March 2017 – Page 15 – North Platte Post Archive

Billionaire to open Bellevue high school

Posted on March 21, 2017

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha billionaire is developing an independent high school in Bellevue that would be among the nation’s first to use “Next Generation Learning” curriculum.

NGL Academy will begin accepting applications Thursday for its first freshmen class. The school will operate on Bellevue University’s campus beginning August, and is aimed primarily at low-income students.

TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts began nonprofit Opportunity Education in 2005. School official Raymond Ravaglia says NGL Academy is being developed by Opportunity Education, which has helped open schools in 11 countries and in California.

Ricketts says the school is designed to teach students how to learn, and to “teach them not just specific skills but more generally how to acquire skills.”

Ravaglia says the focus won’t be on testing, but helping students become self-educators.

Grand Island students to create butterfly habitat

Posted on March 21, 2017

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Students from Grand Island Public Schools and area conservation group members are planning to create a four-acre monarch butterfly research habitat.

Central Platte Natural Resources District official Marcia Lee says more than 30 students will help with the initial planting of the habitat beginning Thursday. The habitat is to be located on an easement of the Wood River Flood Control Project.

Lee says the monarch butterfly population is decreasing at a rapid pace due to loss of natural habitat, herbicide use and destruction of milkweed plants.

To address the loss of natural habitat, a coalition formed to provide monarchs with food, water and shelter.

Grand Island Public Schools official Ken DeFrank says the project involves students as part of a hands-on outdoor learning program.

Kansas Oil Production The Lowest In Ten Years

Posted on March 21, 2017March 21, 2017

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The State of Kansas produced just 37.9 million barrels of crude oil last year, according to the latest numbers from the Kansas Geological Survey. If borne out by tax figures from the Revenue Department, that would be the state’s lowest annual production total since 2007. KGS says Ellis County produced 2.67 million barrels of crude last year. Harper County was next at 2.01 million. Barton County weighed in with 2016 production of 1.73 million barrels. Haskell (1.72M) and Finney County (1.67M) were next, followed by Russell County with 1.62 million barrels, and Stafford County at 1.1 million barrels.

In 2015, Kansas ranked 10th in crude oil production among the 50 states, excluding the federal offshore areas.

https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=KS

https://www.kgs.ku.edu/PRS/petro/state.html

Knights softball returns home to face Iowa Western after 27 straight games away from home

Posted on March 21, 2017March 21, 2017

North Platte – For the second time this season, the Knights softball team will be playing in front of the home crowd on Thursday, March 23. They will be facing the Iowa Western Community College Lady Reivers in a doubleheader at the Wayne Dowhower Softball Complex.

The Knights opened up their season at home, against Northeast Community College back on Feb 11, winning both games 7-5 and 13-5. Since that time they have been on the road for the past 27 games.

The Knights opponent on Thursday, the Lady Reivers, defeated the Knights on Sunday in a doubleheader 5-1 and 13-5.

The Knights are 11-18 on the season. Going into this past weekend action, Samantha Gill leads the Knights in hitting with a .527 batting average, eight doubles, and two home runs. Gill also has a .716 slugging percentage to lead the Knights. Samantha Foster is next in hitting with a .500 batting average. Foster is tied with Gill for the team lead in doubles with eight and has one home run. Foster does lead the Knights in runs batted in with 29. Aliyiah Franco has also hit two home runs to tie Gill for the team lead.

In the ring, Foster has an earned run average of 3.37 in 13 appearances and has struck out 44 batters. Erin Renwick has a 4.49 ERA in 13 appearances. Renwick has struck out 36 batters.

The Lady Reivers are 15-8 on the season. Celia Valencia leads the Lady Reivers in batting with a .522 batting average. Rebecca Riley is close behind with a .510 batting average. Riley has also hit five doubles and a home run. Alyx Hagen leads the Lady Reivers in home runs with five.

In the ring, Zoe Hicks, in five appearances, has an earned run average of 3.65. Hicks has struck out 16 and has allowed only two home runs. Hagen has a 4.31 earned run average and has struck out 17.

Game times are scheduled for 3 pm and 5 pm.

Game one will be broadcast on ESPN radio 1410 prior to NCAA Basketball Tournament coverage and on the internet at www.northplattepost.com. They will also be livestreamed at www.npccknights.com.

Jane M. Earnest

Posted on March 21, 2017

Jane M. Earnest, 82, of North Platte, NE, was reunited with her immediate family on March 19, 2017.

Jane was born to Paul and Lois (Shick) McGuire on June 15, 1934 in Lexington., NE. She graduated from Lexington High School. She then attended Loretto Heights College in Denver, Colorado and graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Jane worked as a registered nurse for 45+ years. Even when her memory started to fade, she remembered medical terms, and remained a nurse to the end. She worked in numerous care facilities in both Colorado and Nebraska through the years. When she herself was a resident in a care facility, she made sure to treat the nurses with the same respect she wanted residents to give her. She always said please if she needed something and told the nurses thank you when they were done.

