Phil Esslinger pauses with sons Easton and Oakland to capture a photo with a bull elk harvested in a hunting unit where 155 elk tags are issued each year. Esslinger’s name was one of few drawn for out-of-state participants to hunt during a 13-day archery season, which ran Sept. 12-25.

The Hamilton Pheasant Forevers Chapter brought back its annual youth hunt on Saturday, Oct. 11 after being on hiatus for three years. Students from Hamilton, Hall and Merrick counties participated in hunter safety sessions before practicing their trap shooting skills and hunting pen-raised pheasants offered by Pheasants Forever.

Pictured are fourth graders Briella Richards, Adeline Derr and Emmah White.

Dave Regier is the director of sports medicine for the College All Star Football Shrine Bowl which benefits Shriners Children’s Hospital. As a former patient of Shriner’s, he seeks to use his athletic training and sports therapy work to give back to the organization.

Colorful characters -- some spooky, some silly -- fill Annie Gibson’s front yard on L Street in what has become an annual, growing tradition.

Kirk Penner of Aurora is one of several representatives of Advocates For All Nebraskans (AFAN).

Kaja Brondel (left), followed by her mom Jessica and brother William, runs away from a swamp monster played by Kolby Lautenschlager and a Ghostface (Isacc Graham) at last year’s Haunted Fairgrounds. This year’s event will take place Oct. 24-26 and Oct. 31-Nov. 1.