COVID-19 vaccine rollout has started for the next priority population in Franklin County.
Now that most healthcare workers and long term care facility staff and residents have started or finished their vaccination, the focus is now on vaccinating child care workers and first responders along with seniors aged 65 and up.

On Saturday, February 6, H-D/CAL Hosted the State Large Group Speech contest at the Hampton-Dumont Middle School.
Eight schools participated in the contest through a combination of in-person, virtual, and hybrid events. Of the 13 events performed by H-D/CAL's speech team, nine of them received straight ones, earning a total of ten 1 ratings and three 2 ratings over the course of the event.

The Franklin County Fair Board is proud to announce the Grand Re- Opening of the Convention Center with an Open House Gala on March 20th. This is a free event, and all are welcome to tour and enjoy light refreshments and an exciting drawing. The Open House Gala is taking the place of the annual Dinner Dance.

Proximity and the ability to respond better to emerging challenges are being stressed as early talks proceed that might see the merger of two Iowa cooperatives with the potential for affecting farmers throughout much of Iowa as well as right here.
Farmers Win Cooperative is in talks with Five Star Cooperative for a merger that could unite the two cooperatives.

As Iowa's healthcare workers and long term care residents and staff near the completion of their COVID-19 inoculations, the state is starting to move into the next phase of vaccination rollout. As of Monday, COVID-19 vaccination eligibility now includes senior citizens, however there are lingering question about when and where one can get vaccinated.

This article features corrections that weren't able to be made in time for the print edition.
The city of Hampton asked the planning and zoning commission to consider a moratorium on new nightclubs and bars in the city during their regular meeting on Thursday, January 28.

As the first wave of COVID-19 vaccine rolls out across the state, Governor Kim Reynolds is expanding eligibility, moving forward to get the vaccine out to Iowans as quickly as possible.

"As soon as our weekly vaccine allocation is received it's going out the door and into the arms of Iowans across the state," said Reynolds on Thursday, January 21.

Sukup Manufacturing is coming to Hampton.
The company recently announced that they will be expanding their operations outside of their home location in Sheffield, developing a new manufacturing facility in Hampton's industrial park.

Staff and residents at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton and Leahy Grove Independent and Assisted Living received their COVID-19 vaccine last week as the vaccine rollout continues across the state.

Henry’s Heroes Law Enforcement Comfort Kits Help Children in Distress
 

Sukup Manufacturing Co. is pleased to announce the company will expand its manufacturing facilities with a new location in Hampton, Iowa. The approximately 30,000-square foot facility is located in the industrial park on the west side of Hampton. Sukup is currently accepting applications for immediate hires at the Hampton location, and plans to have the facility fully operational by the end of March 2021.

2021 got off to a rough start for Latimer Community Grocery following an overnight robbery on Monday, January 4.
According to co-owner Landon Plagge, the burglary was first discovered during a late night milk delivery. The delivery driver saw that the front door of the store had been broken out and contacted the grocery store staff, who then got a hold of the owners.

Women Planning Ag Businesses, a multi-session course for women interested in exploring, starting or expanding a farm or rural business, is being offered statewide by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Story County.

The New Year rang in with a spike of COVID-19 activity in the county as long term while area long-term care facilities worked to inoculate their staff and residents against the disease.
On December 29, the Dumont Wellness Center and Maple Manor Village in Aplington became the first of ABCM's 31 Iowa locations to receive the vaccine from CVS Pharmacy.

Alliant Energy and Iowa State University’s Digital Manufacturing Lab are partnering with two Iowa companies to provide 9,000 free face shields to schools and daycare facilities across the state.