CHADRON – Discover Northwest Nebraska presented its first-ever regional tourism industry awards Thursday, April 20, to outstanding volunteers, frontline employees and businesses.

“We implemented the awards to showcase the people and places who are going above and beyond to make visitors feel welcome and inspire them to return. Our winners this year exemplify the friendliness and dedication Northwest Nebraska is known for,” said Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp

Prairie Agate Rock Shop in Crawford won the Business/Attraction of the Year award. The business, owned by Gary and Valerie Homrighausen, received multiple nominations that noted the couple engages with customers, helping them understand local geological resources while offering a wide range of items in their shop. The business has generated repeat visitors from across the country, and the Homrighausens play a large role in the planning of the state’s largest outdoor rock show year year, the Crawford Rock Swap, held over Labor Day weekend.

The Sioux County Fair and Rodeo Board picked up the Tourism Volunteers of the Year award. This group of men and women have focused their efforts on organizing Harrison’s signature annual event since 1896. The fair features 4-H exhibits, livestock shows, a two-day rodeo, dance, parade, art show, hog wrestling and a demolition derby.

Finally, Laure Sinn of the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center won the Frontline Employee of the Year award. Sinn greets the center’s visitors with warmth and enthusiasm and happily shares her knowledge of the region as she showcases the center’s exhibits. She promotes other tourism stops in the area, suggesting attractions and restaurants, encouraging guests to stay in the area longer or come back for another visit. Sinn also has also served as the voice of the parade at the Crawford Fourth of July celebration and is the voice of the Harvest Moon Fall Festival each year.

“We had outstanding nominations in all three categories this year,” Rempp said. “Our winners rose to the top of an esteemed group, and all of our nominees deserve recognition for their efforts.”

The rest of the nominees included: Bean Broker Coffee House and Pub for Business/Attraction of the Year, the Dawes County Historical Museum’s Board of Directors and volunteers and Dave Hockenbary of Fur Trade Days in the Tourism Volunteers category, and Courtney Kouba of the Sandoz Center, Kennady Stack of Bean Broker, Pam Wing of Country Kitchen and Brooklyn Anderson of Just Love Coffee in the Frontline Employee category.

The awards were presented at Discover Northwest Nebraska’s Treasure Chest of the Northwest industry workshop, co-hosted by Chadrad Communications and the Heartland Center's committee for&nbsp;

Rural Prosperity in Northwest Nebraska. More than 70 professionals in the regional tourism industry gathered for the event at the Dawes County Fairgrounds. The workshop provided networking opportunities, a brochure exchange and presentations on hospitality, mutual promotion and collaboration, and diversified marketing strategies.

“In addition to recognizing outstanding professionals, the event is a great way for our industry professionals to learn about each other and prepare for the upcoming tourism season,” Rempp said. “Residents and visitors can nominate businesses, employees and volunteers for next year’s awards until March 1, 2024, by visiting https://discovernwnebraska.com/industry-awards/.

By Discover Northwest NebraskaCHADRON – Discover Northwest Nebraska presented its first-ever regional tourism industry awards Thursday, April 20, to outstanding volunteers, frontline employees and businesses.“We implemented the awards to showcase the people and places who are going above and beyond to make visitors feel welcome and inspire them to return. Our winners this year exemplify the friendliness and dedication Northwest Nebraska is known for,” said Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682380799722.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Prairie Agate Rock Shop in Crawford won the Business/Attraction of the Year award. The business, owned by Gary and Valerie Homrighausen, received multiple nominations that noted the couple engages with customers, helping them understand local geological resources while offering a wide range of items in their shop. The business has generated repeat visitors from across the country, and the Homrighausens play a large role in the planning of the state’s largest outdoor rock show year year, the Crawford Rock Swap, held over Labor Day weekend.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682380811816.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Sioux County Fair and Rodeo Board picked up the Tourism Volunteers of the Year award. This group of men and women have focused their efforts on organizing Harrison’s signature annual event since 1896. The fair features 4-H exhibits, livestock shows, a two-day rodeo, dance, parade, art show, hog wrestling and a demolition derby.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682380827661.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Finally, Laure Sinn of the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center won the Frontline Employee of the Year award. Sinn greets the center’s visitors with warmth and enthusiasm and happily shares her knowledge of the region as she showcases the center’s exhibits. She promotes other tourism stops in the area, suggesting attractions and restaurants, encouraging guests to stay in the area longer or come back for another visit. Sinn also has also served as the voice of the parade at the Crawford Fourth of July celebration and is the voice of the Harvest Moon Fall Festival each year.“We had outstanding nominations in all three categories this year,” Rempp said. “Our winners rose to the top of an esteemed group, and all of our nominees deserve recognition for their efforts.”The rest of the nominees included: Bean Broker Coffee House and Pub for Business/Attraction of the Year, the Dawes County Historical Museum’s Board of Directors and volunteers and Dave Hockenbary of Fur Trade Days in the Tourism Volunteers category, and Courtney Kouba of the Sandoz Center, Kennady Stack of Bean Broker, Pam Wing of Country Kitchen and Brooklyn Anderson of Just Love Coffee in the Frontline Employee category.The awards were presented at Discover Northwest Nebraska’s Treasure Chest of the Northwest industry workshop, co-hosted by Chadrad Communications and the Heartland Center's committee for&nbsp;Rural Prosperity in Northwest Nebraska. More than 70 professionals in the regional tourism industry gathered for the event at the Dawes County Fairgrounds. The workshop provided networking opportunities, a brochure exchange and presentations on hospitality, mutual promotion and collaboration, and diversified marketing strategies.“In addition to recognizing outstanding professionals, the event is a great way for our industry professionals to learn about each other and prepare for the upcoming tourism season,” Rempp said. “Residents and visitors can nominate businesses, employees and volunteers for next year’s awards until March 1, 2024, by visiting https://discovernwnebraska.com/industry-awards/.

Prairie Agate, Sioux Co. Fair, Sinn of MSHPHC win Tourism Awards

By Dawes County 911/Chadron Police Department

The Dawes Sioux County nine one one center is now back to normal operation.

 Please resume calling us at the normal numbers of 911 for emergencies and 308-432-0510

Our administration lines are getting inbound calls from both landlines and cell phones, however we are unable to call out from the station to any cellphone and can only call out locally to landlines. 

We are now able to call local landlines, but long distance is not available. We are able to continue outbound calls with Department Cell Phones.

The entire panhandle was affected by this outage that is thought to have been due to an electrical power issue in the Sidney Nebraska phone office.

All phone lines are down at Dawes and Sioux County 911. 

We currently have our cellular phones working. 

If you would need to call us, please use these numbers:

308-665-8213&nbsp; &nbsp;or&nbsp; &nbsp; 308-430-0641

By Dawes County 911/Chadron Police DepartmentUpdate at 5:21 p.m.&nbsp;The Dawes Sioux County nine one one center is now back to normal operation. Please resume calling us at the normal numbers of 911 for emergencies and 308-432-0510Our administration lines are getting inbound calls from both landlines and cell phones, however we are unable to call out from the station to any cellphone and can only call out locally to landlines. We are now able to call local landlines, but long distance is not available. We are able to continue outbound calls with Department Cell Phones.The entire panhandle was affected by this outage that is thought to have been due to an electrical power issue in the Sidney Nebraska phone office.-----------All phone lines are down at Dawes and Sioux County 911. We currently have our cellular phones working. If you would need to call us, please use these numbers:308-665-8213&nbsp; &nbsp;or&nbsp; &nbsp; 308-430-0641

UPDATE: Dawes, Sioux County 911 phone lines experiencing outage 

NORTH PLATTE — At 11:45 a.m. Sunday, the Lincoln County 911 Center was advised of a head-on two-vehicle accident near mile marker 174 on U.S. 30, just west of North Platte, NE..

