On June 24, 1957, Aurora city officials saw the need for a hospital within city limits. What started as a 35-bed facility has grown to include surgery suites, a physicians clinic, CT scanner capabilities and an emergency room.

The Aurora Chamber of Commerce has been busy this summer.

The annual picnic took place on June 24, with Don Buchanan (top photo) slaving over the grill and members (second photo) enjoying Buchanan’s skills.

Main Street of Aurora will meet at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 29, at CNB Bank to conduct a public meeting.

Staff members at The Aurora Advertiser have moved to a new location -- 33 West Olive in historic, downtown Aurora!

In one sense, the move will be a homecoming for the newspaper. In 1995, the business moved from the first block of West Olive to its former location on West Church Street.

A local poultry farm owned and managed by Jim and Sharon Shepherd east of Aurora is one of the stops on Congressman Roy Blunt’s annual farm tour.

The 13th Annual Southwest Missouri Agriculture Tour will have an emphasis on urban agriculture, gardening and agri-businesses when it rolls out on August 10 and 11.

Frederick A Ulam, Ph.D., has joined Missouri Rehabilitation Center in Mt. Vernon as a new member of the psychology staff. Board certified in psychology, Ulam will be specializing as a neuropsychologist treating patients with traumatic brain injuries.

“We are so excited to have Dr. Ulam on staff in neuropsychology,” said MRC Executive Director Steve Patterson.

Since 1917, the Gripka family farm has been a fixture at the crossroads of LC 2175 and 1170. The family has been at the location so long the area is known as “Gripka Corner.”

“We’ve had the power out and called the electric company and just tell them it’s at Gripka Corner,” relates Angie Gripka Sperandio. “They know where we are.”

The current generation of Gripkas running the family farm include siblings AlbertGripka, Paul Gripka, Angie Sperandio and Regina Quintin.

The effort to implement Governor Jay Nixon’s plan to make Missouri’s local motor vehicle/license offices more efficient, accountable and customer-friendly continued this week as the management contracts for six more offices were put up for bid, with Aurora’s office on the list.

The Aurora Chamber and Hardee’s would like to encourage everyone to stop by for dinner in order help the raise funds for operating costs for a local YMCA.

Hardee’s will be donating 10 percent of sales from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., every Thursday night, beginning May 14 and ending June 25.

New car dealers across the country are having to adjust to a new reality as the Big Three pare back their offerings, brands, and even dealer networks.

GM last week announced it was killing off the Pontiac brand and cutting back its dealership network by a third.

Franchisees of Chrysler LLC are dealing with the added wrinkle of Chrysler having declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week, a first for a major Detroit automaker.

“This group provides so much financial support,” said Gary Jordan, president of St. John’s West Region.

His remarks came during the annual St. John’s Hospital--Aurora Auxiliary Recognition Banquet on April 28 at the United Methodist Church on Carnation Drive.

The stub of the former Greenfield & Northern Railroad serving as the spur to the MFA Plant Foods site on High Street has recently been leased by the Columbia-based farmer’s cooperative and repaired.

Crews from a Columbia railroad maintenance contractor were on-site  April 15 laying down new gravel ballast and repairing the High Street road crossing so rail cars would be able to traverse the pavement.

Due to the combined efforts of many firefighters, a fire in downtown Aurora was contained to one building in the early hours Thursday.

The Aurora Fire Department received a call at approximately 5:50 a.m. of a fire in progress at 131 Madison.  By the beginning of the normal work day, firefighters had the situation under control and streets open for the public.

The building consists of Dr. John Watts’ office on the first floor and residence on the upper floors. Fire Chief Robert Ward noted one of the two occupants was treated and released for smoke inhalation.

The board of directors for First Independent Bank has named Jack Muench to fill the position of president and chief executive officer.

“Jack joins us at a time when we are all striving to overcome our grief associated with the passing of John J. Lee, president of the bank since its inception,” said Charles Spangler, board chairman.