Wartburg junior Dakota Moore (left), a native of Elgin, recently had the opportunity to sing with an honor choir at Carnegie Hall in New York City. His cousin Natalie Moore (center) and mother Gayle Moore were in attendance for his performance on Sunday, Feb. 19. 

Moore, Decker perform at Carnegie Hall

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Two northeast Iowa students recently earned the chance of a lifetime when they performed in an honor choir at Carnegie Hall in New York City. 

Former Elgin resident Dakota Moore, who now sings in a men’s choir at Wartburg College, and MFL/MarMac junior Micah Decker were chosen to perform at the prestigious concert venue through Distinguished Concert Singers International. Decker noted that the honor choir was comprised of high school students through adults. The youngest performer was 14 years old, with the eldest, 87. 

'A Night of Denim and Diamonds'

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Break out your best pair of denim jeans and some sparkling diamond jewelry when you attend the West Union Chamber — A Main Street Community’s annual “Divas & Dining.” 

The event will start with shopping and a social hour at 5 p.m. Friday, March 10, at the West Union Events Center on Hwy 18 east of West Union. This year’s theme is “A Night of Denim and Diamonds.” 

The musical entertainment of Arch Allies will take to the Grandstands of the Winneshiek County Fair Thursday night, July 13. (submitted photo)

Fair unveils 2017 entertainment

By Zakary Kriener

The Winneshiek County Fair Board has announced its Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday entertainment for the 2017 event. Running Tuesday, July 11, through Saturday, July 15, fair officials are excited to bring back several annual favorites, as well as an exciting act that will be announced within the coming weeks.

Historical figures return to life at UIU and Fayette libraries

With the help of three modern-day impersonators, the University Archives at Upper Iowa University welcomes Civil War-era historical figures Abraham Lincoln, Dr. C.C. (Charles Coleman) Parker and David B. Henderson to its Fayette campus on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

Lincoln will also provide a public presentation at Fayette Community Library that day.

SueAnne and Bob Opperman (l-r) recently purchased Charley’s Gas Gage in Wadena from Charley Daisy of Arlington. Daisy also sold his Arlington and Volga locations to Zak Lefs of Waverly.  Chris DeBack photo

Oppermans buy Charley's Gas Gage

Chris DeBack

cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

From employee to owner, SueAnne Opperman has had quite the whirlwind week after her and her husband, Bob, purchased Charley’s Gas Gage in Wadena from Charley Daisy of Arlington.

Opperman had been a longtime employee of the former owner. In 1997, she started with Charley’s Quik Stop in Arlington. After several years, she had to quit because of hip issues in 2004, but went back to work for Charley in 2009.

Housing trust funds to merge

By Chris DeBack

cdeback@thefayetteocuntyunion.com

At its most recent board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 15, the Fayette County Local Housing Trust Fund (FCLHTF) board voted to merge with the Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund (NEIRHTF). Ed Gage of Wadena was the only dissenting vote. 

At its board meeting the following day, the NEIRHTF board voted to merge, as well. Currently, the NEIRHTF is made up of Howard, Winneshiek, Clayton and Allamakee counties.

Daniel Gibbs is back out hunting with his friends after he had open-heart surgery in November to remove a membrane located in the left atrium of his heart. It was supposed to dissolve away shortly after birth but only partially did, causing the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body.  Chris DeBack photo

Possibilities limitless for Gibbs after surgery

Chris DeBack

cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

For as long as Audrey Gibbs can remember her youngest son, Daniel, has been consistently sick. She said it never failed, every spring and fall he’d develop pneumonia.  

Pneumonia is an infection that inflames air sacs in the lungs, which can then fill up with fluid. It certainly isn’t life-threatening to a healthy young boy, as long as it is treated correctly. It’s far more deadly to infants and the elderly, whose immune systems are much more susceptible. 

The 18-year-old, who is set to graduate in May from North Fayette Valley High School, began to run a fever one afternoon last August. Audrey didn’t think too much of it. She took Daniel to the Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital emergency room, thinking that it was pneumonia. After the hospital did a chest X-ray, they noted to the mother of five that it wasn’t pneumonia, but they couldn’t pinpoint what was causing the fever. 

Daniel Gibbs is back out hunting with his friends after he had open-heart surgery in November to remove a membrane located in the left atrium of his heart. It was supposed to dissolve away shortly after birth but only partially did, causing the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. (Chris DeBack photo)

Possibilities limitless for Gibbs after surgery

By Chris DeBack

cdback@thefayettecountyunion.com

For as long as Audrey Gibbs can remember her youngest son, Daniel, has been consistently sick. She said it never failed, every spring and fall he’d develop pneumonia.  

Pneumonia is an infection that inflames air sacs in the lungs, which can then fill up with fluid. It certainly isn’t life-threatening to a healthy young boy, as long as it is treated correctly. It’s far more deadly to infants and the elderly, whose immune systems are much more susceptible. 

The 18-year-old, who is set to graduate in May from North Fayette Valley High School, began to run a fever one afternoon last August. Audrey didn’t think too much of it. She took Daniel to the Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital emergency room, thinking that it was pneumonia. After the hospital did a chest X-ray, they noted to the mother of five that it wasn’t pneumonia, but they couldn’t pinpoint what was causing the fever. 

C. Patrick Henry, D.D.S., has been putting smiles on local faces for over 35 years. As a second-generation dentist in the town of Ossian, Henry takes great pride in serving his community and providing nothing but the most friendly service. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Making Ossian smile for over 35 years

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

To say that becoming a dentist was the true destiny for C. Patrick Henry, longtime Ossian D.D.S., would be a strong understatement.

“My father, Charles R. Henry, was a dentist here in town for over 40 years, getting started back when there were two dentist offices in town,” explained the dental veteran of over 35 years. “My mother was actually a dental assistant as well. She was actually working in dentistry before my father went to dental school.”