The Iowa Falls Elks Lodge will be holding their Hoop Shoot at the Dale Howard Center on Saturday January 14th.  Registration starts at 12:30 with the contest beginning at 1:00. The Elks Hoop Shoot is a free throw contest for kids ages 8 to 13.  The age group is based on the contestant age on April 1, 2023. Winners in each age group have the opportunity to advance to the District Shoot in Charles City.

Recently elected Franklin County officials were sworn in at the Franklin County Courthouse on Wednesday with District Judge James Drew presiding. Taking the oath were District 1 Supervisor Gary McVicker, Recorder Toni Wilkinson, Treasurer Chad Murray and District 2 Supervisor Dick Lukensmeyer. This election marked the first since county redistricting under Iowa Code section 331.210A.
 

Brittany Hanson, stylist, is coming home to Hampton, where she lives. Starting the first week of the New Year Brittany will be doing hair here in Hampton, Iowa at Styles on Third. Brittany will be working out of the salon at 222 3rd Ave NE, owned by Nadine Goodwin, and will be operating independently under the name “Brittany Hanson at Styles on 3rd.” 
 

Hampton was once again graced with many holiday trees on display for residents and visitors to enjoy around town. Businesses and offices in Hampton showed off their festive displays in the week before Christmas with trees from one to twelve feet lit up around town. A dumping of snow on Friday closed schools and provided the perfect coating for the trees that line the downtown streets each year.

Pictured attending the summit from Franklin County are 5th generation farmer and Franklin County Cattlemen's Association President, Andrew Benning, District 4 Representative Mark DeVries 4th generation farmer, and wife Carma of Sheffield.

In what is sure to become an annual tradition, a 10 ft tall holiday tree has sprouted up in the Franklin County courthouse rotunda this year. No worries about the intricately patterned marble floor however, as the tree was “planted” by the staff at the Auditor's office and only has short historical roots.

As the holiday season approaches many people’s thoughts turn to gift shopping, holiday decor and Christmas trees. In few places is that more true than at Carlson Tree Farm as three generations of the family ready to meet a blizzard of orders for their artfully assembled holiday greenery arrangements and locally grown christmas trees when they officially open for the holidays November 19th.

City Votes on Change Orders and More
The Hampton City Council met for a regular meeting on November 10th in what would be a very light session. Council members in attendance were James Davies, Jerre Grefe, Bill Hodge, Barry Lamos via Zoom, Richard Lukensmeyer and Patrick Palmer.

Richard "Dick" Lukensmeyer, Hampton City Council Ward 3 representative, turned in his official resignation at tonight's council meeting. Lukensmeyer ended his 3rd four year term one year early, or after 11 years of service, to begin serving a four year term as District 2 Representative on the Franklin County Board of Supervisors.

Ray McBeain never sought glory, nor medals, from combat, though he was destined for both, just as he was bound to be scarred and haunted for life by his experiences on the battlefield, where he saw 400 continuous days of combat under General George, “Old Blood and Guts” Patton. Coming back from war both he and his medals disappeared, Raymond resurfaced after a year but the medals he’d earned, yet never asked for, had vanished.

Hampton, November 3rd 2022 - The City of Hampton has been working to address issues with the abandoned and dilapidated Rick's Pharmacy Building in downtown Hampton, discussing the matter at its recent Council Workshop on October 24th.

Iowa DNR Nov. 1, 2022 - Hunters are home, the dogs are resting and Iowa’s opening weekend of pheasant season is in the rearview mirror. Reports from across the state varied from excellent up north to good in central and southwest Iowa, with the consensus that hunting will continue to improve once all the corn is harvested.
According to reports, hunters turned out in good numbers, filling parking lots and field access lanes.

Access Incorporated of Hampton recently received a $421 donation from the Knights of Columbus Council 10768 of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Hampton.

Following on discussions from their October 24th workshop, the Hampton City Council voted on October 27th at their regular meeting to relax the residency requirements for Hampton Police officers.
After the council’s vote the residency requirements were changed from a requirement that officers live within 10 miles of the city limits within six months of hire, to 30 miles within six months of hire.

The district released a statement this morning, October 25th, addressing questions around recent news that a re audit request had been received for a completed audit ofthe school district for the year ending June 30th 2021, and which was released to the public on July 6th.