Brinna Ehler is always a threat around the net, but she is also good in the backcourt as she proves here with this dig on one knee Tuesday, Oct. 5, against Turkey Valley in West Union. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Volleyball ties for 2nd in UIC

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

When NFV volleyball travelled to Guttenberg Thursday night it was a match that both teams really needed. 

The Eagles needed it for a chance to tie for the conference title, while the TigerHawks could clinch a tie for second with a win.

When the smoke cleared, NFV got the big W in four sets. The first game was a classic as the two teams duked it out until well into overtime. Eventually, the TigerHawks lost a 28-26 battle. 

Trey Darnall (11) returned to full action Friday after being part-tie due to a hamstring. Here the senior blows around left end for a second-quarter score. Keeping Sailor defenders away are Kale Rodgers (51) and Jackson Blue (64). (Jerry Wadian photo)

TigerHawks fall, 41-15

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The scoreboard said, Waterloo Columbus won, 41-15, and the stats were all in favor of the Sailors. However, as NFV head coach Justin Heins noted the next day during Coaches Corner, “Change a few plays in the first half, and it’s a different ballgame.”

  With the Sailors leading, 7-0, NFV drove inside WC’s 5. Liam McIntyre drove to the 3 and his forward motion was apparently stopped. In fact, the replay Saturday morning showed was there no forward progress for at least five full seconds and McIntyre’s knee had already hit the ground when the ball popped loose and the officials ruled a fumble with Columbus recovering.

Chris Ebbers, pastor at West Union United Methodist Church, helps stock shelves at the soon-to-open Open Hands Food Pantry. The pantry is located in the church and is a project of the Northeast Iowa Ministers' Association. Pastor Ebbers is vice president of that group. (Pam Reining photo)

New food pantry taking 'food for all' approach

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

“Fill the gap” was the catch phrase the North Fayette Ministerial Association used when they came up with their idea to start a new food pantry.

But for those who want to be specific it should be more like fill people up so they don’t have to be hungry.

The Open Hands Food Pantry is set to open for the first time on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m. It is located on the lower level of the United Methodist Church in West Union. There will be an open house on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“The thing we wanted to be sure of was that people could get food anytime,” said Pastor Ginny Olson of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Eldorado.

The new food pantry will be open every Tuesday from 2 to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., except the second Saturday of the month. Number of visits will not be limited.

“We’ve long been concerned about food insecurity issues in our area. We have a large number of students receiving free or reduced priced lunches, indicating that they are living at or below the federal poverty level. We also have many, many seniors on fixed income,” Pastor Pam Reining of the Illyria Community Church explained.

She pointed out that food is available at the Fayette County Food Shelf in Fayette, but visits are limited to one visit every 90 days, and the mobile food pantry, which comes one Saturday a month to West Union.

“But that leaves a lot of time that families may not have access to enough food. We seek to fill that gap by offering food to anyone who comes to Open Hands,” Pastor Reining pointed out.

Visitors will not be required to provide proof of need or place of residence, as is required at some food pantries.