Pool officially open, minor issues still continue
Nathan Countryman Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
The Mount Vernon Pool officially opened May 31, but it was still a busy weekend for city staff involving the pool.
City administrator Chris Nosbisch said city staff was notified at 11 p.m. that one of the pumps around the pool had been submerged in water and stopped functioning. They were able to get the pump back working that evening because the issue was discovered early.
City crews left the pool at 1 a.m., thinking everything was ready to go for the opening of the pool Saturday.
At 7 a.m., crews arrived to discover the heat pumps in the pool were shut off, as well as other electrical powered items.
“What we discovered is that the north side of town had a power blip early Saturday morning,” Nosbisch said. “Most consumers wouldn’t have noticed it, but all seven of those pumps at the pool were tripped off because of a power failure.”
Crews had the panels reset and operating by 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning, but it points to ongoing issues staff will need to continue watching at the pool moving forward. That included the pool closing early June 5 to address some of those minor issues.
Nosbisch said that the pool is still losing a small amount of water, even with the repairs to a basin, and suspects the issue may be in a pipe between the pumps that work to keep the pool operating is leaking, which will be addressed by sealing the exterior of the pipe.
The chairs that were supposed to be at the pool are on backorder and not scheduled to arrive until July 1. In the interim, people are allowed to bring their own seating to the pool.
Council member Stephanie West said she still considers it a huge success the pool opened at the time it did with all the issues the pool was facing ahead of opening after the repairs made this spring.
Field of Dreams
Lions sail past Springville at Dyersville
Ella McEntaffer
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
The Lisbon Lions sailed past Springville Thursday, June 5, 12-0.
The Lions dominated on the Field of Dreams field in Dyersville in the unique rivalry game between said teams. The game drew crowds from both communities to the venue to enjoy a game, and the Lions did what they do best in those opportunities – thoroughly dominated the Orioles.
Lisbon got on the scoreboard early with three runs, before erupting in the second inning for eight more runs.
For the full story, check out page 9.
Prepare
CDG announces 37th annual Heritage Days Festival set for July 11 and 12
The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group (CDG), a Main Street Iowa organization, is excited to announce the 37th Annual Heritage Days Festival, taking place Friday and Saturday, July 11 and 12. This year’s theme, “Y2K,” celebrates the history, fashion, and songs of the millennium to honor the class of 2000’s 25 Year Reunion!
Presented by the CDG and the Heritage Days Committee, the festival is made possible through partnerships with the Lester Buresh Community Wellness Center, Mount Vernon Alumni Association, Mount Vernon Community School District, the City of Mount Vernon, and other local organizations and sponsors.
“As an alumnus of Mount Vernon, it’s been a special and eye-opening experience to be involved in the planning of Her-
itage Days,” said CDG director Jessie Thurn. “I am excited to introduce free entertainment options on Saturday, such as the Conservation Station and Kiracatures at Memorial Park, and to relocate the Alumni reception to the Visitor’s Center. The CDG will also present our Volunteer Appreciation Awards on the Main Stage at 11:30 a.m., followed by performances from Dance Arts Iowa and Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theater.”
Friday, July 11
Festivities kick off Friday, July 11 at 5 p.m. at the Lester Buresh Community Family Wellness Center (855 Palisades Road SW) with inflatables, games, food trucks, and live music. The Mount Vernon Bank Kids Fun Run starts at 5:30 p.m. at the MAC (731 Palisades Rd SW). At dark, enjoy the return of the
drone show by
Ella McEntaffer | Mount VernonLisbon Sun
Left: The Lisbon and Springville crowds surround the field Thursday, June 5, for the game at the Field of Dreams site in Dyersville this year.
Below: Players with the Lisbon Lions mug for the camera along the sidelines at the game.
HERITAGE DAYS from 1
Starlight Aerial Productions of Michigan, also held at the MAC.
NOTE: No alcohol is permitted on MAC grounds. Blankets are encouraged for seating in the grassy area near the bleachers; chairs and outside food are not allowed on the football field or track.
Also Friday night, Yock’s Landing (102 First Street SE) will host two live bands:
• Vinny and the Night Prowlers from 8–10 p.m.
• Rattlebox from 10 p.m. to midnight
Saturday, July 12
Start the day with the Alumni and Community Breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Mount Vernon High School Commons (731 Palisades Road SW). The Heritage Days Parade follows at 10:30 a.m. with this year’s “Y2K” theme. Parade lineup begins at 9:30 a.m. at Cornell’s Small Athletic and Wellness Center (835 First St W).
NOTE: There will be no parade parking at the lineup location. Spectator parking is available on City streets south of First Street.
Activities on First Street East and West will be ongoing after the parade including the return of the Heritage Days Car Show, food vendors, and beer tent. At 1:30 p.m., the Mount Vernon Wrestling Club will host their annual Bags Tournament Fundraiser. Starting at noon, the Mount Vernon Lions Club will host Bingo, and the Mount Vernon Pool (919 Second Ave N) will host Y2K Theme Night at 5:30 p.m. with games and prizes! The celebration will conclude with a street dance at the Main Stage featuring the Crazy Delicious Band from 8 p.m. to midnight.
A full Heritage Days schedule can be found under the ‘Events’ tab at www.VisitMVL.com.
MVHPC approves certificate of no material effect for Cornell
Amazon Drop Box to be installed at Thomas Commons
Nathan Countryman
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun nathan.countryman@mvlsun. com
Cornell College will be installing an Amazon Drop Box outside Thomas Commons ahead of fall semester. Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission approved the change with no material effect to the historic district.
The Amazon Drop Box will eliminate one of the issues that has plagued the campus mail room at Thomas Commons in recent years, of Amazon delivery drivers dropping items off at the wrong locations and packages then getting lost or stolen.
“It will allow items to be dropped off 24/7 by drivers or picked up by students when it’s convenient for them as well,” said Susan Ridenour of Cornell College.
The drop box will be located near the loading dock at Cornell College’s Thomas Commons, in an area that is well lit and visible by campus security.
Donnie Moore noted it is a temporary structure, and can be replaced or removed in the future if needs be and would have no impact
to the building, aside from the electricity routed to the box to allow people to gain access to the lockers their packages are stored in. Students would access their packages using an application that would give them the requisite security code to unlock the box that contains their package for pick-up, making sure they are one of the only who has access to that particular box.
“I think as a commission, we need to be adaptable to the needs of the future,” said commission member Mary Evans. “This is placed in a spot where it wouldn’t be seen except for those who need to use it, and not with a lot of signage.”
Commission member Mike Guerber concurred, noting that the box is located in the middle of campus where students frequent.
Commission member Guy Booth made an approval of no material effect, with Moore seconding.
Other applications reviewed by commission
The historic preservation commission also had discussions on three additional applications.
The first application was for a tuckpointing request for Vintage 1891.
The commission took no
action on the application, noting it was for maintenance of a building, but discussion happened on if applicants should work more closely to make sure the mortar they use matches the colors of the previous mortar used.
Commission member Sherry Brayton said tuckpointing done to Right Frame of Mind using mortar that was historic was starting to crumble, roughly 15 to 16 years after that work was completed. She had come to HPC when they were doing work on the building after receiving a grant for work that was completed.
Evans said she was glad the request had come up to the commission before work had begun so she knew what was happening at least.
Commission members said they may revisit the topic on tuckpointing and approvals at a future meeting.
The commission tabled action on a generator to be installed at Memorial Park because no representation was there to answer questions.
Guerber said the primary issues are the placement of the generator, the visuals of the generator and the impact to the ambience of the park when the generator is running.
Commission member Duane Eash said generators have annual and monthly tests to make sure they are operating before a power
Serving up free meals
and
outage hits.
The commission was unsure if the generator request had been approved by the City of Mount Vernon to begin with, as the city had approved work to new cell phone tower work on top of the water tower that this would likely benefit.
A representative from TMobile was supposed to be in attendance of the meeting via Zoom, but they were not present.
