The Sandhills Weed Management Area, or SWMA, will conduct helicopter surveying and spraying along several central Nebraska river systems and waterways this fall as part of a multi-year invasive weed control project.

Control work is scheduled to take place between September 21 and October 9, 2026, in portions of Blaine, Boone, Brown, Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Logan, Loup, Thomas, Valley and Wheeler counties.

The Sandhills Weed Management Area is made up of 19 Nebraska counties and was awarded $516,450 through an NET Grant for projects spanning 2026 through 2028. Of that funding, $110,000 was designated for helicopter surveying and spraying in 2026, with another $90,000 planned for similar work in 2027.

The project will use Hexagon Helicopters Inc. of Elkhorn, Nebraska, to survey and treat areas containing invasive species including phragmites, purple loosestrife and yellow flag iris, along with other targeted invasive plants.

Areas included in the 2026 project are:

• Calamus River: From the Cherry/Brown County line through Loup County, around Calamus Reservoir, and into Garfield County where the river meets the North Loup River.
• North Loup River: Beginning near Purdum in northeast Blaine County and continuing through Loup, Garfield, Valley and Greeley counties to the Howard County line.
• Middle Loup River: Beginning near Seneca at the Hooker/Thomas County line, with surveying in Thomas County, and continuing through Blaine and Custer counties and southwest Valley County to the Sherman County line south of Arcadia.
• South Loup River: From west of Arnold in Custer County to the Buffalo County line near Highway 183.
• Cedar River: From the Garfield/Wheeler County line, including Lake Erickson, through portions of Greeley and Boone counties to the Nance County line.
• Beaver Creek: From northwest Wheeler County through Boone County to the Platte County line.
• Brown Lake: In Logan County.

Under Nebraska law, county weed control authorities may carry out control projects involving specific noxious weeds without providing individual notice to each landowner when public notice of the project has been issued.

The service will be provided at no cost to landowners within the targeted areas through the NET Grant.

Landowners who do not wish to participate are encouraged to contact their local County Weed Control Authority. Those choosing not to participate should have an approved weed management plan for controlling noxious weeds in place before the project begins.

For additional information, contact Tim Conover, Custer County Weed Superintendent and Chair of the Sandhills Weed Management Area, at the Custer County Weed Control Authority in Broken Bow.

Office: 308-872-2410
Cell: 308-212-2926

Born on October 25, 1953, in Ord, Dennis was the son of Harold and Mary (Murdough) Rice. He was raised in Ord and graduated from Ord High School in 1972. 

His career began at Cetak’s Market in the meat department, and he later joined Sack Lumber Company, where his passion for woodworking flourished. Pursuing his interest in craftsmanship, Dennis became a self-employed handyman, taking on projects ranging from minor repairs to major constructions and flooring installations.

In 1972, Dennis married Rhonda Ziegler, and they resided in Ord, raising two children, Lynda Sue and Daniel Harold. The couple divorced in 1994. Dennis later found companionship with Peggy (Schnarr) Putnam, whom he married in December 2006.

An enthusiast of hunting and fishing, Dennis had a profound interest in firearms. Despite his health challenges, he continued to engage in woodworking, crafting birdhouses and squirrel feeders, which he sold during Junk Jaunt.

Dennis is remembered for his dedication to his craft and his love for the outdoors.

Survivors include his wife, Peggy of Ord; a daughter, Lynda Felton (Gordon Lund) of Ord; a son, Daniel Rice (Ale Garcia) of LeMars, Iowa; stepchildren, Lester (Jessica) Putnam of Minden, Melissa (Nate) Schwarz of Kearney and Zachary (Bernadette) Putnam of Hastings; grandchildren, Jordan (Kryssiah) Felton, Hailey (Colin) Smith and Jason (Emily) Felton; great grandchildren, Leah and Quinnley Felton and Hank Felton; nine step-grandchildren; a brother, Robert “Bob” Rice of Ord and two sisters, Janice Rice and Peggy (Everett) Brott all of Ord.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Wayne Rice; son-in-law, Tom Felton and sister-in-law, Corinne “Cory” Rice.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026, at the Ord First United Methodist Church. Pastor Scott Smith will officiate. Inurnment will be in the Ord City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Family’s Choice for future designation. Ord Memorial Chapel is assisting with the arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.ordmemorialchapel.com

The cameras will be installed at the west junction of U.S. Highway 6/34 (US-6/34) and U.S. Highway 83 (US-83) in McCook; the junction of Nebraska Highway 46 (N-46) and Nebraska Highway 89 (N-89); and along US-6/34 near Heartwell.

