March 2015 – Page 69 – North Platte Post Archive

Americans Spent $58 Billion to Pamper, Protect Pets in 2014

Posted on March 5, 2015

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A pet industry trade group says Americans spent $58 billion on their pets in 2014.

The American Pet Products Association says that includes $22 billion for food, $15 billion for veterinary care and $14 billion for supplies such as bowls and beds and medicines for fleas and ticks.

The fastest growing category was “other services,” which includes grooming, boarding, walking, training, daycare and even trips to the spa, where pets can get facials and massages.

The only category that decreased was sales of animals themselves. Association President and CEO Bob Vetere says the 2 percent drop was likely caused by many reasons, including strong adoption of pets at shelters and rescues and bans on dogs from puppy mills in several cities.

Overall sales grew 4.2 percent from 2013 to 2014.

Trial Set for Columbus Mom Accused of Abusing 3-Year-Old

Posted on March 5, 2015March 5, 2015

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A June trial has been scheduled for a Columbus mother accused of physically abusing her 3-year-old daughter.

20-year-old Jodie Shelly has pleaded not guilty to two counts of felony child abuse. Her trial is set to begin on June 15.

A court document says Shelly acknowledged having an anger problem and that “she grabs her daughter too firmly when she is whining or arguing with her brother.” The document says Shelly acknowledged angrily tossing her daughter onto a couch from a few feet away in January.

The document also says Shelly’s live-in boyfriend at the time, 24-year-old Ryan Roberts, reported that he’d backhanded Shelly’s 1-year-old son in the mouth after the boy had bitten him. Roberts is awaiting trial on April 7.

Jodi Arias Won’t Be Sentenced to Death After Jury Deadlocks

Posted on March 5, 2015

PHOENIX (AP) — Convicted murderer Jodi Arias has been spared the death penalty after jurors deadlocked on whether she should be executed or sent to prison for life for killing her lover in 2008.

The decision in a Phoenix courtroom Thursday means the judge will sentence Arias on April 13 to either life in prison or a life term with the possibility of release after 25 years.

Family members of victim Travis Alexander wept when the judge announced that jurors couldn’t reach a decision after deliberating for about 26 hours over five days.

Arias’ 2013 trial became a sensation with its tawdry revelations about her relationship with Alexander and that she shot him in the head and slit his throat so deeply that he was nearly decapitated.

County Sheriffs from 3 States Sue Over Colorado Pot Law

Posted on March 5, 2015March 5, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Ten sheriffs from three different states are suing Colorado for legalizing marijuana.

The sheriffs are from Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. They say in a lawsuit filed Thursday that Colorado’s 2012 marijuana legalization vote violates federal law and shouldn’t be permitted.

The sheriffs were joined by county attorneys from Kansas and Nebraska. They are asking a U.S. District Court in Denver to nullify the marijuana amendment to Colorado’s constitution.

The lawsuit is the latest legal challenge to legal weed. Separately, Nebraska and Oklahoma have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down marijuana legalization in Colorado. The Supreme Court hasn’t said yet whether it will hear that case.

And a group of Colorado citizens have filed their own federal challenge, saying marijuana reduces property values.

Florida Mom Forces Boy to Jump from Window

Posted on March 5, 2015

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Police in St. Petersburg say a woman forced her 8-year-old son to jump out of a second-floor window before she jumped as well in an apparent suicide attempt.

Authorities say their conditions don’t appear to be life-threatening. They were taken to St. Petersburg hospitals early Thursday for further evaluation.

Police say the woman, who was armed with a shotgun, forced the child to jump at gunpoint.

Police were on the scene and an investigation was underway. No further details have been released.

So-Called Glitter Bomb Sent to US Representative Fortenberry’s Office

Posted on March 5, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry says it appears the congressman’s opposition to abortion motivated someone to send a so-called glitter bomb to his Lincoln office.

She says no one was hurt in the Wednesday prank, except some staffers now have sparkles on their clothes. The glitter-filled envelope was reported to Lincoln police, the U.S. postal inspector and the FBI.

A note was included in the envelope that read: “Congrats, you’ve earned this for trying to deny women their right to choice. Mind your own uterus.”

Lincoln police say the letter doesn’t appear threatening, but investigators will analyze it for fingerprints.

