Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Since its inception in 1972, Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts have been planting conservation trees and shrubs for windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife habitat and other conservation purposes. This spring, the NRD Conservation Tree Program plants its 100 millionth tree – that’s approximately 50 trees for each Nebraskan. “Nebraska has a proud history of planting trees, and putting the 100 millionth tree in the ground reflects Nebraskans’ willingness to invest in the future,” said Dr. Orval Gigstad, Nebraska Association of Resources D...
Hope M. Llanos, 32, of Schuyler failed to appear at her scheduled arraignment hearing in the Antelope County courtroom last Wednesday morning but showed up in the afternoon. The Honorable Donna Taylor allowed arraignment to proceed. Llanos pleaded not guilty and requested jury trial on a charge of interfering with government operations, a Class 1 misdemeanor, alleged Jan. 8 at the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center in Neligh. Pretrial hearing is set March 16. Llanos is represented by Antelope County public defender Melissa Figueroa....
Hunters of upland and small game, waterfowl, fall turkey and deer will receive emailed invitations to participate in surveys about their harvest and hunting experiences. These surveys, which the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission uses to estimate harvest, hunter participation and satisfaction — and to inform management decisions — will be emailed over several weeks, beginning Feb. 14. Surveys generally are available to participants for two weeks starting from the initial invitation. Hunters who receive the invitation but have not responded to...
On Thursday, Jan. 13, Governor Ricketts presented his final State of the State Address to the Nebraska Legislature. The governor emphasized his message over the past eight years has been to Grow Nebraska. He reported this has happened, despite floods, fires and a global pandemic. He touched on his priorities for this year, which include tax relief, strengthening public safety and investing in natural resources. He endorsed legislative proposals to accelerate the phaseout of taxing Social...
Andrew J. Stephenson, 20, of Jacksonville, Florida, appeared in the Antelope County court last Wednesday morning, Jan. 5, on a Class 4 felony count, possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and two infractions, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, all alleged Dec. 23. Stephenson requested court-appointed counsel. After reviewing his financial information, Judge Donna Taylor indicated the defendant was “borderline” for qualification. She appointed the public defender to represent him, cautioning that whe...
Anglers must be aware of fishing regulation changes that take effect Jan. 1, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The changes are: Black bass – The area where no minimum length limit on smallmouth bass is required has expanded to the Nebraska Public Power District Canal, starting at the Sutherland Reservoir outlet, to the confluence with the South Platte River in Lincoln County; this includes Lake Maloney. Bufflehead Wildlife Management Area and David City Ponds are added to the list of waters where the minimum length limit on b...
Hunters can apply for the chance to win the hunting opportunity of a lifetime. Applications for multispecies super tag and combo lottery permits will be accepted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission beginning Jan. 2. The super tag lottery permit will be valid for one elk of either sex, one antelope of either sex, one deer of either sex and two turkeys. The combo permit will be valid for one antelope of either sex, one deer of either sex and two turkeys. Winners will be notified in fall 2022. Multispecies lottery permits will be valid in...
A South Dakota man was given probation for his angry behavior at two Atkinson businesses in August. Joseph W. Reiser, 20, of Gregory faced the Honorable Kale Burdick for sentencing in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill on Tuesday, Nov. 16. Burdick sentenced Resier to a six-month term of probation for three Class 3 misdemeanors committed Aug. 25, Count I, reckless driving and counts II and III, criminal mischief, 0 to $500. Reiser’s probation includes probation fees of $210 and he was assessed $60 costs of prosecution. According to a pro...
Hunters taking to the field for the November firearm deer season will have bagging a deer on their minds. Safety should be uppermost on their minds. Deer hunters always should heed the following tips from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission during the season: • Keep the rifle’s muzzle pointed in a safe direction, with the safety on, and finger off the trigger until ready to fire. • Properly identify the target and what lies beyond it before pulling the trigger and never shoot at sounds or movement. • Wear blaze orange. All deer hunters...
The Oct. 23 and 24 statewide youth pheasant, quail and partridge season, for hunters ages 15 and younger, provides an opportunity to mentor new hunters. “Each fall, the youth season provides a great opportunity to get young family members and friends out hunting in a more controlled environment,” said John Laux, upland game program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Resident youth, age 15 or younger, do not need a permit to hunt small game, but nonresident youth must have a hunt permit and habitat stamp. Only youth are all...
Hunters again are challenged to go afield with family and friends this fall to complete the Nebraska Upland Slam by harvesting all four of Nebraska’s primary upland game bird species. The challenge of the Upland Slam, a partnership among the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Pheasants Forever, Inc., and Quail Forever, is to harvest a ring-necked pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, greater prairie chicken and northern bobwhite quail in Nebraska this season. Successful hunters upload a photo of each harvested bird through an online platform and p...
With the annual dove season opener on Sept. 1, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has reminders for hunters and recommendations for areas to hunt. Dove hunting is an excellent opportunity to introduce youth and other novice hunters to hunting. Doves are abundant statewide and, with generous bag limits, provide some excellent wing-shooting opportunities. Doves may be hunted statewide Sept. 1 to Oct. 30, with daily bag and possession limits of 15 and 45, respectively. Bag and possession limits are for mourning, white-winged and Eurasian...
