Deer's leap into 23rd Street has fatal outcome

Deer must be losing their fear of humans. About a month ago, two deer ran in front of me on 33rd ave between 14th and 15th streets heading west as I was going back to work after lunch . Anyone else see this?

Are you serious Columbus Telegram! There are men and women coming home to columbus from the armed forces, local high school sport camps are in force as well as fall sports are starting soon, many area athletes and high school alumni are coaching at different colleges as well as playing sports for colleges along with the increase in columbus transit fees for the elderly AND THIS IS ALL THAT YOU CAN COVER!! GIVE ME A BREAK!

Cool story one more thing to be on the look out for. Stay off your phone & drive safe now. Yes it can happen anywhere.

"a young deer decided to cross a busy 23rd Street crowded with RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC" When did Columbus suddenly have rush hour traffic. Did I get transported to Chicago or LA overnight. Columbus could only wish that they had rush hour traffic. Makes me wonder if Mr. Osborne has ever been outside of Columbus.

I accidently hit a bug on 33rd ave yesterday. I don't really know what kind of bug it was but I'm sorry to tell you it did perish in the crash. If the telegram needs a story in the next few days I sure I could hit another one and give you a call.

Rush hour is the peak in traffic congestion on public roads. Nothing more, and nothing less. So yes, even Bellwood has rush hour traffic. If that bothers you, write your own dictionary, which we will all ignore.

I can't believe all the snide remarks on some of the articles printed in the paper. So what if it isn't politics, war, thefts, crime rates,, etc. I personaly find it a relief to be able to see an article on local interests, the odd occurances, and things our youth are doing. People take life too seriously ALL the time. Lighten up. It is Columbus Nebraska, we Do kick back a little more then some states,towns. There is no pleasing all the people all the time. Lifes too short to get your panties in a bunch over the articles in the newspaper. The newspaper tries to cover all interests, but as late it appears they have gotten nothing but slammed. I sure as h*** wouldn't want the responsibility of trying to make everybody happy.

Mr Rush Hour, Do u ever go out and drive in Columbus on 23rd St. or as sum people know of it as hi-way 30. I live our of town but I am down there alot in the afternoons when all the factories get off work along with all the trucks coming through, and I can tell you the traffic sucks. Maybe you need to get a life. If you anything about deer you would know that this is odd for them to be in this highly of a traffic area. People do need to be aware of this situation, along with kids running out in front of cars. I could go on but I will just quit here.

"Police officers quickly cleared the dead deer off the roadway to allow traffic to proceed." I guess, "quickly" is a relative term. I drove by when the officer arrived and again about five minutes later, and the deer was still laying in the middle of the roadway. In all honesty, and from how it appeared to me, it didn't appear that he knew what to do with a deer in the road. Doesn't seem like a real thinker to me. Pull it to the side of the road. Duh!

i was shocked a couple weeks ago when i stepped out my front door after dark only to see two deer running across my yard they stopped in the yard across mine and seemed to be enjoying themselves, it scared the heck out of me, i'm on the south side of town, figured they would just stay on the south side, this event could have been worse they could have hit another car and been seriousily hurt.

Wow. A deer!!! I didn't think that they would come into an area like this! Usually when you here about a deer bein in the middle of the road, it's off in some middle-of-no-where deserted 2-lane hi-way!!! I will definately keep a closer eye out when I'm driving. And to those who say Columbus doesn't have any rush-hour trafic, HAHAHAHA!!! I was up by East-Central (which is a 55mph zone) and was doing 25mph! That lasted all the way back to the 35 mph down towards 23rd n 33rd interesction. (And no, this was not during any construction)

To Hmmmmmm-Just Thinking: Are you Serious! I also enjoy local interests. Things like our youth excelling in academics, extra cirricular activities and how they have recieved college scholorships, how our young citizens enlisted in the military, how about our youth being nominated for various shrine bowl games, cornhusker state games, columbus playhouse, etc. This is not a story at all worth even thinking about publishing. You go to any north, south, west, east side of city, you see a deer. You see deer follow the train tracks because some cargo contain corn. Come on and do not play that role. The Columbus Telegram is biased and this is ridiculous. I can bet that when you go to McDonalds, Hy-Vee, Daylight Donout or any coffee shop, you can rest assure you will find more local talk that is worth printing than this stuff. I just hope that someone took the deer and used the meat. That would be newsworthy.

