Representatives of Chadron State College and the Chadron State Foundation accept a sculpture created by William Artis, “Madonna & Child,” donated by Cathy Clary Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. From left, Chadron State Foundation CEO Ben Watson, Cathy Clary, Dean of Liberal Arts Jim Margetts, and President Ron K. Patterson. Artis, a renowned artist and teacher, taught at CSC from 1954 to 1964. Morse Clary, who was one of his students and would go on to have a career himself in art, purchased the bust, “Madonna & Child,” from a fellow student. Following Morse’s death, his wife, Cathy, honored her late husband’s wishes by donating the piece to the college. (Photo by Alex Helmbrecht)

Artis sculpture donated to CSC

Tour Showcases 1% for Public Art

By Kerri Rempp

Discover Northwest Nebraska

In addition to CSC’s permanent collection of artwork, the campus is also home to a wide selection of artwork created through the state’s 1% for Public Art.

Chadron State College is home to 44 pieces of the Nebraska 1% For Art Collection. The program, instituted in 1978, requires that 1% of the cost of state-funded construction projects be dedicated to commissioning works of public art. Since its inception, more than $5 million in artwork has been acquired for state buildings, state colleges and the University of Nebraska system. The public art must be displayed in buildings that allow public access, and an art selection committee is established for each project.

Chadron State College’s 1% collection is distributed throughout campus and can be viewed at Miller Hall, the Nelson Physical Activity Center, Memorial Hall, Old Admin, Sparks Hall, Burkhiser Building, the Chicoine Center and the Rangeland Complex. However, please note that CSC periodically relocates the artwork for re-hanging, re-framing or cleaning.

Learn more about the artwork in CSC’s 1% collection and other items of interest on campus in Discover Northwest Nebraska’s Sole to Soul walking tour of the college.

By TENA L. COOK,
CSC MARKETING COORDINATOR

Chadron State College recently received a sculpture created by the late William Artis, who taught art at CSC from 1954 to 1964, thanks to Cathy Clary, of Pasco, Washington, who was honoring her late husband’s wishes. Clary delivered the clay bust to CSC officials in late August.

Clary, who works at Columbia Basin College, made the donation to fulfill the wishes of her husband, CSC alum Morse Clary.

The piece, approximately 24 inches tall and 12 inches wide, is titled Madonna and Child.

“It was so nice to deliver it in person. Everyone was so warm and welcoming,” she said. “Morse always spoke highly of CSC. I’m happy the sculpture has a good home and hope it inspires future students. More people will be able to see it and appreciate it this way. Morse reached so many students, just like William Artis did. It is kind of a beautiful full-circle connection that we could bring that piece back and have it represent his legacy.”

Clary said her husband spoke highly of Artis’ craftsmanship and was greatly influenced by him.

“William Artis taught his students they could be respected as artists if they followed the tenets of good craftsmanship. He was a fine example of an artist who showed the discipline needed for a creative life. He was a teacher and a wonderful mentor,” Clary said.

Provenance provided by Clary states the sculpture was created by Artis in 1960 or 1961 and was influenced by his experiences teaching on the Native American reservation at Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

Morse Clary purchased the sculpture from Robert Yost, also a CSC student, in 1968. Yost, the retired director of the Mohavi Museum of History and Art, gave several Artis pieces to the College before his death in 2022 in Kingman, Arizona, according to Chadron State Foundation CEO Ben Watson.

CSC Art Professor Laura Bentz said the donation of the clay sculpture by William Artis will be an excellent addition to the permanent collection that contains about a dozen works by the Harlem Renaissance artist.

“Having multiple pieces on display by such a prominent artist allows the students to see how an artist works with a particular subject matter using a variety of materials, and how the artist’s treatment of the subject matter changes or evolves,” Bentz said.

Morse Clary’s formative years were spent in North Platte, Nebraska, exploring the land around the river and discovering fossils. In a memorial video, he said there was a beauty and a tension in the way the fossils were embedded in the clay together. Clary said his early interactions with nature weaved their way into his view of the world and the 300 wooden book sculptures he created during the height of his career.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Morse Clary returned to CSC to earn a teaching certificate in 1966.

He taught for 32 years including high school art and theatre in Crofton, Nebraska, and art at the former Hiram Scott College in Scottsbluff where he met his wife. He earned a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture and Printmaking from the University of Idaho and continued his teaching career at Marietta College in Ohio and Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Washington.

Historical courthouse functional restoration transforms windows

By Kerri Rempp

Discover Northwest Nebraska

Sioux County’s historical courthouse underwent a facelift this summer.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1990, the courthouse was in desperate need of new windows. Due to the age of the building, that’s a larger project than one might think.

“There are 86 double hung windows and 10 transom windows,” said Randal Weber of Lincoln. Weber, along with Ben Brunick of Yankton, S.D., spent the last three months living and working in Harrison to restore the courthouse windows in keeping with the historical nature of the building.

“It’s a functional restoration,” Weber explained. “The focus isn’t on we want perfect and brand new. We want to keep what we have; we want them to open and we want them to work.”

The cornerstone for the Sioux County Courthouse was laid in 1930, and staff moved in to the building in 1931. The building replaced an 1888 facility that was, according to the National Register of Historic Places application, “in a perilous state.”