The cameras will support the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s (NDOT) winter operations by providing operations managers with remote access to roadway and weather conditions. The information will help NDOT monitor conditions and make informed decisions during winter weather events.

The cameras are designed to monitor roadway and weather conditions, not individual motorists. Live camera feeds will be incorporated into Nebraska’s 511 Traveler Information network, giving the public access to current roadway conditions and helping motorists make informed travel decisions.

Primary Acquisition Group, Inc., of Grand Island, is the contractor for the project. Work is anticipated to be completed by Nov. 1, 2026.

Motorists are reminded to use caution when traveling through or near work zones, buckle up, and put their phones down while driving.

With high pressure remaining in control, temperatures are expected to stay consistently in the 90s and 100s across much of the area. Heat indices will also remain elevated, reaching the upper 90s to lower 100s.

In the Tri-Cities, highs are forecast to reach 92 degrees Saturday and Sunday, followed by a slightly cooler 89 degrees on Labor Day Monday.

Outside of a few low-end chances, precipitation is expected to remain limited through the weekend as the high-pressure pattern holds in place.

As the weekend progresses, the ridge will begin to flatten, which could provide some relief from the heat. Depending on how much the pattern changes, highs should settle into the upper 80s and 90s to start next week.

As the work week progresses, the pattern will continue to shift toward one that is more favorable for upper-level disturbances to move through the region. This should lead to increasing precipitation chances and a better opportunity for meaningful rainfall.

What makes SCOOPS special is the people behind the counter. Volunteers choose where the proceeds from their shifts go — either Heartland United Way or one of its 20 community partner agencies. In many cases, those partners also take their turn behind the counter, scooping ice cream to raise funds for their own causes.

Last year, SCOOPS volunteers served more than 12,200 cones, cups and coffee floats, contributed nearly 800 volunteer hours and raised more than $32,400 during the Nebraska State Fair.

This year, SCOOPS is welcoming a new mascot: HUWie the Penguin. Named by Heartland United Way Facebook follower Jeri Jaixen, HUWie will be out and about at the fair, helping show fair-goers how they can give back, take action and stay involved long after the rides pack up.

For the first time, fair-goers can also add a little patriotic flair to their impact. On Sept. 1, SCOOPS will offer a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with patriotic sprinkles for $2.50 as part of the Nebraska State Fair’s 250th celebration of America.

Every scoop helps support programs that improve the lives of individuals and families across Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick counties — from creating opportunities for youth and strengthening financial security to building healthier, more resilient communities.

Volunteers are still needed for both the Nebraska State Fair and the Aksarben Stock Show. Visit Go2Volunteer.org to sign up for a shift. SCOOPS Ice Cream Parlor also opens during select shows at Fonner Park throughout the year.

SCOOPS Ice Cream Parlor is open through the fair from 10 AM-9 PM (closing early at 7 PM on September 1). It will be located outside the Cattle Barn, north of the Milking Parlor, at the Nebraska State Fair.

David Richard Shapland, 77 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. David was born in York, Nebraska, on July 13, 1949, the eldest of two children, born to Richard and Dorothy (Snell) Shapland.

In December of 1950, at the age of 18 months, he was stricken with meningitis that destroyed the left half of his brain. He lived in Dayton, Ohio from 1951 to 1955 while Richard was in Seminary. He then moved to West Point, Nebraska, where David received some services through the University of Nebraska. In 1957, he started living at the Beatrice State Home. During the next 21 years, he received good care and made some progress in learning to live with his disability.

Federal Court action made a dramatic change in the services the state offered for those with illnesses like David’s. He was moved to the Ord-Burwell community program in 1978. In 1982, there was an opportunity to get into the program in Bethphage in Axtell, and in 1986, he was transferred to the Bethphage program in Holdrege.

David enjoyed puzzles, fishing, joking with friends, and riding his bike. He liked to play games on his tablet, especially bowling. David was active in the Methodist Church at Holdrege.

He was preceded in death by his dad, Richard Shapland; and his brother, Donald Shapland.

David is survived by his mother, Dorothy Shapland; special friends: Jane Halmes and Neal Coyle of McCook; and many friends.

There will be no visitation the evening prior to the service.

A memorial has been established in David’s honor, and kindly suggested to Holdrege Memorial Homes.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.