Preceding Jane in death were her parents; a son, Terry Earnest; brother, Robert McGuire; sisters, Mary Alice McGuire and Kay McGuire Bain; and nephews, Kelly, Kristopher and Paul Bain.

Survivors include a son, Michael (Patti) McGuire of Chicago Il; granddaughter, Megan (Jason) Tommer; two great-granddaughters, Kinsley and Leighton Tommer both of Chicago; brother-in-law, Jim (Michelle) Bain of North Platte; niece, Kim (Matt) Joy of Santa Fe, NM; and nephews, Patrick ( Marla) Bain and Jeff (Brenda) Bain all of North Platte.

A special “Thank You” to North Platte Care Center and Premier Estates for taking care of her these past three years.

Memorials are suggested to Holy Spirit Catholic Church or St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.

Christian Wake Service will be said Friday March 24 at 9:30 AM, followed by Catholic Mass of Christian burial at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Father James Novakowski as celebrant. Burial will be at the Lexington Cemetery, Lexington Nebraska. Those wishing to sign the register book may do so 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Thursday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Cecil “Ray” Mullen

Posted on March 21, 2017

Cecil “Ray” Mullen, 78, of North Platte, formerly of Maywood, passed away March 17, 2017, at Great Plains Health. He was born on April 4, 1938, to Charles and Tracy (Blake) Mullen in Maywood. Ray graduated from Maywood High School with the Class of 1956. He was united in marriage to Sharron White on March 7, 1957 at Stockville.

He worked for the Maywood Coop and later hired out on the Union Pacific Railroad in 1972 until his retirement. Ray enjoyed hunting and trapping throughout his life and he especially enjoyed spending time with his family.

Survivors include his children; Jerry (Lorraine) Mullen of Maywood, Diane (George) Dykes of Georgia, Michael Mullen of North Platte, James (Becky) Mullen of McCook, and David (Sheri) Mullen of North Platte, 13 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren; a sister, Colleen Miller; a brother, Robert Mullen.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Sharron; brother Kenneth Mullen; brother-in-law, Marlin “Doug” Miller; grandson, Raymond Murphy; daughter-in-law, Kellie Mullen.

Online condolences may be shared at carpentermemorial.com. Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 24, 2017, at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Those wishing to sign the memorial book may do so Tuesday thru Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Cremation was chosen. Inurnment will be at a later date. A memorial has been established in his name. Carpenter memorial Chapel is in care of arrangements.

Man on parole for murder accused in Scottsbluff drugs case

Posted on March 21, 2017

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — A man paroled after serving time for second-degree murder has been accused of possessing drugs for sale in Scotts Bluff County.

Court records say 45-year-old Travis Buechler, of Minatare, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and related crimes. Online records say he remained in Scotts Bluff County custody Tuesday. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press.

Documents say Buechler was arrested Wednesday evening after a search of his pickup outside a Scottsbluff convenience store. An officer reports seeing Buechler have a suspicious meeting with another man in the parking lot.

Buechler was paroled last year. He’d been sentenced to 10 to 40 years for the 1993 slaying of Efrain Hernandez, whose remains were found in a corral on an abandoned farmstead in Sioux County.

Creighton suspends frat linked to student stabbing

Posted on March 21, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Creighton University has suspended a fraternity that’s been under investigation since a member was accused of stabbing another student.

The university said in a news release Monday night that Phi Kappa Psi was suspended until 2025.

The student accused of the stabbing, Christopher Wheeler, has said he has no memory of the incident. His family and attorneys have said he was forced in a fraternity hazing incident to take a hallucinogenic drug. Phi Kappa Psi representatives have denied that and say any alcohol or drug consumption by Wheeler appeared to have been voluntary.

The university said that while it was investigating the residence hall stabbing, it found violations of the university conduct code and anti-hazing policies. It said incidents investigated included underage drinking and drug distribution.

Man arrested after 2 teens found dead in Colorado

Posted on March 21, 2017

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Police have arrested a man in connection with the deaths of two teenagers whose bodies were found on the shoulder of a rural Colorado road.

19-year-old Gustavo Marquez is being held on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated robbery and child abuse resulting in death.

The bodies of 15-year-old Derek Benjamin Greer and 16-year-old Natalie Partida, both students at Coronado High School, were found March 12 by a passing driver on Old Pueblo Road just northeast of Pikes Peak International Raceway.

Authorities have not said how the teens were killed or what led investigators to Marquez.

Booking documents do not indicate if Marquez has hired an attorney.

2 women killed in northeast Nebraska highway crash

Posted on March 21, 2017

WALTHILL, Neb. (AP) — Two women have been killed in a northeast Nebraska car crash.

The crash occurred Saturday morning, just east of Walthill on Nebraska Highway 64 in Thurston County. The Nebraska State Patrol says the car ran off the roadway, and when the driver overcorrected the car ran off the other side of the highway and rolled.

The two women were pronounced dead at the scene. The patrol identified them as Hayla Morris and Donnette Blackbird. Their ages and hometowns weren’t immediately available. A third person in the car was not injured.