Emergency 911 services in Chadron have been restored for Dawes and Sioux County.&nbsp;

Phone lines are once again operational at the Alliance Police Department as well.&nbsp;

911 communications went down in the evening on Sept. 29.&nbsp;

By KALIN KROHE Panhandle PostEmergency 911 services in Chadron have been restored for Dawes and Sioux County.&nbsp;Phone lines are once again operational at the Alliance Police Department as well.&nbsp;911 communications went down in the evening on Sept. 29.&nbsp;

Alliance, Dawes and Sioux Co. 911 communications restored 

Alliance – The Alliance Public Library is hosting several new events for fall! We will begin Bring Your Own Book Club (B.Y.O.B.) on Thursday, September 29th at 6pm in the community room. Unlike most book clubs where everyone reads the same thing, at Bring Your Own Book Club, you choose what you’d like to read. Every month, we will meet in person or online and discuss the books that you are obsessed with, liked, or didn’t much care for. There’s a little something for everyone at B.Y.O.B. club.

On Thursday, October 6th at 6pm, local artist and high school art teacher, Kathy Brock will be teaching a Polymer Clay Earring Workshop in the community room. Patrons 18 and older are welcome to attend. The registration and materials fee is $15. Seats are limited so please pre-register at the circulation desk or by calling 762-1387.

Starting October 12th, Fiber Arts Club will meet in the new community room every second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 2pm. You can bring you own fiber arts projects (knitting, crochet, embroidery, etc.) and join us for a casual meet-up and to have some fun with your fellow crafters. Please note that this is not an instructional workshop, but a gathering spot to give crafters a place to socialize and turn strings into things. Crafters will supply their own materials and projects for club meetings.

On Thursday, October 20th at 6pm, we will also be hosting a Sweater Pumpkin Craft Class in the community room. Patrons 18 and older are welcome to attend. The registration fee is $8 if you bring your own sweater, and $10 if would like to use the sweaters provided.

For more information, visit our Alliance Public Library Facebook page and website, or contact Nalani Stewart, Adult Services Librarian at 762-1387.

By City of AllianceAlliance – The Alliance Public Library is hosting several new events for fall! We will begin Bring Your Own Book Club (B.Y.O.B.) on Thursday, September 29th at 6pm in the community room. Unlike most book clubs where everyone reads the same thing, at Bring Your Own Book Club, you choose what you’d like to read. Every month, we will meet in person or online and discuss the books that you are obsessed with, liked, or didn’t much care for. There’s a little something for everyone at B.Y.O.B. club.On Thursday, October 6th at 6pm, local artist and high school art teacher, Kathy Brock will be teaching a Polymer Clay Earring Workshop in the community room. Patrons 18 and older are welcome to attend. The registration and materials fee is $15. Seats are limited so please pre-register at the circulation desk or by calling 762-1387.Starting October 12th, Fiber Arts Club will meet in the new community room every second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 2pm. You can bring you own fiber arts projects (knitting, crochet, embroidery, etc.) and join us for a casual meet-up and to have some fun with your fellow crafters. Please note that this is not an instructional workshop, but a gathering spot to give crafters a place to socialize and turn strings into things. Crafters will supply their own materials and projects for club meetings.On Thursday, October 20th at 6pm, we will also be hosting a Sweater Pumpkin Craft Class in the community room. Patrons 18 and older are welcome to attend. The registration fee is $8 if you bring your own sweater, and $10 if would like to use the sweaters provided.For more information, visit our Alliance Public Library Facebook page and website, or contact Nalani Stewart, Adult Services Librarian at 762-1387.

Adult fall events to be held at Alliance Public Library

By Box Butte County Road Department

Box Butte County Road Department has been notified by BNSF of a crossing closure at CR58 near Parker Hannifan at about 7:30 a.m. on Monday, October 3.&nbsp; This closure is expected to last 3 hours.

On Tuesday, October 4 they will be working their way East to CR57 and Wednesday at CR55.&nbsp;

 There was no time given for these closures, only a date.&nbsp;&nbsp;

By Box Butte County Road DepartmentBox Butte County Road Department has been notified by BNSF of a crossing closure at CR58 near Parker Hannifan at about 7:30 a.m. on Monday, October 3.&nbsp; This closure is expected to last 3 hours. On Tuesday, October 4 they will be working their way East to CR57 and Wednesday at CR55.&nbsp; There was no time given for these closures, only a date.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Box Butte Co. Road Depart. reminds citizens of crossing closures by BNSF

The Alliance Police Department is experiencing technical issues with their phone service as this time.&nbsp;

All phone lines are currently down to the 911 center including administration lines.&nbsp;

If you have an emergency call the Alliance Police Department cellphone at 308-430-0129 or 308-430-0641.

This is a regional problem of the phone system.&nbsp;

Your land line phone may not work, but cellular phones appear to work.&nbsp;

"We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible," Alliance authorities said.&nbsp;

By KALIN KROHE Panhandle PostThe Alliance Police Department is experiencing technical issues with their phone service as this time.&nbsp;All phone lines are currently down to the 911 center including administration lines.&nbsp;If you have an emergency call the Alliance Police Department cellphone at 308-430-0129 or 308-430-0641.This is a regional problem of the phone system.&nbsp;Your land line phone may not work, but cellular phones appear to work.&nbsp;"We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible," Alliance authorities said.&nbsp;

UPDATE: Alliance Police Department experiencing phone problems 

The Dawes County 911 Communications Center in Chadron that serves 911 calls for Dawes and Sioux County is down at this time.&nbsp;

The Communications Center is not receiving 911 calls.&nbsp;

Texting 911 from your mobile phone is still operating.&nbsp;

"We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible," Dawes County Authorities said.&nbsp;

308-430-0129 is the alternate phone number to use for dispatch if service is needed.&nbsp;

By KALIN KROHE Panhandle PostThe Dawes County 911 Communications Center in Chadron that serves 911 calls for Dawes and Sioux County is down at this time.&nbsp;The Communications Center is not receiving 911 calls.&nbsp;Texting 911 from your mobile phone is still operating.&nbsp;"We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible," Dawes County Authorities said.&nbsp;308-430-0129 is the alternate phone number to use for dispatch if service is needed.&nbsp;

Dawes, Sioux Co. 911 Communications Center experiencing call problems 

The Scottsbluff Police Department is aware that several citizens have been contacted via-telephone by subject(s) posing as officials of local electrical utilities. The caller, whom appears to be calling from local cellular telephone numbers informs the citizen that their electrical services are about to be disconnected due to non-payment.

The Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) nor any City of Scottsbluff Staff Members communicate with customers in this way with regard to utility billing. Please do not give the callers any personal information and/or your personal banking information.

Please contact the Scottsbluff Police Department or the City of Scottsbluff Offices with any questions you have.

By Scottsbluff Police DepartmentThe Scottsbluff Police Department is aware that several citizens have been contacted via-telephone by subject(s) posing as officials of local electrical utilities. The caller, whom appears to be calling from local cellular telephone numbers informs the citizen that their electrical services are about to be disconnected due to non-payment.The Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) nor any City of Scottsbluff Staff Members communicate with customers in this way with regard to utility billing. Please do not give the callers any personal information and/or your personal banking information.Please contact the Scottsbluff Police Department or the City of Scottsbluff Offices with any questions you have.

Scottsbluff police remind citizens of utility scam 

POST PODCAST: Coffee Talk 9/29/22

Chadron - Nebraska lieutenant governor candidate Al Davis will be among those participating in the Chadron State College Homecoming Parade on October 1st. Davis, who is running with gubernatorial candidate Carol Blood, looks forward to meeting residents during the parade.

“It's great to get back to the beautiful scenery around Chadron and to visit CSC where my mother and two aunts attended college,” Davis said. “Chadron residents are among the friendliest in the state and make you feel at home from the minute you meet them. Let's hope the Eagles prevail in their big homecoming game. Go CSC!”

Davis, who was a third-generation Sandhills rancher, is well-known for using his time and talents to benefit those in smaller communities. Bringing opportunities to Nebraska’s most rural schools is one of the main reasons he volunteered for more than 30 years on school boards.

“I want to make sure that our rural schools can offer a top-notch education to students,” he said.

Davis is concerned about the challenges smaller communities face when protecting the health and safety of residents. His firsthand experience includes volunteering as an EMT in Hyannis and serving

several terms for the Sandhills Fire Protection District.

“In those roles, I realized how heavily dependent rural communities are on volunteers,” he said. “We need to support our volunteer first responders with the equipment, resources, and support they need to save lives.”

A top priority, as a state senator, was to secure additional funding for fire protection and getting tax credits for volunteers. Davis would be able to build upon those efforts if he and Blood are elected this Fall.

Davis has a long history of bringing artistic opportunities to rural Nebraska, including serving nine years as President of the Northwest Nebraska Arts Consortium. Davis opened a community theatre called the Hyannis Village Players, which toured extensively around Nebraska. He also founded the Council for the Cultural Arts in Hyannis.

Promoting Nebraska and Nebraska businesses is a proven strength of Davis. His experience includes serving on the Sandhills Chamber of Commerce and serving several times as chamber president of the Windmill Country Tourism Committee in Hyannis

Until his election to the Nebraska Legislature, Davis operated the OLO ranch near Hyannis. While serving as a state senator for District 43 from 2013 until 2017, he worked to lower property taxes, especially for farmers and ranchers. Davis was a founding member of the Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska. Davis also served on the Sandhills Cattle Association Board in Valentine.

Davis and his wife Dottie retain their residence at their ranch near Hyannis , but spend most of their time in Lincoln where Davis serves on several boards and committees including Voices for Children and Nebraska Farmers Union.

