NORTH PLATTE — Over the last several weeks, deputies continued to investigate the abuse of livestock on several different areas of rural Lincoln County. 

 During the investigation information was gained that numerous cattle, horses and other livestock were not being taken cared of.  Deputies, with the help of the Nebraska Brand Inspectors Office and Nebraska State Patrol Aircraft completed an investigative search warrant to inspect the livestock on at least five sections of property under the control and operated by Larry and Matthew Mikoloyck of rural Lincoln County. 

  Deputies and Brand Inspectors found over 150 dead cattle on the property March 1.   Also observed numerous sick and dying cattle including bulls, cows and calves.  Deputies observed very little substantial food sources for the animals and no water to sustain most of the herd.  On March 1, deputies arrested Larry Mikoloyck, 75, and his son, Matthew Mikoloyck, 41, for one-hundred fifty counts of animal cruelty / neglect resulting in death, a class IIIA felony for each offense. Both were incarcerated in the Lincoln County Detention Center. 

  On March 2, Deputies from Lincoln County, with the help of Nebraska Brand Inspectors, served a warrant to seize all the cattle on properties under control of the Mikoloycks.  Deputies were assisted by the Logan County, Thomas County Sheriff’s Office and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Posse.  In addition, numerous subjects from Lincoln and Logan County assisted deputies and we are grateful for their hard work.  Deputies did seize and transported over 1,000 bulls, cows and calves to the North Platte Sale Barn for inspection by a licensed veterinarian. 

 Numerous cattle had to be put down on scene as they were very sick, injured and dying.    The investigation continues today and additional charges for Larry and Matthew Mikoloyck will be forthcoming.

Lincoln County Sheriff's OfficeNORTH PLATTE — Over the last several weeks, deputies continued to investigate the abuse of livestock on several different areas of rural Lincoln County. During the investigation information was gained that numerous cattle, horses and other livestock were not being taken cared of. Deputies, with the help of the Nebraska Brand Inspectors Office and Nebraska State Patrol Aircraft completed an investigative search warrant to inspect the livestock on at least five sections of property under the control and operated by Larry and Matthew Mikoloyck of rural Lincoln County. Deputies and Brand Inspectors found over 150 dead cattle on the property March 1. Also observed numerous sick and dying cattle including bulls, cows and calves. Deputies observed very little substantial food sources for the animals and no water to sustain most of the herd. On March 1, deputies arrested Larry Mikoloyck, 75, and his son, Matthew Mikoloyck, 41, for one-hundred fifty counts of animal cruelty / neglect resulting in death, a class IIIA felony for each offense. Both were incarcerated in the Lincoln County Detention Center. On March 2, Deputies from Lincoln County, with the help of Nebraska Brand Inspectors, served a warrant to seize all the cattle on properties under control of the Mikoloycks. Deputies were assisted by the Logan County, Thomas County Sheriff’s Office and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Posse. In addition, numerous subjects from Lincoln and Logan County assisted deputies and we are grateful for their hard work. Deputies did seize and transported over 1,000 bulls, cows and calves to the North Platte Sale Barn for inspection by a licensed veterinarian. Numerous cattle had to be put down on scene as they were very sick, injured and dying. The investigation continues today and additional charges for Larry and Matthew Mikoloyck will be forthcoming.

Two arrested for cruelty after 150+ dead cattle found on Lincoln Co. property

SCOTTSBLUFF —
 Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested two men after 
locating more than 100 pounds of suspected marijuana during a traffic 
stop on Interstate 80 in Kimball County.


At
 approximately 1:25 p.m. MT Thursday, a trooper performed a traffic stop
 on an eastbound Chrysler 300 for speeding on I-80
 near mile marker 18. During the traffic stop, the trooper detected the 
odor of marijuana. As the trooper was preparing to search the vehicle, 
the driver attempted to flee on foot. The trooper pursued on foot. A 
bystander stopped on the scene and assisted the
 trooper in taking the driver into custody. 

A search of the vehicle revealed numerous bags of suspected marijuana contained in duffle bags in the rear of the vehicle.
 The total weight was approximately 120 pounds. 

The
 driver, Daniel Ledbetter, 42, of Atlantic City, New Jersey, and 
passenger, Keith Wyatt, 48, of Sacramento, California,
 were arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound, 
possession with intent to distribute, and no drug tax stamp. Ledbetter 
was also arrested for resisting arrest and obstructing a peace officer. 
Both were lodged in Kimball County jail.


NSPSCOTTSBLUFF —
 Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested two men after 
locating more than 100 pounds of suspected marijuana during a traffic 
stop on Interstate 80 in Kimball County.
At
 approximately 1:25 p.m. MT Thursday, a trooper performed a traffic stop
 on an eastbound Chrysler 300 for speeding on I-80
 near mile marker 18. During the traffic stop, the trooper detected the 
odor of marijuana. As the trooper was preparing to search the vehicle, 
the driver attempted to flee on foot. The trooper pursued on foot. A 
bystander stopped on the scene and assisted the
 trooper in taking the driver into custody. A search of the vehicle revealed numerous bags of suspected marijuana contained in duffle bags in the rear of the vehicle.
 The total weight was approximately 120 pounds. The
 driver, Daniel Ledbetter, 42, of Atlantic City, New Jersey, and 
passenger, Keith Wyatt, 48, of Sacramento, California,
 were arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound, 
possession with intent to distribute, and no drug tax stamp. Ledbetter 
was also arrested for resisting arrest and obstructing a peace officer. 
Both were lodged in Kimball County jail.

Two arrested after 100+ pounds of pot found in SW Neb. traffic stop

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State lawmakers began debate Wednesday on a proposal to allow people to carry concealed guns in Nebraska without a permit.

Currently, 25 other states have so-called constitutional carry laws that allow people to carry concealed guns without a permit.

Sen. Tom Brewer, of Gordon, who introduced the bill, opened debate by noting it would not usurp current requirements for federal background checks to buy guns or stop businesses from banning guns in their establishments.

“A person in Nebraska should not have to pay money to the government to exercise their constitutional right,” Brewer said.

Nebraska already allows gun owners to carry firearms in public view, as long as they don’t have a criminal record that bars them from possessing one and aren’t in a place where guns are prohibited. To legally conceal the gun, Nebraskans are required to submit to a Nebraska State Patrol background check, get fingerprinted and take a gun safety course at their own expense.

Opponents have vowed to fight passage of the bill and were expected to use procedural moves to delay a vote on it.

A similar bill in Nebraska failed last year to overcome a filibuster led by opponents.

By Associated PressLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State lawmakers began debate Wednesday on a proposal to allow people to carry concealed guns in Nebraska without a permit.Currently, 25 other states have so-called constitutional carry laws that allow people to carry concealed guns without a permit.Sen. Tom Brewer, of Gordon, who introduced the bill, opened debate by noting it would not usurp current requirements for federal background checks to buy guns or stop businesses from banning guns in their establishments.“A person in Nebraska should not have to pay money to the government to exercise their constitutional right,” Brewer said.Nebraska already allows gun owners to carry firearms in public view, as long as they don’t have a criminal record that bars them from possessing one and aren’t in a place where guns are prohibited. To legally conceal the gun, Nebraskans are required to submit to a Nebraska State Patrol background check, get fingerprinted and take a gun safety course at their own expense.Opponents have vowed to fight passage of the bill and were expected to use procedural moves to delay a vote on it.A similar bill in Nebraska failed last year to overcome a filibuster led by opponents.

Debate begins on Nebraska permitless concealed gun bill

CHADRON – The 2023 Spring Graves Lecture Series will begin March 14. All presentations are at the Sandoz Center Chicoine Atrium and free and open to the public. Each lecture begins at 7 p.m. For additional details or to volunteer as a speaker, contact Shawn Hartman at 308-432-6271 ext. 7059 or email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:shartman@csc.edu" target="_blank">shartman@csc.edu</a>.

Katelyn Lambert’s March 14 presentation, “Women in the Marvel Cinematic Universe:&nbsp; From Iron Man to Black Widow,” will discuss the early days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s construction and representation of women, where they existed primarily as hypersexualized sidekicks of male heroes, to more current projects where women are protagonists separate from their male counterparts. Lambert is a lecturer in the Communication Arts Program. She earned a bachelor’s in Communication Arts with a concentration in Public Relations from CSC, and recently graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha with a Master of Arts degree in Communication.&nbsp;She was the winner of the 2022-23 Top Thesis Award and Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant in the UNO School of Communication.

The series continues March 28 when Assistant Professor of Psychological Sciences Dr. Elizabeth Kraatz presents “Child Behavior as Communication: How to Use Psychology to Parent through Tantrums and Trauma.” Kraatz, a foster parent and educational psychologist, will present psychological perspectives on child behavior as a lens for making parenting decisions. This includes understanding tantrums, meeting psychological needs, and interpersonal interactions between parent and child. Parents, teachers, coaches, and anyone else with close relationships with a child will be able to gain practical strategies for engaging effectively with the children, according to Kraatz. Before earning a doctorate in Educational Psychology, she taught adult education classes and middle school science as well as educational psychology and college success courses.

The series concludes April 12 with DeMoine Adams, a motivational speaker and artist, who will present “All-American: From Social Capital to Cultural Capital.” His presentation will be a combination of his life journey, the state of society, and the value of diversity and inclusion. Adams is the Chief Executive Officer of the TeamMates Mentoring Program, headquartered in Lincoln. He was a three-year starting defensive end for the Cornhuskers and led the team in quarterback sacks during his time on the team and helped win a Big 12 conference championship in 1999. He has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, minors in History, Communications, Ethnic Studies, and African Studies, a master’s degree in Educational Psychology, and is pursuing a doctorate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in leadership, motivation, and sociology.

