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	<title>Sandhills Expresssandhills &#8211; Sandhills Express</title>
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	<description>Sandhills and Central Nebraska News and Radio</description>
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	<title>sandhills &#8211; Sandhills Express</title>
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                	<news>
                
                    <title><![CDATA[Custer County Court Holds Arraignments in Felony Cases]]></title>
                                                            <link>https://sandhillsexpress.com/local-news/custer-county-court-holds-arraignments-in-felony-cases/?radio=1</link>
                                        <image>https://media-news-affiliates.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/uploads/2026/08/Judicial-Center-300x169.jpg</image>
                                        <caption> </caption>
                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:00:33 +0000</pubDate>
                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dave Birnie]]></dc:creator>
                    		<category><![CDATA[Local News]]></category>

                                                    <description><![CDATA[Arraignments in cases involving felony charges were held in Custer County Court on Monday, September 28th.
Charles M. Murphy, age 48 of Mason City, was arraigned on six counts that allegedly occurred in June of 2023. Murphy faces one count of 1st degree sexual assault of a child who is at least 12 years of age but under 16, a Class I felony;  two counts of incest of a child under 18, both Class IIA felonies;  one count of 3rd degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 14, a Class IIIA felony; and two counts of child abuse, both Class IIIA felonies. Matt Furrow was appointed as public defender and a preliminary hearing in the case was set for October 19th. Bond of $250,000 with 10% privilege was continued and the defendant was remanded back to the custody of the Custer County Sheriff.
Also appearing for an arraignment was Joseph A. Pittman, age 37 of Cozad. Pittman is charged with theft of stolen property with a value of over $5,000 by unlawful taking, a Class IIA felony, and with flight to avoid arrest, a Class IV felony. Pittman was also charged with DUI-1st offense and refusal to submit to a chemical test, both Class W misdemeanors, as well as willful reckless driving, a Class III misdemeanor. The charges stem from an arrest on September 17th.  Matt Furrow was appointed to represent Pittman and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for October 19th. The State recommended that bond in the amount of $15,000 with 10% privilege be continued and the defendant was remanded to the custody of the Sheriff.
Preliminary hearings in several other felony cases were continued.
]]></description>
                                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Arraignments in cases involving felony charges were held in Custer County Court on Monday, September 28th.
Charles M. Murphy, age 48 of Mason City, was arraigned on six counts that allegedly occurred in June of 2023. Murphy faces one count of 1st degree sexual assault of a child who is at least 12 years of age but under 16, a Class I felony;  two counts of incest of a child under 18, both Class IIA felonies;  one count of 3rd degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 14, a Class IIIA felony; and two counts of child abuse, both Class IIIA felonies. Matt Furrow was appointed as public defender and a preliminary hearing in the case was set for October 19th. Bond of $250,000 with 10% privilege was continued and the defendant was remanded back to the custody of the Custer County Sheriff.
Also appearing for an arraignment was Joseph A. Pittman, age 37 of Cozad. Pittman is charged with theft of stolen property with a value of over $5,000 by unlawful taking, a Class IIA felony, and with flight to avoid arrest, a Class IV felony. Pittman was also charged with DUI-1st offense and refusal to submit to a chemical test, both Class W misdemeanors, as well as willful reckless driving, a Class III misdemeanor. The charges stem from an arrest on September 17th.  Matt Furrow was appointed to represent Pittman and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for October 19th. The State recommended that bond in the amount of $15,000 with 10% privilege be continued and the defendant was remanded to the custody of the Sheriff.
Preliminary hearings in several other felony cases were continued.
]]></content:encoded>
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                    	<news>
                
                    <title><![CDATA[Area Athletes Compete at UNK High School Cross Country Invite]]></title>
                                                            <link>https://sandhillsexpress.com/local-sports/area-athletes-compete-at-unk-high-school-cross-country-invite/?radio=1</link>
                                        <image>https://media-news-affiliates.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/uploads/2026/09/IMG_0121-D-Boys-SL-3-300x224.jpg</image>
                                        <caption> </caption>
                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 22:08:05 +0000</pubDate>
                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brent Apperson]]></dc:creator>
                    		<category><![CDATA[Local Sports]]></category>

                                                    <description><![CDATA[The University of Nebraska at Kearney hosted its annual high school cross country invitational on Monday at the Kearney Country Club.  The meet has long been looked at as a precursor to the state championships which will take place in October on the same course.  The meet featured athletes from all across the state in all classes.
The Class D girls race was won by Stella Steele of Centennial in a winning time of 20:12.8.  Among the area highlights, Burwell placed two runners in the top 20.  Lena Spencer of Burwell finished in the top ten placing seventh with a time of 20:56.8 and Jalise Busch was 20th (21:43.3).  Others from the KCNI/KBBN coverage area placing in the top 30 included Jade Bierman of South Loup 25th (22:01.7) and Ady Hampton of Mullen was 27th (22:04.5). Nebraska Christian was the Class D girls team champion.  For full results click here
The Class D boys race was won by Kaser Johnson of Doniphan-Trumbull in a winning timeof 15:55.2.  Among the area highlights, Dutch Miller of Arcadia/Loup City finished in the top five placing fourth in a time of 16:52.1.  Mullen's Braylon Kuncl placed in the top 25 finishing 21st (18:02).  South Loup's Walter Bierman was just outside the top 30 finishing 31st (18:35.8).  The Class D boys team champion was Doniphan-Trumbull.  For full results click here
Click to enlarge (Photo by Dean Ringlein)
The Class C girls race was won by Scout Bell of Gothenburg in a winning time of 19:23.9. Broken Bow's Ashlyn Schauda finished just outside the top 30 placing 31st in a time of 21:40.4.  The Class C girls team champion was Chase County followed by Gothenburg in second.  For full results click here
The Class C boys race was won by Samuel McQuistan of Holdrege in a winning time of 16:18.2.  Gothenburg placed three runners in the top 15.  Tyler Hetz was third (16:37.9), Bryson Neels was fourth (16:41.4), and Blake Finke was 11th (17:22.3).  Broken Bow's Emmett Palmer was the top finisher for the Indians finishing in the top third of the field with a time of 19:48.5.  The Class C boys team champion was Lincoln Christian.  For full results click here
For more results, check out the links below
CLASS B GIRLS
CLASS B BOYS
CLASS A GIRLS
CLASS A BOYS
Pictures provided by Dean Ringlein





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]]></description>
                                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The University of Nebraska at Kearney hosted its annual high school cross country invitational on Monday at the Kearney Country Club.  The meet has long been looked at as a precursor to the state championships which will take place in October on the same course.  The meet featured athletes from all across the state in all classes.
The Class D girls race was won by Stella Steele of Centennial in a winning time of 20:12.8.  Among the area highlights, Burwell placed two runners in the top 20.  Lena Spencer of Burwell finished in the top ten placing seventh with a time of 20:56.8 and Jalise Busch was 20th (21:43.3).  Others from the KCNI/KBBN coverage area placing in the top 30 included Jade Bierman of South Loup 25th (22:01.7) and Ady Hampton of Mullen was 27th (22:04.5). Nebraska Christian was the Class D girls team champion.  For full results click here
The Class D boys race was won by Kaser Johnson of Doniphan-Trumbull in a winning timeof 15:55.2.  Among the area highlights, Dutch Miller of Arcadia/Loup City finished in the top five placing fourth in a time of 16:52.1.  Mullen's Braylon Kuncl placed in the top 25 finishing 21st (18:02).  South Loup's Walter Bierman was just outside the top 30 finishing 31st (18:35.8).  The Class D boys team champion was Doniphan-Trumbull.  For full results click here
Click to enlarge (Photo by Dean Ringlein)
The Class C girls race was won by Scout Bell of Gothenburg in a winning time of 19:23.9. Broken Bow's Ashlyn Schauda finished just outside the top 30 placing 31st in a time of 21:40.4.  The Class C girls team champion was Chase County followed by Gothenburg in second.  For full results click here
The Class C boys race was won by Samuel McQuistan of Holdrege in a winning time of 16:18.2.  Gothenburg placed three runners in the top 15.  Tyler Hetz was third (16:37.9), Bryson Neels was fourth (16:41.4), and Blake Finke was 11th (17:22.3).  Broken Bow's Emmett Palmer was the top finisher for the Indians finishing in the top third of the field with a time of 19:48.5.  The Class C boys team champion was Lincoln Christian.  For full results click here
For more results, check out the links below
CLASS B GIRLS
CLASS B BOYS
CLASS A GIRLS
CLASS A BOYS
Pictures provided by Dean Ringlein





