This week's top stories

Cottonwood Gallery closes after two years on downtown square
The last day of business for Cottonwood Gallery & Arts ended with a sense of community on Saturday with the co-owners bringing champagne and appetizers to celebrate one last time with a crowd that represented those who appreciated the center of art on the downtown square. 
The business, which opened in the hectic year of 2020, meant a lot to some of the artists who attended the event who expressed sadness and fond memories at the closing of a masterpiece gallery. 
“The closing is obviously sad, (but) this event is great,” local artist Madison Vetter said. “Even this early, this many people, it’s a testament… This is my home. I hadn’t done a show in 20 years and they didn’t bat an eye. They just said ‘Bring it in, we’ll look at it. Hang up whatever you want.’ No limits.”

Dose’s heroics lift Hampton past HPC
For Hampton’s Lillian Dose, the rivalry with High Plains is important and special for several reasons. 
What the Hawk senior did in the fourth quarter against the Storm in a razor-close contest showed that and a lot more. 
Dose scored seven fourth quarter points while leading her Hampton teammates to a 39-34 win at home against High Plains Thursday night. 
“In that fourth quarter, Lillian Dose decided to play ball,” Hampton coach Margo LaBrie said after the game. “She played so well and started to cramp up late. I was so proud of how she played.

Construction activity tops $6.8M
Construction activity in Aurora during 2022 grew by almost 20 percent over the previous year and community leaders are quick to point out reasons for optimism that the numbers will continue to grow in the year ahead.
The year-end tally of building permits issued at Aurora City Hall added up to $6.8 million, more than a $1.1 million increase over 2021. That year’s $5.7 million total was the lowest in the past decade, which means that this year’s total remains well below the 10-year average of $8.4 million.
Kelsey Bergen, executive director of the Aurora Development Corporation, reported that some of the construction momentum she touted in last year’s report was tempered some by supply chain issues and rising interest rates, though she remains cautiously optimistic heading into 2023

Two new members join Hampton School Board
Two new members took their seats on the Hampton School Board Monday night, with Erin Olsen and Brian Litz beginning their tenures after being elected in November.
The newcomers replace veteran board members Ryan Bamesberger and Linda Troester, who stepped down after serving the board for 14 and eight years, respectively.
Olsen is a native of Dannebrog who graduated from Centura High School in 2002. She has lived in Hampton since 2011, but said she spent summers coming to visit family in the community and is now excited about the opportunity to offer her time and input on the school board.

Urkoski’s double-double too much for Hawks
Carter Urkoski had the biggest game of his young high school career in an area rivalry last week. 
The HPC Storm freshman tallied a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds as High Plains picked up a 49-41 win at Hampton Thursday. 
High Plains coach JT Hamm was fired up after the victory, HPC’s second in row that’s now a three-game win streak after an 0-6 start. For him, seeing the young guys like Urkoski gaining confidence every night has been fun to see.

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