This week's featured stories

  • Brett Forsman (right) is a construction teacher at Grand Island Senior High School teaching students the trade and preparing them for a career in the construction industry. During the summer months he serves as a contractor at Grand Island Habitat for Humanity.
    Brett Forsman (right) is a construction teacher at Grand Island Senior High School teaching students the trade and preparing them for a career in the construction industry. During the summer months he serves as a contractor at Grand Island Habitat for Humanity.
  • Gary Peters speaks during a rally for the Pediatric Cancer Action Network
    Gary Peters speaks during a rally for the Pediatric Cancer Action Network
  • The scene near McDonalds at midafternoon on Monday
    The scene near McDonalds at midafternoon on Monday
  • Giltner homecoming queen and king Avery Reeson and Owen Nuss.
    Giltner homecoming queen and king Avery Reeson and Owen Nuss.
  • Heath Enderle Jr., who launched Eight-3 Renovations, LLC in June, displays a deck in his own back yard as a sample of the type of home improvement projects he now offers.
    Heath Enderle Jr., who launched Eight-3 Renovations, LLC in June, displays a deck in his own back yard as a sample of the type of home improvement projects he now offers.
  • Hazardous Waste Collection Day is Saturday
    Hazardous Waste Collection Day is Saturday

    Throughout his 16 years of teaching construction classes at Grand Island Senior High School (GISH), Aurora grad Brett Forsman has found satisfaction in helping his students get involved in the construction industry one house at a time. “My goal is to prepare them the best I can to send them to the next level and be ready,” he said. “We have students out there that have started their own businesses, working in the trades, making great money and they really are successful.” His story is featured in this week's ANR Where Are They Now series.

    Fans of the Aurora and Columbus Scotus football teams united Friday night, Sept. 19 in support of the fight against pediatric cancer. Gary Peters of Aurora, who has been involved with the Pediatric Cancer Action Network for several years, explained to fans on both sides of the field at halftime how they could support the cause by donating to both PCAN and Sammy’s Superheroes, a nonprofit founded in 2013 by the Nahorny family of Columbus. People responded, donating $1,376, which will be split between the two organizations.

     Traffic was slowed for several hours at the intersection of highways 14 and 34 in Aurora Monday afternoon when half a modular home fell off its trailer just west of McDonalds. Police were called at 2:13 p.m. to deal with the situation. Aurora Police Chief Paul Graham reported the transport truck had picked up the modular at Bonavilla Homes and was turning to go north on Highway 14 when the modular fell off the transport rack and landed on the grass on the west side of McDonald’s. State Patrol is investigating the cause of the accident. Traffic remained open on Highway 14 for a while but police later closed the road until the modular was removed later Monday night.

    Owen Nuss and Avery Reeson were crowned Homecoming king and queen during a pep rally Friday afternoon ahead of a football-volleyball doubleheader. Nuss is the son of Cody Nuss and Cassandra Davis and and Reeson is the daughter of Kevan and Laura Reeson.

    An Aurora native who grew up around the construction trade has launched his own business with a vision of building something of his own, from scratch. Heath Enderle Jr., a 2012 Hampton High School graduate, established Eight-3 Renovations, LLC in June, offering custom renovations throughout Hamilton County and beyond.
    “At just about every house I’ve lived in we’ve done extensive remodeling, so obviously I like to do that type of work,” he said. Read the story of Enderle's career path on the Business page (B12) of this week's ANR.

    The Aurora Rotary Club is coordinating a community-based household hazardous waste collection day at the fairgrounds Saturday, with volunteers from several entities working together to help protect the area’s environment.
    Local residents will be able to get rid of unwanted hazardous materials stored in their garages, basements and attics, most of which will be disposed of at a licensed facility in Grand Island. The local Rotary club typically coordinates its hazardous waste collection effort every other year, with the last event conducted in October of 2023.

    For these stories and more, plus the annual fall home improvement section, pick up a copy of the print or e-edition of this week's Aurora News-Register.