Former Lady Bulldog Alex Neff has been honored as the Great Plains Conference Setter of the Week. Neff, a freshman at Doane College, averaged 10.8 assists per set this past week in a pair of Doane victories. Neff ranks 44th in the NAIA in assists per set and 23rd nationally in ace serves.
Full release from the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
North Platte will open play at the 2016 GNAC Softball tournament as the No. 3 seed against No. 6 seed Norfolk on Saturday at 10 AM in McCook. Here is the full bracket.
All three NPHS games will be live on ESPN Radio 1410.
Today
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A five-year transportation plan for Lincoln and Lancaster County aims to handle growing traffic by helping vehicles move through intersections more efficiently, eliminating the need for streets to widen.
The new direction is part of the proposed Long Range Transportation Plan.
A half dozen streets previously considered candidates for future major widening projects are now on a different list of streets the city plans to study to look for ways to improve traffic without widening.
City planners predict that traffic on city streets will increase from about 6 million vehicle miles traveled per day in 2015 to close to 9 million vehicle miles traveled in 2040.
Planning director David Cary says the corridor studies will include looking at using smarter traffic signals and physical improvements at intersections.
DETROIT (AP) — Highway gas mileage estimates for about a third of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. will fall by one mile per gallon because the government has changed the way it calculates the window sticker numbers.
The change begins with the 2017 model year. It’s largely because people are loading up cars with more options such as heated seats that use electricity and create drag on engines. The Environmental Protection Agency also says drivers run air conditioning more often than in the past, and they’re driving faster, both of which cut into mileage.
Initially the change could make it hard for buyers to compare mileage from one model year to the next. But the EPA says it will update numbers on its website in the next few weeks.
Alfred Swanson, 86, of North Platte, passed away on September 24, 2016 at Great Plains Health. He was born October, 23 1929 in Omaha, NE to Minnie and Anton Elmer Swanson. The family lived in Gothenburg , NE before moving to North Platte just prior to Al entering grade school. He graduated from North Platte High School in 1947.
After high school Al attended and graduated from the University of Denver with a degree in business. During his college years, he developed a lifelong love for the mountains and a passion for skiing. He skied every year into his early 80s, sometimes more than 100 days per year in retirement.
After college, he was drafted into the Army during the Korean conflict but was fortunate to be stationed in Austria and Italy, where he was part of a survey crew making maps. Upon his discharge from the Army, Al returned to North Platte where he was employed with Platte Valley Public Power (later NPPD). He retired from NPPD in 1995.
In 1961, Al married Anita Knisely, and they were married for 52 years before Anita’s death in 2013. They made their home and raised their family in a house Al constructed in 1967 and lived in until his death.
In retirement, Al and Anita enjoyed traveling, spending time with family and friends and splitting time between their home in North Platte, cabin at Lake Maloney and a home in Winter Park, CO. Al was known for his dry wit and strong family values. He was a caring and devoted son, husband, father and grandfather. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife Anita, sister Alice Mae, and his parents.
He is survived by son James (Tracy) of Golden CO, daughter Kay Irvine (Andy) of Fraser, CO, sister Betty Lou Udouch and nephew Alan Udouch of Johnstown, PA, grandsons Jack and Nathan Swanson of Golden, and sister-in-law Delores Knisely and niece Susan Knisely, both of Lincoln.
Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 29th at the First Presbyterian Church in North Platte. Burial will follow at Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (www.alzfdn.org).
Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.
The Commander of the Nebraska State Patrol Troop D Headquarters- North Platte, Captain Lynn Williams, will retire on Friday, September 30, after dedicating more than 33 years to serving and protecting the citizens of Nebraska as an officer and commander.
“Lynn personifies what it means to be a true public servant,” said Colonel Brad Rice, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Throughout his career, he has given selflessly of his time for the betterment of his Troop Area and the communities which he has served. We will miss his leadership and dedication to our profession.”
Captain Williams, 55, has been the Commander of Troop D- North Platte since January 2013. He began his career in 1983, with the Field Services Division. In March of 1996, he was assigned to the Investigative Services Division as a Criminal Investigator. He was promoted to Sergeant in Investigative Services in 2001 and Lieutenant in 2006. Captain Williams is a graduate of Leadership in Police Organizations (LPO) and is the past President of the Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center in North Platte.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An actuarial analysis shows the city of Omaha and its police and firefighters are putting enough into their pension fund for the first time in at least a decade.
It has been less than a decade since the city instituted a pension reform package intended to prevent a collapse of the fire and police system. It included payments from both the city and employees as well as reduced pension benefits.
In 2010, the city was at its low point as it put in less than 44 percent of what an actuary said it should contribute to the fund. A 2015 actuarial report shows that contribution figure rose above 100 percent for the first time last year.
The city contributed $42.1 million. The actuary had determined $41.9 million was required.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say an inmate has assaulted a staff member at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln.
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says the assault occurred Sunday. The department says the inmate punched the staffer in the head and was subdued by other staffers using physical force and chemical agents.
The department says the staff member was taken to a Lincoln medical facility for treatment and then released.
The names of the staffer and inmate have not been released.
