Post Staff – Page 278 – North Platte Post Archive

NPCC gets swept in Scottsbluff

Posted on April 12, 2018April 16, 2018

Scottsbluff – The North Platte Community College Knights softball team was swept by the Western Nebraska Community College Lady Cougars Tuesday afternoon, 23-0 and 10-2.

The Lady Cougars started game one by scoring nine runs in the first inning. They added four in the second inning and 10 runs in the fourth inning to win in the shortened five-inning game.

Emma McMichael pitched the complete game for the Lady Cougars and struck out six Knight hitters to get the win.

Kamree Christensen pitched for the Knights and took the loss. Christensen struck out two Lady Cougars.

In game two, the Knights got on the scoreboard first with a run by Emily Marsden. The Lady Cougars scored one run in the bottom of the first to tie the game up at 1-1.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Lady Cougars tallied four runs to take a 5-1 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Alejandra Agular Vivar scored the Knights final run on a sacrifice fly by Mikayla Gibson to cut the lead to 5-2.

The Lady Cougars added two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth innings.

Erin Renwick pitched five and two thirds innings and struck out one Lady Cougar.

Reagan Solomon got the win by pitching three and a third inning. McMichael pitched the final two and two thirds innings.

The Knights are 3-25 on the season. They will next be in action at home on Sunday, April 15 and Monday, April 16 when they host Region IX Division II opponent Central Community College. The games were originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, but were pushed back a day due the forecast of inclement weather.

Game times on Sunday are at 3 and 5 pm. On Monday, game times are at 2 and 4 pm. The games will be livestreamed at www.npccknights.com. The Monday games will be broadcast on ESPN 1410 radio and on the Internet at www.northplattepost.com.

Man accused of killing neighbor to get competency tests

Posted on April 12, 2018

MADISON, Neb. (AP) — A man accused of stabbing to death a neighbor in northeast Nebraska will be examined to determine his competency to stand trial.

A judge granted the defense motion Wednesday for the examination of 49-year-old Rodolfo Castaneda-Morejon. He’s pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and use of a weapon, and his trial is scheduled to begin June 12.

Prosecutors say he killed 39-year-old Yosvanis Velazquez Gomez on Aug. 25 at a Norfolk apartment complex. Madison County District Court records say Castaneda-Morejon told investigators he confronted Velazquez 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.

$1M in pot seized after traffic stop in eastern Nebraska

Posted on April 12, 2018

YORK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have seized 260 pounds of marijuana and arrested a driver in eastern Nebraska’s York County.

The pot’s estimated street value is $1 million and was found Monday afternoon after a routine traffic stop along Interstate 80, 2 miles west of York.

Sheriff’s Lt. Paul Vrbka says a deputy reported smelling the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, so he searched it. Vrbka says the pot was found in eight duffel bags.

The driver was arrested on suspicion of possession for sale. Court records don’t show that he’s been formally charged yet.

Former company president gets 10-18 years for embezzlement

Posted on April 12, 2018April 13, 2018

ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) — The former president of a Nebraska Panhandle seed company has been sentenced to prison for embezzling more than $800,000.

Court records say 52-year-old Bradley Hansen was given concurrent sentences of 10 to 18 years at a hearing Monday in Box Butte County Court in Alliance. He’d pleaded no contest to sole counts of theft and forgery after prosecutors dropped other counts.

Nebraska State Patrol investigators that Hansen had deposited into his own account dozens of checks written to Prairie Sky Seeds Inc. of Hemingford, totaling nearly $803,000. He’s required to pay more than $400,000 in restitution and give up his ownership interest in Prairie Sky.

Driver killed when train rams pickup in southeast Nebraska

Posted on April 12, 2018

AUBURN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a pickup truck driver was killed when a train rammed his vehicle in southeast Nebraska.

The crash occurred around 8:45 a.m. Tuesday on the east side of Auburn. Authorities say 86-year-old Donald Kruger was headed east on U.S. Highway 136 when his pickup was struck by the northbound train.

The crash is being investigated. Kruger lived in Auburn.

Airman who killed colleague gets life with chance at parole

Posted on April 12, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An enlisted man who admitted killing a colleague at a U.S. Air Force base near Omaha has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

The Air Force said the sentence handed down Wednesday in a U.S. District Court in Omaha included a dishonorable discharge for Airman 1st Class Timothy Wilsey, of Valdosta, Georgia. On Thursday he pleaded guilty to premeditated murder for the slaying of Airman 1st Class Rhianda Dillard on Aug. 1, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base. She joined the Air Force after graduating high school near Biloxi, Mississippi.

Wilsey was arrested in Emporia, Virginia, 11 days after the slaying. He said in a journal found when he was arrested that he had “a hunger, a thirst, a craving” to kill people.

Nebraska lawmakers OK higher speed limits, but not on I-80

Posted on April 12, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would allow higher speed limits on Nebraska state highways has won final approval in the Legislature, but it won’t apply to Interstate 80.

Lawmakers passed the measure on a 44-1 vote Wednesday. They previously stripped out language that would have allowed speeds of up to 80 mph on portions of the interstate.

The current proposal would raise the speed limit to 65 mph on four-lane highways, up from the current 60 mph. Other expressways and freeways could see their limits increase to 70 mph, up from 65 mph.

The Department of Transportation would set the limits. Sen. John Murante, of Gretna, the bill’s sponsor, says it would streamline Nebraska’s roadways.

Opponents voiced traffic safety concerns. The bill now goes to Gov. Pete Ricketts, who has endorsed it.

Nebraska lawmakers vote to lift animal massage regulations

Posted on April 12, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have passed a bill that would remove state licensing requirements for residents who massage horses, cats, and dogs.

The measure passed 46-0 Wednesday.

The bill was originally aimed at horse massage, a common practice throughout the country to relieve tension for high-performance horses and increase their range of movement.

Sen. Mike Groene, the bill’s sponsor, says it will remove employment barriers for rural Nebraskans. Nebraska has no licensed horse massage therapists, which Groene attributes to burdensome licensing requirements.

Nebraska previously required equine massage therapists to be a veterinarian or a licensed human massage therapist with additional training. Violators faced high fines and potential prison time.

Lawmakers say they saw no reason to regulate dog and cat massage, either.

Omaha police seeking driver in fatal hit-and-run crash

Posted on April 12, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say a motorcyclist has been killed in an early-morning hit-and-run in Omaha, and investigators are seeking the driver who fled.

Police say in a news release that the crash happened around 6:40 a.m. Wednesday when a sport utility vehicle ran a stop sign and hit a motorcycle. Investigators say the motorcyclist ended up underneath the SUV, which fled, running over the motorcyclist. Police say 31-year-old Juan Moreno-Tamayo died at the scene.

Police say witnesses were able to give investigators a description of the vehicle and license plate number. Police have identified the owner and are searching for him and the suspected vehicle.

Child care center closed after owner charged in drug case

Posted on April 12, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — State officials have closed an Omaha child care center after the woman who ran it was charged with gun and drug counts.

An emergency order issued Tuesday night by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services says Joquana Goynes, the director of Klassy Kidz Corner, can no longer provide care for any children other than her own.

The 41-year-old Goynes was arrested Saturday and charged with manufacturing, distributing or possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance with a firearm, possession of more than a pound of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp.

Court records show police found nearly three pounds of marijuana at Goynes’ home and a loaded 9 mm handgun under her bed.

Goynes has pleaded not guilty. She is free on $3,000 cash bond.