This week's top stories

  • Kari Valentine, one of the organizers of Opportune Acres, instructs many of the swim lessons herself during a four-week program at the Leadership Center.
    Kari Valentine, one of the organizers of Opportune Acres, instructs many of the swim lessons herself during a four-week program at the Leadership Center.
  • Members of the Aurora High School Class of 1953 gathering for a reunion Friday included, front from left: Eileen (Read) Eastman, Thelma (Wolff) Carlson, Jeanine (Stenger) Murphy, Verna (McConaughey) Plambeck, Arlene (Hansen) Bayne. Back from left: Grady Zehr, Dick Carlson, Darwin Risden, Gary Behn, James Swanson, Joyce (Springer) Henry.
    Members of the Aurora High School Class of 1953 gathering for a reunion Friday included, front from left: Eileen (Read) Eastman, Thelma (Wolff) Carlson, Jeanine (Stenger) Murphy, Verna (McConaughey) Plambeck, Arlene (Hansen) Bayne. Back from left: Grady Zehr, Dick Carlson, Darwin Risden, Gary Behn, James Swanson, Joyce (Springer) Henry.
  • Gathering for the A’ROR’N Days’ Quilt of Valor ceremony, veterans front from left: Duane Onken, Roger Kruse, Dan Howland, back from left: Alan Vetter and Jeff Morris gather to celebrate.
    Gathering for the A’ROR’N Days’ Quilt of Valor ceremony, veterans front from left: Duane Onken, Roger Kruse, Dan Howland, back from left: Alan Vetter and Jeff Morris gather to celebrate.
  • Jana Gibson and Tina Larson, riders on the Plainsman Museum float on Saturday’s A’ROR’N Days Grand Parade, were in the Rock ‘N Roll spirit as they tossed candy to the crowds.
    Jana Gibson and Tina Larson, riders on the Plainsman Museum float on Saturday’s A’ROR’N Days Grand Parade, were in the Rock ‘N Roll spirit as they tossed candy to the crowds.

    Opportune Acres offering a water good time for all

    Providing all children the same possibilites has been a lifelong goal for Kari Valentine and those passions have led to quite the program. That nonprofit program is Opportune Acres and during the summer, that program is a typical summertime program in the pool. Valentine and her group of instructors are providing swimming lessons to children who need a program tailored to specific needs. 

     

    AHS alumni gather

     

    Proud Husky graduates from as far back as 1948 gathered this weekend at A'ROR'N Days. Photos of several of the alumni gatherings are published in this week's ANR, including the Class of 1953 as shown here.

     

    Five local veterans honored with Quilts of Valor

    Honoring five area veterans, Jeanette Friesen and the Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild presented Quilts of Valor Saturday morning at the Plainsman Museum to help kick off the day’s A’ROR’N Days festivities. With family and friends surrounding them, the veterans honored in the ceremony were Duane Onken, Roger Kruse, Dan Howland, Alan Vetter and Jeff Morris.

     

    A’ROR’N good time in A-Town

    Aurora was on a roll this weekend as a feel-good A’ROR’N Days celebration ballooned the town’s population with hundreds of guests and returning alumni. Storms threatened several times throughout the weekend, adding some much-needed moisture early Saturday morning and in effect bringing more smiles to an already festive occasion.