Mount VernonLisbon CDG launches new summer shopping event to boost local business
Summer shopping kickoff begins Saturday
Nathan Countryman
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
With the familiar Chocolate Stroll taking a break this year, Mount Vernon and Lisbon small businesses are stepping into summer with a fresh and festive alternative.
The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group (CDG) is introducing the “Hello Summer Shopping Kickoff” on Saturday, June 21, as the first of two new events designed to support local retailers during the slower summer months. The second, a community-wide Sidewalk Sale, will follow on August 9.
“In past years, the Chocolate Stroll brought great foot traffic and helped businesses connect with new customers,” said CDG director Jessie Thurn. “We didn’t want the summer to feel empty without it. So, we asked, what can we do to keep the energy alive and encourage people to continue shopping locally?”
The result is a summer-long shopping incentive featuring a punch card system that rewards shoppers for spending locally. Participating businesses will provide a punch for every $10 spent.
Once shoppers hit 10 punches — a $100 total — they can turn in their card to the CDG or a sponsor participating business for a chance to win over $500 worth of prizes, including gift cards and “CDG Community Cash” usable at local shops.
While June 21st and August 9th are the anchor dates, the promotion runs all summer giving shoppers nearly seven weeks to browse, support businesses, and complete their punch cards.
Flight Night
Incredible Bats present at Lisbon Public Library
Ella McEntaffer Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
LISBON — Kim White of Incredible Bats visited the Lisbon Public Library last week, and brought with her several exotic animals to showcase to excited visitors.
Incredible Bats is a Chicago
based bat education group founded in 1996 by Dan and Sharon Peterson. Incredible Bats does hundreds of live bat shows and presentations like the one at the library every year, all across the Midwest and into Canada.
“We were so happy to have such a great turnout for Kim White and her bats, who came to visit us from the Chicago area,” said Elizabeth Hoover de Galvez, Lisbon Library director.
“Kim shared so many fascinating facts--I never knew that bats range in size from bumblebee
bats at just over an inch long to flying foxes with wingspans up to 6 feet!”
Visitors were treated to an educational presentation filled with myth-busting facts, entertaining videos, and lots of trivia questions. After the presentation wrapped up, White walked around Heritage Hall holding one of the bats, allowing the community the opportunity for a safe “meet and greet” with an Egyptian Fruit Bat. White also
brought an African Straw-colored Bat with her to the library, the second variety of bat that Incredible Bats works with. Along with bats, White also brought along a variety of reptiles and other animals, such as a bearded dragon and armadillo. At the end of the hour-long session, visitors were able to touch a ball python named Lucille. Lisbon Library will host Prairie Patch Farms llamas at Lisbon City Park June 25 from 6-7 p.m.
Ella McEntaffer | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Top: An attendee is wowed by seeing the Egyptian Fruit Bat up close and personal held by Kim White of Incredible Bats. Left: The crowd reacts to one of the animals being presented at Lisbon’s Heritage Hall.
Nathan Countryman Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Washington Elementary School has a new principal this school year.
Kendra Parker was hired by the Mount Vernon School Board Monday, June 9.
Superintendent Matthew Leeman said there were 31 applicants for the open position, and the district had more intense interviews with six of those candidates, including a combination of staff and board members.
“I was very impressed with the candidates we had, and thought the interview process was a very insightful procedure,” said board president Rick Elliott.
Parker has most recently served as a facilitator at College Community School District. There, she led initiatives in social-emotional behavioral health (SEBH), managed school-wide attendance improvement efforts, supported special education programming, and helped drive meaningful change through data-driven, student-centered practices. Her leadership played a critical role in reducing chronic absenteeism and strengthening systems of support for diverse learners.
Parker said that she has worked with many colleagues who are residents of Mount Vernon and gotten to know and appreciate the community, including invites to events like Chalk the Walk, Magical Night and Fuel Coffee.
“Every time I visited, I was struck by how warm, welcoming, and kind everyone was,” Parker said. “Annie Hawker, a Mount Vernon resident, has always spo ken so highly of the town and the deep
sense of connection she feels there.
“When I saw the opening for the principal position at Washington Elementary, it immediately stood out to me. I knew this was an opportunity not only to lead in a school with strong values but also to be part of a truly special community. I’m excited about the chance to contribute to a district that values relationships, collaboration, and student-centered learning.” Parker and her husband, Robert, and daughter, Mira, and their two beloved cats, Biscuit and Peter, live in a 103-yearold home. Robert plays as a trombonist with Orchestra Iowa, Quad City Symphony and the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra. He’s also a professor of low brass at Kirkwood Community College and Drake University.
Mira will begin first grade at Washington Elementary school this fall.
SHOPPING from 1
More than 20 Mount Vernon and Lisbon businesses are taking part in the initiative. Each will offer special deals, discounts, or giveaways during the kickoff weekend. For full event details, participating businesses, and prize information, visit the CDG’s website visitMountVernonLisbon.com or check out the event page on Facebook at @HelloSummerShoppingKickoff.
PARKER from 1
Throughout her career, Parker has been dedicated to fostering inclusive, collaborative school cultures. Her expertise includes building multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), coaching staff in classroom management and trauma-informed practices, and facilitating professional development aligned with strategic improvement goals. She also brings
Local favorites like Iron Leaf Press, Scarlett Boutique, Little Scratch Coffee Roasters, and The Local will be among those participating. From home décor and clothing to coffee, selfcare, and even records at Hilltop Plants and Records, shoppers will find something for everyone.
“This is a great opportunity for people to come in, see what’s new, and participate in their community,” said business owner Danielle Chargo. “Summers can be a little slower for us, so an event like this helps keep energy
experience as a Title IX investigator, IEP LEA representative, and SEBH/PBIS team leader.
In recognition of her impact, Parker was honored with a district innovation award and has been a frequent presenter for educational workshops and university coursework.
Parker holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Iowa and a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In addition to her formal credentials, she holds
in town and it’s a lot of fun for customers too.”
The CDG, a volunteer-led nonprofit, sees this new event as part of a broader effort to stay responsive and innovative amid changes in the community. The group’s leadership emphasized that even without longtime traditions like the Chocolate Stroll, the goal remains the same: create opportunities for connection, commerce, and community pride.
“This summer is all about reminding people how much Mount Vernon and Lisbon have to offer,” Thurn said.
numerous certifications in classroom management, crisis intervention, and teacher-child interaction training.
Parker is known for her commitment to authentic relationships, her strong organizational skills, and her passion for ensuring that every student feels a sense of belonging. She shares the district’s core values and is excited to collaborate with staff, students, and families at Washington Elementary to continue building a thriving school community.
Evidence based reporting discussion continues at Mount Vernon
Teachers finish goals on evaluating rubrics
Nathan Countryman
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
The Mount Vernon School District is continuing its updates to evidence based reporting procedures.
Michelle Boyden, instructional specialist, provided an update on where the review of the rubrics for teachers stand at the end of the year.
In May, teachers worked on making sure they were in vertical alignment for one transferable skill they want students to learn from fifth grade to 12th grade, and what those benchmarks would look like at different grades. The goal was to work towards clarity, consistency and coherency with a clear progression of student learning by analyzing and refining rubrics for a shared skill across grade levels.
For students, success criteria for being proficient in a skill is receiving a 3 on a 4 point scale.
The teachers looked at the goals for fifth through 12th grade students and then reflected and discussed areas of success criteria that’s consistently emphasized across the rubrics in all grades, what gaps or shifts do they see in grades, how the criteria reflects the progression of skills in the Iowa Core standards and how the rigor of expectations evolve from one grade level to the next.
Teachers will take some time to make sure they are on alignment on the one skill, including determining how many sessions it will take for them to accomplish the work to be aligned on the skill.
The leadership team will review the work of the fifth through 12th grade teachers and help determine the next steps needed and create a schedule/calendar to address any follow-up work for the 2025-26 school year.
The focus for the professional learning communities will shift on how teachers know students have learned the skills they are aligned on as their focus for the next school year.
Board member Tim Keegan asked when the last communication was put out for parents on the evidence based reporting procedures. Boyden said that was one of the big takeaways that she and administrators had during their recent lunches with fifth through 12th graders was how data on EBR needed to be shared with parents.
Board member Jeremy Kunz asked why the EBR scale was based on a four point scale, as opposed to a 5 point scale, to better help parents understand where their students are falling on learning a skill.
“At least on a five point scale, you can determine if your student is making an A, B, C or D letter grade,” Kunz said.
Boyden said that the district chose this route to not align with a letter grade, but focus more on showing students how they’re gaining mastery of a skill. She reiterated that taking EBR and applying letter grades is still one of the most controversial parts of the system, but because colleges are still relying on GPAs, they have to find a way to reflect where a student stands in relation to learning. Another issue is that while students may be at a 2 in some evaluations, the scale doesn’t distinguish how close a student may be to being proficient in a skill. That’s where the notes and feedback from a teacher can help parents and students deter-
Mount Vernon resident receives distinguished pharmacist award
The Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA) is pleased to announce the 2025 recipient of the Robert G. Gibbs Distinguished Pharmacist Award is Jay Currie, BS Pharm, PharmD, FCCP, FAPhA, of Mount Vernon. The award was presented on June 5 at the association’s 2025 Annual Meeting in Des Moines.
Jay Currie is Clinical Professor Emeritus and former chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in Iowa City, recently complet -
ing 40 years as a faculty member. Currie founded and served 15 years as program director for the college’s multi-site PGY-1 Community Pharmacy Practice Residency, the first accredited multi-site program and the longest continually accredited program in the U.S. Currie is a graduate of the University of Iowa, with bachelor of science in pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees in 1980 and 1984, respectively. Currie was a founding faculty member of the Iowa Center for Pharmaceutical Care (ICPC), a collabora -
tive partnership between Iowa’s two colleges of pharmacy and the Iowa Pharmacy Association. He is a published author and researcher on topics related to implementation of advanced practice care services in community pharmacies, as well as teaching and learning in pharmacy curricula.
Currie served as IPA President from 20072008 and in countless other roles for the association and IPA Foundation. As one nominator put it, “I don’t know of anything Jay hasn’t done.”
The Robert G. Gibbs
mine what needs to be worked on.
Kunz said as a parent, that’s what is most frustrating, is not understanding what a grade a student has earned.
Activities director and assistant principal Matt Thede said that one thing teachers evaluate is how a student has shown growth in skills over the course of a semester.
Principal Steve Brand said that moving to a 5 point scale would have a lot more ripple effects, and he said teachers should do a better job on giving feedback.
“Parents and students should know if a student is almost there in proficiency or where they need to work to improve,” Brand said.
Boyden said what is a challenge at times as well is if there are only a minimal amount of assessments for teachers to reflect how a student has grown in particular skills.
“If there are only three assessments, it’s hard to see where a skill might line up in the end,” Boyden said. “If there are more assessments/ check-ins on these skills, it’s easier to see how a student has grown more in the skill.”
Board member Lance Schoff said that he thinks EBR has gotten much better in practice, and that he thinks many students aren’t surprised by what the evaluation is.
Boyden said the issue comes up most in high school, where there is still a letter grade that students earn. Most teachers do walk students through where they see them on a letter grade scale and what they need to turn in or demonstrate to the teacher to shift that grade.
Board president Rick Elliott said the best way to evaluate the success of EBR is talking to students who have had years outside of the school on how prepared they felt in college and other areas after school.
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
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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.
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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.
Distinguished Pharmacist Award recognizes a pharmacist for outstanding contributions to the pharmacy profession and Iowa Pharmacy Association. The award is the highest
recognition given to a pharmacist by IPA and is named in honor of IPA’s past Executive Officer, Robert (Bob) Gibbs, who served the association from 1959-1979.
Contributed photo
IPA Chairman Jim Hoehns, Jay Currie, IPA CEO Kate Gainer
Lisbon renter inspection policy a big topic
Grading work on the Lisbon Sports Complex is almost finished
Ella McEntaffer Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
LISBON — Following up on a concern from a community member posed at the last meeting, the council went over the current rental inspection system for the city of Lisbon.
According to city administrator Brandon Siggins, the funds from rental inspections in Lisbon help to maintain property records, and the annual fee gets paid back to Linn County. The inspections are performed by the Linn County Planning and Development Department, which the council believes creates a fair inspection system that ensures the City Code is met and rental properties are properly maintained.
