Radiologic technologist Nicole Poirier (standing) positions a patient with new digital x-ray technology at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah. (Zakary Kriener photo)

WMC stepping up its game

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Winneshiek Medical Center (WMC) in Decorah recently took a big step forward for its patients. With the world becoming more and more digital every day, the local hospital implemented several major upgrades to medical imaging equipment to bring it up to par with the highest standards and best practices in the industry.

“Digital radiography (DR) combines technology, form, function, and efficiency for our fast-paced radiology environment,” said Sarah Urmanski, WMC director of radiology. “Digital advancements in medical imaging come with advantages for patients by reducing radiation doses and providing quicker images with faster results.”

Within the past year, WMC added two rooms for digital x-ray, a wireless portable x-ray unit that can be used in any area of the hospital, an upgrade to a 128-slice CT scanner, and a new high-definition 3-D/4-D ultrasound.

South Winn Veterans Day programs

South Winneshiek students of all ages will do their part to honor U.S. veterans with ceremonies scheduled next week at both the elementary/middle school in Ossian and the high school in Calmar.

With Veterans Day falling on a Saturday this year and no school on Friday, Nov. 10, both South Winneshiek programs be held on Thursday, Nov. 9. 

The first observance will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the high school in Calmar. South Winn Talented and Gifted students will present a video to the veterans in attendance, as well as the rest of the school during a program in the gymnasium.

The South Winn band and choir, as well as the Calmar Legion color guard, will also perform.

Following the conclusion of the high school program, veterans are invited to join students in Ossian for lunch prior to the elementary/middle school ceremony that will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the big gymnasium.

John Chapman and Carmen Franklin (l-r) will be the guest speakers at North Fayette Valley Middle School’s annual Veterans Day program at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, in the middle school gymnasium in Elgin. Carmen is one of two daughters that Chapman, a former Marine, has in the U.S. Air Force. (Chris DeBack photo)

Chapman to present on 'Overcoming fear'

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

North Fayette Valley Middle School will hold its annual Veterans Day program at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, in the middle school gymnasium in Elgin. 

The annual program will feature the posting of flags by area American Legion posts, guest speakers John Chapman and Carmen Franklin, and performances from the K-5 choir as well as the middle school band and choir. A 21-gun salute with the playing of taps will conclude the program. Refreshments will be available for veterans, as well. 

Guest speakers

John Chapman and his daughter, Carmen Franklin, have been asked to speak at this year’s Veterans Day program. 

Chapman last spoke at the Veterans Day program in 2011 when it was still Valley High School. 

He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1984 after a year at Iowa State University.

After basic training, Chapman went to infantry training school to be a rifleman and graduated from there just in time for Christmas. He then joined the Marine Corps reserves and re-enrolled at ISU for the 1985 spring semester.  

First Baptist Church in Elgin will host a weekend celebration to dedicate its new church Friday-Sunday, Nov. 10-12. The celebration will end with a dedication worship service at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday. Pastor Lee Boleyn welcomes the public to celebrate this milestone in the congregation’s history.  Chris DeBack photo

FBC to dedicate new building this weekend

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

First Baptist Church in Elgin will host a weekend celebration ending with the dedication of its new church at 10:15 a.m. on Nov. 12 during Sunday worship. 

The Fayette American Legion donated nine American flags to West Central Community School District to be displayed in classrooms that didn’t already have flags in the newer part of the school building. The group also donated $200 to go into a fund that teachers can use to buy supplies for students in need or supplies the school wouldn’t normally cover. Pictured with two of the flags that were donated are (front, l-r) Pat Whelan, Fayette American Legion member; Elaine VandeVorde, WC English teacher; Lyle Buehler, Fayette American Legion member; and Val Buehler, WC Title I teacher; (back) Ryan Bergan, WC industrial technology teacher; David Hanson, Fayette American Legion member; Bruce Huckins, WC science teacher; Dan Reisner, WC math teacher; Robin Fliehler, WC business teacher; and Josh Bahr, PreK-12 principal. Chris DeBack photo

Fayette Legion builds patriotism with donation to West Central

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

American Legion Post 339 in Fayette recently donated nine American flags to the West Central Community School District.

The flags will be hung in classrooms that didn’t already have an American flag in the newest portion of the school building. The Legion also donated $200 to the teachers’ fund for buying school supplies for children in need or to help teachers buy supplies the school wouldn’t normally cover. 

“We would like to build patriotism and love of country in the younger generation,” said David Hanson, Fayette American Legion member. “One very good way to do that is using our national symbol and having it on the wall before them. You don’t always think about what is in front of you, but if it is in front of you, it sinks into your mind” 

Becthold: 'WU residents deserve better'

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The West Union City Council recently approved a 28E agreement with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office for dispatch services for the town's police department. 

This agreement stemmed from a 28E agreement the City already had put in place with the Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 6, 1986. The original agreement called for the City to pay $525 per month to the Sheriff’s Office to handle dispatch activity. 

