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Teachers from Hampton, Giltner, High Plains and Aurora school districts who had been in place for 20 or more years were celebrated in this year's ANR Workforce tribute. -
Hampton’s defense held on three straight plays at the goal line as Stuart lost one yard in the sequence, nearly forcing a safety on the series. -
Dr. Kyle Klute was awarded the ‘Young Optometrist of the Year Award’ from the Nebraska Optometric Association at his practice Good Life Eyecare. The Hampton native has worked for eight years in the optometry field, starting his own practice in 2019. -
It looked like a sea of humanity rolling down the fairway in the opening stretch of the C1 girls state cross country meet Friday. Pictured at center are Aurora freshmen Alexis Ericksen and Ella Eggleston. At far right are Kaitlyn Oswald, Laighla Rice and Ella Curtis. -
Loren Berthelsen stands outside his Airbnb home on P Street in Aurora. The home for rentals, akin to a bed and breakfast, was purchased for less than $160,000.
The Art of Teaching
This week’s edition includes the News-Register’s annual workforce recognition special section, which this year shines the spotlight on area educators who have been with their respective school districts for 20 or more years. ANR staff interviewed several veteran teachers at random, sharing their perspective as to why they do what they do.
Hampton set for first playoff appearance since 2010
Since its loss to Sterling Sept. 9 and 1-2 start, Hampton coach Jereme Jones and the Hawks have approached each district game as if it were a playoff contest.
The Hawks couldn’t afford another loss if they wanted to be in the playoffs, Jones told his team after the Sterling game.
Well, Hampton went on to win four of its final five games and found a spot in the 16-team 6-man playoffs, snapping a long drought.
Hampton is returning to the NSAA football playoffs for the first time since 2010 and the first time since joining the 6-man ranks in 2016. The Hawks posted a 5-3 record during the 2022 season, its first winning record since 2010, a district runner-up effort.
Good Life, good vision: Dr. Klute wins statewide award
Dr. Kyle Klute, born in Hampton, has officially earned the “Young Optometrist of the Year Award” from the Nebraska Optometric Association for 2022. Owner of his own practice, Good Life Eyecare, since 2019, the path to 20/20 success was not a straightforward one.
Even now happy and successful in his current career, with it’s own set of rewards, Klute noted it had been a challenge.
“It’s obviously it’s been challenging to me, but it’s been challenging and rewarding,” he stated. “It’s probably what every small business owner has valued. It’s totally worth it, but, man, (it) has (been) a lot of work.”
Ericksen caps stellar freshman season at state
Aurora freshman Alexis Ericksen did what few Husky runners have ever done Friday, earning a medal in her first try at the state cross country meet in Kearney.
Having won races earlier in the year and seen the state course at the UNK Invite, Ericksen said she was excited about the state meet, though admitted afterwards that it was all a bit overwhelming.
“I was kind of nervous,” she said. “It did feel different just because of all the pressure and stuff. I put pressure on myself and felt a lot of nerves, but I just thought of all the little middle schoolers that look up to me and I just did it for them.”
Familiar faces, Grape Frog owners open local Airbnb
The team behind Grape Frog Loren Berthelsen and his husband Saxon Copeland have started a new venture that returns to Berthelsen’s past: managing an Airbnb.
Berthelsen described the ins and outs of their journey to acquiring a place in the massive industry of home hotels, a resolution to his quest for a rental property investment.
“I always think real estate is a good investment, generally speaking over the long haul, so I wanted to buy a rental property,” he said. “And years ago I used to own a hotel in Palm Springs. I’ve kind of missed that...hotel and we decided to buy this property when it came up. It was the right price, (and) it’s just around the corner from us.”
To read more of any of this week's top stories, please see this week's print or e-edition.