By CSC COLLEGE RELATIONSCHADRON – The 2023 Spring Graves Lecture Series will begin March 14. All presentations are at the Sandoz Center Chicoine Atrium and free and open to the public. Each lecture begins at 7 p.m. For additional details or to volunteer as a speaker, contact Shawn Hartman at 308-432-6271 ext. 7059 or email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:shartman@csc.edu" target="_blank">shartman@csc.edu</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677857272623.jpeg" alt="Katelyn Lambert will speak as part of the Graves Lecture Series on March 14, 2023, at the Sandoz Center Chicoine Atrium." />
 <figcaption>Katelyn Lambert will speak as part of the Graves Lecture Series on March 14, 2023, at the Sandoz Center Chicoine Atrium.</figcaption>
 </figure>Katelyn Lambert’s March 14 presentation, “Women in the Marvel Cinematic Universe:&nbsp; From Iron Man to Black Widow,” will discuss the early days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s construction and representation of women, where they existed primarily as hypersexualized sidekicks of male heroes, to more current projects where women are protagonists separate from their male counterparts. Lambert is a lecturer in the Communication Arts Program. She earned a bachelor’s in Communication Arts with a concentration in Public Relations from CSC, and recently graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha with a Master of Arts degree in Communication.&nbsp;She was the winner of the 2022-23 Top Thesis Award and Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant in the UNO School of Communication.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677857245249.jpeg" alt="Elizabeth Kraatz will speak in the Graves Lecture Series on March 28, 2023, at the Sandoz Center Chicoine Atrium." />
 <figcaption>Elizabeth Kraatz will speak in the Graves Lecture Series on March 28, 2023, at the Sandoz Center Chicoine Atrium.</figcaption>
 </figure>The series continues March 28 when Assistant Professor of Psychological Sciences Dr. Elizabeth Kraatz presents “Child Behavior as Communication: How to Use Psychology to Parent through Tantrums and Trauma.” Kraatz, a foster parent and educational psychologist, will present psychological perspectives on child behavior as a lens for making parenting decisions. This includes understanding tantrums, meeting psychological needs, and interpersonal interactions between parent and child. Parents, teachers, coaches, and anyone else with close relationships with a child will be able to gain practical strategies for engaging effectively with the children, according to Kraatz. Before earning a doctorate in Educational Psychology, she taught adult education classes and middle school science as well as educational psychology and college success courses.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677857212386.jpeg" alt="DeMoine Adams will speak as part of the Graves Lecture Series on April 12, 2023, at the Sandoz Center Chicoine Atrium." />
 <figcaption>DeMoine Adams will speak as part of the Graves Lecture Series on April 12, 2023, at the Sandoz Center Chicoine Atrium.</figcaption>
 </figure>The series concludes April 12 with DeMoine Adams, a motivational speaker and artist, who will present “All-American: From Social Capital to Cultural Capital.” His presentation will be a combination of his life journey, the state of society, and the value of diversity and inclusion. Adams is the Chief Executive Officer of the TeamMates Mentoring Program, headquartered in Lincoln. He was a three-year starting defensive end for the Cornhuskers and led the team in quarterback sacks during his time on the team and helped win a Big 12 conference championship in 1999. He has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, minors in History, Communications, Ethnic Studies, and African Studies, a master’s degree in Educational Psychology, and is pursuing a doctorate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in leadership, motivation, and sociology.

Graves Lecture Series begins March 14 in Chadron

Alliance, NE –&nbsp;The Book-To-Movie Contest will begin on Wednesday, March 1st. Patrons can check out any book that has been adapted to film (or show) and fill out an entry form at the Circulation desk for a chance to win a $40 gift card to the Alliance Theatre. This contest is open to all patrons and ends on March 31st. A special thanks to the Red Nest family for their donation.

The Luck of the Irish Contest will also begin on March 1st. Patrons can check out any item and enter to win a $300 gift certificate to the Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel. This contest is open to patrons 21 and older and ends March 31st.

For more information, please contact Outreach and Adult Services Librarian, Nalani Stewart at 308-762-1387.

By City of AllianceAlliance, NE –&nbsp;The Book-To-Movie Contest will begin on Wednesday, March 1st. Patrons can check out any book that has been adapted to film (or show) and fill out an entry form at the Circulation desk for a chance to win a $40 gift card to the Alliance Theatre. This contest is open to all patrons and ends on March 31st. A special thanks to the Red Nest family for their donation.The Luck of the Irish Contest will also begin on March 1st. Patrons can check out any item and enter to win a $300 gift certificate to the Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel. This contest is open to patrons 21 and older and ends March 31st.For more information, please contact Outreach and Adult Services Librarian, Nalani Stewart at 308-762-1387.

Contests at the Alliance Public Library continue

LINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;Governor&nbsp;Jim&nbsp;Pillen&nbsp;announced his issuance&nbsp;of&nbsp;an executive order banning the state of Nebraska and its contractors from using communications equipment and services produced by&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;Technologies, ZTE Corporation, Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, and Dahua Technology and their subsidiaries and affiliates. Each of these companies are owned or controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and are on the Federal Communications Commission's Covered List, which includes companies that are considered a risk to national security.

"This executive order will keep the Chinese Communist Party from using technology to infiltrate and influence our state's infrastructure," said&nbsp;Governor Pillen. "I will continue to find opportunities to improve Nebraska's infrastructure and technology grid while remaining vigilant in protecting our state's security."

A signed version&nbsp;of&nbsp;the executive order is attached and can also be found&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/TeamPillen/status/1631397180182339585?s=20" target="_blank">here</a>. The full FCC Covered List can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://broadband.nebraska.gov/FCCCoveredList" target="_blank">here</a>.

By Office of Gov. Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;Governor&nbsp;Jim&nbsp;Pillen&nbsp;announced his issuance&nbsp;of&nbsp;an executive order banning the state of Nebraska and its contractors from using communications equipment and services produced by&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;Technologies, ZTE Corporation, Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, and Dahua Technology and their subsidiaries and affiliates. Each of these companies are owned or controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and are on the Federal Communications Commission's Covered List, which includes companies that are considered a risk to national security."This executive order will keep the Chinese Communist Party from using technology to infiltrate and influence our state's infrastructure," said&nbsp;Governor Pillen. "I will continue to find opportunities to improve Nebraska's infrastructure and technology grid while remaining vigilant in protecting our state's security."A signed version&nbsp;of&nbsp;the executive order is attached and can also be found&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/TeamPillen/status/1631397180182339585?s=20" target="_blank">here</a>. The full FCC Covered List can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://broadband.nebraska.gov/FCCCoveredList" target="_blank">here</a>.

Pillen issues executive order banning state use of CCP tech

NORTH PLATTE — Weather permitting, work will begin March 6, on US. 30, from reference post 127.54 to reference post 133.69, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Paulsen Inc. of Cozad is the contractor for this project. Work includes grading, milling, concrete overlay, asphalt surfacing, and seeding. Traffic will be maintained with lane closures for the duration of the project. A 12-foot width restriction will be in effect.

A future detour of U.S. 30 is anticipated to begin March 12 and end mid-June for the concrete overlay work. Further detour information will be provided prior to the detour. Anticipated project completion is July 2023.

Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and to put phones down.

NDOTNORTH PLATTE — Weather permitting, work will begin March 6, on US. 30, from reference post 127.54 to reference post 133.69, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Paulsen Inc. of Cozad is the contractor for this project. Work includes grading, milling, concrete overlay, asphalt surfacing, and seeding. Traffic will be maintained with lane closures for the duration of the project. A 12-foot width restriction will be in effect.A future detour of U.S. 30 is anticipated to begin March 12 and end mid-June for the concrete overlay work. Further detour information will be provided prior to the detour. Anticipated project completion is July 2023.Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and to put phones down.

Work set to begin on U.S. 30 from Ogallala to Roscoe

LINCOLN, NEB.&nbsp; — The Nebraska State Patrol, Governor Jim Pillen, the Nebraska Information Analysis Center, and the Nebraska Department of Education will hold a news conference this afternoon regarding the swatting calls being placed to schools and communities across the state today.

The news conference will be held at 2pm CT, Thursday, March 2, at Nebraska State Patrol State Headquarters, at 4600 Innovation Drive, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68521.

The news conference will be streamed live on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NEStatePatrol" target="_blank">Nebraska State Patrol Facebook page</a>.

By NSPLINCOLN, NEB.&nbsp; — The Nebraska State Patrol, Governor Jim Pillen, the Nebraska Information Analysis Center, and the Nebraska Department of Education will hold a news conference this afternoon regarding the swatting calls being placed to schools and communities across the state today.The news conference will be held at 2pm CT, Thursday, March 2, at Nebraska State Patrol State Headquarters, at 4600 Innovation Drive, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68521.The news conference will be streamed live on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NEStatePatrol" target="_blank">Nebraska State Patrol Facebook page</a>.

NSP to hold news conference regarding school swatting calls

LINCOLN, NEB.&nbsp; — The Nebraska State Patrol has received information regarding several false reports of school shootings that have been placed to 911 call centers across Nebraska this morning. There is no credible information that any such school shooting has taken place in Nebraska today.

According to Chadron Public Schools, "Gering, Kearney, and Valentine had calls of a reported active shooter this morning. We have it from administration and law enforcement there, that the calls were a hoax. This sounds similar to the recent reports of hoaxes called to law enforcements in other states. At Chadron Public Schools, we take any report seriously by initiating lockdown and let law officers respond to investigate. CPS has procedures in place for just this and other situations to keep our students and staff safe."

Earlier this week, the Nebraska Information Analysis Center (NIAC), a division of the Nebraska State Patrol, provided a bulletin to law enforcement agencies across the state and the Nebraska Department of Education regarding a trend of “swatting” calls that had been reported in several other states this year, including Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Texas, and Vermont. That bulletin advised local agencies to be prepared in the event the calls target Nebraska schools, which is occurring today.

There have been distinct similarities in the calls received by schools in other states, such as the use of VOIP technology to mask the caller’s identity and location, using or mocking a foreign accent, mispronouncing school or town names, and pretending that they are hiding inside the school themselves.

