Latest news with #Nickerson
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Buccaneers Legend Names Choice for Next Ring of Honor Inductee
Buccaneers Legend Names Choice for Next Ring of Honor Inductee originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor is a distinguished place where only the best former Bucs have their name displayed at Raymond James Stadium. Advertisement It's a list full of Buccaneers legends and a virtual "who's who" of former Bucs players and personnel. Looking closely, you'll notice numerous players from the franchises' first Super Bowl in 2002, including Ronde Barber, Mike Alstott, John Lynch, Simeon Rice, coach Jon Gruden, defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks. On his show, The Ronde Barber Show, Barber thinks there's at least one player from that era missing from the Ring of Honor, and thinks he should be the next inducted. "I've got a list. I could tell you, like, five names... The No. 1 on my list, without a doubt, the next person that goes into the Bucs Ring of Honor needs to be Hardy Nickerson," Barber said. Advertisement "When I got here in 1997, there was like a Darth Vader presence walking around the locker room and on the football field that just commanded respect. The way of doing your job was one person — 56. It's an intangible... he came here in '93, and the culture changed when Tony [Dungy] got here, but Tony needed a guy to be the mouthpiece... it all started with Hardy. [Nickerson] was the guy who changed the culture here in Tampa. "The way we went about doing our jobs, the manner of which we played the game, the physicality." Nickerson was gone from Tampa Bay by the time the team made the 2002 Super Bowl, but, as Barber points out, he was an integral part of the team that was built into a championship contender. Related: Buccaneers' Rookie Impresses with 'Football IQ' Related: Buccaneers Fourth-Year Defender Looks For Contract Extension This Offseason This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Police in Georgia investigating ex-Tennessee football player Grant Frerking for potential fraud
The business dealings of former Tennessee football player Grant Frerking have caught the attention of police in Georgia, Knox News has learned. Investigators from the Milton Police Department, outside of Atlanta, are investigating whether Frerking, 26, defrauded residents in a scheme to take payment for pine straw that was never delivered. Milton police are investigating a charge of "theft by deception," according to a copy of the police report obtained by Knox News. No charges have been filed in Fulton County as of June 12. 'The case has been assigned to our Criminal Investigations Division for determination if probable cause exists for criminal charges against Mr. Frerking,' Capt. Charles Barstow wrote in an email to Knox News on June 12. Knox News previously reported about allegations Frerking scammed customers and had substantial unpaid debts, including being evicted from two apartments in a swanky Nashville neighborhood where he ran up nearly $16,400 in unpaid debts. Frerking was a Vols walk-on wide receiver from 2017-22. He gained attention because of his claimed business successes as the former CEO and founder of Metro Straw, which he launched as a teenager in the metro Atlanta area and expanded across the Southeast. The Athletic documented Frerking's success in a November 2018 story. Knox News reported on June 12 Frerking was a part-time consultant to UT football since July 2023, employed by the university while carrying out financial scams related to his former business and facing civil claims for unpaid bills, documents provided by UT revealed. His duties included advising coach Josh Heupel on off-field matters, consulting staff members on best practices and representing the Vols program at public events. Frerking did not respond to numerous Knox News requests for comment. Milton resident Philip Nickerson filed a police report June 6 asserting he paid Frerking $778.50 to put down pine straw at his home – it was an advance payment with the understanding Frerking would get more after the work was done, according to the report. But Frerking never showed, Nickerson told police. 'Philip stated that on three separate occasions he attempted to contact Grant about the job,' the police report said. 'Each time (05/27/2025, 05/29/2025, 06/06/2025) Grant stated he would come by and complete the job. As of this report on 06/06/2025, the service has not been completed.'' The police report did not name the company Nickerson paid to do the work. It said Nickerson paid Frerking directly. Jeff Hamling, a resident of nearby Roswell, said he has spoken with officials at the Roswell Police Department and plans to file a report asserting Frerking defrauded him and more than 10 neighbors earlier this spring. He said Frerking had a crew place pine straw at a neighbor's house. When the project was finished, Frerking asked the owner to make a positive post about his work in the neighborhood Facebook page, which she did. Seeing the post, Hamling said he and 10 other homeowners reached out to Frerking and prepaid − some in full, some half − for work at their own homes. Hamling paid in full, he said, because Frerking promised a 10% discount if they paid in full. He lost $1,400. 'He responded to a text in five minutes,' Hamling said. 