Fairgrounds—Home away from home

Ross Niewoehner works diligently to clean up his cow pen at the Howard County Fair. He and his family made at least 11 trips over to the fairgrounds to care for their animals.

By Marcie Klomp

Fair week is always filled with excitement for kids and dread for parents of 4-Hers with animals. If nothing else can keep a family together, having a kid in 4-H will. Parents need each other, grandparents, older siblings and leaders to keep track of everything that needs to be done!

Ross Niewoehner’s family is a prime example. There are always farm chores to do, but during Mighty Howard County Fair week multiply that times two and add in the 17-mile drive to the fairgrounds morning and night.

Tuesday evening Ross and family brought his and sister Jessica’s cows to the barns. They had to be unloaded, put in the pen, have bedding and be fed and watered. (Trip one)

Countdown to Sweet Corn Days

Gary Klomp, Chad Langreck and Dennis Langreck, along with Curt Tienter, not pictured, put up the Burma Shave signs after the Community Club meeting.

Between now and Sweet Corn Days, Aug. 10-12, the Lime Springs Community Club is just making sure it has all its ducks in a row. After 30 years, the town’s celebration works like clockwork . . . or at least it seems to thanks to all the helpers who tackle an event or just help at several booths throughout the weekend.

The Community Club met on June 18 to go over chairmen and make sure everything is under control.

Although there hasn’t been any communication with the carnival man, it has been verified the carnival is coming and will be set up on Dale Schwade’s land just west of A&K’s office, in the grassy area that had been used for the four-wheeler pull in years past.

How does your garden grow?

John Petru’s sweet corn is nearly shoulder high and it isn’t even the Fourth of July!

By Marcie Klomp

 

John Petru has been gardening since he and his family moved here in 1975. He has a small lot, so he has had to find other places for his vegetable garden. He first planted a garden on the Mrs. Marvin property, just west of Dale Reis. He then gardened at Viola Leslie’s (now Kevin Bill residence). Now he’s back in the same neighborhood, just one lot to the east of where he started in southwest Lime Springs, on property owned by Reis.

Eva Foote, 94, Lime Springs

Eva May Foote, 94, of Lime Springs, Iowa passed away on Thursday, June 28, 2012 at the Gunderson Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wis.

Eva was born on Oct. 17, 1917 in Indiana to Alfred and Nettie (Shuey) Nicoll. Her mother passed away at a young age, so she was raised by her grandparents. She graduated from high school in 1935. She married Floyd Foote in Logansport, Ind. on Feb. 20, 1937. Together they farmed their entire lives until 1978. They wintered in Texas and returned to the family farm to live every summer until entering the Cresco Care Center in September of 2011.

She enjoyed playing pool, including her time playing for the Senior Citizen Olympics of the Valley in Texas. She also enjoyed making craft items and even recently won four blue ribbons at the Howard County Fair for her entries.

She is survived by her husband Floyd; two daughters, Elinor Taylor of Ionia, Iowa and Connie (Roger) Ihkre of Elgin, Minn.; two sons, Roger (Donna) of Lime Springs and David of Tyler, Texas; 12 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; 19 great-great-grandchildren, with one more on the way; two brothers, Alfred Nicoll of Stewartville, Minn. and Don Nicoll of Lucerne, Ind.; a sister Vivian Roller of Wabash, Ind.; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; six brothers; two sisters; a son-in-law, Rod Taylor; and a daughter-in-law, Carol.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at the Lime Springs United Methodist Church. Friends may call one hour prior to the 11:00 a.m. service at the church. She will be laid to rest at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Lime Springs. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Lime Springs United Methodist Church. Lindstrom Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Just sittin’ n’ spinnin’

McKenzie Mork, center, spins some wool into yarn while Chip Kuhl, left; mom Ann; and Abby and Ashley Hendrickson look on during Buckwheat Pancake Day on June 2.

McKenzie Mork is keeping an old tradition alive—spinning wool into yarn. She got interested in the handicraft when she saw it while visiting Vesterheim Museum in Decorah.

City working with Lime Springs Beef

Tary Kolek and Casey Sebastian gave the Fire Department and Maintenance Reports, respectively.

By Marcie Klomp

The City of Lime Springs is working with Lime Springs Beef on water treatment. Jason Passmore of Howard County Business and Tourism and George Tekippe, city engineer, were on hand at the June 5 meeting.

Passmore explained, “Jesse (Stevens) is back in New Hampshire and asked me to speak for him. His one potential concern is with [wastewater].” Stevens has a consultant coming in the near future to discuss what would work best with the city and new business, that is locating near the Travel Plaza.

How does your garden grow?

Jeannine and Bob Chase stand in front of one of their clematis vines they tend at their home in Chester.

by Marcie Klomp

Bob Chase never promised his bride of 59 years, Jeannine, a rose garden, but the couple does have roses . . . and clematis and lilies and wildflowers and bleeding hearts and hostas in their gardens.

Their yard has been a showplace on Highway 63 in Chester since they moved from Spring Valley 10 years ago. They have added flowers, plants, a waterfall and painted their house which all compliment and lure customers to Chase’s Antiques. The shop is located at the back of their property.

Bob said, “We garden together.” When explaining how the couple landscaped together, Bob joked, “She tells me what to do.” Jeannine shot back, “He doesn’t always listen!”

Pedal Pull a hit with kids

Alex Moser gives his all at the Kids’ Pedal Pull in Chester for Old Settlers Day.

The Kid Power Pedal Tractor Pull, sponsored by Partners In Progress. is always a big hit with kids and adults alike at Old Settlers. And it doesn’t hurt it is held under the nice shade trees near Chester City Park. A total of 43 kids participated. Winners of the pull held June 9 are:

Age 4—1st – Rose Niewoehner, Lime Springs; 2nd – Ava Payne, LeRoy; and 3rd – Logan Jackson, Stewartville

Age 5—1st – Atlee Hershberger, Decorah; 2nd – Izzy Nagel, Chester; and 3rd – Broch Voyna, Cresco

Chester Tractor Pull results

David Richter drags the field before each pull.

The weather was perfect for the annual Old Settlers Day Tractor Pull on June 9. the pull was held between Ostrander Farmers Coop and Chester Fire Station. It featured Farm Stock, Sportsmans and Powder Puff classes. They ranged in weight from 4,500-12,500 pounds.

This year’s pull was chaired by Mike Bielefeld and Gary Sunnes.

Farm Stock

Illene Stockdale, 91, Lime Springs

Illene Stockdale, age 91, of Lime Springs died Saturday, June 16, 2012 at the Ostrander Care and Rehab Nursing Home.

Illene was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who was a living model of strong faith, love and forgiveness that is a continuing legacy, passed on to each generation of her family.

She was the third of five girls who lived in the railroad village of Proctor, near Duluth, Minn. Her parents, John and Mabel Halvorson, and two older sisters carried her around in a shoe box because she was so small. Later came two younger sisters.