The commission moved to table any action until questions could be answered on the project from either the city or TMobile.
The commission approved a demolition application for a deck for the Gondeks, but noted in the approval that a representative from either the family or Linn County were missing to discuss the issue.
The deck attached to the property was built in the 1990s and is rotting. It was not properly flashed to the house, and as such is damaging the house by not being removed.
“This is one of the more straightforward applications we’ve seen,” Eash said. “There’s no historical significance to the deck, and it would be an improvement to the home to remove it, as it’s damaging the house.”
Commission member Randy Brown moved to approve the application with the mention a home-
owner should have been present, as stated in the commission’s guidelines. Guerber seconded.
Historic details and cemetery update
A note has been included as to the fate of the missing city council minutes from 1861 to 1880.
The historic preservation commission has minutes from the city council meetings from 1881 through present, but not from 1861 to 1880. Commission member Mary Evans said those minutes had been destroyed by a fire in the old Mount Vernon Pharmacy building at that time.
A presentation on the fires will be made as part of the adult speaker series at Lester Buresh Center this fall.
An assessment of the 100 gravestones in the cemetery that need repairs will be completed in July, with the workshop on how to do that being held Monday, July 14 at city hall and then hands on at the cemetery that afternoon.
An Eagle Scout project will also work on the fence line at the cemetery this fall as well.
Commission members also reviewed drafts of design guidelines from JMT and made notes of minor changes and improvements to pass on.
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
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Design Intern Emma Calabro
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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 every Thursday 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 Rochelle Ferguson at 319-895-6216 or rochelle.ferguson@mvlsun.com for additional information. Subscription rates: Linn and adjoining counties – $55 annually; elsewhere in Iowa – $75 annually; out of state – $85 annually.
Copyright 2025 Mount VernonLisbon Sun, a division of The Daily Iowan and Student Publications, Inc. All articles, photographs and graphics, both in print and online editions, are the property of Student Publications, Inc., and may not be reproduced or republished without written permission.
Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Volunteers Sue Snyder (left) and Carol Daly (right) dish up chicken strips and fries at one of the free community lunches hosted by Southeast Linn Community Center this summer. The meals are served Monday at United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon, Tuesdays through Thursdays at Southeast Linn Community Center in Lisbon and Fridays at First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon. Meals are served from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.,
open to anyone in the community.
Tails and Tales program held at Cole
Summer reading programs continue throughout summer
Nathan Countryman
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Cole Library’s first big sum mer reading program was “Tails and Tales,” a storytime run by the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium from Dubuque.
Bailey, a staff member from the museum, read the book “Tur tle’s Race With Beaver” by James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac.
The story tells a fable about the importance of sharing, as beaver and turtle co-exist in the same pond. While turtle is sleeping in the winter, beaver builds a dam that drastically impacts the water level in the pond, and changing the pond turtle has known and loved. The duo hold a race to determine who will claim the pond.
“A fable is a story that teaches us a lesson,” Bailey said.
After the story, Bailey spoke about some of the attributes of the two main characters in the story, the beaver and the turtle.
She asked participants to say what they know about beavers.
Attendees noted that beavers have large tails, they like to chew down trees and wood, and built habitats along bodies of water.
Bailey said one of the reasons beavers are always chewing on trees and tree branches is to help trim down their teeth, which are constantly growing, along with using the branches or trees to make their dams.
Beavers have two coats of fur.
The exterior layer is shiny because of oil and other elements that coat the hair, while the inner layer is thick and fuzzy, used to help keep them warmer in colder months.
To get into a dam, beavers have to travel under water to get to the entrances, better to protect themselves from others who want to gain entrance into the home.
When it comes to turtles, Bailey showed off the shell of an alligator snapping turtle, and talked about how that exterior shell protects turtles from predators.
They feed on an omnivorous diet, including fruits, vegetables, insects and invertebrates like worms.
She also showed off Scarlet, a turtle that resides at the museum.
Next up was a bearded dragon.
Bailey pointed out one of the
lizard was the spikes along her back, and changing color on portions of her body to reflect black. Items you find in deserts that have black coloring usually indicate the animal is venomous or poisonous.
Capilla, the bearded dragon, also has an omnivorous diet, including a lot of bugs, and vegetables.
“One of her favorite foods to eat is blueberries,” Bailey said.
The last animal presented was a corn snake. Bailey said the snake is usually located in states like Florida, Louisiana and Georgia.
As she was speaking, the corn snake kept trying to climb to the top of her head.
“He’s seeking out the warmest spot on my body, which would be my head,” Bailey said.
Attendees then had a chance to pet the snake at the conclusion of the event.
Top: Bailey shows off a bearded dragon to attendees of the Tails and Tales program.
Left: The skull of a beaver, especially the constantly growing teeth, were part of the other portion of the Tails and Tales program.
Below: Judd has the opportunity to pet a corn snake at the Tails and Tales program.
Whitetails Unlimited supports Izaak Walton League project
Whitetails Unlimited have supported a project at Izaak Walton League to help support local college and high school trap shooting teams.
Izaak Walton League are working on a trap field renovation project, and the local chapter of Whitetails Unlimited contributed $5,000 to the cause.
Anyone interested in helping support this project can contact Neil Mittelberg at 319-310-1793.
FRESH AIR CHILDCARE
Margie Martel (Owner and Lead Teacher)
You
Photos by Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Contributed photo
Jackson Powers of Whitetails Unlimited presents Neil Mittelberg of Izaak Walton League with a grant.
OPINIONS
Joni, Jesus and the Tooth Fairy
Living in Iowa
I suppose it would have been worse if Sen. Joni Ernst had promised constituents in the Butler County town hall that slashing Medicaid coverage with the pending budget bill would ironically allow them to live forever. Instead, at that fateful meeting on May 30, after an audience member shouted, “People are going to die,” Ernst scoffed, “Well, we’re all going to die, for Heaven’s sakes.”
While the inevitability of death may not have been breaking news to the good folks of Butler County, this is not the sort of message likely to elicit hurrahs from an audience. And anyway, those who booed Ernst’s remark weren’t expecting the budget bill to make them immortal. Just not kill them prematurely.
To be fair, Ernst’s comment was quickly taken out of context and blown out of proportion. Sure, she might have explained that she had been only been joking that everybody was going to die. Then, the whole thing would have blown over.
Instead, the next day, she posted a sarcastic apology showing herself in a cemetery, saying, “I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from the earth,” implying her constituents are clueless and naïve. You probably noticed the addition of a phrase from the Gettysburg Address: “…and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” But she left out the first part that, in dedicating the Gettysburg National Cemetery, Lincoln was rededicating the country to the principals of democracy and equality.
Ernst then contemptuously added, “And I’m really, really glad I did not have to bring up the subject of the Tooth Fairy as well.” As a kind of afterthought, she invited anybody still interested in immortality to “embrace my lord and savior.” So, not only was Sen. Ernst mocking her constituents, she was mocking Lincoln’s noble sentiment of equality and inclusion (and oddly seemed to place Jesus and the Tooth Fairy on the same level)—while using those buried in the cemetery around her as props for her mean-spirited joke. It’s no wonder people are now calling her “Joni Hearse”. And why wouldn’t we believe in the Tooth Fairy? Hasn’t Donald Trump expected us to believe we could cure Covid by injecting bleach—that Joe Biden has been replaced by a robot--that stealth fighter planes are invisible—that Mexico would pay for the wall? Just last January, he told a crowd in Mason City that magnets don’t work underwater. And now, although the Congressional Budget Office shows the new budget bill will increase the national debt by $2.4 trillion and deprive 8.7 million Americans of health coverage, Republicans are saying everything is fine. Just believe.
Rep. Lisa C. McClain (R-Michigan) is accusing opponents of the budget bill of “fearmongering.” Of course, if the danger is real, it’s not fearmongering. Is the warning label on a box of rat poison fearmongering?
