This week's top stories

Edgerton Center on track for record year
New things are always happening at the Edgerton Explorit Center and the pace has officially picked up again for staff after the COVID-19 lull. 
Some of the bigger, and perhaps more noticeable changes, include two new Edgerton Explorit wrapped Ford Expeditions and a trailer.
“We’ve actually been trying to get those all finished and tied up since last May,” said Mary Molliconi, the center’s executive director. “AfterHours Grafix is so busy and it takes awhile to get onto their schedule.” 
The vehicles themselves are new to the Edgerton, replacing old ones used by the center to travel across the state for school visits and other events.

Wizard of the plains: life, process of local fantasy illustrator
Out in Aurora, a grey-bearded wizard walks among the commonfolk of Nebraska.
Ron Spencer’s magic comes from wands called markers, crafting in two-dimensions fantastical creatures and places. Through humble beginnings and support, an apprentice of free-time scriblings would turn into a master of a self-sufficient career. 
“I’m very, very grateful to people who have made my dream in life a possibility,” Spencer said. “...Anybody that thinks they want to do art in their lives, (it) takes a lot of work, takes hours and hours, and like any performance art takes a lot of sacrifice and hard work, but it’s definitely a possibility for anybody.”
Spencer’s passion for art started as child and took him all the way to college. 
He grew up on a farm near Aurora, a place he described as quiet with time for him to grow his imagination...

Smith family sweeps podium at Friday’s Osceola Invite
Giltner’s Smith trio brought its lunch pails for a hard day’s work at Friday’s Osceola Invite. 
For the first time ever, the Smith family finished 1-2-3 in the shot put event to highlight a runner-up team effort for the Hornets. 
Taylor Smith set a new PR with his winning shot put throw of 43-08.50. Alex Smith was the runner-up finisher with a throw of 42-09 while Jacob Smith rounded out the top three with a mark of 40-08. 
Jacob and Alex are brothers while Taylor is a cousin. All three watched intently as the others threw in the finals and even let out a yell or two, knowing they were battling amongst themselves. 
T. Smith also had a solid effort in the discus, finishing second while J. Smith finished sixth and HPC’s Lane Urkoski was seventh.

Couple transforms farmhouse into family home
Ten miles south of Aurora, on top of a steep hill, the home of Mike and Kelsey Bergen stands tall. Its exterior is a deep, rich blue and inside the home is transforming into something more. 
“It’s kind of time to make it ours and go from somebody else’s house to this is going to be our house,” said Mike, a full-time farmer. 
Initially the couple had not put much thought to renovations of their home. That mindset has changed over the past few years. 
The Bergens have called their farmhouse home since August 2007, just a few months before their marriage in December of that year.

Huskies get 1st win with last-second heroics
Aurora and Columbus Lakeview played 99 minutes of scoreless soccer. In the final moments of overtime, though, chaos ensued. 
The Huskies booted a pair of goals inside the final minute of overtime to pick up a 2-0 win over Lakeview for its first win of the season, much to the celebration of the Husky sideline. 
Aurora coach Madison Farris couldn’t be happier about his team’s progress and really thought that improvement was on display for home fans Thursday.
“Before the game I told the boys that we had to get a win in this game, and that I did not care how pretty it was at this point,” Farris remarked. “I then told them after the game that I didn’t mean that as literally as playing 99 minutes of scoreless soccer just to score two goals in the 100th minute. Moments like that are exciting for players and certainly for fans, but it’s just a huge relief for coaches I think.

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