The Nebraska State Patrol is assisting any local law enforcement agencies and school districts that receive these calls. Anyone with information regarding the origin of these calls is urged to call NIAC at 888-580-6422 or submit an online tip at the NIAC Suspicious Activity Report site&nbsp;<a href="https://sars.nebraska.gov/" target="_blank">https://sars.nebraska.gov</a>.

By NSPLINCOLN, NEB.&nbsp; — The Nebraska State Patrol has received information regarding several false reports of school shootings that have been placed to 911 call centers across Nebraska this morning. There is no credible information that any such school shooting has taken place in Nebraska today.According to Chadron Public Schools, "Gering, Kearney, and Valentine had calls of a reported active shooter this morning. We have it from administration and law enforcement there, that the calls were a hoax. This sounds similar to the recent reports of hoaxes called to law enforcements in other states. At Chadron Public Schools, we take any report seriously by initiating lockdown and let law officers respond to investigate. CPS has procedures in place for just this and other situations to keep our students and staff safe." Earlier this week, the Nebraska Information Analysis Center (NIAC), a division of the Nebraska State Patrol, provided a bulletin to law enforcement agencies across the state and the Nebraska Department of Education regarding a trend of “swatting” calls that had been reported in several other states this year, including Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Texas, and Vermont. That bulletin advised local agencies to be prepared in the event the calls target Nebraska schools, which is occurring today.There have been distinct similarities in the calls received by schools in other states, such as the use of VOIP technology to mask the caller’s identity and location, using or mocking a foreign accent, mispronouncing school or town names, and pretending that they are hiding inside the school themselves.The Nebraska State Patrol is assisting any local law enforcement agencies and school districts that receive these calls. Anyone with information regarding the origin of these calls is urged to call NIAC at 888-580-6422 or submit an online tip at the NIAC Suspicious Activity Report site&nbsp;<a href="https://sars.nebraska.gov/" target="_blank">https://sars.nebraska.gov</a>.

UPDATE: Schools across Nebraska receiving "swatting" calls

Ogallala, Ne - The City of Ogallala received a $5,323 rebate check from Public Alliance for Community Energy.  ACE is a community owned gas supplier that returns money back to member communities.  Thanks to all Ogallala residents who choose ACE as their gas supplier.

Ogallala, Ne - The City of Ogallala received a $5,323 rebate check from Public Alliance for Community Energy. ACE is a community owned gas supplier that returns money back to member communities. Thanks to all Ogallala residents who choose ACE as their gas supplier.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677775094020.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

City of Ogallala receives energy refund

Box Butte State Reservoir State Recreation Area soon will have capacity to accommodate more campers. Those campers even will have a new facility for cleaning up during their stay.

Workers soon will begin construction of an $840,000 addition at Box Butte that includes 20 new electrical campsites and the installation of a shower house and sewage dump station.

Mike Morava, regional park superintendent for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, said construction is scheduled to begin in March. He is hopeful the new sites will be ready for use as early as June.

“Camping continues to gain popularity, and this will be a great addition for our region,” Morava said.

The new amenities will be at the west side of the current campground, north and parallel to the existing paved road and sites 7-18. The addition is designed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Nebraska’s Capital Maintenance Fund, which was established by the Legislature in 2016 to help preserve public outdoor recreation facilities and parklands, is a large contributor to the project. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation also is funding it.

The expansion follows many other improvements at the recreation area in recent years, including a new boat ramp and dock, concrete outhouses and an upgraded fish-cleaning station.

Morava has been advocating for needed repairs to the SRA’s asphalt road; the project is on the list of candidates for funding by the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s Recreational Roads Program, and it is anticipated the project will begin in the next few years.

Box Butte Reservoir SRA and Wildlife Management Area, highlighted by the 1,600-acre lake, provide fishing, boating, hunting and picnicking opportunities 9 miles north of Hemingford.

By Nebraska Game and Parks<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677772708387.jpeg" alt="An aerial view, facing southeast, shows the campground at Box Butte Reservoir State Recreation Area in Dawes County. Twenty new campsites are being installed in the open field at the center of the photo. (NGPC/Justin Haag)" />
 <figcaption>An aerial view, facing southeast, shows the campground at Box Butte Reservoir State Recreation Area in Dawes County. Twenty new campsites are being installed in the open field at the center of the photo. (NGPC/Justin Haag)</figcaption>
 </figure>Box Butte State Reservoir State Recreation Area soon will have capacity to accommodate more campers. Those campers even will have a new facility for cleaning up during their stay.Workers soon will begin construction of an $840,000 addition at Box Butte that includes 20 new electrical campsites and the installation of a shower house and sewage dump station.Mike Morava, regional park superintendent for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, said construction is scheduled to begin in March. He is hopeful the new sites will be ready for use as early as June.“Camping continues to gain popularity, and this will be a great addition for our region,” Morava said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677772687962.jpeg" alt="A family enjoys time around the campfire at the Box Butte State Recreation Area. (NGPC/Justin Haag)" />
 <figcaption>A family enjoys time around the campfire at the Box Butte State Recreation Area. (NGPC/Justin Haag)</figcaption>
 </figure>The new amenities will be at the west side of the current campground, north and parallel to the existing paved road and sites 7-18. The addition is designed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.Nebraska’s Capital Maintenance Fund, which was established by the Legislature in 2016 to help preserve public outdoor recreation facilities and parklands, is a large contributor to the project. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation also is funding it.The expansion follows many other improvements at the recreation area in recent years, including a new boat ramp and dock, concrete outhouses and an upgraded fish-cleaning station.Morava has been advocating for needed repairs to the SRA’s asphalt road; the project is on the list of candidates for funding by the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s Recreational Roads Program, and it is anticipated the project will begin in the next few years.Box Butte Reservoir SRA and Wildlife Management Area, highlighted by the 1,600-acre lake, provide fishing, boating, hunting and picnicking opportunities 9 miles north of Hemingford.-30-&nbsp;

Box Butte State Reservoir getting new campsites

LINCOLN, NEB.&nbsp; — Teams from across Nebraska will be battling for a state title over the next two weeks at the NSAA Girls and Boys Basketball Tournaments. While the action continues on the court, troopers will be working across the state to make sure the teams and fans have safe travel to and from Lincoln.

“Lifelong memories will be made this week and next at state basketball,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Working as a team to keep Nebraska roadways safe helps ensure that we remember these two weeks for the action on the court, rather than on the road.”

The NSAA Girls Basketball Tournament runs from today, March 1, through Saturday, March 4. The NSAA Boys Basketball Tournament runs from March 8 through March 11.

Troopers will be working overtime throughout the state as part of this effort, with special focus placed around Lincoln and other high-traffic areas across Nebraska. This operation is made possible thanks in part to grants from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

By NSPLINCOLN, NEB.&nbsp; — Teams from across Nebraska will be battling for a state title over the next two weeks at the NSAA Girls and Boys Basketball Tournaments. While the action continues on the court, troopers will be working across the state to make sure the teams and fans have safe travel to and from Lincoln.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677770971454.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“Lifelong memories will be made this week and next at state basketball,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Working as a team to keep Nebraska roadways safe helps ensure that we remember these two weeks for the action on the court, rather than on the road.”The NSAA Girls Basketball Tournament runs from today, March 1, through Saturday, March 4. The NSAA Boys Basketball Tournament runs from March 8 through March 11.Troopers will be working overtime throughout the state as part of this effort, with special focus placed around Lincoln and other high-traffic areas across Nebraska. This operation is made possible thanks in part to grants from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

Troopers work to keep fans safe during state basketball

LINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;Today,&nbsp;Governor Jim Pillen was joined by fourth graders to help celebrate&nbsp;Nebraska’s 156th&nbsp;Statehood Birthday and&nbsp;National Pig Day by naming the office’s metal pig. Two fourth graders, representing Christ Lutheran School in Lincoln and Spirit and Grace Academy in Elkhorn, selected the name “Petunia” from the Governor’s cowboy hat.&nbsp;

The metal pig has become an unofficial mascot of the Governor’s office – nods to the importance of agriculture to Nebraska as well as the Governor's background as both a veterinarian and a hog farmer. Speaking with students, Governor Pillen explained that the metal pig in his office was a gilt, a young adult female that has not yet produced offspring. The Governor took questions from students; and afterward, students took turns riding the pig and taking photos.

The metal pig is a fixture in the reception area of the office, which is open to the public. Since his Inauguration into office, visitors have stopped by to drop their suggested names into a bowl.&nbsp;In addition to the ceremonial name selection, Governor Pillen marked the celebration with a signed Proclamation marking March 1 as “Nebraska Pig Day.”

A full&nbsp;video&nbsp;of the press conference can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DWgQMhHa3dUk&amp;data=05%7C01%7CJohn.Gage%40nebraska.gov%7Cae5ef7bcce0b4d00499208db1aa190f5%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C638133053487733652%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Zy%2BVnVyNzSjIZMs4rajuwoK1IVFCNna4D52gZmXYS40%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;

By Office of Gov. Jim Pillen<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677716765809.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;Today,&nbsp;Governor Jim Pillen was joined by fourth graders to help celebrate&nbsp;Nebraska’s 156th&nbsp;Statehood Birthday and&nbsp;National Pig Day by naming the office’s metal pig. Two fourth graders, representing Christ Lutheran School in Lincoln and Spirit and Grace Academy in Elkhorn, selected the name “Petunia” from the Governor’s cowboy hat.&nbsp;The metal pig has become an unofficial mascot of the Governor’s office – nods to the importance of agriculture to Nebraska as well as the Governor's background as both a veterinarian and a hog farmer. Speaking with students, Governor Pillen explained that the metal pig in his office was a gilt, a young adult female that has not yet produced offspring. The Governor took questions from students; and afterward, students took turns riding the pig and taking photos.The metal pig is a fixture in the reception area of the office, which is open to the public. Since his Inauguration into office, visitors have stopped by to drop their suggested names into a bowl.&nbsp;In addition to the ceremonial name selection, Governor Pillen marked the celebration with a signed Proclamation marking March 1 as “Nebraska Pig Day.”A full&nbsp;video&nbsp;of the press conference can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DWgQMhHa3dUk&amp;data=05%7C01%7CJohn.Gage%40nebraska.gov%7Cae5ef7bcce0b4d00499208db1aa190f5%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C638133053487733652%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Zy%2BVnVyNzSjIZMs4rajuwoK1IVFCNna4D52gZmXYS40%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677716793092.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Gov. Pillen declares 'National Pig Day', names office pig

39-year-old Chad Kelley was sentenced recently for felonies he committed in Box Butte and Scotts Bluff Counties. 

