Name:Harold Benton
Description: An Endangered Missing Advisory has been activated to determine the whereabouts of Harold Benton.
The Harlan County Sheriffs office is asking for assistance locating Harold "Gene" Benton, a 79 year old, 5'10" 225lb white male with brown hair and brown eyes missing from the Alma, NE area. Mr. Benton reportedly suffers from dementia and has medical conditions for which he does not have his medication. He was last seen Monday 9-24 at 0900. He may be driving a red 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, NE BE 4 Conservation plates. If you see Gene Benton please call 911 or the Harlan County Sheriff's office at 308-928-2147.
GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — Frank Rzucek Sr. leaned forward in a Colorado courtroom, weeping with his face in his hands as his son-in-law, just feet away, was told Tuesday he could face the death penalty if convicted of killing Rzucek's daughter and two granddaughters.
Collecting himself, Rzucek glared as Christopher Watts was escorted back to jail.
The brief hearing came a day after court documents revealed that Watts told police that it was Rzucek's daughter, Shanann Watts, who strangled the kids after he told her he wanted to separate.
Watts told police that he flew into a rage and strangled his wife, took the three bodies to a remote oil site north of Denver, buried Shanann in a shallow grave and dumped the girls' bodies inside oil tanks.
Rzucek's silent angst dominated a routine court hearing in which Watts, wearing an orange jail suit and cuffed at the wrists and ankle, stoically answered, "Yes sir," as District Judge Marcelo Kopcow told him of the possible punishments if he's found guilty of killing Shanann, 34, Celeste, 3, and Bella, 4.
Shanann's brother, Frank Rzucek Jr., rubbed his father's shoulders and glared unflinchingly at Watts. A deputy stood between the men and the defendant.
Watts didn't enter pleas to three first-degree murder charges, two counts of killing a child under 12, one count of unlawful termination of a pregnancy and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body.
GPS coordinates provided by police suggest the bodies were found at an oil worksite on or near a sprawling ranch close to Roggen, a high plains town about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of the family's home in Frederick.
The oil site was not clearly visible Tuesday from the borders of the ranch, set in grazing land with sagebrush, yellow wildflowers and the occasional cottonwood tree. Gates to the property were closed, and the ranch owner did not immediately respond to a telephone message.
Watts worked as an operator for Anadarko Petroleum, a major Colorado oil and gas producer. He was fired Aug. 15, the day of his arrest.
Police first visited the Watts home on Aug. 13, after a friend asked officers to check on Shanann. Police searched the house and found the woman's cellphone stuffed inside a couch. Her purse was in the kitchen, and a suitcase was at the bottom of the stairs.
A detective spoke to Watts and learned about his plan to leave his wife. He told officers the conversation with Shanann was civil at first but that later "they were both upset and crying" and she planned to go to a friend's house, court papers said.
When she and the girls did not return home Aug. 14, investigators ramped up their efforts, with help from the FBI and Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Christopher Watts was interviewed by several local television stations, saying he missed his family.
In court papers, investigators said they learned that Watts was "actively involved in an affair with a co-worker," something he denied at first.
Separate documents filed by Watts' defense attorney last week said the girls' bodies were submerged in crude oil for four days before police found them late Thursday.
Prosecutors in Colorado have 60 days after someone is arraigned to say if they will seek the death penalty. No date has been set for Watts' arraignment. District Attorney Michael Rourke said Monday that it was too early to discuss if he will pursue capital punishment.
Shanann Watts, who's originally from North Carolina, had told family and friends she was expecting a boy. The judge said the charge of unlawful termination of pregnancy carries a prison term between 16 and 48 years.
Colorado is one of 12 states without a law broadly allowing for homicide charges in the violent death of fetuses. But state lawmakers in 2013 made the unlawful termination of pregnancy a felony.
Several efforts to change state law to allow murder charges in the death of a fetus have stalled amid disagreement about how to pass such a law without infringing on abortion rights.
As Boulder County district attorney, Stan Garnett remembers receiving dozens of calls and letters as his office prosecuted a woman accused of cutting open a pregnant woman's belly and removing her unborn child in 2015.
