Winneshiek Dairy Banquet April 12

By Zakary Kriener

      The 61st Annual Winneshiek County Dairy Banquet will be Friday, April 12th at the Festina Parish Center. The meal will be served from 7 to 8 pm with the awards program starting at 8 pm. The meal will consist of Beef Brisket, Baby Reds, Honey Glazed Carrots, Strawberry Fluff, Brownies & Ice-cream served by U2 catering. DHIA awards, several individual awards and scholarships will be handed out, along with the crowning of this year's royalty. Tickets are $15 and are available at the door the night of the banquet.

      This year, there are two Princess candidates, one Little Miss Squirt Candidates, and three Little Mr. Herdsman candidates. Candidate biographies are as follows:

Diane and Mark Schmitt (l-r) of Fort Atkinson were recently recognized as Iowa Master Farmers at a ceremony in Ankeny. The Schmitts were among seven Iowa producers to be recognized. (submitted photo)

Fort Atkinson dairy producers recognized as Master Farmers

      Fort Atkinson dairy producers Mark and Diane Schmitt were among seven producers recently recognized as 2024 Iowa Master Farmers during ceremonies in Ankeny.

      Each year, Wallaces Farmer magazine and the Iowa Master Farmer Association (IMFA) select deserving candidates who reflect exceptional agricultural production skills, commitment to family, and service to community.

WCCF awards over $168,000 in local grants

      The Winneshiek County Community Foundation (WCCF) held its grant awards celebration at Luther College’s Dahl Centennial Union on March 21, highlighting the impacts of WCCF’s 2024 grant awards and announcing the distribution of $168,636 to 25 projects of organizations serving Winneshiek County through its 2024 grant cycle.

      “It’s an honor for the Winneshiek County Community Foundation to support these local organizations in their work to strengthen our communities and create vibrant places for all to live, work and play,” said Lilly Jensen, chair of the WCCF committee.

      The 2024 grant recipient organizations, project the grant will fund, and grant amount is listed below by funding area.

County primary candidates set

By Mike Van Sickle

      The candidates for Fayette County’s Tuesday, June 4, primary election have officially fired their nomination papers. At the county level, the ballots will include the positions of auditor, sheriff, and one seat on the board of supervisors.

Chief deputy to sign off on career Monday

By Mike Van Sickle

      Each day of his law enforcement career, Jim Davis was determined to make an impact on a person’s life, especially those who may have fallen victim to a crime. On Monday, April 1, the retiring Fayette County Sheriff chief deputy will officially sign off his radio for the final time.

      “It really hasn’t sunk in yet,” Davis admitted. “It’s been an honor to work with such a great group of people in helping the residents of Fayette County for the past 24 years.”

      Growing up approximately 100 miles southwest of Detroit, Michigan, Davis graduated in 1985 from Horton High School in Horton, Michigan. Taking a job as a hospital security guard in Jackson, Michigan, he soon became well acquainted with a Detroit police sergeant and several police officers.

Fayette County recognized for ‘Outstanding’ promotions

By Mike Van Sickle

      Fayette County Economic Development and Tourism was among 24 award recipients Wednesday, March 20, at the Iowa Tourism Conference in Des Moines.

      The local organization was presented with a 2024 Iowa Tourism Award for Outstanding Promotional Material (Rural) for its recent rebranding and marketing placements and projects completed over the past two years, including a new visitors’ guide.

A successful 100-day recovery at WU’s Gundersen Palmer 

By Sharon Drahn
Contributing Writer

      When Julie Scott awoke with numbness in the bottom of her feet last November, she had no idea what was happening to her body. Living alone, the McGregor woman pretty much ignored the pain at first.

      However, as the pain intensified and she became weaker, Scott found it impossible to walk without falling. Knowing that she needed immediate medical care, and with the support of her family, the decision was made to call an ambulance where she was taken to Crossing Rivers Health Center in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

Clermont council and residents discuss speed cameras

By Vicki Rowland
Contributing Writer

      Approximately 20 Clermont citizens came out Monday evening to meet with their elected city officials to listen, learn and voice their opinions about the potential speed camera installation that the city is considering.

      Council members Amy Cummings, Troy Schott, Kaylene Schrader, Greg Larson, and Rich Mitts, along with Mayor Jim Matt took questions from the crowd in the Clermont Opera House. Kinon O’Neal, a representative from Altumint, the camera company, was also on hand to answer questions.

National Vietnam War Veterans Day Friday

      The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 was signed into law by former President Donald J. Trump, designating every March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. The special day joins six other military-centric annual observances (Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, Navy Day, Veterans Day).

      The date was chosen to be observed in perpetuity as March 29, 1973, was the day United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) was disestablished and was also the day the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam. In addition, on and around this same day Hanoi released the last of its acknowledged prisoners of war.

Supervisors receive audit report

By Kaci Maire

      Christi Meyer of Hacker, Nelson & Co. attended Monday’s regularly scheduled Fayette County Board of Supervisors meeting to present the audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, with no significant findings discovered. Noting a 10-year comparison of budgets, the extensive audit showed a steady increase in revenues over the last decade, matched with appropriate corresponding expenditures.