Ken Bement

Kenneth D. Bement, 63, of Elgin, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at his home in Elgin, Iowa.

Kenneth Dean, the son of Paul and Paula (Hangartner) Bement, was born June 30, 1952 in West Union, Iowa.

He graduated from North High School, West Union, in 1970 and attended Iowa State University. 

Kenneth was united in marriage with Karen McNulty on August 1, 1970 at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Union. To this union five children were born.

Ken was a custodian at North High School from 1971-1972 and served as Director of General Services at Palmer Lutheran Hospital, West Union, from 1972-1988. He then worked at AMPI in Fredericksburg, Iowa until the plant closed in 1996. 

After the closure, Ken earned a degree in Electrical Mechanical Technology from Western Wisconsin Technical College in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

NFV’s O-line opened some big holes for its running backs n Friday’s 24-20 quarterfinal win Friday over Waukon. Here, Juan Harris (51- barely visible on the left side) Dillon Baumler (34) and Seth Rupprecht (53) open a gaping home for Trey Kuhens. The TigerHawks rushed 60 tomes for 395 yards behind its talented line. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Domeward bound - again!

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

North Fayette Valley is going back to the UNI-Dome for the third time in its three-year history.

Two years ago, the TigerHawks lost in the semifinals to the eventual state champions, last year NFV was the state champion, and this year they will face undefeated and second-ranked Spirit Lake in the semifinal game, Saturday, Nov. 14, at 4:06 p.m. in the UNI-Dome. The TigerHawks will have the home side of the UNI-Dome.

A close relationship with her mom and dad, Pam and Gerald Walvatne, has helped Hailey Walvatne as she has grown up learning to deal with epilepsy.

Coping with epilepsy

Brian Smith
Contributing Writer

            In many ways 10-year-old Hailey Walvatne is just like any other fifth-grader you might meet. She plays the clarinet, loves playing with her dog, enjoys reading, and likes to go horseback riding. While all of these things could be considered typical of a lot of girls her age, she also has several things that make her unique. She frequently goes bowling, is developing her skills with the bow and arrow, and is planning to mount the her first deer in her bedroom.

She also has been diagnosed with epilepsy.

            “When I was little, I used to think it was a disease in my brain. Since then, I have learned a lot more about it and what to do to help myself deal with it,” said Hailey, the daughter of Pam and Gerald Walvatne of West Union.

            Simply put, epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which events called seizures disrupt normal brain function, causing a wide range of effects. The summer before Hailey started kindergarten, Pam and others first began noticing some of the symptoms, namely twitching and rolling of the eyes. This led to making an appointment with the eye doctor, who told them that the eye movement Hailey was exhibiting might be an indicator of epilepsy.

Andrew Smith

Smith is newest member of WU Council

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The West Union City Council will have a new face come Jan. 1, 2016.

Andrew Smith, who ran unopposed in Ward 3, won the seat formerly occupied by Kennon Gumm by a 51-1 vote over a single write-in. Kennon Gumm ran for the at-large seat currently occupied by Cathy Bemiss, who didn’t seek re-election; Gumm won by a large sum, 131-11 over write-ins.

Smith is a father of two, who with his wife, Tiffany, has lived in West Union for eight years. He works at the Oelwein Correctional Facility. His first priority as a new councilmember will be to help attract new businesses to West Union.