News

Aurora High School Health and Wellness Day speaker Suzie Fogarty holds up her iPhone to make a point during her keynote address to high school students last Wednesday. Fogarty reported that today’s high school students spend an average of 7-1/2 hours a day looking at screens, and that’s on top of the time computers are used for study.

Aurora High School Health and Wellness Day speaker Suzie Fogarty holds up her iPhone to make a point during her keynote address to high school students last Wednesday. Fogarty reported that today’s high school students spend an average of 7-1/2 hours a day looking at screens, and that’s on top of the time computers are used for study.

AHS speaker urges students to break phone addiction

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
If Nebraska legislators were looking for evidence to support LB 140 which seeks to put a statewide ban on cell phones in school, they wouldn’t need to look much further than the presentation made to Aurora High School students during last Wednesday’s Health and Wellness Day.
The Hamilton County Inclusive Playground will be located on city property along Old Creek Road north of Lincoln Creek. It will have playground equipment designed for children of all abilities to be able to play together. This concept art looks toward the south from the perspective of Old Creek Road.

The Hamilton County Inclusive Playground will be located on city property along Old Creek Road north of Lincoln Creek. It will have playground equipment designed for children of all abilities to be able to play together. This concept art looks toward the south from the perspective of Old Creek Road.

Inclusive Playground surpasses $1M in donations

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
The Hamilton County Inclusive Playground project passed an important fundraising milestone recently when it topped the $1 million mark in donations on its way to the ultimate goal of $1.7 million. In fact, organizers say with a recent $100,000 donation from Cornerstone Bank, donations now total $1.
Members of the Giltner School Board hosted a public information meeting Wednesday night to inform parents and faculty about the plans for a basketball coop between Giltner and Harvard high schools. Pictured from left are board vice president Logan Rath, board member Brandon Hunnicutt, board president Brad Schutt and principal Kurt Finkey.

Members of the Giltner School Board hosted a public information meeting Wednesday night to inform parents and faculty about the plans for a basketball coop between Giltner and Harvard high schools. Pictured from left are board vice president Logan Rath, board member Brandon Hunnicutt, board president Brad Schutt and principal Kurt Finkey.

Giltner school board outlines plan for hoops cooperative

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
The Giltner School Board outlined plans for the new Giltner-Harvard basketball coop at a public informational meeting last Wednesday night which was attended by 24 faculty members and parents.The board had approved the plan during its Feb. 12 regular meeting.
The Giltner Cheer team won its first state championship title at the 2025 Nebraska Cheer & Dance competition on Friday, Feb. 21. Members of the team include (front row, from left): Karly Eastman, Addison Wilson, Addison Bradley, Gracie Kreutz, Avery Reeson, Peyton Schutt. Back row: Ciany Ledezma-Martinez, Kalie Cady, Kailyn Wilson, Jayci Buettner, Giovanna Nogara, McKaya Petzoldt and Eliana Bish.

The Giltner Cheer team won its first state championship title at the 2025 Nebraska Cheer & Dance competition on Friday, Feb. 21. Members of the team include (front row, from left): Karly Eastman, Addison Wilson, Addison Bradley, Gracie Kreutz, Avery Reeson, Peyton Schutt. Back row: Ciany Ledezma-Martinez, Kalie Cady, Kailyn Wilson, Jayci Buettner, Giovanna Nogara, McKaya Petzoldt and Eliana Bish.

Giltner wins state cheer title

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
The Lady Hornets made history at the 2025 Nebraska State Cheer & Dance competition on Friday, Feb. 21 taking home medals and Giltner High School’s first state cheer championship trophy.
Bearcats (or Binturongs) are native to south and Southeast Asia.

Bearcats (or Binturongs) are native to south and Southeast Asia.

Hampton fans learn ‘What is a bearcat?’

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Folks in Hampton learned a few more details about their school’s upcoming sports cooperative with Heartland Community Schools on Friday morning at the latest Community Conversations with Coffee sponsored by Hampton School.
Before taking the position of ESL teacher at Barr Middle School in Grand Island, Kate Klute made several trips to Spain, where she spent three months working as a au pair nanny, teaching English to the children in her care. She took this selfie while visiting Andulcia, Spain.

Before taking the position of ESL teacher at Barr Middle School in Grand Island, Kate Klute made several trips to Spain, where she spent three months working as a au pair nanny, teaching English to the children in her care. She took this selfie while visiting Andulcia, Spain.

Klute creates welcoming classroom as ESL teacher

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
As an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at Barr Middle School in Grand Island, Aurora native Kate Klute says she wants her students from other countries to not only learn the language but adapt to American culture. “I try to do my best to teach them American culture,” Klute said.
Terri Hope announced plans this week to begin a retirement sale, which means that 65 years of having a Hope furniture business in downtown Aurora will soon end as well.

Terri Hope announced plans this week to begin a retirement sale, which means that 65 years of having a Hope furniture business in downtown Aurora will soon end as well.

Retirement sale marks end of an era for Hope business

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Terri Hope announced this week that the end of an era is pending in downtown Aurora as she prepares to sell the family furniture business and retire.The Hope family has been selling furniture and flooring on 13th Street near the southeast corner of the square for 65 years now, dating back to 1960.
Aurora City Hall

Aurora City Hall

City signs off on local road projects

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
The Aurora City Council approved certificates of substantial completion on several road projects in the community last week, then devoted a majority of the 45-minute meeting updating city policies to coincide with changes in state law.The first order of business during the Feb.
The preliminary design for the interior of the new Extension building to be located at the county fairgrounds.

The preliminary design for the interior of the new Extension building to be located at the county fairgrounds.

Company picked to design new Extension office

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
“So we’re off and running” was the exclamation of Hamilton County Commissioner Francis McDonald following a vote to name an architect to design the planned headquarters for the county Extension office at the fairgrounds on Monday.
Performers at the Friends of the Lied Center for Performing Arts annual gala prepare to take their bows after performing on stage during the dinner. This year’s theme for the gala was Paris Lights. Deb Nelson of Aurora, who is the president elect of the organization, served as co-chair for the event.

Performers at the Friends of the Lied Center for Performing Arts annual gala prepare to take their bows after performing on stage during the dinner. This year’s theme for the gala was Paris Lights. Deb Nelson of Aurora, who is the president elect of the organization, served as co-chair for the event.

Nelson helps bring lights of Paris to Lied Center in Lincoln

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Auroran Deb Nelson had the opportunity to help bring a touch of the romance and magic of Paris to Nebraska recently. Nelson, owner of Touch of Health Day Spa, is president-elect of the Friends of the Lied board and was co-chair for the organization’s annual fundraising gala held Feb.