News

Threatening skies held off as the soccer community gathered June 22 for a special ribbon cutting at the new complex.
Former and current Huskie players along with coaches, fans and other supporters turned out in droves for the milestone event at what is now known as the Cornerstone Recreational Fields in Streeter Park.
Andrew Ostdiek, chairman of the Aurora Sports Park, was appreciative of all the help and support received over the past few years to get the soccer complex to this point.

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This just in, train derailment at around 1:50 p.m. in Aurora near the 12th Street crossing. The crossing is currently closed. More information as it is available.

Aurora firefighters conducted valuable training exercises early Sunday morning before letting a control burn demolish the former Stan Allen home near the Bremer Center. The event drew a large crowd of onlookers. Jayne Smith reported that she purchased the property at a sheriff’s sale on behalf of Wortman Enterprises to protect it for future development.

Ground was officially broken this week as construction begins on a new, permanent JoJo's Gelato restaurant on Highway 34. The popular eatery had been based out of a trailer, which was often on the road catering large events. Plans are for a new building to be open by November.

Three local entities combined efforts in recent weeks to work together on a unified marketing strategy hoping to help brand Aurora. The end result was unveiled Thursday during A’ROR’N Days, with a large banner on the bandstand announcing the theme “Opportunity grows here.”
“It has been a while since the community motto has been updated and this project involved a partnership with the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Aurora Development Corporation and the City of Aurora,” explained Justise Rhoden, director of Chamber activities.

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Tom Cornwell, owner of Cornwell Inc. Land & Home Brokers Auctioneers in Aurora, was the top bidder Thursday in a highly-anticipated auction of the former Hamilton Manor property on Highway 34. Cornwell outbid several other interested parties with a bid of $275,000. See this week's ANR for more details.

Always a meaningful and important piece of the Aurora High School Alumni Banquet, the 2019 inductees to the Aurora High School Alumni Hall of Fame were no different (yet absolutely unique) than the long-standing tradition of hard-working Huskies already on the list.
The first to be inducted to the Hall of Fame was Class of 1954 legend Junior Nachtigal.

Up next to be honored with a plaque of his own was another well-known Aurora, Class of 1989 graduate -- Aurora Chief of Police Paul Graham.

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The Hamilton County premiere of the new documentary film, “Dreaming of a Vetter World” will be held at 12th St. Cinema in Aurora Sunday, July 14th at 1 p.m.
The film’s main subject, organic farmer and Grain Place Foods CEO David Vetter, will be on hand for questions and conversation with guests Bob Quinn, Liz Carlisle, and others. This special screening happens the day after the annual Grain Place field day, April 13, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Most Fit-N-Fun owner Lisa Gretch has made the move from Hampton back to Aurora.
Gretch purchased the business in October 2017 and moved the equipment to Hampton, eventually realizing that Aurora may be a better fit.
“I moved the business back to Aurora because I felt there would be more of a need back here and I wanted to bring it back home, so to speak,” Gretch said.

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According to Hamilton County Assessor Pat Sandberg only 10 landowners have submitted protests to the most recent re-valuation of their properties. However, this number may increase, as a person can file a valuation protest with the county clerk up until, and on the day of July 1.
“Our values are set by the current market (last two years of good sales),” Sandberg said in an email interview. “Some property owners are unhappy with the increase in value; not realizing that the market everywhere is really ‘hot’ right now in the sales of dwellings.”

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