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High Plains co-salutatorian Gage Friesen presents his Mom, Talia Peterson, with a flower while she sneaks in a kiss on his cheek during graduation ceremonies Saturday in Polk.

High Plains co-salutatorian Gage Friesen presents his Mom, Talia Peterson, with a flower while she sneaks in a kiss on his cheek during graduation ceremonies Saturday in Polk.

HPC grads: ‘Stop and look around once in a while’

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Twenty-two High Plains Community seniors made sure to take extra time and look around Saturday afternoon, not wanting to miss the moment.
Jackson Bullis takes his turn at ringing the old school bell as the Hampton High School Class of 2025 heads into the school for Saturday’s graduation.

Jackson Bullis takes his turn at ringing the old school bell as the Hampton High School Class of 2025 heads into the school for Saturday’s graduation.

Hampton High ‘more than a school’

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Amid smiles, laughter and tears, both happy and sad, 14 Hampton Hawks left the nest Saturday afternoon as the community came together to celebrate the Class of 2025.
Welcome to summer fun in 2025!

Welcome to summer fun in 2025!

Celebrate summer with festive local celebrations

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Summer is almost here – a time for family picnics, neighborhood barbecues, vacation adventures and enjoying the warm and sunny weather! It’s also a time when communities around our area get together to celebrate their history and just have some good old-fashioned fun with annual festivals.
Jasmine Hansen and Jorja Pohlmeier are the chosen class representatives for the AHS Class of 2025

Jasmine Hansen and Jorja Pohlmeier are the chosen class representatives for the AHS Class of 2025

This week's top stories

News Staff
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Aurora High School’s Class of 2025 is set to turn the tassels on Sunday, celebrating one of the final area graduation ceremonies Commencement exercises will begin at 2 p.m. in the Aurora Sports Complex. The processional will be accompanied by the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance.
Construction crews working on the 1st Street renovation are making visible progress on a project expected to last all summer long.

Construction crews working on the 1st Street renovation are making visible progress on a project expected to last all summer long.

1st Street renovation program on schedule

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Construction crews have been busy working on the 1st Street renovation for the past two weeks, making visible progress on a project expected to last all summer long.
Go Big GIVE 2025 raises nearly $430,000 for Hamilton County non-profits

Go Big GIVE 2025 raises nearly $430,000 for Hamilton County non-profits

12th annual Go Big GIVE raises $2M

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Donors made waves with their generosity during Go Big GIVE Thursday, raising a record preliminary $2,005,744 last week for 167 nonprofits in Hall, Hamilton, Howard, and Merrick counties.
Marc Kroger will wind down his time teaching physics and chemistry at Aurora High School later this month, as he steps away from a career in education he started 33 years ago.

Marc Kroger will wind down his time teaching physics and chemistry at Aurora High School later this month, as he steps away from a career in education he started 33 years ago.

Kroger, the AHS science guy, calls it a career

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Science was one of Marc Kroger’s favorite subjects back in high school, so he figured early on he was either going to be a teacher or a doctor.
Macy Miller will be the valedictorian and Raegan Hansen the salutatorian at the Hampton High School graduation ceremony on Saturday.

Macy Miller will be the valedictorian and Raegan Hansen the salutatorian at the Hampton High School graduation ceremony on Saturday.

Hampton to graduate 14 on Saturday

News Staff
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Fourteen Hampton Hawks are set to leave the nest and soar into their future on Saturday as Hampton High School holds its 2025 graduation ceremony. The event will be held in the new gym starting at 2 p.m.
Valedictorian Caleb Sharman and co-salutatorians Gage Friesen and Allie Howell will speak at Saturday's High Plains graduation.

Valedictorian Caleb Sharman and co-salutatorians Gage Friesen and Allie Howell will speak at Saturday's High Plains graduation.

HPC to honor 2025 grads Saturday

News Staff
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Twenty-three High Plains Community Schools seniors will celebrate their next big milestone in life Saturday.The HPC class of 2025 commencement exercises will begin Saturday at 1 p.m. at the high school gym in Polk.
Eloise Francois is a senior at Aurora High School and will be graduating with her classmates on Sunday, May 18. Francois plans to start college in Belgium where she will either major in nutrition or physical therapy.

Eloise Francois is a senior at Aurora High School and will be graduating with her classmates on Sunday, May 18. Francois plans to start college in Belgium where she will either major in nutrition or physical therapy.

Francois discovers new culture

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Arriving from Belgium, foreign exchange student Eloise Francois has stepped out to the open fields of Nebraska to open her mind to a life outside of her small country. Not wanting miss her high school years in Belgium, Francois waited until after graduation there to see the U.S.