News

Wed
31
Oct

Dollar General in Fayette Now Open!

 

After months of seeing the former IGA store be totally remodeled on the inside, the parking lot resurfaced, and many semis unloading merchandise, residents of Fayette can finally shop in the new Dollar General store. The “Now Open” sign went up Sunday morning, and by early afternoon shoppers were already inside loading up on necessities and holiday items. (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

Dollar General Now Open!

 

 

Wed
31
Oct

Wolverton challenges Jacobsen for County Treasurer

Wolverton challenges Jacobsen for County Treasurer

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

 

While the Fayette County Supervisors race is the big ticket in terms of county elections, there are a number of other elected officials up for re-election, although most of them are running unopposed.

One race that has a challenger is Fayette County Treasurer. Current Republican Fayette County Treasurer Kyle Jacobsen is being opposed by Democrat Tammy Wolverton. 

Wed
31
Oct

Four candidates seek two open FC Supervisor seats

Four candidates seek two open FC Supervisor seats

 

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

On Tuesday, Nov. 6, Fayette County residents will have a big decisions to make about the direction of the county. 

Do residents want to stick with the status quo and re-elect Republicans Darrel Dolf and Jeanine Tellin? Do they want a change in County government and elect two Democrats, Ben Hanson and Martin “Marty” Stanbrough? Or, will it be a combination with someone getting re-elected and a newcomer being voted in? Suffice to say, it won’t be too long before we know the direction in which the County will be headed.

This is the final article of Fayette County Newspapers election coverage. It will focus on the four-candidate race for two open seats. We’ll briefly recap the race for Fayette County Treasurer between Republican Kyle Jacobsen and Democrat Tammy Wolverton, and touch on other elected officials running unopposed in another article. 

Just a reminder that each of the four Supervisor candidates are running against the others. On Nov. 6, residents will be asked to vote for two candidates, and the two candidates who receive the most votes, regardless of party affiliation, will be the winners. Of course, area citizens always have the option to write-in someone's name. 

Voting is a right, but it is also a privilege. Please be mindful of the polling location changes that were made for this midterm general election. A sidebar with all that information is included with this article. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name. 

Wed
31
Oct

Loss: Not something you get over, but something you get through

 

Darwin Schrage (left) and Ron Schute discuss their late wives, Barb Schrage and Julie Schute, both of whom died of ovarian cancer.  Schrage is the organizer of the upcoming Eighth Annual Dance For Life fundraiser, which will be held at the West Union Events Center on Hwy 18 East on Sunday, Nov. 4.    

 

Loss: Not something you get over, but something you get through

 

 

By Meagan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

“When you lose the one you love, you think your world has ended,” sings Willie Nelson in “Not Something You Get Over.” 

The song, which was featured on Nelson’s most recent studio album, struck a chord for Darwin Schrage as he prepares for the Eighth Annual "Dance For Life" benefit in honor of his late wife, Barb, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer in 2011.

“The next words are what get me,” Darwin said thoughtfully.  “He sings, ‘It's not somethin' you get over, but it's somethin' you get through.’ That says it all, for me.  You’ll never get over losing someone you love, but with faith, it is something you can get through.  Sometimes it feels like you are barely hanging on, but it’s possible.” 

“That is exactly what it’s like,” agreed fellow West Union resident Ron Schute, who lost his own wife, Julie, to ovarian cancer in 2017.  

“You need the faith to know you can get through it, every step of the way.  It may seem impossible, but faith will lead you through.” 

As the two widowers met for a quick breakfast, the atmosphere is simultaneously light and heavy-hearted as the two share happy and sometimes humorous memories of the women they loved so deeply.  

The laughs fill the restaurant as Schute remembers his last Christmas with his beloved wife. “She loved every minute of Christmas,” Ron related with a smile.  “That one was no exception.  She and our granddaughter spent days baking cookies and lefse.” 

The jovial memories continue as Darwin recalls the time he got an entire crowd at the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo to say “hi” to Barb over the phone during the annual Steel Guitar Show.

“I just put the phone to the mic and told everyone to say ‘hi’ to Barb,” he said with a laugh.  “And they did not disappoint!” 

At other times the mood shifts to a much more somber note as the two men remember the illness that took their loved ones far too soon.

Wed
24
Oct

Snyder among NICC Hall of Fame inductees

 

Winneshiek County Emergency Management coordinator Sean Snyder of Ossian is one of five outstanding Northeast Iowa Community College alumni and two retirees who will be honored at the college’s November Hall of Fame ceremonies (one each at the Calmar and Peosta campuses). (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

Snyder among NICC Hall of Fame inductees

 

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

 

Each November, Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) holds its annual Hall of Fame ceremonies at each of its two campuses (Calmar and Peosta). This year, among the four honorees to be recognized at the Calmar campus ceremony is Ossian resident Sean Snyder.

Alumni inductees are individuals who have achieved outstanding success in their careers and service to the community. 

A graduate of the paramedic specialist program in 2011 and the paramedic program in 2014, Snyder currently works as the Winneshiek County Emergency Management coordinator. Along with his full-time position, Sean works for NICC as a teacher for EMT classes and volunteers for the Ossian Fire Department.

