Hwy. 1 Marching Band Classic next Tuesday
Marching Mustangs season starting strong
The Marching Mustangs perform a portion of “Among the Stars” during halftime at the homecoming game Friday, Sept. 27. Mount Vernon will host the Hwy. 1 Marching Band Classic on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Nathan Countryman
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
The community has a chance to see Mount Vernon, Lisbon, Anamosa and Solon performing at the Hwy. 1 Marching Band Classic at Mount Vernon this year Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m.
“I really think this is an awesome opportunity for people to see all these bands together,” said Scott Weber, director of Mount Vernon’s Marching Mustangs. “It’s been an awesome experience to be part of this over the past two years, and now it is our chance to host it and be able to cheer on the other bands here.”
Weber said that he set the date for Tuesday, Oct. 15 and in the evening, and knows there may be some conflicts for some students.
“It’s not about each band being perfect, but having an opportunity to showcase their performances without worrying about judging,” Weber said.
All four bands will start to roll into the stands at roughly 5 p.m. to practice the national anthem together ahead of the show beginning.
Lisbon’s Homecoming 2024 Court named, coronation Friday
Nathan Countryman
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Lisbon’s homecoming court includes Evan Coleman, Dakota Clark, Tiernan Boots, Gage Holub, Daylin Schaefer, Addie Clark, Kaitlynn Hasselbusch, Brynn Epperly, Aislin Andrews and Sarah Dietsch.
Activities for homecoming continue through the week.
New this year will be the homecoming parade, which begins at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9. Parade line-up is at 5:50 p.m.
The route will begin and end at the school. The parade route will proceed from Jefferson to Market Street and down to Jackson Street, then south a block on Jackson Street. The route will then head westbound on Main Street back towards Jefferson Street. At Jefferson Street, the parade will proceed back to the school.
Powder puff football games begin at 7 p.m.at Walmer Field with First-year students vs. seniors, 7:25 p.m. sophomores vs. juniors and 8:05 p.m. ish the championship game.
Thursday, Oct. 10’s dress up day is decades day for all students. At the high school, seniors are encouraged to dress up to the 80s, juniors the 2000s, sophomores the ‘90s and first year students the ‘70s.
The Lisbon Lions volleyball team will compete at home against Easton Valley, with fresh/soph taking the court at 5:15 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 11’s dress up theme is spirit day. Coronation of homecoming king and queen is at 6:15 p.m., and the inductees to the Lisbon Hall of Fame follows. The Lions will face off against Danville at 7 p.m. Lisbon’s homecoming dance is Saturday, Oct. 12, from 8-10:30 p.m. at the Tin Roof Hideaway and Events Center.
Avery Arens | For the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Lisbon’s homecoming court includes (back, from left) Evan Coleman, Dakota Clark, Tiernan Boots, Gage Holub, Daylin Schaefer, (front, from left) Addie Clark, Kaitlynn Hasselbusch, Brynn Epperly, Aislin Andrews and Sarah Dietsch.
A full concession stand will be at the Martha Parsons Family Activity Complex on the night, and the doors will open in the 6 p.m. time frame.
The American Legion Auxiliary will provide the presentation of the colors as well.
Dave Ryan, the voice of the Mustangs, will be master of ceremonies for the night as well.
Mount Vernon’s Marching Mustangs have had a strong start to their marching band season.
At the Mount Pleasant competition on Sept. 21, the Marching Mustangs placed first in Class 3A bands. They also earned accolades of Best Drums, Best Color Guard, Best Drum Majors and the crowd favorite award.
At Linn-Mar Saturday, Sept. 28, the Marching
‘Indian Mounds at Palisades Keplar explained
Nathan Countryman
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
There are a few Indian mounds at Palisades-Keplar State Park, near the campground area.
“I wish they could tell us a little more about Native American culture,” said Gail Barels, former naturalist at Wickiup Hills. “They already tell us a lot about the time periods.”
One of those items is that the mounds may not have been built exactly next to where Native Americans lived, but rather at places that might have been a days walk away. Many of them were built as a ceremonial site where ancestors were put to rest.
There are also differences in the type of mounds we see in the area. Effigy Mounds, for example, were mounds built to look like an animal, and the people buried in that mound may have had a connection in their tribe to those kinds of animals.
Mustangs placed second out of 10 3A bands, with a score of 77.4. The band also won best color guard and best percussion at the event.
Weber posted that Mount Vernon missed the first place by roughly 0.3 points, and many of the students weren’t around for the awards presentation, as they were getting ready for the Mount Vernon Homecoming dance that evening.
“This show has been taken on so much by these students,” Weber said. “There’s a lot of emotion and heart that’s in the show.”
