April 2017

Wed
05
Apr

Blue Devils open track season in WU

 

 

Collin Kime placed second in the 110-meter high hurdles on Friday, March 31, at North Fayette Valley. He also helped the Shuttle Hurdle Relay team to a second place finish.  Jerry Wadian Photos

 

Blue Devils open track season in WU

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

The West Central boys’ and girls’ track and field teams competed in their first meet outdoor of the season on Friday, March 31, at North Fayette Valley High School in West Union. 

Both teams placed last in the team scoring; the boys scored 78 team points, and the girls, 19. Crestwood won the girls’ meet with 201 team points, and North Fayette Valley won the boys’ with 234 points. 

Wed
05
Apr

For the love of the game

 

Tom Bushman of Ossian has been wearing stripes as a high school athletics official since 1975. Splitting time as a basketball and volleyball referee, he believes that a shortage in the number of officials around the state is something that will need to be addressed in the near future. (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

For the love of the game

 

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

 

Millions of young boys and girls around the world participate in sports. High school sports help students stay fit, learn the importance of teamwork, develop leadership skills, and much more. While participation rates in high school athletics have increased for an astounding 27 consecutive years, the number of sports officials around the nation is dropping.

“There is absolutely a shortage in officials around the country,” said Ossian’s Tom Bushman, a 42-year veteran in officiating. “The shortage is something that we have definitely felt on a local level here in northeast Iowa.”

For Bushman, who is now the owner of a local insurance company, officiating local athletics was a major source of income for him when he first got involved.

Wed
05
Apr

Unsung heroes: Emergency dispatchers

 

Being a 9-1-1 dispatcher carries some of the biggest responsibilities in the emergency response process. Isaac Phillips, one of Winneshiek County’s six full-time dispatchers, relays a message to local law enforcement after answering an incoming call concerning a motor vehicle accident in the county. (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

Unsung heroes: Emergency dispatchers

 

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

In the event of any type of emergency within the boundaries of Winneshiek County, before law enforcement, ambulance service, or fire crews are contacted, a caller’s first point of contact is an emergency response dispatcher.

“Our dispatchers are a critical piece of the public safety net that we provide,” explained Decorah Police Chief Bill Nixon. “I think their job description is something that is vague to a lot of people. They do a lot more than most realize.”

Wed
05
Apr

Swenson defies stigma of autism

 

Korbin Swenson (left), is a 12-year-old child with autism. He recently went fishing with his grandfather, Laverne Swenson, and picked up a fossil from the stream on Laverne’s property in rural Clermont.  submitted photo

 

Swenson defies sitma of autism

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

It was evident fairly quickly that this wasn’t going to be a typical interview.

While I knew ahead of time that 12-year-old Korbin Swenson has autism, I swiftly realized that my preconceived notions were all wrong. 

It turns out I was the one who was going to be interviewed first. Korbin’s mom, Heidi Swenson, told me Korbin spent the 3½-hour car ride from Burlington to West Union coming up with questions to ask me.

Wed
05
Apr

Miss Elgin crowned

 

The crowning of Miss Elgin took place at the Elgin Public Library on Sunday, April 2. Pictured are 2016 Miss Elgin (left) Jaymes Dotzenrod with 2017 Miss Elgin Callie Lembke.

 

Miss Elgin crowned

 

 

Wed
05
Apr

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Carey

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Carey

 

 

Dennis and Roselene Carey of Oelwein will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a family dinner.

The couple were married April 8, 1967, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fayette.

Their family includes Kathy and Karen Carey of Maynard, Kevin Carey of Anamosa, Kim and Brian Reidy of Independence. They also have four grandchildren.

Anniversary greetings are welcome and may be sent to the Careys at 15 10th Ave. NW, Oelwein, IA 50662.

Wed
05
Apr

Fayette council learns fate of water/sewer grant

Fayette council learns fate of water/sewer grant

 

 

 

Vicki Rowland

Contributing Writer

 

 

If you look at it one way, the City of Fayette is doing too well to qualify for a sought-after Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Water/Sewer Grant. So the Fayette City Council learned Monday night.

IDEA spoke with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) staff person Diana Johnson on Friday, March 1. The rationale was explained for not awarding grant money to Fayette. This included water and sewer rates that were not high enough compared to other cities; no documented contamination occurring in the water/sewer lines; most of the work was sought for downtown and would not affect residents; and other applicants scored higher because they were applying due to DNR orders and deadlines.

Wed
05
Apr

30 years in business as Delores' Tax and Accounting

 

Delores Fagle Thom has had her Fayette tax and accounting business, Delores’ Tax and Accounting, for 30 years. After all of these years of doing payroll taxes, accounting, and tax returns for area farmers, businesses, and customers who have become lifelong friends, Thom still says, “I just love my work!” (Vicki Rowland photo)

 

30 years in business as Delores' Tax and Accounting

 

 

Vicki Rowland

Contributing Writer

 

 

Sitting among her numerous, neatly organized files of client records and IRS forms and beneath a wall bearing many awards for volunteerism, you quickly conclude that Delores Fagle Thom is and always has been one busy lady!

We decided to check in with Delores as she winds down the income tax season in her 30th year in business as owner of Delores’ Tax and Accounting in Fayette.  

Delores describes her company as an income tax business January through April that also does accounting and payroll taxes for her clients the remainder of the year. Because of her experience in agriculture, many of her clients are farmers, but she also helps small businesses, rental properties, truckers, and has several Amish accounts. In addition, Delores recently took the part-time Randalia city clerk position.

Wed
05
Apr

Dr. Michael Hollen

Dr. Michael Hollen

 

 

Dr. Michael Charles (Mike) Hollen, 71, of Waterloo, died at UnityPoint Health – Allen Hospital on Friday, March 24, 2017.

  He was born on June 3, 1945 in Waverly, Iowa, son of James and Lucille (Thompson) Hollen.

Dr. Hollen married Joni Andersen in Iowa City on May 3, 1969.

He graduated from Winterset High School in 1963; Michael then attended Iowa State University and the University of Iowa and graduated from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 1969. He received his Orthodontics training at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and graduated in 1976.

Dr. Hollen practiced as an Orthodontist in Waterloo starting in 1976 from his office location on Kimball Avenue, and expanded to a West Union location in the late 1980s. Through the years he provided service to thousands of patients throughout the Cedar Valley and surrounding areas. 

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