Kelley was sentenced to serve 5-10 years in prison for a BNSF burglary charge by Box Butte County District Court Judge Travis O’Gorman.  He was credited for 87 days served. He was also sentenced to serve 30 days for a charge of failure to appear in court.

According to court proceedings, if Kelley loses no good time in prison, he will be eligible for parole in two years and four months, with a mandatory discharge in five years.

These charges come from burglaries at the BNSF Railway maintenance building on June 20 and 21.

Kelley stole an impact wrench from a BNSF truck inside a locked garage. Video footage also revealed Kelley trying to break open a vending machine inside the building and stealing multiple items inside the building.

A BNSF supervisor told police that Kelley was fired from the company in 2020.

On June 13 and 14, Kelley stole other items from the BNSF maintenance building.

Kelley was also sentenced to serve 90 days in jail by Scotts Bluff County District Court Judge Leo Dobrovolny for stealing a vehicle. He was with credited for 71 days served already. His license will be revoked for a period of two years.

On Aug. 19 at 6:35 p.m. Scottsbluff police officers investigated a report of a stolen vehicle in the 1200 block of 11th Avenue.

At approximately 6:51 p.m. officers located the stolen vehicle traveling in the area of 7th Avenue and East Overland Drive.

Officers attempted to stop the vehicle. 38-year-old Chad Kelley of Alliance failed to pull over and lead the officers on a vehicle pursuit.

Kelley drove around the Uptown Scottsbluff Mall and ran through business barricades in the K-Mart parking lot before traveling west towards the Scottsbluff High School.

Kelley drove through the parking lot of the Scottsbluff High School and through another barricade. Scottsbluff police said the pursuit was called off at that time due to school activities taking place.

"The pursuit was reinitiated near Broadway and 23rd Street after the suspect drove through a stop sign," Scottsbluff Police Sergeant Tyler Fliam said. "The suspect abandoned the stolen vehicle in the 300 block of W 21st Street and ran on foot. Officers located the suspect hiding in a vacant apartment in the 1900 block of 3rd Avenue with the assistance of K-9 Duke and nearby citizens."

By KALIN KROHE Panhandle Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677716236689.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>39-year-old Chad Kelley was sentenced recently for felonies he committed in Box Butte and Scotts Bluff Counties. Kelley was sentenced to serve 5-10 years in prison for a BNSF burglary charge by Box Butte County District Court Judge Travis O’Gorman. He was credited for 87 days served. He was also sentenced to serve 30 days for a charge of failure to appear in court.According to court proceedings, if Kelley loses no good time in prison, he will be eligible for parole in two years and four months, with a mandatory discharge in five years.These charges come from burglaries at the BNSF Railway maintenance building on June 20 and 21.Kelley stole an impact wrench from a BNSF truck inside a locked garage. Video footage also revealed Kelley trying to break open a vending machine inside the building and stealing multiple items inside the building.A BNSF supervisor told police that Kelley was fired from the company in 2020.On June 13 and 14, Kelley stole other items from the BNSF maintenance building.Kelley was also sentenced to serve 90 days in jail by Scotts Bluff County District Court Judge Leo Dobrovolny for stealing a vehicle. He was with credited for 71 days served already. His license will be revoked for a period of two years.On Aug. 19 at 6:35 p.m. Scottsbluff police officers investigated a report of a stolen vehicle in the 1200 block of 11th Avenue.At approximately 6:51 p.m. officers located the stolen vehicle traveling in the area of 7th Avenue and East Overland Drive.Officers attempted to stop the vehicle. 38-year-old Chad Kelley of Alliance failed to pull over and lead the officers on a vehicle pursuit.Kelley drove around the Uptown Scottsbluff Mall and ran through business barricades in the K-Mart parking lot before traveling west towards the Scottsbluff High School.Kelley drove through the parking lot of the Scottsbluff High School and through another barricade. Scottsbluff police said the pursuit was called off at that time due to school activities taking place."The pursuit was reinitiated near Broadway and 23rd Street after the suspect drove through a stop sign," Scottsbluff Police Sergeant Tyler Fliam said. "The suspect abandoned the stolen vehicle in the 300 block of W 21st Street and ran on foot. Officers located the suspect hiding in a vacant apartment in the 1900 block of 3rd Avenue with the assistance of K-9 Duke and nearby citizens."

Alliance man sentenced for BNSF burglary, stealing vehicle in Scottsbluff

&nbsp; BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/paulhammel/">PAUL HAMMEL</a>

LINCOLN — Staffing shortages continue to challenge Nebraska’s veterans homes, with one in Scottsbluff freezing new admissions until more nurses and aides can be hired, state legislators were told Tuesday.

But officials with the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs said recent increases in salary and job applications give them hope that the use of out-of-state “traveling” nurses to fill staff vacancies can soon end at the Western Nebraska Veterans Home and the state’s other three facilities.

“We have found that our current pay structure is competitive, and we are slowly staffing up. We just need more Nebraskans now,” John Hilgert, state veterans affairs director, told the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee.

As of Jan. 1, the veterans agency reported 273 job vacancies of all types, of which more than 200 were for staff care technicians or nurses.

The lack of staff forced a halt to new admissions at the Scottsbluff facility, which has a capacity of 103 residents but currently houses 68.

The agency is also slowing down new admissions to its Central Nebraska Veterans Home in Kearney, Hilgert said, to make sure the facility has adequate staff.

Holden Armstrong, a spokesman for the department, said staffing levels are more near normal at vets homes at Bellevue and Norfolk, where health care workers are more numerous.

State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard, whose district covers most of Nebraska Panhandle, led the questioning about staff at the Scottsbluff facility. Elmwood Sen. Robert Clements also asked if recent pay raises have helped and was told they have.

Armstrong said that late in 2021, wages were raised 20% for housekeeping, maintenance and food service workers and 30% for clinical staff, plus a $3 per hour differential for all veterans homes.

The Scottsbluff facility, he said has vacancies for five full-time and 23 part-time CNAs, one full-time and three part-time nurse supervisors, and one full-time and three part-time LPNs.

Night shifts have been the hardest to fill, he said, but the facility has “had some luck” in hiring recently after stepping up recruitment efforts. A class to train new CNAs was also full this month, Armstrong said.

He added that another barrier to filling all the beds in veterans homes is a requirement that at least 75% of them are filled by veterans. Spouses and Gold Star parents are allowed to fill the rest.

State Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard testified during the hearing that his elderly father was hit with a steep increase in the price of living at the Kearney facility.

His father, the senator said, is paying about $800 more a month — $4,730 a month — than he did two years ago, which is difficult to afford on a fixed income.

“Should we be doing more for veterans?” Bostelman asked the committee.

The Appropriations Committee took no action on the funding requests by the Veterans Affairs Department after Tuesday’s hearing.

&nbsp; BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/paulhammel/">PAUL HAMMEL</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677700623412.png" alt="Admissions remain halted at the state veterans home in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, because of a shortage of staff. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs)" />
 <figcaption>Admissions remain halted at the state veterans home in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, because of a shortage of staff. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs)</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN — Staffing shortages continue to challenge Nebraska’s veterans homes, with one in Scottsbluff freezing new admissions until more nurses and aides can be hired, state legislators were told Tuesday.But officials with the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs said recent increases in salary and job applications give them hope that the use of out-of-state “traveling” nurses to fill staff vacancies can soon end at the Western Nebraska Veterans Home and the state’s other three facilities.“We have found that our current pay structure is competitive, and we are slowly staffing up. We just need more Nebraskans now,” John Hilgert, state veterans affairs director, told the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677700672461.jpeg" alt="John Hilgert, director, Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>John Hilgert, director, Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>273 vacancies as of Jan. 1</h2>As of Jan. 1, the veterans agency reported 273 job vacancies of all types, of which more than 200 were for staff care technicians or nurses.The lack of staff forced a halt to new admissions at the Scottsbluff facility, which has a capacity of 103 residents but currently houses 68.The agency is also slowing down new admissions to its Central Nebraska Veterans Home in Kearney, Hilgert said, to make sure the facility has adequate staff.Holden Armstrong, a spokesman for the department, said staffing levels are more near normal at vets homes at Bellevue and Norfolk, where health care workers are more numerous.State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard, whose district covers most of Nebraska Panhandle, led the questioning about staff at the Scottsbluff facility. Elmwood Sen. Robert Clements also asked if recent pay raises have helped and was told they have.Armstrong said that late in 2021, wages were raised 20% for housekeeping, maintenance and food service workers and 30% for clinical staff, plus a $3 per hour differential for all veterans homes.The Scottsbluff facility, he said has vacancies for five full-time and 23 part-time CNAs, one full-time and three part-time nurse supervisors, and one full-time and three part-time LPNs.Night shifts have been the hardest to fill, he said, but the facility has “had some luck” in hiring recently after stepping up recruitment efforts. A class to train new CNAs was also full this month, Armstrong said.He added that another barrier to filling all the beds in veterans homes is a requirement that at least 75% of them are filled by veterans. Spouses and Gold Star parents are allowed to fill the rest.<h2>Senator questions steep increases</h2>State Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard testified during the hearing that his elderly father was hit with a steep increase in the price of living at the Kearney facility.His father, the senator said, is paying about $800 more a month — $4,730 a month — than he did two years ago, which is difficult to afford on a fixed income.“Should we be doing more for veterans?” Bostelman asked the committee.The Appropriations Committee took no action on the funding requests by the Veterans Affairs Department after Tuesday’s hearing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677700725904.jpeg" alt="&nbsp; State Sen. Bruce L. Bostelman of Brainard Gregory Nathan / University Communication&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp; State Sen. Bruce L. Bostelman of Brainard Gregory Nathan / University Communication&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>