Weber noted that the show’s themes of grief and remembering those who have went on before have been important to him to show his students that it’s okay to have those emotions, as we all experience them in life.
“The judges have really liked this show,”
Weber said. “And it helps that our drum line, drum majors, color guard and front ensemble are all blending well together in sections and excelling in their solo elements,” Weber said. “They’re having a really great time performing the show. Our focus is to continue making the show better every time we perform it.”
This past Saturday, Oct. 5, the band performed at Bands Across the Prairie and Five Seasons Marching Band competitions. The Marching Mustangs earned second place out of nine Class 3A bands at Bands Across the Prairie with a score of 83.5, and also earned people’s choice and best percussion accolades. At Five Seasons Marching Band competition, the band placed 2nd out of 10 in Class 3A with 76.9 points. The band also received best percussion accolades.
Gail Barels highlights the differences between spear points and arrowheads
with some replicas of each.
The mounds in our area are more conical mounds. The ones at Palisades Keplar only come to knee height, but some reach heights of six feet.
They’re also some of the last remaining mounds in the area, many of which were damaged or relocated due to the development of ground in the area.
In 1976, Iowa became one of the states who outlawed tampering or digging into these mounds when Gov. Robert Ray made laws that protected the ones that still remained.
Many of these sites were built in time spans of 800 years or more ago.
Along with those buried, sites around these mounds indicate how culture has changed throughout time.
Barels showed off the transition of spear tips that are found at many sites to far smaller arrow tips, all sharpened and carved from stone of how tribes moved from one technological age to another.
Items like pots and metals also start showing up, which highlight the robust trade that was practiced by natives in the area.
That’s likewise seen in some of the crops that were cultivated here. Corn would have originated from Mexico, but made it’s way to this area before settlers reached the land.
Items like conch shells and obsidian have been found in the past as well.
Barels said the tribes that made most for the settling here were from the Ioway tribes, and the tribe was more apt to set ground until resources may run out and then migrate elsewhere.
With that, you see more practices like planting crops and being located very close to water sources for where they might establish their villages for a period of years before moving on.
While many Iowans know of the Meskwaki tribe that purchased land in the State of Iowa, the Meskwaki originally had lived more to the eastern part of the country, but kept being pushed more westward. When Iowa was forming in the 1960s, the Meskwaki were able to purchase the land around Tama for their tribe.
Volume 155 I Issue 41
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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
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Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Judith Pim (left) takes a look at the copy of the timelines for when mounds were created.
Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
which are found in the area
MVHPC continues discussion on digital banners
Pop Ensemble bursts onto Cornell music scene
The Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission continued work on a resolution about the proposed digital banners being explored with the new IntelliStreets light poles planned for uptown Mount Vernon.
Commission member Duane Eash had made a trip to Platteville, Wis., to look at some of the lights and signs provided in September.
Eash really disliked the way the digital banners in that uptown switch from multiple messages in a period of time.
“The way those banners are positioned, they seem to more be visible to pedestrians walking those streets, not those on the roadway,” Eash said.
As well, because many of the lights in that community were not new, but retrofitted to add some of the capabilities, some of those elements clash with the downtown.
Eash said that most of them are noticeable as digital signage when you are looking at them.
Eash said he was worried if these were rolled out in Mount Vernon, it would change the vibe of the historic nature of the downtown.
Commission member Guy Booth said that the commission’s purview is protecting the historic nature of the historic downtown business district, and that these digital banners would do just that.
“We don’t want to come across as someone who fights all modern conventions, and we can agree that the other elements of these light poles are hugely beneficial to the city,” Booth said. “But we also are trying to protect the work that has went into keeping this historic district the gem it is in our community.”
Eash asked if a business were to come to the commission with a lighted sign like the ones proposed for the digital banners, would that be something the commission would allow.
President Sue Astley said that would most likely come into conflicts with zoning ordinance for the uptown business district. Astley said the commission should highlight what their concerns are, especially when it comes to guidance from the Department of the Interior on signage.
The commission is looking to have the signage limited to areas outside the historic district, or barring that have guidelines that establish the signs displayed are similar to the cloth banners that are on display and not have any commercial or changing signage reminiscent of advertising. There are concerns yet with the illumination of signs in the uptown historic district as well.
The commission’s work on the resolution will continue at November’s meeting.
Recognition of historic achievements tabled to 2026
A possible spring ceremony recognizing accomplishments of historic preservation is being tabled until 2026.
Sue Astley, commission president, said that the commission will likely need to hold two community gatherings in their process of guidelines being changed.
