Sharon and John Orr were instrumental in bringing the Fayette County Freedom rock to Fayette. After it’s installation over a year ago, Iowa artist Ray “Bubba” Sorenson painted the rock’s unique design earlier this month.  (Megan Molseed photo) 

Fayette County Freedom Rock unveiled

By Megan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

After over a year of waiting to be decorated with its own unique design by Iowa artist Bubba Sorenson, Fayette’s Freedom Rock was unveiled Friday afternoon. 

“This is exciting that Fayette gets to be the home of the county rock, and that so much of Fayette, as well as the whole county, is included in the design,” said Fayette mayor, Andrew Wenthe during the unveiling ceremony.  “This will be a piece of our legacy for many years to come.” 

Gundersen Palmer Community Flu Clinics

Gundersen Palmer Lutheran will be hosting Flu Shot Clinics throughout the community.  The flu shots last for an entire year and are important for continued health and safety.

Clinics are Tuesday, Sept. 29 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at West Union Community Health located at 200 Jefferson St.  This is a drive-up clinic, patients can stay in their vehicles; Monday, Oct. 5 10-11 a.m. at Elgin Library, 214 Main Street; Tuesday, Oct. 6 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Oelwein Homecare, 230 2nd Ave. SE.  This will be a drive-Up Clinic; Thursday, Oct. 8 11-12 p.m. at the St. Lucas Community Center, 101 W Main Street; and Friday, Oct. 9 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Hawkeye Community Hall, 102 East Main Street.  

There is NO flu mist offered this year.  The flu shot is recommended for anyone over six-months old, and a high-dose option is available for individuals who are 65-years-old and older.  

Tracy Johnson will be taking on the role of West Union City Administrator upon Nick McIntyre’s retirement next month.  (Megan Molseed photo) 

WU hires Johnson as new City Administrator

By Megan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

The West Union city council met for its regular meeting on Monday, September 21.  

During the meeting, the council approved the hiring of Tracy Johnson as West Union’s new City Administrator.  She will take over for the current City Administrator, Nick McIntyre upon his retirement next month.  

Auditor says he's 'swamped'

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

Winneshiek County Auditor Ben Steines has announced that sample ballots are now available for the 2020 General Election.  Go to: https://www.winneshiekcounty.org/departments/auditor/election-information for sample ballots, election maps, forms, and other election related information.

He also pointed out that the Secretary of State Paul Pate has sent an absentee ballot request form to each registered voter in the state.  Many political parties, candidates, political organizations, and others also send out absentee ballot request forms.  Voters only need to return one of these forms, Steines related.

Winneshiek County Supervisors endorse mask wearing

The Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors has endorsed the wearing of cloth masks or face coverings as recommended by the Winneshiek County Board of Health.

The Board of Health made their recommendation back on Aug. 5, when the Board issued an official position statement.

That statement reads as follows:

“The Winneshiek County Board of Health strongly recommends that all Winneshiek County residents and visitors wear a cloth mask or face covering when in public and maintain a six-foot distance from others. The Winneshiek County Board of Health asks everyone to recognize and understand that wearing a face mask or face covering and physical distancing protects others.”

Hy-Vee opening next week in Decorah

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The day is nearly here! On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the new Hy-Vee grocery store in Decorah will officially be open. 

Remodeling and construction on the former Quillen’s building located on Short Street began earlier this year and is near completion. The 28,000-sq.-ft. facility will offer a full selection of grocery items, a Wall of Values, a full-service meat department, and a floral department. The store will also include a Hy-Vee Market Grille, a Wine and Spirits section, an in-store Starbucks, Hy-Vee Aisles Online grocery services, and self-checkout lanes.

Members of the 2020 South Winneshiek Homecoming court include (front, l-r) Madison Kriener, Mary Frana, Presley Bushman, and Rebecca Wagner; (back) Jacob Herold, Cael Kuboushek, Jace Nahl, and Mark Flores. Coronation will be held via a live stream at 2:45 on Thursday (public is not allowed). (Zakary Kriener photo)

SW Homecoming this week

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The theme to South Winneshiek’s 2020 Homecoming is quite fitting – “Pandemic! A year like no other.”