“It’s a standardized professional service,” said mayor pro tem Nathan Smith.
“This makes us more objective,” added council member John Bardsley.
Luke Maloney, building official for the Linn County Planning and Development Department, joined the meeting to discuss the inspection system with the council. Maloney said that the $50 fee plus the variable $10-15 price for additional units is low in comparison to neigh-
boring cities, such as Cedar Rapids.
Maloney said that their county inspector does everything she can to ensure properties meet the inspection requirement, therefore avoiding the fee for a second inspection date.
“Our goal is to get that minimum compliance,” said Maloney. “We will actually hand [landlords] a battery if that’s the only thing we have to come back for.”
Another big meeting topic was the grading project at the Lisbon Sports Complex, which has been ongoing since the spring. Lisa Burch, civil engineer with YTT Design Solutions, joined the council via Zoom to discuss the progress.
The current part of the grading process is 99% finished, and according to Burch the project is 55% complete payment wise. Come July 22 the next phase will be open, and Siggins said that the city hopes to get an electrician out to the complex before then, to avoid any complications with the next phase.
Furthermore, parks and recreation director Drayton Kamberling said that the baseball and softball season is in full swing, with the t-ball and coach-pitch teams playing their first games the week of June 8th. Besides this, the department has been busy watering grass, mulching, and mowing.
“I want to thank the guys for watering all of the grass, I know this is a monotonous job,” Siggins said.
The Lisbon Public Library will also be a busy place this summer, with a plethora of activities on the calendar these
Renovations continue at Lisbon Schools
Summer school numbers down slightly for Lisbon
Ella McEntaffer
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
LISBON — Renovations are continuing in the Lisbon Schools this summer, as discussed at the Lisbon School Board meeting Wednesday, June 11.
Workers are currently priming the trophy cases, fixing doors, painting the gym, and building a legacy hall. There is also currently a thermostat issue going on in the gym, which Superintendent Autumn Pino said has been brought to attention of the contractors.
A large point of renovation inside the school is the kitchen and lunchroom area, as the area is going to have new floors installed. Board Member John Baker said that the new floor is made of material that is temperature resistant, easy to clean, and built to last a long time.
“This would require us to pull all the equipment out,” said Baker. “We’re also going to paint the walls, brighten it up.”
Pino said that the timing of the renovations was also an important factor, saying that the board believes the current schedule to be practical, as well as does not impact local taxpayers later down the road.
“We’re going to have to keep close tabs on where the budget is,” Pino said. “If we have any [funds] left over we have some ideas for that.”
The only downside to the new flooring is that the kitchen will be unusable during the first week or two of
Lisbon-Mt. Vernon
the school year, so the board and school staff are working on plans for an alternative serving location. Ideas include utilizing the concession stand, gym, courtyard, or even having volunteers grill.
Pino said that nutrition manager Michele McCoy, is very excited about the changes to the kitchen, particularly the new flooring, and wants to thank the board members for timing the renovations with the summer months.
Another change coming to the school district this year will be a new substitute teacher system. The system is called Frontline, and board members believe that the computerized system will be easier to navigate, and will increase the availability within the substitute pool.
“It [the current substitute system for the district] is very archaic,” Pino said of the old system. “Every district I know of uses Frontline.”
Furthermore, Lisbon teachers and staff had their initial summer school meeting May 27. There will be 10 staff members and seventy one enrolled students for the summer session, with the number of students estimated to grow to eighty once the start date gets closer. This number is actually lower than previous years, but with improved testing scores there was a decreased need for as many students to be enrolled.
LCSD staff will also be involved in new learning this summer, undergoing a McGrath Training Solutions program. The program has been in use nationally since 1983, and aims to help districts create a safe and risk free learning environment. Training sessions begin in Lisbon on June 16th, and other districts and their staff are invited to attend as well.
“It’s a very thorough process for procedures in a way
Ambulance
Service acquires new ambulance
After a two-year anticipation, the Lisbon-Mt. Vernon Ambulance Service (LMVAS) has officially received its new 2025 LifeLine Ambulance, a crucial addition costing nearly $275,000. LMVAS proactively placed the order in June 2023, securing a favorable price and saving an estimated $25,000 – $40,000. The purchase was made possible through significant financial support. The Linn County Board of Supervisors allocated $112,500 in ARPA funds to LMVAS, with the remaining balance generously covered by com-
munity contributions over the past five years. This investment comes at a time of escalating costs for EMS agencies nationwide. A similar ambulance purchased by LMVAS in 2020 cost $180,000, underscoring the substantial price increases facing emergency medical services nationwide for essential equipment and supplies..
Designed with safety as a paramount concern, the new ambulance features an interior layout optimized for efficiency. The majority of equipment and supplies are now
upcoming months. The summer reading program has officially begun, with over 60 people attending the kickoff event. Librarian Elizabeth Hoover de Galvez said that library staff have gotten lots of positive feedback about upcoming events, such as the kid’s painting class and visit from a llama farm.
“We’ve got a lot going on at the library,” said Hoover de Galvez. “I hope we’ll get a lot of people in during the summer.”
An exciting update from the Fire Department is a grant that Siggins applied for was recently approved. Lisbon received 96 cases of canned water to the fire station, courtesy of Anheuser Busch, which Siggins, the council, and fire department staff are deeply appreciative of.
The council and temporary-interim police chief Jason Blinks would also like to thank the business sponsors and donors for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Police Department’s K9 Golf Outing, which took place on Friday, June 13th. The event was held at Kernoustie Golf Club, in memory of K9 officer Monster, who passed away earlier this year in February.
Finally, Siggins would like to remind residents of the ongoing Alliant Energy project, as they recently hit the halfway mark to completion. All the new mains have been installed on Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Avenues, with the end of the project located in the alley behind City Hall. Siggins said that residents in the project zone should be aware that Alliant Energy employees may have to knock on doors to ensure they don’t damage any sewer lines.
“If you have any questions, feel free to call City Hall and talk to me,” Siggins said.
that’s comprehensive, follows state and national guidelines, and creates a system that uses the same language,” Pino said.
The next Lisbon School Board meeting will be held July 9 at 6 p.m., and will include a public hearing regarding the Instructional Support Program.
accessible to EMS responders while they remain seated, thereby increasing the time they can stay secured by seat belts. Additional enhancements include a cot autoloader, transferred from the previous ambulance, new medication e-locks for heightened security, and liquid spring suspension to significantly improve patient ride quality.
Community members are warmly invited to an exclusive open house, “Medics in Motion,” on June 28th from 10 am to 2 pm. This event offers a unique opportunity to view the new ambulance, alongside other LMVAS vehicles and equipment, and to tour the station. Many LMVAS volunteers will be on hand to provide guided tours, demonstrate equipment, and lead children through a fun “little medics” obstacle course.
OPINIONS
When Iowans go medieval
Living in Iowa
Dan Brawner
Late last month, an Iowa City man was charged with carrying a concealed dangerous weapon. Well, sort of concealed. To be fair Michael Preslicka, 31, had made a pretty reasonable attempt to conceal it, but it still poked out here and there.
Reportedly, the tip of the 28-inch blade of Preslicka’s long sword was clearly visible under the bottom of his jacket and the handle stuck out at the top. It’s not that deadly weapons are particularly illegal in Iowa. I haven’t kept up with Gov. Kim Reynold’s latest rulings on concealed weapons but I think now everybody is supposed to carry some kind of gun. Recently, I was caught off guard when I was asked at the entrance to a government building if I was carrying any weapons. I thought, “Uh, oh. I forgot to bring a weapon.” I started to apologize but the officer let me through with a warning. It turns out, based on his previous run-ins with the law, Mr. Preslicka, was not permitted to carry dangerous weapons.
As weapons go, long swords are hard to conceal, mostly because they are, well, long. Typically, a long sword runs between 40 and 48 inches with the blade measuring 33 to 43 inches, weighing in at 2.5 to 4 pounds. While pocket knives are generally allowed in Iowa, carrying medieval weapons like long swords, pikes, lances, maces, battle axes or trebuchets are frowned upon. In fact, any knife with a blade longer than five inches is considered prohibitively dangerous. If only Preslicka had been carrying a four-inch-long sword, fit for a tiny little knight of the Round Table, he might have been okay.
Earlier last month Arrie Darnell, 67 of Burlington, was arrested for having several illegal drugs in his car as well as drug paraphernalia. Oh, and a large sword. What was he going to do with that? Last October 57-year-old Mitchell Ray Langel of Oelwein was arrested for repeatedly threating a woman with a sword. He was held at the Fayette County Jail on $2,000 bond and charged with 1st degree harassment. Just harassment? Really?
Last year, 60-year-old Kim Cannon of Hawkeye was arrested for hacking her husband with two swords. Fortunately, he lived and Cannon is now serving a long stretch in Mitchellville.
The strangest Iowa sword event occurred back in 2020 when David Ostrom of Kansas filed a motion in the Iowa District Court in Shelby County, offering to settle differences with his ex-wife (and her lawyer) by challenging them to “trial by combat.” Ostrom also asked the judge for a 12-week extension to give him time to procure the necessary samurai swords. Although trial-by-combat is illegal in this country, Judge Dreismeier declined to specifically rule it out. Ostrom’s wife’s attorney argued, “This conduct is concerning” and complained that a sword fight might lead to death. He requested Ostrom undergo a psychiatric evaluation, which the judge granted. The evaluation concluded that Ostrom was not actually crazy but recommended counseling.
Ostrom admitted he was only trying to make a point that divorce courts are slanted against men. And although he was frustrated with the court proceedings, he agreed to not chop up his wife and her lawyer with a sword. And who says chivalry is dead?
SUN
EDITORIAL
Governor’s veto is wrong and flimsy
Governor Kim Reynolds’ veto of House File 369 that would have protected landowners from eminent domain is the wrong decision, especially for rural Iowans.
We read the Governor’s reasoning for the veto of the bill and we disagree with her veto and reasoning.
Especially because that bill has been the work of many concerned Iowans over the course of the past four years, advocating and informing their neighbors, friends and fellow citizens about the dangers of these pipeline projects that were proposed through the state and the rights they will challenge.
Neighbors who wrote many letters to the editor, held forums and discussions on the projects that were going to be located around Mount Vernon and Lisbon which began in late 2021.
This is an issue that had bipartisan support and buy-in from numerous legislators to work on over the past two years as well. Our own Rep. Cindy Golding was among Republican lawmakers who saw this as an issue that needed to be addressed this legislative session because of the number of rural
Iowans who placed it as a high priority. It’s also hard to hide the fact, even with her argument that the bill would impact voluntary easement projects just as equally as it would projects that would utilize eminent domain, that argument doesn’t pass the smell test. There is a very big difference between a voluntary easement and developers using eminent domain to move a project forward that the governor seems to be glossing over – and that is consent of those involved. In voluntary easement, the property owners are okay with the project moving forward and likely not going to challenge the project from ever advancing to the next stages.
That’s not the case with eminent domain, and one of the big issues that many farmers and others have worried about. Landowners may not agree with a project, but because neighboring farms have signed on and through their field is the fastest way between two points, well, they lose rights to their property’s usage if they’re compensated for that inconvenience. They lose rights about what is done to
The Softball Game
The weekend of June 7, I attended a youth softball tournament in North Liberty and unexpectedly, it became a vivid metaphor for contemporary American culture. It wasn’t a collegiate game, nor a high-stakes high school matchup. These were nine-year-olds— children—playing at what I’ve since learned is called 10U fastpitch. But you wouldn’t know it from the spectacle surrounding them.
What struck me first was the sheer magnitude of the event. A sprawling sports complex buzzed with hundreds of families, each clustered around separate diamonds like tribes encamped around tiny battlegrounds. Many had been there since dawn. The economy was humming—but not for anything essential. It was humming for children’s softball.
The players were clad head-to-toe in elite athletic gear: black eye stripes, matching team jerseys, Nike cleats, Under Armour backpacks, Easton bats, and Rawlings gloves, brand names paraded like status badges. By the time we arrived, it was the third game of the day for these girls. The dugouts were full. The parents were lined up along the fences like rival political factions, each deeply invested, each analyzing every play with the fervor of partisan pundits. We were barely seated before we heard how unfairly the games were going, how poorly the umpires had officiated, how other teams had skirted rules or been given unearned advantages. It felt less like sport and more like a proxy war for adult frustrations.
