Jim and Joyce Moss stand alongside BP Express manager Melinda Schroeder (far left) Monday. Jim and Joyce officially sold the West Union business to Kulig Chauhan of Johnston, Iowa, today (Wednesday, March 1). Schroeder and the current staff will continue to serve their loyal customers under the new ownership. (Mike Van Sickle photo)

BP Express under new ownership today

By Zachary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

  There’s a new business owner in town. Kulig Chauhan (K.C.) assumes ownership today (Wednesday, March 1) of BP Express from longtime proprietors Jim and Joyce Moss. 

“The support has been absolutely wonderful over the years, both from the local residents and our loyal customers from throughout the entire area” Joyce said. 

Easton Corbin

'Are You With Me' for the 2023 Winneshiek Co. Fair?

by Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The Winneshiek County Fair is proud to announce it’s Friday night (July 14) entertainment for the 2023 Fair, which will be July 11 through 15 in Decorah.

Easton Corbin will light up the stage on that Friday night! The country music star, known for hits like “A Little More Country Than That,” “I Can’t Love You Back,” Baby Be My Love Song,” “Are You With Me,” and many more will be the featured act of the night. 

North Fayette Valley FFA Advisor/Ag Educator Kylee Smith talks a little horticulture with a trio of her students/FFA members (l-r) Seth Lauer, Zeke Stansbery and John Moellers. The Rockford, Iowa, native has most enjoyed how her students are willing to try new things and willingness to adapt to change during her first year at the school. (Mike Van Sickle photo)

New FFA advisor continues passing on her love for agriculture

By Mike VanSickle

mvansickle@fayettecountynewspapers.com

Nearly 9,000 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be celebrating National FFA Week through Saturday, Feb. 25. Similar to the national organization, North Fayette Valley (NFV) FFA Chapter advisors have been inspiring generations to discover that agriculture is much more than raising livestock, and planting and harvesting crops.

This year, Kylee Smith became the latest of a growing list of highly regarded advisors and ag educators to accept the reigns of the local FFA chapter and NFV ag education program. A Rockford, Iowa, native, Smith graduated from Rudd Rockford Marble Rock High School in 2017. As a member of the Rockford FFA Chapter, under the tutelage of advisor Jym Hanson, she held the offices of sentinel and historian. 

Decision made: Center to close

By Sharon Drahn

Contributing Writer

The North Fayette Valley School Board voted 5-1 to close the Fayette attendance center at the close of the current school year Monday. Board member Julie Ahrens voted against the motion, while Board President Emily Koch abstained. 

 Given the opportunity to speak at the onset of the meeting held in the Performing Arts Center, none of the estimated 25 audience members made a statement. 

Boss Tables was established in 2015 and has been based in Calmar since 2020. Leaders of the company (l-r) Travis Schluter, Mitch Schluter, and Ted Marcu (general manager) work alongside approximately 20 other team members to produce CNC plasma cutting tables, which are used nationwide in the manufacturing industry. (Zakary Kriener photo)

The 'Boss' of CNC plasma tables is right here in NEIA

by Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

While many outside of the manufacturing industry may not be aware, a small business located in Calmar has emerged as one of the bosses in the plasma cutting equipment world.

“My brother, Mitch, and I actually started the business in 2015,” explained Travis Schluter, who runs the Boss Tables portion of the business while Mitch leads the newly started Reign Marine part of the operation. “We built our first table to help us fix our own equipment. After seeing that it worked pretty well, we refined and improved our design and built five more tables to try to sell.”

The product was a hit, which inspired the Schluter brothers to continue pursuing their new endeavor of making CNC plasma cutting tables. 

Jess Hummel, RN, watches Kent Halverson start one of his workouts at the Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital Cardiac Rehab Department in West Union. Halverson, who is recovering from a string of four recent heart attacks, attends 3 one-hour sessions each week at the local health facility. (Mike Van Sickle photo)

West Union man continues recovery after four heart attacks

By Mike Van Sickle

mvansickle@fayettecountynewspapers.com

After retiring in June 2022 from Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank, Kent Halverson looked forward to spending more time with his wife, Bonnie, their son Chad and his wife Tina (Chensvold), and their daughter Heidi and her husband Todd (Streif), and both of their families. He was especially eager for the opportunity to help Todd and Heidi on their rural West Union farm.

Sadly, those retirement plans were turned upside down a couple hours after Kent went to bed the evening of Saturday, Nov. 19. Waking up with what he initially believed was a severe case of heartburn, the 67-year-old made his way to the kitchen. It was while opening the cupboard door for some antacids he began to think to himself that it wasn’t a case of simple indigestion. He woke up Bonnie and due to the tremendous pressure building on his chest it was soon determined he couldn’t wait any longer to go to the hospital. 

Dan and Wendy Kuennen of Festina have been named the 2023 Pampered Night Out grand prize winners. (LeAnn Larson photo)

Festina couple wins Pampered Night Out

  A Festina couple has been named the 2023 Pampered Night Out grand prize winners. In having their entry drawn Friday, Dan and Wendy Kuennen have won a dinner for two at Senor Cantina Grill, one dozen roses from Old Mill Floral, a one-night stay at the WW Properties LLC, a $20 gift certificate at China Kitchen, up to two games of free bowling at Lilac Lanes Bowling Center, and a $25 gift certificate at Gus & Tony’s Town House, all located in West Union.

“We would like to thank all of the Pampered Night Out sponsors for making this Valentine’s Day even that more special,” Wendy said when being informed of the prizewinning drawing.

Current North Fayette Valley Assistant Principal/Activities Director Chris Miller will assume the duties of retiring high school principal Lori Westhoff at the end of the current school year. The NFV School Board approved offering Miller the principal’s contract after interviewing Miller and two additional candidates Thursday. (Mike Van Sickle photo)

Miller named NFV High School principal

By Mike Van Sickle

mvansickle@fayettecountynewspapers.com

North Fayette Valley (NFV) has named current high school assistant principal/activities director Chris Miller as its new high school principal. 

Miller was among three candidates interviewed by the NFV School Board during a special work session Thursday. After the interviews were completed, the school board unanimously approved the motion to offer the La Porte City, Iowa, native the principal contract. Board member Eileen Schlawin was absent.

Current North Fayette Valley Assistant Principal/Activities Director Chris Miller will assume the duties of retiring high school principal Lori Westhoff at the end of the current school year. The NFV School Board approved offering Miller the principal’s contract after interviewing Miller and two additional candidates Thursday. (Mike Van Sickle photo)

Miller named NFV High School principal

By Mike Van Sickle

mvansickle@fayettecountynewspapers.com

North Fayette Valley (NFV) has named current high school assistant principal/activities director Chris Miller as its new high school principal. 

Miller was among three candidates interviewed by the NFV School Board during a special work session Thursday. After the interviews were completed, the school board unanimously approved the motion to offer the La Porte City, Iowa, native the principal contract. Board member Eileen Schlawin was absent.

Winneshiek Co. Dairy Banquet set for April 1

The 60^th Annual Winneshiek County Dairy Banquet will be held Saturday, April 1, at the Festina Community Center. The night will include a meal at 7 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony and the crowning of the 2023 Dairy Princess, Little Miss Squires, and Little Mr. Herdsman.