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Simeon understood that God’s Messiah did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a sacrifice for sin

Simeon understood that God’s Messiah did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a sacrifice for sin

Simeon’s Encounter

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
WaitingThe old man sat in the morning sun letting its radiant warmth soak out the chill in his tired bones. He had left the house in the cool pre-dawn hours and even the long climb up the temple mount had not been enough to warm his blood.
Agnes Andreasen, a native of Hordville, celebrated her 100th birthday in May, and this year wrote her 30th Christmas poem to family and friends. She was kind enough to allow ANR to share it with our readers.

Agnes Andreasen, a native of Hordville, celebrated her 100th birthday in May, and this year wrote her 30th Christmas poem to family and friends. She was kind enough to allow ANR to share it with our readers.

Centenarian Agnes Andreasen shares her 30th Christmas poem

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
From her very first Christmas poem shared with family and friends and talking about events on her Hordville farm in 1995, until this year, in which she celebrated her 100th birthday, Hordville native Agnes Andreasen has been waxing poetic each Christmas season for 30 years now.
Outside of the Christmas season, Wilbrand has made custom jewelry for high school and college sports. A frequent design Wilbrand has made is husky pawprints for Aurora students, including for her nieces who are involved in sports.

Outside of the Christmas season, Wilbrand has made custom jewelry for high school and college sports. A frequent design Wilbrand has made is husky pawprints for Aurora students, including for her nieces who are involved in sports.

Wilbrand brings unique brand of handmade clay jewelry

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Lincoln resident and Wee Wisdom preschool teacher Britni Wilbrand has been rolling up some holiday cheer as she crafts new Christmas polymer clay earrings and key chains through her business, Branch Clay Company.On Nov.
Disabled veterans in Nebraska may qualify for a license fee exemption

Disabled veterans in Nebraska may qualify for a license fee exemption

Irons advises disabled vets of new benefit

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
A new benefit will become available for disabled Nebraska veterans after the first of the year, and Hamilton County Veterans Service Officer Mike Irons wants to make sure veterans are not only aware of it, but take the necessary steps to make sure they can receive it.
Aurora City Council news

Aurora City Council news

City council establishes master schedule of fees

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
The Aurora City Council met for the final time in 2025 last week, addressing a relatively long agenda involving a new master schedule of fees and charges for various city-related services, new regulations for mobile food vendors as well as pay applications and change orders related to the 1st...
Aurora City Hall

Aurora City Hall

Lackore named city council president

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Aurora City Councilman Paul Lackore was elected last week to serve as council president, the first of several action items on the council’s annual reorganization agenda.As the last action item in the last meeting of the year Dec.
A team of Hamilton County Food Pantry volunteers spent an hour Saturday morning giving out food baskets so that 175 people could have a Christmas dinner.

A team of Hamilton County Food Pantry volunteers spent an hour Saturday morning giving out food baskets so that 175 people could have a Christmas dinner.

Families benefit from food pantry Christmas dinner giveaway

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Although on the outside temperatures were in the teens and snow was falling, inside the Hamilton County Food Pantry it was pleasantly warm as families filed through to pick up food items being given away for a Christmas dinner on Saturday morning.
The new sidewalk on the east side of 1st Street was expanded from five feet to six feet, using funds provided through the Hamilton County Trails Committee.

The new sidewalk on the east side of 1st Street was expanded from five feet to six feet, using funds provided through the Hamilton County Trails Committee.

Trails committee explains Phase 1 plans

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
The Hamilton County Trails Committee updated plans last week for three projects in Phase 1 of a long-term development effort designed to expand and connect the trail network in Aurora and beyond.
Hampton City Hall

Hampton City Hall

Hampton mulls new 1 percent sales tax

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Looking for ways to help out Hampton’s new community daycare center and to fund the pipeline project that will bring water to the community from Aurora, the Hampton Village Board discussed the possibility of adding a city sales tax at its monthly meeting on Monday, Dec. 8.
The Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf, Austria, birthplace of the beloved Christmas carol, ‘Silent Night.’ Learn the story behind the writing of the song in this week's edition

The Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf, Austria, birthplace of the beloved Christmas carol, ‘Silent Night.’ Learn the story behind the writing of the song in this week's edition

ANR Celebrates the Season

News Staff
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
It's our biggest issue of the year! Our annual Christmas Edition is here, with six sections and nearly 50 pages of Christmas stories, poems, pictures and children's artwork and creative writings, plus season's greetings from around the area.