Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Fayette County Public Health have partnered to host a Family Fun Walk from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the West Union Recreation Complex in West Union. This is a registered walk of Iowa’s Annual Healthiest State Walk, in which Iowa residents are encouraged to get out and join a local walk in their communities to promote healthy habits. Jessica Wegner (left), Fayette County Public Health nurse, and Palmer the Hippo are ready to walk at the Recreation Complex with those who attend.  Chris DeBack photo

Chance to 'walk more, connect more'

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Walking has become the cool thing to do in West Union.

To celebrate, Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Fayette County Public Health are partnering to host a Family Fun Walk from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the West Union Recreation Complex in West Union. 

Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative is set for Oct. 4. The annual walk is designed to bring communities together by having an organized Healthiest State Walk in all 99 counties across Iowa. The Family Fun Walk will be a registered Fayette County walk with the initiative. Area residents can preregister for the free walk by visiting http://www.iowahealthieststate.com/events/annual-walk/. 

Preregistration is not required, but it is encouraged because it is a way for the state to track how many people are getting out and walking. 

In memory of Mike Moser, a 20’ x 30’ shade shelter was built inside Upper Iowa University’s Harms-Eischeid Stadium and will be dedicated in his honor prior to the Peacocks’ Saturday, Oct. 7, football game. (submitted photo)

'In our hearts forever'

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Many will tell you that anyone who had the privilege of knowing Mike Moser was lucky enough to be able to interact with one of the most caring, loving, and fun individuals to grace the earth.

Moser was a 2007 graduate of North Fayette High School, who went on to play college football at Upper Iowa University in Fayette. He later married his high school sweetheart, Tiffany, and had a daughter, Madi.

On June 23, 2017, the young family man unexpectedly died at his home in Missouri at the age of only 27.

Keller declines WU council run for mayor candidacy

By Chris Deback

cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Area residents seeking a local elected position had until Thursday, Sept. 21, to submit paperwork to the Fayette County Auditor to get their names on the ballot. 

On Nov. 7, local residents within the 13 incorporated cities in Fayette County will head to the polls to cast a vote in their city council and mayoral races. Of the 13 races, Elgin, Fayette, Hawkeye, Wadena, and Westgate have contested races. West Union is the only town with a public measure on its ballot. 

It should be noted that these are the only candidates whose names will appear on the ballot. That doesn’t mean they are the only people a resident can vote for, as there is always a space to write in someone's name. 

Larry Reis of Calmar was recently presented with the Outstanding Partner Award by Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development for his dedication to natural resource interpretation, education, and photography. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Reis receives Outstanding Partner Award

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Reis receives Outstanding Partner Award

By Zakary Kriener

Winneshiek County Conservation Natural Resources manager Larry Reis of Calmar was recently honored by Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development (RC & D) with the Outstanding Partner Award for his dedication to natural resource interpretation, education, and photography.

While the local naturalist is honored to be only the fourth recipient of the award in its 20 years of existence, Reis admitted that he is just doing his job in meeting the criteria for receiving the distinction.

“I am truly humbled to be given the award, but to be honest, I don’t feel as though I have done anything extra to earn it,” laughed Reis. “I am simply doing my job to promote conservation, and in my spare time I go out and photograph things like flowers, insects, and wildlife.”

41st Annual Rendezvous coming!

The 41^st Annual Fort Atkinson Rendezvous will be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23 - 24, with the theme “Powder Magazine.”

The powder magazine structure was located in the southeast corner of the fort. Its purpose was to be used to store gunpowder and cannon powder in wooden barrels for safety.

On Saturday, the fun and activities will begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue until 4:30 p.m., while on Sunday, the entertainment will be held between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

There is no admission charge, and parking is free. 

Entertainment will include an 1840s military camp, complete with cannon drills, a Conestoga wagon, tepees and lodges, hunters, trappers, a blacksmith, a potter, a scrimshaw artist, a ropemaker, and much more.

Fayette council amends personnel policy

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

At its regular Monday meeting, Sept. 18, the Fayette City Council voted, 3-1, in favor of amending the residency requirements in the Fayette personnel policy for City employees. Councilmember Curtis Larson was the dissenting voter. Councilmember Tiffany Kragnes wasn’t present for the meeting.

The original policy stated that the Fayette police chief, police officers, Fayette Public Works director, and Fayette Public Works assistant director must either live within the corporate limits of the city or within one mile of the corporate limits to allow for a fast response time to an emergency. 

The policy was amended to state that police officers in the Fayette Police Department now need to live within 20 air miles of the city. The police chief, Public Works director and assistant director still need to live within the city limits or within one mile of the city limits. Councilmember Patty Nefzger drew up the amended policy.

Larson believes that the proposed 20-air-miles distance is too far and will take an officer too long to respond in case of an emergency. The idea of the original policy was to make sure that the City wasn’t having to call the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office for help, keeping that cost low. When the Sheriff's Office responds to any call within a city limits, whether it be Fayette, which has its own force, or Clermont, which relies on the Sheriff’s Office for its policing, that city is charged a fee for the service. 

 The Fayette County Tourism Council will host its annual Mystery Tour starting at noon Saturday, Sept. 24. Participants will register at the Fayette County Tourism Center at the junction of Hwys. 150 and 93 in Fayette. Carrie Davis, Fayette County Tourism coordinator, noted that this year’s theme “Look Up and Learn” focuses on education. She is pictured in Wadena at one of the six locations on the tour. The last location will host a meal.  (Chris DeBack photo)

Fayette County Tourism Council Mystery Tour on Sunday

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The annual Fayette County Tourism Council Mystery Tour is set to begin at noon Sunday, Sept. 24, with groups starting at the Fayette County Tourism Center in Fayette. 

2017 Fair sees profit

By Chris Deback

cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

At its regular monthly meeting, the Fayette County Fair Board was presented the financial report for the 2017 Fayette County Fair by Kremer Kehe Inc. of West Union. 

The fair's Grandstand events, not counting Johnny Rogers’ expenses, made approximately $22,000 in net profit. Johnny Rogers wasn’t counted on the financial report because some loose ends need to be tied up accounting-wise. 

The Demolition Derby on Friday was the most successful event of the week, raking in $24,929 in ticket and concession sales, while only costing $10,100, for a net profit of $14,829. The races on Wednesday evening brought in $30,232, with $23,445 in expenses for a net profit of $6,787. The Arch Allies concert on Saturday was also profitable, bringing in $5,116 after $13,816 in revenue and $8,700 in expenses. The rodeo on Thursday lost $4,066 with $8,500 in expenses and just $4,434 in revenue. 

Jared Kremer of Kremer Kehe Inc., the board’s certified public accountant, noted that the Fair Board was in good standing financially and that the fair did well this year. Year-to-date, which is October 2016 through August 2017, the Fayette County Ag. Society has had $205,443.60 in expenses and $261,654.38 in total income for a net income of $56,228.01. That total income includes donations and grants received for various projects on the fairgrounds.

In other news, the Fair Board approved the dates for the 165th Fayette County Fair as Tuesday, July 24, through Saturday, July 28. 

Karen Dyke started canning many years ago, and it quickly became one of her favorite pastimes. One of the most rewarding aspects of her hobby is watching granddaughters Ashley and Erica begin to take an interest in canning as well. (Erica Dyke photo)

Preserving goodness through generations

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

“The fresher, the better,” said a beaming Karen Dyke, Eldorado resident and longtime canning aficionado, of her canning hobby.  

“It’s all fresh-picked from the garden or locally grown.  All of the nutrients are still there when I seal them up,” she said of her finished products. “Much better than a lot of the store-bought alternatives.”