This week's top stories

Christmas Free Shop event back for a 2nd year
Based on the response to last year’s debut Free Shop event in Aurora, co-organizer Vicki Hill said the decision to proceed with a second annual event in 2021 was an easy one.
“We pretty much made the decision that day that we’ll do it again,” Hill said. “Last year we helped over 30 families, so you figure four to six people per family, and we had such a positive response from people. That made it an easy decision to repeat it this year, especially knowing that it kind of came together at the last minute last year.”
The second annual Christmas Free Shop is set for Saturday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cross of Christ Church, located at 209 South 16th St. on Highway 14.

Leadership Center Harvest Gala welcomes season of giving
The Leadership Center did what it does best over the weekend, hosting an event for people in this community and those visiting from others, and did so with flare, purpose and an overall goal of becoming better.
“I am thrilled beyond belief that we are here,” Executive Director Maile Ilac-Boeder began. “We are here. We are open. We’re doing business and we have more than 40 people in the room tonight, so I am thrilled.”
Several businesses didn’t make it through the pandemic, she continued, before crediting The Leadership Center’s donors, FFA chapters, and those in the room as the reason TLC survived.

MCHI, Westfield faced with vaccine mandate
*Keller says hospital has no choice but to comply with CMS regulation that all employees receive COVID-19 vaccination
Memorial Community Health’s CEO voiced frustration Friday saying MCHI had no choice but to comply with a federal mandate that all employees receive the COVID-19 vaccine or apply for an exemption.
“It’s really hard because obviously we’re not going to make everybody happy,” Diane Keller said while explaining a new policy which goes into effect Dec. 5. “As much as we believe in the vaccine, we believe in our staff and we believe in their hearts and what they want to do for our patients and residents.”

* Young voices frustration with mixed message of CMS policies, vowing to leave door open to staff as much as possible
Westfield Quality Care informed employees of a federal vaccine mandate last week, taking careful steps to entertain limited exemption requests while also placing anyone who chooses not to be vaccinated for COVID-19 on a leave of absence rather than terminate their employment.
Chris Young, administrator of the long-term care facility on 1st Street, said he and other administrators and board members have been working constantly since the emergency regulation was issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Nov. 4, trying to fully understand the requirements.

Bennington topples Aurora in final
The rematch between Aurora and Bennington was desired by many and anticipated by all. 
Yet, it was the Badgers proving to be Class B’s best as Bennington moved past the Huskies 42-14 in Monday’s Class B final in front of nearly 5,000 fans at Memorial Stadium. 
The Badgers earned its second win on the season over Aurora, third in two seasons while keeping its perfect 13-0 record intact while the Huskies end the year as runner-up for the second consecutive season with a 10-3 mark. 
Aurora coach Kyle Peterson said Monday’s loss in the final “stings,” but added Bennington played a near-perfect game all around. 

Hunter advances in Legion speech contest
Jeremy Hunter,  a senior at Aurora High School, was honored last week by the American Legion Post 42 in Aurora for having won the Dist. 6 American Legion oratorical contest Nov. 5, which included posts from 13 area counties. Hunter will now advance to the next level of area competition, with the winner there advancing to state. A more in-depth story on Hunter’s experience will be seen in an upcoming edition of the ANR.

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