Lack of staff freezes admissions to state veterans home in Scottsbluff

-Ryan Michael Rash and Ashley RaeAnn Mutchie

-Austin Drake Swartz and Alicia Christine Ricley&nbsp;

-Patrick Jason Aermi and Daneen Louise Trout&nbsp;

-Troy Sorensen and Billie Sorensen, Finalized, 1/30/23

-Casey Knaub and Veronica Knaub, Finalized, 1/23/23

Marriages:-Ryan Michael Rash and Ashley RaeAnn Mutchie-Austin Drake Swartz and Alicia Christine Ricley&nbsp;-Patrick Jason Aermi and Daneen Louise Trout&nbsp;Divorces:-Troy Sorensen and Billie Sorensen, Finalized, 1/30/23-Casey Knaub and Veronica Knaub, Finalized, 1/23/23

Marriages, divorces Jan. 2023

Users now must detour 10 miles off the trail in Neligh area due to washouts from ‘bomb cyclone’

LINCOLN — Jason Buss and his family like to vacation on Nebraska’s Cowboy Trail, biking in the Neligh area, camping at a city park and taking in a movie at one of the state’s few drive-in movie theaters.

But the “bomb cyclone” flood of 2019 pushed the Elkhorn River out of its banks, washing out the limestone trail in several locations and carving a new channel around a trail bridge.

A bike ride from Neligh to Tilden, for instance, now requires 10 miles of detours off the Cowboy Trail and onto nearby gravel roads, Buss said, which poses a safety threat and spoils a scenic ride.

Should have been fixed ‘long time ago’

On Tuesday, Buss, a Central City resident who serves as president of the Nebraska Trails Foundation, joined other trail advocates in testifying in favor of increased state funding to repair and maintain the trail, which spans most of northern Nebraska.

“We have in Nebraska a really great asset.&nbsp;We just need help to maintain this resource,” he told the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee.

After the hearing, Buss lamented that the flood damage should have been fixed “a long time ago.”

“We wouldn’t accept any other road being detoured indefinitely,” he said.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is seeking increased funding to repair and maintain the Cowboy Trail, which extends more than 200 miles through 29 communities, from Norfolk to Valentine.

Trail counters showed about 67,000 users on the trail between May and October last year.

The commission, which manages the trail, is asking for $200,000 a year for maintenance and planning, as well as $750,000 over the next two years to provide a 10% match of Federal Emergency Management Agency grants to make flood repairs and remove the displaced bridge.

Game and Parks also is asking for $313,000 over the next two years to replace washed-out culverts on Cedar and Plum Creeks that FEMA has deemed don’t qualify for federal emergency funds.

The Cowboy Trail, the former Chicago &amp; Northwestern railroad line from Norfolk to Chadron, was granted to the state 30 years ago. When its full length of 321 miles is finally completed, it will be the longest rails-to-trails conversion in the United States.

It is part of the Great American Rail Trail, which, when finished, would connect Washington, D.C., to Washington State with a series of recreational trails.

But Buss said maintenance funding, to repair washouts, mow and spray for weeds, has always been an issue for the Cowboy Trail. He said it was frustrating that the Katy Trail in Missouri gets $6,000 per mile for maintenance, and the Mickelson Trail in South Dakota’s Black Hills is also well funded.

“Those are states where Nebraskans travel to use their trails when they could be using ours,” Buss said.

Instead, Nebraska trails often rely on volunteers for maintenance, he said.

Chuck Griffith, the vice president of the Trails Foundation, told the committee that he is part of a four-man crew — all over 70 years of age — that mow, spray and repair the Dark Island Trail between Central City and Marquette, in central Nebraska.&nbsp;

High school students, he said, helped clean up a segment of the Cowboy Trail from Gordon to Rushville.

Griffith said it is challenging for Game and Parks to maintain the trail because of its length, because it includes 221 bridges and 154 culverts and because no fee or park permit is required to ride it. That’s why additional state funds are needed, he and Buss said.

Among the groups that use the Cowboy Trail is a group of military veterans with physical and behavioral disabilities. It’s also the trail used for the Tour de Nebraska, a 35-year-old bicycle ride that draws 500 riders.

“We owe it to groups like that to have a safer trail,” Griffith said.

The Appropriations Committee took no action on the funding request by the Game and Parks Commission. The committee will finalize its state budget recommendation later in the 2023 session.

The trail funding was among several requests made by Tim McCoy, the director of Game and Parks, to the Appropriations Committee on Tuesday.

They included funds to plan for a new swimming pool at Fort Robinson State Park, a “themed” shooting range at Buffalo Bill’s Ranch in North Platte, five new game wardens, and additional money for a pheasant restoration plan.

&nbsp; BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/paulhammel/">PAUL HAMMEL</a><h2>Users now must detour 10 miles off the trail in Neligh area due to washouts from ‘bomb cyclone’</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677699863665.jpeg" alt="The far end of this bridge on the Cowboy Trail near Neligh was washed away in the 2019 “bomb cyclone” flooding. (Courtesy of Jason Buss)" />
 <figcaption>The far end of this bridge on the Cowboy Trail near Neligh was washed away in the 2019 “bomb cyclone” flooding. (Courtesy of Jason Buss)</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN — Jason Buss and his family like to vacation on Nebraska’s Cowboy Trail, biking in the Neligh area, camping at a city park and taking in a movie at one of the state’s few drive-in movie theaters.But the “bomb cyclone” flood of 2019 pushed the Elkhorn River out of its banks, washing out the limestone trail in several locations and carving a new channel around a trail bridge.A bike ride from Neligh to Tilden, for instance, now requires 10 miles of detours off the Cowboy Trail and onto nearby gravel roads, Buss said, which poses a safety threat and spoils a scenic ride.<h2>Should have been fixed ‘long time ago’</h2>On Tuesday, Buss, a Central City resident who serves as president of the Nebraska Trails Foundation, joined other trail advocates in testifying in favor of increased state funding to repair and maintain the trail, which spans most of northern Nebraska.“We have in Nebraska a really great asset.&nbsp;We just need help to maintain this resource,” he told the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee.After the hearing, Buss lamented that the flood damage should have been fixed “a long time ago.”“We wouldn’t accept any other road being detoured indefinitely,” he said.The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is seeking increased funding to repair and maintain the Cowboy Trail, which extends more than 200 miles through 29 communities, from Norfolk to Valentine.<h2>67,000 users</h2>Trail counters showed about 67,000 users on the trail between May and October last year.The commission, which manages the trail, is asking for $200,000 a year for maintenance and planning, as well as $750,000 over the next two years to provide a 10% match of Federal Emergency Management Agency grants to make flood repairs and remove the displaced bridge.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677699914483.jpeg" alt="Bikers cross the bridge over the Niobrara River near Valentine on the Cowboy Trail. (Courtesy of NEBRASKAland Magazine and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission)" />
 <figcaption>Bikers cross the bridge over the Niobrara River near Valentine on the Cowboy Trail. (Courtesy of NEBRASKAland Magazine and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission)</figcaption>
 </figure>The commission, which manages the trail, is asking for $200,000 a year for maintenance and planning, as well as $750,000 over the next two years to provide a 10% match of Federal Emergency Management Agency grants to make flood repairs and remove the displaced bridge.Game and Parks also is asking for $313,000 over the next two years to replace washed-out culverts on Cedar and Plum Creeks that FEMA has deemed don’t qualify for federal emergency funds.The Cowboy Trail, the former Chicago &amp; Northwestern railroad line from Norfolk to Chadron, was granted to the state 30 years ago. When its full length of 321 miles is finally completed, it will be the longest rails-to-trails conversion in the United States.It is part of the Great American Rail Trail, which, when finished, would connect Washington, D.C., to Washington State with a series of recreational trails.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677699962663.jpeg" alt="The tall bridge spanning Long Pine Creek is one of the most scenic spots on the Cowboy Trail (Courtesy of NEBRASKAland Magazine and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission)" />
 <figcaption>The tall bridge spanning Long Pine Creek is one of the most scenic spots on the Cowboy Trail (Courtesy of NEBRASKAland Magazine and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission)</figcaption>
 </figure>But Buss said maintenance funding, to repair washouts, mow and spray for weeds, has always been an issue for the Cowboy Trail. He said it was frustrating that the Katy Trail in Missouri gets $6,000 per mile for maintenance, and the Mickelson Trail in South Dakota’s Black Hills is also well funded.“Those are states where Nebraskans travel to use their trails when they could be using ours,” Buss said.<h2>Nebraska relies on volunteers</h2>Instead, Nebraska trails often rely on volunteers for maintenance, he said.Chuck Griffith, the vice president of the Trails Foundation, told the committee that he is part of a four-man crew — all over 70 years of age — that mow, spray and repair the Dark Island Trail between Central City and Marquette, in central Nebraska.&nbsp;High school students, he said, helped clean up a segment of the Cowboy Trail from Gordon to Rushville.<h2>221 bridges, 154 culverts on trail</h2>Griffith said it is challenging for Game and Parks to maintain the trail because of its length, because it includes 221 bridges and 154 culverts and because no fee or park permit is required to ride it. That’s why additional state funds are needed, he and Buss said.Among the groups that use the Cowboy Trail is a group of military veterans with physical and behavioral disabilities. It’s also the trail used for the Tour de Nebraska, a 35-year-old bicycle ride that draws 500 riders.“We owe it to groups like that to have a safer trail,” Griffith said.The Appropriations Committee took no action on the funding request by the Game and Parks Commission. The committee will finalize its state budget recommendation later in the 2023 session.<h2>Game and Parks requests</h2>The trail funding was among several requests made by Tim McCoy, the director of Game and Parks, to the Appropriations Committee on Tuesday.They included funds to plan for a new swimming pool at Fort Robinson State Park, a “themed” shooting range at Buffalo Bill’s Ranch in North Platte, five new game wardens, and additional money for a pheasant restoration plan.

