Western Nebraska, Part 1

About a month ago I was able to take my first trip out to see western Nebraska for a quick assignment about an out of service oil shaft that may be used to dispose of salt water byproduct from fracking in Mitchell, Neb.

I drove the 500 miles there on March 17, shot the oil well at dusk and drove back the next day. It was an exhausting but beautiful drive, once I was several hours in I'll admit, and I was excited to see some new places.

I visited a few of the "predictable" sites including Front Street, a recreated western old town, Carhenge, an imitation of Stonehenge built of cars, and Chimney Rock, a prominent geological monument for the pioneers as they explored the west, but I also checked out some small towns off the beaten path. Western Nebraska can feel like an entirely different state because of the landscape and some of the smaller towns truly feel frozen in time.

A man walks in front of Front Street on March 17, 2015 in Ogallala, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

The multicolored Lazy U Motel pictured on March 17, 2015 in Broadwater, Nebraska. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Chimney Rock pictured on March 17, 2015 in Bayard, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

A car sits in a field on March 18, 2015 in Bayard, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Carhenge pictured on March 18, 2015 in Alliance, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

The view from the Scott Lookout Tower  in the Nebraska National Forest on March 18, 2015 in Halsey, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Skulls hang on the fence in Lewellen, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

This oil well head pictured on March 17, 2015 on an out-of-service oil shaft on rangeland about 14 miles north of Mitchell, Nebraska marks where a Colorado oil company would like to create a disposal well for saltwater that is the byproduct of oil production. The proposal has alarmed many local people opposed to the size and nature of the project. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

The area surrounding a wellhead on an out-of-service oil shaft on rangeland about 14 miles north of Mitchell, Nebraska marks where a Colorado oil company would like to create a disposal well for saltwater that is the byproduct of oil production. The proposal has alarmed many local people opposed to the size and nature of the project. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

April

Aniya Nero, 3, and Miya Nero, 15, right, play in the yard near Newport and N. 24th St. on  April 1, 2015 in Omaha, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Aniya Nero, 3, left, and Miya Nero, 15, right, play in the yard near Newport and N. 24th St. on April 1, 2015 in Omaha, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

 Karen and Adam Basye's daughter Koraline, 2, plays on their new swing set on March 31, 2015 in Omaha, Neb. The Basye family used a portion of their tax refund to purchase the playground. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Community Garden Manager Ali Clark collects water to water the potatoes as they are planted in straw bales at City Sprouts' Decatur Urban Farm on April 13, 2015 in Omaha. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Water droplets gather on a potato as they are planted in straw bales at City Sprouts' Decatur Urban Farm on April 13, 2015 in Omaha. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Students Hanan Alharthy, left, Martha Alnofli, second from left, Hasnaa Aldouhani, center, and Marwa Alzadjali, right, celebrate during the Holi Festival of Colors on April 12, 2015 in the Pep Bowl of the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Omaha, Neb. The event was run by the  UNO Indian Student Association. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Monica Casey celebrates during the Holi Festival of Colors on April 12, 2015 in the Pep Bowl of the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Omaha, Neb. The event was run by the  UNO Indian Student Association. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Students including Ramesjh Danuwar, second from left, and Bina Ranjit, center, celebrate during the Holi Festival of Colors on April 12, 2015 in the Pep Bowl of the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Omaha, Neb. The event was run by the UNO Indian Student Association. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Sheila Sadofsky knits a purple scarf outside her home with curlers in her hair on April 10, 2015 near Cass St. and 49th St. in Omaha, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Steve McKern looks up at the Woodmen tower for a portrait near the LED lights that point up to the Woodmen Tower on April 6, 2015 Omaha, Neb. The tower will be lit green for earth day. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

City Sprouts Community Garden pictured on April 13, 2015 in Omaha. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Millard South plays Omaha Westside in baseball on April 7, 2015 at Westside in Omaha, Neb. Westside beat Millard South 5-4. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Andy McAvin yells to the screen as UNO fans watch the UNO hockey team play in the Frozen Four on April 9, 2015 at Aksarben Cinema in Omaha, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

March

Lawyer Paul Deck, who will turn 100-years-old on Sunday, March 29, works in his office on March 26, 2015 in Sioux City, IA. Deck is still a practicing lawyer and works with his sons grandsons at Deck & Deck LLP. He lives with his wife Marie of over 70 years. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Lawyer Paul Deck, who will turn 100-years-old on Sunday, March 29, leaves his office to walk several blocks to his car as part of his normal daily routine on March 26, 2015 in Sioux City, IA. Deck is still a practicing lawyer and works with his sons grandsons at Deck & Deck LLP. He lives with his wife Marie of over 70 years. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Bart Kennedy goes up for a basket during boys basketball practice on March 10, 2015 in Winnebago, Neb. The team will compete in Class D State Tournament this week. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Children cross the street after school outside Winnebago Public Schools on March 10, 2015 in Winnebago, Neb. The team will compete in Class D State Tournament this week. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Players order pizza after practice at the Rock River Grill on March 10, 2015 in Winnebago, Neb. The team will compete in the State Tournament this week. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Panthers cheerleader Maddie Hansen watches play during over time during the Bancroft-Rosalie vs. Exeter-Milligan Class D-2 Championship game on March 14, 2015 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Monte McGary (3), center, falls after an attempted basket while Noah Fant (25) goes for the rebound against Willaim Schenken (5), right, during the Omaha South vs. Creighton Prep Class A Championship game on March 14, 2015 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

 People walk into the CenturyLink Center before the Oklahoma State vs. Oregon basketball game on March 20, 2015 during the second round of the NCAA Division 1 Basketball Championship at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Oklahoma State's Michael Cobbins (20) dunks the ball during the Oklahoma State vs. Oregon basketball game on March 20, 2015 during the second round of the NCAA Division 1 Basketball Championship at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton Prep's Tyson Smiley (2) takes a selfie as he celebrates their win over Omaha South during the Omaha South vs. Creighton Prep Class A Championship game on March 14, 2015 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

The Coastal Carolina band plays during the first half of the Costal Carolina vs. Wisconsin basketball game on March 20, 2015 during the second round of the NCAA Division 1 Basketball Championship at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

 Wisconsin's Brandon Koenig (24) grabs the ball in front of a Coastal Carolina player during the second half of the Costal Carolina vs. Wisconsin basketball game on March 20, 2015 during the second round of the NCAA Division 1 Basketball Championship at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Josh Gasser left, talks to a reporter while Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky conducts interviews from his locker in the Wisconsin locker room on March 21, 2015 at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Carlene "Kelly" Miller pictured on a road near N. 48th St. and 75 with her car "Sport" on March 23, 2015 in Omaha. Miller drove across the country for 27 days on a solo road trip adventure. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Palmer, Nebraska farmer Neil Wegner brings in his corn to the Green Plains Inc. ethanol plant pictured on March 25, 2015 in Central City, Neb. The plant handles grain, extracts corn oil, produces ethanol and makes cattle feed with the leftovers. The products are shipped locally and exported around the country. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

A deer peers through the trees at Hummel Park Nature Center on March 24, 2015 in Omaha. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Lawyer Paul Deck, who will turn 100-years-old on Sunday, March 29, leaves his office to walk several blocks to his car as part of his normal daily routine on March 26, 2015 in Sioux City, IA. Deck is still a practicing lawyer and works with his sons grandsons at Deck & Deck LLP. He lives with his wife Marie of over 70 years. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD