Oliver Fosaaen of Ossian is a young entrepreneur with big goals in site. The young car enthusiast owns a pair of 1969 Chrvrolet Corvairs and has a YouTube channel and TikTok page, called Pissed of Piston Garage, which he uses to document his restoration process. Fosaaen has nearly 300,000 follows on TikTok and nearly 13,000 subscribers on YouTube. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Fosaaen's passion for Corvairs leads to YouTube success

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

It all started in the middle of a field when Ossian’s Oliver Fosaaen was just 11-years-old.

“I was helping do some work on an old farm with my dad and seen it sitting there,” said Fosaaen, referring to a 1969 Chevrolet Corvair that helped fuel his passion for working on cars and eventually provided the spark for his fast-growing followership for his YouTube and TikTok accounts. “The car had been sitting there in that field since 1984. I didn’t know much about it, but I knew that I wanted one.”

Ossian Spring garage sales are May 6-7

Mark your calendars! Ossian’s annual spring citywide garage sales will be held Friday and Saturday, May 6-7.

Get your family, neighborhood, service organization, church, or school/community group organized for the scheduled garage sale weekend.

The cost is $5 (check can be made out to Ossian Crown Club). Please send name(s), address, dates, times, and a brief list of items to Clark Goltz at clark.goltz@gmail.com by Sunday, April 30.

West Union Police Chief Paul Becthold is hoping that these bike helmets will generate lots of fines. That’s because tickets are going to be issued to youths whenever they are spotted wearing the helmets while biking. The ticket will be good for a free ice cream cone. A total of 336 helmets were purchased with funds generated by the automatic traffic enforcement cameras. They will be given to all youngsters in grades kindergarten through third grade at West Union and Valley elementaries, who will also be invited to participate in a Bike Safety Rodeo, May 17. (Jack Swanson photo)

Speeding fines go towards paying for 336 bike helmets and funding bike safety rodeo

by Jack Swanson

jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

If you’re wearing your bike helmet in West Union, you’re going to get a ticket.

But guess what? Instead of you paying a fine, you’re going to be able to turn your ticket in for an ice cream cone.

Over 50 people showed up for the RAGBRAI public forum on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at the Dance Pavilion at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in West Union. Among those in attendance was West Union Police Chief (center) Paul Becthold.

Volunteers needed to make RAGBRAI in West Union a success

By Jack Swanson

jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

The West Union RAGBRAI Committee needs volunteers.

That was the message that West Union Chamber Director Matt Marsala related at the first public forum on RAGBRAI. As many as 20,000 bike riders will converge on the town on July 29 for an overnight stay on the next to last day of the ride.

Higher price tags proposed

By Jack Swanson

jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

It’s going to cost two Fayette County towns more this year to pay for emergency dispatch service, but not as much as what was projected to be the cost increase using a percentage based on number of calls and the amount they pay in taxes into the general fund.

Fayette County Sheriff Marty Fisher presented the Board of Supervisors with a fee proposal for the towns that are provided dispatch for their law enforcement through the County. Those towns include Oelwein, Fayette and West Union. This was at the Board meeting, Monday, Feb. 28.

South Winn to pause bond initiative talks

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Discussion on the South Winneshiek Community School District’s bond initiative are being put on hold after a decision was reached at last week’s work session following the February board meeting.

“At this time, interest rates are beginning to increase, the cost of products is increasing, and there is a challenge in finding some building products,” explained Kris Einck, South Winneshiek superintendent. “Feedback from Straka Johnson Architects indicates that the same project scope would now cost between $22-24 million versus the original $19.155 million. The district cannot afford a bond of that size.”

Ron Hemesath of Ossian spends countless hours in his workshop every week working on building and customizing toy tractors and equipment. He generally uses either photographs or old manuals, like the one pictured, to ensure his work is as close to the real thing as possible. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Holthaus enjoys over 35 years of doing what he loves

By Zakary Kriener

zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

    It’s a hobby that has been a part of his life for over 35 years, but for Ossian’s Ron Holthaus, it’s much more than that.

Maureen Sailsbury works out under the watchful eye of her sister, Vicki Pavlovec, a cardo rehab nurse at Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union. Sailsbury underwent heart surgery in August. (Jack Swanson photo)

New heart valve for Maureen

By Sharon Drahn

Contributing Writer

With February being American Heart Month, a time when all people should focus on their cardiovascular health, Maureen (Mo) Sailsbury of West Union has agreed to share her heart journey.

Maureen, who has lived in West Union with her husband, Sean, since 2002, was told that she had a heart murmur as a preteen.

Al Greener was presented with a framed jersey from University of Louisville Women’s Basketball Coach Jeff Walz at a recent basketball game. Greener retired this year as the university’s pep band director.  (Submitted photos)

Louisville retires 'music man's' No. 1 Jersey

By Jack Swanson

jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

He made five Final Four appearances, he was a part of March Madness numerous times and spurred his team on to a National Championship. His jersey was retired this year at the University of Louisville.

Although all of these accomplishments were earned by Al Greener, he didn’t acquire them as a player….well, not that kind of player.  Greener played, or we should say directed the University of Louisville Pep Band for 15 years. In January he retired as the Athletics Pep Band Director. To honor Greener, the University presented him with a framed #1 jersey at a women’s basketball game.

Volunteers needed to make RAGBRAI in West Union a success

By Jack Swanson

jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

The West Union RAGBRAI Committee needs volunteers.

That was the message that West Union Chamber Director Matt Marsala related at the first public forum on RAGBRAI. As many as 20,000 bike riders will converge on the town on July 29 for an overnight stay on the next to last day of the ride.

Anyone can serve on the following committees:

Anywhere

Beverage Garden

Budget

Campgrounds & Showers

Communications

Electrical

Entertainment & Special Events

Food & Vendors

Fundraising

Hospitality

Housing

Information Center

Law Enforcement

Medical

Publicity

Ride Right

Sanitation

Transportation

Volunteers

Web & Social Media