News

The North Central District Health Department (NCDHD) encourages all dairy and poultry producers to be aware of the ongoing situation regarding Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) detections in neighboring states. Routine updates can be found on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: https:// www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avianflu- summary.htm and the United States Department of Agriculture: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ livestock-poultry-disease/avian/ avian-influenza/hpai-detections.

Vern and Marlys Walkling met Prairey and Jamie Brennan in Murdo on Friday to bring Norah and Nolan to Lakeview for the weekend. Prairey and Jamie went on to Sioux Falls where they met with cousin Jesse Logterman. On Saturday Jamie was awarded the Richard Wahlstrom Excellence in Scholarship Award in Brookings.

ACTIVITIES Cards/Board Games/Pool available daily. Men’s coffee group daily at 9:30 a.m.

Lincoln-The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) in taking a stand against speeding. Agencies and organizations across the state are asking motorists to watch their speed by joining their voices together in a public education campaign to emphasize how following posted speed limits is critical to driver, passenger, pedestrian and cyclist safety. Beginning April 22, 2024, you’ll be seeing messages related to “Speeding Awareness Week” on social media and dynamic message signs throughout the state.

Lincoln-In May, “Nebraska Stories” takes viewers to Omaha’s newest cultural gem to discover how it sparks interest in science, math and technology careers. Also in Omaha, see how a women’s professional volleyball team is spiking interest in the game and meet an exiled human rights advocate who made a new life in the city.

As of April 15, 2024, there were 71 traffic fatalities for the year in Nebraska, a 29% increase over the same period in 2023. The causes are not surprising – speeding, drunk driving, lack of seatbelt use, and distracted driving were some of the reasons for the fatal accidents. You can take steps to increase your chance of avoiding or surviving a vehicle accident.

Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine was established in 1902 after the closure of what has been referred to as Boot Hill Cemetery on the west edge of Valentine, by obtaining new land southeast of town. The cemetery has added additional land several times.

Valentine Community Schools helped celebrate Native American students who were graduating. There were two seniors, Ariana Blume and Daniel Witt who were graduating from high school and 10 students who were “graduating” from eighth grade on to high school and included: Kyla Clark, Brooklyn Coyle, Dante Davis, MelodyDavis,ToddDillon,William Garneaux, Montana Kleinjan, Ellison LaDeaux, Anithia Red Bird, and Lilybet Rolfe.

April 11, 2024 Ainsworth — Weather permitting, work was to begin Monday, April 15, on Nebraska Highway N-97, from reference post 110.35 to reference post 115.40. This project will improve approximately five miles of highway N-97 around Merritt Reservoir, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Werner Construction of Hastings is the prime contractor for this project.

The Sandhills Area Foundation is pleased to announce the following four grant awards for the remaining 2023 grant cycle: a $500 grant to the Valentine Community Schools Mental Health team to be used to highlight overall wellness in the schools during May, Mental Health Month, and to help sponsor their annual Wellness Night; $1,900 to the Cherry County 4-H Foundation Sandhills Leadership Program, whose purpose is to create youth awareness of rural revitalization issues and develop leadership skills while examining and engaging in real-world community issues; and $2,800 each to the Thedford Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Mullen Rural Fire Protection/Mullen Ambulance Squad to go toward purchasing new ambulances for their respective squads. Grants were previously awarded in 2023 to the Valentine Rotary toward their scholarship fund, and to the Citizen Washington Focus group.