“The Sioux County Courthouse is a fine unaltered example of the property type County Citadel…Identifying features include… the impression of a government building representing modernity, simplicity, strength and prosperity,” the application reads.

The building is one of just six stone-faced County Citadels constructed in the state from 1917-1930.

The courthouse windows were specifically noted in the National Register paperwork.

“Rectangular double-hung windows occur between the fluted pilasters. Slightly projecting pays with three-part rectangular windows flank the pilasters, and there are five bays with paired rectangular windows on the north and south facades of the 100’x62’ building.”

Also mentioned is the fact that the windows had been replaced at some time with a style similar to the original windows and the “art glass panel on the staircase landing.”

Weber and Brunick spent the summer stripping paint, replacing window glazing and 60 pieces of glass, replacing broken or missing ropes, restringing weights, cleaning and rehanging hardware, repairing sills, replacing weather stripping and installing new “all season storms” from Spencer Works.

Before they could even begin, they visited the site last fall and built templates of each window with pine strips. While everything looks square, it’s not, and the templates helped them create and order exactly what they needed for each specific window.

Windows that did not have storms were in the worst shape; one sill was actually in three pieces and had to be repaired.

“Your fingers would freeze in the winter,” said Sioux County Clerk Michelle Zimmerman of typing in her office during the cold season.

The county hired architect Jerry Berggren of Lincoln to design and spec the project, and he convinced Weber and Brunick to place a bid.

The pair are friends, and each summer they pick one project to work on together, either in Nebraska or South Dakota. Typically, those projects last three to five weeks.

“We’ve never done one that took three months,” Weber said. “We are pretty happy with the end result.”

Weber said nearly half of his business is millwork for historical buildings, and Brunick’s work follows the same trend.

“This kind of project isn’t for just any contractor to do,” Zimmerman said.

“You have to have somebody who nerds out a little bit on old buildings,” Weber added.

The project isn’t quite finished, as the “art glass panel” – the stained glass windows on the west wall – will wait until next year for restoration. The glass didn’t have the protection it should have, Weber said. He and Brunick installed new storm windows over the stained glass, but Weber will return and remove them next spring to deliver them to a stained-glass specialist in Lincoln to be rebuilt. Weber, meanwhile, will remake the sash and then reinstall everything.

The project equals a $500,000 improvement to the courthouse, Zimmerman said. The county is using some ARPA (Covid Relief) funds and inheritance tax to pay for the restoration.

The Sioux County Courthouse serves a 2,055 square-mile area. The county was originally established in 1877 and decreased in size as surrounding counties were formed. Its final boundaries were established in 1886, the same year Harrison was planted as a stop along the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. At the time, the town was named Summit. The 1888 courthouse was made of locally-produced brick but it had deteriorated beyond repair by 1929, and the county hired E.L. Goldsmith of Scottsbluff to design the current building. A bond election in February of 1930 was approved and the old building was razed. The new cornerstone laid that July and the building open the next March.

A two-foot metal bull that topped the original courthouse as a nod to the region’s importance as cattle country, was salvaged and is now inside the current facility.

Goldsmith designed the courthouse with Bedford Limestone on three sides and a light tan brick on the rear and incorporated Classical Revival style in the County Citadel design with six-fluted shallow squared pilasters and the arched doorway as a central entrance with recessed wood double doors topped by a wrought iron grill. Adamesque swags, acanthus capitals, and restrained ornamentation were all noted on the National Register application.

“Classical detail is interpreted in an Art Deco manner as befits a courthouse designed in the 1930s,” the application reads. Inside grey marble was used for the surrounds, wainscoting and the central staircase banister, and the building features terrazzo flooring and original woodwork.

In addition to the courthouse itself, the county jail to the west and the Veterans’ Memorial were listed as contributing assets in the nomination.

The monument is “dedicated to those men of Sioux County who gave their lives and to all those who served in the armed forces of the United States.” At the time of the application for the National Register, the monument appeared to be more than 50 years old.

The jail was listed as a “one story stucco flat roofed box with a stepped parapet and centered entry.” It is located on the southwest corner of the courthouse. The National Register paperwork noted that there was no information on when the jail was constructed, but that it appears to date to the 1920s.

The project has been satisfying, Weber said, especially because the community has taken a lot of interest in it and stopped by to ask questions and follow the progress.

“That would never happen in Lincoln,” he said.

Chadron Art Alley continues to expand

By Kerri Rempp

Discover Northwest Nebraska

The desire for #ChadronMade art cannot be contained.

Three new murals were added to Chadron’s Art Alley this year, with two of them taking the art out of the alley and into other locations.

Art Alley proper saw the addition of a cornucopia and honeycomb mural on the back of The Natural Food Co-op building, and the artistic efforts spread to the 300 block of Main Street and to a city-owned water tower south of town.

Chadron’s Art Alley started in 2019 with a “Paint the Town” event to create “The Good Life” mural on the back wall of Bloom. The alley, located just west of Main Street, now has several full-size murals, all designed and executed by local artists and volunteers with mostly donated materials.

“The Good Life” mural, designed by Chadron Chamber of Commerce Director Gabby Michna, provided the blueprint for the murals that followed.

