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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 • $1.50
MV City Council approves addition of two new sculptures to sculpture trail
Arts, music, culture
Lincoln Highway Arts Fest celebrates 20 years
The council voted 4-0 in favor of the additions Lance Peterson For the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun The Mount Vernon City Council approved the Mount Vernon Area Arts Council’s request to add two new sculptures to the city’s sculpture trail. The council voted 4-0 in favor of adding two new sculptures at its Sept. 21 meeting; council Paul Tuerler was absent for the vote. Marie DeVries, a member of the arts council’s board of directors, said two sculptures, titled “Windswept” and “Whispering Currents,” cost $10,000. For the purchase, $6,000 comes from the arts council’s own funds, and the other $4,000 comes from funds awarded to the arts council by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. “We had to spend the money by the first of November, so we had to move pretty quickly,” DeVries said. After consulting with Mount Vernon Public Works, DeVries said the plan is for the sculptures’ concrete pad to be installed before the sculptures arrive at the end of October. The two selected sculptures are existing ones selected by the arts council. They were built by Jim and Ryan Pederson of Mankato, Minnesota. “Windswept” is a 77-inchtall, steel sculpture based on the dynamic movements of the wind. The sculpture includes fan-like blades inside its circular design. “Whispering Currents” is SCULPTURES | 2
Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
The Lincoln Highway Chorale sings the state song at Lincoln Highway Arts Festival, while holding aloft corn and other decorations. Nathan Countryman Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Lincoln Highway Arts Council celebrated it’s 20th festival Saturday, Sept 26, in
uptown Mount Vernon. on behalf of the city. More than 20 artists had booths selling “We’re fortunate to have the Mount Verprints or physical pieces of their artwork, non Area Arts Council in our community and uptown was a buzz with activity. going strong and growing,” Wieseler said. Mayor Tom Wieseler offered opening remarks celebrating the 20th annual event LINCOLN HIGHWAY | 3
MV Alumni Hall of Fame inductees share wisdom, advice Nathan Countryman Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
The Mount Vernon Alumni Hall of Fame inductees of 2026 shared wisdom and advice to Mount Vernon students at a reception Friday, Sept. 25, part of homecoming festivities at Mount Vernon High School. Amy Friedl was the inductee for the fine arts category this year. Friedl said she remembered her time in high school, when she auditioned for All-State Choir and was selected as the eighth back-up performer in that choir. “I had finally found my thing and my people,” Friedl said, indicating the friends she made in speech, drama and music. But despite having a love for music and passion, her path to a career in the fine arts wasn’t what she thought it would be. She left Simpson College and a fine arts scholarship she had earned to instead attend cosmetology school.
“I felt that when I left, I was an am embarrassment and had let everyone down,” Friedl said. She did not, however, regret her time as a hair stylist. “It was in my early 30s that I thought something was missing in my life, and went back to pursuing something in the performing arts,” Friedl said. That has led to her taking some big stages. “If there’s a piece of advice I’d give you all – there’s not just one correct path for your lives,” Friedl said. “You’re never behind or ahead of anyone else in chasing your accomplishments. It’s okay to try something, take a break, and try again at a different time. “Allow yourself to fail, flail, change, adapt and try again. Keep your passions part of your life no matter what career path you choose.” Will Teubel was the athletic hall of fame inductee. Teubel said that one of the things he and his brothers do whenever they travel is look up
the schools in the towns they are visiting, and seeing what those schools are known for and what they are good at, and then how Mount Vernon ranks. “It’s not something I thought about when I was younger, how this school ranks and the opportunities it set me up for,” Teubel said. “Not every school is doing what Mount Vernon does.” Teubel also said he didn’t expect he’d be inducted into an athletic hall of fame, remembering his middle school years of being on the b-team bench in basketball. “All we can control is the work and effort we put into chasing our athletic goals,” Teubel said. Donna Wood was recognized for the service hall of fame inductee. Wood said she doesn’t do community service for the awards, accolades or recognition. She serves because she believes in helping others.
INSIDE Opinions - 4 & 5
| Records - 7 | Sports - 10-12 |
15 | Public Notices - 16-18
HALL OF FAME | 2
NEWS
2 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026
MOUNT VERNON-LISBON SUN | MVLSUN.COM
HALL OF FAME from 1
“My a-ha moment came in 2012,” Wood said. “I was helping at a Lions event, and there was something abut it that was different to me. I wasn’t doing this for recognition, but was about helping people. It’s why I was there, and why I kept coming back and why service mattered to me.” Wood said that volunteers don’t always get to see the rewards their service has in other people’s lives. “You should do it because it is the right thing to do,” Wood said. “The people we serve become part of our story. Think about what you can do for others.” Jeremy Elliott was recognized as the community impact hall of fame inductee. Elliott said that the community impact award for him was probably in recognition of his parents, Rick and Trude, who are not themselves alum, but have had continued impact in the community of Mount Vernon. “I have to thank them for setting roots in this community all those years ago,” Elliott said. The biggest piece of advice he had for students and what he has always lived by was the golden rule – “treat others as you want to be treated.” He also thanked the community and many of his teachers for helping shape who he is today. “Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Elliott said. And Elliott noted that while he will never be perfect, striving for perfection and improving makes his life better each day. Gary Koppenhaver was the achievement hall of fame inductee. Koppenhaver thanked his family, his teammates, his classmates and many of his teachers for helping him at a young age develop into who he is today. “I’m paraphrasing a past inductee when I say
Volume 157 I Issue 40
108 1st St SW, Mount Vernon, IA 52314 Phone: 319-895-6216 news@mvlsun.com The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun strives for accuracy and fairness in reporting news. If we’ve made an error or a report is misleading, let us know about it: news@mvlsun.com
STAFF
Publisher Jason Brummond jason.brummond@dailyiowan.com Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
At the Alumni hall of fame ceremony were (front, from left: Gary Koppenhaver, Jeremy Elliott, Donna Wood, Will Teubel, Amy Friedl (the inductees to the alumni hall of fame this year), (back, from left) Jenna (Brannaman) Kannegeiter, Avery Miller, Amie Roberts, Carol Koppenhaver, Dave Ryan, Paul Fugate, Bill Teubel, Dr. Jamie Smith, Matt Leeman, Sarah Rife Patten and John Rife. Mount Vernon is a wonderful place not because of what it has, but because of the people who are here,” Koppenhaver said. Koppenhaver said he grew up in a small dairy farm seven miles north of Mount Vernon on the outskirts of Martelle. That upbringing taught him hard work, respect for others, belief of justice and a love of agriculture. He noted the 250th anniversary of America in July of this year was a reminder of the importance of American democracy. “All of us together need to work to make tomorrow’s democracy better than today,” Koppenhaver said. He also spoke about the importance of public education and schools, that public schools broaden minds and prepare students for
improving democracy and benefit students in four ways: 1. Increased productivity as workers 2. Be interested in participating in their communities 3. Appreciation of diversity and 4. Logical and informed in personal decisions. “What’s best for you is not always what’s the most fun for you,” Koppenhaver said. Koppenhaver said that there are several neighboring schools – Lisbon, Anamosa, Marion, Springville and even Solon who share the same purpose and goals of making a better informed citizens. He also said that he, like many of the nominees, stands on the shoulders of the Mount Vernon teachers and staff who cared about him as a student, and encouraged current students to do the same.
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an 88-inch-tall, weathering steel sculpture designed to represent the invisible forces on Earth such as the wind. Councilor Mark Andresen was grateful to DeVries and the arts council for the work it's done for the community. “Thank you for contributing to the culture of this community,” Andresen said. According to the arts council’s Mount Vernon Sculpture Trail Five Year Plan, 2023-27, the city of Mount Vernon, the arts council, and residents have committed to additional funding for fiscal year 2027. The five-year plan document was shared with the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun. DeVries said the arts council aspires to keep expanding the sculpture trail. “We hope one day to jump First Street, but we weren’t quite ready to do that yet,” she said. “We’re getting close.”
Sports Ryan Suchomel ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com Advertising Manager Paul Rowland paul.rowland@mvlsun.com Production Manager Heidi Owen heidi.owen@dailyiowan.com Advertising Director Juli Krause juli.krause@dailyiowan.com Reporting Interns Cadence Dighton Grace Escritt Digital/Social Media Interns Abigail Princehouse
Official Newspaper: Mount Vernon, Lisbon, Bertram, Linn County, Mount Vernon Community School District, Lisbon Community School District The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun (USPS 367-520), a division of The Daily Iowan, is published weekly on Thursdays by Student Publications, Inc., 100 Adler Journalism Building, Room E131, Iowa City, Iowa 52242. Periodicals Postage Paid at the Mount Vernon Post Office and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun, 108 1st St SW, Mount Vernon, IA 52314. Subscriptions: Contact Paul Rowland at 319-895-6216 or paul.rowland@ mvlsun.com for additional information. Subscription rates: Linn and adjoining counties – $55 annually; elsewhere in Iowa – $75 annually; out of state – $85 annually.
Marie DeVries contributed photos
Left: The “Whispering Currents” sculpture will be added to the Mount Vernon Sculpture Trail this fall. The sculpture is an existing structure purchased by the Mount Vernon Area Arts Council. Right: The “Windset” sculpture will be added to the Mount Vernon Sculpture Trail this fall. The sculpture is an existing structure purchased by the Mount Vernon Area Arts Council.
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LINCOLN HIGHWAY from 1
Growing, as Wieseler noted, because of the Lincoln Highway Chorale, the community choir initiative. Mount Vernon poet laureate Scott Russell Morris presented a non-fiction piece about the art of creating art. He shared a memory of working on crafts with his daughter Joan, making paiper mache project. “The kit does not provide the level of guidance we need,” Morris said. “I watch enough of a video on YouTube to assume to know what I’m doing.” Morris reflects on his own experience in trying to continue to make a more professional looking paiper mache, while Joan’s shows the burst of creativity at the top and then her own level of freedom to do what she wanted with the piece to make the art her own. “I don’t love the thing I am making, but I love the process of creating,” Morris said. The Lincoln Highway Chorale performed “Draw The Circle Wide,” “Traveling Through” by Dolly Parton, the State of Iowa song (sung to the tune of Oh Tannenbaum) and a preview of the concert coming up Oct. 25 at Mount Vernon United Methodist Church at 4 p.m. Honorable mentions went to Lynn Majestic and Drew Manning in the show. Best in show went to Nadine Mitchell.
Photos by Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Top: The crowds at the Lincoln Highway Arts festival were heaviest early in the morning, especially right after the choir singing. Above left to right: Sutton Haefner and Halston Haeffner work at painting some leaf art at the event. A trio admires a caricature made by Kira Moore after sitting for the drawing at the Lincoln Highway Arts Festival Saturday, Sept. 26. Genevieve and Agnes work on an Van Gogh inspired flower craft at the kids booth Saturday, Sept. 26. Right: A member of the Mount Vernon High School arts club talks about the necklaces on display and being sold at the event. Below right: Asking for a Friend, one of two live bands at the festival, performs Saturday, Sept. 26. Below: Scott Russell Morris recites from his non fiction piece on creating art.
NEWS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | 3
4 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | MOUNT VERNON-LISBON SUN
OPINIONS/NEWS
OPINIONS
MVLSUNCOM
September showers bring… Homecoming celebrations and new changes October flowers? SUN EDITORIAL
Living in Iowa Dan Brawner With all this rain, I see that our beans are developing moss. I wonder how that would taste with a little oil and vinegar. On the other hand, our rice paddy is the envy of the neighborhood. We did have a racoon problem (they’re great swimmers) but it turns out racoons are afraid of frogs, especially when they sing in harmony. It used to be that September was a dry month. Normal rainfall is only 3.45 inches. So far this month we’ve received 10.63 inches. Meteorologists are saying “received” like it’s some kind of gift. Thanks, but what is your return policy on rain? I remember past Septembers that were so dry, the grass was like Shredded Wheat and crunched when you walked. And now the lawn is like soggy Raisin Bran, with bobbing crickets instead of raisins. It used to be safe to store the lawn mower for the season by the middle of September. Now, the grass is growing so fast, I’ve traded my mower in for an old-fashioned scythe and I’m stacking the grass in those pointy sheaves like in the old Dutch paintings. And speaking of the Dutch, I need to find out how they built dykes. I used to live in Arizona where it rained maybe twice a year. When they built Phoenix, the engineers didn’t bother to install storm drains so when it did rain, the streets were instantly under water. Drivers in Phoenix are unfamiliar with rain and when it does rain, they continue to race up to stop signs and slam on the brakes the same as they always do. But, of course, after so many months of dry weather, the streets accumulate a layer of oil, turning cars into toboggans when it rains. It is so dry in Phoenix that many people leave their washer and dry outside the year around, confident they will never get wet. When it rains in most cities, people run inside to get away from it or they reach for an umbrella. In Phoenix when it rains, everybody joyously runs outside like it’s the Second Coming, with their arms outstretched, eager to feel the miracle of rain. Out in the desert, you’d swear it was raining frogs because suddenly puddles form in the steaming rocks and within minutes, where there had been nothing but dirt and cactus spines, there are now tiny frogs and aquatic insects. It has rained so much I haven’t washed the car in a month. Okay, let’s be honest, I wouldn’t have washed it anyway. But now I can see out of the back window without having to peer through the cinnamon-colored dust kicked up from gravel roads. It’s supposed to be fall but everything is green, (including the alligators in Ralston Creek). And it’s not that tired, gray-green of late summer, but the bright Easter-grass green of spring. If you didn’t know better, you’d think this was June. In fact, let’s pretend it is June. The summer has slipped by so quickly, I was beginning to feel sorry I hadn’t stopped to enjoy it more. But now it’s June II. And isn’t it nice?
We’re on to the third Homecoming celebration in the Mount Vernon and Lisbon communities, as the Ramily returns to the Hilltop to celebrate Homecoming this weekend. We know that each year seems to bring a new parade route for the Mount Vernon Homecoming parade, with the most recent taking advantage of the newly completed parking lot and Seventh Avenue now being a through street connecting Mount Vernon Middle School to Mount Vernon High School. Traffic control during the time of the parade, however brief that happens to be, is something that needs to be better communicated to entities on that route. The route was publicized two weeks before the event, but Thursday afternoon just ahead of the parade saw at least one vehicle speeding down College Boulevard when pedestrians were lining the street. Granted, crowds weren’t
as large and many took the advice of utilizing Seventh Avenue and the new parking lot as their vantage point for the parade instead. As well, traffic wasn’t stopped at either the 10th Avenue intersection or just after Cornell College’s Thomas Commons parking lot at the top of the parade, which meant there were at least three vehicles that headed right towards an ongoing parade and Fifth Avenue. One of those vehicles even drove towards the police car as it was nearing Library Lane with the Marching Mustangs not far behind. If we’re going to have a shortened parade route that doesn’t cross Hwy. 1 or First Street (two of the main throughfares in Mount Vernon), more communication needs to be made on safety for that stretch of roads. Moving the parade away from uptown after Bellamy Bowl was no longer used means traffic control, especially at the
intersections of First and First are not necessary, but it's still a parade on active streets in the community. Especially when Cornell College is in session. College Boulevard sees a lot of traffic from students and the community at large. Kudos to Lisbon on making hard calls on weather during their own homecoming festivities the week before. We know it’s hard looking at radar and storms that may happen and making a call for safety when students and others may have prepared for a parade and activities that evening, especially when those storms don’t fully develop. Same can be said for the Marching Mustangs Festival Saturday, Sept. 19, as well. There’s been a lot of fun photos and activities at the schools celebrating their homecoming festivities. We just urge more communication and safety ahead of next year’s parades.
GUEST OPINION
Sound bites vs facts Cindy Golding
State Representative
It’s campaign season again and the that means plenty of misinformation from a variety of sources. As your State Representative, I think it is important that I provide some facts to balance some of the misunderstandings. Myth Iowa government is running a budget deficit. Fact Current revenues show a better-than-expected financial picture for this year. When the last budget year ended on June 30, the state had $5.5 billion in the bank. The last time the budget was not balanced, and draconian expense cuts had to be made, was during the administration of Chet Culver. It is also important to remember that state income taxes have been reduced and taxes on retirement income eliminated, allowing you to keep more of your money. Myth Iowa does not prioritize education. Fact Fifty-six percent of Iowa’s state budget is spent on Iowa’s education system. Most citizens realize that a financial “priority” means you spend most of your money in that area. 56% is a significant majority of all expenses. This number does not include the additional funding public schools also receive from property taxes and from Federal contributions. Myth Iowa government is “defunding” public schools. Fact First, I believe that local public schools must be the backbone of our responsibility for educating our children. The legislature is not “defunding” public schools. Since 2020, taxpayer funding for K-12 public schools has increased by 33.9%.
variable up to $1,600 A variable amount up to $1,600 per year for subsequent years In other words, the public school doesn’t have the responsibility or expenses for eduacross the state, the legislature voted to cating the student, yet the public school still “supplement” property tax income with receives the bulk of the taxpayer money. State money. This became known as State The ACCREDITED private school, on the Supplemental Aid (SSA). SSA is a state pay- other hand, receives $8,148 dollars. ment to the local public school based on student count. For 2026-2027 the SSA is Myth $8,148 per student. Naturally, the student The concept of “School Choice” damages must attend the school for the school to the quality of education. Education Savings receive the payment. Accounts (ESA) are “shoveling” money to In 2008, the legislature added a state- private schools. wide 1% sales tax to increase public school Fact funding, These SAVE dollars (Secure an Parental choice became a legislative priAdvanced Vision for Education) are paid ority in 1989 when the Open Enrollment to the local public school based on the law allowed K-12 students to enroll in a difnumber of resident students in the dis- ferent public school. The homeschooling trict, whether or not the student attends option was expanded in 1991, recognizthe local school. ing that some students may do better in Simplifying a very complicated topic, a non-standard setting. School Choice Iowa public schools have four basic sources options expanded in 2023 to include ESA of taxpayer money: accounts for ACCREDITED private schools Federal funds and public charter schools. Property taxes Outstanding schools attract students SAVE from other areas. For example, last school SSA year Mt. Vernon had 398 students who were “open-enrolled” from other school Myth districts, and 51 ESA students. Lisbon Public money should not be sent to pri- drew 195 students enrolled from other vate schools. school districts and only 2 ESA students. Fact Springville attracted 117 open-enrolled Iowa taxpayer money has been used for students and had 12 ESA students. Some private education for decades. school districts, by comparison, must evalFor example, since 1969 state tax dollars uate their own performance because they have funded the Iowa Tuition Grant pro- are losing students to other school districts. gram (ITG), which enables students from Competition creates the opportunity for all socioeconomic groups the opportunity greater overall success. to attend private colleges in Iowa; colleges Few citizens today would question the such as Cornell, Coe, and Mt. Mercy right concept of “open enrollment”; however, here in Linn County. Cornell College, for when it was introduced, many naysayers example, received almost $1.3 Million of believed that open enrollment would ruin taxpayer money from the ITG program in public education. Today, some also quesFY2024. It is safe to say that these taxpayer tion the ESA program (mistakenly called contributions have made a significant dif- “vouchers”). ference in private college finances, and that difference has appreciably benefited the Open Enrollment Compared citizens of the Mt. Vernon/Lisbon area. to ESA
Myth When a K-12 local public-school student enrolls in a private school, the private Public school financing is extremely school gets the taxpayer money. complicated, but here is the overview: Fact Prior to 1973, local public schools were The public school still receives the folfunded almost entirely by local property lowing taxpayer money: taxes. Then, as now, legislators recognized Property tax that quality education was a state priority. SAVE tax To lessen inequities among school districts SSA of $8,148 for the first year plus a
An interesting fact is that if a student open-enrolls today from School A to School B, School A gets most of the Federal funds, all the property tax, and all the SAVE money. However, the Supplemental State Aid amount ($8,148) goes to School B. On the other hand, if that same student uses an ESA to go to an accredited private school, School A still gets some of the Federal funds, all of the property tax, all of the
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SAVE money, and $8,148 SSA plus up to $1,600 the first year, then up to $1,600 in subsequent years. In other words, local public schools receive more tax revenue if a student uses ESA to attend a private school than if the student open enrolls into another public school. The last year we have complete school spending data is the 2024-2025 school year. In that year, the average total expense across all Iowa public schools was $24,285/student. The taxpayer expense for a student using an ESA to attend a private school was $7,826 (the SSA for 2024-2025 school year).
OPINIONS/NEWS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | 5
Summary
For specific details for your school district go to www. legis.iowa.gov/publications/schoolAid Of the entire “school choice” discussion, local public This site has exact enrollment and other funding details. schools receive most of the tax revenue even when families choose other options for their children. I’ve heard it It is an honor to serve the citizens in small town and said that we are shortchanging public schools to finance the rural Linn County as your State Representative. I apprewealthiest Iowans sending their kids to private schools. In ciate your prayers and words of encouragement. I seek reality, the ESA program is designed to erase the education your input, will tell you how I see things, and I will not inequities based on family income. Utilizing an ESA, even a be bought. poor family can send their children to a private school if they believe that is in the best interest of their children. Write to me at Cindy.Golding@Legis.Iowa.gov
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Character assassination, the way to winning? nents. Go see the candidates, ask your questions, examine I don't want people to be jobless. If residents rethink their Every election season brings out the worst in politics. It seems that stretching a detail into a huge frightening prediction of evil things to come is believed to be the formula for winning the sought-after seat in government. Not the ideas, not the plans for constituents, not the values candidates used to guide choices. When you know the candidate and see them lied about and portrayed as dangerous, while on one hand it may be laughably over dramatized, it is also painful and unfair. Josh Turek is supposedly linked somehow to dangerous tattooed gang members. Nate Willems is somehow indifferent to child sex abusers. Please. Are Iowans really that unaware and gullible? Nate Willems, Rob Sand, Josh Turek, Christina Bohannan, Lindsay James, Mike Bergman—all really good people with the best of intentions to serve the people of this state, not the dangerous or evil people that the Republican backed operatives and candidates makes them out to be. Don’t fall for that guy on the ads with the snarky voice or the shadowy dark photoshopped pictures of their oppo-
their websites, look at videos of presentations. I know you will find shared values and the truth about each one. Vote accordingly. As a voting citizen, it is your job to be informed and not fall for foolish assertions that falsely demean good people.
lawn habitats, business models would adapt to this change. From public information published by the National Institutes of Health I learned that pesticide applicators are part of ongoing cancer research. Pesticide applicators, (people who work for lawn care companies or in agriculture) over time, increase their risk of developing various cancers. Linda Kemp Pesticide is a broad term that encompasses fertilizer, Mount Vernon weed killers, and various products that create monoculture lawns and agriculture. Iowa is the most altered environment on the planet. In Low mow and chemical free what way? From once-prairie to now-agriculture. At our home, we moved on from "no mow May" to "low Do you like monarchs? I urge you to plant New England mow and chemical free." Yes we mow, but we have never Asters. The four Asters I planted all attracted monarchs used pesticides. Our lawn will never look like a golf course. and bees, pollinators extraordinaire. We know that early spring is the time that hibernating polThe planet needs humans to rethink their pesticide linators in our soil wake up hungry. They rely on dandelions use, their motivations for why they want monocultures, for their first meals. "Low mow" means we give the polli- whether it's corn and beans forever, or if it's a residential nators time to graze before we attack their food with the lawn that repels the many creatures that support a healthy mower. ecosystem. I understand that jobs could be lost if residents of Lisbon and Mount Vernon ended their contracts with lawn "care" Gretchen Reeh-Robinson companies as they operate now, with pesticide applications. Mount Vernon
POLITIFACT
Fact-checking Rob Sand’s comparison of Iowa public schools’ ranking Grace Olson
The Daily Iowan
math in 1992 and 1996, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress’s “The Nation’s Report Card” data. Iowa’s fourth-grade math was second in the nation in 1992. In different years in the ‘90s, Iowa’s fourthgrade reading and math scores were 11 points above the national average. However, Carol Burris, executive director of the Network for Public Education, a public education advocacy organization, said her organization gave Iowa a “D” in its 2026 report card, receiving 47 out of 100 possible points. The metrics are based on privatization — or voucher programs — home-schooling oversight, school funding, and conditions for teaching and learning. She said this places Iowa 19th from the bottom for public school rankings. “What we’re ranking is how much support does the governor’s office, does the state house give to public education?” she said. “So we’re looking at laws, policies, and practices.” According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2026 report, which covers 2024, Iowa’s education has worsened, with fewer preschoolers enrolled in school, lower reading proficiency in fourth and eighth grades and a lower high school graduation rate. The organization, a private philanthropy providing education resources to underserved children, ranked Iowa 27th overall in education. In 2024, 70% of fourth graders were not proficient in reading, compared to 66% in 2019. Additionally, eighth grade math proficiency has worsened, with 67% of students not proficient in 2019 to 73% not proficient in 2024. It’s not just Iowa that’s gotten lower marks, 47 states also fared worse in 2024 compared with 2019, the foundation’s report said. At the national level, three of the four education indicators worsened in the five-year period — math proficiency, reading proficiency and preschool attendance. Margaret Buckton, a long-time Iowa lobbyist for the Rural School Advocates of Iowa and Urban Education Network of Iowa — nonprofit K-12 advocacy organizations — backed Sand’s statement. She said Iowa’s public school ranking has significantly dropped in the last couple of decades. “Iowa was late to the game in having state standards,” she said. “We changed our state assessment and went through a couple of years of adapting to changes. We haven’t had the support other states have made, and the change in our population would indicate we’ve got to provide additional resources, programming, and staff for those students that are starting further behind to begin with.” Buckton said Iowa was revered for its education in the 1990s, particularly in standardized testing. In fourth grade reading and eighth grade math in 2024, Iowa students scored close to the national average.
