May 2020

Wed
27
May

Lyle and Nancy Bodensteiner

Lyle and Nancy Bodensteiner

 

Lyle and Nancy Bodensteiner are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

  Lyle found his sweetheart and Nancy found her hunk while growing up on farms outside of Ossian.  They were married at St. Francis de Sales Church on June 6, 1970, and lived in Ossian where Lyle owned and operated B&M Motors, while raising their four children.  In 1988 they moved to Waukon where Lyle began his insurance company and Nancy began serving the community as a housekeeper at the Waukon hospital where she worked for 21 years. 

Fifty years later their legacy includes four loving children - Brian (Cindy), Brenda (Ken) Klenk, Amy (Tim) Cummings, and Nikki Fish - and 11 adoring grandchildren - Celena, Hanna (Jed) , Ellie (Caleb), Annelise, Hunter, Kadee, Amelia, Reed, Holden, Seth, and Henry.

Wed
27
May

Gundersen Decorah Clinic offering COVID - 19 drive-up testing

Gundersen Decorah Clinic offering COVID - 19 drive-up testing

 

A COVID-19 drive-up testing site has been set up at Gundersen Decorah Clinic.

The testing site is operational from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. All patients must first call (563) 382-3140 for a pre-screening. If they meet qualifications for testing, patients will be scheduled for the drive-up testing.

If you are experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms outside of these drive-up testing hours of operation, call Gundersen Telephone Nurse Advisors 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at (608) 775-4454 or (800) 858-1050.

Wed
27
May

Winneshiek County Auditor seeing record absentee ballots

Winneshiek County Auditor seeing record absentee ballots

 

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

 

Winneshiek County Auditor Ben Steines is expecting a low voter turnout for the primary election June 2, but regardless, he says polling places and poll workers will be prepared for greeting voters in a safe manner.

Steines said the record number of absentee ballots already turned in indicate voters are voting early. For those who still want to cast their ballot in person, sanitation measures will be in place to help stop the spread of COVID – 19.

“We have consolidated down to three voting locations.  The poll workers at those locations will be provided masks, gloves, face shields, disinfectant spray, hand sanitizer, etc., to try to keep the location as clean as possible.  We are also encouraging voters to bring their own blue or black pen.  We will have pens, and will wipe them off between use, but voters could minimize this potential hazard by bringing their own.  For the safety of other voters and poll workers, voters are encouraged to practice safe social distancing while in the polling location,” Steines explained.

Wed
27
May

Brick City Bar and Grill opens its doors

Brick City owner Jeff Alber said he expects more changes coming at the bar and restaurant later this week after new restrictions are announced for bar openings. “The food part of Brick City is only a part of its personality. We have cancelled all of our live entertainment for the year. It’s definitely not a social place to go with these restrictions and that’s what we are,” Alber said. (Submitted photo)

 

Brick City Bar and Grill opens its doors

 

By Jack Swanson

jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

 

A shortage of customers and meat are the things that restaurant owner Jeff Alber is the most concerned about right now.

He opened the doors to Brick City Bar and Grill in Clermont last week on a limited basis after the Governor gave Iowa restaurants the okay to welcome customers back to the table. Restaurants were closed about two months ago due to concerns about the spread of COVID–19.

Friday, May 15, was opening night.

“We opened to see how it would go. We only did 25 percent dine in,” Alber related.

Wed
27
May

Elgin Library offers multiple social distancing activities

Theo Torkelson takes a peak at the Elgin Library’s new Look-and-Find Window, a kind of I-Spy game designed for social distancing.  (submitted photo)

 

Elgin Public Library offers multiple social distancing activities

 

By Megan Molseed

mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

While the Elgin Public Library is not ready to fully open up for regular business quite yet, library director Lisa Leuck, library employees, and the Elgin Public Library board are working hard to make sure materials are available to those who need them. 

“As with everyone during this time, I felt anxiety, disappointment, and sadness,” Leuck said of the day she closed the library doors in response to the COVID 19 pandemic.  “I also felt a lot of guilt for not being able to offer materials during a time when they were so needed.” 

