This week's top stories

  • The rotunda of the Plainsman Museum was wall to wall people for the museum's annual fundraiser meal and auction Monday night.
    The rotunda of the Plainsman Museum was wall to wall people for the museum's annual fundraiser meal and auction Monday night.
  • Preston and Debra Gehle run Gehle Ag & Auto north of Giltner at 605 W 9 Road. The Gehles provide automotive repairs, irrigation maintenance and repairs and are happy extend their services to other areas.
    Preston and Debra Gehle run Gehle Ag & Auto north of Giltner at 605 W 9 Road. The Gehles provide automotive repairs, irrigation maintenance and repairs and are happy extend their services to other areas.
  • Members of the Husky boys basketball team celebrate after winning the Central Conference tournament for the first time since 2019.
    Members of the Husky boys basketball team celebrate after winning the Central Conference tournament for the first time since 2019.
  • William and Dawn Feely (at left) of Aurora traveled to Washington, D.C. the week of Jan. 12 where William attended meetings as one of Nebraska’s three national committeemen and they had the opportunity to take part in festivities surrounding the inauguration of President Donald Trump. While there they also met Republican National Committee co-chair, KC Crosbie and Michael Whatley, chairperson of the RNC.
    William and Dawn Feely (at left) of Aurora traveled to Washington, D.C. the week of Jan. 12 where William attended meetings as one of Nebraska’s three national committeemen and they had the opportunity to take part in festivities surrounding the inauguration of President Donald Trump. While there they also met Republican National Committee co-chair, KC Crosbie and Michael Whatley, chairperson of the RNC.
  • BonnaVilla, a housing manufacturer based in Aurora, has partnered with Progressive Builders in an effort to build workforce housing developments in northeast Nebraska.
    BonnaVilla, a housing manufacturer based in Aurora, has partnered with Progressive Builders in an effort to build workforce housing developments in northeast Nebraska.
  • Our area has been hit hard this cold and flu season.
    Our area has been hit hard this cold and flu season.

    The museum rotunda was filled with local supporters Monday evening as the Plainsman Museum hosted its annual fundraiser meal and auction. A total of more than $25,000 was raised during the event, which featured several guests dressed in historical attire.

    For over a year, Gehle Ag & Auto has been making a name for itself in Giltner offering services for irrigation maintenance and repairs along with automotive repairs throughout the Tri-Cities. Prior to finding a new home and facility for its shop on 605 W 9 Road, co-owner and mechanic Preston Gehle, alongside his wife Debra, have ran their family-owned business since 2022. The couple were eager to bring their business to Giltner after being offered the location by Giltner resident Ted Bish. 

    The Aurora boys basketball team has returned to the top of the Central Conference. For the first time since 2019, the Husky boys won the Central Conference tournament, doing so with a 57-48 win over Crete Saturday night. Aurora’s Parker Smith and Booker Scheierman combined for 33 points in the victory, the Huskies 10th in a row. For complete coverage on Aurora’s tournament title, see Page B1 of this week's ANR or read it HERE. 

    Hamilton County was well-represented at the second inauguration of President Donald Trump on Jan. 20 in the nation’s capital. Elected as one of Nebraska’s three national committeemen in May of last year, William Feely was invited to attend the inauguration and surrounding festivities as a guest of the Republican National Committee. Feely and his wife, Dawn, attended the Turning Point USA Ball, the Kentucky Bluegrass Ball and the Liberty Ball, where they got to see the president and vice president and members of their family when they put in appearances.

    BonnaVilla has announced plans to partner with a Norfolk company to construct modular homes in Schuyler and other communities in northeast Nebraska, which general manager Mike Morrow says may be “just the tip of the iceberg” of a blooming trend. The Aurora-based housing manufacturer, a division of Chief Industries which now touts just over 160 full-time employees, has partnered with Progressive Builders of Norfolk on a project both companies believe could be the start of a long-term collaboration to bring efficient and affordable housing to the region.

    The seasonal cold and flu bugs have been hitting our community hard in recent days. Various illnesses have made their way through many households and at least one business saw a wave of illness move through nearly the entire office in the past week. So many students and staff members at Aurora Middle School were out sick last week that officials decided to call off school Friday to reduce the chance of further transmission. “Our middle school has been hit the hardest this week, with a sustained high absence rate the last three days,” Supt. Jody Phillips said in a statement released Thursday afternoon.

    For details on these stories and more, plus all the latest area high school sports action, see the print or e-editions of this week's Aurora News-Register.