Clay Lieb passes under the Elkport/Garber Bridge on the last day of the kayak trip.

Trip down the Volga

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

It was the kind of trip Huck Finn would have loved…the kind of trip that conjures images and sounds of banjo-guitar battles….the kind of trip that seems to hold some type of spiritual awakening….the kind of trip that makes one truly respect the extreme goodness of the cheeseburger.

It was a trip suited to two self-proclaimed adventurers whose business counts on their experiences and how they can pass them on to their customers, whether it be through adventures of their own or through the cathartic effect of wearing adventure inspired clothing, or using adventure inspired equipment, or displaying adventure inspired themes.

The owners of Driftless Area Guide Company, Clay Lieb and Jake Dale, will probably never have to feel that they need to take a backseat to anyone in the Northeast Iowa area when it comes to outdoor adventure after kayaking four days and three nights, covering over 100 miles and following the Volga River from near its source to where it joins the Turkey River and ends up in the Mississippi River. It was certainly a trip up close and personal through the heart of their business’s inspiration, The Driftless.

Robert Scott

Robert John Scott was born to Marshall and Elizabeth (Campion) Scott on February 20, 1935 in Rochester, Minnesota.  He grew up in Chatfield, Minnesota where he attended school, worked his family farm, was involved in athletics and choral music, and graduated in 1953.  Bob joined the angels on November 12, 2019 surrounded by his children and loving wife after a lengthy illness.  

On June 6, 1959 he married the love of his life Betty Meyer in Austin, Minnesota.  They just celebrated their 60 year wedding anniversary.  To this wonderful union five children were born, Dan (Jennifer), Kelly (Mary), Jim (Angie), Julie (Marty Soat) and Kristyn (Barry Kell), fourteen grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

Council discusses WU winter festival

By Megan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

The West Union City Council met for its regular meeting on Monday, November 18.  

During the meeting, the council discussed a proposal for an in town winter festival, including fireworks.

“We have this huge opportunity to hold this little festival with everything we have available to the community, and with the new fireworks laws,” explained councilmember Isaiah Stansbery of the new state law that now allows fireworks during a portion of the winter as well as in July.  “It would be the only one of its kind in the area, so I’m sure it will bring people into town.”  

Some of the activities being considered for the event are, among other things, a chocolate bonfire, cross country skiing, ice-skating, and a poker run.

“We are still coming up with ideas and activities,” noted councilmember Neal Bentley.  “What we do know is that we want to tie it in with all of the great opportunities we already have, like the skating rink.” 

“It is a great way to kick-off our winter activities,” added West Union Park and Recreation director, Kathy Guyer of the proposed event.  “We have really been trying to get some going in town, and a winter festival would be a great way to show the community what is available.” 

“We have so many fun things to do in the warm weather,” added Stansbery.  “This would be a good way to embrace the winter, and start something during a slower time of year.” 

As part of the proposal, it was requested that the city help fund the cost of the fireworks for the event.

“We are estimating the cost to be about the same as it is for our July fireworks show, about $2,500 to $3,500,” said Stansbery.  

“We will look at other fundraising options, too,” added Bentley.  “We just wanted to see how much, if anything the city could put toward this first.”

Ron and Judy Duckett from 2003 diving in Tahiti. As you can see, Ron has camera in hand. (Submitted photo)

Dive, Dive, Dive

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

If you wanted to call Ron and Judy Duckett the Cousteau’s of Iowa, there would probably not be too many who would argue against it.

The retired couple, who now live at Cedar Court in West Union, have made over 800 underwater diving expeditions in locations all over the world.

At first glance one might think Ron and Judy would be better suited to water aerobics rather than diving sometimes over 100 feet into an ocean and swimming with sharks.

Since 1987 the couple has basically covered the globe in their passion to dive and see the wonders below the surface of the ocean.

Neither Ron or Judy, both having grown up in the Midwest (Ron, Stanley; Judy, Dows) had not even seen an ocean, let alone dive in one prior to starting their, some might say, compulsion to dive. This compulsion, desire, quest took them to places many people will never see, spanned a 32-year time period, and was a major monetary investment on their part.

It all started in a gravel pit in Nebraska in 1987. That’s where the Ducketts attained their official scuba diving certification. They were living in Nebraska at the time. Ron and Judy had met while attending college at Upper Iowa University in Fayette. Following retirement in 1994, the couple lived in rural Fayette and Clermont, before moving to West Union.

Judy’s brother-in-law, who lived in Seattle, WA, and an avid diver himself, had convinced the couple that they needed to go on a trip to the Caiman Islands.

“We weren’t sure we’d like it but the first time we jumped into the crystal water there we loved it,” Ron related.