For the 2026 election, Politifact and The Daily Iowan are partnering up to bring readers fact checks on key Iowa races. PolitiFact is a nonprofit operated by the Poynter Institute. In a gubernatorial campaign ad posted on his public social media accounts, Democrat Rob Sand said Iowa’s public schools have slipped in national rankings. “I want us to get back to having the best public schools in the country, not in the bottom half,” he said. Sand, the state auditor, has criticized Iowa’s Education Savings Account program, which allows families to use a student’s state funding to pay for private school education. Sand has called for annual audits of the program, income eligibility limits, and limiting tuition increases for private schools. Sand’s campaign sent PolitiFact a statement from Sand about schools’ quality when he was growing up, but did not point to specific data placing Iowa at number one. “When I was growing up in Decorah, Iowa had some of the best schools in the nation,” Sand said in an email statement to PolitiFact. “It’s our state’s crown jewel, so much so that we put ‘Foundation in Education’ on our state quarter… I want every Iowa kid to have access to the best education, just like I did.” He said public schools have been underfunded to favor private school vouchers. Iowa schools spend $17,804 per pupil from federal, state and local sources, placing them 34th in the nation in K-12 education funding and 35th in spending, according to the Education Data Initiative, an organization that researches education statistics. There’s no clear data that ranked Iowa’s schools as the best overall, but Iowa students did achieve top ranks in some subjects in the 1990s, when Sand attended. Public education rankings are issued annually by myriad organizations, using different criteria to determine where each state lies. In 2017, the first year U.S. News and World Our ruling Report ranked K-12 public education, , but that rank has fallen in the years since. Iowa ranked 26th nationally for Sand said Iowa once had “the best public schools in the K-12 in 2026. country,” but is now “in the bottom half.” Iowa tied for the top state in the nation in eighth-grade Several institutions rank public education by state,
and by some metrics, Iowa placed highly in the past, but not number one. The state’s rankings have dropped over the last 30 years; one group ranks Iowa’s K-12 schools 26th nationwide. We rate Sand’s statement Half True.
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JD Vance rallies Iowa Republicans alongside Zach Lahn in Council Bluffs Vice President JD Vance touts the Trump administration’s record and urges support for Iowa Republicans ahead of the midterm elections Genevieve DiChiara The Daily Iowan
Vice President JD Vance rallied Iowa Republicans Friday alongside gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn, urging voters to support Republican candidates in November’s midterm elections. Vance headlined the Republican National Committee’s Midterm Rally at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs on Sept. 18, marking his second visit to Iowa as vice president this year. The appearance came less than two months before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, with races for governor, U.S. Senate, and Congress on Iowa’s ballot. “Let’s send the crazies packing and get them out of Washington, D.C., and get them out of Des Moines,” Vance said. During his remarks, he sought to tie Iowa’s elections to the national political divisions, criticizing Democrats while highlighting President Donald Trump’s work on immigration and border security. Vance also highlighted efforts from the administration to lower prescription drug prices, eliminate federal income taxes on certain tips and overtime pay, and protect Social Security. Agriculture was another focus of Vance’s
remarks. He praised the administration’s work to expand international markets for American agricultural products and framed those policies as particularly important for Iowa farmers. Still, Vance acknowledged the administration has more work to do. “Whenever you hear me talk during this midterm campaign, I’ll say ‘Rome was not built in a day,’ because we know there’s a lot of work to do,” he said.
Lahn focuses on Iowa’s culture Before Vance took the stage, Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn framed his message around preserving Iowa’s culture for future generations, focusing on family, faith, communities, and individual rights. Lahn, who is running against Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand, said his decisom to seek office came down to what kind of state future generations of Iowans will inherit. “I want the next generation to grow up in the Iowa that we grew up with, the Iowa that we love,” Lahn said. “I want them to be able to build a life here, build their families here, prosper here.” Lahn said his campaign was about more than politics, arguing that institutions including families, churches, schools and local communities play a role in maintaining the state’s culture. “We are here to defend the culture of the state and the country that we love,” Lahn said. Religion and individual rights were also prominent in Lahn’s remarks. He argued that individual rights come from God
rather than government and referenced language in the Declaration of Independence about equality and rights endowed by a creator. “Rights do not come from [the] government,” Lahn said. “Rights existed before there ever was a government. That’s the American idea.” Lahn also discussed American history, including slavery, the Civil War, and the U.S. role following World War II. He acknowledged the country’s historical shortcomings while describing American culture as something he believes is worth preserving. Toward the end of his remarks, Lahn returned to Iowa and his reasons for running for governor. “I want our kids to inherit the Iowa that I inherited, that you inherited,” Lahn said, describing an Iowa “where family still matters, where faith still matters, where work still matters, where community still matters, where the individual still matters.” He closed by introducing Vance, whom he described as someone who has dedicated himself to small towns and communities. He said he looked forward to working with the vice president “to defend the culture of Iowa and America.”
Iowa. Vance gave a shoutout to U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. She is running against Iowa Rep. Josh Turek, D-Council Bluffs, for the Senate seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. Hinson was not in attendance at the rally. Turek, who represents the area the event was held, criticized Vance’s visit in a fundraising appeal ahead of the event, and argued the vice president’s appearance reflected the importance national Republicans were placing on Iowa’s elections. Vance also recognized Republican statewide candidates, including Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, Secretary of State Paul Pate, and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, as he encouraged supporters to back Republican candidates across the ballot. Bird, Pate, and Naig are each seeking another term in their respective statewide offices this November. Iowa’s June primary ballot listed Bird, Pate, and Naig as the Republican candidates for attorney general, secretary of state, and secretary of agriculture, respectively. The rally also featured Chris McGowan, the Republican candidate for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District. McGowan is runVance rallies support for Iowa ning against Democrat Dave Dawson for the seat being vacated by Republican U.S. Republicans Rep. Randy Feenstra. Vance praised Lahn during his remarks The Council Bluffs appearance is part and criticized Sand’s efforts to portray him- of Vance’s broader midterm campaign self a political moderate, and called him a travel. He has recently traveled to Kansas, “career politician.” Wisconsin, and Ohio to promote RepubliThe vice president also used the rally to can candidates and the administration’s highlight other Republicans running across policies.
MVLCT closes 2026 season with darkly comic Skin and Bone
whose cannibalistic traditions are only the beginning of their family’s strange and unsettling story. Pozdol says, "The biggest theme really is belonging. When the world around us changes and becomes unrecognizable, what does it mean to refuse to adapt and move Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community The- 25 at 2 p.m. at the First Street Community forward? How do we cope with living in a atre (MVLCT) is proud to present their Center Uptown Theatre. world where we no longer fit if we don't want second Eliott Studio Series production of the Directed by Carrie Pozdol, Skin and to change? If we do want to change, how do 2026 season, Skin and Bone by Jacqueline Bone is part Southern Gothic and part we navigate the dynamics of being a part of Goldfinger. Performances will take place twisted family comedy, introducing Midge a family that doesn't? How do we find where Oct. 23-24 & 30-31 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. and Madge, sisters living in rural Florida we belong when we haven't come from a
MVLCT announces 2027 season Mount Vernon Lisbon Community Theater announced their 2027 season. The season begins with “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare, directed by John Zbanek Hill. The show releases March 2027. The comedy follows the courtship of Hero and Claudio, but also the witty repartee of Benedick and Beatrice. In May 2027, the production “Black Comedy/White Lies” by Peter Shaffer will be directed by Alysun Shamburg. According to Concord Theatricals, “White Lies” depicts a fateful encounter between a down-and-out fortune teller, a rock musician, and his agent. The agent bribes Baroness Lemberg to fake some hocus-pocus over a crystal ball, ostensibly to discourage the musician from pursuing his girlfriend. The trickery entangles each of them in a dense web of mendacity. According to Concord Theatricals, “Black Comedy” focuses on sculptor Brindsley Miller who has embellished his apartment with furniture and objects d’arte “borrowed” from the absent antique collector next door, hoping to impress his fiancée’s pompous father and a wealthy art dealer. The fussy neighbor, Harold Gorringe, returns just as a blown fuse plunges the apartment into darkness and Brindsley is revealed. Unexpected guests, aging spinsters, errant phone cords, and other snares impede his frantic attempts to return the purloined items before light is restored. The first Elliott Studio Series production will be held June 2027, with “Cock” by Mike Bartlett and directed by Grant Freeman. According to Concord Theatricals, “Cock” focuses on John, who has been in a stable relationship with his boy-
friend for a number of years. When they take a break, John accidentally falls in love with a woman. Torn between the two, filled with guilt and conflicting emotions, he doesn't know which way to turn. His boyfriend is willing to wait for him to make a decision, but so is his girlfriend. And both are prepared to fight to keep him. As the pressure mounts, a dinner with both parties is arranged, and everyone wants to know. Who is John? What is he? And what will his decision be? In August, director Carrie Pozdol will present “Witch” by Jen Silverman. According to Concord Theatricals, a charming devil arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes. Elizabeth should be his easiest target, having been labeled a “witch” and cast out by the town, but her soul is not so readily bought. As the devil returns to convince her – and then returns again – unexpected passions flare, alliances are formed, and the village is forever changed. The musical for the year will be “Alice By Heart” by Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson, with music by Duncan Sheik and lyrics by Steven Sater. The show will be directed by Ethan B. Glenn and arrive in October 2027. According to Musical Theater International, Alice By Heart is a touching musical inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. In the rubble of the London Blitz of World War II, Alice Spencer’s budding teen life is turned upside down, and she and her dear friend Alfred are forced to take shelter in an underground tube station. When the ailing Alfred is quarantined, Alice encourages him to escape with her into their cherished book and journey down the rabbit hole to Wonderland. The final Elliott Studio Series production will be “The Thin Place” by Lucas Hnath, directed by K. Michael Moore. The show will release December 2027. According to Concord Theatricals, “The Thin Place” is the story of two women, Hilda and Linda. Linda communicates, professionally, with the dead, who are still here, just in a different part of here, in the “thin place.” She can make those who believe hear them, offering them peace and closure and
solid foundation?" For more information go to MVLCT.com or follow our Facebook Page for updates, Artists Spotlights and behind-the-scenes content. Performance Dates: Oct. 23-24 & 30-31at 7:30 p.m. and October 25 at 2 p.m. Location: First Street Community Center Uptown Theatre (221 First St NE, Mount Vernon, IA 52314) Tickets: Available at https://mvlct.booktix.com/ Ticket price is $25 for adults, with student and senior discounts available.
meaning. Originally from rural England, she’s reestablished herself in the U.S. – birthplace of spiritualism – where she has continued to build a career out of her gift. Hilda, a keen listener and observer who’s grappling with loss, takes a great interest in Linda’s abilities. She befriends the veteran medium, seeking answers that lie across the fragile boundary between our world and the other one.
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STUDENT BRIEFS
OBITUARIES DEANNE LEVAN Deanne LeVan, 88, of Marion, long-time resident of Mount Vernon, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha. Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon. Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., followed by a graveside committal at Lisbon Cemetery in Lisbon. A luncheon will follow at the funeral home. Deanne was born in Iowa Falls to Charles and Helen (Haak) Dean. She graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1956 and was united in marriage to David LeVan Dec. 17, 1960, in Mount Vernon. Deanne was proud to be a military wife and supported David throughout his service. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Marion as well as P.E.O. for 60 plus years. Deanne enjoyed gardening, knitting, quilting, and raising monarch butterflies. Deanne is survived by two daughters, Andrea (Mark) Wagner of Robins, Catherine (Dan) Boggs of Lisbon; six grandchildren, Tony (Laura Schmidt) Wagner, Brian (Hannah Mallow) Wagner, Danielle (Cody) Kellogg, Natalie (Andy) Stephens, Stephanie Boggs, and Chace (Cejae) Boggs; four great-grandchildren, Avaline Kellogg, Hudson Kellogg, Jack Henry Stephens, and Wyatt Boggs; and sister, Marilyn Schnittjer. She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, David LeVan. Memorials may be made to the Mount Vernon Iowa Community School District Alumni Association https://mvalumni.org/donate/ or Feed Iowa First https://www.feediowa1st.com/donate/. Please share your support and memories with Deanne’s family on her obituary page at www.stewartbaxter.com under the Obituaries tab.
JOSEPH NEFF Joseph John Neff, 66, of Mount Vernon, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the Winslow House in Marion. Visitation was held Monday, Sept. 28, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon. Memorial Service was at 5 p.m. Burial will be held at a later date at Mount Vernon Cemetery. Joe was born Dec. 29, 1959, in Cedar Rapids, the son of John and JoAnne (Nikodim) Neff. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School before enlisting in the United States Army, where he proudly served until his honorable discharge. Joe was proud of his service and his time as a veteran. Joe was an extremely gifted musician with a natural talent for music. He played the piano and guitar and enjoyed composing and arranging music. He also marched with the Emerald Knights Drum & Bugle Corps, an experience that allowed him to share his love of music with others. Outside of music, Joe had a great love for animals and enjoyed following sports, especially baseball and basketball. Joe is survived by his siblings, Barbara Aguirre and Bill (Chriss) Neff; nephew, Francisco (Megan) Aguirre; and great nieces and nephews, Serrenitee, Gavin, Leevigh, and Weslee. He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorials may be made to the Mount Vernon/Lisbon Ambulance or the Allsop Family Humane Society. Please share your support and memories with Joe’s family on his obituary page at www.stewartbaxter.com under the Obituaries tab.
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Iowa State University summer graduates Iowa State University awarded degrees or certificates to 637 graduates this summer. Students earning degrees during the summer have the opportunity to participate in fall or spring commencement ceremonies. The following are graduates from your area: Mechanicsville – Mercedes Brown, bachelor of business administration majoring in business administration. Mount Vernon – Ryan J Naeve, bachelor of science majoring in finance
Upper Iowa University announces spring 2026 graduates Upper Iowa University is pleased to announce the names of its March and May 2026 graduates, including some locals. Locals graduating from Upper Iowa University were: Mount Vernon – Judith Goetschius and Macy Leonard Mechanicsville – Jacqueline Senft of Mechanicsville
SNHU announces summer 2026 dean's list Jessica Lanham of Mechanicsville has been named to Southern New Hampshire University's (SNHU) summer 2026 dean's list. The summer terms run from May to August. Students must obtain a GPA of 3.5 or above to be named to the dean’s list.
Tuesday Movie Group started Nathan Countryman Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Check out ‘Spooky Rivers’ at Cole Um, yes, hello*, it’s almost October and I’d like to share with you the spooky read I’m most excited about this month: Spooky Rivers: 25 Strange and Mysterious Rivers that Snake Across Our Planet. Written and illustrated by educator and TikTok sensation Geo Rutherford, Spooky Rivers is a companion to the bestselling book, Spooky Lakes. Spooky Rivers chronicles 25 wild and scary rivers across the globe including famous waterways such as the Mississippi and the Thames to lesser-known rivers like the Bolton Strid in England and the Kilauea Volcano Lava Rivers in Hawaii. Each aquatic entry features terrifying tales and lots of strange facts about the river, along with stunning painted illustrations. While the book is written for a younger audience, older readers will enjoy this title too. * “Um, yes, hello” is the opening line Rutherford uses in all her “Spooky Lake Month” videos on TikTok and Instagram.
Thursday, October 1: 8am-10pm Friday, October 2: 8am- 5pm Saturday, October 3: 10am-4pm Sunday, October 4: 12pm-10pm Monday, October 5: 8am-10pm Tuesday, October 6: 8am-10pm Wednesday, October 7: 8am-10pm Thursday, October 8: 8am-10pm
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Join members of the community to see a movie the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Bijou Movie Theater. On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the first meeting of the Tuesday Movie Group was held, watching the film “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” Pastor Lori Wunder with First Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon said that film was chosen to tie into a series of sermons she was holding at the church in September area, but wanted to open that and future films to the community. “One of the things we keep hearing about is a loneliness epidemic in the world right now,” Wunder said. “Since COVID-19, many people have chosen to stay at home more.” Wunder is hoping that showing a movie might be the way to help people make connections and community. October’s film will be “Sweet Land,” a 2005 independent film about the relationship between Inge Altenberg and Olaf Tovrik, set in the aftermath of World War I. Inge, emigrating to the United States to marry Olaf has that marriage forbidden and the town ostracizing the couple. Wunder’s focus with many of the films is on the importance of community. “Really, just good movies with a good message and hoping to bring out more of the community to come see these films,” Wunder said. And the Bijou has offered to host the program, with free admission to the screening. Concessions are on sale at the Bijou for every showing. Doors open at 1 p.m., with the movies beginning at 1:30 p.m. After each film, there’s an opportunity for talking about the movie as well.
CLUB NOTES Be Originals 4-H Club On Sunday, Sept. 20, the Be Original 4-H Club met for their monthly meeting at the Lisbon School Cafeteria. They discussed and voted on a new club budget, service activities and fundraisers they will be doing throughout the year. Record book paperwork was distributed and they are due to leaders by Oct. 1 for consideration for County awards. New club officers were elected for the 2026-27 year, including: President: Emma Dietsch, Vice President: Payton Curtis, Secretary: Hayden Davis, Treasurer: Gavin Lord, Historian: Natalie Von Behren, Reporter: Brant Von Behren. Social media content will be done by Leader: Megan Dietsch. They also discussed ways to celebrate and bring attention around Lisbon school to the upcoming National 4-H Week, which is Oct. 4-10, 2026. The club ended the meeting by packing Farmer Appreciation bags with treats to be distributed to area farmers with harvest this fall. The next meeting is Saturday, Oct. 10 at Pleasant Grove Heritage Park at 3:30pm, where the club will be planting trees. The money used to purchase the trees was raised through 4-H fruit sales and a Pioneer Seed Grant. The October meeting will immediately follow. Rain date will be Sunday, Oct. 11. Brant Von Behren, Be Original 4-H Club Reporter
POLICE CALLS Sept. 21 – Medical, 100 blk Fairway Dr, Lisbon Sept. 21 – Agency assist- medical, Linn Co Sept. 21 – Accident, 900 blk business 30, Lisbon Sept. 21 – Harassment, 100 blk N. Buchanan St, Lisbon Sept. 21 – Medical, 300 blk A Ave SE, Mount Vernon Sept. 21 – Suspicious person, 300 blk Grant Ave Cir, Lisbon Sept. 21 – Disturbance, 200 blk N. Walnut St, Lisbon Sept. 22 – Medical, 700 blk N. First Ave, Mount Vernon Sept. 22 – Medical, 200 blk Third St NE, Mount Vernon Sept. 22 – Theft, 380 Old Lincoln Hwy, Mount Vernon Sept. 22 – Welfare check, 300 blk W First St, Mount Vernon
Sept. 23 – Harassment, 100 blk Candlestick Dr NE, Mount Vernon Sept. 23 – Welfare check, 600 blk W. Main St, Lisbon Sept. 24 – Medical, W. South St, Lisbon Sept. 24 – Medical, Scobey Rd, Mount Vernon Sept. 25 – Harassment, 600 blk First St, Mount Vernon Sept. 26 – Medical, 1200 blk W. First St, Mount Vernon Sept. 26 – Civil issue, 1200 blk S. Hwy 1, Mount Vernon Sept. 27 – Welfare check, 100 blk Candlestick Dr NE, Mount Vernon Sept. 27 – Juvenile issue, 800 blk Shadetree Court, Lisbon Sept. 27 – Accident, 300 blk Second Ave NW, Mount Vernon Sept. 28 – Medical, 200 blk business 30, Mount Vernon
for all the support we've received during my recent illness. What a great community!
k n a h T you
-Marilyn & Norm Leeman
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Mount Vernon resident expresses concerns for city grant application, alleges fraud
“I would expect the mayor would direct them to move it forward.” Huebner finished by reiterating that the uptown district is not a slum or blighted and other communities would benefit more from the grant application funds. At the end of the meeting, council member Sherene Hansen Player asked to clarify the point Huebner brought up. City administrator Chris Nosbisch said ments to apply for the grant. the terminology is used by the state and City officials push back The grant will be mainly funded by the enables legislation for taxing and financagainst Huebner's Iowa Economic Development Authority ing. He said the city did not create a new accusations and offer with a $307,000 contribution from the blighted area but reaffirmed an existing clarification on the funding Eastern Central Iowa Council of Gov- area. ernments. The grant would be used to “The issue was, when you walk uptown proposal improve and renovate the uptown area Mount Vernon, in comparison to the as well as a stepping stone for the city to other communities, it doesn't look or receive similar grants in the future. have the appearance of what a layperson Chloe Oppelt For this particular grant, the area being would say a slum is like,” Nosbisch said. For the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun renovated must be designated as a slum “That is the terminology we have to use A resident raised concerns about the or blighted area to receive it. Huebner by the state of Iowa.” proposed Community Block Develop- brought up 18 U.S.C. § 1001, the statute Nosbisch reiterated that the city counment Grant that would be used to support that makes it a felony to knowingly and cil agreed to match up to $260,000 to the uptown district during the Sept. 21 willfully make false statements, conceal a potential grant that has not yet been Mount Vernon City Council meeting. material facts, or use false documents. obtained. No money has been spent, and During the public comment section, He claimed that he has already asked none will be unless the city receives the Keith Huebner of Mount Vernon ques- the Mount Vernon Police Department to grant. tioned the city's $260,000 contribution investigate the matter. “If we get to the point where that to the proposed grant application, which “They have told me that it would be $260,000 is going to be required, it the council approved at the July 20 a conflict of interest, so I'm curious…if would come from tax increment financing meeting. Huebner alleged that the city is they’ve not investigated it, who's going and is required by the state to go through committing fraud by making false state- to,” he said of the police department. that process,” Nosbisch said.
Chloe Oppelt | For the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Resident Marie DeVries speaking to the council about the Sculpture Trail during the meeting on Sept. 21.
International Writer’s Workshop presents at LBC Adult Speaker Series Nathan Countryman Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
The International Writer’s Workshop presented at the Lester Buresh Family Community Adult Speaker Series Thursday, Sept. 24. Cate Dicharry, current director of the International Writers Workshop, spoke about the history of the program and how they have adapted to the challenges of the past couple years. The program was started 59 years ago by Paul Ingles. “The vision at the time was an International Writer’s Workshop, full of writers from several different communities and regions,” Dicharry said. “The program tried to bring writers from all around the world from residency.” Dicharry said that for the majority of the center’s life, that was a partnership that worked along the Department of State. The center offered programs, including it’s fall residency for writers, but it also offered a summer workshop for teenage writers as well. “I always say, if you want to be inspired, watch 16-year-old poets hang out together for two weeks,” Dicharry said. “It doesn’t take them long to see what they have in common.” And then, in 2024, the first cuts administered by the Department of Government Efficiency hit. “All of our programs, with the exception of our fall residency of writers, had their funding cut,” Dicharry said. “We had to stop work on several projects.” And that also forced the program to reimagine what they did, and what it means to have an International Writers Program continue going. “That’s when the University of Iowa stepped in, and worked to reinvest in this program and help us stabilize, rebuild and look to the future,” Dicharry said. In many ways, Dicharry said that has been beneficial to the department, helping them to have more autonomy in the decisions they
make and not just the priorities of the state department and who they picked. “We have ability to talk to community partners about what makes sense for us in opportunities and pursue those,” Dicharry said. “I’m excited where we go from here.” A questioner asked if the DOGE cuts were surprising, and Dicharry said they had anticipated the cuts coming and plead their case before the cuts were made on the matter of cultural diplomacy. A questioner asked about how writers are selected for the program. Dicharry said that it used to be that they would have a list that came from the state department, and they would select 30 to 35 they wanted to bring stateside every fall, but the Department of State would decide, with some political considerations made. “Now, all of our choices are by invitation only,” Dicharry said. “We work with UNESCO Cities of Literature and partners to seek those nominations.” The fall residency has 21 writers from 20 countries this year. A commenter noted the importance of the humanities, especially in today’s climate. Dicharry recounted how their multicultural community helps people be more empathetic and understanding, noting how work with the College of Medicine helped those writing stories to find the elements that were relatable and fit stories they are writing. “It’s not just about the wondrful books you enjoy, it’s how the stories those books have consequences in each other’s lives,” Dicharry said. “Person to person diplomacy is about how you understand the stories when you interact with them. That’s the television and movies you consume as well. As an organization, nothing is more important than the stories we tell.” She said as well those who study humanities wrestle the hardest with ambiguity and finding connection to those with different viewpoints. Writer Nir Ratzkovsky from Israel spoke about his path to becoming a writer. Ratzkovsky originally studied molecular biology, graduating with a degree in the
Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Cate Dicharry, Julieta Rangel Gómez and Nir Ratkovsky of the International Writer’s Program speak at the LBC Thursday, Sept. 24. field. After two years in a biology lab, however, he did not like the career. From there, Ratzkovsky began work as a French translator, taking works of French authors and translating them to Hebrew. He explained the work of translating one book from French, which is letters of a mother to her daughter, and how that translation is so slow. “Because I have to explain so many of the items, like who certain people are in 16th century France,” Ratkovsky said. “There was more work on the footnotes than there was in the correspondence.” Ratkovsky said he is taking that book and creating a hybrid work, one that translates those letters, but then draws inspiration from those two characters and creates a fiction account that explores that dynamic between mother and daughter now. He read a piece he had written about his family name, Ratkovsky, and where it came from. A questioner asked if translating has helped him as a writer. Ratkovsky said that translators have to rewrite many of the works they are translating, finding the right words to get across what the author is saying in a piece. “It’s why I can only translate from French to Hebrew,” Ratkovsky said. “I’m not fluent in French enough to take a work in Hebrew and translate it into French.” A questioner asked how long it takes Ratkovsky to translate a work, and he said it depends on the work. He’s working on translating one of the
volumes of Proust, and when he works on that, it can take him an entire day to rewrite one page. “Contemporary French authors and translating their work to Hebrew, that I can complete a whole work in two months,” Ratkovsky said. “But I couldn’t do something like translate poetry. That would take someone more versed in poetry.” Ratkovsky said a good translation is one you don’t notice, that it sounds completely natural in the language it is translated into. What’s next in the adult speaker series: Today (Thursday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m.) - Indian Creek Nature Center: Who We Are and What We Do by Sarah Botkin Indian Creek Nature Center is a leader in environmental education and land stewardship. From fieldtrips to Maple Syrup festivals, the Nature Center offers a variety of ways for people to connect and be inspired by nature. This presentation will provide you with a little of the history of the Nature Center and show you how the mission of the organization is in practice every day. Thursday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. - American Civil War Oregon Trail 1840’s by Barry Grove This presentation depicts the life of a common soldier. Content includes uniforms, music, diet, battlefield tactics, personal affects (toothbrush, razor, pip, money, comb), weapons, medical treatments, and equipment. One segment introduces Lewis Baker (reenactment). Baker was from Kentucky, fought for the confederacy, a resident of Marion for 45 years, died in 1931, and was buried in Marion, Iowa.
MVLSUN.COM | MOUNT VERNON-LISBON SUN
NEWS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | 9
Reconnect at Cornell Homecoming 2026 The Hilltop will be buzzing with alumni, faculty, students, and friends as Cornell College celebrates Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2026, October 2–4. The Alumni and Advancement Office is preparing a schedule packed with something for all campus visitors, whether you’re looking forward to sporting your favorite purple gear for the football game or celebrating a special class reunion. “Homecoming is one of the most meaningful weekends of the year because it brings generations of Rams together,” said director of alumni and donor relations Naomi Winder. “We’re excited to add new experiences this year while continuing the traditions that make Cornell feel like home. Whether it’s your first visit back or your 50th, we hope you’ll find plenty of opportunities to reconnect.”
Events you won’t want to miss Pints with a Prof: On Friday, Oct. 2, spend some time with Cornell faculty over a pint on the Orange Carpet! Enjoy casual conversation, interesting stories, and the opportunity to chat with professors outside the classroom. Catch up with a favorite faculty member, meet someone new, or learn about the exciting things happening on campus today. Dueling Pianos: On Friday, Oct. 2, in the SAW, Cornell hosts an unforgettable night of music, laughter, and audience participation at Dueling Pianos. The high-energy performance brings together students, alumni, and the entire Cornell community for a lively evening of crowd-driven songs, sing-alongs, and nonstop entertainment. This event promises plenty of
interaction, humor, and music that spans the Student Athlete Advisory Commitgenerations. tee, including face painting, an obstacle course, and more fun for kids. President’s All-Alumni Dinner: On Friday, Oct. 2, gather with alumni Traditional events like the Luce Gallery and friends for an evening of great food art exhibit (“Be still, life.” by Professor and company. This gathering, located of Art Susannah Biondo-Gemmell), the inside a tent on Van Metre Field at Ash C Club Breakfast at 8 a.m. on SaturPark, will bring the Cornell community day in Thomas Commons, and Friday’s together while also honoring President Classes without Quizzes are back on the Jonathan Brand and Rachelle LaBarge schedule. Plus, we’ll celebrate the 50th for their leadership and lasting impact reunion for the Class of 1976 and many on the college as Brand begins his final other special reunions and gatherings. year. Check out the full schedule of events at https://community.cornellcollege. Homecoming Football Game: edu/e/homecoming-2026#homecomCornell Rams take on Ripon College ing and make plans to travel to campus on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 2 p.m. Alums and for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend their families are invited to the Ramily 2026. Registration will be open through Tailgate event to enjoy good food and fun Sept. 28, 2026. If you have questions activities before the football game from or need assistance registering, please 11 a.m to 2 p.m. This all-ages event also contact the Alumni Office at alumni@ features family-friendly activities led by cornellcollege.edu or 319.895.4445.
Cornell’s 2026-27 first semester fine arts preview Cornell College kicks off the fall season with a dynamic lineup of fine arts activities. Join us on campus for an art exhibit reflecting on the fragility of life, a reading by the National Poet Laureate of South Africa, a darkly comic psychological drama, and a musical concert showcasing Cornell’s rock stars. Up-to-date information on all 2026-27 performances and exhibits is available on Cornell’s community events calendar. You can also download events to your personal calendars. Theatre & Dance “The Room,” Oct. 8–11, Black Box Theatre, Armstrong-Younker Hall ● Thurs–Sat at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. ● By Harold Pinter ● Directed by Scott Olinger Step into the unsettling world of “The Room,” Harold Pinter’s gripping debut play, where an ordinary boarding house becomes a place of growing unease and mystery. As seemingly harmless conversations give way to suspicion and unexpected visitors, the boundaries between safety and danger begin to blur. Filled with Pinter’s trademark tension, dark humor, and haunting ambiguity, “The Room” keeps audiences riveted from beginning to end. Experience the play that introduced one of modern theatre’s most distinctive voices and continues to captivate audiences with its psychological power. The one-act play is approximately one hour long. Hallways: A Fall Dance Concert, Dec. 10–14, Kimmel Theatre, Armstrong-Youngker Hall ● Thurs-Sat at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The Cornell College Department of The-
atre and Dance will showcase new works choreographed and performed by Cornell students and Amy Simonson. Audience members will experience a dynamic showcase of contemporary modern dance, interwoven with elements of jazz, ballet, and other styles, all on the Kimmel Theatre stage. This will be Amy Simonson’s fifth year as the dance instructor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Cornell. She teaches ballet, modern, jazz, and musical theatre dance. Simonson earned an M.F.A. in dance from the University of Iowa. Theatre and dance performances require tickets, and Cornell’s box office information is included in the calendar listings. Music ● Sunday, Oct. 25: “Rocktoberfest,” The Pop/Contemporary Ensemble will give a concert at 8 p.m. in Smith Dining Room. ● Tuesday, Nov. 17: The Cornell College Choirs will perform their fall concert at 7 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon. ● Thursday, Nov. 19: The Contemporary Commercial Music Major Showcase will take place at 7 p.m. on the Orange Carpet in Thomas Commons. ● Sunday, Dec. 6: The Jazz Ensemble and Pop/Contemporary Ensemble will perform at 7 p.m. in Smith Dining Room. Musical concerts are free and open to the public. Literary Arts Global Voices ● Monday, Oct. 5, Thomas Commons, Hall-Perrine Room, 4–5:30 p.m. International writers, Juan Carlos Reyes (fiction writer/screenwriter/filmmaker) of Mexico, Iván Hochman (writer/screen-
writer/actor/director) of Argentina, and Human Ip (ecological writer/painter) of Hong Kong will share their work. This multilingual, multi-genre event is a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to hear from writers who are visiting Iowa as residents in the International Writing Program. Visiting Writer and Activist Wally Mongane Serote ● Monday, Oct. 26, Thomas Commons, Hall-Perrine Room, 4–5:30 p.m. Wally Mongane Serote, the National Poet Laureate of South Africa, will give a talk commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Soweto uprising, drawing parallels to the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Lives Matter Movement. He will also give a short reading from his work. Visiting Essayist and Writing Coach Helen Betya Rubinstein ● Tuesday, Oct. 27, Van Etten-Lacey House, 4–5 p.m. Writer, writing coach, and former Dana Fellow for the Center for the Literary Arts Helen Rubinstein returns to campus to discuss her new book, “Feels Like Trouble: Provocations on Writing, Teaching and Power.” Her talk will include a writing activity. Visiting Fiction Writer David McGlynn ● Tuesday, Dec.8, Van Etten-Lacey House, 4–5 p.m. Lawrence University Professor David McGlynn will read from his latest novel, “Liberal Arts.” His previous books include “Everything We Could Do,” “One Day You'll Thank Me: Lessons from an Unexpected Fatherhood,” “A Door in the Ocean,” and “The End of the Straight and Narrow.” A nonfiction book, “The Channel: The History, Science, and Insanity of the World’s Most Famous Swim”—including the tale of his own swim of the English
Channel—is also coming in 2028. Art exhibitions “Be still, life.” by Susannah Biondo-Gemmell, Aug. 28–Oct. 4, 2026 ● Peter Paul Luce Gallery, McWethy Hall ● Homecoming Reception: Saturday, Oct. 3, 3–5 p.m. This Cornell College art professor will use mixed-media textile and ceramic pieces, tying in the themes of vanitas—Latin for “vanity”—and memento mori—Latin for “remember that you must die.” Both themes appear in still life paintings, especially those produced in 16th-and 17th-century Europe. She’s exploring the themes in relation to her own maternal experience, reflecting on how quickly the motherhood phase of life is passing and the overall fleeting nature of life. “Tales of Mundane Black Joy: Who Gets to Rest?,” Dadisi Curtis Jr., Oct. 23—Dec. 6, 2025 ● Peter Paul Luce Gallery, McWethy Hall ● Opening Reception: Friday, Oct. 23, 4—6 p.m. (artist talk begins before at 3:30 p.m) Dadisi Curtis Jr.’s technicolor narrative prints depict fleeting moments of joy experienced by Black men navigating a familiar, but hostile environment. The artist uses blacklight to illuminate his work, emphasizing the perspective shift he asks his viewers to make: seeing something outside the dominant visual spectrum. All shows are in Peter Paul Luce Gallery, McWethy Hall, and are open and free to the public. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.–4 p.m. on weekdays and Sundays from 2–4 p.m.
MV approves new workflow management program Mount Vernon City Council approves the switch from HubSpot to iWorQ Lillie Hawker For the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun The Mount Vernon City Council approved a new service agreement for iWorQ, a work management program, at its Sept. 21 regular meeting.
The city of Mount Vernon uses HubSpot for workflow management through the city website, and iWorQ will replace that program. City administrator Chris Nosbisch said that iWorQ is better suited for public entities than HubSpot, especially as more residents use the city website to submit requests. Residents can use the city website to request services such as tree removal. “We are getting more and more citizens going to the website and utilizing this pro-
gram to identify issues that they're having in the neighborhood,” said Nosbisch. Public works director Eldon Downs said that switching to iWorQ would also benefit the city. Downs said HubSpot does not provide a space for residents to leave their address or email when submitting a request. “So often when we get them, the people, they're just a random person,” said Downs. “You have no idea who to contact or where to go to follow up.”
Assistant city administrator Lori Boren said the switch will also make the app easier to use for residents. Boren said the HubSpot app is hard for residents to navigate, but switching to iWorQ will fix the issue. The council approved the motion 5-0 to accept the service agreement to use iWorQ for $12,000 annually, with a $3,000 set-up fee. Nosbisch and Boren said the city will make the switch in early October.
SPORTS
10 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | MOUNT VERNON-LISBON SUN
MV FOOTBALL
MVLSUNCOM
Mustangs skunk Wildcats 56-0 Ryan Suchomel Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
No. 10 Mount Vernon opened district play by skunking Maquoketa 56-0 on Homecoming Friday, Sept. 25, at Armstrong Field. The Mustangs (3-1, 1-0) were pretty relentless two weeks after a setback to topranked Solon. "That one was tough for us," Mount Vernon coach Brad Meester said. "We're a young team. We have some growing up to do. We have to mature." If junior Easton Reasland is any indication, the Mustangs are maturing just fine. Reasland started the year in a timeshare at QB1, but has since given way to junior Noah Olsen. So, Reasland moved to receiver. Against the Cardinals, he made his first reception, a 16-yard catch-and-run that showed potential. "I had to pivot and find a new position," Reasland said. "That's where I'm supposed to be. God has a plan for my life. I'll stick to it, work hard at it, and find my way onto the field." Sophomore Graham Yanda, a tight end, said the team was excited to see him join the receiving group. "We were like, 'oh, let's go!'" Yanda said. "Get that red jersey off and put that black jersey on." Quarterbacks wear red jerseys in practice so defensive players know not to hit them. The Cardinals were probably wanting that kind of protection Friday night. Instead, Maquoketa finished with just 41 total yards and just two first downs as the Mount Vernon defense made life miserable for the winless Cardinals (0-5, 0-1). "They are a really tough group that swarms to the ball," Meester said of his defense. "We've been challenging them." Team stats M MV First downs 2 24 Rushes-yds. 20-(-13) 35-267 Cmp.-Att.-Int. 5-13-2 10-12-0 Pass yds. 54 190 Total yds. 41 457 Fum.-lost 2-0 1-1 Punts-ave. 7-29.7 0-0.0 Pen.-yds. 7-51 7-75 Maquoketa 0 0 0 0 — 0 Mount Vernon 28 21 0 7 — 56 MV - Jakob Yock 22-yard run (Jack Carnes kick). MV - Noah Olsen 1-yard run (Carnes kick). MV - Maddox Curran 43-yard pass from Olsen (Carnes kick). MV - Yock 12-yard run (Carnes kick). MV - Yock 25-yard run (Carnes kick). MV - Graham Yanda 15-yard pass from Olsen (Carnes kick). MV - Holden Hlavacek 29-yard pass from Olsen (Carnes kick). MV - Easton Reasland 20-yard run (Carnes kick). INDIVIDUAL STATS Rushing - Maquoketa: Matthew Michel 4-16, Theodore Schabacker 2-8, DanBren Henson 4-4, Joseph Ihrig 3-2, Parker Nienkark 1-1, Kye Coakley 6-(-44). MV: Jakob Yoder 15-139, Gabe Grafft 6-50, Easton Reasland 3-38, Luke Robinson 1-21, Tucker Plate 6-19, Eli Casey 1-4, Noah Olsen 3-(-4). Passing- Maquoketa: Kye Coakley 5-13-54-2. MV: Noah Olsen 10-11190-0, Easton Reasland 0-1-0-0. Receiving - Maquoketa: Grason Hayward 1-26, Cash O'Connell 1-14, Reid James 1-6, Joseph Ihrig 1-4, Caleb Coates 1-4. MV: Holden Hlavacek 3-63, Maddox Curran 2-71, Luke Robinson 1-18, Easton Reasland 1-16, Graham Yanda 1-15, Tysen Zacharakis-Jutz 1-9, Jakob Yock 1-(-2).
Yanda said the defense wants to control the line of scrimmage every snap. "We're focused on the 2-yard box," Yanda said. "Honestly, we're just doing our thing, and getting those tackles for loss." The first half for Maquoketa featured five drives that went 3-and-out. Another ended on an interception by Holden Hlavacek. Another ended at the half. At the half, the Cardinals had zero first downs, and zero yards. Yanda had a sack and sophomore Beckett Curran had a TFL. Maquoketa only got into MV territory once, and then were intercepted by junior Daxton Recker to start the fourth quarter. Offensively, Mount Vernon scored on every possession in the first half. Senior running back Jakob Yock ended the day with 139 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Olsen was nearly perfect, going 10-for-11 passing for 190 yards with three touchdowns. That included a 13-yard strike to Maddox Curran, a 44-yard TD toss to Hlavacek, and a 15-yard TD catch by Yanda. Reasland, now a receiver, is still the backup quarterback. He did get to log some time under center and had a 53-yard touchdown run brought back for a holding call. "I was looking over to the sideline," Reasland said. "I want it. I want to take it to the house again. They weren't going to stop me." The very next play, Reasland ran for 20 yards, and four plays later, ran for another 20 yards for the final touchdown. "I love his attitude," Meester said. "He's working his tail off in the receiver spot and has fully embraced it." District play continues with a trip to Rogers Field at Center Point-Urbana (2-3, 0-1) this week. "We were pretty ticked off after the Solon loss and just knew that we had a lot to prove," Reasland said. "We wanted to make a statement to our district tonight."
Photos by Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Top: Mount Vernon’s Maddox Curran (No. 11) gets over the Cardinal defender near the end zone to make a catch in the first quarter and earn a Mustangs touchdown. Above: Mount Vernon’s Luke Robinson (No. 20) advances the ball down the field. Right: Mount Vernon’s Jakob Yock (No. 22) pushes against a Cardinal tackle to get more yards and move the ball down the field.
MVLSUN.COM | MOUNT VERNON-LISBON SUN
SPORTS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | 11
MV VOLLEYBALL
MV smashed by CP-U Ryan Suchomel Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
Mount Vernon won't mind if they match up with Center Point-Urbana in the conference tournament or postseason play. But expect the match to take a long time. "I think we're going to see them a lot," senior libero Mavrik Schweer said. "We'll
put up a fight." These two WaMaC squads have tangled. Back on Aug. 29, CPU won at the Early Bird Tournament at Central DeWitt, 21-6, 18-21, 15-13. On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the Mustangs were out for revenge on their home court, but the Stormin' Pointers got them again, 25-23, 20-25, 25-18, 25-21. "We're two very evenly
matched teams," Mount Vernon Coach Maggie Willems said. "They were great in most phases of the game. We were not able to put the runs together as well as they did tonight." The two teams came into the night ranked No. 5 (Mount Vernon) and No. 7 (CPU), and two days later, Mount Vernon fell to No. 9 and CPU rose to No. 5. "They are ranked lower than us, but they are a really solid team," senior Sophia Meester said. "We needed to play our best, and some of that didn't happen." The first set was tied 19-19. Senior Brynlee Bettcher cut it to 24-23 with a free ball kill, but an error delivered the set to the Stormin' Pointers. The second set was tied 18-18. Bettcher and junior Madelyn Paulus each had two kills as the Mustangs closed on a 7-2 run to take it. CPU was in control in the third set, getting up 18-11 and finishing it off. The fourth set was tightly contested again, with CPU up 18-17, then 19-18, then 20-19, then 21-20. But two late kills by Addison Halac and a Mustang error finished the set and match. "They have some great players and some tall players," Meester said. "And they came stronger with
Photos by Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Above: The Mount Vernon Mustangs celebrate a point against Center Point-Urbana Tuesday, Sept. 22. Left: Mount Vernon’s Stella Merino (No. 7) and Ella Wilson (No. 4) attempt to block the ball at the net in play Tuesday, Sept. 22. the block this time than last time we played them." CPU got a few stuff blocks on Meester early in the first set, and it seemed to put Mount Vernon's top attacker off her game. "Yes and no," Meester said. "It is not going to keep me from swinging. The mentality is to keep on swinging, and if there is a spot to tip, I'm going to tip." Meester had 10 kills. Bettcher led the Mustangs with 13 kills. Paulus had eight kills. Junior Ella Wilson, senior setter Madison Hoffert and freshman Stella
Merino each added four kills. Mount Vernon hit .160 as a team. CPU hit .167, led by senior Brynley Havel with 14 kills and Halac with 10. "It can be easy to become frustrated," Willems said. "Blocks can impact a hitter for sure." Mount Vernon fell to 17-6 and 1-2 in the Wamac East. It is the first time the Mustangs have had two home Wamac losses since 2018, when Dyersville Beckman was still in the league. The Mustangs did get to celebrate a couple of
milestones during their Homecoming week match. Schweer recently hit 1,000 career digs, and Meester has tallied 500 career digs. "I love to chase stats," Schweer said. "It is a very athlete thing to do. It is something I've been battling for and it is cool to put a number on it." An all-state libero, digs come naturally for Schweer. Meester, who didn't play in the back row early in her career, had to learn. "It is a lot to be a six-rotation player," Willems said.
MV TENNIS
MV’s Stella Dvorak on to state Ryan Suchomel Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
It was a good news/bad news week for Mount Vernon girls’ tennis. The good? Sophomore Stella Dvorak qualified for the state tournament. She will head to Waukee on Oct. 7 and 8 and try to bring home a high finish in Class 1A singles play. The bad? Mount Vernon lost its team regional opener, 5-2 to WaMaC rival Independence at Mount Vernon. And it stung a little bit, because Mount Vernon had beaten Independence 7-2 way back on Aug. 27 in Independence. "The first time we played them we were more ready," Mount Vernon coach Brenden VanWey said. "And Independence is a team that gets significantly stronger as the season continues." Independence reversed a couple of singles results and almost wrapped up the win on singles play alone (once a team reaches 5 points in the postseason, the match is over). Only the No. 2 singles match featuring Emily Schnoor and Brooklyn Pint, was left on the court, and going to a tiebreaker in the second set. Win, and Mount Vernon gets to play doubles, where they swept Independence back in August. Lose, and it is all over. "I didn't know I was the point we needed to keep going," Schnoor said. "They didn't want to tell me that ... which I'm glad they didn't." "that was tense for everybody," VanWey said. "And tense for her as well. But everyone out here was more tense than she was." Schnoor ended up winning, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3). Schnoor was trailing in the second set, but rallied to force the tiebreaker. "I just had to get mentally ready," Schnoor said. "I had to start playing my game, and not playing her game. Be
more confident in my shots." So the match moved on to doubles play. But the momentum, or mojo, wasn't there for Mount Vernon. And they had a missing player. No. 3 doubles team of Leah Morse and Ellie Beatty dropped their match to Clara Junk and Madelyn Brown, 6-4, 6-3. That ended up being the deciding match, but the other Mount Vernon doubles teams were also in trouble. At the time No. 3 doubles finished, the No. 2 doubles team of Avery Thurn sand Journey McCartt was heading towards a third-set tiebreaker, and the No. 1 doubles team of Schnoor and Dvorak were battling a third-set tiebreaker, and a point away from losing. So, Dvorak and Schnoor didn't have to potentially take a loss, and stayed undefeated on the season. "It would have been good to keep playing and try to win it," Schnoor said. "We put up a good fight. And now we can say we're undefeated in doubles." Mount Vernon (8-2) was hoping for a shot at the only team to beat them in the regular season, Camanche, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, in a regional semifinal. "Making it to state was one of our goals. We had really high hopes this year," Schnoor said. "We thought we could keep pressing and make it. But stuff like this is going to happen. Everyone gave it their all, that's all we can do." "We knew it'd be a tough fight," VanWey said. "It was not the outcome we wanted or expected. That happens sometimes." On Wednesday, Sept. 23, in Fairfield, Dvorak lost to Natalie Steele of Fairfield 6-4, 6-4, but beat Ria Ross of Fairfield 6-1, 6-3, to punch her ticket. Schnoor lost 6-0, 6-2 to Steele and 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (4-7), 10-5 to Ross. Both Mustang doubles teams lost to Fairfield in straight sets. Thurn and McCartt did finish third, so they are a state alternate. "It was a pretty good day," VanWey said. "Stella did very well against the girl she had previously beat. The other is a two-time state place-winner."
Contributed photo
Mount Vernon’s Stella Dvorak is headed to the state tennis tournament Oct. 7 and Oct. 8, pictured alongside coach Brandon VanWey. Doubles team Avery Thurn and Journey McCartt placed third and are also alternates at the state tournament. Independence 5, Mount Vernon 2 Singles - Stella Dvorak (MV) def. Tessa Post 6-1, 6-2; Emily Schnoor (MV) def. Brooklyn Pint 6-2, 7-6(7-3); Isla Reed (I) def. Avery Thurn 6-3, 6-2; Katherrine Hansen (I) def. Journey McCartt 6-3, 6-2; Clara Junk (I) def. Anna Stephens 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (11-9); Madelyn Brown (I) def. Leah Morse 7-5, 7-5. Doubles - Junk/Brown def. Morse/Ellie Beatty 6-4, 6-3. No. 1 and No. 2 doubles retired.
SPORTS
12 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026
MOUNT VERNON-LISBON SUN | MVLSUN.COM
LISBON VOLLEYBALL
Lions slashed by Bears Ryan Suchomel Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
Lisbon volleyball was so close to picking up its first River Valley Conference win, but lost to the Bears, 24-26, 25-20, 16-25, 25-14, 15-13, on Tuesday, Sept. 22, in West Branch. Lisbon (14-5, 0-4) still has three more RVC matches, but against West Liberty (168, 2-2), No. 11 (2A) Regina (12-10, 2-2) and Mid-Prairie (11-9, 2-2). Shea Benhart enjoyed a big night against the Bears with 20 kills, hitting at a .288 efficiency. Ella Czarnecki added nine kills, Quinn Roos had eight kills and Kayla Bergmann added five kills. Kinsley Jo Kamaus had 36 assists, and Benhart and Kyla Kahl each had 36 digs. Benhart also had seven ace serves. Lisbon then went 3-2 at the South Tama Inviational on Saturday, Sept. 26. The Lions beat Springville (21-11, 18-21, 15-5), North Mahaska (18-21, 21-17, 15-8) and East Marshall (21-11, 21-17) and lost to Pleasantville (21-13, 21-19) and South Tama County (21-12, 21-11).
Photos by Emma Reiter | For the Solon Economist
Above: Lisbon libero Kyla Kahl digs a ball during a volleyball game against Durant at Lisbon High School Tuesday, Sept. 15. Left: Lisbon setter Kinsley Jo Kamaus contests a point during a volleyball game against Durant at Lisbon High School Tuesday, Sept. 15.
LISBON FOOTBALL
Lisbon loses to MFL MarMac 41-14
Ryan Suchomel Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
Not often in 2026 do you find a high school football program still running the Wing-T formation. But when it is run to perfection, it can be hard to stop. MFL MarMac rolled into Walmer Field and rolled over the Lisbon Lions on Friday, Sept. 25, piling up 385 rushing yards and leaving with a 41-14 victory. "They execute that offense at a very high level," Lisbon Coach Alex Dean said. "We wanted to get after it but sometimes got too far up field and our eyes were not where they were supposed to be." The Bulldogs were led by sophomore Tyce Wikner with 140 rushing yards on 19 carries. Senior Kashton Decker had 116 rushing yards on 12 carries. And modern Wing-T incorporates a little more passing, so sophomore QB Easton Lange had 149 passing yards. "They presented some problems for us," Dean said. "And they did a nice job of blocking our front seven. "They are a tough team to prepare for. You'd better pack your lunch and be physical." MFL MarMac (2-3, 1-1 1AD5) built a 21-0 first quarter lead and were up 28-0 at half. The Lions played them even in the second half, but the damage had been done. "I think our kids came out of half locked in,"
Photos by Aliya Stork | For the Solon Economist
Above: Lisbon’s Ryder Meeks runs through tackles during the Cascade game on Friday, Sept. 18. Below: Lisbon’s Caleb Norton goes to kick the ball during a punt return against Cascade on Sept. 18. Dean said. "Let's find out what this team is made of. They came out fighting. We played a little better. Nobody quit on us." Senior Ryder Meeks continued to be a weapon, rushing for 53 yards, catches two passes for 24 yards, and even passing for 68 yards as he shifted back to QB for a few plays. Sophomore QB Tyler Kubovec had 124 passing yards and 61 rushing yards. Senior Logan Mitchell had two catches for 24 yards. "When you have a
dynamic player like Ryder, you make sure to use his skill set," Dean said. "He did a nice job." Things don't get any easier this week for Lisbon (2-3, 0-2). They head east to take on undefeated Northeast (5-0, 2-0) and their dynamic QB Maxzen Eskildsen. The junior has 944 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, and has 679 passing yards and 13 passing touchdowns. "He does a lot of good things, so we'd better lock in," Dean said.
Correction In the Sept. 24 issue of the Sun, Lisbon Lions football player Calder Schumacher (No. 8) was misidentified as Caleb Schumacher in a photo cutline from the Lisbon homecoming game. The Sun apologizes for the error.
MVLSUN.COM | MOUNT VERNON-LISBON SUN
MV HOMECOMING 2026
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | 13
Photos by Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Above left: Mount Vernon football players throw candy from a parade float Thursday, Sept. 24. Above right: Members of the Mount Vernon cheerleaders ride a float in the homecoming parade Thursday, Sept. 24. Far left: Mount Vernon middle school volleyball waves in the parade Thursday, Sept. 24. Left: Mount Vernon-Lisbon cross country assistant coach Crystal Eskelsen and her granddaughter bring up the end of the parade Thursday, Sept. 24. Below: The Marching Mustangs color guard helps a transition in the After Hours program Friday, Sept. 25. Bottom left: The Mount Vernon Marching Mustangs celebrate the first touchdown of the homecoming game Friday, Sept. 25. Bottom right: the Marching Mustangs draw After Hours to a close at Friday, Sept. 25’s homecoming half time.
Emma Reiter | For the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Jonathan Winkler and Reagan Slaymaker were crowned homecoming king and queen Thursday, Sept. 24.
NEWS
14 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026
MOUNT VERNON-LISBON SUN | MVLSUN.COM
Run for Pie 5K has 122 participants Nathan Countryman Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Another Run for Pie 5k, yet another top placement for Ean Caskey, with a time of 15:36. In the past six years, Ean has been the top male overall finisher in four of those years. His son Chasen was usually not far down the list, either, but this year it was Dashtyn in the 12th finishing spot. Mount Vernon-Lisbon Cross Country coach Kory Swart was in the top four finishers, outpaced by Anthony Armstrong in second place. For the women finishers, Mount Vernon’s Stephanie Brehm was first with a 20:24 finish and 10th place overall. A total of 122 racers competed in the 5K, with the top three finishers in each age group nabbing a homemade pie, and the overall top men’s finisher and women’s finisher getting a piece of Haitian artwork. Funds raised benefit the communities in Haiti, and the race is a work of the pastorate of the area Cedar Rapids churches. The rain held off for the event this year, a rare dry spell over the past week itself as well.
Photos by Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Left: Stephanie Bream was the top women’s finisher. Center: Ean Caskey was the top men’s finisher. Above: The runners and walkers are off in Run for Pie Saturday, Sept. 26. One-hundred-and-twenty-two participated in this year’s event.
Full results of Run for Pie 5K: 1 Ean Caskey, M45 15:36; 2 Anthony Armstrong, M18 18:05; 3 Cadin Evans, M24 18:27; 4 Kory Swart, M52 18:45; 5 Ethan Wykert, M33 19:16; 6 Sam VoZina, M25 19:19; 7 Tyler Strand, M42 19:29; 8 Liam Johnson, M12 20:09; 9 Aj Rickman, M25 20:13; 10 Stephanie Brehm, F35 20:24; 11 Asa Gipple, M24 20:52; 12 Dashtyn Caskey, M14 21:08; 13 Penny Cardo, F15 21:39; 14 Richard Podhajsky, M43 22:05; 15 Jacob Lampi, M33 22:29; 16 Lori Long, F54 22:30; 17 Adam Burnham, M40 22:37; 18 Douglas Hass, M45 22:42; 19 Aiden Hepner, M16 22:52; 20 Josh Grindeland, M37 22:55; 21 Jason Ainsworth, M45 23:05; 22 Layne Berryman, M60 23:09; 23 Lane Williams, M29 23:23; 24 Kyle Low, M37 23:29; 25 James McLaughlin, M40 23:43 26 Joel Cardo, M44 23:49; 27 John Brehm, M36 23:55; 28 Kylen Rowley, M11 24:04; 29 Luke Palandech, M32 24:17; 30 April Kelly, F47 24:21; 31 Logan O'Connor, M27 24:27; 32 Sean Armstrong, M40 24:36; 33 Brandon Wolfe, M41 24:37; 34 Miranda Woodcock, F27 24:56; 35 Stacey Williams, F35 24:59; 36 Alyssa Cram, F38 25:21; 37 Sophia Gogel, F13 25:26; 38 Matt Gogel, M48 25:27; 39 Zachary Brecht, M25 25:36; 40 Ann Devault, F44 25:58; 41
Especially for You Race Against Breast Cancer marks 36th year ®
More than 15,250 already registered for this year’s race The 36th annual Especially for You ® (EFY) Race Against Breast Cancer is almost here! To date, more than 15,250 individuals and 600 teams have registered
Join Mercy & Alliant Energy at Power of Pink to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month Mercy Medical Center and Alliant Energy invite the community to the Power of Pink event on Thursday, Oct. 1, to help kick off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This free, family-friendly event includes an illumination ceremony and a laser light show to raise awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection. Beginning with the Power of Pink event and continuing throughout October, Mercy’s Hall-Perrine
Zachary Wright, M33 25:59; 42 Brad Singleton, M50 25:59; 43 Sara Current, F27 26:02; 44 Kathleen Marston, F31 26:08; 45 Carley Beck, F25 26:19; 46 Ann Struve, F44 26:23; 47 Lauren Saehler, F35 26:27; 48 Kara Gosiak, F35 26:31; 49 Jennifer Wright, F31 26:38; 50 Evan Batterson, M31 26:40 51 Maxwell Forsyth, M27 26:42; 52 Amy Geis, F37 26:42; 53 Kim Erlandson, F65 27:14; 54 Marvin Knoot, M69 27:33; 55 Patti Erenberger, F67 27:39; 56 Finlay Abdoney, M27 27:58; 57 Makenzie Scranton, F12 28:43l; 58 Brian Azelborn, M62 28:55; 59 Megan Franks, F43 29:13; 60 Dianne Singleton, F49 29:18; 61 Jane McGee, F64 29:24; 62 Isabella Feldhake, F20 29:29; 63 Chase Philpott, M28 29:29; 64 Oscar Tuetken, M9 29:51; 65 Liz Cullen, F42 29:54; 66 Kyzer Moore, M31 30:23; 67 Ellie Moore, F31 30:23; 68 Myla Caskey, F9 30:25; 69 Benjamin Voss, M50 30:42; 70 Owen McCarron, M67 30:50; 71 Hannah Brecht, F27 30:51; 72 Melissa Kane, F46 30:55; 73 Brad Scott, M73 31:08; 74 Michelle Schwenn, F51 31:16; 75 Finn Holub, M10 31:20 76 Megan Holub, F43 31:20; 77 Susan Garbe, F58 31:35; 78 Sophie Slater, F18 31:42; 79 Jordan Justus, M22 31:53; 80 Alex Kerr-Totten, M30 32:06; 81 Alyse England, F12 32:13; 82 Paige Ainsworth, F11
32:13; 83 Steve Brecht, M62 32:17; 84 Beth Scheckel, F40 32:29; 85 Heather Delashmutt, F45 32:34; 86 Chris Talcott, M46 32:46; 87 Rebecca Moeller, F41 32:48; 88 Mary Beth Utley, F44 34:01; 89 Chayse Plagge, M13 34:01; 90 Marsha Aspinall, F64 34:17; 91 Rya Novick, F11 34:34; 92 Karen Gregoricka, F62 34:36; 93 Megan Tuetken, F45 35:00; 94 Alan Marshall, M73 36:00; 95 Holly Spreeman, F44 36:05; 96 Jim Berger, M81 37:33; 97 Katie Voss, F47 37:56; 98 Laura Watrous, F47 38:01; 99 Laura Watrous F9 38:01 100 Matt Voelcker, M62 38:07; 101 Jorel Justus, M25 38:28; 102 Everly Krapfl, F9 39:24; 103 Nichole Plagge, F51 39:50; 104 Mike Plagge, M56 39:51; 105 Sonya Justus, F46 39:56; 106 Jason Darnell, M49 40:17; 107 Molly Dahlberg, F41 40:19; 108 Maria Whitaker, F43 41:54; 109 Peggy Brecht, F61 42:45; 110 Barbara Stewart, F72 43:13; 111 Ryan Johnson, M39 44:24; 112 Claudia Scott, F75 48:55; 113 Judy Fuemmeler, F72 48:57; 114 Kim Ainsworth, F46 50:26; 115 Maeve Ainswoerth, F16 50:27; 116 Katrina Wolff, F39 51:39; 117 Brenda Cooley, F62 54:05; 118 Julie Bryan, F46 54:05; 119 Jessica England, F7 54:56; 120 Ava England, F10 55:07; 121 Sonya Powers, F41 55:07; 122 Marcy McElroy, F36 55:08
for the race on Sunday, Oct. 4, which includes a 5K run, 5K walk or a one-mile family fun walk. Last year, a record 16,682 individuals participated. The race supports the Especially for You Fund, which provides funding for mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, and other breast-care and gynecological cancer screenings and services for individuals in need. Throughout the years, more than 18,000 individuals have accessed 48,000 services through the EFY Fund. Individuals can register for the race online at www. especiallyforyourace.org until race day. On-site registration will be available from 7 to 7:45 a.m. on race morning in the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center Community Room, just inside the north entrance. On race morning, breast cancer survivors are invited to gather in the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center parking lot
at 7:15 a.m. to participate in a group photo, which will be taken at 7:25 a.m. More than 1,000 survivors have already registered for the race. Opening ceremonies will be held at the starting line at 7:45 a.m. The starting line is at the intersection of 10th Street & Fifth Avenue SE near Hall-Perrine Cancer Center. The race begins at 8 a.m. The race will finish at Hall-Perrine Cancer Center. Post-race activities will include a health fair, food trucks, kids’ activities and live music.
Cancer Center, hospital entrances and key campus locations will be illuminated in pink – a colorful, visible reminder of the continued fight against breast cancer and the importance of early detection. Thanks to Alliant Energy, community members can light the night pink, too. Guests may pick up a free pink energy-saving light bulb while supplies last. Then, switch out a porch light to remind the women on your street to get screened for breast cancer. This simple act could save a life. That’s the Power of Pink. This year’s event will also include a silent auction benefitting the Especially for You Fund, which helps provide breast and gynecological cancer screenings and services for local women in need.
• Silent auction • 7:15 p.m.: The program begins, followed by an illumination ceremony and laser light show Guests are encouraged to wear pink or their EFY race shirts from past events to show support and solidarity.
Power of Pink highlights: • 4 to 7 p.m.: Especially for You® (EFY) Race Against Breast Cancer packet pick-up • Music by Alisabeth Von Presley • Free pink energy-saving light bulbs from Alliant Energy and pink frosting from General Mills will be available while supplies last. • Refreshments
For more information, visit www.especiallyforyourace.org or call the EFY race line at (319) 398-6582.
Event Details What: Power of Pink illumination ceremony and laser light show to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month When: Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 • EFY packet pick-up: 4 to 7 p.m. • Program: 7:15 p.m.; illumination ceremony and laser light show to follow Where: Mercy’s Hall-Perrine Cancer Center, 701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids Who: Open to the public; free of charge Why: To raise awareness about breast cancer and encourage early detection
NEWS
MVLSUN.COM | MOUNT VERNON-LISBON SUN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | 15
CHURCHES MOUNT VERNON St. Paul Lutheran Church L.C.M.S. 600 Fifth Avenue South Pastor: Rev. Harrison Goodman, Vacancy Pastor www.splcmv.org; send e-mail to info@splcmv.org Sun.: 11 a.m. In-person worship Please refer to our website or contact the church directly for additional worship information. First Presbyterian Church 301 1st St. N.W. www.firstpresmv.com 319-895-6060 Pastor: Rev. Lori Wunder Sun.: 9:30 a.m. in-person worship. Online services stream beginning at 9:20 a.m. on Facebook St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Rev. Ken Glaser, Pastor Sun.: 8:30 a.m. Mass Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Justus Hallam, Bishop Meeting at: 4300 Trailridge Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids Sun.: 11:30 a.m. in person services. Also an option for digital worship services. United Methodist Church Pastor Vicki Fisher www.umcnv.com An LGBTQ affirming congregation Sundays: In-person and live stream at 8:30 a.m. (Praise Service) and 11 a.m. (traditional service); Sunday School (pre-k through eighth grade; Adult classes) at 9:45 a.m. Livestream link for both services can be found on the church website. Wed.: Rooted Youth Group at 6:30 p.m. (Sixth through eighth grade, multi-church youth group with First Presbyterian and Seeds of Faith Lutheran Church. Follow our Facebook page. Community Bible Church 940 W Mt. Vernon Rd. mvcbc.org, 895-6269 Teaching Pastor Brandon Glaza Discipleship Pastor Dennis Fulkerson Family, Youth, Children Pastor Lonnie Speidel Sun.- 9:30 Worship Service, 11 AM School, 6 PM Sr. High Youth Group Wed.- 6 PM Encounter and Jr. High Youth Group
livinghopegmc.org Pastor Andrew Bee Services live streamed at Living Hope Global Methodist Church’s YouTube page Sundays at 9:45 a.m. Sun.: 9:45 a.m. — In-person worship. Seeds of Faith Lutheran Church, ELCA 798 Brenneman Lane, 455-2599 (Off Hwy. 30 on eastern edge of Lisbon) www.seedsoffaithlutheran.org/ Pastor Erika Uthe 9 a.m. — In-person worship. Services also livestream via Seeds’ Facebook Page.
BERTRAM United Methodist Church 319-365-8077 Rev. Jay Admundson, Pastor Sun.: 10:30 a.m. — In-person worship service
MARTELLE Christian Church Sun.: 10:30 a.m. — in person worship service Services also stream online at Martelle Christian Church’s YouTube page. United Methodist Church Sun.: 10:30 a.m. Worship service. No Sunday school.
SPRINGVILLE United Methodist Church Sun.: 9 a.m. Worship service. Wed.: 6:30 p.m. Praise service Faith Christian Fellowship Pastor Joseph Bielema Sun.: 9:30 a.m. worship at Springville Memorial Library, in the Buresh Room (264 Broadway Street) St. Isidore Catholic Church Sat.: 6 p.m. Mass
Linn Grove Presbyterian 2000 Linn Grove Rd., Mt. Vernon Sun: 9 a.m. in-person worship, also, weekly readings, prayers and sermons are posted on the church’s Facebook page.
MECHANICSVILLE
Baha’i Faith Nina Scott, Group Secretary, 319-270-9230
First Presbyterian Church 408 E. First Street.
CrossLife Community Church Pastor Erik Bennett Sun.: 10:30 a.m. – In-person worship service. Services also livestream on Facebook page.
LISBON Living Hope Global Methodist Church 200 E. Market St., 455-2000
Living Hope Bible Church Mechanicsville Memorial Building
Christian Community Church of Mechanicsville 307 East First Street 563-432-7716 Sun: Sunday School 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Worship service 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. St. Mary’s Catholic Church Pastor: Father James Flattery Thurs.: 8:30 a.m. — mass Sun.: 8 a.m. Mass
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Thursday, Oct. 1
Story Time, Cornell College Cole Library Browsing Room, 9:30 a.m. Fiber Friends, Southeast Linn Community Center, 10:30 a.m. Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center Adult Speaker series “Indian Creek Nature Center Who We are and What We Do” by Sarah Botkin, LBC, 1 p.m. Write Together, Lisbon Public Library, 1:30 p.m. Lisbon Music Boosters soup supper, Lisbon High School. 5-7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 2
Cornell College Homecoming, Cornell College Cornell College Classes without Quizzes, Cornell College Thomas Commons, 9-11 a.m. Bingo, Southeast Linn Community Center, 10-11:30 a.m. Linn Lunch Bunch, Southeast Linn Community Center, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cornell College Dueling Pianos, Cornell College Small Athletic and Wellness Complex, 8:45-10:45 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 3
Rhubarb Botanicals farm store, Rhubarb Botanicals farm, 9 a.m. to noon Cornell College Homecoming, Cornell College Be Still, life, homecoming reception, Cornell College McWethy Hall Peter Paul Luce Gallery, 3-6 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 5
Bingo, Southeast Linn Community Center, 10-11:30 a.m. Linn Lunch Bunch, Southeast Linn Community Center, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Edited by Will Shortz No. 0827
Global Voices, Cornell College Thomas Commons HallPerrine Room, 4-5:30 p.m. Washington Elementary Teachers and Parents Meeting, Washington Elementary School, 6 p.m. Mount Vernon City Council, Mount Vernon City Hall, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 6
Lego Club, Cornell College Cole Library Room 108, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Yarn Squad, Cornell College Cole Library, 6:30 p.m. Mount Vernon Fine Arts Association Meeting, Mount Vernon High School Library, 7 p.m. Mount Vernon Middle School Parent Teacher Organization meeting, Mount Vernon Middle School, 8 p.m.