Deputies and North Platte Fire and Rescue responded to the scene. U.S. 30 was closed for about an hour while the accident was investigated.

Preliminary investigation showed an eastbound Nissan Altima crossed the center line while maneuvering a curve in the road. The Nissan struck a westbound Chevrolet pickup essentially in the driver’s side tire area.

Both vehicles were totaled because of the accident and were towed away.

The driver of the Nissan was a juvenile who was believed to be suffering a medical issue. Both drivers were attended to by North Platte Rescue for non-life-threatening injuries. Drugs and alcohol were not a factor, and all drivers were buckled up.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682371938931.png" alt="Lincoln County Sheriff's Office photo" />
 <figcaption>Lincoln County Sheriff's Office photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Lincoln County Sheriff's OfficeNORTH PLATTE — At 11:45 a.m. Sunday, the Lincoln County 911 Center was advised of a head-on two-vehicle accident near mile marker 174 on U.S. 30, just west of North Platte, NE..Deputies and North Platte Fire and Rescue responded to the scene. U.S. 30 was closed for about an hour while the accident was investigated.Preliminary investigation showed an eastbound Nissan Altima crossed the center line while maneuvering a curve in the road. The Nissan struck a westbound Chevrolet pickup essentially in the driver’s side tire area.Both vehicles were totaled because of the accident and were towed away.The driver of the Nissan was a juvenile who was believed to be suffering a medical issue. Both drivers were attended to by North Platte Rescue for non-life-threatening injuries. Drugs and alcohol were not a factor, and all drivers were buckled up.

Both drivers survive head-on crash west of North Platte

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen has appointed Rusty Kemp to a vacancy on the Nebraska Power District Board of Directors. Kemp will represent Subdivision 5. That seat has been vacant since early last month, following the board’s approval of the resignation of Director Charlie Kennedy.&nbsp;

Kemp will serve through December 2024, which coincides with the end of Kennedy’s six-year term. Kemp is self-employed as a cattle rancher in Tryon, NE and has previously served on the McPherson County School Board as well as the McPherson County Co-Op Credit Union Board.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A remaining vacancy for NPPD Subdivision 11 will also be filled by Pillen. Applications were due April 17, for consideration.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

North Platte PostLINCOLN —&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen has appointed Rusty Kemp to a vacancy on the Nebraska Power District Board of Directors. Kemp will represent Subdivision 5. That seat has been vacant since early last month, following the board’s approval of the resignation of Director Charlie Kennedy.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682358475358.jpeg" alt="Rusty Kemp&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Rusty Kemp&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Kemp will serve through December 2024, which coincides with the end of Kennedy’s six-year term. Kemp is self-employed as a cattle rancher in Tryon, NE and has previously served on the McPherson County School Board as well as the McPherson County Co-Op Credit Union Board.&nbsp;&nbsp;A remaining vacancy for NPPD Subdivision 11 will also be filled by Pillen. Applications were due April 17, for consideration.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kemp appointed to fill Nebraska Power District Board seat

CHADRON – The second annual Northwest Nebraska Volksmarch is planned for May 20 at Chadron State Park. Explore the park during the annual Free Fishing and Free Park Entry Day and enjoy a group hike with family and friends.

Sponsored by the Northwest Nebraska Trails Association in conjunction with the Omaha Trailblazers Volksmarch Club, the event will take walkers around the park on 5K and 10K non-competitive hikes. Volksmarching developed in Europe in the 1960s as a form of fitness walking, and today thousands of events are held around the world annually.

“The NNTA is excited to partner with the Trailblazers and Discover Northwest Nebraska again to host the Volksmarch,” said NNTA President Brittany Helmbrecht. “We had a great turnout last year and anticipate as much interest again this year. The route at Chadron State Park is mostly paved and can accommodate more abilities and modalities.”

Last year’s inaugural event saw more than 50 participants from five states take to the trails at Chadron State College. Registration for the 2023 Volksmarch is open at https://forms.gle/uspmtHNyYqW8uQZA7. Those who register by April 30 will receive a free t-shirt. Cost to enter is just $3/person. Walkers can start their walk anytime between 8-11 a.m. and must finish the course by 2 p.m.

“Working with the Trailblazers and NNTA, Northwest Nebraska also has established three seasonal or year-round Volksmarch trails, sanctioned by the American Volkssport Association,” said Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp. “Trails are located at Agate Fossil Beds, Chadron State College and the White River Trail between Crawford and Fort Robinson.”

Visit https://discovernwnebraska.com/volksmarch/ to learn more about the seasonal and year-round volksmarch offerings.

“We’d also like to thank Chadron State Park for hosting our second event, along with Chadron Community Hospital and Panhandle Public Health for coming on board as additional sponsors,” Rempp said.

By Discover Northwest Nebraska<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682353317869.jpeg" alt="Participants in the first Northwest Nebraska Volksmarch in 2022 stop to enjoy the view from a spot along the Chadron State College trails. This year's event will take place May 20 at Chadron State Park. Photo by Brandon Davenport" />
 <figcaption>Participants in the first Northwest Nebraska Volksmarch in 2022 stop to enjoy the view from a spot along the Chadron State College trails. This year's event will take place May 20 at Chadron State Park. Photo by Brandon Davenport</figcaption>
 </figure>CHADRON – The second annual Northwest Nebraska Volksmarch is planned for May 20 at Chadron State Park. Explore the park during the annual Free Fishing and Free Park Entry Day and enjoy a group hike with family and friends.Sponsored by the Northwest Nebraska Trails Association in conjunction with the Omaha Trailblazers Volksmarch Club, the event will take walkers around the park on 5K and 10K non-competitive hikes. Volksmarching developed in Europe in the 1960s as a form of fitness walking, and today thousands of events are held around the world annually.“The NNTA is excited to partner with the Trailblazers and Discover Northwest Nebraska again to host the Volksmarch,” said NNTA President Brittany Helmbrecht. “We had a great turnout last year and anticipate as much interest again this year. The route at Chadron State Park is mostly paved and can accommodate more abilities and modalities.”Last year’s inaugural event saw more than 50 participants from five states take to the trails at Chadron State College. Registration for the 2023 Volksmarch is open at https://forms.gle/uspmtHNyYqW8uQZA7. Those who register by April 30 will receive a free t-shirt. Cost to enter is just $3/person. Walkers can start their walk anytime between 8-11 a.m. and must finish the course by 2 p.m.“Working with the Trailblazers and NNTA, Northwest Nebraska also has established three seasonal or year-round Volksmarch trails, sanctioned by the American Volkssport Association,” said Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp. “Trails are located at Agate Fossil Beds, Chadron State College and the White River Trail between Crawford and Fort Robinson.”Visit https://discovernwnebraska.com/volksmarch/ to learn more about the seasonal and year-round volksmarch offerings.“We’d also like to thank Chadron State Park for hosting our second event, along with Chadron Community Hospital and Panhandle Public Health for coming on board as additional sponsors,” Rempp said.

Volksmarch explores Chadron State Park

Lincoln, NE ‐ One lucky player who bought a 2by2 ticket for the Saturday, April 22 drawing is holding a ticket worth $22,000.

The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that one ticket sold for Saturday's 2by2 draw matched all four winning numbers for the $22,000 top prize. The ticket was sold at Main St Market, 401 So. Beltline Hwy. W., in Scottsbluff. The winning numbers from Saturday's 2by2 draw were Red 12, 23, and White 01, 02. Players are encouraged to check their tickets at any Nebraska Lottery retailer, online at nelottery.com, or by calling the Lottery office at 402-471-6100.

Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed in person at Lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at the Nebraska Lottery website, nelottery.com, or by calling 800-587-5200.

