News

Kathryn Dyer will end a 33-year career in education, spent almost entirely in Aurora, when she retires at the end of the school year. She is shown here working with a student in the preschool building where she spent most of her career.

Kathryn Dyer will end a 33-year career in education, spent almost entirely in Aurora, when she retires at the end of the school year. She is shown here working with a student in the preschool building where she spent most of her career.

Dyer reflects on 33-year career

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Kathryn Dyer needed only one day in the preschool classroom years ago to know she had found her life’s calling.A native of Aurora, Dyer earned a teaching degree at the University of Nebraska-Kearney back in 1993, then came home to begin a career that will end next month after 33 years in education.
Headsets allow 911 dispatchers at the Hamilton County Dispatch Center to have their hands free while they are taking calls from the public. The tabletop microphone in front of dispatcher Jessie Boroff (seated) is used for contacting police officers and other personnel in the field. Also pictured is fellow dispatcher Melissa Barry.

Headsets allow 911 dispatchers at the Hamilton County Dispatch Center to have their hands free while they are taking calls from the public. The tabletop microphone in front of dispatcher Jessie Boroff (seated) is used for contacting police officers and other personnel in the field. Also pictured is fellow dispatcher Melissa Barry.

The voices behind the call ...

News Staff
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
The vital work of law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel and firefighters is readily recognized by the public and those individuals are often openly thanked for their service as they should be.
County Highway Supt. Jeremy Brandt sent a sample of the material dug from about six inches below the surface of 11 Road to Substrata, the Nevada company that manufactures Perma-zyme, and received back this shrink-wrapped puck made from the sample by adding the ezyme to it. It appears to be as hard as concrete.

County Highway Supt. Jeremy Brandt sent a sample of the material dug from about six inches below the surface of 11 Road to Substrata, the Nevada company that manufactures Perma-zyme, and received back this shrink-wrapped puck made from the sample by adding the ezyme to it. It appears to be as hard as concrete.

County tests new enzymatic hardener for gravel roads

News Staff
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Work began Monday morning on resurfacing a half mile of East 11 Road from Highway 14 just south of Aurora toward the data center and ending at the Mid Nebraska Land Developers headquarters. County Highway Supt.
Aurora Public Schools

Aurora Public Schools

School board reviews 4R cybersecurity system

News Staff
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Four years after helping launch a Next Gen Technology program at Aurora Public Schools, Rob Nachtigal explained to the board Monday changes made in recent years to strengthen the district’s cybersecurity system, as well as the need to continue efforts to protect the district’s assets, data,...
Aaron and Chandra Blase have been working on finishing up the new addition to their farmhouse in which they connected a grain bin to the north side of their home north of Hordville.

Aaron and Chandra Blase have been working on finishing up the new addition to their farmhouse in which they connected a grain bin to the north side of their home north of Hordville.

From grain storage to unique ‘bindominium’

News Staff
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
An unused structure that once stored bushels of grain has been renovated into bedrooms and bathrooms for a Hordville family.
Danish exchange student Caspian Eshtelaq has enjoyed spending his time in the United States playing football, wrestling and soccer. During his time in Aurora, he has also discovered an interest in business and plans to study it when he attends college back in Denmark. In a few weeks he will graduate with the AHS Class of 2026.

Danish exchange student Caspian Eshtelaq has enjoyed spending his time in the United States playing football, wrestling and soccer. During his time in Aurora, he has also discovered an interest in business and plans to study it when he attends college back in Denmark. In a few weeks he will graduate with the AHS Class of 2026.

Eshtelaq finds his place in Aurora

Elizabeth Hunter
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Inspired by the stories of his older brother’s exchange year in Aurora, Danish student Caspian Eshtelaq arrived in Nebraska ready to see for himself what life in small-town America had to offer—and quickly found more than he expected.
Cale Carson has his trailer loaded with hay bales ready to be taken to Farnham area on March 25 to help feed cattle left hungry by the Cottonwood Fire which burned up thousands of acres of prairie grass earlier in the month.

Cale Carson has his trailer loaded with hay bales ready to be taken to Farnham area on March 25 to help feed cattle left hungry by the Cottonwood Fire which burned up thousands of acres of prairie grass earlier in the month.

Area producers donate hay for Sandhills fire relief

News Staff
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
With thousands of acres of late winter forage in western Nebraska having been destroyed by the recent wildfires at multiple locations, help has been on the way in the form of hay donations from around the region and even from right here in Hamilton County.
Pictured from left are, Cooper Kuck, Reese Danielson, Kate Most and Maddox Eastman.

Pictured from left are, Cooper Kuck, Reese Danielson, Kate Most and Maddox Eastman.

GADC hosts Easter Egg Hunt

News Staff
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
The Giltner Area Development Corporation (GADC) hosted its annual Easter Egg Hunt at City Park on Saturday. The winners, selected from four different age groups participating, included, from left, Cooper Kuck, Reese Danielson, Kate Most and Maddox Eastman.
Virginia wildlife rescuer Tommy White and Edgerton raptor specialist Deb Miller pose with bald eagle Aquilla in front of the Explorit Center’s new raptor trailer. White had just delivered a barred owl and red-shouldered hawk rescued by his organization to add to the Edgerton’s raptor education program.

Virginia wildlife rescuer Tommy White and Edgerton raptor specialist Deb Miller pose with bald eagle Aquilla in front of the Explorit Center’s new raptor trailer. White had just delivered a barred owl and red-shouldered hawk rescued by his organization to add to the Edgerton’s raptor education program.

Hoo, hoo, who you gonna call?

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
“You’re gonna be an awesome teacher,” wildlife rescuer Tommy White said gently to the big barred owl he had just delivered to the Edgerton Explorit Center.
Aurora Fire/EMS

Aurora Fire/EMS

City council meeting moved to Bremer Center

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Tuesday's Aurora City Council meeting, which includes a planned review of a proposal to consider privatizing Emergency Medical Services, has been moved to the Bremer Center, beginning at 7:30 p.m.