March 2015 – Page 77 – North Platte Post Archive

Bleacher Replacement Begins at NPCC

Posted on March 2, 2015

The third and final phase of a $1.6 million remodeling project is underway in the North Platte Community College McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

Work to replace the bleachers, which are more than 40-years-old, started Monday. The plan is to install new bleachers, including some chairs with backrests, to enhance the viewing experience during sporting, educational and cultural events. The upgrades will also bring the seating into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“Following the bleachers, we plan to refinish the floor of the court and add a new scoreboard – along with new recognition for our sponsors and donors to our athletic programs,” said Carol Bodeen, area director of development for Mid-Plains Community College. “The area outside the concession stand will be refurbished with trophy cases, and donor recognition plaques will be added.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $338,000. The cost of just the bleachers and their installation is $229,000. According to Bodeen, almost $220,000 has been raised through donations and grants so far. That has enabled the project to move forward.

“Bleachers will be installed by commencement day, May 8,” said Bodeen. “We would like to finish the rest of the renovations by fall. We are very hopeful that we will reach our total fundraising goal to make that happen.”

Those interested in contributing to the project can contact Bodeen at 535-3681 or bodeenc@mpcc.edu.

SEC’s Slive Leery of Making Freshman Athletes Ineligible

Posted on March 2, 2015

Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive says it would be best to wait until after the NCAA’s initial eligibility rules take effect in 2016 before considering whether to limit freshmen eligibility.

Slive said in a statement Monday if the goal is to improve graduation rates and grade-point averages, “we have to remember that each college student has his or her own academic challenges.”

He added: “To put a blanket over these student-athletes with a year on the bench doesn’t address those individual needs to incentivize academic progress. ”

Slive said many students do come to college prepared to compete both academically and athletically.

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany has said he wants his conference to consider making freshmen ineligible in football and men’s basketball.

No. 1 Kokesh Leads Huskers in Big Ten Pre-Seeds

Posted on March 2, 2015

Five Huskers earned top-five pre-seeds for this weekend’s Big Ten Championships when the conference announced them on Monday.

Senior Robert Kokesh, a two-time All-American, leads Nebraska with the top spot at 174 pounds. Kokesh holds a perfect 30-0 record this season and is one of eight top contenders for the WIN Magazine/Culture House Dan Hodge Trophy.

Three-time All-American James Green is the No. 3 seed at 157 pounds. Both Kokesh and Green captured Big Ten titles last season before earning top-four finishes at the NCAA Championships.

Additional Huskers in the top five include Anthony Abidin (No. 3 seed at 141 pounds), Tim Lambert (No. 4 at 125) and Aaron Studebaker (No. 5 at 197). TJ Dudley (No. 6 at 184), Justin Arthur (No. 7 at 149), Eric Montoya (No. 9 at 133), Austin Wilson (No. 9 at 165) and Collin Jensen (No. 10 at heavyweight) also garnered top-10 pre-seeds.

Nebraska finished the dual season with a 14-1 mark, which tied the school record for fewest dual losses in a season. NU posted an 8-1 record in Big Ten duals, which marked its best since joining the conference in 2011. The Huskers ended the season on a 10-match winning streak and also posted a 5-0 mark against ranked opponents.

The Big Ten Championships begin on Saturday at 9 a.m. (CT) at St. John Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Session II is slated for a 5 p.m. start on Saturday. Sunday’s action will consist of Session III, which starts at noon, and Session IV, which is set for 2 p.m. The first three sessions will be streamed on BTN Plus (subscription required), and the final session will be broadcasted live on the Big Ten Network.

Nebraska Pre-Seeds for Big Ten Championships
125: #4 Tim Lambert
133: #9 Eric Montoya
141: #3 Anthony Abidin
149: #7 Justin Arthur
157: #3 James Green
165: #9 Austin Wilson
174: #1 Robert Kokesh
184: #6 TJ Dudley
197: #5 Aaron Studebaker
HWT: #10 Collin Jensen

Broncos Place Franchise Tag on Demaryius Thomas

Posted on March 2, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have placed their franchise tag on star receiver Demaryius Thomas, guaranteeing him roughly $12.8 million next season and buying them more time to work out a long-term deal.

General manager John Elway used that same tactic before re-signing kicker Matt Prater and left tackle Ryan Clady before training camp in recent years.

Selected 22nd overall in 2010 out of Georgia Tech, Thomas has made the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons with Peyton Manning at quarterback.

Thomas could always signal his displeasure with the move by waiting to sign the tender and skipping offseason workouts that begin the first week of April. If Thomas doesn’t sign a long-term contract, the Broncos could use the franchise tag on him again next year.

Chiefs Place Franchise Tag on All-Pro Houston

Posted on March 2, 2015March 2, 2015

The Kansas City Chiefs have placed the franchise tag on All-Pro pass rusher Justin Houston.

The Chiefs announced the move on Monday, saying in a statement that “it was in the best interest of the club” and it pursues a long-term deal with Houston.

Monday’s move was widely expected given the relatively little progress Kansas City has made with Houston and his representatives on a long-term deal.