-News ReleaseChadron - Nebraska lieutenant governor candidate Al Davis will be among those participating in the Chadron State College Homecoming Parade on October 1st. Davis, who is running with gubernatorial candidate Carol Blood, looks forward to meeting residents during the parade.“It's great to get back to the beautiful scenery around Chadron and to visit CSC where my mother and two aunts attended college,” Davis said. “Chadron residents are among the friendliest in the state and make you feel at home from the minute you meet them. Let's hope the Eagles prevail in their big homecoming game. Go CSC!”Davis, who was a third-generation Sandhills rancher, is well-known for using his time and talents to benefit those in smaller communities. Bringing opportunities to Nebraska’s most rural schools is one of the main reasons he volunteered for more than 30 years on school boards.“I want to make sure that our rural schools can offer a top-notch education to students,” he said.Davis is concerned about the challenges smaller communities face when protecting the health and safety of residents. His firsthand experience includes volunteering as an EMT in Hyannis and servingseveral terms for the Sandhills Fire Protection District.“In those roles, I realized how heavily dependent rural communities are on volunteers,” he said. “We need to support our volunteer first responders with the equipment, resources, and support they need to save lives.”A top priority, as a state senator, was to secure additional funding for fire protection and getting tax credits for volunteers. Davis would be able to build upon those efforts if he and Blood are elected this Fall.Davis has a long history of bringing artistic opportunities to rural Nebraska, including serving nine years as President of the Northwest Nebraska Arts Consortium. Davis opened a community theatre called the Hyannis Village Players, which toured extensively around Nebraska. He also founded the Council for the Cultural Arts in Hyannis.Promoting Nebraska and Nebraska businesses is a proven strength of Davis. His experience includes serving on the Sandhills Chamber of Commerce and serving several times as chamber president of the Windmill Country Tourism Committee in HyannisUntil his election to the Nebraska Legislature, Davis operated the OLO ranch near Hyannis. While serving as a state senator for District 43 from 2013 until 2017, he worked to lower property taxes, especially for farmers and ranchers. Davis was a founding member of the Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska. Davis also served on the Sandhills Cattle Association Board in Valentine.Davis and his wife Dottie retain their residence at their ranch near Hyannis , but spend most of their time in Lincoln where Davis serves on several boards and committees including Voices for Children and Nebraska Farmers Union.

Sandhills rancher Al Davis participating in CSC homecoming parade

WASHINGTON (AP) — Six Republican-led states are suing the Biden administration in an effort to halt its plan to forgive student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans, accusing it of overstepping its executive powers.

It’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-lawsuits-executive-branch-88a53926a6583fdb7b8c311206f5357f">at least the second legal challenge this week</a>&nbsp;to the sweeping proposal laid out by President Joe Biden in late August, when he said his administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">would cancel up to $20,000 in education debt</a>&nbsp;for huge numbers of borrowers. The announcement, after months of internal deliberations and pressure from liberal activists, became immediate political fodder ahead of the November midterms while fueling arguments from conservatives about legality.

In the lawsuit, being filed Thursday in a federal court in Missouri, the Republican states argue that Biden's cancellation plan is “not remotely tailored to address the effects of the pandemic on federal student loan borrowers,” as required by the 2003 federal law that the administration is using as legal justification. They point out that Biden, in an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes” this month, declared the Covid-19 pandemic over, yet is still using the ongoing health emergency to justify&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-program-explained-d248f3b049c292856bb1c74be6aedef2">the wide-scale debt relief.</a>

“It’s patently unfair to saddle hard-working Americans with the loan debt of those who chose to go to college,” Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, who is leading the group, said in an interview.

She added: “The Department of Education is required, under the law, to collect the balance due on loans. And President Biden does not have the authority to override that.”

The states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina joined Arkansas in filing the lawsuit. Iowa has a Democratic attorney general, but the state's Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, signed on the state's behalf. The states argue that Missouri's loan servicer is facing a “number of ongoing financial harms” because of Biden's decision to cancel loans. Other states that joined the lawsuit argue that Biden's forgiveness plan will ultimately disrupt revenue to state coffers.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-to-get-student-loan-refund-if-you-paid-during-pandemic-ac42ffdca1d37d1fe8d1d63f6faeaa6f">Biden’s forgiveness program</a>&nbsp;will cancel $10,000 in student loan debt for those making less than $125,000 or households with less than $250,000 in income.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-higher-pell-grant-fce8a300f7d7400283891dc223cbc378">Pell Grant recipients</a>, who typically demonstrate more financial need, will get an additional $10,000 in debt forgiven.

The administration also said it would extend the current pause on federal student loan repayments — put on hold near the start of the pandemic more than two years ago — once more through the end of the year.

The administration faced threats of legal challenges to its plans almost immediately, with conservative attorneys, Republican lawmakers and business-oriented groups asserting that Biden was overstepping his authority in taking such sweeping action without the assent of Congress.

Democratic lawmakers battling in tough reelection contests also distanced themselves from the student loan plan, as Republican officials called it an unfair government giveaway for relatively affluent people at the expense of those who didn’t pursue higher education.

In their lawsuit, the Republican attorneys general also contend that the forgiveness program violates the Administrative Procedures Act, which lays out how federal agencies should make regulations in order to ensure executive branch policies are well-reasoned and explained.

“The president does not have the authority to put himself in the place of Congress,” Rutledge said in the interview. “These actions must be taken by Congress and he can’t override that.”

To justify the plan’s legality, the Biden administration is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-education-0fea030a0875c0e4e1a39b0c098bd48a">relying on a post-Sept. 11, 2001, law</a>&nbsp;meant to help members of the military that the Justice Department says allows Biden to reduce or erase student loan debt during a national emergency. But Republicans argue the administration is misinterpreting the law because, in part, the pandemic no longer qualifies as a national emergency.

Another lawsuit against Biden’s student loan program was filed this week in an Indiana federal court by the Pacific Legal Foundation, a libertarian legal advocacy group that employs a lawyer who says he would be harmed by the forgiveness plan. The lawyer, Frank Garrison, says erasing his current debt load will trigger a tax liability from the state of Indiana, which is among at least a half dozen states where the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-minnesota-mississippi-ffe9ed18bf0a434970ab09b1d89800e2">forgiven loan amounts will be subject to state taxes</a>.

The White House dismissed the lawsuit as baseless because any borrower who does not want the debt relief can opt out. The Education Department is still on track to unveil the application for the forgiveness plan in early October.

Republicans have also seized on the Biden plan’s price tag and its impact on the nation’s budget deficit. The Congressional Budget Office said this week that the program will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-congress-government-and-politics-359a28d9691745afd6154eac5f0550dc">cost about $400 billion over the next three decades</a>. The White House countered that the CBO’s estimate of how much the plan will cost just in its first year, $21 billion, is lower than what the administration initially believed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664468702792.jpeg" alt="President Joe Biden speaks during the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, at the Ronald Reagan Building, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden speaks during the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, at the Ronald Reagan Building, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)</figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSWASHINGTON (AP) — Six Republican-led states are suing the Biden administration in an effort to halt its plan to forgive student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans, accusing it of overstepping its executive powers.It’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-lawsuits-executive-branch-88a53926a6583fdb7b8c311206f5357f">at least the second legal challenge this week</a>&nbsp;to the sweeping proposal laid out by President Joe Biden in late August, when he said his administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">would cancel up to $20,000 in education debt</a>&nbsp;for huge numbers of borrowers. The announcement, after months of internal deliberations and pressure from liberal activists, became immediate political fodder ahead of the November midterms while fueling arguments from conservatives about legality.In the lawsuit, being filed Thursday in a federal court in Missouri, the Republican states argue that Biden's cancellation plan is “not remotely tailored to address the effects of the pandemic on federal student loan borrowers,” as required by the 2003 federal law that the administration is using as legal justification. They point out that Biden, in an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes” this month, declared the Covid-19 pandemic over, yet is still using the ongoing health emergency to justify&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-program-explained-d248f3b049c292856bb1c74be6aedef2">the wide-scale debt relief.</a>“It’s patently unfair to saddle hard-working Americans with the loan debt of those who chose to go to college,” Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, who is leading the group, said in an interview.She added: “The Department of Education is required, under the law, to collect the balance due on loans. And President Biden does not have the authority to override that.”The states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina joined Arkansas in filing the lawsuit. Iowa has a Democratic attorney general, but the state's Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, signed on the state's behalf. The states argue that Missouri's loan servicer is facing a “number of ongoing financial harms” because of Biden's decision to cancel loans. Other states that joined the lawsuit argue that Biden's forgiveness plan will ultimately disrupt revenue to state coffers.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-to-get-student-loan-refund-if-you-paid-during-pandemic-ac42ffdca1d37d1fe8d1d63f6faeaa6f">Biden’s forgiveness program</a>&nbsp;will cancel $10,000 in student loan debt for those making less than $125,000 or households with less than $250,000 in income.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-higher-pell-grant-fce8a300f7d7400283891dc223cbc378">Pell Grant recipients</a>, who typically demonstrate more financial need, will get an additional $10,000 in debt forgiven.The administration also said it would extend the current pause on federal student loan repayments — put on hold near the start of the pandemic more than two years ago — once more through the end of the year.The administration faced threats of legal challenges to its plans almost immediately, with conservative attorneys, Republican lawmakers and business-oriented groups asserting that Biden was overstepping his authority in taking such sweeping action without the assent of Congress.Democratic lawmakers battling in tough reelection contests also distanced themselves from the student loan plan, as Republican officials called it an unfair government giveaway for relatively affluent people at the expense of those who didn’t pursue higher education.In their lawsuit, the Republican attorneys general also contend that the forgiveness program violates the Administrative Procedures Act, which lays out how federal agencies should make regulations in order to ensure executive branch policies are well-reasoned and explained.“The president does not have the authority to put himself in the place of Congress,” Rutledge said in the interview. “These actions must be taken by Congress and he can’t override that.”To justify the plan’s legality, the Biden administration is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-education-0fea030a0875c0e4e1a39b0c098bd48a">relying on a post-Sept. 11, 2001, law</a>&nbsp;meant to help members of the military that the Justice Department says allows Biden to reduce or erase student loan debt during a national emergency. But Republicans argue the administration is misinterpreting the law because, in part, the pandemic no longer qualifies as a national emergency.Another lawsuit against Biden’s student loan program was filed this week in an Indiana federal court by the Pacific Legal Foundation, a libertarian legal advocacy group that employs a lawyer who says he would be harmed by the forgiveness plan. The lawyer, Frank Garrison, says erasing his current debt load will trigger a tax liability from the state of Indiana, which is among at least a half dozen states where the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-minnesota-mississippi-ffe9ed18bf0a434970ab09b1d89800e2">forgiven loan amounts will be subject to state taxes</a>.The White House dismissed the lawsuit as baseless because any borrower who does not want the debt relief can opt out. The Education Department is still on track to unveil the application for the forgiveness plan in early October.Republicans have also seized on the Biden plan’s price tag and its impact on the nation’s budget deficit. The Congressional Budget Office said this week that the program will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-congress-government-and-politics-359a28d9691745afd6154eac5f0550dc">cost about $400 billion over the next three decades</a>. The White House countered that the CBO’s estimate of how much the plan will cost just in its first year, $21 billion, is lower than what the administration initially believed.

