October 2015

Wed
21
Oct

'Don't stop believin'

 

Logan Humpal, a freshman at South Winneshiek High School, types on his Braille typewriter in his Spillville home. The 16-year-old, who was born blind and with autism, will be a member of the Warrior wrestling team this winter. He shares a love of sports, having also participated in the Special Olympics, as well as the fine arts as a member of the South Winn band, musical and choir. (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

'Don't stop believin'

 

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

Kicker – Local teen won’t let anything stand in his way

‘Don’t stop believin’

By Zakary Kriener

Logan Humpal, a 16-year-old from Spillville, is destined to accomplish big things. The high school freshman plays percussion in the South Winneshiek marching band, will play the role of Harvard Law student Padamadan in the upcoming Legally Blonde musical at South Winn, and will be going out for the Warrior wrestling team this winter. Those may seem like some pretty common activities for a high school student, and they are, but what makes Logan’s story so much more special is that he is blind.

That’s right, Logan is completely blind. However, that doesn’t stop the young boy from setting his goals high and accomplishing them.

“Logan was born at 24 weeks, three months premature,” explained his mom, Dawn Backes. “He has had dozens of surgeries over the years, but he doesn’t let that slow him down one bit.”

Wed
21
Oct

Trail project progress presented to Elgin council

 

Fayette County Conservation Director Rod Marlatt indicates where the bike trail will be extended east of Elgin at the Elgin City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 19. The project will include a bridge across the river and the trail will be extended to the Clayton County line. (Brian Smith photo)

 

Trail project progress presented to council

 

 

Brian Smith
Contributing Writer
bsmith@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

Fayette County Conservation Director Rod Marlatt was in attendance at Monday night’s Elgin City Council meeting to announce that bike trail will be expanded east from Elgin. Marlatt presented a map showing the route which the trail will take from Elgin to the Clayton County line.

           “The entire project is estimated at $1,136,000 and Elgin received a grant for $750,000 to help fund the project. There were 43 applicants across the state of Iowa that applied, so it is pretty exciting that our town was chosen,” noted Marlatt.

Wed
21
Oct

Holding on and looking for answer

 

 

Layne Schneider, a 2009 graduate of Valley High School, was 22 years old when he died. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, camping, farming, and spending time at the river. (Submitted photo)

 

Holding on and looking for answers

 

Brian Smith
Contributing Writer
bsmith@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

            Keeping the memory of a loved one alive after he or she is gone is not a task that anyone wishes to have, but one that becomes a labor of love to family and friends who are left behind.

So it is with those who knew and loved Layne Schneider of Elgin. It has been more than two years since Schneider was identified as the man found dead in a burning pickup near the intersection of Echo Road and 180th Street northwest of Wadena. Time has passed, but Layne’s memory has not.

Wed
21
Oct

NFV bowling team starts soon

NFV bowling team starts soon

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

The newest varsity sport at North Fayette Valley is bowling, and with practices starting Tuesday, Nov. 10, head coach Chris DeBack still needs some girls to fill out all of the varsity and JV slots.

“We have 17 boys already interested, but only three girls,” stated DeBack.

As the new TigerHawk mentor also noted, “You do not need prior experience to be on the team, we will teach you how to bowl. One of the reasons for starting the sport is to introduce students to a something they can do the rest of their lives; you can bowl into your 80s and 90s!”

Wed
21
Oct

WC's playoff dreams die with home loss

 

Blue Devil senior Ethan Fink makes this long reception off a pass from junior quarterback Brady Forsyth. West Centrals playoff hopes died with a 35-22 loss to Spingville at home on Friday, Oct. 16.

 

WC's playoff dreams die with home loss

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

The West Central Blue Devils, for the most part, controlled their own destiny. Win its last two regular season games, get a little help in the district, and the Blue Devils would be playoff bound.

Unfortunately, West Central didn’t take care of that first part with a 35-22 loss to Springville at home, which eliminated them from playoff contention.

Wed
21
Oct

WC falls early in UIC tournament

 

West Central senior Anna Barry just gets her finger on this attack attempt from Edgewood-Colesburg at the Upper Iowa Conference Tournament held in Postville on Saturday, Oct. 17.

 

WC falls early in UIC tournament

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

With a tough draw, West Central bowed out of the Upper Iowa Conference (UIC) tournament in pool play falling to Turkey Valley (21-14, 21-1) and Edgewood-Colesburg (21-18, 21-10). It was the Blue Devils’ second match-up of the week with Turkey Valley as they fell on the road, 3-0, on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Wed
21
Oct

Gerald Heller

Gerald Heller

 

 

Gerald “Gary” Heller, 69, of rural Sumner, died Saturday, October 17, 2015, at his home near Sumner.

 

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 21, 2015, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sumner with Rev. George Volkert officiating.  Burial will follow at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Sumner with military rites conducted by Thomas E. Woods Post #223, American Legion of Sumner.  Friends may call from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 20th  at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner and for one hour preceding services at the church on Wednesday. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.

 

Wed
21
Oct

Sheriff's office to put on Chase Benefit

Sheriff's office to put on Chase Benefit

 

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and friends of the Aeschilman family will host a benefit for Chase Aeschilman starting at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 at Echo Valley Banquet and Reception Center on Hwy. 18 East of West Union.

The benefit kicks off with a freewill donation meal that will include a BBQ pork sandwich, beans, chips, cookies and a drink and a silent auction. Chase will be making a guest appearance while he is home for the weekend.

Wed
21
Oct

Board mulls NFV Community Coalition center, early retirement

 

The North Fayette Valley Community Coalition (NFVCC) presented its vision for a youth center to the Valley school board Monday evening in Elgin. It is the goal of shared superintendent Duane Wilhite and NFVCC representatives to build the structure on the middle school site in Elgin. (Submitted photo)

 

 

 

 

 

Board mulls NFVCC center, early retirement

By Zakary Kriener

The Valley school board met Monday evening in Elgin for its regular school board meeting.

Representatives Allan Knox and Stacie Schroeder from the newly formed North Fayette Valley Community Coalition (NFVCC) were on hand to discuss the proposal of new housing for the organization that has been in the works.

Knox and Schroeder, in agreement with Wilhite, believe that it is a big benefit to have the center located near the middle school building in Elgin.

Wed
21
Oct

New Fayette police chief from Florida

Richard Pisanti

 

 

New Fayette police chief from Florida

 

 

Janell Bradley

Contributing Writer

 

The city of Fayette will soon have a new police chief.

The Fayette City Council met in a special session Wednesday night, Oct. 14, agreeing 3-1 to hire Richard Pisanti at an annual salary of $55,000.

Pisanti, 49, attended South Broward High School and has a degree in public administration from Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla. He earned his police officer certification from Broward Police Academy.

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