West Union natives Tanner and Trey Kuhens (l-r), both 19 and lifelong New England Patriots fans, are looking forward to rooting on their team as it pursues its sixth Super Bowl win of the twins’ lifetimes. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Lifelong Pats fans gearing up for SB LII

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

“Sometimes, I think about how much fun it would be if we each liked a different team and could make it into a little more of a brotherly rivalry,” laughed West Union native Trey Kuhens as he looked over at his twin brother, Tanner. “But then it’s times like this that I’m grateful that we can look on and cheer for our Patriots in the Super Bowl together.”

For the 19-year-old brothers, who are both freshmen at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, becoming a part of the New England Patriots fandom dates back to some of their earliest memories.

“I couldn’t have been older than 3 or 4. The first Pats game that I ever remember was the 2001 AFC Championship game, which is now referred to as the ‘Tuck Rule Game,’” recalled Trey. “I didn’t know a whole lot about football at that age, but I can remember being so mad at that original call. Luckily, it worked out in our favor, and we were able to go on and win the game.”

Supervisors discuss moving County Attorney to courthouse

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

At their regular Monday meeting, Jan. 29, the Fayette County Supervisors and Oelwein City officials discussed moving the County Attorney’s Office to the Fayette County Courthouse in West Union. 

The Oelwein City officials with whom the Supervisors met were Peggy Sherrets, mayor; Dylan Mulfinger, city administrator; and Jeremy Logan, police chief.  

Sherrets opened the discussion by asking how the Supervisors came to the conclusion of moving the County Attorney’s Office to the courthouse. 

Paul Foxwell, Allamakee-Clayton Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) general manager and vice president, holds an antenna that is placed on vertical properties as part of the Skyways fixed-wireless Internet service the company recently launched in Fayette County. One such antenna is located on the water tower in downtown West Union. (Chris DeBack photo) 

REC launches Skyways in Fayette County

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Rural Americans typically get the short end of the stick with technology. 

Here in rural northeast Iowa, it always seems as though this area is playing catch-up when it comes to the latest and greatest technological breakthrough. It’s especially true for people who live out “in the country” on gravel roads with the Internet. Those Fayette County citizens have few options when it comes to getting broadband Internet service. 

The options that are available, like satellite Internet, can’t keep up with the high bandwidth requirements most people are looking for when selecting an Internet provider. While speed may be an issue, so, too, are data caps that severely limit what someone can do on the Internet. In today’s day and age, 10 gigabytes doesn’t go very far when utilizing all that the Internet has to offer. 

Allamakee-Clayton Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) is trying to change that with the introduction of Skyways, a fixed-wireless Internet service that can reach up to 25MB download speeds and won’t have a data limit. 

McDermott buys ALCO building

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

West Union resident Casey McDermott has purchased the former ALCO building in Lilac Plaza along Hwy. 150 North in West Union. 

He said that he will take possession of the building no later than April 1, but he expects it to be closer to March 1. 

Top Hat SOLD

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Nick Polfer of Postville has purchased the Top Hat in West Union from longtime owner Roy Guenther.

Polfer takes possession of the property on April 1, and he will close the business for a couple days in order for him to bring in his products and inventory. In the meantime, Polfer will be doing some remodeling work to the bar as he adds a walk-in cooler and closets, but he expects that work to be completed by the time he reopens on Friday, April 6.

Pictured with a young Salvadoran native, Habitat for Humanity construction supervisor Heath Christensen (left recently traveled abroad to El Salvador to help build houses over a span of eight days near the town of Jocoaitique. (submitted photo)

Building homes in El Salvador

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Four years ago, Ossian native Heath Christensen would have never imagined himself in the position he is today.

“I have always been interested in working in the construction field,” noted Christensen, who has lived in Waterloo since graduating from South Winneshiek High School in 2010. “It turns out, getting involved with Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity about a year ago is one of the best things to ever happen to me.”

Just because the Turkey River in Clermont was recently covered in snow doesn’t mean Turkey River Recreational Corridor staff aren’t hard at work planning events and projects for 2018.  (Chris DeBack photo)

TRRC to build on positive momentum in 2018

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Since the Turkey River Recreational Corridor (TRRC) was designated an Iowa Great Place by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs in 2010, the organization has had a hand in helping to bring $8 million in funding to Fayette and Clayton counties.

