January 2018 – Page 22 – North Platte Post Archive

Wit and wisdom sought for reminders about safe driving

Posted on January 7, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Department of Transportation is asking people to share their wit, wisdom and wordplay in creating reminders for safe driving.

A new message is posted every Friday for 24 hours on overhead highway message signs. One example from Thanksgiving time last year: “Be a good potato, keep your eyes on the road.” Another message: “Smartphones do not make smart drivers.”

Submissions are being accepted through Jan. 31. People are encouraged to consider topics about safe driving, including tie-ins with holidays and upcoming events through May 2018. Submissions need to be three lines of text, with a maximum 18 characters per line (spaces count). Submissions should be sent to department website.

HIGHLIGHTS: Knights pull away in second half for 81-62 win over Southeast

Posted on January 7, 2018

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Knights basketball team opened up the second semester of play, defeating the Southeast Community College Storm, 81-62, on Saturday afternoon at the McDonald – Belton Gymnasium in a Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference game.

The Storm opened up the game with a 5-0 lead, but the Knights went on an 11-0 run to take an 11-5 lead. The Storm rallied back to take a 20-17 lead, but was short lived after Godfrey Rolle hit a field goal and a three-pointer to give the Knights the lead for good. The Knights led by as much as 13 points in the first half at 43-30. The Knights led at halftime by 10 at 43-33.

In the second half, the Storm scored first to cut the Knights lead to eight, but after a field goal by Brandon Headroe, the Knights maintained a double digit lead throughout the remainder of the game.

The Knights are now 5-6 on the season and 1-0 in NCCAC play. Three Knights finished in double figures, led by Trajan Harris, who finished with 19 points. Rolle finished with 18 points, and Buom Dobuol added 12 points. Dobuol also grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Knights and had four blocked shots.

The Storm are 1-15 overall and 0-1 in NCCAC play. Daniel Quesenberry led the Storm with 18 points and Kuoth Path came off the bench to score 11 points. Path had seven rebounds and two blocked shots to lead the Storm.

The Knights will face Region IX South Sub-Region opponent Northeastern Junior College on Wednesday, January 10 at the McDonald – Belton Gymnasium at 7:30 PM.

ESPN 1410 radio will broadcast the game and on www.northplattepost.com. It will also be live streamed at www.npccknights.com.

HIGHLIGHTS: Lady Knights drop pivotal Region IX-II opener at home against Southeast

Posted on January 7, 2018

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knight basketball team were defeated in their matchup in Region IX Division II action, falling to the Southeast Community College Lady Storm, 78-65, Saturday afternoon at the McDonald – Belton Gymnasium.

The Lady Knights jumped out to a 16-3 lead, behind a couple of three-pointers and a field goal by sophomore Allison Tichy. The Lady Storm answered back with a pair of three-pointers, while holding the Lady Knights to a single field goal the remainder of the first quarter to give the Lady Knights an 18-9 lead after one period of play.

In the beginning of the second quarter, the Lady Knights added to their lead by going on a 6-0 run to lead 24-9 lead. With the score being 26-16 in favor of the Lady Knights, the Lady Storm went on a 14-1 run to take a 30-27 lead. Tichy added a three-pointer to tie the game at 30, but the Lady Storm went into halftime with a 34-32 lead.

In the third quarter, the Lady Storm started the quarter on a 12-4 run to take a 46-36 lead. The Lady Knights rallied back with a run of 14-3 to take a 50-49 lead at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, with the score tied at 52, the Lady Storm took the lead for good by going on a 17-3 run to take their biggest lead of 14 points at 69-55.

The Lady Knights, now 1-9 on the season and 0-1 in Region IX Division II play, were led in scoring by Tichy, who finished with 20 points in the game. Hannah Johnson and Peighton Porter each finished with 10 points. Porter had a double-double with 11 rebounds.

The Lady Storm, are 1-0 in Region IX Division II play, and 5-9 overall. They were led in scoring by Morgan Frauendorfer, who had 20 points. DeAsia Walker added 16 points and Sebir Gadusk finished with 14 points. Walker had a double-double by also grabbing 11 rebounds.

The Lady Knights are in action next when they host Region IX Division I Northeastern Junior College on Wednesday, January 10 at 5:30 PM at the McDonald – Belton Gymnasium.

ESPN 1410 radio will broadcast the game and on www.northplattepost.com. It will also be live streamed at www.npccknights.com.

Brewers, hop growers set for conference in downtown Omaha

Posted on January 7, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — For a second year, a conference for Nebraska brewers and farmers catering to brewers will be held in the state.