Michna designed the art, working with Bloom owner Cori Brennan, and over the course of three days other local artists and volunteers from across the community brought it to life. Once each new mural is designed and approved by the hosting business, residents and visitors are invited to help paint. No artistic talent is required, and kids are invited to paint to instill a love of art in them. Each mural is essentially completed in three days.

In 2019, two #ChadronMade murals were executed; today there are 13 public murals, and the steering committee formed to drive the project also created a mural for the Chadron Volunteer Fire Department that cannot be visited.

The Natural Food Co-op (249 Main St.) mural added in July was designed by local artist Jackson Smith with direction from the co-op’s board. The co-op was formed in 1976 and is open to all shoppers with no membership required. The mural features the cornucopia, full of fresh produce, honeycombs and a rays of sunshine inspired by a sun originally painted on the alley entrance to the building.

Up the block at the CAPstone Child Advocacy Center (316 Main St.), artist Jacklyn Janeksela was inspired by her personal connection to the agency’s efforts and designed a mural for the building. Janeksela and Adam Kurowski painted the mural themselves, allowing the steering committee to focus on the co-op mural. Unlike the murals in Art Alley, CAPstone’s artwork is on the front of the building and features whimsical houses surrounded by friendly floral arrangements.

Finally this year, #ChadronMade ventured down Highway 385 south of the city, where local artist Jerry Kathol, known as “The Gov,” skillfully crafted an historical scene on the Chadron Water Tower. The mural depicts the journey of Native Americans and French traders meeting in the fall to trade goods. The trading post in the mural is the Bordeaux Trading Post, established in 1837 by James Bordeaux of the American Fur Company. The post itself has been fully reconstructed at the Museum of the Fur Trade east of Chadron on Highway 20.

Other highlights of Art Alley include the “Hate Has No Home Here” mural at Service Barber, also designed by Michna with the phrase “Hate Has No Home Here” depicted in several languages, and “Fur Trade Days” on the back of the Molecajete’s building. That mural, designed by art teacher Travis Hencey, reflects the city’s heritage of the fur trading era and its annual Fur Trade Days celebration. The First Amendment is celebrated in another mural designed by Kathol at 248 West Second St., the location of The Chadron Record.

“Art districts have really taken off,” Michna told the Chadron Record in 2019. “There is a lot of culture here that isn’t represented in a way tourists or guests know.”

You can learn more about Chadron’s Art Alley at https://discovernwnebraska.com/chadrons-art-alley/. The site also links to a Google map with the locations for each mural.

Agate Fossil Beds offers night sky viewing

By Kerri Rempp

Discover Northwest Nebraska

There are a lot of things Northwest Nebraska doesn’t have when compared to other destinations: beaches, miles of retail shopping, professional sports teams…traffic, crowded trails, air and light pollution.

The lack of light pollution translates to an attraction many residents take for granted, the night sky.

The “World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness,” commissioned in 2016, indicates that 80% of the world’s population lives under skyglow. Millions of children around the world will never see the Milky Way in their lifetime.

According to the International Dark Sky Association, there is growing evidence that, in addition to never enjoying the sight of dark skies, light pollution is connected to increasing energy consumption, disrupts the ecosystem and wildlife, harms human health and negatively affects crime and safety rates.

At Agate Fossil Beds National Monument south of Harrison, Tera Lynn Gray, the new lead interpretive ranger, and her husband, Jason, the regional manager for the Black Hills Parks & Forest Association, are working to inspire awe, awareness and enjoyment of the night skies in residents and visitors.

The park has already hosted two night sky events this season, one focused on the stories of the constellations and another introducing kids to the wonders of astronomy (with ice cream!). Four more are planned from now until September.

The next night sky program will be a new adventure for the park. On June 24, 50 pre-registered guests will be allowed to campout at the Agate Fossil Beds; the park does not allow camping at any other time, but Gray wanted to offer the opportunity to spend an entire night under the stars with interpretive elements.

On July 1, the park will offer a full moon hike from 7-9 p.m., and on Aug. 12, visitors can view the Perseids through telescopes. The final program will take place Sept. 9, when Jason will lead an astrophotography 101 program.

Calling himself “a geek from birth,” Jason says the night skies have always been fascinating to him. The ability to combine it with the cultural aspect of constellation stories ranging from the Greco-Roman era to Native American beliefs and the science behind the importance of the night skies to flora and fauna fulfills every desire.

“It hits every button,” he said.

The couple have spent the last several years traveling to a new detail every six months at national parks across the country. Tera Lynn, a former teacher and principal at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, has taken positions at a variety of parks, and Jason then volunteers at each one, often in the night sky programming.

“He’s done amazing stuff at the parks we’ve been,” Tera Lynn said. “We love the message of the park service,” she added, noting that their children, Travis, 15, and Ainsley, 12, have 70 junior ranger badges. In their travels, they always made plans to catch the night sky programs at the parks, and it’s not unknown for them to wake up the kids at 2 a.m. for night sky viewing.

There is a connection between the sky and Earth, and night skies need to be protected, Jason said. As an example, light pollution can wipe out a population of fireflies in two summers, he said. Agricultural growing seasons and wildlife all depend on night skies, he continued.