Joni Ernst rose to fame with her first campaign video when she said she grew up castrating hogs and now she wants to go to Washington to “cut pork.” I didn’t think that was funny. (Maybe it’s a guy thing.) And her joke about Iowans being stupid wasn’t funny. Maybe she’s not good at telling jokes. Or maybe Joni just doesn’t like us.
SUN EDITORIAL
Free meals are a boon for the community this summer
It’s nice to live in a community that looks at things like food insecurity and doesn’t balk away from that for another summer.
This summer, Southeast Linn Community Center has been having free community lunches – Mondays at United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon, Tuesdays through Thursdays at Southeast Linn Community Center and Fridays at First Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.
The goal of the program is just that simple – feed people who are hungry, no questions asked, no income regulations, just build the community of volunteers who do these things at these locations. At SELCC, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays that also rolls into other activities offered to youth during the summer – crafts, science technology and mathematic enrichment activities or a free movie.
It isn’t a project that could be done without the grant and financial help,
but also the help of countless volunteers who are working and learning what to do for the first time they’re hosting these sites.
And the need is in our community. As some worried on Friday what the numbers might be and what to prepare for, more than 40 took advantage of the program at First Presbyterian Church.
Again, it’s a need the community has risen and found help to provide much like the distribution of food items from the Governor’s program that SELCC is also helping to provide to the community this summer. We know food insecurity is an issue year round for families. Kudos to the community of working to find a way to reduce stigma and build community around making sure people are fed this summer.
The music in my soul
It’s weird how you don’t realize something has been missing from your life so long until you’re sitting there and participating in it again.
As many of you know (and I’ll likely not stop talking about between now and opening night), I’m in a musical this summer. Gotta keep that buzz going for this show, after all (and get more people wondering “What’s the Buzz?”)
At this point, I’ve been to the majority of our practices (Mondays are my day of “I don’t know if I can make it to those due to work requirements up until tech week” and me a little more reticent to hand over city council or school board meetings if I don’t have to).
And I didn’t know how much I missed singing aloud with a group until that first practice.
It’s not that I don’t sing aloud. It’s usually in my apartment. Or in Chameleon’s when Sara Bareilles “Love Song”
CONSUMER CONNECTION
comes on and someone next to me makes me realize, oh, I wasn’t singing as quietly as I originally thought I was, and I wasn’t even drinking with lunch today…
In high school and middle school, I wasn’t a member of band like my sisters, so my outlet for music was in choir. And, not going to lie, I sing great in groups. Solos? I definitely have a few rougher patches. Along with my radio or music at the office? I’ll leave my coworkers to weigh in on that. As well as the eardrums of neighboring dogs. But that act of singing with a group as we tackled some of the tougher harmonies we’re going to face and getting through it mostly unscathed at the moment? That was something I’ve missed. The jokes that come up in groups like that especially. After all, practices and running the same thing over and over again with minor tweaks of fine tuning make you have to find things to laugh at.
I’m trying to make the choreography work for me as well, as a minor back ache rears its head again. It’s definitely my fault why this one seems to have risen, as I made a stupid choice in trying to keep myself from hitting a stage and forced muscles in my body to halt momentum of a 400 pound dude in a few seconds.
Still, I’m having fun, and enjoying this show, and strongly encourage you all to pick up tickets soon. It’s going to be a great show.
What is travel insurance?
and transportation.
Travel insurance safeguards your investment in a costly trip by covering unexpected events that could disrupt your plans. It can reimburse pre-paid, non-refundable expenses for unforeseen circumstances. Consider purchasing a policy if there is a chance the trip could be impacted by severe weather, a loved one has a pre-existing health condition, or non-refundable expenses have already been incurred. Before purchasing a policy, understand the different coverage options, exclusions, and limitations, as policies vary significantly. Check current insurance policies and credit card protections for coverage already provided.
Travel interruption or cancellation coverage may reimburse for non-refundable costs like flights, hotels, and tours if you have to cancel or cut a trip short due to covered reasons such as illness, injury, or unexpected severe weather. Cancel for any reason policies are more expensive and may only reimburse for a portion of the travel loss.
Regular health insurance may not cover medical expenses incurred abroad. Travel insurance may cover doctor visits, hospital stays, emergency medical transportation, and transportation home for treatment. If traveling to a remote area or participating in adventure activities, ensure the policy offers adequate coverage for medical evacuation and specialized activities. Many policies have exclusions or limitations for preexisting medical conditions. If needed, consider a policy with a pre-existing condition waiver.
Review coverage for flight delays and missed connections which may result in extra expenses for meals, accommodations,
Lost or delayed baggage coverage may cover lost, stolen, or damaged luggage and personal belongings, and help you replace lost property.
A policy may also provide travel assistance for problems such as rebooking flights, lost passports, or finding medical facilities. There may also be legal assistance in case of an accident or other incident.
When purchasing a policy, compare quotes from multiple licensed providers to find a policy that fits your budget and offers the coverage needed. On average a policy costs between 4-8% of the trip’s price. The expense for the policy is based on the traveler’s age, the destination and length of the trip, the coverage limits for medical expenses and baggage, and the covered reasons for the trip cancellation/interruption. Purchase travel insurance soon after booking your trip to maximize coverage, especially for trip cancellation benefits. Many tour companies can recommend a travel insurance policy. Shorter trips closer to home do not need travel insurance.
If you need to file a claim under a travel insurance policy, do so as soon as possible and provide all required documentation to support your claim. Call the Iowa Insurance Division with concerns regarding your travel insurance policy at 877-9551212.
If you can’t afford to cancel and rebook your trip, consider travel insurance. Before purchasing, carefully review the fine print, compare quotes, and choose coverage that suits your individual travel needs and budget. The best thing about travel insurance is the peace of mind. Knowing you're protected against various travel mishaps allows you to relax and enjoy your trip without worrying about potential financial losses.
Dan Brawner
Nathan Countryman
Sonya Sellmeyer
Consumer Advocacy Officer for the Iowa Insurance Division
Voices United of Rural Linn County – an introduction
Voices United began in April 2025 by a group of local residents “committed to advancing the values that define our region.”
Our mission is to create a stronger and more just future for ALL residents of Iowa.
The purpose is to share information about events, action opportunities, topics and candidates.
As a non-partisan group, we are part of the Indivisible Linn County Metro group.
If you are concerned about everyday issues, please join us.
The more we know, the better we can navigate our present world.
We invite local experts to talk about issues that affect rural Iowa.
For example, SNAP funding cuts to food banks, cuts to medical services for Veterans and Medicaid.
Listening to local speakers gives us better insight into how issues affect our communities. How decisions being made “over there” alter our lives “over here”.
These talks are open to the public held at Whitey’s in Lisbon Wednesday June 11, June 25, July 9 and July 23,
each from 5 to 7 p.m. You may also order off the menu. We need to be heard by those individuals who swore an oath to represent Iowans. Right now, we are doing that two fold. Everyone who attends our bimonthly speaker series is given the opportunity to write letters to Iowa elected officials after the talks. Paper, envelopes and stamps are provided. Attendees can write their own letter, pop it in an envelope, seal it, and stick on a stamp. Someone even takes them to the post office, if needed. We are also listening and expressing our opinions.
Voices United also sponsors rallies that coordinate with national rallies. We will be hosting a local “No Kings Day” on June 14. It’s important for officials to see that the rural communities also expect to be heard when decisions are being made. Local small farms, rural hospitals and communities are as important as larger communities. This is why Voices United tries to make a visual impact.
Everyone is welcomed to join Voices United of Rural Linn County. Come for a speaker, stay to be heard.
To learn more:
Email address: VoicesUnited1941@duck.com
Face Book: Voices United of Rural Linn County
Tipping fees increasing at Solid Waste Agency in Marion
Nathan Countryman
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
The tipping fees will be increasing for waste at the Solid Waste Agency in Marion at the start of the fiscal year.
