This week's featured stories

  • Former Husky Nate Boerkircher has put his stamp on Texas A&M’s current undefeated record this season, including a game-winning touchdown earlier in the year at Notre Dame.
    Former Husky Nate Boerkircher has put his stamp on Texas A&M’s current undefeated record this season, including a game-winning touchdown earlier in the year at Notre Dame.
  • This photo, taken Monday morning from inside the courthouse through the glass front doors, shows a workman laying the tiles that will complete the outside landing of the building’s new east steps. The tiles match the original ones installed in the courthouse 130 years ago when it was built.
    This photo, taken Monday morning from inside the courthouse through the glass front doors, shows a workman laying the tiles that will complete the outside landing of the building’s new east steps. The tiles match the original ones installed in the courthouse 130 years ago when it was built.
  • New members of the Hamilton Community Foundation Legacy Society recognzied Thursday include, from left: Jim and Tammy Morris, Roberta Cool, Richard Schaffert (back row), Lori Waddell, Virginia and Jim Koepke, Nancy and Butch Furse.
    New members of the Hamilton Community Foundation Legacy Society recognzied Thursday include, from left: Jim and Tammy Morris, Roberta Cool, Richard Schaffert (back row), Lori Waddell, Virginia and Jim Koepke, Nancy and Butch Furse.
  • Karen and Rudy van den Boogaart have been living in Aurora for 15 years, half the time they have lived in the United States. Karen was born in Chile and was later a citizen of Germany while Rudy maintains his Dutch citizenship. Both are grateful to be living in the United States.
    Karen and Rudy van den Boogaart have been living in Aurora for 15 years, half the time they have lived in the United States. Karen was born in Chile and was later a citizen of Germany while Rudy maintains his Dutch citizenship. Both are grateful to be living in the United States.

    Ever since suiting up in Aurora red, Nate Boerkircher has bet on himself. That first bet was a walk-on position with the Nebraska football team instead of scholarship opportunities at lower level schools. Eventually, he turned that into a scholarship with the Huskers. Nearly one year ago now, Boerkircher bet on himself again, using his last season of college football eligibility to step completely out of his comfort zone and play somewhere else. That ambition led him to College Station and the Texas A&M Aggies, deep in SEC country, yet familiarity coming in a passionate fan base. Read about how this former Husky is relishing his experience in SEC country on this week's Sports Page (B1).

    The Hamilton County Courthouse will go dark on this upcoming long Thanksgiving weekend, and not only because county offices will be closed Thursday through Sunday for the holiday. The 130-year-old structure will be literally dark – as in with no electrical power – starting after closing Wednesday and for a number of hours Thursday and Friday, hopefully to be restored sometime Saturday in time for the Come Home for Christmas Celebration. The reason for the intentional power outage is the need to install a new main electrical panel inside the mechanical room on the ground floor which will pave the way for finishing up work on the new fire suppression pump  also housed in that room. Get updated on all the projects going on at the historic courthouse in a story beginning on Page A6.

    The Hamilton Community Foundation celebrated 60 years of generosity Thursday, tracing the history of the nonprofit organization and the impact it has had on literally thousands of lives. A strong crowd of area residents from throughout the county, as well as board members past and present, gathered for a 60th anniversary celebration at the Aurora Community Clubhouse. “On behalf of the board and staff, we are grateful to have you here as we celebrate our 60th anniversary, and how special to celebrate this on the cusp of Community Foundation Week,” said board president Jim Kreutz in his opening remarks.

    From their beginnings in Chile and the Netherlands, Karen and Rudy van den Boogaart have lived in countries around the world, but 15 years ago they found their forever home in Aurora. “We are happy to live in a small community, finally,” Rudy said. Read about the couple's world hopping adventures before settling in Aurora 15 years ago on page B7 of this week's ANR.

    For these stories and much more, see the print or e-edition of this week's Aurora News-Register!