March 2015

Wed
25
Mar

Nalla's road to recovery

 

Nalla Billmeyer of Clermont is getting plenty of support from her family during her recovery process after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The Billmeyer family includes (front) Trevor; (back) Allan, Jessica, and Nalla.

 

Nalla's road to recovery

 

 

Brian Smith
Contributing Writer

 

 

            Make no mistake about it, Nalla Billmeyer and her parents have a challenging journey ahead of them. It is a journey they did not expect to take and one they certainly would like to have avoided altogether. Unfortunately, Clermont residents Allan and Jessica Billmeyer were not given a choice in the matter. On Jan. 28 their daughter, Nalla, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Since then, their lives have been a whirlwind of doctor’s appointments, chemotherapy treatments, spinal taps, and white blood cell counts.

            “We first became aware of a problem when Nalla had some really high fevers, and we couldn’t figure out what was causing them. We took her to LaCrosse, and they ran some tests. When it was discovered that she had ALL, they started her on treatments right away,” related Jessica, who has seen her little girl go through a great deal over the last several weeks.

            Their initial visit to LaCrosse lasted for 10 days and was rough on everyone. Allan and Jessica had been married just over eight months when they found themselves living through what must have seemed like a nightmare. The change in their daughter was heartbreaking.

            “Nalla went from being a happy-go-lucky 2-year-old to a cancer patient struggling through chemotherapy treatments. There was a three week period where she went without smiling, laughing, or playing; all she could do was lay on the floor or sit on the couch and cry,” recalled Allan, who has witnessed the transformation firsthand.

Wed
25
Mar

Buhrow leads WC girls

 

West Central’s Lauren Fink hands the baton to Braidyn Buhrow during one leg of the 1600 relay during the UIC Indoor Meet Monday March 16, at Luther College. The four Blue Devil girls finished in 5:31.37. (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

Buhrow leads WC girls

 

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@fayettepublishing.com

 

The West Central girls’ track team competed in the annual UIC Indoor Meet Monday, March 16, in Decorah.

Braidyn Buhrow led the Devils with a fourth-place finish in the long jump.

No team results were kept, and many events only had heats with no final run or placings.

Wed
25
Mar

WC boys start track

 

James Niemann launches himself into the air in the long jump at the UIC Indoor Meet Monday, March 16, in Decorah. The Blue Devil senior sailed 17’2”. (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

WC boys start track

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

Monday, March 16, the West Central boys’ track squad opened its season at the annual UIC Indoor Meet at Luther College in Decorah.

Team scores were not kept, and many events did not record individual placings since only heats were run.

Tyson Decker almost medaled for the Devils after a fourth-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 18’1”.

Wed
25
Mar

Creating opportunities at Maple Crest Manor

 

Katie Hemry, is one of the seven women who was put through the certified nurse’s aide course by Maple Crest Manor last fall. Since, she and her peers have approached their new careers full of enthusiasm. Katie is seen here with one of the residents she cares for, Peggy Pagel. (Megan Mohlis photo)

 

Creating opportunities at Maple Crest Manor

 

 

Megan Mohlis
Contributing Writer

 

 

Last spring, Maple Crest Manor in Fayette began to prepare for the summer staff change. With Fayette the home to Upper Iowa University, the trend of college students working during the school year and leaving for the summer was nothing new. However, the high school students were usually there to take over the vacant spots. However, this time something was proving to be different. The applications weren’t coming in as they had in years prior, and after several months of stressed scheduling, the administrative staff decided something needed to be done.

                 After doing some preliminary research, it was found that there seemed to be an interest in the community to obtain CNA certification but an inability to complete the necessary education for various reasons. With this, they contacted Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) to see if there would be a way to set up a class in which clinicals, which are similar to on-the-job training, could be completed at Maple Crest so those interested in working there would gain a basic knowledge of the facility before beginning.

Wed
25
Mar

Tom Barker

Tom Barker

 

 

Thomas “Tom” William Barker passed away at the age of 91 on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Society in West Union.

Tom was born on February 14, 1924 in Brainard, Iowa to William and Grace (Boyer) Barker.

He attended grade school in Elgin and Columbus High in Waterloo.

Tom left to join the military during World War II.

On June 15, 1957 he was united in marriage to Donna Thompson at St. Olaf Church in West Union.

