[HALSEY, Neb., March, 2026] — The Chokecherry prescribed fire on the Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest was declared a wildfire at approximately 4:00 p.m. March 12, 2026. Although forecastedweatherconditionswere within parameters for the implementation of the prescribed fire, the wind event that took place 36 hours after ignitions ceased caused a spot fire that spread outside the project boundary.

Modern Ranching ~ From Windmills to Solar For early settlers, windmills were among their most valuable tools. These high - torque machines pumped water from wells sometimes more than 400 feet deep, making rotational grazing possible across large pastures.

March 15, 2026, 9:00am It’s hard to turn regular season success into postseason wins, a fact Valentine can now relate to. They were just a bucket shy of victory on Wednesday and fell 57-56 to the Freeman Falcons. Valentine’s defeat signaled the end of their 12-game winning streak at NSAA State Basketball Playoffs.

On Thursday, February 26, 2026, the Cowboys traveled to Mullen, NE fresh off a victory over the Hyannis Longhorns and ready to bring the fight to the Broncos in the D2-12 Sub-District Final. Unfortunately, the Broncos managed to edge Cody-Kilgore by a slim margin, winning the sub-district championship by a score of 53-51.

Mar 9, 2026, 8:43am Valentine extended their winning streak to 12 on Monday, March 9, bumping them up to 23-3. They breezed past the Hemingford Bobcats to the tune of 99-57. Valentine has made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won 12 matchups by 22 points or more this season.

The Nebraska Library Association (NLA) announced that Chris Bitner has been recognized as a 2026 Outstanding Volunteer Award winner for their service as President of the Friends of the Valentine Public Library.