South Winn quarterback Jacob Herold (4) passed for a school-record 2,121 yards and 23 touchdowns in his 2018 sophomore season. While the athlete unquestionably works hard to produce results on the field, he also works hard off the field and on the sideline to manage his Type 1 diabetes. Throughout every game, with the help of trainer Heather Lange (right), Herold checks his blood sugar after every quarter in order to stay healthy on the field and perform to the best of his capability. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Family, teammates help keep diabetes in check

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

During the 2018 South Winneshiek football season, sophomore quarterback Jacob Herold passed for a school-record 2,121 yards and 23 touchdowns. While those numbers rank amongst the top in the entire state, the young athlete has had to game-plan for more than just the 11 defensive players on the field against him.

“I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when I was in first grade,” said the 15-year-old Herold. “It was definitely not something me or my family expected, but we were more than ready to deal with it.”

The reason that Herold and his family were so quick to react to his initial symptoms and prepared to treat the disease, which affects approximately 1.25 American children and adults, is because Jacob’s older brother, Mitch, also has Type 1 diabetes.

“When Mitch was diagnosed five years before Jacob, the doctors told us that the chances of Jacob having diabetes were very slim,” noted their mother, Wendy Mihm-Herold. “They told us (her and husband Alvin) that the odds were comparable to winning the lottery, so we never really worried about it.”

Despite the small chances, the Herold family knew exactly what to do when Jacob started showing symptoms of the disease in 2010.

From start to finish, it took Clermont’s newest Eagle Scout, Hunter Cummings, about a year and a half to complete his project, which was to raise funds for, purchase and install a digital billboard outside the Clermont Opera House to advertise community events.  

Cummings named Eagle Scout

By Meagan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

The town of Clermont is just a little bit brighter and lots more colorful, thanks to Eagle Scout Hunter Cummings.  

“I always knew I wanted my Eagle Scout project to be something that would make a difference for the community,” explained the high school sophomore.  “It was important to me that the project be something many people could benefit from.” 

After countless hours of research and discussion with a variety of community members, Clermont City Council members, and City officials regarding possible project ideas, Cummings came up with the perfect Eagle Scout project: installing a digital billboard sign outside the Clermont Opera House to promote community activities.

“It’s a venue that is used for a wide variety of events, and up until now, all we had was a roll-away sign with block letters for advertisement,” he explained.  “A local church had recently added a digital sign to their building, and it seemed to be working well.  I thought, ‘why not create something like that for the Opera House?’” 

Students in Starmont Middle School’s STEM Excellence in Leadership Program created 24 Christmas tree ornaments that will hang on smaller Christmas trees around the National Christmas Tree in President’s Park in Washington, D.C. Starmont was one of 56 schools to be selected for the honor of creating ornaments that represent their states and territories. Students who participated include (front, l-r) Nicholas Corbin, Tristen Kruger, Abigail Krogman, Wendy Opperman, Ian Otdoerfer, and Carter Schnell; (back) Marlie Hettinger, Kaitlyn Heidt, Olivia Henry, Nicholas Willfong, Alyssa Kleinlein, Benton Parkin, Hannah Cantwell, and art teacher Kathleen Sweet. Not pictured are Katie Meade and Aleaya Cornwell. (Chris DeBack photo)

Starmont students represent Iowa in National Christmas Tree display

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

While many of us want to hold off winter for as long as possible, students in the STEM Excellence in Leadership Program at Starmont Middle School have been getting in the Christmas spirit as they make Christmas tree ornaments that will accompany the National Christmas Tree in President’s Park in Washington, D.C.

Starmont is one of 56 schools across the country, and the only school in Iowa, that is creating these handcrafted ornaments that will hang on 56 smaller Christmas trees surrounding the National Christmas Tree. The 56 trees represent each U.S. state and territory plus Washington, D.C., as part of the “America Celebrates” display. 

WC welcomes Brickman to Veterans Day program

By Meagan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

West Central will hold a program at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 12 in recognition of Veteran’s Day. 

