February 2017

Wed
08
Feb

Hucks eager to share Mink Creek Lodge

 

Mink Creek Lodge, which was completed in 2015, is the perfect getaway for any family or group of friends. The remote location provides plenty of seclusion, as not a single light is within eyesight after dark. The property, which has been in the Huck family for a total of seven generations, including the youngest family members, is situated along Mink Creek near Wadena and offers guests 200 acres of land to explore. (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

Hucks eager to share Mink Creek Lodge

 

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

Tucked away at the end of a long, curving driveway and behind some of the abundant scenic hills of Fayette County is a hidden getaway. The recently completed Mink Creek Lodge near Wadena is a remarkable 4,000-square-foot cabin that was built by the Huck family.

“Our grandchildren are the seventh generation of our family who have called this land home,” explained Bob and Deb Huck. “We originally decided to build the cabin in 2004, but just recently chose to turn it into a lodge after our son and his family returned to the farm.”

Wed
08
Feb

F3 opens doors in Fayette

Tiffany Kragnes recently opened F3, also known as Fayette Flywheel Fitness, in the office next to Fayette City Hall on Water Street. Kragnes is a certified spinning instructor through Mad Dogg Athletics. The Fayette City Council member held a weeklong grand opening event Jan. 31—Feb. 3

 

F3 opens doors in Fayette

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

Fayette Flywheel and Fitness, F3 for short, is hosting its grand opening this week.

The newest specialty business to open its doors in Fayette, F3 offers flywheel stationary bike fitness classes — also known as spinning classes — and is owned, operated and taught by Upper Iowa University professor Tiffany Kragnes.

Wed
08
Feb

Kent Beiner

Kent Beiner

 

 

Kent D. Beiner, 60, of Dike, Iowa graduated to eternal life on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at the Cedar Valley Hospice House in Waterloo, Iowa. 

Kent Dee Beiner, son of William and Dixie Trees Beiner, was born to this life on November 3, 1956 in Cresco, Iowa. 

He would say his greatest achievement was raising his beautiful daughter, Brandy Anne Beiner Schott. 

Kent married the love of his life, Ruth Moore, on May 9, 2004. 

He worked for John Deere Inc. for nearly 35 years before retiring in March of 2014. 

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) took away his employment and many of his favorite activities. It eventually took his life but while he lived with the disease, he did so with amazing grace and dignity.

Wed
08
Feb

Kenneth Lauer

Kenneth Lauer

 

 

Kenneth Harold Lauer, 84, of Cedar Rapids, was called home Thursday, February 2, 2017 following a short stay at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids surrounded by his loving family.

His funeral service was held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids.

A celebration of his life took place from 5:00 - 8:00 PM Monday, Feb. 6, 2017 at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories Stateroom.

He will be laid to rest at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Ken was born to Harold and Evelyn Lauer in their home in Eldorado, Iowa on February 4, 1932.

He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Patricia Graessle, on June 5, 1955. Their union was blessed with two sons, Scott and Brian.

Ken’s happiest moments were times spent with the family he treasured so much.

Ken retired in 2007 after 40 years at Kirkwood Community College as a Financial Aid Officer.

Wed
08
Feb

John Nelson

John Nelson

 

 

John William Nelson, 75 of Elkader, Iowa passed away Thursday, February 2, 2017 at the Elkader Hospital.

Leonard-Grau Funeral Home is handling cremation arrangements.

Interment will occur at a later date. 

John William Nelson was born on March 1, 1941, to Millard Nelson, Sr. and Myrtle (Moon) Nelson in Clermont. 

He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at West Clermont Lutheran Church.

During high school John made his mark as an athlete in both football and basketball, and as a thespian active on the speech team and in plays. He served as president of his junior class and was a member of National Honor Society. John graduated from Valley High School, Elgin, in 1959. 

Wed
08
Feb

NFV boys end UIC 10-4

 

In a battle of number 10s, NFV’s Tate Hovden flies around and over West Central’s Tyler Buzynski for the layup. Hovden finished with a game-high 21 points in the TigerHawks’ 80-42 victory Saturday in the Valley gym. (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

NFV boys end UIC 10-4

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

NFV closed out the 2016-17 UIC boys’ basketball season by splitting a pair of conference games.

The TigerHawks lost to Ed-Co in Edgewood but Saturday in Clermont, they beat West Central handily.

The contest against Charles City scheduled for Thursday in West Union was been postponed until Monday, Feb. 6. The game originally scheduled for Monday against Crestwood had to be cancelled because the Cadets had to reschedule a conference game on that date.

Wed
08
Feb

NFV girls nail 8 treys Saturday

 

Kailee Prentice starts NFV off on the right foot Saturday against West Central, nailing this 3-pointer. NFV defeated the Devils, 62-25. The Parents Night game was played in the Valley gym in Clermont. Prentice, from Elgin, started her career in the same gym where she helped her team hit a record eight treys on Saturday. (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

 

NFV girls nail 8 treys Saturday

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

The North Fayette Valley girls hit a record eight 3-pointers against West Central on Saturday in the Valley gym in Clermont to move four games over .500. After a slow start, NFV beat the Blue Devils, 62-25.

Wed
08
Feb

Boys' bowling splits

 

Thomas Amundson rolls a beauty Tuesday (Jan. 31) against Tripoli at Lilac Lanes in West Union. The sophomore is one of the young bowlers who have pushed the TigerHawks to four wins during their second season as a varsity team. (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

Boys' bowling splits

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

The NFV boys’ bowling team split a pair of games last week, falling to Tripoli Tuesday (Jan. 31) in West Union, but beating Sumner-Fredericksburg Friday in Sumner.

The girls did not bowl Tuesday due to sickness and only had one bowler available on Friday.

Wed
08
Feb

Baumler, Lape, Rodgers advance

 

NFV senior Ethan Lape has New Hampton heavyweight Noah Fenske’s arm and head under control prior to rolling the Chickasaw over onto his back for a TigerHawk pin in just 1:06 of their second-round match at Saturday’s Sectional Tournament. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Baumler, Lape, Rodgers advance

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

“It was a meat grinder,” was the way NFV head coach Jacob Pedersen described Saturday’s Sectional Wrestling Tournament in New Hampton.

With the host Chickasaws ranked first in Class 2A with 10 ranked wrestlers, and 10 other ranked wrestlers in the field, TigerHawk fans knew it was going to be tough to advance to District action this Saturday in Decorah.

Wed
08
Feb

Hanken snaps her way to top

 

Rachel Hanken (left) recently won the Photographers of Iowa (PPI) 2017 Non-Masters Photographer of the Year award in Des Moines. She submitted four photos in various categories that each received a score out of 100. The four scores were added together, and because Rachel’s score of 327 was the highest of all other non-master photographers, she was named the Photographer of the Year. She received the award from 2016 PPI president Christina Kjar. 

 

Hanken snaps her way to top

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

Ascending to the top of one's craft takes years of dedication and hard work. That drive for excellence paid off for Rachel Hanken of West Union when she hit the summit of the Iowa photography mountain.

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