This is Tara Zakeer’s first year as the family and consumer science teacher at H-D-CAL High School, but she’s no stranger to the culinary world.

Iowa Auditor Rob Sand, the only Democrat in statewide elected office, made a pit stop in Hampton on Friday, Oct. 17, as part of his statewide campaign tour for governor.
He and his team stopped by Rustic Brew at 10 a.m. on Friday, where locals waited with drinks in hand. One of those residents was Carol Sensor, who told the Chronicle that she was excited to meet with and speak to Sand.

The candidates for Hampton’s 2025 city election were all running uncontested until Friday, Oct. 17, when Lisa Hill of Hampton announced her candidacy for the at-large city council seat.
She is running as a write-in candidate, against Jeanne Fay, who will appear on the ballot on Nov. 4. Hill will not appear on the ballot.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul D. Pate made a stop in Wright County last Tuesday, meeting with both students and veterans as part of his ongoing efforts to promote civic engagement across the state.
 

Latimer’s first farmers’ market came to an end on Friday, Oct. 10.
Baker and market coordinator Bekah Simmons said she felt their first summer went well and that she hopes it continues to grow in the future. For her, the size of the market and the ability to bond with other vendors is what makes these types of markets so great.

Members of the Iowa SAR K9 volunteer group spent Sunday afternoon training in scent tracking and trailing and human remains detection at the Franklin County Fairgrounds and East Park in Hampton.

The ag students and Tall Corn FFA chapter at H-D-CAL have been busy — and they’ve got a lot in the works!
Just last Wednesday, Oct. 1, the ag 1 class attended a leadership training called Greenhand Fire-Up and the ag II class competed in the North Central District Soils Judging Contest at Ellsworth Community College.

The fifth and sixth graders at CAL Elementary held their annual farm-to-table dinner at Coulter Community Center on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
CAL teacher Leslie Pralle Osborn, who coordinates the event every year, told the community members who stopped by that night that the children had been working hard on their Mexican and Latin-inspired dishes.

Jim Hilton, who served with the Hampton Police Department for nearly 40 years, said he wanted to find a hobby when he retired twelve years ago. So he turned to one of his greatest passions: history.

The Hampton Tree Board was entrusted with a special project Thursday morning. They planted a memorial tree in honor of the late Marcee Sidmore, who passed away in June, in the Hampton Cemetery.
Marcee’s sisters, Mardell and Marcia, purchased the black maple and customized plaque for their sister through the tree board, which they’ve done for other family members in the past.

Hundreds of people around Franklin County participated in the 2025 Healthiest State Annual Walk Wednesday morning.
The efforts were coordinated by members of the LEAP Coalition, as a way to get the community up and moving.

Sheffield residents Dave Schoning, Scott Johnson and Kelly Johnson are back at it this spooky season with their annual haunted forest fundraiser.
This will be the fourth year for Flounder’s Fatal Forest haunted hike, which is scheduled for Oct. 4, Oct. 11 and. Oct. 18, from 6 to 10 p.m. each night. The hike begins at 1958 255th St. in Sheffield, and it changes every weekend.

Hampton’s Billie Asmus — the mastermind behind the Repaint Tray, the first reusable, silicone paint tray with a lid — has some exciting news to share. She’ll be on Shark Tank this Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 9 p.m. CST on ABC.
 
“I’m excited and nervous,” she told the Chronicle. “I thought I did well, but I’m anxious to see how it will be edited down.”
 

(Former Sheffield Press Publisher Jack Zimmerman passed away on on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the Sheffield Care Center. The following article was published on April 20, 2017, in celebration of his 60-year anniversary with The Press. He retired in September of 2022.)
 
60 Years and Counting
Jack Zimmerman celebrates 60 years at the Sheffield Press
By Zach Clemens
 

The Franklin County Relay for Life team has been helping fight cancer for more than 20 years, bringing in money for cancer research and programs that benefit patients who reside in Franklin County and around the country.