PPRI

Levi SaBell, 2017 Aurora graduate, stands on the iconic No. 16 stadium hole at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona alongside Bob Vokey, one of the biggest names in golf.

Levi SaBell, 2017 Aurora graduate, stands on the iconic No. 16 stadium hole at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona alongside Bob Vokey, one of the biggest names in golf.

This week's top stories

News Staff
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
SaBell tees up Titleist internship Five years ago, Levi SaBell hoisted championship gold alongside his Husky golf teammates, Aurora’s first and only title in the NSAA era.
Prairie Plains Resource Institute’s Sarah Bailey, center, helps Youth Naturalist campers gather insects last week on the Gjerloff Prairie west of Marquette.

Prairie Plains Resource Institute’s Sarah Bailey, center, helps Youth Naturalist campers gather insects last week on the Gjerloff Prairie west of Marquette.

PPRI center put to good use by Youth Naturalists

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
A group of 10 students took a deeper dive into learning about the diverse Hamilton County landscape around them last week, enjoying a full slate of activities as part of the Prairie Plains Resource Institute’s Youth Naturalist Program.
Pictured last week on a backpacking hike into camp at Niobrara Valley Preserve are, from left: Sarah Bailey, Zildjian Sandberg, Kim Evans, Alex Briner, Atticus Miller and Jacob Fink.

Pictured last week on a backpacking hike into camp at Niobrara Valley Preserve are, from left: Sarah Bailey, Zildjian Sandberg, Kim Evans, Alex Briner, Atticus Miller and Jacob Fink.

Youth take deeper dive into nature through PPRI program

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
A group of area students took their understanding of nature to a higher level last week with a four-day Young Nebraska Ecologist program designed to help youth study and compare how habitat and ecosystems vary by region.
After more than 12 years of planning, all four plaques containing 25 names of fallen WWI-era soldiers made their public debut at Veteran’s Circle in the Aurora Cemetery, where they were recognized on Memorial Day.

After more than 12 years of planning, all four plaques containing 25 names of fallen WWI-era soldiers made their public debut at Veteran’s Circle in the Aurora Cemetery, where they were recognized on Memorial Day.

This week's top stories

News Staff
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Mayor Seeman dedicates plaques honoring 25 fallen WWI veterans Mayor Marlin Seeman honored 25 soldiers who died while serving their country from 1917 to 1918 Monday, reinstating the plaques that held their names in Veteran’s Circle at the Aurora Cemetery.
Crew members monitor a control burn conducted in May near the entrance to the Prairie Plains Resource Institute warehouse and education center northwest of Marquette.

Crew members monitor a control burn conducted in May near the entrance to the Prairie Plains Resource Institute warehouse and education center northwest of Marquette.

Control burns a useful management tool for PPRI

Jacob Courtney
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
To some, controlled fire might seem like an oxymoron. Fire seems always a dangerous, destructive force for most of our life.
Bill Whitney shared the journey of the Charles L. Whitney Education Center with visitors during Prairie Plains Resource Institutes’s open house on Saturday.

Bill Whitney shared the journey of the Charles L. Whitney Education Center with visitors during Prairie Plains Resource Institutes’s open house on Saturday.

PPRI unveils Charles L. Whitney Education Center

Jeni Obermier
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
The grass was gently swaying Saturday while barn swallows playfully swooped around the restored barn at Gjerloff Prairie. More than 100 people stood outside as they were greeted by Bill Whitney, co-founder of Prairie Plains Resource Institute to the grand opening of the Charles L.
Atticus Miller, left, and Willa Sharp, right, observe bumble bees and practice identifying different species that they found at Gjerloff Prairie. Katie Lamke (center), Conservation biologist with the Xerces Society, presented to students about the Nebraska Bumble Bee Atlas and helped them net bumble bees so they could be studied up close and identified as a part of a survey out on the prairie.

Atticus Miller, left, and Willa Sharp, right, observe bumble bees and practice identifying different species that they found at Gjerloff Prairie. Katie Lamke (center), Conservation biologist with the Xerces Society, presented to students about the Nebraska Bumble Bee Atlas and helped them net bumble bees so they could be studied up close and identified as a part of a survey out on the prairie.

Young NE Ecologists debuts with more in-depth look at nature

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
Five high school students completed Backpacking 101 and studied various ecosystems in the first ever Young Nebraska Ecologists program last week.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Bailey // Participants in this year’s Youth Naturalist camp included, from left: Bill Whitney, Kit Brooks, Zildjian Sandberg, Calvin Miller, Kenzie Dubas, Zade Podraza, Jessica Bauers, Mia Leininger, Julia Buss, Sarah Bailey, Trenten Stevens, Jan Whitney and Jonathan Helzer.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Bailey // Participants in this year’s Youth Naturalist camp included, from left: Bill Whitney, Kit Brooks, Zildjian Sandberg, Calvin Miller, Kenzie Dubas, Zade Podraza, Jessica Bauers, Mia Leininger, Julia Buss, Sarah Bailey, Trenten Stevens, Jan Whitney and Jonathan Helzer.

Youth Naturalist program builds on SOAR curriculum

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
A group of area students got up close and personal with nature last week, exploring natural areas along the Platte River while learning about Nebraska ecosystems, all part of the Youth Naturalist Program coordinated by the Prairie Plains Resource Institute.
The Charles L. Whitney Education Center is reportedly just weeks away from completion west of Marquette. Prairie Plains Resource Institute staff and board members saw a video tour during Saturday’s virtual annual meeting.

The Charles L. Whitney Education Center is reportedly just weeks away from completion west of Marquette. Prairie Plains Resource Institute staff and board members saw a video tour during Saturday’s virtual annual meeting.

PPRI education center nearly complete

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Though SOAR and other well-known educational programs were cancelled due to the pandemic in 2020, the Prairie Plains Resource Institute continued its work of restoring native grasslands throughout the past year and is also in the final stages of completing an educational center that has been...