News

When the wind won’t quit and the land turns to tinder, a community is tested - and revealed. High winds and dry conditions continue to challenge containment of the Anderson Bridge Fire, active since March 12, 2026, near Kilgore.

Valentine, NE ~ March 17, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Cherry and Grant Countiesareacceptingapplications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to address damages from the tornadoes on April 25, 2025. ECP provides cost-share and technical assistance to producers to restore farmland to pre-disaster conditions following a qualifying natural disaster. ECP signup begins on March 16, 2026, and ends on April 30, 2026.

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.

Long before the Sandhills became one of the most respected cow - calf regions in the United States, early settlers arrived believing they could farm the prairie like the rich soils farther east. Instead, the land taught them a different lesson.

[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.

When I headed home on Thursday afternoon, I thought that the focus of this week’ss column would be the budget battle taking place in Lincoln. That’s what I was prepared to write about. Somewhere between Broken Bow and Dunning late Thursday afternoon, the focus for not just myself but thousands of other Nebraskans changed. Fires began to break out across the state, the largest being in western Nebraska.

From my Window Yesterday was my annual rant, “Will this be the last year we have to put up with springing-ahead for Daylight Savings Time?” Every fall, we turn back our clocks one hour, but I really don’t mind that so much, after all that’s the standard time we were blessed with, although we always wake up and go to bed about the same time every day no matter what the clocks say. Daylight Savings Time makes no good sense to me and I do wish they would do away with it instead of just talking about it year after year.

Cody-Kilgore held their Prom this past weekend at the White Elephant Hall. Congratulations to this year’s royalty – King was Cash Cooper, son of Tom and Buffy Cooper; Queen was Kayleigh Ravenscroft, daughter of Kevin and Liz Ravenscroft; Princess was Maddy Leithhead, daughter of Alvie Leithead and Judy Leithead; and Prince was Wesley Willert, son of Kevin and Laura Willert.

Imagine a garden where vegetables and fruit grow all year long. As visitors take a slow stroll along the path, they notice fall apples in hues as varied as green, yellow, red, and swirling combinations. Summer blueberries and ripe red strawberries rest nearby. Spring lettuces range from deep emerald to gentle pale green. Is it a garden? Not quite, it is the grocery store.

When Shopko closed its doors in Valentine, it left a substantial retail space sitting empty along Highway 20. As shopping habits changed, many large chain stores struggled to remain viable in small Nebraska communities. Residents often wondered why this location wasn’t ultimately chosen for the Cherry County Event Center (CCEC)—despite being considered twice. In the end, it simply wasn’t meant to be.