Winneshiek County residents Mark and Diane Schmitt (center) were recently inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame for their longtime dedication to the organization. The Schmitts are pictured with (l-r) Emily Saveraid (executive director of the 4-H Foundation) and Tillie Good (4-H staff and volunteer development manager). (submitted photo)

Mark and Diane Schmitt inducted into Iowa 4-H HoF

Mark and Diane Schmitt of Winneshiek County were inducted into the 2023 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday, Aug. 20. A total 91 Iowa counties participated this year and selected 127 inductees for their outstanding service and dedication to 4-H. Inductees or their surviving family members were presented a certificate by the Iowa 4 H Foundation President, David Bolte, and Interim State 4-H Program Leader, Mitchell Hoyer, as they were introduced on stage. 

Ventriloquist/comedian Al Getler (center) is among the featured family entertainment during this weekend’s “Life is Sweet” Watermelon Days in Fayette, Getler backs up his claim of full family participation with the dozens of pictures taken after shows. (Courtesy photo)

A 'Sweet' Watermelon Days schedule opens Friday

by Mike Van Sickle

mvansickle@fayettecountynewspapers.com

World class ventriloquist and comedian Al Getler is headlining the entertainment during this weekend’s Fayette Watermelon Days celebration. Combining a sharp wit and skills, Getler is certain to fill the audience with laughter as part of his free 7 p.m. performance on Main Street Saturday. 

The mysterious Van Hayden band performed live for the first time this past weekend as the crew, consisting of a pair of West Union native brothers, played at several tailgates ahead of the Iowa Hawkeye home football game on Saturday. (submitted photo)

West Union natives make tailgating debut Saturday

VanHayden: 'Gloriously terrible'

by Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

It really is quite the spectacle! This season, when the University of Iowa Hawkeye football fans took to the streets of Iowa City for tailgating for the first time, there was a new must-see site for many that made their way down Melrose Avenue leading up to Kinnick Stadium – “Van Hayden!.”

“It all started a couple of years ago, during COVID actually,” recalled Jake Olson, a West Union native and founding member of the band. “I was in band in high school and in a few bands during my years in college at Iowa, but me and some other friends were talking about learning some Van Halen songs. The more we got to talking about it, we thought it would be kind of fun to dress up like Hayden Fry and play some tunes for our friends at our tailgate!”

For serving as an inspiration to others to be dedicated to land, water, and wildlife habitat management on private, working lands, West Union farmer Loran Steinlage will be awarded the 2023 Iowa Leopold Conservation Award® in December. Similar to other good stewards of the land, Steinlage is credited to being open-minded to innovation, yet patient with the process of trial and error. (Courtesy photo)

Steinlage to be awarded for dedicated land stewardship

by Mike Van Sickle

mvansickle@fayettecountynewspapers.com

Loran Steinlage of West Union has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Iowa Leopold Conservation Award®.  Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award recognizes farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and wildlife habitat management on private, working lands.

Fall Fest is Sept. 7 at NICC!

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) in Calmar will be hosting its annual Fall Fest event from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7.

The NICC Calmar Campus will be the place to be on that evening as there will be food, music, inflatables, rides, and carnival games for kids of all ages.

The meal will be available with a freewill donation and games and rides will cost 25 cents per ticket.

The Calmar Campus is located at 1625 Highway 150 South, just outside of Calmar.

The brains behind the Castalia Revival Day celebration include Bev Schnuelle and Jeff Stee (l-r), along with good friends Jim and Bev Tangen (not pictured). The idea started as a small gathering for friends was being planned but grew to become much more as a full-blown town celebration is now on tap for Saturday evening. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Quite the 'Revival' coming to Castalia this weekend

by  Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

It’s been four years since the town of Castalia last had a big reason to get together, but a few town residents with deep ties to their community are changing that.

“We were just sitting around in the garage with some good friends one night when we decided to have a small gathering with a bunch of our friends. We’d have some food, drinks, and music, and just enjoy each other's company for an evening,” explained Jeff Stee, a Castalia native who now lives in nearby Clermont. “I decided to make a Facebook group to invite all our friends and let them know what was going on. While doing so, I must have made the group open to the public because more and more people kept joining.”

A total of 85 flag holder medallions for local veterans were added or replaced by Ossian’s Quinn Huinker for his Eagle Scout project this summer. Huinker is a senior at South Winneshiek and has been an active member of the Scouts since he was 6-years-old. (submitted photo)

Huinker achieves Eagle Scout status by honoring veterans

by Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

It took many hours of planning, preparing, and executing – 101 to be exact – for Ossian’s Quinn Huinker to complete his Eagle Scout project this summer and earn his Eagle Scout distinction. Throughout the last six months, Huinker navigated the journey of adding and replacing flag holder medallions to the gravesites of 85 local veterans, something that brought great pride to the young Scout.

NEIA Mechanical owner, installer and technician Dean Rocke, HVAC technician Tim Nemechek, general manager Beth Starkeweather, accounting specialist Sidney McQuade, business and financial director Doug Rocke (l-r), and the entire staff will host an open house Tuesday, Sept. 12, at their new facility in Elgin. (LeAnn Larson photo)

NEIA Mechanical to host Open House Sept. 12