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                    	<news>
                
                    <title><![CDATA[CEDC recognizes local businesses, community leaders at annual awards ceremony]]></title>
                                                            <link>https://sandhillsexpress.com/local-news/cedc-recognizes-local-businesses-community-leaders-at-annual-awards-ceremony/?radio=1</link>
                                        <image>https://media-news-affiliates.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/uploads/2026/09/CEDC-main-300x158.jpg</image>
                                        <caption> </caption>
                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 21:06:43 +0000</pubDate>
                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[Christen Shirley]]></dc:creator>
                    		<category><![CDATA[Local News]]></category>

                                                    <description><![CDATA[Custer Economic Development Corporation recognized five local businesses, organizations and individuals Sunday evening during its annual Member Appreciation and Awards Ceremony at Kinkaider Brewing Company in Broken Bow.
The awards recognized contributions to agricultural and business innovation, community service, youth leadership and the needs of local families.
View photos of award recipients at the end of the story
Adams Land &amp; Cattle received the Ag Innovator Award for its continued investment in agricultural technology and infrastructure. That includes the company's roller compacted concrete feedlot project and the recently announced Neogenyx RNG project, which will use manure from the cattle operation to produce pipeline-quality renewable natural gas.
Evans Feed received the Business Innovator Award after purchasing the former Arrow Seed building, expanding its operation and becoming the local retailer for Star and Native Seed. The move has helped keep agricultural products and services available locally while representing continued investment in the Broken Bow community.
The Wheelhorse Award went to Callaway's Stacey Guthard for her extensive involvement in community and economic development efforts. Guthard has been active with the Callaway Chamber while also serving with several other local organizations, including the Callaway Development Corporation, Callaway Good Life and committees involved with local lending and housing programs.
The Youth Wheelhorse Award was presented to Logan Bell, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student and Nebraska State FFA Officer. Bell was recognized for his leadership, involvement in agriculture, community service and participation in numerous school activities and organizations.
Precious Angels Daycare received the Community Impact Award after expanding its Broken Bow facility and approximately doubling its childcare capacity. The organization also created a summer childcare program for school aged children after the local school system discontinued its program.
CEDC Executive Director Scotti Ross said the recipients represent different ways of strengthening Custer County.
"Each of these recipients represents a different way of strengthening our community," Ross said. "Their willingness to invest, adapt, lead, and serve makes a meaningful difference in the future of Custer County."
The annual event also gave CEDC an opportunity to highlight some of its work during the past year.
Ross said housing and childcare have remained major priorities, with CEDC celebrating the first family moving into Eagle Crest Subdivision, closing on eight lots for new homes and more than $900,000 in housing development loans. CEDC also helped raise $20,000 through childcare tax credit donations.
The organization also worked on workforce development following the Tyson plant closure in Lexington, helped connect communities with housing and planning resources, supported local grant efforts and welcomed several new members.
Ross said the work ultimately comes down to businesses, organizations and individuals investing in the future of Custer County.
Sunday's ceremony provided an opportunity to recognize some of those contributors and thank CEDC members for their continued support of economic and community development throughout the county.
CEDC Chair Dave Birnie with Amber and Mike Evans representing Business Innovator recipients Evans Feed (Photo by Donnis Hueftle-Bullock)
CEDC Chair Dave Birnie with Mary Shaw and Sara Arnold representing Community Impact recipients Precious Angels Daycare (Photo by Donnis Hueftle-Bullock)
CEDC Chair Dave Birnie with Ag Innovator recipient Jerry Adams representing Adams Land &amp; Cattle and CEDC Committee member Kristy Bartak (Photo by Donnis Hueftle-Bullock)
CEDC Chair Dave Birnie with Youth Wheelhorse recipient Logan Bell (Photo by Donnis Hueftle-Bullock)
]]></description>
                                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[Custer Economic Development Corporation recognized five local businesses, organizations and individuals Sunday evening during its annual Member Appreciation and Awards Ceremony at Kinkaider Brewing Company in Broken Bow.
The awards recognized contributions to agricultural and business innovation, community service, youth leadership and the needs of local families.
View photos of award recipients at the end of the story
Adams Land &amp; Cattle received the Ag Innovator Award for its continued investment in agricultural technology and infrastructure. That includes the company's roller compacted concrete feedlot project and the recently announced Neogenyx RNG project, which will use manure from the cattle operation to produce pipeline-quality renewable natural gas.
Evans Feed received the Business Innovator Award after purchasing the former Arrow Seed building, expanding its operation and becoming the local retailer for Star and Native Seed. The move has helped keep agricultural products and services available locally while representing continued investment in the Broken Bow community.
The Wheelhorse Award went to Callaway's Stacey Guthard for her extensive involvement in community and economic development efforts. Guthard has been active with the Callaway Chamber while also serving with several other local organizations, including the Callaway Development Corporation, Callaway Good Life and committees involved with local lending and housing programs.
The Youth Wheelhorse Award was presented to Logan Bell, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student and Nebraska State FFA Officer. Bell was recognized for his leadership, involvement in agriculture, community service and participation in numerous school activities and organizations.
Precious Angels Daycare received the Community Impact Award after expanding its Broken Bow facility and approximately doubling its childcare capacity. The organization also created a summer childcare program for school aged children after the local school system discontinued its program.
CEDC Executive Director Scotti Ross said the recipients represent different ways of strengthening Custer County.
"Each of these recipients represents a different way of strengthening our community," Ross said. "Their willingness to invest, adapt, lead, and serve makes a meaningful difference in the future of Custer County."
The annual event also gave CEDC an opportunity to highlight some of its work during the past year.
Ross said housing and childcare have remained major priorities, with CEDC celebrating the first family moving into Eagle Crest Subdivision, closing on eight lots for new homes and more than $900,000 in housing development loans. CEDC also helped raise $20,000 through childcare tax credit donations.
The organization also worked on workforce development following the Tyson plant closure in Lexington, helped connect communities with housing and planning resources, supported local grant efforts and welcomed several new members.
Ross said the work ultimately comes down to businesses, organizations and individuals investing in the future of Custer County.
Sunday's ceremony provided an opportunity to recognize some of those contributors and thank CEDC members for their continued support of economic and community development throughout the county.
CEDC Chair Dave Birnie with Amber and Mike Evans representing Business Innovator recipients Evans Feed (Photo by Donnis Hueftle-Bullock)
CEDC Chair Dave Birnie with Mary Shaw and Sara Arnold representing Community Impact recipients Precious Angels Daycare (Photo by Donnis Hueftle-Bullock)
CEDC Chair Dave Birnie with Ag Innovator recipient Jerry Adams representing Adams Land &amp; Cattle and CEDC Committee member Kristy Bartak (Photo by Donnis Hueftle-Bullock)
CEDC Chair Dave Birnie with Youth Wheelhorse recipient Logan Bell (Photo by Donnis Hueftle-Bullock)
]]></content:encoded>
                                                                                            	</news>
                
