News
The winners of the 2025 Hamilton County Spelling Bee
After delay, Spelling Bee shines
Elizabeth Hunter
After a full month of weather and illness related delays, the Hamilton County Spelling Bee finally had a day of sunshine for its 2025 run last Wednesday, March 12. Originally set to take place on Wednesday, Feb.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Christine (Holliday) Bruner is the owner and designer of Small Town Apparel in downtown Aurora. Bruner offers custom prints as well as local school, business and Nebraska wear at her new location at 1123 13th St.
Small Town Apparel finds new home
Elizabeth Hunter
Christine (Holliday) Bruner has been making a name for herself with her move to the downtown square with a new business, Small Town Apparel.The 2008 Aurora graduate began her new venture through a passion project she shared with her sons when COVID impacted the U.S.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Hamilton County Board of Commissioners news
NE 49th in receiving federal funding
Ron Burtz
Hamilton County commissioners learned a disturbing bit of trivia on Monday morning, when Sharon Hueftle of the South Central Economic Development District (SCEDD) reported that Nebraska is 49th out of the 50 states for receiving funds from the federal government.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Aurora junior Kendal Wineteer poses with an art piece she created which earned her a Nebraska Young Artist Award from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts.
Wineteer wins NE Young Artist Award
Kurt Johnson
Kendal Wineteer, a junior at Aurora High School, has won a Nebraska Young Artist Award from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Patrick Star, played by Jacob Inman (center) blasts off with a jetpack for a scene in Aurora High School’s production of “The SpongeBob Musical” during a rehearsal on Friday. Giving Inman a boost during rehearsal is James Dieckmann.
Stage set for Aurora musical
Elizabeth Hunter
The musical season has returned to Aurora with another splash this year taking its audience on a trip to the pineapple under the sea.Nickelodeon’s “The SpongeBob Musical” will be taking the stage March 27-29, with curtains opening at 7 p.m. each night as well as a 1:30 p.m. show on that Saturday.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Pictured from left are Deen Albert and Todd Vettel, co-owners of Ajira America organization which has purchased Ken’s Motel. Not pictured is co-owner Laban Njuguna.
Ken’s Motel sold to Ajira America
Kurt Johnson
Ken’s Motel, a landmark local business built 65 years ago by a man who left a legacy as “Mr. Aurora,” has been sold to Ajira America.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Hampton Public Schools
Hampton to replace HS HVAC system
Ron Burtz
When Hampton High School students return to classes this fall, a more reliable HVAC system should be in place to keep them comfortable. That’s a good thing, because the decade-old current heating system has become unreliable, causing the board to take action to replace it.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
The Hampton OID team of (from left) Macy Miller, Taryn Stettner and Jameson Doyle perform at the Hampton Invite.
Extra! Extra! Read all about ‘Extra extracurriculars’
Ron Burtz
The impact of high school extracurricular sports on schools and communities, especially small ones, is hard to measure.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
This historic 1893 opera house in Hampton is to be demolished... but not yet.
Opera house demo delayed
Ron Burtz
It appears demolition of the crumbling 1893 Hampton opera house building will probably not begin this month after all.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Aurora 4R School Board news
4R board addresses staffing transitions
Kurt Johnson
The Aurora 4R School Board accepted retirement letters from two veteran educators while also approving contracts for three new teachers during Monday’s monthly meeting.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
