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Aurora High School’s Class of 2026 was honored at the district’s annual honors convocation on Wednesday, May 13. Seniors are pictured here wearing t-shirts which indicate their post graduation plans.

Aurora High School’s Class of 2026 was honored at the district’s annual honors convocation on Wednesday, May 13. Seniors are pictured here wearing t-shirts which indicate their post graduation plans.

Photos from AHS Honors Convocation in this week's issue

News Staff
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Aurora High School held its annual Honors Convocation on Wednesday, May 13  at the Middle School Theater where dozens of awards were handed out to outstanding students. You'll find two full pages of photos from the event in Section C of this week's ANR. 
Aurora grad Lexi Jones has purchased Snow’s Florals and converted it into her own business, LuLu’s Floral Company, at 2116 S Webb Road in Grand Island. Jones graduated from UNK earlier this month and stepped right into an ownership role.

Aurora grad Lexi Jones has purchased Snow’s Florals and converted it into her own business, LuLu’s Floral Company, at 2116 S Webb Road in Grand Island. Jones graduated from UNK earlier this month and stepped right into an ownership role.

Jones business to ‘Bloom. Create. Inspire’

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Lexi Jones was once an active member of Aurora’s FFA chapter, dedicating herself fully to horticultural competitions. When she crossed paths with one of the owners of Divas at Kearney Floral Co.
Village of Hampton

Village of Hampton

Hampton board handles light agenda

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
It was an unusually light agenda for the five members of the Hampton Village Board of Trustees who met Monday night, May 11, for their monthly meeting. In the absence of Trustee Nick Faller, the board dealt with only two action items beyond the bills and other routine matters.
Hamilton County has extended its moratorium on filing for conditional use permits for commercial solar farms in the county

Hamilton County has extended its moratorium on filing for conditional use permits for commercial solar farms in the county

County extends solar farm moratorium

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Hamilton County has extended its moratorium on filing with the Planning and Zoning Office for conditional use permits for commercial solar farms in the county.
Some parts of this area received at least 2 inches of rain this weekend.

Some parts of this area received at least 2 inches of rain this weekend.

Thunderstorms dump inches of rain locally

News Staff
Monday, May 18, 2026
Weekend thundershowers dropped heavy rain across Hamilton County giving the area one more break in a pattern of dry weather this spring.
Workers from Mudd Jockies began concrete work for Marquette’s new basketball court on a recent Wednesday morning and the work was completed by that Friday.

Workers from Mudd Jockies began concrete work for Marquette’s new basketball court on a recent Wednesday morning and the work was completed by that Friday.

Marquette paves the way for community hoops court

Elizabeth Hunter
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Marquette residents of all ages can look forward to shooting some hoops as a new outdoor basketball court is being set up next to the village playground.Recently crew members from Mudd Jockies Inc.
The votes have been totaled from Tuesday's Primary

The votes have been totaled from Tuesday's Primary

Primary Election sees low turnout

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Voter turnout was light for Tuesday's Primary Election in Hamilton County. Only 2,158 votes had been cast countywide by the time the polls closed at 8 p.m.
City Administrator Adam Darbro asks a question during Tuesday's city council meeting, which was held at the Aurora Middle School theater.

City Administrator Adam Darbro asks a question during Tuesday's city council meeting, which was held at the Aurora Middle School theater.

City council hears private EMS proposals

News Staff
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
City Administrator Adam Darbro and members of the Aurora City Council, along with approximately 90 members of the community, heard two proposals from private ambulance companies and had Q&A feedback during a 3-hour public meeting Tuesday night.
From left, HPC seniors Brodey Spurling, Levi Russell and Chase Owens toss their caps into the air after officially becoming Storm graduates Saturday afternoon.

From left, HPC seniors Brodey Spurling, Levi Russell and Chase Owens toss their caps into the air after officially becoming Storm graduates Saturday afternoon.

High Plains seniors: ‘Choose the good’ in life

Richard Rhoden
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Smiles, laughter and a few tears filled the Polk gymnasium Saturday afternoon as 13 High Plains Community seniors became graduates, thus ending one chapter while simultaneously beginning another.Supt.