West Central has a new leader at its helm, as Matthew Molumby was recently hired at the school district’s new K-12 principal. Current principal Josh Bahr is resigning to move to with his family to Arizona to be closer to his eldest daughter. (Chris DeBack photo)

Molumby named West Central's next principal

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

West Central will have new leadership this fall with the hiring of Matthew Molumby as the K-12 principal. 

“Of all the candidates that applied for the position, Molumby had the right mix of leadership experience,” said Fred Matelage, West Central superintendent. “He is well versed in curriculum development and implementation, which he has done a great job with in his past tenure as a teacher leader. He understands West Central in a way that someone from the outside would take time to develop. The board and myself felt he was the best person for the position.” 

Children in Fayette have access to a free cold lunch this summer courtesy of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and local volunteers like (l-r) Dick Graham, Shelly Blanchard, and Viane Eichelberger. It was Graham who got the ball rolling on the free meal. (Chris DeBack photo)

Free lunch offered for children at Fayette Elementary this summer

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Children in Fayette have the option to receive a free cold lunch this summer. 

West Union resident Dick Graham is inviting all children, regardless of income, between the ages of 5 and 17 to enjoy a free meal from 11:30 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday at Fayette Elementary. The effort kicked off on June 10 and will run through Friday, Aug. 23. 

“I used to be involved in the mentoring program through the high school, and I recognized there was a need for kids to get fed in the summertime,” Graham said about starting this initiative. 

Earthwork has begun on the construction of a new storage shed and maintenance facility at the West Union Wastewater Treatment Facility. This is phase one of two for the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility.  (Chris DeBack photo)

WU awarded $500,000 grant for new wastewater treatment facility

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Work on the new West Union Wastewater Treatment Facility is officially underway. 

The project will be completed in two phases. This summer, a maintenance shop and storage facility will be built with the new wastewater treatment facility being constructed next year. Heying Manufacturing of Calmar was awarded the contract to construct the $811,913 shop and began earthwork last week. The new shop will be a steel-frame building.

It is currently estimated that the new wastewater treatment facility will cost approximately $7 million. However, the maintenance shop estimate and bids came in higher than the council was expecting, so the group is preparing for a project that could end up costing more. 

The West Union Chamber — A Main Street Community Promotions Committee is excited to bring you its annual Fourth of July celebration Wednesday and Thursday, July 3-4, at he West Union Recreation Complex. Festivities include a 16-inch softball tournament, kids’ activities, fireworks, and the crowning of Miss West Union. New this year is a feee outdoor movie on ball diamond No. 1 at the recreation complex. The promotions committee members (l-r) Dan Doebel, Jenny McIntyre, Brianna Keune, Jessica Sadler, Amie Johansen, Deanne Tyler, and Chris DeBack provide a small hint as to what the movie will be on Wednesday night, July 3, after the softball tournament wraps up play for the evening.  (Zak Kriener photo)

'Play Ball!' WU celebrates Fourth of July

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Don’t miss a booming good time at The West Union Chamber — A Main Street Community’s Annual Fourth of July Celebration Wednesday and Thursday, July 3-4, at the West Union Recreation Complex.

The fun activities start with a Chicago-Style, 16-inch Softball Tournament at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3. Come on out and watch area players compete to see who’s the most dominant softball team in West Union. 

The tournament is still accepting teams and those wishing to participate can contact Dan Doebel at (563) 210-5347. The entry fee is $50 per team and a team must have four women playing the field at all times. The tournament will be double elimination and continue from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, July 4, if necessary. The championship game will take place at 4 p.m. that same day. 

Following the softball tournament at dusk on July 3 will be a free outdoor movie on diamond no. 1 at the recreation complex. While the name can’t be printed due to copyright laws, let’s just say that this funny, kid-friendly baseball movie will have families in stitches over all the hijinks that ensue from a summer full of playing baseball. Light concessions including hot dogs, brats, popcorn, and drinks will be available for purchase. 

Josh Turner

Winneshiek Co. Fair less than three weeks away

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The summer of 2019 is officially underway (as of Friday, June 21), which means that the Winneshiek County Fair in Decorah is just around the corner! This year’s version of the fair includes a jam-packed schedule full of fun and exciting shows and events.

The action is set to begin Tuesday, July 9, with the first of five full days of entertainment for people of all ages.

Buttons for the 2019 fair are available for $30 in advance and $35 at the gate (ages 6 and under are free), are good for admittance to all five Grandstand events.

