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A little park with 40 years of community connection. Did you know Colburn Park has been providing a place for connection in Valentine for 40 years? Tucked along the corner of 3rd and Macomb Streets, this little green space has a big story to tell—and now, thanks to a fresh look and a new piece of public art, there is even more reason to smile! In 1986, Frank and Harriet Colburn purchased the lots at the corner of 3rd and Macomb Streets from Donovan Ohlmann and generously gifted the property to the City of Valentine, with the stip- u lation that it be used exclusively as a public park for recreational and educational purposes.

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110 Lots sold Base Dollars $160,887.35 Premium Dollars $162,400.00 Post Sale Add on Premiums 3110.00 45 market steers 44 sold - 1 returned home Base dollars $126,787.80 Premium dollars $8,3200.00 Steer avg $4,772.45 10 market heifers 9 sold -1 returned home Base dollars $23,553.35 Premium dollars $19,230.00 Heifers avg $4,753.71 33 market swine 32 sold - 1 returned home Base dollars $4,900.80 Premium dollars $45,260.00 Swine avg $1,567.53 14 market lamb 10 sold - 4 returned home Base dollars $3,712.60 Premium dollars $10,200.00 Lamb avg $993.76 8 Market goat all sold Base dollars $2,042.88 Premium dollars $7,175.00 Goat avg $1,152.24.

View the night sky from Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area, an International Dark Sky Park, on October 3, in a free ranger-led viewing event. From 8:30 to 11:30 p.m., rangers from the Niobrara National Scenic River and members of the Platte Valley Astronomical Observers will present a program and then guide guests through the wonders of the night sky, with several telescopes available.

The Valentine Players are pleased to announce that they will be performing again during the Old West Days in April, 2027. A play has been selected that requires a larger cast.

2026 Nebraska State Fair Contest Ribbons Beef: Blue – Greyson Hollopeter (2); Purple – Shyanne Dawson. Sheep: Blue – Maysa Jones (2); Purple – Mahaya Jones (2), Maysa Jones (2.

Nebraska State Fair finds success with strong guest satisfaction, noticeable improvements over previous year More than 300,000 guests came together during the 11 days of the 2026 Nebraska State Fair, marking another successful year of celebrating Nebraska agriculture, youth, entertainment and tradition.

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After several dry falls in a row, this year may be shaping up a little differently. With recent rains and cooler weather, cool-season pastures like brome, bluegrass, and fescue could put on some extra growth. That’s good news — but it also raises the question: do we graze it now or save it for later?

Did you spray thistles this past spring or summer? If so, it may be worth revisiting those areas. New plantsorregrowthmayhaveshown up, and late September through early November can be a good time for thistle control in pastures and hayland.