2by2 is run by the Multi-State Lottery Association and was introduced in June 2002. Players in Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming have the opportunity to win up to $22,000 Monday through Sunday by playing 2by2. The odds of winning the $22,000 2by2 top prize are 1 in 105,625. The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.59.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $923 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery's beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

By Nebraska Lottery&nbsp;Lincoln, NE ‐ One lucky player who bought a 2by2 ticket for the Saturday, April 22 drawing is holding a ticket worth $22,000.The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that one ticket sold for Saturday's 2by2 draw matched all four winning numbers for the $22,000 top prize. The ticket was sold at Main St Market, 401 So. Beltline Hwy. W., in Scottsbluff. The winning numbers from Saturday's 2by2 draw were Red 12, 23, and White 01, 02. Players are encouraged to check their tickets at any Nebraska Lottery retailer, online at nelottery.com, or by calling the Lottery office at 402-471-6100.Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed in person at Lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at the Nebraska Lottery website, nelottery.com, or by calling 800-587-5200.2by2 is run by the Multi-State Lottery Association and was introduced in June 2002. Players in Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming have the opportunity to win up to $22,000 Monday through Sunday by playing 2by2. The odds of winning the $22,000 2by2 top prize are 1 in 105,625. The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.59.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $923 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery's beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

$22,000 2by2 winning ticket sold in Scottsbluff

America currently faces the worst drug crisis in our nation’s history. In 2021, 106,000 Americans died of a drug overdose – nearly 70,000 because of fentanyl. Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18-45. The precursors to fentanyl are produced in China. From there, they are shipped to Mexico where cartels manufacture them into fentanyl and smuggle it across our border. This crisis has taken lives in every state,&nbsp;including Nebraska.

The Mexican drug cartels have taken advantage of&nbsp;President Biden’s&nbsp;weak enforcement at the border to surge the flow of fentanyl into our country. The last two years I was Governor, the Nebraska State Patrol confiscated three times the amount of fentanyl they did previously. In 2019, Nebraska law enforcement seized only 46 fentanyl pills. Three years later, that number surged to more than 151,000 pills in just the first six months of 2022.

Nationally, the numbers get far worse.&nbsp;This January alone, federal law enforcement seized over 1,400 pounds of fentanyl. That's over 300 million fatal doses&nbsp;–&nbsp;enough fentanyl to kill nearly every man, woman, and child in this entire country.&nbsp;

Taryn Lee Griffith was a 24-year old single mom of two when she died of an overdose in Lincoln. She took what she believed was a prescription pill while out with friends. She had no idea that pill had been laced with a lethal dose of fentanyl.&nbsp;Now, her two daughters will have to learn about their mom from pictures and family stories.&nbsp;Her&nbsp;tragedy&nbsp;is all too familiar.&nbsp;

This situation is heartbreaking.&nbsp;As I’ve told my colleagues&nbsp;in the U.S. Senate, if addressing this isn’t our job, I don’t know what is.&nbsp;I’m committed to working on real solutions.

The first and most important solution to our drug overdose crisis is to secure our borders. The federal government must fulfill its responsibility and make it more difficult for these drugs to come into our country&nbsp;and reach&nbsp;our communities. Customs and Border Patrol needs infrastructure like the border wall. They need more technology and more personnel at the border. We need to give our Customs and Border Patrol agents the resources they need.

Another common-sense solution is to increase the criminal penalties for those who distribute fentanyl. I am proud to&nbsp;co-sponsor&nbsp;Senator&nbsp;Marco&nbsp;Rubio’s Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act. It makes those who distribute fentanyl and kill Americans liable for federal felony murder charges.

If a criminal distributes fentanyl and it kills someone, the distributor should be charged with federal felony murder. The families who’ve lost loved ones to drug overdose want these criminals to be held accountable. Those who kill Americans with fentanyl deserve this severe penalty.

A third step we should take is to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule 1 drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. The temporary designation we currently have was a step in the right direction, but we need a permanent solution. Senator&nbsp;Ron&nbsp;Johnson’s Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues Act would eliminate the need for extensions once and for all. I’m proud to co-sponsor this important piece of legislation.

Nebraskans expect a federal government that protects&nbsp;its citizens. These are just a few steps we can take to ensure we are fulfilling our obligation to do that. We need to take action to save American lives. Only together will we bring this crisis under control. &nbsp;

Along with Senator Deb Fischer and the rest of my colleagues in the Nebraska delegation, my team and I are here to serve you.&nbsp;Contact my team and I anytime&nbsp;by phone at 202-224-4224, on my website&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ricketts.senate.gov/" target="_blank">www.ricketts.senate.gov</a>, or via email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:contactricke@ricketts.senate.gov" target="_blank">contactricke@ricketts.senate.gov</a>.&nbsp;I am honored to serve our great state and will continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;work to protect the Good Life from Washington overreach.

By Sen. Pete RickettsAmerica currently faces the worst drug crisis in our nation’s history. In 2021, 106,000 Americans died of a drug overdose – nearly 70,000 because of fentanyl. Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18-45. The precursors to fentanyl are produced in China. From there, they are shipped to Mexico where cartels manufacture them into fentanyl and smuggle it across our border. This crisis has taken lives in every state,&nbsp;including Nebraska.The Mexican drug cartels have taken advantage of&nbsp;President Biden’s&nbsp;weak enforcement at the border to surge the flow of fentanyl into our country. The last two years I was Governor, the Nebraska State Patrol confiscated three times the amount of fentanyl they did previously. In 2019, Nebraska law enforcement seized only 46 fentanyl pills. Three years later, that number surged to more than 151,000 pills in just the first six months of 2022.Nationally, the numbers get far worse.&nbsp;This January alone, federal law enforcement seized over 1,400 pounds of fentanyl. That's over 300 million fatal doses&nbsp;–&nbsp;enough fentanyl to kill nearly every man, woman, and child in this entire country.&nbsp;Taryn Lee Griffith was a 24-year old single mom of two when she died of an overdose in Lincoln. She took what she believed was a prescription pill while out with friends. She had no idea that pill had been laced with a lethal dose of fentanyl.&nbsp;Now, her two daughters will have to learn about their mom from pictures and family stories.&nbsp;Her&nbsp;tragedy&nbsp;is all too familiar.&nbsp;This situation is heartbreaking.&nbsp;As I’ve told my colleagues&nbsp;in the U.S. Senate, if addressing this isn’t our job, I don’t know what is.&nbsp;I’m committed to working on real solutions.The first and most important solution to our drug overdose crisis is to secure our borders. The federal government must fulfill its responsibility and make it more difficult for these drugs to come into our country&nbsp;and reach&nbsp;our communities. Customs and Border Patrol needs infrastructure like the border wall. They need more technology and more personnel at the border. We need to give our Customs and Border Patrol agents the resources they need.Another common-sense solution is to increase the criminal penalties for those who distribute fentanyl. I am proud to&nbsp;co-sponsor&nbsp;Senator&nbsp;Marco&nbsp;Rubio’s Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act. It makes those who distribute fentanyl and kill Americans liable for federal felony murder charges.If a criminal distributes fentanyl and it kills someone, the distributor should be charged with federal felony murder. The families who’ve lost loved ones to drug overdose want these criminals to be held accountable. Those who kill Americans with fentanyl deserve this severe penalty.A third step we should take is to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule 1 drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. The temporary designation we currently have was a step in the right direction, but we need a permanent solution. Senator&nbsp;Ron&nbsp;Johnson’s Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues Act would eliminate the need for extensions once and for all. I’m proud to co-sponsor this important piece of legislation.Nebraskans expect a federal government that protects&nbsp;its citizens. These are just a few steps we can take to ensure we are fulfilling our obligation to do that. We need to take action to save American lives. Only together will we bring this crisis under control. &nbsp; Along with Senator Deb Fischer and the rest of my colleagues in the Nebraska delegation, my team and I are here to serve you.&nbsp;Contact my team and I anytime&nbsp;by phone at 202-224-4224, on my website&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ricketts.senate.gov/" target="_blank">www.ricketts.senate.gov</a>, or via email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:contactricke@ricketts.senate.gov" target="_blank">contactricke@ricketts.senate.gov</a>.&nbsp;I am honored to serve our great state and will continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;work to protect the Good Life from Washington overreach.