Garnett said a murder charge is impossible in Colorado unless prosecutors can show a fetus lived outside the mother before death.
A case involving the death of a fetus is inevitably controversial, but for prosecutors, "all that matters is what the law is and what the evidence is," Garnett said.
The Scottsbluff Police Department is continuing the investigation into the fire that took place at 810 Ferdinand Place in the early morning hours December 16, 2018. At this particular time it is believed that the fire was intentional.
The Scottsbluff Police Department is continuing to conduct interviews of persons that were near the scene at the time of the incident.
Grand Island, NE – KRGI News learned this morning that Grand Island Northwest public schools superintendent Matt Fisher sent the district employees an email notifying them that he has choose to resign as superintendent of Northwest. KRGI News obtained a copy of the email that is listed below. It is anticipated that Fisher will submit his letter of resignation to the school board this evening for the school board will gather for the February monthly meeting at 7pm. KRGI News Director Ryan Baker caught up with Fisher this afternoon to talk about his decision. Listen to the interview below.
--- Matt Fisher email to the district
After much prayerful consideration and soul searching over the past couple of months I have decided to submit my resignation as superintendent for the Northwest school district.
I became eligible for retirement prior to the start of this school year. I wanted to see the bond election through this past fall so I elected to stay on through this school year. Once the election was over I had intended to announce that I would be retiring. However, I have found that walking away from the great people that I have had the privilege to serve over the past seven years has been a very difficult decision.
After being back and forth multiple times, I have returned to what I came into this year believing was the best decision for myself and my family. I have truly cherished my time here in the Northwest school district. It will always be a great source of pride for me to be able to say that I got to be a part of this truly amazing district. Thank you to everyone who makes Northwest the special place that it is!
Matt Fisher
Ryan Baker with Matt Fisher
On July 9, 2018 the Furnas County Sheriff’s Office received two arrested warrants for Colby G. Carpenter, 33, of Arapahoe, Furnas County, Nebraska. The two warrants were each for one count of possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person. The bond amount set on each warrant was $250,000 subject to 10%.
It’s another go around for Northwest Public School tax payers when it comes to the potential of adding a middle school to the district. 10 years ago a bond was brought to the votes for a middle school but was voted down. This time cost has increased, putting the bond up for voters at 11.5 million dollars. With most decisions when it comes to voting there are pluses and minuses, those that are in favor, and those that are not. Many are in favor of a middle school, but how it should happen is another issue.
According to the Northwest Middle School now website, for students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade are only offered curriculum options in tech, band, and choir. If a Class B size middle school was built or implemented 12 more extra options would be added.
GINW School Bond Special Report
Grand Island, NE - Lauren Rathman joined the Grand Island Public Schools team Jan. 7 as a registered dietitian in Nutrition Services.
Rathman graduated with her masters degree in December from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has a bachelor’s degree in dietetics and nutrition exercise health science, with an emphasis in community nutrition and health promotion.
Rathman will work with special diets, nutrition education for students and staff, menu and recipe tasting and development, and student and staff wellness.
Kris Spellman, director of nutrition services, said Rathman’s position was needed to help with the many responsibilities of nutrition services. She said Nutrition Services wants to create a better meal experience for students, which Rathman will play a role in.
“This will be helpful for us to better serve the students,” Spellman said.
Rathman said she is excited to be part of the GIPS team and developing the position.
“I’m most excited for the variety of job duties in this role at GIPS,” Rathman said. “I’m also looking forward to working in the cafeterias to do taste testing and recipe development. In that responsibility, I hope to help others be more familiar with eating foods they may have never tried.”
KANSAS CITY, MO – The National Association of Basketball Coaches announced today the matchups for the championship round of the 2018 National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker. All four games of the Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker at Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO., will be aired live on ESPN networks.
On Monday, November 19, Nebraska will take on Missouri State at 6 pm CT on ESPNU, followed by USC and Texas Tech at 8:30 pm ET on ESPN2. On Tuesday, November 20, the consolation game will tip off at 6 pm CT on ESPN3, followed by the 2018 Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker championship game at 8:30pm ET on ESPN2.
