A frigid and grey October sky may not seem like a day to get in the water, but for Jared Leisek and Sam Ginn, there’s no time to waste.
Leisek and Ginn, who run the Adventures with Purpose YouTube channel, have dedicated their free time to search and recovery missions typically involving submerged vehicle.

In a new era of learning across the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a handful of staff members at Hampton-Dumont and CAL schools have been given the task to make sure students learning from home are connected with the resources they need.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that human remains have been found in the vehicle that earlier today was retrieved from a rural Franklin County pond.
On Tuesday morning, the Sheriff’s Office in a release stated that a vehicle, believed to be Ethan Kazmerzak’s, was found by dive team Adventures with Purpose in a body of water northwest of Hampton on Monday afternoon.

Area law enforcement is working to recover a vehicle possibly belonging to a Hampton man who has been missing for seven years.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in a release stated that on Monday, an independent dive team, Adventures with Purpose, located what is believed to be Ethan Kazmerzak’s 2006 Volkswagen submerged in water northwest of Hampton.

A new club opening soon in Hampton aims to provide guests of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy live music and a wide array of unique entertainment.
This Saturday, Oct. 24, Project X Night Club, located in the former Coconut Lounge at 11 Second Ave. NW, is slated to host its first event. Plans include a performance by Chicago-based keyboard artist Edgar and His Keys.

La Luz Centro Cultural’s mission to revamp the former Hampton Heating building into a safe haven for those who utilize its services received a major boost towards its goal.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority last Thursday, through the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce/Main Street, awarded La Luz a $50,800 Challenge Grant for La Luz’s revitalization project on the building.

The Hampton-Dumont and CAL school districts have amended the schools’ mask ordinance to exclude a certain face covering.
Both the H-D and CAL Boards of Education voted to prohibit the use of neck gaiters as a protective face covering. Gaiters are worn around an individual’s neck with a portion of the fabric meant to be pulled over the nose and mouth.

Brian Butt this month has seen first hand the strength of rural communities when a neighbor is in need.
Brian’s brother, Jerry, who is a farmer in rural Dows, was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, an aggressive, fast-growing terminal brain tumor, on Sept. 17. The diagnosis came after the discovery of a tumor on the left side of Jerry’s brain on Sept. 9 and six hours of surgery on Sept. 15 to remove the tumor.

A new online event combines a celebration of the area’s diversity and cooking in one virtual room.
This weekend, the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, along with La Luz Centro Cultural, will host the Fiesta FUNdraiser, a cooking class to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month while raising money to help with legal fees for local Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Dreamers.

Recess at CAL is now a little more fun – and safer – for students.
The school recently celebrated the installation of new equipment and pea gravel on the playground, which replaced the wooden equipment and wood chips, respectively.
Rotting railroad ties surrounding the playground were also replaced with a brick retaining wall.

The Hampton Tree Board and Franklin County Conservation over the last two weeks have worked to plant new trees before the end of the season.
Earlier in the month, the two organizations planted 15 trees at the Franklin County Law Enforcement Center for a windbreak.
The 15 trees were a mixture of Norway and white spruce trees, which were purchased by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

The stage at the Windsor Theater has been home to live performances and events of all shapes and sizes in its 100-plus year history but this week, it proves old dogs can learn new tricks.
On Thursday, for the first time ever, the Windsor Theatre will serve as the location for jury selection for the District 2 Judicial Court.

Permits to operate UTVs within Hampton city limits are now available for purchase.
Last month, the City of Hampton approved the use of UTVs on all city streets except for Highways 3 and 65 through town. One requirement for UTV use was a permit issued by the Hampton Police Department, which are now available.

Local and state emergency management officials are continuing to investigate a home explosion near Thornton last Saturday that killed one person and severely injured another.
Franklin County Emergency Management in a release said dispatch received reports of a house explosion at 598 250th St., Thornton approximately five miles south of Thornton at 3:38 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

Homecoming week formally began for Hampton-Dumont-CAL students Sunday with a slew of activities. At the heart of the celebration Sunday was the coronation of this year’s Homecoming King and Queen, which went to Kale Folkerts and Hope Baltes, respectively.