News

The Charles L. Whitney Education Center is reportedly just weeks away from completion west of Marquette. Prairie Plains Resource Institute staff and board members saw a video tour during Saturday’s virtual annual meeting.

The Charles L. Whitney Education Center is reportedly just weeks away from completion west of Marquette. Prairie Plains Resource Institute staff and board members saw a video tour during Saturday’s virtual annual meeting.

PPRI education center nearly complete

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Though SOAR and other well-known educational programs were cancelled due to the pandemic in 2020, the Prairie Plains Resource Institute continued its work of restoring native grasslands throughout the past year and is also in the final stages of completing an educational center that has been...
Students in Aurora FCS classes now have to take extra precautions when learning about food and more.

Students in Aurora FCS classes now have to take extra precautions when learning about food and more.

FCS classes see necessary adaptations

Cheyenne Rowe
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
While most classes were more easily transitioned to being socially-distanced and non-touch heavy, Family and Consumer Science subjects rely heavily on having students participate in hands-on activities in subject areas like cooking and design.
Grayce Seger pins an Aurora Police Department badge on her husband, Adam, after he was sworn in Jan. 12 as a new member of the APD.

Grayce Seger pins an Aurora Police Department badge on her husband, Adam, after he was sworn in Jan. 12 as a new member of the APD.

Seger sworn in as new APD officer

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Adam Seger was sworn in as a new member of the Aurora Police Department last week, bringing the force back to full staffing. A native of Atkinson, Seger studied criminal justice at Northeast Community College before transferring to UNL to study fishery and wildlife.
Merick Mason sets up his finished pipe cleaner tree. The challenge was to make a free-standing tree with only pipe cleaners.

Merick Mason sets up his finished pipe cleaner tree. The challenge was to make a free-standing tree with only pipe cleaners.

This week's top stories

News Staff
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Edgerton after-school clubs have lasting impact for youth For the past nine years the Edgerton Explorit Center has been connecting students with science with after-school clubs -- Gizmo & Gadgets for kindergarten through fifth grade and Seriously Science for second through fifth-grade students.
Aurora 4-Diamond Sports built this new four-field complex on Highway 14 near Streeter Park in 2009.

Aurora 4-Diamond Sports built this new four-field complex on Highway 14 near Streeter Park in 2009.

Hamilton Rec serves as key umbrella for recreational needs

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
A nonprofit entity created nearly 40 years ago to help enhance Aurora’s recreational facilities is working to add another project beneath its already broad umbrella. Hamilton Recreation Inc.
Tina Larson, executive director of the Plainsman Museum, stands proudly with some of the panels that will be on display for their Community Works exhibition.

Tina Larson, executive director of the Plainsman Museum, stands proudly with some of the panels that will be on display for their Community Works exhibition.

Plainsman picked to partner with Smithsonian

Cheyenne Rowe
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Heralding the new year, the Plainsman Museum has officially announced its partnership with the Smithsonian Museum’s “Museum on Mainstreet” program to bring a new community-focused exhibition to the rotunda.
A $2.18 million project to expand the Aurora United Methodist Church was the largest single building permit issued at City Hall in 2020.

A $2.18 million project to expand the Aurora United Methodist Church was the largest single building permit issued at City Hall in 2020.

2020 construction nears $10.2M

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Local construction activity in Aurora topped a 10-year average in 2020, a positive sign of growth and progress which unfolded in the midst of an ongoing pandemic that disrupted business and industry on several fronts. The year-end tally of building permits issued at City Hall added up to $10.
ANR

ANR

County hears noxious weeds update

Cheyenne Rowe
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners spent most of Monday’s board meeting performing reorganizational tasks, appointing board positions and other boards and committees in the county.  Commissioner John Thomas was appointed vice chair, replacing Commissioner Becky Richter in the role.