This week's featured stories

  • The west entrance to the Hamilton County Courthouse is now closed for reconstruction
    The west entrance to the Hamilton County Courthouse is now closed for reconstruction
  • Dr. Jeff Muilenburg entertains his great-nephew Joel Landrigan with a surgical glove balloon on Friday at his retirement reception.
    Dr. Jeff Muilenburg entertains his great-nephew Joel Landrigan with a surgical glove balloon on Friday at his retirement reception.
  • Can’t hide that Bearcat pride!
    Can’t hide that Bearcat pride!
  • St. John’s Lutheran Church member Opal Christensen shows some of the raffle prizes that will be offered during the church’s annual Aebleskiver feed on Sunday, Feb. 8.
    St. John’s Lutheran Church member Opal Christensen shows some of the raffle prizes that will be offered during the church’s annual Aebleskiver feed on Sunday, Feb. 8.
  • The 2025 edition of the Hamilton County Home & Garden Show
    The 2025 edition of the Hamilton County Home & Garden Show

    The new granite steps on the east side of the Hamilton County Courthouse have been substantially completed so that the east entrance, closed since last summer, could finally be reopened to the public. One of the last items to be finished was the installation of the new stainless steel handrails. Almost immediately upon the reopening of the east entrance, the west entrance was closed so that demolition could begin on those stairs in preparation for replacing them in the months ahead.  

    Growing up as a preacher’s kid who was fascinated by nature and science, Dr. Jeff Muilenburg absorbed life lessons early on in a way that would eventually lead him to a career as a small-town family doctor in Aurora. He will turn the page as of Friday, ending that 30-year chapter of his life story, one that he says combined his faith and natural instincts for the scientific realm. Read the full article on Muilenburg written by Kurt Johnson to learn the doctor's perspectives on American health care in 21st Century.

    Over 70 youngsters braved the chilly weather conditions last Friday night to provide an extra boost to the H&H Bearcat basketball teams in their efforts against Sandy Creek. The H&H cheer squad hosted a cheer clinic and performed multiple routines during halftime of the boys game in front of a jam-packed crowd. They also provided a spark during the first half of play from the bleachers with their pom-poms and encouraging chants.

    Aebleskiver pans and cookers are going to be warming up soon for St. John’s Lutheran Church’s annual Aebleskiver Feed on Sunday, Feb. 8. After taking part in 50 years of the Kronborg church’s annual tradition, church member and event co-chair Opal Christensen revels in welcoming everyone to the feed. She said the Danish tradition dates back nearly to the church’s founding in 1880. The sweet and spherical snacks made from batter fried in special pans were brought over from Denmark by Kronborg’s earliest settlers. See the article on Page A7 of this week's edition.

    Preparations for the 30th annual Hamilton County Home & Garden Show are underway with the winter event set to open its doors to the public on Friday, Feb. 13, 3-8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. With 70 percent of last year’s vendors expected to return, Ag Society board member and event co-organizer Alan Charlton said there are a few spots left for new vendors to make an appearance at the Home Show. “In the last two years, I’ve always had calls on that day, ‘Do you have any booths left?’” Charlton said.

    Read these stories and more, plus you'll find all of the latest high school sports action and our annual Seeds of Growth special section in this week's print and e-editions of ANR.