The game played on, and as someone not deeply familiar with softball, even I could sense the disarray. Confused players missed or reversed calls, confrontations between coaches’
parents and umpires. At times it felt chaotic, like the rules were being written mid-play—fluid, exploitable, bendable for those loud enough or connected enough to take advantage.
But it all came to a head in a moment I won’t forget.
A new pitcher, a small girl with a blond ponytail and neatly tucked jersey stepped onto the mound to relieve her teammate. She warmed up and faced her first batter. The pitch was thrown. The crack of the bat rang out, sending a line drive screaming back toward the mound, hitting her square in the face. She slouched then dropped to the ground.
Thank God for face masks.
The ball had slammed her so hard and even with protection, she crumpled to the dirt. Yet the coaches from the opposing team were already waving their runners forward, windmilling their arms like generals urging troops into battle. “Keep going!” they shouted. The umpire, shockingly, allowed it. The bases had been loaded. One run crossed the plate. Then another. Then another.
All the while, the little girl lay sobbing on the mound.
I heard one parent scream, “Stop the game!” Others joined in, their voices rising above chaos. My own voice joined them “STOP THE GAME!” just as one coach and what I can only assume was the girl’s father sprinted onto the field.
Only then did the play finally stop.
Stunned, I later looked up the rules. At the 10U level, a direct hit to the pitcher’s head by a batted ball is supposed to result in a dead ball. The play should stop immediately. The runners return. The batter redoes the pitch. The girl is checked for injury. Safety is prioritized. That’s the rule. And yet in that moment, rules bent under pressure, under the weight of
their land and now have a hazard they wanted nowhere near their property to keep them up at night.
We know that Wolf Carbon Solutions withdrew its permit request for a pipeline that would have stretched between Cedar Rapids and Clinton in December of last year, but in its tabling of the project, said they may return to look at the project in the future.
We are encouraged that others in the state, including Representative Pat Grassley were looking to call a special section to try and pass another version of this bill, seeing the harm striking the bill will cause to numerous Iowans and knowing that this fight isn’t over nor will it be forgotten by many of the rural farmers this will impact. We hope that more of the urban representatives better understand the impact that this will have on all Iowans. Shame on Reynolds for her veto and eliminating protections that many Iowans have advocated for over the past several year and allowing these pipeline projects to have one less obstacle in their ways.
competition, of ambition, of ego. I haven’t been able to shake the scene. That game wasn’t just about softball. It was a reflection, maybe even a parody, of where we are as a culture. We reward the optics of success, even if it comes at the cost of compassion. We chase victory so feverishly that we ignore the cries at our feet. We’ve traded in the joy of play for the grind of performance. And our children? They’re growing up thinking this is what life is, a relentless contest for validation, visibility, and dominance. When did recreation become another rat race? When did our children’s games become so entangled with our adult insecurities and ambitions? Who benefits when competition outweighs compassion?
It’s not just about softball. It’s about everything: how we work, how we vote, how we scroll, how we measure our worth. We’ve created a culture where even a game can become a proxy for status, where winning matters more than wellness, where the show must go on even when someone is lying in the dirt, crying.
We need to ask ourselves, are we still teaching our kids to play? Or are we only showing them how to perform?
There are places though few, where play is still sacred. In parts of Europe, adventure playgrounds invite children to engage with risk, creativity, and collaboration using little more than scrap wood, old tires, and their imaginations. These environments have no referees, no scores, no shiny uniforms. Just the raw, messy joy of discovery. The kind of play that teaches resilience, empathy, and independence.
Likewise, a stream in the woods or a tree to climb offers the same invitation: explore, create, fall down, get back up. These are the spaces where childhood thrives. No pressure, no scoreboard, no performance.
Maybe we don’t need more tournaments and sports complexes. Maybe we just need to remember what it means to let our kids be kids.
GUEST COLUMN
Kent Rector
How Changes at NIH Are Hurting Research: A Personal Experience
I’m a psychologist who studies language development in kids with cleft lip and/or palate. Most children with cleft experience speech and language issues; my research helps doctors know how to identify early signs of problems and provide appropriate interventions. Since 2014, I’ve been developing a study with a researcher in Germany to explore how early surgeries and breathing issues may impact development. Results will guide surgery decisions and early detection of sleep apnea. In 2024, we were awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
In May 2025, NIH abruptly announced they would no
longer fund most foreign collaborations. The argument for this change stems from a perceived need for more oversight of research funds. For my team, this means that our colleagues in Germany will be removed from our project as of July – otherwise we will lose all our funding for the project. Although my team is small, a loss of funding would result in loss of employment for 3 people and fewer opportunities for students. For my patients, this means that while I can continue to run the study, I lose the expertise of the only person in the world who measures pre-speech development in infants with cleft. This hinders the insights my findings will have for doctors.
The relationship I spent ten years building and the time and energy invested in a project I believed in was destroyed by a short-sited policy change that was implemented with-
No Kings protest held
Non-violent protest draws more than 300
Nathan Countryman
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
More than 300 participated in the “No Kings” standing march along Hwy. 1 and First Street in uptown Mount Vernon. The protest stretched for the two and a half blocks of Mount
Vernon’s Hwy. 1 in the uptown business district.
Little Scratch opened their shop up to people who needed an ability to make a sign ahead of the protest that morning, with more than a dozen taking that option to do so.
Attendees from Voices United of Rural Linn County made sure people did not stand at the intersection to not impact visibility of drivers.
The sounds of honking horns could
be heard from motorists driving by, many in support of the signs and protests.
There were a handful of people who were in opposition of the protest. Citizen Keith Huebner drove his convertible in a loop of the uptown during the span of the protest, and a few patrons at Yock’s Landing voiced appreciation for Huebner.
The protest was non-violent and wrapped up at roughly noon.
Wren and Purl’s corner along Hwy. 1. Above right: Keith Huebner’s counter protest to the protest was circling uptown in his convertible.
Left: Protestors along the corner with Lee’s Town and Country. Right: The view from First on First corner, with flags and signs lining the street.
Below: Protestors along Hwy 1 along Mount Vernon Pharmacy’s corner Saturday, June 14.
out involving those impacted. The institution in Germany no longer trusts NIH and will not support further collaboration. I’ve called my congressional representatives weekly to express concerns about NIH and how it has endangered my work. The responses were disappointing; minimizing the damage that is being done and ignoring my specific concerns.
Children deserve research focused on their unique needs. Please, call your congressional representatives to support medical research in our state and across the country. Our smallest patients deserve advocacy from the biggest voices.
Above left: Protestors near
Photos by Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun Meg Goldberg and her daughter work on one of their posters for the rally. Goldberg said she was sacrificing an American Girl doll magazine from 1999 to fins the right visuals for her poster.
Amy Conrad, Mount Vernon, IA
Mount Vernon presents dress rehearsal of “The Wolves”
Production heads to International Thespian Festival
June 22-27
The Mount Vernon High School will hold a dress rehearsal production of “The Wolves” Friday, June 20 at 7 p.m. in the Mount Vernon Performing Arts Center before heading out to perform at the International Thespian Festival.
This performance contains strong language and adult themes.
From Concord Theatricals: Left quad. Right quad. Lunge. A girls indoor soccer team warms up. From the safety of their suburban stretch circle, the team navigates big questions and wages tiny battles with all the vim and vigor of a pack of adoles -
cent warriors. A portrait of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for nine American girls who just want to score some goals.
Last September Mount Vernon performed a fulllength production of “The Wolves” by Sarah DeLappe. In November, the cast presented a 45-minute cutting at the Iowa Thespian Festival as part of the studio show competition. The production earned 70 points (out of a possible 72) and was named the Iowa Chapter Select winner.
Each year, International Thespian Society chapters across the country carefully evaluate an array of one-act plays, ultimately selecting an outstanding production to showcase at the International Thespian Festival (ITF). This year,
Contributed photo
Mount Vernon’s presentation of “The Wolves” will hold a dress rehearsal Friday, June 20, at Mount Vernon Performing Arts Center. Cast includes (Back, from left) Renee Vig, Anna Stephens, Allie Teague, Korah Jo Robinson (front, from left) Betsy Louwagie, Emma Hoffman, Natalie Thuerauf, Lyn Bauer and Charlotte Woosley.
ITF will welcome 26 shows (including Mount Vernon’s presentation of “The Wolves”) to be performed for thousands of Thespians and theatre educators.
ITF celebrates outstanding student work and elevates the teachers who create those opportunities to learn and excel. ITF showcases dozens of student performances, including full-length main stage productions and one-acts, on a national stage.
ITF 2025 will take place June 22 through June 27, 2025 at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.
Plan on a weekend of Iowa Barnstorming in Cedar County
If you’re looking for “something different” to do on a weekend this summer, circle June 21-22 on your calendar. That Saturday and Sunday, 18 historic barns will be open for touring inside and out. What’s more, the owners will be on hand to share their memories and regard for the structures and answer your questions. You will also have the opportunity visit the Cedar County Historical Society Museum and Prairie Village in Tipton.
This tour—which is being arranged and hosted by the Iowa Barn Foundation—is being held in the picturesque countryside of Cedar County. The self-guided tours will be offered 9:00-5:00 both days.
Visitors will experience a diverse array of barns… including a rare Octagonal barn built in 1883, and the oldest barn in Cedar County built in 1840.
The tour Is free. It’s being arranged and made possible via the generosity of the Barn Foundation’s member donors. A lunch will be offered for $15 on Saturday. Pre-orders are recommended to help with the planning. Limited quantities will be available for cash/check purchase on the day of the event for a slightly higher price.
This catered lunch will be served Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the at the Cedar County Historical Society and
Meet the team
00 - Natalie Thuerauf
2 - Emma Hoffman
7 - Allie Teague
8 - Lyn Bauer
11 - Charlotte Woosley
13 - Renee Vig
14 - Anna Stephens
25 - Korah Jo Robinson
46 - Betsy Louwagie
AD/SM - Megan Teague
Lighting - Natalee Glaister
Sound - Fenn Jones
Director - Tom Stephens
Technical Dir.- Brad Goetz
Tuneful Tuesdays held
They may need to get a bigger gazebo in the future.
This year’s Mount Vernon Community Band has 43 members and director Elise Rodenberg cramming into the gazebo at Memorial Park, and the first Tuneful Tuesdays concert was held Tuesday, June 10 (the concert June 3 was rained out). The band played a variety of marches, a medley of Jesus Christ Superstar songs, a MoTown medley and even a piece which featured clarinet soloist Joe Dieker. Mount Vernon Bank and Trust provided free popcorn at the concert as well. Tuneful Tuesdays will continue through July 8, with the concerts beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Prairie Village site, 1094 Hwy 38 N, Tipton. The lunch will include pulled pork sandwich, coleslaw, fruit cup, homemade pie, and water. The meal will be served by the Tipton Ministerial Association, and proceeds will help fund the association’s programs to help those in need in the local community.
Full tour details and a tour map can be found in the Iowa Barn Foundation Magazine (mailed to member donors) or online at iowabarnfoundation.org/barn-tours. For questions, email iowabarnfoundation@gmail.com.
The Iowa Barn Foundation is a volunteer-led non-profit committed to preserving Iowa’s rural heritage, one barn at a time. The foundation gives out over $100,000 in barn restoration grants annually, made possible by members donors. New members will receive the spring magazine with full tour details. Join online at iowabarnfoundation. org/product/membership.
Flower pounding workshop held by Linn County Master Gardeners
The Linn County Master Gardeners held an enrichment activity at Southeast Linn Community Center Wednesday, June 11.
At the activity, attendees were able to make cards or fabric art, by pounding flowers with hammers.
Beula Dvorak helped the attendees by having a wide selection of flowers to choose from, as well as tips on how best to get the color from some flowers onto the paper or fabric.
And then the hammering started as artists pounded their designs into the paper.
Izzie was looking to make a “Maleficent” inspired card for her mother with her design. Across from her, Lizzie found the best way to get the colors on her design was to pound as hard as possible.
Nathan Countryman Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Photos by Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Top: Beula Dvorak (left) helps Paul with the design of his flowers on his card before he begins work.
Above: Izzy (left) reacts to Lizzie (right) pounding flowers on her card.
