March 2019 – Page 28 – North Platte Post Archive

Dawson County businesses cited for selling alcohol to minors

Posted on March 4, 2019

Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) conducted alcohol inspections in Dawson County during the evening hours of Friday, March 1.

The project was supported in whole or part by grant #93.959 under the SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Region II Human Services, and the Nebraska DHHS Division of Behavioral Health.

In total, 15 businesses were inspected. Three businesses sold alcohol to a minor for a non-compliance rate of 20 percent. All of the businesses checked the minor’s ID.

The businesses which failed the inspections were:

Bella Italia – Cozad (checked ID, sold to minor)

El Paraiso – Cozad (checked ID, sold to minor)

Casey’s General Store #2068 – Lexington (checked ID, sold to minor)

The inspections were conducted at liquor stores, convenience stores, restaurants, and bars. Businesses that sell alcohol to a minor are referred to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. Clerks who sell alcohol to a minor are cited for procuring alcohol for a minor.

NSP and other law enforcement agencies conduct these inspections in an effort to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors.

Omaha sees cost of living rise, loss in spending power

Posted on March 4, 2019

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Figures show Omaha’s economy is shifting and the area’s historically low cost of living is on the rise.

Much of the increase in cost of living can be attributed to the high demand and low supply of housing, which is driving up home prices and rent costs.

David Drozd is a researcher at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He says the low cost of living now gives local residents a salary boost of $2,000 to $2,500, compared to $5,000 to $6,000 in 2013.

Omaha’s cost of living still remains at 95 percent the typical rate across the country. But it’s no longer as competitive when compared to other Midwestern cities, such as Oklahoma City, which is at 85 percent of the national average.

GAMESTORY: Knights edge McCook in first round

Posted on March 4, 2019

North Platte, NE – With an invitation to Sheridan, WY to continue the Region IX tournament on the line the Knights did enough little things right to move on. It doesn’t hurt that they got a little help from McCook on the way.

The Knights knew that this would be a tough game having gone 1-1 against McCook during the season (both teams winning their respective home games) and knowing McCook would be upset after being blown out in North Platte last time they played 91-68. Complicating matters was the Knights starting center Jakub Karwowski would be unavailable after injuring his left leg in the game against Western Nebraska.

The first half started as you would expect it to with both teams coming out and throwing their best game right out of the gate. Neither team would start off with the momentum as they each would keep it close. McCook would call the first time out with 16:44 left on the clock and North Platte in the lead 6-4.

McCook would start to gain a little bit of momentum but North Platte’s talent kept them in the game. Coach O’Connor would take his first time out with 13:40 left in the first half. The Knights had the lead 11-10 and had already gone through 5 lead changes.

McCook would go on a 6-3 run and capitalize on the Knights missing their big man, consistently getting into the paint area. That would draw another time out from North Platte with 12:14 remaining and McCook on top 16-14.

The next three minutes of the game would still belong to McCook, with 9:22 left in the first half the Knights would take yet another time out as they felt the game starting to slip away. McCook had the lead 20-16. It’s at this point coach O’Connor went with a smaller lineup to try to stay in front of the speedy Indian crew.

The smaller lineup would grab back the momentum and go on a 10-5 run of their own prompting a time out from McCook with just under six minutes in the first half. North Platte in the lead 26-25.

For the rest of the first half, the Knights would clamp down defensively and start to impose their will on the game. It was the team we had seen all year long turning defense into easy layups on the other end and getting to the free throw line at will. McCook would miss a layup with about 8 seconds to go. Edgars Kaufmanis would head upcourt and bury a layup of his own at the buzzer. The end of the first half would see the Knights in control 44-37.

All the time outs taken in the first half would be a BIG BIG factor in the game later on (spoiler alert!!).

The second half would mirror the first with the Knights quickly going back to a smaller lineup to counter the speed of the Indians. McCook would take the momentum back from North Platte to start the second half. North Platte would let their guys stay out on the court and fight through the momentum shift until with 8:36 left the Knights would take a time out. McCook would be in the lead at that point 63-62.

Moments later the wheels looked like they would start coming off for McCook, Peanut Cunningham would draw a technical foul after a McCook made basket that would give the Knights a chance for a large point swing. The Knights would capitalize and use that to get things going on their side of the ball.

Neither team would ever lead this game by more than 7 points (North Platte) and with 4:00 on the clock McCook would take a time out down by 3, 72-69. North Platte’s defense was starting to get back into the game and things looked to be going the Knights way at that point.

Fast forward to the last minute of gameplay with the game tied at 82 points. McCook with possession and time ticking down. They would get it across halfcourt and immediately be trapped by the swarming defense of North Platte. McCook would take a time out with 11.8 seconds left on the clock. After conferring with the scorer’s table it was determined that McCook was out of timeouts at this point and would be assessed a technical foul.

Tim Johnson would sink both free throws giving North Platte the lead 84-82. McCook would keep possession of the ball. They would get the look they wanted but miss the layup. Courtney Murrell would snag the rebound and be fouled. He would make 1 of 2 and the Knights would hold on to take the victory 85-82.

