A new summer program allows students to grow fruit, vegetables and a healthy serving of knowledge along the way.
Iowa State Extension and Outreach Franklin County recently began offering a garden club for students in fourth through eighth grade at the garden area at Hampton-Dumont Middle School.

The Rolling Prairie Trail recently received a resource to remind dog walkers to pick up after pooches.
Earlier this month, Franklin County Conservation installed a dog waste pickup station near the Rotary Club Gazebo on the Rolling Prairie Trail. The station includes three slots for waste bags that can be turned inside out for easy pickup. A trash can has been placed by the station for easy disposal.

Ann Wolf of Sheffield wrapped up her annual ‘labor of love’ last week by conducting her annual Plant Sale in the back yard of her residence.
The event was held June 2-6 and featured the sale of hostas and perennial plants.
All of the proceeds from the sale go to promote the fight against ALS — otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Elizabeth Lyons felt the disappointment of the Hampton community when Tuesday on the Town at Band Shell Park was cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lyons, who has played Tuesday on the Town before, was supposed to be the first performer for this year’s series, which was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 2, but event organizers elected not to hold concerns in the park due to safety and social distancing concerns.

The City of Hampton’s emergency preparedness received an upgrade recently.
Last month, three new emergency sirens were installed throughout Hampton to replace damaged and existing ones.

Hampton resident James Alexander had a short but harrowing answer as to why he participated in the Love Rally 2020, a peaceful demonstration honoring George Floyd and other victims of race-related police violence, in Hampton Saturday.

Franklin County held their first election since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last week and the process was very different from previous years.
Rather than manning several polling places across the county, all voting in this year's primary election was done at the Franklin County Convention Center.

A new face will represent Iowa’s 4th Congressional District after the General Election in November.

Belen Krabbe began Franklin Financial Services 35 years ago this month, but her path to that longevity was murky before she began her career in the financial services industry.
“I was supposed to be a failure and that’s the way I started my career, as a single mom with three little boys and recovering from a difficult divorce,” she said.

The silver screen at the Windsor Theatre will be lit up once again beginning this weekend.
For the four weekends in June, the Windsor will host the “Celebrate Iowa” independent film festival. Each weekend will bring a different independent film, all shot in the state of Iowa.

Walkers and bicyclists along the trail at the Hampton Cemetery lately may have noticed small splashes of color with messages of hope.
Not long after isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic began, painted rocks with pictures and quotes began popping up along the trail. For the first few weeks, the rocks’ source was a mystery but Hampton resident Dawn Foy recently revealed herself as the anonymous artist.

Long before Carolyn Kingland-Hanson came to Hampton-Dumont-CAL High School as an English teacher, she had an interaction with a staff member that foreshadowed the sense of family she’d develop in 34 years with the district.
Kingland-Hanson, who retired following this year, recalls meeting then H-D band director Leon Kuehner when she first arrived at the district and remembering she had met Kuehner many years before.

Franklin County Fair officials last week announced the decision to cancel all non-4-H and FFA activities for this year’s fair amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Franklin County Fair Board President Jon Baltes said he understands that the decision comes with disappointment from the children, parents and the community but it was one made with their best interests in mind. This year’s fair was scheduled for July 15 through July 19.

Dozens of chickens were recently given a new lease on life thanks to a Franklin County couple.
Earlier in May, an Iowa egg producer announced it would need to get rid of 100,000-plus hens, as the production had run out of money and was unable to feed the animals due to the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the supply chain.

The last three months of Mardy Schaefer’s 40-plus years in education were undoubtedly among the toughest of her career.
With intentions to retire from CAL following the final bell this year, Schaefer was abruptly separated from students and fellow teachers due to the school’s closure amid the COVID-19 pandemic.