May 2015 – Page 35 – North Platte Post Archive

Bayer CropScience Opens $17 Million Research Station in Nebraska

Posted on May 14, 2015

BEAVER CROSSING, Neb. (AP) — Bayer CropScience hopes its new $17 million research station in Seward County will create wheat and soybean varieties that are more resistant to disease and drought.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday for the 53,000-square-foot facility situated on 400 acres of farmland between Goehner and Beaver Crossing.

A company official says 14 employees work full-time at the station. It’s expected to have up to 25 people working full-time, plus interns and seasonal employees for harvest and planting.

Gov. Pete Ricketts spoke at the opening and thanked Bayer CropScience for investing in the state. He noted that Nebraska is the eighth largest wheat producing state, with around 1.5 million acres harvested in 2014.

Judge: 13-Year-Old Competent to Stand Trial in Fatal Stabbing of 9-Year-Old

Posted on May 14, 2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A judge says a 13-year-old boy is competent for trial in the fatal stabbing of a 9-year-old boy at a western Michigan playground.

The decision by Kent County Family Court Judge Paul Denenfeld is in line with a state expert’s finding. It conflicts with the opinion from an expert hired by the boy’s lawyer that the child couldn’t sufficiently understand the charges and aid in his defense.

Defense lawyer Charles Boekeloo tells The Grand Rapids Press he plans an insanity defense. Trial is set to start July 15.

The boy is charged with murder in the death in August of Michael Verkerke at a playground in Kentwood, near Grand Rapids.

The Associated Press isn’t naming the boy because of his age. He was 12 at the time of the killing.

Panama City Bans Beach Drinking During Spring Break

Posted on May 14, 2015

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Panama City Beach leaders have voted to ban beach drinking during the month of March as part of larger crackdown on spring break partying.

The city council approved the ban on beach drinking Tuesday during a special meeting to address spring break issues.

The News Herald (https://bit.ly/1HhKIi3) reports that the city and the county are considering additional measures to curtail spring break rowdiness after seven partygoers were shot and injured at a spring break party this year.

Local officials say they want to clean up the city’s image after negative publicity from the shootings and an alleged sexual assault that happened during other spring break festivities on the beach behind a popular nightclub.

Man Taken Into Custody After Standoff with Lincoln Officers

Posted on May 14, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man has been taken into custody, peacefully ending his standoff with officers about a mile east of the Capitol in Lincoln.

Officers were sent to the residence Wednesday afternoon after learning that the man was threatening to shoot others with a rifle and kill himself. No shots or injuries have been reported.

Lincoln police Capt. Mayde (MAYE’-dee) McGuire says the man gave up around 8 p.m., about four hours after officers arrived. His name hasn’t been released.

Winnebago Tribal Council Removed 4 People from Office

Posted on May 14, 2015

WINNEBAGO, Neb. (AP) — The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s council has expelled four members accused of corruption.

The council voted to remove Thomas Snowball Sr., Louis Houghton Jr., Larry Payer and Charles Aldrich from office after ethics hearings were held for them.

A tribal investigative committee released a report in February saying council members had given themselves large raises and bonuses. The report also said council members gave tens of thousands of dollars through loans and discretionary grants to tribal members, many of whom were likely voters.

Council members Travis Mallory and Morgan Earth and chairman John Blackhawk resigned after the release of the report.

Nebraska Teen Gets Probation for Crash Death of Friend

Posted on May 14, 2015

BLAIR, Neb. (AP) — A 16-year-old from Blair has been given probation for the crash death of one of his friends last year.

On Monday the teen was sentenced to 30 months of probation and ordered to complete 150 hours of community. The boy had pleaded no contest and was convicted of three misdemeanors: vehicular homicide, careless driving and misuse of a learner’s permit. The Associated Press generally doesn’t name juveniles accused of crimes.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office says the teen was driving near Blair on Oct. 11 when the vehicle flipped. The teen’s friend, 15-year-old Trent Hill, was fatally injured.

Four Huskers Earn All-Region Honors

Posted on May 14, 2015

Cassie McClure was an all-region selection for the second straight season. (Photo Courtesy Nate Olsen/NU Media Relations)

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) recognized four Nebraska softball players on Thursday, as senior Steph Pasquale, junior Kiki Stokes and sophomores MJ Knighten and Cassie McClure were all named to the NFCA All-Midwest Region first team.

Nebraska’s four first-team selections were double the total of any other team in the Midwest region, as Huskers claimed four of the 12 spots on the first team.

Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said all four Huskers – who learned of the honor just prior to Nebraska’s team practice Thursday at the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional – were more than deserving of being recognized alongside the best players in the country.

“It’s always a great thing when hard work and preparation are not only recognized but rewarded,” Revelle said. “MJ had a good freshman season but she has taken her game to another level as a sophomore. Kiki has grown every year in our program, and she has emerged this season as one of the top leadoff hitters in the country. Steph and Cassie have both made immediate impacts in their first year in our program. Steph came to Nebraska as an All-American, and she has been everything we had hoped she would be. Cassie joined us in January and has been able to not only adjust to a new school and new teammates, but has been a real key to our success offensively and on the mound.”

Knighten was named to the first team to earn the first all-region accolade of her career. Knighten joins Jessica Yoachim (2004) as the only Nebraska third baseman to earn all-region accolades as a freshman or sophomore. Overall, Knighten is the first Husker third baseman to be an all-region honoree since 2006.

One of six unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selections this spring, Knighten leads the Big Ten with 78 hits and ranks fourth with a .417 batting average. Knighten enters the NCAA Tournament with the fifth-highest batting average in school history, while ranking fifth in RBIs (57), sixth in hits and eighth in runs (52). With her 78 hits, 57 RBIs and 52 runs, Knighten has become one of only four players in school history to total 50 hits, 50 RBIs and 50 runs in the same season. The only two Huskers to accomplish that feat before this season were three-time All-American Ali Viola and two-time All-American Tobin Echo-Hawk.

Pasquale earned first-team all-region accolades for the third time in her career after twice being named a first-team All-Northeast Region honoree at Temple. A 2013 third-team All-American and 2015 first-team All-Big Ten selection, Pasquale is one of only three catchers in program history to earn first-team all-region honors. She moves on to the All-America ballot, where she will look to join Taylor Edwards as the only All-America catchers in school history.

A native of Pompton Lakes, N.J., Pasquale has put up outstanding numbers in her lone season as a Husker. She enters the NCAA Tournament batting .382 with 11 doubles, 11 homers and 51 RBIs. The 12th player in school history to produce double-digit totals in both doubles and home runs in the same season, Pasquale ranks 10th in school history with her current .671 slugging percentage. Pasquale’ 51 RBIs rank 11th in Husker history, and her 36 RBIs during the Big Ten Conference season ranked second in Big Ten history.

Stokes continued to receive recognition for her breakout junior season with the first all-region honor of her career. Stokes is the first Husker outfielder to be named a first-team all-region performer since 2004. An Olathe, Kan., native, Stokes joins All-American Kim Ogee as the only other Husker outfielder to earn first-team all-region recognition prior to her senior season.

Also a first-team All-Big Ten honoree, Stokes has excelled as Nebraska’s leadoff hitter for all 55 games this season. Stokes is batting a career-high .407, more than .100 higher than her career average entering the year. Stokes has set a school record with 63 runs and 17 hit-by-pitches this season, and she enters the NCAA Tournament with the highest on-base percentage in program history (.534). Stokes also enters the postseason with the sixth-highest batting average and slugging percentage (.707) in school history, while ranking 11th in RBIs. One of four players in program history to total 50 hits, 50 RBIs and 50 runs, Stokes has slugged a career-high 11 home runs this season, nearly double the total from her first two years combined (6). Stokes has also exceeded her career totals in doubles (9) and extra-base hits (24).

McClure earned all-region accolades for the second straight season after being a third-team All-Central Region selection as a freshman at Texas Tech in 2014. She was rewarded for her dual talents, as she earned a spot on the first team at the pitcher/utility spot, which takes into account a player’s work in the circle and at the plate.

Offensively, McClure is batting .349 entering the NCAA Tournament. She ranks second on the team with 11 doubles and has added four homers and driven in 39. A tough out, McClure has drawn 20 walks while striking out only nine times. In the circle, McClure is 9-3 after not registering a decision at Texas Tech last season. In addition to her nine wins, McClure has added five saves for the Huskers. The five saves – which rank second in the Big Ten and 12th nationally – tie for the most ever by a Husker sophomore and rank fifth overall in school history.

By earning all-region accolades, Knighten, McClure, Pasquale and Stokes move on to the national All-America ballot. The 2015 All-Americans will be announced on the NFCA’s website (nfca.org) at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27.

No Front Plate Leads to Drug, Weapons Charges for NP Man

Posted on May 14, 2015May 14, 2015

A North Platte man is facing numerous felony charges following a Wednesday evening traffic stop.

