News

2025: Reviewing the year in business

2025: Reviewing the year in business

2025: A year of constant change in business

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Flipping through the News-Register’s weekly business page, we found numerous stories of business start-ups and expansion, as well as a few challenges. As always, the one constant is change, and we recorded plenty of that in 2025. What follows is a summary review of the year’s business news.* Jan.
These images of brain scans were provided by Dr. Daniel Amen with the Amen Clinics organization and show the deterioration from years of drug and alcohol abuse

These images of brain scans were provided by Dr. Daniel Amen with the Amen Clinics organization and show the deterioration from years of drug and alcohol abuse

COPE revives drug-prevention efforts as vaping, alcohol use raise alarms

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
A community-based drug and alcohol prevention group is working to re-establish itself in Hamilton County, having recognized some alarming trends in area substance abuse.
Salt will not be used to de-ice 1st Street during it's first winter of use

Salt will not be used to de-ice 1st Street during it's first winter of use

Winter treatment on 1st Street will not include salt

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Now that the 1st Street renovation project has been deemed substantially completed, city officials advise that treatment protocol during the winter months ahead will be limited in terms of handling snow and ice.
The angel's message to shepherds on that first Christmas rings down through the ages

The angel's message to shepherds on that first Christmas rings down through the ages

The Angel’s Message

News Staff
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Editor’s note: This Christmas meditation was discovered by News Editor Ron Burtz in a book of Christmas stories, poems and other writings borrowed from the Rapid City Public Library over 40 years ago.
The Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf, Austria, birthplace of the beloved Christmas carol, ‘Silent Night.’

The Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf, Austria, birthplace of the beloved Christmas carol, ‘Silent Night.’

The ancient story of ‘Silent Night’

News Staff
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Editor’s note: The following origin story of the beloved Christmas carol “Silent Night” was sent out over the wires of the United Press International on Dec. 21, 1983. In a little Austrian village, long ago, a priest sat staring out into the darkness.
Simeon understood that God’s Messiah did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a sacrifice for sin

Simeon understood that God’s Messiah did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a sacrifice for sin

Simeon’s Encounter

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
WaitingThe old man sat in the morning sun letting its radiant warmth soak out the chill in his tired bones. He had left the house in the cool pre-dawn hours and even the long climb up the temple mount had not been enough to warm his blood.
Agnes Andreasen, a native of Hordville, celebrated her 100th birthday in May, and this year wrote her 30th Christmas poem to family and friends. She was kind enough to allow ANR to share it with our readers.

Agnes Andreasen, a native of Hordville, celebrated her 100th birthday in May, and this year wrote her 30th Christmas poem to family and friends. She was kind enough to allow ANR to share it with our readers.

Centenarian Agnes Andreasen shares her 30th Christmas poem

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
From her very first Christmas poem shared with family and friends and talking about events on her Hordville farm in 1995, until this year, in which she celebrated her 100th birthday, Hordville native Agnes Andreasen has been waxing poetic each Christmas season for 30 years now.
Outside of the Christmas season, Wilbrand has made custom jewelry for high school and college sports. A frequent design Wilbrand has made is husky pawprints for Aurora students, including for her nieces who are involved in sports.

Outside of the Christmas season, Wilbrand has made custom jewelry for high school and college sports. A frequent design Wilbrand has made is husky pawprints for Aurora students, including for her nieces who are involved in sports.

Wilbrand brings unique brand of handmade clay jewelry

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Lincoln resident and Wee Wisdom preschool teacher Britni Wilbrand has been rolling up some holiday cheer as she crafts new Christmas polymer clay earrings and key chains through her business, Branch Clay Company.On Nov.
Disabled veterans in Nebraska may qualify for a license fee exemption

Disabled veterans in Nebraska may qualify for a license fee exemption

Irons advises disabled vets of new benefit

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
A new benefit will become available for disabled Nebraska veterans after the first of the year, and Hamilton County Veterans Service Officer Mike Irons wants to make sure veterans are not only aware of it, but take the necessary steps to make sure they can receive it.
Aurora City Council news

Aurora City Council news

City council establishes master schedule of fees

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
The Aurora City Council met for the final time in 2025 last week, addressing a relatively long agenda involving a new master schedule of fees and charges for various city-related services, new regulations for mobile food vendors as well as pay applications and change orders related to the 1st...