Change is in the air!!!!

You can feel it! See it! Smell it!!! There's nothing quite like autumn! Full blown, crispy, colorful, shorter days, autumn! Food is prepared differently, families gather for football games, and there's the coziness that other seasons don't quite have on autumn.

Not everyone likes change, but change left over from a purchase during Moonlight Madness is welcoming!!! The Valentine Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the annual event Thursday, October 27. Downtown businesses will have Mad, Mad, Mad, sales on things you need! Be sure to get to the participating businesses and find out what all the Madness is!!! 

Another event sponsored by the Valentine Chamber of Commerce is the annual Kiddie Parade  - Kiddie, as in all ages because the Halloween spirit still dwells! The parade begins Monday, October 31, at the corner of First and Main Street at 4:00 p.m. 

Shadows precede the costumed trick-or-treaters!

Cleverness knows no bounds, and I believe this mouse and dragon maybe having a moment!

After trick-or-treating along Main Street, stop at the Cherry County Justice Center for Scare in the Square sponsored by the Valentine Police Department! Fun, games, and even more treats...for all the kiddies...no kidding!

Other changes took place earlier this month - October 6, was our first snow fall, and it was pretty significant.

And I might add...beautiful!

Not a fan of snow? How about the changes in our sky? Winter has more colorful sunsets, and because we're still awake, or just getting off work, we're able to enjoy them more. It won't be long and we'll be changing our clocks back, Sunday November 6.

Our temperatures have been great during the day time, and cuddly at night. There's still time to take a kayak trip down the Niobrara River!

And finally, Frederick Peak Golf Course is getting the once over by designer Chris Brands of the Lehman Group. Here he is pictured with manager Tadd Buechle who is keeping the fairways and greens mowed to perfection!

The City of Valentine municipal course will be open for golf in 2017! And this course will change your perspective on the game of golf! Truly, it's breathtaking!

The final change; sad, true, and something that everyone will experience...a few posts back I said DO IT NOW!! Really, do it now if you can...come and visit this remarkable paradise located in north central Nebraska. My mom passed August 19, and there's changes she won't see. Her great grandchildren grow up...her children get grey (haha, we use hair color...) but a very important person in our lives is gone. She won't be back to the Sandhills and that makes me sad.

Our community also lost some wonderful people shortly thereafter... Bill Sokol was a member of the Valentine Lions Club and raised funds for all sorts of extra curricular activities sponsored by the Lions Club. And he cared about our community's health as well, and volunteered as an ambulance driver.

Jarolyn Crouse lost her battle with cancer and was an all-round wonderful person. She was a member of the Old West Days committee for many years. Working with the other board members to get this event growing for the past 25 years.

Change is in the air. Come on out and enjoy it! Make your memories here in the Sandhills, your 4 season, family fun, endearing adventure!

To head over to the website go to:  SandhillsWesternVacations.com

Unused Vacation Time...come on over and GOLF!

 Labor Day is done and over with...kids are back to school, and dang, you have some vacation time left over...what to do?

 You can see the clubhouse overlooking the Snake River way below. This is also considered one of the most beautiful holes on the course. YOU could be here!

According to The Ryder Cup Issue of GOLF magazine, a Sports Illustrated Publication, we have a little something right here in the MIDDLE of NOWHERE that has been billed as one of the TOP 100 COURSES YOU CAN PLAY!

 Up close and nestled in with the landscape, the Prairie Club has all the amenities anyone would want after golfing. There are lunges, a pro shop, nicely appointed rooms and seclusion...fresh air...and  wonderful experience awaiting you.

The Prairie Club's Dunes Course wasn't listed as #1, but was listed as a new course in 2010, and they're already ranked as #78 in 2012.

 Go ahead....get your putter!

For those who are curious, #1 went to Pacific Dunes in Brandon, OR, and #2 went to Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, CA.

 But they're not nestled in the Heart of the Sandhills. Check out that bunker...do you suppose designers Tom Lehman and Chris Brands made it look like a heart? 

While Gothenburg is a bit away from Valentine, Nebraska, they have a course listed in the Top 100 Courses: Wild Horse Golf Course and is ranked as #73 this year and was ranked #67 in 2010.

 Even the Easter Bunny needs a great place to rest. O.K., so it's not the Easter Bunny, but there's no telling what type of wildlife you'll see. 

But wait...there's more! The Prairie Club has not one, but two different courses in addition to the Dunes Course, there's the Pines Course. The Prairie Club has also built new accommodations that overlook the scenic Snake River.

 A bunker you will definitely want to avoid...but beautiful none the less. 

 Nice green fairways with a lot of rough spots typically which are typically seen on Scottish links. 

  The September 2012 issue of GOLF magazine suggests there's no reason to cash in your frequent flier miles to reach a trophy course, but if you do have vacation days left...and frequent flier miles to use, why not think about making the Prairie Club a destination?  You won't be sorry you did! And you won't b able tow ait till spring to try the course again. And we'll be waiting for you then as well!

Before summer ends...tube the Niobrara!

The sun is beginning to sink into the western sky a little bit earlier each evening. The crickets are chirping and the nights are beginning to have a bit of a chill to them. BUT the days are certainly warm! And the Niobrara River is waiting for you to soak up the sun beams as you tube lazily down the scenic river.
You can canoe if you want....or kayak.  It won't matter. It's all about family time together...girl time...guy time...or even that one last hurrah before school starts!

You can take a few hours, or a few days and camp along the way. And when you're not on the river, there's so much else you can do, how about some golf?

Maybe some fishing at Merritt Reservoir or at the refuge lakes where there's even a map available to help you find your favorite fishing hole!

 
Fort Falls is a beautiful location at Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge.

As you take the stairs down to the cool depths of the Niobrara River Valley, follow the trail out to the Niobrara River and splash around a bit.

Smith Falls is equally as beautiful and has a campground for your enjoyment as well.

Summer isn't over. And if you've not had your vacation, you know you're about due...head over to the Sandhills of Nebraska and give yourself, your loved one, or your family a special treat from an area that can't be beat!!!

Sign up now for 6th annual Cork Young Charity Golf Tournament

 Winning last years' event was the Renning family! It could be you this year...sign up ... and play to win. Because in the end, everyone wins at the Cork!

The sixth annual Cork Young Charity Golf Tournament will be held on Sunday, June 29, 2012 at the Deer Park golf course.  The three person scramble will begin at 10:00 a.m. A complimentary meal, flag prizes, and trophies for each of the three flights will be included in the $200/team entry fee. 
 Since its inception in 2007, the Cork has donated over $30,000 to local charities including the Sandhills Area Foundation, the Valentine Youth Activities Association, and the Valentine High School Foundation. 
This year the tournament’s proceeds will be donated to the Sandhills Cancer Fund to help with travel expenses for those seeking out-of-town medical attention.  This donation will be given in honor of Cork’s sister, Elizabeth Dorris, who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  If you are interested in joining the fun, call Deer Park at 402-376-1271 to register your team.

Happy Mother's Day...Prepare for the Cherry County Hospital Foundation's Fund Raiser

There's still time to get your swing perfected for the Cherry County Hospital Foundation's annual  Golf Tournament Fund Raiser that will be held at the Valentine Golf Club on Highway 12. You have until June 20, 2012, in fact. The Tournament will have a shot gun start at 10:00 a.m. with a four person scramble. Registration will be from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. and the cost per team is $300.

They're still accepting donations for the raffle. 

The proceeds for the tournament will be used for a Bone Densitometer Unit for the Cherry County Hospital.

There is an inclement weather date scheduled for June 27.Call Kurt at 402-376-2088 to register or to donate to the tournament. The golf tourney is limited to the first 20 teams.
A trip to the golf course might be something your mom might like. May 13 is Mother's Day...something to consider.

And a word from one of our sponsors Valentine's  Niobrara Lodge:

Call your mom it's Mother's Day this Sunday, May 13!