The two sides still have until July 15 to negotiate a contract, and it is not certain whether Houston will immediately sign his tender. As an outside linebacker, the one-year deal would earn him about $13.1 million for the upcoming season.

The Chiefs likely will need to make additional moves soon to free up salary cap space.

NFL Salary Cap Increases $10 Million to Top $143 Million

Posted on March 2, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL’s salary cap is going up $10 million to $143.28 million for the 2015 season.

All 32 teams and the players’ union were notified Monday of the increase, the second straight season the cap went up by at least $10 million. Adding in benefits, the league says the projected player costs will be $180.775 million per team.

The NFL’s business year starts March 10, when free agency begins.

The salary cap is determined by a series of NFL revenue streams, with the players receiving 46 percent to 48 percent of those revenues, depending on the year.

Kentucky No. 1, Change Hits Rest of AP Top 25

Posted on March 2, 2015

Kentucky remains the unanimous No. 1 during a tumultuous week in The Associated Press Top 25.

The Wildcats (29-0) received all 65 first-place votes from a media panel on Monday.

Virginia remained at No. 2, but the next three spots changed after Gonzaga and Wisconsin lost.

Duke moved up one to No. 3, Villanova climbed two spots to No. 4 and Arizona was up two to No. 5.

Wisconsin dropped at spot to No. 6 and Gonzaga fell four places to No. 7.

Wichita State moved back into the top 10 at No. 8 and Kansas dropped to No. 9 after losing to Kansas State.

Maryland moved into the top 10 for the first time since 2003 and No. 25 Murray State is ranked for the first time since 2012.

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through March 1, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week’s ranking:

	Record	Pts	Prv
1. Kentucky (65)	29-0	1,625	1
2. Virginia	27-1	1,547	2
3. Duke	26-3	1,501	4
4. Villanova	27-2	1,417	6
5. Arizona	26-3	1,338	7
6. Wisconsin	26-3	1,318	5
7. Gonzaga	29-2	1,244	3
8. Wichita St.	27-3	1,104	11
9. Kansas	23-6	1,087	8
10. Maryland	24-5	1,035	14
11. N. Iowa	27-3	908	10
12. Notre Dame	24-5	879	9
13. Utah	22-6	823	13
14. Baylor	22-7	801	19
15. Oklahoma	20-8	759	16
16. Louisville	23-6	728	17
17. Iowa St.	20-8	536	12
18. Arkansas	23-6	515	18
19. North Carolina	20-9	435	15
20. West Virginia	22-7	389	20
21. Butler	21-8	359	23
22. SMU	23-6	210	21
23. Ohio St.	21-8	114	—
24. Providence	20-9	91	25
25. Murray St.	26-4	79	—

Others receiving votes: Dayton 61, Boise St. 53, Oregon 33, St. John’s 27, BYU 21, Texas A&M 20, Davidson 18, Georgetown 13, Colorado St. 7, San Diego St. 7, Tulsa 7, LSU 6, Rhode Island 3, VCU 3, Stephen F. Austin 2, Valparaiso 2.

February Report: Economic Growth Likely in Midwest, Plains

Posted on March 2, 2015March 2, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new report suggests economic growth is ahead for nine Midwestern and Plains states.

The survey report issued Monday says the overall Mid-America Business Conditions Index climbed to 57.0 in February from 54.8 in January.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the regional growth is likely although areas “linked closely to the energy sector, including ethanol, are experiencing pullbacks in economic activity.”

The survey results from supply managers are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth, while a score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Iowa Middle School Teacher Arrested on Sexual Abuse Charges

Posted on March 2, 2015

UNDERWOOD, Iowa (AP) — A teacher at an Iowa middle school has been arrested on charges related to a claim that he sexually abused a former female student.

Pottawattamie County officials say 45-year-old Barret B. Glasnapp turned himself in Monday on an arrest warrant of four counts of sexual abuse, one count of felony sexual exploitation by a school employee and five misdemeanor counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee.

Authorities say Glasnapp’s interaction began in 2011 when the student was 14, after her eighth-grade year, and continued until October. She was a student of Glasnapp from 2009 until 2012.

According to an affidavit, an investigator assigned to follow up on a report of a sexual assault at Underwood Middle School in December found that Glasnapp had resigned from his post in November.

Seward Woman Busted Driving 116 MPH While Drunk

Posted on March 2, 2015

A traffic stop of a vehicle being operated in a reckless manner on Interstate 80 just west of Lincoln led to the arrest of a Seward woman for Driving While Intoxicated.

On Monday morning, March 2, the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) Headquarters Troop-Lincoln was conducting traffic enforcement in the Pleasant Dale area. Around 9:00 a.m., the NSP aircraft clocked a black vehicle traveling 116 mph on westbound I-80 near the Milford Exit. A trooper stopped the vehicle, a 2015 Ford Fusion, one mile west of the Milford interchange.

The driver of the vehicle, Andree D. Cable, 39, of Seward was taken into custody and lodged in the Seward County Jail on charges to include, Driving While Intoxicated 2^nd Offense, Willful Reckless Driving and Speeding.