This week's top stories

  • An artist’s rendering of what the completed Wortman Park will look like, featuring three pickleball courts, two bocce ball courts and a scenic park area, all located southeast of the Bremer Center.
    An artist’s rendering of what the completed Wortman Park will look like, featuring three pickleball courts, two bocce ball courts and a scenic park area, all located southeast of the Bremer Center.
  • Old Homestead owners Robin Sanderson (left) and Jennie Snoberger showcase some of the styles they will have in their new store. The two are planning a soft opening for Homestead Style during A’ROR’N Days.
    Old Homestead owners Robin Sanderson (left) and Jennie Snoberger showcase some of the styles they will have in their new store. The two are planning a soft opening for Homestead Style during A’ROR’N Days.
  • In the room at the top of the Hamilton County Courthouse tower custodian John Bish holds his hand over the photoelectric switch to light up the beacons mounted in each middle window.
    In the room at the top of the Hamilton County Courthouse tower custodian John Bish holds his hand over the photoelectric switch to light up the beacons mounted in each middle window.
  • Giltner’s Taylor Smith (37) and High Plains Community’s Wyatt Urkoski (9) posed for a photo together following Saturday’s 47th annual Sertoma 8-man all star game played at Hastings College. Smith played on the West team, which picked up a 22-6 win over Urkoski’s East squad.
    Giltner’s Taylor Smith (37) and High Plains Community’s Wyatt Urkoski (9) posed for a photo together following Saturday’s 47th annual Sertoma 8-man all star game played at Hastings College. Smith played on the West team, which picked up a 22-6 win over Urkoski’s East squad.
  • Sorting through cans of food donated during Can Care-a-Van, volunteers check to make sure the food isn’t expired and prepare to put them on shelves. From left are, Sally Roblee, Graham Christenson, John Christenson, Shirely Schacht and Diana Shaffer.
    Sorting through cans of food donated during Can Care-a-Van, volunteers check to make sure the food isn’t expired and prepare to put them on shelves. From left are, Sally Roblee, Graham Christenson, John Christenson, Shirely Schacht and Diana Shaffer.
  • Jerry Jacobs stops a moment in time, photographing a late model car racing at Mid-Nebraska Speedway in Doniphan.
    Jerry Jacobs stops a moment in time, photographing a late model car racing at Mid-Nebraska Speedway in Doniphan.

Since April, Lincoln Creek Landscaping has been doing groundwork for the developing Wortman Park brought together by the Bremer Community Center. As of Friday, the retaining walls have been completed with the LCL crew prepping the ground to pour concrete. Construction is expected to be completed by year’s end, followed by planting of park flora by spring of 2025. See photos of the construction progress at the park on page B5 of our June 19 edition.

After seven years of the Old Homestead Market and Floral, the store is getting an expansion -- Homestead Style.
The past seven years have been filled with growth for owners Robin Sanderson and Jennie Snoberger, and now they will be expanding further into selling clothing items. Homestead Style will be located where Escape Aurora previously was, just around the corner to the north and west at 1214 12th St. Find the full story with comments from the owners on this week's Business Page—B10.

For six decades now a set of four of Dr. Harold “Doc” Edgerton’s strobes have been flashing out from near the top of the Hamilton County Courthouse spire to warn aircraft of the tall obstacle and reminding local residents of one of the town’s favorite sons. Powered on by a photoelectric switch each evening at dusk (or even when dark clouds are overhead), the beacons flash out in four directions just as they have been doing ever since they were donated to the county by Edgerton himself in the summer of 1964. Read the full story is this week's ANR.

Giltner’s Taylor Smith and High Plains Community’s Wyatt Urkoski posed for a photo together following Saturday’s 47th annual Sertoma 8-man all star game played at Hastings College. Smith played on the West team, which picked up a 22-6 win over Urkoski’s East squad. Read more about the unconventional friendship between the Hornet and Storm grads on Page B1 of this week's News-Register. 

The Hamilton County Food Pantry had a wonderful turnout for the 37th annual Can Care-a-Van last Tuesday. With the help of volunteers, local businesses and the spotlight brought by TV news anchors Jon and Taryn Vanderford of CBS affiliate KOLN-KGIN of Lincoln, the food pantry restocked its shelves. Falling just short of its goal of collecting 20,000 pounds of food, the event brought in 19,200 pounds of nonperishable food for the pantry to distribute within the county.

Phillips farmer and racing photographer Jerry Jacobs was recently inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame. After 40 years of race photography and spending countless nights at race tracks across central Nebraska, Jacobs is being honored for his work and dedication to his craft. Jacobs’ racing photos were featured on many websites and social media accounts across the web. Additionally, Jacobs’ photos were featured in Open Wheel Magazine, Hawkeye Racing Journal, Dirt Modified Magazine and Midget Magazine. Learn how Jacobs is responding to the honor on Page A4 of this week's ANR.

All this plus the updates on recent meetings and a preview of this week's A'ROR'N Days celebration can be found in the print or e-editions of this week's ANR.