May 2015 – Page 39 – North Platte Post Archive

Hearse with Flag-Draped Coffin Left in Dunkin Doughnuts Parking Lot

Posted on May 13, 2015

hearse-dunkin-doughnuts — Photo by Rob Carpenter

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (AP) — Two Florida hearse drivers have been fired after they stopped at a doughnut shop with a flag-draped coffin in the vehicle on the way to a funeral and an outraged man sent a video to a local veterans group.

Multiple news outlets report Rob Carpenter spotted the hearse in the parking lot of a New Port Richey Dunkin’ Donuts on Tuesday with its curtains open and the coffin visible.

In the coffin was the body of 84-year-old Lt. Col. Jesse Coleman, a decorated soldier who served in Korea and Vietnam. The hearse was transporting him from Veterans Funeral Care to his funeral.

Carpenter confronted the driver and sent images to VeteranWarriors. The group posted the images to Facebook.

Funeral home director Jim Rudolph says he has fired the men.

Sidney Man Gets Probation for Stealing Firetruck

Posted on May 13, 2015May 12, 2015

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — A 26-year-old man accused of stealing a fire truck from the U.S. Forest Service and driving it around Nebraska has been sentenced to probation.

Aaron Timmens, of Sidney, was sentenced Tuesday. He pleaded guilty in April to theft by unlawful taking.

As part of his plea agreement, Timmens has agreed to pay $8,500 in damages and serve three years of probation.

Court documents say Timmens stole the fire truck in September from Forest Service property in Chadron, drove it through a locked gate and ditched it at an area Wal-Mart. The federal agency reported the vehicle was stolen by Timmens, a National Guardsman who reportedly went absent without leave.

At Tuesday’s sentencing, Timmens said he was remorseful and had learned from his actions.

North Platte Weather-May 13

Posted on May 13, 2015

Today: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 19 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph.
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 3am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 53. South southeast wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. South southeast wind around 8 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. North wind around 8 mph becoming east after midnight.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Breezy, with a southeast wind 8 to 13 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Bullfighter Greg Rumohr Dies in Heavy Equipment Accident at 53

Posted on May 12, 2015

Courtesy of the PRCA

SPRINGS, Colo. – Greg Rumohr, the 1990 world champion freestyle bullfighter and a three-time reserve world champion, died May 11 when a piece of heavy equipment he was delivering to a ranch in Cranfills Gap, Texas, fell on him. He was 53.

Rumohr, a native of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in May 1988 and spent the next 24 seasons developing a reputation for being one of the toughest and most athletic bullfighters the sport has ever seen.

Before moving to Texas and making rodeo his career, Rumohr had been a four-time Golden Gloves champion, a Junior Olympic Boxing champion, a two-time Alberta Junior Hockey League All-Star Team participant and a Class A hunting and fishing guide.

He got his first big bullfighting break in 1989 when his mentor, Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Rex Dunn, was forced into retirement by an injury and gave Rumohr all of his remaining contracts, including the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte, Neb.

“This guy thrives on the impossible,” Dunn once said of Rumohr. “He thrives on doing what no one else can do.”

Rumohr worked the North Platte event for the next 23 years, until his retirement in 2011, when he was presented with the committee’s Trail Boss Award for his longtime service.

“He’s just done a wonderful job for us inside and outside the arena as far as public appearances, autograph signings and anything else we need,” rodeo co-chairman Marty Petersen told the North Platte Telegraph at the time. “Not to mention that he’s one of the best cowboy protection bullfighters in the nation.”

Rumohr worked the 2003 Tour Finale in Dallas and served as a bullfighter at the RAM Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo in 1991.

His athleticism allowed him to excel on the Wrangler Bullfight Tour for many years. Rumohr made the freestyle finals, held in conjunction with the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, 11 times from 1989-2000 (when the competition ended).

He won the world championship in 1990 by 21.5 points over Donny Sparks and was runner-up in 1995, 1997 and 1999.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be posted on www.prorodeo.com as soon as they become available.

Gordon homers in 10th to give Royals 7-6 win over Rangers

Posted on May 12, 2015

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Alex Gordon homered on the first pitch of the 10th inning, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Texas Rangers 7-6 Tuesday night.