The Nebraska Growers and Brewers Conference & Trade Show will be held Jan. 18-19 in downtown Omaha at the Embassy Suites.

The event is intended to provide educational information to regional hop and barley growers and craft brewers, as well as a platform for participants to build industry connections and relationships.

Sponsors of the event include the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Nebraska Hop Growers Association, the Nebraska Craft Brewers Guild and Midwest Hop Producers.

Presenters include representatives of Nebraska Brewing Company of Papillion, Zipline Brewing Company of Lincoln, First Street Brewing Company of Hastings, and Blue Blood Brewing Company of Lincoln.

Omaha to hold delayed New Year’s Eve fireworks show

Posted on January 7, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha residents will celebrate New Year’s Eve — about a week late.

Severe cold weather on Dec. 31 forced organizers of the Omaha Holiday Lights Festival New Year’s Eve Fireworks Spectacular to postpone last week’s show.

The fireworks show is now being held Saturday night in Omaha’s downtown Gene Leahy Mall, with a brief ceremony and countdown by Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert.

Those needing or requesting accommodations are welcome to view the fireworks from the fourth floor of the W. Dale Clark Library.

Those seeking more information can find it online at www.holidaylightsfestival.org.

Police say 1 dead in shooting at north Omaha lounge

Posted on January 7, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say one person has died after an overnight shooting in north Omaha.

Police say officers were called to the Reign Lounge on North 30th Street just before 2 a.m. Saturday for a report of a shooting. Arriving officers found 27-year-old Kyle Leflore suffering from a gunshot wound. Police say Leflore was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

No arrests have been reported, and police are asking the public’s help identifying the shooter.

A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest.

US Marshal shoots suspect while serving warrant in Lincoln

Posted on January 7, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 25-year-old Gage County man was shot and injured by a U.S. Marshal while being served with a federal arrest warrant in Lincoln.

Lincoln police say two of its officers and the federal marshal tried to serve Thomas Sailors with the warrant Friday night while Sailors was in a sport utility vehicle in an apartment building parking lot. The warrant charges Sailors with possession and attempted distribution of narcotics in Gage County.

Police say Sailors sought to flee and hit at least four cars, including the one driven by the marshal. The marshal then fired shots into the SUV, wounding Sailors. Police say his injuries are not life-threatening.

No one else was injured.

19-year-old airman, Papillion man killed in 3-vehicle crash

Posted on January 7, 2018

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Police in eastern Nebraska have identified two people killed in a three-vehicle crash along the Kennedy Freeway in the Omaha suburb of Bellevue.

19-year-old Khalil Jones, of Daytona Beach, Florida, and 47-year-old Shamus Dean, of Papillion, were killed. Two others were critically injured in crash early Friday.

Officials say Jones was an airman stationed at Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha.

Investigators say Jones’ car had stalled along the freeway, and Dean had pulled over to help. Police say a towing truck being driven erratically by a 57-year-old Bellevue man crashed into the parked vehicles. Jones and Dean were pronounced dead at the scene, and two teens in Jones’ car were injured.

The tow-truck driver was not injured.

Bill seeks to stop drone use to spy on people, harass cows

Posted on January 7, 2018

Don McCullough from Santa Rosa, CA, USA (commons.wikimedia.org)

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Using a drone to spy on neighbors, drop drugs into prisons or harass cows could lead to criminal charges under a new bill Nebraska lawmakers will consider later this year.

The measure would impose new safety and privacy rules on the remote-control flying machines that are now used for dozens of jobs throughout the state.

Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue says she introduced the bill to protect the public without overregulating drones, the kind of technology she said is critical to the state’s economic growth. The Federal Aviation Administration already oversees drones, but Blood says the agency hasn’t addressed all of the public safety concerns.

The bill would impose restrictions on flying drones near prisons or private property without permission, and using them to harass livestock.

New trial date set for man accused of killing neighbor

Posted on January 5, 2018January 5, 2018

MADISON, Neb. (AP) — A new trial date has been set for a man accused of stabbing to death a neighbor at a northeast Nebraska apartment complex.

Court records say the attorney for 49-year-old Rodolfo Castaneda-Morejon had requested a delay. The trial had been set to begin Feb. 12. The new date: June 12.

Castaneda-Morejon has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and use of a weapon.

Prosecutors say he killed 39-year-old Yosvanis Velazquez Gomez on Aug. 25. The court records say Castaneda-Morejon told investigators he confronted Gomez about an inappropriate text message sent to Castaneda-Morejon’s girlfriend, suspecting the two were having a secret relationship. The records also say Castaneda-Morejon acknowledged stabbing Velazquez Gomez several times.