at an unoccupied Custer County Sheriff’s Office cruiser has been given a new, shorter sentence and his likely release from prison.
Trent Esch was found guilty in 2013. Last year the Nebraska Appeals Court cited faulty jury instructions in tossing out Esch’s criminal mischief sentence and his weapons conviction.
In February the Nebraska Supreme Court agreed that Esch should not have been found guilty of the weapons count in his second trial, because prosecutors didn’t present any evidence. He’d been given five to seven years on the weapons count, 20 to 36 months for criminal mischief.
Esch was resentenced to 20 to 36 months and given credit for 710 days served, which satisfied his sentence.
The Chiefs are bringing back linebacker Josh Mauga on a three-year deal, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Friday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the decision.
The move to retain Mauga, a pending free agent, came one day after the Chiefs parted ways with veteran linebacker Joe Mays. Mauga will likely start at middle linebacker alongside Derrick Johnson, who missed nearly all of last season with a torn Achilles tendon.
Mauga started every game last season in part due to injuries.
The Chiefs, who have been strapped for cash, cleared salary cap space Friday by releasing veteran defensive tackle Vance Walker. He signed a $13 million, three-year deal last offseason.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have tendered their three exclusive rights free agents, a group led by top tackler Brandon Marshall, who will receive $585,000 in 2015. Tackle Paul Cornick and guard Ben Garland will each receive $510,000.
The Broncos have two more restricted free agents in cornerback Tony Carter and linebacker Steven Johnson, and they must make a decision on them by the start of free agency Tuesday.
Marshall is a fourth-year pro and was a first-time starter last season. He led the Broncos with 110 tackles in 14 games despite missing the final 2 1-2 games with a sprained right foot that also hampered him in the playoffs. He posted 88 solo tackles, two sacks, an interception, nine pass breakups and one forced fumble.
The North Platte Community College Knights basketball team will play Northwest College in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region IX semifinals on Friday, March 6 in Powell, Wyoming.
The winner of the game will move on to play in the finals on Saturday against the winner of the Northeastern Junior College and Gillette College game. The winners of both semifinal games will qualify for the NJCAA Division I National Men’s Basketball Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas starting March 16.
Northwest, in the regular season was the top seed in the North Sub-region of Region IX. The Trappers have a 28 – 4 record and are ranked 15th in the country in the latest NJCAA Division I poll.
They average 98 points per game and have two players who average over 20 points per game. Christopher Boucher and William Desilien, both from Quebec, Canada are averaging 22.7 and 20.7 points per game respectively. Boucher, who is 6’ 10” also leads the Trappers in rebounding with 11.2 rebounds per game. Other players averaging in double-figures for the Trappers are EJ Hubbard, 11.3 points per game, and Daryle Morgan, 10.9 points per game.
The Knights, who are now 24-8 are led in scoring by Cameron Williams with a 21 points per game average. Williams has 1112 career points which ranks him seventh on the Knights all-time scoring list. Other Knights averaging in double-figures are Marco Pascolo, 10.6 points per game, and Shyquinn Dix, 10.5 points per game. Pascolo has 635 career points and needs 27 points to tie Rusty Wintermote, who played from 1984 -1986, for 50th on the all-time Knights scoring list.
Game time is slated for an 8:00 p.m. CST tip-off in Powell, WY. The game can be heard on ESPN Radio 1410 or online at www.northplattepost.com.
The game is also being live streamed at www.nwc.edu/regionix.
LYONS, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say employees have escaped a massive fire at a longtime tractor salvage business in northeast Nebraska.
The fire at Northeast Tractor Salvage in Lyons was reported about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Lyons Fire Chief Kyle Simonsen said the rear portion of the shop was engulfed in flames when firetrucks pulled up.
Seven more fire departments were called in to help battle what Simonsen said was the biggest local fire he could recall. Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about three hours, but hot spots flared up Wednesday night and had to be doused.
The fire cause is being investigated.
The North Platte Community College Knights softball team will be at home for the first time this season when they play the Colby Community College Lady Trojans in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 8 at the Dowhower Softball Complex.
The Knights are 1 – 9 on the season. Offensively they are led by Shannon Lieber, who is batting 0.345 in 29 at bats. Lieber has had five doubles and one home run for a slugging percentage of 0.621. She has also batted in six runs. The Knights have hit six home runs on the season: two by Sara Villalobos; two by Brittney Odum and one each by Lieber and Sara Runia. Villalobos and Odum lead the team in runs batted in with eight.
Lieber also is the leader on the Knights pitching staff. She has a record of 0 – 4 with a 4.26 earned run average. She has 12 strikeouts and has only walked four batters.
The Lady Trojans are 7 – 4 on the season. They have defeated the Knights in the first two games of the season 6 – 4 and 3 – 0. They are led at the plate by Shelbi Day with a 0.452 batting average with a double and two triples. The Lady Trojans have had three home runs this season. One each by Tanner Harvey, Sarah Churchwell and Tahnee Saxton.
Mara Nash and Abby Martin have anchored the Lady Trojan pitching staff. Nash has a 2 – 2 record with a 2.41 earned run average with 31 strikeouts. Martin is 3 – 1 with a 5.73 earned run average and 11 strikeouts.
Game times are at noon and 2:00 pm CDT. They may be viewed at www.coachesaid.com.
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche will be without Nathan MacKinnon for at least six weeks after the speedy forward broke his foot, the team announced Friday.
The talented teenager could possibly return to the ice this season if the Avs make the playoffs. Colorado is currently outside of the Western Conference postseason picture.
No further details were provided by the team.
MacKinnon has 14 goals and 24 assists in his sophomore season. He had 63 points a year ago when he was the rookie of the year.
It’s been a tumultuous past few days for the 19-year-old MacKinnon. He broke his nose against Minnesota last Saturday, forcing him to wear a longer shield in a win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday. He scored a goal with his skate in that contest.
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Royals reliever Tim Collins will seek a second opinion after an MRI exam revealed ligament damage in his left elbow, while second baseman Omar Infante was headed for his own MRI because of continued soreness in his right elbow.
Collins, who left his spring training debut Wednesday, will be evaluated again in about two weeks. The Royals will decide then whether he needs Tommy John surgery.
Collins was competing to be the situational left-hander in the Kansas City bullpen.
Infante has been dealing with elbow soreness since last season. He was expected to start the Royals’ game against Cleveland on Friday at designated hitter, but will instead have tests to try to determine the nature and severity of his injury.