While the night sky programs’ main goal is to raise awareness and share the dark skies experience with visitors, Agate Fossil Beds is also hoping the programming will assist them in an application to become a certified Dark Sky Park through the International Dark Skies Association.

While the parks’ trails will still be required to close at sunset if certification is achieved, Agate Fossil Beds will focus more programming on accessibility to night sky viewing. Some of the legwork required for certification was completed by previous staff, including a lighting survey and transitioning to compliant lighting within the park boundaries. The Grays will work together to finish the park’s other requirements for application this year.

Acquiring the certification will help visitors interested in dark skies find their way to Agate Fossil Beds, which translates to increased tourism dollars for local businesses.

Tera Lynn joined the park service after Jason set up an interview for her, noting that the commute to her job in education was stressful. Their sustainable farm in Colorado was also a challenge given the state’s water regulations. They decided the career change would be worth it because it would allow them to work together at each park.

Tera Lynn’s first posting was Agate Fossil Beds before they moved on to other locations. When it was time to pick one location and settle down again, the choice was easy for the entire family: Agate Fossil Beds.

“It was unanimous,” Tera Lynn said.

Of course, in full transparency, Jason said, the kids were lured to Harrison for the full-sized candy bars many homes give out at Halloween.

Tera Lynn took over the posting as lead interpretive ranger last September, while Jason, who has a background in finance, took the position as the regional manager for the Black Hills Parks & Forest Association, offering resources in the park stores that further interpret the stories of the parks themselves.

“We’ve slowly evolved from hard-core urban southern California types to living in Harrison,” Jason said. “There was something about Agate, the region and the environment.”

Now, working from both sides – the National Park Service and the park store – they want to put Agate Fossil Beds on the map with additional programming and exhibits, making both avenues accessible to those with disabilities given Tera Lynn’s educational background. Jason and the Black Hills Parks & Forest Association are also working to enhance the park’s interactive trailer to make Agate’s story mobile in an effort to reach new audiences.

“We love the park service, and we love this town,” Tera Lynn said, adding that she wants to connect with more community members. A volunteer experience on Martin Luther King Jr. Day brought in community members to work on the park’s archives, and it inspired at least two volunteers to become regular faces at the park.

“This is their park,” Tera Lynn said of the Sioux County residents. “Harrison is our gateway community.”

Jason has researched James Cook and his family extensively since coming to Agate Fossil Beds and what they envisioned for the park.

“It was going to be a flagship site, and there was a lot of excitement in the community,” he said. “One hundred years later, we’re trying to live up to some of that.”

Explore Northwest Nebraska’s story with Barn Quilt Trail

By Kerri Rempp

Discover Northwest Nebraska

Quilt blocks tell a story, and barn quilts use the colors and geometric patterns of quilting legacies to create a visual element that shares a region’s heritage and industry in an eye-catching large format. They call to visitors, “Slow down, take your time, explore.”

The Northwest Nebraska Barn Quilt Trail will launch this summer with more than 40 locations for visitors to view the colorful quilt blocks and delve into the stories behind them. Little House on the Table and Gibbon’s Honey connect visitors to the land that feeds them, while Herren Brothers two locations provide the tools necessary to live and work in the region. The Crawford Public Library instills a love of knowledge through books, and school pride and patriotism are on display in other quilt blocks.

Quilting, the method of stitching together multiple layers of fabric, dates back to at least the 14^th Century. By the early 19^th Century as cotton fabric became more affordable, the method became more accessible, and pioneer women began making quilts for their family. The individual blocks often symbolized the family’s heritage, telling their stories across the ages.

Barns, too, have long been used as a canvas for art.

“The barn has been a kind of format for decorations for hundreds of years in different regions of America,” said George W. Neubert, director of Flatwater Art Foundation and Flatwater Folk Art Museum, in Nebraska Public Media’s 2017 documentary “Patchwork on the Plains: Nebraska’s Barn Quilt Culture.”

Barn builders often incorporated artwork into their construction, and as paint become more widely available, residents began painting their barns and adding embellishments of their own, Neubert said. Hex signs were common in the American colonies, mainly in the Pennsylvania Dutch areas, and eventually barns began featuring commercial art as companies paid farmers to advertise on the large structures.

The modern barn quilt and barn quilt trails, however, are a 21^st Century phenomenon. They trace their roots to Adams County, Ohio, after Donna Sue Groves went to work for the Ohio Arts Council. Groves had long wanted to paint a quilt square to hang on her family’s barn in honor of her mother, a quilter. Her work with the art council introduced her to murals many communities were painting to inspire pride and spur economic development, and that encouraged her to create the first barn quilt trail, according to a 2012 interview in the Seattle Times.

Today, there are quilt trails in more than 40 states and in Canada.

Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp introduced the idea of a regional barn quilt trail after visiting Lusk, Wyoming, and viewing that city’s barn quilts. Located just across the state line from Northwest Nebraska, Lusk features more than 100 of the quilt blocks and calls itself “The Heart of the Wyoming Quilt Trail.” According to the Wyoming Quilt Trail website, Lusk’s efforts originated in 2015 after the local fabric shop spread hundreds of yards of fabric out to dry in the city park after a devastating flood. A photo the park draped in fabric went viral as a representation of the city’s recovery and sparked the idea of a barn quilt trail.

