A free scrap tire collection will take place in Sarpy County thanks to a partnership between the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, Sarpy County, and the Sarpy County Fair Board.
The tire collection will be held at the Sarpy County Fairgrounds in Springfield, NE, on September 9th from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The collection is for Sarpy County residents only.
The following are important details and instructions for those wanting to take part in the collection:
Sarpy County residents must bring a driver’s license or most recent utility bill for proof of residence
There is no limit on the number of tires residents can bring to the collection
Residents are asked to have a tire count at the time of check-in
Rims or tubes are not allowed
Unloading of tires will not be provided
Dealers or resellers are not allowed
Residents are to enter the Sarpy County Fairgrounds at Main Street and Railroad and exit at South Gate and Pflug Road.
The tire collection was funded by a grant from the Nebraska Dept. of Environment & Energy. For more information, contact the Papio NRD at 402-444-6222 or www. papionrd.org.
Omaha Tribe Holds Cedar Ceremony to Bless Flood Mitigation Reservoir Named in Honor of Chief Big Elk
Chief Big Elk – Henry Inman (American, 1801–1846), Onpon Tonga (Big Elk), 1830s, oil on canvas, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, Nebraska, Museum purchase from the Edward R. Trabold and Lulu H. Trabold Fund with additional funds from the Durham Center for Western Studies Art Endowment Fund, 2011.2
The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District (Papio NRD), the City of Papillion, Sarpy County, and many community partners, today celebrated the grand opening of Big Elk Lake and Portal Recreation Area, Papillion’s two new flood mitigation reservoirs that provide flood protection for Papillion and Sarpy County citizens, as well as recreational benefits and green space.
The Papio NRD Board of Directors voted last June to name the Papillion reservoir, located near 108th & Cornhusker Road. Big Elk Lake in honor of Chief Big Elk, a principal leader of the Omaha Tribe. Portal Recreation Area is located nearby at 114th and Cornhusker Road.
To kick off the ceremony, Dr. Rudi Mitchell, the great-great-great grandson of Chief Big Elk of the Omaha Tribe, held a cedar ceremony (burning cedar on charcoal) to bless the lake and surrounding recreation area. Mitchell also read aloud the famous speech Chief Big Elk gave upon returning from a treaty negotiation in Washington D.C., where he warned his people of the impending flood of settlers that threatened Omaha homelands and lifeways.
Mitchell said he is very pleased with the recognition of his ancestor.
“Until today, there was no tribute to Chief Big Elk in Omaha, said Mitchell. “Big Elk was admired for leading one of the most peaceful tribes through many challenges. Through his speeches, trading, and peace treaties, Big Elk had a gift for peacefully bringing settlers and the Omaha tribe together,” said Mitchell. “This says a lot about the kind of leader he was and I’m grateful he will be remembered in an area of beauty and nature.”
Glenna Mitchell Slater, also a descendant of Big Elk and one of the few Omaha Tribe certified fluent language speakers and teachers, is touched to see the lake entrance monument bear Chief Big Elk’s name interpreted in the Omaha language: Oⁿpoⁿ Toⁿga.
“I want to thank the Papio NRD board for accepting my request to place our Chief Big Elk’s Omaha Tribal Indian name to be translated under his name on the entrance sign,” said Mitchell Slater.
While the primary purpose of the new reservoirs is to help protect the lives and property of citizens from floods, they also feature recreational amenities, such as walking/cycling trails, kayak/canoe launches, picnic shelters, park land, and fishery enhancements.
“Chief Big Elk is one of the most notable figures in Sarpy County history. He was fiercely protective of his people, but also known as a peaceful leader who valued alliances,” said John Winkler, general manager of the Papio NRD. “Naming this flood mitigation reservoir in honor of him – a structure designed to protect the people of Sarpy County made possible through partnerships and surrounded by acres of beauty and peaceful natural resources – seems like a perfect way to commemorate all that Chief Big Elk stood for. It has been an absolute honor working with the Omaha Tribe on this special project,” said Winkler.
Dr. Rudi Mitchell performs a cedar ceremony to bless Big Elk Lake.
Ribbon cutting ceremony (left to right): Jim Thompson, Papio NRD Board Chairperson; Levelle Wells, Big Elk Native American Center; Glenna Mitchell Slater, Chief Big Elk Ancestor; Dr. Rudi Mitchell, Chief Big Elk Ancestor; Dr. Larry Bradley, Papio NRD Director; Kevyn Sopinski, Papio NRD Director; Don Kelly, Sarpy County Board Chairman; David Black, Papillion Mayor; John Winkler, Papio NRD General Manager; Jim Swenson, Nebraska Games and Parks Division Administrator
A Pendleton blanket the Omaha Tribe gifted to the Papio NRD.
Papillion Mayor David Black said the city is excited for the completion of Big Elk Lake and Portal Recreation Area and thanks the Papio NRD for its continued commitment to providing vital flood protection to the area.
“In addition to the flood protection, the recreational opportunities these areas will provide are invaluable to our community,” said Black. “The City of Papillion values our long-term partnership with the NRD, and we are proud to bring these new areas into our park system,” said Black.
Big Elk Lake and Portal Recreation Area are now open to the public.
A contract for an engineering study to develop policies related to storm water management in the southern Sarpy County area has been approved by the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board of Directors.
“Now is the time to act to insure that both water quality and potential flooding issues are being addressed before extensive development occurs,” said NRD General Manager, John Winkler. “We can avoid many of the difficulties we encountered in the Papillion Creek Watershed – trying to manage storm water runoff in an area already significantly urbanized,” he said.
In October, 2016 the board approved an interlocal agreement with Bellevue, Gretna, Papillion, Springfield and Sarpy County to form the Southern Sarpy Watershed Partnership to address water issues before the area is developed. The watershed includes all areas of Sarpy County draining directly toward the Elkhorn or Platte Rivers.
The work will take place in three phases over a five year period. The Board approved a phase one contract with FYRA Engineering for $400,640. The cost of the study will be shared among the members of the Southern Sarpy Watershed Partnership.
Unlike the Papillion Creek Watershed, the Southern Sarpy County Watershed has very little stream or water quality data available. The need to develop a comprehensive watershed management plan is the top priority of the new partnership.
A free scrap tire collection will take place in Sarpy County thanks to a partnership between the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, Sarpy County, and the Sarpy County Fair Board.