Folks, actually this is very newsworthy. It gives everyone a heads up that their may be deer in areas you don't expect. I think this is a great improvement over the garage sale story, sorry.

i heard that the deer was attempting to escape from a mountain lion. i wonder if it was the same cat that was spotted by blvd. lanes a few weeks ago.

I think that this is funny, because of all things to put in a newspaper instead of interesting things you put it about an animal EVERYONE who has a driver's license should look out for and you put a BIG article about it!!!!! are there not better things to write about or did you guys just graduate high school!!!! wow!!! sorry but this is why noone wants to really read your paper anymore!!!! i dont read it hardly ever because of the stupid things you have done!!!! not putting things in that people pay for BUT you guys SURE DO "hurry" when it comes to the DUMBEST story EVER told!!!

I think articles like this have there place as local interest and from an awarness factor. Deer are very adaptable. It is also interesting to note: the entity which became the Nebraska Game & Parks Commision estimated in 1908 there were no more than 50 deer in the whole state of Nebraska. Fire arm deer season did not open until 1945 on the Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey that a December "experimental season" was allowed. It was the first since the season for deer was closed by the legislature in 1906. Five hundred permits were issued and 350 deer were checked in by hunters. Additionally, the legislator from the region was almost laughed out of the chambers when he tabled the bill. Because as per others in the chamber "there were no deer in Nebraska". however, when it was re-opened huge deer were taken because they had not been hunted for so long. So given some history of the deer around the area this does make for a story. If anyone is interested in other interesting stories about the area just GOOGLE "past present columbus nebraska g. w. phillips" for some very interesting reading. Believe it or not Columbus does have some interesting history if one were willing to dig for it. I am sure there are many who have nothing better to do then critisize this post.

i found this story interesting. i'm from genoa and i've never even seen a deer run around the town of genoa which isn't a busy town at all. i'm glad to know i need to watch for deer in town. and i agree that the paper shouldn't all be about town gossip. gossip is for small people and if that's all you people care about, go sit around and talk about it then. not everyone is interested in the same things, there will be complaints no matter what is put in any paper. get over yourselves and if you think you can do better, start your own paper.

Whether this is news or not it is a nice picture. I am sure that cute little guy will keep this story forever. I was fortunate enough to be on the front page when I was his age and I still have it!

I see the big mouths of columbus are still at it. Is this all you have to do is toot your horn. Being you have all this time on your hands i agree with Kimberly start your own paper. I would not want to buy it if it means being depressed all the time. I think everyone is aware of what is going on in the world its nice to have a break from all the drive by shootings or killings or politics bashing each other or how many solders are killed everyday over in iraq. If this is your cup of tea starting your own paper you will go bust right away i wouldn't buy it. Why don't you big mouths go and work at the telegram one day and you litsten to people like you all day long you will quit by the end of the day. All i have to say to much time on your hands. Keep up the good work telegram i enjoy reading your paper. I work for a new paper and i hear you people day in and day out and all of you are nothing but noise makers who must be always unhappy. get a life!

Interesting Local and State History:

Q. What is the official state mammal? A. The White-tailed deer. Q. How many deer were killed in collisions with motor vehicals in 1995? A. 4,976. Q. What are the names of the two most significant deer in Nebraska? A. White-tail & mule. In 1996 firearm hunters killed 37,423, archers 4,471, and muzzleloaders 3,583 of what animal? A. Deer. How many ducks and geese use the Platte River and nearby wetlands during spring migration? 7 - 8 million. Q. When did the Nebraska Game and Parks Commision declare its efforts to save the Canada geese a success and disband its program? A. July 1997. Q. When were pheasants first imported to Nebraska? A.1915 Q. What is the nations largest hand-planted forest? A. Nebraska National Forest (98,000 acres) near Halsey. Q. What is the largest dune field in the Western Hemisphere? A. Nebraska Sand Hills. Q. What Columbus inventor and head of a company that makes metal frameless buildings was known as "the Corn Belt Edison"? A. Walter Behlen. Q. Where does Nebraska rank amoung states in number of species of butterflies? A. 10th. Q. Where is the worlds best-know tractor testing laboratory? A. University of Nebraska College of Agriculture. Q. What sandwich did the University of Nebraska College of Agriculture develop for McDonalds? A. Mc Ribs. Q. Among the 50 states, where did Nebraska place in completing its segment of the Interstate Highway System? A. 1st. Q. What Nebraska City resident founded the Morton Salt Company? A. Joy Morton - When it rains it pours. Q. In what Nebraska city was the national 911 system developed and first used? A. Lincoln.

