“Who would have thought, Iowa?”
    It’s a question many around the state, and around the country, have asked since the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
   It’s the question “Dan,” a 47-year-old Kansas businessman asked when he heard the news of the court’s decision last April.  Dan married his long-time partner in one of Iowa’s first same-sex weddings last June.
   The wedding was not only one of Iowa’s first same-sex marriages, but one of the first in Fremont County.   A friend who was ordained on the Internet performed the ceremony at Waubonsie State Park.
   “We are 100 percent happy and so glad we did it,” Dan said.
   “Until you have to fight for it, you take it for granted, but I never took it for granted.”

Fall sports have arrived and this year’s edition of the Fall Sports Preview is set to hit news stands on Thursday.

  The regular meeting of the school board convened on Monday, Aug. 16. After quickly going through the usual administrative business, the board came to the Open Forum, the part of the meeting that allows parents and other interested parties to express an opinion or bring matters to the attention of the board.
Part of the business was the approval of student driving permits for two girls. One girl had not attained the age of 15 but she was tentatively approved, pending her birthday.

   Naval Airman Alex Chesnut said his responsibilities aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington are rewarding.  
    The 2008 Hamburg graduate has been at sea in the Pacific Ocean for the past three months.
    Chestnut hasn’t been home for a year and half, but he said the time away has been worth it.
    “I don’t have any complaints,” he said.  “I have been away from friends and family, but it’s been a rewarding experience.  I’ve been to quite a few places and gotten to do a lot of things that other people will never get to do in their lives.”
Chesnut visited with the Hamburg Reporter recently after his commander arranged a ship-to-land call.

Fremont County Supervisors approved the purchase of a 2010 Dodge 1500 pickup for County Engineer Dan Davis at their Aug. 10 meeting.  The truck will cost $27,039 and will be purchased at Performance Dodge.
Davis had returned a new Ford pickup to Woodhouse Ford after the supervisors said he bought the truck without proper permission.  The truck cost $30,950.

Video>>> Highlights from the Sidney Rodeo parade.

Video>>> The 87th annual Sidney Iowa Championship Rodeo opened Tuesday night with selection of a queen, cowboy competitions and entertainment.

The Two County Dusters, a youth equestrian drill team, entertained with a riding program, and kids also competed in mutton busting. Gracie Hopkins was declared the mutton button winners.

Amanda Mcnees was crowned Sidney Iowa Rodeo Queen prior to the opening of the 87th annual rodeo Tuesday.

2009 Queen Morgan Mowery, who led the queen’s horsemanship competition at the rodeo arena, presented Mcnees with the crown.

  Fremont County Engineer Dan Davis has returned the new Ford pickup truck he purchased after the county supervisors say he bought the truck without proper authorization.
     Davis bought a new  Ford F-150 July 8 for $30,950 to replace the 1999 Ford Explorer that he had been using for county business.  Davis had been using the Explorer, which he said has engine and transmission problems, for the last 10 1/2 years.

Video>>> Highlights from the Fremont County Fair 2010.

Hank Martin is being honored with a retirement reception at city hall Friday at 2 p.m. The public is invited.

After waiting through a 17-hour plus weather-related delay,  Nishnabotna got its first taste of state during action at Principal Park in Des Moines Saturday afternoon.

Video Update>>> Highlights from the 2010 Relay For Life event in Hamburg, Iowa.

Video>>> Larry Greedy’s grandson drove a bulldozer into the open class building of the Fremont County Fair Thursday as fair officials applauded and an amazed audience gathered.

Greedy, a welder and heavy equipment operator from Sidney, built the compact dozer from spare parts and a resourceful mind.

   The public was invited to hear a presentation on possible whole grade sharing between Hamburg and Farragut July 10.
    Current sharing arrangements between the two school districts, which include some shared administrators, sports programs and academics,  were reviewed, and options for further sharing were discussed, including whole grade sharing for grades 5-12.

The Nishnabotna baseball team, which won sub state last night at Council Bluffs, will open play at the Iowa State Baseball Championships in Des Moines at 8 p.m. Friday against Newman Catholic, Mason City.

Nishnabotna, 19-5, is the No. 8 seed of the tourney. Newman Catholic is seeded No. 1 with a mark of 34-2.