Nebraska, 5 other states sue Biden administration over student loan plan

By Kerri Rempp, Discover Northwest Nebraska

From old-school hardback books to the newest technology, the Chadron Public Library, housed in one of Chadron’s historical buildings, is the perfect family-friendly stop during your Northwest Nebraska vacation.

Get creative in the facility’s makerspace, explore its vast collection of books, movies and audiobooks, challenge each other to a board game or the PlayStation equivalent.

The library’s recently expanded makerspace includes a laser cutter for engraving on wood, metal, tile and leather and 3D printers to make an assortment of objects, said Librarian Rossella Tesch. Computer programs allow users to download or design their own templates. Cricut and die cutting machines, as well as a sewing machine and button maker, offer hours of fun. Library staff members train visitors on the machines to ensure everyone’s safety.

In addition to an extensive in-house collection of books, movies and audiobooks, the Chadron Public Library also offers access to online collections through OverDrive, NebraskaAccess, Project Gutenberg, TumbleBooks and more. The online catalog includes magazines and books for all ages in multiple languages.

Want to view Northwest Nebraska’s night skies? Ask the library about its Space Explorer Backpacks, complete with a sky chart and telescope. Need computer time? The library offers seven desktop and two laptops for public use, and charging stations for your personal devices and wi-fi access are readily available. Looking for a projector and screen for an event or need to 3D print a special part for your washing machine? The library staff can help!

A collection of local and regional history is also available for review, though it’s use is limited to upstairs under the watchful eyes of the library staff.

Adult book clubs and yoga classes are standard features at the Chadron Public Library, and one area is dedicated to a permanent book sale. Next door, the Library Annex is a fully-stocked house of books that opens once a month for sales. Author appearances, speakers and other special programming are scheduled throughout the year as well.

Every October, the Chadron Public Library presents the Trading Stories Native American Film Festival. This year’s event is scheduled for Oct. 12-15 and will focus on extraordinary Native women and women’s issues. A complete schedule for the film festival can be found at http://discovernwnebraska.com/trading-stories-film-festival/.

Downstairs, the library’s teen room includes graphic novels, board games, a PlayStation and an Xbox, both with pre-loaded games.

“We just purchased the gaming chairs,” Tesch said. “The kids love these.”

The library hosts a variety of programs for middle school students throughout the year, from robotics and drone flight to fingerprint analysis. Younger children can color or draw, play with bricks and blocks or put on their own puppet show.

Children’s programming through December includes:

· Pre-school storytime every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

· Board Game Club the second Friday of each month at 3:30 p.m.

· LEGO Club the first Friday of each month at 3:30 p.m.

· STEAM Club the third Friday of each month at 3:30 p.m.

A newly-created Teen Advisory Board gives students their first hands-on civics training and helps the library shape its children’s and teen’s programming.

The Chadron Public Library has evolved to embrace today’s technology, but it has its roots in the earliest concept of libraries. Today, past and present merge inside a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The community of Chadron, led by Dr. J.S. Romine, Fannie O’Linn and Mary Hayward-Smith, began discussing the formation of a library in 1889, according to the library’s history. Within a month, the trio had solicited 100 members and by 1894 had a collection of 415 books. From that time until 1904, however, little is known about the status of the library. In 1907, the public was once again enthusiastic about the idea of a library and after establishing several hundred members, the city’s mayor approached Andrew Carnegie for financial assistance.

Carnegie, a Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist, donated money to construct more than 2,500 libraries worldwide, between 1883 and 1929, including 1,689 in the United States. He required cities to meet certain criteria, and Chadron was no exception. The city had to demonstrate that it could raise $500 annually and provide a site for the library. A lot at Fifth and Bordeaux streets was selected in 1911, and George Berlinghoff of Lincoln served as architect while he was in town designing the Chadron Normal College building.

The Carnegie-funded library opened in 1912. Chadron’s library became one of 69 Carnegie libraries in Nebraska. While nearly 40 of the buildings remain standing and in use as something other than a library, only 18 remain as libraries today. Twenty-five of the buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places; Chadron’s was added to that list in 1990.

The building was expanded in the 1960s through a bond issue, and supporters of the library are currently working on another expansion proposal to accommodate the latest technology and programming advancements.

The Chadron Public Library is open Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Friday-Saturday noon – 5 p.m.

By Kerri Rempp, Discover Northwest Nebraska<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664468187712.jpeg" alt="The Chadron Public Library was constructed in 1912 with grant funds from Andrew Carnegie. It was one of 69 Carnegie libraries in the state and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. Photo by Kerri Rempp/Discover Northwest Nebraska" />
 <figcaption>The Chadron Public Library was constructed in 1912 with grant funds from Andrew Carnegie. It was one of 69 Carnegie libraries in the state and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. Photo by Kerri Rempp/Discover Northwest Nebraska</figcaption>
 </figure>From old-school hardback books to the newest technology, the Chadron Public Library, housed in one of Chadron’s historical buildings, is the perfect family-friendly stop during your Northwest Nebraska vacation.Get creative in the facility’s makerspace, explore its vast collection of books, movies and audiobooks, challenge each other to a board game or the PlayStation equivalent.The library’s recently expanded makerspace includes a laser cutter for engraving on wood, metal, tile and leather and 3D printers to make an assortment of objects, said Librarian Rossella Tesch. Computer programs allow users to download or design their own templates. Cricut and die cutting machines, as well as a sewing machine and button maker, offer hours of fun. Library staff members train visitors on the machines to ensure everyone’s safety.In addition to an extensive in-house collection of books, movies and audiobooks, the Chadron Public Library also offers access to online collections through OverDrive, NebraskaAccess, Project Gutenberg, TumbleBooks and more. The online catalog includes magazines and books for all ages in multiple languages.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664468154968.jpeg" alt="The teen room of the Chadron Public Library includes graphic novels, board games and PlayStation and Xbox options. Photo by Kerri Rempp/Discover Northwest Nebraska" />
 <figcaption>The teen room of the Chadron Public Library includes graphic novels, board games and PlayStation and Xbox options. Photo by Kerri Rempp/Discover Northwest Nebraska</figcaption>
 </figure>Want to view Northwest Nebraska’s night skies? Ask the library about its Space Explorer Backpacks, complete with a sky chart and telescope. Need computer time? The library offers seven desktop and two laptops for public use, and charging stations for your personal devices and wi-fi access are readily available. Looking for a projector and screen for an event or need to 3D print a special part for your washing machine? The library staff can help!A collection of local and regional history is also available for review, though it’s use is limited to upstairs under the watchful eyes of the library staff.“It’s very precious,” Tesch said.Adult book clubs and yoga classes are standard features at the Chadron Public Library, and one area is dedicated to a permanent book sale. Next door, the Library Annex is a fully-stocked house of books that opens once a month for sales. Author appearances, speakers and other special programming are scheduled throughout the year as well.Every October, the Chadron Public Library presents the Trading Stories Native American Film Festival. This year’s event is scheduled for Oct. 12-15 and will focus on extraordinary Native women and women’s issues. A complete schedule for the film festival can be found at http://discovernwnebraska.com/trading-stories-film-festival/.Downstairs, the library’s teen room includes graphic novels, board games, a PlayStation and an Xbox, both with pre-loaded games.“We just purchased the gaming chairs,” Tesch said. “The kids love these.”The library hosts a variety of programs for middle school students throughout the year, from robotics and drone flight to fingerprint analysis. Younger children can color or draw, play with bricks and blocks or put on their own puppet show.Children’s programming through December includes:· Pre-school storytime every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.· Board Game Club the second Friday of each month at 3:30 p.m.· LEGO Club the first Friday of each month at 3:30 p.m.· STEAM Club the third Friday of each month at 3:30 p.m.A newly-created Teen Advisory Board gives students their first hands-on civics training and helps the library shape its children’s and teen’s programming.The Chadron Public Library has evolved to embrace today’s technology, but it has its roots in the earliest concept of libraries. Today, past and present merge inside a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.The community of Chadron, led by Dr. J.S. Romine, Fannie O’Linn and Mary Hayward-Smith, began discussing the formation of a library in 1889, according to the library’s history. Within a month, the trio had solicited 100 members and by 1894 had a collection of 415 books. From that time until 1904, however, little is known about the status of the library. In 1907, the public was once again enthusiastic about the idea of a library and after establishing several hundred members, the city’s mayor approached Andrew Carnegie for financial assistance.Carnegie, a Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist, donated money to construct more than 2,500 libraries worldwide, between 1883 and 1929, including 1,689 in the United States. He required cities to meet certain criteria, and Chadron was no exception. The city had to demonstrate that it could raise $500 annually and provide a site for the library. A lot at Fifth and Bordeaux streets was selected in 1911, and George Berlinghoff of Lincoln served as architect while he was in town designing the Chadron Normal College building.The Carnegie-funded library opened in 1912. Chadron’s library became one of 69 Carnegie libraries in Nebraska. While nearly 40 of the buildings remain standing and in use as something other than a library, only 18 remain as libraries today. Twenty-five of the buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places; Chadron’s was added to that list in 1990.The building was expanded in the 1960s through a bond issue, and supporters of the library are currently working on another expansion proposal to accommodate the latest technology and programming advancements.The Chadron Public Library is open Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Friday-Saturday noon – 5 p.m.