“That’s already going to be drawing in a large part of the community to see what we’re doing,” Astley said. “Those meetings haven’t been fully budgeted for, and we should keep a portion of our budget for advertising and hosting those meetings.”
As well, the time commitment for the review process is going to keep the commission busy this spring and early next fall until those are finalized.
Astley recommended moving that meeting to 2026.
Commission member Randy Brown agreed, noting that would also be a way to highlight to the community projects that adhere to the new guidelines that were accomplished.
If you’ve heard Green Day, Chappell Roan, or Beatles songs coming from Armstrong Hall on Monday or Wednesday nights, it’s not a pickup band. It’s the Cornell College Music Department’s new Pop/Contemporary Ensemble rehearsing for its debut on Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Thomas Commons’ Smith Dining Room.
“Across the country and regionally here in the eastern Iowa corridor we are seeing traditional classical music programs make a home for CCM—Contemporary Commercial Music—as an area both of academic study and performance practice,” says the director, Artist Instructor of Voice Benjamin Laur.
Laur holds three degrees in voice performance and pedagogy and is known for leading Cornell’s Opera Theatre program.
“But when I was barely a teenager, I was screaming Nirvana songs and punk rock into a beat-up microphone in my friend’s basement where we thought we had a band going,” he says. “And sideby-side with my classical training I write songs, play guitar, and I have a contemporary worship gig at my church. So it’s sort of an ideal ensemble for me, and I’m really grateful to get to work with them.”
The new ensemble has 12 members, with room for more to join after winter break, Laur says. There are singers and a band with keyboard, drum set, and acoustic, electric, and bass guitars. Just two of the members major in music.
“Everyone else comes from myriad other majors across campus,” Laur says.
Lead guitarist Oskar Diyali, a computer science and data science major, used to meet friends twice a week at Armstrong to play together. Now the sophomore is rehearsing music he loves for credit.
“Every rehearsal is an opportunity to learn, and performing live with the collective effort of all the bandmates is always electrifying,” he says. “This opportunity on campus was something I was always waiting for. As a rock genre musician, I’m very happy that the Music Department at Cornell College introduced this ensemble because I’m able to represent myself musically on campus, even though I’m not a
music major.”
Brittni Tieden is a junior music education major who sings and plays bass guitar in the ensemble.
“This is a new exciting opportunity for me because I came into the group with no prior knowledge on how to play guitar and now I’m playing bass guitar for two of the songs in our set,” she says. “I spend a lot of time in Armstrong practicing for choir and bettering myself on other instruments. This gives me another reason to come hang out and practice in my favorite building! And I’ve made new friends in this group that I may not have had the chance to meet otherwise.”
Assistant professor of music and director of choral music Chris Nakielski pioneered the department’s exploration of popular music last year. After noticing students like Diyali in the building rehearsing, he introduced his Contempo -
rary Songwriting course.
The department moved quickly to set up the Pop/ Contemporary Ensemble. On Oct. 13 the group will perform 11 songs from a diverse range of contemporary artists—including three that were audition pieces students brought, and one student request (Journey):
• “Help!,” The Beatles
• “American Idiot,” Green Day
• “As It Was,” Harry Styles
• “Girl On Fire,” Alicia Keys
• “Killing Me Softly,” The Fugees cover
• “Espresso,” Sabrina Carpenter
• “II Most Wanted,” Beyonce ft. Miley Cyrus
• “Zombie,” The Cranberries
• “We Will Rock You,” Queen
• “Pink Pony Club,” Chappell Roan
• “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Journey
“This ensemble is an absolute joy to rehearse,” Laur says. “It’s students making music they love, exploring artistry and self-expression, and lifting up a tradition that deserves a place in communities like Cornell. I’d love to see it become more woven into campus life. I can imagine this ensemble playing sets for events like Ramapalooza, Homecoming, The Big Event. Maybe even something for graduation. The students have a lot to give and we are eager to find homes for what they are creating.”
The Pop/Contemporary Ensemble shares the program on Oct. 13 with Cornell’s Jazz Ensemble, which will perform first. Both groups perform again, at the same time and place, on Sunday, Dec. 15.
Nathan Countryman
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Contributed photo
Members of the Pop/Contemporary Ensemble strike a fun pose at a rehearsal.
OPINIONS
Speed cameras: we deserve to hate them
Living in Iowa
Dan Brawner
Driving down Highway 380 under the predatory eye of hidden speed cameras, I always feel like a prairie dog about to snatched up by a hawk. I look at the speedometer and slow down. Will I get away with it or will I get one of those automated citations in the mail?
