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WEDNESDAY | AUGUST ST 21, 2013 | Volume 136 | Number 34 LETS GET
SOCIAL Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/hamptonchronicle Go to HamptonChronicle.com to view all of our newspaper publications.
UP FRONT Hampton Community Blood Drive
Hampton Community Blood Drive, Monday, Aug. 26, 2013 from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. at Hampton - St. Paul Lutheran Church, 17 2nd St. NE. Sign up to save a life today! Schedule a blood donation appointment online at www. lifeservebloodcenter.org or call 800.287.4903. This blood drive is sponsored by Hospital Auxiliary.
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3 DAY FORECAST WEDNESDAY PARTLY
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40% Chance of Storms
A canoe adventure through Maine’s wilderness
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West Fork will be undergoing a changing of the gaurd when it comes to coaching in the 2013-2014 school year.
Seventeen days. Three canoes. 200-plus miles of paddling lakes, rivers, and portages. Full of adventure. Exciting. Unexpected, unavoidable challenges.
Neighbors, Page 14
Frank County’s Franklin finest represent at the State Fair Local Loca News, Page 2
Boehmler announces candidacy for Hampton mayor By Jeff Forward Brook Boehmler, the former executive director of the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, announced on Aug. 10 his candidacy for Hampton mayor during a brief speech at Summerfest. Boehmler was honored at Summerfest for his work during his four years as executive director of the chamber and then he annouced to a cheering crowd his intention to run for Hampton mayor. A video of the speech is viewable on Boehmler’s
YouTube page. Things moved fast in the week since his announcment, as Boehmler has been seeking endorsements from local residents, is planning on moving into Hampton city limits, and has started setting up a campaign Web site and Facebook page. “I hadn’t thought about running until Shawn (Dietz) wasn’t going to seek re-election,� Boehmler said in a telephone interview on Aug. 15. “I had talked to the mayor and numerous people. I’d been contact-
ed by quite a few people about why wouldn’t I run for mayor, and why I shouldn’t run for mayor. The decision, it wasn’t taken lightly.� Boehmler said he feels a call to duty to serve the community in a leadership capacity, something he’d like to see from more people in the community. “A lot of things are going on. Someone needs to serve the community and I think I’ve served the community and I want to to continue to serve the community,� Boehmler
said. “It’s not a salaried position like the chamber; it’s a lot of meetings DQG HYHQLQJV ,WÂśV QRW DQ HLJKW WR ÂżYH job, but it’s a commitment.â€? Boehmler stressed that for Hampton to be a successful community on all fronts, the city needs citizens to VWHS XS ZLWK WLPH DQG ÂżQDQFLDO DVsets, as well as volunteering to be in leadership roles. “How do you exist without people participating in city council or church boards,â€? he said. “We cannot go backwards.â€? Boehmler: See Page 3
Kelley joins Hampton Police Department By Nick Pedley The Hampton Police Department is now fully staffed following the DGGLWLRQ RI QHZ RIÂżFHU 'DYH .HOOH\ Kelley has been getting familiar with the local unit since he started August 12. According to Police Chief Bob Schaefer, he ZLOO ÂżOO WKH YRLG OHIW E\ Capt. Jim Hilton after he retires in September. Kelley comes to Hampton with more than 15 years of law enforcement experience.
By Jeff Forward Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will be in Hampton on Aug. 27 for a town hall meeting open to the public. The town hall meeting – free of charge – will be held at 12 p.m. on Aug. 27 at Center One, 5 First St. S.W. The town hall meeting will allow for local citizens to hear Branstad and Reynolds discuss important state issues, their local impact, and will also feature a question and answer session where attendees can ask about various issues.
Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013. Registration 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Run Starts at 12 p.m. $20 per person (includes supper and drink upon returning to Pit Row). Route includes: Pit Row (Hampton), Grumpy’s (Ackley), Stinky’s (Aplington), Lil Ricky’s ( Allison) D-T’s Roadhouse (Dumont). Bus will be available for those of you that don’t have bikes but would like to go on ride (with additional charge to cover gas). Any questions please call Jennifer Rooney 641-425-8288; Pam Nalan 641-903-1166 or Haley Montes 641-425-6524. All proceeds will be going towards medical expenses for Blake Gunderson, who suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns. There will be a PRIZE for best poker hand- DRAWINGS – FOOD - SILENT AUCTION BAKE SALE - AND GAMES!
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Branstad, Reynolds in Hampton for town hall meeting Aug. 27
Pit Row’s 3rd Annual Benefit Run
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| www.hamptonchronicle.com | Call 641-456-258 641-456-2585 or 1-800-558-1244
New coaches at West Fork approved Sports, Page 10
$1.25 Newsstand
2IÂżFHU .HOOH\ See Page 13
Doggy swim dominates light city council workshop
it’ll bring peace of mind. Yes, it’s a little bit more of a hassle, but it’s worth it.� Also new this year is a change to the daily schedule for all schools in the district – beginning 15 minutes earlier and ending 15 minutes earlier. The changes mean students will begin classes between 8:10 and 8:15 a.m. and end school between 3:10 and 3:15 p.m. “We’re just trying to protect the instructional day,� Lettow said of the timing change. “This way, there is
By Jeff Forward The Hampton City Council had another light workshop meeting Monday night, with only four topics on the agenda and the issue of holding a dog swim at the city aquatic center dominating the night. The idea of holding a session where citizens could bring their dogs to the pool and go swimming was brought up at an earlier council meeting by Council Member Valerie Haugebak, who is a self-admitted dog lover. City Public Works Director Doug Tarr investigated what other cities do in regard to a dog swim event and prepared a packet of procedures and possible rules for the council members present. There was a lot of discussion about the event, from what to charge for entrance – if anything – and whether or not on-site dog licensing could be done.
