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Tull’s Turkey Winners Winners of the turkeys given away at Tull’s New & Used Store in Sheffield during the pre-Thanksgiving holiday are as follows: Robin Smalley, Mary Ellen Nelson, Roberta Atkinson, and Rachelle Foust.
Old Fashioned Sing-along Bring a new friend to the Windsor Theatre’s Old Fashioned SingAlong on Sunday, December 8, 4:00 to 5:00 pm in Hampton. Please join Dawn Groszkruger, who will lead an hour’s worth of Christmas carols. Diane Wills of Hampton will be the accompanist and we always look forward to Maynard playing his spoons. Last month’s sing-along drew a crowd of fifty. We all enjoyed the little ones on stage and Margaret Smith played the piano beautifully. There is no admission charge. However, if you wish to donate to the theater’s renovations, a basket is provided. A lyric book will be handed to you as arrive and the concession stand will be open for your sweet tooth. For more information, call Dawn at 641-425-8716.
Franklin Co. GOP event The Franklin County Republican Central Committee will host a meet-and-greet event for Tim Junker, former Butler County Sheriff. Mr. Junker is a candidate for the Iowa State Senate seat now held by Amanda Ragan of Mason City. The event will be held on Monday, Dec. 2 at Godfathers Pizza, 5:30 at 5:30 p.m., Hampton, Iowa. The public is invited.
4-H Club Officer Training All Franklin County 4-H club officers are invited to Officer Training, Saturday, December 7, from 9 – 11 a.m., at the Franklin County Extension Office located at 3 First Ave NW, Hampton, IA. Members will learn the responsibilities of the different club officers. We will also have fun learning Parliamentary Procedure while making a snack mix and putting a puzzle together as we learn how to run a meeting! R.S.V.P by the Friday before at: 641-456-4811 or jackied@iastate.edu For more information about 4-H contact Jackie Dohlman, County Youth Coordinator.
Texas Hold ‘Em Fundraiser
The Sheffield Betterment Foundation will be hosting a Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament on Friday, Nov. 29 at Ridge Stone Golf Club. Entry fee is $50 with an additional buy-in option; social hour begins at 5 p.m. with the tournament starting at 6 p.m.. Tickets can be purchased from any of the Sheffield Betterment Foundation Board member, Sheri Bogue, Bob Jensen, Deb Hartman, Scott Sanders, Ron Simmons, Cheyene Peterson, Jane Weiland, Jill Rowe, Mark Reiter, Tracy Shreckengost, Shea Jensen, Tony Laudner or Tom Rooney at Pit Row Pub in Hampton. For any questions please contact Sheri Bogue at 641-892-4260.
Guess Who’s Nifty Fifty?
Volunteers from the Wisconsin-based Bruce’s Legacy search and rescue team scoured Beeds Lake and four gravel pits with sonar equipment Nov. 22 with hopes of finding clues to Ethan Kazmerzak’s disappearance. Nothing was discovered. (Photo courtesy of Bruce’s Legacy)
Beeds Lake sonar search yields no new leads in Kazmerzak search By Jeff Forward The ongoing search for missing Hampton man Ethan Kazmerzak remains at a standstill after a sonar search of Beeds Lake and other local bodies of water uncovered no new leads Friday. A volunteer team from Bruce’s Legacy, a non-profit search and rescue group from Black River Falls, Wis., used high resolution sonar equipment to scan the murky depths of Beeds Lake and other ponds located on Olive Avenue, according to a release from the Hampton Police Department. Kazmerzak was last seen near the ponds the night of his disappearance on Sept. 15, and local law enforcement jumped at the opportunity to utilize the sonar despite doubts.
“They found exactly what we thought they would: nothing,� Franklin County Sheriff Larry Rictsmeier said at Monday’s board of supervisors meeting. A dive team previously searched the ponds in September and found nothing. Richtsmeier said Bruce’s Legacy had new equipment they wanted to try out, which prompted the sonar search. The group only asked for compensation of gas and lodging for their services. “They said they didn’t see anything, but they wanted to review it because one of them is driving the boat when they do it,� said Richtsmeier. “It wasn’t that we had a new tip, just more follow up.� The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Hampton Police Department and Franklin County Emergency
Management assisted in the sonar search, which was yet another dead end in the two and a half-month long search for Kazamerzak. Richtsmeier said last week the offer of a $20,000 reward for his whereabouts had led to a small infusion of new leads, but that none of them had any merit and authorities are still confounded by the mysterious case. Two psychic readers even contacted authorities and offered tips onto the missing Hampton man’s location. “We’ve had some phone calls, but nothing of any substance,� Richtsmeier said. “We had one, he’s a visionary, he was from out of the area. He gave us a location, it wasn’t even in the county, but it did not pan out.� Richtsmeier added that authori-
ties have not revisited any leads from earlier in the case but they may at some point go back and interview the four to six people Kazmerzak was last known to be associating with the night of Sept. 14. The $20,000 reward – which is for information that leads to the location or safe return of Kazmerzak – was put together by a group of local and anonymous citizens. The original offer was set to expire on Dec. 2. “I think they’re going to extend it, they want to limit it rather than keep it open ended,� Richtsmeier said of the reward. “One of the concerns we have is someone thinks it’ll be increased. One of the concerns is they’re holding out for more. It’s not going to happen. The SEARCH to page 5
Supervisors talk lawsuit, dispatchers at Monday meeting By Nick Pedley Franklin County may get financial assistance to help with attorney fees in an ongoing lawsuit filed by one victim of former Hampton doctor Brian J. Hansen. The board of supervisors heard an update at their Monday meeting regarding funds from the Iowa Community Assurance Pool (ICAP) that might help cover escalating legal fees associated with a lawsuit the county was named in two months ago. The lawsuit, filed by one of Hansen’s victims, Nicole Whitney, names eight total defendants and alleges a long list of accusations including sexual harassment, sex and disability discrimination, retaliation and sexual exploitation, among others. Franklin General Hospital, FGH CEO Kim Price, human resources manager Victoria Kruse, Mercy Medical Center – Iowa Corp., Mercy Health Services – Iowa Corp.,
