Turning the page
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ANR
In a year filled with ups and downs, Hamilton County residents had a lot of positive things to read about in the year that ends Saturday at midnight.
That was reflected in the News-Register’s annual Top 10 stories of the year poll, which has become a light-hearted ANR tradition and a good way to recap the year.
There was nothing light-hearted about the year’s top story, as determined in a nonscientific poll involving 75 local residents. Sadly, a young, vibrant life ended way too soon with the February death of Hampton teacher and coach Kyle Ediger. Words cannot portray the sense of loss the Ediger family and Hawk Nation felt with that senseless tragedy. This year-end review honored Kyle and his family not for the way he died, but for the inspirational way he lived his 31 years. Life must go on, and it has, though Kyle Ediger will always be remembered for the impact he had and the dedication he showed to his school and community.
One of the more positive chapters in this year’s list of local stories is one that may well continue to unfold for several years to come. The housing surge evolving on the west edge of Aurora ranked as the top story of the year in 2021, and came in at a solid No. 2 this year. Interest rates may have slowed the pace a bit, but there is still lots of demand and reason for optimism that new single-family homes and townhomes will fill the Streeter Subdivision in the years ahead.
On the same note, coming in at No. 7, there is a housing boom going on in nearby Phillips, where a new restaurant will soon open as well. That’s exciting news for Phillips, again reflecting local vision and financial commitment to help Hamilton County grow. Hampton may well make the list for the same reason in 2023, as land has been annexed to the west with plans to add homes and bring new families to town there as well.
It’s hard to put a number or economic value reflecting what this trend means to Hamilton County. Rural communities across the nation are struggling with a housing shortage, and these local efforts, combined, are a strong signal that bodes well for the future.
Coming in at No. 3 is another visionary story which ended with a new facility that will most surely host celebrations and create memories for decades to come. The Aurora Community Clubhouse is a wonderful new addition to the community and has already seen fun events filled with young families and lots of energy. That new structure is all about quality of life, making the good life here even better.
Ready or not, it’s time to turn the page and start anew. Here’s to you and your’s, hoping we all make more positive, lasting memories in 2023. Happy New Year!
Kurt Johnson
