News

Tue
06
Feb

Elgin council receives grant update

Elgin council receives grant update

By Brian Smith

Contributing writer
      The Elgin City Council received an update on the status of their Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), which is being used to help fund wastewater treatment repairs. The update was provided by Ashley Christensen of Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission during the regular council meeting held Monday.
      Christensen spoke during the public hearing scheduled to update the council and interested residents regarding the status of the project for which CDBG funds are being used. She noted that all sludge from the wastewater treatment plant has been removed and that the remaining work to be done included removal and disposal of the existing liner and installation of the new liner in all three cells.

Tue
06
Feb

WU and Oelwein community gardens receive mini grants

WU and Oelwein community gardens receive mini grants  

       The West Union and Oelwein community gardens were among 32 projects across the state to receive Growing Together mini grants. The grants will help provide fresh produce and nutrition education to pantries in 2024 through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s SNAP-Education program.

      The local funding is to be used in adding raised beds at the West Union garden and maintain production at the Oelwein garden, and provide container gardening education and materials to food pantry clients.

Tue
06
Feb

Speed camera official addresses Clermont Council

Speed camera official addresses Clermont Council 

By Vicki Rowland
Contributing writer

      Cory Kuzyk, Ultumint director of strategic accounts and commercial general manager, addressed Clermont City Council questions Monday regarding the community’s proposed speed cameras.

      His comments and answers to council members’ questions appear below:

Tue
06
Feb

Lawler artist creates Black Hawk bridge model

(From right) Model maker Ralph Steinlage is joined by Jordan Jirak and Melvin Bodensteiner in examining the Black Hawk Bridge Model, created by Steinlage, while it was displayed in the German American Museum in St. Lucas. (Photo submitted)

Lawler artist creates Black Hawk bridge model

Submitted by Clair Blong
St. Lucas Historical Society

      Ralph Steinlage, a model designer with the St. Lucas Historical Society, has created a 13-foot model of the Black Hawk bridge in Lansing, Iowa.  In recent months, Steinlage became very interested in the construction project to replace the historic bridge. His nephew, Nic Humpal, is one of the construction managers on the project. 

      Steinlage spent over 75 hours this past month creating the model in his Lawler craft shop. While noting many problems were encountered in modeling such a large structure, he enjoyed those challenges: researching the structure blueprints, scaling the model, selecting the appropriate materials, and then combining these materials into a viable model.  

Tue
06
Feb

Area corn growers enter ‘300 Bushel Club’

Many area farmers competed in the National Corn Growers Association Yield Contest, with northeast Iowa having the highest participation numbers in the entire state. Farmers that broke the 300-bushel per acre mark were recognized at a special banquet on Saturday night in Ossian, including (front, l-r) Dale Hackman of Fort Atkinson, Mark Knutson of Ossian, Brian Rothmeyer of Ossian, Dean Darling of Burr Oak, Jeff Huinker of Postville; (back) James Rothmeyer of Ossian, Charles Rothmeyer of Ossian, Kevin and Gary Lansing of Ossian, Mac Hageman of Ossian, Randy Kuennen of Fort Atkinson, Ryan Bullerman of Calmar, Charles Knutson of Ossian, and Gavin Bullerman of Calmar. Missing from photo is Schultz Farms of Postville. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Area corn growers enter ‘300 Bushel Club’

      Many area farmers were recognized at a DEKALB Corn and Asgrow Soybean Yield Chasers banquet in Ossian on Saturday night.

      The National Corn Growers Association National Corn Yield Contest had 12 growers that submitted 16 entries that broke the 300 bushel-per-acre mark. The contest’s guidelines state that growers must do a yield check on 1.25 acres of corn, following certain guidelines when they harvest and bringing the check across a certified scale with a certified person present to make sure all guidelines are followed.

Tue
06
Feb

Svenson recognized for dedication to high school athletics

In January, longtime local sports radio broadcaster Darin Svenson (left) of Decorah was presented with the 2024 Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association Sports Media Award by Brent Buttjer, the president of the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association and current athletic director at Dallas Center-Grimes. (submitted photo)

Svenson recognized for dedication to high school  athletics

By Zakary Kriener

      For nearly 30 years, there has been one name that would come to mind for many area athletes, coaches, parents, and fans when it comes to radio coverage – Darin Svenson. Earlier this year, Svenson was recognized for his countless hours of hard work and overall dedication to area athletics and communities as he was presented with the 2024 Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association Sports Media Award.

