News

Wed
16
Feb

City of Fayette offers to buy Big Rock Golf Course for $400,000

Members of the Big Rock Golf Course Board of Directors and other Fayette citizens were at the special City Council meeting, Thursday, Feb. 10, for the discussion and possible purchase of the golf course by the City. Board members included Zach Wulfekuhle (wearing baseball cap, center), Board President Ann Langerman (to Wulfekuhle’s right at table) and the Board’s accountant, Dennis Martin (left of Wulfekuhle). (Jack Swanson photos)

 

 

City of Fayette offers to buy Big Rock Golf Course for $400,000

 

By Jack Swanson

jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

At a special City Council meeting, Thursday, Feb. 10, the Council voted unanimously to purchase the Big Rock Golf Course for $400,000. That offer has been submitted to the Big Rock Country Club who had not yet responded when the newspaper went to print.

Big Rock Board President Ann Langerman said the entire board has not yet been able to get together but plan to meet this week to act on the offer.

Wed
16
Feb

Public Forum will be held Tuesday, Feb. 22

This year’s RAGBRAI Director Matt Phippen visited West Union on Wednesday, Feb. 9, to give local planners some tips. (Photo submitted)

 

Public Forum will be held Tuesday, Feb. 22

 

By Jack Swanson

jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

 

West Union Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Matt Marsala said he’s looking for people to serve on committees and for information and suggestions on the upcoming RAGBRAI over night stay.

“We are looking for West Union theme ideas for our shirt and volunteers to help put this event on,” Marsala said, adding that he is hoping to have answers to some of these questions, and a list of volunteers, after a RAGBRAI Public Forum is held Tuesday, Feb. 22, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Dance Pavilion at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in West Union.

Wed
09
Feb

Fayette considers purchasing Big Rock Golf Course

Over seventy residents which included mostly golfers attended a public hearing Monday evening regarding the sale of the “Back 9” portion of the Big Rock Golf Course owned by the city. Residents expressed concern that the proposal was rushed with little transparency or communication with club members regarding the club’s financial position. (Jan Bear photo)

 

Fayette considers purchasing Big Rock Golf Course

 

By Jan Bear

Contributing Writer

 

The Monday, Feb. 7, Fayette City Council meeting was packed with over 70 residents, mostly golfers, attending the public hearing regarding the sale of the “Back 9” portion of the Big Rock Golf Course owned by the city.   

  The council received a proposal from Tim and Nancy Wulfekuhle to purchase the land for $1 plus closing costs with a five-year guarantee that the property would remain a golf course. While the Wulfekuhle’s have an interest in the first nine holes, they asked to purchase the “back 9” since they did maintenance on it to keep the 18-hole course viable. In addition it was stated, if the sales proposal was not accepted at the council meeting, they would simply withdraw their offer.

Wed
09
Feb

Maddie Poppe to open '22 Fayette County Fair!

Maddie Poppe

 

Maddie Poppe to open '22 Fayette County Fair!

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

The 2022 Fayette County Fair just got even more exciting! Iowa-native Maddie Poppe, an American Idol winner and well-known singer and songwriter, will join the lineup of Grandstand entertainment and play on Tuesday night, July 19, to kick off the Fair - and the best part is, the concert will only be $5!

Wed
02
Feb

Lake Meyer fishing derby is February 6

Lake Meyer fishing derby is Feb. 6

 

The annual Lake Meyer Ice Fishing Derby will be held Sunday, February 6th at Lake Meyer Park. Registration begins at 12:00 pm at the Lake Meyer Campground shop and fishing runs from 12:00-4:00pm. Registration costs $5 for adults (16 years and older) and is free for all children (15 and younger). All ages are welcome!

Prizes will be awarded for 1st and 2nd bass, bluegill, crappie, northern pike, and perch. All participants will be eligible for one of many door prizes provided by local businesses. Award ceremonies and prize drawings will be held following the close of fishing.

Wed
02
Feb

Catholic Schools Week is underway!

Students and staff from St. Teresa of Calcutta schools in Ossian and Spillville are celebrating Catholic Schools Week all week long. The them to this year’s celebration is ‘Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.’ (submitted photo)

 

Catholic Schools Week is underway!