Chadron’s Carnegie library is more than just books

By Patricia Jones, Alliance Community Task Force: Creating Opportunity

Earlier this month the New York Times ran two articles about the significant drop in child poverty rates in the United States since 1993. What great news!

The first, appearing September 12, 2022, Expanded Safety Net Drives Sharp Drop in Child Poverty by Jason DeParle and Maddie McGarvey, says that between 1993 and 2019, child poverty fell by 59%.

The statistics were based on years of research presented by Dana Thomson and Renee Ryberg for the Early Childhood Data Collaborative. Their report says, "The past quarter century witnessed an unprecedented decline in child poverty rates. In 1993, the initial year of this decline, more than one in four children in the United States lived in families whose economic resources—including household income and government benefits—were below the federal government’s poverty threshold. Twenty-six years later, roughly one in 10 children lived in families whose economic resources were below the threshold. This is an astounding decline in the child poverty rate, which has seen child poverty reduced by more than half."

The researchers analyzed different government programs, called the social safety net, to determine which had made a significant difference. In 1993, the social safety net cut poverty by 9 percent compared to what it would have been without the safety net. In great contrast, in 2019, the social safety net cut child poverty by 44 percent. Over that time, the number of children protected from poverty by the social safety net more than tripled, from 2.0 million children in 1993 to 6.5 million children in 2019.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), housing subsidies, Social Security, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contributed the most to protecting children from poverty.

Much of the credit for the decrease in childhood poverty goes to the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, officially called the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act. The purposes of the program were to assist needy families, fight welfare dependency by promoting work and marriage, reduce nonmarital births, and encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. Conservatives wanted to emphasize the work and family issues while many liberals were equally concerned with ensuring benefits and adequate income for needy families. What Congress developed through compromise worked so much better than either side could have imagined.

The labor force participation rate increased, especially for single mothers. Teen birth rates dropped dramatically. However, the poverty rate is still very high for children whose parents are not stably employed. These parents may not have the skills needed for available jobs, they

might have health or disability issues, they may not be able to find child care or transportation, or they may face discrimination.

Why is this reduction in child poverty so important? Lack of nutritious food, clothing, safe and stable housing, health care, and education—as well as the chronic stress that this lack of resources creates—can have significant consequences for children’s health, academic achievement, social-emotional functioning, and long-term well-being and economic success. When we promote economic security for families, we lower crime rates and health care costs, improving society as a whole.

By Patricia Jones, Alliance Community Task Force: Creating OpportunityEarlier this month the New York Times ran two articles about the significant drop in child poverty rates in the United States since 1993. What great news!The first, appearing September 12, 2022, Expanded Safety Net Drives Sharp Drop in Child Poverty by Jason DeParle and Maddie McGarvey, says that between 1993 and 2019, child poverty fell by 59%.The statistics were based on years of research presented by Dana Thomson and Renee Ryberg for the Early Childhood Data Collaborative. Their report says, "The past quarter century witnessed an unprecedented decline in child poverty rates. In 1993, the initial year of this decline, more than one in four children in the United States lived in families whose economic resources—including household income and government benefits—were below the federal government’s poverty threshold. Twenty-six years later, roughly one in 10 children lived in families whose economic resources were below the threshold. This is an astounding decline in the child poverty rate, which has seen child poverty reduced by more than half."The researchers analyzed different government programs, called the social safety net, to determine which had made a significant difference. In 1993, the social safety net cut poverty by 9 percent compared to what it would have been without the safety net. In great contrast, in 2019, the social safety net cut child poverty by 44 percent. Over that time, the number of children protected from poverty by the social safety net more than tripled, from 2.0 million children in 1993 to 6.5 million children in 2019.The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), housing subsidies, Social Security, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contributed the most to protecting children from poverty.Much of the credit for the decrease in childhood poverty goes to the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, officially called the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act. The purposes of the program were to assist needy families, fight welfare dependency by promoting work and marriage, reduce nonmarital births, and encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. Conservatives wanted to emphasize the work and family issues while many liberals were equally concerned with ensuring benefits and adequate income for needy families. What Congress developed through compromise worked so much better than either side could have imagined.The labor force participation rate increased, especially for single mothers. Teen birth rates dropped dramatically. However, the poverty rate is still very high for children whose parents are not stably employed. These parents may not have the skills needed for available jobs, theymight have health or disability issues, they may not be able to find child care or transportation, or they may face discrimination.Why is this reduction in child poverty so important? Lack of nutritious food, clothing, safe and stable housing, health care, and education—as well as the chronic stress that this lack of resources creates—can have significant consequences for children’s health, academic achievement, social-emotional functioning, and long-term well-being and economic success. When we promote economic security for families, we lower crime rates and health care costs, improving society as a whole.

Getting Ahead: Child poverty rates are falling

Alliance – Despite providing a wide range of social, economic and environmental benefits, most Nebraska community forests have been in steady and sometimes dramatic decline. Many challenges contribute, including extreme weather, insects, disease and lack of diversity. The Emerald Ash borer is the latest major challenge added to the list.

In an effort to stop this decline and increase community forest resilience, the Free Trees program grants up to 10 high quality trees for tree-related educational events and community celebrations promoting trees and fall planting. In addition to planting more trees, the program goals include increasing appreciation and awareness of the value of community forests in Nebraska. Special emphasis is placed on species diversity and higher impact projects, especially street planting projects in neighborhoods of highest need.

Thanks to the Free Trees for Fall Planting program, an effort of the Nebraska Forest Service and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, The City of Alliance received and has planted 8 trees in the Homestead Subdivision.

 The City of Alliance believes that planting these trees will help the adjacent housing development by providing a natural fence and visual separation from non-residential uses, make development of empty lots more appealing, and provide shade and fresh air. These trees will grow as our community grows.

In addition to the 8 trees in the Homestead Subdivision, the City of Alliance received an additional 5 trees to plant in our local parks. 2 trees will be planted in Central Park and 3 in Laing Lake Park.

Free Trees for Fall Planting is supported by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum’s Trees for Nebraska Towns Initiative founded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

For more information, please follow our social media pages or contact the Administration offices at (308) 762-5400.

By City of AllianceAlliance – Despite providing a wide range of social, economic and environmental benefits, most Nebraska community forests have been in steady and sometimes dramatic decline. Many challenges contribute, including extreme weather, insects, disease and lack of diversity. The Emerald Ash borer is the latest major challenge added to the list.In an effort to stop this decline and increase community forest resilience, the Free Trees program grants up to 10 high quality trees for tree-related educational events and community celebrations promoting trees and fall planting. In addition to planting more trees, the program goals include increasing appreciation and awareness of the value of community forests in Nebraska. Special emphasis is placed on species diversity and higher impact projects, especially street planting projects in neighborhoods of highest need.Thanks to the Free Trees for Fall Planting program, an effort of the Nebraska Forest Service and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, The City of Alliance received and has planted 8 trees in the Homestead Subdivision. The City of Alliance believes that planting these trees will help the adjacent housing development by providing a natural fence and visual separation from non-residential uses, make development of empty lots more appealing, and provide shade and fresh air. These trees will grow as our community grows.In addition to the 8 trees in the Homestead Subdivision, the City of Alliance received an additional 5 trees to plant in our local parks. 2 trees will be planted in Central Park and 3 in Laing Lake Park.Free Trees for Fall Planting is supported by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum’s Trees for Nebraska Towns Initiative founded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust.For more information, please follow our social media pages or contact the Administration offices at (308) 762-5400.

Free Trees for Fall Planting Program, City of Alliance plants 8 new trees

CHADRON – The Chadron State Foundation’s annual Fall Fund Drive will begin Oct. 4 and conclude Oct. 21. Last year,&nbsp;more than 100 volunteers from the campus and community raised $202,594 in 2021 to help fund student scholarships and programs at Chadron State College.

Brandon Davenport, development officer with the Chadron State Foundation, said gifts to the Fall Fund Drive provide the opportunity and environment for students to grow into impactful community members.

“Donations fund essential scholarships and program support. When you give a gift to the Fall Fund Drive, you are part of forging future stars at Chadron State,” Davenport said.

