Mary Schott (center) of Elgin was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis on April 1, 2016. This year, she is participating in the Walk MS in Cedar Falls on Saturday, April 27, to raise money for groundbreaking research and to help others with MS. She won’t be doing the walk alone as she will be joined by friends and family to form Team Elgin. The team include (l-r) Lexi Moser, Tina Anderson, Bailey Moser, Schott, Cindy Torkelson, Tammy Moser, and Jeanne Kruckenberg. Not pictured are Madison Imoehl, Kay Schmitt, Lexi Frieden, and Brenda Olson. (Chris DeBack photo)

Schott walks to raise money for MS

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

It was no April Fools joke when Mary Schott of Elgin was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) on April 1, 2016.

Three years later, Schott is gearing up to participate in the 2019 Walk MS in Cedar Falls to raise money to drive groundbreaking research and help those affected by MS.  

MS is a disease where a person’s immune system attacks and eats away at the protective covering surrounding a nerve. In Schott’s case, it is affecting her ability to see out of her right eye.

“I went completely blind in my right eye, due to optic neuritis, which was when it was discovered that I had MS,” said Schott. “It was like a bad April Fools joke when the diagnosis came down.

“The best way I have seen it described is it’s like an electrical cord and the outside coating of the cord is being attacked and the electrical current gets shorted out,” The Elgin resident added. “Information going to and from the bain gets delayed or doesn’t cross correctly, which causes all the other symptoms you have.” 

In 2014, Maple Crest in Fayette started a unique CNA (certified nursing assistant) program to help those interested in the healthcare field get a start while also benefiting its own staffing crisis. Among those involved with the program include (l-r) Megan Hanson, office manager; Samantha Jones, licensed practical nurse; Nancy Lyons, director of nursing; Jamie Fredrick, registered nurse; and Janet Degenford, administrator. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Providing a 'spark' to future nurses

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Like virtually every healthcare facility across the country, Maple Crest in Fayette has suffered from a staffing crisis over recent years. In 2014, the local facility took a first-of-it’s-kind step to help combat that crisis while also helping individuals interested in pursuing a career in healthcare.

“We were looking for a way to get people (staff) in here, so we partnered with NICC (Northeast Iowa Community College) and developed a CNA (certified nursing aid) program that would help give future healthcare workers a little spark to get them going in the field,” explained Megan Hanson, office manager at Maple Crest. “Today, these types of programs are common at most nursing homes, but we were the first to do it in the area.”

The unique program helps anyone from the community who is interested in the healthcare or nursing field get a start by helping cover the costs associated with taking classes and obtaining the proper equipment.

“The program is open to anyone. All they have to do is come into our facility and talk with one of us,” continued Hanson. “The process begins with an application, followed by an interview and then a job shadow. If we feel that an individual meets the requirements that we are looking for, we move ahead with the class.”

John and Peggy Sparrgrove (center, l-r) directed a $2,500 America’s Farmers Grow Communities grant to the Fayette County Food Shelf in Fayette that will be used for food. The Sparrgroves also got their milk cooperative Foremost Dairy in Wisconsin, to donate a case of mild cheddar cheese, medium cheddar cheese, and butter. Accepting the donation on the food shelf’s behalf are Maxine Balk (far left), president of the FC Food Shelf Board of Directors, and Jeanne Stannard, treasurer of the FC Food Shelf Board of Directors.  Chris DeBack photo

Sparrgroves direct $2,500 grant to FC Food Shelf

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

The Fayette County Food Shelf recently received a $2,500 America’s Farmers Grow Communities grant thanks to Fayette County farmers Peggy and John Sparrgrove. 

Sponsored by the Bayer Fund, the $2,500 will go towards food that the Fayette County Food Shelf gives away to needy residents in Fayette County. Peggy Sparrgrove found the grant on Monsanto’s website. 

“I filled out an application online, and we were lucky enough that the people picking the grant winners liked what they saw,” said Sparrgrove. 

Leslie Poppen (right) helps (l-r) Aralyn Keller and Ryan Steege learn a song on the xylophone during class on Monday, March 18. Poppen will retire from teaching at the end of the school year and will miss helping children learn to sing and play different instruments.  Chris DeBack photos

Poppen performs her last note at NFV

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

For over three decades the Poppens have been a fixture in the music department at Fayette, North Fayette, and North Fayette Valley school districts. 

At the end of this school year, Leslie Poppen will join her husband, Doug, in retirement; making next year the first time in 37 years that a Poppen won’t be teaching music in some form at the now NFV school district. 

