This week's top stories

Local expert breaks through layers of regenerative ag 
Agriculture, like the soil it stands on, has many layers. Effectively the soil itself stands as a timeline and report card for history and humanities use of all it provides. 
The world knows something is changing and it might be a good time for a change of mind. 
“Regenerative agriculture has always been really exciting to me, even before it was called regenerative agriculture,” said Dr. David Meyer, retired Global R&D Predictive Ag Field Leader for Corteva Agriscience. “It is basically the way to balance production and productivity while taking care of the planet and all of the ecosystem services it provides.”
Meyer is a former Aurora resident of 27 years, with a PHD in plant breeding and genetics.

Aurora native accounting for businesses, Seminole Tribe 
Taxes tend to get a bad reputation, one where most people would rather spend money for someone else to handle it than do it themselves. That is where Lisa Paider, daughter of Ron and Fern Paider of Aurora, can come in.
From working as a tax senior to a tax director, Paider has helped people with their taxes on a broad scale. Even after stepping away from public tax accounting work, she has gone on to work for the Seminole Tribe of Florida in establishing their own revenue service. 
Yet, despite her journey far from Nebraska, Paider had fond memories of Aurora looking back on her childhood, appreciating the safety of the community more now than as a child.

Aurora’s ‘Keh’ to state
As the final seconds melted away, Kehlanee Bengtson’s normally intense look washed away with a million-dollar smile and a thumbs up -- all while still controlling the match from the top position. 
After the horn, Aurora’s first-ever two-time state wrestling qualifier leaped around the circle in joy with her hand raised before a final jump into the waiting arms of her two coaches, Sheri Thompson and Bailly Ballard. 
Not only did Bengtson qualify for next week’s state wrestling championships in Omaha, she ran the gauntlet through the stacked A-1 district meet, winning a district championship at 130 pounds to highlight the Huskies’ four state qualifiers. 

In-person Plainsman fundraiser tops $28,000
Fresh energy, a large crowd and a shared love of history were on display amidst all the artifacts Monday as the Plainsman Museum hosted its first in-person annual fundraiser in three years.
Back together again after the pandemic pause, Plainsman supporters toured the museum’s exhibits, many of which have been updated and/or revamped during the past few years, then raised their hands to raise money to support the cause. Between table sponsors and live and silent auctions, proceeds from Monday’s event netted an estimated $28,000.

HPC Storm survive wild fourth quarter versus East Butler
High Plains coach JT Hamm noted its game against East Butler Friday night was one the Storm would have lost had it been played two months ago. 
It was the perfect representation of how far the HPC boys basketball team has come over the season as the Storm put together a fourth-quarter rally to defeat the Tigers in Polk, 60-52. 
“I was impressed with our boys. I really thought we played a complete 32 minutes tonight,” Hamm said. “We finally put it all together. They went on runs, we responded well. Everyone played to their role tonight.”

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