“I put the idea on my list of projects for my summer interns through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Rural Fellows program to research. Shortly after that, Rose Mapel of Artistic Innovations in Eustis, and a volunteer with Cozad Tourism, reached out to gauge our interest in creating a barn quilt trail and offering assistance,” Rempp said. “Everything aligned at the right time to establish the trail. We had a fantastic intern through Rural Fellows to guide the project through the steps with Mapel’s help, and a grant from the Heartland Center’s Rural Prosperity for Northwest Nebraska project gave us the funding we needed to commission the barn quilts.”

Initially, the plan was to host barn quilt workshops and have individuals and businesses make their own barn quilts. Rural Fellow and Northwest Nebraska intern Faith Junck ran into logistics issues with that approach and determined the most efficient way to kick-start the trail would be to commission the artwork. Rempp secured funding through the Heartland Center’s Rural Prosperity grant, and Junck worked with more than 30 businesses in Harrison and Crawford to design their quilt blocks.

“The project was a significant contributor to my understanding of Northwest Nebraska’s culture,” Junck said, adding that she was able to interact with business owners, learn their history and incorporate it into their designs. “I loved interacting with the business owners to come up with the perfect barn quilt design, and I’m excited to come and visit the Barn Quilt Trail the next time I make a trip to Northwest Nebraska.

As awareness of the project spread, the Corn Valley 4-H Club members decided to take part, and they hosted a barn quilt workshop at the Crawford Community Building in April. Club members committed to making quilt blocks, which will then be combined into one “welcome” sign at the Crawford Tourism Booth. Community members from across the two-county area also started work on their own barn quilts, so the trail now includes artwork in Chadron, Crawford and Harrison, along with several rural locations in the region.

Mapel, who has also written a book about barn quilts, “The Complete Barn Quilt Creation & Painting Guide,” has family ties to Northwest Nebraska and is excited to see the barn quilts decorating local businesses and homes.

Her grandmother lived in Northwest Nebraska in the early 1900s.

“As a little girl I would listen to my grandmother tell stories about growing up here,” Mapel said. “She would talk about Smiley Canyon, and she talked about hearing the train whistle blow and going to Fort Robinson. Just stories about life. It was always fascinating to hear.”

Mapel hadn’t spent much time in the area, however, until a vacation last year, which allowed her to see all the places her grandmother told her about.

“It was so neat driving around and feeling the presence of her there,” she said.

The opportunity to work with the Northwest Nebraska Barn Quilt Trail feels like it has brought her full circle.

“I get to leave a bit of my mark on the community that was so important to (my grandmother).”

Artistic Innovations opened in 2016, and Mapel painted her first barn quilt the next year as part of the Barn Quilts of Dawson County project, hoping to lure customers to her business. The quilts were a great way to get people to slow down and explore the region, bringing revenue to businesses and a deeper understanding of the rural, agricultural lifestyle as visitors see and talk to the people involved, she said.

“It opens up a lot of doors, especially for rural communities.”

When barn quilts were first introduced, they were painted on wood or medium density overlay, an outdoor sign material. Today, most barn quilts are made on aluminum composite, a high-quality outdoor sign material. It’s lighter but still strong and doesn’t suffer from weather wear-and-tear.

Since her first barn quilt, Mapel has presented workshops across the state and written her book to provide quality information on the process. Communities can request a workshop at no charge; they just have to provide a location and 10-15 participants.

More than a dozen of the Northwest Nebraska barn quilts have been delivered, with the rest expected later this spring.

“Some of our Northwest Nebraska locations already have their barn quilts on display, and more will continue to appear as they are delivered,” Rempp said. “We hope local residents and businesses join us in the effort and continue to add barn quilts throughout the region.”

Examples of some of the barn quilts featured on the trail and the locations at which they are available for viewing can be found at https://discovernwnebraska.com/barn-quilt-trail/.

Volksmarch explores Chadron State Park

The second annual Northwest Nebraska Volksmarch is planned for May 20 at Chadron State Park. Explore the park during the annual Free Fishing and Free Park Entry Day and enjoy a group hike with family and friends.

Sponsored by the Northwest Nebraska Trails Association in conjunction with the Omaha Trailblazers Volksmarch Club, the event will take walkers around the park on 5K and 10K non-competitive hikes. Volksmarching developed in Europe in the 1960s as a form of fitness walking, and today thousands of events are held around the world annually.

“The NNTA is excited to partner with the Trailblazers and Discover Northwest Nebraska again to host the Volksmarch,” said NNTA President Brittany Helmbrecht. “We had a great turnout last year and anticipate as much interest again this year. The route at Chadron State Park is mostly paved and can accommodate more abilities and modalities.”

Last year’s inaugural event saw more than 50 participants from five states take to the trails at Chadron State College. Registration for the 2023 Volksmarch is open at https://forms.gle/uspmtHNyYqW8uQZA7. Those who register by April 30 will receive a free t-shirt. Cost to enter is just $3/person. Walkers can start their walk anytime between 8-11 a.m. and must finish the course by 2 p.m.

