This week's top stories

  • Moxon Mann turns the corner and hits the afterburner in the Aurora ground game.
    Moxon Mann turns the corner and hits the afterburner in the Aurora ground game.
  • The Nimble Thimble Quilt celebrated its 40th anniversary on Tuesday, Sept. 23 with 25 members still carrying on their love of quilting.
    The Nimble Thimble Quilt celebrated its 40th anniversary on Tuesday, Sept. 23 with 25 members still carrying on their love of quilting.
  • The Faith Moving Forward Foundation hosted a first-ever two-day pickleball tournament this weekend at Streeter Park in Aurora.
    The Faith Moving Forward Foundation hosted a first-ever two-day pickleball tournament this weekend at Streeter Park in Aurora.
  • Randy Sabata proudly stands by “Miss Vicky,” a 1933 Ford Vicky which was sort of a retirement gift to himself. Sabata was honored for his 45-year career with the Nebraska Department of Roads/Transportation by more than 100 family, friends and colleagues during a reception Sept. 24.
    Randy Sabata proudly stands by “Miss Vicky,” a 1933 Ford Vicky which was sort of a retirement gift to himself. Sabata was honored for his 45-year career with the Nebraska Department of Roads/Transportation by more than 100 family, friends and colleagues during a reception Sept. 24.
  • The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners was presented with an America 250 banner to be put on display in the county courthouse in preparation for the nation’s 250th birthday celebration in 2026. The presentation was made by members of the Hamilton County Nebraska Celebrate 250 Committee. Pictured from left are Jennifer Dennis, Commission Chairman Rich Nelson, Commissioner Francis McDonald and Kathryn Larson.
    The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners was presented with an America 250 banner to be put on display in the county courthouse in preparation for the nation’s 250th birthday celebration in 2026. The presentation was made by members of the Hamilton County Nebraska Celebrate 250 Committee. Pictured from left are Jennifer Dennis, Commission Chairman Rich Nelson, Commissioner Francis McDonald and Kathryn Larson.
  • John Jacobs, pictured at right, was one of more than 150 people bringing paint and hazardous materials to the fairgrounds Saturday, where Denise McGovern-Gallagher, center, and youth volunteers put them in trailers to be taken to Grand Island Area Clean Community Systems.
    John Jacobs, pictured at right, was one of more than 150 people bringing paint and hazardous materials to the fairgrounds Saturday, where Denise McGovern-Gallagher, center, and youth volunteers put them in trailers to be taken to Grand Island Area Clean Community Systems.

    Aurora’s youth football program has been on a tear through the month of September, sporting a 3-1 record so far. The Huskies have wins over Adams Central, Crete and most recently Beatrice Sunday on a sun-splashed afternoon. Pictured above, QB Mason Kaufman retreats for a hand-off during the second half against Beatrice Sunday. For more photos from the gridiron, see Page A10 of this week's print or e-editions. A picture of this year’s team also appears on B4.

    Aurora’s Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild celebrated its 40th anniversary last Tuesday afternoon with games and prizes. Among those celebrating the milestone was cofounder and original vice president Lorna Epp. She founded Nimble Thimble with the original president, Brenda Groelz, in October of 1985. The original name was the Nimble Thimble Quilting Guild.

    Pickleballs were flying at Streeter Park both Saturday and Sunday in a first-ever two-day event which raised both money and awareness for the Faith Moving Forward Foundation. Named in honor of the late Sydnee Owens, who died in 2012 after losing a battle with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, the foundation helps Sydnee’s family continue sharing her message of love and support.

    Randy Sabata put a lot of miles on the road with the Nebraska Department of Transportation, working hard behind the scenes to make the highways safer for traveling motorists. Sabata was in the spotlight as the guest of honor last week as more than 100 family members, friends and co-workers gathered for a reception celebrating his retirement after 45 years on the job. “You know, it was just time,” Sabata said, when asked if his decision to step down was a difficult one. Read more of Sabata's comments and the full story of his career on this week's business page, A9.

    Hamilton County commissioners learned on Monday morning that Aurora will be the site of a Habitat for Humanity blitz build in 2026, in which a crew of workers will build a home in just one week’s time. At the invitation of Aurora Chamber Director Tamar Jimenez, Lindsey Jurgens, the executive director of Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity was on hand for the regular meeting of the commission to report on the ambitious project slated for one of the four lots the organization owns in Aurora. She said while the lot doesn’t yet have an official address, it is located at the corner of H and 16th streets.

    Hamilton County has approximately 12,000 pounds of paint and hazardous materials less in area basements and garages after the Aurora Rotary Club collection effort on Saturday, Sept. 27, which drew more than 150 people to the fairgrounds. Denise McGovern-Gallagher, executive director of Grand Island Area Clean Community System, which disposed of the collected items, thanked those who both dropped off unwanted items and volunteered to help properly collect and dispose of the hazardous materials.

    Read these stories and more, plus our new Law Enforcement Dispatch Log and all the latest area high school sports action, in the print or e-editions of this week's ANR.