Post Staff – Page 658 – North Platte Post Archive

North Platte Forecast-February 20

Posted on February 20, 2017

Washington’s Birthday

Sunny, with a high near 65. North northwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable.

Tuesday

Sunny, with a high near 75. West southwest wind 5 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 36. South southwest wind 3 to 7 mph.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 65. West northwest wind 6 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Thursday

A chance of snow before 10am, then a chance of rain and snow between 10am and 11am, then rain after 11am. High near 45. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Thursday Night

Rain before 8pm, then rain and snow between 8pm and 9pm, then snow after 9pm. Cloudy, with a low around 22.

Friday

A chance of snow before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31.

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15.

Saturday

Partly sunny, with a high near 36.

Saturday Night

A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17.

Sunday

A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 40.

Historic theater in downtown Norfolk goes up for sale

Posted on February 19, 2017

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — The historic Grand Theatre in downtown Norfolk is up for sale, bringing disappointment to many who tried to restore the landmark for the past 12 years.

The property is listed for $200,000.

The former theater building was built in 1920. It became the Rialto in 1940. Then it became the smaller divided Cinema theaters in the 1970s before it eventually closed.

Businessman J. Paul McIntosh donated the property in 2005 to the Norfolk Community Theater, which tried to obtain money to renovate the structure was but unable to raise the millions needed to make necessary improvements to the interior.

The landmark was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

Interstate 80 delays expected from Odessa to Elm Creek

Posted on February 19, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Traffic slowdowns are expected in south-central Nebraska as workers seal cracks on Interstate 80.

The project is expected to begin Monday on a stretch from Odessa to Elm Creek. Workers will be cleaning out and sealing cracks to protect the pavement from debris and moisture.

The Nebraska Roads Department says temporary lane closures will be erected in the mornings and removed in the evenings. The department says motorists should expect some delays.

Lenders, low-income advocates face off on payday loan bills

Posted on February 19, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Payday lenders are squaring off against those who say the loans prey on minority communities as Nebraska lawmakers prepare to hear two vastly different approaches to regulating the industry.

Sens. Lou Ann Linehan and Tony Vargas are pushing a measure that would cap annual interest rates and limit interest and fees to 50 percent of the principal balance.

Sen. Joni Craighead has proposed a bill that would keep payday lending as is and create a new type of loan with longer terms and slightly lower interest rates.

Both bills are set for a legislative committee hearing on Tuesday.

USDA to ask farmers what they plan to plant this spring

Posted on February 19, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Agriculture Department is getting ready to survey farmers about what they are planning to grow this year.

The USDA will survey about 84,000 farmers nationwide about their plans.

The survey will form the basis for the USDA’s annual prospective plantings report. That report is scheduled to be released March 31.

The USDA’s Dean Groskurth says this report is important because it is the basis for the projections officials will make about this year’s crop.

EPA conference will focus on radon risks and mitigation

Posted on February 19, 2017

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A conference next month will focus on the best ways to raise awareness about the dangers of radon gas.

The Environmental Protection Agency is working with health officials in Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa to put on the conference in Manhattan, Kansas, on March 7.

The odorless colorless radon gas is the nation’s second-leading cause of lung cancer, behind smoking, and is the most common cause in nonsmokers.

The meeting will highlight ways to help the public reduce radon exposure.

Organizers say anyone interested in attending the free meeting should register before Tuesday online at http://svy.mk/2kOzd96 .

Easier citizenship path sought for slain officers’ spouses

Posted on February 18, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska says he will re-introduce a measure aimed at helping secure citizenship for the widower of an Omaha police officer killed in the line of duty nearly two years ago.

The measure, first introduced by former Nebraska Congressman Brad Ashford and dubbed the Kerrie Orozco Act, would expedite the citizenship process for spouses of first responders who are killed on the job.

Bacon, a Republican, defeated Ashford, a Democrat, in November in the race to represent the state’s 2nd congressional district, which encompasses the Omaha area.

Kerrie Orozco was fatally shot in May 2015 while trying to make an arrest. Her husband, Hector Orozco, is now a single father to three children, including the one Kerrie Orozco delivered only three months before her death.

Western Nebraska man’s vehicular homicide trial delayed

Posted on February 18, 2017

GERING, Neb. (AP) — The trial of a western Nebraska man charged in a fatal crash last year has again been delayed.

The motor vehicle homicide trial for 23-year-old Joshua Bolzer, of Mitchell, is now set for May 1. The trial had been set to begin in March.

Authorities say Bolzer was driving a pickup truck Aug. 20 when it went out of control on U.S. Highway 26 and hit a utility pole, a tractor and a liquor store.

A passenger in the truck, 19-year-old Dereon Betancur, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other 19-year-old passengers were taken to a Scottsbluff hospital. Authorities say one of them reported that Bolzer had been driving 120 mph or more just before the crash.

Lady Knights volleyball signs Neci Sundquist from Dayton, Wyoming

Posted on February 18, 2017

Neci Sundquist from Tongue River High School in Dayton, Wyo., seated center, signs letter of intent to play volleyball in 2017 for the North Platte Community College Lady Knights. She is surrounded by family and friends.

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team has announced the signing of Neci Sundquist for the 2017 volleyball season.

Sundquist, a 5’ 10” Outside hitter from Tongue River High School in Dayton, Wyo.

Lady Knight Head Coach Alexa McCall said, “We are very excited to have Neci join the Lady Knights. She will add some height for us on the outside and we are looking for her to be an impact player.”

Sundquist is the Lady Knights eighth signing for the 2017 season. Jade Max from Ogallala, Carly Moss from Loveland, Colo., Carlie Wytulka from Nucla, Colo., Luisa Hernandez from Yuma, Colo., Shaylee Johnson from Fleming, Colo., Jordyn Simpson from North Platte, and Taylin McNair from Imperial are the other signees.

Project Empty Bowl helps fill shelves of food pantry

Posted on February 18, 2017

McCOOK, Neb. (AP) — Students in McCook will again hold Project Empty Bowl, an annual fundraising event for the Saint Patrick School Art Program that helps feed the needy.

The McCook Daily Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/2kTnxEF ) that the school’s sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade student auction off their creations of handcrafted pottery bowls and glass art pieces this weekend.

The silent auction will be held Sunday, along with the annual Spaghetti on Sunday dinner in the basement of St. Patrick’s Church.

A portion of every piece sold will go to McCook’s local food pantry. The rest will go to the schools art program to help buy another pottery wheel and a new clay extruder.