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75˚53˚ WEDNESDAY | AUGUST ST 7, 2013 | V Volume 136 | Number 32 LETS GET
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City council discusses snowmobiles, impoundment issues at workshop
By Jeff Forward The Hampton City Council had a somewhat meaty workshop agenda on Monday evening, with seven items up for discussion including the city’s policy on snowmobiles in town, options for impounding vehicles for traffic violations and a dog swimming day at the city aquatic center. Although it came at the end of the meeting, the four council members present – Jim Davies and Steve Harms were not in attendance - and several people in the audience shared empassioned views on the issue of snowmobiles in town. The discussion of snowmobiles in town began several weeks ago when citizen Shirley Smith complained to the council about snowmobile riders damaging her property. Mayor Shawn Dietz asked city officials to meet with interested parties to develop a game plan for snowmobiles in the city. On Monday, Police Chief Bob Schaefer told the council that he does not want an outright ban on snowmobiles in town, but is in favor of limiting the areas where they can operate. “My initial thought is not to have snowmobiles on city streets,” Schaefer said. “It’s just tough to go in and enforce, that’s why my initial reaction was not to have them in city limits.” After several minutes of discussion, the council decided they would examine the issue further into the winter season in the event problems arose. City council members also heard from City Attorney Michael Cross about possible options to impound vehicles for traffic offenses. Cross told the council members that various state and federal laws prohibited or limited the ability of a city to impound personal vehicles except in certain situations. “There isn’t anything that allows a city to impound vehicles,” Cross said, noting state laws covered the issue. “We don’t have that authority. The city doesn’t have that authority.” Cross said technically, city police can impound a vehicle of a driver who has no proof of insurance, however the logistics of impounding vehicles – including a variety of factors that make it very hard on a small police department – almost make it prohibitive. Schaefer said that his staff – already short of an officer – would have to spend excessive time doing impoundment paperwork, waiting for a tow truck and then the city would City Council: See Page 3
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Halloran earns allstate honor
Local man acquitted of sex abuse charges, found innocent
Spencer Halloran of West Fork capped a record-breaking season with a second team all-state nod by the Iowa Newspaper Association.
A Hampton man who was arrested in May on allegations of sexual abuse and burglary was found not guilty of all charges on Aug. 1 following a two-day jury trial.
Sports, Page 11
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Local News, Page 3
People in the Park Neighbors, Page 15
Mark your calendar: Sheffield’s annual BBQ Contest is quickly approaching. With entertainment for the whole family, you won’t want to miss this!
Plethora of activities for all ages at this weekend’s Summerfest By Jeff Forward The last big community event of the summer is being held this weekend, as the annual Summerfest takes over Band Shell Park on Friday and Saturday with tons of activities for all ages. “This is our 16th annual event. We’re actually adding a little kicker this year,” said Hope Polk, from the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, which is putting on the event. “It’s the first year of the beer garden at Summerfest, on Friday night.” Polk said the two-day event will feature “adult-friendly” events and entertainment on Friday night before switching to a child and familythemed day on Saturday. “At Summerfest, the community all comes up,” Polk said. “It’s kind of like a last hurrah before school
starts.” Festivities begin on Friday at 5 p.m., when the beer garden and food vendors begin service. This year’s beer garden is sponsored and run by D.T.’s Roadhouse of Dumont. The popular cover band, Standing Hampton, will be the main entertainment for Friday night. The band takes the stage at 8 p.m. and will play until midnight. Opening for Standing Hampton will be Jesse Allen Steward, at 5:30 p.m. “It’s going to take up most of the (Band Shell) park,” Polk said of Friday night’s beer garden. “So, if you want to see Standing Hampton or Jesse Allen Steward, you’re going to have to be inside the beer garden.” Friday night will also feature the wildly popular 60-mile classic car cruise through Franklin County. Car enthusiasts going on the cruise need to be at the Hampton-Dumont
Community High School parking lot at 6 p.m.; the cruise will depart the high school at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Polk said, is more of a family and child-friendly day. There will not be a beer garden on Saturday and instead, Band Shell Park will be filled with a classic car show, kids games, the same food vendors, and concerts by three different artists. The days activities begin at 9 a.m. with the classic car show, which will run until noon. At around noon, the KLMJ/KQCR Antique Tractor Parade is expected to wind into Hampton after beginning in Bristow earlier that morning. From noon until 3:30 p.m., the Whitesidewalls – a 1950s’ and 1960s’ tribute group – will rock the park with oldie tunes. At 6:15 p.m., Morgan Alexander will take the stage – opening for headliner Summerfest: See Page 3
Local favorite, musical artist Erica Nicole, is the headline act Saturday night at Summerfest. (Courtesy Photo).
