DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge will soon open for spring and summer season.

The refuge will allow boating, fishing and other activities starting Monday. Canoes and kayaks will be on site, but visitors may bring personal boats.

People will also be allowed to participate in spring archery turkey hunting and mushroom gathering season. Designated mushroom gathering areas will be open starting Monday through May 31. Maps highlighting the mushroom areas will be available at the refuge entrance.

Visitors will be able to tour the refuge by driving on the roads that have been closed for migration. The refuge charges a $3 entrance fee for private vehicles. The refuge is located north of Omaha between Missouri Valley, Iowa and Fort Calhoun, Neb.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Comedian Jonathan Winters, whose breakneck improvisations inspired Robin Williams, Jim Carrey and many others, has died at age 87.

Longtime family friend Joe Petro III says the Ohio native died Thursday evening at his Montecito, Calif., home of natural causes.

Winters was a master of improvisational comedy, with a grab bag of eccentric personalities and facial expressions. Characters such as the dirty old lady Maude Frickert were based on people Winters knew growing up in Ohio.

In the mid-1950s, “The Jonathan Winters Show” pioneered the then-new videotape technology on to do stunts like showing up as two characters on screen together.

He was introduced to millions of new fans in 1981 as the son of Williams’ goofball alien in the final season of ABC’s “Mork and Mindy.”

WINTERS TALKS ABOUT MORK AND MINDY

WINTERS ROASTS JOHNNY CARSON

Country superstar Trace Adkins will perform at the 2013 Nebraska State Fair, Sunday, August 25th.  Tickets go on sale June 18 at the Heartland Events Center Box Office, Ticketmaster.com and at TicketMaster locations.  Cost is $18 plus fees.  Tickets go on sale Tuesday, June 18 at 8am.

According to State Fair Events and Entertainment Director, Chelsey Jungck, “Trace Adkins is involved in many aspects of show business. With 10 million albums sold, Trace is also a TV personality, actor, author and spokesman for the Wounded Warrior Program and the American Red Cross.”

Having won awards from the Academy of Country Music and CMT, Trace Adkins’ trademark baritone has powered countless hits to the top of the charts and turned albums into Platinum.  The Grammy nominated singer has earned a place at the table with membership to the Grand Ole Opry, recurring appearances on The Celebrity Apprentice, movie roles and host of the American Country Awards.

Jungck says, “Adkins is a crowd pleaser with a wide range of hits from “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” to  “You’re Gonna Miss This” and even helping old pal Blake Shelton with “This Hillbilly Bone.”  His wry sense of humor makes him a great performer, and we’re very excited to bring him to the Nebraska State Fair.”

In 2011, Adkins’ last album, Proud to Be Here debuted atop the Billboard Country Chart with the Top Ten Hit, “Just Fishin’,” and his eleventh studio album, Love Will… has just been released.

Trace Adkins
Sunday, August 25
6pm
Heartland Events Center
Ticket Cost:  $18 plus fees
Heartland Events Center Box Office
Ticketmaster.com

On the trail for a cure for cancer & you can help by attending the Cattlemen’s Ball June 7th & 8th at Hanging H Ranch between Paxton and Sutherland, Nebraska featuring country legends Lone Star plus plenty of fun, entertainment and great food! All to help raise money for cancer research and wellness programs right here in Nebraska. You don’t have to be a cowboy, you don’t have to dress up. It’s a great time for a great cause. Tickets are going fast for this years event. To get your tickets, or for more information go to cattlemensball.com or call 308-284-7883.

Grape & Sizzle hosted by Lincoln County Cattlewomen!
Friday, May 31, 2013
Holiday Inn Express
5:30-8:00 p.m.
Enjoy delicious beef entrees and select wines at the 9th Annual Grape & Sizzle event! This year all money raised will go to Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center and Deborah’s Legacy Residential Program for Women Facing Homelessness.
Tickets are $50 per person. You can get them at Nebraskaland National Bank until May 22. Or call Cynthia Kelly 308-386-8308.

