Rain and mud didn’t stop more than 100 vendors from the rare chance to sell their products in person this year.
As a light drizzle, expected to grow heavier throughout the day, fell over the Geneva Market Friday morning, Janis Miller, owner of J&J Candles of Manson, Iowa, readied her stock for guests to peruse. For Miller, and many other ven-dors, it was the first show she’s attended since March due to the COVID-19 pan-demic.

Dumont Telephone will soon use grant money allocated through COVID-19 relief to expand its fiber internet service to areas of rural Franklin County.
In July, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the State of Iowa would make $50 million available for broadband expansion across the state through federal CARES Act funding.

Throughout the morning on Labor Day, guests ventured to the Hampton Municipal Airport for this year’s Compassion Flights Fly-In Breakfast.
For $8 for adults and $4 for kids, guests were treated to a pancake and sausage break-fast and afterwards, were en-couraged to view the various aircraft on display outside the hangar.
All proceeds from the break-fast are put towards Compas-sion Flights’ efforts.

Senator Charles Grassley visited Hampton on Monday, Aug. 31.
Dropping by Franklin Rural Electric Cooperative for an open meeting with employees and guests, the senator answered questions and addressed concerns as he wrapped up his annual 99-county tour of the state.

A career dedicated to public service led Joel McWilliams to the role as Franklin County’s new Emergency Management Coordinator.
The Franklin County Emergency Management Commission last week welcomed the Hampton native into the position, which had been vacant since June following the death of then Emergency Management Coordinator Jason Harper. McWilliams will formally begin his service on Sept. 14.

The days leading up to a fall Friday night in Hampton for Hampton-Dumont-CAL director of bands Carl Kurth are typically filled with last second tweaks and final runs through the halftime show before the Bulldog marching band takes the field.

Katelyn Baltes’ first year in a new career comes with a prominent sense of familiarity.
Baltes, a 2016 Hampton-Dumont High School graduate, has returned to H-D as the new high school art instructor this year. In just her short time back, Baltes has encountered the hospitality and care she remembers from her time as a student.

Doug Humrichouse can’t help but find humor in his return to the education field.

Despite months of uncertainty, the Iowa cattle industry and supporters came together on August 15 for the 38th annual Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show. This year’s event raised over $254,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa.

Community members and students can now workout while enjoying the sights along the Rolling Prairie Trail through Hampton.
Last month, the Hampton-Dumont Middle School in-stalled workout equipment on cement pads along the trail that leads from the middle school building to the Roll-ing Prairie Trail.
The six machines are designed to work out various parts of the body, such as biceps, legs and abdomens.

A love of animals, art and a vibrant splash of creativity allowed a Hampton-Dumont graduate to illustrate her first children’s book.
Kara Hoegh, a 2011 H-D grad, provided the art for “I Call You Noodle,” a book written by Greenfield, Iowa native Rachel Wallace.

A new tattoo studio and art gallery in Hampton wouldn’t have been possible without a series of coincidences.
Ian Foley, of Iowa Falls, and Hampton native, Hope (Paine) Polk, are working to renovate the former Abbott Realty building to accommodate Foley Ink’d, which will contain Foley’s tattoo operation, an art gallery of Foley’s and other artists’ works and a meeting space.

The Hampton State Farm office made sure students at Hampton-Dumont-CAL schools have the supplies they need as the school year starts.

Tall Corn FFA members last week were finally able to celebrate an abbreviated year of accomplishments.
Last Tuesday, the Tall Corn FFA chapter hosted its annual awards banquet, which is usually held in March. The event was postponed shortly before the original scheduled date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A looming drought and a historic windstorm have threatened to wipe out a perfect start to the growing season in the area.
According to the United States Drought Monitor, updated last Thursday, most of Franklin County is listed as D1, or in a moderate drought.