Siblings by Choice is a mentoring program at West Central High School that pairs a high school student with an elementary school student. WC high school senior Mary McDonough has been with the program for three years. Her first year she was a floating mentor, and the last two years she has been paired with third-grader Andy Nelson. McDonough and Nelson meet at least once a week to play with LEGOs or work on homework during inside recess. The two can also be found having breakfast together on occasion. Chris DeBack photo

Mentoring pushes McDonough to be her best

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

There is more to mentoring than programs like Big Brothers, Big Sisters. 

Siblings By Choice at West Central High School is an example of how even some of the most unlikely people — high school students — can have a positive influence on a young child's life. 

Because West Central houses all its grades in one building, Steve Milder, WC guidance counselor, created Siblings By Choice to pair together a high school and elementary school student to be positive influences in each other’s lives. 

One such pair is West Central senior Mary McDonough and her little third-grader, Andy Nelson. McDonough open-enrolled into West Central from Oelwein her freshman year, and she has been involved with the program since her sophomore year. 

As an eighth-grader, she made the decision to switch schools because she thought West Central would be more academically prudent for her future goals of attending medical or veterinary school. This foresight made her a natural choice to be involved with the program. 

Nine West Union community members were presented with volunteer awards at the West Union Community Awards Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 20, at the West Union Events Center on Hwy. 18 just outside West Union. Honored were (front, l-r) Gay Bowden, Historic Preservation; Roger Gamm, 2017 Citizen of the Year; Laura Weidemann, Youth; and Christine Reierson, Education; (back) Tim Feldman, Community Service; Chris Ebbers, Health; Michele Myrom, Religion; Bob Sadler, Iowa Main Street Volunteer of the Year for West Union; and Bank 1^st, represented by Tracy Weidemann, Business of the Year. A silent auction held during the banquet raised over $650 for the West Union Fourth of July celebration. 

West Union Community Awards Banquet

FC caucuses to be held Feb. 5

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Every four years the eyes of the nation fall on Iowans as they are the first to pick presidential candidates for each political party. But, what takes place during a nonpresidential caucus. 

This year, the Democrats will host three caucus precincts, and the Republicans will have two precincts. The caucuses will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5, at their respective locations. 

Democrats who live in Auburn, Bethel-Windsor, Clermont, Dover, Eden, Illyria, Pleasant Valley, and Union townships and the three West Union wards will attend the caucus held at in the North Fayette Valley High School cafeteria in West Union. 

Those Democrats residing in the Fairbank, Fairfield-Putnam, Jefferson, Oran, and Scott townships and Oelwein wards will head to Oelwein Middle School’s cafeteria in Oelwein. 

Finally, those Democrats living in Bank-Fremont, Center, Harlan, Smithfield, and Westfield townships should report to Fayette Elementary cafeteria in Fayette. 

A person must be in line to register before the 7 p.m. cut off in order to participate in the caucus. However, if members of the public aren’t in line at that point, they are still invited to attend; they just won’t be able to participate. 

The Republican caucus site for residents in the northern half of Fayette County is the North Fayette Valley Performing Arts Center in West Union. The site for Republican residents in the southern half of the county is the Oelwein High School library in Oelwein.

For the ninth year, the Winneshiek Medical Center Foundation will be offering camperships for area youth (ages 8-17) to attend Camp Hertko Hollow, a diabetes camp in Boone. Last summer, 12-year-old Breckan Stewart (right) attended the camp, thanks to a WMC Foundation sponsorship. She is pictured alongside camp founder Dr. Edward Hertko. (submitted photo)

WMCF will send 2 locals to diabetes camp

Last summer, 12-year-old Breckan Stewart went to camp.  In some ways, it was like any other camp, with archery, horseback riding and rock climbing adventures.  However, Breckan’s experience, which was sponsored by the Winneshiek Medical Center Foundation (WMCF), included education about Type 1 diabetes, a diagnosis she received just months earlier.

“Breckan was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes on January 29, 2017, just days before last year’s camp applications were due.  The timing was perfect,” said Breckan’s mother, Tracy.  

For the first time in her life, Ossian’s Sara Franzen was recently introduced to the world of deer hunting. In the final weekend of late muzzleloader season, the newfound outdoorswoman dropped her first whitetail. (submitted photo)

Franzen 'hooked for life' on deer hunting

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

When it comes to the great sport of whitetail deer hunting, oftentimes patience is key. For many hunters, it took years to get their first deer, but for Ossian’s Sara Franzen, the thrill and excitement of seeing her first deer hit the ground came on her very first weekend since taking up the sport.

“I had absolutely no previous hunting experience before going out last weekend, and I honestly never imagined that it would be something that I would get into,” admitted Franzen, who was first introduced to the sport by boyfriend Nolan Hageman. “I shot a gun a couple of times when I was younger, but this was the first time I actually shot at something besides a target.”

The young outdoorswoman went on to say that her newfound love for hunting began when she took notice of Hageman’s passion for it.

“Nolan is obsessed with hunting. He has been going his whole life,” continued Franzen. “I started watching it on TV when he had it on, and I would always have a good time when we hung out in the garage with his deer-hunting friends.”

Seeing how much fun she was missing out on, Franzen decided it was time to put on some camo of her own.

“I actually wore some of Nolan’s old hunting apparel and used his gun,” she laughed. “We went out in the field one day, and I took a few shots for the first time in a long time. I felt ready to go!”

