Christmas in Ossian to be held Dec. 2-4

Final events and activities for the 2022 DeSales Magic of Christmas are being finalized. This annual event is scheduled for the weekend of December Friday through Sunday, Dec. 2-4.  

The Magic of Christmas begins with the Opening Gala and Hors d'oeuvres Buffet being held at the Silver Springs Golf & Country Club in Ossian. The gala will feature the first look at the dozens of trees, holiday collections and eight holiday tables decorated for the season.  An array of hors d'oeuvres on the buffet and wine tasting add a spirit of fun to the evening's gala. The gala and buffet wiil run from 6 - 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2. Tickets are $10 apiece for the Opening Gala and Hors d'oeuvres Buffet.

Record turnout of Winneshiek County voters

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The dust has settled on the 2022 General Election and Winneshiek County saw a nearly 75 percent voter turnout as 9,745 ballots were cast across the county.

“I am happy to say that Winneshiek County had a successful 2022 General Election.  We had no major equipment issues, questionable activities at polling locations, cyber security attacks, or any of those other issues that we hear about from others areas of the country,” said Benjamin Steines, Winneshiek County Auditor.  “Iowa can be proud of the high standards we use to plan, prepare, and test equipment; so that we know our Election Day results are reported with accuracy and efficiency.”

Steines went on to say that Winneshiek County had 5,173 people (not including absentee ballots) go to the polls on election day, the highest number in recent years. In the 2010 mid-term election, there was a voter turnout of 4,391; while there were 3,958 in 2014 and 4,399 in 2018.

Lehmann and Bunn elected as Fayette County Supervisors

By Mike Van Sickle

mvansickle@fayettecountynewspapers.com

(Editor’s note: Due to the canvass of the Fayette County ballots taking place Tuesday, Nov. 11, and not being completed by the Union Echo Leader’s press deadline, the following Fayette County figures are unofficial.)

Four newly elected Fayette County officials will join incumbent Fayette County Treasurer Kyle Jacobsen in being sworn into office Monday, Jan 2. Bruce Lehmann of Clermont and Jeff Bunn of rural Fayette unofficially defeated Jesse Maire of rural West Union during the November 4 general election for the two open seats on the Fayette County Board of Supervisors. Lehmann tallied the most votes with 4,933, while Bunn followed with 4,527 and Maire with 1,657.

Dustin Lynch

2023 Fayette County Fair going 'Party Mode' with Dustin Lynch!

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepubishing.com

The Fayette County Fair is shifting into ‘Party Mode’ as country music chart-topper Dustin Lynch will highlight the 2023 Fair!

Lynch will headline the Grandstand entertainment on Saturday night, July 22, 2023, with opener Maddie & Tae getting the night started.

“We are very excited about the lineup this summer,” said Shawn Alber, fair board member and concert coordinator. “We have been working hard to keep building the reputation of the Fayette County Fair and the 2023 entertainment will be another big step in doing that. We are very excited about it!”

Local Veterans Day programs Friday

North Fayette Valley High School will host its annual Veterans Day program Friday, Nov. 11. The event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in the Performing Arts Center. This year’s guest speakers are Daniel Alcorn, a 1993 North Fayette graduate, and Tom Grapes of West Union.

 Alcorn served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years. While achieving the rank of commander, he was deployed to Iraq four, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Yemen. Meanwhile, Grapes served four years in the Air Force He was stationed at Offutt Airbase in Omaha, Nebraska, Sondrestrom Air Base in Greenland, and Keesler Air Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. Throughout his service, he achieved the rank of staff sergeant. 

SW Veterans Day program is Friday

South Winneshiek High School will host its annual Veterans Day assembly at 10:15 a.m. on Friday in Calmar. During the assembly, which will be held in the gymnasium, the Decorah Quilts of Valor will present quilts to eight local veterans.

Decorah Quilts of Valor is a local group of women quilters who are part of the larger national nonprofit organization that is dedicated to honoring veterans with handmade, Americana quilts.

All local veterans are invited to meet for coffee and rolls in the high school cafeteria, beginning at 9 a.m. Veterans in attendance will have the option to have honorary seating and be individually recognized during the assembly.