Tickets for the championship round games at Sprint Center will be available beginning at 10:00am CT on August 4th by visitingwww.halloffameweekend.com,www.axs.com, by phone at 888-929-7849, or in person at Sprint Center Box Office.
The Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker will be the culminating event of college basketball’s Hall of Fame Weekend, which also includes the 13th annual induction ceremony for the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. That event will take place on Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland in Kansas City.
---- CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS ----
Semifinal Doubleheader
Sprint Center – Kansas City, Mo.
Monday, November 19 – 6:00 PM CT
Nebraska vs. Missouri State (ESPNU)
USC vs. Texas Tech (ESPN2)
Championship Doubleheader
Sprint Center – Kansas City, Mo.
Tuesday, November 20 – 6:00 PM CT
Consolation Game (ESPN3)
Championship Game (ESPN2)
Those four schools will serve as the four host round participants for this year’s Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker, with the opening round games of the tournament beginning on November 6th. Each of those teams will play two games on campus, before advancing to the championship rounds in Kansas City. Joining the four host teams in the 2018 Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker are Mississippi Valley State, Robert Morris, Southeastern Louisiana and Stetson. The complete list of games for the 2018 Hall of Fame Classic Powered by Shot Tracker are as follows:
---- HOST ROUNDS ----
Springfield Regional Rounds
JQH Arena – Springfield, MO
Friday, November 9 – Time TBD
Robert Morris at Missouri State
Sunday, November 11 – Time TBD
Stetson at Missouri State
Lubbock Regional Rounds
United Supermarkets Arena– Lubbock, TX
Friday, November 9 – Time TBD
Mississippi Valley State at Texas Tech
Tuesday, November 13 – Time TBD
Southeastern Louisiana at Texas Tech
Lincoln Regional Rounds
Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, NE
Tuesday, November 6 – Time TBD
Mississippi Valley State at Nebraska
Sunday, November 11 – Time TBD
Southeastern Louisiana at Nebraska
Los Angeles Regional Rounds
Galen Center – Los Angeles, CA
Tuesday, November 6 – Time TBD
Robert Morris at USC
Wednesday, November 14 – Time TBD
Stetson at USC
Two McCook Volleyball players made Southwest Conference Volleyball team. Jayceea Hanson makes first team, and Robin Grigg makes Honorable Mention. You can view complete list here.
- SWC List 
2018 SWC All Conference Softball Team
| Pitcher | Regan Armagost - Cozad, Fr |
| Infielders |
Brenna Dugan - Cozad, (IF), Sr Grace Cargill - Cozad (IF), Sr Bailee Schurmann - Minden (IF), So Avery Dunphy - Gothenburg (IF), So
Kandace Coleman - McCook, (IF), Jr Kaitlyn Kleinknecht - Gothenburg (IF), Sr |
| Outfielders |
Jercey Irish - Cozad (OF), Jr Kaylin Martin - McCook, (OF), Jr Alexis Bliven - Gothenburg (OF), So Laurel Schmidt - McCook (OF), S
|
| Utl | Trinity Raburn - McCook (IF), Jr |
| Honorable Mention |
Hannah Merrill - Minden (IF/C), So Haley Cargill - Cozad (Utl), Jr Bailey Coulter - Gothenburg (P), Jr Brolin Morgan - McCook (IF), Jr
|
2018-2019 Republican Plains Activity Conference All-Conference Volleyball Team(s). The teams were selected by the conference Volleyball Coaches on Wednesday, 11/15/2018.
LINCOLN, NE —Today, the Nebraska Shrine Bowl Board of Directors released the rosters for the 61st Annual Nebraska Shrine Bowl Game.