Sen. Ricketts: Addressing our drug crisis

Nebraska’s best-known destination for stargazing is the location of an upcoming educational series to celebrate the night sky, a combined effort of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and National Park Service.

On Saturday, April 29, a National Park Service ranger will lead “Journey Through the Night Sky” — the first of four dark sky programs planned at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area between now and fall.

At the first event, attendees will use telescopes and learn about importance of dark skies and problems posed by light pollution. The program, which appropriately occurs during Global Astronomy Month, will begin at 8 p.m. at the Snake River Area.

In 2022, Merritt Reservoir earned became an International Dark Sky Park, a title presented by the International Dark-Sky Association. Merritt is the first location in Nebraska to make the list, which includes some of America’s most breathtaking national and state parks. Merritt Reservoir is located 26 miles southwest of Valentine.

Contact Amanda Filipi, Game and Parks outdoor education specialist, at amanda.filipi@nebraska.gov for more information about the series of events.

By Nebraska Game and ParksNebraska’s best-known destination for stargazing is the location of an upcoming educational series to celebrate the night sky, a combined effort of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and National Park Service.On Saturday, April 29, a National Park Service ranger will lead “Journey Through the Night Sky” — the first of four dark sky programs planned at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area between now and fall.At the first event, attendees will use telescopes and learn about importance of dark skies and problems posed by light pollution. The program, which appropriately occurs during Global Astronomy Month, will begin at 8 p.m. at the Snake River Area.Other programs in the series:<ul>
 <li>“Magnificent Moths, Spectacular Starts,” June 24, Cedar Bay Campground, 9 p.m.-midnight. Use lighting to observe nighttime insects.</li><li>“Constellations on the Landscape: Wildlife Need Dark Skies, Too,” Snake River Campground, July 21, 8-8:30 p.m. Learn how dark sky preservation relates to wildlife conservation. In conjunction with annual Nebraska Star Party.</li><li>“Creatures of the Night: Bats,” Snake River Area, Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m. Learn about the bats of Merritt Reservoir SRA.</li>
 </ul>In 2022, Merritt Reservoir earned became an International Dark Sky Park, a title presented by the International Dark-Sky Association. Merritt is the first location in Nebraska to make the list, which includes some of America’s most breathtaking national and state parks. Merritt Reservoir is located 26 miles southwest of Valentine.Contact Amanda Filipi, Game and Parks outdoor education specialist, at amanda.filipi@nebraska.gov for more information about the series of events.

Merritt Reservoir night programs begin April 29

This weeks road trip found us passing thru Scottsbluff, when we came across the Big Red Nebraska Popcorn Shop. Its located at 2001 Broadway, across from Rosies chinese food.

We felt like kids in a candy store.&nbsp; There were so many flavors to choose from. They have over 50 flavors, including Bacon.&nbsp; Betty Jo got Bunny Tracks, Cinnamon, a multi candy and a plain one. I went for the white cheddar, garlic and parmesan and hot wings flavored.&nbsp; We had so much fun choosing, and after filling up the counter we began to look around.

They also have all kinds of coffee beans, a whole display of different big&nbsp; cookies, including a peanut butter one, frosted, with a nutter butter on top; it was cute. And my buddy took that dude home.&nbsp; The owner was so fun, funny and a joy to talk to.

They also have gift items, and my favorite, popcorn t-shirts.&nbsp; It was like Christmas!&nbsp; The fella behind us was getting a huge bag. It was for his daughters 3rd grade class in Bridgeport. They had earned a popcorn party. I was wishing I was in that class. What fun.

So, now everyone in my family knows what they are getting for Christmas.&nbsp; What great gifts popcorn is. No holiday, event, baby shower, whatever, is complete without popcorn.

Every flavor, every memory all wrapped into one.&nbsp; See you there!

By Tami Cox Swearingen<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682296393701.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>This weeks road trip found us passing thru Scottsbluff, when we came across the Big Red Nebraska Popcorn Shop. Its located at 2001 Broadway, across from Rosies chinese food. We felt like kids in a candy store.&nbsp; There were so many flavors to choose from. They have over 50 flavors, including Bacon.&nbsp; Betty Jo got Bunny Tracks, Cinnamon, a multi candy and a plain one. I went for the white cheddar, garlic and parmesan and hot wings flavored.&nbsp; We had so much fun choosing, and after filling up the counter we began to look around. They also have all kinds of coffee beans, a whole display of different big&nbsp; cookies, including a peanut butter one, frosted, with a nutter butter on top; it was cute. And my buddy took that dude home.&nbsp; The owner was so fun, funny and a joy to talk to. They also have gift items, and my favorite, popcorn t-shirts.&nbsp; It was like Christmas!&nbsp; The fella behind us was getting a huge bag. It was for his daughters 3rd grade class in Bridgeport. They had earned a popcorn party. I was wishing I was in that class. What fun. So, now everyone in my family knows what they are getting for Christmas.&nbsp; What great gifts popcorn is. No holiday, event, baby shower, whatever, is complete without popcorn. Every flavor, every memory all wrapped into one.&nbsp; See you there!

Road Trip: Big Red Nebraska Popcorn Shop in Scottsbluff 

CHADRON – Chadron State College Students majoring in Health Professions were recognized at an annual banquet April 13 at Country Kitchen. CSC graduate and Physician Assistant Ian Ahrens spoke at the event. He shared his experiences from professional school which included trying to keep up with courses during the pandemic and transferring when the out-of-state school he was attending voluntarily withdrew from being accredited.

The students, their hometowns, and the professional schools they plan to attend are listed below.

Elise Aguilar of McCook, Neb., will attend Palmer College

Jordan Wear of Crossville, Tenn., will attend Lincoln Memorial University

Medicine&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lydia Connell of Arnold, Neb., will attend University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)

Sage Konicek of Ord, Neb., will attend UNMC&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ian Papenfus of Scottsbluff, Neb., will attend UNMC

Micaiah Vrbka of Brainard, Neb., will attend UNMC&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nursing&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Aretta Brennemann of Curtis, Neb., will attend UNMC West

Samantha Comes of Camp Crook, S.D., will attend South Dakota State University (SDSU)

Jadyn Hamann of Spearfish, S.D., will attend SDSU

Aleyah Hunzeker of York, Neb., will attend UNMC West

Kaitlyn Johnson of Alliance, Neb., will attend UNMC West &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Regan Lambert of Upton, Wyo., will attend UNMC West

Emily Merritt of Gering, Neb., will attend UNMC West

Emma Stewart of Columbus, Neb., will attend Union College

Morgan Theis of Superior, Neb., will attend UNMC Kearney&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Aubrey Bando of Nebraska City, Neb., will attend UNMC

Johanna Sughroue of Indianola, Neb., will attend UNMC

Margaret Wilson of Petal, Miss., will attend Harding University

MacKenzie Kovar of Ainsworth, Neb., will attend UNMC Kearney

Logan Moravec of Scottsbluff, Neb., will attend UNMC Omaha

Jordan Orr of Ogallala, Neb., will attend Midwestern University

Brooke Becker of Hastings, Neb., will attend UNMC Kearney

Brooke Benson of O’Neill, Neb., will attend UNMC Kearney

Jadelyn Beyer of North Platte, Neb., will attend Union College

Aubrey Schultis of Tryon, Neb., will attend UNMC Kearney

Abigail Tidball of Edgemont, S.D., will attend UNMC Kearney

Nilsa Banks of Lancaster, Texas: Regional West School of Radiologic Technology

Timothy Birky of Hastings, Neb., will attend Regional West School of Radiologic Technology