This year’s Fall Fund Drive theme, Forging Future Stars, is tied to the college’s 2022 Homecoming theme, Out of this World.

“Both are fitting given our new planetarium and how the Math Science Center of Innovative Learning will help empower students entering careers in the Science Technology Engineering and Math fields.&nbsp;It is a testament to the generosity of donors’ support of the next generation of successful students.&nbsp;They go on to become the stars of our region as teachers, doctors, lawyers, businessmen and women, ranchers, conservationists, and more,” Davenport said.

Established in the mid-1980s, the Fall Fund Drive is an annual campaign that reaches out to CSC faculty and staff, as well as area businesses, community members, and friends.&nbsp;Those who wish to give may visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.csc.edu/foundation/fall-fund-drive" target="_blank">www.csc.edu/foundation/fall-fund-drive</a>.

By the CHADRON STATE FOUNDATIONCHADRON – The Chadron State Foundation’s annual Fall Fund Drive will begin Oct. 4 and conclude Oct. 21. Last year,&nbsp;more than 100 volunteers from the campus and community raised $202,594 in 2021 to help fund student scholarships and programs at Chadron State College.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664405951160.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Brandon Davenport, development officer with the Chadron State Foundation, said gifts to the Fall Fund Drive provide the opportunity and environment for students to grow into impactful community members.“Donations fund essential scholarships and program support. When you give a gift to the Fall Fund Drive, you are part of forging future stars at Chadron State,” Davenport said.This year’s Fall Fund Drive theme, Forging Future Stars, is tied to the college’s 2022 Homecoming theme, Out of this World.“Both are fitting given our new planetarium and how the Math Science Center of Innovative Learning will help empower students entering careers in the Science Technology Engineering and Math fields.&nbsp;It is a testament to the generosity of donors’ support of the next generation of successful students.&nbsp;They go on to become the stars of our region as teachers, doctors, lawyers, businessmen and women, ranchers, conservationists, and more,” Davenport said.Established in the mid-1980s, the Fall Fund Drive is an annual campaign that reaches out to CSC faculty and staff, as well as area businesses, community members, and friends.&nbsp;Those who wish to give may visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.csc.edu/foundation/fall-fund-drive" target="_blank">www.csc.edu/foundation/fall-fund-drive</a>.

CSC Foundation invites supporters to participate in Fall Fund Drive

WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, S.D. – Planning is underway to burn 1,037 acres of land adjacent to the Elk Mountain Campground this fall. The fire could occur as early as the week of October 2.

The project area includes dense and open ponderosa pine forest with a grass understory. This is a wildland urban interface area involving structures in the park’s headquarters area and a nearby private residence. Ignition will take place through the utilization of ground resources, and the primary carrier of fire will be grass.   

“Prescribed fires such as this help reduce the buildup of fuels that could result in a catastrophic wildfire that threatens park structures and a nearby private residence,” said Park Superintendent Leigh Welling. “It will also decrease the encroachment of young ponderosa pine onto the prairie while improving water flow into the cave.”  

Assisting with the burn will be National Park Service firefighters with support from other interagency resources.   

During the day of the burn, smoke from the fire may be heavy at times along Highway 385 and 87 and visible from the surrounding region. These highways, and roads leading into the visitor center area, might be closed intermittently for safety reasons. Unless there is significant precipitation, smoke might be seen in the area for several days following the burn.   

This fire represents a continuation of the park's prescribed fire program which began in 1972. Segments of the park are burned, under favorable conditions, to simulate natural fires. Prescribed fires maintain the balance between forest and prairie, removes the build-up of dead fuels which reduces the chances of catastrophic wildfires, and rejuvenates the native prairie grasses.    

Prescribed fires are carefully conducted under identified and approved prescription conditions.  Factors such as humidity, fuel moisture, wind speed and direction, and short and long-range weather patterns are all considered in establishing the acceptable conditions for conducting a prescribed fire. If the prescribed set of conditions cannot be met on a specific day, the planned fire is postponed.    

By Wind Cave National ParkWIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, S.D. – Planning is underway to burn 1,037 acres of land adjacent to the Elk Mountain Campground this fall. The fire could occur as early as the week of October 2.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664405752081.jpeg" alt="&nbsp; Wind Cave National Park plans to burn 1,037 acres along the western boundary of the park this fall if weather conditions permit.&nbsp;(NPS Illustration)&nbsp; &nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp; Wind Cave National Park plans to burn 1,037 acres along the western boundary of the park this fall if weather conditions permit.&nbsp;(NPS Illustration)&nbsp; &nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The project area includes dense and open ponderosa pine forest with a grass understory. This is a wildland urban interface area involving structures in the park’s headquarters area and a nearby private residence. Ignition will take place through the utilization of ground resources, and the primary carrier of fire will be grass. “Prescribed fires such as this help reduce the buildup of fuels that could result in a catastrophic wildfire that threatens park structures and a nearby private residence,” said Park Superintendent Leigh Welling. “It will also decrease the encroachment of young ponderosa pine onto the prairie while improving water flow into the cave.” Assisting with the burn will be National Park Service firefighters with support from other interagency resources. During the day of the burn, smoke from the fire may be heavy at times along Highway 385 and 87 and visible from the surrounding region. These highways, and roads leading into the visitor center area, might be closed intermittently for safety reasons. Unless there is significant precipitation, smoke might be seen in the area for several days following the burn. This fire represents a continuation of the park's prescribed fire program which began in 1972. Segments of the park are burned, under favorable conditions, to simulate natural fires. Prescribed fires maintain the balance between forest and prairie, removes the build-up of dead fuels which reduces the chances of catastrophic wildfires, and rejuvenates the native prairie grasses. Prescribed fires are carefully conducted under identified and approved prescription conditions. Factors such as humidity, fuel moisture, wind speed and direction, and short and long-range weather patterns are all considered in establishing the acceptable conditions for conducting a prescribed fire. If the prescribed set of conditions cannot be met on a specific day, the planned fire is postponed.

Wind Cave National Park prepares for prescribed burn 

Fort Robinson State Park’s Haunted Halloween is returning for its second year, but will be in a slightly different location from the first. The event is set for Saturday, Oct. 29, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the park’s Parade Ground and Buffalo Soldiers Barracks.

Deb Kennedy, assistant park superintendent, said the event was moved from last year’s location, the Soldier Creek Campground, because construction of an electrical upgrade is underway there. She said the change in location is for only this year and that she looks forward to it returning to the campground in 2023.

Last year’s event was popular beyond expectations, and organizers expect another festive affair. Throughout the evening, the park will offer free wagon rides and visitors can dine on chili soup and a roll for $5.

Even though “Camp and Candy” is without the campground, the public is encouraged to serve trick-or-treaters from their campers, cars, pickup trucks, trailers or other vehicles. Spots with 30-amp electricity will be available at the Parade Ground. To reserve a site, contact the park’s headquarters at 308-665-2900.

Attendees who arrive in costume may sign up for a chance to win a two-night’s stay at one of the park’s cabins that sleep six people. At 5 p.m., judges will award the best families or groups in costumes. Prizes will be awarded for the most original, the funniest, and the entry with the best Halloween theme.

The event is open to the public but a Nebraska state park entry permit is required for vehicles. The permits may be purchased in advance at outdoornebraska.org or from the booth at the park’s headquarters while entering the event.

By Nebraska Game and ParksFort Robinson State Park’s Haunted Halloween is returning for its second year, but will be in a slightly different location from the first. The event is set for Saturday, Oct. 29, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the park’s Parade Ground and Buffalo Soldiers Barracks.Deb Kennedy, assistant park superintendent, said the event was moved from last year’s location, the Soldier Creek Campground, because construction of an electrical upgrade is underway there. She said the change in location is for only this year and that she looks forward to it returning to the campground in 2023.Last year’s event was popular beyond expectations, and organizers expect another festive affair. Throughout the evening, the park will offer free wagon rides and visitors can dine on chili soup and a roll for $5.Even though “Camp and Candy” is without the campground, the public is encouraged to serve trick-or-treaters from their campers, cars, pickup trucks, trailers or other vehicles. Spots with 30-amp electricity will be available at the Parade Ground. To reserve a site, contact the park’s headquarters at 308-665-2900.Attendees who arrive in costume may sign up for a chance to win a two-night’s stay at one of the park’s cabins that sleep six people. At 5 p.m., judges will award the best families or groups in costumes. Prizes will be awarded for the most original, the funniest, and the entry with the best Halloween theme.The event is open to the public but a Nebraska state park entry permit is required for vehicles. The permits may be purchased in advance at outdoornebraska.org or from the booth at the park’s headquarters while entering the event.

Fort Robinson 'Haunted Halloween' set for end of October

POST PODCAST: Coffee Talk 9/28/22

By Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District

The Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District (UNWNRD) will host the Annual Poster Contest this fall. Participants from across the District (Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan and Sioux Counties) are encouraged to create a poster based on this year’s theme which is “Healthy Soil: Healthy Life”. Students from Kindergarten through 12th Grade are welcome to participate! “This is a great opportunity for students in Northwest Nebraska to learn a little about how healthy soils are important to our ecosystem while showing off their creativity,” noted Tricia Goes, UNWNRD Conservation Programs Specialist.

Posters are judged based on their Conservation Message, Visual Effectiveness, Originality, and Universal Appeal and can be created using any media desired as long as they are submitted on 8.5” x 11” paper. The title of this year’s theme must also be displayed on the poster: “Healthy Soil: Healthy Life”. We encourage teachers and parents to use this opportunity to educate their students on the importance of healthy soil and natural resources. UNWNRD staff are happy to provide educational material to educators who would like to incorporate this into their curriculum.