A new Iowa law now requires local governments to apply for permits for their lucrative speed cameras. Last year, Davenport issued 43,452 tickets which raked in a total of $1.4 million. LeClaire issued 62,229 tickets for $1.7 million. Chad Alleger, mayor of Prairie City told Iowa Public Radio their speed camera helped pay for a new library and complained that the city’s permit to continue using their camera has been denied. “The purpose is to make our community safer, so I don’t understand why you would deny the communities a way to do that,” he said.
Mayor Alleger isn’t the only official confused that the permits appeared to be issued arbitrarily. It’s like that scene in the movie LA Story where weatherman Harris K. Telemacher, played by Steve Martin tells his secretary, “Hold some of my calls.”
The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa denied 44 percent of the 348 speed camera requests. The city of Cedar Rapids was approved for six of 15 requests. Marion was approved for 29 of 59 requests. So, why not deny all requests—or none of them?
The Iowa Department of Transportation wants to use speed cameras as a means of last resort. If it is not practical to monitor a road or intersection with real, live police officers, then a traffic camera may be necessary. But now, signs are required, announcing that the cameras are in use. Citations will only be issued to drivers going at least ten miles over the speed limit. Tickets are not to exceed $75 and the money must be used for road improvements and not simply to enrich the city’s general budget. It sounds like the IDOT is trying to make the system more equitable. The public hates speed cameras. There are many stories of errors in which an innocent driver is stuck paying a fine for someone else’s car or when the camera isn’t properly calibrated and claims a driver is going 80 mph when she was only doing 60. Contesting errors is so difficult and time-consuming, most drivers don’t bother. They simply pay the fines. Also, speed cameras are creepy, spying on you, invading your privacy. There you are, minding your own business driving down 380, going 70-ish, singing along with Taylor Swift’s All Too Well on the radio (the really sad10-minute version) at the top of your lungs and crying your eyes out. Suddenly, you picture some sweaty, middle-aged city worker in a dingy cubical chuckling as he watches you blubber on his monitor, indifferent to the tragedy of young love and being late for work. He takes a swig of his lukewarm Mountain Dew reaches for the red button on his keyboard that says “VIOLATION”. Life can be so cruel.
Have you checked your smoke alarm batteries lately?
It’s fire prevention week once again, and this year’s theme is “smoke alarms make them work for you.”
Which always reminds of this question – when was the last time you checked that your smoke alarms were still working. And no, not just because your popcorn or frozen pizza was burnt. Or because they started beeping at 2 a.m.
in the morning due to a low battery.
It’s recommended to test smoke alarms at least once a month by hitting that test button.
Smoke alarms should also be replaced every ten years or after they have stopped working when tested.
Smoke alarms should also be placed on every floor of your home and in every separate sleeping area in your home. Their job is to alert you in case of a fire, as smoke rises. If someone in your family has sensory or physical disabilities that would mean they don’t hear the smoke alarm, they should have an alert system that lets them know there is an emergency in the home as well.
It’s also a good time to go through your families emergency plans in case of a fire, like what routes to take out of your home to safety and where you will meet up in case that happens.
Practicing those drills is important in case of an emergency.
Too many officials show lack
of concern for transparency
Stray Thoughts
Talk about lousy optics — and I am not referring to out-of-style eyeglasses. Public perception is the topic for today.
There were a couple of recent news nuggets that illustrate in different ways an uncomfortable fact of life in Iowa — that too many state and local government officials are *not* comfortable with the public looking over their shoulders as they perform their official duties.
One case overflowing with irony involves the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors. The other involves State Treasurer Roby Smith.
I have been tracking issues like these since the earliest days of my newspaper career. Among the first watchdog stories I wrote involved a county supervisor who arranged to sell a county tractor to his son without any public bids.
Research studies and polls show the tax-paying public believes in the importance of government business being conducted in public, not in secret. Research also shows the public appreciates the work done by two-legged watchdogs, like journalists and concerned citizens, who attend government board and council meetings and shine the spotlight on how tax money is spent.
When the Des Moines County supervisors met in Burlington recently, they voted to kick out spectators and go into closed session to discuss with county department heads how the county handles requests for government records.
You read that correctly. The supervisors closed their doors to discuss the county’s position on transparency.
The Burlington Hawk Eye reported the county’s information technology director told supervisors they needed to discuss the matter without the public because other counties are facing many records requests from what he called data mining companies that create reports using government information and then sell that information to the public.
Supervisors Chairman Tom Broeker justified the closed meeting by pointing to a provision in the public meetings law that allows private discussions to “review or discuss records which are required or authorized by state or federal laws to be kept confidential.”