Wed
24
Oct

Swing on in to 'Two Trees Pizza' in Ossian

 

The Zweibohmer family of Ossian is looking forward to the opening of the town’s newest business, Two Trees Pizza. Members of the local family that will be serving tasty pizza and appetizers in the near future include (l-r) Adrianna, Mark, Annette, Alyssa, and Montanah. (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

Swing on in to 'Two Trees Pizza' in Ossian

 

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

 

A new pizza joint is coming to Ossian, and its owners have tall goals to please each and every one of their customers.

“We will offer a build-your-own-pizza style that uses a crust and sauce recipe from Borderline Pizza out of Forest City,” said Mark and Annette Zweibohmer, the owners of Two Trees Pizza on Main Street Ossian. “We got the name because ‘two trees’ is the German translation of our last name, Zweibohmer.”

Joining Mark and Annette in managing and working for the family-owned business will be their kids, Montanah, Adrianna, and Alyssa. While Alyssa is not yet old enough to officially work, she plans to help the family promote the business by advertising along Main Street in her pizza costume.

Wed
24
Oct

Guyer enjoys busy life as small-business owner

 

October is Women’s Small Business Month, and Deb Guyer of Clermont is making a difference in her community through ownership of the Brick City Inn. She encourages any woman thinking of starting her own business to go for it! 

 

Guyer enjoys busy life as small-business owner

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

 

October is Women’s Small Business Month, which celebrates all the female entrepreneurs who make their communities better by offering valuable services through their small businesses. 

According to the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, four out of 10 small businesses are owned by women. The total number of women-owned businesses is 12.3 million, which is an increase of 58 percent since 2007. 

One woman making a difference in her community by providing a much-needed service is Deb Guyer. Guyer owns Brick City Inn with her husband, Arnold. She also works part-time at the U.S. Post Office in Clermont, where she sells stamps, sorts mail, and completes all other activities needed for the area’s mail to arrive in a timely manner. 

Guyer was born in rural Elkader to Dan and Anna Butikofer. The 1974 Valley graduate married her husband, Arnold, a week after she graduated from high school. 

Wed
24
Oct

Fayette Lions host Meet the Candidates Night

 

The Fayette Lions Club held a Meet the Candidates Night on Monday, Oct. 22, at the Fayette Opera House in Fayette. Candidates for Fayette County Supervisor and Treasurer (l-r) Martin “Marty” Stanbrough, Tammy Wolverton, Ben Hanson, Jeanine Tellin, Kyle Jacobsen, and Darrel Dolf answered questioned generated by the crowd before the forum began.  Chris DeBack photo

 

Fayette Lions host Meet the Candidates Night

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

 

The Fayette Lions Club held its annual Meet the Candidates Night on Monday, Oct. 22, at the Fayette Opera House in Fayette.

Candidates in attendance were Democrats Ben Hanson and Martin “Marty” Stanbrough, who are running for Fayette County Supervisor, and Tammy Wolverton, who is running for Fayette County Treasurer. Republican Supervisors Darrel Dolf and Jeanine Tellin, who are running for re-election, and current Fayette County Treasurer Kyle Jacobsen also participated in the forum. 

The candidates answered questions that were generated by the crowd before the forum began. Each candidate was given a chance to make an opening and closing statement while he or she answered questions in between. All six candidates were seated on the stage in the Fayette Opera House and answered questions in ascending and descending order. 

Some questions were asked of only the Supervisors while others were asked of the Treasurer candidates. One question was asked of all six candidates. A majority of the questions asked of the Supervisor candidates were focused on the county’s secondary roads. 

Below are the answers to two Supervisor questions and one Treasurer question. 

Wed
24
Oct

Area trick-or-treating . . . when and where?

 

Beetlejuice (Kale McDermott) was ready to collect more candy during West Union’s Trunk-or-Treat event Sunday afternoon. (photo by Megan Molseed) 

 

Area trick-or-treating . . . when & where?

 

 

Area residents, get ready as local goblins, witches, superheroes, zombies and ghouls galore gear up for the annual foraging of candy in celebration of Halloween next week! All times listed are for Halloween night, Wednesday, Oct. 31, unless otherwise noted. 

West Union area monsters and goblins are invited to tour the town in search of candy and goodies during the annual door-to-door trick-or-treating event from 4:30 to 7 p.m.  

Wed
24
Oct

Home, sweet home

 

Terry Guenther of West Union lived 22 years in Las Vegas, where he worked in the wardrobe department at the Luxor Hotel & Casino. While living with his brother in Vegas was fun, especially going to concerts and numerous Vegas shows, he is glad to be home in West Union. Chris DeBack photos

 

Home, sweet home

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

Born without hands, Guenther’s life, whether he realizes it or not, is truly inspirational because he has never let his disability stand in his way. Whenever Guenther has put his mind to something, he has achieved it. 

A perfect example is Guenther moving to Las Vegas 22 years ago after receiving an invitation from his brother, Clay, to come live with him.  

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