Lakota language preservationists and tribal members say the Lakota language lost one of its greatest supporters with the death of Albert White Hat last week.  White Hat, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, was instrumental in teaching the Lakota language to new generations for nearly four decades.  He died June 11, at age 74.

White Hat, grandson of Chief Hollow Horn Bear, was the chair of the Lakota Studies Department at Sinte Gleska University on the Rosebud Indian Reservation.  Wilhelm Meya is the executive director of the Lakota Language Consortium, a nonprofit organization seeking to revitalize the Lakota language.    He says White Hat was a "warrior" for the Lakota language.  He says the passing of White Hat is a blow to the language and efforts to revitalize it.

The Peppermill and E. K. Valentine Lounge won the 2013 "Nebraska's Best Burger Award" presented by the Nebraska Beef Council.

The contest, which concluded on May 1^st, sought nominations for the best beef burger served in Nebraska. Over 2,100 submissions for 293 different restaurants were entered with the Peppermill receiving enough votes to qualify in the top five. A panel of judges then toured the state and evaluated each of the finalist’s burgers. The Peppermill’s Joseph Angus Burger was crowned the winner - a ten ounce beef hamburger with jalapeno bacon, cob-smoked ham, barbeque sauce, house ranch dressing, Swiss and cheddar cheeses and topped with two crispy homemade onion rings.

“The Peppermill has a long standing reputation for serving great beef” said Adam Wegner, Director of Marketing for the Nebraska Beef Council. “We are happy to present them with the Best Burger Award and we look forward to helping them celebrate with the community of Valentine.”

The Area 17 Cattlewomen would like to congratulate Julie Battershaw, Carol Earl, Viola Coleman, and Monte Krueger as their winners of $25 each in Beef Certificates from Henderson's IGA and Scottys Ranchland Foods.  The promotion included asking trivia questions through the week prior to Fathers Day and giving away meat thermometers to the winners.  Of those winners, 4 names were drawn for the beef.  Congratulations to everyone who won, and good luck to everyone who will be trying again next year!

(AP) - Improvements have been completed on docks and boat ramps at the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge in Cherry County. A sand and rock boat ramp at Clear Lake was replaced with a concrete ramp extending into the lake. A concrete boat ramp was built at Pelican Lake's shore. Two other projects were completed as well.