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Judge Paul Hay offers Hampton students some tips during last year’s FFA exhibit show. Members pictured from left are Maya Lewis, Kelsey Mersch, Landon Parsley and MaKenna Clinch.

Judge Paul Hay offers Hampton students some tips during last year’s FFA exhibit show. Members pictured from left are Maya Lewis, Kelsey Mersch, Landon Parsley and MaKenna Clinch.

State Fair hoping to get back to normal

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
The Nebraska State Fair is set to unfold this week just 20 miles down the road in Grand Island, where organizers are hoping for a return to normal in 2021.
The sign posted on Highway 34 currently shows Aurora’s population at 4,479, though that is dated information. According to the 2020 Census, a tract including the city shows a population of 4,926. The report did not specifically break out Aurora’s total population.

The sign posted on Highway 34 currently shows Aurora’s population at 4,479, though that is dated information. According to the 2020 Census, a tract including the city shows a population of 4,926. The report did not specifically break out Aurora’s total population.

Census: County grew 3.3 percent

Cheyenne Rowe
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Population change is a guarantee over time and with the completion of the 2020 United States Census, the window has been opened to look into local population changes, growth and decline, across Hamilton County.
Hamilton County will now be served by two ladder trucks at the Aurora and Giltner fire departments. Aurora passed off its green 65-foot ladder truck to Giltner Fire Chief Brad Consbruck (left) last week, and Aurora Fire Chief Tom Cox welcomed a 100-foot ladder truck to the Aurora fleet.

Hamilton County will now be served by two ladder trucks at the Aurora and Giltner fire departments. Aurora passed off its green 65-foot ladder truck to Giltner Fire Chief Brad Consbruck (left) last week, and Aurora Fire Chief Tom Cox welcomed a 100-foot ladder truck to the Aurora fleet.

Aurora, Giltner welcome ladder trucks

Cheyenne Rowe
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Thanks to conversation between friends and a special program offered by the Nebraska (and U.S) Forest Service, both the Aurora and Giltner volunteer fire departments received new pieces to their firefighting fleet. The exchange took place Aug. 18, much to the appreciation of both departments.
The valuation of property in Hamilton County rose by approximately 1 percent for the second straight year, with ag land values holding steady across the board.

The valuation of property in Hamilton County rose by approximately 1 percent for the second straight year, with ag land values holding steady across the board.

Valuation up 1 percent to $2.93 billion total

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
The valuation of property in Hamilton County rose by approximately 1 percent for the second straight year, with ag land values holding steady across the board. Hamilton County Assessor Pat Sandberg posted the 2021 valuation totals for all taxing subdivisions last week, noting an increase of $31.
Monday’s Hamilton County Board of Commissioners meeting was greeted by a full house.

Monday’s Hamilton County Board of Commissioners meeting was greeted by a full house.

County signs proclamation on National Heritage Area

Cheyenne Rowe
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Monday’s Hamilton County Board of Commissioners meeting was greeted by a full house, both via Zoom and in-person at the courthouse.  The topic of discussion that brought so many?
The Aurora Aquatic Center in Streeter Park had a successful season in 2021, hosting an average of 265 people per day.

The Aurora Aquatic Center in Streeter Park had a successful season in 2021, hosting an average of 265 people per day.

Aurora swimming pool reports busy year

News Staff
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
The Aurora swimming pool ended the 2021 season with solid numbers, reporting average daily attendance of 265 people. Co-manager Eli Cerveny reported high interest this year in swimming lessons, with 522 private lessons and 119 group lessons taught during the summer.
The Template Craft building on Aurora's downtown square.

The Template Craft building on Aurora's downtown square.

Reveal planned for Temple Craft Renovation Project

Kurt Johnson
Friday, August 20, 2021
A trio of local entrepreneurs will reveal their vision Saturday to bring an historic structure on the downtown square back to life, sharing the story of how and why the Temple Craft Building was built in 1889 and why they think some of those initial goals are relevant still today.
Law enforcement was dispatched to Pizza Hut to investigate a possible bomb threat on Aug. 19.

Law enforcement was dispatched to Pizza Hut to investigate a possible bomb threat on Aug. 19.

Law enforcement responds to bomb threat

News Staff
Friday, August 20, 2021
According to Aurora Police Chief Paul Graham, APD was dispatched to Pizza Hut in Aurora in the early evening of Aug. 19 to investigate a possible bomb threat. Law enforcement entered the building, found nothing suspicious and the situation was cleared. Pizza Hut resumed business.
Hampton Public School staff members donned purple shirts for Friday’s event and volunteered to serve up free barbecue for a crowd estimated at more than 500 people.

Hampton Public School staff members donned purple shirts for Friday’s event and volunteered to serve up free barbecue for a crowd estimated at more than 500 people.

This week's top stories

News Staff
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
TDLC Cruise Night hits milestone The 20th anniversary of the TDLC Cruise Night in Hampton drew a large crowd that nearly doubled the size of the community for a few hours time Friday, a welcome site to event founder Roger Bamesberger.
Sirens in Hamilton County will now be sounding for 80 mph straight-line winds.

Sirens in Hamilton County will now be sounding for 80 mph straight-line winds.

New guidelines shared for emergency siren use

Cheyenne Rowe
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
In combination with a change put in place by the National Weather Service, the sirens in towns across Hamilton County will now be sounding for more than tornado warnings. “We’ve had some policies, or guidelines, throughout the years,” Hamilton County Emergency Manager Kirt Smith explained.