A van crashed into a utility pole on S. Federal St., just shy of the Hampton Public Library Friday morning, Jan. 22, according to a police report from the Hampton Police Department. 
The report states that the 2004 Toyota Sienna van slid across the lane and over the curb, hitting the pole, after the driver attempted to brake at short notice when he didn’t think a snow plow would stop for a stop sign. 

Culinary students from Hampton-Dumont High School raised more than $1,500 for cancer charities last weekend. 
 

Donald Trump won the Iowa Caucus in a landslide Jan.15, with around 51 percent of the final vote, according to The Associated Press — along with around 21 percent for Ron DeSantis, 19 percent for Nikki Haley and 7 percent for Vivek Ramaswamy and less than one percent for Ryan Binkley, Asa Hutchinson and Chris Christie. 

Sheffield Public Library Board members voted to terminate Sheffield Public Library Director Jessica Foreshoe from her position for her alleged lack of transparency when giving two percent of their county funding to Hampton Public Library.

Foreign exchange student Descil Bondi was one of nine students selected from 1,500 other candidates in Sierra Leone for the U.S. Department of State’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program. Then, through the IRIS (Iowa Resource for International Service) program in Iowa, he was placed with the White family in Hampton in August. 
 

In a surprise move the Hampton City council voted to table resolution 2024-01 setting fees for transient merchants after the third reading and in the wake of public comment by local business owners and representatives Jerre Grefe of First & Second Vintage, Rocky Knipfel-Monod of Willie’s Sports bar & Grill and Sheryl Schumann of 805 Pizza and Chicken.

Windsor Theatre owner and manager Jim Davies gave theatre board members an overview of what happened in 2023 during their annual meeting on Jan. 4 

During the meeting, Davies, who serves as the board’s president, gave highlights from the theater’s 2023 financial report, saying that last year, they brought in a total of $89,145.78 — nearly $10,000 more than the previous year.

The debate of local public library funding continued at Sheffield City Council's Jan. 8 meeting. 
 

Doug Pralle — the Compassion Flights director — said they want to help more people in 2024. 
 
Pralle and his wife, Robyn Pralle, started the Compassion Flights program in 2017. Their mission: to fly as many Iowa residents to medical care as possible, at no cost to the patient. 
 

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and his campaign staff made another pit stop in Hampton — this time at La Chozita over the weekend.

Instead of his usual script, Ramaswamy showed up at the restaurant ready to answer questions from attendees who sat at the table that was set up for them in the middle of the restaurant. 

Hampton native Bethany Strand-Voelker — who goes by “Beth Strand” on air — is KLMJ’s first female morning personality in decades.

Like so many others, Raquel Garcia had to try several times before finally making it across the Mexican-American border. But she finally made it across on her fourth attempt in 2005. She and her four children were finally free of her abusive husband and their life of poverty in Mexico.

Franklin Wellness Center Director Luke Ross and fellow board members have been doing some heavy lifting at the gym.
Ross said once their waiver is approved by a lawyer, gym members can opt for a 24-hour membership.
Ross said these members will have to go through training, where they will be educated on the importance of not letting anyone in behind them and what to do in case of an emergency.

Hampton Public Library Board members discussed their decrease in funding from the county during their Dec. 20 meeting, and what that means for the coming fiscal year.

Laela Ragsdale, born and raised in Hampton, has one more year left of college but she’s already landed a job with Iowa State University’s Extension and Outreach program in Franklin County, as their new County Youth Coordinator.