Elizabeth Goddard

Clermont teen critically injured in bike-car accident

A Clermont teenager remains hospitalized after she was involved in a bicycle-motor vehicle accident early Wednesday morning, May 20.

Elizabeth Goddard, 15, was traveling by bicycle when she collided with a car at the intersection of Iowa and Spring streets in Clermont about 7:30 a.m.

Goddard was taken by ambulance to Palmer Lutheran Health Center and then air-lifted by MedLink to Gundersen hospitals in LaCrosse, Wis. The teenager continues to be treated for life-threatening injuries.

Authorities said Goddard’s bicycle collided with a car driven by Julienne M. Wander, 74, of Clermont.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Clermont fire and ambulance services.

This accident remains under investigation.

'Rise of the Sea Urchins' stars 2 local grads

Janell Bradley
editor@fayettecountynewspapers.com

A couple of North High School grads have roles in a family-friendly film produced with the Waldorf College Communications Department.

"Rise of the Sea Urchins" will premiere in several north Iowa theaters June 12-25.

“A feature film being made in rural Iowa and Minnesota sounds about as unlikely as a water polo team existing in a rural Iowa high school,” suggested the directors in their press material.

Yet that’s the storyline of “Rise of the Sea Urchins.” The story line goes like this: Against all odds, a rural Iowa high school water polo team must win a state championship. The movie follows Ted Biddles, the insecure new kid, his off-balance coach Max Dungal, and the unimpressive Sunnyville Sea Urchins in their quest for water polo glory.

On behalf of her late husband, George, Helen Halstead accepted an honorary diploma from North Fayette Valley High School Principal Todd Wolverton (above right) at the May 19 Awards Night program. Also pictured (at left) is Helen’s youngest daughter, Joyce Meyer. (Janell Bradley photo)

'It's never too late . . . '

Janell Bradley
editor@fayettecountynewspapers.com

Farm boys who grew up in the 1930s and ‘40s often left school after eighth grade because their help was needed as laborers on the family farm.

George Halstead, born in 1931, was no different. As a boy, he attended Rolling Green No. 6 country school. However, after eighth grade, he didn't go back because his help was needed on the farm. The school was located approximately two miles south of West Union.

Principal Mae Becker spends time reading with DeSales preschool student Gabby Cline. Becker, who has been with DeSales School since 1971, will be retiring at the conclusion of the school year. In her years of service to the school and parish, Becker has also taught or been the principal to Gabby’s mother, Olivia Wenthold, and grandparents, Terry and Lynette Wenthold. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Principal's next goal: Enjoy retirement

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Every now and again, someone comes along who possesses the ability to shape lives and guide people to a bright future.

DeSales School Principal Mae Becker has been doing it since 1971.

After 18 years of teaching and 26 years of serving as principal at DeSales School in Ossian, Becker is ready to retire.

“I am going to miss the relationships the most,” noted Becker, who grew up in nearby Calmar. “Here at DeSales, we have a professional relationship with the kids, parents, and staff, but we also get to know one another on a personal level.”

Several agencies, including the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Department, the Calmar Police Department, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation were on-scene Tuesday morning, May 12, at State Bank in Calmar. At approximately 10:30 a.m., authorities say, Tyrone Wilson robbed the bank and got away with an undisclosed amount of cash. Wilson was apprehended the following day in Rock Island, Ill. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Hunt for bank robbery suspect ends

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Authorities have arrested Tyrone Wilson, 48, of Postville for allegedly robbing State Bank in Calmar. The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by several local and federal agencies, including the Calmar Police Department, the Iowa State Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Public Safety, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

According to the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Department, at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 12, the man later identified as Wilson walked into State Bank in Calmar and demanded an undisclosed amount of cash.

Authorities reported that the subject left the bank on foot with the cash, and they reported no injuries.

A short time later, a description of Wilson, as well as information pertaining to his vehicle. was released to the public.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx executed two search warrants in connection with the robbery.

At 9 p.m., officials released Wilson’s name and impending, as well as a more detailed description of what the suspect was driving and what he was last seen wearing.

The following day at 3 p.m., the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Department released a statement noting that Wilson had been apprehended in Rock Island, Ill., less than 30 hours after the robbery took place in Calmar.