Head Coaches Paul Limongi (Omaha Burke HS) and Glen Snodgrass (York HS) together with their coaching staffs each chose from nominated seniors in their designated regions to represent their respective high schools, as well as North or South, in the 2019 Nebraska Shrine Bowl.
| NORTH TEAM | SOUTH TEAM |
| Kodjo Atikphou, Grand Island | Cole Aniello, Millard West |
| Ryan Bena, Creighton Prep | Edwen Baptista, Friend |
| Koby Brandenburg, Central City | Quinn Butzke, Centennial |
| Mehki Butler, Omaha North | Hunter Chilton, Gretna |
| Cedric Case, Lincoln High | John Christensen, Bruning-Davenport |
| Tyler Chadwick, Omaha Burke | Baily Darnell, Auburn |
| Connor Cowling, Norfolk | Jaiden Davis, Lincoln Southeast |
| Jackson Creek, Millard North | Joe Dworak, Lincoln Pius X |
| Shane Dailey, Jr., Bellevue West | Jarod Epperson, Omaha Skutt |
| Sid DeMayo, Mt. Michael | Colin Giron, McCook |
| Lane Edis, Mullen | Taevyn Grixby, Lincoln Southwest |
| Grayson Garey, Broken Bow | D.J. Gross, McCook |
| Trenton Harbor, Gothenburg | Tyson Guzman, Omaha Westside |
| Jack Hasz, Creighon Prep | Gabe Heins, Kearney |
| Jacob Herbek, GICC | Jackson Hirschfeld, Centennial |
| Mason Hiemstra, Alliance | Torrence Jackson, Omaha Central |
| Garrett Hustedt, Mt. Michael | Austin Jablonski, Lincoln Pius X |
| Cooper Jewett, Elkhorn South | Joseph Krause, Seward |
| Caden Johnson, Wahoo Bishop Neumann | Nick Leader, Lincoln Southwest |
| Chris Jones, Lincoln High | Alex Lewis, Omaha South |
| Rhett Jordan, Waverly | Jayden Merriman, Millard South |
| Kaden Kneifl, Wayne | Mike McClanahan, Papillion LaVista South |
| Sam Kolterman, Wahoo | Brayden Miller, Kearney |
| Quincy Nichols, Blair | Riley Moses, Fillmore Central |
| Steven Krawczyk, Omaha North | Chase Norblade, Papillion LaVista South |
| Lane McGinley, Valentine | Nouredin Nouli, Norris |
| Robert Pentecost, Papillion LaVista | Garrett Nuss, Sutton |
| Luke Reimer, Lincoln North Star | Caden Opfer, Gretna |
| Keegan Reitschneider, Scottsbluff | Lucas Paloucek, Ogallala |
| Jackson Ritchhart, Fremont | Cade Reichardt, Aurora |
| Alex Rodgers, Omaha Roncalli Catholic | PJ Schaben, Seward |
| Dylan Sales, Omaha Burke | Barrett Sellon, Lincoln East |
| Logan Schuelke, Waverly | Braden Sellon, Lincoln East |
| Sam Sims, Grand Island | Garrett Snodgrass, York |
| Jack Sutton, Wahoo | Noah Stafursky, York |
| Joe Teten, Norfolk Catholic | Jack Towne, Millard South |
| Jesse Ulrich, Ord | Landon Weber, Adams Central |
| Bryce Zimmerer, Creighton | T.J. Skradski, Omaha Skutt |
| NORTH COACHES | SOUTH COACHES |
| Paul Limongi, Omaha Burke | Glen Snodgrass, York |
| Blake Beebout, Valentine | Matt Maltsberger, York |
| Brock Eichelberger, O'Neill | Jamie Opfer, Seward |
| Chris Seebohm, Alliance | Kam Lenhart, Fairbury |
| Ben Ryan, Omaha Burke | Matt Kern, York |
| Andy Schatzberg, Omaha Burke | Eric Ryan, Overton |
About the Nebraska Shrine Bowl
The Shrine Bowl of Nebraska is the state's most prestigious high school all-star sports event. The 501(c)(3) non-profit produces annual events
and related activities to raise funds and awareness to benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a healthcare system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals. Children up to the age of 18 are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients' ability to pay.
The 61st Annual Nebraska Shrine Bowl will be played Saturday, June 1, 2019, in Kearney, at Ron and Carol Cope Stadium on the campus of the University of Nebraska—Kearney. For more information, visit www.neshrinebowl.org.