Joe Horaney with Linn County Solid Waste said that weighed tons will be increasing from $48 per ton to $50 per ton for commercial vehicles. For cars and trucks, the rate will remain $22.
“I still say if you are paying for curbside services, it is a lot cheaper just to utilize those,” Horaney said.
Special waste will increase to $70 per ton and bulky waste will go to $80 per ton.
Wood waste will be going up to $32 per ton.
Recycling will still be collected, but Horaney recommended for plastics that people focus solely on number 1 and 2s to be recycled, as there isn’t much of a market for 3-7 recyclables.
“All recycling should be clean, dry and empty,” Horaney said.
One change for the agency is they are requesting that any batteries are brought directly to the landfill.
“There are so many alkaline batteries that are getting mixed with lithium these days that when they get crushed or rupture, they cause fires in the landfill,” Horaney said. “We will take all batteries free of charge to be disposed properly.”
One of the new programs that they are implementing is a mattress recy-
cling program, where Willis Dady staff work at breaking down mattresses into foam, metal and other items and help divert those from the landfill at large. They also have diversion of some furniture that might have been disposed but is in usable condition to go to people who have nothing but could use something like that.
Horaney said that it’s looking like the landfill could continue functioning up to 2037 when it will be completely full, but Linn County Solid Waste will be starting to transition to a transfer station at that point.
“When we do start functioning as a transfer station, our tipping rates are going to reflect the cost of taking on some of those loads of garbage,” Horaney said.
Citizen addresses issues in Nature Park
Nathan Countryman
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
A citizen asked the city to take action on some issues in Nature Park.
One of the issues is a killer vine that is infesting trees in Nature Park, known as bittersweet.
“It’s an invasive weed that can kill trees due to the weight of it’s vines,” Robert Caldwell said. “There are a few examples of it flourishing in Nature Park around the quarry right now.”
Another issue was after the recent weeding that took place around the
trails at Nature Park, the city failed to take any steps for erosion control around the quarry.
“That soil is heavily packed, and without erosion control, that’s going to be a mess,” Caldwell said. “It’s a steep decline into that water in areas.”
One of the trees that was removed by crews ended up falling in the quarry as well, which Caldwell was asking to see potentially removed.
The council also approved a number of change orders to projects underway, and applied for a grant for the Mount Vernon School’s traffic engineering study as the organization requesting
The officers and board members of the Mount Vernon and Lisbon Childcare Solutions Group are starting the summer working on the next round of fundraising to support childcare workers in the Mount Vernon and Lisbon area. The group would also like to acknowledge the success of the ‘round up’ program at Gary’s Foods in May. That project yielded $3,000 for wage enhancement to childcare workers right here in our communities. Our group is very thankful for the community’s contributions.
Over one and a half years ago, the State of Iowa offered a 2 for 1 match to any funds that could be raised locally from generous businesses and individuals to support childcare. At that time, over $31,500 was raised in contributions which grew to $94,500 with the State match. A total of $92,158 has been distributed in the form of paying for training, hiring and tenure bonuses and supplementing hourly wages. No state match was made available in the recently closed legislative session but the need for affordable, quality
the study be completed. Schools can’t apply for the funding for the study on their own, but it comes at zero cost for the city to apply, city administrator Chris Nosbisch said. The council also approved moving forward with architect for the downtown revitalization block grant, which 11 businesses were interested in seeing. The request for proposals is now out, and plans are to open and potentially award bids in July.
Mayor Tom Wieseler also read a mayoral proclamation for Pride Month, as that flag is currently flying on the flagpole outside city hall.
childcare still exists. Even with the opening of Lisbon Early Childcare-West a year ago, the waiting list for children to get into the program is just under 100 children.
Email solicitations have gone out to past generous donors to this program and hopefully more citizens will join to address this local need to care for our youngest citizens. If anyone wants a one on one chat about this cause, a member of the CCSG will be happy to meet with you. This can be arranged by contacting Tom Wieseler at tom.wieseler@gmail.com. If you are ready to invest in this important issue, check or credit cards can be accepted by CDG director Jessie Thurn at the Mt. Vernon Visitors center. Please make your check out to the “CCDG” and add “Childcare” in the memo line.
This request for funds is separate from a larger capital campaign for a Mount Vernon childcare site. Plans are in process for a joint effort between the Mount Vernon School District and the City of Mount Vernon for an addition to be constructed on the Lester Buresh Wellness Center. OPN Architects is the firm being used. TIF dollars will be the base for the construction process. Our whole community is seeking to assist in the effort to provide affordable, quality childcare close to home.
Dolly Parton Imagination Library celebrates 30 years
Local efforts have enrolled hundreds of youth
Nathan Countryman
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library program is celebrating 30 years this year, and the Mount Vernon and Lisbon programs are looking to celebrate that accomplishment.
More than 3.1 million children have been enrolled, and more than 270 million books been distributed. Locally, enrollment is now 320 children served and more than 4175 books delivered to children in the Mount Vernon and Lisbon communities in the four years running the program.
Carol Daly and Marti Hurst said that the local programs have a busy summer planned. They began at Chalk the Walk, and will have booths up at Heritage Days festival in July, then Party in the Park at Lisbon and back to school events for both elementary schools.
The duo know that their efforts reach people at those festivals, as they have people from other communities like Marion, Cedar Rapids, Jones County, Cedar County who have come up to the booth whom they refer to their
local chapters for the program. As for many Mount Vernon and Lisbon residents, the answers they get is that many who see them there are already enrolled in the program.
“Our real goal is to get to the very young kids,” Daly said. “We love signing up kids who are 3 and 4 years old, but we’d love to help kids grow a library from day one and have almost 60 books by the end of their program in their library.”
To that end, the group went to Cole Library’s story time in May to connect with some newer parents.
“The funny thing is we went to that event and brought the cardboard cutout, and very young kids already know who Dolly Parton is,” Hurst said.
One of the things that the program is known for is providing a variety of books each year. There are the traditional first books like “The Little Engine That Could” and the final book most kids receive wishing them well into kindergarten, but the other books given each year change and vary and are selected by experts.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library has been established in Lisbon four years ago when a citizen helped provide an anonymous donation of seed money, and the Friends has been raising money ever since.
“We were worried initially about how much time we were going to be raising money for the program, but we have been blessed with how the communities of
Mount Vernon and Lisbon have embraced these programs,”
Daly said.
“As Mayor Tom Wieseler said after we made a request at Mount Vernon City Council, supporting literacy efforts is not controversial,” Hurst said.
While Mount Vernon’s zip code was added to the efforts of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library last year managed by the Friends of the Lisbon Public Library, the program has always seen their efforts in these communities as one and the same and with the same goal – get books into as many young kids hands as possible and encourage reading at an early age.
“We look at this as one community,” Hurst said. And the impact of the program as a whole has touched the lives of so many children around the world, all started as a way to help children read and in honor of Parton’s own father.
There are efforts at the moment to get the Dolly Parton Imagination Library supported at the statewide level, to help get funding for efforts that would benefit the community.
“You can’t get enough books in the hands of young children,” Daly said.
If you know children in either community who is under the age of 5, you can sign them up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program at either Lisbon Public Library or Cole Library. You can also use the QR code to sign children up. The program also collects donations to help support literacy in the communities.
GCRCF approves over $4.9 million in grants
The Board of Directors of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation recently approved over $4.9 million in grants to 350 nonprofit organizations. The awards include competitive Organization Support Grants and Program Support Grants from the spring grant cycle, as well as Rapid Response Grants and distributions from donor-advised, designated, scholarship and nonprofit funds. Additionally, the GreatAmerica Financial Services Competitive Donor-Advised Fund awarded $586,500 in grants to 40 organizations.
The Community Foundation brings together private philanthropy with impactful nonprofits to support a healthy and vibrant Linn County. In 2024, the Community Foundation distributed over $12 million in grants.
