News

Barricades were put up on the north end of Hwy 34 in Aurora, marking the beginning of a summer-long renovation project on 1st Street.

Barricades were put up on the north end of Hwy 34 in Aurora, marking the beginning of a summer-long renovation project on 1st Street.

1st Street closed at Hwy 34

Kurt Johnson
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
1st Street is now closed in Aurora at the Highway 34 intersection on the north end of town. Prep work has begun for a summer-long renovation project that will widen, lower and replace the street all the way to the railroad tracks.
Hampton’s nine month old Loading Chute restaurant outlasted 63 competing restaurants in central Nebraska to be crowned ‘Chompion’ of the 2025 Tournament of Taste competition.

Hampton’s nine month old Loading Chute restaurant outlasted 63 competing restaurants in central Nebraska to be crowned ‘Chompion’ of the 2025 Tournament of Taste competition.

Loading Chute crowned ‘Chompion’ in Tournament of Taste

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
The new Loading Chute restaurant has had a great deal of success and publicity in the less than one year it has been open in Hampton.
Pre-GIVE set to begin Monday, April 21

Pre-GIVE set to begin Monday, April 21

Go Big GIVE event to aid 31 nonprofits in county

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Nonprofit organizations across Hamilton, Hall, Howard and Merrick counties will take part in the 12th annual Go Big GIVE online campaign opening with pre-GIVE Monday, April 21, and continuing until the one-day fundraising event on May 1.
The proposed layout of the new Extension building to be built at the fairgrounds

The proposed layout of the new Extension building to be built at the fairgrounds

County board selects criteria developer for Extension building

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
“It’s an important step,” commented Hamilton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Rich Nelson on Monday morning as the board approved the hiring of a Beatrice man to serve as the criteria developer who will oversee the design and construction of a new building at the fairgrounds to house the...
Nancy Wheeler (right) has spent 75 years of her life collecting spoons from around the country and the globe. She gets help maintaining the collection from her granddaughter, Gracie Wheeler-James (left).

Nancy Wheeler (right) has spent 75 years of her life collecting spoons from around the country and the globe. She gets help maintaining the collection from her granddaughter, Gracie Wheeler-James (left).

Wheeler home a museum of spoons from all over

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
More than 1,300 spoons from all over the world decorate the wall of Nancy Wheeler’s home in Aurora, the fruit of a collection process that has spanned more than seven decades.
Sandi VanWormer was all smiles behind the concession stand during this weekend’s Swingin’ for Sandi softball tournament. VanWormer was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago and said she is feeling good now.

Sandi VanWormer was all smiles behind the concession stand during this weekend’s Swingin’ for Sandi softball tournament. VanWormer was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago and said she is feeling good now.

Softball tournament benefits Hamilton County Cancer Fund

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
The lady behind the concession stand was the guest of honor for this weekend’s Swingin’ for Sandi softball tournament in Aurora, and the smile on her face said it all.
Aurora City Hall

Aurora City Hall

City: Downtown improvement project extended by one year

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
City leaders were advised last week that a request to extend the Aurora Downtown Revitalization Project by a year has been approved.City Administrator Rick Melcher made the announcement during a brief city council meeting April 8, announcing that he had received a letter earlier that day.
Aurora High School has a higher percentage of students involved in multiple activities (such as theater as seen here) than most of the schools in Nebraska.

Aurora High School has a higher percentage of students involved in multiple activities (such as theater as seen here) than most of the schools in Nebraska.

AHS recognized for students involvement in activities

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Aurora school administrators reported a busy time for activities with just a month left in the school year, though the board faced a light agenda Monday during its regular monthly meeting.
Sen. Loren Lippincott sits in his desk on the floor of the Nebraska Senate.

Sen. Loren Lippincott sits in his desk on the floor of the Nebraska Senate.

Seeing how the sausage is made in Lincoln

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
While there is disagreement over who said it first, the statement is generally acknowledged to be true: “Laws are like sausages. Better not to see them being made.” To paraphrase, the process of crafting legislation is a messy (and in some ways distasteful) business.