Election shows just how good our area is

We know most of you are glad the election is over because after about the zillionth political advertisement, we finally lost it.Our favorite reaction came when we overheard this gem: “I can’t wait to see a herbicide commercial again.”But the contemptuous election of 2016 reminded us of what a great place Chickasaw County is to live, work and play. We had three supervisor races here — two which were rematches of sorts from this past June’s primary — yet nary a negative word was uttered.So before we begin with our monthly, albeit slightly delayed, salute to area folks who make this area so great, we’d like to tip our hats to David Tilkes, Rick Holthaus and Dennis Litterer; Jacob Hackman and Jeremy McGrath and Steve Geerts and Ron Underwood.Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for not only your willingness to serve but also for setting an example we sure would like to see our national leaders follow.And now on to the rest of our list ...A tip of the hat ...To all of our area veterans and their families for not only maintaining the freedoms we cherish but also for enduring the separations that come with serving in the military. We hope you enjoyed your Veterans Day. You definitely deserved it.A tip of the hat ...To the New Hampton and Turkey Valley football teams for making it to the state playoffs in their respective classes. New Hampton finished the season 8-2 in Class 2A while Turkey Valley went 9-1 in the eight-man game. And congratulations to all 30 Chickasaw and Trojans who made either their all-district teams or their district’s all-academic teams. Special congratulations go out to New Hampton’s Noah Hopp for being named his district’s lineman of the year and his teammate Josh Fenske, who was named the district’s most valuable defensive player. And the same to Turkey Valley’s Wyatt Blazek, who was named his district’s defensive player of the year; Cody Hackman, who was named offensive player of the year; and Mark Scott, who was named coach of the year.A tip of the hat ...To the four area runners — New Hampton’s Nolan Usher and Turkey Valley’s Shelby Reicks, Sadie Nymeyer and Jordon Snyder for running their way to the state cross country meet late last month. Reicks and Nymeyer helped the South Winneshiek girls take second in the state in Class 1A.A tip of the hat ...To New Hampton’s Michael Tupper, who may have fell short of his goal to obtain one of the six national officer positions with the FFA but showed an inordinate amount of class after receiving the news. If you don’t mind us saying, there are a few people who could learn a lesson or two from the way the 2014 New Hampton High School handled the situation.A tip of the hat ...To all area farmers for making their way through a challenging year (remember when it would not stop raining around here?) and bringing in a bountiful harvest.A tip of the hat ...... and congratulations to the New Hampton TRIBE Committee for receiving a $75,000 Iowa Department of Natural Resources REAP grant. That will go a long way in helping the committee complete Phase I of the bike trail that will eventually connect existing trails in Mikkelson Park and the city’s west-side Industrial Park.A tip of the hat ...To the employees of the New Hampton Light Plant by supporting a great cause — the fight against breast cancer — when they purchased pink hard hats.A tip of the hat ...To the Industrial Development Corp. for its work on a Business to Business Tour that spent the day at TriMark, Sparboe Foods and ATEK last month. This is a great way for manufacturers to meet manufacturers, if you will, and to foster cooperation between employers.A tip of the hat ...... and congratulations to Homeland Energy Solutions for producing their one billionth gallon of ethanol at their plant located between New Hampton and Lawler just off Highway 24.A tip of the hat ...To Mercy Medical Center-New Hampton for showing the unorganized ones out there — like the Tribune editor, for example — the value in planning ahead. The hospital is gearing up for its 100th anniversary party next summer, and about the only thing left to do is pray for good weather Aug. 4-6.A tip of the hat ...To the New Hampton Parks and Recreation Department, New Horizons-Chamber and the New Hampton Lions Club for another great Halloween Parade. And kudos to all of you — kids of all ages — who dressed up and marched in the parade.A tip of the hat ...To New Hampton High School Band member Bethany Zenk for earning a spot in the All-State Band for a third consecutive year. Making All-State once is quite an accomplishment; making it three times is amazing.A tip of the hat ...To New Horizons-Chamber for another great Holiday Open House earlier this month. And a reminder that shopping local is still the best way to go if you really want to support your hometown.A tip of the hat ...To Gretchen Hintz Wronka and her son, Hans, for sharing the incredible story of “Finding Loren” with area residents on Veterans Day. It’s an amazing tale that began 71 years ago when Gretchen’s father — her mother (longtime New Hampton High School secretary Gert Hintz) was killed during World War II and ended this past summer in northern Italy, where Loren Hintz’s plane was found.