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Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Winter

Warren Buffett waits to greet voters outside Evans Tower as part of his Drive 2 Vote campaign on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at in Omaha. Voters in District 2 were picked up at designated locations and taken to the polls via trolley and by volunteer drivers. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD 

Lincoln Lajiness, 2, looks up to Josh Lajiness as they stand outside following the dedication ceremony of the Stoneyridge Annex to Petty Officer Caleb A. Nelson Memorial Post office on Veterans Day on Friday, November 11, 2016 at the American Legion Millard Post 374 in Millard. The event honored fallen Navy SEAL Caleb A. Nelson. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Aurora's Hunter Holliday (11), second from right, runs the ball during the Aurora vs. Scottsbluff football game on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016 at Aurora High School in Aurora, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Trevin Myers, 8, holds a balloon with a leaf tied to it before the Nebraska vs. Minnesota football game on Saturday, November 12, 2016 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Fans walk outside the stadium before the Nebraska vs. Purdue football game on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


The Huskers take the field during the Nebraska vs. Minnesota football game on Saturday, November 12, 2016 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


People stand for the National Anthem during the Nebraska vs. Ohio State volleyball match at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Minnesota's Drew Wolitarsky (82), left, goes up for the ball next to Nebraska's Aaron Williams (24), right, during the Nebraska vs. Minnesota football game on Saturday, November 12, 2016 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Neligh-Oakdale quarterback Grant White pictured on Monday, August 1, 2016 at the Neligh Mills in Neligh, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


The Omaha Condors drill team performs during the Christmas in the Village on Saturday, December 2, 2016 at 24th and Lake in Omaha. The celebration featured carriage rides, hot cocoa and treats and a book giveaway. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Snow covers the ground off of Hwy 275 near Co. Rd. 12 and B on Friday, November 18, 2016 near Scribner, NE. A winter weather advisory was issued across parts of the state. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Snow of off Hwy 275 between Pilger and Norfolk on Friday, November 18, 2016. A winter weather advisory was issued across parts of the state. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


UNO huddles up before the UNO vs. Colorado College hockey game on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at Baxter Arena in Omaha. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Parker Ganey, lower center, sits on the ground with other pages during the Aksarben Coronation & Scholarship Ball on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Baxter Arena in Omaha. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Director of Programs at Girls Inc. and powerlifter Emily Mwaja pictured on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at Girls Inc. in Omaha. Mwaja is an award winning powerlifter who can lift over 300 pounds. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Models from the whole show walk during Omaha Fashion Week on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at the Omaha Design Center in Omaha. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Matt Gibbons, left, cleans the church on Monday, October 25, at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Omaha. Gibbons cleans the church and has been a fixture of the church community for years. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Matt Gibbons vacuums the church on Monday, October 25, at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Omaha. Gibbons cleans the church and has been a fixture of the church community for years. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Charlotte "Charlie" Dixson, 13, left is embraced by Maggie Swartz, right, during her adoption hearing on National Adoption Day during the on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at the City-County Building in Omaha. Several children were adopted and invited to participate in activities. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Doug McQuinn, left, Tiffany Light-Welchen, center, and Susan McGillick, right, wait backstage during the Aksarben Coronation & Scholarship Ball on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Baxter Arena in Omaha. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Alissa Prior, left, and Kealinn Peterson, right, march in response to Donald Trump's election as the nation's next president on Friday, November 11, 2016 in downtown Omaha. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Protestors march in response to Donald Trump's election as the nation's next president on Friday, November 11, 2016 at through the Old Market in downtown Omaha. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Greg Queal cleans the barn on Thursday, October 27, at the Riding Center in Ponca, Omaha. The center offers lessons, boarding and equine assisted therapy. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Gretna's Creighton Taylor (23), left, slides into home as Skutt Catholic's Ellie Beeson (2), right, throws the ball during the Gretna vs. Skutt Catholic softball game on Thursday, August 18, 2016 at Gretna High School in Gretna. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Elkhorn South senior softball pitcher and Nebraska recruit Olivia Ferrell pictured on Tuesday, August 09, 2016 at Elkhorn South in Elkhorn. Ferrell is also an accomplished ice hockey goalie but chose to pursue softball. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Creighton Prep's John Slagle lays on the ground at the NSAA State Cross Country Championships on Friday, October 21, 2016 at Kearney Country Club in Kearney. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Class D girls race in the at the NSAA State Cross Country Championships on Friday, October 21, 2016 at Kearney Country Club in Kearney. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Fans stand for the National Anthem during the Gretna vs. Skutt Catholic softball game on Thursday, August 18, 2016 at Gretna High School in Gretna. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Aydon Moffatt, 6, prepares for a dance on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 at Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha. The event featured dancing, art and food vendors. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Kaylee Arakaki, left, and Natasha Ogata, right, try on LipSense at the Pretty in Patina booth during Omaha Fashion Week on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at the Omaha Design Center in Omaha. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Warren Buffett waits in line to vote at Lifegate Church on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at in Omaha. As part of his Drive 2 Vote campaign, voters in District 2 were picked up at designated locations and taken to the polls via trolley and by volunteer drivers. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Burke's Bernard Odjidja (45), left, Mason Williams (50) center,  right, Nick Henrich (42) and Justin Clark-Wagner (78), right, react to their loss during the Burke vs. Lincoln East football game on Friday, November 4, 2016 at Burke High School in Omaha. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Heath Mello speaks as he kicks off his campaign for Omaha Mayor on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at the Livestock Exchange Building in Omaha. Mello will be challenging incumbent Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert in the next election. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD


Landon Spicka, 12, right, stays warm as people display photos of Wahoo players during the Aquinas Catholic vs. Wahoo football game on Friday, October 14, 2016 at Memorial Field in David City, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD 

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Sanctuary for the Herd

John Carroll and Chad Wegener are caretakers of the largest herd of San Clemente Island goats in the world, but it almost didn’t happen. The goats weren’t native to the island and threatened the wildlife that was. The U.S. Navy planned to eliminate the population by shooting them from a helicopter, but an animal rights group stepped in at the last minute. Today, nearly one third of the world’s population of the goats reside in Gretna, Nebraska at Willow Valley Farms. The farm is owned and operated by Carroll and Wegener who are dedicated to conserving what is left of the species.

You can watch the video here.

Chad Wegener looks up as a goat steps on him to reach a branch at Willow Valley Farms on August 9, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.


John Carroll, left, and Chad Wegener, right, walk their goats at Willow Valley Farms on July 19, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.


Chad Wegener takes a break while feeding goats at Willow Valley Farms on August 2, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.


Chad Wegener loads bales of alfalfa for the goats into his truck and at Willow Valley Farms on August 2, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.


Goats graze at Willow Valley Farms on August 9, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.


Chad Wegener, left, and John Carroll, right, unload feed at Willow Valley Farms on August 2, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.


John Carroll feeds chickens at Willow Valley Farms on August 2, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.


A goat nibbles on Chad Wegener's hat at Willow Valley Farms on July 19, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.


Goats graze at Willow Valley Farms on July 19, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.


Goat skulls lay in the grass at Willow Valley Farms on August 2, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.


Chad Wegener, left, and John Carroll, right, make blackberry jam in their home at Willow Valley Farms on August 10, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.


Chad Wegener, left, finishes chores at Willow Valley Farms on August 9, 2016 in Gretna, Neb.

Sanctuary for the Herd

Leo: Owning his world


Leo Pluhacek suffers from epilepsy and has overcome many roadblocks in order to become independent. Leo has dealt with unpredictable seizures that have made it difficult to drive, go to school and find work with his service dog, Tony. He is working to move out of his parents home and have a place of his own. You can read more about Leo here.

Leo Pluhacek helps his father Mark Pluhacek in the garden at his restaurant Marks Bistro on May 12, 2015 in Omaha.


Leo Pluhacek attends a Domesti-PUPS training event shortly after he gets his new service dog Tony on October 18, 2014 at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.


Leo Pluhacek hangs out in his bedroom on November 14, 2014 at his home in Omaha.


Leo Pluhacek and his father Mark Pluhacek work on renovations for their upstairs attic on January 7, 2015 at their home in Omaha. They hope to transform the attic into an apartment for Leo until he moves out of the house and gets a place to call his own.


Leo Pluhacek, right, attends his second day of class on December 4, 2014 at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha. He missed his first day of the class because he had a seizure the morning before school.


Hours after losing his job, Leo Pluhacek looks online for job openings on May 12, 2015 at his home in Omaha.


Leo Pluhacek, right, and his father Mark Pluhacek, left,work on renovations for their upstairs attic on January 7, 2015 at their home in Omaha. They hope to transform the attic into an apartment for Leo until he moves out of the house to find a place he can call his own

Leo Pluhacek goes on a hayride as he attends an outing with Young Adults with Epilepsy, a group he founded, on August 15, 2015 at  Bellevue Berry and Pumpkin Ranch in Omaha. 


Leo Pluhacek and coworker Shelby Burton work security at the ConAgra ice rink on December 22, 2014 in Omaha.


 Leo Pluhacek, right, is congratulated by his mother Kristin Pluhacek, second from right, and father Mark Pluhacek, left, at his college graduation from Metropolitan Community College on May 19, 2015 at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha.


Leo Pluhacek has his Vagus nerve stimulation assessed on November 19, 2014 at UNMC in Omaha.


Leo Pluhacek, left, and his father Mark Pluhacek, right, leave the house to buy Christmas presents for Kristin Pluhacek on December 22, 2014 in Omaha.


Leo Pluhacek, right, goes bowling with his friend Andrew Fish, left, on August 11, 2015 at Maplewood Lanes in Omaha.


Leo Pluhacek, left, and Brooke Lawlor, right, attend an outing with Young Adults with Epilepsy, a group he founded, on August 15, 2015 at Bellevue Berry and Pumpkin Ranch in Omaha.


Mark Pluhacek, left, Leo Pluhacek, center, and Kristin Pluhacek, right, hang artwork in Leo's new attic apartment on November 17, 2015 their home in Omaha


Leo Pluhacek goes to his first day of work as a Park Maintenance Worker with the City of Omaha Parks and Recreation department on March 07, 2016 at Hansom Park in Omaha.