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Mark Janzen, a mill room operator at Grain Place Foods, is shown making organic bird food at the plant near Marquette. -
Hampton’s Drake Schafer recorded three INTs, including two pick sixes in his final high school football game, a 49-7 win at Santee Thursday. -
Aurora firefighters look on in a corn field near Marquette where fire spread quickly Oct. 19, burning an estimated 30-40 acres before it was contained. -
Mack Owens bullies his way through an edge block and brings down the ball carrier in the same motion, nearly for a safety in Aurora’s 50-14 win over Seward Friday. -
Pictured front from left: Nicole Havlik, Deb Miller, Joe Almont, Mary Molliconi. Back from left: John Ricks, executive director of the Nebraska Tourism Commission, John Boeder and Roger Jasnoch, board chair of the Nebraska Tourism Commission.
Shortage puts premium on quality workers
Hamilton County has prided itself for decades on its quality workforce and strong work ethic, which were more important than ever this past year with all the uncertainties in the midst of a pandemic. Many local business owners and managers are saying those qualities remain, though there just aren’t enough employees available these days, which is impacting the way they operate and in some cases limiting otherwise ripe opportunities for growth.
The total workforce in the county is listed at 4,685 in September, according to the Nebraska Department of Labor, with only 1.1 percent unemployment. Statewide, unemployment is listed at 2.2 percent, among the lowest rates in the nation. Help wanted ads and signs are everywhere, confirming that there are jobs to be had, but not enough people to fill them.
In light of the limited workforce pool, the News-Register is exploring the issue of workforce availability as part of its annual workforce tribute edition. ANR staff reached out to a variety of local businesses large and small, as well as school and health care officials, asking owners and managers to describe the challenges involved with finding and retaining quality employees, as well as the impact worker shortage is having on their operations. In addition, news reporters asked if they think it’s easier, or harder, to recruit employees here in Hamilton County, and if so why.
Hawks rout Santee to finish with win
Hampton entered Thursday’s road tilt with Santee not knowing its playoff future. Most importantly, the Hawks needed a win to stay alive.
The visiting Hawks looked and felt like a playoff team, riding a suffocating defensive effort to a 49-7 win in the regular season finale nearly three hours from home. Hampton finished the 2021 season with a 4-4 record, its best since 2011. Yet, a tie for 16th in the wild card points ended up not being enough for the Hawks to make its first postseason since 2010.
Despite that disappointment, Hampton coach Carson Klute pointed out that no matter what happened with the playoffs, he was proud of how his team fought all year long, especially Thursday night.
Field fire chars 30-40 acres near Marquette
Marquette and Aurora firefighters battled wind and dry conditions Oct. 19 in putting out a field fire just east and north of Marquette.
Aurora Fire Chief Tom Cox reported that the fire was apparently ignited late in the afternoon by a pickup in a harvested corn field and quickly spread to the north. Marquette area farmer Cale Carlson saw the smoke from a few miles away, and realizing that the National Weather Service had issued a red flag or no burn warning stopped his harvest work and headed for the scene. Carlson was able to disc a couple lines north of the fire to help stop the spread, and also cleared a path in the field toward the burning pickup, helping firetrucks reach the scene.
“We’re all busy with harvest, but in a time of need these things can move fast,” Carlson said. “I had a disc hooked up and just headed toward the smoke. Stopping harvest and taking care of an emergency first I thought was a top priority.”
Aurora dominates Seward in finale
Aurora coach Kyle Peterson knew the Huskies were primed for a superior performance against Seward based solely on the team’s effort during Wednesday’s practice.
“That was our best practice of the year,” Peterson said. “I’m a huge believer in you playing on Friday how you practice through the week. We picked a good time to have our best practice.”
Expecting Aurora’ seventh win in a row is one thing. What played out on the field Friday night was next level.
It was billed as a clash between two Class B top 10 teams. The Huskies were hungry from the word ‘go’ routing Seward for 50 first-half points in a 50-14 win and in the process, collecting a district title.
Edgerton named ‘Outstanding Tourism Attraction’ in Nebraska
The Edgerton Explorit Center earned statewide recognition this week, winning the Outstanding Tourism Attraction Award from the Nebraska Tourism Commission.
After she and her staff were honored Thursday at the organization’s Celebrate Nebraska awards banquet in Grand Island, Edgerton Executive Director Mary Molliconi said the award offers confirmation of a job well done.
“You know it’s always nice to be recognized, but certainly it’s more important to us to do a good job at what we offer the community and the students here and across the state,” Molliconi said.
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