News

The Giltner Cheer team won its first state championship title at the 2025 Nebraska Cheer & Dance competition on Friday, Feb. 21. Members of the team include (front row, from left): Karly Eastman, Addison Wilson, Addison Bradley, Gracie Kreutz, Avery Reeson, Peyton Schutt. Back row: Ciany Ledezma-Martinez, Kalie Cady, Kailyn Wilson, Jayci Buettner, Giovanna Nogara, McKaya Petzoldt and Eliana Bish.

The Giltner Cheer team won its first state championship title at the 2025 Nebraska Cheer & Dance competition on Friday, Feb. 21. Members of the team include (front row, from left): Karly Eastman, Addison Wilson, Addison Bradley, Gracie Kreutz, Avery Reeson, Peyton Schutt. Back row: Ciany Ledezma-Martinez, Kalie Cady, Kailyn Wilson, Jayci Buettner, Giovanna Nogara, McKaya Petzoldt and Eliana Bish.

Giltner wins state cheer title

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
The Lady Hornets made history at the 2025 Nebraska State Cheer & Dance competition on Friday, Feb. 21 taking home medals and Giltner High School’s first state cheer championship trophy.
Bearcats (or Binturongs) are native to south and Southeast Asia.

Bearcats (or Binturongs) are native to south and Southeast Asia.

Hampton fans learn ‘What is a bearcat?’

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Folks in Hampton learned a few more details about their school’s upcoming sports cooperative with Heartland Community Schools on Friday morning at the latest Community Conversations with Coffee sponsored by Hampton School.
Before taking the position of ESL teacher at Barr Middle School in Grand Island, Kate Klute made several trips to Spain, where she spent three months working as a au pair nanny, teaching English to the children in her care. She took this selfie while visiting Andulcia, Spain.

Before taking the position of ESL teacher at Barr Middle School in Grand Island, Kate Klute made several trips to Spain, where she spent three months working as a au pair nanny, teaching English to the children in her care. She took this selfie while visiting Andulcia, Spain.

Klute creates welcoming classroom as ESL teacher

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
As an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at Barr Middle School in Grand Island, Aurora native Kate Klute says she wants her students from other countries to not only learn the language but adapt to American culture. “I try to do my best to teach them American culture,” Klute said.
Terri Hope announced plans this week to begin a retirement sale, which means that 65 years of having a Hope furniture business in downtown Aurora will soon end as well.

Terri Hope announced plans this week to begin a retirement sale, which means that 65 years of having a Hope furniture business in downtown Aurora will soon end as well.

Retirement sale marks end of an era for Hope business

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Terri Hope announced this week that the end of an era is pending in downtown Aurora as she prepares to sell the family furniture business and retire.The Hope family has been selling furniture and flooring on 13th Street near the southeast corner of the square for 65 years now, dating back to 1960.
Aurora City Hall

Aurora City Hall

City signs off on local road projects

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
The Aurora City Council approved certificates of substantial completion on several road projects in the community last week, then devoted a majority of the 45-minute meeting updating city policies to coincide with changes in state law.The first order of business during the Feb.
The preliminary design for the interior of the new Extension building to be located at the county fairgrounds.

The preliminary design for the interior of the new Extension building to be located at the county fairgrounds.

Company picked to design new Extension office

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
“So we’re off and running” was the exclamation of Hamilton County Commissioner Francis McDonald following a vote to name an architect to design the planned headquarters for the county Extension office at the fairgrounds on Monday.
Performers at the Friends of the Lied Center for Performing Arts annual gala prepare to take their bows after performing on stage during the dinner. This year’s theme for the gala was Paris Lights. Deb Nelson of Aurora, who is the president elect of the organization, served as co-chair for the event.

Performers at the Friends of the Lied Center for Performing Arts annual gala prepare to take their bows after performing on stage during the dinner. This year’s theme for the gala was Paris Lights. Deb Nelson of Aurora, who is the president elect of the organization, served as co-chair for the event.

Nelson helps bring lights of Paris to Lied Center in Lincoln

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Auroran Deb Nelson had the opportunity to help bring a touch of the romance and magic of Paris to Nebraska recently. Nelson, owner of Touch of Health Day Spa, is president-elect of the Friends of the Lied board and was co-chair for the organization’s annual fundraising gala held Feb.
The Hampton High School cheerleaders pose for a victory photo after winning their school's first state cheer championship trophy.

The Hampton High School cheerleaders pose for a victory photo after winning their school's first state cheer championship trophy.

This week's featured stories

News Staff
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
The Lady Hornets made history at the 2025 Nebraska State Cheer & Dance competition on Friday, Feb. 21 taking home medals and Giltner High School’s first state cheer championship trophy.
Chad Farrall (center left) will be relocating his business, Farrallbuilt, to Hatfield Street where Lindquist Welding previously operated. Farrallbuilt is expected to be fully moved to its new location in early March. Pictured from left are: Farrall’s daughter Ellie Brown, his wife Becky, and Kay and Jim Lindquist.

Chad Farrall (center left) will be relocating his business, Farrallbuilt, to Hatfield Street where Lindquist Welding previously operated. Farrallbuilt is expected to be fully moved to its new location in early March. Pictured from left are: Farrall’s daughter Ellie Brown, his wife Becky, and Kay and Jim Lindquist.

Farrallbuilt finds new home in Giltner

Elizabeth Hunter
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Five years after Lindquist Welding closed its doors, the shop on Hatfield Street in Giltner will become a new home for Farrallbuilt Welding.
Members of the Hampton Elementary and Middle School robotics team pose for a picture with the robots they built by this year’s competition game. From left are team sponsor Gary Richards, Daniel White (7th grade), Ethan Litz (7th grade), Lawson Haberer (7th grade), Uriah Brooks (4th Grade), Deven Dose (6th Grade), Reis Stump (6th Grade) and Christopher Brooks (6th Grade). Not Pictured: Isaiah Venteicher (4th Grade), Camron Vandermate (7th Grade), Olivia Lemburg (7th Grade) and Samuel Venteicher (7th Grade).

Members of the Hampton Elementary and Middle School robotics team pose for a picture with the robots they built by this year’s competition game. From left are team sponsor Gary Richards, Daniel White (7th grade), Ethan Litz (7th grade), Lawson Haberer (7th grade), Uriah Brooks (4th Grade), Deven Dose (6th Grade), Reis Stump (6th Grade) and Christopher Brooks (6th Grade). Not Pictured: Isaiah Venteicher (4th Grade), Camron Vandermate (7th Grade), Olivia Lemburg (7th Grade) and Samuel Venteicher (7th Grade).

Hampton robotics team wins state title

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
The Hampton robotics team was excited to qualify two of its elementary teams and a middle school team for the state robotics championships in Omaha this past weekend at the Strategic Air Command Museum in Ashland.