July 2019

Wed
17
Jul

Ossian Fest to feature The El Caminos

Members of The El Caminos band, which will be performing at Ossian Fest this year, include (l-r) Nick Lenzen, bass guitar; Jeffrey Bahr, drums; James Deeney, vocals; and Jason Herman, guitar. (submitted photo)

 

Ossian Fest to feature The El Caminos

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

This year’s annual Ossian Fest celebration is fast approaching and entertainment for the fun, town-wide celebration has officially been released!

The City of Ossian and Ossian Crown Club’s theme for the 2019 event is “Rhyme Time in Ossian.” The event will be held on Saturday, Aug. 3. Events include a community breakfast, fire fighters’ water ball games, car show, kids’ pedal tractor pull, balloon artist, face painting, kids' games, singer/guitarist Steve Schroeder, food booths, Moo Mobile, Grand Parade and the The El Caminos. 

Wed
17
Jul

9th annual FD golf Tourney Saturday

Clermont Fire Chief, Randy Wiedenhoff, prepares for the ninth annual Clermont and Elgin Fire Department golf tournament at Pleasant Valley Golf and Sports Club in Clermont. In the past, proceeds from the event have gone toward the purchase of a variety of equipment needed for the departments.  This year, the Clermont fire department hopes to purchase a drone with the funds.  (Megan Molseed photo) 

 

9th annual FD golf Tourney Saturday

 

By Meagan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

For nearly a decade the Clermont and Elgin Fire departments have been drawing quite the crowd one weekend in July for the annual golf tournament at Pleasant Valley Golf and Sports Club in Clermont. 

“It has been a great fundraiser for the departments,” said Randy Wiedenhoff, Clermont’s current fire chief.  “We have been able to raise funds for many different things over the years.  It’s a fun thing for the public to do and it pays off for the community.” 

In addition to the best-shot tournament, there will also be a raffle, drawing to be held after the tournament.

Wed
17
Jul

RADA thrives under Valley graduates tutelage

Gary Nelson - Class of 1977

 

RADA thrives under Valley graduates tutelage

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

Rada Manufacturing in Waverly has thrived under the watchful eye of company president Gary Nelson. 

Nelson, a 1977 graduate of Valley High School, has seen the small, family-owned business grow from 27 employees when he in 1981 to 124 employees at its peak. 

Born in 1959, Nelson is the second eldest of five children of Art Jr. and Yvonne (Chapman) Nelson. While his parents were from Clermont and Elgin, respectively, Nelson was born in Cedar Falls and spent the first 10 years of his life in Hudson. 

The grandson of former Montauk caretaker Art Nelson Sr., Gary recalled all the fun he used to have visiting his grandparents at Montauk every summer. 

“The house on the property below the mansion was where my grandparents lived,” he said. “That is where I learned to bale hay, milk cows, and mow the lawn. I would come up at least once every summer for a week, and it was the best week every summer.”

Wed
17
Jul

New FC Economic Development meet with potential partners

The new Fayette County Economic Development & Tourism organization held its first official meeting on Wednesday, July 10, with potential partners from Fayette County cities, utilities, and banks gathering to meeting and ask questions of new Fayette County Economic Development Director Mallory Hanson. Chris DeBack photo

 

New FC Economic Development meets with  potential partners

 

By Chris Deback

 

cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

Fayette County Economic Development and Tourism (FCEDT) held its initial meeting on Wednesday, July 10, at its office at 101 North Vine Street in West Union. 

Mallory Hanson, FCEDT director, invited previous partners of the now defunct Fayette County Economic Development, which includes cities, utilities, and banks in Fayette County. In attendance were representatives from the cities of Oelwein, Fayette, West Union, Hawkeye, and Elgin, as well as Allamakee-Clayton REC, East-Central REC, Oelwein Chamber & Area Development, First State Bank in Fayette and Sumner, Fidelity Bank & Trust in Oelwein, Community Bank of Oelwein and Bank Iowa in Waucoma. 

Employees of Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development were also in attendance including Laura Friest, executive director, Paul Berland, who will be executive director when Friest retires, and Amanda Streeper, a RC&D program manager. 

Hanson opened the meeting by introducing herself and the staff members from RC&D in attendance. She noted that the purpose of the meeting was to gather potential partners and let them know how economic development will move forward in Fayette County, as well as allow them to ask any questions or voice any concerns. Friest gave a little history on RC&D.

Wed
17
Jul

Beverly Friederich

Beverly Friederich

 

 

Beverly Louise Friederich, 86, of Elgin, Iowa died Sunday, July 7, 2019 at Stoney Brook in West Union, Iowa.  Beverly Louise was born February 3, 1933 to Louis and Vera (Gress) Sutter in Elgin, Iowa. She attended Elgin Schools.

Beverly was united in marriage with Jacob Friederich, Jr. on January 18, 1949 in Elgin, Iowa.