There’s just one problem with that justification. The records other counties are providing to these data companies are *not* required or authorized to be kept confidential. Often, those requests involve real estate records — which have been available to the public since pioneers crossed the Mississippi River nearly 200 years ago and began building houses in what is now Des Moines County.
Simply put, the supervisors did not want to discuss the public’s business with the public present. The supervisors failed to heed the very first paragraph of Iowa’s 50-year-old public meetings law — which says the law seeks to assure through open meetings that the basis and rationale of government decisions are easily accessible to the people.
The news about Treasurer Roby Smith grows out of a jour-
nalist’s request for records to show how often he works from his home in Davenport rather than his Capitol office in Des Moines. In rejecting the records request, officials said, in effect, that providing the *number* of days Smith scanned his security badge and entered the Capitol could jeopardize his safety.
No one wants to jeopardize Smith’s safety. But it is poppycock to assert that knowing how many days he was at the Capitol last month somehow puts him at risk today.
There is an issue of his accountability to the public at stake here. He and other elected officials in Iowa government do not punch a timeclock when they are on the job.
But a couple of facts have put Smith in an uncomfortable position in the public spotlight. Three years ago, Gov. Kim Reynolds directed that most state government employees resume working from their offices, rather than their homes. U.S. Senator Joni Ernst has been a vocal critic of federal agencies allowing employees to work from home. She has called for more transparency on these work-from-home practices.
Journalist Laura Belin, who publishes the Bleeding Heartland news and commentary website, learned from public records that Smith has been reimbursed for his travel expenses for driving from Davenport to attend work-related meetings of the Iowa Lottery Board and the IPERS retirement system’s investment board, which meet away from the Capitol complex.
Smith has not been reimbursed for travel expenses between his home and his Capitol office.
When Belin asked for any calendars that showed the dates Smith was in the Capitol, his staff said no such records existed. Belin then asked for the security card data showing the dates on which he used his card to enter the Capitol.
Officials refused, citing an exemption to the public records statute that protects information and records “relating to security measures such as security and response plans, security codes and combinations, passwords, restricted area passes, keys, and security or response procedures.”
Belin was not asking for any of that. All she wanted was the number of days Smith used his badge to enter the Capitol. Disclosing the number of days does not jeopardize the treasurer’s safety any more than releasing his reimbursement for trips he took by car or airplane.
As I told Belin, my hunch is the treasurer’s office does not want the public to know that Smith is spending most of his time working from Davenport.
I am OK if he chooses to work from home. I am not OK when his staff tries to keep from the public how often he goes to the Capitol.
I am OK with Des Moines County supervisors discussing how they should respond if companies come asking for large volumes of real estate and assessor data. I am not OK with those discussions occurring in private.
The Legislature has made it clear conducting government business in public may cause inconvenience or embarrassment to public officials or others. But that is an important way citizens can hold their officials accountable.
Randy Evans is executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes openness and transparency in Iowa’s state and local governments. He can be reached at DMRevans2810@gmail.com.
Randy Evans Iowa Freedom of Information Council
Let’s go to the movies
Nathan Countryman
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
It’s been a hot minute since I was at a movie theater, but last week I took the chance to see several in theaters.
The first was the “Zadar!” Screening at the Bijou on Monday with numerous other community members, to help raise funds for the Mount Vernon Post Prom. As Kim Tucker also noted, this may have been the first opportunity this movie, the majority of which seems to have been
shot locally, was ever screened here. And it was a hoot. I can get the criticism that it has many story lines at once at certain points, but it has great jokes, call backs, and a reminder in the end of the importance of community. It should not have been panned as badly as it was on release. And it was a success for the post prom raising more than $300 in the one-night run.
Tuesday saw me over at Marcus Wehrenberg Theater in Cedar Rapids for four other movies as I recovered from Discover Guide and Mount Vernon Homecoming.
The best film of the day was definitely “The Wild Robot.” I’ve never read the book series it was clearly inspired by, but
Understaning Auto Insurance and Animal Collisions: Prevention and Coverage
Sonya Sellmeyer
Consumer Advocacy Officer for the Iowa Insurance Division
Auto collisions involving animals or deer account for 13.8% of reported motor vehicle crashes in Iowa. Understanding how auto insurance works in these situations along with effective prevention strategies can help you navigate the experience.
Understanding Coverage
If you find yourself in a collision with an animal, the type of auto insurance you have will determine what costs are covered. Most standard auto insurance policies include two key components for coverage: Comprehensive Coverage: This is the most relevant coverage for animal collisions. Comprehensive insurance covers damages to your vehicle caused by events other than a collision, such as animal strikes, theft,
Free tuition for students who qualify for Iowa Tuition Grant
Cornell College is proud to announce Tuition Zero, an initiative that creates tuition-free opportunities for Iowa students by building off the state’s need-based grant program–The Iowa Tuition Grant (ITG).