Gordon greeted reliever Stolmy Pimentel (0-1) by pulling a ball into the seats down the right-field line.

Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas also homered for the AL Central leaders, who had gone ahead on an RBI groundout by Lorenzo Cain in the ninth. Adrian Beltre’s two-out RBI single in the bottom half tied the game again.

After Greg Holland (1-0) took over in the ninth and blew his first save in seven chances this year, the right-hander returned to throw a perfect 10th. It was his first outing this season that lasted more than one inning.

15,000 Toy Police Cars Recalled Due to Choking Hazard

Posted on May 12, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — More than 15,000 toy police cars are being recalled because they can come apart and pose a possible choking risk to kids.

The Police Press & Go toy car is a white and blue plastic car with the head of a police officer coming out of the roof. When the head is pressed down, the car moves forward on its own. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said it received one report of the blue hat on the police officer’s head coming off. No injuries were reported.

The car is made by toy company Schylling, which is based in Rowley, Massachusetts. Schylling is offering owners of the car a refund if they contact the company through its website, schylling.com, or call 800-767-8697.

The car was sold at toy and gift stores for $5 since April 2010. About 13,200 of the toy cars are in the U.S., and about 2,100 are in Canada, the CPSC said.

Omaha Man Accused of Killing Mom, Brother Denied Bond

Posted on May 12, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A judge has denied bond for a 25-year-old Omaha man accused of killing his mother and 5-year-old half brother and leaving his infant half brother in a dumpster.

Roberto Martinez-Marinero appeared in a jailhouse courtroom Tuesday for a bond hearing and communicated through a Spanish interpreter. Authorities say he surrendered to police Thursday and said he’d killed his mother, 45-year-old Jesus Ismenia Marinero and had thrown Josue Ramirez-Marinero in the Elkhorn River. Officials say he also admitted to putting 11-month-old Angel Ramirez-Marinero, who suffered only bruises, in the dumpster.

The judge ordered Martinez-Marinero’s girlfriend, 24-year-old Gabriela Guevara, held on $1 million bail. She is charged as an accessory.

Preliminary hearings for both Martinez-Marinero and Guevara have been set for June 5.

Gas Prices Still Look Low for Summer Even After Spring Surge

Posted on May 12, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Drivers who have seen a steady rise in the price of gasoline can relax: They will almost certainly be paying far less for gas this summer than they have in at least six years.

The Energy Department said Tuesday that it expects the price of gasoline to average $2.55 between April and September, which would be the lowest since 2009. Over the course of the year, a typical U.S household could save $675 in gasoline prices compared to last year.

The coming summer of cheap gas was set up by a collapse in oil prices that ended in mid-March at $43 a barrel. That took gasoline prices down to $2.03 a gallon, a level the nation hadn’t seen since it was deep in recession in March of 2009.

First Nebraska Cases of Bird Flu Confirmed in Flock of 1.7M

Posted on May 12, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The ongoing bird flu outbreak has spread into northeast Nebraska, and officials are planning to kill 1.7 million chickens on a farm where the disease has been confirmed.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said Tuesday that the presence of the illness on an egg farm in Dixon County is the first one in Nebraska.

But bird flu is already widespread in neighboring Iowa where more than 26 million chickens have been lost. Officials routinely destroy the entire flock when the disease is found to limit its spread.

The Agriculture Department says the bird flu doesn’t represent a significant health risk to humans, and no human infections have been found.

Man Arrested in Connection with Fire at Omaha Apartment

Posted on May 12, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 30-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a fire at an Omaha apartment.

Robert Camacho III was arrested Monday night on suspicion of first-degree arson following reports of a fire an apartment attached to a neighborhood bar. He is accused of and setting the building on fire.

The Omaha Fire Department says the blaze caused about $50,000 in damage. Flames extensively damaged the entryway and kitchen of a main-level apartment and the exterior of a second-floor apartment, while smoke damaged the connected Brick Street Tavern.

Omaha Police Officer Michael Pecha says Camacho fled on foot but was quickly taken into custody.

Camacho was being held at the Douglas County Corrections Center as of Tuesday.