January 2020

Wed
15
Jan

County libraries ask for help staying viable

Fayette Library Director Annette Butikofer (right), representing the Fayette County Library Association, addresses the county supervisors, asking for more monetary support in next year’s budget. Also pictured are (l-r) Supervisors Jeanine Tellin and Janell Bradley, and Auditor Lori Moellers. (Jack Swanson photo)

 

County libraries ask for help staying viable

 

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

Libraries are still being used on a regular basis and are filling an important niche in small town living.

That was the message that the members of the Fayette County Association of Libraries conveyed to the Board of Supervisors at a recent regular board meeting.

Director of the Fayette Library Annette Butikofer was the spokesperson for the group that included librarians from Maynard, Arlington, Clermont, West Union and Oelwein, besides Fayette. A total of 11 libraries are members of the group.

According to Butikofer, cost for libraries keep rising, from as low as 5 percent to as much as 29 percent.

“Kids are still having to have a safe place they can go to. Unfortunately many of them are asking us ‘Why don’t you have all the programs we have at school,” she related.

She pointed out that it isn’t just youth that use the libraries on a regular basis. She said libraries are important to adults in the communities as well.

Wed
15
Jan

Meghan Powers

Meghan Powers

 

Meghan Elizabeth Powers, age 34, of Wilton, Iowa, passed away at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics on Monday, January 13, 2020, after a courageous battle with Breast Cancer.  A gathering will be held from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 18, 2020 at the Grace United Church of Christ, Wilton.  A memorial service will be held at 10:30, immediately following the gathering.  In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for the benefit of her children.  Condolences may be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com

Wed
15
Jan

Kenneth Vagts

Kenneth Vagts

 

Kenneth Lawrence Vagts, 86, of Eldorado, Iowa died Friday, January 3, 2020 at his home in Eldorado. He was born September 14, 1933 to Lawrence and Mabel (Scheelhaase) Vagts in Eldorado, Iowa. Kenneth graduated from West Union High School, West Union, Iowa and attended college for one year at Area One, Calmar, Iowa.

Kenneth was united in marriage with Evelyn McIntyre on May 29, 1955 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Eldorado, Iowa. Seven children were born to this union. 

Wed
15
Jan

Duane Nefzger

Duane Nefzger

 

Former Iowa resident Duane C. Nefzger, 93, died peacefully January 5, 2020 at Apache Junction Health Center in Apache Jct., Arizona.

At his request, no service will be held.

Mr. Nefzger was born August 18, 1926 in Albany, Iowa to Elmer and Eva Pearl Nefzger.  Bud has always had a great sense of humor and enjoyed life to the fullest.  He farmed in Lima, worked with his brother Doyle in the creamery, and held various other jobs before being employed with John Deere.  Bud loved to go fishing and coon hunting during his younger years.  Bud resided in Oelwein, Iowa most of his life.  He retired after 25 years with John Deere and shortly afterwards he and his wife Ardath moved to Apache Jct., Arizona.  In Arizona, Bud managed a mobile home park for several years.   He enjoyed collecting John Deere memorabilia, tinkering with garage sale items, cracking pecans, visiting, and drinking a coke during his later years.  

Wed
15
Jan

NFV bowlers bested by Waukon

TigerHawk bowler Riley Magner rolls her ball during Friday afternoon’s home meet against Waukon. Magner rolled a two-game series of 180. (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

NFV bowlers bested by Waukon

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

The TigerHawk bowlers retuned to the lanes Friday afternoon to take on Waukon for the team’s first competition since the holiday break.

The girls lost to the Indians, 1,957-1,735. Waukon won the first round, 1,304-1,082, while the teams each had 653 in the Bake Rotation.

Erika Woodson rolled a team-high 151-129-280, while Emily Guyer had a 105-145-250. Sierra Kemp ended up with a 95-101-196, while Shelby Holden ha a 92-88-180 and Riley Magner had a 77-99-176.

The loss drops the TigerHawk girls to 1-8-11 on the season.

Wed
15
Jan

NFV halted by two UIC-leading teams

Making his return to the court last week, senior Brennan Imoehl fights with a Trojan player for possession during Friday night’s game against Turkey Valley. Earlier in the week, Imoehl dropped an impressive 22 points against MFL/MarMac. (Becky Walz photo)

 

NFV halted by two UIC-leading teams

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

The TigerHawk boys’ basketball team faced a gauntlet of opponents last week as NFV took on two 9-2 (7-1) teams that are both currently part of a three-way tie for the lead of the Upper Iowa Conference in MFL/MarMac and Turkey Valley (third is South Winneshiek).

