LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Officials have scheduled three free workshops on pond and lake management.

The workshops are a joint effort by Nebraska Extension, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Topics include managing waters for fisheries, invasive species, common maintenance problems and toxic algae management.

Reservations are required.

The Grand Island workshop will be held March 2 at the Hall County Extension Office. Register by Feb. 27 at http://go.unl.edu/grandislandlake .

The Weeping Water workshop is set for March 7 at the Cass County Extension Office. Register by March 2 at http://go.unl.edu/weepingwaterlake .

The Columbus workshop is scheduled for March 16 at Pinnacle Bank. Register by March 13 at http://go.unl.edu/columbuslake .

Each workshop is set to begin at 6 p.m. Contact Katie Pekarek at [email protected] for more information.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A state judicial nominating committee will hold a public hearing in April to receive information on whether to fill a vacant Nebraska judgeship.

The Nebraska Judicial Nominating Commission will meet April 6 at the Hall County Courthouse in Grand Island. The commission will determine whether a vacancy exists in Hall County following the retirement of County Judge Philip Martin Jr.

The meeting is open to the public.

At the hearing, the commission will receive information on the district’s judicial workload statistics and make a recommendation to the Nebraska Legislature as to whether there is a need to fill the vacancy.

A dirt bike accident north of North Platte has claimed the life of a 43-year-old man.

On February 10, at around 5:17 p.m., deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of an accident involving a dirt bike at Hillcrest Estates, north of North Platte.

It was reported that Antony Znaniecki was riding his dirt bike on private property and had an accident.

Chief Deputy Roland Kramer says Znaniecki was found by relatives and was unresponsive.  He says relatives made “lifesaving attempts” until North Platte Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene.

Znaniecki was transported by ambulance to Great Plains Heath, where he succumbed to his injuries.

A Lincoln County Accident Reconstructionist arrived on the scene to assist in the investigation. Kramer says it is not believed that drugs or alcohol were involved in the accident.

The investigation is ongoing.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission wants anglers to check the thickness of the ice before venturing out to catch a few fish this winter.

The commission says at least 4 inches of clear, solid ice is needed to support a person ice fishing. At least 8 inches of ice is needed to support an ATV.

Other recommendations include fishing with another person, wearing a life jacket and telling a family member or friend where you’ll be fishing before venturing out.

The commission also says all ice fishermen should carry an ice pick around their necks and have long rope handy.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Protesters are slated to gather at Planned Parenthood offices in Iowa and Nebraska as part of a nationwide movement to urge Congress and President Donald Trump to strip the agency of all federal funding.

The website www.ProtestPP.com says it wants the funding reallocated to health centers that help disadvantaged women without destroying human life through abortion.

In Iowa, protests are scheduled Saturday for Planned Parenthood locations in Council Bluffs, Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Iowa City and Sioux City. A rally in Nebraska is slated Saturday for the Planned Parenthood office in Lincoln.

A local cattle producer reported to the Nebraska Brand Committee that 20 black heifers and 3
black bulls were missing from pasture land located in northwest Nebraska near Crawford,
Nebraska.

After an open investigation and an extensive search, no sign of the cattle has been
found, which may indicate that the cattle are stolen. The theft could have occurred any time
during the 2016 grazing season.

The black heifers, weighing approximately 1025 pounds, were branded with a 100 on the right
rib and tagged in the left ear with a turquoise numbered tag. The 2-year-old black Angus bulls
were branded with a 44 on the left rib and were tagged on the left ear with orange numbered tags.

The owner of the missing cattle is offering a $10,000 reward for information that results in the
arrest and conviction of any person or persons responsible for the theft of the missing cattle.

Any information regarding the missing cattle should be reported to the Scotts Bluff Crime
Stoppers at 308-632-7867, the Nebraska Brand Commission at 308-641-8318, or the Nebraska
State Patrol at 308-632-1211.