Darin Donlan

Darin Donlan, 46, of West Union, IA (formerly of Calmar), died on Friday, June 29, 2018 at Gundersen Health System in LaCrosse, WI.

Funeral services were held Thursday, July 5, at Calmar Lutheran Church in Calmar with Pastor Anita Nuetzman officiating.

Interment was in Orleans Lutheran Cemetery in Cresco. Casket bearers were all of Darin’s special friends at the Washington and Jefferson Houses in West Union. Honorary casket bearers were Paul Ehler, Brady Mikkelson, Ryan Monroe, Gary Novotny, and Ken Kubesh.

Arrangements were handled by Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, Decorah.

Darin Lew Donlan, the son of Dale and LaVonne (Midthus) Donlan, was born Nov. 30, 1971 at the Winneshiek County Hospital in Decorah, IA.  

Andy Grimes

Andy J. Grimes, 86, of San Rafael, Calif., formerly of West Union, died Saturday, June 9, 2018, at home with his family at his bedside.

At his request, there were no services.

Andy was born March 8, 1932, to Andy Sr. and Aloe Grimes in West Union. 

He grew up in rural West Union, attending and graduating from West Union High School in 1950.

He later went to California, where he enlisted in the United States Navy during the Korean War.

Andy moved to Marin County, Calif., where he had a few jobs here and there, until one summer he was offered a job with the Sausalito Police Department by his cousin’s husband, who happened to be the chief at the time. When summer was over, Andy was hired on in San Anselmo, Calif. 

On March 5, 1961, he married Kathy Winding in San Rafael, Calif. They became the parents of two children, Polly and Andy III.

Brooks Hovden wears a protective mask while pitching the TigerHawks to a 14-4 victory in the District opener Saturday over Sumner-Fred. The mask became necessary after the junior had a bunt attempt earlier in the week go into the air, breaking his nose. Despite that, Hovden singled twice and went 3 1/3 allowing three hits and three runs. He also had a bunt attempt during the game. (Kris Van Sickle photo) 

TigerHawk BB advances

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

NFV advanced in the Class 2A District 5 baseball playoffs Saturday in Waukon, pasting Sumner-Fredericksburg, 14-4, in six innings.

  Both teams pushed two runs across in the first, but the Columbia blue, black and silver gave itself breathing space with a six-run second. Two more in the third and fifth innings gave NFV a 13-4 lead later ended the game in the sixth with a solo run.

 In all, the TigerHawks collected 11 hits and six walks; they also stole six bases.

These two hoop houses owned by K&K Gardens are located on what is called South Street, a right-of-way owned by the City of Hawkeye. Hawkeye had given Keith Kovarik, owner of K&K Gardens, until July 30 to move the hoop houses; however, Kovarik claims that he was given permission many years ago by the City to place them there. It was brought up last year, when Tim and John Bruihler thought the hoop houses were located on their farmland. Chris DeBack photo

Hawkeye's South Street vacation headed to litigation

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The vacation of South Street has been before the Hawkeye City Council for little over a year now. It was up for discussion at the council’s last meeting on Monday, July 2. 

South Street is a city right-of-way along the southern border of Hawkeye that runs between John and Tim Bruihler’s farmland and K&K Gardens and Trinity Lutheran Church, among other Hawkeye residents.  

Mayor Don Kelly opened the meeting by asking if there was at least a 4-to-1 vote (supermajority) to pass the vacation of South Street as discussed at a special meeting in June. Councilmembers John Campbell and Josh Hanson both said they wouldn’t vote in favor of the vacation. When asked after the fact why neither would vote in favor of the vacation, both declined to comment due to pending litigation. The Bruihlers also declined to comment.

According to the minutes from the June special meeting, Councilmember Angela Weidemann asked for clarification on a land swap between the City and the Bruihlers. Mike Shimak of Shimak Surveying stated that in 1959, an easement was established with a previous property owner for the city to enter the old lift station where Scott Zell lives. When the City had the property surveyed, it turns out that the easement was actually on the Bruihlers’ land. The survey also discovered that the Bruihlers had been farming a portion of City property by the lift station and City shop bunkers. 

It was noted during the meeting that Tim Bruihler had sent the City a land-swap proposal that included property owners along South Street vacating any property currently on the City-owned land. After further discussion, the mayor asked that the City Attorney and Kovarik’s attorney, Jerem White, step outside to discuss the matter.