The unofficial Fayette County election results are in at https://bit.ly/49v6pvd. Additional information will be published in next week’s Union Echo Leader.

NICC announces 2023 Hall of Fame inductees

This November, Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) will celebrate nine alumni and a retiree for their outstanding career achievements and exemplary service to their communities.

The Calmar campus ceremony will be on Thursday, Nov. 16, and will celebrate four NICC alumni, including:

• Nancy Franzen of Fort Atkinson (management, 1995) is the owner and is an insurance agent for the Farm Bureau Financial Services office in West Union.
• Lee Kremer of Cascade (industrial electrician, 2005) is the service manager for McAllister Electrical Services in Cascade.
• Perry Novak of Decorah (electrician, 1975) is the founder and former owner of Perry Novak Electric in Decorah. 
• Corey Tieskoetter of Ossian (agriculture business and agriculture business-ag finance, 2014) is an insurance services officer for Farm Credit Services of America in Decorah.

These were just some of the items auctioned off at last year’s South Winneshiek Education Foundation Evening Extravaganza event, which helps raised money for students and teachers within the South Winneshiek school district. This year’s Extravaganza, which will include food, entertainment, and much more, will be Saturday evening, November 4, in Festina. (submitted photo)

SWEF hosting an 'Evening Extravaganza' Saturday

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

A big night of food, entertainment, and fundraising is coming up this weekend as the South Winneshiek Education Foundation (SWEF) is holding its Evening Extravaganza Saturday night in Festina! The event, which will be held from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Festina Parish Center, will serve as a fundraiser for SWEF with entertainment that will include The Midwest Dueling Pianos and a roast beef dinner by U-2 Catering, which will be served by South Winneshiek students.

The Fayette mayoral and city council candidates participated in a “Meet the Candidates Night” at the Fayette Community Library Thursday. The participants included (front, l-r) council candidates Scott Bowen, Janice Larson, Scott Luchsinger, Susan Scott; (back) Charlie Clark, mayoral candidate Nathan Post, and council candidate Tim Wulfekuhle. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Fayette voters 'meet the candidates'

by Jan Bear

Contributing Writer

While some communities are struggling to get people to run for offices that is not the case for Fayette. While Nathan Post is the only candidate running for mayor, Fayette has seven individuals on the Tuesday, Nov. 7, ballot to fill five city council seats.  

The Fayette Chamber of Commerce hosted a “Meet the Candidates” program Thursday at the Fayette Library Community Room, with over 50 residents in attendance. Richard Hofmeyer served as moderator and Scott Larson served as timer to keep the forum moving.  

The seven council candidates include Scott Bowen, Charles Clark, Janet Larson, Scott Luchsinger, Susan Scott, Tim Wulfkuhle, James Lowery, and Patty Potratz. Lowery and Potratz were not present at the forum. 

During halftime of a recent William Penn University football game, Robin Madole of Clermont (holding plaque) and six other former athletes were recognized for their induction into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame. Pictured presenting her with an honorary plaque is John Ottrosson, William Penn University president, along with several of Madole’s family and friends. (submitted photo)

Madole a member of William Penn's 150th Hall of Fame Class

by Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

A familiar face in the North Fayette Valley community, Robin Madole, was inducted into the William Penn University Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 21, in Oskaloosa – an honor that the Clermont coach and official holds near and dear to her heart.

“Coaching isn’t something you get into for accolades, but to be up there with All-Americans and to be honored with a professor and athletic director that was at William Penn when I was there was a true honor,’ said Madole, who was inducted for both her resume at William Penn and her post-college accomplishments as a coach and official. “My time at William Penn really helped me get to where I am today and I can’t be more thankful.”

It's Halloween time!

Among the local Halloween schedules are the following.

Clermont
The Clermont Community Club and West Clermont Lutheran Church are hosting a Trunk or Treat from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, at the Clermont City Park. Hot cocoa and treat bags will be served. In addition, citywide trick or treating will be held from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Elgin
The Elgin Community Betterment Club will host a Trunk or Treat event from 3:30-5 p.m. on Center Street in downtown Elgin Sunday, Oct. 29. The event includes games, hot cocoa and cider. 

Fayette

  Door-to-door trick or treating in the community will be from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. Residents who wish to participate in handing out treats, are asked to turn on their porch lights.

Trick-or-treating is Tuesday night in Ossian!

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Halloween is nearly here and trick-or-treating will take place around Ossian on Tuesday evening from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.

On behalf of the Ossian Crown Club, volunteers will also be handing out hot dogs at the Ossian Community Center during that time!

Be sure to check out our Nov. 8 edition of the Ossian Bee for trick-or-treating photos! The Ossian Bee will be out on the streets of Ossian taking photos on Halloween night, but the public is invited to submit photos of children’s’ costumes to zkriener@fayettepublishing.com. 

Upcoming/current fundraising efforts for OFD

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The Ossian Fire Department will be holding its annual pancake breakfast fundraiser from 8 a.m. until noon on Sunday, Nov. 5.

Pancakes, sausage, and scrambled eggs will be served and admission is a freewill donation. Proceeds from the event will go toward OFD equipment upgrades, maintenance, and improvements.

The Ossian Fire Department is also currently selling raffle tickets for a grocery dash at Fareway in Decorah. The grocery dash will have three winners drawn, each of whom will get a 5-minute grocery shopping spree to fill their cart with as many items as they can fit. The dash does not include alcohol, tobacco, or lottery tickets and there is a limit of $50 for items at the meat counter and seafood.

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is making a stop in Ossian this year! In 2019, the train made its debut stop in town and is set to return on Friday, Dec. 8, from 11-11:30 a.m. along West Mechanic Street. (Zakary Kriener photo)

CP's Holiday Train returning to Ossian!

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The Holiday Train is coming back to Ossian this year! After making its first-ever stop in town in 2019, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is planning to make Ossian another of its stops this winter.

A committee headed by Clark Goltz is currently putting together a schedule of town events that will be going on Friday, Dec. 8, which is expected to be announced at a later date.

Among the North Fayette Valley cast members preparing to perform “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” Friday-Sunday, Nov. 3-5, at the Performing Arts Center in West Union are (front, l-r) Coralinda Johnson, Emily Herman, Mady Ney, Keagan McGrane, Gabe McFarland, Amelia Pollock, Alexa Popenhagen, Mattison Goddard, Olivia Cooksley; (back) Addy Rothlisberger, Kassie Tilleraas, Bella Smoltz, Zeke Stansbery, Elliot Maire, Ryker Cooksley, Peyton Elliot, Josiah Gearhart, Nicholas Hohenbrink. (Mike Van Sickle photo)

'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' to roll onto PAC stage

By Rosy Yauk

NFV Drama Club

The characters and noisy rebuilt car made famous by the popular 1968 musical film, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” will drive (or fly) onto the North Fayette Valley Performing Arts Center (PAC) stage in West Union Friday-Sunday, Nov. 3-5. 

As in the iconic movie, the North Fayette Valley Drama Department cast and crew includes Caractacus Potts (played by Keagan McGrane) and his two children, Jeremy (Gabe McFarland) and Jemima (Amelia Pollock) Potts, who live every day with the hopes of their family being recognized for a genius invention.