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December 2018

Wed
05
Dec

Ag Farm Toys ships over 2,000 packages during holiday season

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-12-05 16:28

 

The holiday shopping season is the busiest time of year for local business owner Tracy Johnson of Clermont. Her brick-and-mortar store and online business Ag Farm Toys will ship over 2,000 packages from its rural Clermont location during this Christmas shopping season, making for some long nights for the small-business owner.  Chris DeBack photo

 

Ag Farm Toys ships over 2,000 packages during holiday season

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

 

The holiday shopping season is the busiest time of year for retail businesses, big and small.

One small-business owner burning the midnight oil in northeast Iowa is Tracy Johnson of Farm Ag Toys/Iowa Diecast Toys in rural Clermont. With half her business’ sales coming in the fourth quarter, she doesn’t have a lot of time to herself if she wants to keep her business running smoothly. 

“I wake up early because my brain starts thinking about what I have to do for the day,” Johnson said. “I also stay up late because the phone isn’t ringing at midnight, so I can get more stuff done.” 

Wed
05
Dec

Enjoy 'Christmas in Elgin' on Thursday

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-12-05 16:24

 

 

The 2019 Elgin Homecoming Committee will host its Second Annual Soup Supper Fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at Torkelson Motors in Elgin during “Christmas in Elgin.” Renae Lembke (left) served Ellie Medberry a bowl of delicious broccoli and cheese and soup at last year’s Soup Supper Fundraiser.  File photo

 

Enjoy 'Christmas in Elgin' on Thursday

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

Don’t miss “Christmas in Elgin” and the 2019 Elgin Homecoming Soup Supper Fundraiser on Thursday, Dec. 9, in Elgin. 

Wed
05
Dec

Fairbank cheers removal of wind turbines

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-12-05 16:16

 

One of three wind turbines sits deconstructed in a field outside of Fairbank on Friday, Nov. 16. A district court judge ordered three wind turbines to be dismantled after deciding that Fayette County provided the developers permits illegally. Photo by Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register

 

Fairbank cheers removal of wind turbines

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

 

A three-year fight between citizens and the City of Fairbank versus Optimum Renewables, LLC., is nearing the end with the dismantling of three wind turbines near Fairbank. 

This saga began in 2015 when Fayette County zoning officials granted Optimum Renewables building permits to construct three new wind turbines within a half-mile of a subdivision on the east side of Fairbank. 

The issue centered around a 1973 Fayette County zoning ordinance, which didn’t feature specific language to govern modern-day wind turbines. Optimum Renewables was issued an allowable-use permit because Jim Burns of Decorah, an attorney Fayette County uses for zoning issues, agreed that the parameters of the project fell in line with the County’s rules and regulations for electric power transmission. He further agreed that the project didn’t require a special-use permit issued by the Board of Adjustment (BOA). 

Several Fairbank residents argued during a Nov. 2, 2015, Fayette County Supervisors meeting that it isn’t transmission because the source comes from a wind turbine and that the attorney interpreted the zoning issue parameters incorrectly. They sued Fayette County and the wind turbine developer. 

Wed
05
Dec

Mary Billmeyer

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-12-05 16:05

Mary Billmeyer

 

 

Mary Billmeyer, age 87, of rural West Union, IA, died on Monday, Nov. 19, 2018 at Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union, IA.

A Celebration of Life was held Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 at Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, Chekal Chapel, in Fort Atkinson with Rev. Don Best presiding. 

Mary Margaret Billmeyer was born on Oct. 3, 1931 the daughter of T.R. and Grace (Winter) Alton in Hawkeye, Iowa.  

She graduated from Alpha High School in 1947. 

Mary’s teen years (in Alpha) were spent assisting new mothers with Doc Friehle and tending the family cattle. Her remaining hours of the day were in Grandpa Winter’s grocery store (currently Alpha Tap), fighting off banana spiders and tending the pickle barrel.  

Wed
05
Dec

Vonna Buchholz

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-12-05 16:00

Vonna Buchholz

 

 

 

Vonna “Sally” I. Buchholz (Bishop) of Fitchburg, Wis., formerly of Beloit, Wis., and West Union, Iowa died peacefully Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 in her home. 

The twins, Vonna and Bonna, were born June 5, 1931 to the late Clifford and Agnes Bishop (Saltsgiver) at their grandparents’ Saltsgiver farmhouse.

 Vonna married Marvin Buchholz on Jan. 1, 1950, at which time they began their farming life together. Believing in lifelong learning, they graduated with teaching degrees from the “original” Upper Iowa University in 1965.   

As her 28-year teaching career in Beloit, Wis., ended, she continued taking SLU classes at Beloit College. 

Vonna had a passion for writing, which allowed her to leave a legacy of family stories. Although family came first, her other special interests were gardening, walking, piano, reading, sewing and discussing politics.  

