2024: A year of growth, change in business

Flipping through the News-Register’s weekly business page, we found numerous stories of business start-ups and expansion, as well as a few setbacks. As always, the one constant is change, and we recorded plenty of that in 2024. What follows is a summary review of the year’s business news.
Jan. 3 -- A Lincoln-based lawn and sprinkler business is expanding its reach into Hamilton County, though its roots are already firmly planted here. Penner Sprinkler & Lawn co-owner Quintin Penner, a 2003 Hampton graduate, announced a strategic change for the business this month, which in reality reflects the local ties of all three full-time employees, including co-owner Ryan Kliewer and newly hired master technician Chris Arnett.
Jan. 10 -- The Giltner Area Development Corporation (GADC) recently welcomed a mechanic business which has made its permanent home in Giltner.  Flightline Repairs mechanic and co-owner, airman veteran Leland Stump, commented that he and his wife, Angie, are nearing a year since opening up shop in Giltner.
Jan. 24 -- It began with one truck and a tiny shack just off 1st and M streets, plus the desire to work hard and listen to a customer’s needs. That formula is still working 50 years later for Interstate Battery System in Aurora, a family-owned business now under the watchful eye of third-generation owner/distributor Zack Danhauer. His grandfather Bob Koberstein, a former NASA engineer who worked on some of the Apollo missions, and Bob’s wife Delores founded the business in Aurora back in 1973, eventually passing it on to their daughter, Paula, and her husband, Lee Danhauer. Zack joined the operation in 2001 and paused recently to reflect on the 50th anniversary of his grandparents’ bold decision to embark on a whole new adventure in life, a venture that would impact his entire family.
Feb. 7 -- The owners of the Pueblo Viejo Mexican restaurant in Aurora have opened a second location in Grand Island, reporting strong support for the South Locust Street location since its December debut. Antonio Sanchez, who opened Pueblo Viejo on Highway 34 in 2017 with his partner, Carlos Munoz, said the decision to expand with a second location was based on the success of the Aurora eatery.
Feb. 14 -- The Aurora Cooperative reported “a challenging but profitable year” in fiscal 2023 at last week’s summit and annual meeting in Grand Island, with president and CEO Chris Decker announcing a pledge to create a new standard of excellence with a concept called “AuroraOne.” “AuroraOne is a commitment to change the narrative and perception of who we are and who we aspire to be,” Decker said during his management report at Wednesday’s business meeting, which kicked off the company 116th annual meeting at the state fairgrounds. “It represents one team, one vision, one unified force.”
March 6 -- A large energy infrastructure company has announced plans to invest an estimated $98 million in Hamilton County over the next two years, converting its existing Trailblazer natural gas pipeline south of Aurora into a carbon dioxide (CO2) transportation service based in part on a new partnership with the KAAPA Ethanol plant in Aurora. Tallgrass is active in 14 states and has been operating in Nebraska since 2012, with a focused mission of moving natural gas from where it exists to where it’s needed. John Hladik, the company’s manager of state and local public affairs, shared some background information on Tallgrass in a presentation last month to the Aurora Rotary Club, while also explaining the new venture with KAAPA.
March 13 -- Almost six years after Dan and Linda Huenefeld started inviting people to try and solve mysteries in a timed escape room experience just off the downtown square, the couple announced this week that they are retiring from Escape Aurora. Owning and running such a unique business has been a rewarding adventure for the Huenefelds, who both agree they made friendships and created memories they will always cherish.
March 27 -- Tens of millions of dollars have been invested at the Aurora ethanol plant in the past year in what KAAPA Ethanol’s CEO reported this week is all part of a concerted effort to increase efficiencies and lower the carbon score on ethanol produced locally. Chuck Woodside, chief executive officer of the Kearney-based LLC which purchased a majority interest in the ethanol plant from the Aurora Cooperative just over a year ago, provided a detailed update on changes being made at the plant on the west edge of town during a presentation to the Aurora Rotary Club March 20. The Aurora Coop remains a minority interest owner of the local facilities.
April 10 -- 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.
April 24 -- Ross Lyon chose Giltner as a place to move his family when he was working as a drug investigator with the Nebraska State Patrol in 2013, and 11 years later he is doing his part to help the community grow by building much-needed housing. Lyon Pride Roofing, a company he founded while still working with the NSP, has expanded itself over that time span. He now has five full-time employees and seasonal part-time staffers helping simultaneously grow the company and his adopted hometown of Giltner.
