This week's top stories

  • Work has been completed on cleaning up the site of the former Gambles building.
    Work has been completed on cleaning up the site of the former Gambles building.
  • Alexis Linehan will be hosting Kindermusik classes at the Bremer Center through her business, Apples and Oranges: Music Studio & Therapy. Kindermusik is an educational program that promotes children’s physical, cognitive and emotional developmental skills through music. Pictured with Linehan is her son, Lucas, who took Kindermusik with his mom 10 years ago in Omaha.
    Alexis Linehan will be hosting Kindermusik classes at the Bremer Center through her business, Apples and Oranges: Music Studio & Therapy. Kindermusik is an educational program that promotes children’s physical, cognitive and emotional developmental skills through music. Pictured with Linehan is her son, Lucas, who took Kindermusik with his mom 10 years ago in Omaha.
  • Grant Fox, right, takes the oath of office Aug. 26, officially becoming a new member of the Aurora Police Department. Administering the oath is City Attorney Ross Luzum.
    Grant Fox, right, takes the oath of office Aug. 26, officially becoming a new member of the Aurora Police Department. Administering the oath is City Attorney Ross Luzum.
  • Bubbles filled with smoke floated in the air Sunday afternoon at the Nebraska State Fair, much to the delight of kids of all ages.
    Bubbles filled with smoke floated in the air Sunday afternoon at the Nebraska State Fair, much to the delight of kids of all ages.
  • Greeting Aurora's Jessica Gibson at the finish line were her family and friends who cheered and encouraged her as she completed a 50-mile run around Aurora.
    Greeting Aurora's Jessica Gibson at the finish line were her family and friends who cheered and encouraged her as she completed a 50-mile run around Aurora.
  • Madeline Huls, top left, and Sofia Van Veldhuizen get a lift from fellow Aurora cheerleaders during the Huskies football game at Pierce Friday night in the season opener.
    Madeline Huls, top left, and Sofia Van Veldhuizen get a lift from fellow Aurora cheerleaders during the Huskies football game at Pierce Friday night in the season opener.

    Work to clear the Gambles building site of bricks and debris after last month’s demolition was completed this week, with the basement filled in and compacted with dirt. Aurora City Administrator Adam Darbro said the project cost approximately $325,000.

    A new song is playing for the opening of a new semester for Apples and Oranges: Music Studio & Therapy in Aurora. The musical classes for children, taught by occupational therapist Alexis Linehan, will be adding techniques from Kindermusik early childhood music and movement classes this fall. Linehan will host an open house at the Bremer Center on Wednesday, Sept. 3 from 9-11 a.m. to showcase the activities for all her music classes.

    Grant Fox took the oath of office Aug. 26, officially becoming a new member of the Aurora Police Department. Fox is a 2016 graduate of Aurora High School. The swearing in ceremony took place during last week's city council meeting on Tuesday.

    The final curtain has fallen on Nebraska’s “Big Stage” – the state fair in Grand Island – and, looking at the attendance numbers at least, the show is getting rave reviews! While final numbers are still being tallied, according to some reports coupled with first-half attendance figures, this year’s fair may be a record breaker in terms of attendance. Officials report that attendance for the first five days of the fair was up 19 percent over last year and they're attributing the increases in part to the cooler weather over the 11 days of the fair's run. Learn more about the attendance numbers and find photos from ANR's coverage of Nebraska's 'Big Stage' in this week's edition.

    When Aurora’s Jessica Gibson crossed the finish line of her self-designed 50-mile marathon course on Sunday, Aug. 17, she didn’t just set a new personal running record. Completing the race was also a celebration of the support of her family and friends in her striving for sobriety over the past two years. In addition, the race was a milestone in her five-year running journey that has been one of the keys in that battle.

    Husky fans, led by the Aurora cheerleaders, rooted for the 2025 Husky football team as it hit the field for the first time this season at Pierce last Friday night. This week the Huskies play their first home game of the season as they host the visiting McCook Bison on Friday. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

    For these stories and more, plus all the local high school fall sports highlights, check out the print or e-editions of this week's Aurora News-Register, on sale now!