Anna Burke gives it her all in a recent Luther College race. Off the track the 2011 Valley graduate has a big smile and infectious laugh. A fierce competitor on the track, however, she overcame an injury during the indoor season to win the heptathlon at the IIAC Conference Meet with enough points to qualify for the NCAA DIII National Track Meet this week in Canton, N.Y. (submitted photo)

Burke a true scholar-athlete

The term scholar-athlete is commonly used in collegiate athletics. Frequently it is accurate; sometimes it’s a giant misnomer.

 Anna Burke is the epitome of what the term means.

The Luther College senior and 2011 Valley Community School alumna reached an athletic pinnacle at the recent Iowa Collegiate Athletic Conference’s (IIAC) Track and Field Meet in Indianola when she was named the   Field Events MVP.

Burke dominated the heptathlon while also running in four other regular events. This came after an injury during the indoor season that greatly altered her training regimen.

Jerry Anderson, Bert Henderson and Quinton Olson stand in front of the future memorial site at Lincoln Park in Clermont. The dedication for the completed memorial will take place at 10:00a.m. on Memorial Day. 

Clermont's Lincoln Park Memorial

Megan Mohlis

Contributing Writer

As Memorial Day draws near, the Legionnaires of Clermont American Legion Post 375 are excitedly awaiting the finish of the new Veterans’ Memorial in Lincoln Park. 

                  Just last year, Clermont’s veterans felt their town was in need of a tribute to all the locals who had sacrificed for their country. Noticing the rising popularity of memorial parks in neighboring communities, Quinton Olson mentioned the idea to the other members of the Legion, stating he felt this was something Clermont needed.

Enthusiastic about the idea, Post 375 wasted no time in setting to work in order to raise funds to bring this idea to reality. After receiving a number of bids and doing some preliminary research, a goal of $21,000 was set. Anxious to see the response to its proposal, it was much to the Legion’s pleasure that Clermont and the surrounding area reacted with overwhelming support.

Fayette to interview seven for police chief

Megan Mohlis

Contributing Writer

The Fayette City Council learned Monday there are seven potential candidates for the chief of police. The police committee will conduct videoconference interviews later this week. The process will allow for the pool to be narrowed even further to complete in-person interviews set for May 27- 28.

Mayor Andrew Wenthe said the applicants are a mixture of in-state and out-of-state residents, with a majority having administrative experience.

Hanging on the wall behind Jenny Thompson is the medal display her husband, Howie, gave to her as a Christmas gift after she set a goal of running a road race in each of the country's 50 states. Most of the road races in which Thompson competes are half (13.1 miles) or full (26.2 miles) marathons. (Janell Bradley photo)

Seeing the USA - in running shoes!

Janell Bradley
editor@fayettecountynewspapers.com

Jenny Thompson's goal to run a road race in each of the 50 states isn't something she's doing just for herself – it's something her family is sharing in, along with her students at North Fayette Valley Middle School.

A short-distance runner at Starmont where she attended high school, Jenny was a hurdler. “A long-distance to me was the 400-meter run,” she laughed.

The daughter of Gary and Cheryl Northrop of Arlington, Jenny went on to earn a degree in math education at Upper Iowa University, where she also competed in sports. She presently teaches seventh-grade math at North Fayette Valley Middle School in Elgin.

In 2010, not long after she had given birth to twins Adler and Hayden, Jenny was convinced by her sister to train for and run the Dam to Dam 20K held annually in Des Moines. After that competition, it seemed there was no going back.

Tanya Tysland, PLHC CEO

Tanya Tysland named Palmer Lutheran CEO

Tanya Tysland, BS, MBA, DM, has been named chief executive officer (CEO) of Palmer Lutheran Health Center in West Union. Tysland, who joined Gundersen in 2013, has served as interim CEO at Palmer Lutheran since December 2014.

“I am very honored and excited to accept the CEO position at Palmer Lutheran. Serving as interim CEO for the last five months, I have witnessed the great patient care, compassion and teamwork of the staff, proving each one believes in Palmer’s motto of ‘Patients First,’” said Tysland.