Through the creative efforts of West Fork Middle School student Ethan Shields, many community members around the area are able to enjoy an extra special holiday season.
Shields is Vice President and Sales Manager of Wreaths at Fisher Tree Farms located on the edge of Pilot Knob State Park near Clear Lake.
When his father, Ryan Hejlik, joined the Fisher Trees staff between three and four years ago, Ethan also came on board.

State education leaders last Friday saw firsthand successes and new programs of area schools.
Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise, School Administrators of Iowa Executive Director Roark Horn and Iowa State Education Association President Mike Beranek spent Fri-day touring CAL, West Fork and Clear Lake school districts and took the opportunity to learn alongside students.

Last week, Hampton-Dumont and CAL staffers teamed up for a two day conference on how to better work with students to overcome challenging behaviors and potential road blocks outside of the classroom that may negatively affect students.

It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Franklin County Convention Center this weekend as the Senior Center hosted their annual "A Night to Remember" fundraiser dance.
With the room adorned with holiday decorations, the community was invited to join area seniors on the dance floor.
"We want to invite the community to come with us and have a good time," said Senior Center manager Eileen Holm.

The City of Hampton received a boost as it readies for demolition of a downtown building.
The Hampton City Council on Thursday accepted a donation from First Security Bank of the parking lot adjacent to the Cross Building, which is scheduled for demolition in the near future.
The parking lot will be used for additional space on the property once it is fully leveled.

Steven and Rocio Chuy’s move to Hampton from Houston, Texas, is just one adjustment in a series of life changes that led them to town.

While the sacrifices made by veterans who serve in the United States military are apparent and well known, Tony Spradlin emphasized that loved ones of those who serve also make great sacrifices.

Retirement was temporarily interrupted for Lewis Flanigan as he assumes duties as pastor at United Methodist Church in Hampton.
Flanigan, a San Angelo, Texas native, who spent more than 20 years as a pastor for various United Methodists churches in Iowa, retired to Evansville, Indiana in 2016.

Congressional candidate J.D. Scholten visited Hubbard on Saturday, Nov. 2 as part of a tour of Iowa's 4th Congressional District.
Scholten's "Don't Forget About Us" tour is focusing on small-town Iowa, making stops at cities with a population of less than a thousand in each of the 4th District's 39 counties.

Steve Reeder, Republican candidate for Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District, felt obligated to put his real estate career on hold and pursue politics for a reason near to his heart.
Holding a copy of the Constitution of the United States, Reeder said he wants to live in a country that again focuses on the language in the constitution instead of what political party a politician represents.

H-D-CAL presents fall production this weekend
Hampton-Dumont-CAL students are ready for their close-ups.
The H-D-CAL drama department this weekend will present “The 2019 Miss Hampton-Dumont-CAL High School Beauty Pageant” for its annual fall production.
The play follows 10 beauty pageant contestants and their quest to claim the crown of Miss H-D-CAL before the show goes entirely off the rails.

Shoppers out and about prepping for the holiday season are encouraged to toss an extra gift in their carts to help out community members in need.
The Hampton Rotary Club’s annual Operation Santa toy drive has kicked off throughout the community. Each year, the Rotary Club situates boxes in community businesses and organizations to collect new toys generously donated by people in the area.

The 2019-20 school year is off to a good start for West Fork High School exchange students Alara Altundal and Manuel Bibi Altundal, from Turkey, is staying with the Yolanda and Nathan Pralle family during the school year.
Bibi’s host family are Toni and Brandon Lauffer.
The two students arrived in Sheffield during the summer.
Both have especially enjoyed their time spent with their host families.

Hitting the hay took on a different meaning at South Side Elementary School last Thursday.
Throughout the day, students in all grades at the school had the opportunity to hop aboard a hayrack, complete with hay bale seats, for a trip around the school’s neighborhood. Pulled in a truck by Don and Sonya Vosburg, students bundled against the chilly October breeze and saw the town from a different point of view.

State Auditor Rob Sand paid a visit to Hampton on Monday, October 28 for a public meeting to talk with local residents.
Sand started the meeting with an update on the changes he has made to the State Auditor's office since being elected last year.
"We've been very busy," said Sand. "Most of the stuff we talked about during the campaign we've already delivered on."