This week's top stories

  • Three employees of the Hamilton County Highway Department stand in front of one of the huge v-plows that were used to open 960 miles of gravel county roads during last month’s storms. From left are Beau Johnson, Asst. Supt. B.J. Frauendorfer and Dylan Christenson.
    Three employees of the Hamilton County Highway Department stand in front of one of the huge v-plows that were used to open 960 miles of gravel county roads during last month’s storms. From left are Beau Johnson, Asst. Supt. B.J. Frauendorfer and Dylan Christenson.
  • Aurora graduate Jeremy Oswald (center) takes center stage with the Big Red Singers Sunday evening for the community concert brought together by the Hamilton County Foundation.
    Aurora graduate Jeremy Oswald (center) takes center stage with the Big Red Singers Sunday evening for the community concert brought together by the Hamilton County Foundation.
  • The 2024 edition of the Hamilton County Home & Garden Show begins Friday.
    The 2024 edition of the Hamilton County Home & Garden Show begins Friday.
  • U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts talks with local residents during his “Meet with Pete” visit to Aurora on Monday. Pictured from left are Mike Bergen, Francis McDonald and Kelsey Bergen.
    U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts talks with local residents during his “Meet with Pete” visit to Aurora on Monday. Pictured from left are Mike Bergen, Francis McDonald and Kelsey Bergen.
  • Doug Frank, center, shares information with county board members Rich Nelson, right, and Nancy Salmon during Monday’s presentation at the Hamilton County Courthouse. More than 25 people attended the meeting, showing shared concern with the integrity of local elections.
    Doug Frank, center, shares information with county board members Rich Nelson, right, and Nancy Salmon during Monday’s presentation at the Hamilton County Courthouse. More than 25 people attended the meeting, showing shared concern with the integrity of local elections.

    These are the stories that made the top headlines in the Feb. 7, 2024 edition of the Aurora News Register.

    January 2024 will be long remembered by Hamilton County residents for its extreme winter weather. With subzero temperatures, two major snow storms in the space of a week and the introduction of something called a snow squall causing whiteout conditions a week after the second storm, it was a month to remember. Schools used several of their snow days during that period and businesses had interruptions in their schedules, but one group perhaps impacted most was members of the Hamilton County Highway Department. This week's issue has the story of the hours, expense, and physical and emotional stress put on county highway workers who worked tirelessly to keep the roads open. Read the story here. 

    Aurora High School graduate Jeremy Oswald took center stage with the Big Red Singers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Sunday evening for a community concert brought together by the Hamilton County Foundation. Students from Aurora High School's Rhapsody and Impact show choirs had the opportunity to be mentored by the UNL collegiate group during afternoon session and then showcased what they learned from their clinics at the performance at the Middle School Theater that evening.

    The stage is set for the Hamilton County Home & Garden Show to make its return Friday and Saturday after a three-year pandemic pause, with organizers reporting that the event is sold out with vendors excited to be back. “Christina and I are pleased with the amount of vendors we’re getting and the response from the public, Ag Society and everybody,” noted Hamilton County Ag Society board member Alan Charlton, who will co-chair this year’s event with Christina Dose. “We are going to be at full capacity (96 vendors) and will probably have a waiting list, which says that people are looking forward to this event.” Read all about it here. 

    Just a year after being appointed to the United States Senate Pete Ricketts told local constituents Monday in Aurora that he is focused on pushing back against the Biden Administration on issues involving overregulation, overtaxation and overspending. The Republican senator spent an hour in town as part of a “Meet with Pete” event hosted by International Workforce Services on the south side of the downtown  square. A crowd estimated at 70-plus listened intently to a 15-minute presentation, followed by one-on-one contacts with Ricketts and members of his staff. The full story of Ricketts' visit here.

    An Ohio scientist and election data analyst advised county commissioners Monday that he has studied Hamilton County’s voter election rolls and found them to be “dramatically corrupted,” launching an effort by grassroots local citizens to urge the county to do away with electronic voting machines and go back to paper only ballots counted by hand. Doug Frank spoke to commissioners for about 15 minutes during Monday’s meeting, which was moved to the third-floor courtroom to accommodate a crowd of approximately 25 people. Publisher Kurt Johnson has the full story here.

    For these and other important stories plus all the local sports and more, pick up the print or e-edition of ANR today!