December 2014

Wed
31
Dec

Year in Review

 

 

Torrential downpours brought flash flooding throughout Fayette County in June, causing the evacuation of area campgrounds and closing several roadways, including Highway 18 near Hawkeye. 

 

Year in Review

 

 

By Mike Van Sickle
Contributing Editor

 

 

It was a year of celebrations and tribulations for the communities in the valley in 2014. Among the featured topics of public discussion published in The Leader this past year were the following:

After hearing a report on enrollment projections at their joint meeting in June, the North Fayette and Valley school boards unanimously approved extending the current North Fayette Valley whole-grade sharing agreement through the 2017-2018 school year.

While the student athletes and coaches celebrated top honors (see this week’s sports section), it has been in the classroom that the students have thrived amongst the new and expanded opportunities.

Among the growing programs is Project Lead The Way (PLTW). North Fayette Valley High School received national certification in August for its program that has been offered at the school since 2013.

PLTW, a nonprofit organization and the nation’s leading provider of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education programs, offers a rigorous world-class curriculum that allows students to apply what they are learning in math and science classes to real-life activities, projects and problems.

NFV students were honored throughout the year for their accomplishments, including then senior Abby Oelrich, whose entry “House in the Woods” earned a runner-up finish in the Congressional Art Competition in May.

Among the additional honorees, Sam Poppen achieved the highest honor for high school musicians, earning a spot as a bass singer in the All-State Chorus. Meanwhile, Bethany Merkle, Trenton Clausen, Jordan Einck, Brandon Busari-Okoro, and Ashton Johnson were selected to the Opus Honor Choir.

The North Fayette Valley FFA Chapter celebrated a record-breaking 12 students receiving the prestigious American Degree award. The honored students were Molly Schmitt, Tony Moellers, Evan Ihde, John Lauer, Rachel Strong, Tyler Nydegger, Spencer Spain, Ben Burkhart, Zane Bodensteiner, Joe Mohlis, and Geordan Hanson.

The Conduct of Meetings Team including members Tiffanie Koch, Allie Ney, Madison Imoehl, Ethan Lape, Morgan Lauer, Regan Pleggenkuhle, and Colby Larson also earned the opportunity to compete during the week of the National FFA Convention.

At the same time, Chapter members Grace Kerr and Alex Fettkether placed 15th in the National Science Fair.

More recently, the North Fayette Valley Middle School Lego team qualified for state competition.

On Saturday, April 12, residents of Fayette and the surrounding area were shocked to see what Mother Nature had in store. As the storm that had been predicted moved into the area, residents prepared themselves as best they could for the hail that had been forecasted. However, at approximately 8 p.m., the hail that began to fall was something for which no one could truly prepare.

Wed
31
Dec

Warriors fall to rival Trojans

 

Junior Ashley Walz makes a save near the baseline, which led to one of her two assists on the night. South Winn went on to lose to the strong Trojan squad, 53-38. (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

 

Warriors fall to rival Trojans

 

 

 

Zakary Kriener
News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

In the final boys’ and girls’ basketball games before the holiday break, South Winn traveled just a few miles down the road to take on the Turkey Valley Trojans last Monday (Dec. 22). 

Both rival Trojan teams were able to nip the Warrior teams, taking down the girls’ team, 53-38, and then defeating the boys’ squad, 49-41.

Girls v. TV

Wed
31
Dec

Seraphia Uhlenhake

Seraphia Uhlenhake

 

 

Seraphia Uhlenhake  will celebrate her upcoming 95th birthday with a family gathering and a card shower.

Her birthday is Saturday, Jan. 3.

Birthday greetings can be sent to Seraphia at Ossian Senior Hospice, P.O. Box 98, Ossian, IA 52161.

Wed
31
Dec

1:1 Initiative yields benefits

 

Technology instructor Mike Johnson lends a helping hand to second-grader Caleb Hageman as the class learns the basics of coding. Thanks to the district’s 1:1 Initiative, all South Winn students in grades 2-8 receive a computer, enhancing their learning experiences. (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

1:1 Initiative yields benefits

 

 

Zakary Kriener
News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

In April 2010, South Winneshiek schools began implementing a 1:1 Initiative in which each student receives a computer or tablet to help facilitate the learning process. In its early stages, only several grades had access to the computers, which could only be used while the students were at school.

Nearly five years later, the program has grown and evolved, becoming an essential piece to the learning puzzle for every single South Winneshiek student, from kindergarten to 12th grade.

“Many people have the perception that we give the students a computer, and they just learn,” noted South Winneshiek technology instructor Mike Johnson. “The 1:1 program allows us, as teachers, to teach the students how to use the computer as a resource to help enhance the learning process and open new doors.”

After the initial year of the program, students were allowed to take their computers home with them at the end of the day to use as a learning tool while they are at home.

