After a summer of detours, one bridge in Hampton is finally open to local traffic. Though the barricades haven’t been completely removed, as the road isn’t yet entirely open to thru traffic, the south bridge on Highway 65 is cleared and ready to drive across.
It is the first of several road projects to be complete on Highway 65 this summer.

A woman was killed and another individual was injured in a house explosion near Thornton on Saturday afternoon. ​
Franklin County Emergency Management in a release Monday said Franklin County dispatch received several reports of a house explosion at 598 250th St. near Thornton at 3:38 p.m. Saturday.

As the election nears, political party representatives and law enforcement officials urge individuals to respect other’s right to express their political viewpoints.

Twenty years of law experience and a desire to help her home community have led Gina Jorgensen to open a new law office in Hampton.

Hints of fall have begun to pop up around the area’s natural sites.
Trees throughout the community are starting to show changing colors, signaling the beginning of fall color viewing season.
“There are a few species of trees that will start turning colors in the next week or two,” said Franklin County Conservation Director Ned Parker. “The peak will be the end of the month (September) through mid-October.”

An afterschool program for students is expanding to a neighboring school district.
Youth For Christ Central Iowa recently announced that its Campus Life programs, which provide activities and ministry to middle school and high school students, will soon be available to the West Fork communities.

A face behind the series that has connected the Hampton community with up-and-coming country music artists for nearly a decade has elected to take his final bow.
Mike Betten, a radio DJ for KLMJ & KQCR Radio on the Go, celebrated the last day of his career in radio – 32 years of which were spent in Hampton – today, Sept. 30.

Election Day is officially Tuesday, Nov. 3, however one could argue that the 2020 General Election truly begins in just a couple weeks.
On Monday, Oct. 5, county auditors across the state will start to allow in-person voting at their offices and begin the process of mailing out general election ballots to voters who have requested to vote absentee.

Hampton-Dumont and CAL Community School District students this week went back to attending class in-person, full time.

A local business ensured that students and coaches have an added layer of safety as activities return amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
First Bank Hampton recently donated 150 protective face masks to players and coaches in all Hampton-Dumont-CAL athletic programs in grades seven through 12.

An abundance of rain earlier in the month and most cornfields nearing top maturity in the area has led to a waiting game for farmers.

An individual suspected of crashing into the Franklin County Law Enforcement Center has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses related to the collision.

A new class at Hampton-Dumont High School aims to show students the range of careers dedicated to protecting the area’s natural resources.
This year, high school students had the option of taking Conservation Science, which is meant to connect students in the class with conservation professionals.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is looking for answers after a vehicle drove into the Franklin County Law Enforcement Center’s doors last week.
Franklin County Sheriff Aaron Dodd said the suspect drove his or her vehicle through the northeast doors of the building that lead to a hallway outside of the conference room last Wednesday evening around 10:30 p.m.
No one inside the office was injured in the collision.

Activity bags handed out at the La Luz Centro Cultural food shelf distributions are designed to show area children the wonderful world of STEM.
Last Wednesday, La Luz, the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council and Iowa State Extension and Outreach Franklin County teamed up to offer STEM bags for students.