Wed
05
Dec

NFV boys' bowling wins another

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-12-05 15:55

 

Brian Roulson flings the ball down the lane in recent action at Lilac Lanes in West Union. Friday, the senior helped the NFV boys’ bowling team claim its second consecutive win. This came Friday in Decorah as Roulson rolled a 188-155-343; he also rolled strikes during the final frame of the Baker Rotation. (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

NFV boys' bowling wins another

 

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

NFV bowlers split with Decorah on Friday in Decorah. The boys won their second match of the young season, 2535-2451. The girls fell, 1464-2031.

 The boys won the singles, 1725-1685 and the Baker Rotation, 810-766. A Viking rolled the high game, 220, but the TigerHawks had the better averages.

Wed
05
Dec

1st quarter woes trip G/BB

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-12-05 15:51

 

NFV’s Emma Ney beats two Turkey Valley players upcourt as the sophomore stops and pops a trey in action Tuesday, Nov. 27 at Jackson Junction. The TigerHawks lost the season opener to the Trojans, 60-53. (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

1st quarter woes trip G/BB

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

Poor first quarters came back to haunt the NFV girls’ basketball team last week as it dropped the first two games of the season.

 Tuesday, Nov. 27, in Jackson Junction, Turkey Valley hit the TigerHawks with a 21-8 blitz in the opening quarter. The next eight minutes were also bad as the Trojan press put NFV in a 37-18 hole at the break. NFV would rally in the second half, but fell, 60-53.

 After facing the 19-point deficit to start the second half, the TigerHawks righted the ship, outscoring TV, 35-23, over the final 16 minutes. NFV even pulled to within three points, 51-48, with two minutes to play. However, the Trojans held on for the win. The big difference came at the foul line as TV hit 19 of 32 to just 4-9 for NFV.

Wed
05
Dec

Boys' BB wins season opener

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-12-05 15:47

 

 

Senior Brooks Hovden stole the ball from a Turkey Valley player and converts the defensive stop to two points as he lays the ball up with a pair of Trojans are in pursuit. NFV won this season-opener, 54-41, Tuesday, Nov. 27, in Jackson Junction.. (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

Boys' BB wins season opener

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

The NFV boys’ basketball team opened the 2018-19 season with a big 54-41 victory over Turkey Valley, one of the preseason conference favorites, on Tuesday, Nov. 27, on the Trojans’ home court. 

  Both teams started slowly on offense, with the first point coming on a TV free throw at the 4:47 mark of the opening quarter.

  The TigerHawks’ Kole Johnson made the game’s first basket with 4:21 to play, making it 3-2 in favor of the Trojans. 

 After that, NFV took over, scoring 11 of the next 12 points to lead, 13-4, at the end of the first quarter.

Wed
05
Dec

Wrestlers open the season

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-12-05 15:43

 

NFV’s Levi Lauer controls a first-round opponent at 126 during the Cliff Keen Tournament in Independence Friday night. Lauer won the match and his next one before suffering an injury in the third match and defaulting the final two matches. (Dick Fridley, Oelwein Daily Register photo) 

 

Wrestlers open the season

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

NFV wrestling opened its season over the weekend. One group competed at the Cliff Keen Invitational in Independence on Friday ,and eight JV wrestlers went to the tournament in Jesup on Saturday.

The Cliff Keen Invite is one of the largest in the state with over 30 teams from several states competing in two different brackets. The TigerHawks finished a very respectable 26th, while Christian Brothers College High School of St. Louis, Mo., won and host Independence placing 11th.

NFV had six wrestlers qualify as place winners.

Wed
05
Dec

'Messiah' to take center stage at UMC on Sunday

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-12-05 15:40

 

The 77th performance of G.F. Handel’s “Messiah” will be performed by community members at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at United Methodist Church on Hwy. 18 East in West Union. Soloists in this year’s performance include (front, l-r) Carol Jensen, Mallory Hanson, Barb Bowers, Carrie Forbes, Megan Gavin, Emily Stene, and Kimberly Pont; (back) Ben Friedrich, Kyle Harms, Brandon Douglas, Isaiah Stansbery, Doug Poppen, and Leslie Poppen.  Chris DeBack photo

 

'Messiah' to take center state at UMC on Sunday

 

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

 

The 77th annual performance of George Handel’s “Messiah” will be presented at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at United Methodist Church in West Union. 

Since the beginning of November, seasoned veterans of the production and new performers have gathered at the church to rehearse the challenging oratorio so that they can bring Handel’s words to life on stage. 

Cheryl Hanson of Fayette is a newcomer to the “Messiah” performance and is looking forward to checking off this item from her bucket list. 

“The ‘Messiah’ is almost magical and, for me, it was a bucket list thing that I always wanted to do,” Hanson said with a wide smile. “The notes themselves and the fact that I haven’t sung in a choir in almost 30 years is going to be a challenge, but one that I am excited to take on. I have used the YouTube rehearsal aid as a training tool, and that has helped a lot.”

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