Tessa Hilker of McCook, Neb., will attend UNMC North Platte&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kennedy Trueblood of Chadron will attend UNMC North Platte

Beau Jersild of Chadron will attend Colorado State University&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

By Chadron State CollegeCHADRON – Chadron State College Students majoring in Health Professions were recognized at an annual banquet April 13 at Country Kitchen. CSC graduate and Physician Assistant Ian Ahrens spoke at the event. He shared his experiences from professional school which included trying to keep up with courses during the pandemic and transferring when the out-of-state school he was attending voluntarily withdrew from being accredited.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682105109226.jpeg" alt="Chadron State College Health Professions Honors Banquet April 13, 2023, at Country Kitchen. Pre-Medicine students, from left, Ian Papenfus of Scottsbluff, Neb., will attend UNMC, Lydia Connell of Arnold, Neb., will attend University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Sage Konicek of Ord, Neb., will attend UNMC, and Micaiah Vrbka of Brainard, Neb., will attend UNMC. (Photo by Tena L. Cook/Chadron State College)" />
 <figcaption>Chadron State College Health Professions Honors Banquet April 13, 2023, at Country Kitchen. Pre-Medicine students, from left, Ian Papenfus of Scottsbluff, Neb., will attend UNMC, Lydia Connell of Arnold, Neb., will attend University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Sage Konicek of Ord, Neb., will attend UNMC, and Micaiah Vrbka of Brainard, Neb., will attend UNMC. (Photo by Tena L. Cook/Chadron State College)</figcaption>
 </figure>The students, their hometowns, and the professional schools they plan to attend are listed below.Chiropractic MedicineElise Aguilar of McCook, Neb., will attend Palmer CollegeDentistryJordan Wear of Crossville, Tenn., will attend Lincoln Memorial UniversityMedicine&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lydia Connell of Arnold, Neb., will attend University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)Sage Konicek of Ord, Neb., will attend UNMC&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ian Papenfus of Scottsbluff, Neb., will attend UNMCMicaiah Vrbka of Brainard, Neb., will attend UNMC&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nursing&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Aretta Brennemann of Curtis, Neb., will attend UNMC WestSamantha Comes of Camp Crook, S.D., will attend South Dakota State University (SDSU)Jadyn Hamann of Spearfish, S.D., will attend SDSUAleyah Hunzeker of York, Neb., will attend UNMC WestKaitlyn Johnson of Alliance, Neb., will attend UNMC West &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Regan Lambert of Upton, Wyo., will attend UNMC WestEmily Merritt of Gering, Neb., will attend UNMC WestEmma Stewart of Columbus, Neb., will attend Union CollegeMorgan Theis of Superior, Neb., will attend UNMC Kearney&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;PharmacyAubrey Bando of Nebraska City, Neb., will attend UNMCJohanna Sughroue of Indianola, Neb., will attend UNMCMargaret Wilson of Petal, Miss., will attend Harding UniversityPhysical TherapyMacKenzie Kovar of Ainsworth, Neb., will attend UNMC KearneyLogan Moravec of Scottsbluff, Neb., will attend UNMC OmahaJordan Orr of Ogallala, Neb., will attend Midwestern UniversityPhysician AssistantBrooke Becker of Hastings, Neb., will attend UNMC KearneyBrooke Benson of O’Neill, Neb., will attend UNMC KearneyJadelyn Beyer of North Platte, Neb., will attend Union CollegeAubrey Schultis of Tryon, Neb., will attend UNMC KearneyAbigail Tidball of Edgemont, S.D., will attend UNMC KearneyRadiographyNilsa Banks of Lancaster, Texas: Regional West School of Radiologic TechnologyTimothy Birky of Hastings, Neb., will attend Regional West School of Radiologic TechnologyTessa Hilker of McCook, Neb., will attend UNMC North Platte&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kennedy Trueblood of Chadron will attend UNMC North PlatteVeterinary MedicineBeau Jersild of Chadron will attend Colorado State University&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Health Professions students recognized at Chadron banquet

By Chabella Guzman, Communications Specialist, Panhandle Research Extension and Development Center

Eight students will participate in the inaugural Western Nebraska Youth Institute of the World Food Prize competition on Monday, April 24, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff.&nbsp;

The Western Nebraska Youth Institute is hosted by the UNL Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications Department and the Nebraska Department of Education. The students researched living conditions and food insecurity in various countries and then proposed a solution to a food insecurity issue in that country. They will present their solutions to global experts who know about food insecurity or production issues around the world.

“We have three schools coming in, where students have done the research, wrote the papers, and then we’ll have center faculty and graduate students participate in being world exports,” said Dr. Troy White, RP lecturer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Ag Leadership Education and Communications.&nbsp;

After the student presentations, the 21st Century STEM Innovation Trailer will be in the south parking lot with a look at some of the technology available in agriculture and food production.&nbsp;

The keynote speaker at lunch will be Roric Paulman, discussing food production on his family’s farm.&nbsp;

“Our faculty will be discussing water, soils, and beef cattle, so the students will get a broad look at what they could do as an adult in agriculture to make a difference,” White said. “Borlaug always said, ‘Everyone can make a difference it only takes one to be a hunger fighter.’”

Dr. Norman E. Borlaug was the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and founder of the World Food Prize. According to the World Food Prize Foundation, Borlaug created new wheat varieties and improved crop management practices transforming agricultural production in Mexico during the 1940s and 1950s and later in Asia and Latin America. His achievements helped prevent hunger and famine around the world.&nbsp;

By participating in the Western Nebraska Youth Institute, students receive a $500 College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) UNL scholarship, qualify for internships, and can apply for the $2,000 Maunder-Borlaug Food Security Scholarship toward tuition in CASNR at UNL.&nbsp;

By Chabella Guzman, Communications Specialist, Panhandle Research Extension and Development Center<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682105831643.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Eight students will participate in the inaugural Western Nebraska Youth Institute of the World Food Prize competition on Monday, April 24, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff.&nbsp;The Western Nebraska Youth Institute is hosted by the UNL Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications Department and the Nebraska Department of Education. The students researched living conditions and food insecurity in various countries and then proposed a solution to a food insecurity issue in that country. They will present their solutions to global experts who know about food insecurity or production issues around the world.“We have three schools coming in, where students have done the research, wrote the papers, and then we’ll have center faculty and graduate students participate in being world exports,” said Dr. Troy White, RP lecturer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Ag Leadership Education and Communications.&nbsp;After the student presentations, the 21st Century STEM Innovation Trailer will be in the south parking lot with a look at some of the technology available in agriculture and food production.&nbsp;The keynote speaker at lunch will be Roric Paulman, discussing food production on his family’s farm.&nbsp;“Our faculty will be discussing water, soils, and beef cattle, so the students will get a broad look at what they could do as an adult in agriculture to make a difference,” White said. “Borlaug always said, ‘Everyone can make a difference it only takes one to be a hunger fighter.’”Dr. Norman E. Borlaug was the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and founder of the World Food Prize. According to the World Food Prize Foundation, Borlaug created new wheat varieties and improved crop management practices transforming agricultural production in Mexico during the 1940s and 1950s and later in Asia and Latin America. His achievements helped prevent hunger and famine around the world.&nbsp;By participating in the Western Nebraska Youth Institute, students receive a $500 College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) UNL scholarship, qualify for internships, and can apply for the $2,000 Maunder-Borlaug Food Security Scholarship toward tuition in CASNR at UNL.&nbsp;

World Food Prize competition comes to western Nebraska

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

GOVE COUNTY, Kan. — The prairie was still asleep when I drug my blurry-eyed self and camera gear out of a van onto a pasture in Gove County.

