June 2015 – Page 46 – North Platte Post Archive

Six Huskers Named Captains for 2015 Season

Posted on June 4, 2015

The Nebraska football program announced on Thursday that six players have been voted by their teammates as captains for the 2015 season, the first under Head Coach Mike Riley.

The group includes three players each on offense and defense, and consists of two seniors and four juniors. The players come to the Nebraska program from six different states.

Offensively, senior offensive tackle Alex Lewis, junior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr, and junior wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp were named captains. Senior defensive end Jack Gangwish, junior defensive tackle Maliek Collins and junior safety Nate Gerry will represent the 2015 Blackshirts as captains.

“It is quite an honor to be elected by your teammates as a captain, particularly in a program with the history and tradition of Nebraska,” Riley said. “This group will be outstanding representatives for our football team, beginning with leadership in the summer workouts.”

Armstrong Jr. has been Nebraska’s starting quarterback the past two seasons. The Cibolo, Texas, native posted the third-best total offense season in Husker history as a sophomore in 2014.

Lewis the only returnee on the offensive line who started all 13 games for Nebraska in 2014. The Tempe, Ariz., native joins his father in having been elected as a Nebraska team captain. Bill Lewis was a Husker captain in 1985, when he earned All-America honors at center. The Lewis’ are the third family to have a father-son duo named as Nebraska team captains. Tom Ruud and sons Barrett and Bo served as captains, as did Dean Steinkuhler and his sons, Ty and Baker.

Westerkamp has played a key role in the Nebraska passing game the past two seasons, including 44 catches and five touchdowns as a sophomore. Westerkamp’s selection marks the third straight year a receiver has served as a Nebraska captain.

A fifth-year senior from Wood River, Neb., Gangwish continues a long line of Nebraska natives and walk-ons who have served as Nebraska captains. Gangwish’s selection marks the 10th straight year a Nebraska native has been named a team captain. Gangwish is the second player in three seasons to become a captain after originally joining the program as a walk-on, joining offensive lineman Spencer Long (2013). Gangwish played in every game last season and made 19 tackles.

A Kansas City product, Collins was a stalwart for the Husker defensive line last season, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore. Collins had 45 tackles, including a team-leading 14 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

Gerry enters his junior season as the leading returning tackler for the Blackshirt defense. The Sioux Falls, S.D., product made 88 tackles last season. He also ranked among the Big Ten leaders with five interceptions and was a second-team all-conference pick. Gerry is the fourth defensive back in the past three seasons to serve as a team captain, joining Ciante Evans in 2013, and Corey Cooper and Josh Mitchell in 2014.

Nebraska will move into the next phase of preparation for the 2015 season when summer conditioning begins in full next week. Big Ten Media Days in Chicago are set for July 30-31, with the Huskers’ annual Fan Day scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 5 at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska begins practice on Aug. 6 as it prepares to open the season on Sept. 5 at Memorial Stadium against BYU.

Son of Broncos owner arrested on domestic violence charges

Posted on June 4, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — John Bowlen, the 29-year-old son of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, has been placed on indefinite leave from the team following his arrest on domestic violence charges.

The younger Bowlen was arrested Wednesday night in Glendale, Colorado, on suspicion of third-degree assault and harassment after allegedly pushing his girlfriend up against a bathroom wall, police said.

“We are disappointed to learn of the matter involving John Bowlen,” the Broncos said in a statement, adding, “While this is a personal issue, he is accountable to all club and league conduct policies. As such, John will be placed on an indefinite leave of absence from the organization.”

Bowlen is a candidate to take over the team from his father, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. Pat Bowlen relinquished his duties almost a year ago.

Team president and CEO Joe Ellis said last month that the transfer of ownership to one of Bowlen’s seven children was still a ways off.

Moss powers Indians to rain-shortened 6-2 win over Royals

Posted on June 4, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Brandon Moss hit a two-run homer and the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 6-2 on Thursday night in a game called in the eighth inning because of rain.

Trevor Bauer (5-2) allowed only a long two-run homer by Lorenzo Cain over 6 2-3 innings to continue his hot streak. The 24-year-old right-hander has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last four starts, getting to the seventh in each of them.

After struggling to score the previous night, the Indians pounded away against Chris Young (4-2) over the first five innings. They sent eight batters to the plate during a four-run third inning, and Moss added his second homer of the series with nobody out in the fifth.

The game was delayed with one out in the bottom of the eighth as lightning and heavy rain rolled into the area. The umpires waited 44 minutes before calling Cleveland’s sixth win in eight games.

Petco Takes ‘Full Responsibility’ for Dog’s Grooming Death

Posted on June 4, 2015

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Petco has accepted responsibility for the death of a 2-year-old dog that was being groomed at a suburban Richmond store.

