You are here

Home › News ›

News

Wed
30
Oct

NFV students offer energetic production of Legally Blonde the Musical

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2019-10-30 10:46

Some of Elle’s friends in NFV’s production Legally Blonde the Musical wait for Elle, played by Emma Pleggenkuhle (center), to divulge her plans to woo back her former boyfriend, Warner.  Pictured (l-r) are Sierra Kemp, Baylie Shrubb, Keely Krambeer, Claire Britt, Emma, Grace Klein, Briana Baumler, Pauline Clark, and Maria Yasinovsky.  (Megan Molseed photo) 

 

NFV students offer energetic production of Legally Blonde the Musical

 

 

By Megan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

Members of North Fayette Valley high school student body are excited to premiere their upcoming production of Legally Blonde The Musical. 

Come see what the gossip is about as we meet Elle Woods,  (Emma Pleggenkuhle) a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend, Warner. 

“This is the kind of girl Warner wants,” explains Elle, a fashionista consistently clad in her favorite color pink during the play.   “Someone serious. Someone lawerly. Someone who wears black when nobody's dead!“

Elle promptly applies to, and is accepted to the Harvard Law school, with the hopes of wowing Warner. 

Overtime, however, Elle learns that she is exactly who she needs to be, and if Warner doesn’t see that, then he wasn’t the right guy for her to begin with.  

During her journey through law school and self-discovery, Elle realizes that she has a keen knowledge of the law and that she can help others with her talents despite the fact that very few people have any faith in her abilities.  

Featuring over 20 cast-members, this production offers an energizing musical offers something for everyone.  

“The songs are really, really good in the entire play,” smiled cast-member Baylie Shrubb said of the production which boasts over 15 musical numbers.  “Love the dancing the most.  Especially in one called ‘Whipped Into Shape,’ the choreography is a lot of fun!” 

“It’s really coming together,” said North Fayette Valley chorus teacher, Kyle Harms of the production.  “I was really impressed with how quickly the cast came together to work on the songs, choreography and costuming.” 

“It’s really going to be a good show,” said Pleggenkuhle.  “I’m really excited for this role, and to see it all come together.  We have some really talented people in this production!” 

Another critical performance in any production of Legally Blonde The Musical is Elle’s fuzzy companion, her little dog, Bruiser.  Brianna Baumler’s dog, Honeybear, will play Bruiser in the performance and another four-legged cast member will be portrayed by Cassi Moss’s own pup, Poco.

The performance will premiere in the North Fayette Valley Performing Arts Center (PAC) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 8.  There will be another evening performance of the production at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 9, and a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 10.  

 
Wed
30
Oct

West Central to present musical Friday and Saturday

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2019-10-30 10:40

Cast, ensemble and backstage crew of West Central’s Fall Musical “All Shook Up” are (back, l-r) Aryel Allwood, Kaylee Thompson, John Tyler, Emma Munley, Marissa Skinner, Aubrey Clay, Brady Denney, Kaitlin Richards, (front) Nathan Dolf, Devin Richards, Isaac George, Trinity Tenney, Erin Hamlet, Rachel Walenceus, D.C. Tenney, Akira Wagenknecht, Octavia George, and Carley Miller. Several students are missing from the photo. Performance dates are Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1, 2, both at 7 p.m. This production features the songs of Elvis Presley. (Jack Swanson photos)

 

West Central to present musical Friday and Saturday

 

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

West Central’s Fall Musical “All Shook Up” will be presented Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1, 2, at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium.

A bake sale featuring favorite recipes from the Presley Family Cookbook will be held both nights.

All proceeds will go toward the West Central Drama Dept. 

“All Shook Up” is inspired by and features the songs of Elvis Presley.

Wed
30
Oct

Dillon named assistant attorney

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2019-10-30 10:32

Jill Dillon (right) was recently named a Fayette County Assistant Attorney. She recently attended a Fayette County Board of Supervisors meeting with County Attorney Wayne Saur, where the Board approved hiring her as the new assistant County attorney. (Jack Swanson photo)

 

Dillon named assistant attorney

 

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

The Fayette County Board of Supervisors approved the hiring of Jill Dillon as an assistant county attorney at the regular board meeting, Monday, Oct. 21.