The Community Foundation’s competitive grant programs are supported by the Greater Good Fund. Donors who make gifts to the Greater Good Fund have entrusted the Community Foundation to make grants that address ever-changing community needs and opportunities. These grant programs support efforts related to innovation, maintaining success, and building capacity through a competitive grantmaking process. During this grant cycle, the Community Foundation received over $3.4 million in requests for competitive grants and was able to fund $1.3 million (or 38% of the requested
amount).
A complete list of the nonprofit organizations who received grant awards is included below. More information about these awards, including the project, purpose and amount of funding, can be found here.
Organization Support Grants
• Area Substance Abuse Council
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa
• Brucemore
• Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre
• Cedar Rapids Parks Foundation
• Eastern Iowa Arts Academy
• Freedom Stitchers of Iowa
• HER Hope Empowerment Resilience
• Heritage Area Agency on Aging
• Lavender Legal Center
• Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance Service
• Matthew 25
• Playtime Poppy Children’s Theatre
• The Arc of East Central Iowa
• The History Center
• Waypoint Services for Women, Children and Families
Program Support Grants
• Catherine McAuley Center
• Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation
• Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity
• CSPS
• Eastern Iowa Arts Academy
• Eastern Iowa Health Center
• Friends of Noelridge Park Greenhouse & Botanical Center Inc
• Friends of the Family
• Friends of the Hiawatha Public Library
• Iowa Humane Alliance
• Junior League of Cedar Rapids
• Marion Cares, Inc.
• Matthew 25
• Our Future Iowa
• Planned Parenthood of the Heartland
• Red Cedar Chamber Music
• Riverview Center Inc.
• Safe Place Foundation
• Theatre Cedar Rapids
• Together We Achieve
• United We March Forward
• Waypoint Services for Women, Children and Families
• Willis Dady Homeless Services
• YPN
Rapid Response Grants
• Academy for Scholastic and Personal Success
• Safe Place Foundation Tanager
Other grant recipients include: GreatAmerica
Financial Services
Competitive DonorAdvised Fund
• Abbe Center for Community Mental Health
• African American
Museum of Iowa
• Area Substance Abuse Council
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa
• Brucemore Inc.
• Catherine McAuley Center
• Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
• Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre
• Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity
• Central City PTO
• Coe College
• Cornell College
• CSPS
• Czech Village/New Bohemia Urban Main Street District
• Deafinitely Dogs Inc.
• Foundation 2
• Four Oaks Family and Children’s Services
• His Hands Free Clinic
• Horizons - A Family Service Alliance
• Indian Creek Nature Center
• Iowa College Foundation
• Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa
• Kirkwood Community College Foundation
• Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance Service
• Marion Independent School Foundation & Alumni Association
• Matthew 25
• Mercy Medical Center
• Mount Mercy University
• National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
• NewBo City Market
• Orchestra Iowa
• Patrons of the Performing Arts at Washington High School
• Red Cedar Chamber Music
• Revival Theatre
Company
• Tanager
• The Arc of East Central Iowa
• Theatre Cedar Rapids
• Willis Dady Homeless Services
• Zach Johnson
REAL ESTATE
Foundation The next grant deadline at the Community Foundation is on Friday, June 27 at 4:30 p.m. CST. For more details about 2025 funding opportunities, visit www. gcrcf.org.
Ralph Norman Jordan, 73, of Mount Vernon, passed away Thursday, May 29, 2025. Services for Ralph took place Tuesday, June 3.
Ralph was born May 13, 1952, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Everett and Lorene (Uthoff) Jordan. He was united in marriage to Cathy Walker Dec. 5, 1981, at the Mount Vernon Methodist Church, to this union a daughter Melissa was born.
After graduating from high school, farming became Ralph’s life. Ralph served as a trustee for the Living Hope Global Methodist Church and the Mount Vernon Fire Department. He was a member of the Sauerkraut Days committee for many years. Ralph and Cathy opened their home to many foreign exchange students over the years.
Ralph is survived by his wife, brother, Darrell (Donna) Jordan; many nieces and nephews; many in-laws; and his dog, Sadie.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Melissa “Missy” Jordan.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Living Hope Global Methodist Church, Camp Courageous, or the Mount Vernon Fire Department.
Please share your support and memories with Ralph’s family on his Tribute Wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under Obituaries.
POLICE CALLS
June 2 – Accident, 800 blk Palisades Rd SW, Mount Vernon
June 2 – Alarm, 300 blk First St NW, Mount Vernon
June 3 – Medical, 500 blk Truman St, Lisbon
June 3 – Medical, 100 blk First St NW, Mount Vernon
June 4 – Agency assist- Linn Co, medical
June 4 – Car unlock, 300 blk Third Ave NW, Mount Vernon
June 4 – Accident, 800 blk W. First St, Mount Vernon
June 4 – Medical, 1225 blk First Ave NW, Mount Vernon
June 4 – Suspicious vehicle, 500 blk Palisades Rd SW, Mount Vernon
June 5 – Alarm, 300 blk First St NW, Mount Vernon
June 6 – Disturbance, 200 blk W. South St, Lisbon
June 7 – Welfare check, 100 blk W. Main St, Lisbon
June 7 – Disturbance, 100 blk E. Main St, Lisbon
June 8 – Disturbance, 1225 bk First Ave NW, Mount Vernon
Ripon College dean’s list
Ben Crock of Mount Vernon was named to the Ripon College spring 2025 dean’s list. To be named to the dean’s list, students must obtain a GPA of 3.4 or above.
Loras College dean’s list
Hunter Jones of Mechanicsville and Laila Moellering of Mount Vernon were named to the Loras College spring 2025 dean’s list. To be named to the dean’s list, students must obtain a GPA of 3.5 or above.
Monmouth College dean’s list
Brant Baltes of Lisbon was named to the Monmouth College spring 2025 dean’s list.
Kirkwood Community College dean’s list
Several locals were named to the Kirkwood Commu nity College spring 2025 dean’s list. These students have achieved a 3.3 grade point average or higher after completing 12 or more credit hours at the college. Locals on the list include: Lisbon – Aislin Andrews, Boots, Dakota Clark, Evan Coleman, Tony Ervin, Tanner Frank, Addy Happel, Hasselbusch, Nicole Hasselbusch, boldsheimer, Joe Hrabak, Morgan Kelley, Koffron, Madelyn Kulper, Mason Lehmer, Lind, Avery Long, Britton Mason, Moehlman, Jenna Morgan, Brenda Morillo, ley Rasmussen, Tyler Sauser, Stolte, Savannah Valdez, Gavin Wollum, Woods, Gavin Young, Martelle – Rheagyn Uthoff
Mechanicsville – Haven Brown, Marley Dun ston, Jessica Ehresman, Bella Feaker, Lehrman, Regan Nebergall, Smith, Ethan Thimmes, Elijah Weber, Mount Vernon – Lily Amthauer, backer, Molly Bany, Aaron Bellamy, Bybee, Lilly Cook, Carly Elliott, sen, Alex Fencl, Kay Gates, Maddalen Hall, Harken, Amelia Hartl, Jake Haugse, Haverback, Polly Hinrichs, Holub, Sarah Homrighausen, quez Ireland, Eryn Jackson, Emrie Johnson, Kamerling, Lainey Kelly, Nova Lane, gie, Selah Loyd, AJ McDermott, Moss, Violet Olinger, Daniela Padilla, arik, Dani Pitts, Tait Rentschler, Jo Robinson, Jaden Rolland, koweit, Sam Schoff, Jesse Schwiebert, Snedden, Jaelynn Stolba, Kara Swantz, Swart, Garet Swartzendruber, Villegas, Amara Williams.
