News

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who is up for reelection in November, was the keynote speaker at Saturday’s Hamilton County GOP convention.

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who is up for reelection in November, was the keynote speaker at Saturday’s Hamilton County GOP convention.

AG Hilgers urges unity in GOP

News Staff
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers urged fellow Republicans to be strategic in their efforts to support conservative candidates and principals Saturday in Aurora, saying it is critically important now to be unified in the fight against out-of-state influence.
Dist. 34 Sen. Loren Lippincott speaks to local residents Friday morning at the Bremer Center. About 25 people turned out to hear the senator speak on this year’s legislative session and participate in a Q&A session.

Dist. 34 Sen. Loren Lippincott speaks to local residents Friday morning at the Bremer Center. About 25 people turned out to hear the senator speak on this year’s legislative session and participate in a Q&A session.

Lippincott presents legislative briefing

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
With only a few days left in this short 60-day legislative session in Lincoln, Dist. 34 State Sen. Loren Lippincott was in town Friday morning to update local residents on legislative matters. The senator from Central City spoke to a group of about 25 residents gathered at the Bremer Center.
The Phillips Easter Egg Hunt was Sunday afternoon

The Phillips Easter Egg Hunt was Sunday afternoon

Phillips hosts first egg hunt of the Easter season

News Staff
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Children move with haste to collect as many eggs as possible during Phillips’ Easter Eggstravaganza Sunday afternoon. Phillips Fire & Rescue volunteers had scattered approximately 1,300 eggs for children of all ages to find.
East Park Villa hosted its grand opening of the Grille Friday where residents and their guests could dine inside and enjoy music and arts brought together by East Park Villa’s employees. The Grille was constructed in EPV’s east dining room area.

East Park Villa hosted its grand opening of the Grille Friday where residents and their guests could dine inside and enjoy music and arts brought together by East Park Villa’s employees. The Grille was constructed in EPV’s east dining room area.

East Park Villa debuts new Grille facilities

News Staff
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
East Park Villa residents gathered within the lobby Friday in anticipation of the grand opening ceremony of the Grille.
Raptor rescuer Tommy White with one of two birds he brought to the Edgerton this week

Raptor rescuer Tommy White with one of two birds he brought to the Edgerton this week

Rebuilding the Edgerton raptor program

News Staff
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Tommy White of Alton’s Keep Wildbird Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Suffolk, Va. talks to one of two raptors he brought to the Edgerton Explorit Center this week to rebuild the raptor program after the recent fire. The bird is a barred owl that White rescued after it was hit by a car.
Mike and Teri Goertzen have made it their goal to visit every stadium in the Big Ten Conference. They are pictured here attending a game at the University of Iowa.

Mike and Teri Goertzen have made it their goal to visit every stadium in the Big Ten Conference. They are pictured here attending a game at the University of Iowa.

Back to the drawing board

Elizabeth Hunter
Thursday, March 26, 2026
After stepping away from a decades-long career in architecture in 2017, Aurora native Mike Goertzen thought he was done designing hospitals. Instead, retirement turned into a brief pause, as he soon returned to the profession he loved — and nearly a decade later, he’s still at it.
This grass fire on Saturday burned about five acres near the intersection of county roads M and 10. While the flames threatened farm buildings, the only structure damage was to a vinyl fence near a house. Due to the extremely dry conditions statewide, Gov. Jim Pillen has issued an executive order prohibiting burn permits from being issued by local fire chiefs.

This grass fire on Saturday burned about five acres near the intersection of county roads M and 10. While the flames threatened farm buildings, the only structure damage was to a vinyl fence near a house. Due to the extremely dry conditions statewide, Gov. Jim Pillen has issued an executive order prohibiting burn permits from being issued by local fire chiefs.

Burn ban sends clear message: Don’t risk it!

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Gov. Jim Pillen’s executive order banning burn permits statewide due to dry conditions and frequent spring winds across Nebraska is being viewed as welcome news to local fire chiefs.Pillen issued the order on March 14, prohibiting fire chiefs from granting an open burn permit for any purpose.
An excavation crew began moving dirt on the north side of the downtown Roe Chevrolet dealership this week, where a service department expansion project is being planned.

An excavation crew began moving dirt on the north side of the downtown Roe Chevrolet dealership this week, where a service department expansion project is being planned.

Construction begins on Roe Chevrolet service expansion

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Dirt work began this week at Roe Chevrolet in Aurora in preparation for pending construction of a new service department to the north of the existing downtown facility.Company officials announced the plans last spring and a $1.59 million building permit was issued in January.
High Plains senior Brodey Spurling

High Plains senior Brodey Spurling

Spring sports preview

News Staff
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
This week’s edition features ANR’s annual spring sports preview section, highlighting teams from Aurora, Giltner, High Plains and H&H. The athlete featured in the cover photo is High Plains senior Brodey Spurling, who hopes to defend his triple jump crown.
The fire on Saturday near roads 10 and M southwest of Aurora burned into this shelter belt where there was quite a bit of dead wood for fuel. Aurora Fire Chief Tom Cox says because of smoldering in piles of wood, firefighters had to spend several hours on Sunday watching for hot spots and flareups due to the wind.

The fire on Saturday near roads 10 and M southwest of Aurora burned into this shelter belt where there was quite a bit of dead wood for fuel. Aurora Fire Chief Tom Cox says because of smoldering in piles of wood, firefighters had to spend several hours on Sunday watching for hot spots and flareups due to the wind.

Area firefighters contain Saturday grass fire southwest of Aurora

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Firefighters from Aurora, Hampton and Giltner were all involved in battling a grass fire in a tree line that threatened a farm home near the intersection of county roads 10 and M southwest of Aurora on Saturday. Aurora Fire Chief Tom Cox said the fire call came in shortly before 3 p.m.