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Announcing the debut of The Leadership Center at Espressions are, from left: shop manager Lisa Montoya, barista Wyatt Griess and Maile Ilac Boeder, executive director of The Leadership Center.

Announcing the debut of The Leadership Center at Espressions are, from left: shop manager Lisa Montoya, barista Wyatt Griess and Maile Ilac Boeder, executive director of The Leadership Center.

Leadership Center reopens Espressions

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
The Leadership Center expanded its reach and mission this week by reopening a downtown coffee shop as a venue which now offers far more than beverages and entrees. As of Monday morning, the well-known eatery at 1117 M St.
Aurora senior Carsen Staehr crashes into the sand pit during his final run through the long jump event, winning by half an inch over second place at Friday’s home invite.

Aurora senior Carsen Staehr crashes into the sand pit during his final run through the long jump event, winning by half an inch over second place at Friday’s home invite.

This week's top stories

Jacob Courtney
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Staehr, Huskies Carsen Staehr nearly picked up right where he left off from last season. In Aurora’s first outdoor meet of the spring season, a home invite, Staehr swept the long and triple jumps, doing so not far off from his best marks.
Aurora High School prom candidates were announced this week, with coronation of king and queen scheduled for Saturday evening at The Leadership Center. Candidates, pictured front from left: Eva Fahrnbruch, Aleah Vinkenberg, Kylie Svoboda, Kasey Schuster. Back from left: Wyatt James, Carsen Staehr, Carlos Collazo, Gabe Peterson.

Aurora High School prom candidates were announced this week, with coronation of king and queen scheduled for Saturday evening at The Leadership Center. Candidates, pictured front from left: Eva Fahrnbruch, Aleah Vinkenberg, Kylie Svoboda, Kasey Schuster. Back from left: Wyatt James, Carsen Staehr, Carlos Collazo, Gabe Peterson.

AHS prom moving to Leadership Center

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Prom 2023 will have a different look and location for Aurora High School students as the venue will be moved for the first time to The Leadership Center.
Banana Rams owner Justin Blase is excited about this weekend's event in Hordville.

Banana Rams owner Justin Blase is excited about this weekend's event in Hordville.

Concert coming to Hordville April 1

Jacob Courtney
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Banana Rams owner Justin Blase is holding a concert at the Hordville Event Center featuring opening act Tim Buck Too and main act country singer Logan Mize on April 1 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Eli and Amy Lewis show off their basket full of eggs ready for laying this upcoming Easter season. Eli is raising money for Aurora Adopt-A-Pet animal shelter to buy items on their Amazon wish list.

Eli and Amy Lewis show off their basket full of eggs ready for laying this upcoming Easter season. Eli is raising money for Aurora Adopt-A-Pet animal shelter to buy items on their Amazon wish list.

Mother, son duo ask ‘Let Us Egg Your Yard’

Jacob Courtney
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
The Easter Bunny is getting some help this year. Nurse Amy Lewis and her 10-year old son Eli are offering a friendly “egging” of county residents’ yard for a fee to help raise funds for the Aurora Adopt-A-Pet animal shelter.
Aurora students participating in the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation’s Future Builders Challenge March 17 and 20 included, from left: Israel Dominguez, Mackenzie Kluck, Lucas Talkington, Kaden Johnson, Owen Lubbe and Cara Thomas

Aurora students participating in the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation’s Future Builders Challenge March 17 and 20 included, from left: Israel Dominguez, Mackenzie Kluck, Lucas Talkington, Kaden Johnson, Owen Lubbe and Cara Thomas

Aurora students compete in GI Builders Challenge

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Brain-storming ideas for starting a new business was the name of the game last week in the first-ever Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation’s Future Builders Challenge, which included several students from Aurora.
Fourteen law enforcement officers from throughout Nebraska and three other states spent 10 days at The Leadership Center recently, completing an intensive DARE training program.

Fourteen law enforcement officers from throughout Nebraska and three other states spent 10 days at The Leadership Center recently, completing an intensive DARE training program.

Aurora hosts intensive DARE training

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Fourteen law enforcement officers from throughout Nebraska and three Midwestern states completed an intensive 10-day training course in Aurora Friday, training them to help give today’s youth tools to make good life decisions.
Dan Haden preps equipment for an experiment on the Linac Cohearant Light Source (LCLS) system at Standford University in Menlo Park, Calif., in May 2022. The Aurora native has been working with lasers to develop energy generation and other practical uses for the technology in his postdoctoral research at the University of Nevada in Reno.

Dan Haden preps equipment for an experiment on the Linac Cohearant Light Source (LCLS) system at Standford University in Menlo Park, Calif., in May 2022. The Aurora native has been working with lasers to develop energy generation and other practical uses for the technology in his postdoctoral research at the University of Nevada in Reno.

Haden blasts into the future with laser-focused career

Jacob Courtney
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Some people find fulfilling lives in tried-and-true careers, but others want to be the first shimmer of light in the darkness of the unknown.
A sales tax will be discussed in Hampton March 28.

A sales tax will be discussed in Hampton March 28.

Sales tax on agenda in Hampton

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Hampton residents have been invited to a visioning workshop March 28 to help the community understand details about pending infrastructure projects, as well as the village board’s role in addressing those needs.
Downtown Aurora.

Downtown Aurora.

Downtown Revitalization funds released

Jacob Courtney
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
by Jacob Courtney South Central Economic Development District (SCEDD) community consultant Lori Ferguson gave a review and update to the Aurora City Council March 14 about the Downtown Revitalization Project after the release of $435,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds the previous day.