This week's top stories

A tradition of praising God and raising money for global relief efforts unfolded for the 45th year in Aurora this weekend, with officials announcing that 2024 is the final year the Mennonite Central Committee relief auction will be held at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. The two-day event kicked off Friday with a ceremonial prayer and early auction, then concluded Saturday with an all-day event that featured two auction rings along with numerous booths and food areas spread throughout the grounds. By the end of the weekend an estimated $188,000 had been raised.

A new digital program designed to streamline appointments launched last fall by Memorial Health Clinic (MHC) is fostering better communication between the clinic and its patients and has even had the effect of making patients more prompt in showing up for appointments. After a soft launch of the program in November, new capabilities offered through the program are being utilized more and more by patients for online registration and appointment reminders. The program was developed by Phreesia, Inc. to streamline the patient intake process by utilizing the provider’s electronic health records. The new capability can be accessed by any internet-connected device, including a patient’s smart phone, tablet or computer.

A passing of the baton will transpire this week at Pinnacle Bank in Aurora with long-time vice president and mortgage loan officer Robin Hansen retiring from banking while Butch Moural of Grand Island steps in to fill that role. Hansen’s last day at the downtown bank will be Friday, ending a 39-year career at Pinnacle which started in 1985. The Marquette native started as a teller and bookkeeper and has filled various roles over the years, focusing the last 15 years or so on mortgage lending.

The Aurora 4R School Board heard a summary review Monday of a facility study conducted as part of a strategic planning initiative to assess the district’s existing facilities, both in terms of physical status as well as how they are aligning with the school’s educational needs. A detailed study that is already a year and a half into the process took a big step forward in January when BVH Architecture was hired to conduct a detailed facility study. Cleveland Reeves, a principal architect with the firm, spent about an hour Monday reviewing BVH’s initial facility audit findings as well as feedback gathered from school staff members and administrators.

Giltner residents will decide May 14 if they want to approve a 1 percent municipal sales tax in Giltner, which was proposed by the village board as a means of generating revenue to help fund housing infrastructure. According to village board chairman, Cody Nuss, the idea for the housing project came about from a suggestion made by a local resident. “We had an opportunity where somebody in our community had situated it where a piece of property could not really be donated to the town, but could be used for future growth,” Nuss explained.

Those wishing to vote early in the May 14 Presidential Primary Election will get their first opportunity to do so as of Monday. Under state law, voters can cast their ballot in the primary, which in Hamilton County also includes a county commission race and three local ballot issues, on Monday by showing up in person at the Hamilton County Courthouse. Going to the County Clerk’s office on the second floor, voters can obtain their official ballot and cast their vote. The day before the election, Monday, May 13, is the last day to vote early in person. The article on Page 2 of this week's ANR also gives other important information about voting by mail or in person.

For these stories and more, plus our annual Spring Home Improvement Section, see the print or e-edition of ANR.