News

Rural Mainstreet Index records highest reading since July 2023 More than one-third of bank CEOs report local recession January 2026 Survey Results at-a-Glance: • The region’s overall or Rural Mainstreet Index climbed to its highest reading since July 2023. • Almost one in four bankers, or 23.1%, support reducing short-term interest rates by .25% at the Federal Reserve’s interest rate meeting on January 27-28.

Reuben Powell, White River, SD. Theft / unlawful taking $501 - $1,499, class I misdemeanor, amended, probation 12 months, $50 cost - Officer D.

During the week of January 1117, 2026 the following arrests were reported by the Valentine Police Department: • On Wednesday January 14, at 11:25 p.m., officers responding to a disturbance in the 700 block of East 7th Street located two males who had entered into a vacant apartment. The men, ages 24 and 31, were arrested for Criminal Trespassing and booked into the Cherry County Jail.

January 16, 2026 Lincoln, NE — The Nebraska State Patrol is pleased to announce multiple command staff promotions and a change in the agency leadership structure. Under the new command structure, the agency will be divided into two parts: Operations and Services.

Ryan Connot was vacationing with his family on St. Croix in the U.S.

Date: January 8, 2026 Goal: 97 Total units collected: 104 and with 104 units collected, there’s potential for 312 patients to benefit!! Single units: 67 Power reds: 19 for a total of 37 units Began with most appointments filled; schedule is very fluid; numbers were fluctuating due to illness in area. Deferred: 11 Canceled: 4 - notification on the day before helped to try to fill those canceled times! No-shows: 1 Beds: 12 Staff: 10-12, staff from other sites joined us; very adequate staffing! Rapidpass: 68 out of 95 used Rapidpass for 69% New donors: Dana Ramm; and several of our 12 new donors from last blood drive returned to donate again.

The Freeman Family of Thedford welcomed their son, Rio Jess Freemanx, January 2, 2026. Lil Rio was 8lbs and 4 oz and was 21 inches long. He had three siblings waiting at home for him, including six year old Rylee, four year old Rhett, and two year old Rayana. Rio is the son of Hadli and Tanner Freeman. He is the grandson to Eve Millar of Valentine, and Jess Millar of Crookston; along with Greg and Mellissa Freeman of Dunning, NE. And, he was the first baby born at the Cherry County Hospital.

by Laura Vroman We begin with July and ended last week with...how hot do you think it was in July? Good news first - we ended June with the Sandhills turning nice and green with the rainy days and sunshine that June brought. According to NOAA, Valentine received 4.51 inches of rain and wind gusts up to 66 mph. The average high temperature was 83.2 degrees and the average low was 56.1 degrees. Let’s hope that July will continue to bring rain and sunny days!

Ringing in the New Year is a big celebration for most people; this year, the Valentine Lions Club and the Salvation Army have a lot to celebrate! We would like to acknowledge the support and participation that the community gave during the 2025 Holiday Bell-ringing Campaign.

NORTH PLATTE, NE. –– Nebraska Extension will offer commercial pesticide training for initial certification and recertification at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center in North Platte.