Winneshiek County Fair entertainment announced 

Becky Walz
Editor

The Winneshiek County Fair’s five-night lineup of grandstand entertainment was announced last week and will be headlined by the country music band “Little Texas” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 10.

Since 1988, Little Texas has been touring the United States, sometimes playing in more than 300 shows per year.

The group’s first album featured five singles to reach the top of the charts. Their second album, “Big Time,” sold more than 3 million copies and spawned three No. 1 singles — “What Might Have Been,” “God Blessed Texas,” and “My Love.”

Over the years Little Texas has toured both on its own and with Clint Black, Travis Tritt, Tim McGraw, and Trisha Yearwood.

‘Decorah Eagles’ to soar into Thundering Toms Banquet

Mike Van Sickle
Contributing Editor

One of Iowa's most renowned wildlife artists is returning to West Union as a special guest of the Fayette County Thundering Toms on Saturday, April 13. 

As part of the local National Wild Turkey Federation Chapter's Hunting Heritage Banquet at Echo Valley Banquet Center in West Union, Larry Zach will showcase his latest release, “Evening Snowfall-Decorah Eagles.” Zach also attended the 2008 Fayette County Thundering Toms Banquet. 

While acknowledging that he is no longer as actively involved on the banquet/outdoor show circuit as he was years ago, Zach said that he continues to especially enjoy attending outdoor-related banquets throughout the state.

Donkey Basketball makes a scene at South Winn...

Approximately $3400 in ticket sales, concessions, and auctions was raised at Sunday’s Donkey Basketball event to enable South Winn FFA members (l-r) Mariah Schmitt, Karla Hageman, Cassidy Buddenberg, and Ben Hanson travel to Scotland to participate in the International Dairy Judging competition in June.  (Becky Walz photo) 

Class alignment, Supt. sharing approved

 Proposed tax decrease at North Fayette

By Mike Van Sickle
Union editor

The North Fayette Board of Directors is proposing a reduction of nearly 90 cents in tax levies as part of its proposed 2014 fiscal year budget.

Superintendent Duane Willhite explained during the school board’s Tuesday, March 19, regular meeting that the proposed budget was developed assuming the Iowa Legislature and governor approve a 2-percent increase in allowable growth. While reporting this assumption establishes the highest tax rates needed, he reminded board members that they could always decrease tax rates, but not raise them after budget approval.

Some of the levy adjustments include dropping the cash reserve levy by half to $175,000 and decreasing the management levy by $50,000 (to $250,000).

Dunn resigns from Fayette police force

Janell Bradley
Contributing Writer

Fayette Police Chief Dusty Dunn has resigned.

Mayor Bill Dohrmann confirmed Tuesday that Dunn, chief of police for approximately eight years, submitted his resignation Monday.

In a special meeting Thursday, March 7, the council went into closed session to discuss the police chief's employment status with attorney Jeff Clements, but returned to open session after an hour, taking no action.

In the interim, Dunn continued to work administratively with the Fayette County Sheriff's Office, agreeing to patrol the community. Police Officer Sierra Fox, in her first year with the department and slated to begin training with the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in April, was told to take vacation time, until the council at its meeting on Monday told her to return to work.

WC voters to head to polls

Becky Walz
Editor

The time has come for patrons in the West Central school district to head to the polls on Tuesday, April 2, to decide whether the West Central school district can issue general-obligation bonds up to $7.6 million for an addition to the existing school to house junior/senior high students. 

The measure requires a 60-percent-plus-one majority in order for the district to move forward.

While the total cost of the project is just over $9 million, $7.6 million of the cost would be funded through the 20-year bond issue. 

The remaining funds would be raised through the district's share of the 1-cent sales tax. The actual interest rates wouldn't be known until bonds are sold, but they are being estimated at 0.65 at the start and at 2.85 percent at the conclusion of the bond payback.

Valley approves ag hiring

The Valley Board of Education approved a contract to hire Monica Enyart for ag education and summer voc-ag. Enyart’s contract is for the remainder of the 2012-2013 school year. School board member Tim Orr cast the lone dissenting vote.

The Valley school board previously accepted the resignation of former agriculture education teacher and FFA advisor Henry Kraai in February.

During its regular March 18 meeting, the local school board emerged from a closed session, and a motion was made to hire Enyart on a probationary basis as an agriculture instructor for the remainder of the current school year. The March 18 motion was seconded but then defeated by a vote of 2 to 3. 

After receiving additional information, a prevailing board member from the March 18 vote requested the item be brought back before the school board.

Valley preschool and kindergarten open house April 4

Valley Community School and Valley preschool invite parents and prospective students of the two programs to an Open House Night on Thursday, April 4. The event will include the opportunity for parents or guardians to register students for each of the respective programs.

Preschool families are to go to the preschool classrooms to learn more about Valley’s 3- and 4-Year-Old Preschool program. A child may be enrolled in the preschool if he or she is 3 or 4 prior to Sept. 15 of the current school year for that class.

Meanwhile, parents/guardians, and prospective kindergarten students will have an opportunity on April 4 to meet the teacher, tour the classroom and begin the registration process as a first step in welcoming the graduating class of 2026 to school.

Watershed officials hoping proposals will stream in

By Mike Van Sickle

Union editor

A message of opportunity was passed onto rural and urban residents of the Turkey River Watershed (TRW) on Thursday. This opportunity is expected to not only benefit local property owners and communities, but eventually all those located downstream.

Brad Crawford, Turkey River Watershed coordinator, was joined by Lora Friest, Northeast Iowa RC&D coordinator, in leading the informational meeting at Tap’t Out in West Union. Approximately 50 officials, producers, rural landowners, and community residents attended the meeting, hosted by Turkey River Watershed Management Authority board members.