At around 5:00 p.m., on May 13, an officer with the North Platte Police Department observed a silver Pontiac Grand Prix, near South Chestnut and East E Streets, that was not displaying a front license plate.

The officers conducted a traffic stop near East C Street and made contact with the driver, 46-year-old Phillip Tyan.

According to police, Tyan was unable to produce proof of the vehicle’s ownership and was found to have a suspended license.

Following Tyan’s arrest, officers searched the vehicle and located several Hydrocodone pills, a Class II controlled substance that Tyan did not have a prescription for.

Additionally, officers located a small amount of methamphetamine and a 5.5″ knife.

Tyan was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and charged with driving under suspension, felony possession of methamphetamine, felony possession of hydrocodone, carrying a concealed weapon, no registration and being a felon in possession of a deadly weapon.

Tyan is being held at the LCDC without bond.

USDA Creates First Government Label for GMO-Free Products

Posted on May 14, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Agriculture Department has developed the first government certification and labeling for foods that are free of genetically modified ingredients.

USDA’s move comes as some consumer groups push for mandatory labeling of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.

Certification would be voluntary — and companies would have to pay for it. If approved, the foods would be able to carry a “USDA Process Verified” label along with a claim that they are free of GMOs.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack outlined the department’s plan in a May 1 letter to employees, saying the certification is being done at the request of a “leading global company,” which he did not identify. A copy of the letter has been obtained by The Associated Press.

MPCC Releases President’s, Dean’s Lists for 2015 Spring Term

Posted on May 14, 2015May 14, 2015

Mid-Plains Community College has released the names of the students who have qualified for the President’s and Dean’s Lists for the 2015 Spring Term.

Spring 2015 Dean’s List

The following students qualified for the Dean’s List during the 2015 Spring Term at Mid-Plains Community College. To be eligible, they had to complete 12 or more applicable credit hours of college-level courses and maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 – 3.89 on a 4.0 scale.

Nebraska

Ainsworth – Chelsey Shaul

Anselmo – Rebecca Rossenbach

Axtell – Gabrielle Nickel

Brady- Taylor Bourge, Zachary Mann, Valerie Most

Broadwater – Whitney Goeman

Broken Bow – Zackery Sanchez

Cambridge – Shelby Farr, Sarah Guess, Robyn Mustion, Amber Schultz

Chappell – Kody Collins

Columbus – Jade Higgins, Ethan Lesiak

Cozad – Hank Pflaster

Culbertson -Taylar Hegwood

Gothenburg – Kato Craig, Aryn Meisinger, Dalton Simants, Ashley Wilkerson

Grant – Carra Johnson, Ashley Kautz

Hastings – Keely Confer

Imperial – Berenice Marquez

Indianola – Anissa Morosic, Brooke Ruggles

Keystone – Jason Sillasen

Lincoln – Ariel Clements

Madrid – Iris Almanza

Maxwell – Stephen Barkley

McCook – Danial Best, Brooke Cappel, Amelia Cooper, Nichelle Funk, Ashton Harpham, Tara Jernigan, Katelyn Kinne, Samantha League, Collin Messersmith, James Mitnik, Halie Nosal, Jesus Samaniego, Aubrey Sydow

Nebraska City – Bladen Bales

North Platte – Walker Baird, Jordan Barta, Reanna Crane, Colton Dailey, Larissa Daugherty, Amber Fisher, Jamie Forbis, Grant Freeman, Samantha Gifford, Laura Hagert, Jake Hansel, Samuel Harper, Amanda Hastings, Kaylin Hinton, Quinn Kalani, Kimberly Kelley, Matthew Kellie, Forrest King, Danielle Kittle, Taron Lewis, Brianna Mason, Leigha McPeak, Manuel Mendoza, Samuel Miller, Samuel Montgomery, Thao Nguyen, Catherine Nicholas, Velvet Nuzum, Rayanne Paulman, Emma Petersen, Sammantha Riedel, Katherine Roessler, Melinda Schriner, Sierra Schumm, Dawn Shirley, Christopher Smith, Sabrina Stineman, Lindsey Taylor, Decubanise Winfrey, Samantha Young

