I had the most magical time at the Carlson Tree Farm on Friday morning! As I pulled up to the property, I felt like I had arrived at the set of a Hallmark movie. Dogs romping around. Wreathes everywhere. And rows and rows of beautiful Christmas trees. A Winter Wonderland, without the snow.

Local veterans were honored at Hampton-Dumont High School’s annual Veterans Day program on Monday, Nov. 11. 
 
Community members gathered in the gym of the high school at 2 p.m. for the program, which began with an introductory statement by senior class representative and state student council vice president Isaac Vosburg.
 

The Franklin County Conservation Board has some big news: they recently acquired a new hunting property just west of Chapin, called Cattail Flats.

For the last fourteen years, locals have looked forward to the city’s annual wine walk the day after Thanksgiving — and it’s back once again this year.

The nineteenth annual Halloween Howl in Hampton was a smash. 
 
The event, which is organized by the folks at the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, drew hundreds from near and far to downtown Hampton from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Families could be seen walking from business to business for candy, before taking a tour through the haunted house at the Windsor Theatre. 
 

Local accountant Jeffrey Jaacks has retired, after forty-five years in practice. 
And his firm, “Jeffrey A. Jaacks, Licensed Public Account,” known as the community’s oldest tax and bookkeeping firm, will shut its doors for the last time later this week. 

Foley Ink’d Tattoo Studio’s Co-owner, Ian Foley, is proud to present his second Ian Foley Art Gallery Showcase on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. This event will take place at Foley Ink’d Tattoo Studio in Hampton. Ian has been dedicating his time to creating art full-time for the past year and a half, since he had to stop working as a tattoo artist due to medical reasons.

Local school administrators will expel the student in connection to the threat that was made at Hampton-Dumont High School on Sept 30.
The expulsion period will last one calendar year.
Hampton-Dumont Board of Education members voted on the disciplinary measure after holding a closed-door meeting at the middle school on Friday afternoon.

Amber Rodgers, 46, of Hampton, was charged with second-degree theft after a manager at Dollar Fresh called the Hampton Police Department with concerns that she was stealing while checking out her items.

In honor of Denny Symens, who passed away in July, numerous farmers, including Denny’s family, neighbors and friends, helped harvest the remainder of his crops on Saturday, Oct. 5, and Tuesday, Oct. 8. Both days, dozens of nearby farmers showed up with combines, tractors and wagons, and semis to get the job done in several hours — a job that would typically take someone days to complete on their own.

Hampton city officials once again attended the annual Iowa League of Cities this year.

The annual conference, which was held from Sept. 18 to Sept. 20 in Sioux City, was attended by Hampton City Councilors Patrick Palmer, Jerre Grefe and Kevin Blanford, along with City Manager Ron Dunt.

Local tattoo artist Nic Sinnwell offers two things at his newly-opened shop, Waymaker Ink: good tattoos and good conversation.

At the end of July, Sinnwell opened his shop in downtown Grundy Center, just next to the movie theatre, and he’s built up a solid clientele since opening his doors.

Utah native Jacob Harvath and his two mustangs, Eddie and Denver, have been traveling around the country since September 2023 to raise awareness for the wild mustang — and they stayed in Hampton over the weekend. 
The trio started in Heber, Utah, and they plan on traveling all the way back to Heber by this winter. He travels around 20 miles a day – and sometimes event 

On Thursday, Sept. 12, members from the Hampton Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints gathered donated children's books to refill the three free little libraries in Hampton — in Progress Park, at the Wellness Center and near the mobile homes on the southwest side of town. 

Patricia Teggatz made a special appearance at the Franklin County Veterans Affairs summer picnic on Wednesday afternoon, where she caught up with the Chronicle. The Hampton-Dumont High School grad has been on the mission of a lifetime ever since leaving home.