August 2019

Wed
14
Aug

Family will kick it forward with kickball tournament benefit

Kort Steffens in the hospital after suffering serious injuries to his arm and hand in a UTV accident.

 

Family will kick it forward with kickball tournament benefit

 

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

A local family wants to “kick it forward” in an attempt to make sure that families that are going through some of the painful, emotional wrenching and financial stressful situations they went through, get the same help they did.

In June of 2018, 7-year-old Kort Steffens of Festina was involved in an UTV accident that caused serious soft tissue damage to his arm and hand as well as a fractured radius. He spent 18 days at Mayo Hospital in Rochester, Minn., fighting an infection and underwent six surgeries restoring his nerves and tendons.

Now after months of physical therapy, most of the function of his hand has been restored.  Throughout this time friends, family and the community gathered together to support Kort’s family with a “Kickin It For Kort” kickball tournament benefit and another gift that his family will never forget.

Wed
14
Aug

Curtis Staff

Curtis Staff

 

     Curtis Stanley Staff, 76, of Monona, Iowa died Sunday, August 4, 2019 at his home with his loving family at his side, following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born March 5, 1943 in West Union, Iowa to Alton and Lila (Larson) Staff. Curtis was baptized and confirmed at the Elgin Lutheran Church and attended Valley Community School. At an early age Curtis worked for farmers in Elgin area and also worked at Neiman Quarry. Curtis started his mechanical career working for Torkelson’s, Wilbur, and Owens Auto Dealerships.

 

Wed
14
Aug

Celebrating a milestone: Happy Birthday Kassidy!

 

Kassidy Lenhart has faced many challenges in her young life.  While her multiple surgeries and developmental delays are a part of her daily life, she has always kept a smile on her face while she stayed busy with multiple activities, including competing in the area Special Olympics events, even receiving many medals for her success in the competitions.  

 

Celebrating a milestone: Happy Birthday Kassidy!

 

By Meagan Molseed

mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

Last Saturday, members of the Lenhart and Lenth families gathered at the home of Eldon and Carol Lenth for an incredible celebration.  Kassidy Lenhart was celebrating a milestone – her 18th birthday.

While any young person finds this milestone to be an exciting one, for Kassidy it is especially significant as during her first few years of life, no one was entirely sure the spirited young woman would live past her first few years.

“She has always not only defied the odds, but she has kept a smile while doing it,” said Kassidy’s mother Larene Lenhart of her daughter’s journey.  “We knew she was strong from day one, but she had a lot of battles over the years.” 

In August 2001, Larene Lenhart was nearly 34 weeks pregnant with her daughter Kassidy when something of concern struck the young mother.

“Up until then, everything seemed to be going smoothly,” the Elgin woman.  “All of a sudden I realized I hadn’t felt her move in awhile.” 

Realizing that the lack of movement could be related to any number of things, Larene decided to keep a close eye on what was happening as she followed her daily routines.

“I knew that sometimes when you are at that point in a pregnancy, movement can slow down the bigger the baby gets,” she remembered.  “It just wasn’t normal for that pregnancy though.” 

Larene, who worked at the Gundersen Lutheran clinic, mentioned her concerns at work that day.

“We decided to hook up the Doppler to listen for a heartbeat just to make sure everything was ok,” she said.  “At that point in time, everything registered just fine.  We found a heartbeat and it was right where it was supposed to be.” 

Despite the reassuring Doppler results, Larene just couldn’t shake her concerns.

Wed
14
Aug

Work to continue until November on Highway 18

Installing new cement sidewalks and ramps in Clermont is part of the Highway 18 repair and repaving project by the Iowa DOT.

 

Work to continue until November on Highway 18

 

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

Regular commuters from Clermont to Postville on Highway 18 shouldn’t expect to see an end to their wait times anytime soon.

Iowa DOT resident construction engineer Ron Loecher said the repaving and widening project would probably be going on until sometime in November.

“Right now we’re right on schedule. We’re doing some safety work putting in pipe extensions and putting in fill along the shoulders to create a slope between the road and the shoulder. This will give motorists a easier chance to recover if they happen to go off the paving,” Loecher explained.

He also said the project includes widening the shoulder with four feet of asphalt along the edges. 

Wed
14
Aug

Randalia Methodist Church celebrating 125th Anniversary

Randalia United Methodist Church is celebrating the 125th year of their church building and their 98th Annual Homecoming, Sunday, Aug. 25. Congregation members include (front, l-r) Sheila Johnson, Ron Ahrens, Norm Klink, Richard Bishop, Eldon and Shirley Rose, Pat Custer, Marlene Mayo, (back) Geri Winkie, Pastor Julie Ahrens, Audrey Hofer, Shirley Bunn, Bonnie Bishop, Glenda Campbell, Cheryl and Roger Arthur, Marj Bunn, and Fred and Arlene Klatt.