Stanwood – Aleah Carnes, elstein, Josh Howland, Jamieson Jones
Cole Corner
Cathy Boggs Cole Library
Cole Library operating under summer hours
Cole Library summer hours have begun! Unlike most small-town public libraries, we are a shared facility, which means that we are open an amazing number of hours during the academic year. But during the summer when students return home for summer jobs and internships, we are open a typical number of hours for a small-town public library. I have made this transition easier in my own mind by thinking of our summer hours as our everyday hours. No matter the time of year, these are the hours that we are always open (except for holiThese everyday hours are Monday and Tuesday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. We are closed always has our If you are out and about and just want to stop by, we have an OPEN sign in the window that can easily be seen from We also have two book drops to use if we are closed or for your convenience--one on the left side of Library Lane past the pond as you approach the library and one inside City Hall on First Street West. Holiday closures this summer are June 19 and July 4
Ralph Jordan
SPORTS Mustang softball trots over Blue Raiders
Lisbon hires new football coach
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
New Lisbon football coach Alex Dean comes in knowing what Lion Pride is all about.
The 2013 Lisbon grad was named the head coach this week, pending school board approval.
“I know the kind of quality place Lisbon is,” Dean said. “I’m passionate and care for the success of Lisbon. When this opportunity came open, I was excited.”
Dylan Hastings had to step down due to a new job that won’t allow him the time to coach. He was 19-2 in two years with the Lions.
“We wanted to keep him long term, but an opportunity came up for him,” Lisbon activities director Levi Montague said. “He told us in early May he wasn’t able to come back.”
Montague said despite being late in the hiring cycle, the position drew a lot of interest.
Dean has coached the past three years at North Cedar. The Knights were just 4-22 during that stretch.
“We’ve had some challenging seasons,” Dean said. “You can’t run from your record. You do the best you can with where you are at.”
At Lisbon, he’ll inherit a coaching staff with a lot of familiar faces, including a few that played or coached with him.
“He has great knowledge of football for a younger guy,” Montague said of Dean, who is 30. “And he’s very enthusiastic on the strength and speed side. He’ll help develop multisport athletes.”
Dean, who graduated from Upper Iowa and got a Masters in Strength and Conditioning from Concordia, worked on the strength/conditioning program first at WinfieldMount Union, then North Cedar.
“I’m excited to do that at Lisbon,” Dean said.
The new coach may have his work cut out for him. The Lions play in Class 1A this fall. District 5 includes MFL MarMac, Camanche, Dyersville Beckman, Northeast, and Cascade. The non-district schedule includes East Buchanan, Durant and Waterloo Columbus.
“It is a step up in competition,” Dean said. “I’ve already talked to the guys. It is a chance to meet those expectations. Lisbon has been successful in other sports, what in football are we doing to be ready for 1A football?”
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
Summer goes by pretty fast. No. 6 Mount Vernon softball is going to need some games like the one it won 3-2 over Anamosa on Friday, June 6, at Van Metre Family Softball Field.
“Everything you go through in a season prepares you for the end of the season,” Mount Vernon coach Robin Brand said. “In the seventh inning we showed no fear. We had faith in each other that we were going to pull this out.”
The Blue Raiders had pushed the Mustangs for six innings, and were excited to try and pull off the upset.
Mount Vernon had only had three hits through six innings when Brynlee Bettcher came to the plate to lead off the bottom of the seventh.
“I just wanted contact, nothing else,” the sophomore said. “Make
contact for my team and get on base.”
Bettcher did a little better than that, hitting a rocket to center field that flew over the outfielder’s head. Bettcher ended up on second base, and because she is the catcher, was replaced by courtesy runner Sorell Telecky.
The next hitter was sophomore Rylee Rasmussen. She hit a burner up the middle that bounced off the pitcher’s toe and rolled to the outfield grass. It was enough to get Telecky home and earn the Mustangs a walk-off win.
“I didn’t mean to hit the pitcher,” Rasmussen said. “I was hoping she wouldn’t get her glove down. She had made amazing plays all night.
“I thought if I hit it hard enough, she wouldn’t have a chance to field it.”
Anamosa pitcher Rebekah Graham had given the Mustangs fits with her ability to change
Top: Mount Vernon’s Hayden Gookin (No. 17) pitches early last week.
Above: Mount Vernon’s Lucy Wischmeyer (No. 2) and Olivia Haverback (No. 3) celebrate an out in play last week.
MV baseball sweeps Grinnell
Picks up losses to Independence, Underwood
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
This is still the “spring training” phase of the season for Mount Vernon baseball, according to coach Charles Chatman.
“We need to get healthy and stay healthy,” Chatman said. “We are still working through some details.”
On Monday, June 2, Mount Vernon beat Grinnell 8-0 and 9-4 at Ash Park.
In the opener, AJ McDermott gave up four hits and struck out six on the mound. Garet
speeds and locate.
“She was a little inside, she was a little outside, she had some off speed,” Brands said. “It keeps you off balance a little bit. Then you just figure things out. We just had to be patient.”
Mount Vernon scored two in the second inning – one on an error and one on an RBI single by Hayden Gookin.
Gookin limited the Blue Raiders to five hits and one walk, and struck out seven on the mound. But Anamosa put together three hits in the fourth inning to tie the game. The rally ended when Bettcher threw out a baserunner trying to steal third.
The young catcher has been getting tips from former catcher Kenna Rollinger (a 2024 grad), who is helping coach this summer.
“Brynnlee is extremely coachable, and wants to get better,” Brands said. “She doesn’t make the same mistake twice. She gets better because of it.”
Overall, it has been a learnon-the-go theme for a young Mustang infield that includes three sophomores, a junior and a freshman.
“We have a whole new infield,” Brand said. “They’ve done a good job of coming together.
“After losses to Grinnell, I told them the main thing is communication. That’s something you can control. And gosh, these girls love to talk. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
Mount Vernon started the week
with two home losses to No. 14 (4A) Grinnell, 4-1 and 7-1, on Monday, June 2.
In the first game, Gookin pitched a four-hitter, striking out nine. The Mustangs had just four hits, led by Gookin, with a solo home run.
In the second game, Rasmussen had two hits.
A game against No. 7 (2A) Lisbon on Tuesday, June 3, was suspended for rain and lightning with Mount Vernon leading 8-3 midway through the top of the fourth inning at Bunting Field. The plan is to finish it, but a date has not been set.
The Mustangs swept a pair at Independence on Wednesday, June 4, 4-1 and 10-6. In the first game, Gookin pitched a four-hitter with 13 strikeouts. Abbie Moss had two RBIs. In the second game, MV had seven hits, including three by Bettcher.
After the win over Anamosa, the Mustangs finished the week by splitting a pair of games Saturday at a tournament in Oskaloosa. Mount Vernon beat Newton, 9-1, and lost to Pella, 6-2.
Against Newton, Olivia Haverback hit 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs, and Abbie Moss had a double and two RBIs.
Swartzendruber pitched the final four out, with three strikeouts. Kellen Haverback hit 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Colin Bentley hit 3-for-3. Erik Lamb had two hits. In the second game, Cael Foreman and Swartzendruber combined on the mound. Michael Ryan hit 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Lamb and Haverback each had three RBIs. A game at Cascade on Tuesday, June 3, was rained out, and moved to June 28.
On Thursday, June 5, Mount Vernon had a pair of tough losses to Independence at Ash Park, 8-7 and 9-7. Indee scored four in the top of the seventh in the opener. Bentley, Ryan and Porter Chatman each had two hits.
Anamosa
Rebekah Graham and Lauren Heying; Hayden Gookin and Brynlee Bettcher. W – Gookin. L – Graham. 2B – Graham (A), Bettcher (MV).
Photos by Ella McEntaffer | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Ella McEntaffer | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun Mount Vernon’s A.J. McDermott pitches against Grinnell early last week in play.
In the second game, Independence broke a tie game with two runs in the top of the seventh. Bentley and Ryan each had two hits.
Independence was aided by eight free passes.
That was a theme in a 12-2 loss to Underwood
on Friday, June 6, at Iowa Western Community College. This time the Mustangs gave up 13 walks.
“Things aren’t in a good place for us,” Chatman said.