Juneteenth closures
Cole Library will be closed today (Thursday, June 19), in honor of Juneteenth federal holiday. There will be no story time at the library this morning.
Linn County governmental offices will be closed Thursday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.
The following services will continue to operate:
• Juvenile Detention and Diversion Services
• Mental Health Access Center
• LIFTS will be operating abbreviated routes. No rural service.
• The Sheriff’s Office will be closed; however, continuous operations will be available for routine and emergency responses. This includes the Patrol Division, Communications Division and the Correctional Center. In an emergency, always dial 911.
Vehicle registrations can be renewed online at any time at IowaTaxandTags.org.
Cell phone policy approved
Mount Vernon officially approved their cell phone use policy, making the changes proposed after the first reading. The policy had to be in place by July 1 to follow state law, and the district took feedback from students and staff in drafting the proposal. One change that was made was on access during field trips. Students in fifth through eighth grade can utilize the cell phones during travel to the destination, but need to pocket the devices when the instruction time begins again.
Copier lease approved
The school district approved a 60-month lease with Marco for copy machines for the special education and district office copy machines.
Sean Flockhart, technology director, said that the new bid for the lease for copy machine is 30 percent lower than what the district pays now, and 40 percent lower for the special education copiers. For the district’s copiers, the rate is now $1,800.70 per month and for special education copier it is $142.50 per month.
The copier leases are funded by SAVE for the district copiers and special education funding for the copiers used by the special education departments.
The bids go into effect July 1.
Concrete repairs approved for MVCSD
The Mount Vernon School District will also be replacing a few areas of concrete in their sidewalk and trails system this summer.
Camacho’s Concrete LLC had the low bid for the district of $28,000 for work near the elementary playground, but there are a number of other areas that will also be replaced or addressed.
Superintendent Matt Leeman said the projects will be completed in fiscal year 2026, utilizing Physical Plant and Equipment Levy funds.
Some of the areas that will be addressed include around the circle drive at Mount Vernon Middle School and the Mount Vernon Middle School parking lot.
Building and grounds director Chris Noll evaluated where some of these sidewalks are to be improved, and if it may be addressed in a future road improvement, the district will repave that area now and not readdress it later.
Storm protection fund
The district also approved joining the storm protection fund insurance consortium. This insurance pool would replace the wind/hail buyback the district currently has, and do so at a lower rate and deductible. The high school deductible was set at $50,000 and the elementary and middle school at $25,000 per occurrence of storm damage, with a premium of $31,477, which is $10,000 lower per instance.
Certified staff contracts approved through 2029
The Mount Vernon School District and Mount Vernon Education Association approved extending the district’s current contract with educators through 2029, a three-year extension.
Superintendent Matt Leeman said there was some minor language clean-ups in the contract, and salaries will be approved annually.
Mount Vernon Trailblazers 4-H
The Mount Vernon Trailblazers 4-H club held their monthly meeting Sunday, June 8, at the Fire Department after participating in our annual farm tour. During the farm tour we went to some of the club members houses and looked at some of the livestock they were caring for, which included, sheep, cows, pigs, goats, and chickens. Once the meeting got started, we had two preventions done about how to shear a calf and how to write a essay for your static project up at fair. Our club also discussed how the Edgewood locker meat sales went with a profit of $1,138.88. After that we held our election of officers for a new year after county and state fair. Finally, our club leader explained to us that county fair is upon us starting June 25 and ending June 30. Our next club meeting will be held at the Mount Vernon Fire department Sept. 7 after Linn County fair and State fair.
Spots
Get the Bugs Out!
The bugs are returning! Jim Durbin, who has been documenting insects for the last 20+ years, will be helping us spy on the bugs. Using a black-light, Durbin attracts bugs to a white board and photographs them. By enlarging the image, he is able to show the bugs to patrons – mostly kids - and identify them. Please wear darker clothing so the bugs don’t land on you!
Event takes places Saturday, June 20, at 9 p.m. near the kiosk by the campground. Jim takes photo graphs of the insects, identifies them, and adds the sightings to his website https://www.insectsofiowa. org/ Event takes place Saturday, June 21, at 9 p.m. at Palisades Keplar State Park.
Doug Shannon retirement party
A retirement open house will be held for Mount Ver non Lisbon Police Chief Doug Shannon Tuesday, June 24, from 1-3 p.m. at the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Police Department at 380 Old Lincoln Hwy, Mount Vernon.
Sts. Peter and Paul Corpus Christi Celebration
Sts. Peter and Paul will hold a Corpus Christi celebra tion today (Thursday, June 19) at 6 p.m. with a mass in the nearby cemetery. The event will conclude with a potluck in the fellowship hall. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair for the service and a dish to share, along with plate and silverware. In case of rain, the pot luck begins at 6 p.m.
Cole Corner
Cathy Boggs Cole Library
Gear up for summer travels at Cole
Are you taking a trip this summer? We are now in Before you hit the road, stop in at Cole Library, Mountdren’s Choice Award books and many new picture books to enjoy on your travels. We also have books for children -
date so you don’t have to worry about book renewalstable devices with eBooks, magazines, and audiobooks from LIBBY or eBooks, audiobooks and movies from Hoopla on the Cole Library web page - colelibrary.org.
Thursday, June 19: Closed Friday, June 20: 8am-4pm Saturday, June 21: 10am-2pm Sunday, June 22: Closed Monday, June 23: 8am-8pm Tuesday, June 24: 8am-8pm Wednesday, June 25: 8am-4pm Thursday, June 26: 8am-4pm
Sts. Peter and Paul Church is located at 1165 Taft Ave. NE. Solon (in between Mount Vernon and Solon).
June 12 – Suspicious activity, Grant Ave, Lisbon
June 12 – Agency assist- accident, Linn Co
June 12 – Welfare check, 100 blk S. Hwy 1, Mount Vernon
June 13 – Medical, 1200 blk Palisades Rd SW, Mount Vernon
June 13 – Car unlock, 400 blk Third St SW, Mount Vernon
June 13 – Alarm, S. Jackson St, Lisbon
June 13 – Accident, E. First St, Mount Vernon
June 13 – Medical, 300 blk N. First Ave, Mount Vernon
June 13 – Medical, Hwy 1, Mount Vernon
June 13 – Medical, 200 blk N. Walnut St, Lisbon
June 13 – Trespassing, S. Washington St, Lisbon
June 13 – Medical, 200 blk N. Walnut St, Lisbon
June 14 – Disturbance, 100 blk E. Main St, Lisbon
June 14 – Disturbance, 100 blk E. business 30, Lisbon
June 14 – Theft, 900 blk N. First Ave, Mount Vernon
June 14 – Medical, 1225 blk First Ave NW, Mount Vernon
June 14 – Welfare check, 500 blk Second St NW, Mount Vernon
June 15 – Medical, 200 blk N. Walnut St, Lisbon
Open House 1pm-3pm, Tuesday, June 24, at the Police Department 380 Old Lincoln Hwy Mount Vernon
SPORTS Mount Vernon softball sweeps Marion
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
No. 7 (3A) Mount Vernon softball played 13 innings in a doubleheader sweep of Marion on Wednesday, June 11, at Van Metre Family Field.
That including a walkoff 5-4 win in the opener in extra innings.
“That was important,” sophomore pitcher Hayden Gookin said. “It would’ve been bad if we dropped a game. Not that we should’ve gone into extra innings … but even if we’re down when we shouldn’t be, it’s good that we can come back.”
Marion took advantage of a dropped pop-up to plate two runs in the fourth inning. It was the kind of mistake that could have cost the Mustangs.
But Mount Vernon came though. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Libby Dix reached base on a single up the middle. She was bunted to second by Carly Elliott,
then scored when the Marion second baseman flubbed a hard-hit grounder by No. 9 hitter Lucy Wischmeyer.
“I was just trying to do everything for our team,” Wischmeyer said. “I knew going up to the plate, you can go two ways with it. It can get in your head, and think ‘I can’t do this,’ but I had decided to believe in myself the entire time.
“Even when the pitcher got up on me with those two strikes, I just trusted in myself.”
It was an important win, considering the Mustangs are one game back of Solon in the Wamac East.
“It means we are becoming more resilient,”
Coach Robin Brand said. “Gosh. We just look better every time we play. I think they are doing some really special things.”
Gookin pitched all eight innings, liming the Wolves to four hits and striking out 11.
The sophomore passed 500 career strikeouts
later in the week in a 9-0 win over Regina on Friday, June 13.
Considering she pitched last season with a broken foot, and spent much of the offseason recovering from surgery … it is a notable accomplishment.
“She went through a lot,” Brand said. “People don’t see what she did in the offseason to get back to where she was.
“She had to maintain a positive mentality and stay focused. She just worked hard. She did everything they wanted her to do so she could come back.”
Gookin said she hated missing entire fall season, but is excited to be playing pain free.
“Every game last year it hurt,” Gookin said. “Then not being able to play was really hard. But I had super good support the entire time.”
Both Coach and pitcher say that Gookin has matured as a pitcher. She knows how to pitch
in different counts and has increased her strength and spin rate.
But most importantly, her leadership has grown.
“I’ve matured a lot,” Gookin said. “I’ve gotten better at picking people up. At being the voice of the team.”
She came into Game 2 in relief of Olivia Haverback, but the bats took care of the Wolves.
Mount Vernon had 14 hits in the second game. Leadoff hitter Sophia Patten hit 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Haverback hit 3-for-4, Gookin had two hits, including a double and two RBIs and Dix also had two hits.
The sweep came after the Mustangs opened the week with a split at Center Point-Urbana on Monday, June 9. In the 6-4 win, Gookin had four hits, including a double and two RBIs. Patten had three hits and Haverback added two hits. Brynlee Bettcher had two RBIs.
In the second game, the Stormin’ Pointers won on a walk off in the bottom of the seventh inning. Patten had two hits and Gookin had three RBIs. Dix and Wischmeyer hit doubles.
The Mustangs picked up an extra game Thursday, June 12, winning 11-0 in five innings at No. 10 (2A) Wilton.
Gookin pitched a twohitter, striking out 10. Patten had two home runs and four RBIs, Brynlee Bettcher had three hits, including a double, and Rylee Rasmussen had two doubles and two RBIs.
Vernon (12-5) capped the week with the win over Regina at Ash Park. Gookin held the Regals to one hit and one walk over five innings. Gookin led the offense with two hits. Patten had a double.
MV Robin Brand to head Cornell softball
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
Mount Vernon softball coach Robin Brand was announced as the new softball coach at Cornell College on Monday, June 16. She plans to continue in her role as a teacher and coach at Mount Vernon.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity and challenge ahead of me,” Brand said in a release. “This seemed like the right time.”
Brand has a 363-154 record with the Mustangs with seven trips to the state tournament over 13 seasons. She was the Class 3A Coach of the Year in 2021 and 2022.
“Robin has a passion for coaching and developing young people,” Cornell AD Jeff Meeker said in a release. “She’s excited about the challenge of building championship program.
“Her community ties and softball connections will be key components in this process.”
Cornell finished 16-20 this past season, fifth in the Midwest Conference. Jackie Yoder resigned after eight seasons. The Rams last earned a Div. III playoff spot
in 2018.
“I love Division III athletics,” Brand said. “My four children, my husband and I, we’ve all been a part of it. This is an opportunity to be part of a special experience at Cornell.”
Brand played collegiately at Central College and coached at Guthrie Center before coming to Mount Vernon.
She joins boys’ soccer coach Nate Grosse as coaches doing dual roles with Mount Vernon and Cornell. The Rams also recently hired former Williamsburg coach Curt Ritchie to lead the football program.
Mount
Gracie Neal and Josephine Logan; Hayden Gookin and Brynlee Bettcher. W
Gookin. L
Neal. 2B
Brynlee Bettcher (MV), Gracie Neal (M). 3B.
Ella Cooper (M), Brynlee Bettcher (MV).
Lucy Turner, Ella Cooper and Josephine Logan; Olivia Haverback, Hayden Gookin and Brynnlee Bettcher. W – Haverback. L –Turner. 2B
Sophia Patton (MV), Hayden Gookin (MV).
Jayce Pendergrass | Mustang Moon
Above: Mount Vernon’s Courtney Thurn (No. 9) fields a ball in play against Regina.
Photos by Jayce Pendergrass | Mustang Moon
Top: Mount Vernon’s Lucy Wischmeyer (No. 2) slides under the tag at second base.
