News

The original Phillips Memorial Hall, completed in 1949 as a memorial to WWII veterans, passed into history last week. The wood and steel building, which was replaced by the nearby new Phillips Memorial Hall in 2016, was demolished by a local construction company and the debris hauled away.

The original Phillips Memorial Hall, completed in 1949 as a memorial to WWII veterans, passed into history last week. The wood and steel building, which was replaced by the nearby new Phillips Memorial Hall in 2016, was demolished by a local construction company and the debris hauled away.

Old Phillips Memorial Hall demolished

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
A Phillips landmark built shortly after the Second World War and which hosted community events and basketball games for more than 70 years came down last week. The original Phillips Memorial Hall, completed in 1949, was demolished and the rubble hauled away last Monday.
Cherishing their final performance of the year, the Aurora High School Show Choirs give their all in the show that they’ve performed in competitions.

Cherishing their final performance of the year, the Aurora High School Show Choirs give their all in the show that they’ve performed in competitions.

Final vocal performance

Elizabeth Hunter
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
The Aurora Middle School Theater echoed with cheers from family and friends Thursday as members of the Aurora Rhapsody and Impact ensembles sang and danced the night away in the final performance of the year. 
Sisters Lindsay Gould, left, and Jacque Carden are seen here at Nebraska Children’s Hospital, Omaha, where both currently work. The sisters live less than a mile away from each other in Gretna and attend the same church.

Sisters Lindsay Gould, left, and Jacque Carden are seen here at Nebraska Children’s Hospital, Omaha, where both currently work. The sisters live less than a mile away from each other in Gretna and attend the same church.

Gould finds her calling in respiratory therapy, IT

Elizabeth Hunter
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Lindsay (Hattan) Gould credits her faith with leading her to a career as a respiratory therapist and information technology (IT) specialist at Nebraska Children’s Hospital in Omaha.
Aurora Speech Team members Sam Elge and Ansley Harvey share a range of emotions in a duet titled “Anna at the End,” a story about a young couple falling in love, then facing the emotions of the young girl getting sick, and eventually passing away.

Aurora Speech Team members Sam Elge and Ansley Harvey share a range of emotions in a duet titled “Anna at the End,” a story about a young couple falling in love, then facing the emotions of the young girl getting sick, and eventually passing away.

This week's top stories

News Staff
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
These are the stories making headlines this week! Aurora Speech ShowcaseA good crowd was on hand Sunday evening for the Aurora High School’s 2024 Speech Showcase.
Murder suspect Caleb Arnett arrives for his arraignment hearing on Dec. 5

Murder suspect Caleb Arnett arrives for his arraignment hearing on Dec. 5

Arnett declared mentally incompetent to stand trial for murder

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Following a court-ordered evaluation by the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and a hearing in Hamilton County Court, murder suspect Caleb Arnett has been declared mentally incompetent to stand trial for the December stabbing death of his stepfather. Judge Lynelle D.
Hamilton County Board of Commissioners news

Hamilton County Board of Commissioners news

County evaluates use of space in courthouse

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
A lengthy discussion at Monday’s weekly Hamilton County Board of Commissioners meeting focused on the subject of space, or more specifically, the lack thereof in the county’s nearly 130-year old courthouse.
Three of Giltner’s best spellers competed in the Hamilton County Spelling Bee last Tuesday at the fairgrounds. From left are, Jaxyn Eastman (eighth grade), Jack Nuss (seventh grade) and Tanner Schelkopf (eighth grade).

Three of Giltner’s best spellers competed in the Hamilton County Spelling Bee last Tuesday at the fairgrounds. From left are, Jaxyn Eastman (eighth grade), Jack Nuss (seventh grade) and Tanner Schelkopf (eighth grade).

Spelling Bee students display erudition

Elizabeth Hunter
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
The excitement mounted round after round as 30 fifth through eighth grade students competed in the annual Hamilton County’s Spelling Bee Feb. 20.
Local elections in 2024

Local elections in 2024

List of local candidates grows by six to 23

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Six more Hamilton County residents filed paperwork last week to run for various local boards and commissions, including two incumbents who missed the incumbent candidate filing deadlines and must now run as write-in candidates.