Hello Nebraska! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Carhenge’s quirky origin, a wildfire ranch rebuild, and mini makers camp + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
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01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Holiday restrictions expand: Amid high wildfire danger, Alliance leaders voted to ban fireworks sales and use. In Kimball, a discharge ban begins today through July 5, with fines up to $1,000 and arrests -- see the fire ban details.
A roadside art landmark: On the prairie near Alliance, a giant circle of spray-painted vintage cars rises like Stonehenge. Built by Jim Reinders’s family in 1987, Carhenge now anchors a quirky public park -- discover its history and evolution.
Ranchers face a long recovery: After Nebraska’s largest wildfire scorched 643,361 acres, Broadwater’s Circle L Ranch began rebuilding, a frayed flag flying as Naomi and Cody Loomis tended injured calves and a surviving herd -- follow the ranch recovery.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Green-thumb quick win: Dirt Stix Nursery has the kind of no-fuss plants, hanging baskets, and veggie starts that make yards pop without a weekend of wrestling with hoses. Swing by this week for friendly advice and to pick what works in the Panhandle, so your plot actually thrives.
Small-park, big exhale: Frank Park packs a lot into half a city block, with shade trees, a kids' play area of swings and slides, and covered picnic tables for a quick bite. When you just need an easy, close-to-home reset between errands, this tidy Scottsbluff spot delivers... minimal planning, maximum decompression.
Backyard fun, sorted: Planet Bounce Mobile brings the party to you with bounce houses, slides, obstacle courses, and even Gellyball, so you can keep the kids busy while the potato salad chills. Perfect for birthdays, block parties or a random Tuesday victory lap after mowing.
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04 — Our recommendations
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🛠 Mini Makers Camp @ Elodie's Oddities - Paint-your-own Pottery (Scottsbluff) | Wednesday (6/24) at 9:30 AM – Because your fridge needs more masterpieces, and your carpet needs a break, this hands-on art session lets little makers actually do it themselves. Think cloud hangings, caterpillars, and butterfly suncatchers. Ages 1–5, $8 per child, parents stay, dress for mess.
🐟 The Pout Pout Fish @ Midwest Theater (Scottsbluff) | Thursday (6/25) at 1:30 PM – If you need an AC break from mowing, Midwest Theater's Summer Movie Series is screening The Pout Pout Fish. Based on the bestseller, this PG adventure teams a pouty introvert with a peppy sea dragon, and it costs a buck.
🤖 The Wild Robot @ Gering Plaza | Friday (6/26) at 8:30 PM – Unfurl the lawn chairs and let the kids stay up past bedtime for The Wild Robot at Gering Civic Plaza, part of the free summer movie series. Downtown sky, family vibes, camp tie-ins, and enough plot to keep adults awake, snacks justified.
🎨 Kids Camp: Bob Ross Painting for Kids @ John N. Harms Center (Scottsbluff) | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 AM – Let the kids trade Minecraft for happy little trees at a Bob Ross painting camp that actually rewards mistakes. Ages 9 to 14 learn the wet-on-wet magic, paint a legit landscape, and walk out suspiciously confident, while someone else cleans the brushes.
🌍 Panhandle Multicultural Festival @ Trails West YMCA Camp (Scottsbluff) | Saturday (6/27) at 12:00 PM – Think you know the Panhandle? Come prove it at the 2nd Annual Multicultural Festival, where your taste buds do the traveling and your neighbors bring the passports. Expect lively performances, booths, crafts, and food samples that ruin dinner plans, in the best way.
🚗 Carhenge Quilt Challenge @ Carnegie Arts Center (Alliance) | Saturday (6/27) at 4:00 PM – If you’ve ever wondered what Carhenge looks like in cotton, here’s your answer. A juried quilt show fills Carnegie Arts Center and the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center, with meticulous stitches, modern twists, a People’s Choice prize, and that Nebraska urge to make it cozy.
⚾ Ft. Morgan 19U @ Oregon Trail Park Stadium (Gering) | Sunday (6/28) at 4:05 PM – Doubleheader at Oregon Trail Park means twice the Pios, twice the excuse to skip chores. Settle in for back-to-back games, cold drinks, local bites, family-friendly fun, and those goofy in-game promos we secretly love, all under the lights, and all very Western Nebraska.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Nebraska Panhandle report Weather forecastToday — High: 76°F — Low: 55°F — Precip: 60%
A slight chance of rain showers before 9am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. East southeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. East wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tomorrow — High: 73°F — Low: 55°F — Precip: 76%
Rain showers before 3pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. This house is wildThis 5-bed, 3-bath custom home sits on 30-plus scenic acres near Sidney, blending vaulted ceilings, a bright high-end kitchen, and a back deck made for easy evenings. Outside, dry creek beds, dramatic bluffs, mature tree rows, and native grasslands create a rugged backdrop, plus a 1,500-square-foot shop and detached two-car garage.
Take a peek inside → |
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