This week's featured stories

  • Josh Weedin opens his HAWK egg on the first day of school at Hampton to learn he is a member of the Honorable Family along with other elementary and high school students as well. At left is Melori Bennett and at right is Cole Haberer.
    Josh Weedin opens his HAWK egg on the first day of school at Hampton to learn he is a member of the Honorable Family along with other elementary and high school students as well. At left is Melori Bennett and at right is Cole Haberer.
  • These vintage gas station signs will be allowed to stay on private property in Marquette under a new amendment approved by the county's Joint Planning and Zoning Commission.
    These vintage gas station signs will be allowed to stay on private property in Marquette under a new amendment approved by the county's Joint Planning and Zoning Commission.
  • Infant teacher aid Alisha Lawson holds and plays with Haisley Scheierman-Hradecky in the Hampton Daycare Center’s “Hawk’s Nest,” the room for children between 6 weeks and 18 months of age.
    Infant teacher aid Alisha Lawson holds and plays with Haisley Scheierman-Hradecky in the Hampton Daycare Center’s “Hawk’s Nest,” the room for children between 6 weeks and 18 months of age.
  • U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts delivers remarks Monday evening following the Hamilton County Corngrowers Association’s annual seed corn plot tour east of Aurora. Ricketts spoke for about 25 minutes at a dinner at the Leadership Center following the tour.
    U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts delivers remarks Monday evening following the Hamilton County Corngrowers Association’s annual seed corn plot tour east of Aurora. Ricketts spoke for about 25 minutes at a dinner at the Leadership Center following the tour.
  • Sarah Mead is one of many Hamilton County residents showing 4-H and FFA critters at this year’s State Fair.
    Sarah Mead is one of many Hamilton County residents showing 4-H and FFA critters at this year’s State Fair.

    The first day of school on Aug. 14 held an extra surprise for elementary students at Hampton Public School. They learned which of the four HAWK Families they will be a part of starting this year. Students in grades 7-12 at Hampton were formed into family groups about three years ago, but this summer, school leadership decided to bring the grade school kids into the families as a way of creating a better social environment within the building that houses all 12 grades plus kindergarten.

    An amendment to add “yard art” to the Village of Marquette’s sign regulations was approved by the Hamilton County Joint Planning and Zoning Commission last week. The amendment, if approved by the Marquette Village Board during its meeting Sept. 9, will allow property owners to display vintage signs on their property if they are used as yard art. The proposal arose out of a controversy over vintage gas station signs on property owned by Scotty’s Bar owner Randy Beckman.

    The Hampton Daycare Center officially opened its doors to families on Monday, Aug. 12, just one week after the target opening date. With 14 children now within its walls, the former Hampton Lutheran School has come back to life with lively atmosphere. It’s a welcomed change for daycare assistant director Jenna Hansen. “I love being around kids and working in this daycare for the past few months with no kids in it has just felt so strange,” Hansen said.

    U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts made a stop in Aurora this week, attending the dinner that followed the annual Hamilton County Corn Growers Association seed plot tour just east of town along Highway 34. Ricketts spoke to a group of more than 100 farmers and seed corn distributors at the Leadership Center. Earlier, participants braved 95 degree August heat to visit the seed plot and learn how various seed varieties were performing.

    The Nebraska State Fair is in full swing in Grand Island and Hamilton County folks are taking full advantage of it. Numerous residents have livestock and other entries on display at the fair and local school children are visiting “Nebraska's Largest Classroom” on field trips. The fair runs through Monday at Fonner Park. You'll find a full page of pictures from the fair on page A9 of this week's print or e-edition of ANR.  

    Find details on these stories and more, plus a full section of sports news previewing the fall sports season at local high schools, in the print or e-edition of this week's ANR!