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Phillips Memorial Hall, seen here at the community celebration on July 3, is being sold to the Phillips Community Foundation. The decision to sell the property and a nearby village storage building to the foundation was made at the July 11 meeting of the village board.

Phillips Memorial Hall, seen here at the community celebration on July 3, is being sold to the Phillips Community Foundation. The decision to sell the property and a nearby village storage building to the foundation was made at the July 11 meeting of the village board.

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Phillips Memorial Hall sale gets nod

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Three months after it was first discussed in a meeting of the village board, the sale of the Phillips Memorial Hall to the Phillips Community Foundation was approved at the July meeting of the board July 11.
The Aurora 4R School Board is preparing for the next step in creating a new strategic plan for the district.

The Aurora 4R School Board is preparing for the next step in creating a new strategic plan for the district.

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4R strategic plan to focus on four main priority issues

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Aurora Supt. Jody Phillips summarized some of the findings of five community discussions last week, advising the 4R School Board of what he views as priority issues and the next steps in the district’s strategic planning process he hopes will address those needs.
County board members are considering plans to renovate the Hamilton County Courthouse.

County board members are considering plans to renovate the Hamilton County Courthouse.

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Berggren back for round two with county board

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Restoration Architect Jerry Berggren made the trip from his office in Lincoln Monday morning for a second sit-down meeting with the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners within a month.
This map shows the development being planned on Hampton's western edge.

This map shows the development being planned on Hampton's western edge.

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Grant will boost Hampton project

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
A USDA federal grant application process which began in January has resulted in the Village of Hampton being awarded a $148,000 Rural Development Block Grant that will mean major strides forward for the town’s new West B Subdivision project.
Alan and Dottie Anderson pose for a photo with Janelle and Regan Bairstow in Perth, Australia, one of many stops they made during a six-week trip to southwest Australia.

Alan and Dottie Anderson pose for a photo with Janelle and Regan Bairstow in Perth, Australia, one of many stops they made during a six-week trip to southwest Australia.

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Kicking off retirement with trip of a lifetime to Australia

Kurt Johnson
Friday, July 14, 2023
Six months after retiring on the same day, Alan and Dottie Anderson ventured down under earlier this year, where they experienced the trip of a lifetime to southwestern Australia.The destination for their six-week adventure wasn’t the typical tourist attractions in Sydney or along the Barrier Reef.
Flames erupt from a vehicle in the driveway of an L Street home Friday morning in Aurora.

Flames erupt from a vehicle in the driveway of an L Street home Friday morning in Aurora.

Fire destroys L Street garage

Ron Burtz
Friday, July 14, 2023
A fire at 611 L St. in Aurora destroyed an attached garage and the car in the driveway Friday morning. Firefighters were able to knock down the fire in the garage fairly quickly, preventing it from spreading to the house. Watch for more details in this week's ANR.Click the link to watch fire video.
Pictured above, Lauren Sandmeier figured out how to use a microscope to take a closer look at a dragonfly nymph.

Pictured above, Lauren Sandmeier figured out how to use a microscope to take a closer look at a dragonfly nymph.

This week's top stories

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
SOAR fun beginsMonday was Day 1 in this year’s Summer Orientation About Rivers (SOAR) adventure, which will include two consecutive weeks of Prairie Plains Resource Institute’s annual camps.
Aurora will field a boys baseball team next spring after the board approved the new program Monday night.

Aurora will field a boys baseball team next spring after the board approved the new program Monday night.

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Batter up for 4R baseball

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Having struck out in three previous attempts to be added to the Aurora school district’s spring sports roster over the past 20 years, baseball recorded a clean hit Monday night.Supt.
Hampton subdivision approved.

Hampton subdivision approved.

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New Hampton subdivision a go

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
In yet another marathon meeting for the Hampton Village Board on Monday night, the body made significant progress on a joint project between the village and the Hampton Community Development Corporation (HCDC) to develop a new residential subdivision and industrial property on the town’s west side.
A group of boys make creative play using the hula hoops on the street in front of the bandstand at Friday’s opening night of Bands on the Bricks on the Aurora town square. Ricky Lee and the Fabulous 50s opened the 2023 season of the popular summer festival.

A group of boys make creative play using the hula hoops on the street in front of the bandstand at Friday’s opening night of Bands on the Bricks on the Aurora town square. Ricky Lee and the Fabulous 50s opened the 2023 season of the popular summer festival.

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Bands on the Bricks ‘23 launches with Richie Lee

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
The cobblestones of Aurora’s downtown courthouse square got a good washing when a pouring rain deluged the area Friday morning, but less than 12 hours later the weather was pristine for opening night of Bands on the Bricks on those very same stones.