In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and with the Delta variant still spreading across the state, no-contact shopping has become an increasingly popular option for people seeking to minimize their time out and about.
In Hampton, both Fareway and Hy-Vee's Dollar Fresh grocery stores now offer full service shopping that can be done over the internet through their respective apps or websites.

Hampton's Specialty Shops enjoyed nice weather and lots of foot traffic as they hosted their Fall Open House event last week.
Carol's Flower Box, Christensen Jewelry, Orange Possum, Rustic Brew, The Wood Cellar, and Fireside Gifts coordinated together to attract customers from near and far with snacks, specials, and prizes.

Main Street Iowa has provided the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce with a market snapshot report, detailing a range of economic and demographic statistics for the area.
By examining the community's economic strengths and weaknesses, this information can be used to help determine which businesses should consider expanding and where there might be room for a new business to enter the market.

The Latimer City Council moved forward with a bid to replace the door to the city's community center during their regular meeting on Wednesday, September 8.
Looking at installing a mechanical door for the building, the council approved an estimate from Iowa Falls Glass in the amount of $3,864.64.

The Hampton City Council continued with their overhaul of zoning ordinances and discussion of dog parks during their regular meeting on Thursday, September 9.
The meeting began with recognition of Steve and Deb Jones as this month's winner of the city's Image of Pride Award. The Jones' were nominated by Lamos, who complimented their 2nd Ave SE property.

With a proposed pipeline project possible to stretch across dozens of Iowa counties, public meetings will be the first step as project backers to move ahead on storing and capturing carbon.
Summit Carbon Solutions, LLC is currently working through the Iowa Utilities Board for the effort.
The Ames-based company formed last year and is looking at an investment of $4.5 billion with hundreds of permanent jobs resulting.

After more than two months of being out-of-service, the pipe organ at First United Methodist Church is starting to come back together.

The game was afoot this weekend at the Windsor Theatre as the Franklin County Arts Council and Franklin Players presented their summer play, "Baker Street Irregulars."
With three shows over Saturday and Sunday, the play told the story of a group of young street urchins set on solving a murder, uncovering the secret behind a traveling circus, and finding the clues needed to save a gravely ill Sherlock Holmes.

More than 100 quilts were on display at the Franklin Wellness Center over the weekend as the Franklin General Hospital Auxiliary hosted their third quilt show fundraiser.

First Bank Hampton celebrated the opening of their first satellite office in Latimer on Friday, August 27.
The doors to the bank's new Latimer branch opened on April 5 and now that everybody is settled in the bank hosted an open house to celebrate their official opening with a ribbon cutting and a pork loin dinner.

The Hampton City Council held their regular meeting on Thursday, August 26. Attending the meeting in person were council members Bill Hodge, Barry Lamos (who was also present at the Monday workshop, though was accidentally omitted from last week's story), Steve Birdsall, and Patrick Palmer. Council member Dick Lukensmeyer and Mayor Russell Wood attended via virtual conference.

A total of 122 classic cars lined the streets around Band Shell Park on Sunday, August 29 for the annual classic car show.
"We've got everything from motorcycles to Corvettes to original 1930 roadsters," said Jeff Spear, who organizes the show along with his wife, Tracy.

On Thursday, August 12, when Kevin Costner and members of the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox walked out of a cornfield near Dyersville, Iowa, almost six million people were watching on TV. Most of us probably got chills to see the iconic scene from the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams” re-created in real-life. For those lucky few at the baseball game, the scene was even more powerful.

Lots of people can say they've been all around Franklin County, but very few have ever done so to the extent that Joshua Einspahr has.
An avid runner, Einspahr has spent the last year running on every stretch of road in the county. From the highways to the gravel roads to every street in every town, Einspahr has treaded 1,142 miles of Franklin County roads since last July.

With two council members absent, the Hampton City Council managed a quorum for their workshop on Monday, August 23 with members Steve Birdsall, Patrick Palmer, and Bill Hodge present while Dick Lukensmeyer and Mayor Russell Wood participated virtually.