Fayette County is considering seeking restitution from Bruening Rock Products in Decorah for damage done to gravel roads in Fayette County. This picture taken at the intersection of Heron and Fox roads in rural Fayette leads to a quarry that Bruening uses.   submitted photo

FC considers seeking restitution against Bruening Rock Products

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Fayette County is considering seeking restitution against Bruening Rock Products for damage done to gravel roads on N and Neon avenues. 

Fayette County Engineer Joel Fantz brought up the matter during his weekly update with the Fayette County Supervisors during their regular meeting on Monday, March 25. 

Fantz started the discussion by noting that he believes the gravel roads have turned a corner as the County has worked the last two weekends to fix the roads. He commended and thanked milk haulers and feed companies for working with the county to minimize gravel-road damage.

SOO Green transmission line coming through area

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Direct Connect Development Company (DC DevCO) recently announced the SOO Green Renewable Rail project, which is a 349-mile-long high-voltage direct current transmission line that will run underground along the Canadian Pacific railroad line.

Once completed, SOO Green will run from Mason City to the Chicago, Ill., area, including a route that passes through Ossian and Calmar.

SOO Green is the first to take its construction underground and to adopt the rail co-location model used in building America’s fiber optic system. The project’s construction methods will limit impacts to the environment by boring under sensitive habitat, limiting the impact on birds and other endangered species. Building SOO Green underground and utilizing an existing railroad right of way will also limit impacts to neighboring landowners.

Clermont Council addresses vicious dog issue

Vicki Rowland
Contributing Writer

The Clermont Council met on Monday, March 18, 2019, and heard from citizens about a dog bite incident.  Lori Kohls sent a letter to the Council members and was on hand to speak and answer questions regarding the incident that occurred on March 7, 2019.

According to Kohls, Sebastian Wander, 11, rang her doorbell and explained that his dog, Ariel, got away from him when he was walking the dog.  He wanted her assistance in retrieving his dog.  Lori reached down to pick up her small Yorkie, Belle, when Wander’s dog bolted from the side of the porch and grabbed her little dog by its back and neck and began shaking it violently.  In addition, the attacking dog bit Kohls on the left hand.

As a little girl, Margie Halverson (front, center) dreamed of traveling the open skies.  When the 1976 Valley graduate decided to pursue that dream when she took a course in Airline and Travel Careers at the Spencer School of Business in Spencer Iowa, she had no idea how far it would actually take her.  From Europe to Japan, the Wadena native has seen it all.  She has also made friendships with a number of her flight-crew coworkers as they fly from one end of the world to the other.  

Flying the skies with Margie Halverson Sommers

By Meagan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

“When I was very young I wanted to be a beautician,” smiled 1976 Valley graduate Margie Halverson Sommers.  “Really, what little girls didn’t want to do hair when they grew up?” 

While young Margie thought of beauty school when she was a little girl, it wasn’t long before that dream went to the wayside and she began dreaming of the open skies and exploring the world.

“My parents would return home from business trips and tell us about their travels and the nice stewardeses on board,” the Wadena native recalled.  

“Then came Mary Tyler Moore!  I absolutely adored her independence!” she exclaimed with a laugh.  “Between that and the stories my parents shared, I decided I wanted to live in Minneapolis and work for the airlines!” 

 Numerous area residents attended the final Farm Bureau Legislative Town Hall meeting of the year on Saturday, March 16, in Arlington. Representatives attending the meeting were Bruce Bearinger, Iowa House District 64; Craig Johnson, Iowa Senate District 32; Michael Bergan, Iowa House District 55; Anne Osmundson, Iowa House District 56; and Michael Breitbach, Iowa Senate District 28.  

Voting changes discussed at final legislative town hall meeting

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Fayette, Buchanan, and Clayton County Farm Bureaus hosted their last legislative town hall meeting of the year on Saturday, March 16, at the Arlington Community Event Center in Arlington. 

Representatives attending the meeting were Bruce Bearinger, Iowa House District 64; Craig Johnson, Iowa Senate District 32; Michael Bergan, Iowa House District 55; Anne Osmundson, Iowa House District 56; and Michael Breitbach, Iowa Senate District 28. The conversation at the town hall meeting was dominated by two topics: voting and solar energy. This article will concentrate on the time change and early voting discussion, with the article next week concentrating on closing satellite-voting locations in state-owned buildings. The following week will have an article on the discussion surrounding solar energy. 

A constituent in attendance asked the representatives about making changes to early voting, and closing voting booths an hour earlier.