This week's top stories

  • Hampton Booster Club plant sale co-chair Melissa Weedin and her daughter, 5th grader Makenna fill an order for plants on Saturday
    Hampton Booster Club plant sale co-chair Melissa Weedin and her daughter, 5th grader Makenna fill an order for plants on Saturday
  • The Edgerton Explorit Center will be hosting a dedication event from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday night with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:15 p.m. for Strobe Alley Reimagined. The display features new hands-on exhibits that reflect the life and legacy of Dr. Harold “Doc” Edgerton.
    The Edgerton Explorit Center will be hosting a dedication event from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday night with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:15 p.m. for Strobe Alley Reimagined. The display features new hands-on exhibits that reflect the life and legacy of Dr. Harold “Doc” Edgerton.
  • This photo, taken in Aurora by Triniti Jensen, is featured in Junebug Wedding Magazine’s Best of the Best engagement photo collection, which includes images taken all over the world.
    This photo, taken in Aurora by Triniti Jensen, is featured in Junebug Wedding Magazine’s Best of the Best engagement photo collection, which includes images taken all over the world.
  • Members of the Youth Engaged in Philanthropy program’s senior class cohort include, front from left: Kennedy Kleinschmidt, Piper Oswald, Morgan Calkins, Jasmine Hansen, Macy Miller, Emma Ellis-Sack. Back from left: Jake Cattau, Parker Smith, Bryce Joseph, Kash Majerus, Keelan Phillips.
    Members of the Youth Engaged in Philanthropy program’s senior class cohort include, front from left: Kennedy Kleinschmidt, Piper Oswald, Morgan Calkins, Jasmine Hansen, Macy Miller, Emma Ellis-Sack. Back from left: Jake Cattau, Parker Smith, Bryce Joseph, Kash Majerus, Keelan Phillips.
  • Staff Sergeant Kent Moore served 23 years in the U.S. Army and now works as a government contractor at Fort Campbell, Ky., repairing military and commercial equipment in support of the base.
    Staff Sergeant Kent Moore served 23 years in the U.S. Army and now works as a government contractor at Fort Campbell, Ky., repairing military and commercial equipment in support of the base.
  • Roxie Obermier has been working with special education students at Aurora for 22 years and has spent the last 17 years as Aurora Middle School’s special education teacher.
    Roxie Obermier has been working with special education students at Aurora for 22 years and has spent the last 17 years as Aurora Middle School’s special education teacher.

    Hampton’s Community Auditorium was a busy place Saturday morning, April 26 for the conclusion of the Hampton Booster Club’s annual spring plant sale. Hundreds of people showed up to pick up the plants they had ordered and cash-and-carry plants were available for sale as well. This year’s plant sale, the 18th in Hampton and the third since the booster club took the fundraiser over from the former Lutheran School, brought in more than $41,000 through the sale of over 5,000 plants.

    The Edgerton Explorit Center in Aurora is inviting the community to its celebration of Strobe Alley Reimagined Thursday night from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Since its establishment in 1995, the Edgerton exhibit has illuminated the work of Harold “Doc” Edgerton, a scientist, researcher, photographer and the museum’s namesake. “We want everybody to realize what a great man he was,” said Mary Molliconi, executive director. “It’s a living legacy, and to have the family be proud of what the center represents is our responsibility to make that a great place.” See the story and before and after photos of the exhibit on Page 1 of this week's ANR.

    Wherever she goes, in her mind’s eye Triniti Jensen is looking at life through a camera lens. Whether driving, exploring a new venue, or just walking around her hometown of Aurora, she’s constantly thinking about how she could adapt the lighting and environment around her to help create wedding day photos that are both authentic and timeless. Fourteen years after first picking up a camera and launching her own business, called Trin Jensen Photography, the self-described “solopreneuer” is being recognized as one of the best in her field, earning accolades in Nebraska and beyond. The full story of Jensen's journey can be found on this week's Business Page (A6).

    Youth Engaged in Philanthropy celebrated its second year of preparing the next generation of local philanthropic leaders with a capstone ceremony Sunday afternoon. Members of the first two YEP cohort classes were joined by their parents and members of the community for an hour-long program at the Bremer Center which included the announcement of several first-time YEP-generated grants.

    In his 23-year career in the U.S. Army, Aurora native and Staff Sergeant (SSG) Kent Moore has taken pride in his work at Fort Campbell, Ky., with the goal of repairing military equipment back to mint condition. “I’ve always taken pride in doing my job to the best of my ability,” Moore said. “When repairing equipment for soldiers or even the civilian workforce, I always wanted to give them a good product that will help make them successful in their mission.”

    Roxie Obermier has amassed thousands of photos over her 22 years of working with special education students at Aurora Public Schools. She has spent the past 17 years as the middle school special education teacher and also ran the PEAK Success Center and 18-plus/young adults program. Now, as she looks forward to her retirement this spring, Obermier is overjoyed to see her former students who have become active community members.

    Find these stories plus all the latest area high school sports action and our annual Making the Grade section honoring the area's top graduates in the print or e-edition of this week's ANR.