Across
1 Open with one’s teeth? 6 Network that launched in 1994 with the film “Scent of a Woman” 11 Bed threads 14 Pre-Inca civilization known for its underground aqueducts and geoglyphs 15 November birthstone 16 CNBC subj. 17 Currently being tried 18 Apt synonym for “wake-up call” 20 Seattle pro soccer team 22 Look at this! 23 Make a right turn? 24 Greek organization, informally 26 4x platinum self-titled album of 2001 27 More saplike 29 “Sesame Street” character with a pet rock named Rocco 32 Alertness aid 34 Founder of Stoicism 35 Go the other way 36 Not just my 37 Loaded with energy 40 When doubled, first name in classic Hollywood 41 ___ Khamenei, former supreme leader of Iran 42 Daughter of Saturn, in Roman myth 43 Just sat around 45 One sitting on a coop board? 46 Colombian offerings that may be served with hogao 49 Conditions 50 “___ counting?” 51 Check-in from a texter 53 Discombobulated 56 Large storage unit 59 Be a rat 62 2007 horror sequel 63 “The Simpsons” character ___ Nahasapeema-petilon 64 Monotonous hum 65 Hat decoration in a marching band 66 Relay division 67 Word before park or after cheap 68 Less candid, perhaps
Down
1 Some, in León 2 Allied grp. 3 Astronaut for whom a Pixar character is named 4 “You’re not the only one!” 5 Longtime “Saturday Night Live” announcer Don 6 Start to type? 7 Action figures and such 8 Parrot 9 Indian P.M., 1991-96 10 Totino’s frozen food offering 11 Tropical fruta 12 Pic file format 13 Put out 19 911 responder 21 “Music for Airports” composer 24 Feudal estate 25 Lens solution brand 26 10,000,000 ergs 28 2004 inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ... and a hint to 3-, 10-, 29- and 33-Down 29 Bear of children’s rhyme 30 Desert havens 31 “Heavens to Murgatroyd!” 32 Biblical “captain” 33 Gesture also known as “spirit fingers” 38 French bread? 39 Console for Chrono Trigger, in brief 44 Completely missed shot 47 “It makes sense now!” 48 Soak 50 Microscopic 52 Insects responsible for virtually all fig pollination 53 Obsessively oriented 54 Record, in a way 55 A little too pleased with oneself 56 Bloke 57 “The devourer of all things,” per Ovid 58 Perpetually 60 Clumsy vessel 61 Bygone cousin of a kiwi
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Pocket Sized Art Club, Lisbon Library, 4 p.m. Lisbon Post Prom Meeting, Lisbon High School, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 8
Story Time, Cornell College Cole Library Browsing Room, 9:30 a.m. Fiber Friends, Southeast Linn Community Center, 10:30 a.m. Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center Adult Speaker series “American Civil War Oregon Trail 1840’s” by Barry Grove, LBC, 1 p.m. Warriors Book Club, Lisbon Public Library, 4 p.m. “The Room” by Harold Pinter, Cornell College Armstrong-Youngker Hall Plumb-Fleming Black Box Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
SUDOKU To play: Complete the grid so that every row, column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. There is no guessing or math involved, just use logic to solve.
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 2
PUBLIC NOTICES
16 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 IowaPublicNotices.com LINN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CEDAR RAPIDS, LINN COUNTY, IOWA MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 10:00 A.M. (These are the minutes in their entirety. Archived minutes can be found at www. linncountyiowa.gov) The Board met in session at the Linn County Jean Oxley Public Service Center. Present: Chairperson Running-Marquardt, Vice Chairperson Scheetz and Supervisor Meisheid. Board members voting “AYE” unless otherwise noted. Chairperson Running-Marquardt called the meeting to order. Motion by Running-Marquardt, seconded by Scheetz to approve minutes of September 8 & 9, 2026 as printed. Motion by Scheetz, seconded by Meisheid to approve claims dated 09/11/2026 for payroll deduction Check Nos. 71022311 to 71022313 in the amount of $500.00, ACH in the amount of $24,392.70, EFT wire in the amount of $31,806.02 and a Ceridian ER Funds Trust Wire in the amount of $2,414,720.45, for a total of $2,471,419.17. Supervisor Scheetz read Proclamation: National Construction Appreciation Week, September 14, through 18, 2026. Motion by Scheetz, seconded by Meisheid to approve said Proclamation. Brad Ketels, County Engineer, discussed a public purpose statement for the use of public funds for food purchases related to the October 30, 2026, Secondary Road Department Annual Fall Department Meeting. He was informed by Lisa Powell that this is already covered under the Employee Recognition Policy. Supervisor Meisheid added that an email was sent out by Supervisor Running-Marquardt regarding discussions and communication for public funds purchases. Darrin Gage is also working on a how to for this as well. Supervisor Running-Marquardt shared that with their top tier budget designation and audits that they are handling things correctly. She thanked Ketels for checking with other departments and his leadership. Motion by Running-Marquardt, seconded by Scheetz to approve a public purpose statement for the use of public funds for food purchases related to the October 30, 2026, Secondary Road Department Annual Fall Department Meeting. Cara Matteson, Sustainability Dir., discussed a request to carry over fiscal year 2026 funds in the amount of $13,854.36 for Linn County water projects for the Sustainability Department. The funds would go towards a new private well monitoring project (hasn’t been rolled out yet), which is an extension of a current water level monitoring project. They would like to put water level sensors on wells they own in addition to adding new wells. Supervisor Running-Marquardt spoke with the Finance Director about this as they are trying to find the balance of specific projects. They need a specific project that it is designated for, and the wells have not been determined yet. Matteson should work with Finance and have additional conversations before this item goes on Wednesday’s agenda. She is in support of this; it is just missing details. Supervisors Meisheid and Scheetz are also in agreement that they need more clarification for the specific project. Matteson then discussed a joint-funding agreement with the United States Geological Survey Central Midwest Water Science Center for annual operation and maintenance of the streamgaging station on Cedar River at Blairs Ferry Road in Palo, Iowa. This agreement has been in place for the last 5 years. She would like to continue the partnership with them with a cost of $3,660. The Board will approve Wednesday. Matteson also discussed an amendment to an existing contract between the University of Iowa and Linn County for an extension on Aquifer Vulnerability Map of Linn County. This is a current contract the county has for 3 different projects. She would like to add additional data and add even more robust mapping. There is no additional charge. The University of Iowa would like to attend a Board meeting and give a preliminary overview of the project. Supervisor Running-Marquardt expressed her excitement that the information can be used. The Board will approve Wednesday. Motion by Running-Marquardt, seconded by Scheetz to open public hearing on a request to rezone 23.23 acres located at in the 400 block of Wilder Drive, Cedar Rapids, Iowa from the Agricultural (AG) to Rural Residential 2-Acre (RR2) district. Brad Wylam, Planning & Development, discussed a request to rezone 23.23 acres located at in the 400 block of Wilder Drive, Cedar Rapids, Iowa from the Agricultural (AG) to Rural Residential 2-Acre (RR2) district. Proof of publication was received. There were no oral or written objections. The feedback they received was just questions about what the request was. This is running concurrently with the final plat application. The applicant is proposing 1 buildable lot for a single-family home. This proposal meets all the standards and staff is recommending approval. Lacey Stutzman, MMS Consultants, added that she does not have any additional information. Neighbors have mainly just been curious. Motion by Running-Marquart, seconded by Scheetz to close public hearing. Motion by Running-Marquardt, seconded by Scheetz to approve First Consideration on a request to rezone 23.23 acres located at in the 400 block of Wilder Drive, Cedar Rapids, Iowa from the Agricultural (AG) to Rural Residential 2-Acre (RR2) district. Supervisor Meisheid discussed the appointments of trustees for the Mt. Vernon/ Lisbon EMS district for unincorporated Linn County. She explained that the Board certified the votes last week and 5 qualified. They reached out to those 5 to make sure that they were interested. She suggested that they appoint Kim Tucker, Lori Lynch and Dawn Brus. Iowa Code does not specify when their terms start and end. The terms begin today and end in 1, 2 and 3 years. Supervisor Running-Marquardt thanked Meisheid for working through this. She also asked Auditor Taylor to
report information to the Department of Management. Auditor Taylor also added that they are working to change the code as well. Motion by Meisheid, seconded by Running-Marquardt to appoint the following as trustees for the Mt. Vernon/Lisbon EMS district for unincorporated Linn County: Dawn Brus - term ending 12/31/2027, Lori Lynch - term ending 12/31/2028, and Kim Tucker - term ending 12/31/2029. Public Comment: Jon Lee, 2510 Sisley Grove Rd. SW, Cedar Rapids, stated he is asking them to stand behind the people of this county. On June 24th more than 200 people attended the meeting and asked questions for 5 hours and a promise was made to post the questions and answers. He asked what has been done to get those answers to the community as he is not aware of any press releases after that and no second meeting. The burden falls on Alliant as they are the ones that asked to put something new next to the people who live there. It is not on the community to prove that they will be harmed. Alliant did not start the process thinking that they would lose. Someone has to make sure the community understands what is being decided and what is meant for the people living there. He believes that falls on this county, and the Supervisors are the 3 people that direct Linn County. He is asking 3 things: 1 – ask the public to finish answering those questions and give the public the date it will be done; 2 – a health impact study and ask staff today when that can be done and 3 – write to Public Health and the DNR and tell them they do not agree with skipping the air testing at this site. He is asking that they say it together as a united board. Say that they are standing behind the community. His opinion is that something this size deserves more scrutiny and not less. Lee asked that when the rezoning comes in front of them to vote no. Leon Schmidt, 3550 Stone Creek Cir. SW, Cedar Rapids, is speaking in opposition to the proposed power station at Morgan Valley. He went to Alliant’s open house on July 30th and his concern was about pollution. He would like them to come watch the fog settle in the valley. Fog travels 100 miles before dropping to the ground. Schmidt questioned what would happen if the power station was 100 miles away and then it just drops. He also mentioned the gas pipe being 30 inches but was told the biggest it can be is 24 inches. Motion by Running-Marquardt, seconded by Scheetz to approve payroll authorizations (detail is available upon request). Motion by Running-Marquardt, seconded by Scheetz to appoint Jayn Inglethron to the Linn County Food Systems Council to fill an unexpired term, ending December 31, 2030. Adjournment at 10:37 a.m. Respectfully submitted, TODD E. TAYLOR, Linn County Auditor By: Amanda Brown, Deputy Auditor Approved by: KIRSTEN RUNNING-MARQUARDT, Chairperson Board of Supervisors Published in the Sun October 1, 2026.
LINN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CEDAR RAPIDS, LINN COUNTY, IOWA TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 9:00 A.M. (These are the minutes in their entirety. Archived minutes can be found at www. linncountyiowa.gov) The Board met in session at the Linn County Jean Oxley Public Service Center. Present: Chairperson Running-Marquardt, Vice Chairperson Scheetz and Supervisor Meisheid. Board members voting “AYE” unless otherwise noted. Chairperson Running-Marquardt called the meeting to order. The Board heard updates from the following Department Heads: Charlie Nichols, Planning and Development Dir. – budget update; fully staffed but incorporating another intern; Building Division continues to focus on providing timely, consistent, and professional permitting and inspection services; permit activity (2-year downturn); Permit Specialist created a public sentiment snapshot of data center meetings; open house in November to share comments gathered regarding the Comprehensive Plan and proposed land use map changes; Coggon Solar work continues with upcoming Road Use Agreement – waiting on developer before construction can start; 1 Food Systems Council vacancy; Morgan Valley Energy Center Meeting on September 28th; sent survey to gauge interest in a Rural Economic Development Support function and results suggest it would be useful; possibility of an upcoming policy on how future requests to comment on urban renewal area creation are handled due to SF2472. Board members are in favor of this policy. Luke Fischer, Facilities Dir. – working on LC3 project; budget update; Assistant Facilities Manager, Becky Marx, is retiring and first round of interviews are this week; Supervisor Running-Marquardt thanked Becky Marx for her years of service and time spent at the county. Fischer continued: lightning strike at Juvenile Detention Center last week; working on work rules; assisting with Secondary Roads move in custodial setup and IT support; Courthouse Phase 1B renovation move in this week; building automation system training; facilities laptops; Mental Health Access Center bullet resistant glass installed and waiting on countertop; working through boiler/chiller replacement project; working with Sustainability on 65 trees being planted and will be maintained by Trees Forever; Health and Safety Fair set up; Public Health storage being moved; EMA project scope and cost summary; Harris Bldg. monument signage; LIFTS cameras; Correctional Center infrastructure assessment. Joi Alexander, Communications Dir. – fully staffed; Key Performance Indicator; various products completed including social media photo and video guidelines for staff, property tax insert, Teams background (by request), blog post about Morgan Valley Energy Center and how an ordinance is created; tree planting media advisory; Data Center Advisory Committee project; PZC meeting for Morgan Valley Energy Center; Secondary Road Dept. headquarters ribbon cutting is September
29th; snowplow naming contest; Let’s Chat videos in the works; DOJ Digital Accessibility Plan; staff member attended annual conference last week for 3CMA; quarterly meeting with Black Hawk and Johnson Counties this week. Motion by Running-Marquardt, seconded by Scheetz to go into closed session pursuant to Iowa Code §21.5 to discuss two separate matters: discuss pending litigation pursuant to Iowa Code §21.5(1) (c) and review and discuss the terms of a draft economic development agreement. The Board expects the related materials to be confidential under Iowa Code §22.7(65) and Iowa Code §22.7(6). Communications with counsel concerning such matters are intended to remain confidential and may be protected by attorney-client privilege under Iowa law. VOTE: Scheetz – Aye, Running-Marquardt – Aye, Meisheid – Aye Motion by Running-Marquardt, seconded by Scheetz to go out of closed session. VOTE: Scheetz – Aye, Running-Marquardt – Aye, Meisheid – Aye Adjournment at 11:02 a.m. Respectfully submitted, TODD E. TAYLOR, Linn County Auditor By: Amanda Brown, Deputy Auditor Approved by: KIRSTEN RUNNING-MARQUARDT, Chairperson Board of Supervisors Published in the Sun October 1, 2026.
LINN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CEDAR RAPIDS, LINN COUNTY, IOWA WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 10:00 A.M. (These are the minutes in their entirety. Archived minutes can be found at www. linncountyiowa.gov) The Board met in session at the Linn County Jean Oxley Public Service Center. Present: Chairperson Running-Marquardt, Vice Chairperson Scheetz and Supervisor Meisheid. Board members voting “AYE” unless otherwise noted. Chairperson Running-Marquardt called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Motion by Scheetz, seconded by Meisheid to approve Accounts payable checks dated 09/16/26 #71022314 to #71022373 in the amount of $100,876.92; and ACH in the amount of $1,922,810.33; for a total of $2,023,687.25. Motion by Running-Marquardt, seconded by Scheetz to approve Consent Agenda as follows: Receive and place on file the Linn County Annual Urban Renewal Report for fiscal year 2026. Resolution 2026-9-118 A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH SPEED LIMIT ON VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON ELY ROAD WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors is empowered under authority of the Iowa Code Sections 321.255 and 321.285 of the Code of Iowa, to determine upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, that the speed limit of any secondary road is greater than is reasonable and proper under the conditions existing, and may determine and declare a reasonable and proper speed limit, and WHEREAS, such an investigation has been requested and has been completed by the Linn County Engineer. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the speed limit be established, and appropriate signs be erected at the locations described as follows: 45 mph on Ely Road from Bridge #1803 to a point 315' south of Roosevelt Road SW. 55 mph on Ely Road from a point 315' south of Roosevelt Road SW to a point 800' north of Wright Brothers Blvd. 45 mph on Ely Road from a point 800' north of Wright Brothers Blvd to a point 1,720' south of Wright Brothers Blvd. The Board of Supervisors declares these signs to be legal, valid, and enforceable and directs the County Engineer to erect said signs in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Iowa. Resolution 2026-9-119 A RESOLUTION APPROVING PETITIONS FOR THE SUSPENSION OF THE COLLECTION OF FISCAL YEAR 2027/ ASSESSMENT YEAR 2025 PROPERTY TAXES WHEREAS, the Linn County Board of Supervisors is this day presented with properly filed, duly sworn petitions for the suspension of the collection of property taxes and/or special assessments pursuant to Iowa Code Section 427.8; and WHEREAS, the properties for which the assessments against the Petitioners are made lie within Linn County, Iowa; and WHEREAS, the Petitioners are unable to contribute to the public revenue by reason of age, infirmity, or both. BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED by the Linn County Board of Supervisors, this date met in lawful session, that the attached petitions are approved for the Petitioners, parcels, and tax years described as follows: PETITIONER................................PARCEL# TAXYEARS................................SPECIAL # Lutz, Kenneth ........... 10313-79011-00000. ..........................................................2027 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Linn County Board of Supervisors orders the Linn County Treasurer to suspend the collection of the property taxes assessed against the Petitioners or the Petitioner’s estates, for the parcels listed above for the tax years as indicated. Resolution 2026-9-120 A RESOLUTION TO AWARD AND AUTHORIZE ENGINEERS TO SIGN CONTRACT FOR ASPHALT MILLING AND PAVING ON BERTRAM RD WHEREAS, the Linn County Board of Supervisors, hereafter referred to as “the Board”, believes the LOST-BERTRAM RD(27), hereafter referred to as “the project” is in the best interest of Linn County, Iowa, and the residents thereof. The project is defined as asphalt milling and paving on Bertram Rd from the existing Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) section south to Otis Rd; and WHEREAS, the Board has sought appropriate professional guidance for the concept and planning for the project and followed the steps as required by the Code of Iowa for notifications, hearings, and bidding/letting; and WHEREAS, The Board finds this resolution appropriate and necessary to
protect, preserve, and improve the rights, privileges, property, peace, safety, health, welfare, comfort, and convenience of Linn County and its citizens, all as provided for in and permitted by section 331.301 of the Code of Iowa; and IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED by Board to accept the bid from Pelling, L.L. Co. Inc. in the amount of $228,735.85 and awards the associated contract(s) to the same; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all other resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict with this resolution are hereby repealed. If any part of this resolution is adjudged invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the resolution or action of The Board as a whole or any part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional. This resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after the date of its approval as provided by law; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Linn County Board of Supervisors, that after receiving the necessary contract documents, including but not limited to, the contractor’s bond and certificate of insurance, Bradley J. Ketels or Garret A. Reddish, the County Engineer or Assistant County Engineer for Linn County, Iowa, be and is hereby designated, authorized, and empowered on behalf of the Board of Supervisors of said County to execute the contracts in connection with the afore awarded construction project let on 9/8/2026. Resolution 2026-9-121 A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AGREEMENT FOR LIVING ROADWAY TRUST FUND GRANT WHEREAS Linn County has been awarded Living Roadway Trust Fund grant 90-00-LR27-103 and WHEREAS the Iowa DOT and Linn County will enter into an agreement for each grant. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: by the Board of Supervisors, meeting in regular session to: Approve the agreement with the Iowa DOT for a Living Roadway Trust Fund Grant for the following grant: Linn County Roadside Forestry Mower Demonstration Day - $2,247.75 Authorize the County Engineer to execute on behalf of the County. Resolution 2026-9-122 SET PUBLIC HEARING TO VACATE EXCESS RIGHT-OF-WAY WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors, Linn County, Iowa, is empowered under the authority of §306, Code of Iowa, to vacate all interest of Linn County, Iowa, in real property, and WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors, Linn County, Iowa, shall vacate the rightof-way described as: LEGAL DESCRIPTION A portion of the SE 1/4 SE 1/4 Section 23, T. 83N., R. 06W. of the 5th P.M. and a portion of the NE 1/4 NE 1/4 Section 26, T. 83N., R. 06W. of the 5th P.M., Linn County, Iowa described as follows: All of the Bloomington Road right-of-way located SE of the previously vacated Bloomington Road right-of-way as recorded in Resolution #1987-2-34, Linn County Recorder's Office and all the West Mount Vernon Road right-of-way in said NE 1/4 NE 1/4 Section 26, lying 60' NE'ly from the existing right-of-way centerline of West Mount Vernon Road. Said parcel contains 39,030sf or 0.90 acres. AND IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors, Linn County, Iowa, this date met in lawful session that a public hearing shall be held for the purpose of determining whether Linn County, Iowa, will vacate all interest Linn County, Iowa, may have in the above-described parcel of right-of-way. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that said hearing shall be held Monday, October 5, 2026, at 10:00am, in the formal Board Room on the lower level of the Jean Oxley Linn County Public Service Center, 935 2nd St SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the above-stated purpose and that notice of the time and place of said public hearing shall be published in accordance with §331.305, Code of Iowa. Resolution 2026-9-123 SET PUBLIC HEARING TO VACATE EXCESS RIGHT-OF-WAY AND FOR CONVEYANCE OF THE VACATED RIGHT-OF-WAY WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors, Linn County, Iowa, is empowered under the authority of §306, Code of Iowa, to dispose of the right, title, interest, estate, and claim of Linn County, Iowa, in real property, and WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors, Linn County, Iowa, shall vacate the rightof-way described as: LEGAL DESCRIPTION A portion of Lot 2 of Bragg First Addition located in the SE 1/4 SE 1/4 Section 23, T. 83N., R. 06W. of the 5th P.M., Linn County, Iowa described as follows: All of the Bloomington Road right-of-way dedicated to Linn County as shown as "ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY" ON said plat. Said parcel contains 13,940 sf or 0.32 acres. AND WHEREAS, property owners, listed in the table below, owners of real property adjacent to the above-described parcel of vacated right-of-way desire to obtain, through Quit Claim deed, whatever right, title, interest, estate, and claim Linn County may have in the above-described parcel of vacated right-of-way. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors, Linn County, Iowa, this date met in lawful session that a public hearing shall be held for the purpose of determining whether Linn County, Iowa, will vacate all interest Linn County, Iowa, may have in the above-described parcel of right-ofway. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Board of Supervisors, Linn County, Iowa, this date met in lawful session that a public hearing shall be held for the purpose of determining whether Linn County, Iowa, will convey to the above listed property owners, whatever right, title, interest, estate, and claim Linn County, Iowa, may have in the above-described parcel of vacated right-of-way. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that said hearing shall be held Monday, October 5, 2026, at 10:00am, in the formal Board Room on the lower level of the Jean Oxley Linn County Public Service Center, 935 2nd St SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the above stated purpose and that notice of the time and place of said public hear-
MOUNT VERNON-LISBON SUN | MVLSUN.COM ing shall be published in accordance with §331.305, Code of Iowa. Approve purchase order PO962 in the amount of $120,832 to North Central International LLC (Hoglund Bus Co., Inc) for an ADA accessible lift van for Linn County Options Department. Approve and authorize the Chairperson to sign the FY27 Provider Agreement for Linn County Children's Mental Health Assistance Program between Linn County and the University of Iowa Health Care Center for Disabilities & Development effective June 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Approve and authorize the Chairperson to sign a joint-funding agreement between Linn County Planning Department and the United States Geological Survey Central Midwest Water Science Center for operation and maintenance of the stream gaging station on Cedar River at Blairs Ferry Road in Palo, Iowa in the amount of $3,660 effective October 1, through September 30, 2027. Approve and authorize the Chairperson to sign an amendment for an extension to the existing contract between the University of Iowa and Linn County on the Aquifer Vulnerability Map of Linn County. The amended period has been changed from April 1, 2026, (mapping) and June 30, 2026, (reporting), and replaced with an end date of December 15, 2026, for both. The new contract period will be October 1, 2025, through December 15, 2026. A PowerPoint presentation was given from University of Iowa Associate State Geologist, State Map Coordinator Stephanie Tassier-Surine with the Iowa Geological Survey, reporting on a preliminary map and data overview of Linn County's Aquifer Vulnerability and Contaminant Plume Maps. Discussion took place regarding potential contamination sources, risk-based actions, underground plumes and what can be done with the information that has been gathered. Supervisor Running-Marquardt shared how grateful she is for all this work that has been done to allow them to be able to put a policy together and collaborate with different organizations and resources. She thanked all those involved for their help with this. Brad Wylam, Planning & Development, discussed Second Consideration on a request to rezone 23.23 acres located in the 400 block of Wilder Drive, Cedar Rapids, Iowa from Agricultural (AG) to Rural Residential 2-Acre (RR2) district. No oral or written objections have been received. Third and final consideration is anticipated for next Wednesday. Motion by Running-Marquardt, seconded by Scheetz to approve Second Consideration on a request to rezone 23.23 acres located in the 400 block of Wilder Drive, Cedar Rapids, Iowa from Agricultural (AG) to Rural Residential 2-Acre (RR2) district. Stephanie Lientz, Planning & Development, discussed a Resolution Approving a Final Plat for Corridor Energy First Addition, located at 2100 Block of Marak Lane, Marion, Iowa. Normally a resolution like this is not on a regular agenda. This particular resolution has contention and there was a lot of public interest at the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting, so they agreed to put it on the regular agenda to allow public discussion. This is a subdivision request to allow the transfer of ownership to Corridor Electric Cooperative for a future utility substation. A conditional use permit will also be required for the utility substation. She advised that this request could be outside of the 5-year timeframe. They did receive an email from a neighbor in opposition at the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting. Staff is recommending approval as the proposal meets the development requirements. Supervisor Scheetz asked the reason for opposition and Lientz explained that it is due to lighting, visual impact and traffic during construction. She noted that this is a routine utility substation and public comments were given by those that represent Save Morgan Valley. Supervisor Running-Marquardt added that she spoke with the people who live across the street and another set of neighbors. She feels it would be best if they could work with the utility company to move the substation a little bit and would like time to talk to the utility company. Kevin Stucker, Corridor Energy, explained how they chose this site including utilizing a realtor and a map that showed options since a substation can’t go just anywhere. Discussion continued about the possibility of moving the substation further back on the property, design work that hasn’t begun yet and that the money for these projects comes out of their members’ pockets. Tred Schnoor, Schnoor-Bonifazi, added that they worked with Corridor Energy on the site design but not the actual substation design. It was the consensus of the Board to try and find a balance given the environment of all the things that are going on in Linn County and being a good neighbor. They would like more information on this substation and before approval is given. Motion by Running-Marquardt, seconded by Meisheid to amend the agenda item to discuss a Resolution Approving a Final Plat for Corridor Energy First Addition, located at 2100 Block of Marak Lane, Marion, Iowa. This agenda item will come before the Board at a future date for additional discussion. Public Comment: Cindy Anderson, Fairfax resident, spoke regarding the proposed substation. She appreciates the time the Board took to listen to the people and their concerns. She questioned why it should be placed in that location if it is not needed. They need to be good neighbors. Adjournment at 10:58 a.m. Respectfully submitted, TODD E. TAYLOR, Linn County Auditor By: Amanda Brown, Deputy Auditor Approved by: KIRSTEN RUNNING-MARQUARDT, Chairperson Board of Supervisors Published in the Sun October 1, 2026.
