Cold temperatures didn’t stop shoppers from flocking to downtown stores for Hampton’s annual Holly Dazzle celebration.
Highlighting Holly Dazzle this year was the Blizzard of Savings Candy Cane contest. Shoppers were invited to stop in at one of the participating locations and receive a candy cane for a discount, free item or gift certificate.

Last week’s Hampton-Dumont Board of Education meeting marked the start of a new era for the board.

Trees throughout MercyOne North Iowa Hospice’s coverage area show a bright message that hope and light exist in times of grief.
Last Wednesday, North Iowa Hospice hosted a Tree of Life ceremony at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hampton, one of nine of such programs throughout MercyOne’s area.

Two classics will come together for this year’s Franklin County Arts Council winter play.

A new face will take over as director of the Hampton Community Christian Daycare as a familiar one says goodbye.
Robyn Kofoot, former Cub Cadet Daycare director in Latimer, will take over director duties from Laura Bradley, who will retire later this month.

When the general election rolls around in November, the ballot will look somewhat strange to Franklin County Auditor Michelle Giddings.
Giddings, who was first elected auditor in 2000, has announced that she will not seek reelection to the position next year when her term is up. This will mark the first time in six elections she will not see her name on the ballot or on the final tally once votes are counted.

A recent Hampton-Dumont graduate received recognition from one of the most recognizable names in the culinary industry.
Delilah Cavazos, a 2018 H-D grad, was awarded a $5,000 scholarship through Rachael Ray’s Yum-O! Organization. Rachael Ray, current host of the morning talk show “Rachael Ray,” was a mainstay on the Food Network and has also released a line of cookware and kitchen utensils.

Winter weather couldn't keep the crowd away as Hampton residents gathered at La Frontera Restaurant on Tuesday, Nov. 26 to meet Sen. Amy Klobuchar, one of the Democratic primary candidates running to be named the nominee for the 2020 Presidential Election.
"You give a whole new meaning to intrepid," said Klobuchar as she thanked the crowd for braving the snowy conditions.

Hampton celebrated a decade of post-Thanksgiving shopping and wine tasting as Main Street businesses opened up for the tenth annual Friday Uncorked.
Organized by the Greater Franklin County Area Chamber of Commerce, the annual "wine walk" has continued to be a successful fundraiser for the chamber and a popular event for the community.

Iowa’s District Four Congressional candidate Bret Richards threw his name in the political ring to be a representative of the people with whom he lives and works.
Taking over his family business in the Harlan, Iowa area and serving as a professor at Creighton University in Omaha, Richards said he sees himself as not a politician, but an Iowan looking to improve the lives of fellow Iowans.

Charles E. Sukup, President of Sukup Manufacturing Co., is pleased to announce that on Feb. 1, 2020, and after 25 years, he will transition from Chair, President and CEO to Chairman of the Board.
His brother, Steve Sukup, who has been CFO and Vice President will become President and CEO. Steve also served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.

Touring Iowa for the past few days, Democratic Presidential candidate Tom Steyer said he’s had the chance to hear first hand what matters to Iowans.

Users of the Rural Recycling Program in Franklin County will soon have to look elsewhere for recycling services.
The Franklin County Board of Supervisors recently moved to end the Rural Recycling Program on Dec. 30, 2019. Supervisor Cory Eberling said that the decision did not come easy for the board, but circumstances on a local and global basis have made it difficult to continue the program.

Through the creative efforts of West Fork Middle School student Ethan Shields, many community members around the area are able to enjoy an extra special holiday season.
Shields is Vice President and Sales Manager of Wreaths at Fisher Tree Farms located on the edge of Pilot Knob State Park near Clear Lake.
When his father, Ryan Hejlik, joined the Fisher Trees staff between three and four years ago, Ethan also came on board.

State education leaders last Friday saw firsthand successes and new programs of area schools.
Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise, School Administrators of Iowa Executive Director Roark Horn and Iowa State Education Association President Mike Beranek spent Fri-day touring CAL, West Fork and Clear Lake school districts and took the opportunity to learn alongside students.