                    	<news>
                
                    <title><![CDATA[Jackson Tabbed Big Ten Player of the Week]]></title>
                                                            <link>https://sandhillsexpress.com/husker-news/jackson-tabbed-big-ten-player-of-the-week/?radio=1</link>
                                        <image>https://media-news-affiliates.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/uploads/2026/09/WgGWGY3nmAke5HzXfdkdyUvLEW2IDOeOfvg92QGY-300x200.webp</image>
                                        <caption> </caption>
                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 20:56:34 +0000</pubDate>
                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brent Apperson]]></dc:creator>
                    		<category><![CDATA[Husker News]]></category>

                                                    <description><![CDATA[



Nebraska senior middle blocker Andi Jackson was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday, the conference office announced.
It is Jackson's second career Big Ten Player of the Week selection and Nebraska's second of the season after Manaia Ogbechie received recognition on Sept. 13.
Jackson's all-around performance led the top-ranked Huskers to a 3-0 week against Missouri, Rutgers and Ohio State. On the week, the senior averaged 3.33 kills/set and 1.56 blocks/set.
Across the three matches, Jackson totaled 30 kills and hit .578 on 45 swings while adding 14 blocks on the defensive end to help the NU defense hold opponents to a .048 hitting percentage.
On Wednesday, Jackson tallied 10 kills without an error on 15 swings and matched a season high with six blocks in Nebraska's sweep of Missouri. The senior posted a season-high 14 kills on .632 hitting and added four blocks in the Huskers' sweep of Rutgers.
Jackson recorded six kills and four blocks in Nebraska's sweep against Ohio State on Saturday.












]]></description>
                                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[



Nebraska senior middle blocker Andi Jackson was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday, the conference office announced.
It is Jackson's second career Big Ten Player of the Week selection and Nebraska's second of the season after Manaia Ogbechie received recognition on Sept. 13.
Jackson's all-around performance led the top-ranked Huskers to a 3-0 week against Missouri, Rutgers and Ohio State. On the week, the senior averaged 3.33 kills/set and 1.56 blocks/set.
Across the three matches, Jackson totaled 30 kills and hit .578 on 45 swings while adding 14 blocks on the defensive end to help the NU defense hold opponents to a .048 hitting percentage.
On Wednesday, Jackson tallied 10 kills without an error on 15 swings and matched a season high with six blocks in Nebraska's sweep of Missouri. The senior posted a season-high 14 kills on .632 hitting and added four blocks in the Huskers' sweep of Rutgers.
Jackson recorded six kills and four blocks in Nebraska's sweep against Ohio State on Saturday.












]]></content:encoded>
                                                                                            	</news>
                
                    	<news>
                
                    <title><![CDATA[Broken Bow Places Third at Cozad Girls Golf Invitational]]></title>
                                                            <link>https://sandhillsexpress.com/local-sports/broken-bow-places-third-at-cozad-girls-golf-invitational/?radio=1</link>
                                        <image>https://media-news-affiliates.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/uploads/2026/09/1000010737-225x300.jpg</image>
                                        <caption> </caption>
                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 20:12:34 +0000</pubDate>
                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brent Apperson]]></dc:creator>
                    		<category><![CDATA[Local Sports]]></category>

                                                    <description><![CDATA[The Broken Bow girls golf team competed at the Cozad Invitational on Monday.  Broken Bow placed third in the girls team standings with a 409 team score.  Cozad won the team title with a 386 team score and GICC was second with a 403.
All five Broken Bow golfers finished in the top 20.  Two shots separated Broken Bow's top three golfers on the day.  Caylee Cook placed 7th with a round of 99.  Adelyn Kirkpatrick was 8th with a round of 100, and Tiana Hurlburt placed 11th overall with a round of 101.  Hallie Meyer placed 17th with a round of 109, and Emersyn Palmer was 20th with a round of 110.  The individual champion was Macy Jorgensen of Minden with a round of 5 over par 76.
Broken Bow is scheduled to return to the Cozad Golf Course on Tuesday for the Southwest Conference Tournament.
]]></description>
                                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The Broken Bow girls golf team competed at the Cozad Invitational on Monday.  Broken Bow placed third in the girls team standings with a 409 team score.  Cozad won the team title with a 386 team score and GICC was second with a 403.
All five Broken Bow golfers finished in the top 20.  Two shots separated Broken Bow's top three golfers on the day.  Caylee Cook placed 7th with a round of 99.  Adelyn Kirkpatrick was 8th with a round of 100, and Tiana Hurlburt placed 11th overall with a round of 101.  Hallie Meyer placed 17th with a round of 109, and Emersyn Palmer was 20th with a round of 110.  The individual champion was Macy Jorgensen of Minden with a round of 5 over par 76.
Broken Bow is scheduled to return to the Cozad Golf Course on Tuesday for the Southwest Conference Tournament.
]]></content:encoded>
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                    	<news>
                
                    <title><![CDATA[Supervisors to hold three public hearings Tuesday morning]]></title>
                                                            <link>https://sandhillsexpress.com/local-news/supervisors-to-hold-three-public-hearings-tuesday-morning/?radio=1</link>
                                        <image>https://media-news-affiliates.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/uploads/2026/09/Board-of-supervisors-agenda-picture-1-300x169.jpg</image>
                                        <caption> </caption>
                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:15:38 +0000</pubDate>
                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[Christen Shirley]]></dc:creator>
                    		<category><![CDATA[Local News]]></category>

                                                    <description><![CDATA[The Custer County Board of Supervisors will meet in regular session on Tuesday morning starting at 9 AM in the supervisors room on the top floor of the courthouse.
The agenda appears below as when originally received by KCNI/KBBN Radio. It is kept continuously current and open for public inspection in the office of the Custer County Clerk.
Call to order
Pledge of Allegiance
AGENDA:
9:00 a.m.
Disc/dec Minutes, Mail, Committee Reports
Disc/dec End of month claims
Disc/dec Clay Mohr- SORC
Disc/dec Annual Report for Delinquent Parcels
Disc/dec County Treasurer's Report of Paid and Unpaid Distress Warrants
Disc/dec County Treasurer's Request for Unpaid Distress Warrants be Stricken from the Tax Rolls
Disc/dec Construction Engineering Amendment Request
Disc/dec Custer County Appointing Voting Member to the East Central Region Board
Disc/dec BOE tax list corrections, over, under, omitted evaluations, permissive exemptions
Disc/dec Application(s) to cross county r-o-w
10:00 a.m.
Disc/dec Public Hearing Rd 351 Petition #3427
10:30 a.m.
Disc/dec Public Hearing Data Center Regulations
10:45 a.m.
Disc/dec Public Hearing Temporary Moratorium on Battery Energy Storage Systems
]]></description>
                                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[The Custer County Board of Supervisors will meet in regular session on Tuesday morning starting at 9 AM in the supervisors room on the top floor of the courthouse.
The agenda appears below as when originally received by KCNI/KBBN Radio. It is kept continuously current and open for public inspection in the office of the Custer County Clerk.
Call to order
Pledge of Allegiance
AGENDA:
9:00 a.m.
Disc/dec Minutes, Mail, Committee Reports
Disc/dec End of month claims
Disc/dec Clay Mohr- SORC
Disc/dec Annual Report for Delinquent Parcels
Disc/dec County Treasurer's Report of Paid and Unpaid Distress Warrants
Disc/dec County Treasurer's Request for Unpaid Distress Warrants be Stricken from the Tax Rolls
Disc/dec Construction Engineering Amendment Request
Disc/dec Custer County Appointing Voting Member to the East Central Region Board
Disc/dec BOE tax list corrections, over, under, omitted evaluations, permissive exemptions
Disc/dec Application(s) to cross county r-o-w
10:00 a.m.
Disc/dec Public Hearing Rd 351 Petition #3427
10:30 a.m.
Disc/dec Public Hearing Data Center Regulations
10:45 a.m.
Disc/dec Public Hearing Temporary Moratorium on Battery Energy Storage Systems
]]></content:encoded>
                                                                                            	</news>
                
