This week in pictures

  • BonnaVilla Homes’ Prairie Meadows model was set up at Husker Harvest days in September, showcasing one of the company’s 2024 models.
    BonnaVilla Homes’ Prairie Meadows model was set up at Husker Harvest days in September, showcasing one of the company’s 2024 models.
  • The Northern Lights as seen from just north of Aurora Nov. 11.
    The Northern Lights as seen from just north of Aurora Nov. 11.
  • U.S. Army veteran Ken Werner was presented with a quilt of valor during a ceremony hosted by the Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild on Veterans Day. Pictured with Werner are his children Scott and Mickie.
    U.S. Army veteran Ken Werner was presented with a quilt of valor during a ceremony hosted by the Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild on Veterans Day. Pictured with Werner are his children Scott and Mickie.
  • Construction work is visible now just north of the main entrance of Love’s Travel Stop at Aurora’s I-80 location. Love’s will be partially closed as of Dec. 1, though Arby’s will remain open throughout the renovation process, which is expected to be completed in March 2026.
    Construction work is visible now just north of the main entrance of Love’s Travel Stop at Aurora’s I-80 location. Love’s will be partially closed as of Dec. 1, though Arby’s will remain open throughout the renovation process, which is expected to be completed in March 2026.
  • This empty space on the lot which is home to Hampton’s City Auditorium (seen at far left) is the new location for the planned veterans memorial park to be constructed in Hampton.
    This empty space on the lot which is home to Hampton’s City Auditorium (seen at far left) is the new location for the planned veterans memorial park to be constructed in Hampton.
  • East Park Villa hosted its second annual Grateful Celebration Thursday night in which residents invited their families for a meal and to enjoy music, work on crafts and enjoy each other’s company. Pictured above from left are resident Lorey Wadell, former EPV board member Bob Person, EPV activities director Nicole Nelson, Peg and Harlan Schafer.
    East Park Villa hosted its second annual Grateful Celebration Thursday night in which residents invited their families for a meal and to enjoy music, work on crafts and enjoy each other’s company. Pictured above from left are resident Lorey Wadell, former EPV board member Bob Person, EPV activities director Nicole Nelson, Peg and Harlan Schafer.

    Business is booming at BonnaVilla Homes in Aurora, where an influx of orders for multi-unit housing projects has kept the docket full while also creating a demand for additional employees. Mike Morrow, nearing the end of his fourth year as plant manager, said he is encouraged by the company’s ability to react when the market pivoted toward what he called “attached housing” projects. Read how BonnaVilla is responding to the boom in demand for attached housing on this week's Business Page (A6).

    Colors splashed across the night skies in Hamilton County last week as the aurora borealis was visible to both the naked eye and through the camera lens.  They were especially bright and colorful the night of Nov. 11. The Northern Lights were visible as far south as Florida in the United States. For commentary on the rare visual, see Page B2 of this week's edition of ANR.

    Hamilton County's veterans were honored on their day last week as area schools and other organizations sponsored programs for Veterans Day. Among those honored by being presented with quilts of valor was Memorial Community Care resident Ken Werner who was presented with his quilt at a ceremony hosted by MCC.  

    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 in August that a major construction project is on tap for the Aurora store, with construction having begun approximately two weeks ago in early November. Company officials say the project is expected to be completed in March 2026.

    Organizers of the planned Hampton Veterans Memorial have received the okay from the village board to move the park to a different location, one that will give the memorial more room for future expansion if necessary. Representatives of the memorial committee appeared at the board’s November meeting on the 10th to request that the memorial be moved from its present proposed site in the vacant lot on the south side of Hampton’s city hall. They said they wanted to locate it on the empty southeast corner of the City Auditorium (known locally as “The Aud”) lot.

    Chatter and laughter decorated every floor at East Park Villa as residents and their families took part in the facility’s second annual Grateful Celebration Thursday evening. EPV administrator Laurie Andrews was pleased with the event’s overwhelming turnout and excitement. “It is such a great celebration and it’s so much fun that it’s worth every bit of it,” Andrews said. “It’s one of those, I’m exhausted, but it’s good exhausted.”

    These stories and more can be found in the print or e-editions of ANR this week, plus find inspiration, encouragement and holiday ideas in our annual Attitude of Gratitude section.