The ITG is typically awarded to Iowans enrolled at one of the state’s private colleges or universities and who have a household income of less than $100,000. Students file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility based on financial need.
To reduce confusion around college costs and simplify the funding pro -
cess, the Tuition Zero program makes the math simple. When a student qualifies for the ITG, Cornell meets the remainder of their tuition need.
“We want Iowa students to know, with confidence, that their tuition is covered, so it’s Tuition Zero. They can use their loans or savings to cover their room and board–living expenses, books, and food,” said Cornell College vice president for enrollment management Wendy Beckemeyer.
“This new program makes it possible for many to go to college and stay in college for their undergraduate degree program.”
Studies show that understanding cost is a major source of anxiety for parents whose kids are searching for a college. A 2024 study by higher education research company EAB reported that 58% of parents said they are concerned about understanding how much school will actually cost their family. The same study showed
I was won over by the mission of the robot and the wild animal friends, the gorgeous animation, the excellent humor and the terrific voice acting. I’m always an easy mark for animated movies, but I feel this one is going to give some serious competition to “Moana 2” in best animated feature races.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” was a fine legacy sequel. I liked that the practical effects were happening, but it has a pretty dull 45 minutes before the film actually gets to any shenanigans that we were all here for, and because of that, the second and third act feel very compressed. There were a couple of great musical montages and set pieces, but the villain in the end seemed totally unnecessary.
“My Old Ass” and “Azrael” were the bottom of the four I watched. I had issues with the pacing in the former, and with the third act undercutting the messages the film was trying to get across. As well,
vandalism, and natural disasters. If you hit an animal, this coverage may help pay for repairs minus your deductible.
Collision Coverage: This covers damages when you collide with another vehicle or object, minus your deductible.
If you only have liability coverage on your auto insurance as required by Iowa law an animal strike would not be covered.
Preventive Measures
While insurance can help mitigate financial loss after hitting an animal, prevention is key. Here are some effective strategies:
• Warning Signs: Pay attention to deer crossing signs, especially in areas known for deer activity.
Use Your High Beams: When driving in rural areas at night, use your high beams when there is no oncoming traffic.
• Reduce Speed: Driving at a safe speed allows for quicker reaction times if an animal suddenly appears. Lower speeds can reduce both the likelihood and severity of a collision.
• Be Cautious at Dawn and Dusk: Deer are most active during these times. If you can, plan your travel to avoid driving during peak deer movement hours.
• Watch for Movement: Be on the lookout for deer near the road. If you spot one, slow down and be prepared to stop, as they often travel in groups.
• Use Horns Wisely: If you see a deer on or near the road, honking your horn may cause the deer to retreat and prevent a possible collision. Installing a deer whistle on your grill may also help, but don’t rely on their effectiveness.
• Don’t Swerve: Swerving to miss an animal may cause more damage or injury and involve other vehicles.
that college costs ranked #1 and amount of debt ranked #2 for students planning to attend college.
“We want to make it easier for families to see that a private college education is possible,” said Cornell College director of admissions Drew Shradel. “For Iowa students who qualify for the ITG, this program removes financial barriers so they can attend Cornell without paying tuition and experience our distinctive One Course At A Time calendar.”
Several students took part in a soft launch of the Tuition Zero program this academic year. Ravyn Dittmar, a first-year student from Van Horne is one of those students. She plans to major in psychology and wants to become a trauma therapist. This program allows her to graduate with little debt and live in the moment of her college experience.
“It’s incredibly helpful,” Dittmar said. “When I saw how much I would be pay-
ing versus the starting cost, it was a huge weight taken off my shoulders. I was like, ‘Oh, I can handle that.’”
Students and families interested in enrolling can reach out to Cornell’s admission counselors or check out Cornell’s net price calculator to learn more.
when you cast a person like Aubrey Plaza and she’s only in the thing for 10 minutes, you have created a “Poochie” problem in that when she isn’t on screen, we’re constantly going “when is Aubrey Plaza returning to give this a little more life?”
“Azrael” was an experiment in horror filmmaking on whether a film can still be scary without people screaming throughout because of a plot element? The answer is yes, but the film suffers from not having more of a plot than a short film, and the violence is still really unsettling and unrelenting.
Tuesday also brought the news of new ownership of the Bijou movie theater. I commend Chris and Kira Moore for keeping the Bijou running through some very rocky waters these past few years, and I look forward to catching my next movie there with Kelli and John Lane helping to run said movie theater later this holiday season.