“Walks, errors, strikeouts, missed execution. We are trying to figure it all out in real time.”
LISBON SOFTBALL
Lisbon softball sweeps Calamus-Wheatland
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
No. 7 (2A) Lisbon started the week by sweeping CalamusWheatland on Monday, June 2, at Bunting Field, 15-7 and 9-4.
In the first game, the Lions had 17 hits. Kamryn Kahl was 4-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs, and Addie Clark was 3-for-5 with a triple. Emma Pleasant hit 2-for-4 with two doubles
In the second game, Alexa Roos hit 2-for-4, Addie Clark had a double and Kamryn Kahl had three RBIs.
A Tuesday, June 3, nonconference game against No. 6 (3A) Mount Vernon was suspended with the Mustangs leading 8-3 in the top of the fourth inning. A make-up date has not been set.
Then the Lions took another two home games
Lisbon ends losing streak with win over Springville
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
A rough week on the diamond for the Lisbon baseball team ended Thursday with a trip to the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, where they put an end to a fivegame losing streak and beat Springville, 12-0, in three innings.
The day before, the Lions got beat by Iowa City Regina, 12-1, in six innings at City Park Field.
“They hit everything,” junior Bryce Boots said of the Regals. “You put it in the strike zone and they hit it. There’s really nothing you can do about it. They hit the crap out of the ball.”
The Regals (9-1 going into a Saturday game vs. Iowa City West) scored 12 runs on 17 hits. Up 3-0 after four innings, Regina piled it on with nine runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
“Bryce kept them off balance the first
two times through the order,” Lisbon coach Lance Kamaus said. “The third time through, they kind of picked up on him.”
On the flip side, the Lions scratched together just four hits, all singles. But they put the ball in play a lot.
“We didn’t get too lucky,” Boots said. “The ball landed every time they put it in play. When we hit the ball, it just went right into their gloves. And sometimes they made some pretty good plays.”
Boots had two of the Lions’ four hits. And after 10 games, the junior is hitting .633 (19 for 30) with three doubles and a team-high 17 RBIs.
It is a heck of a start for a player who hit .217 with 15 RBIs last season.
“The jump from sophomore to junior is a big jump,” Kamaus said. “He’s always had the ability.
“And sometimes when you get really hot, you get good luck. He had one hit the lip of the grass and bounce over the defender.”
against Springville on Thursday, June, 4, 10-2 and 10-6.
In the first game, Alexis Jensen hit 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Sarah Dietsch also had two RBIs.
In the nightcap, Kaitlynn Hasselbusch hit a triple, Lillian Gaiser was 2-for-3 with two RBI, and Addie Clark and Kyla Kahl each had two hits.
“Those were four good wins for us,” Lisbon coach Abbey Shultz said. “We were seeing the ball well. We try as coaches to utilize everyone’s strength throughout our lineup.”
The Lions played two games Friday, June 6, at the Iowa City West Classic in Iowa City. They lost to No. 3 (4A) North Scott, 8-0, and to Center PointUrbana, 9-2.
“We don’t expect to kick a 4A team’s butt, but we expect them to compete,” Shultz said. “If we want to win a state championship,
it starts with those teams.”
Instead, Shultz said the Lions were a little intimidated. North Scott pitcher Chevelle Kingsley limited the Lions to two hits. CPU jumped out to a 6-0 lead after three innings.
Boots said he’s just a smarter hitter than he was last year.
“I know what I want to do with the ball,” Boots said. “I feel god about my approach.”
Most of the Lions want to forget about 2024, when they finished 5-24. After opening this season 4-0, they lost games to West Branch, Mount Vernon, Bellevue Marquette (x2), and Regina.
Marquette got them 13-7 and 12-2 on Monday, June 2, in Bellevue. The Defenders were 11-0 going into Friday’s game vs. Durant.
“These last couple of games are probably the hardest ones we are going to play all year,” Boots said. “At the end of the day, we’ve got to bring stuff together, and go for it.”
The Lions did bounce back with that 12-0 win over the Orioles at the Field of Dreams. The Lions had eight hits by eight different players, including five doubles (Dakota Clark, Boots, Ethan Hoekstra, Luke Robinson, and Jackson Knapp).
They also had another non-conference game at Camanche scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, postponed due to rain.
Lisbon (5-5) just finished one of the toughest weeks of its season, and has equaled its win total from last year.
“It was a tough stretch,” Kamaus said. “We knew it would be.”
senior commits to Drake Bulldogs
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
Mount Vernon senior Kellen Haverback announced on social media last week he had committed to play college football for the Drake Bulldogs.
“I liked the connections I made right away,” Haverback said. “It felt comfortable, it felt like home.” Haverback liked how it was just two hours away and he liked the coaching staff. The Bulldogs have a first-year coach in Joe Woodley, who formally coached at Grand View.
Drake is an FCS school and part of the Pioneer League. They went 8-3 last season, making the FCS Playoffs and losing in the first round to Tarleton State.
As a junior Haverback passed for 2,285 yards on 64.1 percent passing (157 of 245) with 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He also ran for 121 yards and 10 touchdowns.
A top-notch athlete, Haverback says Drake sees him as a quarterback at the next level.
He was getting interest from South Dakota State, North Dakota State and Sioux Falls, but liked the connections at Drake.
It helps they are a top academic school, too. Haverback plans on majoring in business, but wasn’t sure of the specifics, yet.
And Haverback has one more fall with the Mustangs. Mount Vernon went 10-2 last year and made the 3A semifinals in the UNI-Dome.
“We have big goals and I want to be 100 percent
“I knew we can compete with them,” Shultz said. “We got big eyes instead of playing like we should.”
Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun Lisbon’s Kyla Kahl pitches at Bunting Field against Mount Vernon.
MV Heat 12U state champions
The Mount Vernon Heat 12U softball team were state champions in the tournament played this past weekend in Des Moines. Team members include Vivienne Andresen, Cecily Collins, Charlotte Gardner, Harper Kuker, Adalynn Meester, Evelyn Nissen, Jamie Picket, Claire Plate, Libby Schweibert, Micah VonBehren and Marlie Willems, and coached by Nick Nissen. (Contributed photo)
Regina 021 063 – 12 17 2 Lisbon 000 001 – 1 4 1
Brady Venzon, Carter Carolan (4) and Kaleb Moeller; Bryce Boots, Carew Kamaus (5) and Kamaus, Ethan Stone (5). W – Venzon. L – Boots. 2B – Trey Streb (ICR), Jensen Berg (ICR), Alex Paul (ICR), Will Litton (ICR).
Ella McEntaffer | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Mount Vernon’s Erik Lamb (No. 8) takes a swing at a pitch against Grinnell.
Ella McEntaffer | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun Lisbon’s Ian Whittenbaugh (No. 8) pitches at the Field of Dreams site Thursday, June 5.
CHURCHES
MOUNT VERNON
St. Paul Lutheran Church L.C.M.S.
600 Fifth Avenue South
Pastor: Rev. Sean Hansen www.splcmv.org; send e-mail to info@splcmv.org
Sun.: 9:30 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. Andrew Awotwe-Mensah, parish priest Sun.: 8 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.umcmv.com
An LGBTQ affirming congregation
Sundays in June: 8:30AM Praise Service; 10:15AM Traditional Service Sundays in July and August: 9:30AM All Worship
We will return to our 8:30AM Praise and 11AM Traditional service times starting September 7.
Community Bible Church 940 W. Mount Vernon Rd. www.mvcbc.org, 895-6269
Teaching Pastor Brandon Glaza
Discipleship Pastor Dennis Fulkerson
Youth Pastor Stephen Thomas Sun.: 9:30 a.m. In-Person Worship Service
Wed. - 6 p.m. Encounter and Youth Group
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.
Baha’i Faith
Nina Scott, Group Secretary, 319-270-9230
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
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Thursday, June 12
Story Time, Cornell College Cole Library Browsing Room, 9:30 a.m.