Actor Joel Grey is 81
Actress Louise Lasser is 74
Actor Peter Riegart is 66
Actor Meshach Taylor is 66
Actor Bill Irwin is 63
Country singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale is 56
Guitarist Nigel Pulsford (Bush) is 52
Country singer Steve Azar is 49
Singer Lisa Stansfield is 47
Bassist Dylan Keefe of Marcy Playground is 43
Rapper David Banner is 39
Drummer Chris Gaylor of All-American Rejects is 34
Singer Joss Stone is 26
Actress Kaitlyn Jenkins is 21.

April 10

1871 — Acting Gov. William James issued a proclamation calling for the organization of Webster County.

1872 — The state celebrated the first Arbor Day to encourage tree planting.

April 11

1967 — Members of the Benson High School Youth for Christ Club in Omaha chased a greased pig during an evening of activities celebrating the centennial year for Nebraska statehood.

April 12

1954 — U.S. Sen. Dwight Griswold died. Eve Bowring was named to replace him.

1866 — Nebraska Territory Republicans met in Plattsmouth and nominated David Butler of Pawnee City for governor on a pro-statehood platform.

April 13

1881 — The Army abandoned Fort Hartsuff.

1873 — An Easter snowstorm struck the state. Near Loup City and what is now called Dead Horse Creek, 25 horses and four mules suffocated under the deep snow.

1937 — The Omaha police commissioner introduced a traffic ordinance setting out new hand signals for drivers. The old law said the signal for a right turn was to extend the hand and rotate it clockwise. The new law called for extending the hand and arm upward.

April 14

1967 — A tiger bit a chunk out of the finger of its handler, who was showing the animal’s teeth to a spectator at the Shrine Circus in Omaha.

Playing thru 4/11
Screen #1
Evil Dead….1:00, 4:00, 7:00 & 9:40
R(must ID)
Screen #2
Jurasic Park 3D….1:10, 4:10, 7:05 & 9:55
Screen #3
G.I. Joe Retaliation 2D….4:00 & 9:50
G.I. Joe Retaliation 3D….1:05 & 7:00
Screen #4
Olympus Has Fallen….1:00, 4:15, 7:15 & 9:55
R(must ID)
Screen #5
The Croods 2D….4:05 & 9:45
The Croods 3D….1:25 & 7:10
Screen #6
The Host…1:20, 4:20, 7:05 & 9:50

Playing 4/12 – 4/18
Screen #1
Scary Movie 5….1:15, 4:15, 7:20 & 9:50
Screen #2
Jurasic Park 3D….1:10, 4:10, 7:05 & 9:55
Screen #3
G.I. Joe Retaliation 2D….4:00 & 9:40
G.I. Joe Retaliation 3D….1:05 & 7:00
Screen #4
Evil Dead….1:00, 4:10, 7:15 & 9:40
R(must ID)
Screen #5
The Croods 2D….4:05 & 9:45
The Croods 3D….1:25 & 7:10
Screen #6
“42”….1:00, 4:00, 7:00 & 9:50

Comedian Shecky Greene is 87

Original Mouseketeer Darlene Gillespie is 72

Singer J.J. Jackson is 72

Singer Peggy Lennon of the Lennon Sisters is 72

Songwriter Leon Huff of Gamble and Huff is 71

Guitarist Steve Howe of Yes (and of Asia) is 66

Bassist Mel Schacher of Grand Funk Railroad is 62

Singer-actor John Schneider is 53

Guitarist Izzy Stradlin (Guns N’ Roses) is 51

Singer-guitarist Donita Sparks of L7 is 50

Singer Julian Lennon is 50

Rapper Biz Markie is 49

Actress Robin Wright is 47

Actress Patricia Arquette is 45

Singer Craig Honeycutt of Everything is 43

Drummer Darren Jessee (Ben Folds Five) is 42

Actor Taylor Kitsch is 32

Singer-guitarist Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend is 29

Actor Taran Noah Smith (“Home Improvement”) is 29.