KEARNEY, Neb. — This week marks a sad time for News Channel Nebraska and the greater broadcasting community in Nebraska.

Longtime broadcast engineer Val Lane passed away late last week at the age of 68.

Val was working as a contract engineer for dozens of radio stations and all of our NCN TV stations up until his final days. He worked for more than 150 stations across his decades-long career. His efforts earned him a spot in the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2023.

News Channel Nebraska is honoring Val by doing something that would have put him on high alert—going to dead air. All of our radio stations will go silent for one minute at 1:00 p.m. Central Time on Wednesday. The moment of silence will be dedicated to someone whose dedication to the state’s broadcasters was unparalleled. Someone known for answering his phone at all hours, for driving hundreds of miles in severe weather to get stations back on the air, someone whose commitment to his craft undoubtedly saved lives.

Our thoughts and prayers are with wife, Sherry, and their entire family. Val Lane will be deeply missed.