Boating & Safety

It's that time of year when we start thinking about putting our boats back in the water. The CDC lakes are small but have some very powerful ski boats and personal watercraft (jet skis). At times, this combination could lead to some very dangerous conditions. This would be a good time for all of us to brush up on our boating safety procedures, the boating rules and regulations for Nebraska and also have our younger residents sign up for their required classes. Nebraska law requires any motorboat operator (including personal watercraft) under 18 years of age to complete a Boating Safety Course and be in possession of a course certificate when operating the boat. They must be at least 14 years of age to operate a motorboat (including personal watercraft) in Nebraska. Classes are offered throughout the state. The course is six-hours with a proctored exam. This law pertains to all bodies of water in the state including private lakes. To learn more about boating safety and to schedule classes, go to http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/boating/guides/boating/BGeducate.asp and click on the different links.

Bluebirds

Once again it's that time of year when bluebirds start making an appearance in Nebraska. If you are interested in having a bluebird house of your own or even starting a trail of houses, check out the website for BAN, Bluebirds Across Nebraska. http://www.bbne.org/ Here you can find just about anything you ever wanted to know about the species. Once you log on, I suggest starting by clicking on "Bluebirding Basics - Getting Started and FAQ's".