April 2016 – Page 5 – North Platte Post Archive

NPHS boys soccer to host A-5 district; girls headed to A-7 at Millard South

Posted on April 27, 2016

The North Platte high school boys soccer team earned the top seed in the A-5 district and will host the tournament on May 2 and May 4 in North Platte. NPHS (10-4) will play No. 4 seed Omaha Bryan (4-13) in their opening game at 7 pm on May 2. The first game at 5 pm will be No. 2 seed Omaha Central (9-5) vs. No. 3 seed Lincoln Southeast (7-7).

The North Platte high school girls soccer team is the No. 2 seed in the A-7 district at Millard South high school to be played May 3 and May 5. The Lady Bulldogs (10-4) will open up against No. 3 seed Lincoln High (5-9) at 5 pm on May 3. The other matchup in the A-7 district is No. 1 seed Millard South (10-4) vs. No. 4 seed South Sioux City (4-11).

The seven district tournament winners plus one additional wildcard team will qualify for the state championship tournament. Currently, the NPHS girls are eighth in the wildcard points standings and the NPHS boys are fifth in the standings.

NPHS Girls District Bracket

NPHS Boys District Bracket

North Platte Weather-April 27

Posted on April 27, 2016

Today

Rain, mainly before noon. High near 52. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tonight

A 30 percent chance of rain before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 33. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 14 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. North northwest wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Thursday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 36. East northeast wind 6 to 10 mph.

Friday

Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 50. East northeast wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday Night

Showers. Low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Saturday

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday Night

A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 37.

Sunday

A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 52.

Sunday Night

A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Monday

A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.

NPCC Knights Softball Seeded First in Region Tournament

Posted on April 26, 2016

North Platte –The North Platte Community College Knights softball team will be the number one seed in the upcoming Region IX Division II Softball Tournament in Columbus.

The tournament will begin on Thursday, April 28 at 5 pm with the number two seed Central Community College facing the number three seed Southeast Community College. The winner of that game will advance to play North Platte at 7:30 pm on Thursday. Continue reading “NPCC Knights Softball Seeded First in Region Tournament”

California Fire Chief Picked to Lead Lincoln Fire and Rescue

Posted on April 26, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A California fire chief has been picked to lead Lincoln Fire and Rescue.

Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler announced Tuesday that Micheal Despain has been chosen as the city’s new fire chief.

Despain will begin his new role on July 18 if he is confirmed by the City Council. He will succeed Chief John Huff who retired in June. Interim Fire Chief Tim Linke did not apply for a permanent position.

Despain has been the fire chief in Clovis, California for about four years and was chosen among three finalists.

He has been a firefighter for 31 years and has spent much of that time working in Clovis and nearby Fresno fire departments. He will oversee a staff of about 300 firefighters in Lincoln.

Tennis-Ball-Sized Hail Reported in South-Central Nebraska

Posted on April 26, 2016

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — The National Weather Service says portions of south-central Nebraska have been hit with tennis-ball-sized hail.

Meteorologist Shawn Rossi says the hail was reported near the town of Deshler, about 10 miles north of the Kansas border, but it’s not clear whether it caused any damage. Funnel clouds were reported in the area, but Rossi says there haven’t been any confirmed tornadoes on the ground.

Seven central Nebraska counties were under a tornado watch until 9 p.m. Tuesday: Howard, Merrick, Nance, Polk, York, Hall and Hamilton.

Nebraska Case Highlights Mandatory Minimum Sentences

Posted on April 26, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A group seeking changes to mandatory minimum sentences in drug cases is pointing to the case of a Nebraska man who will begin a 10-year prison term that even a judge calls “absolutely ridiculous.”

Leo Guthmiller, of Lincoln, will begin his drug conspiracy term Wednesday at a federal prison in Springfield, Missouri.

Federal prosecutors say Guthmiller played a significant role in dealing drugs and pointed to his criminal history. Guthmiller’s public defenders say he simply introduced people looking for drugs to those who were selling and that his history amounted to petty crimes all committed to feed his addiction.

Guthmiller’s supporters note he has been clean since his last arrest in 2013.

The judge who sentenced Guthmiller wants Congress to enact sentencing reforms, calling the mandatory 10-year sentence “absolutely ridiculous.”

Diane T. Horst

Posted on April 26, 2016April 26, 2016

Diane T. Horst, 78, of Arnold died Friday, April 22, at her home in Arnold.
Services will be held Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 10a at the First Baptist Church in Arnold. Interment will be at the Arnold Cemetary.
Visitation will be Friday 1 to 7p at the Arnold Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to Homeward Trail Bible Camp, 45796 Dr. Mason City, NE 68855

NPHS Freshman Wins 1st Place at State Journalism Contest

Posted on April 26, 2016April 26, 2016

North Platte High School is home to the state’s top photographer.

Freshman Quincey Epley placed first in the NSAA state journalism contest Monday in Norfolk. Epley’s preliminary entry earned her a spot in the competition. However, once there, she had to prove her ability in a live assignment against other Class A photographers. Her three shots earned her the highest ranking in Nebraska.

Haley McKain also took home a medal yesterday for her in-depth news writing. McKain placed 4th in the state in the Class A competition. In-depth writing covers a subject more extensively. McKain was the only reporter on the podium who worked individually; the other schools’ pieces were collaborative with several reporters contributing to the coverage.

Syble Heffernan (junior), Riley Epley (senior), and Kaitlyn Slinker (sophomore) also competed in the competition.

The last time North Platte High School placed first at the NSAA contest was 1977.

Both girls are staff writers for the North Platte Bulldogger newspaper and plan to continue working in journalism next school year.

Full results can be found at this website: https://nsaahome.org/journalism/.

Editor’s Note: This story was submitted by NPHS Journalism Advisor Lori Larson.

Homemade Explosives Blamed for Fatal Grand Island Fire

Posted on April 26, 2016April 26, 2016

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — State investigators say homemade explosives caused the fire in which a Grand Island business owner died.

The Nebraska fire marshal’s office said in a news release Tuesday that “this incident was the result of manufacturing of homemade explosives by the deceased.” The release says no other information about the blasts is yet available.

Authorities say 65-year-old Mike Winfrey’s body was found early Monday morning inside the building that housed his Winfrey Plumbing and Heating operation. His father, Doyle Winfrey, owned the structure, which the office says is probably a total loss.

Firetrucks were dispatched after several people reported hearing explosions around 10:45 p.m. Sunday. An estimated 40 firefighters battled the flames. Two injured people were treated at a Grand Island hospital and released. Their names haven’t been released.

Nebraskan Accused of Killing Brother Held on $500K Bail

Posted on April 26, 2016

GERING, Neb. (AP) — A 40-year-old Alliance man has been accused of fatally stabbing and slashing his brother in Scottsbluff.

Online court records say William Reed was formally charged Monday in Scotts Bluff County Court with second-degree murder and a related weapons crime. Police say he killed 42-year-old Christopher Reed at Christopher’s home Friday in Scottsbluff. William Reed’s attorney didn’t immediately return a call Tuesday from The Associated Press.

William Reed is being held on $500,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 3.

Court documents say William Reed twice told officers he’d stabbed his brother. Investigators say there was evidence of a fight in the several rooms in the home and outside. A knife found at the scene was seized as evidence.