This week's top stories

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  • As superintendent, Marcia Traudt has made a point to have a hand in many aspects of her animals. Here she stands next to the table tops she and her husband built to hold poultry and rabbit cages.
    As superintendent, Marcia Traudt has made a point to have a hand in many aspects of her animals. Here she stands next to the table tops she and her husband built to hold poultry and rabbit cages.
  • This tree on O Street in Aurora nearly caused major damage to a house and apartment complex from high winds in Friday night’s storm.
    This tree on O Street in Aurora nearly caused major damage to a house and apartment complex from high winds in Friday night’s storm.
  • Aurora’s Garrett Bellis attempts to cover home on a play at the plate during an 11-3 loss to York Monday in the Class B, Area 4 tournament.
    Aurora’s Garrett Bellis attempts to cover home on a play at the plate during an 11-3 loss to York Monday in the Class B, Area 4 tournament.
  • Grain bins were not exempt from Friday night’s high wind storm that left plenty of damage behind. Heavy damage was sustained to the grain bins at the intersection of Highway 14 and 6 Road south of Aurora.
    Grain bins were not exempt from Friday night’s high wind storm that left plenty of damage behind. Heavy damage was sustained to the grain bins at the intersection of Highway 14 and 6 Road south of Aurora.
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Marcia Traudt celebrates 40 years as fair superintendent
The Hamilton County Fair is on the horizon and with it a familiar face will be found at the livestock and animal arenas -- Marcia Traudt.
Working as a superintendent for FFA, 4-H and open class poultry and rabbits, Traudt has had a hand in the livestock shows for the last 40 years.
“My daughter decided she wanted to show dairy goats and there was no dairy goat program,” she recalled of her beginnings. “I talked to J.C. Cranfill and he said, ‘Go ahead,’ so I did.”

Massive trees left in storm’s wake
* Aurora city landfill accepting mountain of downed trees
The City of Aurora had its hands full this week trying to help residents get rid of downed trees and tree limbs after Saturday’s horrific storm.
The sheer volume of trees needing to be moved out of the streets and off of personal property caused some changes in protocol, as well as a plea for help from residents.
Adam Darbro, the city’s utility superintendent, announced Sunday through the News-Register’s social media platforms that the landfill would be open that day, as well as Monday through Wednesday if not longer. Heavy rains that accompanied the wind and lightening made it a challenge, especially on Saturday.

Ag community hit especially hard
Severe winds caused major damage throughout central and western Hamilton County Friday night and into Saturday morning, hitting several area farms and farmsteads hard.
A drive through the countryside revealed downed pivots and power poles throughout the region, with some of the worst damage reported south and west of Aurora extending to and beyond Giltner.
Brandon Hunnicutt said the weekend storm made him and other Giltner area farmers remember a similar storm from nearly 20 years ago.

Postseason rally ends for Aurora Coop Juniors
Much of it with their backs against the wall, the Aurora Cooperative Post 42 Juniors team played some of its best baseball of the season. 
After a narrow 7-6 loss to Fairbury Friday in the opening round of the Class B, Area 4 tournament in York, Aurora bounced back with a 6-1 win over Doniphan-Trumbull Saturday and was in a winning position Monday against York. 
However, the Aurora Cooperative Juniors ran out of one of its best aspects --  pitching -- as York scored seven in the sixth to win 11-3 and end Aurora’s season.

Phillips board addressing nuisance properties with SCEDD’s help
Two months after identifying six properties earning red flags according to a two-year-old nuisance abatement ordinance, the Phillips Village Board noted some progress last week as well as lingering concerns in its effort to clean up the community.
Josh Young, a business and community consultant with the South Central Economic Development District (SCEDD), who now serves as the nuisance officer in Phillips, shared photos and a detailed community assessment report with the board during its July 6 meeting. Based on his report, the board voted to clear two of the properties as requiring no further action by the owners, approved a motion to abate on one and extended another until September due to health issues with the owner. Two other property owners were earlier given an extension until fall to clean up their properties or face abatement proceedings.

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