What to Do After a Collision
If you do hit an animal, the first step is to ensure everyone is safe. Move your vehicle to a secure location, call authorities, and stay away from it. It’s crucial to document the incident for insurance purposes— take photos of the damage, note the time and location, and gather any witness information. File an insurance claim for damages, if they are more than your deductible.
Conclusion
Hitting an animal can be a distressing experience, but understanding your insurance coverage and implementing preventive strategies can help minimize risks and ensure you are financially protected. Regularly reviewing your insurance policy, staying vigilant, and taking precautions can significantly reduce the chances of an animal-related accident.
Sellmeyer
Neil Simon’s “Rumors”
Show opens Oct. 18-20 and 25-26
Vernon-Lisbon Sun
nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theater will present Neil Simon’s “Rumors” Friday, Oct. 18 through Oct. 20 and Oct. 25 through 26 at First Street Community Center theater. Tickets are available now at mvlct.com or at the door.
Director Kerry Covington said she chose to direct the show as it is one of the shows she acted in once years ago.
“It was one of the most fun times that I had on stage,” Covington said.
Covington also said it was also a breath of fresh air to be directing a farce after starring in “Perfect Arrangement” this summer.
Covington said one of the challenges of this show is the amount of choreography that is required.
“It’s much more of a dance at times, with so many actors on stage at the same time,” Covington said. “It’s much more different than my usual letting actors make the choices that are correct for their characters.’
K. Michael Moore plays the part of Lenny in the production.
He said what he is enjoying about the show is that it’s crazy in typical Neil Simon fashion.
“I’m excited to be part of this exercise in cardio and hilarity,” Moore said.
His biggest challenge is memorization of a two and a half page monologue.
“There are also a number of lines it’s hard to synchronize together, a lot of interjections and overlapping conversations,” Moore said.
Tiffany Zafrikar is playing the role of Cookie in the production.
She said she auditioned for the show because it was hilarious. She is also excited to be working with so many other veteran actors with MVLCT she hasn’t shared the stage with before.
“The role is a lot of fun to play,” Zafrikar said.
She also appreciated being in a show here in Mount Vernon again.
Her biggest challenge has been learning and keeping a New Jersey accent.
Brian Tanner plays the role of Ernie. It’s the same role he played roughly 20 years ago in a different production.
“I look more age appropriate for the role now,” Tanner said.
Tanner said he loves what everyone is bringing to the production.
Tiffany Zafrikar (as Cookie), Braden Rood (as Chris), Kim Benesh (as Claire), Trevor Baty (as Glenn) and Shauna Daubs (as Cassie) in a scene from Neil Simon’s “Rumors.”
“The group has great give and take energy for this production,” Tanner said. “They take the comedy very seriously and are working to fine tune this entire production.”
As for challenges, remembering his lines, especially in scenes where there are a lot of interjections,” Tanner said.
“I laugh at this show every night,” Covington said. “It’s a show that has been around for decades and it is excellent.”
“It is a hilarious show,” Moore said. “It’s a throwback to far earlier comedies.”
“It’s just a great show,” Zafrikar said. “It’s a good respite from the seriousness of life.”
“It’s just a really fun show that people will have a really fun time with,” Tanner said.
MVLCT announces 2025 season
The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre has announced its 2025 season.
• The season kicks off in February with “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” by Edward Albee. The play will be directed by Jarrod Derooi.
• April will see the theater presenting “Calendar Girls” by Tim Firth. The play will be directed by Kerry Covington.
• July’s musical will be Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” directed by Courtenay Baker.
• In September, the Elliott Studio series will have its next production with “33 Variations” by Moises Kaufman. The play will be directed by Rachel Howell.
• November will see The Pinhook Plyers Children’s Theatre presenting “Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins” by Michael Dailey. The show will be directed by Uri Lessing.
New owners announced for Bijou Movie Theater
Closed for renovations to holiday season
On Tuesday, Oct. 1, Kira Moore announced the new owners of the Bijou movie theater in Mount Vernon.
Kelli Kennon-Lane and John Lane will be taking ownership of the space, and plan to reopen the theater during the holiday season.
Kelli and John have lived just outside Mount Vernon since 2017. Kelli previously served as education director at Indian Creek Nature Center and teaches exercise classes at the Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center currently.
“The Lanes’ are passionate about bringing people together, spending time outdoors, living lightly on the earth by being mindful of waste and focusing on sustainable practices, live music, and supporting small businesses in Mount Vernon, Lisbon, Solon, Springville, Ely and in the Corridor,” Kira wrote.
