Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 113
A recent spurt of warm temperatures may decrease ice stability across Nebraska water bodies. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission warns anybody venturing onto the ice to be cautious and use the following safety tips: Never go out alone. Have a buddy. A minimum of three inches of clear, blue lake ice will support a single person. Use an ice chisel or spud bar to strike the ice and evaluate conditions as you venture out. Have a long throw rope with you in case of emergency. Slush ice is about half as strong as clear lake ice, so people should...
Spring turkey season permits are now available from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Hunters also should reacquaint themselves with major changes from 2023. Those spring season changes that began in 2023: • Hunters may purchase up to two spring permits instead of three. • A hunter may harvest no more than one turkey per calendar day during the spring season. • 10,000 spring permits are available for sale to nonresident hunters. • All turkey harvests must be reported via Teleche...
Denis F. Kerkman, 90, of Tilden appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Jan. 3, for pretrial conference on a charge of violating a protection order, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Kerkman pleaded guilty, pursuant to a plea agreement. In return, Antelope County attorney Joe Smith agreed to recommend probation, with no jail time. Taylor ordered a pretrial investigation and set sentencing Feb. 7. Bond is continued, in the amount of $20,000, 10%, with an order for no contact, neither direct nor...
Kegan J. McAllister, 19, of Tilden faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Dec. 6 for pretrial hearing on a Class 1 misdemeanor. A plea agreement was announced. McAllister pleaded guilty, as charged, to a count of third-degree domestic assault committed July 6. In return, Antelope County attorney Joe Smith agreed to file no additional charges related to the incident and will make no recommendation at sentencing. Carney informed the judge that McAllister is set for sentencing in Madison County district cour...
During the busy holiday season, don’t forget to purchase Nebraska Game and Parks Commission permits for the upcoming year. The 2024 annual hunt (small game), fishing, fur harvest and state park entry permits are now available online, at district offices and parks near you. Consider buying permits as a gift for a friend or family member. Permits are valid Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2024. A Nebraska vehicle park entry permit is an affordable way for families and friends to have fun outdoors. It is an incredible value, providing everyone in the vehicle a...
As a game warden, Gary Ralston has seen - and heard - it all. The Creighton resident shared his reasons for writing a collection of short stories about situations a game warden may encounter, during an Oct. 26 program at the Orchard Public Library. "It's been more successful than I had suspicion it might be," he told a crowd of approximately 25 individuals. Ralston's drive to record his stories came directly from the work of as a warden. Ralston's assigned area included all of Antelope and...
A Neligh couple, whose June 29 argument became physical, were each sentenced to seven days in jail for counts of third-degree assault, by mutual consent. Plea agreements had been negotiated with Antelope County attorney Joe Smith by the respective court-appointed attorneys for Melissa A. Murberger, 48, represented by Martin Klein of Neligh, and Ronald E. Murberger, 48, represented by public defender Pat Carney of Norfolk. The agreement included staggered jail sentences so one of them would be available to care for their children and Smith’s a...
As recreation boating season winds down and waterfowl hunting season ramps up, Nebraskans are urged to check boats, boat lifts and docks for invasive species when removing them from the water. Waterfowl hunters are encouraged to take special care prior to launching boats so as not to contribute to the spread of zebra mussels or aquatic invasive plants. Aquatic hitchhikers like zebra mussels can live up to two weeks out of water and several lakes across the Midwest are first noticed to be infested by people removing boats, lifts and docks for...
Duane Risinger of Orchard was presented with the Heritage Instructor Award by hunter safety coordinator Hunter Nikolai at a recent class held at the Orchard Community Center. The Heritage Instructor Award is the highest honor given by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, recognizing hunter safety instructors for their service and dedication to the program. Risinger has faithfully taught hunter safety classes for more than 35 years. In addition, he has volunteered his services for many...
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept submissions for the 2023 Nebraskaland Magazine Photo Contest. Submissions should be posted via Instagram using the hashtag #Nebraskland2023. To be eligible for the contest, photos should be submitted by 11:59 p.m., central time, Oct. 28. Make sure your account is public so judges may view your photo. Photographers of all ages and skill levels are invited to submit photos in four categories: • Wildlife — wild mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish • Scenic — in which landmarks, scenery or in...
Cutthroat and rainbow trout will be stocked by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to enhance fishing opportunities this fall and winter. “This program emphasizes the urban and community waters statewide,” said Greg Anderson, Game and Parks’ fish production supervisor. “Ten-inch trout are stocked to provide angling opportunities for all ages to catch and harvest.” The stocking of trout began the week of Sept. 11 with cutthroat and rainbow species stocked in the Northwest District and continues weekly statewide throughout the fall. “Hatchery...
A combination firearm and bowhunter education course will be offered by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission volunteer instructors in Orchard, Oct.2, 5 and 7. The times will be 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., on Oct. 2 and 5, and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. the 7th. The free course will be held at the Orchard Community Center at 407 E. 4th Street. The course will provide instruction in the areas of safe firearms use, safe bow use, tree stand safety, shooting and sighting techniques, hunter ethics, game...
Fall turkey season is approaching quickly and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has some reminders for hunters, as there are several changes in 2023. The changes concerning this fall season are: • The fall turkey season is Oct. 1-Nov. 30. • Each hunter may only have one fall permit. • The bag limit allows the take of one turkey of either sex with a shotgun or archery equipment. • All turkey harvests must be reported via Telecheck. Turkeys may be checked by internet at OutdoorNebraska.gov/hunt/telecheck/ or by phone at 1-844-279-4564. This...