Through this pick-up service, which was developed by the local library, area residents are able to check out almost any material they would like by first ordering the item, and then scheduling a pick up time.    

Wed
27
May

Heaven opening date not yet known

Lisa Goodwin isn’t sure yet whether she will open Heaven Boutique Winery when bars in Iowa get the okay on Thursday, May 28. The winery and gift shop is located near the entrance to the Volga River Recreation Area, north of Fayette. (Jack Swanson photo)

 

Heaven opening date not yet known

 

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

 

Heaven isn’t open.

And although it can open on Thursday, May 28, owner Lisa Goodwin doesn’t know if she’s ready.

Heaven Boutique Winery has had to have its doors closed since the end of March to comply with the COVID-19 restrictions on bars in Iowa. Located near the entrance to Volga Lake Recreation Area about four miles north of Fayette, off of Highway 150, the shop offers native Iowa wines, art and gifts by Iowa artists, and “one-of-a-kind” lodging. One of its main attractions, before the closure, was wine tastings every day, which would wet customers’ appetites to take home a bottle of their choice.

In the meantime Goodwin has been doing online sales and curbside pickup that she described as “worthwhile.”

Bars recently got the okay to open on May 28, provided they follow a set of protocols.

Wed
27
May

2020 Hawkeye Fun Day canceled

2020 Hawkeye Fun Day canceled

 

By Megan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

It started as a kid’s parade nearly four decades ago, and has since grown into one of the area’s most beloved traditions, the weekend-long Hawkeye Fun Days celebration. 

From the popular 5k run, to the Saturday morning parade, to games in the park and live music around town, to the infamous tractor pull, generations of area residents plan on spending that weekend in June enjoying the festivities.  

However, this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those festivities will not be happening. 

Wed
27
May

NFV coaches react to the return of high school sports

NFV coaches react to the return of high school sports

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

To say that the last several months in the lives of high school athletes has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride would be an understatement - but last week, coaches and athletes finally got some good news.

On Wednesday (May 20), Governor Kim Reynolds announced in her daily press conference that summer athletic seasons may be conducted for high school baseball and softball after a two-month activities suspension due to COVID-19. The announcement was followed by a joint statement by the Iowa High School Athletics Association (IHSAA) and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) that announced that practices may begin on Monday, June 1, with first contests as early as Monday, June 15. The IHSAA Board of Control and IGHSAU Board of Directors met prior to the statement to vote on the resuming of the 2020 season under Iowa Department of Education guidelines.

“I have to admit that I was a little surprised by the announcement at this time,” explained Dan Hovden, who has coached the North Fayette and North Fayette Valley baseball program for 28 seasons. “It’s great for the kids to be able to get back into a routine and to be able to compete again. I also think that it is great for mental health, as these athletes haven’t been able to be together or compete since their seasons were taken away earlier this spring.”

Hovden went on to say that while he is ambitious to get the season started, he admitted that there are plenty of questions left unanswered as of last week.

Wed
27
May

Virginia Schmelzer

Virginia Schmelzer

 

Virginia Schmelzer turns 90 on June 3.

Due to COVID-19, we are unable to celebrate with her in person. 

Virginia’s daughters and grandchildren are asking everyone to help celebrate her special day by sending her a card in care of Copper Creek: 609 Highway 150 N.,West Union, IA 52175.

Thank you for helping us with this secret project!

Wed
27
May

Marlys and Kerwin Anderson

Marlys and Kerwin Anderson

 

 Kerwin and Marlys Anderson are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married June 6, 1970, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Eldorado.

 They have two children, Troy (Jackie) and Travis, and two grandchildren, Addison and Braeden.

 In recognition of this special day, their family would like to honor them with a card shower. Any and all types of cards or notes are welcome.

 Congratulations and well wishes may be sent to 901 North Pine Street, West Union.

 No gifts are requested, please.

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