This week's top stories

  • The well head for the Village of Hampton’s newly dug test well sits in a grassy area between the parking lots at the ball park on the west side of town. Water from the well tested at over 15 for nitrates so it cannot be used for drinking water.
    The well head for the Village of Hampton’s newly dug test well sits in a grassy area between the parking lots at the ball park on the west side of town. Water from the well tested at over 15 for nitrates so it cannot be used for drinking water.
  • Volunteers from the Hamilton County Backpack Program have been busy preparing for Friday’s Soup Bowl Fundraiser.
    Volunteers from the Hamilton County Backpack Program have been busy preparing for Friday’s Soup Bowl Fundraiser.
  • Sam Elge, left, plays Owen Casey, a private investigator who is not amused by aspiring musician Nelson Henry, played by student actor Atticus Miller, right. At center is a ticket holder played by Derek Wilson.
    Sam Elge, left, plays Owen Casey, a private investigator who is not amused by aspiring musician Nelson Henry, played by student actor Atticus Miller, right. At center is a ticket holder played by Derek Wilson.
  • Ramer Fassnacht (center) celebrated his 100th birthday on March 4. Celebrating with him, from left, are his granddaughter, Katie Elder, daughters Glenell Ratzlaff, Joleen Gustafson and Teresa Elder-Smith and granddaughter Lizzy Smith.
    Ramer Fassnacht (center) celebrated his 100th birthday on March 4. Celebrating with him, from left, are his granddaughter, Katie Elder, daughters Glenell Ratzlaff, Joleen Gustafson and Teresa Elder-Smith and granddaughter Lizzy Smith.
  • Dan and Linda Huenefeld pose for a final photo in the Boundary Waters escape room game, which featured puzzles all created personally by the owners.
    Dan and Linda Huenefeld pose for a final photo in the Boundary Waters escape room game, which featured puzzles all created personally by the owners.
  • One of the many challenges students at Hamilton County 4-H faced at Lego Robotics was to put in the right measurements to steer their robots around obstacles. From left, Lillie Land, Cody Paton and Dalton Land watch as their robot attempts to navigate through the course.
    One of the many challenges students at Hamilton County 4-H faced at Lego Robotics was to put in the right measurements to steer their robots around obstacles. From left, Lillie Land, Cody Paton and Dalton Land watch as their robot attempts to navigate through the course.

High hopes for a timely and relatively cost-effective solution to Hampton’s ongoing water problems were dashed Monday night when it was announced that water test results from the recently-drilled test well came back showing high levels of nitrates. Chris Miller of the village’s engineering firm, Miller and Associates reported to the monthly village board meeting that water samples from the well dug by the ball fields on the west side of town came back showing a nitrate level of 15.8. READ

More than 75 ceramic soup bowls have been hand-crafted in preparation for this Friday's Soup Bowl Fundraiser at the Presbyterian United Church of Christ (PUCC) in Aurora. The sale of the bowls combined with a soup supper is to raise money for the Hamilton County Backpack Program which provides meals to students’ and their families each month. READ

Final rehearsals are underway for the Aurora High School Spring Play which opens for a two-night run on Friday. “Murder on the 518” by Michelle Giles, is a comical murder mystery sharing the rails of the Orient Express. Curtain time each night is 7 p.m. at the Middle School Theatre. READ

Hampton native Ramer Fassnacht got together with family and friends from around the region on Sunday afternoon in Hampton to celebrate his 100th birthday. Adding to the celebration was Fassnacht’s success in reaching his goal of collecting a penny for each day of his 100 years of life. READ

Almost six years after Dan and Linda Huenefeld started inviting people to try and solve mysteries in a timed escape room experience just off the downtown square, the couple announced this week that they are retiring from Escape Aurora. Owning and running such a unique business has been a rewarding adventure for the Huenefelds, who both agree they made friendships and created memories they will always cherish. READ

A class combining kids’ love of Legos with basic robotics recently came to a successful conclusion for students involved in Hamilton County 4-H. The Lego Robotics course, sponsored by Hamilton County Extension, was led by 4-H Educator, Emily Soll, who wanted students to become familiarized with robotics, an area of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) that hadn’t been covered here before. READ 

For details on these stories and more plus photos of community activities pick up this week's print or e-edition of the Aurora News-Register.