omehow, the two are related. 

Phil the Groundhog says that spring is just around the corner.  If you want to read his official forecast, you can find it at the Greetings from Punxsutawney page.  If
you’re further west from Punxsutawney, PA, you may be curious if prairie dogs ran from their shadows or ventured out into a shadow-free field on this year’s Prairie Dog day. 

Prairie Dog Day?  Since about 2002, various wildlife groups from prairie states have rallied around naming February 2nd "Prairie Dog Day" in honor of the western, furry, burrowing and threatened rodent.  The Center for Native Ecosystems, Forest Guardians, and Boulder Regional Group seek more protection for the prairie dogs.

Paul A. Johnsgard, winner of the 2004 National Conservation Achievement Award and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 (both awards are sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation), talks about the history and life of the prairie dogs as well as their importance to the Great Plains’ ecosystem in the surprisingly accessible Prairie Dog Empire: A Saga of the Shortgrass Prairie.

Continue reading “Punxsutawney Phil and XLI”

Castro’s CurveballBy Tim Wendel Friday, February 2, 20077:30 PMBlack Oak Books1491 Shattuck AvenueBerkeley, CA 94709(510) 486-0698Tim Wendel and Screenwriter Melanie Dixon will read from Castro’s Curveball, the novel and the script. Crazy Horse By Mari SandozWith an introduction by Vine Deloria Jr. Saturday, February 3, 2007Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage CenterChadron State College 1000 Main StreetChadron, NE 69337The Mari Sandoz historical biography, Crazy Horse:The Strange Man of the Oglalas has been selected as the featured book for the 2007 statewide celebration of One Book One Nebraska. Exhibit opens at the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center. Rock, Ghost, Willow, DeerBy … Continue reading Author Events

Boarding School BluesEdited and with an introduction by Clifford E. Trafzer, Jean A. Keller, and Lorene Sisquoc Saturday, January 27, 20073:00 PMRiverside Public Library3581 Mission Inn AvenueRiverside, CA 92501(951) 826-5213Meet the editors and book signing. Continue reading Author Events

  The National GrasslandsBy Francis MoulPhotography by Georg Joutras Wednesday, January 17, 20073:00 pm Reception – 3:30-5:00 pm SeminarGreat Plains Art Museum, University of Nebraska-Lincoln1155 Q Street, Hewit PlaceLincoln, NE 68588402.472.3964 The Center for Great Plains Studies is pleased to present the Paul A. Olson Seminars in Great Plains Studies offering an opportunity for interested scholars, students, and members of the community to come together to examine various topics related to the Great Plains. The seminars are free and open to the public. FamousBy Kathleen Flenniken Thursday, January 18, 20077:30 PMVillage Books1200 Eleventh StreetBellingham, WA 98225360.671.2626Kathleen will read from Famous … Continue reading Author Events

Rock, Ghost, Willow, DeerBy Allison Adelle Hedge Coke Wednesday, January 10, 2007AHC Presenting Carlow MFA Program Guest FacultyMFA Program in Creative Writing3333 Fifth AvenuePittsburg, PA 15213Keynote, Reading, and Workshop Nocturnal America By John Keeble Friday, January 12, 20078:00 PMNew Short Fiction SeriesThe Beverly Hills Public Library444 North Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills, CA Continue reading Author Events

 ow many spectators will be in Kansas City tomorrow night in the wintry Arrowhead Stadium?  How will the Nebraska Huskers fare against the Oklahoma Sooners?  Will it be anything like that fateful Thanksgiving game in 1971? What?  You don’t know about the game of the century?   Then you don’t know jack and should read, The Game of the Century: Nebraska vs. Oklahoma in College Football’s Ultimate Battle. Continue reading How many Husker fans will be tuning in at home?

Pamela Carter Joern, author of The Floor of the SkyThursday, November 30, 20067:00 PMMagers & Quinn Booksellers3038 Hennepin AvenueMinneapolis, MN(612)822-4611Appearance, book signing, and reading with Alicia Conroy, author of Lives of Mapmakers. Joel Sartore, author of Nebraska: Under a Big Red SkyThursday, November 30, 20067:00 PMGreat Plains Art Museum1155 Q StreetLincoln, NE 68588You are cordially invited to a reception celebrating the paperback Bison Books edition of Nebraska: Under a Big Red Sky. Remarks by the photographer followed by a reception and book signing. The National GrasslandsBy Francis Moul Photography by Georg JoutrasFriday, December 1, 200611:00 AM – 12:30 PMUniversity of … Continue reading Author Events

n October 26, 2006, the University of Nebraska Press and the Joslyn Castle Institute for Sustainable Communities hosted a discussion on the book Chuck Hagel: Moving Forward with author Charlyne Berens.  Michael R. McCarthy, co-founder and manager of the McCarthy Group in Omaha, and Geitner Simmons, editorial page editor of the Omaha World-Herald, participated as panelist at the event. To listen to a recording of the live event, please download our podcast. Continue reading An Evening on Chuck Hagel

The National Grasslands By Francis MoulPhotography by Georg Joutras Saturday, November 25, 2006 at 2:00 PMLee Booksellers – Edgewood Center5500 S. 56th StreetLincoln, NE 68516(402) 420-1919Author appearance, reading and book signing. Continue reading Upcoming Author Event