LINCOLN – Summer hours have been extended through this week at the Roger G. Sykes Outdoor Heritage Complex at Platte River State Park (SP). This week, the facility will be open Tuesday and Thursday from 4-8 p.m. and Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Beginning Aug. 15 and running through Oct. 10, the range will be open on weekends only from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The following are special events and openings, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in coming months: Oct. …

LINCOLN – Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park will host the summer celebration Rally ’Round the Flag, Boys! on Aug. 22-23 to commemorate the re-dedication of the newly painted Post flagpole. The flagpole re-dedication will take place at noon on Aug. 22. There will be a flag-raising ceremony and other activities, including a barbeque and watermelon feed from 1-2:30 p.m., horse-drawn wagon rides, Civil War re-enactors, blacksmith demonstrations, music by the Fun Bunch at 2 p.m., and 1860s-style of military training …

LINCOLN – A health alert has been issued for Willow Creek Lake in Pierce County because high levels of blue-green algae were detected at the lake earlier this week. It is recommended that visitors to the lake, located on Willow Creek State Recreation Area (SRA), avoid full-body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing and jet skiing. Non-contact activities such as boating, fishing and camping are not affected by the alert. A limited number of vouchers to the swimming pool …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is accepting recreational trail grant applications for fiscal year 2016 funding. The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a grant program through the Federal Highway Administration that reimburses political subdivisions such as communities, counties and natural resources districts up to 80 percent of project costs for trail acquisition, development, renovation and support facilities. Applicants must have the financial means to undertake and maintain the project and all funding should be on hand. This …

LINCOLN – Hunters may begin purchasing fall turkey permits Aug. 10 at 1 p.m. Central Time. Permits will be available at OutdoorNebraska.org and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission permitting offices. A fall turkey permit is valid statewide and allows a hunter to harvest two turkeys of either sex with a shotgun or archery equipment. Each hunter may have up to two permits. There is no minimum age requirement for youth. Turkey permits cost, not including an issuing fee, $23 for …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is accepting grant applications for parks and other outdoor recreation facilities promoting outdoor recreation. The grants are funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a program administered by the National Park Service for outdoor recreation projects. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, baseball fields, soccer fields, swimming pools, picnicking facilities, playgrounds, park acquisition and development, shelter houses and related support facilities. All projects must encourage outdoor recreation. Project …

LINCOLN – The annual Nebraska Youth Smallbore Silhouette Invitational will be held Sept. 26 at the Pressey Wildlife Management Area. This is free competition, previously known as the Nebraska High School Smallbore Silhouette Championships, is open to all youth age 11 or older who have successfully completed Hunter Education and who have not yet graduated from high school. Shooters will be grouped in classes according to age, rifle weight, sight type and experience level, competing against others in their own …

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s communications staff won eight awards at the Association of Conservation Information annual conference held July 13-17 in Flagstaff, Ariz. Game and Parks staff were recognized for photography, magazine articles and press releases, marketing efforts, graphic design and special publications. Just two other states received more accolades. “The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission works hard to build support for conservation in Nebraska through outreach, education and communication efforts. These can range in scope …

LINCOLN – Target shooting is prohibited, effective immediately, on portions of Hamburg Bend Wildlife Management Area (WMA) south of Nebraska City in Otoe County because of safety issues. Target shooting is prohibited within 100 yards of the north parking lot located at the east end of County Road L and also within 100 yards of the termination of County Road N at the flood control levee. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds people using Hamburg Bend WMA that the …

LINCOLN – East Zone special grouse permit applications are being accepted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission until all permits are taken. This permit is required, along with a Nebraska hunting (small game) permit, to hunt grouse east of U.S. Highway 81. The hunting season is Sept. 1 – Jan. 31, 2016. There are 400 of the special permits available for hunting east of U.S. 81. The permits are limited to one per hunter and available on a first-come, …