The young couple went to their hunting spot near Ossian on Saturday night, Jan. 6, and Sara was hooked instantly.

They sat in Nolan’s blind and scouted the area throughout the afternoon as he taught Sara what to look for. After a while, they spotted a deer near them.

“I was really excited at first because it was a decent buck,” said Franzen. “Unfortunately, that night was not my night. I remember going home disappointed that I didn’t get anything and hopeful that I would get another chance before the end of the season.”

While disappointed that she didn’t have success on night number one, Franzen did admit that she found the experience to be very helpful to her.

“I was pretty nervous that night. I was pretty shaky when I saw the buck,” she elaborated. “I felt pretty confident in my aim, but my biggest fear was knowing when the time would be right to take my shot. I think a lot of my nerves were calmed that night.”

Determined to get her deer, Sara and Nolan returned to the blind the following night.

Clermont Fire Chief Randy Wiedenhoff and his wife, Marcia, owner and operator of Body Kneads in Clermont, both say that becoming involved in the North Fayette Valley Mentoring Program is one of the best choices they have made. Randy has mentored the same student for three years, and Marcia has been a mentor to a student for nearly a year.  (Megan Molseed photo)

Mentoring: a valuable experience for all

Megan Molseed

News Writer
mmolseed@fayettepublishing.com

“When I started with the mentoring program, I knew I wanted to help where I could,” said three-year North Fayette Valley Mentoring Program veteran Randy Wiedenhoff.  “What I didn’t realize was how much it would benefit me, too.”

“I worked closely with the program for a while,” explained the Clermont fire chief.  “When I saw that we were in need of more male mentors, I didn’t have to think too hard about it.  It was important to me to volunteer and give back. It’s one of the best choices I’ve made.” 

Founded in 2000, the North Fayette Valley Mentoring Program is a subgroup of the North Fayette Valley Community Coalition (NFVCC) and strives to connect youth with positive adult role models who can help them aspire, achieve and develop to their fullest potential.  

“I knew it would be a commitment when I started, but I can say, honestly, it has never felt like that,” noted the dedicated volunteer.  “We always have so much fun together,” he noted of his eighth-grade mentee. “I have to say, it keeps me young!”

Randy, who started his time as a mentor with the same North Fayette Valley student three years ago, has now inspired his wife, Marcia, to take the same leap as she joined her husband in the program earlier in the school year.

Viafield has agreed to deed over the historic Rock Island Railroad depot in Clermont to the Clermont Historical Society, so the Historic Rock Island Railroad Depot Restoration Committee can begin restoring the building. Members from the committee, thanked including (front, l-r) Kathy (Meier) Schultz, Dick Jensen, and Arline Davisson; (back) Becky Brendel, Rod Marlatt, Mary Follett, Steve Follett, thanked Viafield and Steve Bodensteiner, Viafield chief financial officer.  

Restoration to begin shortly on Clermont RR Depot

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

It has taken some time, but restoration of the historic Rock Island Railroad depot in Clermont is finally set to begin this spring. 

At a meeting between the Historic Rock Island Railroad Depot Restoration Committee and Viafield, represented by Steve Bodensteiner, Viafield’s chief financial officer, the company has agreed to deed the building over to the Clermont Historical Society. Viafield is asking for an easement to get across the property that would be deeded over. The building is located along Hwy. 18 just across the street from Viafield’s Clermont location. 

On top of that, the local co-op has agreed to donate $2,500 from the local branch and secure another $2,500 from a regional co-op in matching funds for new money the committee is able to raise for the project. Viafield is onboard with the project but wants to make sure the depot will be maintained in the future. 

Brenda Flatjord of Fayette found her 18-year-old cat, Vader, dead, shot by an arrow, in her neighbor’s yard. What perplexes Flatjord is that his body ended up in plain view of her kitchen window after she had repeatedly searched the area for the cat when he went missing two months ago. Submitted photo

Cat killed by arrow in Fayette

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

On Tuesday, Jan. 9, a Fayette resident found her missing cat dead, shot by a bow and arrow after it disappeared almost two months ago.

Brenda Flatjord said her 18-year-old cat, Vader, went missing the first week of November. It was unlike Vader to disappear overnight, and she became concerned when he still hadn’t returned the following morning. She talked with neighbors and took to Facebook to see if she could find her missing cat. 

The North Fayette Valley Middle School FIRST LEGO League team participated in the Iowa FIRST LEGO League Tournament on Sunday, Jan. 14, at Iowa State University. Members of the team include (l-r) Caleb W., Brendan W., Emma B., Taylor L., Nathan C., Keeley K., Kyella F., Davan C., Justine C., Alexis S., Ben G., and Claire B. 

Success abounds for NFVMS LEGO League

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

North Fayette Valley Middle School’s For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology (FIRST) LEGO League (FLL) team competed at the FLL Iowa State Championship for the fourth time on Sunday, Jan. 14, at Iowa State University in Ames. 

Although the team didn’t win when it comes to the scoreboard, in the end everyone who participates in FLL is a winner, because of what the students learn in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and teamwork.

Chris Schveiger (left) and Carter Schlawin were matched in the NFV Mentoring Program in January 2014. For the last four years, the two have enjoyed playing videos, going 4-wheeling, fishing, and playing outdoors.  Chris DeBack photo

Mentoring relationship about fun, caring