The Latimer community celebrated the city’s newest playground in summer style. Last Friday, families were invited to Trailside Park for a ribbon cutting to commemorate a new playground and basketball court.
The rejuvenation of Trailside Park was celebrated with a community dinner, complete with brisket sandwiches, potato salad and beans.

The picture for how Hampton-Dumont and CAL schools will operate to start the year became clearer Monday night.
In a joint meeting between the districts, both the Hampton-Dumont and CAL Boards of Education approved several motions regarding the return to learn plan, including a mask mandate, which phase outlined in the plan will be conducted and how the districts can move in and out of phases.

Reeve Wagner’s quiet but thorough command of the steers he exhibits at livestock shows mirrors determination he’s carried through all 14-plus years of his life.
Wagner, a member of the Reeve Hampton Hustlers 4-H club, will have the opportunity this weekend to show one of his steers, Marbles, at the 38th Annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show in Des Moines this Saturday. Reeve will show alongside Chip Flory, host of AgriTalk.

Competition got underway last Thursday night at the North Iowa Nationals Tractor and Truck Pull at Chamber Acres. The Rockwell Lions Club was the host for the 12th annual event.
The three-day program featured four sessions of competition involving contestants from throughout the country.

The Hampton Fire Department performed a controlled burn at 404 Third Street SW on Monday, Aug. 10.
Not only does the controlled burn rid the city of a nuisance property, it also gives the firefighters the opportunity to practice with their equipment in a real-life fire environment.

The beginning of Jill Craighton’s tenure as CAL’s Farm to School coordinator began with a boost from the USDA.

Increased COVID-19 cases and a rise in confirmed deaths in Franklin County led Hampton Mayor Russell Wood to lead last Thursday’s Hampton City Council meeting off with an urge to citizens to wear protective face masks.
Wood’s proclamation de-tailed the impact of the novel coronavirus nationally, statewide and locally, citing that Franklin County as of last Thursday had more than 200 confirmed cases and four deaths.

Sen. Charles Grassley visited Cerro Gordo County on Friday, July 31 to meet with constituents while on a brief break from his work in the United States Senate.

This year’s National Farmers Market week brings added meaning, as producers and customers alike are searching for normalcy amid an abnormal time.
National Farmers Market Week kicked off Monday as a celebration of producers who work year-round to grow, harvest and sell fruits, vegetables, herbs and handmade goods.

As families continue to isolate with one another amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a Franklin County group is working to offer affordable summer fun.

Hampton business owners Saturday had the chance to show United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) firsthand the impact COVID-19 has had on their operations.
Ernst, along with Iowa House District 54 Representative Linda Upmeyer, visited downtown Hampton Saturday as part of Ernst’s 99 county tour through Iowa. Ernst said she was in town to speak with business owners in rural Iowa and see how they have adapted amid the pandemic.

Friday night’s Franklin County Relay For Life events at Hampton-Dumont High School raised additional funds to help fight cancer.
The events began with a sack dinner to-go meal that was provided for a free will offering. The Franklin County Cattlemen grilled hamburgers, which were included as part of the meal.

A piece of national history in Franklin County recently received a major push towards increased preservation.

Erin Plagge didn’t need long in the culinary programs at Hampton-Dumont-CAL High School to know she found her life’s calling.
Plagge, a 2020 H-D-CAL grad, will attend Iowa State University in the fall to study Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Education and Studies in hopes to becoming a high school FCS instructor.

Fun has been upgraded at Latimer’s Trailside Park.
Last week, volunteers worked to install new playground equipment at Trailside Park, located next to Immanuel United Church of Christ.
The installation of the equipment, as well as the previous renovation of the basketball court at the park, was the culmination of a nearly year-and-a-half long fundraising effort totaling $50,000.