LINN COUNTY LIST OF BILLS PAID
FOR 9-10-2026 THROUGH 9-16-2026 https://www.linncountyiowa.gov/413/
Accounting-Services VENDOR DESCRIPTION AMOUNT 106 GROUP LTD DESIGN WORK .............. ..................................................$7,192.00 32 GENTLE DENTAL LLC DENTAL SERVICES.........................................$1,247.00 76 MILLER AVE LLC GENERAL ASSISTANCE...........................................$900.00 ABC DISPOSAL SYSTEMS INC WASTE REMOVAL..................................$2,775.05 ACCEL HOLDINGS INC FLOOD INSURANCE POLICY........................$266,552.39 ACME TOOLS REPAIR/PARTS/LABOR....... .....................................................$532.28 ACTION PEST MANAGEMENT LLC PEST CONTROL......................................$520.00 ADCRAFT PRINTING CO INC BUSINESS CARDS............................................$91.00 AFFORDABLE HOUSING NETWORK GENERAL ASSISTANCE.......................$773.00 AGING SERVICES INC LC WITWER SUPPORT.........................................$1,349.75 AHLERS & COONEY PC TORT LIABILITY.. .....................................................$126.00 ALLIANT UTILITIES UTILITIES..$6,310.59 ALLIANT UTILITIES - ASSISTANCE GENERAL ASSISTANCE....................$2,736.54 ALLIED OIL & TIRE CO LLC OIL................ ................................................$16,371.55 ALLIED UNIVERSAL ELECTRONIC MONITORING US INC GPS MONITORING FEES. .....................................................$352.50 ALT, CONNOR HAZMAT STIPEND.............. .....................................................$110.00 ALT, JASON HAZMAT STIPEND.....$300.00 AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES INC OFFICE & TECHNOLOGY SUPPLIES.......$5,459.24 AMERICAN TOWER INVESTMENTS LLC TOWER RENT..........................$11,054.23 ANAHEIM CORPORATION CONTRACT LABOR.......................................$9,614.76 ANDERSON ERICKSON DAIRY CO FOOD & PROVISIONS.............................$610.89 ANDERSON GREENE II LP GENERAL ASSISTANCE.....................................$786.00 ANTON SALES PARTS - HARDWARE......... .....................................................$260.02 ASCENSUS LLC ACTUARIAL VALUATION.. ..................................................$7,600.00 AT&T MOBILITY 911 ACCT...........$243.39 BACKYARD TRAILS LLC CONTRACT LABOR.....................................$63,972.50 BAKER GROUP CONTRACT LABOR........... ................................................$12,090.10 BASEPOINT BUILDING AUTOMATIONS SERVICE CALL SECURITY CAMERA.......... .....................................................$364.00 BERENS-TATE CONSULTING GROUP INC ARBITRAGE REBATE REPORT...$3,000.00 BISIG, SCOTT MILEAGE REIMB......$75.24 BLYTHE, GREGORY MED EXAM FEES....... .....................................................$740.00 BRENNAN, PATRICK GENERAL ASSISTANCE...........................................$900.00 BRUSH AND WEED CONTROL SPECIALISTS INC ROADSIDE SPRAYING................ ................................................$13,742.90 BUCHANAN COUNTY - DAP BUILDINGS (RENTAL)...................................$1,600.00 BURKLE, WILLIAM J GENERAL ASSISTANCE...........................................$900.00 BURNS, COLE R TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB...........................................$374.00 BUSINESS FURNITURE WAREHOUSE FURNITURE ..............................$4,578.85 CAMPBELL, SAMANTHA H MILEAGE REIMB.............................................$28.27 CAPITAL SANITARY SUPPLY - CEDAR RAPIDS CLEANING SUPPLIES..$1,637.57 CCG SAFETY GEAR LLC OUTER CARRIER REPLACEMENT.............................$335.00 CDW GOVT EQUIPMENT & MAINTENANCE ....................................$37,391.24 CEDAR RAPIDS BRICKSTONES LLLP GENERAL ASSISTANCE................$900.00 CEDAR RAPIDS CITY OF BUILDING RENT ................................................$12,488.01 BYRNE JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT...... ................................................$28,925.00 FUEL........................................$30,620.37 IT SERVICES............................$13,502.50 CEDAR RAPIDS MUNICIPAL UTILITIES UTILITIES................................$16,732.09 CEDAR RAPIDS MUNICIPAL UTILITIES ASSISTANCE GENERAL ASSISTANCE........ .....................................................$489.00 CENTER FOR DISEASE DETECTION LAB TESTS...........................................$215.50 CENTRAL CITY CITY OF PUMP HOUSE..... .....................................................$452.96 SENIOR DINING PROGRAM SUPPORT...... ..................................................$2,083.33 CENTURYLINK COMMUNICATIONS LLC E911- BASIC PHONE SERVICE.....$468.40 CERIDIAN ER FUNDS TRUST - GARNISH PAYROLL DEDUCTION...............$4,446.61 CERIDIAN ER FUNDS TRUST - NET PAY PAYROLL DEDUCTION........$1,738,617.43 CERIDIAN ER FUNDS TRUST - TAXES PAYROLL DEDUCTION...........$671,656.41 CHARM-TEX INC COMMISSARY ITEMS.... ..................................................$1,496.50 CHILDREN OF PROMISE MENTORING PROGRAM BOYS AND GIRLS MENTORING PROGRAM..........................$3,582.00 CITY LAUNDERING CO LAUNDERING SERVICES.....................................$231.96 CJ COOPER & ASSOCIATES INC PRE EMPLOYMENT & RANDOM DRUG SCREENS/ ALCOHOL TESTS.......................$1,267.35 CLARK'S PHARMACY PRESCRIPTIONS.... .....................................................$150.00 COGGON MUNICIPAL LIGHT PLANT UTILITIES.............................................$906.38 COLLECTIVE DATA SUBSCRIPTION........... ..................................................$1,047.00 COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING COMPANY CAMERA SYSTEM UPGRADES ....... ................................................$25,599.38 CONTINUANT INC PHONE SYSTEM MANAGED SERVICES........................$3,726.55 COOK APPRAISAL LLC TESTIMONY & EXPERT WITNESS FOR APPEAL ......$450.00 CORRIDOR ENERGY COOPERATIVE UTILITIES........................................$17,688.59 CORRIDOR ENERGY COOPERATIVE - ASSISTANCE GENERAL ASSISTANCE............ .....................................................$290.00 CR/LC SOLID WASTE AGENCY WASTE REMOVAL.......................................$22.00 CRAWFORD QUARRY ROCK....$19,689.69 CRITICAL HIRE PLC CRITICAL HIRE PROFILE REPORT .................................$40.00 CRITTENTON CENTER LINN COUNTY SHELTER....................................$4,245.15 CULLIGAN ULTRAPURE INC GENERAL SUPPLIES.....................................$156.47 CUREMD.COM INC PROVIDER LICENSES & RCM SERVICE........................$2,144.79 CUSTOM HOSE & SUPPLIES INC HYDRAULIC HOSE FITTINGS..............$52.28 CYPRESS POINTE LLC GENERAL ASSISTANCE...........................................$639.95 D&D REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LC GENERAL ASSISTANCE.......................$710.00 DAGUNA CONSULTING, LLC MUSSEL SURVEY.....................................$9,250.00 DAN'S OVERHEAD DOORS & MORE GARAGE DOOR REPAIRS..................$100.00 DATIX USA INC POLICYSTAT SUBSCRIP-
PUBLIC NOTICES
MVLSUN.COM | MOUNT VERNON-LISBON SUN
TION...........................................$1,128.96 DAUBS, TIMOTHY TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB...........................................$280.00 DAVIS, ANDRIA TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB.............................................$57.91 DELEON, KELSEY TRANSCRIPT.......$3.50 DLT SOLUTIONS LLC SOFTWARE............. ..................................................$9,538.17 EAST CENTRAL IOWA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS ADMINISTRATION FEES......... ................................................$14,850.00 EASTERN IOWA TIRE INC ALIGNMENT .... .....................................................$106.95 EMC RISK SERVICES LLC WORK COMP EXPENSE...............................$131,692.79 EQUIFAX INFORMATION SERVICES LLC CONTRACT LABOR.........................$60.00 EQUITABLE THE (CR CITY ASSR) PAYROLL DEDUCTION..........................$75.00 EQUITABLE THE (LINN CO ASSR) PAYROLL DEDUCTION........................$325.00 EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS CONTRACT EMPLOYEES....$2,021.45 EXPRESS PRINTING & DESIGN LLC OFFICE SUPPLIES.............................$114.90 F&W SERVICE COMPANY INC AIR COMPRESSOR & REPAIRS...............$8,807.18 FEDERAL SUPPLY USA SUPPLIES............ ..................................................$2,190.00 FLOW SCIENCE LLC PRP MTB TRAIL MAINTENANCE........................$18,500.00 FOSTER, ERIN E TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB...........................................$305.75 FREEDOMREMI GENERAL ASSISTANCE... .....................................................$595.00 FRIEDA COONROD EMBROIDERY UNIFORMS..........................................$124.00 GARRY MOOSE LLC RENT........$2,550.00 GAZETTE COMMUNICATIONS LEGAL NOTICES............................................$207.01 GIBBINS, DANIEL TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB.............................................$55.00 GOEMAAT, DENNIS TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB.............................................$55.00 GORDON FLESCH COMPANY INC COPIER LEASE & FEES...........................$3,506.71 GRAINGER W W INC MAINTENANCE SUPPLIES.....................................$183.66 GREAT WESTERN SUPPLY CO AUTOSCRUBBER ...............................$8,533.75 HACAP TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SUPPORT / CONTRACT LABOR / GENERAL ASSISTANCE..............................$8,070.04 HALVORSON, STEPHANIE HEALTH ASSISTANCE.......................................$25.00 HAMES COMMUNITIES LLC GENERAL ASSISTANCE.................................$551.31 HANDS UP COMMUNICATIONS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES & CONTRACT LABOR..............................$672.50 HEALTHEQUITY INC PAYROLL DEDUCTION.........................................$22,903.28 HEART OF HEALTH LLC SALARIES............ ..................................................$6,100.00 HELMS, BENJAMIN C TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB...........................................$280.00 HIDEAWAY MANOR LLC GENERAL ASSISTANCE.....................................$715.00 HILLS AND DALES CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER BUILDING RENTAL.........$556.42 HOLUB & SONS LLC MOWING.. $1,391.48 HOPE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION INC HOPE CDA ASSISTANT PROGRAM NAVIGATOR.............$1,433.33 HORIZONS A FAMILY SERVICE ALLIANCE HORIZONS SENIOR CENTER & MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC RIDES..........$143,226.39 HP INC IT EQUIPMENT ...........$15,262.15 HUNTER QUALITY CONTRACTING LLC INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL................... ................................................$24,265.00 HUTCHINS, BRITT TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB...........................................$897.34 IDEMIA IDENTITY & SECURITY USA LLC CONTRACT SERVICES...............$2,980.00 IDI IDENTITY INTELLIGENCE PLATFORM . .....................................................$525.00 INGABIRE, JACQUELINE TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB....................................$200.00 INNOVATIVE DIRT SOLUTIONS LLC WP ADDITIONAL MTB TRAIL.........$51,008.50 INSIGHT PUBLIC SECTOR SOFTWARE LICENSE & SUBSCRIPTION.............$432.26 INTOXIMETERS INC SUPPLIES....$309.50 IOWA ASSOCIATION OF BUILDING OFFICIALS MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL............... ....................................................$325.00 IOWA ORTHO WORK COMP INVOICE........ .....................................................$193.81 IOWA STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES REGISTRATION FEE......................$700.00 IRISH REPORTING INC TRANSCRIPT........ .....................................................$270.60 JAMES ST LLC GENERAL ASSISTANCE.... .....................................................$900.00 JD POWER VALUATION SERVICE ANNUAL RENEWAL OF MV ONLINE PERIODICAL...............................................$587.00 JIM SCHROEDER CONSTRUCTION INC PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.....$42,049.50 JM CARROLL PROPERTIES LLC GENERAL ASSISTANCE............................$900.00 JOHNSON COUNTY - DAP BUILDINGS (RENTAL)......................................$840.00 KARL CHEVROLET REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE ......................................$2,029.71 KELLEY, CAROLYN A TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB...........................................$204.59 KIECKS UNIFORMS......................$114.95 KWIK TRIP INC FUEL....................$688.09 L L PELLING HMA PATCHING.................... ..............................................$105,212.99 SEAL COATING .......................$75,171.00 LIFTNOW AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT CORP SHOP EQUIPMENT..........$3,722.00 LINCOLN NATL LIFE INSURANCE PAYROLL DEDUCTION........................$100.00 LINDE GAS & EQUIPMENT INC CYLINDER RENTAL.........................................$247.31 LINN COOP OIL INC #395050 (ROADS MISC) DIESEL............................$8,735.60 LINN COUNTY TREASURER PROPERTY TAXES .......................................$2,520.00 LIONBRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES LLC INTERPRETING CHARGES & CONTRACT LABOR..........................................$243.39 LOGAN CONTRACTORS SUPPLY ANCHOR BOLTS...........................................$338.25 MADISON NATL LIFE - LTD/STD PAYROLL DEDUCTION....................................$40.25 MADISON NATL LIFE INS CO INC PAYROLL DEDUCTION............................$7.50 MARION VILLAGE GENERAL ASSISTANCE .....................................................$900.00 MARTIN MARIETTA MATERIALS INC ROCK............................................$392.16 MARTIN, ANNETTE ATTORNEY FEES......... .....................................................$312.80 MATTHEW 25 GENERAL ASSISTANCE...... .....................................................$665.00 MEDIACOM E911- DEDICATED INTERNET .....................................................$400.00 MERCY MEDICAL CENTER RESERVE DEPUTY EAP SERVICE .............$1,044.00 METAL CULVERTS INC CULVERT MATERIALS..........................................$15,641.30 MIDAMERICAN ENERGY - ASSISTANCE GENERAL ASSISTANCE................$343.27 MILESTONES AREA AGENCY ON AGING BUILDINGS (RENTAL)..................$225.00
TOTAL.................................$4,495,106.42 Published in the Sun October 1, 2026.
MOLO COMPANIES CAR WASH .....$32.00 MURDOCH FUNERAL HOMES GENERAL ASSISTANCE..............................$2,000.00 MWR COUNSELING HEALTH ASSISTANCE...........................................$270.00 NEAL'S WATER CONDITIONING BOTTLED WATER..........................................$534.50 OCONNELL, COLLEEN APPEAL TRANSCRIPT...........................................$30.00 OLSON, SAMUEL TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB...........................................$374.00 OMNILINK SYSTEMS INC RADIO EQUIPMENT............................................$125.00 ONECLOUD TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES ....................................$343.74 ORKIN LLC PEST CONTROL ..........$65.00 PACHA, KATHERINE A HAZMAT STIPEND. .....................................................$500.00 PALO COOPERATIVE TELEPHONE ASSOC INTERNET.....................................$100.95 PARTS AUTHORITY LLC PARTS...$438.45 PATHWAY LIVING CENTER INC GENERAL ASSISTANCE..............................$3,372.00 PAVELKA, MATTHEW G ABANDONED WATER WELL PLUG...........................$588.50 PERFORMANCE FOODSERVICE LLC FOOD & PROVISIONS................$4,382.04 PETERSON CONTRACTORS INC BRIDGE REHAB.......................................$5,316.23 PIERCE, STEPHANIE M TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB......................................$32.45 PIPE PRO INC CONTRACT LABOR............. ..................................................$1,993.35 POINTCORE INC NAMEPLATE........$23.00 POLK CO SHERIFF SERVICE FEES............. .....................................................$100.60 RADIOLOGY CONSULTANTS OF IOWA, PLC WORK COMP INVOICE..........$235.45 REEVES CO INC NAMEPINS...........$74.38 ROCHESTER ARMORED CAR CO INC MONTHLY PICKUP SERVICE.........$283.80 ROOSEVELT THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE. .....................................................$900.00 RUFFRIDGE, DORIS J GENERAL ASSISTANCE...........................................$600.00 S2 CONSTRUCTION LLC ROADSIDE CUTTING.........................................$93,103.03 SAFE PLACE FOUNDATION, THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE............................$900.00 SAFELITE FULFILLMENT INC WINDOW REPLACEMENT.............................$774.77 SANSI GENERAL WELFARE SERVICES SUPPORT .....................................$625.00 SCHANTZ, DERRICK FITNESS REIMBURSEMENT...................................$60.00 SCHIMBERG COMPANY CULVERT BAND.. .......................................................$92.31 SCHUMACHER ELEVATOR CO INC ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS............... ..................................................$7,183.94 SCHUTE, CAMBRIE APPEAL TRANSCRIPT .......................................................$11.50 SCROGGINS, NINA TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB.............................................$28.27 SEXTON, DERRICK A TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB...........................................$348.09 SHERIFFS PROTECTIVE ASSOC PAYROLL DEDUCTION...............................$1,188.00 SHRED-IT US JV LLC SHREDING 20 BINS .....................................................$394.82 SIEMENS INDUSTRY INC ANNUAL SERVICE SIVEILLANCE..................$70,779.42 SIGN PRO ENGRAVED PLACARDS ........... .......................................................$40.00 SLED SHED TRIMMER LINE...........$19.16 SOLARWINDS WORLDWIDE LLC SOFTWARE SUBSCRIPTION............$19,354.34 SOLUTIONS MANAGEMENT GROUP INC BASE RATE CHARGES....................$36.02 SOUTHEAST LINN COMMUNITY CENTER GENERAL WELFARE SERVICES SUPPORT .....................................................$431.17 SPAHN AND ROSE LUMBER SIGN POST SLEEVES & CAPS ........................$645.78 SPEE-DEE DELIVERY POUCH TO DES MOINES..........................................$91.61 SPURRELL, DAVID HAZMAT STIPEND...... .....................................................$170.00 ST LUKES WORK WELL SOLUTIONS PRE EMPLOYMENT PHYSICAL............$525.00 WORK COMP INVOICE.................$164.03 STAR EQUIPMENT LTD PARTS.....$546.23 STEWART BAXTER FUNERAL & MEMORIAL SERVICES GENERAL ASSISTANCE....... ..................................................$2,000.00 STUBBLEFIELD JR, BRIAN A HAZMAT STIPEND.......................................$300.00 STUBBLEFIELD SR, BRIAN HAZMAT STIPEND............................................$330.00 T MOBILE USA INC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES ......................$1,945.88 TAYLOR CONSTRUCTION INC BRIDGE WORK....................................$183,351.82 TAYLOR, TODD TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB...........................................$830.92 THE HARTFORD PAYROLL DEDUCTION.... .....................................................$228.38 THIELEN, DAVID TRAVEL/TRAINING REIMB.............................................$98.80 TOWER TERRACE MHC LLC GENERAL ASSISTANCE.................................$543.09 TRINITY SERVICES GROUP INC WEEKLY INMATE MEALS ......................$15,680.70 TRIPP, HEATHER L MILEAGE REIMB......... .......................................................$83.60 TRUE NORTH COMPANIES PUBLIC OFFICIAL BOND...................................$100.00 ULRICH, THOMAS R HAZMAT STIPEND.... .....................................................$620.00 UNIFORM DEN INC UNIFORMS....$576.31 UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE - RECORDER DNR RENEWAL POSTCARD MAILING....................................$1,600.30 UNITI E911- PHONE AND CIRCUIT SERVICE..............................................$175.98 UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HEALTH CARE MEDICAL SERVICES.......................$30.61 VALIC/AIG RETIREMENT PAYROLL DEDUCTION.................................$31,806.02 VAN DIEST SUPPLY CO HERBICIDE.......... ..................................................$5,425.65 VEOCI INC ANNUAL LICENSE.................... ................................................$17,840.00 VISION SERVICE PLAN (COUNTY) PAYROLL DEDUCTION..........................$25.29 WALDINGER CORPORATION MT VERNON TOWER SITE MAINTENANCE.....$1,452.80 WARD, CHRISTOPHER D HAZMAT STIPEND............................................$120.00 WAZOWSKI CAPITAL INVESTMENTS (GOLDFINCH MEADOWS) GENERAL ASSISTANCE.....................................$610.00 WELAND CLINICAL LABORATORIES LABORATORY SERVICES ...................$700.50 WENDLING QUARRIES INC ROCK............. ................................................$20,582.13 WHKS & CO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES... ..................................................$2,920.00 WILDEN, JEFFREY T HAZMAT STIPEND.... .....................................................$300.00 WILDEN, MARK A HAZMAT STIPEND........ .....................................................$260.00 WOODCOCK, CHARLES W TRAVEL/ TRAINING REIMB.........................$280.00 WOODRIVER ENERGY LLC UTILITIES....... ..................................................$8,775.38 WORKSPACE INC FURNITURE.................. ..............................................$119,320.57 ZOHO CORPORATION SUBSCRIPTION...... ..................................................$1,545.00