He worked on road construction and surveying for Fayette County before going to work for Frana Distributing in Calmar. Later, Tom went to work for and eventually retired from Atwood in West Union.

He was a member of American Legion Post 15 and Redeemer Lutheran Church both of West Union.

Tom enjoyed card games, dancing and reading. He was very active and continued to play fast pitch softball until age 55.

Wed
25
Mar

Marcus Espey

Marcus Espey

 

 

Marcus W. Espey, 56, of Fayette, died Sunday, March 15, 2015, at his home in Fayette.

Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 19, 2015, at the Fayette Community Church with Pastor Carl Tenney officiating.

Interment followed at Grandview Cemetery in Fayette.

Friends called from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 at the church and for one hour prior to the services at the church on Thursday.

Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Fayette assisted the Espey family.

Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com

Marcus William, son of Elmer K. and Edna Marie Jungers Espey, was born April 16, 1958, at Estherville, Iowa.

After moving with his family to Spencer, he graduated from Spencer High School, and later from Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville.

Wed
25
Mar

Howard Wangsness

Howard Wangsness

 

 

Howard Ove Wangsness, 90, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at the Winneshiek Medical Center, Decorah, Iowa. 

He was born February 13, 1925 to John E. and Johanna (Strand) Wangsness in Springfield Township, Iowa.

Howard attended Lee Country School. 

He was united in marriage to Verna Torkelson on September 15, 1950 at First Lutheran Church in West Union, Iowa.  To this union, two children were born, Robert and Julie.

Howard was a Farmer, Deputy Assessor for Winneshiek County and a Marigold Milk Delivery Man.

He lived on the family farm for eighty-six years of his ninety years. He enjoyed traveling with Verna and woodworking. He had a love for cars and tractors, but most of all, Howard enjoyed spending time with his friends and family. 

Wed
25
Mar

NFV boys' track wins 2 gold

 

It’s up and over the bar for NFV’s Andrew Roys in the high jump at the UIC Indoor Meet Monday, March 16, in Decorah. Roys cleared 5’4” to place fourth in the TigerHawks’ first meet of the season. (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

NFV boys' track wins 2 golds

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 Like the girls, the NFV boys finished a two-day indoor track season with meets Monday (March 16) and Tuesday (March 17).

Monday’s meet was the annual UIC Indoor at Luther College in Decorah. Team scores were not kept and not all placings were recorded.

NFV’s Devon Monnahan won gold in the 800 with a time of 2:25. With back-to-back meets, the UIC featured a number of JV athletes competing in   varsity events.

Wed
25
Mar

NFV girls vie in 2 indoor meets

 

Ciara Halverson is the picture of concentration as the freshman clears a hurdle at the UIC Indoor Meet Monday, March 16, in Decorah. Halverson finished the 55 hurdles in 10.19 to win her heat. (Jerry Wadian photo)

NFV girls vie in 2 indoor meets

 

 

The North Fayette Valley girls’ track team kicked off the 2015 season with a pair of indoor meets last week.

Monday, March 16, the TigerHawks ran at Luther College in the annual UIC Indoor. The next night, the girls were in Hoover Field House on the Wartburg campus in Waverly.

The UIC Indoor is a chance for athletes to compete head-to-head early in the season with no team scores, and not all individual placements were recorded.

Wed
25
Mar

A 'glowing' start to Good Sam project

 

Good Samaritan Society-West Union employees Mark Borcherding and Tessa Burgin are pictured in front of the area where a 752-foot exercise trail is proposed for construction. The proposed concrete or asphalt-surfaced trail would connect the local Good Samaritan Center with Cedar Court Apartments, pictured in the upper right. (Janell Bradley photo)

 

A 'glowing' start to Good Sam project

 

 

Janell Bradley
Contributing Writer

 

 

A 5K Glow Run/Walk on Saturday, April 18, will kick off the fundraising for construction of an exercise/fitness trail on property just east of Good Samaritan Society in West Union.

Mark Borcherding, Environmental Services director at Good Sam, explained he was mowing the lawn on the nine-acre property when he began brainstorming ideas as to how some of the vacant space might be put to better use.

It's hoped that a 752-foot exercise trail will some day wind from the east entrance of Good Sam down the gradually sloping lawn to the 12-unit Cedar Court Apartments.

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