This week's featured stories

  • Aurora kindergarteners perform at a Thanksgiving concert Nov. 19
    Aurora kindergarteners perform at a Thanksgiving concert Nov. 19
  • An entry in last year's Christmas Tractor Parade in Aurora
    An entry in last year's Christmas Tractor Parade in Aurora
  • Great Plains Mounted Archery instructor Chris Patton shows his students, Londyn Ommert (left) and Penelope Mann how to adjust their bows for better aim.
    Great Plains Mounted Archery instructor Chris Patton shows his students, Londyn Ommert (left) and Penelope Mann how to adjust their bows for better aim.
  • Hamilton County is planning a revision of its policies regarding commercial solar farms
    Hamilton County is planning a revision of its policies regarding commercial solar farms
  • Jorja Pohlmeier and Scott Bennett of Aurora performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City recently
    Jorja Pohlmeier and Scott Bennett of Aurora performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City recently
  • The Aurora Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting on Monday recapping a busy year
    The Aurora Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting on Monday recapping a busy year

    Aurora elementary students sang their hearts out during a pre-Thanksgiving music program Nov. 19. Kindergarten students performed during a ‘Thankful for the Little Things’ program which filled the middle school auditorium with family and friends. First graders took the stage an hour later with their own performance.

    The Great Plains Mounted Archery Club opened its doors to its first riders on Nov. 9 at the Lazy K Arena in Grand Island. The clinic was presented by Aurora High School graduate Chris Patton who said he wanted to provide an introductory course in the sport which combines archery and horseback riding for riders of all experience levels.

    With the Synergen large water user issue having effectively been taken off the table by the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District recently, and with the county having a moratorium in place on requests for conditional use permits (CUPs) for large water users, the Hamilton County Commission is now revisiting its moratorium on requests for permits for commercial solar farms. County Planning and Zoning Director Hillary Betka addressed commissioners at their regular meeting on Monday, telling them she had recently had an inquiry from a representative of a solar company asking about the county’s regulations regarding solar farms.

    It was an eye-opening experience for Aurora High School senior Jorja Pohlmeier and junior Scott Bennett who recently traveled to New York City’s Carnegie Hall to perform on that world-famous stage with band students from around the world. The Honors Performance Series (HPS), produced by WorldStrides, brought together 350 student musicians and singers from around the world to rehearse and perform a concert on Nov. 10. 

    The Aurora Chamber of Commerce conducted its annual meeting Monday, recapping a busy year of successful events and electing its board and executive team for the coming year. The meeting began with brief introductions of each board member and all cited their personal reasons for volunteering to serve.

    The Aurora Chamber of Commerce will host its sixth annual Come Home to Christmas celebration Saturday with a schedule of events that continues to grow each year. “We want to plan an event that captures the spirit of small-town Christmas and have a lineup of fun activities to bring out Hamilton County residents and visitors together and support shopping local on Small Business Saturday,” noted Bridgett Svoboda, who is helping coordinate this year’s event.

    Find details on these stories and much more in this week's print or e-editions of the Aurora News-Register.