This week's top stories

  • Christian Resource Center’s Travel Camp has now impacted three generations of campers who have gone on trips to get in touch with nature and grow closer together in faith. Travel Camp has become a beloved family tradition for the family of Caroline Epp (center). Current and former Epp family travel campers include, from left, Mercedez and Alexis McMillan, Epp, Brittany Rice and Emalee Kumke.
    Christian Resource Center’s Travel Camp has now impacted three generations of campers who have gone on trips to get in touch with nature and grow closer together in faith. Travel Camp has become a beloved family tradition for the family of Caroline Epp (center). Current and former Epp family travel campers include, from left, Mercedez and Alexis McMillan, Epp, Brittany Rice and Emalee Kumke.
  • Bill Gowen stands next his red 1970 Dodge Challenger in his garage in Aurora. He originally bought and modified the car in high school and is excited to restore it in coming days.
    Bill Gowen stands next his red 1970 Dodge Challenger in his garage in Aurora. He originally bought and modified the car in high school and is excited to restore it in coming days.
  • Retired late-model racer Kent Tucker (center) competed in the 2025 Legends of Lex race at the Dawson County Raceway in Lexington on Sunday, Aug. 10, where he placed second out of eight drivers. Tucker poses for a picture after the hot laps surrounded by his members of his family. Picture in front, from left, are daughters Jessica Rojewski and Megan Rathje. In back are daughter Libby Spotanski and Tucker’s wife, Laura.
    Retired late-model racer Kent Tucker (center) competed in the 2025 Legends of Lex race at the Dawson County Raceway in Lexington on Sunday, Aug. 10, where he placed second out of eight drivers. Tucker poses for a picture after the hot laps surrounded by his members of his family. Picture in front, from left, are daughters Jessica Rojewski and Megan Rathje. In back are daughter Libby Spotanski and Tucker’s wife, Laura.
  • Mason Buerer hugs his mother Vanessa goodbye before joining his class.
    Mason Buerer hugs his mother Vanessa goodbye before joining his class.
  • Scott Peters, one of three partners involved in the new Mid Air IT business venture in Aurora, stands by the Highway 14 sign by the new office location at 207 S. 16th St.
    Scott Peters, one of three partners involved in the new Mid Air IT business venture in Aurora, stands by the Highway 14 sign by the new office location at 207 S. 16th St.
  • The preliminary design for the new Extension building to be constructed by the county at the fairgrounds.
    The preliminary design for the new Extension building to be constructed by the county at the fairgrounds.
  • Susan Hamlin displays a copy of her first book, ‘Echoes of Mercy’ which she wrote about the couple’s many years of struggle in raising their adopted son, Nate. Her husband, Newton, a retired Bible translator, served as editor on the project.
    Susan Hamlin displays a copy of her first book, ‘Echoes of Mercy’ which she wrote about the couple’s many years of struggle in raising their adopted son, Nate. Her husband, Newton, a retired Bible translator, served as editor on the project.

    For nearly 50 years, the Christian Resource Center near Giltner has inspired hundreds of area youth  through its High School Travel Camp, and through those camps three generations of some local families have gotten to experience the beauty of nature and reflect on their faith through trips to places like the Grand Canyon and Banff National Park in Canada. This year’s trip took 57 campers including members of two area families to explore the wonders of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. For campers from the Ochsner and Epp families, the trip was part of a family tradition that goes back three generations. Read their stories on Page A9.

    ANR's back to school car care section is three pages of helpful tips and articles to help any car owner take care of their ride and get it ready for fall and winter driving. Leading off the section is the story of Aurora's Bill Gowen who is getting ready to restore his high school dating car – a  red 1970 Dodge Challenger A-66 that was one of his first mechanics projects. Read the story on Page B1 of this week's Aurora News-Register.

    Although it’s been 30 years since he was behind the wheel of a race car in an actual race, Nebraska hall of fame racer Kent Tucker of Hampton made a triumphant return to the track Aug. 10 and placed second. The longtime late-model racer, now 75, drove a familiar blue number 57 car ten laps in the Legends of Lex race at the Dawson County Raceway in Lexington against eight other veteran racers. The full story of Tucker's triumphant return to racing can be found on this week's ANR sports page (B7).

    Wednesday and Thursday last week were big days for students at area schools, as classes started for the 2025-26 school year. This week and next, ANR will feature photos of the tearful hugs and joyous welcomes the kids received.

    The proposed Extension headquarters building at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds took another step forward toward becoming a reality on Monday morning. At the regular meeting of the county commission, the board voted to move forward with a plan to construct a 50 by 100 foot steel building near the entrance to the fairgrounds despite stated concerns on the part of some members of the board about the cost of the facility. Read about the sometimes tense discussions that led up to the positive vote on Page A2 of this week's edition.

    An Iowa native with 25 years of experience as an IT managed service provider has teamed up with two former colleagues to launch a new business in Aurora called Mid Air IT. Scott Peters spoke excitedly last week about the decision to venture into the world of computer-based entrepreneurship, working both remotely and from a new office location in Suite B at 207 S. 16th St., just west of Griess Chiropractic. Learn more about Peters is providing this valuable service to local businesses on this week's business page (B12).

    At first glance it might appear as if the book “Echoes of Mercy” by first-time author Susan Hamlin of Aurora is about about a prodigal son. Indeed, the book is dedicated in part to her son Nate, his picture as a towheaded “jungle boy” in the wilds of Papua New Guinea adorns the dedication page and the first half of the book chronicles the many trials of raising him, from a turbulent childhood, to substance addiction and finally prison. However, Hamlin will tell anyone who asks, the book is really about the tender mercies and sovereignty of God and the lessons He taught her mother’s heart through years and years of loving and praying for her prodigal son. Learn more about this touching and inspirational book and get to know the author on Page A4 of this week's ANR.

    This week's print and e-editions of the Aurora News-Register are packed with news you need to know. Get them now!