May 1 -- The Aurora News-Register received the Omaha World-Herald’s Service to Agriculture award Saturday and later earned distinction as a top newspaper in its circulation class at the Nebraska Press Association convention in Lincoln. In the World-Herald competition, judges commended ANR staff for its weekly Ag Life section, citing consistent local coverage incorporating ag and business news which impacts the whole community.
May 8 -- Providing the ideal outdoor buildings for buyers has been the primary mission for co-owners Brian and Grant Litz. The cousins who had originally worked under the name Premier Buildings Nebraska, has revamped into NE Sheds to match their new vision of making portable garages, sheds and cabins. 
May 15 -- Getting insurance can appear like an overwhelming and difficult task, but for co-owners Drew Conway and Justin Harmon, relieving worries has been their number one priority with their new business, ION Solutions. “We try to take the stress out of insurance,” Conway stated. “If somebody’s stressed out about it, all they need to do is call us and we try and relieve their headaches.”
May 29 -- Aurora Harmony Health Center will be relocating to a new location at 1619 9th St. to help its expansion in providing more services and opportunities for people within the community, according to Harmony Health Centers LLC owner, Brady Shay. “My passion is to bring the services to high need areas as best I can in order to help fulfill the need for substance abuse and mental health counseling and/or therapy,” Shay explained. 
June 5 -- Exactly 50 years ago this week Carol Schenk accepted the late Cliff Williams’ offer to come to work for a new tech-based company he had just established in Aurora. A lot has changed over that five-decade span at the Grant Street company, including the name of the business itself. As of Monday Schenk decided it was time for her to make a change as well, officially shifting gears into retirement. “I kept saying that working 30 years sounded pretty good, but everything just kept going,” Schenk shared of the timing of her decision to retire from Aurora Boardworks.
June 12 -- From a routine chore to a quickly growing side gig, Cody Barry’s Blue Line Auto Detailing has proven to be an incredibly successful venture. Barry had been cleaning his family’s cars, but didn’t consider making it a job until his wife urged him to do so last April. “I’m always cleaning our personal vehicles and my wife just one day, she’s like, “those look pretty good. You should start doing this on the side,’” Barry said. “I already had most of the equipment. It doesn’t take a lot to get started, so I just put up my Facebook page to start advertising and people started contacting me.”
June 19 -- After seven years of the Old Homestead Market and Floral, the store is getting an expansion -- Homestead Style. The past seven years have been filled with growth for owners Robin Sanderson and Jennie Snoberger, and now they will be expanding further into selling clothing items. Homestead Style will be located where Escape Aurora previously was, just around the corner to the north and west at 1214 12th St.
July 3 -- Throughout the summer, Susan’s Books and Gifts has been put on the map as a must-visit store as one of 70 featured stops on the Nebraska Passport program. With that, the store is bringing in visitors and success for the whole town. Owner Susan Williams ultimately wanted people to know that Aurora exists.  “​​We filled out an application telling why it would matter to have people from Omaha, and Scottsbluff, and Broken Bow and Fullerton to know that we are here and not just have (Susan’s) be a store that’s only localized,” she said.
July 10 -- Exactly 20 years after opening a furniture refinishing and restoration business in downtown Hampton, Dane Schafer and his family are celebrating success while also announcing exciting changes. Danish Oak has evolved into everything the young entrepreneur could have imagined, he observed looking back, and is now on the brink of significant growth.
July 17 -- There’s probably not one local resident who knows more about the history of the production pet food in Hamilton County over the past four decades than Teresa White. The Giltner native, who has worked at the Mars Petcare production facility west of Aurora since before it even opened, retired last week after 40 years with the company. In fact, White was the first employee hired by the Iams pet food company when it began building its second production facility near Aurora in 1984.
July 31 -- A changing of the guard occurred Thursday at a downtown business as Angie Wall purchased Honeysuckle Lane from long-time owner Bonnie Bamesberger. Wall and Bamesberger, who both live in Hampton, know each other well having worked together years ago to launch the business on the north side of the downtown square. At that time, both women had booths at Village Square Mall which continued to grow and prosper, and in 1997 they made the decision to go into business together. 
