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Members of the Apophis robotics team, which includes members from Aurora and Arkansas, work on their robot, Choppy, during worlds competition recently in Houston.

Members of the Apophis robotics team, which includes members from Aurora and Arkansas, work on their robot, Choppy, during worlds competition recently in Houston.

Robotics team partners with Arkansas squad, goes to worlds

Emma Bullerman
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Competing in front of a crowd of 50,000 people, the Aurora robotics team showed off its skills recently at the world’s competition in Houston. The road to get there was a unique one given that the locals joined forces with a team out of Arkansas in order to have a full roster.
Carol Schenk looks through a microscope, part of a job she has enjoyed for almost all of the company’s 50-year history.

Carol Schenk looks through a microscope, part of a job she has enjoyed for almost all of the company’s 50-year history.

Veteran ISSI employee has seen a lot of change

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Carol Schenk has had a front-row seat to observe her employer’s growth and change over the past 49 years. As of this week, her paycheck will reflect a different logo, though she will proudly continue to work for a company which changed its name from International Sensor Systems Inc.
Kirk Penner

Kirk Penner

Penner reports progress, concerns with NDE board

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Now well into his second year as a member of the Nebraska State Board of Education, Kirk Penner of Aurora says progress is slowly being made in efforts to restore credibility to a government entity he believes should be focused on priority issues such as a growing teacher shortage and assessment...
Co-owner of Premier Buildings Nebraska Brian Litz stands near some buildings and his sign on North W Road near Hampton. He joined with his cousin Grant a year ago to sell buildings, trailers and deer blinds straight off his lot.

Co-owner of Premier Buildings Nebraska Brian Litz stands near some buildings and his sign on North W Road near Hampton. He joined with his cousin Grant a year ago to sell buildings, trailers and deer blinds straight off his lot.

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Building up family business near Hampton

Jacob Courtney
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Finding a side passion that an individual can make money on is often a once-in-a-lifetime break.  Brian Litz has two as president of Lyvfin life insurance company and also becoming co-owner of Premier Buildings Nebraska with his cousin, Grant.
Thanking teachers with a special coffee delivery is one of many activities sponsored by the Aurora Public Schools Foundation.

Thanking teachers with a special coffee delivery is one of many activities sponsored by the Aurora Public Schools Foundation.

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APS Foundation working to expand its reach, impact

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
The Aurora Public Schools Foundation is on a mission to share its mission and expand its reach.
Lois Hixson, a 20-year Aurora educator, will leave the classroom for the last time at the end of the school year after a total of 34 years in education.

Lois Hixson, a 20-year Aurora educator, will leave the classroom for the last time at the end of the school year after a total of 34 years in education.

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Hixson: ‘If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well’

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Lois Hixson has found success in everything she’s served up. The 20-year Auroran has gone by many different titles in her professional career, not limited to coach, friend, sponsor, adviser, mentor, mother and educator.
Author Jeff Barnes gives a presentation of early Nebraska history from a podium in the Alice M. Farr Library on April 18.

Author Jeff Barnes gives a presentation of early Nebraska history from a podium in the Alice M. Farr Library on April 18.

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Author gives talk on the early, ‘mad’ years of Nebraska

Jacob Courtney
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Author Jeff Barnes posited in his talk “Mad Queen of the Prairies: The Frenzied First Years of the Nebraska Territory” that the first five years of the Nebraska territory were anything but mild. The history presentation by Friends of the Alice M.
Messiah Lutheran Church volunteers, also with a supervising dog, help put together playground equipment. After more than five years and $65,000, the playground will be open to members and the wider community.

Messiah Lutheran Church volunteers, also with a supervising dog, help put together playground equipment. After more than five years and $65,000, the playground will be open to members and the wider community.

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Messiah Lutheran constructs new playground

Jacob Courtney
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Messiah Lutheran Church is bringing playtime to church members and the wider community on the east side of Highway 14. Maintenance chair Troy McCain explained the journey to setting up a playground by the church to keep youth interested in the project.
Hamilton County Sheriff Jeromy McCoy escorts murder suspect Jeffrey Adams into county court during a preliminary hearing, Feb. 28. Adams appeared in court Thursday via Zoom, pleading not guilty to the charge of second degree murder.

Hamilton County Sheriff Jeromy McCoy escorts murder suspect Jeffrey Adams into county court during a preliminary hearing, Feb. 28. Adams appeared in court Thursday via Zoom, pleading not guilty to the charge of second degree murder.

Jeffrey Adams pleads not guilty

Kurt Johnson
Thursday, April 20, 2023
Jeffrey Adams pleaded not guilty Thursday to the charge of second degree murder, regarding the Feb. 26 death of his wife, Angela.