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The Speakeasy is in the ghost town of Sacramento, located six miles southeast of Holdrege in the south central part of the state. (Photo by Laura Beahm for the Flatwater Free Press)

The Speakeasy is in the ghost town of Sacramento, located six miles southeast of Holdrege in the south central part of the state. (Photo by Laura Beahm for the Flatwater Free Press)

Sacramento, NE is Steak Town USA

News Staff
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
by Sarah Baker Hansen, Flatwater Free PressIt’s not unusual these days to sit down at a table at The Speakeasy, the old-school steakhouse located in an honest-to-goodness ghost town a few miles outside Holdrege, and be served a decidedly new-school cut of meat.
This drone photo shows the footprint of the Love’s Travel Stop location at Aurora’s Interstate 80 intersection. The company has announced plans for a $3 million renovation/expansion project, with specific construction details still pending.

This drone photo shows the footprint of the Love’s Travel Stop location at Aurora’s Interstate 80 intersection. The company has announced plans for a $3 million renovation/expansion project, with specific construction details still pending.

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Love’s to renovate/expand I-80 facilities

News Staff
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Twenty-two years after Love’s Travel Stop planted its flag in Aurora, the Oklahoma-based company is upgrading its I-80 facilities with a $3 million renovation/expansion.
Hamilton County Board of Commissioners news

Hamilton County Board of Commissioners news

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Commission gets first look at county budget

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Hamilton County Commissioners got a first look at the preliminary overall county budget for 2026-27 on Monday. County Business Administrator Pat Shaw presented the budget noting that Miscellaneous General was the “least set” portion of the budget at this point.
The Aurora Rotary Club is coordinating a community-based household hazardous waste collection day

The Aurora Rotary Club is coordinating a community-based household hazardous waste collection day

Rotary’s Hazardous Waste Collection Day set for Sept. 27

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
The Aurora Rotary Club is coordinating a community-based household hazardous waste collection day at the fairgrounds Saturday, Sept. 27, with volunteers from several entities working together to help protect the area’s environment.
Classes begin for the Hampton Hawks on Wednesday, Aug. 13

Classes begin for the Hampton Hawks on Wednesday, Aug. 13

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H&H sports coop brings big changes to Hampton School

Staff Reports
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
The area school undergoing possibly the biggest changes in the 2025-26 school year is Hampton. A brand new sports cooperative, the H&H Bearcats consisting of a Hampton and nearby Heartland Community Schools of Henderson, will get rolling with fall high school sports with the exception of football.
Classes begin for the Aurora Huskies on Thursday, Aug. 14

Classes begin for the Aurora Huskies on Thursday, Aug. 14

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Phillips says temporary changes possible due to 1st Street construction

Staff Reports
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Classes are set to begin next week in Aurora, and as of Monday the exact date classes will begin remains on schedule.The school calendar announced last year that the first day of school for grades K-5, 6 and 9 is to be Thursday, Aug. 14, with all students in attendance by the following day, Aug. 15.
School starts in Giltner on Wednesday, Aug. 13

School starts in Giltner on Wednesday, Aug. 13

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Multiple new staff will bring change to Giltner Schools

Staff Reports
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
The Giltner Hornets are buzzing with excitement and new students and teachers are eager to begin the new school year on Wednesday, Aug. 13.Giltner begins its professional development days with staff reporting on Wednesday, Aug. 6 and continuing through Monday, Aug. 11.
School starts at HPC on Thursday, Aug. 14

School starts at HPC on Thursday, Aug. 14

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Restrictive cell phone policy in place for new year at High Plains School

Staff Reports
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
High Plains Community Schools is set to open its doors for the first day of classes Aug. 14 across both the Clarks and Polk sites with an early 1:30 p.m. dismissal that day.HPC’s back-to-school night is Aug. 12 starting at 5:30 p.m. in Clarks for the elementary building and 7 p.m.
Curtis Cogswell

Curtis Cogswell

Cogswell steps in as new Giltner administrator

News Staff
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
After working nearly 40 years as an educator, Curtis ‘Curt’ Cogswell said he is often asked why he doesn’t retire. But he says that’s not even on his radar as he steps into his new role school administrator at Giltner Public Schools.
Matt Gordon is eagerly looking forward to starting his first year as superintendent at Giltner Public Schools

Matt Gordon is eagerly looking forward to starting his first year as superintendent at Giltner Public Schools

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Gordon excited for first year at the helm in Giltner

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Nineteen-year educator Matt Gordon is eagerly looking forward to starting his first year as supintendent at Giltner Public Schools, and he says he is encouraged by the fact that he will not be the lone newcomer. A total of 13 new faculty members are joining the district this year.