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Gothenburg attorney Mike Bacon (standing) addresses the Phillips Village Board meeting as the Community Development Agency, to present a request for TIF financing for six new rental units proposed to be built by Bartunek 3D Enterprises.

Gothenburg attorney Mike Bacon (standing) addresses the Phillips Village Board meeting as the Community Development Agency, to present a request for TIF financing for six new rental units proposed to be built by Bartunek 3D Enterprises.

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Phillips denies TIF financing for new housing units

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Despite the fact that the Village of Phillips has come to be known around the region for its use of tax increment financing (TIF) to encourage housing development, the village board last week turned down a proposal to use TIF to build six rental units in the community over the next two years.
Operating hours have changed effective immediately at Espressions in Aurora pending the closure of the coffee shop on June 27.

Operating hours have changed effective immediately at Espressions in Aurora pending the closure of the coffee shop on June 27.

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TLC announces plans to cease operations at Espressions by June 27

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
The Leadership Center’s board of directors announced this week that it will be ceasing operation of Espressions in downtown Aurora effective June 27.
Aurora resident Kim Eberly recently opened Balanced Vision on the courthouse square. The occupational therapy practice will focus mainly on providing vision therapy to children and adults.

Aurora resident Kim Eberly recently opened Balanced Vision on the courthouse square. The occupational therapy practice will focus mainly on providing vision therapy to children and adults.

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Dream of OT business becomes Balanced Vision

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Aurora resident Kim Eberly is well known to many area residents for her work in occupational therapy over many years, and more recently as part of the team helping to make the Hamilton County Inclusive Playground a reality.
Brett and Stacie Faber of Aurora love to travel the world and have spent much of their vacation time over the years visiting various Disney parks. The couple will be moving to Florida next month, with plans to eventually join the Disney World workforce.

Brett and Stacie Faber of Aurora love to travel the world and have spent much of their vacation time over the years visiting various Disney parks. The couple will be moving to Florida next month, with plans to eventually join the Disney World workforce.

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Aurora couple to follow lifelong dream to new life in Florida

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Brett and Stacie Faber have travelled the world over the past 30 years soaking up every Disney experience on the planet. Their passion for travel and the attraction to Mickey Mouse and Co.
Retiring Hampton Supt. Holly Herzberg leads during the last school board meeting of her career on Monday.

Retiring Hampton Supt. Holly Herzberg leads during the last school board meeting of her career on Monday.

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Herzberg chairs final meeting as superintendent

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
A large arrangement of purple and gold flowers sat behind Supt. Holly Herzberg as she guided her final meeting of the Hampton School Board on Monday night. The flowers were a gift from the board in recognition of her upcoming retirement after 20 years at the helm of the school district.
The villages of Phillips and Giltner are both dealing with water quality issues .

The villages of Phillips and Giltner are both dealing with water quality issues .

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Giltner, Phillips discuss water, sewer issues

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
The neighboring villages of Giltner and Phillips have both taken steps in recent days on a plan to pipe water from Grand Island to supply both villages with fresh water, however, both villages are waiting for the go ahead from state officials before the idea can even be studied.
Hamilton County has chosen the TimeTrakGO web and smart phone based app to track time, attendance and days off for all of its employees.

Hamilton County has chosen the TimeTrakGO web and smart phone based app to track time, attendance and days off for all of its employees.

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County goes with TimeTrakGO for time, attendance

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
After employees in two county departments tested the TimeTrakGO employee time clock software for more than a month, the county board of commissioners decided on Monday to use the program countywide to keep track of employee hours and time off.
Members of a citizens focus group (seated at center table) present their findings during a report to the Aurora City Council at a May 26 meeting which drew approximately 40 people to the Bremer Center.

Members of a citizens focus group (seated at center table) present their findings during a report to the Aurora City Council at a May 26 meeting which drew approximately 40 people to the Bremer Center.

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EMS focus group advises city: The issue is about leadership

News Staff
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
A citizens focus group offered in-depth data analysis of Aurora’s EMS funding dilemma last week, concluding that cost should not be the deciding factor on whether the city decides to stay with its public operations or contract with a private provider.
Amelia Guenther, left, and Chris Hyde address the Aurora City Council during last week’s meeting, where the local firefighters union made its case as to why Aurora’s ambulance service should remain public, not go private.

Amelia Guenther, left, and Chris Hyde address the Aurora City Council during last week’s meeting, where the local firefighters union made its case as to why Aurora’s ambulance service should remain public, not go private.

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Firefighters union defends public EMS service

News Staff
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
The local firefighters union made its case to the Aurora City Council last week as to why its public EMS service would be better for the community than a proposal being considered from a private entity, while also raising concerns with a lack of support and clear leadership from the city in recent...