                    	<news>
                
                    <title><![CDATA[Helicopter weed control project underway across area river systems]]></title>
                                                            <link>https://sandhillsexpress.com/local-news/helicopter-weed-control-project-underway-across-area-river-systems/?radio=1</link>
                                        <image>https://media-news-affiliates.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/uploads/2026/09/Weed-helicopter-300x158.jpg</image>
                                        <caption> </caption>
                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:25:55 +0000</pubDate>
                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[Christen Shirley]]></dc:creator>
                    		<category><![CDATA[Local News]]></category>

                                                    <description><![CDATA[If you see a helicopter flying low over a river or lake in the area over the next couple of weeks, there's a good chance it's part of a large scale effort to identify and control invasive weeds.
The Sandhills Weed Management Area has begun a helicopter surveying and spraying project covering selected sites along several river systems and waterways across central and north central Nebraska. The project is scheduled to continue taking place until October 9, although exact timing will depend on weather and wind conditions.
Custer County Weed Superintendent and Sandhills Weed Management Area Chairman Tim Conover said the project is targeting invasive species including phragmites, purple loosestrife and yellow flag iris. The helicopter will allow crews to reach areas along river systems that can be difficult for landowners and ground crews to access, including sandbars and swampy areas.
The work is being funded through a Nebraska Environmental Trust grant awarded to the Sandhills Weed Management Area. The organization received approximately $516,450 through the grant for projects over three years, with $110,000 allocated for the helicopter work in 2026 and another $90,000 planned for the project in 2027.
Conover said the helicopter will generally survey an area and spray targeted weeds during the same flight, rather than conducting a separate surveying operation and returning later to spray.
On the Calamus River, work will begin near the Cherry-Brown County line, continue through Loup County and around the Calamus Reservoir, and continue into Garfield County to the point where the Calamus enters the North Loup River.
The North Loup River project will begin near Purdum in northeastern Blaine County and continue through Loup, Garfield and Valley counties before ending near the Greeley-Howard County line.
On the Middle Loup River, the project will begin near Seneca at the Hooker-Thomas County line, continue through Blaine and Custer counties and into southwest Valley County, ending south of Arcadia near the Sherman County line. Conover said the Thomas County portion will be surveyed but not sprayed as part of this project.
The South Loup River portion will run from west of Arnold through Custer County, ending near the Buffalo County line at Highway 183.
The project also includes portions of the Cedar River, including Lake Erickson, as well as Beaver Creek and Brown Lake in Logan County.
The Cedar River work will begin near the Garfield-Wheeler County line, continue through portions of Greeley and Boone counties and end near the Nance County line. Nance County has its own separate project.
Beaver Creek will be surveyed from the northwest corner of Wheeler County through Boone County, ending near the Platte County line.
Conover said the project comes at no cost to participating landowners, with the work covered by the grant.
Landowners who do not want their property included in the spraying project are encouraged to contact their local County Weed Control Authority. Those landowners are required to have an approved weed management plan in place for controlling the targeted noxious weeds before the project begins in their area.
Conover said the helicopter service being used for the project is Hexagon Helicopters Inc. Those with questions or concerns about the project can reach Conover at 308-212-2926 or through the Custer County Weed Department office at 308-872-2410.
Listen to our full conversation with Conover here:
https://media-news-affiliates.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/uploads/2026/09/TIM-CONOVER-REC-99_.mp3
Full press release from the SWMA:
Sandhills Weed Management Area (SWMA) Helicopter Surveying &amp; Spraying
On River Systems in:
(Blaine, Boone, Brown, Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Logan, Loup, Thomas, Valley &amp; Wheeler)
Sandhills Weed Management Area (SWMA) is a WMA that is comprised of 19 counties: Boyd, Blaine, Boone, Brown, Cherry, Custer, Garfield, Grant, Greeley, Holt, Hooker, Keya Paha, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Nance, Thomas, Valley and Wheeler Counties.
SWMA was awarded $516,450 through an NET Grant for a variety of projects over a three year period of time (2026, 2027, 2028). Part of that grant is to use a helicopter to survey and spray our river systems for phragmites, purple loosestrife, yellow flag iris and other invasive species. $110,000 was awarded for 2026 and another $90,000 to be used in 2027 for this work.
Calamus River - We will start at the Cherry/Brown County line, continue through Loup County, go around the Calamus Reservoir, and end in Garfield County to where it enters the North Loup River.
North Loup River - We will start at Purdum in the northeast corner of Blaine County, continue through Loup County, continue through the southeast corner of Garfield County, continue through Valley County, and end in the southeast corner of Greeley County at the Howard County line.
Middle Loup River - We will start at Seneca by the Hooker/Thomas County line (only survey in Thomas County) continue through Blaine County, continue through Custer County, continue through the southwest corner of Valley County and end just south of Arcadia at the Sherman County line.
South Loup River - We will start just west of Arnold in Custer County and end in the southeast corner of Custer County at the Buffalo County line at Hwy 183.
Cedar River - We will start at the Garfield/Wheeler County line, include Lake Erickson, continue through the northeast corner of Greeley County, continue through the southwest corner of Boone County, and end at the Nance County line. Nance County has their own individual project.
Beaver Creek - We will start at the northwest corner of Wheeler County and continue in Boone County where we will end at the Platte County line.
Brown Lake - Logan County
OFFICIAL NOTICE
Section 2-965, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, provides a control authority may direct and carry out projects of control for one or more specific noxious weeds without individual notice as prescribed in Section 2-265 if the control authority has caused publication of notices of such project. Your respective Blaine, Boone, Brown, Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Logan, Loup, Thomas, Valley, Wheeler County Weed Control Authority as a part of the Sandhills Weed Management Area (SWMA) will be doing control work on selected sites of the Calamus River, North Loup River, Middle Loup River, South Loup River, Lake Erickson, Cedar River, Beaver Creek and Brown Lake in the area. We will be surveying and spraying phragmites, purple loosestrife and yellow flag iris with Hexagon Helicopters Inc from Elkhorn, NE. Control work will be performed between September 21, 2026, through October 9, 2026.
This service will be provided at no cost to the landowners within the targeted areas. The project is being funded through an NET Grant. Landowners not interested in this program are encouraged to call your local County Weed Control Authority. Those not participating in the project should have a weed management plan for the control of noxious weeds that has been approved by your local County Weed Control Authority prior to the start time of this special project.
