This week's top stories

  • Some of the artwork that will be displayed in the Plainsman Museum from Aug. 30 to Sept. 30 as part of Impact Nebraska Artists ‘Color of Music-Rhythm of Art’. Left to right: “Mozart’s Summer Orchestra” by Jerene Kruse made of fused glass, “Lyrical Cadence” by Beth R. Jasnoch made of metal, “Symphonic Connection” by Ken Hosmer which is a watercolor painting and “Concerto to a Grand Adventure” by Jana Van Housen which is an assemblage made, in part, from a violin from a Goodwill.
    Some of the artwork that will be displayed in the Plainsman Museum from Aug. 30 to Sept. 30 as part of Impact Nebraska Artists ‘Color of Music-Rhythm of Art’. Left to right: “Mozart’s Summer Orchestra” by Jerene Kruse made of fused glass, “Lyrical Cadence” by Beth R. Jasnoch made of metal, “Symphonic Connection” by Ken Hosmer which is a watercolor painting and “Concerto to a Grand Adventure” by Jana Van Housen which is an assemblage made, in part, from a violin from a Goodwill.
  • A severe lack of rain throughout the state this winter, spring and summer is leaving visible signs of drought conditions, including an empty Platte River at the Hall/Hamilton County border.
    A severe lack of rain throughout the state this winter, spring and summer is leaving visible signs of drought conditions, including an empty Platte River at the Hall/Hamilton County border.
  • Freshmen Ella Eggleston completes the final part of the race securing first place for herself. Sigler described one of her strengths as her hyper-competitive spirit.
    Freshmen Ella Eggleston completes the final part of the race securing first place for herself. Sigler described one of her strengths as her hyper-competitive spirit.
  • Some of the smallest Hampton Hawks, including kindergartners Cooper Klute (left), Violet Hansen, Eric Dose, Ryder Steager, Autumn Jenneman and Bailey Goertzen watch in awe as a baby duckling learns how to use a waterslide Friday at the Nebraska State Fair.
    Some of the smallest Hampton Hawks, including kindergartners Cooper Klute (left), Violet Hansen, Eric Dose, Ryder Steager, Autumn Jenneman and Bailey Goertzen watch in awe as a baby duckling learns how to use a waterslide Friday at the Nebraska State Fair.
  • Above: Preston Larson runs through a tackle on his way to the end zone during Giltner’s 38-6 win over Deshler Friday. Below: Taylor Smith carries several Deshler defenders across the goal line.
    Above: Preston Larson runs through a tackle on his way to the end zone during Giltner’s 38-6 win over Deshler Friday. Below: Taylor Smith carries several Deshler defenders across the goal line.

Impact Nebraska Artists to debut exhibit at Plainsman Museum
The Plainsman museum will feature the first ever Impact Nebraska Artists exhibition in Aurora starting Aug. 30 and lasting until Sept. 30. The exhibit’s name will be “Color of Music-Rhythm of Art” and there will be a reception open to the public on Sept. 17 from 5-to-7 p.m.
Impact Nebraska artist and former Aurora resident Jana Van Housen gave a preview of the event and what it will bring to the community. 
“Going to a museum and seeing art is just a great way to maybe see your life in a different perspective,” Van Housen said. “To expand your mind, so hopefully it never snaps back to the same size it was before.”

Levels low, worries high along Platte River
Central Nebraska’s drought continues and the Platte River is showing the effects. 
Usually laden with sandbars over the summer months in Nebraska, the famous “inch deep, mile wide” river is noticeably drier than normal. 
But why? And what does this mean for life in and around the water source?
“I’ve seen similar conditions in this area during the 2012 drought,” said Prairie Plains Resource Institute Naturalist Educator Sarah Bailey. “I remember the dry conditions in the Platte River occurring earlier in the season that year. We had some difficulty finding a place for the SOAR campers to experience the river in mid July.”

Secret’s out: Aurora freshmen go 1-2
Two Aurora lighting bolts on the high school cross country girls team fired out ahead of all competition in the first race of the season Friday in Grand Island. 
Two freshmen, Ella Eggleston and Alexis Ericksen, came in first and second at the Grand Island Northwest Invite, crossing the line 10 seconds apart -- 22:11 and 22:21 -- yet well ahead of the field.
The course on Tornado Hill in Ryder Park, which was divided into a junior varsity Silver Division 4K race and a varsity Gold Division 5K race, featured the one-two punch that coach Tony Sigler has been anxious to see in varsity competition.

Nebraska State Fair kicks off with classroom fun
The Nebraska State Fair began its 11-day run Friday with a parade of students from classrooms across the state. Some of the smallest Hampton Hawks, including kindergartners Cooper Klute (left), Violet Hansen, Eric Dose, Ryder Steager, Autumn Jenneman and Bailey Goertzen watch in awe as a baby duckling learns how to use a waterslide Friday at the Nebraska State Fair.

Ground game carries Hornets to road victory
It’s been a rough few years for Giltner on the football field. Maybe that’s why the celebration on the field after the final whistle Friday night was all the more gratifying. 
The Hornets won its first season-opener since 2018 Friday, picking up a convincing 38-6 victory over Deshler on the road. 
The win awarded new Giltner coach Dane McConnell his first win as the coach, who hugged and celebrated with his team all night long after big plays and in the postgame huddle. 

 

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