MOUNT VERNON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 9, 2026 The Mount Vernon City Council met September 9, 2026, at City Hall, 213 1st Street NW, Mount Vernon, IA. A Zoom option was available. The following Council members were present: Engel, Rose, Andresen (Zoom), Tuerler and Hansen-Player. Call to Order. At 6:30 p.m. Mayor Thomas M. Wieseler called the meeting to order. Agenda Additions/Agenda Approval. Wieseler noted that item J10 under motions for approval would be moved to the communications portion of the meeting. Motion made by Engel, seconded by Tuerler to approve the Agenda. Motion carries. Agenda Item #J10 - Discussion and Consideration of EMS Election Results and EMS Trustee Selection – Linn County Auditor – Council Action as Needed. Todd Taylor (Linn County Auditor) and Matt Warfield (Deputy Commissioner of Elections). EMS Election was completed at over 92% approval for the measure and five nominations to be considered to the district board of trustees – Dick George, Michelle Zaruba, Alexander Kurjatko, Rose Hedges and Jackie Morrical. The Council will select three trustees. One trustee will serve a three-year term, one will serve a two-year term, and one will serve a oneyear term. The council is not required to vote on this today – there is no timeline to voting on these individuals. Lisbon, Johnson County, Linn County and Mount Vernon will each vote three individuals per district. There is a potential for all of four districts to consolidate into one, but that would be after this appointment in the future. There is no specific timeline for establishing the board; however, the board must meet to establish a budget for approval for the following year. Therefore, it would be beneficial to have the board established before November to avoid potentially losing a year of funding. Nosbisch stated that no action is required at this meeting but left the item on the agenda in the event the Council wished to take action. Once the board is established, it will become a separate entity. Andresen stated that five individuals have been presented for consideration and felt the selection should not simply be based on the number of votes each candidate receives, but rather on selecting the three individuals who would work best together as a team. Rose suggested providing each candidate with a brief interest questionnaire for Council to review, allowing members to learn more about the candidates and ask any follow-up questions before making appointments. Council agreed to place the appointments on the agenda for the first meeting in October. Staff will provide each candidate with a questionnaire to help Council better understand their background, interest in serving, and reasons for wanting to become a trustee. Andresen also suggested gauging each candidate’s interest in the available term lengths and asking which term they would prefer to serve. No action taken. Consent Agenda. Motion made by Tuerler, seconded by Rose to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion carries. Approval of City Council Minutes – August 17, 2026 Appoint Alexander Kurjatko – Zoning Board of Adjustment Approval of Liquor License – CDG Chili Cookoff Motions for Approval Consideration of Claims List – Motion to Approve. Motion made by Rose, seconded by Tuerler to approve the Claims List. Motion carries. PAYROLL CLAIMS...................283,478.21 RATHJE CONSTRUCTION PAY ESTIMATE #9-RACHEL STREET................110,805.94 ALLIANT ENERGY ENERGY USAGE-ALL DEPTS........................................35,067.78 REPUBLIC SERVICES #897 GB,RECYL-SW RESIDENTIAL..............24,662.04 GRONEWOLD, BELL, KYHNN & CO PC AUDIT FEES-ALL DEPTS..............9,500.00 US BANK CREDIT CARD PURCHASES-ALL DEPTS.............................9,338.54 TYLER TECHNOLOGIES NEW SOFTWARE UPGRADE-ALL DEPTS.................8,125.00 MOUNT VERNON, CITY OF EMPLOYEE LBC MEMBERSHIPS-ALL DEPTS.............. ....................................................7,892.32 LINN CO-OP OIL CO LINN COOP OIL......... ....................................................7,820.36 VEENSTRA & KIMM INC RACHEL STREET IMPROVEMENTS.........................7,334.84 VEENSTRA & KIMM INC BRYANT ROAD SANITARY SEWER.......................7,013.42 CAPITAL SANITARY SUPPLY FLOOR FINISH-LBC.......................................6,500.00 TREASURER STATE OF IOWA SALES TAX ....................................................4,683.87 TREASURER STATE OF IOWA WET TAX.... ....................................................4,458.91 IMWCA WORK COMP INSURANCE-ALL DEPTS..........................................4,353.00 IOWA SOLUTIONS INC DESKTOP PC'SPD................................................4,225.00 IOWA VALLEY MONUMENT K9 MEMORIAL-PD..........................................4,110.85 ALLIANT ENERGY FRANCHISE EXTENSION-RACHEL STREET................3,799.90 BOWKER PINNACLE MECHANICAL BLDG MAINT-LBC..................................3,395.65 DDM IRRIGATION IRRIGATION REPAIRS-RACHEL STREET..............3,208.42 BARNYARD SCREEN PRINTER LLC T-SHIRTS-P&REC........................2,784.25 STATE HYGIENIC LAB TESTING-SEW........ ....................................................2,641.00 TONY PALLOTTA K9 SUPPLIES-PD........... ....................................................2,550.00 CARQUEST OF LISBON VEHICLE MAINTALL DEPTS..................................2,508.63 NOLTERRA LLC ROCK WALL INSPECTION-LBC.....................................2,250.00 KERNOUSTIE GOLF CLUB CART RENTAL-K9 GOLF.................................2,228.00 IOWA SOLUTIONS INC DESKTOP PC'SPW...............................................2,212.50 IOWA SOLUTIONS INC COMPUTER EQUIP-ALL DEPTS.......................2,195.00 IOWA SOLUTIONS INC MONTHLY MAINTALL DEPTS..................................2,154.60 IOWA SOLUTIONS INC MONTHLY MAINTPD................................................2,013.08 MUNICIPAL MGMT CORP. LEAK DETECTION-WAT....................................2,000.00 MARTIN GARDNER ARCHITECTURE CDBG DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION....... ....................................................1,723.87 KIECKS UNIFORMS-PD...............1,599.00
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS INC ADS/PUBLICATIONS-ALL DEPTS...............1,557.01 VEENSTRA & KIMM INC WATER MISC ENGINEERING..............................1,556.58 JOHNSON FITNESS & WELLNESS EQUIPLBC..............................................1,145.00 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GROUP HOTEL/MOTEL TAX-ECON DEV....1,064.44 BANKCARD 8076 ACH DEBIT MTOT CREDIT CARD FEES-LBC,POOL,P&REC.... .......................................................998.73 RC TECH ACCESS CONTROL HOSTING-PW...........................................960.00 NIGHT SHIFT LLC CLEANING SERVICES-CITY HALL...........................959.21 ROTO-ROOTER CAMERA SERVICE-SEW... .......................................................945.00 NIGHT SHIFT LLC CLEANING SERVICES-PD........................................920.70 STAPLES INC SUPPLIES-ALL DEPTS........ .......................................................858.07 BAKER GROUP HVAC MAINT-LBC............. .......................................................844.09 HAWKINS INC CHEMICALS-WAT....811.00 MOUNT VERNON ACE HARDWARE SUPPLIES-ALL DEPTS..........................761.44 POSTMASTER UTIL BILL POSTAGE-WAT,SEW,SW..........................750.27 COMPASS BUSINESS SOLUTIONS UTILITY BILLS-WAT,SEW,SW..................749.64 IOWA SOLUTIONS INC MONTHLY MAINTLBC.................................................730.00 LYNCH FORD-LYNCH CHEVROLET VEHICLE MAINT-PD................................701.30 MOUNT VERNON BANK & TRUST CO ACH RETURN-WAT,SEW,SW...................697.48 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT SYSTEMS INSURANCE CLAIMS-ALL DEPTS.............682.24 OTTSEN OIL COMPANY EQUIP REPAIR-SEW.......................................658.12 CASTLE SPORTS CASTLE SQUARES-LBC. .......................................................643.82 GREAT WESTERN SUPPLY CO SUPPLIES-PW.......................................499.25 GARY'S FOODS SUPPLIES-CITY HALL,LBC...................................................464.37 LYNCH DALLAS PC LEGAL FEES-P&A....... .......................................................460.00 VERMEER SALES & SERVICE INC CHIPPER MAINT-SW..............................459.84 RAPIDS REPRODUCTIONS INC PLOTTER SERVICE-P&A.................................457.80 MECHANICSVILLE FIBER PHONE/INTERNET-LBC.........................................457.73 AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES SUPPLIES-P&REC.................................435.06 KONICA MINOLTA PREMIER FINANCE COPIER LEASE-P&A.......................412.38 MECHANICSVILLE FIBER PHONE/INTERNET-PD...........................................400.02 VEENSTRA & KIMM INC CITY ENGINEERING GENERAL.................................400.00 STUDENT PUBLICATIONS INC ADS/PUBLICATIONS-P&REC.........................385.60 AMANDA HAMER INSTRUCTOR-LBC........ .......................................................375.00 SPEER FINANCIAL INC BOND DISCLOSURE-P&A......................................375.00 IOWA PRISON INDUSTRIES SAFETY EQUIP-PW......................................363.00 GARY'S FOODS CONCESSION SUPPLIES-POOL...................................352.50 T-MOBILE VEHICLE SOFTWARE-PD.......... .......................................................319.20 AMERICAN RED CROSS TRAINING-POOL .......................................................318.00 AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES SUPPLIES-LBC......................................317.43 MEDIACOM PHONE/INTERNET-PW........... .......................................................316.77 MEDIACOM PHONE/INTERNET-FD............ .......................................................316.43 TASC FSA ADMIN FEE-ALL DEPTS............ .......................................................313.20 CITY LAUNDERING CO SERVICES-CITY HALL...............................................294.96 BANKCARD 8076 ACH DEBIT MTOT REFUND-P&REC..................................290.00 KIECKS UNIFORMS-PD..................280.00 TASC FSA ADJUSTMENT-PD..........261.52 CURTIS ENGLISH SELECT SERVICE PORTABLE RR RENTAL-P&REC.............260.00 IOWA PRISON INDUSTRIES SIGNS-RUT.. .......................................................257.62 IOWA SOLUTIONS INC COMPUTER MAINT-PW......................................255.00 AHLERS & COONEY P.C. LEGAL FEESP&A................................................252.00 DAVID FRANKFURT FUEL-PD.........245.44 MARKET STREET SERVICES-HPC............. .......................................................233.00 LINN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AIR PERMITS-ALL DEPTS............................225.00 IIMC MEMBERSHIP-ALL DEPTS.....210.00 AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES SUPPLIES-PW.......................................199.92 AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES SUPPLIES-POOL...................................187.78 KONICA MINOLTA PREMIER FINANCE COPIER LEASE-PD..........................159.76 GREAT WESTERN SUPPLY CO SUPPLIES-LBC......................................149.60 PROFESSIONAL WINDOW CLEANING WINDOW CLEANING-PD,CITY HALL......... .......................................................140.00 TASC FSA ADJUSTMENT-PD..........130.76 T-MOBILE PHONE/INTERNET-ALL DEPTS .......................................................119.71 MECHANICSVILLE FIBER PHONE/INTERNET-PW..........................................114.45 AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES SUPPLIES-PW.......................................111.62 MENARDS UNIFORMS-PW.............109.97 MECHANICSVILLE FIBER PHONE/INTERNET-POOL.......................................108.77 SARAH BOOTS MILEAGE/SUPPLIES-LBC .......................................................104.51 TERMINIX PRESTO-X PEST CONTROL-FD .......................................................100.14 MOUNT VERNON ACE HARDWARE TRAINING CENTER SUPPLIES-FD....98.82 VESTIS JANITORIAL SUPPLIES-FD..98.20 TERMINIX PRESTO-X PEST CONTROL-CITY HALL..............................97.93 SPIRE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT REFUND-WAT........................................97.78 VESTIS JANITORIAL SUPPLIES-LBC......... .........................................................95.79 CASCADE SWIM TEAM SWIM TEAM MEDALS-POOL.................................91.00 BANKCARD 8076 ACH DEBIT MTOT REFUNDS-LBC,POOL............................88.00 STAPLES INC SUPPLIES-PD.............85.87 HANNAH GANZEL INSTRUCTOR-LBC........ .........................................................85.00 TERMINIX PRESTO-X PEST CONTROL-VC .........................................................82.75 IOWA SOLUTIONS INC MONTHLY MAINTPW....................................................80.00 CYPRESS SOLUTIONS SUBSCRIPTION-PD............................................78.75 IOWA ONE CALL LOCATES-WAT,SEW....... .........................................................71.10 MECHANICSVILLE FIBER INTERNET-CITY HALL.................................................69.95 CHRIS NOSBISCH MILEAGE-ALL DEPTS.. .........................................................67.64 LANDON JOHANNINGMEIER REFEREE-P&REC.........................................67.50 BANKCARD 8076 ACH DEBIT MTOT RE-
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | 17 FUND-LBC.........................................67.41 KIMBERLY SCHROCK INSTRUCTOR-LBC.. .........................................................63.75 GREAT WESTERN SUPPLY CO SUPPLIES-LBC........................................58.85 FINNEGAN SHELTON REFUND-WAT.......... .........................................................57.94 CEDAR RAPIDS TIRE EQUIP MAINTP&REC..............................................57.50 GREAT WESTERN SUPPLY CO SUPPLIES-POOL.....................................55.98 KIRSTIN SOGARRD DEPOSIT REFUND-WAT........................................55.87 ROBERT PARKER DEPOSIT REFUND-WAT .........................................................55.87 GREAT WESTERN SUPPLY CO SUPPLIES-POOL.....................................43.50 SARAH L FITZGERALD INSTRUCTOR-LBC .........................................................42.50 IOWA SOLUTIONS INC MONTHLY MAINTSEW..................................................40.00 NEAL'S WATER CONDITIONING WATER/ SALT-CITY HALL...............................35.75 VESTIS JANITORIAL SUPPLIES-LBC......... .........................................................31.93 ST LUKE'S WORK WELL SOLUTIONS DRUG TESTING-PW..........................30.00 NEAL'S WATER CONDITIONING WATER/ SALT-LBC..........................................27.50 IOWA SOLUTIONS INC COMPUTER MAINT-PD.........................................24.00 AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES SUPPLIES-CITY HALL.............................22.60 KELLI MARIE KENNON-LANE INSTRUCTOR-LBC...........................................21.25 MENARDS UNIFORMS-PW...............20.00 WELAND CLINICAL LABORATORIES WELAND CLINICAL LABS.................18.50 LAURA SHOOK DEPOSIT REFUND-WAT.... .........................................................13.81 HAWKINS INC CHEMICALS-WAT......10.00 LINN COUNTY TREASURER SMH TAXES-P&A.............................................10.00 AUTHNET GATEWAY BILLING CREDIT CARD SERVICES-LBC.........................5.00 STEPHEN THOMAS DEPOSIT REFUND-WAT..........................................3.21 TOTAL......................................612,857.03 FUND EXPENSE TOTALS PAYROLL.................................283,478.21 RACHEL STREET.....................125,149.10 GENERAL FUND.........................67,616.82 LBC............................................30,007.06 SOLID WASTE............................28,441.97 WATER FUND.............................26,953.86 SEWER FUND............................22,743.61 ROAD USE TAX FUND................13,926.78 BRYANT ROAD SANITARY SEWER............ ....................................................7,013.42 SOLID WASTE..............................5,653.94 LOST III UR & STREETSCAPE......1723.87 STORM WATER FUND....................148.39 TOTAL......................................612,857.03 Discussion and Consideration of V&K Invoice #51388-4 – WWTP Phase 2 - Council Action as Needed. This invoice is in the amount of $10,378.18 for documents prepared for the Phase 2 Upgrades of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. This project will likely move forward in the next year and a half due to state mandated requirements which is the reason for the 15% rate increase on utility bills and is unfunded by the State of Iowa. The estimate for the WWTP Phase 2 upgrade will be between four million to five dollars. Motion made by Tuerler, seconded by Andresen to approve V&K Invoice #51388-4 – WWTP Phase 2. Motion carries. Discussion and Consideration of V&K Invoice #51361-25 – Highway 1 Reconstruction - Council Action as Needed. This invoice is in the amount of $18,855.04 for design work. Motion made by Engel, seconded by Hansen Player to approve V&K Invoice #51361-25 – Highway 1 Reconstruction. Motion carries. Discussion and Consideration of Pay Application #6 with Modern Concrete – 2025 Sidewalk Improvements – Council Action as Needed. This is the final pay application for this project and represents the retainage in the amount of $4,722.10. Motion made by Tuerler, seconded by Rose to approve Pay Application #6 with Modern Concrete – 2025 Sidewalk Improvements. Motion carries. Discussion and Consideration of 1st Street and 5th Ave Intersection Traffic Control Repair – Council Action as Needed. The quote is in the amount of $28,800 to replace the obsolete internal control system. The camera system that was originally installed is struggling to consistently detect traffic due to changing shadows and sunset conditions throughout the year. Additionally, the control board located inside the traffic signal control box has experienced overheating issues, causing the system to shut down and revert to its factory settings. When this occurs, the signal no longer responds appropriately to traffic demand, resulting in motorists sitting at the light for extended periods of time. The existing control board is now obsolete, and replacement parts are no longer available. Motion made by Rose, seconded by Hansen Player to approve the quote for the 1st Street and 5th Ave Intersection Traffic Control Repair. Motion carries. Discussion and Consideration of Possible Goal Setting Session for the City Council – Council Action as Needed. It has been three years since the City Council’s last goal-setting session. Staff is seeking direction from the Council on whether to move forward with obtaining a proposal from a firm to facilitate a future goal-setting session. The consensus of the Council is to move forward with this process. No formal vote or motion is required. Discussion and Consideration of Pay Application #10 with Rathje Construction – Rachel Street Improvements – Council Action as Needed. This is the final pay application for this project and represents the retainage in the amount of $38,679.11. Motion made by Rose, seconded by Tuerler to approve Pay Application #10 with Rathje Construction – Rachel Street Improvements. Motion carries. Discussion and Consideration of Pay Application #1 with B.G. Brecke, Inc – Bryant Rd Sanitary Sewer – Council Action as Needed. The pay application is the amount of $194,743.72 -the project is approximately two-thirds of the way complete. Motion made by Engel, seconded by Hansen Player to approve Pay Application #1 with B.G. Brecke, Inc – Bryant Rd Sanitary Sewer. Motion carries. Discussion and Consideration of Change Order #1 with B.G. Brecke, Inc Bryant Rd Sanitary Sewer – Council Action as Needed. Change Order #1 is in the amount of $22,798.15. One of the goals set forth by the council is the connection to the interurban trail. When the property owner at 1507 Bryant Road sold the cur-
rent Public Works site to the City, they retained rights to the open area west of their home because their septic field is located in that area. Nosbisch recently reached out to the property owner to determine whether they would be interested in connecting to the City’s sanitary sewer system. The property owner agreed to abandon their existing septic system and connect to City sewer. This will allow the City to utilize the area in the future to complete the trail connection between the Public Works site and Bryant Park. Motion made by Tuerler, seconded by Rose to approve the Change Order #1 with B.G. Brecke, Inc - Bryant Rd Sanitary Sewer. Motion carries. Discussion Items (No Action) LAP-AID (Linn Area Partners Active in Disaster) provided by United Way. Mayor Wieseler provided the LAP-AID Network Member Guide to Council and Staff. The program is a network of existing organizations that support disaster response in Linn County. Mayor Wieseler asked, if the City is interested in participating in the program, who should serve as its representative. Nosbisch stated that staff can reach out to the program for additional information, including whether participation requires a financial commitment from a member, involves a membership fee, or simply provides access to contacts and resources during catastrophic events. Council expressed interest in learning more about the program and the requirements for becoming a member before moving forward. Quarry Pond Restocking. There have been two fish kills in the past 10 years. While it is relatively inexpensive for the city to restock the pond through the IDNR, there are potential risks associated with doing so. Due to the shallow nature of the pond, certain conditions can develop that may threaten the fish population, including exceptionally cold winters, bottom of ponds turnover and create low oxygen levels. The City has been asked why it continues to restock the pond given these risks; however, the pond provides a number of recreational and educational benefits. Both adults and children regularly fish there, and Cornell College utilizes the area for research and educational programs, among other uses. The City relies on the Iowa DNR to determine the appropriate restocking schedule and fish species. Tuerler asked about the ongoing maintenance of the quarry pond. Nosbisch stated that the City will need to maintain an ongoing treatment schedule to control unwanted vegetation and other issues within the pond. The Council would like staff to explore options for restocking the pond in coordination with the Iowa DNR. Reports of Mayor/Council/Administrator Mayor’s Report. Wieseler has attended mayors meeting regarding data centers for informational purposes – led by the Fairfax mayor. Cornell student, Jessica O’Brien reached out about potential volunteer opportunities – more clarification to come. The LBC Speaker Series begins tomorrow. Mayor Wieseler will provide an overview of what is happening throughout the City and engage in an open discussion with residents. Council Reports. Rose attended a zoom meeting regarding the value that Main Street Iowa brings to main street communities, especially in Mount Vernon. Engel stated the Triumvirate group (City staff, Cornell staff and the Mount Vernon School District) had their monthly meeting. Items discussed during the meeting included an update from Cornell College, which reported new student enrollment in the 300 range, although final numbers are pending census data. Cornell is also exploring the development of a solar field. The Mount Vernon Community School District reported an overall enrollment increase of 24 students, although kindergarten enrollment is down. Cornell College also provided an update on its presidential search. The candidate pool has been narrowed to approximately 12–15 individuals, with the goal of filling the position by the end of the year. Committee Reports. None. City Administrator’s Report. Report is available in the September 9, 2026 Council Packet on the City website. As there was no further business to attend to, the meeting adjourned, the time being 8:00 p.m., September 9, 2026. Respectfully submitted, Lori Boren Assistant City Administrator Published in the Sun October 1, 2026.
LISBON COMMUNITY SCHOOL REGULAR BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 9, 2026 – 6:00 P.M. Vice President Prasil called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Members present: Prasil, Baker, Richey, Bagby Members absent: Caspers Public Comment: Jan Martins advocated for the students that attend the Alternative High School. Motion by Baker, second by Richey to approve the Agenda. All ayes motion carried (4-0). Motion by Baker, second by Richey to approve the Second Reading of Board Policies: 705.01, 705.01R(2). All ayes motion carried (4-0). Motion by Richey, second by Bagby to approve the Second Reading of Board Policy HF2591, Eighth Grade Eligibility-HS Participation. All ayes motion carried (4-0). Motion by Richey, second by Baker to approve the Adoption of Lion Legacy as District Portrait of a Graduate Framework. All ayes motion carried (4-0). Motion by Richey, second by Bagby to approve the 28E Agreement with the City of Lisbon as presented. All ayes motion carried (4-0). Motion by Bagby, second by Richey to approve the Open Enrollment Requests as presented. All ayes motion carried (4-0). Board Member Baker gave a facility update to include the flooring in the concession stand, the work and planning for the courtyard grading and waterproofing project, and the bus lot progress. Secondary Principal Leighty gave a report including the progress on the re-
PUBLIC NOTICES/NEWS
18 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 quired civics test, DCAP work, and upcoming Homecoming week. Elementary Principal Brown gave a report on Open House night, the addition of a concrete pad for the gaga ball pit and thanked all who helped make it happen, school picture day, FAST testing, Parent/Teacher conferences will be on 10/6 and 10/8 along with the book fair, work towards the new TAG requirements for the 2027/28 school year. Assistant Principal Horman gave a report on his progress with training for our SIS. Activities Director Schlabaugh gave a report on fall sports and the increase in attendance with the River Valley Conference games. Superintendent Pino gave a report on progress with research for purchasing a band trailer and thanked everyone for getting the school year off to a great start. Upcoming Board Meetings are as follows: October 14, 2026 - 6:00 pm Regular School Board Meeting November 11, 2026 - 6:00 pm Regular School Board Meeting Motion by Baker, second by Bagby to approve the Consent Agenda. All ayes motion carried (4-0). Motion by Bagby, second by Baker to adjourn at 6:33 pm. All ayes motion carried (4-0). Angie Santis, Board Secretary Jen Caspers, Board President Published in the Sun October 1, 2026.
