This week's top stories

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  • Pictured from left are Kory Ekhoff, Captain Tanner Greenough and Grant Carlson. All are members of Aurora’s fire-based EMS crew who previously held similar positions in Grand Island.
    Pictured from left are Kory Ekhoff, Captain Tanner Greenough and Grant Carlson. All are members of Aurora’s fire-based EMS crew who previously held similar positions in Grand Island.
  • Eric Joseph was named runner-up for the Contractor of the Year award from SprayFoam magazine. He poses here with his hotrod, which originally was a white semi truck for Anheuser-Busch, along with two of his prizes.
    Eric Joseph was named runner-up for the Contractor of the Year award from SprayFoam magazine. He poses here with his hotrod, which originally was a white semi truck for Anheuser-Busch, along with two of his prizes.
  • Paityn Wyatt rips a takedown, one of multiple she had in her match, which included a pinfall victory during Aurora’s dual win over Columbus Lakeview at home Thursday.
    Paityn Wyatt rips a takedown, one of multiple she had in her match, which included a pinfall victory during Aurora’s dual win over Columbus Lakeview at home Thursday.
  • Dylan Danielson paced the Huskies with 21 points in Aurora’s 43-29 win over Blair to win the Blair Holiday Tournament Friday.
    Dylan Danielson paced the Huskies with 21 points in Aurora’s 43-29 win over Blair to win the Blair Holiday Tournament Friday.
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EMS reports jump in transfer calls

Three years after taking over what had been a county-owned and operated ambulance service, city leaders are reporting a steady increase in the number of transfer calls, prompting a recent staffing addition which is touted as part of an on-going learning curve.
City Administrator Rick Melcher reported that the EMS staff averaged 3.3 calls per day for the last fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, 2022.
“I think it’s been somewhat like what we expected although the details in the operation are some things that we had to learn along the way,” Melcher began. “What we’re seeing is the number of calls going up each year, so that proves to me that there is a big need in our community and in the surrounding area for the services that EMTs and paramedics provide.”
The number of 911 calls for the year was listed at 678, along with 475 transfers and 27 standbys for athletic events, parades and other activities, bringing the total for the fiscal year to 1,180. By comparison, he reported last year’s totals at 688 911 calls, 356 transfers and 24 standbys for a total of 1,068, while the total from the city’s first year of operations was 458 911 calls and 209 transfers.

 

Joseph runner-up as Contractor of the Year
Eric Joseph, owner of Midwest Spray Foam and Custom Installation, LLC, has been named runner-up Contractor of the Year in SprayFoam magazine Winter 2022 edition.
Joseph, who spoke to the Aurora News-Register in October, described the experience of winning while the memory of the award was only a week old. 
“It caught me off guard. (The magazine is) so widespread to people all over the place, I would have never expected it,” Joseph said.

 

Lady Huskies down Lakeview at home
Aurora’s girls wrestling team didn’t miss a beat coming off the holiday break, picking up another conference dual victory. 
The Lady Huskies hosted Columbus Lakeview on an icy Thursday outside, but Aurora’s wrestlers won six of the eight contested matchups for a 34-24 dual victory in the final event of the 2022 calendar year. 
The dual began with one of the wildest matches of the day as Ayeanna Smith held on in the third period to win via an 11-4 decision. 
Smith was in control through the first two periods, recording two takedowns in the first period before adding a third in the second stanza with a pair of near falls. 

 

Aurora wins Blair holiday tourney
Aurora is sure to be a tough out for the rest of the season. 
The Huskies picked up its fifth win in a row Friday, holding Blair to its lowest point total of the season as Aurora won the Blair Holiday Tournament over the host team, 43-29. 
The game was an offensive display from Dylan Danielson, who continued his red-hot shooting streak with 21 points, including 11 in the third quarter alone. 
Despite Danielson’s offensive efforts, Aurora struggled early in the game, especially from behind the arc.

 

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