July 2015 – Page 15 – North Platte Post Archive

Chiefs cornerback Smith suspended 3 games for DUI arrest

Posted on July 24, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith has been suspended the first three games of the regular season by the NFL after pleading guilty to a drunken driving charge earlier this year.

Smith, who was given two years’ probation, is entering a contract year after one of the best seasons of his career. He will miss games against Houston, Denver and Green Bay before returning for the Chiefs’ game against Cincinnati in Week 4.

The 28-year-old Smith started all 16 games for Kansas City last season.

Under the NFL substance abuse policy, first-time offenders receive two-game suspensions. But there can be additional discipline depending on the circumstances, and Smith was pulled over by police last year after his car struck and broke a light pole.

Alliance Woman Convicted of Having Sexual Relationship with Teen Girl

Posted on July 24, 2015

ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) — A 24-year-old Alliance woman has taken a plea deal and been convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

Online court records say Molleigh Valdez is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 3. She pleaded no contest on Wednesday in Scotts Bluff County District Court to a lowered charge of sexual assault of a child.

The girl’s mother had gone to police in November with suspicions about the woman’s relationship with the 14-year-old. The girl later told authorities that she and Valdez had engaged in sexual activity. Under Nebraska law, people 19 and over cannot have sexual contact with people under 16.

Storm Leaves Behind Damaged Buildings in Southeast Nebraska

Posted on July 24, 2015

WYMORE, Neb. (AP) — An early morning thunderstorm packing strong winds damaged some buildings in southeast Nebraska’s Gage County.

The storm struck Wymore early Friday morning. Assistant Wymore Fire Chief Mark Meints told the station that the straight-line winds toppled trees and knocked branches onto buildings and vehicles.

No injuries have been reported.

Program for Troubled Boys Nears Start in Nebraska Panhandle

Posted on July 24, 2015

ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) — A national organization is getting closer to starting its services for troubled teenage boys at the former Nebraska Boys Ranch southeast of Alliance in the Panhandle.

Teen Challenge of the Midlands executive director Dan Meinert says Teen Challenge has invested $1 million to renovate a dozen buildings on the 35 acres. The Nebraska Boys Ranch suspended its services there in March 2010 after serving troubled youths since 1965.

There are more than 200 Teen Challenge programs throughout the United States, offering a variety of services to youths and families. Meinert says 16 boys ages 13 through 18 with substance-abuse issues will be moved into the renovated facilities, where they will receive help through a Christian-centered program.

Woman Accused in Norfolk Fire Convicted of Making Threats

Posted on July 24, 2015July 24, 2015

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — A 24-year-old Norfolk woman accused of starting a small fire in an apartment complex hallway has been convicted of making terroristic threats.

Johna Richards pleaded guilty on Thursday after Madison County prosecutors amended the charge from felony arson. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 18.

Police say the charge stemmed from a Dec. 29 fire. A resident of the complex used a rug to put out the flames, and another resident told officers about threatening messages he’d been getting on Facebook. Investigators eventually were able to obtain information from Facebook about the person who posted the messages, and Richards was arrested.

Report: Ohio State’s Braxton Miller shifting from QB to receiver

Posted on July 24, 2015July 24, 2015

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Braxton Miller is shifting from quarterback to receiver, whittling Ohio State’s QB competition to two star passers.

Miller told SI.com on Thursday night that he plans to start the season in the H-back position and also hopes to return punts. He had surgery to repair of torn labrum in his throwing shoulder before the start of last season and sat out while J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones led the Buckeyes to their first national title since 2002.

Barrett led Ohio State to an 11-1 record before breaking his ankle. Jones then guided the Buckeyes to victories in the Big Ten title game against Wisconsin, the national semifinal against Alabama and the championship game against Oregon.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Miller was Big Ten player of the year in 2012 and 2013.

North Platte Weather-Weekend

Posted on July 24, 2015July 24, 2015

Today

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Light and variable wind becoming east northeast 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Tonight

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. East southeast wind 6 to 9 mph.

Saturday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. South southeast wind 7 to 9 mph.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southeast after midnight.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 6 to 11 mph in the morning.

Sunday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Monday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95.

Monday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.

Tuesday

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.

Lackey goes 7, Rosenthal holds on as Cardinals beat Royals

Posted on July 23, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — John Lackey threw seven strong innings after a shaky beginning, Trevor Rosenthal escaped his own jam in the ninth and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Kansas City Royal 4-3 on Thursday night.

Randal Grichuk and Matt Carpenter hit two-run homers as the Cardinals won in the makeup of a rainout last month.

As in the originally scheduled game, St. Louis and Kansas City led their league in wins and Lackey (9-5) and Chris Young (8-6) were the scheduled starters.

Rosenthal, pitching for the third straight day, took over to begin the ninth with a 4-2 lead. Alex Rios led off with a single and Omar Infante followed with a triple.

The Royals went on to put runners on second and third with no outs, but Rosenthal held on for his 30th save in 32 chances. Mike Moustakas grounded out to end it.

Armstrong Named to Manning Award Watch List

Posted on July 23, 2015

*Tommy Armstrong accounted for 3,400 yards of total offense in 2014. (Photo Courtesy Scott Bruhn/NU Media Relations)*

University of Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong earned his second watch list recognition Thursday afternoon, as he was named to the Manning Award Watch List.

The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates’ bowl performances in its balloting.

The list includes 30 of the top quarterbacks in the nation heading into the 2015 season. The winner will again be selected by a voting panel, which includes national media and each of the Mannings, after the bowl season.

The 6-1, 220-pound Armstrong has engineered the Nebraska offense each of the past two seasons, compiling a 16-5 record as the Huskers’ starting quarterback. In 2014, Armstrong compiled 3,400 yards of total offense, the third-best single-season total in Nebraska history. Armstrong passed for 2,695 yards and 22 touchdowns, while rushing for 705 yards. The Cibolo, Texas, native set Nebraska sophomore records for passing yards, passing touchdowns and total offense in 2014.

Armstrong is one of three Big Ten quarterbacks on the watch list. The list of 10 finalists will be released on Wednesday, November 25. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, January 13.

Family of Missing UNL Student Hold Out Hope That She’s Alive

Posted on July 23, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The family of a University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate student who was swept away by floodwaters in May say they know she probably isn’t alive but that they’re holding out hope.

Anwesha Dey went missing May 3 while on her way to campus from a friend’s house nearby. She was reported missing May 6.

Police say surveillance video shows Dey falling into a fast-moving creek and her struggling as the water swept her away.

Dey’s cousin told the newspaper in a telephone interview that Dey’s parents, who live in India, don’t want to believe that she drowned. The cousin said the only thing that will bring the family closure is finding Dey’s body.