Our instructions indicated we should follow the stacks of cow pies to the lek, mating grounds for prairie chickens, usually used year after year.

We quickly set up our pop-up blinds and settled into the darkness, waiting and listening as the cold, dry Kansas wind slapped our faces.&nbsp;

"You will hear them before you see them," our guide whispered as he zipped us in.

Then through the darkness, you could hear warbles and then bloop, bloop, bloop of the lesser prairie chickens and finally the booooma of a greater prairie chicken.

I participated in the <a href="https://www.audubonofkansas.org/grousetours">Kansas Audubon Society</a>'s Lek Trek weekend April 13 to 16, which was based in Hays.

Although greater prairie chickens can be found from Texas to southern Canada, northwestern Kansas is the only place in the world where greater and lesser prairie chickens occur in the same place.&nbsp;

Lesser prairie chickens have a much smaller range that includes parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico — the majority of that range is in western Kansas.

Last weekend, more than 140 birders from across the nation came to Kansas, with Hays as their base, to see prairie chickens during their mating season.&nbsp;

In addition to the males inflating sacks on either side of their throats to make their signature booms, prairie chickens are also known for their distinct (and in my view, comical) mating dances.

The males shoot up feathers located on the back of their necks called&nbsp;pinnae. Those feathers stick up above their heads like horns. They stick their tail feathers up in the air, wiggle their butts and quickly stomp their feet. It looks like a combo between a 2-year-old throwing a temper tantrum and grandma trying to do the chicken dance.&nbsp;

Although you're supposed to be dead silent in those blinds, it's hard not to giggle just a little at the whole sight.

As more birds join the lek, fights erupt. Two males will face off in the middle of the lek, staring at each other. Sometimes they just walk away. Other times one will fly up and pounce on the other bird.&nbsp;

The females, who are much less showy, which is common in the bird world, mingle with the males appearing uninterested and unamused.

Even after all the girls have left the lek for the morning, a few males tend to hang out, too tired to spar anymore.&nbsp;

Observing prairie chickens from a blind gets you the best views of the birds and the best glimpses of their natural behaviors.

At times, birds were no more than 10 feet from our blinds and could be easily seen without scopes or binoculars.&nbsp;

The downside is that you have to be in those blinds before the first light and must stay in the blinds without a bathroom break until after 9 a.m. in our case when the birds for no apparent reason all flushed at once. We met to load vans to head toward our leks at 3:30 a.m.

Even last Friday when the high was 80, it was cold on that hilltop in Gove County, even with three layers of clothes and gloves. A birder from San Fransisco who went out on one of the blind tours Saturday morning when the high was only in the 50s said it was the coldest he had ever been.

They haven't been here when the wind chills were 50 below.

Prairie chickens were once ubiquitous on the prairie. Early settlers hunted them for food. However, their numbers have been in decline for decades.

Prairie chickens need large open areas of grassland to sustain their populations and perform their signature mating dances. They don't like anything that is taller than they are. This includes trees, power poles, windmills and oil derricks.&nbsp;

Some researchers have proffered the prairie chickens avoid these natural and manmade structures because they have historically been used by birds of prey for perches.

You likely have heard lesser prairie chickens mentioned in the news recently. The federal government has listed the lesser prairie chicken as threatened, which is not sitting too well with some energy companies and local landowners.

Prairie chickens thrive on cattle pastures. Grazing keeps cover at the needed heights for the prairie chickens through their life cycles. They need some short grass, some medium cover and some thicker cover.&nbsp;

One of these said landowners stopped our van on the way out of the pasture Friday morning and started chit-chatting about the chickens.

He said he too had prairie chickens on his property, but he said he was concerned about the limits the listing would place on property rights.

The landowner said he isn't bothered by the prairie chickens or the researchers and visitors who come to see them.&nbsp;

However, he said he wants to be able to manage his cattle and land without interference from the feds in D.C. 

The farmer's concerns did not fall on deaf ears. We've had a farm in our family for several generations. It's hard work, and farmers are often left with small profits and big debts.

So why go through all this trouble to save this one goofy little bird?&nbsp;

Jackie Augustine, organizer of the Prairie Chicken Festival and an expert on the birds, said simply they're cute.

More importantly, they are a sign of healthy prairie habitat.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/727ddb20-ced5-4d23-9090-aeb6cfda8a9e">She also argued voluntary measures have been in place for years, but the prairie chicken populations have yet to stabilize.</a>

Commerce doesn't have to be given up entirely for conservation.

Augustine said cattle ranchers can still run cattle on their land, and the listing doesn't completely restrict oil and energy production in this region. It encourages it to be done in areas that won't destroy leks.

Birders are a passionate group. They have what they call life lists, which include every bird they have seen in their lifetimes. Some birders travel internationally to add to those life lists.

The Prairie Chicken Festival attendees, most of whom were from out of state, paid hundreds of dollars in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/audubonofkansas">Audubon</a> fees alone, not to mention food, gas, lodging and entertainment to watch these birds.

Coming to a compromise between maintaining property owner rights and implementing conservation tactics that will preserve the lesser prairie chicken is where we need to be, but that's not where politics are going.

Unfortunately, parties in the prairie chicken debate have taken to their corners for a fight. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1f995f9e-3403-4556-b353-c968c3e5e924">Last week, the Kansas Attorney General sued President Biden in an attempt to have the lesser prairie chicken delisted from the threatened species list.</a>

This weekend was my third time observing prairie chickens in the wild. They never cease to amaze me. They always make me smile. Their boom ... boom ... boom ... makes me feel more in rhythm.&nbsp;

They don't understand land deeds or lawsuits. They are just doing what prairie chickens do.

Those who know me, know I am not a morning person. I don't know anyone who is a 3 a.m. morning person. However, as I emerged from our little prairie cocoons Friday morning on lek, I had a huge smile on my face. The hike, no bathroom, the early wakeup, and the cold were worth it.

