News

Peyton and Rylee Hofmann

Peyton and Rylee Hofmann

HPC to honor 2026 graduates Saturday

News Staff
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Thirteen High Plains Community Schools seniors will celebrate their next big milestone in life Saturday.The HPC class of 2026 commencement exercises will begin Saturday at 1 p.m. at the high school gym in Polk.
Nebraska's Primary Election is Tuesday, May 12

Nebraska's Primary Election is Tuesday, May 12

2026 Primary Election is Tuesday

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
With Nebraska’s Primary Election set to take place on Tuesday, Hamilton County Clerk Jill DeMers announced Monday morning that her office has already received a number of mail-in ballots and is making final preparations for the election.
The county board of commissioners gave its blessing for County Emergency Management Director Ben Crabtree to form a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to be administered under his office

The county board of commissioners gave its blessing for County Emergency Management Director Ben Crabtree to form a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to be administered under his office

County to form civilian emergency response team

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Hamilton County residents will soon have the opportunity to be part of a new organization being created to help out their neighbors in an emergency.
The Aurora City Council approved three projects last week proposed by the Aurora Downtown Revitalization Committee

The Aurora City Council approved three projects last week proposed by the Aurora Downtown Revitalization Committee

City OKs 3 downtown improvement projects

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
The Aurora City Council approved three projects last week proposed by the Aurora Downtown Revitalization Committee, which is seeking to allocate all of the remaining CDBG funds after applying to the state for a deadline extension from May to Dec. 31 of this year.
Karen (Bergen) Jackson (center) works as a NICU nurse and clinical educator at Children’s Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis. Pictured with Jackson, are her seven granddaughters whom she calls the light of her life. From left are: Zoe, Izzy, Adalynn, Sloane, Annalyse, Amellia and Abbigail.

Karen (Bergen) Jackson (center) works as a NICU nurse and clinical educator at Children’s Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis. Pictured with Jackson, are her seven granddaughters whom she calls the light of her life. From left are: Zoe, Izzy, Adalynn, Sloane, Annalyse, Amellia and Abbigail.

Jackson: “Our everyday is a parent’s once in a lifetime”

Elizabeth Hunter
Thursday, April 30, 2026
For nearly four decades, Karen (Bergen) Jackson has stood at the intersection of life’s most fragile beginnings and its most powerful moments, dedicating her career not only to caring for critically ill newborns but also to shaping the nurses who will carry that responsibility forward — blending...
Aurora native Nate Boerkircher holds a Jacksonville Jaguar hat in his hands, shortly after hearing his name called in the second round of the NFL draft. Pictured with him are his fiance, Paxtyn Dummer, and mother Sherry.

Aurora native Nate Boerkircher holds a Jacksonville Jaguar hat in his hands, shortly after hearing his name called in the second round of the NFL draft. Pictured with him are his fiance, Paxtyn Dummer, and mother Sherry.

From D1 walk-on to NFL

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Most people cannot stand and completely ignore spam callers these days. It was a really good thing Nate Boerkircher answered that call Friday night. Despite the former Husky’s caller ID reading “potential spam,” it turned out all of Boerkircher’s hopes and dreams were on the line.
A community advisory group met for the fifth time since November last week

A community advisory group met for the fifth time since November last week

Community survey to focus on school facility study

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Aurora Public Schools will distribute a survey in the coming weeks hoping to gather community input regarding facility needs throughout the district which have prompted in-depth discussions about a possible bond issue election.
The 2026 edition of ANR's Making the Grade is here

The 2026 edition of ANR's Making the Grade is here

Area students are making the grade

News Staff
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
ANR tips its hat this week to area students who have earned a seat at the front of the class. This week's Making the Grade edition honors the top students based on academic performance at Aurora, Hampton, Giltner and High Plains public schools. 
An early morning fire caused significant damage to this home at 212 W. N St. in Aurora on Tuesday, April 21.

An early morning fire caused significant damage to this home at 212 W. N St. in Aurora on Tuesday, April 21.

Fire damages N Street home

News Staff
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
An Aurora couple escaped without injury early last Tuesday morning when they were awakened in the middle of the night by a fire that had started on the back deck of their rented house on N Street near the high school.
Pre-GIVE has begun for Go Big Give

Pre-GIVE has begun for Go Big Give

Go Big GIVE now full speed ahead

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Nonprofits in Hamilton, Hall, Howard, and Merrick counties are setting sail with the 2026 Go Big GIVE online fundraising campaign. Early giving for the 13th annual event has already begun and the 24-hour giving day is set for Thursday, May 7.