Local News

Professional artist and instructor Yelena Khanevskaya, who grew up in Russia and now lives in Scottsbluff, led a hands-on still life workshop last weekend hosted by the Sand Painters Art Club in Valentine.

Misunderstood and mislabeled: Uncovering myths of pioneer women’s "madness" on the Plains
Humanities Nebraska scholar Nancy Johnson recently brought her presentation, “Myths of Women’s Madness on the Plains,” to Valentine, sharing her research into how mental illness was viewed and treated during pioneer days.

Planning for Cherry County’s future: Commissioners discuss comprehensive plan
A key document that will help guide Cherry County’s future development, land use, and growth is nearing completion. On Tuesday morning, county commissioners spent several hours reviewing the proposed new Cherry County Comprehensive Plan.

‘You Can’t Frown at a Sunflower’: Koelling Family welcomes visitors to annual Simply Sunflower Field Day
The Koelling Family Farm is opening their sunflower fields to the public this Saturday for their annual Simply Sunflower Field Day, offering tours, photo opportunities and bottles of cold-pressed sunflower oil.

Board to Consider Naming Kupper Chadron State President
The Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges announced Wednesday that it will consider removing the “interim” designation from Dr. Jodi Kupper’s title and formally appoint her as president of Chadron State College at a special meeting on Oct. 13.

From microfilm to modern: Valentine library brings 100 years of local newspapers online
For years, the only way to read old newspaper articles in Cherry County was by scrolling through rolls of microfilm. But that technology is fragile, and local librarians worried history was literally breaking apart.

St. Francis man sentenced to seven years for resisting and impeding federal officers and possessing meth bound for distribution
A 30-year-old St. Francis man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to assaulting, resisting and impeding federal officers and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Valentine’s often overlooked Black history: The Buffalo Soldiers
When many people picture the history of rural Nebraska, they imagine Native Americans and white settlers carving out a life on the Plains. But Black Americans also played a vital role—especially the Buffalo Soldiers, who helped protect early communities.