Wed
31
Dec

Winneshiek Co. topography poses challenges for bridges roads

Winneshiek Co. topography poses challenges for bridges, roads

 

 

Janell Bradley
Contributing Writer

 

 

As Winneshiek County Supervisors continue to study how they will budget funds for the next fiscal year, one of the greatest challenges will be to decide how to acquire some of the additional funds needed for the Roads Department to not only maintain roads, but repair and/or replace bridges.

Engineer Lee Bjerke said the Supervisors recognize some of the unique challenges facing his Roads Department, due in large part to the topography and terrain of Winneshiek County.

The county lists 327 bridges as part of its inventory for National Bridges Inventory (NBI) – those that must be inspected. Bjerke said that Winneshiek County ranks at the top in this area for the most bridges, and at number four or five in the entire state.

Wed
31
Dec

Top stories of 2014

 

Senior members of the 2014 Warrior football team hoist the trophy that was received after falling in the semifinals of the Iowa State Football Playoffs in November. South Winn finished the season with a 12-1 overall record. (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

Top stories of 2014

 

 

 

Zakary Kriener
News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

As the 2015 year approaches, let’s look back on some of the Ossian Bee’s top stories of 2014.

Ossian Fire Department unveils new station

The Ossian Fire Department showed off its new station in October, holding an open house for public to view the new building.

Wed
31
Dec

2015 'Classics at Montauk' lineup announced

2015 'Classics at Montauk' lineup announced

 

 

The 2015 “Classics at Montauk” will celebrate two anniversaries this winter with a trio of concerts. This will be the 10th consecutive year for the concert series in the Governor Larrabee mansion and also the 100th anniversary of the year Montauk’s Mason and Hamlin grand piano was built.

The “Classics at Montauk” concert series was established in 2004 to bring back parlor concerts that were fashionable throughout the civilized world during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Three free Sunday concerts are held throughout January, February and March each year, spotlighting piano, vocal and instrumental talents.

Wed
31
Dec

Seeking a positive impact on youth

Whether it is leading, helping, or being involved in the activities that go on at various youth events, Lorry Kohls is comfortable interacting with youth who attend. Here, she explains the object of a game the group is playing at a recent Christmas party held by the Valley Community Coalition Youth Center.

 

Seeking a positive impact on youth

 

 

Growing up is hard. No matter what era you were or are being raised in, being a kid always presents several challenges that must be overcome. Getting a little help along the way from a trusted adult makes things a little bit easier. Sometimes that little bit of support that an adult can give a child makes all the difference in the world. That is what volunteers like Lorry Kohls hope to accomplish through donating time and effort to programs that benefit area youth.

            “Becoming involved in organizations like the Valley Community Coalition (VCC) and Students Okay Without Drugs and Alcohol (SODA), as well as the Fine Arts Boosters, has opened my eyes to the positive impact such programs can have on kids. The climate of our youth has changed since I was growing up, but the need for adult guidance is still there, and I want to be a part of that,” explained Kohls, who has two children of her own.

Wed
31
Dec

Celebrations and tribulations in 2014

 

Elgin kicked off 2014 by celebrating the completion of the Center Street Project on Saturday, Jan. 11. Members of Elgin City Council, Center Street business merchants, and representatives from various other groups involved with the project gathered with Mayor Bill Pfister (center, with glasses) to be a part of the ribbon-cutting celebration. 

 

Celebrations and tribulations in 2014

 

 

It was a year of celebrations and tribulations for the communities in the valley in 2014. Among the featured topics of public discussion published in The Echo this past year were the following:

After hearing a report on enrollment projections at their joint meeting in June, the North Fayette and Valley school boards unanimously approved extending the current North Fayette Valley whole-grade sharing agreement through the 2017-2018 school year.

While the student athletes and coaches celebrated top honors (see this week’s sports section), it has been in the classroom that the students have thrived amongst the new and expanded opportunities.

Wed
31
Dec

Mayor seeks long-term goals for community

 

With experience as a former state legislator, Fayette Mayor Andrew Wenthe admits it's been interesting to discover how different it is from the viewpoint of the municipality struggling to juggle finances. As he begins his second year in office, Wenthe plans to work with the City Council in establishing long-term goals for the community. (Janell Bradley photo)

 

Mayor seeks long-term goals for community

 

Janell Bradley

Contributing Writer

 

With his first year leading the city under his belt, Fayette Mayor Andrew Wenthe said it will soon be time for the Fayette City Council to begin establishing long-term goals.

In January 2014, Wenthe took office after long-time mayor Bill Dohrmann retired. There were also three new councilmembers elected to office to begin the same term: Richard Patrick, Kris McGrane and Dan Boberg. Then early in the year, Councilman Brian Frana moved from the community and former councilman Todd Sorenson, who was not re-elected, was appointed to fill the vacant position.

Pages

Comment Here