LISBON SCHOOL DISTRICT LIST OF BILLS
AUGUST, 2026 Consolidated Electrical Distributor light bulb.................................................796.22 A-1 Rental, INC roller ren..................404.6 ABC Disposal Systems monthly se............ ....................................................3,729.24 Ace Hardware bathroom b..............809.02 Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. profession...........31 Alliant Energy Monthly El...........23,479.92 AMAZON Capital Services pk4 classr......... ....................................................9,713.38 Ankeny School District 2nd Semest........... ....................................................9,084.60 Anthem Sports volleyball.............2,798.45 AnTuk Water Technologies cooling to........ ....................................................2,609.93 ASPI Solutions Inc. Bound spon................ ....................................................3,150.00 Coca-Cola concession..................1,848.49 Autumn Pino Sept phone.....................100 Auxiant Auxiant AC.......................8,308.93 Catherine A Awtry refund lun..............6.82 Barnes & Noble, Inc classroom.........479.4 Big Deck Mowers service mo..........283.86 Blick Art Materials elem art s.......1,831.12 BMI license fo.................................192.29 Sydney Bradford pom choreo......1,200.00 Brandon C Horman Sept phone...........100 Brecke, Inc service wa....................786.84 CAM School District 2nd Semest............... ..................................................12,802.89 Cambium Assessment Inc ELPA21 - S...69 Cameron Eichhorn Sept phone............100 James M. Campbell refund lun.........29.85 CareerSafe Indust Tec..................1,050.00 CarQuest of Lisbon pump/fuel........175.94 Castle Grove Roofing power wash............. ....................................................3,500.00 Chris Henze Ref JV V F........................150 City Of Lisbon water/sewe............7,032.57 Clark Towing tow bus #1......................950 ClassLink Inc software r...............3,496.35 Clear Creek Amana School District 2nd Semest.........................................5,812.80 Clearfly phone serv...........................858.9 Collection Svs Center, DHS Misc P/R D..... ..............................................................30 College Community Schools 2nd Semest..
..................................................37,452.66 Committee For Children second ste........... ....................................................1,599.50 Convergint Technologies, LLC camera sof. ............................................................386 Covenant Family Solutions counseling....... ....................................................2,080.00 Covenant Workplace Solutions September. .........................................................593.6 Delta Dental Medical In................8,348.52 Dennis Fulkerson 25-26 Nonp.........460.81 Department Of Administrative Svcs annual adm......................................................600 Dept of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing boiler ins..............................................240 Des Moines Stamp door name..........137.5 Morgan E Deutmeyer reimburse.....119.89 Discount School Supply sensory bi..24.99 Dustin Nekvinda 25-26 Nonp..........460.81 Eric Armin Inc secondary..................64.42 Ecolab Pest Elimination building a..300.42 Electronic Clearing House, Inc. Monthly Fe ............................................................119 Elite Sports basketball..........................348 EO Johnson Business Technologies district c...............................................416.45 Equitable State Plan Tsa/Ira/An....5,630.50 Eric Krob alt school......................2,000.00 ES Portables porta pott................2,423.29 Everyday Speech LLC english/re.....599.99 Fareway concession........................639.05 Gallagher Benefit Svcs GASB valua............ ....................................................1,200.00 Global Water Services, LLC water soft....... .......................................................453.25 Goodwill Industries of the Heartland Aug career...........................................4,506.00 Grant Wood AEA Jul-Sept 2.......57,501.34 David V Gutierrez reimburse................110 Bailey Hill reimburse.......................428.93 Internal Revenue Service Fica..203,415.23 Iowa City Athletic Official Asso 2026 Baseb ............................................................200 Treasurer-State Of Iowa State Inco............. ..................................................21,664.00 Iowa Girls High School Ath Union SB regiona.................................................166.7 Iowa High School Music Assoc. Registrati ............................................................220 Iowa High School Speech Assoc. Coaches co.........................................................250 IPERS IPERS...........................143,249.23 J.W. Pepper & Son, INC. music...1,500.96 Jack Leighty Sept phone......................100 Malorie James kick chore....................450 Jordan's Property Care June mow/f........... ..................................................12,290.00 Jostens, Inc. final paym...............5,205.16 Julie Hendricks reimburse................29.64 Julie Light refund lun..........................7.75 Junction Auto Sales suburban h..1,157.32 Justin Brown Sept phone.....................100 Kayla Mehlert 25-26 Nonp..............460.81 Kirkwood Community College vital prog.... ....................................................4,769.98 Krafka Lawn & Landscape fertizlize............ ....................................................3,064.00 Lakeshore Learning Materials sensory bi... .......................................................838.28 Laprea Education Inc digital li..............167 Leaf elem copie............................3,729.96 Lenoch & Cilek Ace Hardware custodial..... ....................................................4,734.03 Linn Co-Operative Oil Co diesel fue............ ....................................................1,987.76 Linn-Mar Community School 2nd Semest. ..................................................10,531.54 Lisbon CSD Flex Spending IRS 125 Pa...... ....................................................4,167.64 Michael Livingston repair ins.......1,324.50 Lynch transit se.................................93.99 Marcia Brenner Associates adaptive s........ ............................................................525 Martin Bros. Distributing Co Inc. food suppl............................................2,383.95 Mass Mutual Tsa/Ira/An.......................400 McClure Profession......................5,580.00 McGraw Hill Companies 3-6th Wond......... ....................................................7,806.02 Mechanicsville Fiber alt school.......129.88 MediaCom internet s....................1,800.00
Menards 4 large fa.......................2,892.30 Deb Menken Ref V Voll...................156.18 MFL MarMac Community School District district p...............................................100 Michele McCoy mileage De..........1,207.72 Marcus Millard Ref JV V F....................150 Matthew Miller Ref JV V F....................150 Modern Piping Inc gym a/c un.....1,112.00 Levi D. Montague reimburse................240 Monticello Sports scorebooks...............50 Moose Mechanical LLC heat pump/........... ..................................................28,278.50 Mosyle Corporation additional............8.25 Mt Vernon Repair Shop student fl........395 Mt. Vernon Comm Schools 2nd Semest.... ................................................482,089.29 Music Theatre International additional....... .......................................................199.05 MV Learning LLC training s.................498 Mystery Science Elem premi........2,199.00 Nathan or Stacy Ross 25-26 Nonp............. ....................................................1,276.04 Nathan Robinson Ref JV V F................150 NEIBA Treasurer 26/27 memb................20 Newsela Inc 2026/27 su...............2,474.91 Night Shift cleaning s.................36,975.84 Nippon Sanso Matheson Inc gas tank r..... ..............................................................61 Anita Northup Ref V Voll.................157.12 Office Express bulk paper............5,394.30 James W Ott reimburse....................41.94 P.J.'s Vac vacuum bag....................134.85 Performance Foodservice food suppl........ ..................................................17,847.50 Piper Sandler & Co. Disseminat...2,550.00 Prairie Farms milk suppl..............2,348.24 Prairie Music Association Registrati....175 Meteor Education LLC third grad............... ....................................................4,798.90 Principal Life Insurance Disability.............. ....................................................4,225.57 Project Lead the Way, Inc. kdg refill.....103 Randy Krejci Ref V Voll...................157.33 Dan Rhine Ref V Voll.......................155.71 Rickard Sign & Design shirts - s................ ....................................................1,873.50 Riddell All American Sports Corp football h ....................................................3,251.22 River Valley Conference River Vall.......500 Rod Kelley Sept phone.........................100 Savvas Learning Company LLC envisions.. ..................................................10,313.16 Schmidt Athletic Floors wax lecc a............. ....................................................8,500.00 Scholastic INC. Scholastic..............117.62 School Bus Sales bus parts.........2,829.62 School Health Corporation school nur....... .......................................................557.86 School Specialty, LLC 3rd grade................ ....................................................4,649.11 Schumacher Elevator Co., INC. elevator m .......................................................165.94 Scott Hansen Ref V Voll..................160.31 Scott Kremer Ref V Voll..................160.23 Sherwin Williams paint...................432.56 Solberg's cross coun..........................31.4 Star Food Service Equipment and Repairs repair dis...........................................583.2 Stefanie McNamer refund lun...........65.23 Stephanie Wildt reimburse................102.4 Steve Meyer Ref JV V F...................159.81 Student Publications Inc legal/minu........... .......................................................614.64 Summit Fire Protection fire extin............... ....................................................3,693.40 Teacher Synergy, LLC digital cu......102.99 Teaching Strategies LLC creative c............. ....................................................3,464.20 Telecom Services Of Iowa, Inc service pa.. ............................................................240 The Baseball Home baseball c......1,452.99 The DBQ Company online acc......1,200.00 TnT Tuckpointing & Building Restoration LLC building m...........................19,975.00 Town & Country Wholesale Co. concession..............................................3,220.07 Trane US Inc gym a/c un..............1,205.00 Turnitin annual sub......................3,080.00 Uline standing d..............................306.85 Value Inspired Products elem desks.......... ....................................................8,150.00
Bailey L Vifian reimburse................197.98 Visa fridges fo..............................8,373.42 VOYA Tsa/Ira/An...........................1,773.34 VSP Vision Service Plan Medical In........... ....................................................3,413.17 TreviPay-Walmart prize cart.........1,031.49 Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical In.............................................156,009.06 Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa Flex Claim.......................................923.02 West Music Co. elem music.........2,063.30 Phil A Whitman reimburse...................110 XtraMath premium li....................1,000.00 Zaner-Bloser Educational Publish elem super..........................................15,611.75 Jennie M. Zerbe mileage -.................53.04 Total......................................1,552,138.08 Published in the Sun October 1, 2026.
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE MOUNT VERNON PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
OCTOBER 14, 2026 6:30 PM The Planning and Zoning Commission for Mount Vernon, Iowa, will conduct a Public Hearing on October 14, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 213 First Street NW in Mt. Vernon, IA 52314. The public hearing will be held in consideration of amending Chapter 165 Zoning Regulations of the Mount Vernon Code of Ordinances, Article 7 Section 710 Accessory Buildings. The amendment is available for review in the City Clerk’s office, 213 First St. NW, Mt. Vernon, IA 52314. Published in the Sun October 1, 2026.
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE MOUNT VERNON CITY COUNCIL
OCTOBER 19, 2025 6:30 PM The City Council for Mount Vernon, Iowa, will conduct a Public Hearing on October 19, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 213 First Street NW in Mt. Vernon, IA 52314. The public hearing will be held in consideration of amending Chapter 165 Zoning Regulations of the Mount Vernon Code of Ordinances, Article 7 Section 710 Accessory Buildings. The amendment is available for review in the City Clerk’s office, 213 First St. NW, Mt. Vernon, IA 52314. Published in the Sun October 1, 2026.
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE MOUNT VERNON PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
OCTOBER 14, 2026 6:30 PM The Planning and Zoning Commission for Mount Vernon, Iowa, will conduct a Public Hearing on October 14, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 213 First Street NW in Mt. Vernon, IA 52314. The public hearing will be held in consideration of the Final Plat of Cornell College Third Addition. The plat is available for review in the City Clerk’s office, 213 First St. NW, Mt. Vernon, IA 52314. Published in the Sun October 1, 2026.
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE MOUNT VERNON CITY COUNCIL
OCTOBER 19, 2025 6:30 PM The City Council for Mount Vernon, Iowa, will conduct a Public Hearing on October 19, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 213 First Street NW in Mt. Vernon, IA 52314. The public hearing will be held in consideration of the Final Plat of Cornell College Third Addition. The plat is available for review in the City Clerk’s office, 213 First St. NW, Mt. Vernon, IA 52314. Published in the Sun October 1, 2026.
MOUNT VERNON-LISBON SUN | MVLSUN.COM
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Linn County Food Systems Council to host food symposium Oct. 30 The Linn County Food Systems Council will host a food symposium Oct. 30, 2026, at the ISU Extension and Outreach Office in Hiawatha. The food symposium is an event aimed at growing connections and bringing together producers, buyers, and curious community members to strengthen the local food system in Linn County. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. The event will explore local processing and food distribution, food hubs, school nutrition programs, and local food access. Attendees will hear from speakers from across Iowa, join discussions, and network with others committed to local food in and around Linn County. “We are what we eat, and we all play a part in our local food system,” said Linn County Food Systems chair Drew Erickson. “This symposium is an opportunity to come together, learn from passionate speakers and explore how farmers, food producers, schools, community partners and consumers can help strengthen our local food system. We invite everyone to join us for a day of conversation, connection, and ideas about the future of local food in and around Linn County.”
Event Details When: Oct. 30, 2026, at 8 a.m. Where: ISU Extension and Outreach Linn County Office 1770 Boyson Rd., Hiawatha, Iowa Cost: Free Registration Required: https://www.linncountyiowa.gov/ FormCenter/Planning-Development-6/2026-Linn-CountyFood-Systems-Council-Fo-192
Agenda 8:15-9 a.m. Registration/Check in and Light Breakfast 9-9:45 a.m. Welcome and Keynote Speaker: Deanna Robinson with East Central Iowa Council of Governments 9:45-10 a.m. Break 10-11 a.m. Processing/Distribution: Meat, Canning, Certified Community Kitchens – a conversation about local processing · Breakout 1: Jason Grimm, Grimm Family Farm · Breakout 2: Emmaly Renshaw, Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development’s Community Kitchen, and Jeff Sindelar, Debs Berry Patch · Breakout 3: Mariah Andrews, Prairiewoods 11-11:15 a.m. Break 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Local Food as an Economic Driver: Exploring food hubs, school nutrition programs, and wholesale markets · Teresa Wiemerslage, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach · Missy Ortman, Clear Creek Amana School District · Student Presentations: Metro High School 12:15-1:15 p.m. Lunch and Networking 1:15 -2:15 p.m. Food Access: How nutritious food is accessed in Linn County for health, equity, and well-being · Breakout 1: Katie Oatsvall, Horizons · Breakout 2: Erin Raftery, Eastern Iowa Health Center and Alora Kraus, Feed Iowa First 2:15-2:30 p.m. Closing remarks and door prizes The Linn County Food Systems Council invites everyone interested in promoting sustainable food systems and nourishing the community to join this inspiring event.
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NEWS
Committee, director reports of Lisbon City Council Cadence Dighton Mount Vernon Lisbon-Sun news@mvlsun.com
Public works director report Public works director Travis Bagby shared that there had been some weather-related setbacks for the public works team in the last couple weeks, both as a result of extreme heat and excessive rain. Specifically, projects like concrete pours and completing the chip and dip have been impacted and delayed. As a result, additional brush pickups took place in the meantime.
Parks and rec director report Although parks and rec director Drayton Kamberling was not in attendance at the meeting, Lisbon City Council meeting, Lisbon city clerk Christina Eicher shared his report on his behalf. According to Eicher, Kamberling reported that soccer and flag football are in “full swing,” and all is going well thus far. Looking forward, registration for girls’ basketball is open with a deadline of Friday, Oct. 2. Until winter arrives, Kamberling is focused on mowing, weed eating, tree trimming and park maintenance.
Library director report Coming up at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, the Lisbon Public Library will be hosting a donor recognition event in honor of the donations received by Howard and Phyllis Ciha in the amount of about $100,000. “I would love if you guys would come and show your respect for that huge and amazing donation,” Elizabeth Hoover de Galvez, Lisbon Public Library director said. For the entire month of September thus far and going forward into the rest of the month, the Lisbon Public
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | 19
Fire chief report
Lisbon fire chief Brandon Siggins shared that the Lisbon Fire Department had a successful turnout at the annual Labor Day pancake breakfast, in which about 1,400 paid individuals were in attendance. Additionally, about 200 children five and under who had free admission attended. “I just want to thank everybody who helped put that on and do all that. There’s a lot of hard work that goes Library will be hosting its nourish and flourish event into that,” Siggins said. in which a cooking demonstration of healthy food is put on, followed by a walk led by a Cornell kinesiology City administrator report student. The event takes place every at 6 p.m. every Thursday in September. Lisbon city administrator Brandon Siggins shared Additionally, the Lisbon Public Library’s children’s that the 28E agreement that is shared between the librarian, Meredith Nehring, is now being shared city and Lisbon Community School District has been between the Lisbon Public Library and the Cole Library approved by the school after the council approved it in in Mount Vernon, according to Hoover de Galvez. August. The Lisbon Public Library is trying to get Nehring a Additionally, a lease agreement is in the works full-time job there, but for now, part-time at each library between Southeast Linn Community Center (SELCC) is the solution. Hoover de Galvez shared, however, that and the city. early information shows that the standard size of the “There’s nothing on file for any type of agreement Lisbon library has two full-time employees. between the city and Southeast Linn, and whenever something happens, Nicole [McAlexander] and I work through it, but we’re always like, ‘well, who fixes this?’” Ambulance director report Siggins explained. The Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance Service has Looking at facilities updates, Siggins shared that the been working hard on getting the word about its Sept. 1 seeding window is open, which means that seeding has vote out there, and now that that’s over, regular activi- been done at the sports complex and grass is beginning ties are rolling back in for the service. to grow in place of weeds. According to the director, Jake Lindauer, the service Additionally, Alliant Energy will drill the holes at the is working on getting the spring recruit class off orien- sports complex for the light pole bases to be placed in tation and onto the trucks and had another two move the ground once the electrical work is complete there. on to orientation the day of the meeting. Siggins also acknowledged the concrete work that was On Tuesday, Sept. 15, the Lisbon-Mount Vernon completed on excessive heat days. Ambulance Service hosted a survivor celebration for a “I really appreciate all the work that went in out there. resident that survived a cardiac arrest event, to which We’re making some pretty good progress,” Siggins said. Lindauer shared thanks for “some pretty awesome An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) device teamwork between several departments.” has been picked up after Siggins applied for a received a Additionally, the service has completed their final grant for that earlier this year. The AED will go in place meeting with Impact Life and will begin carrying at the sports complex. blood products once it is approved by the state, which “I appreciate the opportunity that they gave us for that Lindauer hopes to be this fall. grant for that, so thanks to them,” Siggins said. “We’ll be one of the first in the region. Currently, there are two pilot programs in the Des Moines metro, but the Cadence Dighton is a junior in the University National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is really of Iowa’s School of Journalism and Mass pushing it for rural areas, as that’s where the benefit is Communication. Cadence is an intern with the Mount going to truly come in,” Lindauer said. Vernon-Lisbon Sun.
Linn County health leaders unite for community measles education campaign For the second year in a row, Eastern Iowa Health Center, Linn County Public Health, Mercy Cedar Rapids, and UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital are launching a community-wide campaign to educate people about measles, its risks, and the importance of vaccination. We want to encourage Linn County residents to check their vaccination status and understand the steps to take if they suspect they have measles. A measles resurgence began in the U.S. in 2025, and the trend has continued into this year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), last year there were 2,289 confirmed measles cases in the country and three deaths. The case count for 2026 so far has already surpassed last year’s total—the CDC reports 3,471 measles cases. Our education campaign highlights the following messages to the public: • Don’t miss out on life. If you’re exposed to the measles and you cannot prove your immunity status, you will have to quarantine for 21 days. Avoid missing work, school, and fun events by making sure 1) you have the MMR vaccine (or some other form of immunity, like a titer) AND 2) you’re able to provide documentation of your immunity. • Know the signs and know what to do. Before the tell-tale rash, people with measles experience high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. The rash appears 3-5 days after those other symptoms. If you get sick and suspect measles, call BEFORE seeking medical care. Your healthcare provider may see you in the parking lot or have you use a special entrance. Measles is so contagious that an infected person simply entering a public space puts others at risk. • The MMR vaccine is safe. People have been receiving the MMR vaccine since the 1960s. In the decades since the vaccine was made
available to the public, millions of people have gotten it and enjoyed life without ever having to worry about measles. Most people don’t have side effects from the vaccine, but these can happen. They are usually mild and include soreness, fever, and temporary stiffness in the joints. More serious side effects are rare. If you have concerns about side effects, talk about them with a doctor or healthcare provider. • How to protect the youngest members of our community Historically, healthcare providers gave babies their first dose of the MMR vaccine when they were 12 months old. However, decreased vaccination rates means measles is present in Iowa and an active threat to those who don’t have protection. The CDC now recommends a “zero dose”—babies can get protection from this disease as soon as they are six months old. They will still need to receive the regularly scheduled first and second dose after they reach 12 months.
way to prevent measles, and we encourage families to stay informed and up to date. Together, we can limit transmission and keep our families and our neighbors safe. Matthew Fox, MD Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer Mercy Cedar Rapids
What local leaders are saying
Measles is one of the most contagious infections known to science, and it is spreading again in undervaccinated communities across the country. A single case can infect 12 to 18 susceptible people through just breathing the same air, even hours after the infectious person has left the space. Measles can lead to pneumonia, brain damage, and even death. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles. When at least 95% of our community is vaccinated, we protect not only ourselves but also the infants, pregnant women, and immunocompromised neighbors who cannot be vaccinated. Making sure your family is vaccinated is one of the simplest and most powerful things you can do to keep our community safe. Jenna Mullins, MD Family Medicine Physician Eastern Iowa Health Center
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases we encounter in medicine, but it is also one of the most preventable. Vaccination helps protect not only the individual receiving it but also infants, older adults and others who may be especially vulnerable to severe illness. Keeping our community healthy starts with making sure we are protected. Dr. Dustin Arnold Medical Director UnityPoint Health – St. Luke's Hospital Measles is highly contagious, but it is also highly preventable. As cases resurface in Iowa, our priority is protecting the health of our community through early recognition, rapid response, and strong vaccination practices. Immunization remains the most effective
While better sanitation practices have decreased rates of illness spread through food and water, those practices have no impact on measles, which spreads through droplets in the air. The measles vaccine has been used in the United States since the 1960s. Getting the vaccine is much safer than having the measles infection. Heather Meador Clinical Services and Epidemiology Division Manager Linn County Public Health
NEWS
20 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026
Princesses hold off Frogs in Homecoming Powderpuff thriller Megan Heine For the Mount Vernon Lisbon Sun
A little rain and a lot of school spirit made for an entertaining Homecoming Powderpuff game night at Mount Vernon high school Thursday, Sept. 24. As part of this year’s “Down in the Bayou” Homecoming theme, the annual Powderpuff game featured the Princesses, sophomores and seniors dressed in pink, against the Frogs made up of freshmen and juniors sporting green t-shirts. Following the crowning of Mount Vernon’s Homecoming king and queen, the two teams took the field under a light drizzle, bringing plenty of school spirit and a little friendly trash talk with them. The Princesses entered the game with confidence. “They can’t hang with us,” one of the Princesses’ coaches said before kickoff. A Frogs coach had an even more confident prediction, calling for a 44-0 blowout. The game quickly proved neither prediction would come true. The Princesses controlled the first half, building a lead and taking momentum into
halftime. But the Frogs came out of the break ready to fight back. The freshmen and juniors flipped the script in the second half, scoring enough to take the lead and put the Princesses on the ropes. Their student section wasn’t going to sit quietly either. As the Frogs mounted their comeback, students ran out of the stands and onto the sideline to cheer on their classmates, adding to an already lively atmosphere. With the game slipping away, the Princesses needed a late answer. With only a few minutes remaining, the Princesses scored a touchdown and followed it with a successful two-point conversion to take a 27-26 lead. The Frogs had one minute to reclaim their lead, but the Princesses held on to secure the one-point victory. The final score was a far cry from the predicted 44-0 blowout, and the Princesses’ pregame confidence turned out to have some bite. In the end, it was the Princesses who got their happily ever after, while the Frogs were left searching for their own storybook ending.
Photos by Emma Reiter | For the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Top left: A member of the frogs runs the ball during the 2026 Mount Vernon powderpuff game on Thursday, Sept. 24. Above: A member of the frogs intercepts the ball during the 2026 Mount Vernon powderpuff game. Left: A coach celebrates the team scoring in the powderpuff football game. Right top to bottom: The princesses student section celebrates a touchdown during the 2026 Mount Vernon powderpuff game on Thursday, Sept. 24. The princesses cheerleaders clap during the 2026 Mount Vernon powderpuff game. Members of the princesses celebrate a touchdown. Members and coaches of the princesses celebrate a win in the 2026 Mount Vernon powderpuff game on Thursday, Sept. 24.
MOUNT VERNON-LISBON SUN | MVLSUN.COM