The American Legion Color Guard of Westgate Post 92 and Maynard Legion Post 245 will present the colors during the ceremony, and the Blue Devil band and chorus will perform patriotic pieces for the occasion.

Special guest Tom Brickman, former Army specialist in Vietnam, will be speaking at the event.  Brickman served in the U.S. Army 196th Light Infantry Brigade in the Americal Division in Vietnam in 1967-68. He served in Chu Lai, Da Nang, survived the 1968 Tet offensive, and earned four battle stars as well as the Army Commendation Medal. 

During his presentation, the Janesville native will discuss a unique project he started with his daughter, Shari, some time ago.  

North Fayette Valley High School will host its annual Veterans Day program at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 12, in the Performing Arts Center in West Union. Last year, area American Legion members (l-r) Robert Odegard, Elgin; Ron Jespersen, Clermont; Jake Kocher, Hawkeye; Pat Whelan, Fayette; and Jim Bond, Wadena, salute the American flag as colors were brought in during the Veterans Day Program.

NFV annual Veterans Day program Nov. 12

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

On Nov, 11, 1918, the Central Powers signed an armistice with the Allied Powers, ending World War I.

Every year since the first anniversary of the signing of the armistice, America has honored the brave men and women who have and are currently serving in its armed forces. We call this day Veterans Day. 

With Veterans Day falling on a Sunday this year, North Fayette Valley will hold its annual Veterans Day programs at its different attendance centers on Monday, Nov. 12. All active and past military personnel are invited to take part in any or all of the following ceremonies that will be held throughout the school district. 

Area shoppers are invited to join the jovial snowman as well as area business owners, including (l-r) Ken Popenhagen, Chelsey Matthias and Kaleb Vagts in taking part in a variety of area promotions as they shop West Union throughout the holiday season for a variety of great deals and fun prizes.

'Snow Place' like West Union

By Meagan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

We may be some time away from the season’s first snowfall, but there is a holiday chill in the air as this festive snowman (sponsored by Rent-A-Look of Fort Atkinson) declares “There’s Snow Place Like West Union!” to kick off the 2018 Holiday Punch Card Promotion. 

2019 Winneshiek Co. Fair entertainment released

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Entertainment for the 2019 Winneshiek County Fair has officially been released for four of the five Grandstand events.

The fair, which will kick off on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, and run through Saturday, July 13, 2019, will include a mix of new entertainment and familiar events from years past.

SWHS to present 'Grease' Nov. 8-11

Step inside Rydel High with the senior class of 1959: hot-rodding “Greaser Boys” and their hip-shaking “Pink Ladies,” evoking the looks and sounds of the 1950s in this energetic musical. 

Head “greaser” Danny Zuko and new girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to rekindle their summer romance, as the rest of the gang joins in on the singing and dancing throughout the musical. Don’t miss out on the music of “Greased Lightnin’,” “Summer Nights,” and “We Go Together.” 

Come and enjoy the ever-popular musical Grease, at 7 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 8-10 and at 1:30 pm., on Sunday, Nov. 11, at the South Winneshiek auditorium in Calmar.

This year, the 142-year-old Huber’s Store in Fort Atkinson came under new ownership as Al Krivachek (left) purchased the store from the Huber family. Checking out customer Nelson Hershberger of New Hampton, the former employee Krivachek looks forward to keeping the unique tradition of the store, while also implementing new ideas. (Zakary Kriener photo)

'Full circle' for new Huber's Store owner

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

For the new owner of Huber’s Store, Al Krivachek, things have come full circle. The one-time employee of the 142-year-old grocery store in Fort Atkinson recently moved back to his hometown and is now the owner of the local grocery store.

“During my junior and senior year of high school, I worked here in the store,” explained Krivachek, who took ownership of the store in May. “I moved away for college and spent many years away before getting the opportunity to come back and take over for fourth-generation owner Donnie Huber.”

Among Krivachek’s previous experience in retail are managerial positions at Target and Sam’s Club in Minneapolis, Minn., Harbor Freight and ShopKo in Michigan, and ShopKo in Cresco.