News

Wed
08
Feb

Larson named Master Editor-Publisher at 2017 INA Banquet

 

LeAnn Larson (front right), publisher of The Fayette County Union  and Fayette Publishing, was joined by numerous family members, friends and staff as she was bestowed the honor of Master Editor-Publisher at the 2017 Iowa Newspaper Association Convention and Awards Banquet held Feb. 3 in Des Moines. Immediate family members attending the event were (front, l-r) Abbie (daughter) and Alma Huinker, (granddaughter) of Solon; (back) Nicholas (son) of Denver, Colo, Gary (husband), and Brandon Huinker (son-in-law). Unable to attend the event were Leah (daughter-in-law) and Ellary and Henrik Larson (grandchildren). (Chris DeBack photo)

 

Larson named Master Editor-Publisher at 2017 INA Banquet

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

LeAnn Larson, the veteran leader of The Fayette County Union and Fayette Publishing, was honored with the Master Editor-Publisher Award at the 2017 Iowa Newspaper Association (INA) Convention on Friday, Feb. 3, in Des Moines.

An award 36 years in the making, Larson has helped bring local news and advertising to life for the people of West Union and the surrounding communities.

Wed
01
Feb

'Run, Hide, Fight' training presented at SW

 

During last week’s teacher in-service at South Winneshiek, every district employee learned about the “Run, Hide, Fight” program from Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management services. The program was designed to provide a plan for school employees to follow in the event of an active threat on school property. Following the presentation, Kris Einck (far left), South Winneshiek superintendent and high school principal, and Jason Halverson (far right), elementary/middle school principal, discussed the districts plan of action with Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx, Winneshiek County Emergency Management coordinator Sean Snyder, and Calmar Police Chief Joe Ward (l-r). (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

'Run, Hide, Fight' training presented at SW

 

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

For the past five-plus years, the South Winneshiek school district, along with the majority of other area school districts, has turned to the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) program when it comes to preparing faculty for the instance of an active threat on school grounds. This year, however, the district is taking a different approach in learning to deal with a potential threat.

“’Run, Hide, Fight’ is a training program developed in partnership with the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office and Winneshiek County Emergency Management Services (EMS),” said Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx. “This program, which we began implementing in local government organizations, schools, and nonprofit organizations approximately a year ago, will better prepare employees for the unthinkable.”

Wed
01
Feb

39 years of putting the customer first

 

After owning and operating Bucheit Appliance in downtown Calmar for the past 39 years, Jim Bucheit is ready to pass ownership on to Amy Christensen (right) and her husband, Ryan. Bucheit originally bought the store in 1978 and over the years, he developed a one-of-a-kind relationship with each and every customer by taking great pride in providing excellent customer service to the business’s patrons. (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

39 years of putting the customer first

 

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

Effective Jan. 3, Sims TV and Electronics, which has locations in West Union and Decorah, officially took ownership of Bucheit Appliance in Calmar.

Ryan and Amy Christiansen are excited to announce that the new location in Calmar, which will change its name to Bucheit Appliance, Inc., will allow the West Union and Decorah store locations to offer an expanded inventory of appliances.

Wed
01
Feb

Swenson excels at Tattoo Arts Convention

 

Brock Swenson, a native of Clermont and owner of Brock’s Tattoo in Decorah, recently took home top honors in the categories of Large Color and Medium Black and Gray at the Minneapolis Tattoo Arts Convention. Swenson, who has been tattooing since he was 19 years old, is pictured next to his trophies and the winning tattoo designs. (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

Swenson excels at Tatoo Arts Convention

 

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

Confidence is key for Decorah’s Brock Swenson. The young tattoo artist, who was born and raised in Clermont, has developed a winning recipe when it comes to excelling in the tattoo industry, which has paid off with multiple awards over his 14-year tattooing career.

“When I enter a competition, I go in with the mindset that I am going to win,” explained Swenson, who first began his tattooing internship at the age of 16 and officially started his career at the age of 19. “I have been in enough competitions that I know exactly what needs to be done to please the judges and take home first place.”

