This week's top stories

Alberts ends 50-year career, all with Aurora Vet Clinic
Steve Alberts was fresh out of college in 1971 when he accepted his first job at the Aurora Veterinary Clinic. Fifty years later, Alberts has sold his interest in that same business and announced his plans to retire, ending a career he said has been both challenging and rewarding.
“I’m going to miss it,” Alberts admitted last week before a community reception in his honor at the Highway 34 clinic. “You walk into the same building for 50 years and it’s tough to walk away. I still really like what I do, but it’s time.”
Alberts took a brief walk down memory lane as he prepared to turn the page and begin the next chapter in his life. Having graduated from Kansas State University in 1971, he jumped at an opportunity to work with Drs. Jack Hadley and Phil Wilfong at the Aurora Veterinary Clinic.

Husky fans support PCAN efforts
Gary Peters told Friday’s home football crowd that Aurora, Hamilton County and all of Nebraska continue to rank high in incidents of pediatric cancer, an issue he is sadly all too familiar with.
Having lost his son Jacob to cancer at a young age, Peters and his wife Shari became involved with the Pediatric Action Cancer Network years ago and he offers updated information each year as to the organization’s mission and continued research.
“One thing that a lot of people don’t know is how bad the pediatric cancer problem is in Nebraska,” Peters said during half-time of the Huskies game against Omaha Gross. “Over the past 25 years Nebraska ranks No. 7 nationally for incident rates of pediatric cancer, and that is cancer for anyone from zero to 19 years old. 

Courthouse square turns into artistic showcase
Art Walk Aurora was back again this year, taking full advantage of a beautiful Saturday on the square to showcase the best of Aurora’s art community. 
A number of local and non-local artists and guests spent time together during the event and overall Art Walk Aurora committee member Cindy McClellan considered the day a success. 
“We brought in people from all over the state,” McClellan noted.
Though local faces may have been highly-anticipating this year’s Art Walk, McClellan revealed that the committee did more paid Facebook advertising this year, which could have led to the increase in out-of-town visitors.

Huskies survive battle with Gross
The Huskies rode a roller-coaster of emotion and momentum-changing big plays Friday, emerging from a physical Class B battle with a hard-fought 30-20 win over Omaha Gross.
Junior Carlos Collazo ran over, around and through the Cougars all night long, helping Aurora establish a solid running game with 250 yards on 31 carries. The host Huskies needed every one of those yards, as Collazo carried the rock several times on a game-clinching drive late in the fourth quarter, ultimately sealing the deal on a 21-yard touchdown run with just 1:43 to play.
“They are a good team, a quality team, so this is a good win,” said a relieved coach Kyle Peterson after the game. “It wasn’t pretty, but it was a good win.”
Peterson wanted to energize his team, as well as the home crowd, right out of the gate and did so with a trick play that worked to perfection...

Aurora elementary students enjoy field day activities
Fourth and fifth grade students from Aurora Elementary School were loud, proud and strong, Monday morning during their long-awaited and highly-anticipated field day.
First up in the chilly fall air were the fourth grade classes, followed up by fifth grade starting at noon. Parents filled the sidelines, watching and cheering for their young Huskies.
“It’s really important to get them out here,” physical education teacher Derek Keasling noted of his students. “It is an awesome event.”
In year’s past the field day event was held toward the end of the year, he reported, so by having it in the fall was trying something new. 

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