“Working with the Trailblazers and NNTA, Northwest Nebraska also has established three seasonal or year-round Volksmarch trails, sanctioned by the American Volkssport Association,” said Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp. “Trails are located at Agate Fossil Beds, Chadron State College and the White River Trail between Crawford and Fort Robinson.”

Visit https://discovernwnebraska.com/volksmarch/ to learn more about the seasonal and year-round volksmarch offerings.

“We’d also like to thank Chadron State Park for hosting our second event, along with Chadron Community Hospital and Panhandle Public Health for coming on board as additional sponsors,” Rempp said.

The nominees for the first-ever Northwest Nebraska tourism industry award are in. Watch the video to find out who has been nominated in the following categories: Frontline Employee, Business/Attraction and Tourism Volunteer.

The awards will be presented at the third annual Treasure Chest of the Northwest, a workshop for regional tourism industry professionals planned for April 20, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at the Dawes County Fairgrounds Event Center.

Discover Northwest Nebraska has once again teamed up with Chadrad Communications and the Heartland Center’s committee for Rural Prosperity in Northwest Nebraska to host the event.

In addition to the awards, attendees will have the opportunity to network and exchange ideas and information with each other and hear from several speakers during the workshop. Topics to be addressed include: “Hospitality: What Is It and Why Is It Important?,” “Mutual Promotion & Collaboration,” and “Diversified Marketing Strategies.” There will also be a recap of the 2022 tourism season and information about the Discover Northwest Nebraska tourism office presented.

A brochure exchange will be offered, and attendees can play Brochure Bingo for a chance to win prizes, and there will be other opportunities to win prizes that evening as well.

Event coordinators, business/attraction managers, owners and employees are invited to enjoy heavy appetizers provided by B&B Catering, networking and informational sessions. Invitations will be mailed out in the coming weeks, but anyone who works in the Dawes & Sioux County tourism industry and wants to attend can do so, regardless of whether or not they receive an invitation. RSVPs are required, however, so interested individuals are asked to contact Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp.

Tickets are $5 per person, payable at the door to B&B Catering. RSVPs are due April 6 to director@discovernwnebraska.com, or by calling 308-432-3006.

20 Northwest Nebraska Favorites

The saying goes that Nebraska’s Not For Everyone, but Northwest Nebraska is for the outdoor adventurer, the frontier history buff, the photographer, the star-gazer, and the one who just wants to get away from it all. Northwest Nebraska defies expectations and just might be for you. To inspire your next Northwest Nebraska visit, we’ve compiled a list of 20 of our favorite things to do here.

Hunt – Northwest Nebraska is home to elk, deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, mountain lion and a wide variety of small game and waterfowl. Work on your Upland Slam or stalk the highly-sought after Merriam turkey. For information on seasons, zones and permitting, visit the Nebraska Game and Parks.To explore public lands that are accessible in Northwest Nebraska, visit the G&P Public Access Guide, the G&P Public Hunting map, or the G&P Waterfowl Map and check out our Parks & Wildlands page for more ideas. Looking for a private hunting spot, check out local outfitters at Northwest Nebraska High Country.

2. Fish – Nebraska anglers can complete their entire Trout Slamin Northwest Nebraska Fish the local streams for brook, brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout (Note: Cutthroat populations can vary from year-to-year). Some of the populations are self-sustaining, while others are stocked. Other species available in Northwest Nebraska include blue catfish, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch and white bass. Visit the G&P Interactive Fishing map to find fishing access points and visit our Parks & Wildlands page for more ideas.

3. Boat – Northwest Nebraska offers several options for some fun on the water. Box Butte State Recreation Areaand Whitney Lake each offer boat ramps, while ponds at Chadron State Park and Fort Robinson State Park, as well as the Chadron City Reservoirs provide restricted boating access. If you’re more interested in kayaking or tubing, consider trips to Box Butte SRA and Fort Robinson State Park. Visit the G&P’s Public Boating Access map or visit our Parks and Wildlands page for more ideas.

4. Birdwatch – Northwest Nebraska is a birdwatcher’s paradise. With more than 180,000 acres of public lands, access to wildlife viewing of any kind is readily available. Some of the most noted birdwatching sites in the region are Gilbert-Baker Wildlife Management Area and the nearby Sowbelly Canyon. Visitors may see Pinyon Jays, White-throated swifts, Swainson’s Thrushes, Cordilleran Fly-catchers, Plumbeous Vireos and Violet-green Swallows. More than 200 species have been sighted at Box Butte State Recreation Area, and sightings of hawks, owls and bald eagles are possible in the region.

5. Explore the Trails – Nearly 200 miles of trail wind through Northwest Nebraska, encompassing a variety of terrain for an array of skill levels whether you’re hiking, biking or on horseback. In the winter, the trails can be used for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing when conditions are right. Views include buttes, cold water streams, pine forests, grasslands and badlands, across elevations ranging from 3,000 feet to over 5,000 feet with an abundance of wildlife along the way. Download the Northwest Nebraska Trails Guideto start planning your adventure on the trail.