Those dispatch activities included a method of receipt of requests for police, fire and ambulance services; alerting the fire and ambulance departments of calls and sounding the siren; alerting the police of calls by radio; alerting the City of alarms at the sewer lift station and sewer treatment plant; alerting the proper authorities of an alarm of the nondirectional beacon at the airport; and alerting hospital maintenance workers and the fire department of the hospital's automatic fire alarm. 

The agreement also called for the City to provide and maintain certain equipment such as sirens and radios. 

At some point, the City stopped paying the Sheriff’s Office on the agreement but was still receiving dispatch services. 

North Fayette Valley will host its annual Veterans Day program at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10, in the NFV Performing Arts Center. Jordan Einck and Justin Kuker (l-r), who are enlisting in the Air Force after high school, are two of four guest speakers presenting on the theme “A Lifetime of Service.” Einck and Kuker will speak about why they are enlisting. The other two speakers are Vincent Reynolds, Army reserves, and Alexander Hepperle, Marine Corps reserves. 

NFV to hold Veterans Day program Nov. 10

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

“A Lifetime of Service” is the theme for North Fayette Valley High School’s annual Veterans Day program set for 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10, in the North Fayette Valley Performing Arts Center. 

The program, which is put on by NFV’s senior class, will feature four guest speakers, including NFV seniors Jordan Einck and Justin Kuker; Vincent Reynolds, U.S. Army reserves; and Alexander Hepperle, U.S. Marine Corps reserves. In keeping with the theme of “A Lifetime of Service,” the four guest speakers will each discuss a different point in a veteran’s life.

Justin Kuker and Jordan Einck will both present on the enlistment stage of a veteran’s career.

The cast for South Winneshiek’s upcoming presentation of  “Bye, Bye, Birdie” include (front, l-r) Hunter Wagner, Chloe Suckow, Cassidy Young, Brandon Frana, Paxten DeVilbiss, Emma Houdek, Hannah Franzen, Sierra Breitsprecher, Madisen Ondrashek, Kerrigan Upton, Hanna Schmitt, and Helen Neuzil; (middle) Sami Bohr, Celia Neuzil, Danae Taylor, Karissa Kleve, Abe Schmitt, Trey Kriener, Manning Kuboushek, and Ethan Timp; (back) Cassidy Frana, Eric Franzen, Logan Humpal, Ashley Davis, Carson Brincks, Lucas Feltz, Kaelan Boe, JT Monroe, and Gabe Kipp. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Catch 'Bye, Bye, Birdie' Nov. 10-12

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

“Oh, one last kiss, just give me one last kiss.”

Famous singer Conrad Birdie, played by South Winneshiek senior Manning Kuboushek, is being drafted into the Army and has been given the opportunity to give one lucky lady a final kiss on national television before heading off.

Conrad’s songwriter pens the song “One Last Kiss” for Conrad’s final television appearance before heading off to war, in hopes that it will bring in enough money to get out of the music business and start his career as an English teacher.

The musical is full of funny one-liners and catchy songs that will have the audience wanting to come back to see the show again and again.

Don’t miss the hilarious musical “Bye, Bye, Birdie,” which is full of 1960s Elvis-style rock-and-roll music with showtimes at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 10 and 11, and at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12.

Lyle and Sue Luzum of Calmar will be honored at the upcoming Third Annual Land Protector Recognition Dinner for donating their 170-acre farm to the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) earlier this year. The organization helps protect land and grow healthful food, leasing holdings to young farmers who otherwise might not be able to enter the business. (submitted photo)

Luzums to be honored as 'Land Protectors'

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) is honoring an Iowa family who donated 170 acres to the trust in July, establishing their farm as a permanent site for sustainable food production. 

SILT will recognize Lyle and Sue Luzum of Calmar at the organization’s Third Annual Land Protector Recognition Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Embassy Suites hotel in downtown Des Moines. 

Established in 2014, SILT is the only Iowa land trust dedicated to protecting land to grow healthful food. The organization leases its land holdings to young farmers who otherwise might not be able to enter the business.

Elgin native Harry Butikofer (front) will hit the century mark on Friday, Nov. 10. He is pictured celebrating his 99th birthday last year with his four surviving children, (back, l-r) Gary Butikofer, Richard Butikofer, Louise Johansen, and Bob Butikofer. Submitted photo

Could wine and good genes be Butikofer's secret to longevity?

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Elgin native Harry Butikofer is about to hit a rare milestone in life. 

On Nov. 10, Butikofer will celebrate his 100th birthday, the third person in his family to hit the century mark. 

Butikofer is the second-oldest of 10 children born to the late Albert and Marie Butikofer of Elgin. Marie lived to be 102, and her sister, Harry’s Aunt Lena, lived to be 105. It was remarked to Butikofer during an interview in his apartment at Stoney Brook Village assisted living facility in West Union that he has good genes. 

He joked, “Well, I always used them right.”