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Aurora High School Marching Band flute players pictured above are, from left, Katelyn Dieckmann, Madelyn Freeman and Jessica Rodriguez.

Aurora High School Marching Band flute players pictured above are, from left, Katelyn Dieckmann, Madelyn Freeman and Jessica Rodriguez.

Getting ready to ride into a new marching season

News Staff
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
The Aurora Marching Band had a fun start to its 2025 marching band season with a week-long band camp, where they began practicing the opener of their new show, “Dark Horse.
Nebraska Coaches Association Executive Director Darin Boysen speaks to coaches, student athletes and their parents about how parents can help their students enjoy and get the most out of their school sports careers.

Nebraska Coaches Association Executive Director Darin Boysen speaks to coaches, student athletes and their parents about how parents can help their students enjoy and get the most out of their school sports careers.

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‘Just let the kids play’

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
After months of planning by school administrators and coaches, as well as physical conditioning sessions and sports camps through the summer, parents, student athletes and coaches of the new H&H sports cooperative finally had the opportunity to all come together in person at an event last Tuesday...
Crews finished pouring the west lane of 1st Street near the school Aug. 5, beginning a curing process which will be tested this week to determine when the road is ready for traffic.

Crews finished pouring the west lane of 1st Street near the school Aug. 5, beginning a curing process which will be tested this week to determine when the road is ready for traffic.

1st Street poured, safety protocol set

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
School, city and construction officials all reviewed the status of the 1st Street renovation project Monday, with plans outlined to provide limited walking access to students near school property while the push to complete the south end of the project from the railroad tracks to Park Lane continues.
Hamilton County Assessor Vicki Wylie

Hamilton County Assessor Vicki Wylie

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Wylie appointed county assessor

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
With expressions of confidence in her abilities, and more than a little good-natured teasing about how they were going to grill her with tough questions, Hamilton County Commissioners appointed Vicki Wylie as County Assessor on Monday morning.
The glow of the Red Light Therapy room can be seen behind Tri-Fit owners Nick and Amy Owens.

The glow of the Red Light Therapy room can be seen behind Tri-Fit owners Nick and Amy Owens.

This week's top stories

News Staff
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Four years after purchasing a local fitness center and rebranding the venture as Tri-Fit, owners Nick and Amy Owens have announced a recent expansion which Amy describes as “a dream come true.” “For me, Tri-Fit has always been about the whole body,” she explained. “It’s not just weight loss.
Construction crews finished pouring the south portion of 1st Street on the west side of Aurora Public Schools Wednesday.

Construction crews finished pouring the south portion of 1st Street on the west side of Aurora Public Schools Wednesday.

1st Street pour completed

Kurt Johnson
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Construction crews finished pouring the south portion of 1st Street on the west side of Aurora Public Schools Wednesday.
Bricks and debris left in the rubble on the former Gambles building site in downtown Aurora will be removed in a process expected to begin Wednesday.

Bricks and debris left in the rubble on the former Gambles building site in downtown Aurora will be removed in a process expected to begin Wednesday.

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Gambles building debris to be removed

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Removal of debris left after last week’s demolition of the Gambles building will begin sooner than expected after city leaders approved the lone bid submitted for the project during a brief special meeting Monday night.
School starts next week in Hamilton County

School starts next week in Hamilton County

School bells to ring next week

Staff Reports
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Even as summer seems to be still going strong, the sounds of school bells will soon be in the air and back-to-school preparations have started in earnest across the county.
The Speakeasy is in the ghost town of Sacramento, located six miles southeast of Holdrege in the south central part of the state. (Photo by Laura Beahm for the Flatwater Free Press)

The Speakeasy is in the ghost town of Sacramento, located six miles southeast of Holdrege in the south central part of the state. (Photo by Laura Beahm for the Flatwater Free Press)

Sacramento, NE is Steak Town USA

News Staff
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
by Sarah Baker Hansen, Flatwater Free PressIt’s not unusual these days to sit down at a table at The Speakeasy, the old-school steakhouse located in an honest-to-goodness ghost town a few miles outside Holdrege, and be served a decidedly new-school cut of meat.