Fortenberry recently supported a House of Representatives effort to prohibit federal funding for abortions. He said people are free to disagree with him.

UNL Celebrates Groundbreaking of New $84 Million Building

Posted on March 5, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Officials are celebrating the groundbreaking of a new $84 million school building at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

A ceremony was held Wednesday for the school’s new College of Business Administration building, a 240,000-square-foot facility that’s expected to open before fall 2017.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports more than 10 out of 800 donors contributed about $1 million or more to help fund the building’s construction.

The college’s dean, Donde Plowman, thanked students, alumni, faculty, business leaders and donors for their support. She says she envisions the building as a hub of activity for the business community both on and off campus.

Lincoln Youth Baseball Coach Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Abuse

Posted on March 5, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln youth baseball coach has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of child sex abuse.

Thirty-three-year-old Jeff Hawks entered the plea on Wednesday. Hawks is accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy during private training lessons. Investigators say the child told them Hawks inappropriately touched him outside his clothing while they were alone during their sessions between August and December.

Hawks was board president of Lincoln Sox Baseball but is no longer involved with the organization.

Florida Man Brings Body to Lawyer’s Office

Posted on March 5, 2015

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — A southwest Florida man put his dead neighbor in the bed of his pickup truck and drove to his lawyer’s office claiming he’d killed the man in self-defense.

Attorney Robert Harris told the News-Press of Fort Myers that 52-year-old John Marshall showed up around 4 p.m. Wednesday, saying he didn’t know who else to trust.

Attorneys called 911 and Marshall spent hours at Harris’ office before finally leaving for the hospital around 10:30 p.m. He had a swollen lip, missing tooth and what appeared to be two broken thumbs.

According to Harris, Marshall wrestled a gun away from his neighbor and fatally shot him earlier Wednesday. The two men had apparently been in a dispute over property work.

Lee County Sheriff’s deputies declined to say whether Marshall would be arrested.

State Games of America Opening Ceremonies Feature Star-Studded Lineup

Posted on March 5, 2015March 5, 2015

The 2015 State Games of America (SGA) will begin with high-flying theatrics and patriotic flair at the Opening Ceremonies, July 31, at Memorial Stadium on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. The competition begins July 31 at sites in and around Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska, and concludes August 2.

The Army’s Golden Knights parachute team and Nebraska native Brian Deegan’s Metal Mulisha freestyle motocross daredevils will headline the event. The Golden Knights are known for their precision execution of aerial acrobatics as they fall from the sky. Metal Mulisha, featuring veteran riders Jimmy Fitzpatrick, Derek Garland and Matt Buyton, will show off their two-wheeled version of aerial acrobatics as they take off from the ground on their motocross bikes.

USA Olympic track & field and bobsled athlete Lolo Jones and Olympic wrestling gold medalist Jordan Burroughs will participate in the lighting of the SGA cauldron at the ceremonies. Jones and Burroughs have been named SGA Athlete Ambassadors and both athletes will be involved in other special events during the competition.

The Star-Spangled Banner will be performed at the ceremonies by the winner of a nationwide competition. Contestants must submit performance videos to YouTube by April 6. Judges will select five finalists and the winner will be determined by voter on the State Games of America Facebook page. Entry information is available at SGA2015.com.

Officials expect more than 20,000 total participants, including 13,000 Nebraskans and 7,000 qualifiers from across the nation. Athletes from 35 states have already registered for the ninth edition of the biennial national sports festival which features competition in 60 sports for athletes of all ages and abilities. Registration for non-Nebraska athletes closes May 15 in most sports. Nebraska athletes can register through July 1. All registered competitors receive free admission to the Opening Ceremonies.

Other Opening Ceremonies attractions include the famous Crevier Family performing unicycle and basketball stunts, mascot shenanigans and a fireworks display. More fun is planned outside of the stadium with a pre-event meal for competitors, live music and inflatable games.

The State Games of America, a property of the National Congress of State Games, was previously held in St. Louis, Missouri (1999 and 2001), Hartford, Connecticut (2003), Colorado Springs, Colorado (2005, 2007 and 2009), San Diego, California (2011) and Hershey-Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (2013). The 2015 edition, hosted by the Nebraska Sports Council, is expected to be the largest ever. The 2017 Games will be held in Grand Rapids, Mich.

More information about the State Games of America can be found at SGA2015.com and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.