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While not making the list as a top 10 story, Aurora High School's production of the SpongeBob Musical brought a splash of color and music to the year

While not making the list as a top 10 story, Aurora High School's production of the SpongeBob Musical brought a splash of color and music to the year

2025: The year in pictures

News Staff
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
The year 2025 will be remembered in Hamilton County as a year of economic ups and downs, fiscal challenges and strategic planning for local governments, the loss of two historic buildings and the beginning of construction for a unique playground that will serve children of all ability levels.
Nebraska sees deer harvest decrease

Nebraska sees deer harvest decrease

Nebraska sees deer harvest decrease

Elizabeth Hunter
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
With the end of the November firearm deer season last month, Nebraska Game and Parks reported that deer harvest decreased by 7 percent compared to 2024.
Aurora Adopt-A-Pet volunteer Samantha Wize plays with some of the cats inside of the current community cat room.

Aurora Adopt-A-Pet volunteer Samantha Wize plays with some of the cats inside of the current community cat room.

Aurora Adopt-A-Pet to raise funds for expansion project

Elizabeth Hunter
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Aurora Adopt-A-Pet is hoping to expand its shelter to accommodate rescued cats and dogs as they wait for their forever homes. The shelter is seeking to raise $400,000 to $450,000.
The street between the middle school and high school was cited as a safety concern during the district’s facility status review. Thus in each of the initial seven proposals discussed last week the street was either enclosed or a green space was created with the area blocked from traffic.

The street between the middle school and high school was cited as a safety concern during the district’s facility status review. Thus in each of the initial seven proposals discussed last week the street was either enclosed or a green space was created with the area blocked from traffic.

This week's featured stories

News Staff
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
With preliminary cost estimates for various options of the Aurora School District’s master plan adding up to tens of millions of dollars, the architectural firm hired to work with the district is advising that a phased plan be considered as a way to break the needed work up into stages over...
Prairie Food, a Kansas-based company focused on replenishing soil health while reducing synthetic inputs, opened a sales location earlier this month on the west side of the downtown square. Pictured from left are company representatives Pete Martin, Ben Vincent and Chris Vincent

Prairie Food, a Kansas-based company focused on replenishing soil health while reducing synthetic inputs, opened a sales location earlier this month on the west side of the downtown square. Pictured from left are company representatives Pete Martin, Ben Vincent and Chris Vincent

PrairieFood opens office in Aurora

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
A Kansas-based agronomy company has expanded its operations with a location in downtown Aurora, hoping to help area producers grow more with less fertilizer, water and risk all while focusing on soil health.
Aurora seniors Savanna James and Micole Yockey work on the finishing touches on one of the gifts that they wrapped Thursday during YEP’s gift-wrapping event.

Aurora seniors Savanna James and Micole Yockey work on the finishing touches on one of the gifts that they wrapped Thursday during YEP’s gift-wrapping event.

Students wrap up on 2025 fundraiser

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
’Tis the season of giving, and members of the Youth Engaged in Philanthropy have dedicated this season in gift wrapping 146 gifts the community, having raised a total of $912 from the gift wrapping sesions Dec. 7 and Thursday, Dec.
Giltner Public Schools

Giltner Public Schools

Cogswell begins farewell at Giltner

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
The Giltner School Board posted an opening for an administrator position following the announcement that current administrator Curt Cogswell will step down at the end of the year to retire.
Cierra (Bergen) Toland is the owner and design consultant of Toland Interiors in Greensboro, N.C. Toland specializes in helping clients with finding the right colors and designs for their bathrooms, kitchens and living spaces.

Cierra (Bergen) Toland is the owner and design consultant of Toland Interiors in Greensboro, N.C. Toland specializes in helping clients with finding the right colors and designs for their bathrooms, kitchens and living spaces.

A designer of forever homes

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Home is where the heart is, and for Aurora grad Cierra (Bergen) Toland, her heart leads her to helping clients create the best environment to live in through her business, Toland Interiors in Greensboro, N.C.
Pictured from left are Xavier Wicks, Banjamin Santeliz-Diaz and Ayden Larson.

Pictured from left are Xavier Wicks, Banjamin Santeliz-Diaz and Ayden Larson.

AHS graduates four students at mid-term

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Mid-term graduates were honored Friday during a brief ceremony at Aurora High School. Pictured from left are Xavier Wicks, Banjamin Santeliz-Diaz and Ayden Larson. Not pictured is Faith Hagelstein.