News

Valentine Community Schools will once again be providing free lunches to children during the summer. There are no income requirements or registration. Any child under age 18 may come and get a free lunch.

The rain came soft and steady across the Sandhills this past weekend-just enough to settle the dust and stir a little hope-while inside Valentine High School, another kind of rhythm carried on. Boots tapped, guitars strummed, and voices rich with experience rose up, telling stories of the West that still lives on in the hearts of those who gather each year.

Call for art…upcoming Niobrara River theme show sponsored by the Sand Painters Art Club and Valentine Public Library will be accepting art that showcases the Niobrara River area; landscapes, flora, wildlife, people, etc …any medium; painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and other. All ages welcome. Entries accepted Friday May 3:30-5:30 p.m., at Valentine Public Library. The art will be on display May 1 to May 22. Contact Joan Swim for more information or visit the Sand Painters Art Club Facebook page.

Even the Streets of Valentine shone brightly as prayers were answered from an exhausted state of Nebraska! Hopeful, people who have truly seen the best in each other during such horrific trials with all the fires.

Niobrara National Scenic River is inviting artists to submit original works for an open art show commemorating the river’s 35th anniversary in May 2026. Artists may submit up to two pieces in any medium.

Because of the members of the Sandhills Prairie Refuge Association, they were able to repair fences that keep the rare Blandings turtle off the highway, fund a Student Conservation Intern for the summer, purchase interpretive panels for the CCC Fire Tower Trail, host a refuge staff appreciation lunch, host refuge hikes, and complete many other projects benefiting our refuges.

As the United States approaches its historic 250th anniversary, the Nebraska State Fair 1868 Foundation is proud to launch a landmark campaign: 250 for 250. This special initiative is paired with a permanent installation on the fairgrounds and invites community leaders to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial while investing in your State Fair.

Each year, May is Bird Month in Nebraska. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and partner organizations celebrate with a variety of activities across the state throughout the month.

June Buffalo Bridge Hike The Sandhills Prairie Refuge Association (SPRA) is excited to host a community guided hike on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. The “June Hike to Buffalo Bridge” offers a unique opportunity for residents and visitors to explore the Wilderness Access Foot Trail and witness the stunning beauty of the Niobrara National Scenic River.

Students in Valentine’s FFA Heart City Beef program were making their usual rounds when something didn’t feel right. Calf number two, a young steer they’d named “Keith,” wasn’t up and moving like he should be. Lethargic and unable to rise, the little calf quickly turned a routine check into a moment of concern ~ and a real-life lesson in action.