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Cassidy Goertzen (right) as Little Orphan Annie sings with her faithful dog Sandy (played by Sophia Clinch) by her side.

Cassidy Goertzen (right) as Little Orphan Annie sings with her faithful dog Sandy (played by Sophia Clinch) by her side.

‘Annie’ takes stage in Hampton

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Hawk Harmonies had its dress rehearsal Thursday afternoon before its performance of the Broadway musical “Annie” later that evening at Hampton School. Pictured playing the lovable orphan is Cassidy Goertzen (right) with Sophia Clinch playing her dog Sandy.
HPC School Board

HPC School Board

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HPC approves engineering bid

News Staff
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
The High Plains Community School Board voted Monday night to continue with an engineering firm working with Facility Advocates in ongoing discussions about its Clarks building.
Aurora grad Ashleigh (Suck) Banuelos is a quarter finalist in the 2026 Ms. Health and Fitness competition. If she wins and gets her picture on the cover of Muscle & Fitness HERS magazine she says she will donate her winnings to help others.

Aurora grad Ashleigh (Suck) Banuelos is a quarter finalist in the 2026 Ms. Health and Fitness competition. If she wins and gets her picture on the cover of Muscle & Fitness HERS magazine she says she will donate her winnings to help others.

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Aurora native competing for Ms. Health and Fitness title

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Aurora native Ashleigh (Suck) Banuelos, now a resident of Pasadena, Calif., is turning her passion for fitness into a national platform, competing for the Ms. Health and Fitness title while using the opportunity to promote healthy living and support charitable causes.
Holes in the ground reflect new single-family dwellings soon to be built along Highlander Lane in the new Streeter Subdivision.

Holes in the ground reflect new single-family dwellings soon to be built along Highlander Lane in the new Streeter Subdivision.

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Single-family dwellings boost February building permits

News Staff
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
A surge of new single-family dwellings boosted the February building permit report at Aurora City Hall, with all three of the permits listed featuring homes in the new Streeter Subdivision.
Hampton Village Board news

Hampton Village Board news

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Hampton considers dog leash regulations

News Staff
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
The Hampton Village Board is considering changing the village’s dog leash ordinance after hearing testimony Monday night from a Hampton resident whose dog was recently mauled and badly injured by another dog.
Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) plans to construct a 115 kilovolt electrical transmission line linking its substation just north of Aurora along Highway 14 with it’s other station several miles north on the same highway and just south of the bridge to Central City.

Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) plans to construct a 115 kilovolt electrical transmission line linking its substation just north of Aurora along Highway 14 with it’s other station several miles north on the same highway and just south of the bridge to Central City.

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County notified of new 115 kV transmission line

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Hamilton County Commissioners were notified Monday of an upcoming project by Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) to construct a 115 kilovolt electrical transmission line linking its substation just north of Aurora along Highway 14 with it’s other station several miles north on the same highway...
Dena Beck, Central Region Navigator for 6 Regions, One Nebraska, speaks to community members attending the Child Care Conversation hosted March 2 by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. The lunchtime forum at the Bremer Center attracted more than 20 people to discuss ways to bolster child care options in the area for working families.

Dena Beck, Central Region Navigator for 6 Regions, One Nebraska, speaks to community members attending the Child Care Conversation hosted March 2 by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. The lunchtime forum at the Bremer Center attracted more than 20 people to discuss ways to bolster child care options in the area for working families.

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Forum promotes child care as ‘essential infrastructure’

News Staff
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Available and affordable child care is increasingly viewed not just as a family concern but as a key economic development issue for communities across the United States.
The spring edition of Extra Extracurricular is here

The spring edition of Extra Extracurricular is here

Extra Extracurricular - Spring Edition

News Staff
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
ANR tips its hat toward local youth involved in extracurricular activities with this week’s edition. Our Extra Extra Curricular section highlights fine arts and other groups active at Aurora, Hampton, Giltner and High Plains Community schools.
Caleb Arnett

Caleb Arnett

Arnett bound over on murder, assault, weapon charges

Ron Burtz
Friday, March 6, 2026
Caleb Arnett will stand trial in Hamilton County District Court for the murder of his step-father and the wounding of his mother and step-brother. That was the decision entered Friday by Hamilton County Court Judge Lynelle D. Homolka.