6. Take a Road Trip – They say it’s all about the journey, and in Northwest Nebraska that’s certainly true. As you seek out many of our destination attractions, enjoy the open spaces, the backcountry roads, and the lack of traffic jams. Give our Roads Less Traveledand Gravel Grinding Adventures a try on two wheels or four. The curated trips include a MAP link to access our Google Maps driving or riding routes, complete with notes of interest and photos. The road trips are a great way to spend the day, but also offer spots for hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, picnicking and more if you want to explore a little longer.

7. Visit Our Attractions – From the Chadron Art Alley to the Fossil Freeway, Northwest Nebraska offers unique attractions. Learn more about Mari Sandoz, ancient mammals, or unique geological formations. Take in a performance at Post Playhouse, view historic architecture or learn about the unique friendship between pioneer James Cook and Red Cloud.

8. Connect With History – The Museum of the Fur Tradetells the story of fur-trading in North America, local museums chronicle pioneer history in the region, while others are dedicated to the fossil record in Northwest Nebraska. State Historical Markers immortalize moments like the Cheyenne Outbreak and the historic meeting of the Allison Commission.

9. Explore Our Events – From rock auctions to patriotic celebrations, when you visit Northwest Nebraska you’ll discover events full of small-town charm. Toss a buffalo chip. Explore a primitive camp. Dance the night away or immerse yourself in Native American history through film. Whatever you choose, a good time and good memories are guaranteed.

10. Camp & Picnic – Whether you’re looking for a rustic cabin, dispersed camping or a nice spot for a day picnic, it’s available in Northwest Nebraska. Pitch a tent in the Pine Ridge Ranger Districtof the Nebraska National Forest or at one of the WMAs, or book a cabin or RV site at Fort Robinson State Park or Chadron State Park or one of our privately-owned lodging opportunities. Visit our Parks & Wildlands page for more ideas.

11. Rockhound – The Oglala National Grasslandof Northwest Nebraska is a dream destination for those interested in rocks, fossils, minerals and gemstones. Rockhounding is allowed on the Oglala National Grassland, with some restrictions. Information on permits and regulations can be found here. True rockhounds will want to visit the Prairie Agate Rock Shop in Crawford and plan a trip over Labor Day weekend for the Crawford Rock Swap, the largest outdoor rock show in Nebraska.

12. OHV Road Riding – The Coffee Mill Trailhead and Strong Canyon Trailhead in Northwest Nebraska provide opportunities for OHV Road Riding. Please note that all motorized travel in the Nebraska National Forest and Oglala National Grassland is restricted to certain areas. Visit the USFS for info on regulations and motor vehicle use maps.

13. Play Disc Golf – Hit the links – the disc golf links, that is! Northwest Nebraska offers three courses for disc golf fans. The Chadron State Park 18-hole course is one of the most challenging courses in the state, while Chadron’s Memorial Park and Crawford’s City Park offer easy 9-hole courses for a relaxed game.

14. Hit the Links – Hit the (traditional) links! Northwest Nebraska is home to two 9-hole golf courses. Play in the shadow of the buttes at Crawford’s Legend Hills Golf Course along the banks of the White River or challenge yourself on Chadron’s Ridgeview course, featuring several traps and two ponds.

15. Take a Swim – The Chadron Area Aquatic & Wellness Centeris an indoor facility featuring two slides, a splash pad and a zero-depth entry to entertain the family. Fort Robinson State Park also has an indoor pool, while Chadron State Park and the communities of Crawford and Harrison offer outdoor pools to take a dip.

16. Explore on Foot – Northwest Nebraska has a rich cultural and historical context. From a downtown business district listed on the National Register of Historic Places to its Art Alley murals worthy of selfie backgrounds, make tracks with our Sole to Soul walking tours. Each one includes a MAP link to access our Google Map walking routes, complete with notes of interest and photos.

17. Walk The Labyrinth – Labyrinths have been well-documented throughout history. Chadron State College’s labyrinth is a recent addition to campus, built through student and staff volunteer efforts in an abandoned water cistern used by the City of Chadron in the early 1900s. Whether you view it as a piece of land art, a quiet walk among native grasses, the ideal spot for a panoramic view or a place to refocus your mind and reduce your stress, the labyrinth is a unique spot.

18. Hit the Stores – One of the best things about going on vacation is heading to the places locals love. Explore our Main Streets and Downtown Districts for the best places to eat, play and shop. Make new friends and grab some souvenirs to remember your trip after you’ve returned home. Visit Shop NW Nebraskato see some of our favorite stops across the region.

19. Admire the Night Sky – Northwest Nebraska’s rural location comes with a big advantage – big, beautiful night skies. Limited light pollution and more than 100,000 acres of public land equals unobstructed views of the heavens on clear nights.

20. Be a Shutterbug – Whether you’re admiring our scenery, our stars, or our wildlife, keep those memories forever by capturing them on camera. Northwest Nebraska is the perfect spot for amateur and professional photographers and artists to be inspired – again and again!

By Kerri Rempp
Discover Northwest Nebraska

CHADRON – A successful Valentine’s Day is in the rearview mirror, and The New Leaf Marketplace is gearing up for more big changes.

