This week's top stories

top
stories
  • These sheep showmen gave it their all Thursday morning.
    These sheep showmen gave it their all Thursday morning.
  • Photo by Priscilla Balasa // Priscilla Balasa of Aurora won top honors in the ANR Amateur Photo Contest for the third time with this stunning image of a colorful Hamilton County sunset taken three miles south of Giltner. See more winners on Page B1.
    Photo by Priscilla Balasa // Priscilla Balasa of Aurora won top honors in the ANR Amateur Photo Contest for the third time with this stunning image of a colorful Hamilton County sunset taken three miles south of Giltner. See more winners on Page B1.
  • Aurora native and South Dakota golfer Danica Badura won her second consecutive Nebraska women’s amateur title last week by eight strokes over the field.
    Aurora native and South Dakota golfer Danica Badura won her second consecutive Nebraska women’s amateur title last week by eight strokes over the field.
  • Local veterans receiving their Quilt of Valor Monday during opening ceremonies at the county fair include, from left: Mike Barron, Tom Mersch, John Miller, Roger Salmon and Keith Wasem.
    Local veterans receiving their Quilt of Valor Monday during opening ceremonies at the county fair include, from left: Mike Barron, Tom Mersch, John Miller, Roger Salmon and Keith Wasem.
  • Keno games up and running in Giltner.
    Keno games up and running in Giltner.

    Hamilton County Fair underway!
    The 2021 Hamilton County Fair is well underway now, with visitors seeing a handful of livestock shows Thursday -- including sheep, goats and llamas -- and even more over the weekend. Stay tuned for further fair coverage via the Aurora News-Register. Happy Fair!

    And the winners are ...
    Priscilla Balasa was “chasing the light” early this spring, looking for a nice visual to fill her camera lens while escaping the pressures of daily life. She found what she was looking for just south of Giltner, capturing an image which earned grand champion honors in this year’s Aurora News-Register amateur photo contest.
    Photography has long been an outlet, and a passion, for Balasa, but even more so this year. As a former music teacher who now substitute teaches, mostly in Grand Island, being able to look at life through her camera lens helped regain her focus, and perspective, during a year plagued in so many ways by a global pandemic.

    Badura repeats as NE women’s amateur champ
    Unlike a year ago, her victory was never in doubt on the final day. Her lead, in fact, doubled. 
    Aurora native and University of South Dakota golfer Danica Badura repeated as the Nebraska women’s amateur champion, winning with a three day score of 221 (+5) total, beating the field by eight strokes at The Club at Indian Creek in Elkhorn.

    Keno games up and running in Giltner
    Six months after voters in Giltner approved keno gambling in the November election, the first proceeds are in with the village receiving $540 as its share of the take.
    Village Board Chairman Cody Nuss said he and others are pleased with the early results, noting that the goal all along was to provide entertainment while also helping improve the community.

    Quilts of Valor presented at county fair
    The Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild awarded five Quilts of Valor during the opening ceremonies of the Hamilton County Fair.
    Jeanette Friesen spoke on behalf of the guild and first thanked the Hamilton Community Foundation for helping fund the quilt project.
    “Our quilts are awarded, not just handed out,” she began. “This Quilt of Valor unequivocally says thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor in serving our nation.”
    Throughout the ceremony, family members held the quilt behind the veteran before wrapping them in it while their military service was shared with those in attendance.
    Quilts were awarded to Mike Barron, John Miller, Tom Mersch, Roger Salmon and Keith Wasem.

    To read more of any of this week's top stories, please see this week's print or e-edition.