Why? Summer is beginning, and it’s going to be warmish - hot even, and with the rain, humid; so why would a group of 400 people want to ride bikes through the Sandhills? There’s bugs, tall, steep hills, sharp burs that could puncture tires. Just why?

America will be celebrating her 248th birthday this coming July 4! There will be parades, remembrances, and fireworks! 10:00 a.m. The parade is sponsored by Liberty’s Fireworks, and there are prizes! Line up at First and Main, parade begins at 10:00 a.m.

Tyler Brown grew up in Valentine and has always been a fan of the outdoors. He spent his childhood hunting and fishing. “When we started our family, we spent time with our children outdoors whenever possible. He started his guide service nine years ago as an opportunity to share his outdoor experiences with other families too. As the opportunity to buy the bait shop became available, it was a natural fit to make outdoor sporting goods more readily available and promote time outdoors,” said Andrea Brown.

Late May and June are the months when we frequently see both native and non-native forbs begin to flower in range and pasture. This is a good time of the year to be on the alert and look out for these “pretty flowers” and for other plants that you may not recognize. Seeing something you haven’t seen before? Go check it out. Those “pretty flowers” or plants you don’t recognize may be a plant that is an invasive species. Early detection and rapid response are critical to helping to keep noxious weeds at bay. By identifying and dealing with invasive species when they are few, the cost and impact of their presence can be minimized.

Two female and one male peregrine falcon chicks from the nest box near the top of the Nebraska Capitol building in Lincoln were banded and given a checkup June 12. “The banding went very well and all three chicks appear to be in very good shape,” said Joel Jorgensen, nongame bird program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

It’s hard to imagine anything larger than a bovine, bison, or bigfoot traipsing across the Sandhills of Nebraska, but there’s proof that there is. Don Ormesher was an avid fossil hunter, and lived on the Thacher Cattle Company ranch, just a short distance from the Y on Highway 83 and 20.