Ashley Henderson, West Union Elementary first-grade teacher, has her first-grade students back in the swing of things after a weeklong spring break March 20-24. The North Fayette and Valley school boards approved spring break for next year as March 26-30, which is the week leading up to Easter (April 1). 

School boards approve another spring break

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The North Fayette and Valley school boards approved March 26-30, the week leading up to Easter on April 1, for spring break for the 2017-2018 school year. 

Whether families had some fun in the sun or stayed around northeast Iowa, North Fayette Valley’s spring break was a much-needed rest for students and staff alike. 

What is a common annual occurrence in many larger school districts in Iowa and across the country, March 20-24, was the first-ever spring break in both the North Fayette and Valley school districts. 

“We have had several people come from other districts where they have had spring breaks,” said Duane Willhite, North Fayette and Valley shared superintendent. “We have been struggling a little bit with general crankiness [such as] disrespect, stress, and tension between teachers and students and students and students. The staff members who have come from districts that had spring breaks have said this semester is a long run with no breaks, especially with Easter being so late. When they have experienced spring break, students and staff come back refreshed and rested, with better attitudes, in better moods, and both students and staff are ready to finish out the year strong.”

When spring break was first discussed amongst the North Fayette and Valley school board members last year, it was always the district's intention to review it after a year. Willhite sent out surveys to students, staff and parents to get feedback on the break. 

The West Union Lions Club is celebrating 75 years since its establishment on March 19, 1942.  The group will host an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at the North Fayette Valley Performing Arts Center. Current members of the West Union Lions Club include (front, l-r) Dick Woodard, Bob Scott, Wayne Bicknese, Norman Jones, George Woodard, Willie Fritz, Jim Boelman, and LeRoy Soppe; (second row) Pam Moss (president), Carolyn Breuer (treasurer), Ron Saboe, Joe Breuer, Tom Luhman, Amie Johansen, Abbey Ambrosen, and Joyce Friederich; (back) Tracy Weidemann (secretary), Erin Yauslin, Derwin Osmundson, Bruce Bemis, Chris Ebbers, Mark Klinkefus, Bruce Ehler (vice president), Lynn Kelck, and Corey Moser. Chris DeBack photo

75 years of improving West Union

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The West Union Lions Club is celebrating 75 years of supporting and improving the community of West Union. 

The club was started on March 19, 1942, at the Rex Hotel in West Union with 23 charter members. 

It has established a proud tradition of service and charity for the community it supports. 

“Our mission is service and opportunity to others,” said Pam Moss, West Union Lions Club president. “Everything we do is to raise money to give back to our community.” 

Among the more longstanding fundraisers is the Lions Pancake Supper that was started in the late 1970s and continues to this day. The club used to host minstrel and variety shows in its early years and then continued with a candy sale in the 1960s.

Tom Bushman of Ossian has been wearing stripes as a high school athletics official since 1975. Splitting time as a basketball and volleyball referee, he believes that a shortage in the number of officials around the state is something that will need to be addressed in the near future. (Zakary Kriener photo)

For the love of the game

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Millions of young boys and girls around the world participate in sports. High school sports help students stay fit, learn the importance of teamwork, develop leadership skills, and much more. While participation rates in high school athletics have increased for an astounding 27 consecutive years, the number of sports officials around the nation is dropping.

“There is absolutely a shortage in officials around the country,” said Ossian’s Tom Bushman, a 42-year veteran in officiating. “The shortage is something that we have definitely felt on a local level here in northeast Iowa.”

For Bushman, who is now the owner of a local insurance company, officiating local athletics was a major source of income for him when he first got involved.

Being a 9-1-1 dispatcher carries some of the biggest responsibilities in the emergency response process. Isaac Phillips, one of Winneshiek County’s six full-time dispatchers, relays a message to local law enforcement after answering an incoming call concerning a motor vehicle accident in the county. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Unsung heroes: Emergency dispatchers

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

In the event of any type of emergency within the boundaries of Winneshiek County, before law enforcement, ambulance service, or fire crews are contacted, a caller’s first point of contact is an emergency response dispatcher.

“Our dispatchers are a critical piece of the public safety net that we provide,” explained Decorah Police Chief Bill Nixon. “I think their job description is something that is vague to a lot of people. They do a lot more than most realize.”

