Ag & Range

Prescribed burns planned for Dawes County

Photo Courtsey USDA A prescribed burn is carried out using a drip torch. Six prescribed burns are planned for Dawes County WMAs.

u By Kamryn Kozisek

Ag and Range Editor

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission recently announced its plans for prescribed burns across the state in 2022, including six in Dawes County.

Wildlife management areas (WMA) to be burned include Big Horn, Bordeaux Creek, Chet and Jane Fleisbach, Box Butte, Chadron Creek Ranch and Ponderosa.

Prescribed burning, according to Game and Parks, can help to increase wildlife habitats and decrease invasive species like Kentucky bluegrass.

“Prescribed fire was a very natural ecological process years ago before European settlement then we started putting the kibosh on putting out lightning strikes,” Rick Arnold, Game and Parks biologist, stated during an episode of the Panhandle Afeild Podcast, hosted by Justin Hagg. “The Pine Ridge historically burned every 5-10 years with uncontrolled lighting strikes and various causes for fire. Native Americans set fire to the plains regularly to attract bison and that new fresh green growth. More or less we are just trying to put fire back in the landscape to restore that natural process that used to happen.”

According to Nebraska Pheasants Forever, prescribed burns can help to control eastern red cedar encroachment on to Nebraska grasslands. Easter red cedar is encroaching on 38,000 acres a year.

In order to carry out a prescribed burn, a burn list needs to be followed and carried out to help prevent fires from getting out of control. Weather is monitored including temperature, humidity and wind speed as well.

“Rangeland areas that have not had fire occurrence are often sites of problems involving invasive species,” Central Platte Resources District website states. “The invasive species, such as Eastern Red Cedar, can take away natural grassland acres that are necessary for grazing as well as for wildlife. Rangelands that are always grazed in the fall or winter with no spring treatment may also become areas dominated by native and non-native cool-season grasses and invasive weeds. These areas offer a reduced food value to livestock and are of reduced value to native wildlife.”

Nebraska’s prescribed fire council will be hosting its third Great Plains Fire Council August 23-25 in North Platte in the Sandhills Convention Center. Online regestration can be filled out on https://www.eventbrite. com/e/great-plains-fire-summitpatch-burn-grazing-conference-registration-276850004817.

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Kiersten Luce, sophomore of Cheyenne, Wyoming, portraying Eleanor, waves her hand at Levi O’Dell, junior of Piedmont, South Dakota, playing Henry, during an argument at Monday’s dress rehearsal of “The Lion in Winter” in the Black Box Theater.

Jarrod Paul, senior of Gordon, portraying Geoffrey, yells during “The Lion in Winter” dress rehearsal, Monday in the Black Box Theater. Jarret Buchholz, senior of White River, South Dakota, as Richard holds out his hands during “The Lion in Winter” dress rehearsal, Monday in the Black Box Theater. Caleb Twite, senior of White River, South Dakota, playing John, grimaces during “The Lion in Winter” dress rehearsal, Monday in the Black Box Theater.

King of the jungle

CSC Theatre presents “The Lion in Winter” by James Goldman, a comedy based in 12th century Europe

Photos by Mackenzie Dahlberg Story by Kamryn Kozisek and Madyson Schilep

Christmas time, 1183, King Henry II, Queen Eleanor, their three children, the king’s mistress, Alais and her half-brother Philip compete for the English throne.

CSC Theatre presents “The Lion in Winter,” featuring Kiersten Luce, sophomore of Cheyenne, Wyoming, as Queen Eleanor; Levi O’Dell, junior of Piedmont, South Dakota, as King Henry; Jarret Bunchholz, senior of White River, South Dakota, as Richard; Jarrod Paul, senior of Gordon, as Geoffrey; Caleb Twite, senior of White River, South Dakota, as John; Olivia Behrends, sophomore of Alliance, as Alais and Zak Wellnitz, junior of Rushville as Philip.

“Playing this character has been different for many reasons,” O’Dell said. “Normally I play younger characters that are typically weaker and more naive and innocent. Henry is a much more powerful person who is always planning and working for himself. It’s been fun to portray such a different

The production includes drama and comedy with themes around adultry and competition, all based in the 12th century.

“It’s the oldest play I’ve done,” Reidun Hammer, sophomore of Dubois, Wyoming, stage manager, said. “In terms of the time it’s set in, so it’s been very interesting to watch the actors emulate speech patterns and movement from the 12th century.”

The theater department recently got a new director, Dewayne Barrett, following the departure of David Craven.

“Before midterm break, we started blocking this show with a different director,” O’Dell said. “He cast the show and had started to work the very basics with us, but we only had one week of rehearsal with him. Coming back with the opportunity to work with a new director has been different, but lots of fun. We had not started really developing out characters and the show yet, so the adjustment was not that hard. There has been some blocking changes here and there, but that’s to be expected for any show. Overall, the change went very smooth and I’m excited to put on this production.”

“The Lion in the Winter” will be showing in the Black Box Theatre, April 7-9, April 14-15 at 7 p.m. and April 10 at 2 p.m. Free tickets are availiable at csc.edu/theatre.

ABOVE: Kiersten Luce, sophomore of Cheyenne, Wyoming, portraying Eleanor, speaks while holding her hands during “The Lion in Winter” dress rehearsal, Monday in the Black Box Theater.

LEFT: Zak Wellnitz, junior of Rushville, raises his eyebrow during “The Lion in Winter” dress rehearsal, Monday in the Black Box Theater.

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