News

Wed
07
Mar

Ossian approves levy rate

 

Ossian approves levy rate

 

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

 

The Ossian City Council met Monday evening for its regular meeting. After the meeting was called to order, a public hearing was conducted for the FY2019 budget, which was published in February.

The FY 2019 budget includes a levy rate of $12.67 per $1,000 assessed value, a rate 6 cents higher than FY2018 and 2 cents higher than FY2017.

The council went on to introduce Ordinance No, 74 pertaining to tree planting in utility easements or in the City right-of-way.

Wed
07
Mar

360 Lasering finds niche in global marketplace

 

360 Lasering was started by Roger Craig of Clermont, who is building upon what the former Elgin company GridWorks was doing with laser-engraved collectible footballs. Currently, Craig is licensed to laser-engrave Iowa and Iowa State logos on a number of different products and hopes to expand to other Big 10 Conference schools in the future. (Chris DeBack photo)

 

 

360 Lasering finds niche in global marketplace

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

Entrepreneurship is all about finding one’s niche. 

Typically, businesses that broaden their market too much miss the mark and never get off the ground. However, the same can be said for those who try to make their niche too narrow, as well. There needs to be a balance between your product and those to whom you’re trying to sell. 

With the ability to reach almost everyone worldwide, finding one’s niche can be the difference between success and failure. 

One small company in Elgin, 360 Lasering started by Roger Craig of Clermont, believes it has found its niche with selling laser-engraved products on its website.  

Wed
07
Mar

Postcards from the past

 

 

In 1917, the Northeastern Iowa Power Company, the first electric power company in Clermont, registered a vehicle through the Iowa Secretary of State's office in Des Moines.  There were subsequent registrations in 1918 and 1919.  The antique postcards, found recently at a garage sale in West Union, were framed and are now on display in the Iowa Secretary of State's Office in the Capitol Building in Des Moines.

 

Postcards from the past

 

 

 

Vicki Rowland

Contributing Writer

 

When Noel Knight of Elgin was poking around in a West Union garage sale last year, he came upon a bunch of old postcards. He paid the owner the requested $2.00 and went home to share his prize with his wife, Deb.

Some of the cards had a family connection. Three of the cards, issued in 1917, 1918, and 1919, were from the Office of the Iowa Secretary of State. Noel thought the cards would be of special interest to the couple’s friend, Paul Pate, the Iowa secretary of state.

Wed
07
Mar

Busy agenda at Fayette City Council Monday night

Busy agenda at Fayette City Council Monday night

 

 

 

Vicki Rowland

Contributing Writer

 

 

It was a nasty, snowy night, but the Fayette City Council met for its regular council meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, March 5.  

All councilmembers were present: Matt Cowley, Curtis Larson, Patty Nefzger, Amy Tucker, and Nancy Wulfekuhle, along with Mayor Andrew Wenthe and City Administrator Kris McGrane.

The major topics for the evening’s agenda were the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for housing rehab and the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and snowmobile code revisions being considered.

Wed
07
Mar

WU council discusses raising water/sewer rates

 

WU council discusses raising water/sewer rates

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

West Union residents may see a $20 increase in their water/sewer bill as soon as July 1. 

At its regular Monday meeting, March 5, the West Union City Council discussed the need to raise the capital improvements fee on its water/sewer bill by $20, from $15 to $35, to pay for a new West Union Wastewater Treatment Facility.

Wed
07
Mar

Perfect storm of conditions leads to gravel road repairs

 

Due to a perfect storm of weather conditions last week, the gravel roads in Fayette County took quite a beating from the traveling public. Soft gravel roads were torn up by cars, trucks and semis driving on them as the County rushed to repair what it could by the end of the weekend. Approximately 10 gravel roads across Fayette County, including R Avenue between Highway 18 and Hawkeye, were closed to thru or semi-truck traffic late last week.  Chris DeBack photo

 

Perfect storm of conditions leads to gravel road repairs

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

 

Last week, a perfect storm of weather conditions led to gravel roads across Fayette County taking a beating from the traveling public. 