Trails advocates call for fixing flood damage from 2019 on Cowboy Trail

By Patricia Jones, Alliance Community Task Force: Creating Opportunity

For about fifty years, Nebraskans have been arguing about property tax: Is it fair? Is it too high? What should it fund? Should it be eliminated? I went to the Nebraska Legislature's page on taxes in Nebraska to find out more.

Property tax is levied only by local governments in Nebraska. It is paid on real estate and depreciable personal property like vehicles. Businesses pay on depreciable property that is used for the production of income, with some exceptions in agriculture. The tax on real estate is based on actual or market value. Most property is assessed at 100% of actual value; agricultural land is assessed at 75% of actual value.

Some real estate is exempt from property tax. Not-for-profit organizations do not pay taxes if the property is used for cemetery, educational, religious, or charitable purposes. Government property is also exempt.

We receive a bill from the county in December and pay our property tax to the county treasurer. Payments are generally made twice the following year, due May 1 and September 1.

Property tax is justified under the "benefits principle." When we own property, we need the roads and police and fire departments that are provided by county and city government. We want other local amenities like libraries, parks, landfills, and utilities.

Property tax is also a major funder of schools in the belief that this is providing the workforce of the area for the future. Since we have become a much more mobile society, this link is getting weaker.

Property tax receipts are relatively stable and reliable. Property cannot move from place to place to avoid paying local taxes. It is, however, difficult to administer. Determining actual value is subjective and is constantly reviewed. Therefore, there is a time-consuming appeals process. The state may have to intervene to equalize values between counties.

Is property tax progressive, regressive, or proportional - meaning who pays higher rates as compared to their total income? As far as residential property is concerned, it is fairly proportional. Wealthy people live in more expensive homes, and they pay the same % rate on their property as a person who owns a trailer or manufactured home. Low-income elderly and veterans can apply for a homestead exemption through the county assessor's office.

Compared to other states, Nebraska has a fairly high reliance on property tax to fund our local government and schools. According to Wallet Hub (Feb 21, 2023), Nebraska ranks as ninth highest, with an effective real estate tax rate of 1.67% The average residence in Nebraska is

valued at $174,100, and taxes owed are $2,916. Vehicle property taxes are owed in 26 states, and we pay 1.46% of the value of a vehicle.

Since 2000, we have had some years of economic recession. Nebraska's Constitution requires a balanced budget, so when there are fewer receipts from income and sales tax, the state cuts funding to local entities like schools and counties. The difference is then made up by local property tax. According to Farmer's Union, Nebraska presently ranks 47th in the percentage of local government support that comes from the state. Nebraska ranks even lower, 49th, in the level of K-12 education support that comes from the state.

Underfunded and unfunded mandates were an issue in our last governor's race. Local governments are responsible for maintaining roads, jails, space for state services, and providing education. In recent years, the Legislature passed statutes requiring additional school coursework or training including testing requirements, substance abuse teaching, dating violence and suicide prevention training. The Legislature has not funded most of these initiatives, instead relying on school districts to provide the services and training without reimbursement. Paying for these mandates causes an increase in property taxes for schools, counties, and communities.

Is there a problem with property tax in Nebraska? Probably. Can it be solved easily? Nope. The Legislature needs to start by deciding how to fairly fund education. But they are working on that.

Ag land presents an interesting problem for property tax. Farmers and ranchers require a large land base for their production. We all know that there are bad years when there might be no income, only expenses. Weather might destroy crops or a season of calves. Market prices might be low. But the property tax bill doesn't change.

The Legislature has been working to find ways to grant property tax relief. If you have concerns or suggestions, be sure to contact our state senators.

By Patricia Jones, Alliance Community Task Force: Creating OpportunityFor about fifty years, Nebraskans have been arguing about property tax: Is it fair? Is it too high? What should it fund? Should it be eliminated? I went to the Nebraska Legislature's page on taxes in Nebraska to find out more.Property tax is levied only by local governments in Nebraska. It is paid on real estate and depreciable personal property like vehicles. Businesses pay on depreciable property that is used for the production of income, with some exceptions in agriculture. The tax on real estate is based on actual or market value. Most property is assessed at 100% of actual value; agricultural land is assessed at 75% of actual value.Some real estate is exempt from property tax. Not-for-profit organizations do not pay taxes if the property is used for cemetery, educational, religious, or charitable purposes. Government property is also exempt.We receive a bill from the county in December and pay our property tax to the county treasurer. Payments are generally made twice the following year, due May 1 and September 1.Property tax is justified under the "benefits principle." When we own property, we need the roads and police and fire departments that are provided by county and city government. We want other local amenities like libraries, parks, landfills, and utilities.Property tax is also a major funder of schools in the belief that this is providing the workforce of the area for the future. Since we have become a much more mobile society, this link is getting weaker.Property tax receipts are relatively stable and reliable. Property cannot move from place to place to avoid paying local taxes. It is, however, difficult to administer. Determining actual value is subjective and is constantly reviewed. Therefore, there is a time-consuming appeals process. The state may have to intervene to equalize values between counties.Is property tax progressive, regressive, or proportional - meaning who pays higher rates as compared to their total income? As far as residential property is concerned, it is fairly proportional. Wealthy people live in more expensive homes, and they pay the same % rate on their property as a person who owns a trailer or manufactured home. Low-income elderly and veterans can apply for a homestead exemption through the county assessor's office.Compared to other states, Nebraska has a fairly high reliance on property tax to fund our local government and schools. According to Wallet Hub (Feb 21, 2023), Nebraska ranks as ninth highest, with an effective real estate tax rate of 1.67% The average residence in Nebraska isvalued at $174,100, and taxes owed are $2,916. Vehicle property taxes are owed in 26 states, and we pay 1.46% of the value of a vehicle.Since 2000, we have had some years of economic recession. Nebraska's Constitution requires a balanced budget, so when there are fewer receipts from income and sales tax, the state cuts funding to local entities like schools and counties. The difference is then made up by local property tax. According to Farmer's Union, Nebraska presently ranks 47th in the percentage of local government support that comes from the state. Nebraska ranks even lower, 49th, in the level of K-12 education support that comes from the state.Underfunded and unfunded mandates were an issue in our last governor's race. Local governments are responsible for maintaining roads, jails, space for state services, and providing education. In recent years, the Legislature passed statutes requiring additional school coursework or training including testing requirements, substance abuse teaching, dating violence and suicide prevention training. The Legislature has not funded most of these initiatives, instead relying on school districts to provide the services and training without reimbursement. Paying for these mandates causes an increase in property taxes for schools, counties, and communities.Is there a problem with property tax in Nebraska? Probably. Can it be solved easily? Nope. The Legislature needs to start by deciding how to fairly fund education. But they are working on that.Ag land presents an interesting problem for property tax. Farmers and ranchers require a large land base for their production. We all know that there are bad years when there might be no income, only expenses. Weather might destroy crops or a season of calves. Market prices might be low. But the property tax bill doesn't change.The Legislature has been working to find ways to grant property tax relief. If you have concerns or suggestions, be sure to contact our state senators.

Getting Ahead: Nebraska's property tax

Registration is open for the Tyler Vanderheiden Memorial Run, an annual race aimed at raising awareness and understanding of mental health that also acts as a fundraiser for Nebraska Game and Parks state park trails.

The run is May 20, 2023, at Cody Park, 1899 US-83, North Platte. Participants may choose between a 2-mile or 5-mile distance and run in-person or virtually.

Register at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMjguNzI0MjE0NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5wbGF0dGVyaXZlcmZpdG5lc3MuY29tL3B1YmxpY2hlYWx0aCJ9.0le2poGu8FimT1YYyr8y-klHi-spFMMnY_VpJFJl6UU/s/497221906/br/155249199045-l" target="_blank">PlatteRiverFitness.com/PublicHealth</a>&nbsp;or donate to the fundraiser at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMjguNzI0MjE0NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy50eWxlcnZhbmRlcmhlaWRlbm1lbW9yaWFsLmNvbSJ9.Oafyw2g98CsjJ9yosDw8UuEP6NwiibCO7L0hTeLYZgs/s/497221906/br/155249199045-l" target="_blank">TylerVanderheidenMemorial.com</a>.

This year, funds raised will help support the construction and upgrade of the Smith Falls State Park trail and walkway that leads to Nebraska’s highest waterfall. Improvements are aimed at replacing the aging wooden walkway with a more durable composite decking with steel framing. The new walkway will be Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.

“The Game and Parks trail projects that our family has supported through Tyler’s memorial runs have been an instrumental part of our healing journey,” said Shannon Vanderheiden, Tyler’s mom and executive director of West Central District Health Department. “These projects allow others to more easily access the great outdoors, which our son loved so dearly.

“I am committed to continuing this journey, with the hopes of helping others who might be struggling. … You are not alone, you matter, you are wonderful and loved.”

Just like last year, race organizers have made it a goal to see runners from every Nebraska county and every state in the nation participate in-person or virtually in the race.

“My goal is to reach at least one more person than last year,” said Sydney Keller, Ty’s sister who helps organize the race. “I want Ty’s memorial run to continue to serve as a catalyst to de-stigmatizing mental health and suicide and to be part of someone’s journey to healing.”

“Ty’s life had purpose, and through this effort, it continues to have purpose.”

The race on Cody Park’s flat course begins at 8:30 a.m. Central time, with race-day registration and packet pickup from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. at the park pavilion.

