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.”

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.

Relinquishing their crowns at the Fayette County Cattlemen’s Association Banquet Saturday will be (l-r) 2023 Beef Princess Anna Egan, Queen Avari Schroeder, and Little Miss Cowgirl Khloee Cannon. (File photo)

Beef royalty and producers to be recognized Saturday

By Mike Van Sickle

      A new Fayette County Beef Princess and Little Miss Cowgirl will be crowned as part of the 69th annual Fayette County Cattlemen's Banquet Saturday, Feb. 3. In addition, reigning Fayette County Beef Queen Avari Schroeder will pass her crown to reigning Princess Anna Egan during the banquet. Khloee Cannon served as the 2023 Little Miss Cowgirl.

      This year’s princess candidates include the following.

Among the North Fayette Valley-area Scouts looking forward to helping with the upcoming “Souper Bowl” Food Drive to benefit the Open Hands Food Pantry in West Union are (front, l-r) Quinn Weidemann, Noah Schissel, Lucas Schaefers, Cain Rodgers, Ryan Tendall, (back) Ethan Murray, Brock Soppe, Trent Gamm, Carter Marcks, Keegan Weidemann, Grant Soppe. (Mike Van Sickle photo)

Local Scouts kicking off ‘Souper Bowl’ Feb. 10

      Open Hands Food Pantry is partnering with North Fayette Valley-Area Cub Scout Pack 54 and Boy Scout Troop 54 in hoping the community can help them score big during a “Souper Bowl” Food Drive Saturday, Feb. 10, and Sunday, Feb. 11.

The Empire Trio, featuring (l-r) pianist David Shenton, soprano Erin Shields and baritone Adam Cannedy, will perform some of the most well-known music associated with movies as part of their “Hooray for Hollywood” performance at the Williams Center for the Arts Friday, Feb. 16. (Photo submitted)

'Hooray for Hollywood’ at Williams Center Feb. 16

      “Hooray for Hollywood”, featuring the Empire Trio, will take to the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, at the Williams Center for the Arts in Oelwein. 

      “Hooray for Hollywood” is a musical review of some of the most well-known music associated with movies.  The trio includes a soprano, a baritone and pianist. The Oelwein High School concert choir will be the special guests.

TAKO ice fishing canceled

The Fayette County Take A Kid Outdoors (TAKO) chapter has cancelled its annual ice fishing event scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Buehlaland Christian Camp. 

Maynard city officials are considering placement of two speed cameras in the community. One could potentially be placed on Main Street in the downtown area and the other along County Road W25 that runs north from town toward Randalia. (Deb Kunkle photo)

Traffic cameras on Maynard horizon

By Deb Kunkle
Editor, Oelwein Daily Register

      The city of Maynard wants commuters traversing Highway 150/Main Street and county road W25/First Street North to observe the town’s speed limits and its city council is preparing to install traffic cameras to make the point.

      At the council’s first meeting of the new year on Jan. 8, a public hearing was set for the Monday, Jan. 22, meeting to go forward with an Altumint Photo Enforcement Service agreement on proposed traffic cameras for the city.

County can expect 5.22% insurance rate increase

By Mike Van Sickle

      Brian Huinker of Midwest Group Benefits informed the Fayette County supervisors Monday the county can expect a 5.22% or $87,000 increase to insurance rates for 2024-25. The benefits consultant acknowledged that while this figure is below the current trend of 8-11% increases, it is still comes on top of already high prices.

Elgin Council receives open meeting laws training

By Brian Smith
Contributing Writer

      The Elgin City Council on Monday spent the majority of its meeting receiving training on open meeting laws. The training informed council members as well as library board members about laws regarding open meetings and public records, also known as Sunshine Laws. Sunshine Laws address the specifics involved with public meetings and public records located in chapters 21 and 22 of the Iowa Code.

Clermont Council raises water/sewer; opposes electrical increases

By Vicki Rowland
Contributing Writer

      The Clermont City Council unanimously approved the third and final reading and passed a water/sewer rate increase Monday.

      Water rates for regular homes and businesses will be a flat rate of $17.07 for the first 1,000 gallons. Each additional 1,000 gallons or fractions thereof will be billed at $6.57 each.  An additional $6 flat rate fee per month will be added for future capital improvements. Homeowners and businesses should take all of this times two because the sewer rates are calculated in the same way. 

      Bulk water rates will be calculated at the rate of $75 for the first 1,000 gallons, and $12 for each additional 1,000 gallons. Approval must be granted by the city for bulk water users. These rates will go into effect once the publication has been made.