The Grandstand events include stock car racing at Upper Iowa Speedway on Tuesday evening, July 9; Rogue Rodeo on Wednesday, July 10; National Tractor Pulling Association (NTPA) Truck and Tractor Pull on Thursday, July 11; band Cherry Pie with opener Challenger on Friday, July 12; and country music star Josh Turner with special guest Clare Dunn on Saturday, July 13.

Hollee McCormick is ready and excited to face the new challenges she has ahead of her as Allamakee-Clayton REC’s new executive vice president and general manager. 

McCormick excited about new challenges she'll face as REC GM

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Hollee McCormick is excited by the challenge of leading Allamkee-Clayton REC through many changes that are coming to the industry in the future.

 The new REC executive vice president and general manager will have big shoes to fill as she takes over for Paul Foxwell, who was with the rural electric co-op for almost 30 years.

The Waukon native earned an education degree from Luther College in 2004 and worked at Northeast Iowa Community College’s Waukon Center for eight years. During this time, she attended Ashford University to earn her master’s degree in organizational management with a focus on leadership.

“I got a little taste of the administrative and business side of things while I was director of NICC’S Waukon Center,” McCormick said. “I liked it, and I knew I wanted to continue down that path, which is why I pursued my master’s degree.”

 After eight years with NICC, McCormick decided she was ready for a new challenge and took a job with the REC as economic development and community relations’ manager.

The locals are gossiping about the new girl in town in the upcoming Music in the Park: Musical Revue production.  (Front l-r) Chloe Cummings, Camille Hutchinson; (back) Donna Bausch, Stacy Cummings, and Sarah Rose. (submitted photo)

Celebrate Your Roots at Elgin Homecoming 2019

By Meagan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

            The kick-off to the 2019 Elgin Homecoming, Small Town USA: These are My Roots is just around the corner!   The event, which is celebrated every five years is will begin Thursday, June 27 and continue through the weekend.  As always,  the celebrations will include something for anyone and everyone! 

For four decades, T. David Katsumes (left) was a lawyer in Elgin, who was city attorney for Elgin and four other small towns in the area. When he first started, he did a lot of court appointed work that could take him to six different counties in a week. Chris DeBack photos

Katsumes to hang up his legal briefcase

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

It will be a bittersweet moment when T. David Katsumes turns off the lights in his law office a final time on Friday, June 28.

He will officially retire from practicing law on Sunday, June 30, as he turns over his practice to Elwood, O’Donohoe, Braun & White. However, Katsumes won’t just be shutting off the lights and never filing another legal document again. He’ll still work with some of his clients to tie up loose ends or finish out cases as the rest of his clients’ transition to Elwood, O’Donohoe, Braun & White or other law firms they choose to go to. 

Fellow bus drivers waved goodbye to Roberta Schlitter (front, right) who retired as a bus driver after 36 years of service to North Fayette and North Fayette Valley. Duane Willhite (front, left), NFV superintendent, thanks Schlitter for her years of service and wished her the best of luck with her future endeavors.  Chris DeBack photo

Schlitter retires after safely delivering kids to school for 36 years

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Bus drivers for North Fayette Valley gathered at the North Fayette Valley bus barn on Golden Road to celebrate the end of another successful school year.

“All the bus drivers did such a good job this year, especially with the tough spring we had,” said Kevin Weidemann, NFV transportation director. “No one complained, and I just commend them on doing a great job keeping our kids safe.”

They were also their to celebrate the retirement of Roberta Schlitter, who delivered her final bus load of kids that afternoon after 36 years of safely getting kids to school for North Fayette and North Fayette Valley. 

Fayette County Fair Queen Megan Niewoehner is currently raising money to replace bleachers for the show ring in the Stephen’s Building, as well as for the Bandstand on the Fayette County Fairgrounds in West Union. The total cost of the project is approximately $26,000. She hopes to raise at least the $14,000 necessary to purchase the four bleachers for the show ring. (Chris DeBack photo)

She's at it again!

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The Fayette County Fair Board held its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 11, where 2018 Fayette County Fair Queen Megan Niewoehner apprised the board of a fundraising effort she is undertaking. 

She presented her proposal to purchase up to six new bleachers for the Stephen’s Building and Bandstand. At the very least, four five-row, 21-feet bleachers from Kay Park Recreation in Janesville will be purchased for the show ring in the Stephen’s Building. These will replace the old, dilapidated bleachers that are currently being used. Each bleacher will be able to hold approximately 70 people. 

The four new bleachers will cost approximately $14,000. Niewoehner told the Fair Board that she had already raised $6,125 for the project. She is also hoping to raise an additional $12,000 to purchase two outside bleachers that are the same size as the new bleachers for the Stephen’s Building for a total project cost of approximately $26,000. She is hoping to secure all the funds by Monday, July 8.