As the first wave of COVID-19 vaccine rolls out across the state, Governor Kim Reynolds is expanding eligibility, moving forward to get the vaccine out to Iowans as quickly as possible.

"As soon as our weekly vaccine allocation is received it's going out the door and into the arms of Iowans across the state," said Reynolds on Thursday, January 21.

Sukup Manufacturing is coming to Hampton.
The company recently announced that they will be expanding their operations outside of their home location in Sheffield, developing a new manufacturing facility in Hampton's industrial park.

Staff and residents at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton and Leahy Grove Independent and Assisted Living received their COVID-19 vaccine last week as the vaccine rollout continues across the state.

Henry’s Heroes Law Enforcement Comfort Kits Help Children in Distress
 

Sukup Manufacturing Co. is pleased to announce the company will expand its manufacturing facilities with a new location in Hampton, Iowa. The approximately 30,000-square foot facility is located in the industrial park on the west side of Hampton. Sukup is currently accepting applications for immediate hires at the Hampton location, and plans to have the facility fully operational by the end of March 2021.

2021 got off to a rough start for Latimer Community Grocery following an overnight robbery on Monday, January 4.
According to co-owner Landon Plagge, the burglary was first discovered during a late night milk delivery. The delivery driver saw that the front door of the store had been broken out and contacted the grocery store staff, who then got a hold of the owners.

Women Planning Ag Businesses, a multi-session course for women interested in exploring, starting or expanding a farm or rural business, is being offered statewide by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Story County.

The New Year rang in with a spike of COVID-19 activity in the county as long term while area long-term care facilities worked to inoculate their staff and residents against the disease.
On December 29, the Dumont Wellness Center and Maple Manor Village in Aplington became the first of ABCM's 31 Iowa locations to receive the vaccine from CVS Pharmacy.

Alliant Energy and Iowa State University’s Digital Manufacturing Lab are partnering with two Iowa companies to provide 9,000 free face shields to schools and daycare facilities across the state.

With a cautious eye to the weeks following the holidays, Hampton-Dumont and CAL schools will return from the winter break remaining in the onsite model.
Last week, the districts’ COVID-19 advisory committee, which analyzes case rates at the school and within the communities to make a decision on which learning model to use, announced that the districts would be onsite when school resumes on January 4.

Students at Hampton-Dumont and CAL Schools will now attend school onsite five days a week.
The CAL and Hampton-Dumont Boards of Education in December voted for Kindergarten through sixth-grade students at the beginning of the second semester to begin attending regular classes on Wednesdays. Junior high and high school students will continue to use the current schedule.

In two days, calendars will turn to 2021, marking the end of the year many won’t soon forget. While the world experienced a global pandemic, Franklin County welcomed new businesses, mourned the loss of the leaders and navigated its own way through the uncharted waters presented by 2020.

Shoppers at Hampton’s Fareway will notice new, expanded features that come with a comforting sense of familiarity.
Staff at the Hampton Fareway location recently celebrated the completion of a total renovation of the building, which includes larger produce, meat, dry grocery and dairy sections as well as new coolers and freezers, flooring and lights.

Grants through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship allowed students to eat fresh while supporting area producers.
Hampton-Dumont and CAL schools recently received CARES Act Local Produce and Protein Program grants, funded by a $750,000 CARES Act allocation from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.

In a year where many faced unexpected financial burdens, the Franklin County community ensured nearly 100 families were still able to give their children gifts under the tree.
The Hampton Rotary Club last Thursday distributed gifts collected during its annual Operation Santa toy drive. Gift and cash donations collected over the course of a month were able to provide presents to 250 children across 88 families.