Fayette Council approves CDBG application

Janell Bradley
Contributing Writer

Following a public hearing on the proposal to submit a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) request to Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), the council agreed to proceed with the application. The proposal in the amount of $295,200, if granted, would provide funds toward a storm sewer community facilities program. The City also committed matching funds. 

Jane Nuss holds a calendar of activities for the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center in Cedar Falls, where she is a volunteer. (Photo  by Janell Bradley)

It's a 'Do Day' every day for this volunteer

Janell Bradley
Contributing Writer

It would come as no surprise to anyone who knows Jane Nuss that she is an active volunteer and has been helping others for many years.

The mother of three grown children, now knows she was fortunate to have a flexible job that allowed her to work from home. Husband Gene is an insurance agent, and for most of their marriage, Jane helped out by taking phone calls and keeping the records and books. Over the years, a job like that has allowed her to help others as needed.

Most of Jane's volunteering relates to helping out her church, Trinity Lutheran of Hawkeye. Although she enjoyed taking part in 'Do Day' for many years, it was when Nell Eliason gave up her role as stewardship chair for the Trinity Lutheran Church Women (TLCW) that Jane decided to expand her involvement.

Johnny Meyer, Charolette Vagts, and Presley Rovang (l-r) spend time enjoying story books in the new Kaleidoscope Kids Childcare Center in West Union. (Zakary Kriener photo)

New year, new KKCC

Zakary Kriener
News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The long-anticipated wait for the Kaleidoscope Kids Childcare Center (KKCC) in West Union to open is finally over, as the doors on the new building opened for the first time on Monday.

“The children were all very excited this morning and eager to check out everything the new facility has to offer,” said KKCC Director Mary O’Kones.

KKCC staff, along with outside help from parents, fundraisers, and over 40 volunteers, worked together to get all materials and equipment moved to the new facility last week.

For her longtime love and devotion to family, friends, neighbors, and community, Robin Bostrom has been named the Fayette County Union’s 2014 Citizen of the Year. (Mike Van Sickle photo)

Robin Bostrom: 2014 Citizen of the Year

By Mike Van Sickle
News Editor
mvansickle@thefayettecountyunion.com

Daughter, sister, wife, mother, teacher, coach, volunteer, public servant…all roles that Robin Bostrom has proudly embraced her entire life.

For her longtime love and devotion to family, friends, neighbors, and community, Bostrom is being recognized as the Fayette County Union’s 2014 Citizen of the Year.

Union Publisher LeAnn Larson said the honor was long overdue, noting, “Whenever, a potential project or event is suggested that will benefit the entire West Union community, Robin is most likely to be one of the first people to step up and help carry it forward.  This award is a small testament to the insight and leadership she provides to such endeavors.”

Torrential downpours brought flash flooding throughout Fayette County in June, causing the evacuation of area campgrounds and closing several roadways, including Highway 18 near Hawkeye. 

Year in Review

By Mike Van Sickle
Contributing Editor

It was a year of celebrations and tribulations for the communities in the valley in 2014. Among the featured topics of public discussion published in The Leader this past year were the following:

After hearing a report on enrollment projections at their joint meeting in June, the North Fayette and Valley school boards unanimously approved extending the current North Fayette Valley whole-grade sharing agreement through the 2017-2018 school year.

While the student athletes and coaches celebrated top honors (see this week’s sports section), it has been in the classroom that the students have thrived amongst the new and expanded opportunities.

Among the growing programs is Project Lead The Way (PLTW). North Fayette Valley High School received national certification in August for its program that has been offered at the school since 2013.

PLTW, a nonprofit organization and the nation’s leading provider of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education programs, offers a rigorous world-class curriculum that allows students to apply what they are learning in math and science classes to real-life activities, projects and problems.

NFV students were honored throughout the year for their accomplishments, including then senior Abby Oelrich, whose entry “House in the Woods” earned a runner-up finish in the Congressional Art Competition in May.

Among the additional honorees, Sam Poppen achieved the highest honor for high school musicians, earning a spot as a bass singer in the All-State Chorus. Meanwhile, Bethany Merkle, Trenton Clausen, Jordan Einck, Brandon Busari-Okoro, and Ashton Johnson were selected to the Opus Honor Choir.

The North Fayette Valley FFA Chapter celebrated a record-breaking 12 students receiving the prestigious American Degree award. The honored students were Molly Schmitt, Tony Moellers, Evan Ihde, John Lauer, Rachel Strong, Tyler Nydegger, Spencer Spain, Ben Burkhart, Zane Bodensteiner, Joe Mohlis, and Geordan Hanson.

