ELK CREEK, Neb. (AP) _ Far beneath the rolling cropland of southeast Nebraska sits a deposit of elements that can be used to make steel and aluminum stronger. Extracting them would seem to be just the kind of project that President Joe Biden has argued is needed to reduce the United States’ dependence on foreign suppliers of critical minerals.

December 19 - 25, 2021 Sunday, December 19th During a traffic stop on west Highway 20, a citation was issued for speeding 16-20 mph over the posted speed limit. Issued a citation for possession of marijuana one ounce or less, first offense and also possession or use of drug paraphernalia.

Troy K. Hartvigsen: Speeding 6-10 MPH, $25.00 Fine; Agency and Officer Not Found.

Are you yearning for spring and the growing season? Beat the winter doldrums by attending Nebraska Extension Master Gardener classes starting Tuesday, January 11, 2022. Classes will be taught in person at the Extension Office in North Platte, or online from your home computers.

Question: Is there a plant and pet safe alternative to salt for melting ice? When we say salt we are generally referring to sodium chloride also known as table salt and rock salt. In fact, a salt is any chemical compound formed from the reaction of an acid with a base.

Over a hundred Canada Geese congregate on a sunny 20° afternoon on a Meadville Road pond north of Ainsworth on Monday, December 20th. Unlike some migratory birds that need the warm winters had by southern U.S. states, Canada Geese can winter further north – even in Nebraska – especially when we experience milder Midwestern winters. They enjoy filling their bellies with Nebraska corn. Canada Geese return to Canada for their breeding season, sometime between February and April. Canada Geese are monogamous and mate for life; if one of the pair dies, the surviving goose will mourn for it.