Sept. 4 -- A York native who moved to Aurora 12 years ago learned the welding trade from his uncle and has since launched his own business, Makovicka Welding, saying he enjoys the opportunity to help local customers. Justin Makovicka always offers a smile and a positive attitude, for those who have met him, and he speaks with excitement about a business that is letting him do something he thoroughly enjoys.
After opening up their vintage boutique in Aurora three years ago, Grape Frog Resale and Vintage Boutique owners Loren Berthelsen and Saxon Copeland have announced they are closing their physical location on Sept. 7 and moving exclusively online. 
Sept. 11 -- What started out as a blog offering personal insight on all things occupational therapy has turned into a growing online business venture for Aurora native Sarah Lyon. Now more than 13 years after first sharing her thoughts in a blog she titled OT Potential, Lyon said she underestimated the potential of a business that still goes by that same name.
Sept. 18 -- Cooperative Producers, Inc. (CPI) announced that is has strengthened its presence within the CPI trade area through the acquisition of Diamond J Custom Services LLC. Based in Aurora, Diamond J was started by Andrew Willis, his wife Taylor, and Jeff Jacobsen in 2015 to better serve the application and agronomic needs of the growers in the area. In 2019, CPI and Diamond J began a partnership in which Diamond J became CPI’s premier third-party associate, providing services to customers of CPI as well as their own.
Sept. 25 -- Two new apartment units are set to welcome tenants in the Streeter Subdivision in the next two weeks, addressing what is reported to be a critical need for rental housing in Aurora. Jeff Juzyk announced his plans in March to build side-by-side 4-plex and 8-plex apartment units, which are now almost ready for occupancy at the intersection of Matson Street and Highlander Lane. The first tenants are scheduled to move into the 8-plex starting Oct. 1, while keys to the 4-plex will be available by Oct. 15. 
Oct. 2 -- Memorial Community Health, Inc. celebrated the re-opening of its health clinic in Harvard last week with a meet and greet open house introducing medical staff to the community. In September of last year, Memorial Health Clinic was forced to make the tough decision to temporarily close its Harvard location pending provider changes and the recruitment of new family medicine providers. 
Oct. 9 -- The Clarke family passed a major milestone this week, celebrating 50 years of owning and running a “one-stop shop” grocery store and crediting the community for much of their continued success. Jim and LaVonne Clarke sat down to reflect on a decision that would change their lives back in 1974, when the Market Basket Supermarket in Aurora came up for sale.
Oct. 23 -- The Aurora Development Corporation highlighted a busy year of activity during its annual meeting last week, completing its 60th year as an organization. Shareholders gathered at the Bremer Center for an overview of past and planned activities, while also hearing from several local businesses on their status and plans for future growth.
Nov. 3 -- What started as a family plan to grow “pumpkins and weird stuff” 15 years ago turned into a profitable venture for three Bonifas siblings, who say the time has now come to pass the baton. Greg and Barb Bonifas helped their three young children — Grant, Blaine and Morgan — launch Kountry Kids Pumpkins in the fall of 2009 with a goal of giving their kids an opportunity to get their hands dirty while learning to run a business.
Nov. 13 -- An Aurora-based construction/fabrication business that has been building things for area clients since the 1980s is now expanding its operations with a new 20,000 sq. ft. facility just off Highway 34. Father and son co-owners Steve and Matthew Kiner have been thinking about building a stand-alone site for their family-owned business — Kiner, Inc. — for years and are excited to finally see their dream become a reality on the west edge of town.
Nov. 27 -- A year after forming a partnership and launching a new construction business, JT Wetherington and Maverick Huebert are nearing completion of a building renovation project on M Street which will soon be the permanent home of Blue Water Restoration, Inc. With both men living and attending church in Stockham, they became friends and started working together on various projects, ultimately realizing that they shared some of the same goals and interests. 
Dec. 11 -- Three years after planting a Scooters Coffee flag in Aurora, the Vettel family will open a second store this week 17 miles north in Central City. Todd Vettel, who purchased several Scooters franchise licenses years ago with brothers Tim and Trevor (and their wives) under the Get After It LLC umbrella, said the lessons learned and initial success operating a store in Aurora helped convince he and his family that the same business model could work in Central City.