July 2015 – Page 32 – North Platte Post Archive

The Toughest Two Minutes in Sports Comes to the Nebraska State Fair

Posted on July 15, 2015

The Firefighter Combat Challenge (FCC), described as the toughest two minutes in sports will be featured at the 2015 Nebraska State Fair on September 5 and 6.

Grand Island Firefighter and FCC co-organizer, Jared Stockwell says, “The Firefighter Combat Challenge was the brainchild of Dr. Paul Davis and his colleagues at the University of Maryland, nearly 40-years ago. The original goal was firefighter fitness. It didn’t take long to see that firefighters are very competitive, so the combat challenge was born.”

Grand Island Firefighter and co-organizer Lonnie Mitteis says, “Both Jared and I have participated in the Combat Challenge in other cities and it is by far and away an absolute test of endurance. It’s a test for participants to race against themselves, their opponents and the clock. It’s a great sport for participants and an even greater event to watch, and that’s why we’re holding the event during the Nebraska State Fair’s busiest weekend.”

The Firefighter Combat Challenge features five grueling events:

1.    Tower Climb/Hose Pack Carry—Carry a 100-foot, 44-pound hose load on your shoulder up 63 steps to the top of the five-story tower.
2.    Hose Hoist—From the top of the tower, haul a rope hand-over-hand to bring up a 45-pound hose roll. Then hurry back down 5-stories of steps.
3.    Entry—Using a 9-pound mallet, drive a 160-pound steel beam 5-feet, simulating skills needed to force your way into a building. Then, fast-walk 140 feet to the hose advance.
4.    Advance—Pickup a fully charged fire hose and drag it 75 feet. Open the nozzle, spray a target, close the nozzle and place it in a marked box. Walk 30-feet to the final task.
5.    Victim Rescue—Drag the 165-pound “Rescue Randy” dummy 100 feet to the finish line.

Nebraska State Fair executive director Joseph McDermott says, “We’ve been working for the past few years to bring the Firefighter Combat Challenge to the State Fair, and thanks to both Lonnie and Jared, it has become a reality.” McDermott continued, “We anticipate a large number of firefighter athletes to participate because of Grand Island’s central location in the nation.”

The Firefighter Combat Challenge is typically held in major metropolitan areas like Daytona Beach, Indianapolis, Atlantic City, Seattle, L.A., Phoenix, among others. Both Stockwell and Mitteis anticipate a great field of firefighters from around the nation and Canada to converge on Grand Island to participate in this test of firefighter skill and endurance.

Federal Agencies Take Over in Nebraska Travel Vouchers Case

Posted on July 15, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Douglas County officials say the FBI and IRS have taken over an investigation into an event-planning business and its owner, who’s accused of selling thousands of worthless travel vouchers.

The Douglas County Attorney’s Office still will continue its prosecution efforts against Patricia Urbanovsky, who’s charged with three felony counts of theft.

She’s the owner of the business, Creative Creations, in Omaha.

A pretrial hearing is set for Sept. 17 in Douglas County District Court.

The FBI served a search warrant last week on an Omaha residence that Urbanovsky stayed in. An IRS spokesman declined to comment Tuesday, citing an ongoing investigation.

EEOC: UPS Discriminates with Ban on Long Hair, Beards

Posted on July 15, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is accusing United Parcel Service Inc. of discriminating against employees who wear beards or long hair for religious reasons.

The EEOC sued the Atlanta-based shipping company on Wednesday in federal court in Brooklyn.

The lawsuit says UPS prohibits men who interact with customers or who hold supervisor positions from growing beards or hair below the collar. It accuses the company of violating federal civil rights law by not making exceptions for religion.

The EEOC says in one case, a bearded Muslim employee was told he would have to shave to get a driver’s job. It says he was told, “God would understand” if he shaved.

UPS denied the accusations in a statement on Wednesday.

46 Indicted on Charges Related to Smuggling Drugs on Flights

Posted on July 15, 2015

DALLAS (AP) — Federal authorities say 46 people are facing charges related to smuggling drugs on airline flights from Dallas to cities nationwide.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Dallas released a statement saying most of the defendants are from northern Texas and would appear in court beginning Wednesday.

They face charges that include intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamines, conspiracy and money laundering.

The indictment says undercover agents gave some suspects packages purporting to be drugs that were carried on flights to Chicago, San Francisco and other cities for payments of up to $9,000.

Authorities say four defendants either worked at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport or used ties to an airport worker to bypass security.

It’s unclear how many defendants are in custody. The U.S. attorney’s office declined comment beyond its press release.