By Order of your local County Weed Control Authority
Tim Conover, Custer County Weed Supt./Chair of SWMA
431 S. 10th Ave.
Broken Bow, NE 68822
Office - 308-872-2410
 Cell - 308-212-2926
]]></description>
                                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[If you see a helicopter flying low over a river or lake in the area over the next couple of weeks, there's a good chance it's part of a large scale effort to identify and control invasive weeds.
The Sandhills Weed Management Area has begun a helicopter surveying and spraying project covering selected sites along several river systems and waterways across central and north central Nebraska. The project is scheduled to continue taking place until October 9, although exact timing will depend on weather and wind conditions.
Custer County Weed Superintendent and Sandhills Weed Management Area Chairman Tim Conover said the project is targeting invasive species including phragmites, purple loosestrife and yellow flag iris. The helicopter will allow crews to reach areas along river systems that can be difficult for landowners and ground crews to access, including sandbars and swampy areas.
The work is being funded through a Nebraska Environmental Trust grant awarded to the Sandhills Weed Management Area. The organization received approximately $516,450 through the grant for projects over three years, with $110,000 allocated for the helicopter work in 2026 and another $90,000 planned for the project in 2027.
Conover said the helicopter will generally survey an area and spray targeted weeds during the same flight, rather than conducting a separate surveying operation and returning later to spray.
On the Calamus River, work will begin near the Cherry-Brown County line, continue through Loup County and around the Calamus Reservoir, and continue into Garfield County to the point where the Calamus enters the North Loup River.
The North Loup River project will begin near Purdum in northeastern Blaine County and continue through Loup, Garfield and Valley counties before ending near the Greeley-Howard County line.
On the Middle Loup River, the project will begin near Seneca at the Hooker-Thomas County line, continue through Blaine and Custer counties and into southwest Valley County, ending south of Arcadia near the Sherman County line. Conover said the Thomas County portion will be surveyed but not sprayed as part of this project.
The South Loup River portion will run from west of Arnold through Custer County, ending near the Buffalo County line at Highway 183.
The project also includes portions of the Cedar River, including Lake Erickson, as well as Beaver Creek and Brown Lake in Logan County.
The Cedar River work will begin near the Garfield-Wheeler County line, continue through portions of Greeley and Boone counties and end near the Nance County line. Nance County has its own separate project.
Beaver Creek will be surveyed from the northwest corner of Wheeler County through Boone County, ending near the Platte County line.
Conover said the project comes at no cost to participating landowners, with the work covered by the grant.
Landowners who do not want their property included in the spraying project are encouraged to contact their local County Weed Control Authority. Those landowners are required to have an approved weed management plan in place for controlling the targeted noxious weeds before the project begins in their area.
Conover said the helicopter service being used for the project is Hexagon Helicopters Inc. Those with questions or concerns about the project can reach Conover at 308-212-2926 or through the Custer County Weed Department office at 308-872-2410.
Listen to our full conversation with Conover here:
https://media-news-affiliates.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/uploads/2026/09/TIM-CONOVER-REC-99_.mp3
Full press release from the SWMA:
Sandhills Weed Management Area (SWMA) Helicopter Surveying &amp; Spraying
On River Systems in:
(Blaine, Boone, Brown, Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Logan, Loup, Thomas, Valley &amp; Wheeler)
Sandhills Weed Management Area (SWMA) is a WMA that is comprised of 19 counties: Boyd, Blaine, Boone, Brown, Cherry, Custer, Garfield, Grant, Greeley, Holt, Hooker, Keya Paha, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Nance, Thomas, Valley and Wheeler Counties.
SWMA was awarded $516,450 through an NET Grant for a variety of projects over a three year period of time (2026, 2027, 2028). Part of that grant is to use a helicopter to survey and spray our river systems for phragmites, purple loosestrife, yellow flag iris and other invasive species. $110,000 was awarded for 2026 and another $90,000 to be used in 2027 for this work.
Calamus River - We will start at the Cherry/Brown County line, continue through Loup County, go around the Calamus Reservoir, and end in Garfield County to where it enters the North Loup River.
North Loup River - We will start at Purdum in the northeast corner of Blaine County, continue through Loup County, continue through the southeast corner of Garfield County, continue through Valley County, and end in the southeast corner of Greeley County at the Howard County line.
Middle Loup River - We will start at Seneca by the Hooker/Thomas County line (only survey in Thomas County) continue through Blaine County, continue through Custer County, continue through the southwest corner of Valley County and end just south of Arcadia at the Sherman County line.
South Loup River - We will start just west of Arnold in Custer County and end in the southeast corner of Custer County at the Buffalo County line at Hwy 183.
Cedar River - We will start at the Garfield/Wheeler County line, include Lake Erickson, continue through the northeast corner of Greeley County, continue through the southwest corner of Boone County, and end at the Nance County line. Nance County has their own individual project.
Beaver Creek - We will start at the northwest corner of Wheeler County and continue in Boone County where we will end at the Platte County line.
Brown Lake - Logan County
OFFICIAL NOTICE
Section 2-965, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, provides a control authority may direct and carry out projects of control for one or more specific noxious weeds without individual notice as prescribed in Section 2-265 if the control authority has caused publication of notices of such project. Your respective Blaine, Boone, Brown, Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Logan, Loup, Thomas, Valley, Wheeler County Weed Control Authority as a part of the Sandhills Weed Management Area (SWMA) will be doing control work on selected sites of the Calamus River, North Loup River, Middle Loup River, South Loup River, Lake Erickson, Cedar River, Beaver Creek and Brown Lake in the area. We will be surveying and spraying phragmites, purple loosestrife and yellow flag iris with Hexagon Helicopters Inc from Elkhorn, NE. Control work will be performed between September 21, 2026, through October 9, 2026.
This service will be provided at no cost to the landowners within the targeted areas. The project is being funded through an NET Grant. Landowners not interested in this program are encouraged to call your local County Weed Control Authority. Those not participating in the project should have a weed management plan for the control of noxious weeds that has been approved by your local County Weed Control Authority prior to the start time of this special project.
By Order of your local County Weed Control Authority
Tim Conover, Custer County Weed Supt./Chair of SWMA
431 S. 10th Ave.
Broken Bow, NE 68822
Office - 308-872-2410
 Cell - 308-212-2926
]]></content:encoded>
                                                            <enclosure url="https://media-news-affiliates.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/uploads/2026/09/TIM-CONOVER-REC-99_.mp3" length="28470984" type="audio/mpeg" />
                                	</news>
                