Members of the Hampton Fire Department did a controlled burn of an abandoned home on July 29 at 400 First St. SW. Photos by Jeff Forward, Hampton Chronicle.
Intentional burning down of house a win-win for city
By Jeff Forward A large crowd of fascinated Hampton residents gathered on July 29 in the south part of the city to watch local firefighters burn down an abandoned house as part of a training exercise. The controlled burn fire was conducted by members of the Hampton Fire Department at an abandoned
house in the 400 block of First Street Southwest. The fire served two purposes for the city – as a training exercise on a live fire for members of the fire department but also as a way for the city to destroy an “eye-sore” condemned property it had taken possession of. “It’s probably about the best
training you can get because it’s a real, live fire,” said Hampton Fire Chief Kent Wilkinson. “We get the older guys showing the younger guys what to do; it’s a lot of good training.” Wilkinson said fires such as the one on July 29 allow his firefighters to practice important techniques such as rescue in a burning structure,
Local experts cautiously optimistic for a decent harvest By Nick Pedley Crops throughout Franklin and southern Cerro Gordo County are still playing catch-up following this spring’s heavy precipitation and late planting season. Local agriculture experts stressed the need for dry weather and warm temperatures throughout the month of August. Keith Pillatzki, agronomist at Agvantage’s Franklin County locations, said rainfall in May and June set up area corn and soybean plants for decent fall yields
so long as precipitation stays at bay this month. Though many fields were planted late, Pillatzki felt most area crops were still on pace for a relatively productive harvest. “Most crops are progressing nicely. The late corn is doing the best it can. It’s playing catch-up right now, but some of it’s starting to tassel,” he said. Pillatzki estimated that only 5 percent of the Franklin County’s crop was in excellent condition. The large majority—60 percent or so—is average to slightly below average, he
said. The rest, however, was below that. He felt 25 percent was well under average for this time of the growing season with the remaining 10 percent in very poor condition. “That’s not in any individual township. It’s pretty generalized throughout the county because of the late crop,” said Pillatzki. Heavy spring rain is the culprit behind another issue afflicting local corn and soybeans. According to Mark Bausch, agronomist at North Corn Crops: See Page 3
use of power saws and tools, and fire truck set-up and correct usage of water hoses to battle a residential blaze. “We send the guys in there with their airpacks on and the thermal imaging,” Wilkinson added. “We have one of the firemen go in there and hide in the fire and we find him and drag him out.” Wilkinson said about 20 of the
department’s 23 volunteer firefighters took part in the practice burn. The fire was started at about 6 p.m. and the whole exercise was completed by about 8:15 p.m. “They get to see how everything goes and how fast it burns,” Wilkinson added. “Plus we have to run the trucks and the hoses and water.” Training Fire: See Page 2
County, city officials to meet, discuss dispatch services Council, and the county Emergency By Jeff Forward The ongoing saga of the fate of four city-employed emergency dispatchers continues this week when officials and attorneys from both the City of Hampton and Franklin County are scheduled to meet to try to hash out their differences. Representatives from the Franklin County Board of Supervisors, the Hampton City
Management Commission were scheduled to meet with attorneys for all parties at 7 p.m. on Aug. 6 in the Law Enforcment Center conference room to discuss the issue of dispatchers. Hampton City Manager Ron Dunt said city officials wanted the meeting in order to “expedite the process” and bring clarity to the issue with everyone’s attorneys be Dispatch: See Page 15