'I never sat there and thought 'Hey, I got ghosted.' He said I'll be in touch in a week or so with an install date. I didn't think anything of it.' But several weeks and a dozen excuses later, no work had been done, Hamling said. Earlier this week, he said, some of the homeowners began getting partial refunds. Frerking repaid him $500. He doesn't expect to see any more. Frerking left the company in July 2021, according to his LinkedIn bio, shortly after graduating from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor's degree in supply chain management and just before being hired by On3. The police reports mirror what other residents told Knox News. Doug Proctor of Johns Creek, Georgia, said he was scammed by Frerking as a Metro Straw customer. Proctor said Frerking charged his debit card three times for work never done. 'Grant Frerking is a lying unscrupulous SOB. All the time he bills himself as a star football player at Tennessee as well as a gifted businessman. What a phony! He needs to be exposed.' Frerking eventually refunded Proctor two of the three payments, but still owes him a few hundred dollars, Proctor said. A different resident of Johns Creek, a repeat customer, told Knox News he was scammed by Frerking in early February in similar fashion. The man, who requested he not be named, told Knox News he reached out to Metro Straw to purchase pine straw. He said was contacted directly by Frerking and not by Metro Straw with 'an insane deal.' Frerking requested half-payment as a deposit. A day later, Frerking requested the rest at a discounted rate to take advantage of what he said was a vendor offering a deal. The man made two payments on Venmo to Gracie Roberson, whom Frerking referred to as 'his partner" and was his girlfriend at the time of the transactions. Frerking repeatedly insisted delivery would be made in a couple of days, but it never was. The man contacted Metro Straw directly and was told there was no record of the order he placed through the website. A company representative asked if the man had been dealing with Frerking. A December 2024 Yelp review labeled Frerking "the most unscrupulous liar." Claims across Yelp and with the Better Business Bureau consistently describe an insistence on prepayment, a lack of follow-through and disappearing when confronted for refunds. A BBB complaint said Frerking's bank account had been frozen. "This is theft," a complaint on the BBB website stated on May 13. "My money was taken in good faith and there was never the intention (to) deliver either product." Another complaint on the BBB website on July 25, 2024, requested that the watchdog bureau "report this company as a SCAM," and identified "Grant" as the person responsible. Metro Straw was so uncomfortable with Frerking's business practices this spring that the company posted a warning about him on its website to protect people from being scammed by him. Customers who paid him but never received product told Knox News he told them he worked for Metro Straw. "Metro Straw and former owner Grant Frerking have parted ways for 2 years,' the post said. 'Metro Straw does not associate with Grant Frerking in any way.' Frerking has been evicted from two Nashville apartments this year, according to court records, and owed $16,387 in unpaid rent in The Gulch. In May 2023, a limo company filed a civil claim against Frerking for $2,500. The plaintiff said he was hired as Frerking's private driver at $75 per hour, and that tab was unpaid. Later the same day, the driver withdrew his claim. On May 27 Frerking resigned from On3, a Nashville-based sports media company that covers teams, recruiting and NIL pay for college athletes. Tyler Whetstone is an investigative reporter focused on accountability journalism. Connect with Tyler by emailing him at Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tyler_whetstone. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Police in Georgia are investigating Grant Frerking for potential fraud
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Troy Nickerson joins Army West Point Wrestling as New Head Coach
CHENANGO FORKS, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – One-time Chenango Forks wrestling standout and now collegiate coach Troy Nickerson is heading to a new program to continue helping athletes succeed on the mat, as he takes over the head coaching job at Army West Point. Nickerson spent 11 seasons at Northern Colorado, where he helped transform the Big 12 program into a consistent top-25 program. He had many athletes succeed in the NCAA Championships in his time with the Bears. Over his tenure, Nickerson had six All-Americans and 37 NCAA Championship qualifiers. In his own time in college at Cornell, he took home the 2009 NCAA Championship at 125 pounds with an undefeated 25-0 season. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
05-06-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Urgent Warnings Issued as Life-Threatening Floods Hit The Desert
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued urgent flash flood warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of the desert in southern Nevada, western Arizona, and southern California on Thursday. "We had a thunderstorm develop to the south of Las Vegas and it's just been sitting there dumping some pretty heavy rain at times, which triggered us to issue a flash flood warning, because rainfall that heavy, especially when it's not moving, can lead to flash flooding and water flowing through the washes," NWS meteorologist Ashley Nickerson, who works at the Las Vegas office, told Newsweek. Why It Matters The warnings arrived as heavy rain, brought on by a rare summer convergence of storm systems, threatened typically arid regions of Nevada. The surge in moisture followed less than a week after remnants from Tropical Storm Alvin affected the Southwest, raising concerns among meteorologists that similar tropical influences could bring more unusual rainfall in the region during the ongoing hurricane season. Storm clouds are seen in the desert. Storm clouds are seen in the desert. EyeEm Mobile GmbH/Getty The timing was significant for local residents and infrastructure, as Las Vegas and neighboring communities are unaccustomed to widespread rainfall outside of the annual monsoon season, which generally begins later in the summer. Warnings from the NWS highlighted the immediate risk to life and property as roads, low-lying areas, and washes became rapidly inundated. What To Know No specific rainfall amounts have come in, but radar has indicated rainfall rates of up to 1 inch in the past half hour. There are no climate sites in the affected areas that record rainfall, but Nickerson said Las Vegas typically sees no rainfall during the first week of June, making this an unusual event. The NWS flash flood warning for southern Nevada will remain in effect through Wednesday at 4 PDT, with alerts extending to the Las Vegas Valley, Lake Mead, southwestern Clark County, and nearby recreation and conservation areas. San Bernadino County in southern California is under the same watch as Nevada. West Central Mohave County in northwestern Arizona falls under a similar alert, which lasts until 4:15 local time. Meteorologists warned of possible sudden rises in washes, flooded intersections, and the movement of debris across roadways as a result of intense rainfall. The severe thunderstorm warning for the Las Vegas region outlined the additional threat of damaging wind gusts and frequent lightning strikes, urging residents and travelers to seek shelter indoors and avoid flooded roadways. Authorities noted the presence of accumulating dirt and debris on roads, compounding the danger of flash floods and diminishing driving visibility. The Mojave National Preserve and other park officials have also urged visitors to be aware of local wildlife that may become active following the rainfall, like desert tortoises. Residents and travelers are being advised to heed all warnings, monitor local weather channels, and avoid streams, washes, and low-lying areas during active flood alerts. What People Are Saying Nickerson told Newsweek: "This is really abnormal for us. June is not our wet month. This type of pattern where there's a lot of moisture in place and thunderstorms developing is more typical of our monsoon season, which doesn't start until July." NWS Las Vegas in a flash flooding warning: "Life-threatening flash flooding of low-water crossings, creeks, normally dry washes and roads. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles." What Happens Next Thunderstorms are expected throughout the rest of the day on Wednesday, with isolated showers and some thunderstorms expected tomorrow as well. This weekend, dry heat is expected to return.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Calif. teacher's killing was a mystery for 47 years. Confession from family of a student solves it
After decades of suspicion, police in San Jose have confirmed that the killer of a high school teacher in San Jose was a student who was seen with a knife that had the words "Teacher Dear" written on its side. On June 16, 1978, one day after Branham High School recessed for summer, a student found Diane Peterson lying on the floor of the hallway near her classroom with a single stab wound to her chest, according to the Santa Clara District Attorney's Office. Peterson was said to be one of several teachers on campus cleaning out their classrooms for the summer break when she was killed, according to the news release. For years, authorities had considered Harry "Nicky" Nickerson, at the time a 16-year-old student at the school, as a person of interest in the case, Santa Clara County prosecutors said in a media statement. But the tips and leads they received led to dead-ends, and so the case remained unsolved for 47 years. Until earlier this year, when police say a relative disclosed that Nickerson admitted to stabbing the teacher just minutes after it happened, prosecutors said. 'This marks the end of a terrible and tragic mystery," said Santa Clara Dist. Atty. Jeff Rosen in a statement. "Ms. Peterson would have been a senior citizen today if she had not crossed paths with this violent teenager. I wish she was." Nickerson became a person of interest in the case just days after Peterson was killed, when he was arrested in an unrelated crime and detectives noticed his booking photo bore a striking resemblance to a police sketch of the teacher's killer. The sketch came from a student witness who said they heard Peterson yell for help and saw the killer flee. The same student, however, later disclaimed his statement, according to authorities. Read more: Man charged in cold case murder, sexual assaults could have more victims, police say Police had also been told by a witness that they had seen Nickerson carrying a knife that had "Teacher Dear" written on the side. But under questioning, Nickerson denied having a knife at all, and authorities were unable to corroborate the claim. Years later, prosecutors noted the retracted statement by the fellow student, as well as another person who said Nickerson confessed to killing Peterson when she confronted him for dealing drugs, but neither story was corroborated. Over the years, authorities say Nickerson built up a rap sheet that included convictions for kidnapping, armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. He was shot and critically injured during an attempted drug robbery in 1984 and committed suicide in 1993. "Nearly five decades have passed since a young teacher's life was tragically taken," San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph said. "While the suspect will never stand trial or face the consequences for his actions, we hope this resolution brings a measure of peace to the victim's loved ones and to a community that has carried this loss for far too long." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
