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Cale Carson has his trailer loaded with hay bales ready to be taken to Farnham area on March 25 to help feed cattle left hungry by the Cottonwood Fire which burned up thousands of acres of prairie grass earlier in the month.

Cale Carson has his trailer loaded with hay bales ready to be taken to Farnham area on March 25 to help feed cattle left hungry by the Cottonwood Fire which burned up thousands of acres of prairie grass earlier in the month.

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Area producers donate hay for Sandhills fire relief

News Staff
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
With thousands of acres of late winter forage in western Nebraska having been destroyed by the recent wildfires at multiple locations, help has been on the way in the form of hay donations from around the region and even from right here in Hamilton County.
Pictured from left are, Cooper Kuck, Reese Danielson, Kate Most and Maddox Eastman.

Pictured from left are, Cooper Kuck, Reese Danielson, Kate Most and Maddox Eastman.

GADC hosts Easter Egg Hunt

News Staff
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
The Giltner Area Development Corporation (GADC) hosted its annual Easter Egg Hunt at City Park on Saturday. The winners, selected from four different age groups participating, included, from left, Cooper Kuck, Reese Danielson, Kate Most and Maddox Eastman.
Virginia wildlife rescuer Tommy White and Edgerton raptor specialist Deb Miller pose with bald eagle Aquilla in front of the Explorit Center’s new raptor trailer. White had just delivered a barred owl and red-shouldered hawk rescued by his organization to add to the Edgerton’s raptor education program.

Virginia wildlife rescuer Tommy White and Edgerton raptor specialist Deb Miller pose with bald eagle Aquilla in front of the Explorit Center’s new raptor trailer. White had just delivered a barred owl and red-shouldered hawk rescued by his organization to add to the Edgerton’s raptor education program.

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Hoo, hoo, who you gonna call?

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
“You’re gonna be an awesome teacher,” wildlife rescuer Tommy White said gently to the big barred owl he had just delivered to the Edgerton Explorit Center.
Aurora Fire/EMS

Aurora Fire/EMS

City council meeting moved to Bremer Center

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Tuesday's Aurora City Council meeting, which includes a planned review of a proposal to consider privatizing Emergency Medical Services, has been moved to the Bremer Center, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Marquette High School grad Scott Beyer worked for the U.S. Forest Service for 36 years as a silviculturalist and timber planner in Oregon. Now retired, he spends his time carving wood. Pictured with him are his terriers, Baxter and Toby.

Marquette High School grad Scott Beyer worked for the U.S. Forest Service for 36 years as a silviculturalist and timber planner in Oregon. Now retired, he spends his time carving wood. Pictured with him are his terriers, Baxter and Toby.

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Beyer carves out a legacy in U.S. Forest Service

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Scott Beyer has carved a name for himself over his 36 years in the U.S. Forest Service and now through his retirement hobby of woodcarving. The Hamilton County native, who now lives in Bend, Ore.
These deteriorating foundation stones on the curving bow bay window portion of the south side of the courthouse will be replaced soon following action by the county commission on Monday. The Colorado sandstone blocks have been weakened by water that has seeped into them over the years. That problem is being corrected by the concrete ground level gutter system that is being installed and which can be seen at the bottom of the photo.

These deteriorating foundation stones on the curving bow bay window portion of the south side of the courthouse will be replaced soon following action by the county commission on Monday. The Colorado sandstone blocks have been weakened by water that has seeped into them over the years. That problem is being corrected by the concrete ground level gutter system that is being installed and which can be seen at the bottom of the photo.

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County OKs courthouse change order

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
As exterior renovation of the Hamilton County Courthouse progresses apace this week, the cost of the project grew by more than $26,000 on Monday.
Workers install forms in preparation for pouring new walkways on the west side of the courthouse

Workers install forms in preparation for pouring new walkways on the west side of the courthouse

West courthouse entrance nears completion

News Staff
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Workers were busy building forms on Monday morning for the walkways on the west side of the Hamilton County Courthouse in preparation for pouring concrete this week.
Aurora junior Calvin Miller recently won a Nebraska Young Artist Award from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts.

Aurora junior Calvin Miller recently won a Nebraska Young Artist Award from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts.

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Miller wins NE Young Artist Award

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Calvin Miller, a junior at Aurora High School, has won a Nebraska Young Artist Award from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts.
Easter egg hunters fill their baskets on Saturday

Easter egg hunters fill their baskets on Saturday

Kids, candy & chaos at the courthouse

News Staff
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
The courthouse lawns were littered with more than 5,000 candy-filled and brightly colored Easter eggs at 1 p.m. on Saturday, all set for the second annual Ultimate Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the Hamilton County Youth Center.
A pair of young boys express their delight at finding lots of Easter eggs at the courthouse Saturday afternoon.

A pair of young boys express their delight at finding lots of Easter eggs at the courthouse Saturday afternoon.

Egg-cited for the hunt

News Staff
Saturday, April 4, 2026
Dozens of kids and their parents turned out for Saturday's Ultimate Easter Egg Hunt at the Hamilton County Courthouse sponsored for the second year in a row by the Hamilton County Youth Center.