Apricot Lane Boutique, a women’s fashion franchise offering branded apparel, jewelry, handbags and accessories, will open at The New Leaf Marketplace this spring. Owners Phill and Angela Lollar will incorporate the new business into the existing New Leaf Marketplace structure that includes Chadron Tanning and The New Leaf Floral and Gifts.

A complete exterior and interior remodeling project that began late last year will make room for the addition of the Apricot Lane Boutique, along with the newly-created Chadron Tanning. Apricot Lane offers more than 75 locations nationwide that “creates a unique adventure and shopping experience that captures the look and vibe of the local area,” according to a press release from the company.

“We’ve been asking ‘what does Chadron need?’,” Angela Lollar said. “We heard ‘clothes’ a lot.”

Researching the possibilities, Apricot Lane Boutique hit home because it fit with the Lollar’s lifestyle and the other businesses at The New Leaf Marketplace, while offering something unique to serve Chadron and the surrounding region.

“It’s the customer service of knowing when you walk in the door, we will be styling the individual to provide an overall experience,” Lollar said.

While Apricot Lane is a franchise, the boutique will be locally owned and operated, with the staff able to curate its own collection based on the needs of the community. Limited quantities of each item will be available to add variety to the region’s fashion offerings.

The addition of Apricot Lane Boutique to The New Leaf Marketplace will also create at least three to four new jobs, Lollar said.

“We’re continuing to invest in our community and laying down deep roots in Chadron,” she added, noting that they hope the businesses they are creating become a legacy for their two daughters.

The couple announced the addition of Chadron Tanning last fall, and that business will open Feb. 20, featuring new tanning beds, red-light therapy, an aqua-massager and an automated spray tan booth, all with after-hours access and touchscreen check-in service for registered members.

“The New Leaf Floral & Gifts will remain an integral part of the Marketplace, with the new open concept floor plan allowing for a unique boutique floral experience in which customers can be more engaged,” Lollar said.

The Lollars plan to launch Apricot Lane Boutique April 20 and host a grand opening in late April. The new hours for The New Leaf Flowers and Apricot Lane Boutique will be Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. You’ll be able to find Apricot Lane’s Chadron location online at https://apricotlaneboutique.com/store/chadron/ or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Students design trail signage, map boxes

By Kerri Rempp

Discover Northwest Nebraska

A project designed to inspire college students to create a business project will have a lasting impact on the Chadron State College trail system.

Four students were awarded grant funding to carry out their proposal of installing trail signage and map boxes at the trailheads south of the campus, and the project will be completed this spring.

Elizabeth Heger of Underwood, North Dakota, Lillina Foose of Burlington, Colorado, both freshmen, along with Logan Parde, a sophomore from Ceresco, and Siddhant Shelke from Pune, India, who graduated in December, were one of the three groups awarded $2,500 in grant funding through the program by the Rural Business Leadership Initiative.

RBLI is open to business majors through an application process, and this is the first year for the pitch program that required students to create and pitch a proposal. Eleven groups pitched projects they worked on from September to November of 2022, Foose said. Their group settled on the trail signage project after learning about a similar project in one of the member’s hometowns. The students felt it would have an impact on their fellow students and the community at large, Foose said.

An avid hiker and outdoor lover, Heger embraced the project as a way to build awareness of the trail system, especially among the college’s student population.

“There’s a large number of students that do not know (the trails) are there,” Heger said. She hopes the project will increase usage of the trail and positively impact the health and fitness of those who become regular users.

These examples were used to create trail signage and map boxes for the Chadron State College Trails by a group of RBLI students. Courtesy photos

Having the signs and maps will also increase safety for trail users, as they will be able to better prepare for their hike or bike ride, Foose said.

The plan includes installing wayfinding signs with the trail names and mileage at each of the three major trailheads, with a fourth at the path to the labyrinth. In addition, map boxes will be installed and contain printed copies of the trails map.

The group worked with several entities in the community to make the project possible. The Chadron High School shop classes will build the map boxes, local designer Jade Smith created the maps and flyers the students are using, and the Northwest Nebraska Trails Association helped the students determine what the signs should contain and look like. NNTA will also help keep the map boxes filled, and the Chadron State College maintenance department will maintain the signs and boxes.

The group also presented their proposal to the Chadron Rotary Club, an effort that led to them partnering with Rotary on the upcoming Sneaky Leprechaun 5K on March 17 (sign-ups at https://www.webscorer.com/register?pid=1&raceid=301950). Foose said the goal is to have the signs and boxes installed ahead of the race, though that is weather dependent. If that is impossible, the signage and boxes, which have an all-natural look to blend in with the environment, will be installed before the end of the spring semester.

Overall, Heger and Foose enjoyed the project and are excited to make an impact in the community they will call home for the next few years.

“I think it’s really beneficial to go through the process of planning, budgeting and the outreach to the community,” Foose said.

The goal of RBLI is to create leaders and help students see the possibilities in rural business, Heger said.

“This is a stepping stone.”

The Northwest Nebraska Trail Guide includes many of the trails open to hiking, biking and horseback riding throughout the region, including the Chadron State College trails. An electronic version can be downloaded at https://discovernwnebraska.com/area-map-and-trail-guide/ or a printed copy of the pocket guide can be picked up at the Chadron Chamber of Commerce.

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Students design trail signage, map boxes

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