Wed
01
Feb

Mystery behind UIU's Graf trunks solved

 

Loyal and Norma McLean (pictured) recently donated a pair of steamer trunks to the University Archives on Upper Iowa University’s (UIU) Fayette campus. The McLeans discovered the trunks, originally owned by UIU alumna and accomplished stage actress Zinita Graf (’13), in their attic when they purchased their Charles City home in 1962. The mystery pertaining to how the two pieces of luggage came to be located in the attic was recently solved with the assistance of the daughter of another UIU alumna. (photo submitted)

 

Mystery behind UIU's Graf trunks solved

 

 

Cases closed – literally and figuratively. 

The five-decade-old mystery of how a pair of steamer trunks that once belonged to a talented stage actress ended up in the attic of a Charles City home has been solved.

Loyal and Norma McLean first discovered the two cases in 1962 in the attic of a Charles City home they had just purchased. The luggage remained largely untouched in the family’s attic for the next 54 years when, upon closer examination last year, family members noticed a C.A. Taylor Trunk Works manufacturer’s guarantee on one of the trunks. Dated Sept. 30, 1920, the document included the name Zinita Graf and an address in Fayette.

Wed
01
Feb

North Fayette and Valley special election is Tuesday, Feb. 7

North Fayette and Valley special election is Tuesday, Feb. 7

 

 

The fate of the North Fayette and Valley school districts will be decided in six days when members of those communities head to the polls on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

The patrons of each district will be voting on whether or not to merge the two districts to officially become North Fayette Valley Community School District, and then vote on a Revenue Purpose Statement for the new district.

The Revenue Purpose Statement will remain the same as it currently is, but because a new district is formed, it needs to be voted on again.

Wed
01
Feb

Hovden to Hall of Fame

 

NFV head baseball coach Dan Hovden proudly displays the trophy he was awarded after his recent induction into the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Hovden is 25th all-time among Iowa high school baseball coaches in wins with 662; this ranks him eighth among active coaches. (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

Hovden to Hall of Fame

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

Everyone knows North Fayette Valley’s Dan Hovden is one of the best baseball head coaches around.

After all, his overall record is 662 wins and 397 losses; over 560 of those wins have been in West Union. His win total ranks him 25th all-time in Iowa high school baseball history; he is also eighth among active coaches in total wins.

Since his arrival in 1993, Hovden has won six UIC titles, five District titles and sent four teams to the State Baseball Tournament in either Marshalltown or Des Moines. Hovden has also been named the Northeast Iowa District Coach of the Year three times.

Well, the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association (IAHSBCA) concurs.

Thu
26
Jan

Postsecondary Readiness Report out

Kris Einck, South Winn Superintendent

 

Postsecondary Readiness Report out

 

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

Last week, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds announced a new state website, which shows how prepared students are for success in postsecondary education and training upon graduation from public high schools in Iowa.

South Winneshiek High School received remarkable scores in the report, rating well above the state average and a minimum of 10 percent higher than any surrounding district.

Thu
26
Jan

No better time than now to donate blood

 

With the month of January designated as National Blood Donor Month, Ossian’s Mel Elsbernd is one of many local donors to help save countless lives. Since making his first donation in 1975, Elsbernd has donated a total of 118 times and is approaching the 15-gallon milestone. (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

No better time than now to donate blood

 

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

Every January since 1970 has been officially declared National Volunteer Blood Donor Month, and, according to the American Red Cross, it comes with good reason.

Due to often less-than-ideal travel conditions due to the weather, as well as busy holiday schedules and increased cold and flu symptoms, the number of blood donors around the United States sees a significant dip in January. Coupled with an increased number of traumatic injuries due to icy roads, there is no better time than now to donate blood.

For Ossian’s Mel Elsbernd, there is no need to tell him twice about the importance of donating.

Thu
26
Jan

Elgin Council discusses levy, co-op annexation

Elgin Council discusses levy, co-op annexation

 

 

 

Brian Smith
Contributing Writer
bsmith@fayettepublishing.com

 

Repairs to the levy and annexation of the Elgin Co-Op dominated the discussion during Monday night’s Elgin City Council meeting.

The council continues to proceed with the necessary paperwork to annex the Co-Op.

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