Those choosing to do the run virtually must register by 4 p.m. Central time May 19 and may complete their race anytime between May 19-21.

The run is organized by the Platte River Fitness Series with support by West Central District Health Department. Proceeds are donated to the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation for the creation, maintenance or upgrade of trails at the 76 state park areas.

“The trails throughout our state park system are a critical part of a visitor’s outdoor experience, their connection to nature and their physical health and mental wellbeing,” said Jeff Fields, parks division administrator for Nebraska Game and Parks. “We are honored the Vanderheiden family chose us as a way to make a difference for all Nebraskans.”

To learn more about the trail project, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMjguNzI0MjE0NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9NZW1vcmlhbFJ1bi8ifQ._HAhjaAk1B08Rg7mG5BRLMtwbhyrspjSI5VUfjjiTT4/s/497221906/br/155249199045-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.org/MemorialRun</a>.

By Nebraska Game and ParksRegistration is open for the Tyler Vanderheiden Memorial Run, an annual race aimed at raising awareness and understanding of mental health that also acts as a fundraiser for Nebraska Game and Parks state park trails.The run is May 20, 2023, at Cody Park, 1899 US-83, North Platte. Participants may choose between a 2-mile or 5-mile distance and run in-person or virtually.Register at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMjguNzI0MjE0NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5wbGF0dGVyaXZlcmZpdG5lc3MuY29tL3B1YmxpY2hlYWx0aCJ9.0le2poGu8FimT1YYyr8y-klHi-spFMMnY_VpJFJl6UU/s/497221906/br/155249199045-l" target="_blank">PlatteRiverFitness.com/PublicHealth</a>&nbsp;or donate to the fundraiser at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMjguNzI0MjE0NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy50eWxlcnZhbmRlcmhlaWRlbm1lbW9yaWFsLmNvbSJ9.Oafyw2g98CsjJ9yosDw8UuEP6NwiibCO7L0hTeLYZgs/s/497221906/br/155249199045-l" target="_blank">TylerVanderheidenMemorial.com</a>.This year, funds raised will help support the construction and upgrade of the Smith Falls State Park trail and walkway that leads to Nebraska’s highest waterfall. Improvements are aimed at replacing the aging wooden walkway with a more durable composite decking with steel framing. The new walkway will be Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.“The Game and Parks trail projects that our family has supported through Tyler’s memorial runs have been an instrumental part of our healing journey,” said Shannon Vanderheiden, Tyler’s mom and executive director of West Central District Health Department. “These projects allow others to more easily access the great outdoors, which our son loved so dearly.“I am committed to continuing this journey, with the hopes of helping others who might be struggling. … You are not alone, you matter, you are wonderful and loved.”Just like last year, race organizers have made it a goal to see runners from every Nebraska county and every state in the nation participate in-person or virtually in the race.“My goal is to reach at least one more person than last year,” said Sydney Keller, Ty’s sister who helps organize the race. “I want Ty’s memorial run to continue to serve as a catalyst to de-stigmatizing mental health and suicide and to be part of someone’s journey to healing.”“Ty’s life had purpose, and through this effort, it continues to have purpose.”The race on Cody Park’s flat course begins at 8:30 a.m. Central time, with race-day registration and packet pickup from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. at the park pavilion.Those choosing to do the run virtually must register by 4 p.m. Central time May 19 and may complete their race anytime between May 19-21.The run is organized by the Platte River Fitness Series with support by West Central District Health Department. Proceeds are donated to the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation for the creation, maintenance or upgrade of trails at the 76 state park areas.“The trails throughout our state park system are a critical part of a visitor’s outdoor experience, their connection to nature and their physical health and mental wellbeing,” said Jeff Fields, parks division administrator for Nebraska Game and Parks. “We are honored the Vanderheiden family chose us as a way to make a difference for all Nebraskans.”To learn more about the trail project, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMjguNzI0MjE0NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9NZW1vcmlhbFJ1bi8ifQ._HAhjaAk1B08Rg7mG5BRLMtwbhyrspjSI5VUfjjiTT4/s/497221906/br/155249199045-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.org/MemorialRun</a>.

Register for Memorial Run to help boost mental health awareness, support state park trails

GRAND ISLAND — Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol Tech Crimes Unit have arrested a Grand Island man after a child exploitation investigation.

On Nov. 7, 2022, NSP, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, performed a search warrant at the residence of 1612 S. Lincoln Ave. in Grand Island. The search of the residence involved a child exploitation investigation.

Following an investigation, NSP investigators arrested Andrew Alcala, 21, for possession child pornography on Monday. Alcala was lodged in Hall County jail. The investigation remains ongoing.

NSPGRAND ISLAND — Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol Tech Crimes Unit have arrested a Grand Island man after a child exploitation investigation.On Nov. 7, 2022, NSP, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, performed a search warrant at the residence of 1612 S. Lincoln Ave. in Grand Island. The search of the residence involved a child exploitation investigation.Following an investigation, NSP investigators arrested Andrew Alcala, 21, for possession child pornography on Monday. Alcala was lodged in Hall County jail. The investigation remains ongoing.

Neb. man arrested on suspicion of possession of child pornography

Update: Feb. 28, 1:45 p.m. The Dawes County Sheriff's Office notified Panhandle Post that the 1967 Ford Mustang was found. ---------------

Some time during the evening hours of February 19, 2023 and early morning hours of February 20, 2023,&nbsp; an unknown person or persons entered the Security Storage property located at 1135 W 16th Street, Chadron, Dawes County, Nebraska,&nbsp; cut the locks on the storage unit doors and forcibly opened multiple storage units with the intention of theft. 

A 1967, fully restored, maroon Ford Mustang Convertible valued at approximately $30,000 was stolen from one of the storage units. The vehicle was locked and the key was not left in the vehicle.&nbsp; Other storage units next to the vehicle were also forced open and contained valuable items but nothing was taken.

The Dawes County Sheriff's Office is asking for your assistance in solving this crime. If you have any information, please contact Deputy Sayaloune at 308-432-3025,&nbsp; or you can call the Dawes County Crime Stoppers at 308-432-0519.&nbsp; You may remain anonymous and could earn up to a $1000.00 reward. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated. ---Sheriff Karl J. Dailey

OWNER IS OFFERING AN EXTRA $500 FOR ASSISTANCE IN SOLVING THIS CRIME.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677248077877.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Update: Feb. 28, 1:45 p.m. The Dawes County Sheriff's Office notified Panhandle Post that the 1967 Ford Mustang was found. ---------------Feb. 24, 7:11 a.m.&nbsp;Some time during the evening hours of February 19, 2023 and early morning hours of February 20, 2023,&nbsp; an unknown person or persons entered the Security Storage property located at 1135 W 16th Street, Chadron, Dawes County, Nebraska,&nbsp; cut the locks on the storage unit doors and forcibly opened multiple storage units with the intention of theft. A 1967, fully restored, maroon Ford Mustang Convertible valued at approximately $30,000 was stolen from one of the storage units. The vehicle was locked and the key was not left in the vehicle.&nbsp; Other storage units next to the vehicle were also forced open and contained valuable items but nothing was taken.The Dawes County Sheriff's Office is asking for your assistance in solving this crime. If you have any information, please contact Deputy Sayaloune at 308-432-3025,&nbsp; or you can call the Dawes County Crime Stoppers at 308-432-0519.&nbsp; You may remain anonymous and could earn up to a $1000.00 reward. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated. ---Sheriff Karl J. DaileyOWNER IS OFFERING AN EXTRA $500 FOR ASSISTANCE IN SOLVING THIS CRIME.

UPDATE: Dawes County Crime Stoppers

&nbsp; BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/makenziehuber/">MAKENZIE HUBER</a>

The world had largely forgotten about Native American people by the early 1970s, said Marcella Gilbert.

Native populations had been decimated by disease and colonization; their sprawling homeland where ancestors had roamed was splintered into reservations. The Lakota language was nearly extinct and practicing the Lakota religion was illegal.

