News

The dark, twinkling skies over Merritt Reservior have existed forever, but they’re always celebrated with the annual Nebraska Star Party who will be here July 16-22. This is their 30th year of viewing dark sky objects, constellations, the Milky Way, and other unique sky anomalies; there were some neat comets in years past.

JULY 6, 2023, LINCOLN — Nebraska State Troopers took 36 impaired drivers off the road in the days surrounding the Independence Day holiday. “Our troopers stayed busy last weekend as Nebraskans gathered to celebrate America,” said Colonel John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol.

Eight Social Media Safety Tips: • Know all social media handles/ display names your kids use and follow them. Monitor what they are doing and who their friends are.

Sandhills Townhomes began in the fall of 2020 as a collaboration between students from the architecture studio at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, led by Steve Hardy, the City of Valentine, and Hoppe Development who is a real estate development firm.

On June 14, 2023, Cherry Hills Estates Assisted Living was honored to host a Flag Day Celebration and Special Presentation for Dale Stolzenburg as he was honored by the Cody American Legion Post 319 for his 50 years of service.

Thursday, June 29, 2023, Governor Jim Pillen visited with the constituents of Cherry County at Mid Plains Community College during his two day fly-around central and western Nebraska. The topic of his town halls were highlight of the 2023 Legislative Session.

July 1, 2023, the Cherry County Demolition Derby took place at the Cherry County Fairgrounds. Here are the results: • Old School Feature #1 1st: Joey Schultz - Overall Old School MadDog Lukas Dougherty Jackson Ravenscroft Josh Schubauer Allen Hembroff• Old School Feature #2 1st: Eric Haase Greg Irwin Layton Sailor James Brown Andrew Graf Kenny Boyer • Limited Weld Feature 1st: Sam Williams Travis Bostock Chism Miller - Mad Dog Chris Williams Brad Michalek • Bonestock Feature 1st: Mike Kamler Nick Kamler and Kayla Wilson Breven Bolander - Mad Dog Jackson Irwin Justin Marsh • Second Chance Old School Winner: Andrew Graf • Second Chance Limited Weld Winner: Sam Williams Fireworks were shot off as the night turned velvet!.

UNL announces spring Dean’s list More than 6,400 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students have been named to the Deans’ List for the spring semester of the 2022-23 academic year. Local students include: Logan Cate, senior, Dean’s List, College of Business, supply chain management; Nathan Miller, senior, Dean’s List, College of Arts and Sciences, psychology; Dillion Muirhead, senior, Dean’s List, Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, emerging media arts; Ryan O’Kief, junior, Dean’s List, College of Business, finance; Kaylee Wenig, sophomore, Dean’s List, College of Architecture, architectural studies all of Valentine.

County fairs are just around the comer, and we hope you will have items to enter! Consider entering your garden and crop bounty in the open horticulture, floriculture and field crops classes at your county fair. Your entries are judged on the following criteria: freedom from injury, quality, condition, uniformity and fair preparation. This information can be found in 4-H manuals and in your county fair book. Contact your local Nebraska Extension office for these publications. See you at the fair!!

by Brian Barks, President and CEO of Food Bank for the Heartland Michaella Kumke, President and CEO of Food Bank of Lincoln Everyone needs nutritious food to thrive, and in every community in America, people are working hard to provide for themselves and their families. Yet in 2021, 34 million people—one in 10 people—faced food insecurity in the U.S. and the Heartland is not immune. Hunger is a profound issue in every one of Nebraska’s 93 counties. Today in our state, an estimated 9.8 percent of people experience food insecurity. Of that, 13.5 percent are children. And the situation is getting worse.