                    	<news>
                
                    <title><![CDATA[Reported Broken Bow shooting determined false, possible swatting incident under investigation]]></title>
                                                            <link>https://sandhillsexpress.com/local-news/reported-broken-bow-shooting-determined-false-possible-swatting-incident-under-investigation/?radio=1</link>
                                        <image>https://media-news-affiliates.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/uploads/2026/09/IMG_4173-300x169.jpeg</image>
                                        <caption> </caption>
                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 03:45:24 +0000</pubDate>
                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[Christen Shirley]]></dc:creator>
                    		<category><![CDATA[Local News]]></category>

                                                    <description><![CDATA[BROKEN BOW, Neb.- Broken Bow Police and the Custer County Sheriff's Office responded Sunday afternoon to a reported shooting at a residence in the 500 block of North F Street.
The Broken Bow Police Department says officers were called to the area at approximately 4:30 p.m. following a report that a man had shot his sister inside a residence.
Because of the nature of the report, the Custer County Sheriff's Office also responded. Officers established a perimeter around the residence while the situation was investigated.
The response also led to precautionary measures at several locations in Broken Bow.
A football game being played at Broken Bow High School was interrupted, with players, families and attendees directed to shelter. Melham Medical Center and the Becton Dickinson plant also implemented precautionary lockdown measures while the situation was being investigated.
During the response, officers developed information indicating the call may have been a potential swatting incident.
The Broken Bow Police Department describes swatting as a false report of a serious or violent emergency made to law enforcement with the intent of causing a significant police response to a particular location.
Police say officers must take reports of a shooting seriously and respond as though the reported emergency may be real until the situation can be safely investigated.
Officers ultimately confirmed the residence was unoccupied and that there were no individuals inside.
Following the investigation at the residence, police confirmed that the reported shooting had not occurred and that there was no ongoing danger to the community.
The Broken Bow Police Department thanked the Custer County Sheriff's Office, Broken Bow Ambulance Service and Broken Bow Volunteer Fire Department for their assistance and cooperation during the response.
The department also expressed appreciation for the cooperation and patience of students, families, school staff, hospital staff and community members who were affected by the precautionary measures.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reported shooting and potential swatting incident remains ongoing.
]]></description>
                                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[BROKEN BOW, Neb.- Broken Bow Police and the Custer County Sheriff's Office responded Sunday afternoon to a reported shooting at a residence in the 500 block of North F Street.
The Broken Bow Police Department says officers were called to the area at approximately 4:30 p.m. following a report that a man had shot his sister inside a residence.
Because of the nature of the report, the Custer County Sheriff's Office also responded. Officers established a perimeter around the residence while the situation was investigated.
The response also led to precautionary measures at several locations in Broken Bow.
A football game being played at Broken Bow High School was interrupted, with players, families and attendees directed to shelter. Melham Medical Center and the Becton Dickinson plant also implemented precautionary lockdown measures while the situation was being investigated.
During the response, officers developed information indicating the call may have been a potential swatting incident.
The Broken Bow Police Department describes swatting as a false report of a serious or violent emergency made to law enforcement with the intent of causing a significant police response to a particular location.
Police say officers must take reports of a shooting seriously and respond as though the reported emergency may be real until the situation can be safely investigated.
Officers ultimately confirmed the residence was unoccupied and that there were no individuals inside.
Following the investigation at the residence, police confirmed that the reported shooting had not occurred and that there was no ongoing danger to the community.
The Broken Bow Police Department thanked the Custer County Sheriff's Office, Broken Bow Ambulance Service and Broken Bow Volunteer Fire Department for their assistance and cooperation during the response.
The department also expressed appreciation for the cooperation and patience of students, families, school staff, hospital staff and community members who were affected by the precautionary measures.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reported shooting and potential swatting incident remains ongoing.
]]></content:encoded>
                                                                                            	</news>
                
                    	<news>
                
                    <title><![CDATA[Adaptive grazing field day explores virtual fencing at McGinn Ranch]]></title>
                                                            <link>https://sandhillsexpress.com/local-news/adaptive-grazing-field-day-explores-virtual-fencing-at-mcginn-ranch/?radio=1</link>
                                        <image>https://media-news-affiliates.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/uploads/2026/09/Halter-Noble-main-300x158.jpg</image>
                                        <caption> </caption>
                                                            <pubDate>Sun, 27 Sep 2026 20:03:25 +0000</pubDate>
                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[Christen Shirley]]></dc:creator>
                    		<category><![CDATA[Local News]]></category>

                                                    <description><![CDATA[ANSELMO, Neb.- There's no fence between cattle and more grass at the McGinn Ranch- at least not one you can see.
Instead, cattle grazing at the ranch outside Anselmo are wearing collars equipped with GPS, solar power, and a system designed to create boundaries without a strand of wire. The technology was the centerpiece of an adaptive grazing field day hosted by Noble Research Institute and Halter.
The discussion on Monday went well beyond the novelty of putting a virtual fence around a herd. The larger question was what an invisible fence might allow a rancher to do with the land.
View video content from the field day at the end of this story
At the field day, ranchers came together to discuss rotational and adaptive grazing, soil health and livestock management before moving into the pasture to see Halter's virtual fencing system in action. The connection made between the two topics was straightforward: adaptive grazing depends on a rancher's ability to control where cattle graze, how intensely they graze, and perhaps most importantly, how long a pasture is allowed to rest before cattle return.
Those decisions can be difficult when using physical fencing. Building and moving poly wire takes time and labor, permanent fencing requires infrastructure, and a grazing plan can change quickly when weather or forage conditions change. The message conveyed at the event was although virtual fencing doesn't eliminate management decisions, it can make it easier for a rancher to act on them.
That's where the collars, the cattle, and the soil health discussion come together.
A Halter collar was passed between ranchers in attendance at the field day hosted by the McGinn ranch (Photo by Jeremy Shipe, KCNI/KBBN Radio)
Noble Research Institute Education Partnerships and Outreach Specialist Caitlin Word told the group that the names attached to grazing systems (rotational, adaptive, intensive, cell, etc.) matter less than the underlying principles. At their core, the systems are about managing grazing pressure and giving plants time to recover.
Word said virtual fencing can allow a rancher to make changes triggered by significant rain, a dry stretch, or forage availability much more quickly than with physical fence. But she also stressed that the technology isn't a substitute for understanding grazing management.
&#8220;A tool is only as effective as the person holding it,&#8221; Word said.
Noble works with ranchers on the ecological, livestock, and business components of a grazing operation, with Word describing any ranch as a three-legged pot supported by land, livestock, and finances. The people running the ranch are in the pot, supported by all three.
Word said she had been skeptical of virtual fencing technology when she first encountered an earlier system, believing it could create a barrier between ranchers and their livestock rather than strengthen good stockmanship. Her experience with Halter has changed that opinion, and she now sees the technology as something that can be incorporated into good livestock management rather than replacing it.
That distinction matters because the collars require the rancher to understand cattle behavior and the condition of the land. The only difference is that they change how some of the work gets done.
Anna Kate Link, Territory Manager for Halter, explained to the group how the system works. Each collar uses GPS and a satellite connection to communicate with the rancher's app, allowing the rancher to create virtual boundaries and track individual animals. The collars are solar powered, and the system is designed to work in remote areas without relying on a traditional network of fence lines or communication towers.
The cattle receive different cues depending on what the rancher is asking them to do. As an animal approaches a virtual boundary, the collar provides directional audio cues, with the animal receiving a cue from the appropriate side of the collar. If it continues across the boundary, the system can deliver a low electrical pulse after the animal travels a predetermined distance.
A separate movement cue can also be used. When a rancher changes the virtual fence and wants cattle to move to a new area, the collars can provide a vibration cue directing the animals to the new grazing area.
Matt McGinn said the training process at his ranch only took a couple of days.
Now a few months in, the change to his day-to-day grazing routine has been significant. McGinn said there was a time that roughly two miles of poly wire could be put out in a day, while his cattle could be moved between grazing areas about every couple weeks. With the virtual fencing system, he can make moves in days and change the grazing boundary with his phone.
A much more fluid grazing system is the result. Instead of waiting for a scheduled move or finding time to construct another area, McGinn can make a change when he thinks the pasture or the cattle need it. He can also see where his cattle are at any time, which also eases some challenges of managing a herd across a ranch.
Matt McGinn said the Halter collars are an extension of his family changing management practices to put less pressure on its land (Photo by Jeremy Shipe, KCNI/KBBN Radio)
McGinn said he believes the cattle have actually become calmer since the collars were introduced. He said they seemed to learn the system quickly, and he has noticed what he described as a more content demeanor among the herd.
The technology is new to McGinn's operation, but the motivation behind changing how cattle grazed goes back further.
The McGinn Ranch was founded in 1891, and McGinn said his family's management practices changed over time as economic conditions and drought put pressure on the operation. During the 2002 drought, the ranch sold roughly 500 cows and laid off three employees. Later, as input costs rose faster than cattle prices, McGinn said the operation found itself putting more pressure on its land in an effort to sustain the cow herd.
Those experiences helped push him toward a different approach to managing the ranch, with more attention paid to the long term condition of the land rather than simply trying to get as much production from it as possible in a given year. The focus moved from asking how many cattle he could run and how often he can move them to looking at the plants themselves. McGinn used a plant identification app to learn what's growing on the ranch while watching how cattle interact with different plants during different parts of the year.
That kind of observation is what Word encouraged ranchers to do during the field portion of the event. Rather than looking only at the cattle, she asked attendees to look down and consider ground cover, biodiversity, live roots, residual plant material, and even the condition and &#8220;bounce&#8221; of the soil.
McGinn said that in the hustle and bustle on a ranch, it's easy to spend more time in a side-by-side UTV cruising by cattle and fields at a speed that doesn't allow seeing what is actually happening. He said he walks a good distance at a time often to really get a good look at things up close.
Word cautioned against the idea that ranchers have to completely transform their operation overnight or adopt an extreme grazing system to make progress. Even a single section of fence inside a larger pasture can offer a little flexibility.
&#8220;Don't let perfection get in the way of good,&#8221; was one message she shared.
Matt McGinn believes the cattle have become calmer since the collars were introduced, and that he is noticing a more 'content' demeanor among the herd (Photo by Jeremy Shipe, KCNI/KBBN Radio)
That idea of flexibility is what Halter's system takes and makes easier by removing physical limitations. Link said Nebraska is approaching 25,000 cattle wearing Halter collars, with Nebraska operations using the technology from herds of around 100 head to much larger operations. Halter, which began in New Zealand with a collar made of Tupperware and someone's belt, went international as the technology progressed.
Today, safeguards are built into the system including a breakaway feature that allows the collars to come off if an animal becomes snagged. If connection to satellites is lost, collars can hold the cattle in place so a rancher can physically approach the herd and use Bluetooth to manually manage the cattle.
Water, and cattle having access to it with each virtual fence, was another of many examples of what ranchers need to make a call on themselves reinforcing Word's message of the technology being a tool. The collars can make the boundary, locate cattle, change grazing patterns, and move cattle without building a physical fence, but it can't replace the need to understand the cattle or the land.
The lesson everyone learned through the day wasn't that ranchers can fence without wire now. It was that removing a physical limitation of grazing management can give them the freedom to respond in different ways. The technology creates the boundary, but ranchers still need to decide where those boundaries should be and when they should move based on what the land is telling them.

