Hampton Chronicle

01/14/2026

Did you know the Franklin Wellness Center started a water aerobics class for children last November? The group is led by lifeguard Jade Johnson, who's worked at the Wellness Center for the last couple years, as a way to get kids moving in the water.

"I saw how much the adults enjoyed the water aerobics, so I figured the kids would love it, too," said Johnson. "It gives them a way to bond and have fun and get active!"

The group meets every Tuesday and Thursday evening, from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and they are always looking for new members. There is a $20 monthly fee to participate in the class.

For more information, contact the Wellness Center at 641-456-2827.

Photos by Jennifer Burnham.

01/13/2026

Warhawks and Bulldogs Girls Wrestle in Quad at West Fork

The H-D-CAL and West Fork wrestling teams are competing in a quad at West Fork tonight. The Bulldogs and Warhawks will face each other, along with also facing the Nevada Cubs and the Lake Mills Bulldogs. The quad began at 6 p.m. with the Warhawks battling Lake Mills and H-D-CAL battling Nevada.

Photos by Evan Pharr.

01/12/2026

The Hampton McDonald's team would like to thank the community for voting for their crew room in the 2025 Soifer Merriest Crew Room Contest, which they took first place in.

SWING Manager Maria Urbina told the Chronicle she's always loved decorating and making spaces look pretty. For this past contest, she and her helpers went with a McDonald's gingerbread house theme in the crew room, which took them several hours to complete.

"I got the idea from our crew," said Urbina, who's worked at the store since 2010. "We enjoy doing fun things like this! It puts us in the Christmas mood."

Pictured below, from left to right: Hampton McDonald's employees Maria Urbina, Kimberly Jobe, Devin Urbina, Angela Koath and Hope Baltes on Monday, Jan. 12. Photo by Jennifer Burnham.

01/12/2026

Congratulations, Hampton McDonald's crew!

Let's hear it for our 'Merriest Crew Room' decorating contest winner! With nearly 400 votes, Hampton stole your heart this year. Stay tuned for our winter wonderland contest next week.

01/10/2026

H-D-CAL Friday Basketball Doubleheader

The H-D-CAL boys and girls basketball teams are hosting the Algona Bulldogs in a varsity doubleheader. The girls game tipped off at 6 p.m. with the boys game set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. The girls will look to bounce back after a loss to Iowa Falls-Alden on Tuesday night while the boys will look to make it two wins in a row.

Photos by Evan Pharr.

01/09/2026

The Hampton Senior Citizen Center is celebrating all of their January birthdays today!

The birthdays that are being celebrated:
—Marvel Burmester, Jan. 3
—LaDonna Jorges, Jan. 4
—Kristy Slotness, Jan. 5
—Sharon Nelson, Jan. 6
—Larry Crabtree, Jan. 7
—Dale Hover, Jan. 8
—Dave Booth, Jan. 17
—Lori Holmes, Jan. 18
—Esther Van Deest and Bob Modderman, Jan. 20
—Peggy Varrelman, Jan. 24
—Phil O’Connor, Jan. 25
—Teresa Harms, Jan. 30

The senior center’s new site manager, Krysta Weinandy, who started on Tuesday, said she’s been loving the job so far.

“I really like working with the public so this seemed like the perfect job,” she said.

Photos by Jennifer Burnham.

01/09/2026

Coulter Man Arrested After Shots Fired on New Year's Day

By Jennifer Burnham
Hampton Chronicle

A Coulter man was arrested Friday morning, Jan. 9 after allegedly shooting at two different people in Hampton in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day.

According to a press release from the Hampton Police Department, Victor Ivan Ferman-Nava, 22, of Coulter is facing charges for intimidation with a dangerous weapon, assault while displaying a dangerous weapon and six counts of reckless use of a firearm.

Police responded to a report of multiple shots fired in the 300 block of 12th Ave NE shortly after 3 a.m. on Jan. 1, according to the press release.

“Witnesses reported hearing shots fired and responding officers recovered evidence of gunfire,” the release stated. “The subsequent investigation determined no persons were struck by gunfire and a person of interest was developed. Two victims were identified and the shooting followed a verbal argument.”

Ferman-Nava was arrested by the Hampton Police Department at 6 a.m. Friday morning, with assistance from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

He is currently being held at the Franklin County Law Enforcement Center, where he is awaiting a court date. He is being held on a $10,000 cash only bond.

The police department stated that the case is ongoing and any person with additional information can contact them at 641-456-2529.

“A criminal charge is an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” the release stated.

Photo provided by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.

01/09/2026

Update: Duke has been found!

The Bower family needs your help! Their German Shepard, Duke, wandered off last night, around 8:30 p.m. The family says he is friendly, up to date on his shots and chipped. They live three blocks south of the Franklin County Courthouse.

If you see Duke, call 641-373-7513.

01/09/2026

Bulldogs Host Wrestling Double Dual

Hampton-Dumont-CAL is hosting a wrestling double dual tonight as both the Bulldogs’ boys and girls teams will be wrestling versus Charles City and Iowa Falls-Alden. The first duals begin at 6 p.m. Both the boys and girls teams next meet is on Saturday, Jan. 10 as the girls will travel to West Marshall and the boys will travel to Clarion-Goldfield-Dows.

Photos by Evan Pharr.

01/08/2026

Coaches VS Cancer Game Set for Jan. 24

By Jennifer Burnham
Hampton Chronicle

The 2026 Coaches VS Cancer game, organized by Franklin County Relay for Life, is coming up at the end of the month.

The game between H-D-CAL and West Fork is set for Saturday, Jan. 24 at West Fork High School. The game will begin at 3:15 p.m.

According to organizer Sheri Bogue, the Relay for Life group is eager to shift their focus towards Coaches VS Cancer this year, as a replacement for their annual Relay for Life event.

“With changes coming in 2026 without our annual Relay For Life event we are excited to focus more attention on the Coaches vs Cancer game,” she said. “While it's not the same as the Relay event we will honor our survivors, have fun, some entertainment, silent auction and a soup supper. We are hoping for good weather so that everyone will come out to support us and join the fun.”

Want to order a shirt for your favorite team? See links below. (Deadline to order shirts is this Sunday, Jan. 11.)

For West Fork: https://tinyurl.com/5ywdyrx5

For H-D-CAL: https://tinyurl.com/393rmasr

Stay tuned for more event details.

Photos from the 2015 Coaches VS Cancer game provided by Sheri Bogue.

01/08/2026

Need dinner plans tonight? See below!

01/08/2026

Thank you to Franklin County Conservation Director Ned Parker and Chief Deputy Sheriff Joel McWilliams for sending in these drone photos and footage of the historic Sentinel Tree, which was removed yesterday.

The historic tree — an old cottonwood just east of Quail Avenue and 110th Street — could be traced back to the 1850s, serving as a marker for the county's first settlers.

(More about the tree's removal: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C15J3Fp2Z/.)