 

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

Catholic Schools Week officially got underway Sunday and activities at St. Teresa of Calcutta Schools are underway. The theme to this year’s week-long celebration is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.”

Activities and dress up day themes for the rest of the week are as follows:

Wed
02
Feb

Local mother-daughter duo set to open Vine Street Boutique Saturday

Katrina Schmitt and daughter, Abby, are excited to bring a new boutique to 120 S. Vine St., West Union. The new store will carry clothing for babies, children, teens and moms, plus, a lot of local consignment and midwest items. The store will officially open on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 9 a.m. (LeAnn Larson photo)

 

Local mother-daughter duo set to open Vine Street Boutique Saturday

 

By LeAnn Larson

lanews@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

WesUnion’s newest retail business is opening at 120 S. Vine St., on Saturday, February 5.  The former Vintage on Vine building will now be home to Katrina Schmitt and daughter Abby’s new business venture— VSB Vine Street Boutique. 

Abby had worked over the past year for Andrew & Ginny Boeckman, previous owners of the clothing and gift store on Vine. Katrina added, “She really liked this line of work, and was disappointed when they announced that they would be closing at the end of 2021. I remember my husband Craig saying, “Why don’t you open a boutique!”

Wed
02
Feb

It's official: West Union is RAGBRAI XLIX overnight stop!

This group from West Union representing the Chamber of Commerce/Main Street were present when the route for RAGBRAI XLIX was announced with West Union being one of the overnight stops. The announcement party was in Des Moines, Friday, Jan. 28. Pictured are (l-r) Blake Gamm, Mayor Cam Granger, Tiffany Johansen, Garrett Crandell, Park and Rec Director Trey Kuhens, Chamber Director Matt Marsala, Andy Bilden, City Administrator Aime Johansen and Tracy Weidemann. (Submitted photo)

 

It's official: West Union is RAGBRAI XLIX overnight stop!

 

By Jack Swanson

jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

“Everyone is incredibly excited for the opportunity and to come together as a community.”

That’s what West Union Chamber of Commerce Director Matt Marsala said following the announcement Friday, Jan. 28, that West Union will be an overnight stop on this year’s RAGBRAI XLIX.

The 2022 Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, which will take place from July 23 to 30, will start in Sergeant Bluff and end in Lansing. In between, riders will overnight in, Ida Grove, Pocahontas, Emmetsburg, Mason City, Charles City, and  West Union, with the ride ending in Lansing.

Wed
26
Jan

Catholic Schools Week begins Sunday

Catholic Schools Week begins Sunday

 

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

Catholic Schools Week is set to celebrate its 48th anniversary this year and will be held Sunday, Jan. 30, through Saturday, Feb. 5. The nationwide theme is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.”

At St. Teresa of Calcutta School, the week will be celebrated with daily fun, entertainment, and dress up days.

To start the week on Monday, Jan. 31, students and staff will dress up for Pajama Day.

On Tuesday, Feb. 1, the dress-up theme will be Dress as a person or professional who exemplifies faith, excellence, or service. The schools will also have a free class period.

Wed
26
Jan

County Courthouse demise by fire 100 years ago

This shows the start of the fire that would eventually destroy the Fayette County Courthouse in West Union on Feb. 5, 1922. The 100th anniversary of the fire is being observed by an event Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, hosted by the Fayette County Historical Society. 

 

County Courthouse demise by fire 100 years ago

 

By Jack Swanson

jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

It was a day that if many people could remember it, they would say, it was like a day from hell.

Ironically, it happened on a Sunday, Feb. 5, 1922.  People were either at church, or about ready to go, when fire was spotted in the northeast corner of the second floor of the Fayette County Courthouse in West Union. That was at about 11 a.m.

A few minutes later the building that had been rekindled from the ashes of a previous fire 48 years prior, became a towering, for that day and age, inferno. Within two hours it had gone almost completely up in smoke. Pieces of charred official County documents were found scattered miles from the site. Burning shingles flew through the air, threatening to set the entire town ablaze and eventually causing the destruction of one home outside the reach of the city’s hydrant system.

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