The Valentine Economic Development Program is hosting a business startup class to begin on Thursday, July 28^th at the Mid-Plains Community College campus office.  The class is designed for people who are considering starting a business or for business owners who would like to brush up on business plans, marketing, websites, handling employees and other issues faced by business owners on a day to day basis. The class will run for a couple of hours, one night a week, for about 4 or 5 weeks.  There is a cost for the class materials and more than one person from a business can attend.  Anyone interested should contact director Mike Burge at 402-376-6842 or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Bobby Deline ad David Higgins of the movie production company "The Pilots Lounge" appeared on the KVSH Comment program Friday morning to discuss preliminary plans for shooting thier frst movie called "Aviation Cocktail" in Valentine and the surrounding area.  A sample of the mvovie can be found at vimeo.com/AVIATIONCOCKTAIL and you can become a friend on facebook at facebook.com/the aviationcocktail.  The economic development program has supported and encouraged the endeavor with several thousand dollars to be spent in the community when a production company is working.  If they decide to film in Valentine, they would need vintage cars from the 1950's, extras for the movies, caterers and craftsman.  For more infomation contact Economic Development director Mike Burge at 402 376 6842.

The Valentine City Council met for a regular meeting last evening at the Valentine library. Stuart Schnieder from the National Park Service requested the city enter into an agreement with the Park Service to put new benches and recycling containers in the city park. Mr. Schnieder reported that the Park Service had some funds left over from a grant and wanted to see them put to use in the community rather than turned back. The council approved the agreement.

Several of the items on the agenda dealt with economic development issues. The council approved on a 3 to 2 vote, a $44,800 revolving loan fund recommendation for Kayla Kelly at Copacetic to help purchase two buildings on Main Street and move her retail business downtown. On a unanimous vote, the council approved spending up to $80,000 of economic development funds for a concrete pad at Miller Field to accommodate a new hangar for an air ambulance service coming to Valentine. Council member Toby Miller presented an ordinance to create a 6 member economic development board with four of the members required to live in the city limits and no council members on the board. The newly created board would have the authority to hire staff if necessary and all expenditures would still have to be approved by the city council. Mayor Rowdy Kluender stated that he was working on a plan that would go in a different direction and would not be in favor of waving the three reading rule until he had time to finalize his plan. Kluender did not elaborate on his plan. Mr. Millers ordinance was read and no action was taken. There was also no action taken on appointment of new members to the board.

In other business, the council reviewed the ordinance governing solid waste in the city jurisdiction outside the city limits. Currently the ordinance states that yard waste will be picked up the same as it is within the city limits. Neil Wescott of NK Waste stated that they have never picked up yard waste outside the city limits. The council will look at amending the ordinance to eliminate the part requiring yard waste pick up outside the city limits. Mr. Wescott said those living outside the city limits can take their yard waste to the recycling center which is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week. There will be no change to rates paid by customers.

Cherry County Attorney Eric Scott has announced that on Friday, July 8th, a 20-year Valentine man, Trevor W. Bare, was sentenced in Cherry County District Court to 18-48 months in the Nebraska State Penitentier for Felony Distribution of Controlled Substances.

The arrest and conviction of Trevor Bare stemmed from a major drug investigation headed by the Nebraska State Patrol wherein several drug warrants were served on September 23, 2010, resulting in the arrest of Bare and 7 other individuals.