Mercy Health Network, Inc. and Hansen are the others listed in the lawsuit. Franklin County was named because FGH is partially funded with county tax revenue, but the board of supervisors has no involvement or control over operational procedures and oversight at FGH. “We shouldn’t be involved,� supervisor Chairman Corey Eberling said after the meeting. “Basically, we share a name – Franklin County. That’s it. Unfortunately, the financial burden has been put on us to get out of it.� ICAP would only pay for legal fees associated with the case, not any potential settlement. The board – who was one member short due to Mike Nolte’s absence – felt the lawsuit’s inclusion of the county was unwarranted due to the county’s lack of involvement with the case and hospital. Both Eberling and Supervisor Jerry Plagge said
the prosecution’s legal council was grasping. “When you file a name in a lawsuit, there should be some reason why you’re being named,� said Plagge. “There has to be some basis.� The lawsuit has created other expenses in addition to the legal fees. Franklin County Courthouse IT Director Gabe Johannes met with the board and discussed the need for additional computer backup memory in the building. The county started storing all data from courthouse computers after it was named to the Whitney lawsuit, and the supervisors hope the tactic provides back-up evidence indicating the county had nothing to do with the case, thus vindicating its dismissal. The massive amount of data has forced Johannes to purchase additional electronic storage devices, in turn straining his department’s
finances. “It’s quickly going to lopside my budget if we have to do months and months of maintenance,� said Johannes. “I’m just letting you guys know, it’s going to be a burden on my budget. But until we are actually dismissed, we have to do it.� Johannes said the IT department could handle the expenses in the short-term, but said the supervisors should be aware of the potential for long-term costs. Both Eberling and Plagge understood Johannes’ concerns, and hoped the county could get removed from the lawsuit soon to eliminate the need for additional back-up space. “To us, it’s a really frivolous lawsuit,� Eberling said in a phone interview. “I just wish attorneys would be held more accountable.� The supervisors also gave an update on the progress between the county and City of Hampton SUPERVISORS to page 5
In unusual move, county fair board selects 2014 entertainment 8 months early Love, Mom, K & K
Community Calendar
Monday, Dec. 2 Blood Pressure Clinic, 8-9 am, Hardee’s, Hampton, walk-in Tuesday, Dec. 3 AA Meeting at Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Sheffield, at 8 p.m. Franklin County Extension Council, 6 p.m., Rustic Brew, Hampton Wednesday, Dec. 4 Foot Clinic, 1-3 pm, Hampton Senior or Center, 641-456-5191 Commercial Pesticide Applicatorr Training: Pest Control Operators, 9 a.m. Franklin County Extension Officee Thursday, Dec. 5 Foot Clinic, 9-11 am, Franklin Co. Public Health, 641-456-5820 Immunization Clinic, 2:30-4 pm, Franklin Co. Public Health
In this issue: Courthouse .............................................pages 4, 5 Obituaries..................................................... page 4 Public Notices ............................................. page 4 Area Sports ................................................ page 10 Classifieds ..................................................... page 9
By Mari Ann Wearda In an unprecedented move the Franklin County Fair Board is releasing the headlining acts for 2014 and are discounting POP Passes for a Black Friday Sale. Popular country singer Justin Moore will take over the grandstand stage on Saturday night and the multi award winning country group Sawyer Brown stars in a Friday concert. The fair also has signed the Barnes PRCA Rodeo for Wednesday and will soon finalize the rest of the schedule. “POP Pass gift certificates have sold well as Christmas gifts the last few years,� commented Fair Board President Jon Baltes. “The board thought it would be great if we could announce our concerts and offer a one-time special for the holidays!� He added that POP Pass sales have always been a fund raiser for the county 4-H clubs. “In keeping with that tradition, a portion of the sales will go to Franklin County 4-H.� A POP Pass allows the holder grandstand admission every night of the fair to all five shows. On Black Friday, November 29, POP
Pass gift certificates will only be sold for $30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the fair office in the Franklin County Convention Center in Hampton or by calling 641-456-2049. After 4 p.m. Nov. 29, prices on will go to $35 through July 10, 2014, and will be priced at $45 July 11 through the fair. The gift certificates can be redeemed for a POP Pass starting in April through the fair. Moore, who stakes his claim at the crossroads between traditional country and Southern rock music, was influenced by Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, John Anderson and Vern Gosdin. He has released three albums, Justin Moore in 2009, Outlaws Like Me in 2011 and Off the Beaten Path in 2013. He has charted eight times on the Hot Country Songs charts, including the number one hits “Small Town USA�, “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away�, and “Til My Last Day� and the Top 10 hits “Backwoods� and “Point at You�. Sawyer Brown has been called the Rolling Stones of country music as for over 20 years they continue to go the distance with relevant songs that challenge themselves as musi-
Justin Moore will entertain on the grandstand stage. cians while creating personal expe- Mark Miller, keyboardist Gregg riences for their listeners. Their live “Hobie� Hubbard, lead guitarshows – over 3,000 (and counting!) ist Duncan Cameron, bassist Jim – are legendary for the excitement, Scholten and drummer Joe Smyth. energy and emotion they generate. Sawyer Brown’s Midas touch has The band members are vocalist COUNTY FAIR to page 5
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