Soon-to-be Eagle Scout Zach Massman of West Union had a lot of volunteer help on his project to move the playground equipment from the former Hawkeye Elementary School building to Kaleidoscope Kids Childcare Center in West Union. His Eagle Scout ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Union.  

KKCC benefits from Eagle Scout project

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Children who attend Kaleidoscope Kids Childcare Center (KKCC) in West Union have had an extra set of playground equipment to play on since June 2015 after some help from a local Boy Scout.

Zach Massman, a freshman at North Fayette Valley High School, was looking for an Eagle Scout project to complete when LeRoy Soppe approached him about taking on the endeavor.

“I also wanted to do a project that would last, that wouldn’t be torn down anytime soon, and KKCC said that the equipment would be staying up for a while,” Massman recalled.

KKCC had purchased the Hawkeye Elementary School playground equipment for $5,100 to complement the equipment it already had on-site. Over two weekends, Massman dismantled the equipment in Hawkeye and put it back together in West Union. Norm Einck helped with the planning process.

The son of Albin Jr. and Stacey Massman approached Crop Production Services (CPS) of West Union for funds to help with the project. CPS donated $1,000, which paid for most of the expenses he encountered. Zach also received a donation of 4½ cubic yards of concrete from Croel Redi-Mix to hold the playground’s poles in place in the ground.  

On May 9-10, 2015, Massman disassembled the playground equipment in Hawkeye and then proceeded to level off the dirt, fill in holes and reseed the grass.

“Randy Petsche of Petsche Construction of West Union was really helpful,” the West Union youth said. “He helped us get some stuff out in Hawkeye, and if we needed more equipment we just had to ask him. He provided a dump truck for us to use to haul dirt between West Union and Hawkeye. Scott Johansen donated his time to drive the truck.”

North Fayette Valley boys’ golf has some quality golfers returning and the numbers in the underclassmen to have good teams for several years. Representing the TigerHawk boys during the 2016 season will be (front, l-r) Kedrick Bemiss, Chase Hollinrake, Noah Koch, Derek Thoms, Colin Gavin, Derek Elsbernd, Jordan Baumler and head coach Derek Heins; (back) William Miller, Kyle Nosbisch, Lukas Olson, Jacob Leuchtenmacher, John McTaggart, Croy Schott, Spenser Schmitt, Chance Meyer, Brandon Busari-Okoro, Hunter Tripp, and Zachary Schroeder. (Nt pictured are Chase Hallberg and Drew Berger. (Jerry Wadian photo)

NFV boys beat Central

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The North Fayette Valley boys’ golf team opened its 2016 season Thursday with a road win in Elkader. The TigerHawks beat Central, 171-190, in the cold and wind at the Elkader Country Club.

Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. head brewer Mike Saboe stands proudly behind several of the local microbrewing company’s most recent awards (on barrel) and a bottle of Mornin’ Delight, an imperial stout that is brewed with coffee. Since arriving at TG in 2010, shortly after it was first created, the 30-year-old brewer has helped develop it into a company that is recognized worldwide. Including limited-release beers, Saboe estimates that he has created over 100 different beers at the company. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Saboe is Toppling Goliath's slingshot

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Saboe is Toppling Goliath’s slingshot

By Zakary Kriener

Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. may not have been the first microbrewery in Iowa, but it just may be the most popular. The brewery, which officially popped up on the radars of local beer enthusiasts in 2009, has now risen to a world-famous level.

Not long after the brewery opened its doors, West Union native Mike Saboe walked through the doors.