Jeanine and Dennis Tellin of Maynard stand in a contour strip that helps to mitigate soil runoff during a heavy rain or flood. The Tellins recently received the Steward of the Land award from the Fayette Soil and Water Conservation District.

Soil conservation lands Tellins stewardship award

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Dennis and Jeanine Tellin of Maynard were awarded “Best Steward of the Land” by the Fayette Soil and Water Conservation District on Sept. 1.

The Tellins were nominated by their daughter Sarah Kendall; she felt they fit the award criteria for using the land in a sound and ethical manner. Retired for two years, the couple had undertaken a number of different approaches to conservation of their 600-acre farm to mitigate soil runoff during heavy rain and flooding. The most practical approaches were creating contour strips and buffer filters between farm plots and creeks. They have about 120 acres in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

Danny Halva flies by a pack of runners as he tries to make up time at the State Cross Country Meet Saturday in Fort Dodge. Halva slipped and fell on the muddy course and had to regain a lot of ground. The TigerHawk senior was able to pass a runner in the final 200 yards to claim his third straight medal after finishing 15th (Zakary Kriener photo)

Halva medals in the mud

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

North Fayette Valley athletes at the State Cross Country Meet ran well over the wind-swept, muddy Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge Saturday. It rained most of the night and early morning, leaving the course slick in places and a sea of mud in other spots. By race time, the temperatures hovered in the high 40s with strong winds.

Danny Halva earned his third straight medal at a State Cross Country Meet by placing 15^th with a time of 16:51.9 (last year he was third, finishing in 16:20.6 (which would have placed him fourth this year).

The TigerHawk senior was a victim of the miserable conditions as he hit a slick spot just past the midway point, and he fell hard on the ground after both legs flew out from under him.

North Fayette Valley High School will host its annual Veterans Day program on Nov. 11 with six seniors, who plan to enter the military after graduation, as the keynote speakers. They will speak upon the six characteristics of a soldier. Speaking will be (l-r) Ean Popenhagen (U.S. Marines), Nick Bodley (U.S. Army), Josh Waller (U.S. Marines), Natalie Fettkether (U.S. Navy), Andrew Roys (U.S. Army) and Noah Hughes (U.S. Army). 

6 NFV seniors to lead Veterans Day ceremony November 11

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Five North Fayette Valley seniors who plan to enter the military after graduation and one who is already a member of the Army National Guard will be the keynote speakers at NFV’s Third Annual Veterans Day program on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The program, which starts at 10 a.m. at the NFV High School, will include performances by the NFV band, which will perform the national anthem and “Salute to America’s Finest,” and choir, who will perform, “Hymn to Freedom.” Also part of the annual observance will be a Parade of Honor, a history of Veterans Day presented by Paige Gibson and Trevor Hurd, recognition of veterans, a moment of silence, ringing of the bell for the five branches of services and taps.

The six keynote speakers are Nick Bodley (U.S. Army), 18, of Hawkeye; Josh Waller (U.S. Marines), 17, of Wadena; Ean Popenhagen (U.S. Marines), 18, of Wadena; Noah Hughes (U.S. Army), 17, of Hawkeye; Natalie Fettkether (U.S. Navy), 17, of Arlington; and Andrew Roys (Army National Guard), 18, of West Union. Each senior will speak on one of six characteristics that makes up a member of the military.