This week's featured stories

  • Barrett Holliday of the Orange team was not going to let anyone else be more prepared than he was to take second base, getting down into a track stance.
    Barrett Holliday of the Orange team was not going to let anyone else be more prepared than he was to take second base, getting down into a track stance.
  • Pictured from left in the Streeter Subdivision are Dick Phillips, council president; Mayor Marlin Seeman; Gary Warren; City Administrator Rick Melcher; and Jacob Arendt. Warren and Arendt represent Streeter LLC.
    Pictured from left in the Streeter Subdivision are Dick Phillips, council president; Mayor Marlin Seeman; Gary Warren; City Administrator Rick Melcher; and Jacob Arendt. Warren and Arendt represent Streeter LLC.
  • Phillips will light up Independence Day 2024 early with its annual July 3rd Celebration Wednesday night
    Phillips will light up Independence Day 2024 early with its annual July 3rd Celebration Wednesday night
  • The Scheierman family celebrates when Baylor’s name was read as the 30th pick in the 2024 NBA draft to the defending champion Boston Celtics June 26.
    The Scheierman family celebrates when Baylor’s name was read as the 30th pick in the 2024 NBA draft to the defending champion Boston Celtics June 26.
  • The opening night of the 2023 season of Bands on the Bricks
    The opening night of the 2023 season of Bands on the Bricks
  • Susan's Books & Gifts is seeing an uptick in traffic this summer
    Susan's Books & Gifts is seeing an uptick in traffic this summer

    Take me out to the T-ball game! Check out page A6 of this week's print or e-edition of ANR for a photo collage of the 2024 Aurora T-ball season.

    City officials and community leaders are celebrating the results of a cooperative effort which they report could save as much as $200,000 or more in construction and development costs while also providing a new access route to Highway 34 heading into a major 1st Street renovation project. The Aurora City Council approved a change order at last week’s meeting, representing the final piece of a puzzle which was altered in recent weeks for the community’s overall benefit.

    The village of Phillips kicked off Independence Day early with its fifth annual July 3rd celebration Wednesday night. The event featured fireworks, food and games for all ages to enjoy at Phillips Memorial Hall. Penny Evans, event coordinator and the Phillips Community Foundation manager says Phillips is ready for the annual celebration. “We’re right on schedule and we’re hoping lots of families come to enjoy our event,” Evans stated.

    The atmosphere was tense in an Omaha sports bar last Wednesday night as Aurora hometown hero Baylor Scheierman waited with his family and friends to see if he would be drafted in the first round of 2024 NBA drafts. Then suddenly the place erupted with joyful cheers as it was announced that Scheierman had been named as the final first round draft pick for the Boston Celtics. It was a dream come true for the small-town kid from Aurora. This week's ANR has the full story and reactions from Sports Editor Richard Rhoden who was there when it all came down. Get local reaction and insider insight to the draft night drama on Pages A1, B1 and B5 of this week's ANR.

    It’s officially that time again—Bands on the Bricks kicked off this year’s concert series Friday with a performance featuring Mike Semrad & the Riverhawks. Everyone is welcome to come to Aurora’s square to enjoy free, live music. The concert series runs for six weeks starting Friday and running until the end of the summer. Bands on the Bricks is a rain or shine event, said organizer Sara Sutherland. No matter if it’s raining, blazing hot, or the perfect evening, bands will perform. Find the full story and schedule here. 

    Throughout the summer, Susan’s Books and Gifts has been put on the map as a must-visit store as one of 70 featured stops on the Nebraska Passport program. With that, the store is bringing in visitors and success for the whole town. Owner Susan Williams ultimately wanted people to know that Aurora exists. “​​We filled out an application telling why it would matter to have people from Omaha, and Scottsbluff, and Broken Bow and Fullerton to know that we are here and not just have (Susan’s) be a store that’s only localized,” she said. Read the full story here. 

    Get all the details on these stories and much more in the print or e-editions of this week's Aurora News-Register.