This week's featured stories

  • Evelyn Frew as Tigger showed up at last year’s Scare the Square with her “ol’ buddy ol’ pal Winnie the Frew.”
    Evelyn Frew as Tigger showed up at last year’s Scare the Square with her “ol’ buddy ol’ pal Winnie the Frew.”
  • This sign has been posted on the doors of the Hamilton County Courthouse since the closure of the Aurora DMV drivers license office early last month.
    This sign has been posted on the doors of the Hamilton County Courthouse since the closure of the Aurora DMV drivers license office early last month.
  • Four of the six candidates seeking positions on the Aurora City Council attended a candidate forum at the Bremer Center Thursday, which was hosted by the Aurora News-Register. Those attending are pictured above, including, from left: Jannelle Seim, Esther Bergen, Nancy Lohrmeyer and Carl Smith. A crowd of approximately 50 people attended the one-hour event.
    Four of the six candidates seeking positions on the Aurora City Council attended a candidate forum at the Bremer Center Thursday, which was hosted by the Aurora News-Register. Those attending are pictured above, including, from left: Jannelle Seim, Esther Bergen, Nancy Lohrmeyer and Carl Smith. A crowd of approximately 50 people attended the one-hour event.
  • This drone photo shows the Specialty Ag Formulations facility in the foreground, with two other companies (Mid-Nebraska Land Developers and AAIM Data Centers). All three are located in the Mission Critical Subdivision on Highway 14.
    This drone photo shows the Specialty Ag Formulations facility in the foreground, with two other companies (Mid-Nebraska Land Developers and AAIM Data Centers). All three are located in the Mission Critical Subdivision on Highway 14.
  • Aurora native Jessica (Vincik) Piskorski sits at her desk in Ord.
    Aurora native Jessica (Vincik) Piskorski sits at her desk in Ord.
  • Edgerton educator Deb Miller shows students a Cooper’s hawk that has been rehabilitated after being found next to the Edgerton. The hawk was released back into the wild last Wednesday afternoon.
    Edgerton educator Deb Miller shows students a Cooper’s hawk that has been rehabilitated after being found next to the Edgerton. The hawk was released back into the wild last Wednesday afternoon.

    Scare the Square will creep its way back to Aurora’s downtown square on Thursday, Oct. 31 to kick off Halloween night. The spooky but sweet event is a time for children and their families to dress up and trick-or-treat at the businesses around the square. Justise Rhoden, executive director of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, explained that along with providing a spook-tacular time for children of every age, the event allows businesses to connect with the community and visitors.

    “Crickets!” That’s how Hamilton County officials described on Monday the level of communication from the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) since the abrupt closure of the Aurora drivers license office at the courthouse a month and a half ago. At this week’s county commission meeting, commissioners and County Business Manager Pat Shaw said despite efforts by the county and the Hamilton County Ag Society to make a space at the fairgrounds on Tuesdays for the facility, there has been no communication from DMV Dist. 3 Supervisor Janie Johannes or her superiors at the DMV. Read the full story on Page A6.

    The Aurora Development Corporation highlighted a busy year of activity during its annual meeting last week, completing its 60th year as an organization. Shareholders gathered at the Bremer Center for an overview of past and planned activities, while also hearing from several local businesses on their status and plans for future growth. Kelsey Bergen presented details of the year’s progress during her executive director’s report, noting how the ADC is reinvesting funds to continue to help grow the community. Read the report on this week's Business Page (A7).

    With early voting having already started and the Nov. 5 General Election now less than two weeks away, needless to say it’s a busy time in the office of Hamilton County Clerk Jill DeMers, who also serves as the county’s election commissioner. It has also one of the more unusual election cycles for DeMers. That’s partly because for the first time in her more than 20 years in the position there are a total of six write-in candidates in various elections across the county, including four for Aurora City Council. Important information for write-in voters is included in ANR's story on Page A2.

    As a small town attorney working in Ord, Aurora native Jessica (Vincik) Piskorski says what she enjoys most about her career is helping clients manage their estates and assets. “Helping people is what I like the most,” Piskorski said. “I like helping someone with something they can’t do on their own or there’s just knowledge that they don’t have, I can connect to it or help them carry out an idea.” Piskorski is the subject of a “Where Are They Now?” article that can be found on Page C1 of this week's ANR.

    Students at the Edgerton Explorit Center’s Afterschool Club were treated to a special send off as they witnessed the successful release of a Cooper’s hawk back into the wild. The launch was done with care by Edgerton educator and Raptor Recovery volunteer Deb Miller. “It’s really cool process that way,” Miller said. “It’s very rewarding, like today seeing the success that he was well enough to go and flew really well to go back and be a raptor again.” Readers will find the account of the release on Page A3 of this week's edition.

    These stories and much more can be found in the e-edition or print version of this week's ANR on news stands now!