Get your 2017 Fair buttons!

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Buttons for the 2016 Winneshiek County Fair in Decorah are on sale! The buttons, which are available for $30 in advance and $35 at the gate (ages 6 and under are free), are good for admittance to all five 2017 Grandstand events.

The Grandstand events include stock car racing at Upper Iowa Speedway on Tuesday evening, July 11; National Tractor Pulling Association (NTPA) Truck and Tractor Pull on Wednesday, July 12; America’s premier tribute band Arch Allies, as well as opener Trouble Shooter on Thursday, July 13; country music star Scotty McCreery with opener Drew Baldridge on Friday, July 14; and CC Bull Riding and Barrel Racing on Saturday, July 15.

Ron, Mark, and Chuck Knutson (l-r) proudly display their 1970 John Deere 4020 Diesel tractor, which will be featured in the 25^th Annual Castalia Tractor Days parade on Sunday, June 11. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Knutsons' JD 4020 to be featured

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Since Castalia Tractor Days began 25 years ago, the Knutson family of Ossian has been participating in the annual tractor parade. This year, brothers Chuck, Ron, and Mark will proudly lead the parade with their featured tractor, a 1970 Diesel John Deere 4020.

“We bought the tractor in 2009, and it needed a complete overhaul,” said Mark Knutson. “It was a wintertime project that we all worked on for about two years. We put in a new engine, clutch, and pretty much everything else in the front half of the tractor.”

At 78 years old, Keith Crider is the oldest player in the Over-Thirty Baseball League in Lowell, Mass. He is an accomplished baseball player who played at Elgin High School in the 1950s and was a co-captain of the 1960 Luther College baseball team that won the Iowa Conference. 

For the love of the game

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

“Strike three, you’re our!” is something that Keith Crider is used to hearing.

  At the age of 78, the Elgin native is still active in the sport he loves, baseball.

  Living near Lowell, Mass., Crider participates in the Over-Thirty Baseball League. A pitcher and the oldest member of the league, Crider is an inspiration to many, showing that one doesn't have to give up the sport one loves after high school and college. 

Hawkeye resident Bob Campbell has been named as the 2017 Hawkeye Fun Days parade grand marshal. Campbell was chosen for his countless hours of community service to Hawkeye. He has been a Hawkeye Legion member for 37 years. Hawkeye Fun Days will be held Friday and Saturday, June 16-17, with the parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday. 

Campbell to be honored as Hawkeye's grand marshal

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Lifelong Hawkeye resident Bob Campbell has been named Hawkeye Fun Days parade grand marshal in recognition of his countless hours of volunteer service to the community.

  “I think it is neat,” Campbell said. “I was so surprised when they asked me to do it. I have helped Hawkeye over the years and done a lot of things, but I was surprised they asked me. I am tickled to death to do it.”

4 vie for Miss West Union

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Jayde Blue, Zoey Frey, Lily Poppen, and Josie Roulson all seek to be crowned Miss West Union at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, at the West Union Recreation Complex during The West Union Chamber — A Main Street Community's Fourth of July celebration. 

'Boom, Flash'

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Terry Redfearn’s bid of $425,000 for the Signode building in West Union has officially been accepted. 

 Redfearn of Hazel Green, Wis., had attended the live auction on Wednesday, May 24, and placed his winning bid. The owner of the building had a week to reject his offer. He will close on the building on June 26. 

 The new building owner plans to use the 36,000-square-foot former manufacturing facility as a warehouse and retail store where he will store and sell fireworks. Redfearn owns Tri-State Fireworks, LLC in Wisconsin, which sells Class C fireworks. However, because the closing date is so close to the Fourth of July, Redfearn won’t be selling fireworks in time for this year’s holiday, but he plans to have the facility operational for 2018.

Kristin Kriener

Kriener to become new DeSales principal

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Saint Francis DeSales School in Ossian recently announced the appointment of Kristin Kriener as principal.

Kriener has over 20 years of experience in the education field for several school districts. She received her Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Mount Mercy College and Master of Science in educational administration at Iowa State University. She has also received endorsements in early childhood, reading, and gifted and talented education.

The 2017 Castalia Tractor Days parade grand marhals are Dale and Karen Green of rural Castalia. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Greens are grand marshals at 25th Tractor Days

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

With the small community of Castalia celebrating a big milestone this year, the 25^th Annual Tractor Days, it seems only appropriate that a couple with deep local roots serve as the parade’s grand marshals.

Dale and Karen Green of rural Castalia have roots that run quite deep in the northeast Iowa soil they call home.

“My great-grandfather came to the Midwest from upstate New York in the 1850s,” recalled Dale. “He stopped in Michigan for a year, as well as Wisconsin, before finally finding this farm to claim in 1851.”

He went on to say that the nearby spring and the abundant timbers were likely his ancestors’ reason for choosing such a location. They established what is today considered to be one of the oldest industries in the entire state of Iowa.

“Ever since they came to Iowa back in 1851, my family has been making maple syrup with the sap collected from the trees,” explained Dale and Karen, who are the current operators of Greens’ Sugarbush. “It’s a process that we keep doing as a hobby and to honor the tradition. It’s also a great social event, as many of our neighbors pitch in and help out every spring.”

The Greens, who at one point in history collected sap from over 2,200 trees, are now at approximately 1,250 trees. They use the sap to create tasty maple syrup that they sell out of their over-160-year-old farm house.

For Dale and Karen, however, the story starts more recently in the 1960s.

Melissa Krivachek, a native of Fort Atkinson, is determined to become the most influential and powerful woman of her time. The young author has recently published her fifth book to hit the national best-seller list and is well on her way to the top. (submitted photo)

Krivachek has sights set high

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Melissa Krivachek is leaving her mark. The young Fort Atkinson native has accomplished a lot in a short time, including having her eighth book published – which also happens to be her fifth release to make the international best-seller list.

“I write self-help books that are based on my own life experiences,” said Krivachek, a 2005 graduate of Turkey Valley High School. “My books teach people how to have love, happiness, and success all at once. So many people feel as if they have to choose just one of those things, but they really don’t.”