News

This is the cover ANR's Making the Grade edition.

This is the cover ANR's Making the Grade edition.

Making the Grade

The News-Register’s annual Making the Grade edition features the top graduates from four area high schools, including Aurora, Hampton, Giltner and High Plains. We invited all the honorees to the Alice Farr Library in Aurora to get a combined view of the best around.
Company president and CEO Gary Bales debuts a new sign out in front of the business, which changed its name this week from International Sensor Systems Inc. to Aurora Boardworks.

Company president and CEO Gary Bales debuts a new sign out in front of the business, which changed its name this week from International Sensor Systems Inc. to Aurora Boardworks.

ISSI changing its name to Aurora Boardworks

As International Sensor Systems Inc. approaches its 50th anniversary, company leaders have announced that the trusted technology and electronic circuitry provider is changing its name to Aurora Boardworks, effective immediately.
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, Nebraska State Patrol and Phillips Fire and Rescue personnel are shown at the scene near a railroad crossing where a tractor collided with a train on Thursday afternoon.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, Nebraska State Patrol and Phillips Fire and Rescue personnel are shown at the scene near a railroad crossing where a tractor collided with a train on Thursday afternoon.

Tractor collides with train near Phillips

A tractor collided with a train at a crossing on North F Road between West 14 and 15 Roads Thursday afternoon leaving the driver of the tractor critically injured. Hamilton County Sheriff Deputy Connor Peters, who was at the scene of the wreck, gave a breakdown on what happened.
Scott Rickert and his partner of seven years Sasha Gorden are pictured at a resturant on the Las Vegas strip. Rickert stated that one of the couple’s goals is to do more traveling around the world together.

Scott Rickert and his partner of seven years Sasha Gorden are pictured at a resturant on the Las Vegas strip. Rickert stated that one of the couple’s goals is to do more traveling around the world together.

Hampton graduate engineers road safety in Las Vegas

One locally-raised engineer is working to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities in car crashes across the state and nation, specifically in Las Vegas.
Members of the Apophis robotics team, which includes members from Aurora and Arkansas, work on their robot, Choppy, during worlds competition recently in Houston.

Members of the Apophis robotics team, which includes members from Aurora and Arkansas, work on their robot, Choppy, during worlds competition recently in Houston.

Robotics team partners with Arkansas squad, goes to worlds

Competing in front of a crowd of 50,000 people, the Aurora robotics team showed off its skills recently at the world’s competition in Houston. The road to get there was a unique one given that the locals joined forces with a team out of Arkansas in order to have a full roster.
Carol Schenk looks through a microscope, part of a job she has enjoyed for almost all of the company’s 50-year history.

Carol Schenk looks through a microscope, part of a job she has enjoyed for almost all of the company’s 50-year history.

Veteran ISSI employee has seen a lot of change

Carol Schenk has had a front-row seat to observe her employer’s growth and change over the past 49 years. As of this week, her paycheck will reflect a different logo, though she will proudly continue to work for a company which changed its name from International Sensor Systems Inc.
Kirk Penner

Kirk Penner

Penner reports progress, concerns with NDE board

Now well into his second year as a member of the Nebraska State Board of Education, Kirk Penner of Aurora says progress is slowly being made in efforts to restore credibility to a government entity he believes should be focused on priority issues such as a growing teacher shortage and assessment...
Co-owner of Premier Buildings Nebraska Brian Litz stands near some buildings and his sign on North W Road near Hampton. He joined with his cousin Grant a year ago to sell buildings, trailers and deer blinds straight off his lot.

Co-owner of Premier Buildings Nebraska Brian Litz stands near some buildings and his sign on North W Road near Hampton. He joined with his cousin Grant a year ago to sell buildings, trailers and deer blinds straight off his lot.

Building up family business near Hampton

Finding a side passion that an individual can make money on is often a once-in-a-lifetime break.  Brian Litz has two as president of Lyvfin life insurance company and also becoming co-owner of Premier Buildings Nebraska with his cousin, Grant.