This week's top stories

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stories
  • York Dukes coach JT Hamm (left) joined Sammie Weddle and Aurora coach Scott Phillips after the York vs. Aurora varsity matchup last week. They sat down for a quick chat after snapping this picture.
    York Dukes coach JT Hamm (left) joined Sammie Weddle and Aurora coach Scott Phillips after the York vs. Aurora varsity matchup last week. They sat down for a quick chat after snapping this picture.
  • Aurora native John Sandberg spent a summer during his college years at International Sensor Systems Inc. and joined his hometown company after graduating from UNL, ultimately spending his entire career there as an electrical engineer.
    Aurora native John Sandberg spent a summer during his college years at International Sensor Systems Inc. and joined his hometown company after graduating from UNL, ultimately spending his entire career there as an electrical engineer.
  • Preston Ramaekers goes up strong in heavy contact in the paint during Aurora’s 53-46 overtime win against Seward Feb. 23.
    Preston Ramaekers goes up strong in heavy contact in the paint during Aurora’s 53-46 overtime win against Seward Feb. 23.
  • Aurora High School junior, and Hamilton County 4-H King, Noah Ziegler has plans to continue his podcast series, ‘Can you hear me? Because sometimes I can’t hear you.’
    Aurora High School junior, and Hamilton County 4-H King, Noah Ziegler has plans to continue his podcast series, ‘Can you hear me? Because sometimes I can’t hear you.’

    Sammie’s gift: Moment of goodwill goes past gametime
    Despite an ongoing pandemic, ever-changing health regulations and more, the thrill and love for high school sports echoes loud through communities big and small. 
    No matter the differences, a rivalry-fueled basketball game featuring a few shots by junior Sammie Weddle is just what everyone needs.
    It’s good news. 
    “York versus Aurora is a rivalry in any sport at any level,” said York Dukes basketball coach JT Hamm. “Obviously you want to win every game, but the rivalry games mean a little more. Before the game Coach (Scott) Phillips and myself talked a little bit about how our seasons were going, some players in specific and then he brought up Sammie. He said Sammie has played for him a couple years now and hasn’t scored yet. So that was something that I held in the back of my mind throughout the game.”

    Sandberg logging off after 43 years at ISSI
    John Sandberg has seen a lot of change in his career as an electrical engineer, though two constants throughout have been the name on his paycheck and his working address.
    The Aurora native took a job at a four-year-old tech-based company in his hometown back in 1978 and will log off for the final time Friday, ending a 43-year run with International Sensor Systems Inc.
    “I’m looking forward to it, though I am a little apprehensive,” he said about his pending retirement. “I know I’m going to miss it. I’m going to miss all the good people that I’ve worked with over the years, but I’m looking forward to the change.”

    Aurora outlasts Seward in overtime, 53-46
    For the second game in as many nights, the Huskies found themselves in a tense scenario. 
    Unlike Aurora’s first round game against York, the Huskies would need overtime to get past Seward in the B-6 subdistrict final at home Feb. 23. 
    The one thing that remained the same, however, was Aurora’s ability to come out on top. 

    Noah Ziegler turns personal life, quarantine blues into successful podcast
    Aurora High School junior Noah Ziegler turned the boredom and loneliness he felt during quarantine into something constructive -- a podcast. 
    “Can you hear me? Because sometimes I can’t hear you,” started as a 4-H project for the teen, but has since become much more. 
    “I don’t know, I felt a little isolated and alone I guess,” Ziegler said. “And as you know my podcast is related to my hearing loss. Well one thing I was noticing (during quarantine) is that I was having trouble hearing people in masks, as well as on Zoom, which at the time there was no caption option. The teacher would be sharing their screen and so I wouldn’t be able to see the teacher’s face and sometimes I felt like I was getting a little lost.”