Above: Mount Vernon catcher Brynlee Bettcher (No. 18) waits for a pitch at home plate.
Lions keep even record for season
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
Lisbon baseball went 2-2 last week to keep their record even at 7-7 overall. Perfectly balanced.
But the Lions may regret not sweeping CalamusWheatland on Monday, June 9, in Lisbon. The Lions lost 6-2 and won 4-2.
“Really wish we could’ve got that other game,” Lisbon coach Lance Kamaus said. “We couldn’t string anything together until the seventh inning.”
Lisbon pitcher Ian Whittenbaugh took the loss, despite only giving up one earned run. He had seven strikeouts.
“He only had one walk, but had a tough time locating the strike zone, and threw 103 pitches in five innings,” Kamaus said. “We made a couple of errors that didn’t help him.”
Lisbon bounced back in the second game. Carew Kamaus pitched six solid innings, giving up just three hits and one walk. He struck out seven.
The Lions made do with five hits, two by Dakota Clark and two by Jackson Knapp.
No. 8 (1A) Don Bosco thumped Lisbon, 19-4, in five innings on Tuesday, June 10, in Lisbon. The Dons had 19 runs on 16 hits and nine walks. Bryce Boots led the Lion offense with two hits. Whittenbaugh had a
double and three RBIs.
“Don Bosco is a tough customer right now,” Kamaus said. “We ran into a buzzsaw, but we responded well Thursday and played through some rain and tough conditions.”
The Lions got a bounce-back game, winning Thursday, June 12, at Edgewood-Colesburg, 21-1, in four innings. Lisbon had 11 hits, with two each for Wesley Sadler, Bryce Boots, Whittenbaugh and Luke Robinson, who also had four RBIs.
Wolves slash Mustangs in doublebill
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
No. 3 Marion is a WaMaC and Class 3A baseball program that has earned five state tournament trips the previous eight years.
“They are a good team,” Mount Vernon senior Garet Swartzendruber said. “Always tough. They don’t make mistakes. You know it is always going to be a tough ballgame.”
Mount Vernon hosted the Wolves in a conference twinbill on Thursday, June 12, at Ash Park. Marion swept, 6-3 and 13-0 in five innings.
“These are long weeks,” Mount Vernon coach Charles Chatman said. “When you get to the back end of the week, games can be that way sometimes.
“We didn’t play very good baseball.”
In the opener, Marion pecked away, getting one run in the first, second, sixth and seventh innings, and two in the fourth.
Swartzendruber got the
start, pitched five innings and to one hitter in the sixth, and was relieved by Landon Wilson and Jakob Yock.
The Mustangs kept the Wolves from unloading in a big inning, but the little ones added up.
“We made mistakes, but we compounded them, too much,” Swartzendruber said. “We couldn’t find a way to punch back. We couldn’t string anything together until the end.”
Mount Vernon had just one hit over the first five innings but got going in the sixth. With one out, pinch-hitter Cael Foreman reached on an error. Leadoff hitter Colin Bentley hit a single up the middle, and Swartzendruber blasted an RBI double.
After an RBI groundout by Michael Ryan, Erik Lamb drove in a run with a single to center field. That cut the lead to 5-3, and put a win in reach.
But despite those runs in the sixth, Marion pitcher Grayson Kirsch came out in the seventh and worked
around a single by AJ McDermott and a dropped third strike to close out the game.
Kirsch finished with eight strikeouts and only gave up 5 hits and no walks.
“We haven’t seen a lefty with that much velo (velocity) all year,” Swartzendruber said.
The gas tank seemed close to empty in the second game. The Wolves scored five in the first and four in the second on just four hits, taking advantage of eight walks and a hit batsman.
Marion pitcher Isaiah Scott, meanwhile, kept the Mustangs off balance. He gave up just three hits and two walks. He struck out five.
Mount Vernon (7-8) started the week with a doubleheader at Center Point-Urbana. The Mustangs lost the first game, 9-1, but won the second, 10-1.
CPU freshman Hayden Covington limited MV to five hits over 6.2 innings. Ryan had the lone RBI for the Mustangs.
Mount Vernon bats came alive in the second game, collecting nine hits and 10 runs. Swartzendruber hit 3-for-5 with a double and four RBIs. Bentley had a home run and Lamb had two doubles, among the highlights.
“We hit the ball really well in Game 2 against CPU, and felt good coming into (Marion),” Swartzendruber said.
Despite
.500, Chatman sees an upward trajectory for the Mustangs heading to July.
“We can compete with anybody,” Chatman said. “We’re like a duck with his feet under the water. We’re kicking away, trying to stay afloat.”
Mount Vernon baseball has six games scheduled this week, including a twinbill against Williamsburg on Thursday, June 19, at Ash Park.
Grayson Kirsch and Elijah Scott. Garet Swartzendruber, Landon Wilson (6), Jakob Yock (7) and Gabe Grafft. W – Kirsch. L
Swartzendruber. 2B – Grayson Kirsch (M), Isaiah Scott (M). Garet Swartzendruber (MV).
Isaiah Scott and Elijah Scott. Maddox Thede, Landon Wilson (2), Easton Reasland (5) and Gabe Grafft. W – Scott.
L – Thede. 2B – Grayson Kirsch (M), Isaiah Scott (M).
A.J. Dolan | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun Lisbon’s Ethan Stone (No. 4) swings at a pitch in play last week.
A.J. Dolan | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun Lisbon’s Charlie Feaker pitches relief in the first game of the doubleheader against Calamus-Wheatland.
Photos by A.J. Dolan | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun Top: Mount Vernon’s A.J. McDermott (No. 45) tries to catch the ball for the tag.
Right: Mount Vernon’s Michael Ryan (No. 1) connects with a pitch.
All-WaMaCsoccer honors for 13
Mount Vernon’s Gavin Plathe, Landon Grosse and Cash Luneckas were first-team all-WaMaC soccer picks, it was announced.
Clare Nydegger was a first-team pick on the girls’ side for Mount Vernon.
Earning second-team boys honors were Cole McDermott, Jaxon Anderson and Carter Gadberry. Silas Johnson and Zion Safe earned recognition.
Mount Vernon finished 7-5-5.
For the girls, Courtney Franck and Keira Bergmann were second-team picks, and Isabelle Logue and Miranda Sellner earned recognition. The Mustangs were 8-6-3.
Speidel wins 1A Coach of the Year
Lisbon boys’ track coach was named the 2025 Class 1A Boys’ Track and Field Coach of the Year.
Speidel led the Lions to their third straight 1A title in the spring.
On the girls’ side, Mount Vernon coach Kory Swart was one of five coaches listed behind the 3A Coach of the Year, Bart Mueller of ADAM.
In addition, Mount Vernon senior Graby Olberding was named a 2025 Iowa Track and Field Academic All-State recipient.
Lions softball sweeps Easton Valley
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
No. 7 (2A) Lisbon is in firm control of the Tri-Rivers East midway through June with a 9-3 mark.
That’s thanks to doubleheader sweeps like Monday, June 9, when the Lions won twice at Easton Valley, 12-2 in four innings and 11-0 in four innings.
In the first game, the Lions had 11 hits. Emma Pleasant was 3-for-3 with double, Alexis Jensen hit 3-for-3, and Kamryn Kahl hit 2-for-3 with a double, home run and five RBI
In the second game, Addie Clark had four stolen bases. Pleasant got the pitching win with six strikeouts over 3.1 innings.
The Lions split a pair of games Thursday, June 12, at Alburnett, winning 3-1 then falling 13-6.
“In the between-game chat, we talked about how to continue and look good in both games,” Lisbon Coach Abbey Shultz said. “It didn’t exactly go our way.”
In the win, Alexa Roos and Kaitlynn Hasselbusch had RBIs and Kyla Kahl and Sarah Dietsch had doubles. Kyla Kahl pitched three-hitter with five strikeouts.
In the 13-6 loss, Sydney Techau had two RBIs and Pleasant had two doubles.
Lisbon won at Anamosa on Friday, June 13, by a score of 9-4 in extra innings.
It was tied 4-4 before the Lions scored five runs in the top of the eighth.
“It is that old saying, hitting is contagious,” Shultz said. “You just have to find that one person to start it.”
Lisbon got doubles from Clark, Jensen, Hasselbusch and Kyla Kahl and two RBIs from Jensen and Hasselbusch.
Lisbon dropped two games to highly-ranked River Valley Conference foes Saturday, June 14, falling to No. 3 (2A) Durant 10-2 in six innings and to No. 5 (3A) West Liberty, 11-1 in four innings, in West Liberty.
Against Durant, Wildcat pitcher Allison Toft limited the Lions to five hits and no walks. Against the Comets, Clark and Kamryn Kahl each had two hits for Lisbon (10-7).
“We didn’t focus on wins, but rather on getting better,” Shultz said. “We’re still working on not shutting down if something bad happens, but rather learning how to utilize it.”
Mount Vernon High School Second Semester Honor Roll
Student Name - Grade Level: * = 4.0
Ninth graders - Zay Austerman, Jack Bauer, Trae Bielefeld, Jamison Billingsley*, Luiza Blacharski*, Kyle Bock, Teddy Bonewald*, Lexi Boren*, Nora Brase, Jaidyn Burge, Fiona Calcara, Jack Carnes, Maggie Cook*, Hazel Danielson, Grey Denes, Danny Dye*, Andrew Errington*, Teagan Finn*, Graham Foreman*, Lexi Glaza*, Matthew Goodlove, Gabriel Grafft, Liliana Grosse*, Ian Hagen, Isaiah Hanson, Ryan Hepker, Holden Hlavacek, Jaylee Jaspers*, Rowan Jensen*, Landon Johanningmeier, Fenn Jones*, Elliotte Kinion, Evelyn Klima, Jackson Koehn, Dottie Korte*, Eli Kozelsky, Jackson Krug, Ryker Lee, Leah Leonard, Lexi Liu*, Taylor Manternach*, Everett Marshall, Cora Martin*, Kate Martin*, Brendan McNeal, Elliott McNulty*, Avery Miller, Hannah Morf*, Leah Morse*, Isla Novak*, Beck Oesterle, Josie Panos, Sophia Patten*, Madelyn Paulus, Emma Pederson, Quinn Pershing*, Cameron Poggenpohl, John Puetz, Easton Reasland*, Hudsyn Reyhons, Sunny Rian, Jada Ripke*, Marlena Rodenberg, Adrienne Ruhland*, Zion Safo, Christopher Schneider, Emily Schnoor*, Annabelle Smith*, Ella Speth, Gunner Steinberg, Holden Steine*, Violet Tharp, Clara Vavricek*, Andrew Weber, Bella Weber*, Cole Weddington, Star Wegner, Hutson Wiesenhofer, Ashlynn Wilcox, Hagen Wilkins, Emery Willems, Ella Wilson*, Lydia Woods, Savanna Wright
Sophomores - Matthew Bany, Caleb Bartelt*, Avalyn Bauer, Brynlee Bettcher*, IV Bishop*, YeongHo Bishop, Emily Bock, Josie Bothell, Matthew Bradbury, Alex Briesemeister*, Zach Broomhall*, Chasen Caskey, Brock Chapman, Porter Chatman*, Collin Clark, Myah Cooper, Maddox Curran*, Ayla Davis, Andrew Dix*, Eleanor Dye*, Stratton Ellyson, Brooklynn Feddersen, Rylee Gerber, Natalee Glaister, Lyla Glaza, Hayden Gookin*, Kendal Hoeppner, Lillian Hotz*, Will Huber, Raya Hufendick*, Beckett Johnson*, Carie Johnson*, Chris Jones, Bella Kenniston, Layla Kies*, Remington Klima, Cooper Krob, Mason Kumley, Mallie Lange, Joey
Latta*, Izaak Leonard, Nathaniel Lewis*, Landyn Leyse, Chloe Lynner*, Cole McDermott*, Sophia Meester, Nolan Mercer, Brody Miksch, Evelyn Moeller, Spencer Moellering, Mia Panos, Payton Paustian, Avery Pershing, Abigail Phillippe, Laina Pisarik*, Rose Pisarik, Nate Poduska*, Alaina Pospisil*, Jayden Pyatt*, Rylee Rasmussen, Tommy Rhomberg*, Xander Riniker*, Chester Rood*, Caroline Rupe*, Luke Rushford*, Seth Rushford*, Timber Scholl, Mavrik Schweer*, Miranda Sellner*, Lilly Siggins*, Clay Simpson, Milo Slauson, Reagan Slaymaker*, Carly Steen*, Anna Stephens*, Maciann Stoner*, Maddox Thede, Avery Thurn, Alivia Truitt, Avri Trumblee-Looney*, Regenmorter Van*, Jackson Voight*, Asher Webster, Eastin Whisner*, Paxton Whitham*, Koen Wiebel*, Ava Willems*, Jonathan Winkler*, Lucy Wischmeyer*, Charlotte Woosley*, Jakob Yock, Micah Young*.