The Air Force Prep Huskies banked in a 3-pointer off the boards as time expired to sink the McCook Community College Men Tuesday in the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center 81-80.
MCC had taken the lead on sophomore Peanut Cunningham’s (Louisville, Kent.) drive down the lane that put the Indians up 80-78 with 9.4 seconds remaining. Air Force Prep got the ball up court for a 3-pointer that missed but Prep’s Marcus Hill ran down the rebound and put it up and in for the win.
“We box out and we’re happy with a great win over a quality team,” MCC Coach Brandon Lenhart said. “Instead we’re disappointed with a loss.”
The two teams battled back-and-forth in the first half. The Indians took an eight-point lead at the 12:56 mark but Air Force Prep fought back to lead by five points at the 7:12 mark. MCC took the lead back but the Huskies worked a last-second shot to end the first half and brought them to within four points of the Indians 40-36.
“We’re just having a hard tie guarding in half-court,” Lenhart said.
MCC stretched the lead to double-digits in the early part of the second half until the Huskies switched things up defensively.
“They went to a zone and it slowed us down for four or five possessions,” Lenhart said.
The Huskies cut the MCC lead to 62-59 at the 10:00 mark and the game remained tight down the stretch.
“Peanut really lifted us in the second half,” Lenhart said.
Cunningham scored 15 of his game-high 21 points in the second half to pace the Indians. Freshman Miles Black (Jonesboro, Ga.) hit three 3-pointers in the second half on the way to a 17-point night. Freshmen Tyrek Battle-Holley (Jersey City, N.J.) and Mardrez McBride (Augusta, Ga.) both chipped in nine points.
Air Force Prep canned 30 of 55 field goals for the game (56.7 percent) and 14 of 34 shots from beyond the 3-point line (41.2 percent) including 10 of 21 in the second half (47.6 percent).
“You just can’t allow a team to shoot 56 percent for the game, 42 percent from the 3-point line and let them take 34 of them,” Lenhart said.
MCC shot 49.3 percent from the field on 69 shots, and 32.1 percent from the 3-point line on 28 shots,
The Indians out-rebounded the Huskies 35-31 with Sophomore Ron White (New York, N.Y.) leading MCC on the boards with seven.
“I mean there was a lot of good that took place tonight, but in a loss you give up an inch here and an inch there and it adds up,” Lenhart said.
The Indians forced Air Force Prep into 17 turnovers, while committing nine.
The Indians fall to 7-8 on the year and begin Region IX South Division Play this weekend in Colorado, Friday at La Junta, Colo. against Otero Junior College and Saturday at Trinidad State. Then comes two more Region IX road games Jan. 22 at Scottsbluff against Western Nebraska and Jan. 25 at Sterling, Colo. against Northeastern Junior College.
MCC's only home game in the region comes Jan 29 when the Indians host North Platte.
For more photos from the game, please visit the MCC Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/
You can stay up to date with all MCC Indian Athletics including live-streaming games, news, photo galleries, schedules and more at MCC Indians Athletics web page at:
https://mccindians.com/index.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The McCook Community College men’s basketball team dropped its first game of the year Tuesday falling to Air Force Prep 88-72. MCC was out-scored from the 3-point line by 30 points.
Sophomore Peanut Cunningham (Louisville, Kent.) led MCC with 13 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Ron Rice (New York, N.Y.) had nine points and sophomore Amadou Dieye (Senegal) had eight points.
The Indians were 29 of 65 from the field (44.6 percent) five of 18 from the 3-point line (27.8 percent) and nine of 11 from the free-throw line (81.8 percent). MCC won the rebound battle 34-25.
Air Force Prep made 31 of 61 shots from the floor (50.8 percent) including 15 of 31 from the 3-point line (48.4 percent) and 11 of 14 from the line (78.6 percent.)
MCC takes its 2-1 mark on the road to Wyoming this weekend facing 2-0 Eastern Wyoming Friday and 0-2 Lamar on Saturday.
The next home contests come Nov. 16-17 as the Indians host Cloud County (6 p.m. on Nov. 16) and Garden City (4 p.m. Nov. 17) in the Region IX vs. Region I shootout in the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center.