Dillon will replace Pat Ritter who, according to Fayette County Attorney Wayne Sauer, is going back to private practice.

“I’ve worked enough cases with her to know she’d be a good replacement,” Saur told the supervisors.

Wed
30
Oct

Long time West Union doctor says 'Be Happy' in his new book

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2019-10-30 09:29

Dr. C. G. Rasool is shown with a copy of his new book Happiness: A State of Mind. The book is available now on Amazon. (Jack Swanson photo)

 

Long time West Union doctor says 'Be Happy' in his new book

 

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

Can a person cure him or herself just by being happy?

According to Dr. C. G. Rasool, D.O Ph.D., it sure does help.

Dr. Rasool, long-time general practitioner at Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinics in West Union, is so sure that happiness can make everyone better, he wrote a book about it; “Happiness: A State of Mind.” 

“It doesn’t matter what we (doctors) do, if a person is not happy, the outcome is not good,” said Dr. Rasool.

The doctor would appear to know of what he speaks. Involved in the medical field for 50 years, he has been on the research end of the profession as well as the physical end, seeing up close and personal how the research plays out.

“I’ve spent 50 years in the field of medicine but for all that time in the back of my mind I was thinking there’s something missing big time,” Dr. Rasool pointed out.

Wed
30
Oct

Polling places will be according to precinct of residence

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2019-10-30 09:21

Polling places will be according to precinct of residence

 

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

Both city and school elections will be held Tuesday, Nov. 5.  The polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Both city and school voters must vote in their precinct of residence. 

County Auditor Lori Moellers has announced that voting locations have changed. For those unsure of your voting precinct for this election,  Moellers says to contact her at 563-422-3497 or by e-mail lmoellers@co.fayette.ia.us. You may also verify the voting location for your home address at: https://sos.iowa.gov/ elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx.

 The precinct polling places and addresses for this election are as follows:

Wed
23
Oct

CP Holiday Train is coming to Ossian

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2019-10-23 14:33

Canadian Pacific announced last week that its 2019 Holiday Train program will be making a stop in Ossian on Saturday, Dec.  7. This will mark the first time that the train has stopped in the community throughout its 21-year history. (submitted photo)

 

 

 

CP Holiday Train is coming to Ossian

 

Canadian Pacific announced its official schedule and lineup for its 2019 CP Holiday Train program and for the first time ever, among the stops on the festive tour is Ossian.

The program, which is entering its 21st year, uses music and community spirit to raise money and generate healthy food donations for food banks in communities throughout Canadian Pacific’s network.

"The CP Holiday Train is a program that our 13,000-strong CP family has immense pride in bringing to communities every year," said Keith Creel, CP President and CEO. "Access to nutritious food is a basic necessity, and food bank usage is on the rise across North America. The CP Holiday Train program is our way to help in the fight against hunger by growing awareness of this issue and providing a fun and engaging way for the public to show their support."

The United States tour begins in Montreal, Canada, on Nov. 25 and will make its way through the northern portion of the United States before returning to Calgary, Canada on Dec. 18. The train will make its stop in Ossian from 10:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Dec. 7. The train will stop on W. Mechanic Street between Becker Avenue and N. West Street.

Wed
23
Oct

PIVO wins gold and bronze a GABF

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2019-10-23 13:07

Craig and Sara Neuzil of Calmar established PIVO Brewery and Blepta Studios in Calmar just two years ago. Earlier this month, the local brewery brought home both a gold and bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Col., the world’s largest commercial beer competition. (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

PIVO wins gold and bronze at GABF

 

 

 

PIVO Brewery in Calmar was recently awarded a gold and bronze medal at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition, the world’s largest commercial beer competition. The event, presented by the Brewers Association recognizes the most outstanding beer produced in the United States.

Gold, silver, and bronze medals were awarded on Oct. 5 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. With 107 beer categories that covers 174 different beer styles (including all subcategories), the event establishes the best examples of each style in the country.

