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After performing at the speech districts competition in Hampton on Saturday, March 22, Sophie Faltys was announced district champion in persuasive receiving two perfect scores, a silver medal in POI and a bronze medal in informative.

After performing at the speech districts competition in Hampton on Saturday, March 22, Sophie Faltys was announced district champion in persuasive receiving two perfect scores, a silver medal in POI and a bronze medal in informative.

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Sophie Faltys is all in for senior year at Giltner

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
When Giltner senior Sophie Faltys went on stage Friday, March 28 for the 2025 Nebraska State Speech Championships, she never expected to return home as a Class D2 state champion.“The girl who got second (Lauren Winkelbauer of St. Mary’s Catholic School), her speech was so good,” Faltys said.
This photo of the upper floor of the Hampton Opera House looks east toward the stage of the building’s hall where many events took place. The picture was included in the documentation for the building’s inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

This photo of the upper floor of the Hampton Opera House looks east toward the stage of the building’s hall where many events took place. The picture was included in the documentation for the building’s inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

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IOOF Opera House was once Hampton’s cultural center

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
If a proposed plan to save and restore the Hampton IOOF Opera House is successful it will mean the preservation of a structure that has been a part of Hampton’s history and culture for more than 130 years.
Shown here is a graphic illustration of the four town homes Casey Nunnenkamp will be building on 12th Street. He noted that the units appear to be built as one structure, but in fact have two-hour firewall separation, which means they are each considered their own structure.

Shown here is a graphic illustration of the four town homes Casey Nunnenkamp will be building on 12th Street. He noted that the units appear to be built as one structure, but in fact have two-hour firewall separation, which means they are each considered their own structure.

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Nunnenkamp to build 4 new town homes

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Prep work has begun on a 12th Street site which will soon be home to a four dwelling unit town home expected to help diversify the community’s rental properties.
Emma Ellis-Sack, center, and Kash Majerus, right, have both been named recipients of the Nebraska Elite 11 Veterinarian Program scholarship. Pictured at left is Dan Pachta, owner of the Aurora Veterinary Clinic.

Emma Ellis-Sack, center, and Kash Majerus, right, have both been named recipients of the Nebraska Elite 11 Veterinarian Program scholarship. Pictured at left is Dan Pachta, owner of the Aurora Veterinary Clinic.

AHS students among first to receive new vet scholarships

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Two Aurora seniors have a running start toward their goal of becoming veterinarians as recipients of this year’s Nebraska Elite 11 Veterinarian Program scholarships.
Hamilton County Board of Commissioners news

Hamilton County Board of Commissioners news

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Extension office presents budget for FY 25-26

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
The lengthy process of crafting the Hamilton County budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year got underway in earnest on Monday with an early visit to the weekly board of commissioners meeting by Extension office lead educator Mariah Newmyer.
Not only waterfowl, but wading birds like this kildeer benefit from Teal View wetland. But look again, there’s also the track of a wandering raccoon in search of a meal.

Not only waterfowl, but wading birds like this kildeer benefit from Teal View wetland. But look again, there’s also the track of a wandering raccoon in search of a meal.

Teal View wetland hides in plain sight north of Hampton

News Staff
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
An evolving wetland on 39 acres north of Hampton, Neb., welcomes birds, bugs, furry critters, reptiles, amphibians and plants.Humans, too, are welcome to check out this nearby, diverse habitat.
Emma Ellis-Sack, center, and Kash Majerus, right, have both been named recipients of the Nebraska Elite 11 Veterinarian Program scholarship. Pictured at left is Dan Pachta, owner of the Aurora Veterinary Clinic.

Emma Ellis-Sack, center, and Kash Majerus, right, have both been named recipients of the Nebraska Elite 11 Veterinarian Program scholarship. Pictured at left is Dan Pachta, owner of the Aurora Veterinary Clinic.

This week's featured stories

News Staff
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Two Aurora seniors have a running start toward their goal of becoming veterinarians as recipients of this year’s Nebraska Elite 11 Veterinarian Program scholarships.
Barricades were put up on the north end of Hwy 34 in Aurora, marking the beginning of a summer-long renovation project on 1st Street.

Barricades were put up on the north end of Hwy 34 in Aurora, marking the beginning of a summer-long renovation project on 1st Street.

1st Street closed at Hwy 34

Kurt Johnson
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
1st Street is now closed in Aurora at the Highway 34 intersection on the north end of town. Prep work has begun for a summer-long renovation project that will widen, lower and replace the street all the way to the railroad tracks.
Hampton’s nine month old Loading Chute restaurant outlasted 63 competing restaurants in central Nebraska to be crowned ‘Chompion’ of the 2025 Tournament of Taste competition.

Hampton’s nine month old Loading Chute restaurant outlasted 63 competing restaurants in central Nebraska to be crowned ‘Chompion’ of the 2025 Tournament of Taste competition.

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Loading Chute crowned ‘Chompion’ in Tournament of Taste

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
The new Loading Chute restaurant has had a great deal of success and publicity in the less than one year it has been open in Hampton.
Pre-GIVE set to begin Monday, April 21

Pre-GIVE set to begin Monday, April 21

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Go Big GIVE event to aid 31 nonprofits in county

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Nonprofit organizations across Hamilton, Hall, Howard and Merrick counties will take part in the 12th annual Go Big GIVE online campaign opening with pre-GIVE Monday, April 21, and continuing until the one-day fundraising event on May 1.