News

Families in Aurora and Hamilton County that maybe need grocery shopping done, or a meal made and delivered for a weekend gathering can now call Annette Miller, owner of Handy Mom.
Miller has already been helping the community by getting items such as cribs and clothes then placing ads on Facebook. She will also ask people if they have any clothes and other items that are going to be donated to Goodwill or Salvation Army and then gives them to families in need in Aurora.

Read more in this week's print or e-editions.

On Sept. 4 the Giltner Area Development Corporation (GADC) will be taking over Little Stingers Child Care -- previously headed by Giltner Public Schools -- as the preschool has now separated from the daycare.
“The daycare will not have an association with the school other than that we rent that space from them,” said Mandy Eastman, Little Stingers director. “The school is very supportive of the daycare and provides the space, but is not responsible for any of the daycare’s oversight.”

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On Aug. 21, Pack 131 of the Aurora Cub Scouts held a recruitment night at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds.
The event invited kids K-5 to sign up for the Cub Scouts -- including any interested girls.
Starting this past June, girls ages 5 to 10 were allowed to start signing up for Cub Scout packs and starting Feb. 1, 2019, the Boy Scouts program name will be changing to Scouts BSA (Boy Scouts of America). According to the organization’s official website, the parent organization name, Boy Scouts of America, will not be changing.

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The valuation of property in Hamilton County has dropped for the second consecutive year due mostly to a decline in irrigated ag land values.
Hamilton County Assessor Pat Sandberg posted the 2018 valuation totals for all taxing subdivisions Aug. 13, noting a decrease of 2.5 percent to $2.96 billion.

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With a new school year starting in Giltner comes a new preschool classroom.
Talks to begin the process of moving the preschool away from the daycare started about five years ago when Giltner met with contractors and architects to figure out all options available.
“Decisions needed to be made on whether the school was going to add on, add an addition to the Little Stingers building, or remodel the shop space,” said Amy Wilson, new preschool teacher.

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The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday drew a packed house, including multiple members of the community eager to speak their minds regarding the ambulance debate during the public participation portion of the morning.
Find out what they had to say in often emotional appeals in this week's print or e-editions.

Hamilton County commissioners reviewed each of the four EMS proposals Monday based on a list of priority factors, then voted to create a negotiation team to begin the process of narrowing the field down to one.
No timetable was given as to when a final decision might be made, though the clock is ticking based on the county’s earlier vote to end ownership and management of the existing EMS service as of Oct. 1.

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Interns with JEO Consulting explained parking lot plans and drainage improvement details for the new tennis court parking lot during a presentation to the Aurora City Council at its Aug. 14 meeting.
Several interns worked on the project during the summer months in what JEO’s Ryan Vaughn said was offered at no cost to the city.

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Aurora’s Edgerton Explorit Center showcased a grand total of 36 different summer camp adventures for area youth from May to August this year.
Several individuals, companies and corporate sponsors made the “Full STEAM Ahead!” summer camp program successful -- including key sponsors Aurora Cooperative and Pacific Aurora, LLC.
According to Edgerton Explorit Center Director Mary Molliconi, the sponsorships also helped fund expert instructors, materials, specialized curriculum and a handful of scholarships for students in financial need.

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The Hamilton Community Foundation now has a place to officially call its own.
Having operated for some 35 years out of a combined use facility owned by a local financial advisor, the foundation steadily grew its assets and served the community by doling out countless scholarships and grants. That mission remains the same, though as of mid-July HCF relocated to 1108 L St., and is now the sole tenant of its own building.

Read more in this week's print or e-editions.