Posters are due back to the UNWNRD Office, 430 East 2nd Street, Chadron, NE 69337, by November 4th. There will be cash prizes for the top 3 posters in each age group and all of the first-place posters will then be submitted to the state level for further recognition and prizes!

Show us your creative side by submitted a poster for the 2022 UNWNRD Poster Contest! Visit our website, www.unwnrd.org for more information or call the office at (308) 432-6190.

By Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources DistrictThe Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District (UNWNRD) will host the Annual Poster Contest this fall. Participants from across the District (Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan and Sioux Counties) are encouraged to create a poster based on this year’s theme which is “Healthy Soil: Healthy Life”. Students from Kindergarten through 12th Grade are welcome to participate! “This is a great opportunity for students in Northwest Nebraska to learn a little about how healthy soils are important to our ecosystem while showing off their creativity,” noted Tricia Goes, UNWNRD Conservation Programs Specialist.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664381480424.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Posters are judged based on their Conservation Message, Visual Effectiveness, Originality, and Universal Appeal and can be created using any media desired as long as they are submitted on 8.5” x 11” paper. The title of this year’s theme must also be displayed on the poster: “Healthy Soil: Healthy Life”. We encourage teachers and parents to use this opportunity to educate their students on the importance of healthy soil and natural resources. UNWNRD staff are happy to provide educational material to educators who would like to incorporate this into their curriculum.Posters are due back to the UNWNRD Office, 430 East 2nd Street, Chadron, NE 69337, by November 4th. There will be cash prizes for the top 3 posters in each age group and all of the first-place posters will then be submitted to the state level for further recognition and prizes!Show us your creative side by submitted a poster for the 2022 UNWNRD Poster Contest! Visit our website, www.unwnrd.org for more information or call the office at (308) 432-6190.

Upper Niobrara White NRD to Host K-12 poster contest

By&nbsp;Chase County Sheriff’s Office

On Tuesday, Sept. 27, around 3:57 p.m. the Chase County Sheriff's Office received&nbsp;an emergency 911 call reporting a school bus rollover accident involving a semi-tractor trailer on state highway 15A and 736 road South West of Imperial near Champion. 

Chase County Sheriff's Deputies, the Imperial fire department, Imperial EMS and Emergency Management responded to the scene.&nbsp;

The preliminary investigation indicated the school bus, a 2020 Integrated CES owned by Chase County Schools, attempted to make a left hand turn when it collided with a 1992 Peterbilt&nbsp;Semi pulling a fully loaded grain trailer. 

The semi is owned by KAK Inc. out of Champion Nebraska and was traveling northbound on highway 15A. 

The semi impacted the rear passenger side of the school bus, causing the bus to rotate 90 degrees and overturn onto its driver's side. After striking the bus, the semi continued north a short distance before leaving the&nbsp;roadway, crossing the ditch, and coming to rest onto the property located at 32815 15 A spur.&nbsp; 

The school bus was operated by 39 year old Keith D. Cranwell of Champion. The semi was operated at the time by 20 year old Chance D. Lotspeich of Venango, NE.&nbsp;

The school bus had been in the process of dropping children off after school and carried 11 students on board, ranging in ages from 6 to 15 years old. 

All passengers and drivers were transported to the Chase County hospital with a wide range of injuries. 

3 children were later transported to regional trauma centers.

 The Chase County Sheriff's Office is still in the preliminary stage of the investigation and has requested the assistance of &nbsp;the Nebraska State Patrol to help with the inspection of both commercial vehicles and to reconstruct the accident.

By&nbsp;Chase County Sheriff’s OfficeOn Tuesday, Sept. 27, around 3:57 p.m. the Chase County Sheriff's Office received&nbsp;an emergency 911 call reporting a school bus rollover accident involving a semi-tractor trailer on state highway 15A and 736 road South West of Imperial near Champion. Chase County Sheriff's Deputies, the Imperial fire department, Imperial EMS and Emergency Management responded to the scene.&nbsp;The preliminary investigation indicated the school bus, a 2020 Integrated CES owned by Chase County Schools, attempted to make a left hand turn when it collided with a 1992 Peterbilt&nbsp;Semi pulling a fully loaded grain trailer. The semi is owned by KAK Inc. out of Champion Nebraska and was traveling northbound on highway 15A. The semi impacted the rear passenger side of the school bus, causing the bus to rotate 90 degrees and overturn onto its driver's side. After striking the bus, the semi continued north a short distance before leaving the&nbsp;roadway, crossing the ditch, and coming to rest onto the property located at 32815 15 A spur.&nbsp; The school bus was operated by 39 year old Keith D. Cranwell of Champion. The semi was operated at the time by 20 year old Chance D. Lotspeich of Venango, NE.&nbsp;The school bus had been in the process of dropping children off after school and carried 11 students on board, ranging in ages from 6 to 15 years old. All passengers and drivers were transported to the Chase County hospital with a wide range of injuries. 3 children were later transported to regional trauma centers. The Chase County Sheriff's Office is still in the preliminary stage of the investigation and has requested the assistance of &nbsp;the Nebraska State Patrol to help with the inspection of both commercial vehicles and to reconstruct the accident.

Multiple people transported to hospital after school bus, semi accident

POST PODCAST: Nebraska "We Care For Kids"

The Nebraska State Patrol is investigation a two-vehicle crash that resulted in two fatalities&nbsp;Tuesday afternoon&nbsp;in Morrill County.&nbsp;

Preliminary investigation shows that just after&nbsp;12:00 p.m. MT, a Subaru Forester was westbound on Link 62A in Morrill County. The Forester passed a westbound truck-tractor/semi-trailer and was then attempting to make a left turn. The semi was unable to stop and struck the rear of the Forester.&nbsp;

The two occupants of the Forester, identified as Joyce Glaesemann, 74, and William Glaesemann, 75, both of Lincoln, passed away as a result of the crash. The driver of the semi, Victor Hernandez, 46, of New Mexico, was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;

The crash remains under investigation. The Morrill County Sheriff’s Office, Morrill County EMS, Bayard Fire Department, Bridgeport Fire Department, NDOT, and NSP all responded to the crash.

By Nebraska State PatrolThe Nebraska State Patrol is investigation a two-vehicle crash that resulted in two fatalities&nbsp;Tuesday afternoon&nbsp;in Morrill County.&nbsp;Preliminary investigation shows that just after&nbsp;12:00 p.m. MT, a Subaru Forester was westbound on Link 62A in Morrill County. The Forester passed a westbound truck-tractor/semi-trailer and was then attempting to make a left turn. The semi was unable to stop and struck the rear of the Forester.&nbsp;The two occupants of the Forester, identified as Joyce Glaesemann, 74, and William Glaesemann, 75, both of Lincoln, passed away as a result of the crash. The driver of the semi, Victor Hernandez, 46, of New Mexico, was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;The crash remains under investigation. The Morrill County Sheriff’s Office, Morrill County EMS, Bayard Fire Department, Bridgeport Fire Department, NDOT, and NSP all responded to the crash.

2 dead following crash on Panhandle highway 

It’s been refreshing to feel the crisp air with the arrival of autumn.&nbsp; As the weather cools off and leaves begin to change color, it’s a great time to get outdoors.&nbsp; From hunting to hiking to hayrack rides, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of Nebraska this fall.

Hunting is part of our cultural heritage in Nebraska.&nbsp; It’s part of what makes this the Good Life.&nbsp; Hunting trips create opportunities for parents to bond with their kids and for friends to spend time together making memories.

We want to introduce the next generation to the joys of hunting.&nbsp; Participating in the Take ’em Hunting program, through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC), is a great way to introduce a beginner to the pastime.&nbsp; To participate, simply invite a newcomer to go hunting, take a picture with them, and submit it on the Game and Parks website (<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Foutdoornebraska.gov%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CGOV-GENERALMEDIA%40LISTSERV.NEBRASKA.GOV%7Cb58f3609f8464b2b859808daa08a9009%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637998814244321589%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=ahH%2BiFZRFoFiqGCCxB6qOPNcZWFCVsknqQS89Kp1Kck%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">outdoornebraska.gov</a>).&nbsp; You’ll be entered into a raffle to win cool prizes like a John Deer gator from AKRS Equipment.&nbsp;

NGPC offers workshops to help Nebraskans learn and refine their outdoor skills.&nbsp; The Mentored Youth Archery Program is available to bowhunter education graduates who are 12 to 17 years old. &nbsp;It pairs deer hunting beginners with qualified instructors for a full archery season. &nbsp;Mentors teach participants how to scout, hang tree stands, interpret animal signs, and safely handle the animals they harvest.&nbsp; For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Foutdoornebraska.gov%2Fmentored-hunts%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CGOV-GENERALMEDIA%40LISTSERV.NEBRASKA.GOV%7Cb58f3609f8464b2b859808daa08a9009%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637998814244321589%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=SPC81qNH%2FWcSpR8OEkegnaZbdSWLtSf9uU4YobKVdIA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">outdoornebraska.gov/mentored-hunts</a>.&nbsp;

In 1996, NGPC and Pheasants Forever developed a program for youth ages 12 to 15 who have recently completed a Hunter Safety Education class to attend a mentored hunt.&nbsp; Participants learn dog training, hunter safety, blue rock shooting, and more.&nbsp; The highlight of the program is a pheasant or dove hunt with an instructor and dog handler.&nbsp; More information is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnebraskapf.com%2Fyouth-mentor-hunt%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CGOV-GENERALMEDIA%40LISTSERV.NEBRASKA.GOV%7Cb58f3609f8464b2b859808daa08a9009%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637998814244321589%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=GuwgMQe8xuE6r6dJRPrJVoThIJj2TmCu%2B%2B8I8uWvc%2BQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">nebraskapf.com/youth-mentor-hunt</a>.&nbsp;

Young hunters have had big success in Nebraska.&nbsp; Hannah Helmer of Seward was 14 years old in 2016 when she took down the largest elk in state history during a hunt in Sioux County.&nbsp; It weighed nearly 1,000 pounds and its giant, non-typical rack officially scored 426 7/8 points.&nbsp; Hannah’s father, Joel, has written a book telling the story of Hannah’s elk and other great hunts in the Cornhusker State (Nebraska Bucks &amp; Bulls).