Fiber Friends, Southeast Linn Community Center, 10:30 a.m.
Southeast Linn Community Center free lunch, SELCC, 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Southeast Linn Community Center and Lisbon Public Library free afternoon movie, Lisbon Heritage Hall, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Heritage Days and Lion’s Club Bingo fundraiser, Scorz Bar and Grill, 6 p.m.
Friday, June 13
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.
Southeast Linn Community Center free lunch, First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon, 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Saturday, June 14
Mount Vernon and Lisbon Citywide Garage Sales. All day.
Chai Time: Father’s Day Family Celebration, Lisbon Public Library Heritage Hall, noon
Monday, June 16
Southeast Linn Community Center free lunch, Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Mount Vernon City Council, Mount Vernon City Hall, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 17
Learn to play bridge, Cornell College Cole Library Room 410, 7 p.m.
Lego Club, Cornell College Cole Library second floor, 10 a.m.
Tuesday Morning Bookclub, Cornell College Cole
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. Darwin Moore, Pastor Sun.: 10 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
MECHANICSVILLE
Living Hope Bible Church
Mechanicsville Memorial Building
First Presbyterian Church
408 E. First Street.
Christian Community Church of Mechanicsville
307 East First Street
563-432-7716
Sun: Sunday School 10-11am and in-person Worship
Services at 11:15am with Fellowship to follow.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church Pastor: Father James Flattery
Wed.: 8:30 a.m. — mass
Sun.: 8 a.m. Mass
Library room 108, 9:30-11 a.m.
Lisbon Summer storytime, Lincoln Square Gazebo, 11 a.m.
Southeast Linn Community Center free lunch, SELCC, 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Southeast Linn Community Center S.T.E.A.M. Activities, SELCC, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Lisbon Library Board meeting, Lisbon Public Library, 7 p.m.
Tuneful Tuesdays, Memorial Park Gazebo, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 18
Cards, Southeast Linn Community Center, 10-11:30 a.m.
Linn Lunch Bunch, Southeast Linn Community Center, 11:30 a.m.
Learn to play bridge, Cornell College Cole Library room 108, 1 p.m.
Cole Library STEAM Wednesday Workshops
“Rubber Band Soccer Game,” Cornell College Cole Library, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. (pre-registration required).
Southeast Linn Community Center free lunch, SELCC, 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Southeast Linn Community Center Enrichment Classes, SELCC, 1:30-3:30 p.m. (pre-registration required)
Dog Tales, Lisbon Public Library, 4 p.m.
Thursday, June 19
Story Time, Cornell College Cole Library Browsing Room, 9:30 a.m.
Fiber Friends, Southeast Linn Community Center, 10:30 a.m.
Southeast Linn Community Center free lunch, SELCC, 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Southeast Linn Community Center and Lisbon Public Library free afternoon movie, Lisbon Heritage Hall, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Edited by Will Shortz
Across
1 2022 Jordan Peele horror/sci-fi film
5 San ___ Bay (estuary near San Francisco)
10 Noted silver-tongued Olympic gold medalist
13 Coin toss call
14 Supply
15 Generals and such
16 Quickly put (together)
17 Tres + tres + tres
18 Single ___ (tourney type)
19 Clarifying words
20 Kierkegaard, for one
21 Cattle steerers
22 Worn-down part
24 Fail to understand
26 Section of a curriculum
28 Broadway star Hagen
30 Musical pitch interval
34 Mayo to mayo, say
35 Writer honored by Oz Park in Chicago
37 “My Neighbor ___,” 1988 Hayao Miyazaki film
38 One not getting enough sleep in Apr., perhaps
39 “Mind your own business!” ... or a hint to the four sides of this puzzle
41 Prefix with meter
42 As a ___
44 Prefix with phobia
45 “I’m Just ___” (2023 Oscar-nominated song)
46 Halting speakers?
48 “Inside Politics” airer
49 Field
50 Like many flowers and prizes
52 Down in the dumps
54 Tasty pastry spread
57 Main ingredient in the Japanese liqueur umeshu
59 Hats, informally
62 Nice chunk of dough
63 Garden tool
64 Kind of arch that resembles the shape of a Hershey’s Kiss
65 Qualifying races
66 This might come in a saucer
67 Side to take into consideration
68 Actress Goth of 2022’s “X”
69 Supervises
70 Mustang feature, once
Down
1 Org. with probes
2 Muddies, as water
3 Ascetic breakfast selection
4 Channel for watching college games
5 Turn topsy-turvy
6 One doing some deep-sea exploration
7 “Muy ___!”
8 Resides a long time ago?
9 Be down in the dumps
10 Singer Guthrie
11 Crisscross pattern
12 Credos
15 Lacking, with “of”
21 Bike and Bike+, e.g.
23 Like a witch’s cauldron
25 God honored by gladiatorial fights
26 Mother-of-pearl
27 How to sign a check
29 Draw tight
31 Criticized
32 Primate, for humans
33 Who “can get in the way of what I’m feelin’,” in an Alicia Keys hit
36 Letters on an N.Y.C. fare card
40 Obstructed, as an opening
43 God who begat the Titans
47 Lissome
51 Author ___-René Lesage
53 Overhead
54 Thing on a docket
55 Something a waiter may pull out
56 I, to Socrates
58 Sharp set?
60 Interior design
61 Permeate
63 Fill fully
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.
KiDs'PAGe
If your dad wants to listen to music while fishing, make sure you put on something catchy. HAHA!
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!
Brought to you by Living Hope Global Methodist Church
Community field day highlights Pleasant Grove
Nathan Countryman
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Pleasant Grove Heritage Park held a community day Saturday, June 7, highlighting the nature park’s prairie, pond, and plans for the future of the barns, among other events. Bill Carrey from Iowa State University held a demonstration on the importance of stopping nitrates and pollutants from getting into the water shed.
Some of the most popular pollutants to make their way
into water include soil, fertilizer, animal waste and oil. Those come from a number of areas, with fertilizers coming from agriculture fields as well as golf courses and normal lawns.
With a strong rain, however, those pollutants can make their way into nearby ponds or water sources, polluting them with the nitrates or other items.
Alicia Whittaker highlighted the importance of different root systems to retain more nitrates before they move on to the water sources we use for drinking. Crops with high tillage soil let a lot of those pollutants directly through, whereas
CLASSIFIEDS
For Rent
3-bedroom house with single car garage for rent in Lisbon. Call 319-270-6141.
House for Rent in Lisbon. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1.6 acres in town. First month’s rent + security deposit. No Pets. Available July 1. 319-361-9872
Wanted
WANTED: JUNK APPLIANCES. Will pick up for free. Farm clean-up, batteries. Will buy junk cars. 319-331-8122
Class Action Lawsuit
IF YOU HAD KNEE OR HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY and suffered an infection between 2020 and the present time, you may be entitled to compensation. Call Attorney Charles H. Johnson 1-800-535-5727
Miscellaneous
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Bill Carrey highlights a number of pollutants that make their ways into watersheds at a station at the Conservation Station
Isaac Winkler, Cornell College assistant professor of biology, highlights some of the organisms and insects found in the pond at Pleasant Grove Heritage Park
sources like no till crops hold on to more of those items in their root system, and let cleaner water pass through.
At the north end of the pond, students from Cornell College highlighted the different bugs they were locating in the prairie habitat and letting people inspect some of them under microscopes. Also located were some of the invertebrates or microorganisms found in the pond.
The pond was also a hot point for many, with anglers using bamboo fishing ponds to catch and release fish.
Other activities include walking the entire way around the park.
Photos by Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Top to bottom: Lauren Donovan (in red) attempts fishing at Pleasant Grove Heritage Park Saturday, June 7.
A Cornell College student shows off some of the specimens found in the nearby prairie by students in their research as part of the Cornell Summer Research Institute. Topics being researched by students include insect biodiversity in restored and remnant prairie fragments
trailer.
Saturday, June 7.