Tag: West Union

Oelwein Post

Pair arrested on drug charges in West Union

Chris Baldus

Authorities arrested two people after allegedly finding cash and illegal drugs in a West Union apartment. According to a Fayette County Sheriff’s Office news release, at about 10:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 7, sheriff’s personnel, West Union Police and the Iowa State Patrol executed a search warrant at 116.5 S Vine St. Apt 4, West Union. During a search of the apartment, methamphetamine, marijuana, paraphernalia, and US currency were found and seized.  Misty June Marie Cook, 45 of West Union, and Nathan Daniel Slaughter, 38 of Postville, were both arrested on the Class D felony charges of third-offense possession of methamphetamine, … Continue reading Pair arrested on drug charges in West Union

Oelwein Post

Jury selected in stray voltage civil trial

Chris Baldus

A jury of nine people has been selected for the Vagts Dairy stray voltage trial. Civil trials call eight jurors and one alternative juror. On Tuesday, eight men and one woman were selected. Four of the jurors are retirees. One is listed as a laborer and another as a farmer. The others work in the medical and transportation fields. The trial didn’t return to session on Thursday because of the winter storm. Mark, Joan and Andrew Vagts and Vagts Dairy LLC filed suit in March 2021 in Fayette County District Court against Northern Natural Gas claiming it created a nuisance … Continue reading Jury selected in stray voltage civil trial

Oelwein Post

Jury selection begins in stray voltage nuisance trial

Chris Baldus

Something was seriously wrong in the herd at Vagts Dairy. Milk production and health problems emerged in the late 2010’s in the 500-cow Holstein herd. Cows eventually were not responding to veterinarian treatments, and many had to be shot or were sold, the West Union dairy farm owners say. After determining that stray voltage from a pipeline transversing the farm was the cause, Mark, Joan and Andrew Vagts and Vagts Dairy LLC filed suit in March 2021 in Fayette County District Court against Northern Natural Gas Company. Two parts of the original petition have been dismissed, but a nuisance claim … Continue reading Jury selection begins in stray voltage nuisance trial

Oelwein Post

Driver unhurt despite SUV rollover

Chris Baldus

A Fort Atkinson man escaped injury Wednesday morning when his SUV slid off the road and rolled in the ditch. The Fayette County Sheriff’s office took a 911 report at 5:45 a.m. about a one-vehicle accident north of West Union on Hwy 150. A 2005 Chevy Trailblazer driven by Patrick M. Rothmeyer, 46, was traveling south on Hwy 150 when he lost control on the icy roadway and entered the west ditch and rolled his vehicle.  Rothmeyer was not injured, according to the Sheriff’s Office, which was assisted by the West Union Fire Department and the Iowa State Patrol.   … Continue reading Driver unhurt despite SUV rollover