News

Trial begins in Hamilton County Court

Trial begins in Hamilton County Court

Sara May trial begins

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
A jury has been seated and the state began presenting evidence in Hamilton County Court on Monday in the case of the woman whose SUV struck and killed state highway worker Dave Schwartz of Aurora in October of last year.
This sign sent by state DMV officials to be posted on the doors of the Hamilton County Courthouse just before the closure, was about the only notice county officials had that the office was being closed temporarily because the DMV was unhappy with the size of the room it had moved into earlier this summer. County officials are working with the Hamilton County Ag Society on a plan to move the facility to the 4-H building at the county fairgrounds.

This sign sent by state DMV officials to be posted on the doors of the Hamilton County Courthouse just before the closure, was about the only notice county officials had that the office was being closed temporarily because the DMV was unhappy with the size of the room it had moved into earlier this summer. County officials are working with the Hamilton County Ag Society on a plan to move the facility to the 4-H building at the county fairgrounds.

DMV office remains closed but there is hope for finding solution

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
The abrupt closure of the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driver’s licensing facility in Aurora as of Sept. 4 has left county officials frustrated and local drivers having to travel out of the county to get their licenses renewed.
John Briseno and Deanna Weir

John Briseno and Deanna Weir

Three candidates running for 2 seats on Phillips Village Board

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
There are two open seats up for election Nov. 5 on the Phillips Village Board of Trustees and three candidates seeking to be elected to the board. Having been appointed to fill an unexpired term on the board, current chairman, Jim Crawford is seeking re-election to the board for a four-year term.
Clockwise from top left: Eastman, Happold, Schutt, Wilson

Clockwise from top left: Eastman, Happold, Schutt, Wilson

Four candidates contend for seats on Giltner School Board

Elizabeth Hunter
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Four candidates are vying for seats on the Giltner School Board in the General Election set for Nov. 5. The candidates who will be competing for the three open four-year seats on the school board include incumbents Joseph Happold, Brad Schutt, Michael Wilson and challenger Amanda Eastman.
Marcia Bauerle is one of more than 20 Impact Nebraska Artists to feature an art piece for the Nebraska Roots exhibit currently on display at the Plainsman Museum in Aurora. Her mixed media collage, ‘Saint Hilda’, reflects her Russian immigrant roots.

Marcia Bauerle is one of more than 20 Impact Nebraska Artists to feature an art piece for the Nebraska Roots exhibit currently on display at the Plainsman Museum in Aurora. Her mixed media collage, ‘Saint Hilda’, reflects her Russian immigrant roots.

Nebraska artists go back to their roots

Elizabeth Hunter
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
More than 20 Nebraska artists explore what it means to have “Nebraska Roots” in an art exhibition now on display at the Plainsman Museum in Aurora.
Pictured from left outside the Memorial Health Clinic in Harvard are Justin Wolf, MCHI CEO; Kachine Banahan, APRN, FNP-C; Logan Mertlik, PA-C; Brandi Nigro, MCHI clinic manager.

Pictured from left outside the Memorial Health Clinic in Harvard are Justin Wolf, MCHI CEO; Kachine Banahan, APRN, FNP-C; Logan Mertlik, PA-C; Brandi Nigro, MCHI clinic manager.

MCHI reopens its health clinic in Harvard

Kurt Johnson
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Memorial Community Health, Inc. celebrated the re-opening of its health clinic in Harvard last week with a meet and greet open house introducing medical staff to the community.
Hamilton County Board of Commissioners news

Hamilton County Board of Commissioners news

Replacement sought for county EMS director

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
With the recent resignation of 32-year veteran county employee and emergency management director Kirt Smith, the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners is gearing up to find Smith’s replacement.
Esther Bergen is running as a write-in candidate for Aurora City Council.

Esther Bergen is running as a write-in candidate for Aurora City Council.

Bergen files as write-in candidate

Kurt Johnson
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Voters in Aurora’s second ward will have two choices when they go to the polls in the pending General Election, with both filing as write-in candidates.
Members of the Bremer Center Board of Directors gathered with Kirk Penner this week for a photo representing the recent sale of the Penner Atheltic Courts (PAC) facility on Highway 34. Pictured from left: Sami Vincent, Glenn Obermeier, Brad Bangs, Trevor Thorell, Curran Vetter, Kirk Penner, Jacob Arendt, Kirk Helgoth, Stacie Holliday and Jennie Kuehner. Not pictured, Chelsea Kaufman.

Members of the Bremer Center Board of Directors gathered with Kirk Penner this week for a photo representing the recent sale of the Penner Atheltic Courts (PAC) facility on Highway 34. Pictured from left: Sami Vincent, Glenn Obermeier, Brad Bangs, Trevor Thorell, Curran Vetter, Kirk Penner, Jacob Arendt, Kirk Helgoth, Stacie Holliday and Jennie Kuehner. Not pictured, Chelsea Kaufman.

Bremer Center purchases PAC

Kurt Johnson
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
A competition gymnasium built by the Penner family 14 years ago on the west edge of Aurora has been sold to a community-based organization committed to maintaining its use as a recreational facility.