“People across the world didn’t even know we still existed,” Gilbert said. “They thought John Wayne killed us all.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677608591317.jpeg" alt="Daughter-mother duo Marcella Gilbert, left, and Madonna Thunder Hawk pose for a photo for the “Warrior Women” documentary film. (Courtesy of Castle King LLC)" />
 <figcaption>Daughter-mother duo Marcella Gilbert, left, and Madonna Thunder Hawk pose for a photo for the “Warrior Women” documentary film. (Courtesy of Castle King LLC)</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp; BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/makenziehuber/">MAKENZIE HUBER</a>The world had largely forgotten about Native American people by the early 1970s, said Marcella Gilbert.Native populations had been decimated by disease and colonization; their sprawling homeland where ancestors had roamed was splintered into reservations. The Lakota language was nearly extinct and practicing the Lakota religion was illegal.“People across the world didn’t even know we still existed,” Gilbert said. “They thought John Wayne killed us all.”But she said that began to change after South Dakota was put in the national and international spotlight starting on Feb. 27, 1973.On that day 50 years ago, hundreds of Native Americans and Indigenous activists began a 71-day standoff against the U.S. government at Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge reservation, fighting for Native American recognition and rights.The confrontation and subsequent negotiations with the federal government about treaty obligations were on international display, said Gilbert, daughter of one of the occupation’s leaders, Madonna Thunder Hawk.“The world became aware that we were still here,” said Gilbert, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. “History exploded in front of their faces.”Wounded Knee ’73 spurred movements globally and nationwide to recognize Indigenous rights, and the work continues today with the children and grandchildren of the ’73 activists.“It’s about knowing who we are and how we educate our future generations,” Gilbert said.<h2>Wounded Knee ’73: ‘It was warfare’</h2>Madonna Thunder Hawk is an 82-year-old great-grandmother, a community worker and a member of the Oohenumpa band of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.Fifty years later, she can remember the sounds of gunfire at Wounded Knee.“It was warfare,” she recalled.Back then, she was a 32-year-old mother serving as a medic for the American Indian Movement, a grassroots Native American organization started in Minneapolis in 1968. She joined because she was determined to forge a better future for her family and children. She spent “practically every night” huddled in a bunker while AIM members traded gunfire with the federal government.“To be organized was new and amazing,” Thunder Hawk recalled. “We were younger people then. Any time young people are on the move, change happens.”AIM was labeled as a militant group by the federal government for its disruptive protests, including a protest in Custer weeks before the occupation about the insufficiency of charges against a white man who killed a Native American man. Eventually, the protest turned into a riot with extensive damage to public property.After the incident in Custer, Thunder Hawk traveled to the Pine Ridge reservation with an AIM caravan at the request of Lakota elders on Pine Ridge to discuss corruption on the reservation, she said.Thunder Hawk assumed the visit would just be a day trip, but the group moved into the small town of Wounded Knee the night of Feb. 27, 1973, taking over the trading post and establishing a base of operations shortly before being surrounded by federal agents.By the time the siege ended on May 8 with an agreement to disarm and further discuss treaty obligations, at least three people were killed and more than a dozen were wounded.The occupation became a symbol of Indigenous power, said Beth Castle, a former professor of Native American studies at the University of South Dakota and a director and producer of the 2018 documentary “Warrior Women,” which focused on female leadership during the occupation and in following Native movements.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677608688966.jpeg" alt="A newspaper photo shows AIM leaders Russell Means, Dennis Banks and Carter Camp (left to right) join hands with a bishop of the United Methodist Church of South Dakota after leaders agreed to a peace proposal. (Courtesy of the South Dakota State Archives)" />
 <figcaption>A newspaper photo shows AIM leaders Russell Means, Dennis Banks and Carter Camp (left to right) join hands with a bishop of the United Methodist Church of South Dakota after leaders agreed to a peace proposal. (Courtesy of the South Dakota State Archives)</figcaption>
 </figure>“Wounded Knee hit every newspaper in the world. It announced this existence and continual survival of Native people,” Castle said.But the occupation is not a celebratory memory for everyone. The late Tim Giago, who was an Oglala Lakota newspaper publisher and columnist, lived in Wounded Knee as a child in the 1930s. His father was a clerk and butcher at the Wounded Knee Trading Post.The cabin they’d lived in was burned to the ground during the occupation, Giago&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.indianz.com/News/2013/01/14/tim-giago-the-destruction-of-w.asp">wrote in a commentary</a>&nbsp;in 2013. AIM members took&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/aim-occupation-of-wounded-knee-begins">11 Wounded Knee residents</a>&nbsp;as hostages during the occupation, including the owners of the trading post.“The village is now gone, burned to the ground,” Giago wrote. “The homes and the Trading Post were never rebuilt and the empty streets and burned out homes are stark reminders of the day Wounded Knee was ‘liberated.’”But Castle said the occupation led to the passage of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act and the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, as well as the United Nations Conference on Indians in the Americas, which eventually led to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples signed in 2007.Thunder Hawk has continued her work in grassroots activism through the Women of All Red Nations, Black Hills Alliance and more, including serving as an elder organizer for the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/02/22/514988040/key-moments-in-the-dakota-access-pipeline-fight">Dakota Access Pipeline protests of 2016</a>&nbsp;on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in south-central North Dakota.Castle said the success of Standing Rock would not have been possible without its predecessor and that current grassroots efforts in South Dakota, such as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ndncollective.org/">NDN Collective</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.thundervalley.org/">Thunder Valley Community Development</a>, are continued efforts inspired by Wounded Knee ’73.“These efforts are all connected to the sons and daughters of movement organizers and leaders,” Castle said. “They’re the ones that carry the fire on.”<h2>Reclaiming the Lakota language</h2>The occupation of Wounded Knee established the resurgence of Native Americans voices. Yet five decades after the occupation, the Lakota language is still dangerously close to extinction. Of the nearly 200,000 Lakota people alive in 2021,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.lakotatimes.com/articles/lakota-language-revitalization/#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20of,2%2C000%20are%20fluent%20Lakota%20speakers.">fewer than 2,000 were fluent</a>&nbsp;Lakota speakers.Part of that was due to the forced assimilation of Native American children at Indian boarding schools across the country, said Sierra Concha, a literacy project coordinator at Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge. Red Cloud was formerly the Holy Rosary Mission boarding school where Concha’s grandmother was sent as a child.Concha’s grandfather, AIM leader and Wounded Knee ’73 activist Dennis Banks, was sent to a boarding school in Pipestone, Minnesota.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677608724350.jpeg" alt="Sierra Concha poses for a photo with her late grandfather Dennis Banks. (Courtesy of Sierra Concha)" />
 <figcaption>Sierra Concha poses for a photo with her late grandfather Dennis Banks. (Courtesy of Sierra Concha)</figcaption>
 </figure>Native children were removed from their families and communities by the federal government in the late 1800s until the mid 1900s and placed in boarding schools where they weren’t allowed to speak in their native language, wear their hair in traditional customs or pray according to their religion.But Lakota educators are reclaiming the space that stripped their relatives’ cultural identity now, using it to revitalize Lakota language and culture. Red Cloud serves over 500 Lakota students and includes a comprehensive Lakota language curriculum and Lakota language immersion program.“This work is so important because we’re reclaiming not only our language but our Indigenous knowledge systems — things that come with language and are tied to every part of our identity like songs, prayers and stories,” Concha said. “Our language is the very core of our being and who we are as unique Indigenous people.”Concha said Banks’ mission was to ensure that native people were “recognized and treated as equals.” Banks died in 2017, but his children and grandchildren continue that work.Concha works with her mother, Red Cloud Executive Vice President Tashina Banks Rama.Banks Rama said she draws inspiration from her father Dennis Banks’ example.“He used to have this phrase: ‘It was my generation’s job to go and beat these doors down and fight our way into these institutions and have native people be heard and recognized. It’s your generation and the next generation’s job to walk into these institutions and work them from the inside with the same mission,’” Banks Rama said.As an administrator, Banks Rama said she’s able to advocate for change “at the table.”<h2>South Dakota ‘still taking our children away’</h2>While the Indian boarding school era is over, Thunder Hawk’s continued mission is to strengthen and reunite Native families. The work stems from her activism in the ’70s.She called the foster care system a polished and “modernized” version of boarding schools.<a target="_blank" href="https://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/cwodatasite/pdf/south%20dakota.html">More than half the state’s foster children are Native American</a>, even though Native children make up only 12% of the population. And Native American children are nearly three times as likely to be in foster care as other children, according to a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.casey.org/media/ICWA-data.pdf">2020 Annie E. Casey Foundation study</a>.Foster care is “more acceptable to outside society,” but is still a “form of genocide” and colonization, Castle said.Gilbert serves as director at the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2023/02/14/it-takes-a-village-foster-program-is-a-new-model-of-care-for-indigenous-children/">Simply Smiles Children’s Village in La Plant&nbsp;</a>on the Cheyenne River Reservation, which aims to improve Indigenous foster care by keeping children in their tribal community instead of placing them in foster families away from the reservation.The village can house up to 18 children and has hired trained professionals whose full-time job is to care for children in a village setting that provides cultural programming and mental health services.“Our people have lost so many things because of the oppression of the government,” Gilbert said. “The foster system is an extension of that. They’re still taking our children.”Thunder Hawk’s mission in the last five decades has always focused on family and child welfare. As a member of the Waśagiya Najin “Standing Strong” grandmother’s group on the Cheyenne River Reservation, Thunder Hawk and Gilbert helped bring Simply Smiles to the community and are working with the tribal council to develop a family restoration program and department through tribal government.<h2>Freedom fighters: ‘It’s in our DNA’</h2>Some of the issues activists fought for in 1973 haven’t changed in 50 years.While much work has been done and there have been improvements, the ultimate goal is tribal sovereignty and self sufficiency, Banks Rama said.“Now we have native policy makers, legislators, lawyers and business people – people who understand the system,” Banks Rama said. “Tribes have a better understanding of their sovereignty now and how to assert their sovereignty when dealing with the federal government.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677608765487.jpeg" alt="Tatewin Means is the executive director of the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation. (Courtesy of Thunder Valley)" />
 <figcaption>Tatewin Means is the executive director of the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation. (Courtesy of Thunder Valley)</figcaption>
 </figure>Tatewin Means, daughter of the late AIM member and spokesman Russell Means, served as the attorney general for the Oglala Sioux Tribe in the 2010s and ran unsuccessfully for South Dakota attorney general in 2018. But she’s stepped away from her role in government to run Porcupine’s Thunder Valley Community Development as its executive director.Working at the nonprofit allows her the freedom to dream and the autonomy to see those dreams through.“Liberation. Freedom. That’s always been our collective vision as a nation to reclaim that sovereignty prior to colonization and to get as close as possible to being the spiritual beings and have the way of life we’ve always carried,” said Means, a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota, Oglala Lakota and Inhanktonwan nations. “It’s still there now because we’ve fought so hard to keep it.”Means said her father taught her about the occupation as she grew up and how the event “reawakened the strength, spirit and pride to be Lakota and Indigenous.”“It’s not just the legacy of him or other people, but the legacy that our community left — individuals who sacrificed their lives there and were willing to die so our people could be free from oppression,” Means said. “It’s part of our responsibility to be freedom fighters. It’s who we are; it’s in our DNA.”Banks Rama said she’s grateful for the work her father and other activists did at Wounded Knee in 1973. Their activism set a foundation for the work Indigenous people across South Dakota and the United States continue today.“The Lakota people and the Indigenous people across this country are very strong and resilient,” Banks Rama said. “Our youth and the next seven generations are rising.”This article first appeared in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2023/02/27/wounded-knee-occupation-activists-mission-continues-50-anniversary-tatewin-means-madonna-thunder-hawk-marcella-gilbert-red-cloud/">South Dakota Searchlight</a>,&nbsp;a sister&nbsp;site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom Network.