On October 5-6, I’m headed to Chadron for the annual Governor’s Pine Ridge Wild Turkey Hunt.&nbsp; I look forward to enjoying the natural scenery of the Pine Ridge, connecting with friends, and experiencing the thrill of the hunt.&nbsp; One hundred years ago, that wouldn’t have been possible.&nbsp; Turkeys had completely disappeared from Nebraska by 1915.&nbsp; Starting in the late 1950s, NGPC led a successful program to reintroduce them—starting in the Pine Ridge.&nbsp; Today, there are turkeys in every county of our state, and Nebraska has become the top turkey hunting destination in the country.&nbsp; Nebraska is also known for our upland game hunting with excellent populations of ring-necked pheasants, bobwhite quail, sharp-tailed grouse, and greater prairie-chickens.&nbsp;

Our state offers over 1.2 million acres of publicly accessible lands, with abundant walk-in hunting opportunities.&nbsp; Each year, NGPC publishes a Public Access Atlas displaying all of these lands.&nbsp; The atlas is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Foutdoornebraska.gov%2FPublicAccessAtlas%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CGOV-GENERALMEDIA%40LISTSERV.NEBRASKA.GOV%7Cb58f3609f8464b2b859808daa08a9009%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637998814244321589%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=GCPNFJPaLayJxeZMCPM8NzzO3wNRAZhb8hlE%2BuNK2VI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.org/PublicAccessAtlas</a>.&nbsp; This year, Nebraska’s private landowners have made 374,000 acres accessible through the&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Foutdoornebraska.gov%2Fofw%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CGOV-GENERALMEDIA%40LISTSERV.NEBRASKA.GOV%7Cb58f3609f8464b2b859808daa08a9009%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637998814244321589%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=eJQhlpj%2BoX8u37DShg%2BXAVhqrhrS3RZLj%2FujZaSor98%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Open Fields and Waters</a>&nbsp;program, opportunities for which we are grateful.&nbsp; Open Fields and Waters provides financial incentives to private landowners willing to allow walk-in, public access for hunting, trapping, and/or fishing.&nbsp; Thank you to the many families helping to grow hunting in Nebraska by opening lands to our sportsmen and sportswomen.&nbsp;

In addition to hunting, the Good Life has plenty of wide open spaces for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.&nbsp; The Cowboy Trail, built along the old Chicago &amp; Northwestern railroad, runs 196 miles from Norfolk to Valentine.&nbsp; Eventually, it will extend all the way to Chadron.&nbsp; Trail-goers can experience the sights and sounds of nature as they travel along the trail.&nbsp;

Nebraska’s state parks offer even more to explore.&nbsp; Fort Robinson State Park (Crawford) spans 22,000 acres.&nbsp; It’s home to buffalo and longhorn herds and brimming with history of the Old West.&nbsp; The hardwood forest at Indian Cave State Park (Shubert) offers a spectacular show of colors each fall.&nbsp; The park get its name from a large sandstone cave, which has Native American rock carvings.&nbsp; The plentiful wildlife and scenic vistas at Niobrara State Park make it a favorite spot for photographers.&nbsp; Nebraska’s first state park—Chadron State Park—is over 100 years old.&nbsp; It borders the Nebraska National Forest, and together the park and forest have more than 100 miles of trails and paths.

While fall is harvesttime in Nebraska, you don’t have to be a full-time farmer to take part.&nbsp; Orchards and pumpkin patches across the state offer visitors the opportunity to pick their own produce.&nbsp; Apple Acres Orchard (Kearney), DeGroot Orchards (Madison), Fanny’s Fruit Farm &amp; Pumpkin Patch (Gurley), Kimmel Orchard (Nebraska City), and Vala’s Pumpkin Patch and Orchard (Gretna) are just a few of the great places to go.&nbsp; Many offer old-fashioned hayrack rides as well!

No matter your interests, there are plenty of options to choose from right here in Nebraska as you plan your fall. &nbsp;If you’d like to learn more about outdoor recreation in Nebraska, visit the Game and Parks Commission’s website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Foutdoornebraska.gov%2Ffishingforecast%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CGOV-GENERALMEDIA%40LISTSERV.NEBRASKA.GOV%7Cb58f3609f8464b2b859808daa08a9009%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637998814244321589%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=prTW53DQLRiUf9SUPwpHVirev5yQ1Z58bEFmWW3CGVs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">outdoornebraska.gov</a>.&nbsp; You can also contact me with any questions or concerns&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;or 402-471-2244.

By Gov. Pete RickettsIt’s been refreshing to feel the crisp air with the arrival of autumn.&nbsp; As the weather cools off and leaves begin to change color, it’s a great time to get outdoors.&nbsp; From hunting to hiking to hayrack rides, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of Nebraska this fall.Hunting is part of our cultural heritage in Nebraska.&nbsp; It’s part of what makes this the Good Life.&nbsp; Hunting trips create opportunities for parents to bond with their kids and for friends to spend time together making memories.We want to introduce the next generation to the joys of hunting.&nbsp; Participating in the Take ’em Hunting program, through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC), is a great way to introduce a beginner to the pastime.&nbsp; To participate, simply invite a newcomer to go hunting, take a picture with them, and submit it on the Game and Parks website (<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Foutdoornebraska.gov%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CGOV-GENERALMEDIA%40LISTSERV.NEBRASKA.GOV%7Cb58f3609f8464b2b859808daa08a9009%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637998814244321589%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=ahH%2BiFZRFoFiqGCCxB6qOPNcZWFCVsknqQS89Kp1Kck%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">outdoornebraska.gov</a>).&nbsp; You’ll be entered into a raffle to win cool prizes like a John Deer gator from AKRS Equipment.&nbsp;NGPC offers workshops to help Nebraskans learn and refine their outdoor skills.&nbsp; The Mentored Youth Archery Program is available to bowhunter education graduates who are 12 to 17 years old. &nbsp;It pairs deer hunting beginners with qualified instructors for a full archery season. &nbsp;Mentors teach participants how to scout, hang tree stands, interpret animal signs, and safely handle the animals they harvest.&nbsp; For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Foutdoornebraska.gov%2Fmentored-hunts%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CGOV-GENERALMEDIA%40LISTSERV.NEBRASKA.GOV%7Cb58f3609f8464b2b859808daa08a9009%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637998814244321589%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=SPC81qNH%2FWcSpR8OEkegnaZbdSWLtSf9uU4YobKVdIA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">outdoornebraska.gov/mentored-hunts</a>.&nbsp;In 1996, NGPC and Pheasants Forever developed a program for youth ages 12 to 15 who have recently completed a Hunter Safety Education class to attend a mentored hunt.&nbsp; Participants learn dog training, hunter safety, blue rock shooting, and more.&nbsp; The highlight of the program is a pheasant or dove hunt with an instructor and dog handler.&nbsp; More information is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnebraskapf.com%2Fyouth-mentor-hunt%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CGOV-GENERALMEDIA%40LISTSERV.NEBRASKA.GOV%7Cb58f3609f8464b2b859808daa08a9009%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637998814244321589%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=GuwgMQe8xuE6r6dJRPrJVoThIJj2TmCu%2B%2B8I8uWvc%2BQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">nebraskapf.com/youth-mentor-hunt</a>.&nbsp;Young hunters have had big success in Nebraska.&nbsp; Hannah Helmer of Seward was 14 years old in 2016 when she took down the largest elk in state history during a hunt in Sioux County.&nbsp; It weighed nearly 1,000 pounds and its giant, non-typical rack officially scored 426 7/8 points.&nbsp; Hannah’s father, Joel, has written a book telling the story of Hannah’s elk and other great hunts in the Cornhusker State (Nebraska Bucks &amp; Bulls).On October 5-6, I’m headed to Chadron for the annual Governor’s Pine Ridge Wild Turkey Hunt.&nbsp; I look forward to enjoying the natural scenery of the Pine Ridge, connecting with friends, and experiencing the thrill of the hunt.&nbsp; One hundred years ago, that wouldn’t have been possible.&nbsp; Turkeys had completely disappeared from Nebraska by 1915.&nbsp; Starting in the late 1950s, NGPC led a successful program to reintroduce them—starting in the Pine Ridge.&nbsp; Today, there are turkeys in every county of our state, and Nebraska has become the top turkey hunting destination in the country.&nbsp; Nebraska is also known for our upland game hunting with excellent populations of ring-necked pheasants, bobwhite quail, sharp-tailed grouse, and greater prairie-chickens.&nbsp;Our state offers over 1.2 million acres of publicly accessible lands, with abundant walk-in hunting opportunities.&nbsp; Each year, NGPC publishes a Public Access Atlas displaying all of these lands.&nbsp; The atlas is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Foutdoornebraska.gov%2FPublicAccessAtlas%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CGOV-GENERALMEDIA%40LISTSERV.NEBRASKA.GOV%7Cb58f3609f8464b2b859808daa08a9009%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637998814244321589%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=GCPNFJPaLayJxeZMCPM8NzzO3wNRAZhb8hlE%2BuNK2VI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.org/PublicAccessAtlas</a>.&nbsp; This year, Nebraska’s private landowners have made 374,000 acres accessible through the&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Foutdoornebraska.gov%2Fofw%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CGOV-GENERALMEDIA%40LISTSERV.NEBRASKA.GOV%7Cb58f3609f8464b2b859808daa08a9009%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637998814244321589%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=eJQhlpj%2BoX8u37DShg%2BXAVhqrhrS3RZLj%2FujZaSor98%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Open Fields and Waters</a>&nbsp;program, opportunities for which we are grateful.&nbsp; Open Fields and Waters provides financial incentives to private landowners willing to allow walk-in, public access for hunting, trapping, and/or fishing.&nbsp; Thank you to the many families helping to grow hunting in Nebraska by opening lands to our sportsmen and sportswomen.&nbsp;In addition to hunting, the Good Life has plenty of wide open spaces for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.&nbsp; The Cowboy Trail, built along the old Chicago &amp; Northwestern railroad, runs 196 miles from Norfolk to Valentine.&nbsp; Eventually, it will extend all the way to Chadron.&nbsp; Trail-goers can experience the sights and sounds of nature as they travel along the trail.&nbsp;Nebraska’s state parks offer even more to explore.&nbsp; Fort Robinson State Park (Crawford) spans 22,000 acres.&nbsp; It’s home to buffalo and longhorn herds and brimming with history of the Old West.&nbsp; The hardwood forest at Indian Cave State Park (Shubert) offers a spectacular show of colors each fall.&nbsp; The park get its name from a large sandstone cave, which has Native American rock carvings.&nbsp; The plentiful wildlife and scenic vistas at Niobrara State Park make it a favorite spot for photographers.&nbsp; Nebraska’s first state park—Chadron State Park—is over 100 years old.&nbsp; It borders the Nebraska National Forest, and together the park and forest have more than 100 miles of trails and paths.While fall is harvesttime in Nebraska, you don’t have to be a full-time farmer to take part.&nbsp; Orchards and pumpkin patches across the state offer visitors the opportunity to pick their own produce.&nbsp; Apple Acres Orchard (Kearney), DeGroot Orchards (Madison), Fanny’s Fruit Farm &amp; Pumpkin Patch (Gurley), Kimmel Orchard (Nebraska City), and Vala’s Pumpkin Patch and Orchard (Gretna) are just a few of the great places to go.&nbsp; Many offer old-fashioned hayrack rides as well!No matter your interests, there are plenty of options to choose from right here in Nebraska as you plan your fall. &nbsp;If you’d like to learn more about outdoor recreation in Nebraska, visit the Game and Parks Commission’s website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Foutdoornebraska.gov%2Ffishingforecast%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CGOV-GENERALMEDIA%40LISTSERV.NEBRASKA.GOV%7Cb58f3609f8464b2b859808daa08a9009%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637998814244321589%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=prTW53DQLRiUf9SUPwpHVirev5yQ1Z58bEFmWW3CGVs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">outdoornebraska.gov</a>.&nbsp; You can also contact me with any questions or concerns&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;or 402-471-2244.

