News

We have been quiet around the Bus Stop for several months, but that does not mean that the Open Plains Transit Team has been idle. The Operations Teams, Drivers, Depot Agents, and Administrative Specialists keep our frontline services rolling daily, while the Leadership Team, the Board of Directors and myself, concentrate on balanced budgets, fiscal responsibility, and advocacy for rural transportation services for individuals of all ability levels. As Director of Transportation, to the largest rural transportation system in our state based on land mass, sometimes I just must set the “spin” straight on some of the “talk” being shared. The latest includes Nebraska transit agencies raising fares and reducing services due to Federal transit funding reductions nationwide, making local funding updates necessary to support long term service sustainability of transit programs. This is just not true and needs to be said. The problem has not been with Federal apportionments to our state. The problem lies within our own state funding, and a greater funding burden is headed towards our most rural and frontier communities.

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen released the following statement after the Department of War announced that Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens of Bellevue was one of four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers killed in Kuwait on Sunday in an Iranian missile attack.

• March 11, Crossroads Assembly of God Church. • March 18, First Baptist Church.

Crossroads Assembly of God Church invites the community to a free Marriage Workshop for married couples, dating couples, and singles that want to be married someday. Friday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m.

I just wanted to reach out and let you all know about a program called Project Share Your Story. It is a project by the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation to collect stories from Vietnam Era Veterans and share those stories.

The National Weather Service in North Platte presented Cherry County We are Storm Ready sign due to the ongoing work done by Emergency Manager Jessica Coyle. The presentation occurred live, during their meeting.

Valentine, NE – The Valentine Rotary Club is excited to announce its annual Fish & Chips for Scholarships Fish Fry fund raiser, set for Friday, March 20, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Valentine Vets Club.

Come join us for a fun-filled afternoon! The Valentine Area Arts Council will be hosting The Fourth Wall on Sunday, March 8, at 3:00 p.m., at the Valentine High School Auditorium. The Fourth Wall put a vaudevillian twist on classical chamber music.

Two local churches made their case to remain tax exempt during a recent hearing held in the Cherry County Commissioners Meeting Room at the Cherry County Courthouse. Representatives from Valentine Presbyterian Church and St.

Candidates filing for the Primary Election as of February 10, 2026 are as follows: Neil Wescott, City of Valentine Councilmember, 4 year term Maxwell Renning, Cherry County Sheriff, 4 year term Brad Arnold, City of Valentine Councilmember, 4 year term Barry D. Lancaster, Nenzel Village Board,4yearterm-GENERAL Jessica Dawson-Coyle ,Valentine Community Schools - Board of Education Member, 4 year term Erick Wickman, Cherry County Sheriff, 4 year term Kathy Hammond, Cherry County Treasurer, 4 year term Andrew C. Johnson, Cherry County Public Defender, 4 year term Gregory Gass, Valentine Community Schools - Board of Education Member, 4 year term Eric A. Scott, Cherry County Attorney, 4 year term Timothy A. Hanson, Cherry County Surveyor, 4 year term HenryBrown,MerrimanVillage Board, 4 year term - GENERAL Timothy J. Nollette, Nenzel Village Board,4yearterm-GENERAL Shara L. Ford Cody-Kilgore Unified Schools - Board of Education Member, 4 year term Jessica R. Hanson, Cherry County Clerk of the District Court, 4 year term Melissa J. Bancroft, Cherry County Assessor, 4 year term Samantha Leonard, Cherry County Clerk, 4 year term Nina M. Nelson, Cherry County Commissioner, 4 year term Duane Kime, Cherry County Commissioner 4 yrs Luke Storer, Merriman Village Board, 4 year term Mike McConaughey, Cherry County Commissioner, 4 year term Hayley A. Nelson Merriman Village Board, 4 year term Wade Andrews Cherry County Commissioner 4 yrs Kimberly D. Schmit Nenzel Village Board 4 yrs Terry Thayer Merriman Village Board 4 yrs Clinton L. Assarsson Valentine Community Schools - Board of Education Member 4 yrs Maggie Cox Cody-Kilgore Unified Schools - Board of Education Member 4 yrs Non-incumbents have until Monday, March 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. to file.