Study: High-Risk Areas for Lyme Disease Are Growing

Posted on July 15, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Health officials say the geographic areas where Lyme disease is a bigger danger have grown dramatically.

U.S. cases remain concentrated in the Northeast and upper Midwest. But now more areas in those regions are considered high risk.

A new report shows 260 counties where the risk of catching Lyme disease from tick bites is at least twice the national average, up from 130 a decade earlier.

Lyme disease is most common in wooded suburban and far suburban counties. Scientists aren’t sure why high-risk areas are expanding, but it likely has something to do with development and other changes that cause the mice, deer and ticks that carry the bacteria to move.

The article was published online Wednesday in a journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases.

AUDIO: North Platte First Nationals Prep for District Tournament

Posted on July 15, 2015

The North Platte First Nationals Senior Legion baseball team finished the regular season at 30-15 including wins in five of their final six games. Their attention now turns towards the Area 7 District tournament this weekend in Kearney. The First Nationals earned the #2 seed in the 5-team field and will battle #3 Scottsbluff in the opening round of the double-elimination tournament on Friday evening at 7:30 pm.

Friday’s game will be the 5th this year between the two teams, with North Platte having won all four previous meetings this season and six straight wins for the First Nationals over Scottsbluff going back to last season.

Area 7 District Tournament Bracket

How the First Nationals have fared against the tourney field…

vs. #1 Kearney (1-1)
6/2/15 – North Platte 15, Kearney 8
6/23/15 – Kearney 4, North Platte 1

vs. #3 Scottsbluff (4-0)
5/16/15 – North Platte 13, Scottsbluff 4
5/16/15 – North Platte 13, Scottsbluff 1
6/24/15 – North Platte 8, Scottsbluff 3
6/24/15 – North Platte 11, Scottsbluff 10

vs. #4 Hastings (1-1)
5/23/15 – Hastings 8, North Platte 0
6/9/15 – North Platte 8, Hastings 6

vs. #5 Lexington (2-0)
6/8/15 – North Platte 9, Lexington 1
7/8/15 – North Platte 5, Lexington 1

Colorado Rejects PTSD as Ailment Eligible for Medical Marijuana

Posted on July 15, 2015July 15, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Colorado’s Board of Health has voted against adding post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of ailments eligible for treatment with medical marijuana.

The 6-2 vote Wednesday came despite the backing of the state’s chief medical officer. The board has voted at least three times against adding PTSD to the list of eight debilitating conditions that qualify for medical pot.

Colorado hasn’t added an ailment to its medical pot list since voters approved the eight existing conditions in 2000. Board members cited a lack of research showing marijuana can treat PTSD.

Nine other states currently consider PTSD a condition eligible for treatment with medical marijuana.

Colorado has about 113,000 people on its medical marijuana registry. All have a doctor’s recommendation to use the drug to treat one of eight debilitating conditions, ranging from cancer and AIDS to severe pain.

Omaha Police Announce Arrest in Fatal June Shooting Death

Posted on July 15, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police have announced an arrest in the June shooting death of 36-year-old Terrell Brown behind an Omaha business center.

Police say 37-year-old Alandus Warren Sr. was booked Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony in the June 5 killing.

Police were sent to the northeast Omaha business center area around 2:30 a.m., where they found Brown’s body in a grass and gravel lot behind the businesses.

It’s not Warren’s first brush with the law. Court records show he was convicted of manslaughter for a 1997 killing and sentenced to 20 to 30 years in prison. He was released on Sept. 11, 2012.

Chiefs, Houston reach 6-year, $101 million deal

Posted on July 15, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that the Chiefs and All-Pro linebacker Justin Houston have agreed to a six-year, $101 million contract that includes $52.5 million in guarantees.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the deal has not been announced. The sides had until late afternoon to work out a deal, otherwise Houston would have played the upcoming season under the franchise tag.

The deal is not only the richest in franchise history but also the richest for a linebacker in NFL history. The only defensive player to sign for more is Ndamukong Suh, who reached a six-year, $114 million deal with Miami.

Apple’s iPod Touch Update Brings Faster Chip, Better Camera

Posted on July 15, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Apple is refreshing its iPod Touch music player for the first time in nearly three years, as the company seeks to make music a central part of its devices once again.

The new Touch has a faster processor and better cameras, plus a software update that enables Apple Music, a $10-a-month service that offers unlimited playback of millions of songs. Apple Music launched June 30 as music fans increasingly embrace subscriptions over pay-per-song services such as Apple’s industry-leading iTunes.

The iPod was Apple’s first successful foray beyond personal computers. Interest has waned, though, as many people now use smartphones such as the iPhone to listen to music.

The starting price remains at $199.