This year’s Homecoming week kicked off Monday with students dressing up in Quarantine Clothes. Tuesday, students dressed as essential workers, while Wednesday they are dressed to the theme “You are what you binge.”

For the rest of the week, students will dress like their favorite teacher, coach, or staff member on Thursday and wear their Warrior apparel on Friday for Spirit Day.

The class with the most students to dress up on Monday through Thursday will be announced as winners of the battle of the classes at the football game. A class representative will receive a trophy on behalf of their class.

The dress up days are also open to students who are taking online classes, as they are directed to take a selfie of them in their dress up clothes and upload it to a GoogleDoc.

This year’s Homecoming Coronation will take place on Thursday at 2:45 p.m. The event will be livestreamed for viewing by the student body and community, as neither will be admitted into the gymnasium this year.

This year’s Homecoming court includes Queen candidates Presley Bushman, Mary Frana, Madison Kriener, and Rebecca Wagner. King candidates include Mark Flores, Jacob Herold, Cael Kuboushek, and Jace Nahl.

The evening will be concluded with a football game vs. the Postville Pirates, which will begin at 7 p.m. Homecoming royalty will be announced to the crowd at halftime of the football game.

Bailey Shrubb, Carissa Miller, Jodie Wettleson, Dylan Frieden, Kailee Ginger and Val Boleyn (Megan Molseed photo)

Cheer for a Cure!

The North Fayette Valley spirit squad will be lighting up the night to fight cancer on Friday, September 18.  The event is to raise funds for the Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Health Center’s Oncology department. Lanterns will be lit for the  “Light up the night to fight Cancer,” following the North Fayette Valley varsity football game. Make-up date will be on the practice field on Friday, October 2. Those interested in purchasing a lantern can contact any NFV spirit squad member or contact North Fayette Valley cheer coach, Stephanie Wagner via call or text at (563) 422-7252. Lanterns will be $15 presale and $20 the night of the event.  If you would like a lantern, but are unable to attend the event, one can be lit for you at your request.  

All of the walls are up and the roof is on the new Scenic View Mennonite Church. This is the south side of the new church that faces Lane Road. The extension to the west is the fellowship hall. The sanctuary extends to the north. (Jack Swanson photo)

New Scenic View Church

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

If you happen to notice the huge church that is currently under construction on the north side of Lane Road, about a half mile west of Prairie View, now known as Inspiring Lives, you might be immediately taken aback by its impressive stature that is made even more impressive when viewed next to its rather plain surroundings.

Although the structure itself stands out in physical and visual contexts, to the 70 members of the Mennonite church, its impression creates an even larger, more meaningful impact.

Titus Unruh and Dan Koehn, both of rural West Union, are two of the Mennonite Church of God in Christ members who are devoting their vacation time to the Scenic View Mennonite Church building project. Both men are just getting started with creating their own new families. Titus runs his own construction business and Dan builds portable buildings for RGK Buildings in West Union. Titus and his wife, Miss, have a one-year old daughter, Arrow. Dan and his wife, Bethany, have six-month old baby girl, Ayea. Miss works on her father’s deer farm in rural Hawkeye and both women have been doing lots of volunteer work on the church providing meals for all the workers and doing other necessary tasks.

Fayette County Freedom Rock unveiling Friday

By Megan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

It has been over a year in the making, and this Friday, Fayette County’s Freedom Rock will be officially unveiled.  

The rock, which has been sitting in its spot along W. Water Street in Fayette arrived in northeast Iowa in April, 2019.  

Since its arrival, area community members have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of artist and Freedom Rock project founder, Bubba Sorenson to decorate the rock in a design unique to Fayette County.  

Inspired by the movie “Saving Private Ryan,” Sorenson began the project in an effort to recognize veterans in a unique fashion, painting each boulder throughout Iowa’s 99 counties himself.  It is important to Sorenson that each rock is to be unique and different, concentrating on what each county or area has that sets them apart. 

Last week, the talented artist braved the wet weather to paint the rock, an event that many have been excited to see.  The efforts will be unveiled during a 12:30 p.m. ceremony at 3015 Water St. in Fayette on Friday, September 18.