This week's top stories

  • The Village of Phillips will celebrate on the eve of Independence Day
    The Village of Phillips will celebrate on the eve of Independence Day
  • Through the family trunk Terri and Dave Mabon had discovered on his family’s farm, they discovered ribbons and pins that Dave’s great-grandfather Joseph Littlefield earned during his service in the Civil War.
    Through the family trunk Terri and Dave Mabon had discovered on his family’s farm, they discovered ribbons and pins that Dave’s great-grandfather Joseph Littlefield earned during his service in the Civil War.
  • When she isn’t working remotely from her home in North Platte, Sarah (Shirley) Smidt travels to her office/branch in Jersey Village, Texas near Houston, sometimes accompanied by her two children, Nash and Nova.
    When she isn’t working remotely from her home in North Platte, Sarah (Shirley) Smidt travels to her office/branch in Jersey Village, Texas near Houston, sometimes accompanied by her two children, Nash and Nova.
  • Joel Miller accepts the Golden Owl Award, recognizing him as Nebraska’s top ag educator.
    Joel Miller accepts the Golden Owl Award, recognizing him as Nebraska’s top ag educator.
  • Yvonne (Ross) Haun and Ross Beins will be inducted into the Aurora High School Hall of Fame on Friday.
    Yvonne (Ross) Haun and Ross Beins will be inducted into the Aurora High School Hall of Fame on Friday.
  • Baylor Scheierman signs autographs for boys participating in the Husky Hoops Factory summer camp earlier this month in the very same gym where he started his basketball career. Camp t-shirts were handed out and Scheierman signed both the t-shirts and the boys’ athletic shoes.
    Baylor Scheierman signs autographs for boys participating in the Husky Hoops Factory summer camp earlier this month in the very same gym where he started his basketball career. Camp t-shirts were handed out and Scheierman signed both the t-shirts and the boys’ athletic shoes.
  • Hordville native Agnes Andreason recently celebrated her 100th birthday by writing a poem.
    Hordville native Agnes Andreason recently celebrated her 100th birthday by writing a poem.

    The sixth annual pre-Independence Day celebration at the Phillips Memorial Hall is going to light up the night sky next Thursday. Preparations for the 3rd of July celebration have been going well, according to events coordinator Penny Evans. For all the times and events see the story on Page A3 of this week's ANR.

    Tracing the roots of her family tree became a fulfilling passion for Phillips resident Terri Mabon, who was named 2025 Nebraska Genealogist of the Year at the state Genealogical Society annual conference in late April. “I was honored and humbled to receive an award for doing something I love to do,” Mabon said. “Learning about our ancestors, connecting with distant relatives, connection with other genealogists has been very rewarding.”

    For developing her leadership skills, Aurora High School graduate Sarah (Shirley) Smidt says she couldn’t have found a better place to work than with her current employer. Now living in North Platte, Smidt works remotely as the business development manager for the Gulf Region for Wesco, a national provider of business-to-business distribution, logistics services and supply chain solutions. To read about Smidt's journey from AHS track star to business leader see the latest edition of “Where Are They Now?” in this week's ANR.

    After 22 years in the classroom, 19 of them at Hampton, Joel Miller has been awarded one of the top honors for agriculture educators. Miller was named the 2025 Nebraska Golden Owl Award recipient, an honor given to one outstanding ag teacher each year, along with a $3,000 cash prize. Selected from a field of 47 nominees and six statewide finalists, the award recognizes Miller’s dedication to student success, hands-on learning and leadership in agricultural education. “It’s kind of neat,” Miller said. “I hadn’t prepared anything. I was just happy to be nominated.”

    Two members of the Aurora High School Class of 1955 will be inducted into the Aurora Alumni Hall of Fame during A’ROR’N Days festivities this weekend. Yvonne (Ross) Haun, now of Boulder, Colo. and Ross Beins who still lives in Aurora will be honored during the intermission of the band concert on the southwest corner of the square on Friday evening.

    Baylor Scheierman still remembers the first time someone asked him for an autograph. Oddly enough, it was after a freshman basketball game the former Aurora Husky played at Boone Central. Scheierman didn’t look anything like the sizable NBA athlete he’s grown into in the decade since that moment. But, the Scheierman flair was already there. Scheierman was approached after the game by someone with a napkin, asking for his autograph. Since that moment, Scheierman has signed thousands of autographs for fans on anything from t-shirts to posters, basketball shoes and now his own trading cards.

    While longtime Hordville native Agnes Andreasen reached a sentimental milestone of turning 100 years old on Saturday, May 25, it was just a regular birthday she was able to spend with her loved ones. Having spent most of her life writing poems for herself and her family, Andreasen wrote a poem reflecting on the life she has lived.

    For these stories and more, plus the full rundown of this week's A'ROR'N Days schedule, see the print or e-editions of the Aurora News-Register.