Winneshiek County Fair Appreciation Night features free concert

By Zakary Kriener

      The fun and excitement at the Winneshiek County Fair will include an additional night in 2024 with a free concert on Monday night, July 8.

      Winneshiek County Fair Board Appreciation Night will feature the sounds of Iowa-based band Not Quite Brothers. The show will be free and open to the public with a start time of 7 p.m.

Newly crowned and capped royalty at the 2024 Winneshiek County Cattlemen’s Banquet, which was held Saturday night in Decorah, included (front, l-r) Little Miss Cowgirls Emma Drahn and Eloise Lechtenberg, and Little Mr. Cowhand McCoy McConnell; (back) Beef Princess Keira Myers and Beef Queen Lauren Holthaus. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Alice (played by Sophia Gardner) is joined by (back, l-r) The King of Hearts (Aleczander Gearhart, who was filling in for Wyatte Herriage during the recent rehearsal), the footman (Adaleigh Gearheart) and Queen of Hearts (Annabel Murray) in being somewhat dismayed when Jack (Tytus Stansbery) kneels before her. The curtain rises on the North Fayette Valley Middle School drama production, "Chaos in Wonderland," at 7 p.m. Friday. (Mike Van Sickle photo)

‘Chaos in Wonderland’ at NFV Middle School

By Mike Van Sickle

      It will be "Chaos in Wonderland" when the curtain rises on the North Fayette Valley Middle School drama production at 7 p.m. Friday.

      Wonderland, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Father Time get all mixed up in this rhyming comedy about stolen tarts, rabbit holes, and magic beans.  The Knave of Hearts (played by Bella Hoover) is put on trial for stealing the tarts Tweedle Dee (Abby Wolcott) and Tweedle Dum (Aleya Popenhagen) have baked.

      How many times will the Queen of Hearts (Anabel Murray) say, "Off with his head!"?  Will Alice (Sophia Gardner) and Jack (Tytus Stansbery) form a romantic attachment? 

      The only way to tell is to attend the performance, which is directed by NFV High School junior Mattison Goddard. Meanwhile, junior Bella Smoltz is the set and stage manager.

Last fall, five residents of Hawkeye started something that quickly became the talk of the town with the Healthy Hawkeye Coalition becoming a weekly activity that has provided countless benefits in a variety of different ways. Founders (l-r) Linda Story (holding Mahle), Bethany Cook, Melodee Woods, Addison Chapman (holding Luna), and Jordan Sherman started the organization as a way to safely exercise by going on regular group walks, but the group has evolved to become much more from promoting the town to developing new friendships and an overall sense of community. (Zakary Kriener photo)

‘Healthy Hawkeye’ is keeping the small town feel alive

By Zakary Kriener

      With a population of 434 people, the town of Hawkeye would easily be considered a “small town.” Over the course of the last several months, five members of the small Fayette County community have been establishing a unique organization that not only promotes the small-town values of the town, but also promotes physical and mental health.

      “The Healthy Hawkeye Coalition is basically an open-door group of residents that get together to walk every Saturday,” said Melodee Woods, who along with daughter Addison Chapman and three others from town, established the organization last fall. “Addison and I are both runners and we would go on walks and jogs through town regularly. This sparked the idea of trying to get more people to join us with a mission of promoting a safer way to do what we love.”

      Melodee and Addison shared their idea with several others at the downtown Hawkeye Coffee Company, including owner Jordan Sherman, as well as fellow patrons Bethany Cook and Linda Story.

