Nebraska is in the Central Plains of North America.  With the temperatures changing rapidly the winters are cold, summers are hot, and it is the best place to fish.  There are over 100 fish species of fish, and it is estimated that 78 are native to Nebraska. 

Nebraska is renowned for its rivers, streams, lakes, and multiple reservoirs.   The most popular fish categories include sport fish, panfish, sunfish, commercial fish, baitfish, and non-game fish.  July is recognized as National Fishing Month.  

​See below recipe for Panko Crusted Perch

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
• 1 pound of boneless perch fillets
• 2 to 3 large eggs
• ⅓ cup of all-purpose flour
• 1½ cup of Panko breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, plus extra
• Freshly cracked pepper, to taste
• 1 cup of mayonnaise
• 4 teaspoons of Sriracha sauce
• 4 teaspoons of lemon juice
• Vegetable oil for frying
• Lemon wedges, for serving
1. To make the spicy mayo, combine mayonnaise, Sriracha, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Add or subtract amount of Sriracha to taste. Set aside.
2. Assemble your dredging station: In a wide bowl, beat eggs until no whites are visible and mixture begins to form small bubbles at the edges. Pour Panko breadcrumbs into a shallow bowl/dish and season with 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper to taste. Then pour flour into another. Heat frying oil to 325 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. First lightly coat a perch fillet with flour, shaking off excess, and then dip it into the egg mixture and then finally coat with Panko. Fry on both sides until golden and drain on paper towels or a cooling rack. Repeat with the rest of the fish, adjusting heat as necessary. As you work, keep fried fish warm in the oven on the “warm” setting.
Do not overcrowd the fry pan — oil temperature will drop too quickly, which will result in greasy fried fish. Also, do not allow the oil to get too hot, as Panko breadcrumbs can burn quickly. Continually keep an eye on the oil temperature with a thermometer and adjust the heat as you cook. If you’re not used to working with Panko, it helps to have an extra set of hands in the kitchen.
4. Serve fried fish with spicy mayo for dipping and lemon wedges on the side. For a light meal, serve the fish in butter lettuce cups with sliced cucumber, pickled carrot and a dollop of spicy mayo on top.  ■
Recipe sponsored by Walleye Direct. ​

Picnic Essentials include a picnic basket full of your favorite foods, drinks, breads, fruits, and flowers.  Finding the perfect place for a picnic is one of the essentials.  Adventure out to a local park, concert, scenic view, or the back yard with friends and family.  Get in the mood with lights, blankets, music, and the perfect basket to carry all of the edibles. 
​When choosing a picnic basket look for simple, something that is priced to fit the budget, can easily be carried, and keep items chilled and cool. Optional picnic baskets are insulated and may include utensils, matching napkins, and other accessories. Picnic baskets make great birthday, wedding or anniversary gifts.  Make it special by including a monogram on the basket.  Are you thinking about a picnic for two or more? There are perfect caddy's or picnic accessories that can be carried like a backpack. Consider the room you will need in the basket to store all the needed picnic food and accessories, destination and type of environment or weather conditions.  Something that is waterproof will make the journey to the picnic destination go smoother. 

 
NORFOLK AREA – Do you like s’mores?  What about moonlit walks?  How about heading out for an adventure as the sun goes down?  The Norfolk area is full of opportunities to explore the nature of Nebraska.  The Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District, and the Norfolk Area Visitors Bureau want to help you discover your area trails, lakes, and wild places while highlighting the unique opportunities nighttime offers with our FREE Moon Walk event, “Stars, Strolls & S’mores.”
“The purpose of the moon walk is to provide a family-oriented activity that introduces people to the wonders that can be found in their neck of the woods,” said Julie Wragge, Information & Education Specialist for the Lower Elkhorn NRD.  She added, “Our local lakes and rivers provide countless opportunities to discover and learn more about our water, soil, and wildlife.”
 
The Moon Walks will be held on Wednesday evenings close to the full moon and begin at 7:30 p.m. Most Moon Walks last for 1-2 hours.  Participants will walk an average of 1 mile round trip. Each Moon Walk starts with a short introduction of that evening’s program, followed by a hike to a designated area where we enjoy presentations.  Presenters are experts in their field and are from our local community. The evening wraps up with FREE s’mores!
 
The first event will be held on Wednesday, June 23rd at the Yellowbanks Wildlife Management Area, 3 miles north and 2.5 west of Battle Creek.  Presentations will include an interesting view of the Elkhorn River, as we learn about how rivers can move and change.  There will also be a nature scavenger hunt.
 
The second “moon walk” will be Wednesday, July 21st at Skyview Lake in Norfolk.  Presentations will include Kayaking 101, and Mothing:  the nighttime addiction.
 
The final night will be Wednesday, August 25th at Red Road Herbs Retreat & Learning Center on 835 Road near Stanton.  Presentations will include beginner Dutch Oven cooking, and Worthy Weeds.
 
Wragge added, “Since the events take place close to home, we encourage everyone to join us and bring your friends and neighbors.”
Visit our websites for more information and a brochure:
www.lenrd.org/recreation/
www.visitnorfolkne.com
www.outdoornebraska.gov
 For more information contact: Jamie Bachmann, Jamie.bachmann@nebraska.gov or 402-370-3374

Plan a picnic on April 23! Go to the beach, visit a museum, zoo, or local park.  Pack delicious snacks, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches mix it up, veggies, fruits, nuts, chocolate or other likeable snacks.
Prepare your picnic - Go to the local market and purchase sour dough bread for sandwiches.  Select an assortment of meats, jams or spreads.  Visit the health section if someone in your family has food allergies.  Select whole grain crackers, low-fat cheese, sliced pickles, olives, and sparkling drinks, water, juice, or other beverages. 

