Last year, Jazella Cruz drew and colored a picture that unbeknownst to her would become a pertinent symbol of current race-related events.
Cruz, a sophomore-to-be at Hampton-Dumont-CAL High School, etched a picture of two hands of different skin color forming a heart and un-der are two quotes from actress Sandra Bullock promoting love regardless of race, religion and other identifiers.

Smiles, trophies and ribbons provided a slice of normalcy to an abnormal edition of the Franklin County Fair last week.
The fair returned from Tuesday, July 14 through Saturday, July 18 with the annual 4-H and FFA livestock shows. The shows were still conducted despite the cancellation of all other attractions and entertainment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pedestrians in downtown Hampton may have noticed a recent splash of color to city streets.
Last week, Larry Craighton, contracted through the City of Hampton, worked to paint downtown crosswalks a brighter shade of red out-lined by fresh, white lines.

Not even a pandemic can stop Jeff and Tracy Spear from hosting Hampton’s annual car show.
On the heels of the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s decision to can-cel Summerfest this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Spears announced intentions to still put on the annual car cruise and car show typically associated with Summerfest.

A Hampton couple’s Ameri-can classic recently grabbed international headlines.
Jeff and Tracy Spear’s 1957 Chevy 210 “Cherry Bomb,” a mainstay at local and national car shows, was featured in the June issue of the United Kingdom-based “American Classics” magazine, which highlights efforts of individuals who restore and preserve classic cars.

Franklin County on Tuesday recorded its first death due to COVID-19.
The Franklin County Department of Public Health in a release issued Tuesday announced the first death associated with the novel coronavirus in the county. The release states that the individual was 81 years of age or older.

A recent Hampton- Dumont-CAL graduate is navigating the tricky landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic in hopes of helping those in need across the world.
Briana Grover, a 2020 grad, is making the final preparations to attend this year’s World Race, a nine month Christian mission trip that sends students to multiple countries in the name of service and outreach.

Vendors filled Band Shell Park on Saturday, July 11 for an afternoon of sales, music, and food.
Thirty-eight booths and food trucks set up in the park, separated at a safe distance, to sell everything from handcrafted goods to cosmetics to sandwiches while music played from the band shell.
“It was good,” said Amber Rodgers, who organized the event. “We had a lot of people walk through the park.”

While walkers won’t gather for the annual celebration of life and fight against cancer, this year’s Franklin County Relay For Life instead will feature a whole week’s worth of activities to show support to those affected by the dis-ease.
At the center of the event is the annual luminaria project. Luminaria forms are due today (Wednesday, July 15) and will be on display for a virtual walk around the track next Friday night.

Connie Deam and Kelly Christine Reynolds have been named the 2020 Franklin County Relay For Life honorary co-chairs. This year’s relay will be held virtually Friday, July 24. Both women were diagnosed with breast cancer and emerged victorious after their treatments. The following are recollections from each of their journeys with cancer.
Connie Deam

La Luz Centro Cultural staff recently celebrated an accreditation that will allow the organization to provide additional immigration assistance to its clients.

The recent Supreme Court decision to keep the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program intact ensures local students have the ongoing ability to receive a college education.
Implemented in 2012, DACA allows people who came into the United States unlawfully as children and meet several requirements to receive deferred statuses and be eligible for work permits for two-year periods.

A celebration of Hampton’s past, present and future has been put on hold until next year.
The Hampton Historical Preservation Society and the Hampton Sesquicentennial Committee on Wednesday elected to postpone Hampton’s 150th Celebration until June of 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The event was initially scheduled for June of this year and was postponed to late August to coincide with Hampton Summerfest.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg stopped at Community Bowl Bar and Grill in Dumont on Tuesday, June 30 to talk with business owner Brandon Barber and Katie Jeffries about how COVID-19 regulations have impacted their business.
Barber and Jeffries gave the Governor a tour of their restaurant, bar and bowling alley, and Reynolds and Gregg en-joyed cheeseburgers before they left.

As summer rolls on and the new school year approaches, Hampton-Dumont and CAL administration and staff are preparing for several Return to Learn scenarios depending on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic.