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For two years, sisters Heather Nolan (left) and Mandee Lade have been turning their family hobby into a newfound business, R.H. (Ryan and Heather) Crafts, with Nolan’s husband, Ryan, assisting with the woodwork for the trees and flags pictured below.

For two years, sisters Heather Nolan (left) and Mandee Lade have been turning their family hobby into a newfound business, R.H. (Ryan and Heather) Crafts, with Nolan’s husband, Ryan, assisting with the woodwork for the trees and flags pictured below.

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Grand Island sisters craft some Christmas cheer

Elizabeth Hunter
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Two sisters from Grand Island have brought their family hobby of crafting to local craft shows, just in time for the season of giving.Heather Nolan, who works at Aurora Boardworks in Aurora, and Mandee Lade started selling wooden Christmas trees and decor as R.H.
Alicia Hock, a Giltner area native who now lives in Cairo, displays some of her soughdough bread served up as part of her new Cowboy KT Creations venture.

Alicia Hock, a Giltner area native who now lives in Cairo, displays some of her soughdough bread served up as part of her new Cowboy KT Creations venture.

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Hock finds her niche with sourdough

Kurt Johnson
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
There’s something about sourdough bread that Alicia Hock finds fascinating, as well as delicious.So much so that the Giltner area native launched a home-based business earlier this year which allows her to stay home baking up a recipe with equal parts motherhood, yeast, water and TLC.
Hamilton County Board of Commissioners news

Hamilton County Board of Commissioners news

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County signs off on Lac Denado replat

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners worked through most of its agenda quickly in its final meeting of 2024, moving up various agenda items as it waited for the clock to roll around to 9 a.m. for a scheduled public hearing.
Belgian Marie Brasseur, right, a foreign exchange student to Aurora in 1997-98, stands next to Deanna Powell who was one of her four host mothers during her year in the U.S.

Belgian Marie Brasseur, right, a foreign exchange student to Aurora in 1997-98, stands next to Deanna Powell who was one of her four host mothers during her year in the U.S.

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A great year, journey that ‘changed my whole life’

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
A customer of Deanna Powell’s Dream Designs Bridal Shop has finally returned to pick up a dress she purchased from the shop nearly two decades ago. That’s a story in itself, but it’s just a part of the much larger story of Marie Brasseur’s recent return visit to Aurora.
Following an inspection by a structural engineer, this 1893 opera house building in Hampton has been declared by the village board of trustees to be unsafe and a hazard to the public.

Following an inspection by a structural engineer, this 1893 opera house building in Hampton has been declared by the village board of trustees to be unsafe and a hazard to the public.

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Former Hampton Opera House declared unsafe

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
A crumbling building on Hampton’s downtown 3rd Street that has been under scrutiny by the village board has been determined to be unsafe and a hazard by a structural engineer.
Food pantry volunteers help distribute bags packed with ham or turkey and all the trimmings for a special meal during Saturday’s annual holiday food distribution event.

Food pantry volunteers help distribute bags packed with ham or turkey and all the trimmings for a special meal during Saturday’s annual holiday food distribution event.

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Holiday food pantry distribution warms hearts

Kurt Johnson
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
There was ice on the ground but warmth all around Saturday morning at the Hamilton County Food Pantry in Aurora.Individuals from 68 families braved the cold to collect their choice of ham or turkey to go along with bags filled with all the makings for a festive holiday meal.
Young Stetson Avina creates a photo op for mom Heather, posing as an elf shortly after sitting on Santa’s lap during the Come Home to Christmas celebration Nov. 30 in Aurora.

Young Stetson Avina creates a photo op for mom Heather, posing as an elf shortly after sitting on Santa’s lap during the Come Home to Christmas celebration Nov. 30 in Aurora.

Merry Christmas from ANR!

News Staff
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
It's here! Our biggest issue of the year with 52 big pages of holiday cheer, plus all the latest Hamilton County news, sports, commentary and ag news.
The owners, including brothers Todd, Tim and Trevor Vettel, along with newly-hired staff of the Scooters Coffee location in Central City were on hand Monday as barista training began for this week’s Friday opening.

The owners, including brothers Todd, Tim and Trevor Vettel, along with newly-hired staff of the Scooters Coffee location in Central City were on hand Monday as barista training began for this week’s Friday opening.

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Vettels to open 2nd Scooters Coffee location

Kurt Johnson
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Three years after planting a Scooters Coffee flag in Aurora, the Vettel family will open a second store this week 17 miles north in Central City.
This photo taken last Wednesday shows the Commercial Building nearly complete with only the upper trim steel and other trim pieces yet to be installed.

This photo taken last Wednesday shows the Commercial Building nearly complete with only the upper trim steel and other trim pieces yet to be installed.

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Fairgrounds Commercial Building in the midst of a major makeover

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
When the Commercial Building at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds reopens in a few days it will have a whole new look, which the Ag Society hopes will make it an even more attractive venue for both public and private events in the future.