The season comes to an end for the McCook Indians with the loss. The Knights earn the right to head to Sheridan WY for the remainder of the Region IX tournament.

The Knights will play Central Wyoming on Thursday, March 7th at 6 pm central time.

Authorities say man died after crash on I-80 in Omaha

Posted on March 4, 2019

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man died in a hospital after his car crashed along Interstate 80 in Omaha.

Police say the accident occurred around 10:40 p.m. Sunday near the I Street off-ramp. Police say the westbound car veered to the right and hit the snow-packed shoulder. The car then went over a concrete barrier and landed on an embankment.

Police say the driver was taken to a hospital, where he later died. He’s been identified as 23-year-old Ivan Pena, who lived in Omaha.

Wind chills prompt Nebraska warnings from weather service

Posted on March 4, 2019

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — Dangerously cold weather in western Nebraska has prompted warnings from the National Weather Service.

Wind chill temperatures as low as 40 below zero (minus 40 Celsius) are expected Monday. A weather service wind chill warning extends through 11 a.m.

Several school districts and other agencies and businesses intend to open late or even remain closed for the day.

Wind chills as low as 30 below zero (minus 34 Celsius) are expected in most of eastern Nebraska.

Nebraska offering 4 more mountain lion hunting permits

Posted on March 3, 2019

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Hunters can apply for one of four mountain lion hunting permits available in Nebraska this spring.

The state Game and Parks Commission says applications for the permits to hunt in part of the Pine Ridge area of northwest Nebraska will be accepted during the first five days of March.

Anyone interested in the chance to hunt a mountain lion between March 15 and March 31 can apply if they already hold a mountain lion permit for the area.

No more than four mountain lions will be killed during this auxiliary hunting season.

More information on Nebraska’s mountain lion hunting rules is available online .

Man gets jail, probation for using stolen credit card data

Posted on March 2, 2019

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A Grand Island man has been given jail time and probation for using stolen credit card information to make dozens of purchases.

Hall County District Court records say 32-year-old pleaded no contest to five counts of forgery after prosecutors dropped dozens of other counts of forgery and criminal possession of financial transaction devices. He was sentenced Wednesday to a year in jail and five years of probation.

Police say the fraudulent credit card transactions occurred from February into July 2017. Investigators think the card information was taken from skimmers used on gasoline pumps and then programmed onto credit card blanks.

Kearney college student accused of sexual assault

Posted on March 2, 2019March 2, 2019

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have charged a University of Nebraska at Kearney student with felony sexual assault.

Buffalo County Court records say 20-year-old Miguel Guzman is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 19. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call Friday from The Associated Press.

The alleged attack occurred last Sunday off the Kearney campus. Court records with details have been sealed from public view.

Missing Native American women bill passes in Legislature

Posted on March 2, 2019

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill to help Nebraska policymakers identify the number of missing-person cases involving Native American women has won final approval in the Legislature.

Lawmakers passed the measure Friday on a 45-0 vote.

The measure would require the Nebraska State Patrol to conduct a study on missing Native American women cases and identify what can be done to address the problem. The patrol would also work with tribal and local law enforcement, Native American tribes and American Indian organizations as well as the U.S. Department of Justice.

The bill by Sen. Tom Brewer, of Gordon, is intended to help officials identify the scope of the problem and any barriers to fixing it. The patrol would submit a report to lawmakers by June 1, 2020.

Omaha landlord countersues ex-tenants, claims $1M in damages

Posted on March 2, 2019

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The landlord of an Omaha apartment complex whose tenants were evacuated by the city because of squalid conditions has countersued dozens of his former tenants, alleging they breeched their lease agreements by failing to keep the apartments clean.

Kay Anderson filed a lawsuit this week saying tenants at Yale Park Apartments didn’t properly clean their homes or give adequate notice of needed repairs, The Omaha World-Herald reported. The suit alleges that tenants caused at least $1 million in damage at the property.

“The discounted rent charged to plaintiffs was contemplated, set and reduced specifically because of the plaintiffs’ agreement to perform certain duties and obligations, particularly related to maintenance, upkeep and cleanliness,” the suit contends.

Anderson, who charged $550 to $595 for two- and three-bedroom apartments, also alleges that the complaints filed to the city were misleading and slanderous, and targeted AB Realty, the limited liability company that owns the complex.

“The complaint was designed and is being maintained to harass the defendants in a malicious and concerted effort to attempt to coerce and intimidate AB Realty to sell and/or abandon the Yale Park Apartments,” Anderson’s lawsuit states.

The complex was shuttered in September after Omaha housing inspectors received more than 100 complaints from occupants about the conditions, including unsafe electrical circuits, natural gas leaks and units infested with mice, bedbugs and maggots. The apartments were primarily housing refugees from Myanmar.

More than 90 tenants sued Anderson in December, seeking refunds on security deposits and rent, as well as damages for living in the dilapidated buildings.

“We think the counterclaims are wholly without merit and we intend to continue to pursue our claims vigorously,” said Mark Laughlin, an attorney for the former tenants.