orms! She invites you to lean in and listen with her commanding voice that can be soft, low, and rise with power during heartbreaking prose. Jewel Rodgers is Nebraska’s Poet Laureate and was in Valentine during the fourth annual Art Walk.

Valentine, NE ~ May 28, 2026 — Sandhills State Bank has donated $5,000 to the Valentine Volunteer Fire Department, and donated $5,000 to the Kilgore Volunteer Fire Department in recognition of each of the department’s response during the historic fires of spring 2025. The donation is one of 20 awards totaling $100,000 being distributed to fire departments across Western Nebraska, funded in part through a matching grant from FHLBank Topeka's Community Assistance Recovery Effort (CARE) Program.

Mullen, NE – The 2026 Sandhills Ranch Internship season has kicked off, bringing together a new cohort of interns eager to step into ranch life. Participants gathered for the annual orientation, a tradition that lays the groundwork for their summer experiences on ranches across the Nebraska Sandhills.

May 19, 2026 - Some of the best track and field athletes in state history will be at Burke Stadium for the 2026 State Meet. In any given year, spectators at the NSAA state track meet might be lucky enough to see a class record holder or two perform on the state’s grandest stage at Omaha Burke Stadium.

Results from the District Meet at Crandall Creek in Ogallala: Cumbow, Garrett- 97 Stankoski, Caden- 87 Two Strike, Tanner- 90 Wackler, Parker- 100 Witte, Westin- 102 Final Team Score 374 “Disappointing end to the year with no qualifiers, but a ton of growth and things to build on for next year. Thanks to our Seniors Caden Stankoski and Garrett Cumbow for the work they have put in over the last four years,” said Coach Brooks Coleman.

Artists at Work: A Golden Opportunity at Valentine Main Street Art Walk! Get ready for an evening of artistic inspiration and community fun as the Sand Painters Art Club presents Artists at Work during the Valentine Main Street Art Walk! Join us this Friday, May 29, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., for a unique opportunity to meet local artists, witness their creative process firsthand, and participate in exciting scavenger hunts.