However, as the birds flushed and disappeared into the gray morning Friday, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as I wondered what was next for my feathered friends.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681935383708.jpeg" alt="Prairie chickens thrive on land that is being grazed by cattle because the cattle help maintain vegetation at varying densities, which is ideal for the life cycle of the birds. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Prairie chickens thrive on land that is being grazed by cattle because the cattle help maintain vegetation at varying densities, which is ideal for the life cycle of the birds. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostGOVE COUNTY, Kan. — The prairie was still asleep when I drug my blurry-eyed self and camera gear out of a van onto a pasture in Gove County.Our instructions indicated we should follow the stacks of cow pies to the lek, mating grounds for prairie chickens, usually used year after year.We quickly set up our pop-up blinds and settled into the darkness, waiting and listening as the cold, dry Kansas wind slapped our faces.&nbsp;"You will hear them before you see them," our guide whispered as he zipped us in.Then through the darkness, you could hear warbles and then bloop, bloop, bloop of the lesser prairie chickens and finally the booooma of a greater prairie chicken.I participated in the <a href="https://www.audubonofkansas.org/grousetours">Kansas Audubon Society</a>'s Lek Trek weekend April 13 to 16, which was based in Hays.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681935690526.jpeg" alt="The greater prairie chicken on the left, inflates its air sacs, as the lesser prairie chicken does the same on the right. Greater prairie chickens tend to be bigger and have an orange air sac. The lesser prairie chickens are smaller and have a red air sac. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The greater prairie chicken on the left, inflates its air sacs, as the lesser prairie chicken does the same on the right. Greater prairie chickens tend to be bigger and have an orange air sac. The lesser prairie chickens are smaller and have a red air sac. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Although greater prairie chickens can be found from Texas to southern Canada, northwestern Kansas is the only place in the world where greater and lesser prairie chickens occur in the same place.&nbsp;Lesser prairie chickens have a much smaller range that includes parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico — the majority of that range is in western Kansas.Last weekend, more than 140 birders from across the nation came to Kansas, with Hays as their base, to see prairie chickens during their mating season.&nbsp;In addition to the males inflating sacks on either side of their throats to make their signature booms, prairie chickens are also known for their distinct (and in my view, comical) mating dances.The males shoot up feathers located on the back of their necks called&nbsp;pinnae. Those feathers stick up above their heads like horns. They stick their tail feathers up in the air, wiggle their butts and quickly stomp their feet. It looks like a combo between a 2-year-old throwing a temper tantrum and grandma trying to do the chicken dance.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681935984841.jpeg" alt="Male lesser prairie chickens square off on a lek in Gove County. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Male lesser prairie chickens square off on a lek in Gove County. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Although you're supposed to be dead silent in those blinds, it's hard not to giggle just a little at the whole sight.As more birds join the lek, fights erupt. Two males will face off in the middle of the lek, staring at each other. Sometimes they just walk away. Other times one will fly up and pounce on the other bird.&nbsp;The females, who are much less showy, which is common in the bird world, mingle with the males appearing uninterested and unamused.Even after all the girls have left the lek for the morning, a few males tend to hang out, too tired to spar anymore.&nbsp;Observing prairie chickens from a blind gets you the best views of the birds and the best glimpses of their natural behaviors.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936081724.jpeg" alt="A male lesser prairie chicken, right, tries to woo a female lesser prairie chicken, left. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A male lesser prairie chicken, right, tries to woo a female lesser prairie chicken, left. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>At times, birds were no more than 10 feet from our blinds and could be easily seen without scopes or binoculars.&nbsp;The downside is that you have to be in those blinds before the first light and must stay in the blinds without a bathroom break until after 9 a.m. in our case when the birds for no apparent reason all flushed at once. We met to load vans to head toward our leks at 3:30 a.m.Even last Friday when the high was 80, it was cold on that hilltop in Gove County, even with three layers of clothes and gloves. A birder from San Fransisco who went out on one of the blind tours Saturday morning when the high was only in the 50s said it was the coldest he had ever been.They haven't been here when the wind chills were 50 below.Prairie chickens were once ubiquitous on the prairie. Early settlers hunted them for food. However, their numbers have been in decline for decades.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936235390.jpeg" alt="A prairie chicken tries to pounce on a rival male as they fight for mates on a lek in Gove County. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A prairie chicken tries to pounce on a rival male as they fight for mates on a lek in Gove County. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Prairie chickens need large open areas of grassland to sustain their populations and perform their signature mating dances. They don't like anything that is taller than they are. This includes trees, power poles, windmills and oil derricks.&nbsp;Some researchers have proffered the prairie chickens avoid these natural and manmade structures because they have historically been used by birds of prey for perches.You likely have heard lesser prairie chickens mentioned in the news recently. The federal government has listed the lesser prairie chicken as threatened, which is not sitting too well with some energy companies and local landowners.Prairie chickens thrive on cattle pastures. Grazing keeps cover at the needed heights for the prairie chickens through their life cycles. They need some short grass, some medium cover and some thicker cover.&nbsp;One of these said landowners stopped our van on the way out of the pasture Friday morning and started chit-chatting about the chickens.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936388982.jpeg" alt="An overview of the prairie chicken lek as dawn slowly breaks over the prairie. A male lesser prairie chicken, center, can be seen here with several females. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>An overview of the prairie chicken lek as dawn slowly breaks over the prairie. A male lesser prairie chicken, center, can be seen here with several females. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>He said he too had prairie chickens on his property, but he said he was concerned about the limits the listing would place on property rights.The landowner said he isn't bothered by the prairie chickens or the researchers and visitors who come to see them.&nbsp;However, he said he wants to be able to manage his cattle and land without interference from the feds in D.C. The farmer's concerns did not fall on deaf ears. We've had a farm in our family for several generations. It's hard work, and farmers are often left with small profits and big debts.So why go through all this trouble to save this one goofy little bird?&nbsp;Jackie Augustine, organizer of the Prairie Chicken Festival and an expert on the birds, said simply they're cute.More importantly, they are a sign of healthy prairie habitat.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936745789.jpeg" alt="Lesser prairie chickens have been listed as threatened by the federal government, but the state of Kansas is fighting that designation. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Lesser prairie chickens have been listed as threatened by the federal government, but the state of Kansas is fighting that designation. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/727ddb20-ced5-4d23-9090-aeb6cfda8a9e">She also argued voluntary measures have been in place for years, but the prairie chicken populations have yet to stabilize.</a>Commerce doesn't have to be given up entirely for conservation.Augustine said cattle ranchers can still run cattle on their land, and the listing doesn't completely restrict oil and energy production in this region. It encourages it to be done in areas that won't destroy leks.Birders are a passionate group. They have what they call life lists, which include every bird they have seen in their lifetimes. Some birders travel internationally to add to those life lists.The Prairie Chicken Festival attendees, most of whom were from out of state, paid hundreds of dollars in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/audubonofkansas">Audubon</a> fees alone, not to mention food, gas, lodging and entertainment to watch these birds.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936920208.jpeg" alt="Most of the prairie chicken leks in Kansas are on private land. This one was marked by cow pie piles. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Most of the prairie chicken leks in Kansas are on private land. This one was marked by cow pie piles. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Coming to a compromise between maintaining property owner rights and implementing conservation tactics that will preserve the lesser prairie chicken is where we need to be, but that's not where politics are going.Unfortunately, parties in the prairie chicken debate have taken to their corners for a fight. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1f995f9e-3403-4556-b353-c968c3e5e924">Last week, the Kansas Attorney General sued President Biden in an attempt to have the lesser prairie chicken delisted from the threatened species list.</a>This weekend was my third time observing prairie chickens in the wild. They never cease to amaze me. They always make me smile. Their boom ... boom ... boom ... makes me feel more in rhythm.&nbsp;They don't understand land deeds or lawsuits. They are just doing what prairie chickens do.Those who know me, know I am not a morning person. I don't know anyone who is a 3 a.m. morning person. However, as I emerged from our little prairie cocoons Friday morning on lek, I had a huge smile on my face. The hike, no bathroom, the early wakeup, and the cold were worth it.However, as the birds flushed and disappeared into the gray morning Friday, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as I wondered what was next for my feathered friends.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936568023.jpeg" alt="Hays Post reporter Cristina Janney standing outside of her blind in the late morning after her prairie chicken viewing tour. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Hays Post reporter Cristina Janney standing outside of her blind in the late morning after her prairie chicken viewing tour. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>

📸 Reporter experiences Kansas prairie chickens first hand

*All individuals included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law. The Panhandle Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. Any person who believes information provided is not accurate may submit a complaint via the “Contact Us” tab on the homepage.