“This was a little more extreme than your typical spring thaw that we end up getting every year,” explained Joel Fantz, Fayette County Engineer. “With a typical spring thaw, the road’s subbase is still frozen, and a properly crowned gravel road will actually settle out from water runoff during a spring rain. All the rain and precipitation we had recently has come as either just a drizzle that soaks into the road, or a wintery mix that sits on the road and then soaks in when it melts. All that water is trapped between that frozen subbase and the crust of the surface because it didn’t run off, which makes the road very soft and leads to the road being easily torn up when driven on. 

Wed
07
Mar

FC Pheasants Forever #1 in nation again

 

 

The 33rd Annual Fayette County Pheasants Forever Banquet will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at the West Union Events Center in West Union. The Pheasants Forever 2017-2018 National Print of the Year, entitled “Shelterbelt Pheasants,” by Jim Hautman is being held by the Fayette County Pheasants Forever Board. Board members include (front, l-r) Billie Winters; Mallory Hanson; Allison Boehm; Brett Whitcher; Leon Deutsch; and Allie Rath; (back) Jesse Wegner; Rod Marlatt, chairman; Eric Boehm; and George Schaefers, treasurer. Not pictured are Blake Gamm, habitat chairman; and Larry Glass.  Chris DeBack photos

 

FC Pheasants Forever #1 in nation again

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

 

For the second year in a row, Fayette County Pheasants Forever ranks No. 1 in the United States for habitat expenditures. 

In 2017, the Fayette County chapter expended $533,240 for the year to garner the top spot among the 740 Pheasants Forever chapters nationwide. Recently, the chapter was recognized at the Pheasants Forever State Convention for the establishment of wildlife habitat and public land acquisitions exceeding $2.750 million since the chapter’s inception in 1985. That is the most among any chapter in the state of Iowa. 

Wed
28
Feb

Fayette County Pioneer Cemetery Commission turns 20

Fayette County Pioneer Cemetery Commission turns 20

 

 

The Fayette County Pioneer Cemetery Commission turns two decades old this year.

To show its appreciation for all who have volunteered their time to the organization, the commission will be hosting a luncheon starting at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, at the Fayette County Historical Center in West Union.

While lunch is being served, Steve Story, Fayette County Pioneer Cemetery Commission founding member, will give a brief presentation on what all the volunteers’ hard work has accomplished.

Story noted that pioneer cemetery commissions didn’t exist in Iowa until the Iowa Legislature passed the Pioneer Cemetery Law in 1996. This allowed County Board of Supervisors to set up pioneer cemetery commissions to oversee and improve the pioneer cemeteries in a county. This wasn't required of the counties, but something each individual county could decide to enact itself.

Wed
28
Feb

Fayette County Pioneer Cemetery Commission turns 20

Fayette County Pioneer Cemetery Commision turns 20

 

 

The Fayette County Pioneer Cemetery Commission turns two decades old this year.

To show its appreciation for all who have volunteered their time to the organization, the commission will be hosting a luncheon starting at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, at the Fayette County Historical Center in West Union.

While lunch is being served, Steve Story, Fayette County Pioneer Cemetery Commission founding member, will give a brief presentation on what all the volunteers’ hard work has accomplished.

Story noted that pioneer cemetery commissions didn’t exist in Iowa until the Iowa Legislature passed the Pioneer Cemetery Law in 1996. This allowed County Board of Supervisors to set up pioneer cemetery commissions to oversee and improve the pioneer cemeteries in a county. This wasn't required of the counties, but something each individual county could decide to enact itself.

Wed
28
Feb

NICC's JD TECH program goes 'Platinum'

 

Duane Bouska (right), John Deere TECH program instructor at Northeast Iowa Community College, trains students for employment as technicians for John Deere dealerships. Pictured is student Danielle Christopher of Bluffton, a 2016 graduate of the program. (submitted photo)

 

NICC's JD TECH program goes 'Platinum'

 

 

 

The John Deere TECH program at Northeast Iowa Community College’s (NICC) Calmar campus has earned a Platinum College of Tomorrow score from John Deere.

The program at NICC prepares students for work as service technicians at John Deere implement dealerships throughout Iowa and the Midwest. One of the program’s most unique features is its close partnership with John Deere, which virtually ensures that qualified students will have a technician position with the company after graduation.

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