The Conduct of Meetings Team including members Tiffanie Koch, Allie Ney, Madison Imoehl, Ethan Lape, Morgan Lauer, Regan Pleggenkuhle, and Colby Larson also earned the opportunity to compete during the week of the National FFA Convention.

At the same time, Chapter members Grace Kerr and Alex Fettkether placed 15^th in the National Science Fair.

More recently, the North Fayette Valley Middle School Lego team qualified for state competition.

On Saturday, April 12, residents of Fayette and the surrounding area were shocked to see what Mother Nature had in store. As the storm that had been predicted moved into the area, residents prepared themselves as best they could for the hail that had been forecasted. However, at approximately 8 p.m., the hail that began to fall was something for which no one could truly prepare.

Technology instructor Mike Johnson lends a helping hand to second-grader Caleb Hageman as the class learns the basics of coding. Thanks to the district’s 1:1 Initiative, all South Winn students in grades 2-8 receive a computer, enhancing their learning experiences. (Zakary Kriener photo)

1:1 Initiative yields benefits

Zakary Kriener
News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

In April 2010, South Winneshiek schools began implementing a 1:1 Initiative in which each student receives a computer or tablet to help facilitate the learning process. In its early stages, only several grades had access to the computers, which could only be used while the students were at school.

Nearly five years later, the program has grown and evolved, becoming an essential piece to the learning puzzle for every single South Winneshiek student, from kindergarten to 12^th grade.

“Many people have the perception that we give the students a computer, and they just learn,” noted South Winneshiek technology instructor Mike Johnson. “The 1:1 program allows us, as teachers, to teach the students how to use the computer as a resource to help enhance the learning process and open new doors.”

After the initial year of the program, students were allowed to take their computers home with them at the end of the day to use as a learning tool while they are at home.

Senior members of the 2014 Warrior football team hoist the trophy that was received after falling in the semifinals of the Iowa State Football Playoffs in November. South Winn finished the season with a 12-1 overall record. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Top stories of 2014

Zakary Kriener
News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

As the 2015 year approaches, let’s look back on some of the Ossian Bee’s top stories of 2014.

Ossian Fire Department unveils new station

The Ossian Fire Department showed off its new station in October, holding an open house for public to view the new building.

2015 'Classics at Montauk' lineup announced

The 2015 “Classics at Montauk” will celebrate two anniversaries this winter with a trio of concerts. This will be the 10^th consecutive year for the concert series in the Governor Larrabee mansion and also the 100^th anniversary of the year Montauk’s Mason and Hamlin grand piano was built.

The “Classics at Montauk” concert series was established in 2004 to bring back parlor concerts that were fashionable throughout the civilized world during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Three free Sunday concerts are held throughout January, February and March each year, spotlighting piano, vocal and instrumental talents.

Whether it is leading, helping, or being involved in the activities that go on at various youth events, Lorry Kohls is comfortable interacting with youth who attend. Here, she explains the object of a game the group is playing at a recent Christmas party held by the Valley Community Coalition Youth Center.

Seeking a positive impact on youth

Growing up is hard. No matter what era you were or are being raised in, being a kid always presents several challenges that must be overcome. Getting a little help along the way from a trusted adult makes things a little bit easier. Sometimes that little bit of support that an adult can give a child makes all the difference in the world. That is what volunteers like Lorry Kohls hope to accomplish through donating time and effort to programs that benefit area youth.

            “Becoming involved in organizations like the Valley Community Coalition (VCC) and Students Okay Without Drugs and Alcohol (SODA), as well as the Fine Arts Boosters, has opened my eyes to the positive impact such programs can have on kids. The climate of our youth has changed since I was growing up, but the need for adult guidance is still there, and I want to be a part of that,” explained Kohls, who has two children of her own.

Elgin kicked off 2014 by celebrating the completion of the Center Street Project on Saturday, Jan. 11. Members of Elgin City Council, Center Street business merchants, and representatives from various other groups involved with the project gathered with Mayor Bill Pfister (center, with glasses) to be a part of the ribbon-cutting celebration. 

Celebrations and tribulations in 2014

It was a year of celebrations and tribulations for the communities in the valley in 2014. Among the featured topics of public discussion published in The Echo this past year were the following:

After hearing a report on enrollment projections at their joint meeting in June, the North Fayette and Valley school boards unanimously approved extending the current North Fayette Valley whole-grade sharing agreement through the 2017-2018 school year.

While the student athletes and coaches celebrated top honors (see this week’s sports section), it has been in the classroom that the students have thrived amongst the new and expanded opportunities.