Local News

By Audrey Posten
North Iowa Times Editor

See how a variety of local foods are grown and produced during the Northeast Iowa Farm Crawl, held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29 and 30. Twenty-nine northeast Iowa “farms”—including 11 based in Clayton County—are slated to participate in the event.

The farm crawl was launched by the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative four years ago, said Clayton County Development Group Executive Director Darla Kelchen, but members of the seven-county northeast Iowa tourism group she is part of took over for the first time this year.

“We all came together and tried to pick out different things throughout the counties,” Kelchen said. “We’re excited. There are neat people doing some great things.”
Participants range from produce farms, orchards and wineries to shrimp farms, dairies and agricultural education centers and museums.
In Clayton County, the stops are just as unique.

By Pam Reinig
Register Editor

By Pam Reinig
Register Editor

With genuine humility, Nancy Yelden dismisses accolades about her work preferring instead to give credit to her colleagues.

“I wouldn’t have lasted as long as I have in this position without great staff and without the tremendous support of our Board of Supervisors,” she says, referring to her position at the Clayton County Visiting Nurses Association (VNA).
Her colleagues disagree: It’s Nancy’s compassion, empathy and genuine concern for her clients and their families that has set the tone for the entire office.

“She’s so good to people who come in here with all kinds of medical issues,” said Lisa Peterman, who works at the VNA front desk. “We see that every day. She’s a calming, caring presence, and she’s just so sincere.”
Celeste Strong, a dental hygienist hired by Nancy more than 11 years ago, echoes the sentiment.

By Pam Reinig
Register Editor
 
Rabecca Hennessy’s artistic talent was nurtured at her Grandma Amelia’s kitchen table where as a young child she sat for hours transforming pieces of paper into fanciful works of art.
“Old calendars, wallpaper, newsprint—she kept a stack of scraps handy and taught me how to draw on them,” Rabecca recalls. “She was my first teacher.”
Rabecca is one of 60 artists whose work will be showcased at the 4th annual Art in the Park Fine Arts Festival, which will be held August 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m in Founders Park, Elkader. In addition to a showcase of original art, the event will include entertainment, kids’ activities, a youth art exhibit, a silent auction, wine tastings and food.