Back to school: See Page 3
City Council: See Page 3
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Students head back to school; numerous changes in store for Hampton-Dumont By Jeff Forward Students headed back to School Monday at Hampton-Dumont middle school and high school, beginning a fresh school year where a few new changes will go into effect. Elementary schools began classes on Tuesday. New this year for all students is an earlier start time to classes as well as an earlier ending of the school day. Additionally, students will see enhanced security at Southside Elementary School – where a camerabuzz-in system has been installed –
and plenty of new teachers. Todd Lettow, superintendent of the Hampton-Dumont Community School District, said he is excited about the beginning of another school year and he feels there are a lot of positives headed into 2013-14 academic schedule. “Being a teacher at heart, I look forward to seeing the kids come back,� Lettow said of the new school year. Lettow took time from his busy schedule prior to the start of classes to discuss many of the new changes
with the Chronicle. One change students and parents will see at Southside Elementary School is the new security entrance. The new set-up features a security camera that allows the school secretary to see potential visitors before buzzing them into the school where they will check in with a staffer. The only entrance into the elementary school now will be via the front, main entrance. “It’s just to monitor who is in the building,� Lettow said of the new system. “It’s a safety thing. I think
Lukensmeyer seeks another term; wants more civic involvement City council candidates can begin filing for election on Aug. 26 By Jeff Forward Dick Lukensmeyer, the At-Large representative on the Hampton City &RXQFLO KDV RIÂżFLDOO\ DQQRXQFHG KH LV VHHNLQJ DQRWKHU WHUP LQ RIÂżFH DQG said he hopes to see more civic involvement from citizens to make the city the best it can be. “I’ve enjoyed the interaction with the citizens of Hampton and the openness we’ve had working with the citizens,â€? Lukensmeyer said. “The growth I’ve seen in the council chambers is inspiring. I’ve had many citizens comment to me how happy they are with the openness of the chambers.â€? Lukensmeyer, who is a local businessman, was elected in 2009,
beginning his term in January 2010. He said he is proud of all the accomplishments the community has achieved in the past several years, projects such as the city aquatic center, the Band Shell renovations, and the cemetery fence. But, Lukensmeyer said, he feels there is much more that the community can do for Hampton’s betterment and that he wants to see more citizens involved in more ways. “When we work together as a community, we get things done,� he said. “We need it to be a bigger percentage of people helping.� “Some things, the city has to be responsible for,� Lukensmeyer addLukensmeyer: See Page 13
By Jeff Forward 7KH ÂżOLQJ SHULRG IRU FDQGLGDWHV for Hampton City Council opens on Aug. 26, and with three open council seats up for grabs as well as city mayor, it could be a busy year for loFDO HOHFWLRQ RIÂżFLDOV There are three city council seats up for election this year, each is for a four-year term. The Ward 2 seat is currently Hampton City Council Mem- held by Jim Davies, who is stepping ber Dick Lukensmeyer, shown down to focus on increased profeshere dancing with his wife, sional job duties as well as personal Deb, has announced he is hobbies. Davies has been a familiar VHHNLQJ DQRWKHU WHUP LQ RIÂżFH face on the Hampton City Council, (Courtesy photo submitted by having served as Ward 2 representative from February 1992 until March Dick Lukensmeyer.)
1999 before returning in 2010 for this term. The Ward 4 seat is currently held by Craig Eckhardt, who has decided to take a break from governmental affairs after 10 years on the council. Eckhardt has been on the council since May 2003, replacing former Ward 4 representative Gerald BessPDQ ZKR GLHG ZKLOH LQ RI¿FH The third seat up for election this year is that of the At-Large representative, currently held by Dick Lukensmeyer, who has announced KH LV VHHNLQJ DQRWKHU WHUP LQ RI¿FH /XNHQVPH\HU KDV EHHQ LQ RI¿FH since 2010. The mayor’s seat is also open af-
ter Shawn Dietz announced in July he will not be seeking re-election. 'LHW] ZDV LQ KLV ¿UVW WZR \HDU WHUP as mayor but has decided to step back from politics and spend more time with his family. As of press time, Tuesday, Aug. 20, only two people have indicated IRUPDOO\ WKH\ ZLOO VHHN RI¿FH 7KH two are Lukensmeyer, who is hoping to regain his At-Large seat; and Brook Boehmler – former executive director of the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce – who has annouced he is running for mayor. The election process begins on City council elections: See Page 13