The pet supply chain said in a written statement Thursday that it takes “full responsibility” and has fired the employees directly involved in the incident for not following proper procedures. The company also said it will remove the kind of dryers used on the golden retriever, Colby, and will reinforce its training with groomers in all of its stores next week.

Allison Marks of Powhatan County dropped Colby off for a regular grooming Saturday. She told media outlets that when she called to check on her dog, she was summoned to a nearby animal clinic where a veterinarian told her he believed Colby had died of a heat stroke.

Nebraska Inmate Convicted of Assaulting Child Dies at 55

Posted on June 4, 2015June 4, 2015

Robert Nelson (Dept. of Corrections Photo)

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska inmate serving a sentence for sexually assaulting a child has died.

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says in a news release that 55-year-old Robert Nelson died Tuesday. He was serving a 60-year sentence at the state prison in Tecumseh for first-degree sexual assault of a child.

The cause of death hasn’t been determined, but Nelson was being treated for a medical condition.

He began his prison term in January 2014.

A grand jury will investigate his death. That is the policy whenever an inmate dies in prison.

Tornadoes Damage Homes in Colorado; No Injuries

Posted on June 4, 2015

LONGMONT, Colo. (AP) — A tornado that touched down in northern Colorado has damaged several homes as storms brought flooding and marble-sized hail to some areas.

Larimer County emergency management director Lori Hodges says at least three homes were destroyed Thursday evening in the town of Berthoud, about 40 miles north of Denver. Crews checking on reports of about 25 other homes that were possibly damaged were hindered by heavy rain and hail.

No injuries have been reported.

At least two tornadoes touched down Thursday afternoon near Simla, about 60 miles southeast of Denver. Elbert County officials say at least five homes were damaged in the area.

No injuries were reported from that string of storms.

Forecasters had warned that the Front Range and the Eastern Plains could experience severe weather Thursday.

Family: Latest Colorado Shooting Victim Went for Walks at Night

Posted on June 4, 2015

LOVELAND, Colo. (AP) — Family and neighbors say the man found shot to death along a street in northern Colorado was a cancer survivor who often took late-night walks through his quiet neighborhood.

They identified the man as 65-year-old William Connole, but police haven’t released his name.

He was found late Wednesday about two blocks from his home in normally safe Loveland. Police are looking into whether the man’s death is related to two other recent unsolved shootings nearby.

In one, a bicyclist was found dead along a rural road. In the other, a driver was shot in her neck on Interstate 25. She survived.

The incidents have raised alarm about a possible serial shooter in the area. Authorities have declined to comment on that and say it’s too early to know if the Loveland shooting is connected to the other two.

Feds: Florida Cancer Doctor Gave Patients Unapproved Meds

Posted on June 4, 2015

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida oncologist has been charged with giving cancer patients medications from other countries that were not approved by the federal government.

Federal health officials said patients at East Lake Oncology in Palm Harbor were unaware that for the past six years Dr. Diana Anda Norbergs, and her staff were giving them cheaper, misbranded drugs, including chemotherapy drugs, that weren’t approved for use in the United States.

According to the indictment, she billed the taxpayer-funded Medicare program and private insurance companies for the illegal prescriptions, claiming that she was actually using the Food and Drug Administration-approved versions.

Norbergs was arrested Thursday and is charged with 12 counts of health care fraud and nine counts of receiving misbranded drugs in interstate commerce. She is expected to appear in court later Thursday.

Appeals Court Upholds $228K Awarded to Ex-BNSF Employee

Posted on June 4, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld an award of more than $228,000 to a former BNSF Railway worker who said he was fired in 2010 for refusing to withhold evidence in a criminal forgery investigation.

A jury in 2013 sided with Kirk Ludlow in his claim that BNSF violated the Nebraska Fair Employment Practices Act.

A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday rejected the railroad’s claims on appeal that the lower court should have dismissed the lawsuit. BNSF argued that requesting Ludlow to stop pursuing his allegations that another employee had forged his signature on veterans benefits paperwork did not constitute an unlawful practice.

The appeals panel also rejected BNSF’s claims that the lower court had awarded too much in attorneys’ fees.

Death Penalty Campaign Hires Signature-Gathering Firm

Posted on June 4, 2015June 4, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A group that wants to put Nebraska’s death penalty on the 2016 ballot has hired a consultant to help circulate petitions before an Aug. 27 deadline.

Lincoln Strategy Group, an Arizona-based firm, will manage paid circulators. Nebraskans for the Death Penalty spokesman Chris Peterson said Thursday that the group has also hired Rod Edwards, a former campaign consultant for Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, Attorney General Jon Bruning and State Auditor Charlie Janssen.

Edwards will focus on volunteer recruitment. Jessica Moenning, a private adviser to Gov. Pete Ricketts, is coordinating the campaign.

The group formed after lawmakers voted to override Ricketts’ veto and abolish the death penalty. Organizers have to gather roughly 57,000 signatures to place the law on the ballot and 115,000 to do so while suspending the law.