Juniors - Jacob Alger, Jaxon Anderson, Grace Bausch*, Eva Bishop*, Alyssa Bohlken, Madeline Boren, Payson Burge, Brighton Bybee, Carrington Bybee, Raelynn Ciha, Nathan Conrad*, Lilly Cook*, Mason Cossolotto*, Michael Covington, Caysen Curran, Rose Daoud, Isaac Dausener*, Edith Dawson*, Bella Donatti*, Carly Elliott*, Cael Foreman, Courtney Franck*, Taylor Franck*, Owen Francois*, Topher Gaffney, Elena Gehrke*, Emily Giel*, Ryder Gillespie, William Goodlove, Isabel Govea, Zoe Grady, Landon Grosse*, Grace Hale*, Levi Hanna*, Kellen Haverback*, Polly Hinrichs, Emma Hoffman*, Ryan Hoffman, William Huebner, Cormac Hunter, Harmony Ireland*, Jase Jaspers*, Claire Jensen*, Hannah Jones*, Kadence Kaiser*, Caleb Keegan, Kaylee Kintzel, LJ Korte, Zachariah Koster, Jacob Kramer, Mae Krapfl*, Lewis Krob*, Carlton Latta, Kaitlyn Lighthall, Isabelle Logue*, Cash Luneckas*, Dakota Macchione, Bella Manternach*, Lydia Marshall*, Grace Meier-Gast*, Olivia Melsha, Brogan Meyer, Sophie Milich, Mason Miller, Ingrid Morf*, Andy Morris*, Kayla Morris, Austin Mull, Toby Neal, Sadie Oberbreckling*, Cassidy Olberding*, Emmy Osborn, Skylee Parks, Emara Perreault*, Gracie Pinckney, Eli Plotz, Alexandra Pons, Nolan
Ribbon cutting held at Round About Repair Shop
Pownell, Thomas Rian, Korah Robinson, Peyton Russell, Michael Ryan* Dawson Scheil*, Jayden Scieszinski*, Ellah Shook, Willow Shroyer, Arianna Smith, Cora Smith*, Wyatt Smith, Logan Stanerson, Hunter Steine*, Mya Stoner, Mae Stoops, Kaia Swaim*, Kiersten Swart*, Allison Teague, Leo Tharp, Claire Thuerauf, Drew Thurn, Ashley Trachta, Grant Tucker, Will Turner, Audrey Vaughn, Norah Weber*, Charles Weldon, Adeline Whisner*, Jaelynn Williams*, Landon Wilson*, Kevin Zehms*.
Seniors - Lincoln Alles, Nicholas Alles*, Lily Amthauer, Vivian Andrews*, Abigail Babcock, Molly Bany, Andrew Barns, Katherine Bauer, Aaron Bellamy, Colin Bentley, Hailey Bock, Caitlyn Boren, Josef Briesemeister, Cora Campanelli, Alima Cisse*, Kaleb Coon, Nolan Davis, Grace Dehmer, Elizabeth Dix, Brynlee Dudrey, Lacey Durgin, Margaret Dye, Sarah Esbaum, Gunnar Fishler*, Simon Gillespie, Ean Grudzinski, Charlotte Hand, Nathan Hansen, Bennett Harp, Bella Hasley*, Jakob Haugse, Olivia Haverback*, Lauren Hepker, Cooper Hird, Sydney Huber*, Ethan Hunt, Marquez Ireland, Eryn Jackson, Cyrus Johnson, Effie Johnson, Emrie Johnson*, Kaleb Jones, Emmett Jordan*, Mallory Kaiser, Dominic Kocher, Malena Koehn*, Eli Koster, Watson Krob, Erik Lamb, Nova Lane, Wylie Lange, Zara Larsen, Aly Lashley, Jaks Lee, Elizabeth Louwagie*, Selah Loyd*, Gabriel Mahoney, Sydney Maue*, Anthony McDermott, Chloe Meester, Tatum Meyer, Elizabeth Morf, Abigail Moss, Laney Myers, Brody Nosek, Clare Nydegger, Seamus O'Connor, Ellia Oesterle, Grady Olberding*, Violet Olinger, Elsie Owen, Luke Paulus*, Gavin Plathe, Gabriel Portillo, Josiah Recalde, Kael Riniker, Sage Robards, Reid Rolland, Cana Safo*, Samantha Schoff*, Paige Schurbon, Sarah Sharif*, Jack Simmons, Ben Slauson, Sarabell Steil, William Stevenson, Kara Swantz, Garet Swartzendruber, Megan Teague, Natalie Thuerauf*, Cole Thurn, Lily Torres-Moffit, Calista Urmie, Graham Vavricek*, Penelope Vig*, Renee Vig*, Noah Webster, Tyler Williams, Ethan Wood, Payton Woodland, Adam Zehms.
Kraig and Pam Hunter, and their son Jake, cut the ribbon for Round About Repair Shop, located west of the roundabout on Highway 1 Tuesday, June 10. The business opened doors in early March of this year, and Kraig has spent a lot of time beautifying the outdoor of the shop, including repaving the concrete, flattening the ground to the east of the shop and the siding colors. The shop was a pivot for Kraig, who spent the majority of his life working for agricultural dealerships. The shop offers diagnostics, tune-ups, brakes, tires, suspension repair and alignment. The shop is open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursdays and Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays and appointments can be made by calling 319-895-8119.
Others present at the ribbon cutting include Lisa White (Cornell College), Brenda Langenberg (Hills Bank), Jake Krob (Mount Vernon Bank and Trust), Michelle Zaruba (Hills Bank), Jake, Pam and Kraig Hunter (owners of Round About auto Repair) , John Bardsley (City of Lisbon), Jessie Thurn (Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group), and Kim Heeren (Pearson and Virlee).
Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
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 19
Cole Library closed – Juneteenth holiday.
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.
Friday, June 20
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.
Dress rehearsal for MV’s presentation of The Wolves, Mount Vernon Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 21
Mount Vernon Farmers Market, Rhubarb Botanicals farm, 9 a.m. to noon.
Hello summer shopping kick-off event, uptown Mount Vernon and Lisbon.
Monday, June 23
Southeast Linn Community Center free lunch, Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, 12:15-1:15 p.m. Lisbon City Council, Lisbon City Hall, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, June 24
Learn to play bridge, Cornell College Cole Library Room 410, 7 p.m.
Lego Club, Cornell College Cole Library second floor, 10 a.m.
Lisbon Summer storytime, Lincoln Square Gazebo, 11 a.m.
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
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.
Tuneful Tuesdays, Memorial Park Gazebo, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 25
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 “Rocket Dice 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)
Voices United of Rural Linn County, Whitey’s in Lisbon, 5 p.m.
Prairie Patch Farms Llama Storytime for Lisbon Library, Lisbon City Park, 6 p.m.
Thursday, June 26
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 Workplace that often has sawdust
5 Offered up gossip
11 Close one, for short
14 Part of a house that might shade part of a patio
15 African creature whose name is one letter away from what its horns might do
16 Constitutional change long endorsed by NOW
17 Some colorful apparel
19 Bagel-and-schmear go-with
20 Longtime deodorant brand
21 Crazy about
22 Number on a clothing tag
23 Unnatural sight, in brief
24 Outperforms
26 Certain grain source
28 What might bring down the house?
30 Male film character played by a female terrier named Terry
31 Brother Felipe, Matty or Jesus of baseball
32 Accessory for a guitar neck
35 Thingamajigs
39 Statements that can be seen as positive ... or a hint to interpreting 17-, 26-, 49and 62-Across
42 “In conclusion …”
43 Darn it!
44 Tilt
45 Chimney part
47 Secret rendezvous
49 Old-fashioned homemade cleaner
52 Call for delivery?
54 Org. concerned with nationwide traffic
56 Scent
57 Spoils
59 Hoops great ___ Thomas
61 Cow’s chew
62 Des Moines’s domain
64 Word after tell or catch
65 Directs
66 Sphere ... or 4πr2, for the surface of a sphere
67 Shortest among the top 25 most common U.S. surnames
68 Scottish cryptid, informally
69 Any member in the group with the 1965 hit “Turn! Turn! Turn!”
Down
1 Small, clingy bristles on a gecko’s foot
2 Establishment where things are cut and dried?
3 Self-satisfied and then some
4 Spa service, for short
5 Exhibit in a natural history museum, informally
6 Cool cat’s “Roger that”
7 Dizzy feeling, with “the”
8 Eponym of the N.H.L.’s M.V.P. award
9 Charger in una corrida
10 Chargers in courts, for short
11 Prove untrue
12 Suddenly went still
13 Like some documents in the preinternet age
18 Acknowledge nonverbally
22 With an air of haughtiness
25 In days past
27 Shout in a game of tag
29 Replaces
30 Caesar wrap?
31 ___ Lovelace, mathematician and daughter of Lord Byron
33 Lead-in to chamber
34 Letter before cue
36 Mark Twain tale narrated in the first person by a noted first woman
37 Carnivore
38 Fig. written in boxes on a W-9
40 Woman’s name spelled out in a 1970 hit
41 Liberal ___
46 Burning the midnight oil, say
48 Beast with a horn
49 In the neighborhood
50 Small bump
51 Word after wet, pool or chicken
52 Slow sorts, in slang
53 Baby carriers
55 In the lead
58 Is behind
60 Shot in the dark
62 Sister channel of QVC
63 Narrow amount to win by
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.
Inc. for the Tower Terrace Road National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Study and Design for endangered species, in the amount of $12,000.
Motion by Meisheid, seconded by Running-Marquardt to approve payroll authorizations (detail is available upon request).
Motion by Meisheid, seconded by Running-Marquardt to reappoint Tricia Kitzmann to the Ryan White/Home Health Advisory Committee to serve another three-year term, from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.
Motion by Meisheid, seconded by Running-Marquardt to appoint Amy Doerrfeld to the Ryan White/Home Health Advisory Committee to serve a three-year term, from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.
Adjournment at 10:13 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
TODD E. TAYLOR, Linn County Auditor
By: Rebecca Shoop, Deputy Auditor Approved by:
BRANDY Z. MEISHEID, Chairperson Board of Supervisors Published in the Sun June 19, 2025.
LINN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CEDAR RAPIDS, LINN COUNTY, IOWA
TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2025 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: Vice Chairperson Running-Marquardt and Supervisor Scheetz. Absent: Chairperson Meisheid (other county business). Board members voting “AYE” unless otherwise noted.
Vice Chairperson Running-Marquardt called the meeting to order.
Motion by Running-Marquardt seconded by Scheetz to approve minutes of June 9, 2025 as printed. The Board received updates from the following Department Heads: Brad Ketels, County Engineer – Working with Ted Garnett regarding GAPM survey metric (action plans are in place); budget is on track with no concerns; Secondary Road Headquarters; one heavy equipment operator opening due to a retirement; Ely Rd. bridge rehab project and other construction activities; MidAmerican Natural Gas Pipeline along C St. Rd. (payment of invoice is being researched); Seal Coating operations will be starting up soon and will continue for the next several weeks; and continue having conversations with the IDOT, Four County Quarry and Data Center on the southwest corner of Linn County (Maple Grove Rd.).
Supervisor Running-Marquardt noted that the beem signing ceremony was a well-attended event and they showcased
some of the great work they have been doing in his department.
