This week's featured stories

  • Michaela Robertshaw Garrett, left, and agent Celie Holliday stand in the newly remodeled offices of the M Robertshaw Insurance Agency, located on the east side of the downtown square.
    Michaela Robertshaw Garrett, left, and agent Celie Holliday stand in the newly remodeled offices of the M Robertshaw Insurance Agency, located on the east side of the downtown square.
  • Patent attorney Jeff Morris doesn’t usually work while sitting the deck of his home in Aurora, but he could. Because he works remotely with clients from around the nation, all he needs to do his job is his laptop, an internet connection and the materials in the backpack sitting at his feet.
    Patent attorney Jeff Morris doesn’t usually work while sitting the deck of his home in Aurora, but he could. Because he works remotely with clients from around the nation, all he needs to do his job is his laptop, an internet connection and the materials in the backpack sitting at his feet.
  • Work continues on Aurora's 1st Street reconstruction.
    Work continues on Aurora's 1st Street reconstruction.
  • Aurora's annual Art Walk is set for Sunday on the Courthouse Square.
    Aurora's annual Art Walk is set for Sunday on the Courthouse Square.
  • Several tables in the fellowship hall of the Aurora United Methodist Church display photos and other historical artifacts from the church’s 150-year history. At left above are photos of the original church buildings of the Evangelical United Brethren and First Methodist churches that united in the 1970s to form the current United Methodist congregation.
    Several tables in the fellowship hall of the Aurora United Methodist Church display photos and other historical artifacts from the church’s 150-year history. At left above are photos of the original church buildings of the Evangelical United Brethren and First Methodist churches that united in the 1970s to form the current United Methodist congregation.
  • Dr. Jason Ackerson (right) of the Soil Health Institute speaks on the profitability of adopting soil health practices at the recent Nebraska Soil Health Coalition Celebration of Learning near Bladen. Standing next to him is Grand Island area farmer Zach Mader, who has transitioned to a soil health management system over the past several years.
    Dr. Jason Ackerson (right) of the Soil Health Institute speaks on the profitability of adopting soil health practices at the recent Nebraska Soil Health Coalition Celebration of Learning near Bladen. Standing next to him is Grand Island area farmer Zach Mader, who has transitioned to a soil health management system over the past several years.
  • Angelica Tapia and Josh Arias work on the finishing touches of the mural last Tuesday afternoon.
    Angelica Tapia and Josh Arias work on the finishing touches of the mural last Tuesday afternoon.

    An insurance agency with roots in Hamilton County dating back more than 130 years has relocated to Aurora’s downtown square, creating a unique opportunity for fourth-generation owner Michaela Robertshaw Garrett. M Robertshaw Insurance Agency LLC, a name revised with the January sale to add Michaela’s initial at the front, officially opened its doors on the east side of the square last month and celebrated with an open house at the new location on Thursday. Having purchased the agency from her father, Jerry, effective Jan. 1, Robertshaw Garrett said she is excited to carry on the family legacy.

    Working remotely – sometimes referred to as “working from home” – has been around a lot longer than most people probably realize. There was a time when doctors and certain other professionals routinely worked out of their homes, and right here in Hamilton County, many of the early telephone operators had switchboards set up in their homes so they could connect calls day or night. However, a real revolution in remote work began in the 1990s with the advent and phenomenal growth of the worldwide web and it took off like a rocket during the COVID era beginning in 2020. And a growing number of people in our area, in one way or another, fit the description of remote workers. Readers will have the opportunity to meet some of them and hear about the benefits and challenges of work that involves a “4.6-second commute” to the workplace in a special section of this week's paper starting on Page A9.

    Work crews continue to make progress on 1st Street, this week pouring sidewalks and driveways on the south portion of the project. The plan is to continue working north toward Highway 34, with the initial completion date set for November. Stay up on the latest updates by reading the Aurora News-Register.

    The 12th annual Art Walk Aurora will be returning to the courthouse lawn this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Event coordinator Cindy McClellan shared her excitement for the artists who are bringing their paintings, photography, jewelry and more to the outdoor show. “We are excited to have more than 30 artists this year,” McClellan said. “We are also excited to have live music in both the morning and afternoon.”

    The Methodist Church in Aurora is celebrating multiple anniversaries this month. Not only is 2025 the 150th birthday of the two congregations that eventually merged to become the Aurora United Methodist Church, but Sept. 14 is also the 50th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone for the present home of the church at 1104 A Street. Read the fascinating story of the church's history and learn what church members are doing to celebrate in a feature story on Page A-4 of this week's paper.

    Most people would agree that a thick layer of healthy topsoil is good for the environment, good for human health and helps stop erosion, but producers also want to know, is it good for the financial bottom line of their farming operations? Dr. Jason Ackerson, a research soil scientist and program director for the Soil Health Institute, thinks so and his opinion is backed up by a recent study that was conducted on 20 farms in Southcentral Nebraska where soil health practices have been adopted in recent years. Learn more about the economic benefits to producers of adopting soil health principles in this week's Ag Life section starting on Page A7

    Finishing touches were made Tuesday afternoon at the Hamilton County Youth Center with a new outdoor mural painted by professional artists and kids throughout the community. It had been years in the making, according to Youth Center director Paul Johnson, with the board having decided to paint the new mural over the 2008 mural. Learn about the process of designing and completing the new mural in a story on Page A12 of this week's ANR.

    For these stories and more, plus the full lineup of local high school sports action, pick up the print or e-edition of this week's Aurora News-Register.