This week's top stories

Musical life: Judy Sullivan looks back on over nine decades
Life can be like music, a sudden start building into a crescendo towards the final, perfect note. Former music teacher and piano instructor Judy Sullivan knows this more than most.
Moving to Aurora right after college, Sullivan has been a pillar of her community since that time raising four children and providing the skills to appreciate music to her extended student family.
“It just is satisfying to make beautiful music,” Sullivan stated. “And you can play the piano whatever mood you’re in. If you’re happy, you’re sad or whatever. It can kind of bring you out of that funk and keep you going.”
Sullivan was born in 1931 as Judy Sehnert in Plainview to a mother who worked as a local schoolteacher and a father, and extended family, who worked as bakers. Sullivan grew up with the scents and delicious smells that come from growing up near fresh baked goods.

Huskies rout Fairbury on Homecoming night
The top-rated Huskies exploded out of the gate Friday against an overmatched Fairbury squad, giving a large Homecoming crowd plenty to cheer about with a convincing 73-19 win.
Aurora took advantage of Fairbury miscues in the early going, converting short fields into quick points en route to a 33-0 lead after only one quarter of play. The home Huskies kept the foot on the gas until halftime, leading 53-13 at intermission.
“I think for the most part we played well tonight,” coach Kyle Peterson said after the game. “We got out really quickly with the short fields and pretty good special teams play, so I was pleased to see that.”

Gautier claims district title
Lucas Gautier took first place for the Huskies in a nail-biting finish at the C-4 District Championships in Hastings Thursday at the Elks Club golf course in Hastings. 
The Huskies took the runner-up position in the team race, earning a plaque and a spot at state, marking the ninth consecutive season both the Aurora boys and girls teams have qualified for state. 
Aurora was edged in the team battle, though, as Holdrege narrowly won the title, 29-31.
All of the Aurora boys knew the goal at hand Thursday to place themselves where Aurora coach Tony Sigler knew they needed to be and he was hoping they will reset for the big race Friday in Kearney.

Husky pride beams at Homecoming
Husky pride permeated the downtown square Friday as the community joined the AHS Homecoming celebration.
Hundreds of people gathered around the courthouse square to watch the annual Homecoming parade, followed by a pep rally on the courthouse parking lot. Husky alumni Dr. Cory Ohlson, a 1989 Aurora graduate, offered thoughts on what it means to be a Husky as the event’s featured speaker.
“We came back to be a part of this community to be a Husky,” Ohlson began, with wife and fellow Husky alum Tracy looking on. “What does it mean to be a Husky? It’s complex … but it’s important. We are part of a community that are Huskies. Every one of you is a Husky and you will continue to be Husky down the road.

NE Board of Education race airing ‘battle of ideas’
The race for the Dist. 5 seat on the Nebraska State Board of Education features two people with polar opposite views, not only on the political spectrum, but also in how and if political debate should even be part of the election year narrative regarding statewide education.
Aurora native Kirk Penner is the Dist. 5 incumbent, having been appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts in December to fill the vacant seat. Helen Raikes of Ashland is the challenger, with the winner to be determined by majority vote in the Nov. 8 election.
Both candidates shared their personal profiles, reasons for running and goals if elected in a Q&A published in the News-Register Oct. 12, though follow-up interviews revealed in more detail the drastic difference of their views.

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