Lisa Powell, Human Resources Director – Learning Institutes will continue over the summer; bringing policies to the Board for some alignments (paid leave in Management Manual; Emp. Recognition; FMLA; Promotions & Transfers); July 1 wage, benefit and contract changes; staff member completed labor law poster requirements audit; Belongings and Involvement Group meet today; continue to make good strides with the job description project; software “code” training; employee recruitment/interviewing assistance to department heads; management training this week and in August; Employee Recognition Breakfast July 16th at Red Cedar Lodge in Wanatee; Health Benefits consultants will be doing an RFP this year; and labor relations. Cara Matteson, Sustainability Director – grants update (not selected for the Collaborative Brownfields grant); Urban beehives are located at the Community Services Bldg.; watershed meetings with internal stakeholders and partner outreach; and requesting a budget carryover. Supervisor Running-Marquardt highlighted the water quality initiatives and the possibility of public/private partnerships. She stated that Matteson’s background and her expertise is incredible, and she appreciates the time that she spends on so many different areas. Projects would not be possible without her expertise. Dawn Jindrich, Finance Dir. and Sara Bearrows, Budget Dir. – budget and online training; FY25 budget amendments explained (two more to go this fiscal year); FY25 audit and year end team meeting; quarterly goal setting (implementing GASB 101 on sick leave).
Adjournment at 9:55 a.m.
Respectfully submitted, TODD E. TAYLOR, Linn County Auditor By: Rebecca Shoop, Deputy Auditor
Approved by:
KIRSTEN RUNNING-MARQUARDT, Vice Chairperson Board of Supervisors Published in the Sun June 19, 2025.
MOUNT VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL
DISTRICT
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
MOUNT VERNON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION OFFICE 525 PALISADES RD SW MOUNT VERNON, IA 52314
05/01/2025 07:00 AM Through effective and intentional collaboration, the Mount Vernon Community School District will be an exemplary district of choice.
Attendance
Voting Members
Rick Elliott, Board President
Jeremy Kunz, Board Vice-President
Jason Clark, Board Member
Tim Keegan, Board Member
Suzette Kragenbrink, Board Member
Kristi Meyer, Board Member
Lance Schoff, Board Member
Non-Voting Members
Matt Leeman, Superintendent
Michael Marshall, School Business
Official
I. Call to Order
President Elliott called the meeting to order at 7:00.
II. Approve Agenda
Motion to approve the agenda, as presented.
Motion made by: Jeremy Kunz
Motion seconded by: Lance Schoff
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
III. Facility Division
1. Approval of HS Wrestling Mat Pur-
chase
Motion for the approval of the purchasing of a wrestling mat for the High School Wrestling Room in the amount of $23,158.96, as presented.
Motion made by: Jeremy Kunz
Motion seconded by: Jason Clark
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
IV. Program Division
1. Approval of Literacy Curriculum
Purchase
Motion for the approval of the attached quotes for literacy materials from CKLA and 95 Percent Group in the amount of $123,355.12, as presented.
Motion made by: Lance Schoff
Motion seconded by: Kristi Meyer
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
V. Administrative Division
1. Approval of Certified Staff Contracts for 25-26 School Year
Motion for the approval of the 20252026 Certified Staff (Teacher) contracts, as presented.
Motion made by: Jason Clark
Motion seconded by: Lance Schoff
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
2. Approval of Extra Duty Contracts for 25-26 School Year
Motion for the approval of the 20252026 Extra Duty contracts, as presented.
Motion made by: Lance Schoff
Motion seconded by: Jeremy Kunz
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
3. Approval of Amended Insurance
Statement--Classified/Certified Staff
Motion for the approval of the amended Handbook language in regard to the District contribution to the Classified and Certified Staff benefit program to be as
follows: For 2025-2026, each employee working more than 30 hours per week will receive up to 100% of the premium middle tier single health insurance rate, an amount of $630 for 25-26, that may be applied toward the purchase of benefits offered by the district. Future year’s contributions will be reviewed on a year-toyear basis based on rate increases.
Motion made by: Jeremy Kunz
Motion seconded by: Lance Schoff
Voting:
Rick Elliott - Yes
Jeremy Kunz - Yes
Jason Clark - Abstain
Tim Keegan - Yes
Suzette Kragenbrink - Yes
Kristi Meyer - Yes
Lance Schoff - Yes
4. Approval of Amended Insurance Statement--Exempt Staff
Motion for the approval of the amended contract language in regard to the District contribution to the Exempt Staff benefit program to be as follows: For 2025-2026, each employee will receive up to the amount of the middle tier family plan, plus family dental and vision, or $1,839.84 per month, that may be applied toward the purchase of benefits offered by the district. Future year’s contributions will be determined on a yearto-year basis based on rate increases.
Motion made by: Jeremy Kunz
Motion seconded by: Lance Schoff
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
VI. School Board Calendar
1. School Board Meeting--Monday, May 12-- 6:30pm in High School Library
2. School Board Meeting, Monday, June 9-- 6:30pm in High School Library
3. School Board Meeting, Monday, July 14-- 6:30pm in High School Library
VII. Meeting Adjournment
Motion for adjournment.
Motion made by: Jason Clark
Motion seconded by: Kristi Meyer
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
Adjourned at 8:00. Published in the Sun June 19, 2025.
MOUNT VERNON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Through effective and intentional collaboration, the Mount Vernon Community School District will be an exemplary district of choice.
Attendance
Voting Members
Rick Elliott, Board President Jeremy Kunz, Board Vice-President
Jason Clark, Board Member
Tim Keegan, Board Member
Suzette Kragenbrink, Board Member
Kristi Meyer, Board Member Lance Schoff, Board Member
Non-Voting Members Matt Leeman, Superintendent
Michael Marshall, School Business
Official
I. Call to Order
President Elliott called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM.
II. Approval of Agenda
Motion to amend the agenda to move items A, B, and C of the Administrative Division to follow items D and E. Made by Keegan, seconded by Clark. Carried unanimously.
Motion to approved the amended agenda.
Motion made by: Tim Keegan
Motion seconded by: Jason Clark
Voting: Rick Elliott - Yes
Jeremy Kunz - Not Present
Jason Clark - Yes
Tim Keegan - Yes
Suzette Kragenbrink - Yes
Kristi Meyer - Yes
Lance Schoff - Yes
III. Fiscal Year 2025 Certified Budget Amendment Public Hearing
President Elliott opened the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Adjustment Public Hearing at 6:32 PM. No comment was made during the public hearing.
President Elliott closed the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Adjustment Public Hearing at 6:32 PM.
IV. Public Comment No public comment was made.
V. Superintendent Report Superintendent Leeman updated the Board on the following topics:
1. Agreements for Approval (Vista, Tanager, Linn Co)
2. First St. Field Survey Updates
3. Handbook Updates
4. Traffic Study Update
5. School Board Recognition Month
Director Kunz joined the meeting at 6:30 PM.
VI. Information and Action Items
1. Program Division
A. MAC Team Room Update
Matt Thede gave an update to the Board on the MAC Team Room.
B. Rescinding of Cooperative Partnership of HS Soccer Motion to rescind Cooperative Partnership for High School Boys Soccer with Lisbon CSD and Springville CSD beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, as presented.
Motion made by: Tim Keegan
Motion seconded by: Lance Schoff
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
C. Approval of Board Policy First Reading Motion for the approval of the below listed policy and its first reading, as presented.
Motion made by: Jason Clark
Motion seconded by: Kristi Meyer
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
2. Personnel Division
A. Approval of New/Amended Contracts
Motion for the approval of the below listed contracts, as presented.
Motion made by: Jeremy Kunz
Motion seconded by: Suzette Kragenbrink
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
3. Facility Division
A. Approval of Kitchen Equipment Purchase
Motion for the approval of the purchase of Kitchen Equipment for the Middle and High School Kitchens from Martin Bros Distributing in the amount of $70,175.56, as presented.
Motion made by: Suzette Kragenbrink
Motion seconded by: Kristi Meyer
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
4. Administrative Division
A. Motion to move to Closed Session--Iowa Code 21.9
Motion to move to closed session in accordance with Iowa Code 21.9, as presented.
Motion made by: Kristi Meyer
Motion seconded by: Suzette Kragenbrink
Voting: Rick Elliott - Yes
Jeremy Kunz - Yes
Jason Clark - Yes
Tim Keegan - Yes
Suzette Kragenbrink - Yes
Kristi Meyer - Yes
Lance Schoff - Yes
The Board recessed at 7:34 PM.
The Board reconvened at 7:44 PM.
The Board entered closed session at 7:44 PM.
The Board moved out of closed session at 9:03 PM.
The Board recessed at 9:03 PM.
The Board reconvened at 9:06 PM.
B. Approval of Classified Staff Contracts
Motion to approve the classified staff salary agreement and issuance of contracts for an average increase of 3.5% for the 2025-2026 school year, as presented.
Motion made by: Lance Schoff
Motion seconded by: Suzette Kragenbrink
Voting: Rick Elliott - Yes
Jeremy Kunz - Yes
Jason Clark - Abstain
Tim Keegan - Yes
Suzette Kragenbrink - Yes
Kristi Meyer - Yes
Lance Schoff - Yes
C. Approval of Exempt Staff Contracts
Motion to approve exempt/administrative staff salary agreement and issuance of contracts for an average increase of 2.58% for the 2025-2026 school year, as presented.
Motion made by: Kristi Meyer
Motion seconded by: Lance Schoff
Voting:
Unanimously Approved
D. Approval of Sharing Agreement w/ Kirkwood--WLC
Motion for the approval of the sharing agreement with Kirkwood CC for a Workplace Learning Coordinator for the 25-26 school year, as presented
Motion made by: Jason Clark
Motion seconded by: Jeremy Kunz
Voting: Unanimously Approved
E. Approval of Fiscal Year 2025 Certified Budget Amendment Motion for the approval of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Amendment, as presented.
Motion made by: Jeremy Kunz
Motion seconded by: Jason Clark
Voting:
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
The City Council of the City of Mt. Vernon will conduct a Public Hearing on July 7, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., at the Mt. Vernon City Hall, 213 1st Street NW, Mt. Vernon, Iowa. Due to the nature of the Novel Coronavirus, now known as Covid-19, the City Council will provide additional means of communication via the Zoom application. The public is invited to participate via telephone by calling 1-312-626-6799 or the Zoom platform. You will be prompted for the following information: 1. Meeting ID: 857 5359 1326
2. Password: 213157
Should you need assistance joining the meeting, please contact Chris at 319-359-8613 (call or text).
The purpose of the public hearing is for the consideration of an ordinance amending Chapter 99.02, Sewer Rate of the municipal code of Mt. Vernon, Iowa.
A copy of the proposed ordinance is available on the City of Mt. Vernon website (www.cityofmtvernon-ia.gov).
A hard copy of the ordinance is available in the City Clerk’s office, 213 First Street NW, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, 52314. Published in the Sun June 19, 2025.
LISBON COMMUNITY SCHOOL
JOINT BOARD MEETING WITH SPRINGVILLE SCHOOL BOARD SPRINGVILLE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT SECONDARY LIBRARY
APRIL 30, 2025 - 6:.00 P.M.
President Caspers called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
Members present: Caspers, Baker, Prasil, Mallie
Members absent: Richey Motion by Prasil, second by Baker to approve the Agenda. All ayes motion carried (4-0). Motion by Prasil, second by Baker to approve the Continuation of 28E Sharing Agreements with Springville CSD . All ayes motion carried (4-0). Motion by Mallie, second by Baker to approve the Resolution Adopting the Linn County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. All ayes motion carried (4-0) Superintendent Pino opened the discussion by asking if board members had questions or would like to review the progression of projects in both school districts. Board members had a conversation about the various facility updates. Springville Buildings and Grounds Director, Jeff Baych, led a tour to showcase the updates made to the Springville secondary building. Superintendent Pino shared videos, produced by Nelson Media Company, to capture the great things happening at the Lisbon Community School District and the Springville Community School District. These videos will be shared on district websites and used for special events and orientation.
Motion by Prasil, second by Baker to adjourn at 7:30 pm. All ayes motion carried (4-0).
Angie Santis Jen Caspers Board Secretary Board President Published in the Sun June 19, 2025.
LISBON
LISBON PRIDE ROOM
MAY 13, 2025 – 5:00 P.M.
President Caspers called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m.
Members present: Caspers, Mallie, Richey, Prasil, Baker
Members absent: Motion by Mallie, second by Prasil to approve the Agenda. All ayes motion carried (5-0).
Motion by Baker, second by Mallie to approve the Used Bus Purchase from the Solon Community District as presented. All ayes motion carried (5-0).