Gov. Ricketts: Enjoying Nebraska’s great outdoors

CHADRON – The Chadron State College Theatre department will present The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes this semester.

An Oct. 6 afternoon performance of the musical is planned for area high school students at CSC’s Theatre Day. Public performances in Memorial Hall’s Auditorium will be Oct. 6-8 at 7 p.m., and a 2 p.m. matinee Oct. 9. Admission is free, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.csc.edu/academics/theatre/seatreservation/" target="_blank">seat reservations</a>&nbsp;are recommended.&nbsp;Questions can be emailed to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:theatretix@csc.edu" target="_blank">theatretix@csc.edu</a>.

Howard Barnes is a perfectly average man in his early 30s, until the day that he wakes up to discover that his life has become a musical. Desperate to escape from the show, Barnes embarks on a fantastical quest through the realm of musical theater.

According to Jeremiah Downes,&nbsp;director and musical director, the play is equal parts satire, romantic comedy, and love letter to the American musical.

According to the&nbsp;National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes is intended for people who love musical theater, and their friends who hate it.

Premiered in 2018, the production was developed at the O'Neill Musical Theater Festival, The Village Theater Festival of New Musicals, The Human Race Theatre Company, and Trinity Repertory Company.

Zak Wellnitz, who plays the lead role, said&nbsp;he anticipates being on stage to sing, dance, and act.

“The biggest challenge I tend to have with any show is memorizing the lines. The lines in this show seem quite natural, however, so this will help me memorize lines faster. The biggest reward I will get is the experience. With the help of our director, Jeremiah (Downes), I am going to gain so much experience with my singing, dancing, and acting. I will be able to learn and improve my skills throughout this whole&nbsp;process,” Wellnitz said.

Halle Smith, who portrays Barnes’ love interest, said this&nbsp;musical is unlike any other musical she has experienced.

“There are so many references for both people who know musical theatre and for people who don't. I am expecting to learn a lot, especially while working with Jeremiah (Downes), as his knowledge is unmatched by anyone I know,” she said. “Some challenges with my part are creating this honest story while everything happening around me is chaos. Some rewards are that the honest story that Zak (Wellnitz) and I create is going to make the musical just that much more special and beautiful.”

Levi O’Dell, an ensemble member, said he is&nbsp;looking forward to learning music and choreography, as well as many costume changes.

“All of the ensemble members will be various characters in the songs and even some scenes, some of which are rather strange, so I cannot wait to see how they all turn out,” he said. “One of the biggest challenges for my part is learning the background vocals and harmonies for all the songs, as I will not often be on the melody.”

Another ensemble member, Rayne Charging Thunder, said she is looking forward to working with fellow students and seeing what their hard work produces.

By TENA L. COOK, CSCCHADRON – The Chadron State College Theatre department will present The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes this semester.An Oct. 6 afternoon performance of the musical is planned for area high school students at CSC’s Theatre Day. Public performances in Memorial Hall’s Auditorium will be Oct. 6-8 at 7 p.m., and a 2 p.m. matinee Oct. 9. Admission is free, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.csc.edu/academics/theatre/seatreservation/" target="_blank">seat reservations</a>&nbsp;are recommended.&nbsp;Questions can be emailed to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:theatretix@csc.edu" target="_blank">theatretix@csc.edu</a>.Howard Barnes is a perfectly average man in his early 30s, until the day that he wakes up to discover that his life has become a musical. Desperate to escape from the show, Barnes embarks on a fantastical quest through the realm of musical theater.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664320419256.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>According to Jeremiah Downes,&nbsp;director and musical director, the play is equal parts satire, romantic comedy, and love letter to the American musical.According to the&nbsp;National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes is intended for people who love musical theater, and their friends who hate it.Premiered in 2018, the production was developed at the O'Neill Musical Theater Festival, The Village Theater Festival of New Musicals, The Human Race Theatre Company, and Trinity Repertory Company.Zak Wellnitz, who plays the lead role, said&nbsp;he anticipates being on stage to sing, dance, and act.“The biggest challenge I tend to have with any show is memorizing the lines. The lines in this show seem quite natural, however, so this will help me memorize lines faster. The biggest reward I will get is the experience. With the help of our director, Jeremiah (Downes), I am going to gain so much experience with my singing, dancing, and acting. I will be able to learn and improve my skills throughout this whole&nbsp;process,” Wellnitz said.Halle Smith, who portrays Barnes’ love interest, said this&nbsp;musical is unlike any other musical she has experienced.“There are so many references for both people who know musical theatre and for people who don't. I am expecting to learn a lot, especially while working with Jeremiah (Downes), as his knowledge is unmatched by anyone I know,” she said. “Some challenges with my part are creating this honest story while everything happening around me is chaos. Some rewards are that the honest story that Zak (Wellnitz) and I create is going to make the musical just that much more special and beautiful.”Levi O’Dell, an ensemble member, said he is&nbsp;looking forward to learning music and choreography, as well as many costume changes.“All of the ensemble members will be various characters in the songs and even some scenes, some of which are rather strange, so I cannot wait to see how they all turn out,” he said. “One of the biggest challenges for my part is learning the background vocals and harmonies for all the songs, as I will not often be on the melody.”Another ensemble member, Rayne Charging Thunder, said she is looking forward to working with fellow students and seeing what their hard work produces.“One of the challenges of being an ensemble member with all these other talented individuals is memorizing different harmonies. But it’s rewarding when it's memorized,” she said.CastHoward: Zak Wellnitz of Rushville, Neb.Maggie: Halle Smith of Wheatland, Wyo.Grace: Erin Hayhurst of Scottsbluff, Neb.Von Schwartzenheim: Jarrett Bucholz of Arnold, Neb.EnsembleSophia Oladimeji of ChadronRiley Perry of Box Elder, S.D.Felicity Suelter of Lincoln, Neb.Olivia Freeze of Bridgeport, Neb.Brayden Schuelke of Box Elder, S.D.Levi O’Dell of ChadronRayne Charging Thunder of Gordon, Neb.Connor Roberts of Box Elder, S.D.CrewDirector and Musical Director: Jeremiah DownesCostume Designer: Pheobe BoyntonLighting Designer: Emily A. MaddoxAccompanist: Kathryn HughesStage Manager: Liz McCarty of Ralston, Neb.Assistant Stage Manager: Josie Fritz of Rapid City, S.D.Master Electrician and Sound Designer: Chris Lidgett of Norfolk, Neb.Costume Shop Manager: Shanie Hollenbeck

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