Nebraska Stories
The Statue on the Hill and More
S10 • E8 Mar 21, 2019
The Statue on the Hill - Overlooking the former homeland of the Ponca people in the scenic Niobrara River Valley is a newly installed bronze statue of their great chief, Standing Bear. Alice Erickson, his great-great-great granddaughter, recently traveled to the site and as she studied artist Ben Victor's depiction of the Chief in a scene from his historic trial, she reflected on her ancestor's legacy. Today he is recognized as a civil rights hero, but to Alice the Chief is simply family, 'He's up on that hill overlooking our land and he's with us always.' Half-Way to St. Pat's. - The village of Greeley celebrates its founding heritage every year by throwing a big Irish party. The day long festival includes music, food, history, culture and a whole lot of fun. Held on the third Saturday in September, which is about half-way to St. Patrick's Day, the popular event attracts national and international musicians and the town grows four times its size. A Hopping Success - An innovative startup company that has successfully grown hops in Nebraska has partnered with the University of Nebraska and it's taking their business to a whole new level. Looking for Bliss - Only remnants remain of a settlement called Bliss where African Americans tried to build a life on the edge of the Sandhills. Big-Time Radio in Clay Center - During the 1920s in the town of Clay Center, a chicken incubator baron found a way to market his products by starting a radio station. KMMJ became a regional tourist attraction that launched the careers of several performers.
