This week's top stories

‘Aurora’s Got Talent’ headlines for second year
The second annual “Aurora’s Got Talent” show sponsored by the Hamilton Community Foundation gave a stage to the gifts of six local residents Thursday on the courthouse parking lot.
“(I feel) great because we have a lot of contestants and we have a lot of help,” said Megan Vetter, event coordinator. “The crowd is always really great on Thursday nights because it’s kids night, family night, and everybody has energy and the performers do really well and so it’s exciting.”
The event started, after a delay due to the extended tractor pull and horse races for children, with the announcement from emcee Deryl Hilligas, introducing judges Marlin Seeman, BJ Merrihew and Tayna Grosshans. 
The first act was a rendition of Nat King Cole’s “Smile” by Ethan Wishman from Hampton, who crooned out a dedication to hard-working people who come home tired at night to keep society going. 

Decision time long gone for hail-out crop
The past few hail storms have taken a noticeable toll on local producers and residents alike. While those not watching their crops checked for dents in cars and holes in siding, farmers like Mitch Oswald have been making big decisions in a short window.
Oswald, who farms a few miles outside of Aurora, was affected the most by the first early June hail storm. It took out nearly 80 percent of the crop he had planted.
“And then I lost two swing arms off pivots and then another tower off (a pivot),” he noted. “It kind of put a little bit of a wrinkle in my year. Obviously I had to replant what was hailed off because it was hailed off enough that it wasn’t going to come out of it.”

Organizer says Aurora Pride March to be an annual event
A crowd of just over 100 people waved and wore bright colors during a parade down Highway 14 Saturday, celebrating the second annual Aurora Pride March.
Gathered in a show of unity for all human rights, and specifically rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community, supporters gathered peacefully near Refshauge Park before the march where they listened to keynote speaker Brandi Bosier.
“Advocate with kindness,” Bosier advised. “Human rights are what it’s all about. I don’t care if it’s Black rights, baby rights, whatever it is.”

A’ROR’N Days chock full of activities
Another A’ROR’N Days has come and gone, with all the feel-good fun and splendor to remind the community just why Aurora is the way it is.
As a whole the weekend was celebrated in Mardi Gras style, with crowds of people in and around the square for several days.
For the most part, temperatures were on the cooler side and the rain held off during the night hours.
“We had to dodge a few rain showers, but other than that I thought we had a very good A’ROR’N Days,” said committee chairman Roger Scott. “We had a lot of people show up to the events all three days.”
The family night festivities Thursday were jam-packed full of kids and their parents, participating in a wealth of events.

Second annual alumni game a blast from the past
Dick Phillips, an Aurora City Council member, made his way out to the mound and tossed a clean fastball to the plate in front of a cheerful crowd at Mitchell Field. 
Wait, what?
No, this isn’t a throwback article. Phillips, an Aurora legion baseball player himself in the mid-1960s, was invited to be part of the second annual Aurora alumni baseball game Saturday afternoon as a group of former players dusted off the cleats and gloves for a friendly game against the current Aurora Post 42 Pinnacle Bank Seniors squad. 
Phillips took plenty of warm-up throws for probably 15 minutes before taking the mound for the ceremonial first pitch before turning the field over to the rest of the guys with “a bit more life on the treads.”

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