Approximately 150 tractor owners will utilize the Fayette County Fairgrounds in West Union as the host site for the 2015 North Iowa Tractor Ride July 16-18. The Tractor Ride will roll along the River Bluffs Scenic Byway through Fayette and Winneshiek counties throughout the three-day event. (File photo)

Tractor Ride planning shifts into high gear

By Mike Van Sickle
News Editor
mvansickle@thefayettecountyunion.com

Planning for the 2015 North Iowa Tractor Ride shifts into high gear last week in West Union as representatives from six area communities met with officials of the eighth annual event. Those in attendance reviewed the initial travel timelines, and turn-by-turn routes, as well as parking, meals, etc. related to the daily stops of the three-day event.

As previously reported, the Tractor Ride will roll along the River Bluffs Scenic Byway through Fayette and Winneshiek counties July 16-18. The Ride is a cooperative effort of three north Iowa radio stations.

Marx, Felton vie for sheriff position

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors met at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 25, to interview candidates to fill the unexpired term of retired Winneshiek County Sheriff Leon Bohr.

Bohr announced his retirement in October 2014. After 12 years in the position and 30 years of law enforcement service, Tuesday, March 31, was his final day on the job.

Two replacement candidates. Deputy Dan Marx and Deputy Tim Felton, emerged for the position, which will be appointed today (April 1).

Easter Egg Hunts scheduled

Easter Egg Hunt

Children in second grade and younger are invited to Ossian Crown Club’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at Ossian Senior Hospice.

The Easter Bunny is also set to make an appearance, so make sure you bring your camera and your smiles for a fun-filled afternoon!

Calmar Easter Egg Hunt

Children ages 10 and younger are invited to participate in the Calmar Commercial Club’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 4, at the South Winneshiek football field. If weather is inclement, the activities will be moves to the South Winneshiek High School gym.

There will be 3 age divisions, with prizes in every egg. Be sure to bring your camera for some fun with the Easter Bunny!

Those who participated in and helped plan West Clermont Lutheran Church’s 100^th anniversary celebration are (l-r) Deborah Guyer, Vernon Oakland, Janann Seabrooke, Pastor Joelle Colville-Hanson, Pastor Jill Mack, and Deb Jacobsen. The church held a special worship service on Friday, March 27, to commemorate “Sharing a Century of God’s Grace.” 

'Sharing a Century of God's Grace'

Brian Smith
Contributing Writer
bsmith@fayettepublishing.com

            Friday, March 27, marked the 100^th year of existence for West Clermont Lutheran Church. The occasion was recognized with a special worship service in which Pastor Joelle Colville-Hanson and Pastor Jill Mack spoke to those in attendance. However the real theme of the celebration, which has been on-going for nearly a year now, is sharing God’s grace with others.

Autism benefit bake sale Saturday

“Glenda Koehn and Crew” will sponsor their 16^th Annual Bake Sale on Saturday, April 4, to benefit the Autism Society of Iowa. Doors will open to the North Fayette Valley Middle School/Valley Elementary Multipurpose Room at 7 a.m.

Easter Bunny schedule

The Easter Bunny will be hopping into local communities on the following dates:

Clermont

The Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Bunny will be at the Clermont City Park at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 4.

Elgin

The Elgin Easter Basket Hunt will be held from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 4. Children ages preschool to sixth grade are invited to participate. Registration is at the Elgin City Park.

The Easter Bunny will also be available for photo opportunities.

The Easter activities are sponsored by the Elgin Community Betterment Club

Fayette

Members of Gamma Delta Phi sorority will host an Easter Egg Hunt for children in Fayette and surrounding communities today (Wednesday). The event will begin at 6 p.m. in Grace Meyer Square on the Upper Iowa University campus. 

Among those participating in the recent check presentation ceremony in Arlington were (l-r) John Fedeler of Arlington; Britt Nielsen of HyVee, and Summer Handel, Jere Watson, and Don Handel, each of Arlington. HyVee sponsored a “Cocktails with Chris” event in February that featured “The Bachelor” and the 12 "Other Bachelors of Arlington.” All proceeds from the event benefitted the Arlington Community Center. (Janell Bradley photo)

'Cocktails with Chris' raises $23,000 for Arlington

Janell Bradley
Contributing Writer

Representatives from the Cedar Rapids and Marion HyVees came to Arlington Thursday to present the city with a check for $23,056 as a follow-up to the "Cocktails with Chris" event it hosted in February, which also featured the 12 "Other Bachelors of Arlington."

Said John Fedeler, who originated the calendar idea and the play on the "Bachelor" series, "Without Chris Soules being on 'The Bachelor,' none of this would have happened."

Fuel tax provides boost to road projects

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

A draft five-year, $15.9 million construction program for Fayette County’s Secondary Roads Department was proposed to the Fayette County Supervisors on Tuesday, March 24.  The draft program includes 21 bridge and culvert projects and 3 paving projects.

A Public Hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, to discuss the proposed five-year program that is reviewed every fiscal year by the Board of Supervisors.

The program includes an estimated $6.05 million in federal aid, $7.4 million in Farm to Market funds, and $1.88 million in local monies over the five-year period.

The recent 10-cent/gal. gas tax increase also provided a much-needed boost for upcoming road projects. Fayette County is projected to see approximately $875,000 in additional revenue due to the increase.

District continues to be proactive

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The South Winneshiek Future Direction Committee met Wednesday evening, March 18. The meeting began with South Winneshiek shared Superintendent Clark Goltz introducing Gary Sinclair, Iowa Association of School Boards representative, to the committee and guests.

Sinclair presented a financial planning program that included financial numbers and projections specific to the South Winneshiek school district, as well as comparisons of other similar-sized school districts in Iowa.

The consensus of the report is that the district’s finances, including the authority to spend and solvency, have been on a slight decrease since 2012. The good news is that, although the numbers are down, they remain on the high end of the recommended range set by the Iowa School Budget Review Committee (SBRC).