The Fayette County Pheasants Forever Board of Directors would like to remind people to get their tickets for the 34th Annual Fayette County Pheasants Forever Banquet starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, at the West Union Event Center in West Union. Tickets can be purchased from one of the following board members (from, l-r) Brett Whitcher; Larry Glass; Rod Marlatt, president; Kortney Pleggenkuhle; Billie Winters; and Jesse Wegner; (back) Mallory Hanson; Evan Strahm; George Schaefers, treasurer; Blake Gamm, habitat chairman; and Eric Boehm; Not pictured are Allison Boehm, Leon Deutsch, Jesse Pleggenkuhle, and Allie Rath. Chris DeBack photo

Pheasants' resurgency

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The 34th Annual Fayette County Pheasants Forever Banquet is just around the corner on Saturday, March 16, at the West Union Event Center in West Union. 

Fayette County Pheasants Forever had another successful year. In 2018, the conservation group had $216,760 in habitat expenditures, which was good enough for fourth in the nation. The previous two years, the organization was first in the nation when it came to habitat expenditures. Its nesting-cover program incorporated 1,726 acres, which was good enough for fourth in the nation, as well. 

AcenTek bringing fiber optics to Clermont and Ossian

AcenTek is investing in the communities of Clermont and Ossian and businesses and residents stand to benefit. 

The provider of Internet, voice, and video services for the area is replacing their copper facility within the city limits with fiber optic cabling. This upgrade to fiber will provide much faster Internet speeds, starting at 200Mbps and going up to 1Gig. This upgrade will include 432 homes and businesses in the town of Clermont  and 463 homes and businesses in Ossian. 

While faster Internet speed is the biggest, most obvious benefit of a community being upgraded to fiber, it is not the only one. A fiber connection is more reliable than copper so customers can expect far less disruptions to AcenTek services during storms. In addition, a community that offers future residents (and potential businesses) connectivity to fiber optics is more attractive, encouraging their relocating to the area. 

Mary Foxwell of rural Elgin runs in place in the pool at the Northeast Iowa Wellness Center in Postville to complete the running portion of the Indoor Ironman Challenge. She does this because walking on a treadmill causes her back pain.  (Chris DeBack photo)

Foxwell completes Indoor Ironman Challenge

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The Ironman Triathlon is a grueling race that has contestants swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and then run 26.2 miles in that order without stopping. 

This endurance race tests even the most physically fit men and women. While Mary Foxwell of rural Elgin won’t be participating in an Ironman Triathlon anytime soon, she is the latest to complete the Indoor Ironman Challenge at the Northeast Iowa Wellness Center in Postville. What makes Foxwell’s accomplishment unique is her uphill battle with back issues that she has had to overcome to reach this point. 

Foxwell’s back issues started approximately 12 years ago when she was living in Monona. She was on the Monona ambulance crew and had just gotten home from a call. While she was taking a shower she slipped.

T’s Brick City Pub is set to open on Saturday, March 2, in Clermont. The new craft beer pub is owned by Tanya Tysland (right) and managed by Whitney Guyer (left). It will feature craft beer and wine from a number of Iowa breweries including the popular Toppling Goliath in Decorah, SingleSpeed Brewing in Waterloo, and Eagles Landing Winery in Marquette. (LeAnn Larson photo)

Bringing big city amenities to small town Iowa

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

T’s Brick City Pub will be bringing Clermont some of Iowa’s finest craft brews and wine.

Owner Tanya Tysland wants to make Clermont a tourist attraction, and noted that having a craft brew pub is just one more business to help make that happen. She stayed with the “Brick City” theme of her other business, T’s Brick City Spa, because she likes the history surrounding Clermont’s nickname, “The Brick City.” 

“We are trying to make Clermont a tourist town, and it is easy for people to remember to come to the Brick City,” she said. “Traveling throughout the U.S. and seven different countries, having a place with good craft beer on tap and some good wines is something that people look for in a tourist town.”

Opening on Saturday, March 2, those visiting the local craft brew pub will find six beers on tap, all from Iowa brewing companies including Toppling Goliath in Decorah, Millstream Brewing Company in Amana, Backpocket Brewing in Coralville, Singlespeed Brewing in Waterloo, Exile Brewing Company in Des Moines, and ReUnion Brewery in Coralville.

NFV proposes school makeup dates

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Mother nature hasn’t been kind to northeast Iowa this winter, which has led to a large amount of snow days in many school districts. 

In fact, including Monday, Feb. 25, North Fayette Valley has had 12 snow days, which accounts for approximately 88.75 hours of school missed. Remember, the NFV school calendar is based on hours of school not days of school. With only 44.2 extra hours built into the calendar as a buffer to winter weather, NFV students are going to have to make up for missed time. 

When Lisa Eberhart was about to head back to work after having lunch at home, she discovered her clock and slid off the wall. Upon further investigation she noticed a crack in the wall, a bowed out window, and insulation that had fallen out, along with the fact that her home’s roof had collapsed due to heavy snow.  (Zak Kriener Photo)

Roof collapse displaces WU residents

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Heavy snow caused a roof to collapse on Friday morning, Feb. 22, at 101 Carpenter Street in West Union.

Lisa Eberhart came home for lunch and just before she was going to go back to work, she noticed that her clock had slid off the wall. This is when she discovered that something wasn’t quite right with her home.