A total of 15 members of the South Winneshiek FFA program attended the FFA National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attending members included (front, l-r) Emma Fisher, Alayna Hageman, Allison Hageman, Autumn Schmitt, Ellie Knutson, Klarissa Knutson; (back) Alyssa Holthaus, Hanna Vagts, Tucker Lyons, Kelsey Timp, Kendra Elsbernd, Katrina Hageman, and Anna Holthaus. (submitted photo)

South Winn sends 15 to FFA National Convention

By Katrina Hageman, SW FFA Reporter

The 95th National FFA Convention & Expo celebrated its annual in-person convention beginning October 26th and concluded on October 29. More than 69,000 FFA members and guests from throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands attended this year's event. South Winneshiek had 13 high schoolers and two collegiate school members in attendance. 

The in-person National Convention & Expo was held in Indianapolis this year as part of the organization’s long-term hosting partnership with Indianapolis that will run through 2033. The convention and expo kicked off in Indianapolis, Indiana on Wednesday, October 26. Seven general sessions were held at Lucas Oil Stadium. On the morning of Saturday, October 29, a special ceremony was held where American FFA Degrees, the highest degree for an FFA member, was bestowed upon more than 4,000 members. The Iowa FFA Association had representation from more than 3,000 attendees involved in all facets of the event. 

Fayette City Administrator/Clerk Kris McGrane stands in the fully furnished kitchen of the Homes for Iowa house in Fayette. The goal of Homes for Iowa Inc. is to address Iowa's housing shortage, train offenders in skilled trades and reduce repeat offenses. The City of Fayette is hosting an open house from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, to showcase the home, located at 207 Alexander Street. (Mike Van Sickle photo)

'Homes for Iowa' HOUSE to benefit new Fayette homeowner and community

By Mike Van Sickle

mvansickle@fayettecountynewspaper.com

With the support of the Fayette City Council, an empty lot in Fayette has been transformed into the future home of a new or current resident of the community. The City of Fayette is hosting an open house from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, to showcase its Homes for Iowa house, located at 207 Alexander Street. The open house will include a tour of the home, conversations with Fayette city officials and Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission representatives, and information on how to purchase the home.

To meet the needs of the fast-growing St. Lucas community, Edmund’s Park was established in 2019 and has continued to see additions and upgrades in the years since. Enjoying the playground are several members of the town’s youngest generation, including (on ground, l-r) Bryn Franzen, Addy Perry, Emmi Hageman (holding Wren Busta), Tierney Franzen (back), Jentree Winer, Autumn Franzen; (on upper level) Journee Hunter, Bailey Busta, Josephine Hageman, Preston Kuennen, and Rayland Busta. (Zakary Kriener photo)

St. Lucas' Edmunds park

By Zakary Krienr

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

It takes a village! That’s the case for the community of St. Lucas, which has been booming with a youth movement in recent years. To keep up with that movement, the town has been doing some major upgrades to its recreation as Edmund’s Park was recently incorporated in the middle of town. Funded by donations, fundraisers, and contributions from the City of St. Lucas, the park has continued to grow and expand ever since and there is plenty more in the works for the future!

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) awarded a $99,430 Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant Wednesday, Nov. 2, to West Union Main Street for the Donahue building. Participating in the award ceremony in Des Moines were (l-r) Main Street Iowa Coordinator Michael Wagler, Donahue building owners April and Casey McDermott, Iowa Economic Development Authority & Iowa Finance Executive Director Debi Durham, Donahue building owners Brian and Vicki Halstead, and West Union Mayor Cam Granger. (Courtesy photo)

Donahue building project receives $99,430 Main Street grant

By Mike Van Sickle

mvansickle@fayettecountynewspapers.com

West Union Main Street was awarded a $99,430 Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant Wednesday, Nov. 2, for renovations to the Donahue building. During the ceremonies in Des Moines, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) awarded $934,430 in the Challenge Grants to 10 communities around the state. Each of the grants are intended to benefit local improvement projects, such as historic building rehabilitation and upper story renovations.

The grant was awarded to the Donahue project for rehabilitation and renovation to create second-floor apartments. The building is owned by Casey and April McDermott and Brian and Vicki Halstead, who plan to open a redemption center in the lower level of the building.