The Geneva Market made its 2025 debut on Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10. 
This marked the 25th running of the biannual market, which was started twelve years ago by Cindy Sanders and her daughters, Tonya and Amanda.

The Jay Brothers Truck Stop at Williams Iowa, formerly known as Boondoocks, is currently in the process of being renovated. The hotel has been torn down, and the interior of the restaurant has been gutted and is being reframed. An array of light pole bases have been installed around the perimeter of the lot, and the old paving is being removed.

Franklin County residents gathered to peacefully protest in front of the Franklin County courthouse Thursday afternoon despite intermittent rain.

The one-day protest was organized by the Franklin County Democrats Committee as part of "May Day National Day of Action" protests across the country.

Seven veterans were given quilts of valor at St. Paul Lutheran Church Sunday afternoon.

The following veterans were honored with quilts from the Country Quilters of North Central Iowa at St. Paul Lutheran Church: Richard Larsen (U.S. Army), Robert Grant (U.S. Marine Corps), Marvin Moss (U.S. Army), Neil Muhlenbruch (U.S. Army), Brian Landers (U.S. Air Force), Tyrone McAfee (U.S. Army) and Jim Zacharias (U.S. Army).

The Wise Choice Detailing team held their grand opening celebration on Saturday, May 3.
The crew also celebrated becoming a member of the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce that morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Jen Walton considers herself a listener, but after learning she had been selected as the 2025 honorary caregiver by the Franklin County Relay for Life, she agreed to share her story with the Chronicle. 

Hampton resident Justin Shoop likes to stay busy. His latest project: rehabbing the beautiful Victorian-style house located at 707 4th St. NE.
Built in 1892, the building was last used as the headquarters for a can redemption center. It is one of 139 homes in Hampton built before 1900.

More than 60 volunteers came together to clean out the old elementary school in Dumont on Saturday, April 26.

David Spurgeon of Hampton loves the American bald eagle.
So he was excited when he recently learned there was one at Beeds Lake State Park. Since spotting the bird several weeks ago, he’s visited its nest — which is perched in a tree on the west side of the lake — on a daily basis.

Last Thursday, April 17, fifteen H-D-CAL students signed letters of intent to pursue careers in the skilled trades through North Iowa Area Community College.

Alivia Fergus has been named the new park manager of Beeds Lake State Park, according to a press release sent out by the Iowa DNR.
She will begin her new role on May 12.

The World Food Prize Foundation recently announced that Isaac Vosburg has been selected as a 2025 Borlaug-Ruan International Intern.

Vosburg is one of only 16 students selected globally for this prestigious internship opportunity. The 2025 Internship cohort will be placed at 11 research organizations across six countries. Vosburg will conduct research and gain agricultural experience at the S M Sehgal Foundation in Gurugram, India.

The countdown to the ninth annual Gran Festival of North Iowa has begun.
The free Latino-inspired event will take place at Band Shell Park on June 7.

It took some serious work to get Back Roads Bar & Grill up and running.

Area residents Seth Bram, Ryan Norton and Russ Bohach first came together with the idea of opening up a restaurant early last year. They considered a few options but finally settled on the building at 112 E Main St. in Aredale.

The annual Pony Express ride made its way through Hampton once again.

On Friday, April 18, a team of people with Dragonfire Dancing Horses joined the annual ride, with riders making their way from Sheffield to Hampton to Iowa Falls, where they participated in a grand parade.