A revised statute allowing Nebraska landowners to kill damage-causing wildlife predators took effect Sept. 2. Predators include badger, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, long-tailed weasel, mink, opossum, raccoon, red fox and skunk. The statute allows a private landowner or tenant to kill a predator preying on livestock or poultry or suspected of causing other damage on land that they owned or control. No permit from the Game and Parks Commission is required. A landowner, tenant or agent of either may kill a mountain lion, also. Prior notice or...
There are more than a million acres of publicly accessible lands throughout Nebraska. The recently published 2023-2024 Public Access Atlas identifies and consolidates these public access resources for the benefit of Nebraska’s hunters, trappers and anglers. Printed copies of this year’s atlas are available at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission headquarters and soon will be available in its district offices and service centers, as well as wherever hunt and fish permits are sold. The Public Access Atlas also is available online at Out...
The Legislature adjourned shortly after Memorial Day, but my duties as your representative continue at a fast pace. In the interim between the adjournment of the previous session and the convening of the next session, senators remain hard at work serving on special and select committees, studying subjects of local importance and addressing issues brought forward by constituents. During the session, I was appointed to serve on the LR178 Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Select Committee with six of...
With the annual dove season opener on Sept. 1, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has some reminders for hunters, as well as recommendations for areas to hunt. Doves are abundant statewide and, with generous bag limits, provide excellent wing-shooting opportunities. Doves may be hunted statewide Sept. 1 – Oct. 30, 2023, with daily bag and possession limits of 15 and 45, respectively. Bag and possession limits are for mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared-doves in aggregate. Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until s...
Five of about a dozen area residents, who were cited for possessing open alcohol containers July 3, waived court appearances and have each paid a $50 fine and $49 costs. They include Neligh residents Jaryd L. Montgomery, 32, Jamie L. Montgomery, 31, Scott N. Jacob, 46, Cory Coover, 50, and Ewing resident Riley Funk, 27. They were cited by a Nebraska State Patrol officer in a Neligh neighborhood near the intersection of M and 9th streets. Several individuals remain on the Aug. 16 Antelope County court docket. Austin R. Bertschinger, 30, of...
Nebraska wildlife officials say conditions in certain areas of the state are suitable for the spread of deadly viral diseases among big game populations. They are asking the public to report unexplained death or illnesses of deer, pronghorn, elk and bighorn sheep. Observations of unhealthy big game animals or unexplained deaths should be reported to the nearest Nebraska Game and Parks Commission office. Locations include Alliance, Bassett, Kearney, Gretna, North Platte, Lincoln, Omaha and Norfolk. In big game animals, epizootic hemorrhagic...
A rural Antelope County road will stay intact following a public hearing and subsequent vote by commissioners on Aug. 1. Highway superintendent Brian McDonald said a road use study on 858 Road, between 521 and 522 Avenue was completed. "It's being actively used," McDonald said. Two individuals offered testimony in opposition of the closure. Testifying via speaker phone, Matt Klabenes, of Neligh, said, "We've got a service line down that for our stock well. It's the reason we took the trees out...
SUBMITTED ARTICLE Biologists are continuing to tag and track walleye and sauger in the Missouri River and Lewis and Clark Lake between Fort Randall and Gavins Point dams as part of an effort to understand declines in the fishery following historic flooding in 2011. Since 2021, 201 fish have been tagged in the river and reservoir as part of a study of fish movement. The fish sport metal jaw tags, but also have acoustic transmitters implanted in their abdomens. Fifteen receivers spaced every 5...
Hunters may begin purchasing unlimited quota Nebraska deer and antelope permits July 10. Residents, nonresidents and eligible landowners may purchase permits through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, starting at 1 p.m. Central time. Unlimited quota deer permits are resident statewide archery, resident statewide muzzleloader, youth, youth whitetail, nonresident restricted youth, limited landowner and special landowner. Unlimited quota antelope permits are resident statewide archery and youth archery. The remaining purchase periods are:...
An Orchard resident appeared in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last week on a felony charge of failing to report his address to authorities. Wade Silbernagel, also known as Wade Perry and Wade Silbernagel-Perry, 28, of Orchard faced the Honorable Donna Taylor on May 19, charged with a Class 3A felony, violating the Nebraska Sex Offender Registration Act. The defendant's request for court-appointed counsel had previously been sustained and Antelope County public defender Pat Carney...
Jennifer L. Trease, 54, of Orchard faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on May 3, to be sentenced for maintaining a dangerous building, in violation of an Orchard village ordinance. Village attorney Joe McNally told the judge he had recently driven by the property and didn’t see much progress. Trease said she was working on it and explained work that had been accomplished. Taylor fined Trease $100 and assessed costs of $50 for the November 2022 violation. The judge told Trease that she needed to c...
Hunter R. Cullen, 22, of O’Neill faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill on May 2 to be sentenced on Count I, attempted possession of a controlled substance (concentrated THC), a Class 1 misdemeanor, and Count II, possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction, both committed Jan. 15 in O’Neill. Burdick fined Cullen $500 on Count I and $100 on Count II. In addition, he was placed on probation for 12 months. He was ordered to pay $390 in probation-related fees and $60 costs of prosecution. As part of his proba...
