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Ribbon cutting ceremony held Aug. 25th, 2003
Landowners, Robert and Evy Matt hold the ribbon with onlooker Matthew Fassbinder. Maureen Johnson (bike committee - right) talks to the crowd as Rod Marlatt (Fayette County Conservation Board Director) and Clermont Mayor Rod Wagner prepare to cut the ribbon at the August 25th ceremony

The upper portion of the Fayette County Recreational Trail is now completed and available for use. The lower portion within the Clermont City Limits will be connected with the upper portion during the construction project to replace the bridge on Stone Street. That construction project is expected to begin late this fall.

A ribbon cutting ceremony to formally open the upper trail is being planned for Monday August 25^th at 6:00 p.m. at that portion of the trail along Crystal Road. Everyone is invited to come on out, bring your bike or your walking/running shoes and celebrate this event. The Fayette County Trail Committee will be serving homemade ice cream. Raffle tickets for the October Raffle of 2 Trek bicycles and a pair of walking/running shoes will be on sale.

A foundation has been established in Northeast Iowa to encourage further construction of recreational trails. The Rivers, Hills, & Prairies Trail Foundation, Inc. is pleased to announce that application for non-profit status has been successfully completed. Tax-deductible donations can now be sent directly to Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank, Clermont or to Foundation President, Maureen Johnson of Clermont.

Because of tightening budgets at all government levels, now is the time for people who support further creation of recreational trails in this area to get involved. Phase II of the Clermont to Postville trail is currently being designed and Federal funding is available. However, matching funds need to be raised in order to keep construction moving forward.

67 runners participated in the first Turkey River Run on Saturday, October 4^th, 2003. Runners registered at Quarry Lodge in Skip-A-Way Campground between 7:00 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. and were shuttled to Gilbertson Campground in Elgin for the start of the race. The race started at approximately 8:00 a.m. with the runners crossing the Turkey River on the Elgin bridge and following city streets to the Elgin Cemetery. At the back of the cemetery they moved “off-road” and began winding their way through woods and fields, crossing ditches and ravines sometimes with the use of ropes tied there for help in scaling the upside of the ravines and hills. The runners crossed the Turkey River a total of three times and ended the run at the finish line in front of the Quarry Lodge. The participants were enthusiastic about the run and many promised to return next year with additional runners.

Prizes were given to top male and female finishers in each age category. Prizes were donated by Iowa Turkey Products, Postville; TJ’s Pizza, Clermont; Big Guy’s Pizza, Elgin; and Mabe’s Pizza, Elgin. Shirts were provided by Elgin Savings Bank, Elgin and Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank, West Union. Shirts were printed by Action Sports of Clermont.

The drawing for the Fayette County Recreational Trail Raffle was held Saturday, October 4^th, at the Quarry Lodge in Clermont at the conclusion of the Turkey River Run. Winners of the bicycles were: Mary Sink of Raymond, IA and Jack Scheeler of Dorchester, IA. Scheeler was present for the drawing having participated in the Run and Sink will be notified by mail. Each winner receives a certificate from Decorah Bicycles, Decorah for $260 towards the purchase of a bicycle. Winning the running shoes from Tindell Shoes, Postville was Liz Roach of Elgin. The Rivers, Hills & Prairies Trail Foundation wishes to thank all those who supported the Rec Trail in Fayette County by purchasing a raffle ticket.

In October, a representative from the Rivers, Hills & Prairies Trail Foundation presented a check to Fayette County Supervisors. The foundation, established to promote construction of recreational trails in Northeast Iowa, recently completed two fundraising campaigns, a raffle and the first ever Turkey River Run. The check in the amount of $1500.00 represented some of the proceeds of those efforts, but more importantly, the donations of individuals and local businesses which to date amounts to over $1200.00. This contribution to the new recreational trail from Clermont to Postville demonstrates the grassroots support for recreational trails in Fayette County and Northeast Iowa. The foundation plans to continue its fundraising effort as greater attention will become focused on a third phase of the trail to connect the cities of Clermont and Elgin. Anyone wishing to help with trail planning is welcome. Contact Maureen Johnson, President of Rivers, Hills & Prairies Trail Foundation at 563-423-7268. Contributions can be sent to Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank in Clermont. Rivers, Hills & Prairies Trail Foundation is a 501 (c) 4 tax-exempt foundation.