West Union native Kenny Amdahl

WU native survives EF-4 twister on motorcycle

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

It’s a story that he’s not even he would believe had he not experienced it himself.

For West Union native and current Hubert, N.C., resident Kenny Amdahl, March 3, 2019, is a date he will never forget. The 66-year-old embarked on his annual trip to Florida for Daytona Bike Week on his prized 2015 Indian Vintage motorcycle without the slightest idea that his life would change a mere six hours later.

“As I was getting further south, my wife had called me and informed me that there was some bad weather down here,” explained Amdahl, a 1971 graduate of North High. “I have been riding since I was 18-years-old, so encountering severe weather isn’t something new to me. I have driven through it countless times.”

Amdahl continued to cruise down the open highway with his Pomeranian, Hemi, strapped in behind him.

Many sections of gravel roads including 220th Street just west of West Union City Hall have been closed due to poor gravel road conditions until the roads can be repaired by the Fayette County Secondary Roads Department once conditions improve.  Chris DeBack photos

Soggy roads

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Last week, Mother Nature threw one last curveball at the residents of Fayette County with warm temperatures leading to snow melting quickly causing muddy conditions on the counties gravel roads.

This quick thaw, combined with a thaw cycle in January, left gravel roads across northeast Iowa saturated with water. With the ground still frozen underneath the initial layer of dirt, water from the melting snow wasn’t able to infiltrate the ground to runoff. Instead, it stayed near the surface causing soggy conditions on the gravel roads. 

“Last fall, the area had all that rain, and it saturated our gravel roads and then they froze,” said Joel Fantz, Fayette County Engineer. “Then we had another rain and thaw in January, which saturated the roads even more. There was a tremendous amount of water trapped within the first four inches of the gravel roads. With the frost below none of the water was able to away so the only way it can get away is through the surface. We knew last fall that this would be a challenging spring. We aren’t the only county around dealing with some difficult conditions. That is really the big issue, now that these roads are thawing out.”

South Winn school board meeting

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The South Winneshiek school board meeting was held Monday evening in Calmar as over 25 guests attended the monthly gathering.

The meeting began with a visitor comment, which can be read in its entirety at the conclusion of the article, from former community member and former board member Jennifer Johnson. The comments generated a round of applause and strong emotion from those in attendance, including the school board, administration, teachers, and staff.

Also on the agenda, the council discussed options to help make up missed school time due to an uncharacteristically brutal winter.

The Trails Unlimited groomer, which consists of a Prinoth Trooper that pulls a Maxey drag, covers approximately 150 miles of trails through Winneshiek and Fayette counties. The groomer helps make trails more suitable and more enjoyable for all riders. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Grooming enjoyment

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Its no secret that snowmobiling is one of the most popular pastimes for many throughout the Midwest. Each year, thousands of Iowa riders take to the ditches and trails on their sleds to enjoy the snow, but for many, the process that goes into providing those trails and keeping them in top condition is one that often goes overlooked. That’s where snowmobile clubs like southern Winneshiek and northern Fayette’s Trails Unlimited comes into play.

“Without the club, there are no trails,” said Bud Winter, president of Trails Unlimited. “The only place you can legally ride a snowmobile in Iowa without permission is in the road ditch, so the clubs have an important role of designating and maintaining these trails.”

 

 

Due to rapidly melting snows and forecasted rains, Fayette County Secondary Roads Department is requesting that heavy equipment and large vehicles avoid gravel roads until conditions improve. Drivers of all vehicles should use extreme caution when on gravel roads as conditions are rapidly deteriorating, making travel hazardous in many areas.

 

On Tuesday, March 5, the City of Clermont notified its residents that it had a water main break at the corner of Spring and Carlton streets. The city, with help from West Union Trenching, spent the next  day trying to break through the frost in the ground to get access to the leak. By midday on Thursday, March 7, the city had fixed the leak and turned the water back on. No boil advisory was issued and the large hole that was dug to find the leak has been filled in.  (Zak Kriener photo)

Water main break in Clermont

Cindy Gibbs (center) was looking for ways to keep her dairy calves warm during this particularly harsh winter. After looking at purchasing some calf coats, the talented seamstress decided to make her own. This plan soon led to a valuable bonding experience with some of her 15 grandchildren as they worked together to design their own personalized calf coats with Grandma Gibbs. Some of the ‘designers’ are (back, l-r) Ian, Mariesa, Isaiah, Ethan and Kendra.  

Creating warm memories with Grandma Gibbs