The money raised was through either projects that TRRC worked on directly or that were conceived through its vision plan. In 2017 alone, TRRC raised $252,815 for projects and programs benefiting the area.

“I did a little research to see how the tourism economy in Iowa and specifically in Fayette and Clayton counties, has changed since the TRRC designation,” said Mallory Hanson, TRRC director. “According to the Iowa Economic Development Authority, tourism-related expenditures have increased approximately $2.5 million and $5.2 million in Fayette and Clayton counties, respectively.

Rural Iowa Amateur Radio Club members (l-r) Hal Wilson of Elgin and Dan Bonjour of Fayette invite anyone interested in ham radio operations to join their club. The organization meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at the Arlington Fire Station in Arlington. Small, but mighty, the group currently has four members.  Chris DeBack photo

Ham radio club ready for any disaster

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Did you know there is an amateur radio club in Fayette County?

The Rural Iowa Amateur Radio Club is made up of mostly people from Fayette County who want to improve their skill as amateur radio operators — also known as ham radio operators — and help with public safety, if called on.

When a person hears amatuer radio club, he or she might picture someone sitting in front of a radio, broadcasting his or her voice out to whomever is tuned in to the frequency. The person thinks of it as an amateur radio station, but that isn’t the case. The Rural Iowa Amateur Radio Club is comprised of ham radio operators, which have person-to-person interactions. Basically, the people involved with the group can use CB radios to talk to people around the country and sometimes the world.  

Hal Wilson of Elgin and Dan Bonjour of Fayette aren’t exactly sure when the radio club started, but noted that Chuck Rees, Eric Grams, and Joey Clark were founding members of the club some time ago. The club currently has four members and has two repeaters located near Fayette that are available for ham radio use. 

Steve Milder, West Central head football coach, is president of the Iowa Football Coaches Association (IFCA) and will be represent the organization at the USA National Football Coaches convention Friday through Sunday, Jan. 26-28. Chris DeBack photo

Milder in Florida for work session

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

For some people, an all-expenses paid trip to Orlando Fla., would be a dream come true. Imagine, free airfare, a stay at the Marriott Orlando World Center hotel in the Orange County Convention Center, a 200-acre complex featuring 2000 rooms, with your room costing $300 a night.

For West Central guidance counselor and head football coach Steve Milder, it’s one long work session.

Milder is the President of the Iowa Football Coaches Association (IFCA). As such, he will be the Iowa representative at the USA National Football Coaches  (USAFC) convention on Friday through Sunday, Jan. 26-28.

The convention of coaches from high school, college and the pros will be discussing a range of issues confronting football, including concussions.

The main topic for the high school coaches will be the issue of participation, specifically, the dramatic decrease in the number of kids playing football.

Actually, participation in sports is down in virtually every high school in the nation. 

Siblings by Choice is a mentoring program at West Central High School that pairs a high school student with an elementary school student. WC high school senior Mary McDonough has been with the program for three years. Her first year she was a floating mentor, and the last two years she has been paired with third-grader Andy Nelson. McDonough and Nelson meet at least once a week to play with LEGOs or work on homework during inside recess. The two can also be found having breakfast together on occasion. Chris DeBack photo

Mentoring pushes McDonough to be her best

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

There is more to mentoring than programs like Big Brothers, Big Sisters. 

Siblings By Choice at West Central High School is an example of how even some of the most unlikely people — high school students — can have a positive influence on a young child's life. 

Because West Central houses all its grades in one building, Steve Milder, WC guidance counselor, created Siblings By Choice to pair together a high school and elementary school student to be positive influences in each other’s lives. 

One such pair is West Central senior Mary McDonough and her little third-grader, Andy Nelson. McDonough open-enrolled into West Central from Oelwein her freshman year, and she has been involved with the program since her sophomore year. 

As an eighth-grader, she made the decision to switch schools because she thought West Central would be more academically prudent for her future goals of attending medical or veterinary school. This foresight made her a natural choice to be involved with the program.