The Grove Trout Rearing Station, near Royal, will be closed to visitors until further notice due to upcoming expected high air temperatures in the area. Trout have been experiencing some health issues as the water to the facility has been warming. Warm water holds less oxygen, which is crucial to trout production. Additional stressors could further compromise fish health, prompting the decision to close visitation to this popular Antelope County destination. “Game and Parks and the staff at the facility would like to thank the public for its c...
Duck hunters must choose between two daily bag limits when they register for their Harvest Information Program number this year. Nebraska and South Dakota are entering a new two-tier program starting with the 2021- 2022 regular duck season. Tier I is the current traditional six-duck bag limit with species and sex restrictions. Tier II is a three-duck bag limit with no species or sex restrictions. HIP registration begins Aug. 1. When hunters register, they will be asked whether they plan to hunt ducks. If so, they will be prompted to select a...
Justin W. Stoltz, 35, of Elgin faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom last Wednesday, May 19, for a pretrial hearing on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, .15 or greater, second offense, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Pursuant to a plea agreement with Antelope County attorney Joe Abler, Stoltz withdrew his previous not guilty plea and entered a no contest plea to an amended count, driving under the influence of alcohol, first offense, a Class W misdemeanor committed Jan. 23. In addition, Abler agreed not to...
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is looking to provide additional hunting and fishing opportunities on private lands through its Open Fields and Waters Program. Landowners willing to allow public, walk-in access for hunting or fishing can receive annual, per-acre payments through the program. Participating landowners are afforded liability protection through the Nebraska Recreational Liability Act. Additional financial incentives often are available for habitat improvements, such as...
DARYL BAUER Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Catch and release is an established and important part of modern fishing. Sure, harvesting some of the fish we catch should be a part of our fishing experience. However, our fisheries are managed for recreational fishing, and if you are just fishing for a meal, well, the grocery store likely would be a cheaper way to get your fish. In some cases, catch and release is mandated by regulations; all length-limit regulations essentially are mandatory...
GRACE GORENFLO Nebraska News Service Nearly 100 tax-related bills have been introduced this legislative session, with topics ranging from selling alcohol at farmers markets to excluding retired military from state income tax. Chair of the Revenue Committee Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn said the committee has a package of sales tax bills and a package of income tax bills it is working to pass this session. The committee’s two priority bills, LB432 and LB595, will each have several other tax bills amended into them after hearings have c...
JERRY KANE Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Staying warm and comfortable while on the ice will go a long way toward ensuring you have a fun outing ice-fishing. The conditions will determine exactly how you will want to dress, but, regardless, you should dress in layers. The reason? You'll want to stay warm, and you'll need to avoid sweating. Getting set up for fishing – or moving to new fishing areas on the ice – is where you can work up a sweat. This includes carrying or dragging your gea...
Nebraska’s annual First Day Hikes are a chance to explore trails, watch wildlife, snap photos and create a lifetime of memories. This year, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission encourages families to take self-guided hikes between Jan. 1 and 3 at a Nebraska state park, state historical park or state recreation area. Though parks usually offer guided tours, hot chocolate and more, this year’s First Day Hikes have been adjusted to account for the current public health situation. Select parks are planning on giving the event their own unique spi...
Rainbow trout are being stocked in city ponds and state park and recreation area lakes across the state by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. These stockings will enhance fishing opportunities this fall and winter. Stocking schedules can change on short notice for a variety of reasons. The following is a tentative stocking schedule in this area, including quantities: Week of Oct. 5 – East Verdigre Creek, Royal – 200 trout; Week of Oct. 13 – TaHaZouka Park Lake, Norfolk – 1,500; Niobrara SP Pond, 1,000; Grove Lake WMA, Royal – 1,500; We...
Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can discover the outdoors by participating in the second annual Nebraska Fish Art Contest. The 2021 contest, which is sponsored by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Wildlife Forever and Bass Pro Shops, is accepting entries through March 31, 2021. Enter at statefishart.org. This free international art and writing competition gives young people the opportunity to highlight their artistic talents while learning about fish, fishing and aquatic...
With fall hunting seasons coming up, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds hunters of temporary Hunter Education changes from which they can benefit. Until further notice, online-only Hunter Education courses, without the Hunt Safe Session requirement, is allowed for ages 11 and older in Nebraska. Youth ages 11-15 who take the online Hunter Education course normally are required to attend a two-hour Hunt Safe Session before they can receive a certificate of completion. That Hunt Safe Session requirement temporarily has been waived...
The antlerless elk season opened Aug. 1 on private land in all seven elk management units in Nebraska. “Crop damage from elk can be a serious issue for many landowners, particularly in corn,” said Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Director Jim Douglas. “We understand this and want to help landowners resolve this problem.” Game and Parks believes the best way to manage big game populations is through hunting. To help manage elk, in 2020, Game and Parks increased antlerless permits by 40% and expanded the antlerless hunting season by 31 days, s...
Hunters may begin purchasing 2020 Nebraska fall turkey permits Aug. 10 at 1 p.m. Central Time. A fall turkey permit is valid statewide and allows a hunter to harvest two turkeys of either sex with a shotgun or archery equipment. Each hunter may have up to two permits. There is no minimum age requirement for youth. The fall turkey season is Sept. 15, 2020 through Jan. 31, 2021. Fall turkey permits may be purchased: • Online at OutdoorNebraska.org; • Via application form mailed to: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2200 N. 33rd St., Lin...