]]></description>
                                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[ANSELMO, Neb.- There's no fence between cattle and more grass at the McGinn Ranch- at least not one you can see.
Instead, cattle grazing at the ranch outside Anselmo are wearing collars equipped with GPS, solar power, and a system designed to create boundaries without a strand of wire. The technology was the centerpiece of an adaptive grazing field day hosted by Noble Research Institute and Halter.
The discussion on Monday went well beyond the novelty of putting a virtual fence around a herd. The larger question was what an invisible fence might allow a rancher to do with the land.
View video content from the field day at the end of this story
At the field day, ranchers came together to discuss rotational and adaptive grazing, soil health and livestock management before moving into the pasture to see Halter's virtual fencing system in action. The connection made between the two topics was straightforward: adaptive grazing depends on a rancher's ability to control where cattle graze, how intensely they graze, and perhaps most importantly, how long a pasture is allowed to rest before cattle return.
Those decisions can be difficult when using physical fencing. Building and moving poly wire takes time and labor, permanent fencing requires infrastructure, and a grazing plan can change quickly when weather or forage conditions change. The message conveyed at the event was although virtual fencing doesn't eliminate management decisions, it can make it easier for a rancher to act on them.
That's where the collars, the cattle, and the soil health discussion come together.
A Halter collar was passed between ranchers in attendance at the field day hosted by the McGinn ranch (Photo by Jeremy Shipe, KCNI/KBBN Radio)
Noble Research Institute Education Partnerships and Outreach Specialist Caitlin Word told the group that the names attached to grazing systems (rotational, adaptive, intensive, cell, etc.) matter less than the underlying principles. At their core, the systems are about managing grazing pressure and giving plants time to recover.
Word said virtual fencing can allow a rancher to make changes triggered by significant rain, a dry stretch, or forage availability much more quickly than with physical fence. But she also stressed that the technology isn't a substitute for understanding grazing management.
&#8220;A tool is only as effective as the person holding it,&#8221; Word said.
Noble works with ranchers on the ecological, livestock, and business components of a grazing operation, with Word describing any ranch as a three-legged pot supported by land, livestock, and finances. The people running the ranch are in the pot, supported by all three.
Word said she had been skeptical of virtual fencing technology when she first encountered an earlier system, believing it could create a barrier between ranchers and their livestock rather than strengthen good stockmanship. Her experience with Halter has changed that opinion, and she now sees the technology as something that can be incorporated into good livestock management rather than replacing it.
That distinction matters because the collars require the rancher to understand cattle behavior and the condition of the land. The only difference is that they change how some of the work gets done.
Anna Kate Link, Territory Manager for Halter, explained to the group how the system works. Each collar uses GPS and a satellite connection to communicate with the rancher's app, allowing the rancher to create virtual boundaries and track individual animals. The collars are solar powered, and the system is designed to work in remote areas without relying on a traditional network of fence lines or communication towers.
The cattle receive different cues depending on what the rancher is asking them to do. As an animal approaches a virtual boundary, the collar provides directional audio cues, with the animal receiving a cue from the appropriate side of the collar. If it continues across the boundary, the system can deliver a low electrical pulse after the animal travels a predetermined distance.
A separate movement cue can also be used. When a rancher changes the virtual fence and wants cattle to move to a new area, the collars can provide a vibration cue directing the animals to the new grazing area.
Matt McGinn said the training process at his ranch only took a couple of days.
Now a few months in, the change to his day-to-day grazing routine has been significant. McGinn said there was a time that roughly two miles of poly wire could be put out in a day, while his cattle could be moved between grazing areas about every couple weeks. With the virtual fencing system, he can make moves in days and change the grazing boundary with his phone.
A much more fluid grazing system is the result. Instead of waiting for a scheduled move or finding time to construct another area, McGinn can make a change when he thinks the pasture or the cattle need it. He can also see where his cattle are at any time, which also eases some challenges of managing a herd across a ranch.
Matt McGinn said the Halter collars are an extension of his family changing management practices to put less pressure on its land (Photo by Jeremy Shipe, KCNI/KBBN Radio)
McGinn said he believes the cattle have actually become calmer since the collars were introduced. He said they seemed to learn the system quickly, and he has noticed what he described as a more content demeanor among the herd.
The technology is new to McGinn's operation, but the motivation behind changing how cattle grazed goes back further.
The McGinn Ranch was founded in 1891, and McGinn said his family's management practices changed over time as economic conditions and drought put pressure on the operation. During the 2002 drought, the ranch sold roughly 500 cows and laid off three employees. Later, as input costs rose faster than cattle prices, McGinn said the operation found itself putting more pressure on its land in an effort to sustain the cow herd.
Those experiences helped push him toward a different approach to managing the ranch, with more attention paid to the long term condition of the land rather than simply trying to get as much production from it as possible in a given year. The focus moved from asking how many cattle he could run and how often he can move them to looking at the plants themselves. McGinn used a plant identification app to learn what's growing on the ranch while watching how cattle interact with different plants during different parts of the year.
That kind of observation is what Word encouraged ranchers to do during the field portion of the event. Rather than looking only at the cattle, she asked attendees to look down and consider ground cover, biodiversity, live roots, residual plant material, and even the condition and &#8220;bounce&#8221; of the soil.
McGinn said that in the hustle and bustle on a ranch, it's easy to spend more time in a side-by-side UTV cruising by cattle and fields at a speed that doesn't allow seeing what is actually happening. He said he walks a good distance at a time often to really get a good look at things up close.
Word cautioned against the idea that ranchers have to completely transform their operation overnight or adopt an extreme grazing system to make progress. Even a single section of fence inside a larger pasture can offer a little flexibility.
&#8220;Don't let perfection get in the way of good,&#8221; was one message she shared.
Matt McGinn believes the cattle have become calmer since the collars were introduced, and that he is noticing a more 'content' demeanor among the herd (Photo by Jeremy Shipe, KCNI/KBBN Radio)
That idea of flexibility is what Halter's system takes and makes easier by removing physical limitations. Link said Nebraska is approaching 25,000 cattle wearing Halter collars, with Nebraska operations using the technology from herds of around 100 head to much larger operations. Halter, which began in New Zealand with a collar made of Tupperware and someone's belt, went international as the technology progressed.
Today, safeguards are built into the system including a breakaway feature that allows the collars to come off if an animal becomes snagged. If connection to satellites is lost, collars can hold the cattle in place so a rancher can physically approach the herd and use Bluetooth to manually manage the cattle.
Water, and cattle having access to it with each virtual fence, was another of many examples of what ranchers need to make a call on themselves reinforcing Word's message of the technology being a tool. The collars can make the boundary, locate cattle, change grazing patterns, and move cattle without building a physical fence, but it can't replace the need to understand the cattle or the land.
The lesson everyone learned through the day wasn't that ranchers can fence without wire now. It was that removing a physical limitation of grazing management can give them the freedom to respond in different ways. The technology creates the boundary, but ranchers still need to decide where those boundaries should be and when they should move based on what the land is telling them.