Korbin Swenson (left), is a 12-year-old child with autism. He recently went fishing with his grandfather, Laverne Swenson, and picked up a fossil from the stream on Laverne’s property in rural Clermont.  submitted photo

Swenson defies sitma of autism

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

It was evident fairly quickly that this wasn’t going to be a typical interview.

While I knew ahead of time that 12-year-old Korbin Swenson has autism, I swiftly realized that my preconceived notions were all wrong. 

It turns out I was the one who was going to be interviewed first. Korbin’s mom, Heidi Swenson, told me Korbin spent the 3½-hour car ride from Burlington to West Union coming up with questions to ask me.

The crowning of Miss Elgin took place at the Elgin Public Library on Sunday, April 2. Pictured are 2016 Miss Elgin (left) Jaymes Dotzenrod with 2017 Miss Elgin Callie Lembke.

Miss Elgin crowned

Fayette council learns fate of water/sewer grant

Vicki Rowland

Contributing Writer

If you look at it one way, the City of Fayette is doing too well to qualify for a sought-after Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Water/Sewer Grant. So the Fayette City Council learned Monday night.

IDEA spoke with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) staff person Diana Johnson on Friday, March 1. The rationale was explained for not awarding grant money to Fayette. This included water and sewer rates that were not high enough compared to other cities; no documented contamination occurring in the water/sewer lines; most of the work was sought for downtown and would not affect residents; and other applicants scored higher because they were applying due to DNR orders and deadlines.

Delores Fagle Thom has had her Fayette tax and accounting business, Delores’ Tax and Accounting, for 30 years. After all of these years of doing payroll taxes, accounting, and tax returns for area farmers, businesses, and customers who have become lifelong friends, Thom still says, “I just love my work!” (Vicki Rowland photo)

30 years in business as Delores' Tax and Accounting

Vicki Rowland

Contributing Writer

Sitting among her numerous, neatly organized files of client records and IRS forms and beneath a wall bearing many awards for volunteerism, you quickly conclude that Delores Fagle Thom is and always has been one busy lady!

We decided to check in with Delores as she winds down the income tax season in her 30^th year in business as owner of Delores’ Tax and Accounting in Fayette.  

Delores describes her company as an income tax business January through April that also does accounting and payroll taxes for her clients the remainder of the year. Because of her experience in agriculture, many of her clients are farmers, but she also helps small businesses, rental properties, truckers, and has several Amish accounts. In addition, Delores recently took the part-time Randalia city clerk position.

At the Fayette County Supervisors meeting on Monday, April 3, there was nearly standing room only during a discussion about a possible UTV ordinance in Fayette County. Chris DeBack photo

Ball is rolling on UTV ordinance

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

There was nearly standing room only on Monday, April 3, during the Fayette County Supervisors’ discussion about a possible Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) ordinance. 

Numerous citizens were in attendance for the meeting in support of the County coming up with an ordinance to allow UTVs to ridden on Fayette County secondary roads. Also in attendance were DNR Officers Scot Michelson and Jeff Hildebrand, Fayette County Sheriff Marty Fisher and Fayette County Engineer Joel Fantz. 

Leanne Berns of West Union, who has spearheaded the local effort to get an ordinance created, started the conversation by asking if the Supervisors had looked into what Delaware and Clayton counties have done. Delaware County had recently passed an ordinance, and Clayton County iss in the process of passing an ordinance that deals with UTVs and other vehicles. 

Zander Britt of West Union improved Mt. Pleasant Cemetery as his Eagle Scout project. The Boy Scout erected a directory of names and a plot map, so that grave stones could be easily found. He also repainted the white cross, removed brush, and fixed a couple fence posts. Finally, he replaced the flagpole with one that had a solar-powered LED light at the top, so that the American flag doesn’t need to be taken down every night. Chris DeBack photo

Britt preserves history with Eagle Scout project

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

On Saturday, April 8, Zander Britt of West Union will become an Eagle Scout.

Every Boy Scout must complete a community betterment project in order to attain the Eagle Scout status.

The Boy Scout Troop 54 youth decided to raise money in order to improve the Mt. Pleasant Pioneer Cemetery at the corner of I Avenue and and 240th Street off Hwy. 18 East just outside West Union.