In addition to being a farm wife, Beverly was owner/operator of Valley Café in Elgin for eleven years. She also baked cakes for weddings, graduations and other special occasions. She enjoyed gardening, fishing, quilting and going to the boat. She loved being a grandma, great-grandma and great-great-grandma. Beverly was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. She was also active in Elgin Historical Society.

Wed
17
Jul

Gayle (Crandall) Fisher

Gayle (Crandall) Fisher

 

A memorial service for Gayle (Crandall) Fisher will be held on Saturday, July 20.

The service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in West Union at 10:30 am, followed by a simple lunch at the church.

Gayle passed away on March 31, 2019. 

 
Wed
17
Jul

SB advances to semis before falling

NFV freshman Zaida Moore learns the hard way what is meant be a “hard tag” – even if the fielder doesn’t have the ball – during Wednesday’s Class 3A playoff game against Union. The TigerHawk dropped a pair of sacrifice bunts during the game. She was safe on his one, and the other brought fellow freshman Alyssa Bohr home all the way from first for NFV’s final run of the 4-2 win. (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

SB advances to semis before falling

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

For the second season in   a row NFV advanced to the Class 3A regional semi final.

This year, the TigerHawks advanced with a tough, 4-2, win over Union Wednesday night in West Union.

The Knights struck first, pushing across two runs in the top of the first on a pair of line singles, a walk, and a sac fly. However, TigerHawk pitchers held the visitors in check the rest of the way, allowing just one more hit.

Wed
17
Jul

TigerHawks open BB playoffs with a win

A dirty, dusty Dylan Muggler fires another strike Saturday against Starmont in Waukon. The NFV senior fanned eight in four innings of work to earn the W in the TigerHawks’ 12-1 victory in the Class 2A District playoff game. The dust and dirt on the uniform came on the base paths as the NFV lead off hitter singled twice and drove in three runs. (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

TigerHawks open BB playoffs with a win

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

NFV opened the Class District baseball playoffs Saturday night in Waukon, with a 12-1 victory over Starmont.

The TigerHawks opened the bottom of the first with a run on Dylan Muggler’s single, stolen base, and an RBI single up the middle by Lance Butikofer.

The Stars, just 1-28 on the season, struck back in the second with a pair of walks, a hit batsman, and an error to tie the game at 1-1.

However, the bottom of the inning gave NFV a 6-1 lead as it used three hits, a couple of walks, a hit batter, and three wild pitches to score five times.

Wed
17
Jul

Supervisors considering $5 million GO bond

These two core samples from W-14 near Hawkeye that give a snapshot of the asphalt road’s life showing the base, hot-mix asphalt layers, and seal coats that have been put on the road. The core on the right is particularly concerning because it shows a road that has a failing inner layer. If the Supervisors are able to bond for $5 million reconstruction of W-14 from Hawkeye to Highway 93, which was slated to be done in 2021 will be moved up to summer 2020.  Chris DeBack photo

 

Supervisors considering $5 million GO bond

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

The Fayette County Supervisors are exploring the idea of bonding for $5 million to repair asphalt roads in dire need of reconstruction. 

At their meeting on Monday, July 8, Fayette County Engineer Joel Fantz brought two core samples from W-14 to his weekly update. One sample, that held together, showed that cold in-place recycling would be possible for the project. The technique recycles preexisting asphalt on the road as a layer before two more asphalt lifts are laid down at a later date. 

The other sample showed a dreary picture of a road that is failing. When the sample was cored out, the middle layer of the road crumbled and broke away from the top and bottom layer, so that the sample was in three pieces. Fantz said that shows that the inner layer of the road was failing. W-14 isn’t the only asphalt road in the county with similar problems. 

“Not all of our center layers are failing, but there are enough of them that we can’t afford to wait,” said Fantz. 

Wed
17
Jul

Something for everyone at the 166th Annual Fayette County Fair

Something for everyone at the 166th Annual Fayette County Fair

 

By Meagan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

The Fayette County Fair will be kicking off its 166th year on Tuesday, July 23 and, as always there are plenty of family-friendly activities for all ages! 

All events are free unless otherwise noted. For a complete list of activities, including 4-H show times, please visit www.fayettecoiafair.com. Or check our special 2019 Fayette County Fair section in this week’s Union.

Returning to the Fayette County Fair will be Midwest Rides from Elk Ridge, Minn.

Last year, Midwest Rides stepped in to replace the company the Fair Board had initially contracted when they backed out in the last moment, citing it was unable to keep its obligation to the fair.

The Fayette County Fair Board worked tirelessly to find another carnival to take over. 

“Last year they really stepped in when we needed them in a pinch and they really came through with some great ride options,” said Fayette County Fair Board member, Justin Steinlage.  “This year, there was more time to schedule us in and the rides and midway games should be even better than what we had last year!” 

As with last year, the rides will be free to all fairgoers thanks to many generous donations from towns throughout the county as well as private contributions from area businesses.  

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