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A’ROR’N Bots team poses for a picture at the First Lego League Nebraska Championships Feb. 26. From left: Ella Curtis, Everett Hunnicutt, Jillian Stromer, Caleb Ruch and Thomas Brandl. -
High Plains art teacher Fran Lott is set to retire at the end of this school year, after 39 years in the profession. She is pictured here in front of a red and blue dotted wall mural, painted by students, that will someday be used to display student art. -
A dream becomes reality for Baylor Scheierman as the former Husky leads the South Dakota State Jackrabbits into the NCAA D-I 68-team tournament, tipping off Thursday. -
Marcus Lewis stands outside of ‘The Shed,’ his tiny home, on March 9. He and his fiancee have lived in the home for almost two years. -
Based on the pending sale of the Aurora Masonic Lodge on L Street, the Aurora City Council voted March 8 to change the zoning on the property from residential to residential/office.
A’ROR’N Bots invited to international competition
First Lego League (FLL) Razorback Invitational officials have invited the A’ROR’N Bots to an in-person competition on May 19-22 after winning third place in the statewide FLL tournament Feb. 26.
The team of 4th through 9th grade students has been waiting for this opportunity since their second chance to attend Razorback was canceled due to COVID-19. The performance this season will give the team a chance to perform on an international stage.
“Yeah, we have to up our game because we’re competing against the best teams in the world,” said coach Tami Brandl-Brown.
Art teacher set to pack up her pencils after 39 years in career
After 39 years in the education game, High Plains art teacher Fran Lott is putting her pencil down for the final time, set to retire at the end of the school year.
“It’s been a long time,” Lott said. “I’ve been thinking about that. There are so many last things… we’ll have our last art show coming up in May… all these last things. It kind of makes you choke up a little bit.”
Looking back at where it all began, Lott voiced that she found her love for teaching while in high school.
Baylor Scheierman going to the dance
Baylor Scheierman was a just another kid in the backyard, playing made-up March Madness games with his brother, making the last shot as the imaginary crowd went wild.
It was a dream of his to be part of the most famous amateur basketball tournament in the world.
It won’t be a made-up game this time around.
The dream comes true this week for Baylor and his South Dakota State teammates.
The Jackrabbits earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament with a nail-biting 75-69 win over North Dakota State in the Summit League tournament finals.
Tiny house ‘shed’ now a home
Drive past the roaring winds and brown fields north of the Giltner spur, and there is a tiny home nicknamed “The Shed” where two pioneers of the housing trend live.
The couple of Marcus Lewis and Charlotte Myers have been living in a tiny home for the past two years with their Great Dane mix Rosie and bearded dragon named Pancakes. Though the home is only 400 sq. ft., the couple have found a place big enough for their future.
“A lot of people think they can’t live in a tiny house because it’s so small, but it’s easy to move into and I mean, if you know how to condense yourself,” said Lewis. “I like the small, homey feeling.”
Council changes zoning at former Masonic Lodge site
The Aurora City Council approved a zoning change for an L Street property at its March 8 meeting, changing the designation for a site that currently houses the Masonic temple building from residential to residential/office district.
No one spoke for or against the zoning change request during a series of public hearings, with the council eventually waiving the three-reading rule to make the change effective immediately.
Zoning Administrator Adam Darbro explained that the request was made based on plans announced by members of the Aurora Masonic Lodge No. 68 AF & AM to sell the property, located at 1417 L St.
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