Store each snack in separate containers. Picnics are for selecting your favorite foods and having healthy snacks outside, more enjoyable and encourages togetherness.

Include variety, schedule it and invite friends. Picnics are good for your health.  Climb to the top of a hill, spread out a blanket, open a picnic basket and enjoy! Sit by a lake, or picnic in a boat on the lake.  It's time to get out the flip-flops, shorts, and picnic baskets for an adventure you will love. 

It is estimated that 64% of American's are working from home, due to circumstances from COVID-19. Before the pandemic, children and young adults were more likely to go to work with their parent's by commuting to the work location.  Here are some tips on how to setup working from home with your younger children today. 

Plan - plan your day
Boundaries - Establish boundaries, let children know, that because you work at home there are times for work and play. Plan activities that are short and interactive with younger children.  Plan a time out for them to go outside for a walk, share exercise routines with children and how you plan the day.  Include them on planning a day at the office by updating calendars.  Use bright colored markers and sticky notes that they can use to ad to the calendar schedule. 

How can you make working from home a special place to bring your kids to work today?

Find a quiet place in the office, include a small table and chairs for the younger children to color at, read books, play games or write.  Keep expectations to a minimum.  When the younger child is in the office, work activities that are less distracting. For example, send an email correspondence, write a blog, send letters of appreciation to staff, and co-workers.  Bring a small pet to the office, let your child interact with them while you are working.

Schedule an at work experience with your teenage children.  Let them observe your work schedule, discuss calendar dates that are important, schedule time to observe the career that is age appropriate.  Meet and greet fellow co-workers and staff.  Schedule lunch with young adults, discuss interests, and webinar engagement. 
Bring in an expert to discuss career opportunities with young adults. Schedule a mock meeting with other teenagers who came to work with their parents.  Pick a topic and encourage them to write on it for the day. Correspond through email, send out forms, file documents, run errands, complete a worksheet about going to work with parents, take a survey, share the experience on social media.  Be excited about the experience! Children are exceptional and parents are excellent role-models for their future.  Schedule time for engagement on a regular basis, so they see your strengths and are encouraged by opportunity in the workforce. 

Spring is one of the perfect times to enjoy the vibrant blossoms of color in trees.  In Nebraska the top 5 fastest growing trees include: The Pink Weeping Cherry Tree, Pink Dogwood, Jane Magnolia, Magnolia butterflies tree, Red Dogwood, Eastern Redbud. 

There are different types of considerations for trees and locations.  For example Evergreen trees are used for privacy, Fruit trees are beneficial for enjoying fresh fruit, it increases property value, and could help save money on your energy bills because they provide shade during the warmer months. Trees help the environment by expelling fresh oxygen into the air. A fruit tree may increase the value of your property by providing fruit, a beautiful display, and flowers during the spring months. 

Spending more time at home, means noticing all of the practical things that could use a fresh overhaul.  Replacing a chair or recliner would be an essential update for your living room area, or choose a modern cover, Area rugs, coffee tables, end tables, and throw pillows are all practical items that could be updated.  Painting an end table or coffee table and adding a few throw pillows could add a new look without breaking the budget. 
- Replacing curtains for more energy efficient ones could save money during the colder and warmer months.  Painting the living -room depending on what brand of paint will run about $40/gallon.  Consider washing your walls, and spot painting blemishes or chips to freshen the room. 
- Technology updates include tv, stereo, speakers, computers, entertainment centers, and cd's. Entertainment centers can change the look of the room with a new coat of paint and hardware. 
- Display "simple is less" organization keeps the room clean and clutter free.  A welcome presentation for your family and guests will be a welcome comfort. 

​Removing snow and ice is everyone’s responsibility.www.missouririverinsurance.com
If you think about the risks, taking care of ice and snow is a no-brainer.
 
Winter in South Dakota can seem quite unpredictable. One day its sunshine and warm, the next day we are getting several inches of snow. Do not let the occasional spring day fool you, we are still in the middle of the winter months. When you consider that insurance claims from winter storm related damages can run into thousands of dollars, knowing how to properly deal with snow and ice around the home is simply smart.
 
One of the first things we tell homeowners or renters is to keep snow away from your foundation. Moisture from the snow melting can seep in. Remember, concrete is very porous. So, when you are shoveling sidewalks, driveways, and walkways push the snow away from the perimeter of your home. Another important thing to remember is to keep any fire hydrants, gas meters, dryer vents, and heat exhaust vents clear of snow. This ensures that no fumes are being exerted back into your home, causing serious health issues and ensures easy access for anybody servicing the meters/hydrants.
 
Any amount of snow on the right roof could cause it to collapse. The interesting thing is you want snow on your roof. If the snow does not melt you know your attic insulation is doing its job. However, if there is too much snow and ice the roof could collapse. Flat roofs are especially vulnerable. Some individuals utilize roof shovels, which are designed to reach the roof from the ground, so you are not climbing on the roof and risking a fall. But shoveling your roof from the ground also has its risks: 1. You could damage your shingles, and 2. The snow could com down on top of you. If you need snow or an ice dam removed from your roof, we recommend calling a professional contractor who regularly deals with these issues.
 
Many people are concerned about injuries happening on their property. The most common winter related injuries are slips and falls. It is your responsibility to make sure all walkways and sidewalks are properly taken care of. This includes shoveling and laying down ice melt/sand to prevent any ice/snow build up.
 
If you think about the risks, taking care of ice and snow is no-brainer. Save yourself the trouble and prevent any potential injuries or damages the winter months may bring to your doorstep.