]]></content:encoded>
                                                                                            	</news>
                
                    	<news>
                
                    <title><![CDATA[No. 1 Huskers Close Homestand with Sweep of Ohio State]]></title>
                                                            <link>https://sandhillsexpress.com/husker-news/no-1-huskers-close-homestand-with-sweep-of-ohio-state/?radio=1</link>
                                        <image>https://media-news-affiliates.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/uploads/2026/09/bEa3PBrBpgPF1vC3dpAueHy6y6448W3NnR4TMorg-300x113.webp</image>
                                        <caption> </caption>
                                                            <pubDate>Sun, 27 Sep 2026 17:40:16 +0000</pubDate>
                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brent Apperson]]></dc:creator>
                    		<category><![CDATA[Husker News]]></category>

                                                    <description><![CDATA[No. 1 Nebraska finished its nine-match homestand with a 25-19, 25-10, 25-12 sweep of Ohio State on Saturday night in front of 10,497 fans at John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska (13-0, 2-0 Big Ten) used a balanced offensive attack to hit at a pace of .333, with five players recording six or more kills. The Huskers stifled Ohio State (8-4, 1-1 Big Ten), holding the Buckeyes to an -.010 hitting percentage.
It is the eighth time the Big Red have held an opponent under .100 hitting this season and the second time Nebraska has held an opponent to a negative hitting percentage.
Virginia Adriano, Manaia Ogbechie, and Skyler Pierce all tallied seven kills to lead NU. Ogbechie hit an efficient .667 with seven kills and one error on nine swings, while Pierce hit .333 (7-2-15). Bergen Reilly finished with 31 assists, five, digs, and four blocks.
For the seventh time this season, the Nebraska defense recorded 10 blocks, with Andi Jackson, Kenna Cogill, and Reilly pacing the Huskers with four each. Olivia Mauch led NU with 16 digs, her 10th match with 10-plus digs this season.
Set 1: The Huskers took the opening set 25-19 over Ohio State in a frame that featured 13 ties and four lead changes. The Buckeyes built their largest lead at 14-11 and still led 15-13 at the media timeout, but Ogbechie's kill out of the break ignited a 12-4 NU run to close the set. A kill from Jackson and a pair of Buckeye errors put the Big Red out front 23-18, and after an Ohio State kill, back-to-back kills by Reilly and Pierce ended the set.
Set 2: Nebraska rolled to a 25-10 win in the second set, holding OSU to five kills and a negative hitting clip in the frame. After a deadlock at five, Murray served the Huskers to a 4-0 rally that had the Big Red out front after consecutive kills by Pierce. Campbell Flynn served back-to-back aces during a 5-0 run that made it 14-6, and Pierce followed with a 7-0 service run, including a pair of aces, for a 22-8 lead. Mauch's ace after an Adriano kill brought up set point, and a block assist by Jackson and Adriano ended the set for the Huskers.
Set 3: Nebraska raced to a 9-2 lead in the third, capped off by kill by Murray, to force a Buckeye timeout. Ohio State trimmed its deficit to 16-10 on an ace from Mia Stahler, but the Huskers pushed the lead back to 21-11 on a block assist from Reilly and Cogill, as Ohio State burned another timeout. Nebraska closed a dominant set with another block from Reilly and Cogill to close the match in three, hitting .440 and holding Ohio State to -.062 in the final game.
No. 1 Nebraska returns to action next week on the road, as the Huskers visit No. 14 Penn State and Maryland on Thursday, Oct. 1 and Saturday, Oct. 3.
]]></description>
                                                    <content:encoded><![CDATA[No. 1 Nebraska finished its nine-match homestand with a 25-19, 25-10, 25-12 sweep of Ohio State on Saturday night in front of 10,497 fans at John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska (13-0, 2-0 Big Ten) used a balanced offensive attack to hit at a pace of .333, with five players recording six or more kills. The Huskers stifled Ohio State (8-4, 1-1 Big Ten), holding the Buckeyes to an -.010 hitting percentage.
It is the eighth time the Big Red have held an opponent under .100 hitting this season and the second time Nebraska has held an opponent to a negative hitting percentage.
Virginia Adriano, Manaia Ogbechie, and Skyler Pierce all tallied seven kills to lead NU. Ogbechie hit an efficient .667 with seven kills and one error on nine swings, while Pierce hit .333 (7-2-15). Bergen Reilly finished with 31 assists, five, digs, and four blocks.
For the seventh time this season, the Nebraska defense recorded 10 blocks, with Andi Jackson, Kenna Cogill, and Reilly pacing the Huskers with four each. Olivia Mauch led NU with 16 digs, her 10th match with 10-plus digs this season.
Set 1: The Huskers took the opening set 25-19 over Ohio State in a frame that featured 13 ties and four lead changes. The Buckeyes built their largest lead at 14-11 and still led 15-13 at the media timeout, but Ogbechie's kill out of the break ignited a 12-4 NU run to close the set. A kill from Jackson and a pair of Buckeye errors put the Big Red out front 23-18, and after an Ohio State kill, back-to-back kills by Reilly and Pierce ended the set.
Set 2: Nebraska rolled to a 25-10 win in the second set, holding OSU to five kills and a negative hitting clip in the frame. After a deadlock at five, Murray served the Huskers to a 4-0 rally that had the Big Red out front after consecutive kills by Pierce. Campbell Flynn served back-to-back aces during a 5-0 run that made it 14-6, and Pierce followed with a 7-0 service run, including a pair of aces, for a 22-8 lead. Mauch's ace after an Adriano kill brought up set point, and a block assist by Jackson and Adriano ended the set for the Huskers.
Set 3: Nebraska raced to a 9-2 lead in the third, capped off by kill by Murray, to force a Buckeye timeout. Ohio State trimmed its deficit to 16-10 on an ace from Mia Stahler, but the Huskers pushed the lead back to 21-11 on a block assist from Reilly and Cogill, as Ohio State burned another timeout. Nebraska closed a dominant set with another block from Reilly and Cogill to close the match in three, hitting .440 and holding Ohio State to -.062 in the final game.
No. 1 Nebraska returns to action next week on the road, as the Huskers visit No. 14 Penn State and Maryland on Thursday, Oct. 1 and Saturday, Oct. 3.
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