A collective movement to provide healthy, fun activities to the community recently received another round of funding.
The Iowa Council of Governments, through the Iowa Legislature, recently awarded communities funding for their individual 5-2-1-0 projects, which aim to promote healthier and more active lifestyles within their communities.

En esta época del año, los jefes de los departamentos de Hampton-Dumont y CAL, por lo general, están haciendo los ajustes finales en las mejoras de las instalaciones, pero el Director de Mantenimiento Marlin Smith puede testificar que el período previo al nuevo año escolar ha sido todo menos habitual.

Area students took to the sky for some end of summer entertainment.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Franklin County last Wednesday and Thursday hosted a “Things That Fly Camp” for area students.
Over the two day camp, students learned about rocket flight, efforts of NASA and native birds, all with the purpose of getting an insight to how encompassing the term “flight” can be.

Lydia Davis saw an unfortunate, unfathomable and heart-breaking new view of her hometown of Cedar Rapids last week.

An end is in sight for detours caused by bridge construction throughout the area.
Pete Hjelmstad, Field Services Coordinator for the Iowa Department of Transportation, said that construction on two bridges on Highway 65 through Hampton are expected to be completed by mid-October.

This time of year, Hampton-Dumont and CAL department heads are usually making the final tweaks on plans and improvements to buildings but Maintenance Director Marlin Smith can attest the lead up to the new school year has been anything but usual.
“This is a lot different of an offseason,” he said.

The Latimer community celebrated the city’s newest playground in summer style. Last Friday, families were invited to Trailside Park for a ribbon cutting to commemorate a new playground and basketball court.
The rejuvenation of Trailside Park was celebrated with a community dinner, complete with brisket sandwiches, potato salad and beans.

The picture for how Hampton-Dumont and CAL schools will operate to start the year became clearer Monday night.
In a joint meeting between the districts, both the Hampton-Dumont and CAL Boards of Education approved several motions regarding the return to learn plan, including a mask mandate, which phase outlined in the plan will be conducted and how the districts can move in and out of phases.

Reeve Wagner’s quiet but thorough command of the steers he exhibits at livestock shows mirrors determination he’s carried through all 14-plus years of his life.
Wagner, a member of the Reeve Hampton Hustlers 4-H club, will have the opportunity this weekend to show one of his steers, Marbles, at the 38th Annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show in Des Moines this Saturday. Reeve will show alongside Chip Flory, host of AgriTalk.

Competition got underway last Thursday night at the North Iowa Nationals Tractor and Truck Pull at Chamber Acres. The Rockwell Lions Club was the host for the 12th annual event.
The three-day program featured four sessions of competition involving contestants from throughout the country.

The Hampton Fire Department performed a controlled burn at 404 Third Street SW on Monday, Aug. 10.
Not only does the controlled burn rid the city of a nuisance property, it also gives the firefighters the opportunity to practice with their equipment in a real-life fire environment.

The beginning of Jill Craighton’s tenure as CAL’s Farm to School coordinator began with a boost from the USDA.

Increased COVID-19 cases and a rise in confirmed deaths in Franklin County led Hampton Mayor Russell Wood to lead last Thursday’s Hampton City Council meeting off with an urge to citizens to wear protective face masks.
Wood’s proclamation de-tailed the impact of the novel coronavirus nationally, statewide and locally, citing that Franklin County as of last Thursday had more than 200 confirmed cases and four deaths.

Sen. Charles Grassley visited Cerro Gordo County on Friday, July 31 to meet with constituents while on a brief break from his work in the United States Senate.

This year’s National Farmers Market week brings added meaning, as producers and customers alike are searching for normalcy amid an abnormal time.
National Farmers Market Week kicked off Monday as a celebration of producers who work year-round to grow, harvest and sell fruits, vegetables, herbs and handmade goods.