Area 4th of July celebrations

Area Fourth of July celebrations promise a variety of activities and entertainment in addition to the usual oohs and aahs of a traditional fireworks show. Following are some area plans for the Fourth of July 2017:

Clermont – A holiday fireworks show for the Valley community is set for Sunday, July 2, at dusk. The fireworks will take place over the campground lake at Skip-A-Way Resort in Clermont.

Festina – The Firecracker 5K, sponsored by the Festina Improvement Association, will start at Neal’s Auto

Body in Festina on July 4. Race time is 9 a.m., with prizes awarded to the top male and female finishers and to children 12 and under. Festina’s annual Fourth of July parade will begin at 11 a.m.

Chief Deputy Jim Davis prepares to launch the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office’s newest tool, a GoPro Karma drone. The aerial “eye in the sky” allows law enforcement to search large areas of land in a short amount of time and is a tool that will benefit the department’s search-and-rescue capabilities. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Sheriff's Office launches 'eye in the sky'

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

“You make it, we’ll take it.” 

When it comes to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office’s policy on drug and crime forfeiture money, that statement pretty well sums it up.

“When we make an arrest in a case, we have a right to seize the illegal items,” explained Sheriff Marty Fisher. “We can take the items or money that the bad guys have profited from their illegal activities to put toward non-line items (not budgeted for) and causes.”

Over recent years, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office has been able to add several key pieces of equipment, including a truck and trailer mobile command center, a utility task vehicle (UTV) for off-road use, and most recently, a drone.

 Brian Dunt of the West Union Fire Department gets ready to enter a house fire at 105 Hollywood Boulevard in West Union at approximately 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 22. The house fire claimed the life of 66-year-old West Union resident Brad Boyle. Zak Kriener photo

Fire claims WU man's life

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

A West Union man died in a house fire on Thursday, June 22.

The West Union Fire Department responded to the call at approximately 1:30 p.m. at 105 Hollywood Boulevard, the home of Brad and Charlyn Boyle. The West Union Police Department was first on the scene. 

Brad Boyle, 66, died in the fire. Charlyn was in Decorah at the time of the incident and was notified by police.  

For Ossian’s Ken Buchheit (far right), a proud father of three, being a dad means being supportive of his children in whatever endeavors they encounter in life. Children (l-r) Derek, Taylor, and Kasey, along with wife Karla, plan to spend Father’s Day 2017 together grilling out and enjoying valuable family time. (submitted photo)

Love and support are key for Buchheit

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

In over 27 years of being a father, a lot has changed for Ossian’s Ken Buchheit. His kids’ activities, interests, and relationships with him have changed and evolved immensely, but one thing that remains unaltered is his love and support for all three.

“My wife, Karla, and I met while in high school at South Winn,” recalled the local father. “We got married on April 22, 1989, and had our first son, Kasey, the following year.”

Danny Wander recently became an Eagle Scout after completing the review process of his Eagle Scout project last month. Wander helped fix up the Valley Preschool playground by installing a new Valley Preschool sign, building a stage for students to play on inside the playground, and enlarging the playground by moving the fence. 

Wanders achieve Scouting's highest honors

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Danny and Hope Wander of Clermont have achieved the highest honors that a Boy Scout and Girl Scout can be awarded.

Recently, Danny became an Eagle Scout, and Hope received the Gold Award.

The siblings are the children of Kyle and Kathy Wander. 

The new Maynard Public Library opened its doors on Monday, June 5, two doors west of its old location, as 125 patrons came to check out the new library. The old building will be turned into the new Maynard City Hall. 

The might of a small town

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Sometimes we need a reminder of what small towns are capable of. 

Maynard proved how small towns band together for a good cause when its new Maynard Public Library opened its doors for the first time on Monday, June 5. 

Expansion had been discussed among Maynard Public Library board members for some time as the former location was overcrowded. However, it wasn’t until 2012 that the ball really got rolling when the Maynard Historical Society approached the group with a donation. The Society had recently inherited a large sum of money and decided to share $150,000 of it for the renovation of the former building. 

In 2014, the board realized that renovation wasn’t the best route and purchased the empty lot just a couple doors to the east of the former location, which is when fundraising really started to get underway. The board credits Lezlie Barry, Maynard Public Library librarian; Judy Hoeger, assistant librarian; and Kelly Beacom, Maynard City Council member, with writing all the grants that were secured for the project. 

'Hawaiian Luau in Hawkeye' starts Friday

The 38th Annual Hawkeye Fun Days celebration is Friday and Saturday, June 16-17, in Hawkeye.

The theme for this year’s event is “Hawaiian Luau in Hawkeye.”

Fun Days kicks off with the annual Softball Tournament at 6 p.m. Friday evening and will continue at 8 a.m. the following day. 

The Fifth Annual Run/Walk 5K will start at 6:30 p.m. Friday with race-day registration starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Hawkeye Community Hall. Be sure to dress in your best Hawaiian clothing for the costume contest.

Miss Hawkeye will be crowned at 7:30 p.m. in Hauth Park. Parade grand marshal Bob Campbell will be recognized and Aaron Smith will provide musical entertainment.

Jimmy D’s will offer live music by Express Pass from 8 p.m. to midnight. and fireworks at dusk will conclude the days activities. 

Get your 2017 Fair buttons!

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Buttons for the 2016 Winneshiek County Fair in Decorah are on sale! The buttons, which are available for $30 in advance and $35 at the gate (ages 6 and under are free), are good for admittance to all five 2017 Grandstand events.

The Grandstand events include stock car racing at Upper Iowa Speedway on Tuesday evening, July 11; National Tractor Pulling Association (NTPA) Truck and Tractor Pull on Wednesday, July 12; America’s premier tribute band Arch Allies, as well as opener Trouble Shooter on Thursday, July 13; country music star Scotty McCreery with opener Drew Baldridge on Friday, July 14; and CC Bull Riding and Barrel Racing on Saturday, July 15.

Ron, Mark, and Chuck Knutson (l-r) proudly display their 1970 John Deere 4020 Diesel tractor, which will be featured in the 25^th Annual Castalia Tractor Days parade on Sunday, June 11. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Knutsons' JD 4020 to be featured

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Since Castalia Tractor Days began 25 years ago, the Knutson family of Ossian has been participating in the annual tractor parade. This year, brothers Chuck, Ron, and Mark will proudly lead the parade with their featured tractor, a 1970 Diesel John Deere 4020.

“We bought the tractor in 2009, and it needed a complete overhaul,” said Mark Knutson. “It was a wintertime project that we all worked on for about two years. We put in a new engine, clutch, and pretty much everything else in the front half of the tractor.”