-Gary I Shott, Class W Misdemeanor, DUI, Class 2 Misdemeanor, No proof of insurance, Class 3 Misdemeanor, No valid registration - car/pickup/step van, Infraction, Violate stop 0r yield sign

-Jori Schmid, Class 1 Misdemeanor, Assault 3rd degree, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Disturbing the peace

-Alberto N Montemayor, Class 2 Misdemeanor, Leave accident - fail to furnish info

-Santana Alvarado, Class 4 Felony, Possess controlled substance, Infraction, Possess marijuana 1 oz or less

-Jeremy L Red Cloud, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Drive under susp/before reinstated by state, No valid registration - car/pickup/stepvan

-Sandra Hickman, Class 2 Felony, Del/dsp/dst/man/pos except haz drug

-Roger M Boerschig, Class 1 Misdemeanor, Assault pub safety ofcr w/ bodily fluid, Resist arrest, Obstruct a peace officer, Assault 3rd degree, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Disturbing the peace

-Robert David Buckles, Class W Misdemeanor, DUI, Refuse to submit to test, Class 5 Misdemeanor, Refuse to submit to pretest, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Criminal mischief $0-500

-Thimothy D Stefka, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Intimidation -phone call/electronic comm, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Disturbing the peace

- Bianca I Moreno, Class 1 Misdemeanor, Assault 3rd degree, Criminal trespass 1st degree, Commit child abuse negligently/no injury, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Minor in possession, Disturbing the peace

-Timothy M Haller, Class W Misdemeanor, DUI 1st offense, Class 3 Misdemeanor, No operator's license/waiverable, No valid registration-car/pickup/stepvan

-Carlos Charging Elk, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Disturbing the peace

Scotts Bluff Co (April 4 - April 14):&nbsp;

-Myra McKerrigan,&nbsp;WRT#CR23-515 Forgery 2nd degree

-Brittany Stone,&nbsp;WRT#CR22-1906 Speeding, DUS, FTA,&nbsp;WRT#CR22-1905 DUS, Open container,&nbsp;Attempt of a class IV (F), FTA

-Christopher Torres,&nbsp;Disturbing the peace, Terroristic Threats

-Miguel Rios,&nbsp;Criminal Impersonation

-Rafael Velazquez,&nbsp;Poss cont sub, Poss marijuana &lt; 1oz. drug para, Open container

-Alicia Molina,&nbsp;Dui 2nd, DUS, Speeding

-Elliott Morgan,&nbsp;Resisting arrest, Obstruction, Disorderly conduct&nbsp;

-Larry Faulkner,&nbsp;Criminal Impersonation

-Rita Iron Bear,&nbsp;Poss cont sub, Theft

-Gabriel Lopez Jr.,&nbsp;Dus 5th, Open container, Careless driving

-Edgar Vazquez,&nbsp;DUS, Open container, traffic X2, DUI 2nd

-Timothy Barnett,&nbsp;Terroristic Threats. Use of a firearm to&nbsp;commit a (F), Poss of deadly weapon by&nbsp;prohibited person, DUI 4th offense

*All individuals included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law. The Panhandle Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. Any person who believes information provided is not accurate may submit a complaint via the “Contact Us” tab on the homepage.Box Butte Co:-Gary I Shott, Class W Misdemeanor, DUI, Class 2 Misdemeanor, No proof of insurance, Class 3 Misdemeanor, No valid registration - car/pickup/step van, Infraction, Violate stop 0r yield sign-Jori Schmid, Class 1 Misdemeanor, Assault 3rd degree, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Disturbing the peace-Alberto N Montemayor, Class 2 Misdemeanor, Leave accident - fail to furnish info-Santana Alvarado, Class 4 Felony, Possess controlled substance, Infraction, Possess marijuana 1 oz or less-Jeremy L Red Cloud, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Drive under susp/before reinstated by state, No valid registration - car/pickup/stepvan-Sandra Hickman, Class 2 Felony, Del/dsp/dst/man/pos except haz drug-Roger M Boerschig, Class 1 Misdemeanor, Assault pub safety ofcr w/ bodily fluid, Resist arrest, Obstruct a peace officer, Assault 3rd degree, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Disturbing the peace-Robert David Buckles, Class W Misdemeanor, DUI, Refuse to submit to test, Class 5 Misdemeanor, Refuse to submit to pretest, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Criminal mischief $0-500-Thimothy D Stefka, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Intimidation -phone call/electronic comm, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Disturbing the peace- Bianca I Moreno, Class 1 Misdemeanor, Assault 3rd degree, Criminal trespass 1st degree, Commit child abuse negligently/no injury, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Minor in possession, Disturbing the peace-Timothy M Haller, Class W Misdemeanor, DUI 1st offense, Class 3 Misdemeanor, No operator's license/waiverable, No valid registration-car/pickup/stepvan-Carlos Charging Elk, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Disturbing the peaceScotts Bluff Co (April 4 - April 14):&nbsp;-Myra McKerrigan,&nbsp;WRT#CR23-515 Forgery 2nd degree-Brittany Stone,&nbsp;WRT#CR22-1906 Speeding, DUS, FTA,&nbsp;WRT#CR22-1905 DUS, Open container,&nbsp;Attempt of a class IV (F), FTA-Christopher Torres,&nbsp;Disturbing the peace, Terroristic Threats-Juan Godinez,&nbsp;Domestic Assault-Kevin Daily,&nbsp;Disturbing the peace.-Miguel Rios,&nbsp;Criminal Impersonation-Martin Limon,&nbsp;Domestic Assault-Gabriel Archuleta,&nbsp;Poss Cont Sub-Rafael Velazquez,&nbsp;Poss cont sub, Poss marijuana &lt; 1oz. drug para, Open container-Alicia Molina,&nbsp;Dui 2nd, DUS, Speeding-Elliott Morgan,&nbsp;Resisting arrest, Obstruction, Disorderly conduct&nbsp;-Gene Little,&nbsp;Poss cont sub-Tyler Montgomery,&nbsp;DUS-Michael Eagle Road,&nbsp;Trespassing-Larry Faulkner,&nbsp;Criminal Impersonation-Rita Iron Bear,&nbsp;Poss cont sub, Theft-Gabriel Lopez Jr.,&nbsp;Dus 5th, Open container, Careless driving-Edgar Vazquez,&nbsp;DUS, Open container, traffic X2, DUI 2nd-Timothy Barnett,&nbsp;Terroristic Threats. Use of a firearm to&nbsp;commit a (F), Poss of deadly weapon by&nbsp;prohibited person, DUI 4th offense-Desi Garcia,&nbsp;DUI 2nd. Refusal to submit-Joseph Alexander,&nbsp;Assault-Simple-Bryan Sanchez,DUI, traffic x2-Rafael Perez,&nbsp;Terroristic Threats.-Jesus Valtierra,&nbsp;Poss cont sub, Poss firearm by (F),&nbsp;Concealed firearm, DUI, Open container,&nbsp;Poss drug para,&nbsp;FTA, pov, Theft of property, Intererence w/&nbsp;LEO, Poss drug para,&nbsp;Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault&nbsp;w/ a deadly weapon, Criminal Poss of a&nbsp;weapon by a convicted (F).-Elizabeth Asbury,&nbsp;Disorderly Conduct-Andrea Janis,&nbsp;Shoplifting-David Gomez,&nbsp;Assault Domestic, Child Abuse-Sander Davis,&nbsp;(F) in poss of firearm-Curtis Holmstedt,&nbsp;Shoplifting, Obstruction, Resisting arrest-Robert Brown,&nbsp;Domestic Assault-Jose Frias,&nbsp; Contempt of court X3,&nbsp;Witness tampering X2-Kevin Daily,&nbsp;Disturbing the peace-Thiann Erasmus,&nbsp;Poss cont sub. Shoplifting, Poss drug paraDawes Co:-Janna Howard, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Compulsory education - attendance required-Roger Byrd, Class 2 Misdemeanor, Fail to appear when on bail-misdemeanor-Judy L Goff, Class W Misdemeanor, DUI-Keri Boman, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Violate protection order-Vernon Short Bull, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Nonresident violate a sups/rev order, Infraction, speeding-Derek Grinnell, Class 3 Misdemeanor, Drive under susp/before reinstated by state-Tyree Good Crow, Class 1 Misdemeanor, Assault 3rd degree-Caleb Scherbarth, Class 1 Misdemeanor, False reporting, Obstruct a peace officer-Arnoldo Lopez Jr., Class 1 Misdemeanor, Domestic assault cause body injury/int ptnr

Local