This week's featured stories

  • This drone photo shows the footprint of the Love’s Travel Stop location at Aurora’s Interstate 80 intersection. The company has announced plans for a $3 million renovation/expansion project, with specific construction details still pending.
    This drone photo shows the footprint of the Love’s Travel Stop location at Aurora’s Interstate 80 intersection. The company has announced plans for a $3 million renovation/expansion project, with specific construction details still pending.
  • Three generations of the Marsh family were on hand to receive the Arsarben Pioneer Farm award presented by Hamilton County Ag Society president Justin Hermanson (right). From left are Matthew Marsh, his father Gayle (who currently operates the farm) and Gayle’s father, Ivan. Also pictured (back right) is Ag Society board member Jeremy Brandt.
    Three generations of the Marsh family were on hand to receive the Arsarben Pioneer Farm award presented by Hamilton County Ag Society president Justin Hermanson (right). From left are Matthew Marsh, his father Gayle (who currently operates the farm) and Gayle’s father, Ivan. Also pictured (back right) is Ag Society board member Jeremy Brandt.
  • 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.

    Twenty-two years after Love’s Travel Stop planted its flag in Aurora, the Oklahoma-based company is upgrading its I-80 facilities with a $3 million renovation/expansion. Company officials announced this week that a major construction project is on tap for the Aurora store, though details are not yet available. Read the history of Love's first expansion into Nebraska with the Aurora location on this week's business page (A6) and watch for a follow-up report in next week’s ANR.

    A Hamilton County farm that has been held by the same family for more than 140 years was honored recently by the Aksarben Foundation. The Marsh family was awarded the Pioneer Award for more than 100 years of continuous ownership by the same family. Read the history and potential future of the farm in this week's Ag Life section which can be found on Page A7.

    School bells will be ringing across Hamilton County in only a week! Hampton and Giltner lead the pack, starting classes for the new school year next Wednesday, Aug. 13. Aurora and High Plains Community Schools follow on Thursday. Look for a staff report roundup highlighting the changes and schedules for all four schools beginning on Page A1 of this week's ANR. Links to all the stories HERE. 

    The Aurora News-Register sports department awarded its male and female athletes of the year for the 2024-25 school year, highlighting two kids from the small school market. The male award was given to High Plains Community senior Gage Friesen, a three-sport athlete for the Storm who rushed for 1,000-plus yards and led the team in tackles, was a state champion on the wrestling mat and was a state qualifier in track. The female award was given to Hampton’s Gavin Gilmore, a record-setting talent for the Hawks in both volleyball and basketball who is the first athlete from Hampton to receive this honor. For complete coverage on each honoree, see sports pages B1, 12.

    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. City Administrator Adam Darbro explained that the issue was scheduled to be addressed at the next regularly scheduled Aurora City Council meeting Aug. 12, but after water leaked through the roof of the adjacent building to the south the decision was made to speed up the process, thus the reason for Monday’s special meeting.

    These stories and more, as well as full results from the recent Hamilton County Fair, can be found in the print and e-editions of this week's Aurora News-Register.