News

Franklin County Conservation, First Bank Hampton team up for new benches at Maynes Grove

Published by editor on Wed, 12/02/2020 - 9:04am

The views at Maynes Grove can now be enjoyed on a set of new benches.

The Franklin County Conservation Department earlier this month installed six new benches along the shores at the pond at Maynes Grove.

Ned Parker, Conservation Director, said the former wooden benches on site had begun to splinter and wear and were in need of replacement.

Due to budgetary restrictions, however, Parker said replacing all six benches would not be fiscally feasible.

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Franklin County Fair announces additional grandstand act

Published by editor on Wed, 11/25/2020 - 9:39am

The most recently announced Franklin County Fair grandstand event promises a rip roaring good time.

The Franklin County Fair on Thursday, July 15, 2021 will present Dialed Action Sports, an extreme sports showcase.

The performance will feature top FMX, BMX and Mountain Bike athletes performing stunts and displaying their skills on the ground and through the air. The Dialed Action Hype Girls will be on hand to pump up the crowd and hand out free memorabilia.

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H-D students work to build house from start to finish

Published by editor on Wed, 11/25/2020 - 9:34am

Most of the students in the Hampton-Dumont High School Carpentry Fundamentals class can tie their interest in construction to their childhood.

For senior Michael Sosa, it’s memories of watching his father, a mechanic, work on vehicles and seeing construction progress on new hotels and buildings.

“I would watch him fix things and I always had an interest in that,” he said. “When I would see how buildings are being built when I was little, I had an interest in that too, and that’s why I joined this class.”

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Giddings says goodbye after one last, crazy election season

Published by editor on Wed, 11/25/2020 - 9:30am

Michelle Giddings’ 32 years in the Franklin County Auditor’s Office prepared her for one of her toughest – and last – challenges.

First elected as auditor in 2000, Giddings chose to not seek reelection to the position in this year’s general election. When she announced her decision last year, a primary in June and a Presidential election in November stood between her and retirement, both things that had become routine throughout her career.

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H-D adjusts spectator policy for athletic events

Published by editor on Wed, 11/25/2020 - 9:27am

A new round of COVID-19 related suggestions and recommendations passed down by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds last Monday have led to spectator restrictions at Hampton-Dumont-CAL High School events.

Per the Governor’s mandate, crowds at sporting events are limited to two spectators per athlete participating in the event.

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Certified enrollment numbers show sharp drop at H-D

Published by editor on Wed, 11/25/2020 - 9:25am

The recently released certified enrollment numbers reflect a significant decline in students at Hampton-Dumont schools.

Certified enrollment, used to calculate funding for each district with the Iowa School Finance Formula, shows both the number of school eligible students living in a community and the amount of those students who attend that community’s school.

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H-D, CAL schools to operate remotely instead of can-celling for inclement weather

Published by editor on Wed, 11/18/2020 - 2:54pm

Weather watching in hopes of a snow day this year may not be the same for students at Hampton-Dumont and CAL schools.

The districts this year announced that classes will be conducted via distance learning should inclement weather prevent in-person learning.

Superintendent Todd Lettow said that the decision was made, in part, to not add to the interruptions already made the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As much as we’ve already missed this year, we need to keep plugging along,” he said.

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CAL classrooms welcome guinea pigs to teach re-spect, responsibility

Published by editor on Wed, 11/18/2020 - 2:53pm

Fuzzy friends give CAL students lovable lessons in responsibility.

Earlier this year, three CAL classes welcomed guinea pigs to the classroom as a reward for meeting Positive Behavioral and Intervention Supports (PBIS) goals. PBIS challenges students in a number of areas, including respect and responsibility, in order to make school a friendlier environment for staff and fellow students.

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Modified Veterans Day ceremonies urge students to learn about soldiers’ service and sacrifices

Published by editor on Wed, 11/18/2020 - 2:51pm

Speaking to a mostly online audience last Wednesday, Hampton-Dumont Superintendent Todd Lettow reflected on stories he was told as a child.

Stories such as his uncle’s service in Vietnam and his great uncle’s experience as a paratrooper, Lettow said, are why Veterans Day is an important holiday to not only those who served in the United States Military, but the friends and family members of those who battled at home and overseas.

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H-D, CAL schools switch to hybrid model

Published by editor on Wed, 11/18/2020 - 2:49pm

After nearly two months of onsite learning, Hampton-Dumont and CAL schools will switch back to a hybrid model until further notice.

Last Friday, the districts announced the change from onsite learning to the hybrid model, which was used at the beginning of the school year for the first few weeks.