Wed
23
Oct

Joyce Klimesh hikes into Machu Picchu

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2019-10-23 12:58

Joyce Klimesh on the narrow path that leads to the summit of Machu Picchu. It took her six hours to climb to the top of the peak

 

Joyce Klimesh hikes into Machu Picchu

 

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

She was once part of a hurdle relay team that held the fastest time in the state, she was a starter on her high school basketball team, she’s an avid kayaker, but all that seemed to fade away as she stood at 6000 feet altitude, looking up at a six hour climb into the clouds.

Joyce (Blockhus) Klimesh embarked on an adventure of a lifetime this September when she and one of her best friends hiked to the lost city of Machu Picchu.

The daughter of Ken and Harriet Blockhus of Elgin, Joyce is a 1979 graduate of Valley High School. She was active in most sports turning in some of the best times in the state in track events. She went on to the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls where she received her Bachelors’ degree. It was there where she met her from then on lifelong friend Barb Patrick. From UNI, Joyce and Barb went on to graduate school at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.  Joyce became a lawyer and Barb became a doctor. 

Joyce married a “local boy”, Joe Klimesh of Fort Atkinson and they now have two grown children, daughter Kimberly Lacy and son Jack. She and her family lived in Iowa City until 1991, then moved to Omaha, Neb., where she’s been for 28 years. She’s a tax specialist at Awerkamp, Goodnight, Schwaller & Nelson.

Despite the moves and the years, Joyce and Barb have remained good friends and close. Their trips have been regular occurrences as it’s their goal to “see the world.” Three years ago they went to London. Their most recent trip would be one that would be far more than just sight seeing. It would be a test of endurance like they never imagined.

“Arrived in Lima, Peru, Sunday morning with my college roommate, Barb. From there we flew to Puerto Maldonado in eastern Peru. Then we took a bus for an hour to the river where we boarded our boat for an hour ride to our lodge in the Amazon rainforest. 100-degree days has made it challenging because the facility has limited electricity and no air conditioning. Early morning hikes have been enjoyable, late afternoon ones very hot but interesting.”

That was how the adventure started for Joyce. Little did she know how “interesting” the hikes were about to become.

Wed
23
Oct

Vaping concerns on the rise

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2019-10-23 12:46

North Fayette Valley Community Coalition Coordinator Stacie Schroeder displays some of the devices that are used for vaping. Some can even be worn around a person’s neck (foreground) to look like a USB memory stick, or even as jewelry. The vape pods, which hold the liquid, are also shown (center). Some can be plugged into laptop computers to charge them. (Jack Swanson photo)

 

Vaping concerns on the rise

 

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

North Fayette Valley Community Coalition Coordinator Stacie Schroeder does not see the popularity of vaping taking a nosedive anywhere in the near future.

Despite the fact that nationwide nearly three dozen people have died from vaping-related lung illnesses and almost every day the news reports more cases of vaping –related illnesses and the outbreak continues to grow, and its use continues to climb.

According to the Iowa Use Survey taken every two years to monitor alcohol and tobacco use, in 2016, the survey showed 3 percent of sixth graders and eighth graders were vaping, and 12 percent of 11th graders were using the vaporized liquid. Those figures climbed in 2018 to 4 percent of sixth graders, nine percent of eighth graders and 24 percent of 11th graders.

“The next survey is in 2020 and it’s anticipated that those figures will continue to go up. One out of every four 11th graders are using. I don’t know if it’s seen its top end,” Schroeder said.

The FDA reported a 78 percent increase in high school students and a 48 percent increase in middle school students’ vaping. 

Wed
23
Oct

Halloween around Fayette County

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2019-10-23 09:33

Halloween around Fayette County

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

Everyone better be sure to have their costumes picked out and their candy bowls fully stocked because Halloween is just around the corner! We’ve got you covered for all you need to know about upcoming Halloween fun and activities, including local trick-or-treating dates and times.

West Union

Trick-or-treating will be held from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Halloween (Thursday, Oct. 31).

A Trunk N Treat was also held on Sunday.

Elgin

A Trunk-N-Treat will be held in Elgin from 5:30 until 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. The event will be held on Center Street and is hosted by the Elgin Community Betterment Club. Awards will be given out to the best-decorated trunks.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - News
Comment Here