Seriously! I cant believe many of you people! A DEER? I would think that many people in this community would already know that we are a small enough community where we would always pay attention for stuff like this! This is not newsworthy at all! Many think that seeing a deer is as bad as seeing a mountain lion in town! This is not a warm and fuzzy article that people are going to go and put this in their mind for the rest of their life as something that is soo cute. I just don't know how to explain this and give the telegram props for putting this in the paper. It does not make any sense at all. I am all in favor of feel good stories but please! I shouldnt even keep commenting on this but it just blows my mind! Thank-You all for letting me vent whether you agree with me or not!

Be thankful that the only fatality was the deer and not the 2 young people in the car. I know there are some who feel that this is only an important issue if the people are injured. I use this road several times a year and am thankful for the heads up about deer in the area.

THE VILLASUR EXPEDITION - 1720
In June 1720 a Spanish military force led by Sir Pedro de Villasur left Santa Fe, New Mexico, to gather information on French activities near the Missouri River. The contingent included 45 veteran soldiers, 60 Pueblo Indian allies, some Apache scouts, and a priest. Indian trader Juan L'Archeveque, and Jose Naranjo, a black explorer who had reconnoitered Nebraska's Platte River, accompanied the expedition.

Near present Schuyler, Nebraska, Villasur's command encountered large numbers of Pawnee and Oto Indians who were allies of the French. The Spanish withdrew to approximately this spot and camped. The next morning, August 14, 1720, the Indians attacked. In only minutes Villasur, L'Archeveque, Naranjo, 3l soldiers, 11 Pueblo Indians, and the priest lay dead. The survivors escaped across the prairie and reached Santa Fe September 6. Spanish losses were the greatest suffered by white men in any battle with Indians on Nebraska soil.

The Villasur expedition was the deepest official penetration of the Great Plains by Spanish explorers. Villasur's defeat ended Spanish exploration of the Nebraska country until the 1806 Melgares expedition visited the Pawnee village on the Republican River.


Nebraska State Historical Society
East Jct. Hwy. 30/81, south of Columbus
Platte County
Marker 305

Recording the Massacre
There is a remarkable record of Villasur's defeat in 1720 still in existence. An unknown artist recorded the battle scene on three large buffalo hides based on descriptions provided by the survivors of the defeat. The artist was expertly trained in the Spanish style of painting, but we don't know if he or she was Spanish or Indian. Scenes were first drawn in pencil, then traced in ink, and later the intense watercolors were added on a yellow ground.

The original painting still exists. It has hung at the family estate of a Swiss nobleman, Baron Dr. Andre von Segesser, for over 200 years. It is the oldest known painting of a Nebraska scene.

A replica of the hide painting is on display at the Nebraska State Historical Society Museum. The replica is painted on six cowhides stitched together. When you view the reproduction of the painting, you are looking to the south at the forks of the Loup and the Platte. The Platte River is near the top of the painting. Two Indians are wading across the Loup River.

The Pawnee and Oto attackers can be identified by their vivid body paintings and skull caps with drooping tassels. Pawnee warriors were known, in later times, to strip themselves of clothing before a battle. In addition to their bows, arrows, and spears, many are shown armed with swords and hatchets received from French traders.

There are French attackers in the painting, and they are all wearing either three cornered hats or pointed caps. Their similar equipment and clothing styles suggest a military unit, but this may have been artistic license to help explain the Spanish defeat.

The Spanish had built a defensive perimeter of saddles and baggage before the battle, but it may not have been manned when the surprise attack took place. Frenchmen are shown firing from behind the Spanish defenses.

One figure is believed to be Jose Naranjo, a black man who served as chief scout for this and earlier expeditions. He died in the battle.

Pedro de Villasur can be identified by his red officer's coat. He died of wounds received early in the battle.

Spanish soldiers wore broad brimmed leather hats, long leather coats, and some carried heavy leather shields. They are grouped together in a final defensive circle. The extremely long guns are an exaggeration by the artist, though French muskets were longer than those of the Spanish. The orange flame is the gunpowder's "flash in the pan."

Father Juan Minguez, a Dominican priest, is shown giving last rites to his fallen comrades. He died in the battle, as well, but for several years rumors circulated that he was taken prisoner by the Oto and later escaped.