      “It was great to know that other people recognize what I do and to me, it was a sign that I am doing things the right way,” said Svenson, who received the award at halftime of a Decorah basketball game on Jan. 19. “We live in a world where there’s so much going on and so much negativity, but I don’t think there is anything that can bring people together quite like sports. And for me, following these young people through their athletic careers and seeing how they grow and evolve into future leaders is one of the most rewarding things.”

Tue
06
Feb

Clinton captures second straight USRA National title

Pictured alongside wife Ashlee, West Union’s Dylan Clinton was recently honored as the 2023 USRA Hobby Stock national champion. The Fayette County Speedway and Winneshiek Raceway regular had 20 feature wins and 36 top-fives last summer, propelling him to a second straight national championship. (submitted photo)

Clinton captures second straight USRA National title

By Zakary Kriener

      Editor’s note: This story is part I of a three-part series on Fayette County Speedway racers who wan USRA National Championships or Rookie of the Year honors in 2023. Next week’s story will feature USRA Hobby Stock RoY Max Jones of Waterville.

      It was a summer to remember for West Union’s Dylan Clinton, who earned his second consecutive USRA (United States Racing Association) Hobby Stock national championship this year after posting an impressive 20-wins and 36 top-fives in 43 feature races. Included in those 20 wins was a milestone victory as he hit the 100-career feature win milestone in just eighth year behind the wheel.

Tue
06
Feb

Decorah deputy discovers passion for leather making

Byron Hook works diligently in his workshop on producing another fine custom leather item. His passion for leathermaking started just a year ago and has grown through the help of online YouTube videos and just general trail and error. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Decorah deputy discovers passion for leather making

By Zakary Kriener

      It’s an art that dates back to the stone age – leather working. For Decorah’s Byron Hook, it’s a newly found hobby that he has been discovering and fine tuning over the last year or so.

      “I’m pretty new at all of this actually, it all started about a year ago when I made a guitar strap for my daughter Elayna’s birthday,” said Hook, a Kansas City native who moved to Iowa in 2000 when he attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette and is now a Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office deputy. “I gave it a try and it turned out pretty decent, so I started doing a few other projects like making off-duty gun holsters for fellow law enforcement and things like that.”

Tue
30
Jan

NFV mentor’s purpose in life is helping children

Kay Havenstrite finds great joy in serving as an in-school mentor for her second-grade mentee Paisley at the North Fayette Valley West Union Elementary. Havenstrite eats school lunch with Paisley once a week. In addition, they enjoy time together visiting, playing games, and catching up on each other’s lives.   (Courtesy photo)

NFV mentor’s purpose in life is helping children

By Jan Bear

Contributing Writer

      Have you thought about being a mentor? Curious about your role as a mentor? Kay Havenstrite, an in-school mentoring volunteer at the North Fayette Valley West Union Elementary, can porbably provide you the answers. The 80-year grandmother with 24 grandchildren and 15 great-great grandchildren still finds time and enjoyment in mentoring Paisley, a second grader at the school.

      “I think everyone needs a purpose in life, a reason to get up in the morning,” Havenstrite said. “One of my purposes is helping children.”

Tue
30
Jan

Fuentes family spreads love for soccer to Uganda

NFV soccer coach Ignacio Fuentes (right) and his wife Jennifer recently held a soccer cleat drive that helped the couple donate over two full totes of cleats to children in Uganda through the HopeChest organization. (Courtesy photo)

Fuentes family spreads love for soccer to Uganda

By Zakary Kriener

      It may not be soccer season yet for North Fayette Valley coach Ignacio Fuentes and the TigerHawks, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been hard at work helping promote the sport that he loves and helping those in need. This winter, he and wife Jennifer teamed up with Jamie Wingert of Elkader, a partnership leader with the HopeChest organization to donate soccer cleats to children in Uganda.

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