Local News

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.

By Pat McTaggart
Freelance Writer

Clayton County has received a $50,000 Historic Resource Development Program (HRDP) state grant for continuing restoration work on the County Courthouse clock tower. The grant will be used for the upper areas of the tower. Since this is the highest part of the project, the costs escalate due to the use of tall cranes needed to get to the upper areas.
The areas in need of restoration are basically from the top of the windows on all four sides upwards, including all the roofing, wood decorative pieces, the wooden louvers, metal work and weather vane. This area has significant deterioration. Kendrick Lumber in Edgewood is donating all of the wood that will be used for this phase of the project. This donation was obtained through the efforts of Clayton County Supervisor Ray Peterson.

By Pam Reinig
Register Editor

Once again, Central students have proven they’re in a class by themselves by cutting and stitching together enough fabric blocks to make three Quilts of Valor, which will be presented later this year to a trio of deserving veterans.
“We felt so blessed to receive these blocks,” said Cyndy Billmeyer, Northeast Iowa QOV coordinator and a member of the Breezy Ridge QOV quilters. “Anytime we can get ready-made blocks, it makes it easier and faster to design a quilt top.”
Billmeyer added that Central is the only area school that’s participated in the effort she manages.