MFL/MarMac

On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the TigerHawks headed to Monona for a battle with the MFL/MarMac Bulldogs.

“It was a tough, hard-fought game that came down to the last possession,” said coach Matt Krambeer after the tough, 60-54 loss. “We led by two with four minutes to go in a back-and-forth game. MFL (Mar/Mac) made enough free throws down the stretch to keep us at bay.”

Wed
15
Jan

NFV girls take on UIC leaders back-to-back

Justine Cowley has her eye on the prize as she heads toward the basket during North Fayette Valley’s road matchup against Turkey Valley on Friday. Cowley had three points and three rebounds in the 79-50 loss. (Becky Walz photo)

 

NFV girls take on UIC leaders back-to-back

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

The North Fayette Valley girls’ basketball team fell twice last week as it took on the two teams that are tied for the Upper Iowa Conference lead, MFL/MarMac and Turkey Valley.

MFL/MarMac

The TigerHawks saw a five-game win streak come to an end on Tuesday, Jan. 7, when No. 5-ranked MFL/MarMac (11-2) defeated them, 56-36.

The two local teams kept it even over the first eight minutes, but the Bulldogs began to pull away in the second quarter as they lead 25-18 as the teams went to the half.

Wed
15
Jan

NFV wrestlers go 3-1 at UIC duals

TigerHawk 170-pounder Dylan Durnan goes in deep for a double-legged takedown on his way to a 2-0 showing at the UIC Duals on Thursday. Durnan got wins via pin and major decision before going on to pin his way through his weight bracket and take first at the Flanagen Tournament on Saturday in Cresco. (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

NFV wrestlers go 3-1 at UIC Duals

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

North Fayette Valley wrestlers competed in the 2020 Upper Iowa Conference Duals on Thursday in Calmar, going 3-1 on the evening, including a pair of shutouts.

In the three wins over Tripoli, Clayton Ridge, and Postville, the TigerHawks outscored the opposing teams by a combined 224-9. NFV’s lone loss of the day came by a single point to South Winneshiek.

Clayton Ridge

The TigerHawks opened with the Clayton Ridge Eagles. With help from pins by Braeden Ellis (120), Levi Lauer (132), and Kale Rodgers (182), NFV won the dual by a score of 76-0. 

Wed
15
Jan

Plans for Prairie View to downsize

Plans are in the works to down-size Prairie View into a 16-bed facility. Currently the facility has a 50-bed capacity. It is located about five miles south of West Union. (Jack Swanson photo)

 

Plans for Prairie View to downsize

 

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

The Fayette County Supervisors heard plans about reducing the number of beds at Prairie view Residential Facility recently from County Social Services representative Bob Lincoln.

Lincoln said there is a commitment on CSS’s part to downsize the facility which currently brings in residents from all across the state.

“This is a real challenge for the local hospital and law enforcement,” Lincoln told the Board.

He proposed getting the number of beds down to 16. There are 50 available beds at the facility at this time.

Wed
15
Jan

2019 Citizen of the Year Fayette County Fair Board

For over sixty years The Fayette County Union has had the pleasure to name West Union's Citizen of the Year. This year's special award will be given to the 2019 Fayette County Fair Board at the community banquet held on Saturday, January 25. Fair Board members include (l-r) Eric Albert, Brian Boess, Keith Koch, Katlyn Lehs, Jerem White, Andy Bilden, Shawn Alber, Justin Steinlage, Kevin Converse, Matt Egan,  Jason Decker, and Mike Darnall. (File photo)

 

2019 Citizen of the Year Fayette County Fair Board

 

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

 

 

“It’s really neat that people are appreciative of what we’ve been able to accomplish.”

That was the reaction from Fayette County Fair Board President Kevin Converse of Hawkeye, when he found out that the fair board was named “2019 Citizen of the Year” by the Fayette County Union.

The members of the Fair Board will be honored along with the other Community Awards recipients at the West Union Events Center, Saturday, Jan. 25. The event is sponsored by the West Union Chamber to honor volunteers who have made an impact on the community.

Other Fair Board members include Keith Koch, Hawkeye; Justin Steinlage, West Union; Matt Egan, Sumner; Shawn Alber, Fayette; Eric Albert, Randalia; Mike Darnall, West Union; Andy Bilden, Oelwein; Brian Boess, Hawkeye; Jason Decker, Westgate; Katlyn Lehs, Fayette; and Jerem White, West Union.

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