SLOW DOWN! The tempo of December is fast and furious. Holiday shopping, kid events, cow chores, and travel suck the ever-loving life out of us. It’s supposed to be the most joyful and festive time of the year. Yet many of us get bogged down with our honey-do and holiday- to-do lists and completely miss the joy this time of year can bring.

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Cattle sellers weren’t the only ones smiling at Valentine Livestock Auction recently. The Sandhills Cancer Fund was grateful to receive donations totaling $7,800, thanks to the generous donation of a handcrafted wood set, made by Swede Lolley of White River, which has become an annual event.

A serialized small-town mystery by BJ Roshone The Big Gobble Reveal! At sunrise Thanksgiving morning, the whole town gathered by the courthouse to see what The Gobbler had in store. And there i t was, a giant inflatable turkey perched on the lawn, wearing sungl a s s e s and holding a sign that said, “THANK YOU, VALENTINE!” Beside it hung a banner, “BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE VALENTINE HIGH SCHOOL AG CLASS—SUPPORTYOUR LOCAL FOOD DRIVE!” Turns out, every prank had been part of a fund raiser.

Aubrey Benson and Samantha Sprenger, two seniors from Valentine High School, along with seven teachers from the local communities organized an impactful event on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, called An Intro to Life. This event was for all the sophomores from the following schools: Ainsworth, Thedford, Keya Paha, Rock County, Cody-Kilgore, and Valentine. The seven teachers included: Juli Murphy, Tricia Anderson, Misty Downing, Liz Ravenscroft, Jamie Taylor, Alana Cardinal, and Janet Shelbourn. The group ended up with over 50 volunteers for this event to serve the 100+ students.

There’s something extra special about Christmastime in the Sandhills - maybe it’s the slower pace, the neighborly waves, or the way the winter sun hits Main Street just right. Whatever it is, Santa must feel it too, because this weekend he settled in for a relaxed afternoon visit right in the heart of town. From the comfort of his sleigh, with his loyal reindeer nibbling on hay nearby, he greeted families as they stopped by throughout the afternoon.