MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) — The DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is offering visitors a chance to test their athletic skills against area wildlife.
The refuge will offer an animal Olympics program at 1 p.m. on Saturday where visitors can see if they can jump as high as a deer or balance like a great blue heron.
The program will teach about the abilities of native wildlife.
The refuge sits north of Omaha, Nebraska, along on U.S. Highway 30 near Missouri Valley, Iowa. An entrance permit is required to enter the refuge. For more information, call 712-388-4800.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska residents still have time to apply for a 2016 bighorn sheep lottery permit.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says the application period closes on Aug. 5.
One lottery permit will be issued in 2016. Residents who will be at least 12 years of age by the opening day of the bighorn sheep season may apply. Residents may apply once per calendar year and may receive one permit per lifetime.
The nonrefundable application fee is $25. Nonresidents are not eligible.
In-person applications must be received at the commission’s Lincoln office by 5 p.m. on Aug. 5. Online applications will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. that day.
The permit for the bighorn sheep hunting season starting Nov. 29 will be drawn Aug. 18.
Photo Courtesy Scott Bruhn/Nebraska Communications
The University of Nebraska Athletics Department is deeply saddened to confirm that senior punter Sam Foltz was tragically killed in a car accidenton Saturdaynight, while attending a kicking camp near Waukesha, Wisconsin. Details about the incident will be forthcoming from law enforcement officials in Waukesha.
Sam, 22, was a native of Greeley, Nebraska and the son of Gerald and Jill Foltz. He was a three-year starter for the Nebraska football team. In 2015, he was voted as the Eddelman-Fields Big Ten Punter of the Year and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection. Sam earned his degree in agronomy from UNL in May of 2016.
Head Football Coach Mike Riley and student-athletes Tommy Armstrong, Josh Banderas and Jordan Westerkamp will not participate in Big Ten Media Day scheduled for tomorrow and Tuesday in Chicago. Arrangements will be made to have Coach Riley and the student-athletes available to all media in the coming days.
The Nebraska Athletics Department will provide more information on services, condolences and memorials when they are available.
The following our statements from Head Football Coach Mike Riley and Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst:
Statement from University of Nebraska Head Football Coach Mike Riley: “Last night, we lost one of the best young men who I have ever had the honor to coach and who has ever worn the Nebraska uniform. Sam was universally loved and respected by everyone he touched and on whom he had a positive influence each and every day. His tragic loss is immeasurable to his family, his friends, his classmates, his teammates and his coaches and our thoughts and prayers are with all of them. The young men in our football program are hurting but I know that their strength of character and resolve will bring us together and we will honor Sam every day moving forward.”
Statement from University of Nebraska Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst:
“Our prayers of love and support go out to Sam’s family during this difficult time and we will do all that we can to help comfort them in this time of sadness. Sam was truly a tremendous young man, who represented everything that a Nebraska student, athlete, teammate and friend should strive to be. While his loss is devastating, his impact will be felt forever. Along with Coach Riley, our focus is on providing Sam’s family, teammates and friends with the critical support and love that they need at this time.”
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln city officials have approved a plan for new housing in its historic Haymarket District.
The city selected the Lumberworks Lofts proposal to build three buildings on the west and north sides of its garage in the south Haymarket. Mayor Chris Beutler announced the approval Thursday.
The $11.1 million development on Canopy Street is expected to include 48 housing units, 8,000 square feet of office space and 15,000 square feet of retail space.
Buetler says the move comes as more and more residents are choosing to live downtown and in the neighboring Haymarket District.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Those not happy with their choices for president this November could find another option on the Nebraska ballot: the Marijuana Party.
The Nebraska Secretary of State’s office says the Marijuana Party of Nebraska turned in about 9,000 petition signatures this week seeking recognition and a spot on the general election ballot.
The party’s emphasis is legalizing marijuana and promoting hemp farming.
The party must have valid signatures equal to at least 1 percent of the total votes cast for governor in 2014, or 5,397 signatures statewide. It must also have a certain number of signatures from each of the state’s three congressional districts.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Federal officials say an inmate has been recaptured after escaping from a minimum-security work camp in Yankton.
The U.S. Marshals Service says 33-year-old Johnny Tiner was re-arrested Saturday after he was found walking on a gravel road, and then hiding in a corn field in rural Hartington, Nebraska. Authorities say tips from the public helped locate Tiner.
He was unarmed, but was wearing prison clothing when he was found. He was also dehydrated and taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Tiner was seen jumping a fence earlier in the day. He’d been serving a 10-year sentence out of north Texas for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He now faces an escape charge.
Besides Texas, Tiner also has ties to Colorado and Tennessee.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A sheriff’s department official says Nebraska punter Sam Foltz and former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler have died in a car crash in Wisconsin after coaching at a kicking clinic. Louisiana State’s kicker was injured in the crash.
Waukesha County Lt. Thom Moerman said speed was likely a factor in the single-vehicle crash that happened around 11:45 p.m. Saturday night.
The 24-year-old Sadler, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was driving. He and 22-year-old Foltz, of Greeley, Nebraska, both died. LSU kicker, 21-year-old Colby Delahoussaye, was also a passenger and was injured in the crash.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln said Sunday the team will skip this week’s planned Big Ten media days in Chicago because of Foltz’s death. Officials with Michigan State didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average price of gasoline has dropped 7 cents over the past three weeks to $2.22 a gallon for regular grade.
Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday lower oil prices and an abundant gasoline supply caused the decline. She says the price is 60 cents less than it was a year ago.
The Lundberg Survey found the average price of midgrade unleaded is $2.51 a gallon and $2.72 for premium.
The highest average price for regular gasoline in the Lower 48 is $2.83 a gallon in the San Francisco Bay Area. The lowest is $1.81 in Charleston, South Carolina.
The U.S. average diesel price is $2.39 per gallon, down three cents from two weeks ago.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Some of Nebraska’s largest agricultural groups will push again for lower property taxes in next year’s legislative session, but key senators say any proposal should be coupled with income tax cuts.
Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion says combining the two could make the package easier to pass when the Legislature reconvenes in January because a larger coalition of senators would support it. Gov. Pete Ricketts is considering both income and property tax reductions.
Lawmakers have spent the last several years focusing on property taxes to address complaints from farming and ranching groups, but Smith and others hope to expand on the income tax cuts approved under former Gov. Dave Heineman.
Passing a major package could be difficult because of a projected $234 million state budget shortfall.