 

Randalia Methodist Church celebrating 125th Anniversary

 

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

The congregation of the Randalia United Methodist Church is celebrating the 125th year of their church building and their 98th Annual Homecoming, Sunday, Aug. 25.

Past members and friends are invited to attend the special Sunday service.

Pastor Julie Ahrens will conduct the morning service at 11 a.m. Rev. Steve Pohlman, who served at Randalia from 1965 to 1969, will share the message.

Special music will be shared during the service. Those attending will be invited to sing in the choir and practice will be held during the coffee hour.

Coffee will be served at 10 a.m. and the worship service will be held at 11 a.m. The potluck will follow the morning service. A short program will be shared in the afternoon.

Wed
14
Aug

Local cook is a national recipe contest winner

Zach Wulfekuhle, manager at Fayette’s DT’s Pub and Primetime Pizza in Fayette recently found out his original recipe for Bourbon Chicken and Waffle Sliders was a winner in the Neighborhood to Nation Recipe Contest, hosted by General Mills Foodservice. Wulfekuhle will go on to compete in the grand prize contest later this month. (Megan Molseed photo) 

 

Local cook is a national recipe contest winner

 

By Meagan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

“I’ve been cooking since I was young,” smiled Zach Wulfekuhle as he leaned against the counter of DT’s Pub and Primetime Pizza in Fayette.  

“I’ve had a hand in what comes out of the kitchen here, since about 16,” he continued.  “Pretty much since I was legally allowed to be cooking!” 

Never one to really call himself a ‘foodie,’ Wulfekuhle, who manages and cook’s at the local establishment that is owned by his parents, Nancy and Tim of Fayette, decided to take a leap with his kitchen-centered talent earlier this year as he entered the Neighborhood to Nation Recipe Contest, hosted by General Mills Foodservice.  

“I had always enjoyed cooking, but I never took it too seriously, until I started watching the Food Channel with my girlfriend,” Wulfekuhle laughed, referring to his longtime girlfriend, Clarissa’s fascination with the popular channel.  “She’s a Food Network addict, so on any given day we’d be watching something that channel!” 

While Wulfekuhle never doubted the tastiness and creativity of his recipe entry, Bourbon Chicken and Waffle Sliders, he was shocked to hear that he had been awarded top recipe winner for the north central region of the contest.  

“I knew it was good, but I guess I didn’t anticipate it to do this well! ” the 2008 North Fayette graduate exclaimed with a grin.  

Wed
14
Aug

Gary Smith

Gary Smith

 

Gary Linn Smith, 77, died August 7, 2019 at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital after a short illness. He was born March 3, 1942 to Harold and Elsa (Scheelhasse) Smith in West Union, Iowa. 

After graduating from North high school in West Union, Gary attended Milwaukee Institute of Technology and became a baker, working in Iowa Falls for ten years. He joined his brother, Allan farming in partnership for fourteen years until 1987. He then worked as a home health aide in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin until his retirement in 2004. After a medical emergency, he spent the last three years at Great River Care Center Assisted Living in McGregor, Iowa. 

Wed
14
Aug

James "Jim" Kamaus

James "Jim" Kamaus

 

James “Jim” L. Kamaus, 69, of West Union, Iowa died Monday, August 5, 2019 at Gundersen Palmer Hospital, West Union, Iowa.

James was born April 5, 1950 to Lloyd and Deloris (Thompson) Kamaus in West Union, Iowa. He was baptized at First Lutheran St. Olaf Parsonage and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Ossian, Iowa on May 24, 1964. James graduated from North High School in West Union, Iowa in 1969.

 

In 1965, Jim started working with Bernell Kleepe and in April 1971 he left to go work for Deerings until he started farming in Eldorado on Bill Pape’s farm in the fall of 1977. On January 7, 1997 they had a farm sale. Right after the farm sale he started Kamaus Trucking Grain hauling for two years. He then went to work and drove semi for D& J Trucking until his health failed. Jim loved tractors, fishing and spending time with his grandchildren.

 

Wed
14
Aug

Sports Drink Scrimmage to change

Sports Drink Scrimmage to change

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

The annual sports Drink scrimmage that is the firsts public showcase for NFV football will still happen, but there will be some significant changes.

It will not be held in West Union. Rather, new head coach Justin Heins has scheduled a competitive scrimmage with Maq. Valley in Delhi. 

Wed
14
Aug

Warren Sauerbrei

Warren Sauerbrei

 

 Warren Sauerbrei will be honored on his 90th birthday with an open house on Sunday, Aug. 25, at the West Union Event Center, 10201 Harding Rd., West Union.

  A lunch will be served at noon with an open house being held from 2-4 p.m.

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