This week's top story

The weather dominated the news this week in Hamilton County

  • A snowplow equipped with a snow blower throws the white stuff far out into the ditch as it works to clear Highway 4 west of Bruning. (Nebraska DOT photo)
    A snowplow equipped with a snow blower throws the white stuff far out into the ditch as it works to clear Highway 4 west of Bruning. (Nebraska DOT photo)
  • Areas like this on Hamilton County Rd. 2 east of Stockham illustrate the problem experienced by county road crews in opening up roads and keeping them open. There is nowhere for the snow to go except to be piled up along the road for the northwest winds to blow the road shut again.
    Areas like this on Hamilton County Rd. 2 east of Stockham illustrate the problem experienced by county road crews in opening up roads and keeping them open. There is nowhere for the snow to go except to be piled up along the road for the northwest winds to blow the road shut again.
  • This car seen abandoned along Highway 14 Monday morning about a mile north of the Marquette turnoff was one of more than a dozen vehicles abandoned in the county over the weekend, according to County Highway Superintendent Jeremy Brandt. Their drivers had to be rescued by highway department workers and deputies after they got stuck in the snow.
    This car seen abandoned along Highway 14 Monday morning about a mile north of the Marquette turnoff was one of more than a dozen vehicles abandoned in the county over the weekend, according to County Highway Superintendent Jeremy Brandt. Their drivers had to be rescued by highway department workers and deputies after they got stuck in the snow.
  • County Road 6 southeast of Aurora is in the process of drifting shut again Monday afternoon after having already been plowed by county highway crews over the weekend.
    County Road 6 southeast of Aurora is in the process of drifting shut again Monday afternoon after having already been plowed by county highway crews over the weekend.
  • Two motor graders equipped with v-plows continue to work Monday afternoon to open up a two-mile stretch of 12 Road just east of Aurora. The process had started at 7 a.m. and by 1:30 p.m. only a one lane track had been cleared.
    Two motor graders equipped with v-plows continue to work Monday afternoon to open up a two-mile stretch of 12 Road just east of Aurora. The process had started at 7 a.m. and by 1:30 p.m. only a one lane track had been cleared.
  • Snowblowers were busy all over town this last week, as business and homeowners, as well as city crews, worked to keep sidewalks and driveways cleared. Crews work here to clear the Aurora Senior Center Sunday afternoon so that it could open up on Monday morning
    Snowblowers were busy all over town this last week, as business and homeowners, as well as city crews, worked to keep sidewalks and driveways cleared. Crews work here to clear the Aurora Senior Center Sunday afternoon so that it could open up on Monday morning
  • Landon Peterson, center, gets caught in the crossfire in a snowball fight between his sister Lorelei, right, and their friend Hayes Lathrop. The epic battle occurred during the Jan. 9 school Snow Day in Aurora.
    Landon Peterson, center, gets caught in the crossfire in a snowball fight between his sister Lorelei, right, and their friend Hayes Lathrop. The epic battle occurred during the Jan. 9 school Snow Day in Aurora.

A double-barreled blast of winter weather hit Hamilton County last week shuttering schools and businesses, canceling events, snarling travel and causing an eight-day workweek for state and county highway crews and this week's ANR has all the coverage. 

First, a cover story by Richard Rhoden gets the inside scoop on the storm from Hamilton County Sheriff Jeromy McCoy and Emergency Services Manager Kirt Smith, examining its impact on emergency services and Highways 34 and 14. 

https://www.auroranewsregister.com/news/mccoy-smith-share-insight-weeks-frigid-weather

Another front page article by Ron Burtz recounts a Monday afternoon ride-along with County Highway Superintendent Jeremy Brandt to check out the process of opening roads for the first time since the weekend storm or roads that needed to be reopened after drifting shut again. 

https://www.auroranewsregister.com/news/county-highway-department-helps-rescue-stranded-motorists

On Page 3 you'll find an article by Kurt Johnson which looks at the efforts of city street crews to keep emergency routes open and get traffic moving again. It also includes important information on Emergency Snow Routes as well as cold weather safety tips.

https://www.auroranewsregister.com/news/city-busy-clearing-2nd-major-snow-storm-week

Pick up a print or e-edition of ANR today to get full coverage of what some are calling the biggest storm in this area since 2009.