This week's top stories

  • The Hamilton County Corn Growers teamed up last week to harvest the seed plot acreage on the Grosshans farm located on the east edge of Aurora along Highway 34. It was a picture-perfect day for harvesting, and the crews were done picking the corn and documenting moisture and yields by early afternoon.
    The Hamilton County Corn Growers teamed up last week to harvest the seed plot acreage on the Grosshans farm located on the east edge of Aurora along Highway 34. It was a picture-perfect day for harvesting, and the crews were done picking the corn and documenting moisture and yields by early afternoon.
  • Giltner and Aurora firefighters responded to a field fire that occurred near the intersection of 10 Road and M Road around 11 a.m. last Wednesday. The fire started when a combine malfunctioned while the field was being harvested.
    Giltner and Aurora firefighters responded to a field fire that occurred near the intersection of 10 Road and M Road around 11 a.m. last Wednesday. The fire started when a combine malfunctioned while the field was being harvested.
  • Mike Bergen works his way through a field of soybeans near Stockham Road in southern Hamilton County in the early days of the 2024 harvest.
    Mike Bergen works his way through a field of soybeans near Stockham Road in southern Hamilton County in the early days of the 2024 harvest.
  • Sheila Miller carries lunch to her husband, Ray as he combines popcorn in a field south of Aurora last Wednesday. This past week’s dry conditions provided perfect conditions for continuing the 2024 harvest season at a fast pace.
    Sheila Miller carries lunch to her husband, Ray as he combines popcorn in a field south of Aurora last Wednesday. This past week’s dry conditions provided perfect conditions for continuing the 2024 harvest season at a fast pace.
  • ANR city council candidate forum set for Thursday.
    ANR city council candidate forum set for Thursday.
  • Jared Rojewski, left, and some young friends are confronted by a devilish character (George Chaney) at the 2022 apparition of Haunted Fairgrounds.
    Jared Rojewski, left, and some young friends are confronted by a devilish character (George Chaney) at the 2022 apparition of Haunted Fairgrounds.

    The 2024 harvest season, which is progressing at a fast pace, takes top billing in this week's Aurora News-Register. The lead story in our Ag Life section, which begins on Page A7, is an update on the progress, yields and quality of this year's corn and soybean harvest. The section also features statewide yield projections and an article giving tips on fire safety during this dry season. Also in this week's paper, readers will find reports and photos on two corn field fires that broke out in the county last week, as well as a photo of the harvesting of the Hamilton County Corn Growers seed plot.

    The News-Register hosted a candidate forum Thursday at the Bremer Center featuring a Q&A with candidates running for the Aurora City Council. The event was attended by four of the six candidates and a crowd of over 50 residents plus an audience watching on Facebook live. 

    Ghosts, ghouls and other creatures of the night are headed for the Hamilton County Fairgrounds this week for the start of the annual Haunted Fairgrounds scare fest that begins Friday night. By the eerie light of the full Hunter’s Moon, the Hamilton County Ag Society will once again be presenting the nights of spooky chills and thrills Oct. 18-20 and 25-27 beginning at 7 p.m. each night. Participants will begin their creepy adventure at the north end of the Ag Hall at the fairgrounds where there is plenty of parking for the family hearse.

    You'll find these stories plus our 2nd annual Fall Hunting Section, the next installment of our General Election candidate profiles and much, much more in the print or e-editions of this week's Aurora News-Register.