News

Aurora native Trevor Dvorak, left, works with Dr. Haishi Cao and fellow student Madeline Riesberg in a UNK chemistry lab. Dvorak is one of several area students sharing how the COVID pandemic impacted his educational experience.

Aurora native Trevor Dvorak, left, works with Dr. Haishi Cao and fellow student Madeline Riesberg in a UNK chemistry lab. Dvorak is one of several area students sharing how the COVID pandemic impacted his educational experience.

Dvorak says COVID was surreal for students, but didn’t impact his plan to become a physician

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Trevor Dvorak has always wanted to be a physician. A global pandemic that rocked the healthcare world didn’t deter the Aurora graduate, though looking back he said the COVID-19 era did cause disruption in what he remembers as a surreal time in his young life.
Hannah Preissler, a three-time state pole vault champion for Giltner, went on to compete for the Big Red over the last four years.

Hannah Preissler, a three-time state pole vault champion for Giltner, went on to compete for the Big Red over the last four years.

Preissler discovers career opportunity through lens

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Hannah Preissler remembers her senior year spring break from high school quite well. The 2020 Giltner graduate only wished it was under better circumstances.
Dylan Soule, a member of the High Plains Community Class of 2020, is set to graduate from Chadron State College this spring.

Dylan Soule, a member of the High Plains Community Class of 2020, is set to graduate from Chadron State College this spring.

Soule shares unique Chadron State College experience

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
March of 2020 wasn’t the best time for Dylan Soule. The former Storm standout athlete had just gotten his wisdom teeth removed. His first day back at school also just happened to be his last day of high school.“The spring semester of 2020 is a time no one will forget,” Soule shared.
Lydia Dose at her second high school graduation held in July of 2020.

Lydia Dose at her second high school graduation held in July of 2020.

Pandemic prompted change of major for Lydia Dose

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Hampton native Lydia Dose is excited about her future after graduating from Concordia University in May, though business administration is not the career path she had in mind four years ago.
The boil order for Hampton water users has been lifted.

The boil order for Hampton water users has been lifted.

Hampton lifts water boil order

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
The boil order that had been placed on Hampton Village water users a week ago has been lifted according to village Utility Supt. Chris Friesen. He reported Tuesday afternoon that water samples taken on Monday had come back showing no traces of E. coli bacteria.
Hamilton County Board of Commissioners news

Hamilton County Board of Commissioners news

County to join UBB NRD large use water study

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
In the wake of an announcement by Synergen Green Energy Inc. that it plans to build an ammonia plant in Hamilton County, county commissioners voted Monday to participate in a groundwater sustainability study sponsored by the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District.
Jitse Valkenburg is taking part in the Education First exchange program and spending the school year at Aurora High School in order to figure out what he wants to pursue after graduation.

Jitse Valkenburg is taking part in the Education First exchange program and spending the school year at Aurora High School in order to figure out what he wants to pursue after graduation.

Valkenburg savoring his American experience

Elizabeth Hunter
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
When Dutch foreign exchange student, Jitse Valkenburg, came to spend the school year in Aurora, he expected to see the American stereotypes created in his mind by online memes and Hollywood cinema.
This photo, taken in 2003, shows Interstate Battery owners, from left: Paula Danhauer, the late Dee Koberstein, and Lee Danhauer, standing on a Highway 14 site where construction was about to begin on a new location. Dee and her husband, Bob, moved from Florida to Aurora in 1973 to establish a business which marked its 50th anniversary last year. Zack Danhauer is now the franchise distributor, representing the third generation of family ownership.

This photo, taken in 2003, shows Interstate Battery owners, from left: Paula Danhauer, the late Dee Koberstein, and Lee Danhauer, standing on a Highway 14 site where construction was about to begin on a new location. Dee and her husband, Bob, moved from Florida to Aurora in 1973 to establish a business which marked its 50th anniversary last year. Zack Danhauer is now the franchise distributor, representing the third generation of family ownership.

Family-owned company passes golden milestone

Kurt Johnson
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
It began with one truck and a tiny shack just off 1st and M streets, plus the desire to work hard and listen to a customer’s needs.