The Fayette County Pheasants Forever Chapter was named National Pheasants Forever Habitat Chapter of the Year during ceremonies in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Saturday. Among those participating in the awards ceremony were (l-r) Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever CEO Marilyn Vetter, Fayette County Pheasants Forever Board member Mallory Hanson, Fayette County Pheasants Forever President Rod Marlatt, Fayette County Pheasants Forever Treasurer George Schaefers, Fayette County Pheasants Forever Board member Brett Whitcher, and Iowa Pheasants Forever Regional Field Representative Lexi Ashbrook. (Courtesy photo)

Fayette County named Pheasants Forever Habitat Chapter of the Year

By Mike Van Sickle
Editor

      Since its inception in 1985, Fayette County Pheasants Forever Chapter 48 has financially supported approximately $4 million in area habitat projects and programs. In recognition of the members’ continued commitment to preserving and enhancing the environment, the local chapter was named the National Pheasants Forever Habitat Chapter of the Year during the National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Saturday.

      "Being honored and named the National Chapter of the Year, represents the pinnacle of our chapter’s success,” Fayette County Pheasants Forever Chapter President Rod Marlatt said. “This honor is entirely due to the incredible support we continuously receive from our patrons, landowners, sponsors, and partnerships. The reason for receiving this award is due to those champions, of whom we are eternally grateful."

Fayette County Conservation Director and Fayette County Pheasants Forever Board President Rod Marlatt was presented the 2024 Conservation Hall of Fame Award during ceremonies in Ames Wednesday, Feb.28. (Courtesy photo)

Marlatt named to Conservation Hall of Fame

By Mike Van Sickle
Editor

       Longtime Fayette County Conservation Director Rod Marlatt has been bestowed the 2024 Conservation Hall of Fame Award; the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the Iowa Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Marlatt was recognized during the organization’s annual winter meeting in Ames Wednesday, Feb. 28.

      The Conservation Hall of Fame Award recognizes the continued contributions by a natural resource professional through education, enforcement, management, policy, and research that have ultimately impacted the wildlife resources of Iowa. The award may be bestowed to honor individuals ranging from local to national influence but the person must have been associated with Iowa at some time in his or her career.

Fayette County Pheasant Forever Chapter Board members (l-r) George Schaefers, Brett Whitcher, Rod Marlatt and Mallory Hanson display the local chapter’s national Conservation Excellence Award for contributing over $4 million in support of local habitat programs and projects since 1985, and the Pheasants Forever Print of the Year “Pheasant Charcoal.” The print will be among the long list of items available by auction or raffle during the annual Fayette County Pheasants Forever Banquet to be held Saturday, March 16. (Mike Van Sickle photo)

Annual Pheasants Forever Banquet March 16

      The 39th annual Fayette County Pheasants Forever Banquet will be held Saturday, March 16, at the West Union Event Center in West Union. Doors open at 5 p.m. The event will feature a prime rib dinner, games, raffles and auctions of wildlife art, guns, and other unique items.

      The Pheasants Forever model is unique to all other conservation organizations. All funds raised, except for memberships, are retained by the chapter to be used for projects in Fayette County. Local Chapter #48 has been creating, restoring, and preserving wildlife habitat for nearly four decades. Since its inception in 1985, the Fayette County Pheasants Forever Chapter has spent over $4 million for the establishment of wildlife habitat and public land acquisition.

County engineer and supervisors discuss IDOT five-year program 

By Kaci Maire

      Fayette County Engineer Joel Fantz and Fayette County Supervisors Bruce Lehmann, Jeff Bunn and Janelle Bradley have agreed to allot time during the regularly scheduled Monday, March 18, board meeting to finalize a proposed Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) five-year program, or plan, for Fayette County roadways. This plan includes road shouldering, extensions and widening; bridge work; paving; and striping for example.\

Proposed county property tax hearing March 25 

By Mike Van Sickle

      Prior to its tour of the Inspiring Lives building Monday, the Fayette County Supervisors scheduled a public hearing for the proposed fiscal year 2024-25 property tax levy. Any residents or taxpayers, for or against the proposed levy, can speak at the public hearing, which was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday, March 25.

NFV speech students receive district recognition

      North Fayette Valley speech students participated in the IHSSA District Speech Contest held at West Delaware High School in Manchester Saturday.

      Of the 33 NFV performances, 24 received Division I ratings and nine received Division II ratings. 

      The results below are formatted by name, category, and title of performance.