Motion by Richey, second by Prasil to approve the VISTA Business Software and Support Agreement as presented. All ayes motion carried (5-0).
Motion by Prasil, second by Mallie to approve the Lisbon Class of 2025 List of Graduates as presented. All ayes motion carried (5-0).
Motion by Richey, second by Baker to approve the Webpage Coordinator Position as presented. All ayes motion carried (5-0).
Board Members Baker gave a facility plan update to include: Work will start in June, as soon as school is out, on the Chiller replacement, work is still being finished on punch list items from construction projects. Board Member Prasil stated they are working towards the final construction walk thru.
Assistant Principal Horman led discussion on the exploration of the River Valley Conference for the 2026-27 school year.
Discussion took place regarding Teacher and Staff Recognition. Superintendent Pino thanked all teachers and staff for supporting our students every day and stated that everyone is needed.
Board President Caspers expressed her appreciation to all teachers who also support the work study program. The younger students really look up to the high school students.
Superintendent Pino discussed May is School Board Recognition month. She acknowledged how much time and energy is volunteered and put in behind the scenes as a Board Member. She stated that they should be very proud of all of the accomplishments.
Secondary Principal Leighty gave a report on secondary ISASP testing outcomes.
Elementary Principal Brown gave a report on the following: ISASP testinting results, FAST testing, Wellness Day on May 5th, PreSchool Graduation, The 4th-6th grade Variety Show, the May 21st PBIS assembly which included 38 ‘pies’, Summer School plans, and Step Up Day on May 23rd. He also spoke about and thanked the Community for their support again with the Teeling Memorial Walk-aThon. Approximately $14,000 was raised and goes directly back to the kids. Testing results and report cards will be mailed out in June. He also thanked the School Board for everything they do, their vision, and for putting kids first.
Assistant Principal Horman gave a report on the following: Allstate Jazz Band and the great progress with gold and track season. Thank you to all of the community volunteers for stepping up to help run the track meets. Thank you to all the School Board members for devoting so many hours.
Superintendent Pino gave a report on the progress with Champions. They plan to open on July 1st. We are appreciative of their flexibility and helping promote Lisbon pride. She thanked Bre Ties and Bre Hoge for their work to task things out with all the details that are involved.
Superintendent Pino also spoke about the huge honor it was for the Lisbon Concert Band to be invited to play at the IBA Conference. Congratulations to Mr Arch and Mrs Stulken for building a great band program.
Upcoming Board Meetings are as follows: June 11, 2025 - 6:00 pm Regular School Board Meeting July 9,2025 - 6:00 pm Regular School Board Meeting Motion by Prasil, second by Mallie to approve the Consent Agenda. All ayes motion carried (5-0). Motion by Baker, second by Mallie to adjourn at 6:22 pm. All ayes motion carried (5-0).
The Board moved into Exempt Session - for Purpose to Discuss Strategy Related to Collective Bargaining, Pursuant to Iowa Code 20.17(3) at 6:27pm. Angie Santis Jen Caspers Board Secretary Board President Published in the Sun June 19, 2025.
LISBON COMMUNITY
SCHOOL SPECIAL BOARD MEETING LISBON PRIDE ROOM MAY 29, 2025 - 5:15 P.M.
President Caspers called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. Members present: Caspers, Mallie, Richey, Prasil, Baker Members absent:
The Board moved into Exempt Sessions - For Purpose to Discuss Strategy Related to Collective Bargaining, Pursuant to Iowa Code 20.17(3) at 5:15pm. Discussion took place. The Board exited out of Exempt Sessions at 6:00pm Motion by Mallie, second by Richey to approve the Certified Contracts as presented. All ayes motion carried (5-0). Motion by Mallie, second by Prasil to approve the Classified Contracts as presented. All ayes motion carried (5-0). Motion by Mallie, second by Richey to approve the Administrator and Director Contracts as presented. All ayes motion carried (5-0).
Motion by Mallie, second by Baker to adjourn at 6:01 pm. All ayes motion carried (5-0). Angie Santis Jen Caspers Board Secretary Board President Published in the Sun June 19, 2025.
LISBON SCHOOL DISTRICT LIST OF BILLS
Smith, to approve payment #2 to Linn Haven Land Improvements for Sports Complex grading in the amount of $29,871.14. All Ayes. Motion carried 4-0. Motion by Smith, seconded by Williams to approve Resolution setting a date for public hearing on Urban Renewal Plan Amendment for the Lisbon Urban Renewal Area for July 14th, 2025. Roll call vote. Ayes: Bardsley, Steele, Smith, and Williams. Absent:
Doug O’Connor presiding. The following City Council members were present: John Bardsley, Mike Williams, Nathan Smith, and Kevin Steele. Rick Scott. Kevin Steele was absent.
OTHERS PRESENT: Brandon Siggins, Drayton Kamberling, Travis Bagby, Doug Shannon, and Elizabeth Hoover de Galvez. Attorney Mark Parmenter, Lisa Burch with YTT Design, Luke Maloney with Linn County and City Clerk Christina Eicher were present via zoom.
CONSENT AGENDA: Motion by Williams, seconded by Smith to approve the consent agenda consisting of minutes of May 12th, 2025, list of bills, Treasurer’s Report for May, tobacco permits, alcohol licenses and utility refunds. All Ayes. Motion carried 4-0.
Motion by Smith, seconded by Williams to approve allowing City Administrator Brandon Siggins to hire an independent investigator in reference to a complaint. All Ayes. Motion carried 4-0. Motion by Smith, seconded by Williams to approve the final payment to 2T Construction in the amount of $2,336.61 for City Hall repairs. All Ayes. Motion carried 4-0.
City Administrator Brandon Siggins reviewed the rental fees with the council. No action was taken.
Motion by Bardsley, seconded by Steele to approve BE Lisbon Grant payment to Early Automotive Parts & Accessories for $5,000. All Ayes. Motion carried 4-0.
Motion by Williams, seconded by
lution MSB Mulholland Aye Chris Price, Lousie Hall, John Klimek, Bill Mulholland and Jim Unzeitig
• County Replat: Shea recommends the council approve this resolution. Mayor Flaherty read resolution R-6-2025 Hall made a motion to approve resolution MSB Klimek Aye Chris Price, Lousie Hall, John Klimek, Bill Mulholland and Jim Unzeitig
• Bridgett and Ken Otto: Bridgett and Ken Otto just built a house on Hollmans Rd and have concerns about the Big Creek Bridge. Otto stated they have three kids and said that it would take 10 minutes more for emergency to get to their address if the bridge were closed. Chris Price stated we have the letter that he read at the public hearing, and we can give a copy to the Ottos and that we will get it posted on our website. This will hopefully help answer any question before the next public hearing. Unzeitig explained to the Ottos that this could cause damage to the roads in Bertram and that the council must make decisions based on what is best for the residents of Bertram. Resident stated that the frisbee golf costs us a lot of money to maintain and brings people that do not live in Bertram and it does not bring us in any revenue. Price stated that we need to table this until the public hearing on June 18th at 7 pm. Joni Craig is a bike rider and has used the bridge for the last 8 years and is worried about it closing and was wondering if the bridge would be a part of the trail. Craig also asked if this bridge will be replaced like the other bridge that was damaged in the 08 flood? Council yes it will be like the other bridge with two lanes. Craig let the council know that it is 9 miles to go around if the bridge were closed
• Hazard Mitigation Plan: Flaherty read resolution R-4-2025 Price made a motion to approve the resolution MSB Klimek Aye Chris Price, Lousie Hall, John Klimek, Bill Mulholland and Jim Unzeitig • Zoning ordinance change: Shea explained that residents in Rustic Ridge are having issues with the lot sizes be 1 acre. And that it needs to be changed to ¾ acre lot. That way they do not have to come to the council each time for approval.
• Zoning public hearing: Zoning public hearing is July 9th at 6:30 pm.
• Bridge public hearing: Bridge public hearing is set and published for June18th at 7 pm.
• Correspondence: o Hall asked if we need to have the city employees use the timecard punch system? Price said he is ok to have a different way to track hours worked. Shea let us know it was ok to use an excel spreadsheet if there is a line for them to sign that they are agreeing these are the hours they worked. Vislisel asked if we keep it if we could please move it to the back by the door by the garage.
o Hall Green St has a lot of divots in the street that need to be repaired. Hall does not have any quotes yet. Flaherty said to get quotes and bring them to the next council meeting.
o Hall What will happen after sidewalks are removed? Price We will fill with dirt and grass. Hall What is the plan for the stumps on 2nd street. Price City Works will be cutting them all to below 5 inches. We are not able to dig the stumps up because there are wires below and we do not want to hit those.
• Open to Public
o Dixie Did the water at the park get fixed? Hall Still under warranty and will be getting fixed. Mulholland Is there a spigot to hook a hose to so we can clean the pavilion and bathrooms? Tony Vislisel said they were supposed to when it was put in. Klimek stated that was part of the agreement that there was supposed to be a hook up for a hose. So they need to do that when they come to fix it.
o Vislisel Are we cutting down all these trees for water flow? Price Yes, based on the FG study the ditches do not meet the correct specks to be a ditch and we need to clean them out for better water flow. We can show the layout of the water flow and the information from the study.
o Nate Hines wants to know if his building permit for Rustic Ridge has been approved or when can he expect it to be? Price said he will get an email out to Kevin Shea tonight and get back to him tomorrow.
• Mulholland made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 pm MSB Price Aye Chris Price, Lousie Hall, John Klimek, Bill Mulholland and Jim Unzeitig Published in the Sun June 19, 2025.
For Rent
3-bedroom house with single car garage for rent in Lisbon. Call 319-270-6141.
Wanted
WANTED: JUNK APPLI -
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Linn County Planning & Zoning Commission reschedules nuclear energy zoning
meeting
The Linn County Planning & Zoning Commission is rescheduling its next discussion of proposed zoning regulations for nuclear energy generation and nuclear waste storage facilities in Linn County. The commission originally planned to review the draft regulations during its June meeting but will move that discussion to its meeting on July 21 at 6 p.m. to allow staff more time to prepare the draft zoning code. There will be opportunities for public comment during this meeting. This will be the second public discussion of a draft zoning code that would establish local standards for reviewing land use proposals involving nuclear power or waste storage. The Planning & Zoning Commission will make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors at the July meeting or at a future meeting.
The proposed zoning code will outline applica-
tion requirements and review procedures, with a focus on reviewing local economic impacts and requiring a host community agreement to help offset any costs incurred by Linn County.
Sign up to be notified of future Planning & Zoning Commission or Board of Supervisor meetings and agendas once they are scheduled by visiting the Agenda & Minutes page on the Linn County website.
Linn County supports local preservation efforts by awarding grants to six local nonprofits
The Linn County Board of Supervisors awarded $28,800 from the Linn County Historic Preservation Grant Program to six nonprofit organizations in Linn County. The recipients were selected through an annual competitive process.
The Linn County Historic Preservation Commission reviews the grant applications and makes funding recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.
“Every year, we take
a close look at the grant program and submitted applications,” said Linn County Historic Preservation Commission Chair Kim Hanna. “Our goal is to make the application userfriendly while collecting the details we need to recommend funding for projects that help preserve Linn County’s history.”
The following organizations will receive grant funding from the FY26 budget that begins July 1:
• Brucemore Leading the Culture of Linn County: Historic Tours of Brucemore $5,000
• Central City Historical Society History Book 18391989 $800
• Iowa Masonic Library Association Civil War Flag Plexiglas Restoration Project $5,000
• Linn County Fair Association Refurbish Windows in the Garden Building $8,000
• Pleasant Grove Heritage Park Meyers Farmstead Historic District Hog House/ Corn Crib Restoration and Rehabilitation Phase I $7,000
• The History Center Digital Access to Home and Business Records $3,000
TOTAL $28,800
Mural painting
Artist Alexandra Rambo continues work on the mural on the exterior of the Bijou Movie Theater. Rambo said her goal is to have the project completed by Heritage Days, but knows the forecasted rain this week may have some slight delays to the project. The work is part of the Bijou’s grant proceeds from T-Mobile. Bijou also hosted the first outdoor movie night at the theater Saturday, June 14. Check the Facebook page for more details on future outdoor movies or upcoming movies showing at the theater.
Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun