Your heart is important - NO BULL! Visit Valentine February 14-15 for Valentine's Day and Bull Bash!

Where does the time go??? The 13th annual Bull Bash will be held this weekend, Saturday, February 15! What a great way for you and your family to get out, enjoy some nice weather - already, forecasters are saying it will be 49 degrees - and breezy for those who love the wind.

Pay no mind to that, there will be so much going on that a bit of wind won't matter at all for those who don't much care for it! Organizers are expecting more than 100 bulls along with every farmer or ranchers dream...Why the Bull Bash? Valentine, Nebraska is a cow town and that doesn't mean there's not any romance. Don't you think those ranchers get a little glassy-eyed at the beautiful bulls that will be lining Valentine's Main Street? And if they haven't found the perfect bull, by golly, they'll see the greatest in baling equipment. And whose eyes wouldn't glaze over and their heart pitter-pat at the thought of one of those heated cabs this winter or air-conditioned cabs this summer?

For the ladies, there will be a quilt show on display at Nelsen Furniture. Vote for your favorite and that quilter can win a little prize money! But that doesn't mean the guys can't stop in and take a look. They may just walk away with something every rancher needs at the end of the day...a great lounge chair to kick those heel up in and R-E-L-A-X!

The Vets Club will have food upstairs and activities downstairs, and the Hoover Event Center will again host the Gun Show, always a favorite for men and women, boys and girls.

Visit Plains Trading Book Store who will have local author Evelyn Foster signing her book Bricks of Love at 10:30 a.m. Also signing books will be C.M. Wendelboe  and his third Spirit Road book Death on the Greasy Grass, also at 10:30 a.m.Then at noon, Colonel Tom Brewer, featured in the book The Bone Yard,  will be available to sign the book written by James Christ. The book is about an ambush in Afghanistan when Brewer and other National Guardsmen were ambushed by the Taliban and Al Qaeda. He will only be there until 1:00 p.m. Additionally, he's entered the primary for the third district congressional seat.

Cedar Canyon will be the place for the annual fund-raiser for the 4-H kids with their Luck of the Draw. Tickets will be on sale through 3:00 p.m. with the drawings to begin at 4:30 p.m.

Before the evening concludes there will be a concert by the Bar J Wranglers held at the Valentine High School Auditorium, located at Fifth and Green Street. The Bar J Wranglers will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. CST. There is a cost for the tickets which can be purchased by calling 1-800-658-4024.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves here...there will be the Red Dress for Heart event on Friday, February 14, at the Cherry County Fairgrounds. It's a fund-raiser whose proceeds will go to the Cherry County Hospital, Bryan Memorial, and to the American Heart Association. That event begins at 8:30 p.m. This is a chance to learn about heart health in women, and for you to pull out your best red dress, shirt, tie, or boots and have a hand in helping to raise not only awareness of heart disease in women, but helping to raise funds for the detection and prevention of heart disease.

For more information about Bull Bash and the Red Dress Event, you can go to: http://www.bullbash.com/index.php.

Come and enjoy a weekend of fun with your family and loved ones right here in the Heart City of Valentine, Nebraska. Make a weekend of it. Use the sponsors of SandhillsWesternVacations.com to make your stay something special. Several of them have also sponsored the Bull Bash and the Red Dress event. Come one, come all, there's something here for everyone!

And now...a little closer to home!! Cherry County Hospital receives three excellence awards!

Cherry County Hospital, located in Valentine, Nebraska, was recently recognized by IVantage Health Analytics as a HealthStrong Award winner for Overall Excellence, Excellence in Quality, and Excellence in Efficiency reflecting top quality performance among all acute care hospitals in the nation.

Cherry County Hospital was one of only five critical access hospitals in Nebraska to receive the Overall Excellence award. 

IVantage announced the latest HealthStrong Award winners at the annual meeting of the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health. The HealthStrong Awards are based on he Hospital Strength Index, a national ratings program developed by IVantage to recognize top performing hospitals based on key metrics critical to success in the new healthcare marketplace.

The Hospital Strength Index ranks all 4,400+ U.S. general acute care hospitals, including more than 1,300 critical access hospitals.

Congratulations to Cherry County Hospital and all who earned this special award.

Sometimes you don't have to go far to find something special...it's right here!

Pepsi #Halftime America with Lee Brice in Milligan, NE

While it's not happening here in Cherry County, we're happy for Milligan, NE, who was chosen as the kickoff for the BIG GAME! They're outside of Lincoln and a small little town of about 300....watch the video on how they're getting hyped for some football...







Milligan, NE is quite a ways from Cherry County and Valentine, NE, but we're celebrating with them just the same!

Rock on Milligan!

Meanwhile...who will you be rootin' for during the big game? Seattle Seahawks? or Denver Broncos?

What a special event for Milligan and we're glad to share it with everyone!

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to you and yours…from Sandhills Western Vacations!
Remember the Reason for the Season…know that He is watching you like a hawk, keeping you close to his heart!

Meanwhile, if you didn't get what you'd hoped for Christmas…you can always plan your very own Christmas present…for when it warms up a bit…with your very own Sandhills Western Vacations!

Getting into the spirit of shopping, Christmas at the Bowring Ranch and your family!

 

 Snow has covered the Sandhills abundantly! North central Nebraska received between 11 through 15 inches!  With that came an arctic cold blast that makes it feel like the North Pole! What better weather than to get out and enjoy your Christmas Shopping!

The crews in Valentine have cleared the streets for you and the stores have their shelves stocked and ready for wrapping under the tree.

But some of the best gifts you'll find shopping in Valentine, Nebraska, are the memories you'll make.

There are several places you can stay while you're in Valentine...just for fun. To make memories. Trade Winds Lodge, http://www.tradewindslodge.com and Valentine's Niobrara Lodge, https://www.myfidelio.net/webui/AvailabilitySearch.aspx?chain=IQ&property=USVN are a couple. These lodging facilities can also be a God send for your out-of-town guests or a girls retreat for a shopping get-together!

What about a winter family vacation? What? Most vacation time renews in January...what a great time for family to get together and really enjoy each other and their surroundings. This is a great time to book a staycation at the Double R Guest Ranch, http://www.sandhilldoublerranch.com. There are many things to do including watching migrating birds, fishing, snow fort making, and whatever your imagination can dream up. Get out and enjoy...no cabin fever this year!

 There is nothing quite like winter photography! A dusting on the hills, migratory birds, deer, ice sculptures, snow drifts, family decked out in vibrant colors against a snowy backdrop, sledding down these pristine hills...captured for a future of memories!

 
 Gift giving can be as simple as contacting Brewer's Canoers, http://www.brewerscanoers.com/contact.html for a summer trip instead.

Gift Certificates are another great gift idea. With all the craziness of buying presents it can sure limit friends and families' grocery budgets. How about the gift of groceries from Henderson's IGA, http://www.hendersons.iga.com. Henderson's IGA can also simplify your parties and get-togethers by catering with the best food!

For something completely unique and one of a kind, Outback Screen Printing and Embroidery, http://www.outbackvalentine.com and the Quilting Cupboard, https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Quilting-Cupboard/525886570824196,  can help you out.

Do you know someone who needs prayer? How about yourself in this busy season. Patterns from Fear Not Pattern Company, http://fearnotpatternco.com to the rescue! Something for everyone...stitch by stitch pray for the recipient - even if it turns out to be you!

 

Finally, it's time for family and friends to gather together for the annual Christmas at the Bowring Ranch. This Saturday, in Merriman, at 6:00 p.m. MOUNTAIN TIME, you'll be treated to the best beef steak BBQ, music, dancing, and if you don't know anyone when you get there, you'll leave having made friends to visit with again next year. Tickets go fast. Call Park Superintendent Diane Burress at 1-308-684-3428. Find out more by going to http://sandhillswesternvacations.com./Christmas_at_the_Bowring.php

One of the best gifts our community has is the gift of each other! This is made possible, in part, through Cherry County Hospital. Keeping our family, friends, and neighbors healthy. We're a blessed community!

Share your blessings here in Valentine, Nebraska...make it the place where you and your family have warm, treasured memories, all year long!

 

 Celebrating the REASON for the Season! 

Merry Christmas

Outback Screenprinting and more for Christmas!!!

Are you looking for something unique?
Something personal?
Something special for that special someone?
Why not travel to Outback Screenprinting to have your special gift hand made, right here in Valentine, NE? You don't even have to travel, you can call them at 402-376-1190 or send your graphics (high resolution) to outbackvalentine@gmail.com and have the perfect gift made...here's an example of what Jo and the crew can do.

For a nice full screen experience go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gymh07vGUxI

Did you see a mug on the video? That would make a great gift for your parents or grandparents...have a photo of your family emblazoned on there with a catchy word or phrase; how about I love you. They're dishwasher safe! Plates are also available to make a complete set!

Another gift idea is a T-shirt, sweatshirt, or jacket with a family portrait - a one of a kind gift for sure! Outback Screen Printing can also add all the glitz, glitter and bling anyone would ever need to truly make it unique.  After all, failure is not an option!

Their goal is to have all Christmas gifts completed two weeks before Christmas - so if you're stumped, clueless, and need a little help, get a hold of Outback Screen Printing for your one of a kind, unique,  Christmas gifts for the ones you love!!! They're located at 235 N. Main St. Valentine, NE.

SANTA IS COMING TO TOWN! Shop and win $$$

This Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Santa will be at Heart City Dance in downtown Valentine to listen to the kids requests. And yes, Santa will even listen to what moms and dads want as well!

But that's not all! The shops downtown will have special hours and showcase their Christmas splendor! What does that mean? Valentine has an awesome family of shops...with gifts for everyone in your family.

And with a little bit of forethought, if they don't have the item you most want, they'll go above and beyond to get it here, in time, for you. Without leaving town!

Furthermore, shop owners, who know our families, can pass along that Dad was looking at the new drill, or mom wanted that sweater in pink. Takes the stress out of shopping - right!

Some of the shop owners may have treats, specials, and drawings. The Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a shoppers contest. Get a card and take it to all the shops listed and have them stamped  by the shop and enter for a chance to win $$$$$$. 

But all this can only be done this Sunday, November 17, at Valentine's Holiday Preview.

Now is the time to believe in magic...wishes on millions of little stars and HIS miracles!