Omaha – Matthew Thomas

Paxton – Patricia Perlinger

Potter – Brandon Gasseling

Sidney – Sarah Mahr

Springview – Tamara Nilson

Stratton – Jyssica Forch

Sutherland – Marsha Coleman, Matthew Martinez

Tryon – Duell Puttergill

Valentine – Katherine Nesi

Wallace – Carlos Aguilar

Wilcox – Samuel Woollen

California

Bonita – Anissa Quiroga

Temecula – Michael Knox

Colorado

Brighton – Kyle Hunter

Broomfield – Bridger Ryan

Del Norte – Adrionna Fresquez

Elizabeth – Brittney Odum

Fleming – Taylor King

Golden – Jonathan Mattison

Greeley – Shelby Clark

Johnstown – Kealiiaukai Kaai

Littleton – Jessica Jarvis, Jason Lighthall

New Castle – Neal Schultz

Hawaii

Haiku – Kaile Jacobson

Lahaina – Jazmin Chang

Iowa

Sioux City – Brittnie Lauer

Idaho

McCall – Clint Thomas

Meridian – Averi Miller

Kansas

Arkansas City – Stephanie Burnett

El Dorado – Mirjana Terzic

Saint Francis – Martin Hnizdil

Nevada

Las Vegas – Derron Davis, Barry Lasseigne, Jessica Rivera, Cole Schumacher

Ohio

Toledo – Michael Mitchell, Fadil Robinson

Grants Pass – Miranda Lauby

Wyoming

Casper – McKinley Earnest

Laramie – Sara Villalobos

Australia

Sydney, New South Wales – Makuei Puondak

Canada

Surrey, British Columbia – Cailin O’Hara

Spring 2015 President’s List

The following students qualified for the President’s List at Mid-Plains Community College during the 2015 Spring Term. To make the list, each student had to complete 12 or more applicable credit hours in college-level courses and maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.9 or greater on a 4.0 scale.

Nebraska

Arapahoe – Kyla Monie

Arnold – Hannah Magill

Ayr – Kelsey Karr

Brady – Molly Hannon, Dakota Terry

Cambridge – Amber Brunow

Chappell – Gunnar Hodges

Culbertson – Tanner Bauer, Andrea Miller

Curtis – Taylor Stockman

Dannebrog – Stephanie States

Geneva – Caroline Motis

Gothenburg – Peyton Ahlenstorf, Rebecca Dishman, Eric Linnemeyer, Jessica Schaben

Hershey – Madison Seamann

Imperial – Mason Holmes

Indianola – Justine Jones

La Vista – Trey Moore

Maxwell – Alex Gurciullo

Maywood – Clay Chittick

McCook – Whitni Davis, Kassidy Gillen, Riley Gimeson, Hannah Goss, Samantha Kalinski, Vincent Lyons, Miranda Payton, Tyler Rambali, Ariel Rose, Megan Ruppert, Emilene Sides, Natalie Sis, Jamee Stewart, Christopher Swasta

Milford – Racquel Luethke

Mullen – Clara Vinton

North Platte – Chelsey Anderson, Wyatt Barrett, Autumn Bickel, Abigail Bradley, Alexander Broadfoot, Amy Callendar-Taft, Tyler Calvin, Shawna Coen, Jeffery Donnally, Elizabeth Dowling, Creighton Elliott, Jaeli Flanders, Johnna Halsted, Hannah Hays, Katie Hartmann, Donna Henne, Rachel Mullen, Michelle Olson, Cara Sanchez, Danielle Schiel, Eddie Schrack, Nicholas Skinner, Charles Sprinkle, Lauralee Vencill

Jocelyn Waker, Shelby Webster, Jordan Wordekemper, Kylie Wroot, Samantha Zirnig, Sutherland – Joslyn Burke, Kristen Nelson

Trenton – Lanessa Wickizer

Venango – Christina Farnsworth

Woodlake – Bree Hogenson

California

Huntington Beach – Matthew Babbitt

Temecula – Brandon Shea

Colorado

Colorado Springs – Lucia Archuleta, Kendra Baucom, Amber Madigan

Haxtun – Abigail Kurtzer

Holyoke – Travis Ptomey

Iliff – Samantha Morgan

Lone Tree – Shannon Lieber

Florida

Miami – Kylee Barry

Hawaii

Hawi – Dathan Lloyd

Idaho

Boise – Mackenzie Bilger

Kellogg – Dakota Rice

Kansas

Herndon – John Solko

New Hampshire

Windham – Erin Preble

Nevada

North Las Vegas – Steven Christiansen

Washington

Ford – Hunter Hedequist

Wisconsin

Milwaukee – Jazmine Herd

Wyoming

Evanston – William Smith

Australia

Deception Bay, Queensland – Luke Pittle

Canada

Richmond, British Columbia – Robin Harrison

Italy

Coseano, Udine – Marco Pascolo