The Lanes will be doing work on the
Red Cedar performs at Lisbon Heritage Hall
Nathan Countryman
Sun nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Red Cedar Chamber Music performed their program “Passion and Peril” Saturday, Sept. 28, at Lisbon Heritage Hall.
Roughly 11 were in attendance for the Chamber Music concert.
“This is a concert I look forward to every year,” said attendee Judith Pim. “It’s always amazing to hear the classical music performed in our own Heritage Hall.”
lobby and restroom areas ahead of reopening for the holiday season, with that work beginning this past week.
In a Facebook post Friday, Kelli noted one of the first improvements that was made was getting LED lights installed in the movie theater to help reduce energy costs. The couple has also cleaned and organized the space ahead of the lobby refresh, and over the weekend work was done to the landscaping of the exterior of the movie theater.
Kira and Chris Moore thanked the community for their support over the past nine years of ownership of the theater, especially during the rocky years following the pandemic as business owners.
“Thank you to everyone who has attended the Bijou in the last nine years,” Kira wrote. “It has been such a joy to participate in a treasured local venue. During these years, I also journeyed into the world of motherhood and loved to bring my babies with me to the theater. Even as they grew, the Bijou was like a second home.”
Kira said she is excited for the new owners of the theater and will continue to attend shows at the theater in the future as a patron of the facility.
Songs on Passion and Peril include “Fun and Frolic” by Peter Bloesch, the romantic Serenade by Hans Gál to Dances of Peril by Gilad Cohen. There was also a number of variations on the Iowan Corn Song called Iowa Moods by Michael Kimber.
“We wanted to have a variety of music for this series, and wanted a special concert opener,” explained Carey Bostian said. “I approached Peter Bloesch about a piece, and he came up with ‘Fun and Frolic.’” As for the Iowa Moods piece, that was one Red Cedar Chamber Music has had since 2019 and were looking to make an appearance in the set.
“It featured a lot of different styles of music on the Iowa Corn Song,” Bostian said.
Meara Kim and Bostian noted after the concert that they have been to Lisbon for numerous years to present their chamber music.
“One of the things we really love about performing at Heritage Hall is just the acoustics of the space,” Kim said. “It’s like one of those hidden gems. It gives us chances to be able to play around with the songs a little bit.”
Nathan Countryman Mount
Nathan Countryman Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Mount Vernon-Lisbon
Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Meara Kim (violinist), Christine Bellomy (guest artist and clarinetist) and Carey Bostian (cello) perform at Lisbon Heritage Hall Saturday, Sept. 28.
Contributed photo
Gary L. Heiserman, 81, of rural Lisbon, graduated to eternal life Oct. 2, 2024, following a long battle with respiratory disease. Visitation is from 5-7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 7, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services in Mount Vernon. Funeral Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Uncommon Church in Lisbon. Interment with military honors will be held at Lisbon Cemetery. Gary was born March 11, 1943, in Manchester, to Frederick and LeLoie Heiserman. He was raised in rural Lamont, first by his sisters and aunt (after his mother passed away) and then by Cleo who married his father in 1946. He attended and graduated from Lamont Schools in 1961 remaining lifelong friends with those he had spent those years with. Shortly after graduation, Gary enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served as a crew chief of a Sikorsky CH-37 Mohave helicopter from 1961-1965. In 1964, Gary and former high school classmate, Marjory (Marge) DeLong were married at the Mount Vernon parsonage. Marge would precede him in death in 1989. Gary and Marge made their first home at Camp Lejeune, N.C., until they left the service in December 1965. They would then move to Kansas City, Mo., where Gary worked for his uncle at McConnell Asphalt Company before moving back to Iowa in 1967 at which time he started working at Iowa Manufacturing Company (later Ceda Rapids, Inc. and then Terex) in Cedar Rapids; he would retire from there 40 years later. Gary and Marge moved to the “Clear Creek Ranch” south of Lisbon in the summer of 1972 where Gary enjoyed raising draft horses, hogs, cattle, sheep, and in his later years, chickens earning him the title of “The Chicken Rancher.” Gary married Shirley Pospisil Campbell at The First Federated Church in Lisbon in 1990. During retirement, Gary and Shirley enjoyed traveling to visit family, playing cards at “the center,” and living the “farm life” until Gary’s health slowed them down. He then enjoyed visits from folks stopping to buy eggs, visits from family and friends, and keeping track of EVERYBODY on Facebook. His daily Facebook updates from the Chicken Ranch earned him followers far and wide and if he missed a day, it was a tip-off that something was amiss.
Gary was a lifetime member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. He was a member of The First Federated Church, singing in the choir, narrating the annual Christmas cantata as well as serving on the board of directors for many years until its closing. Gary was a member of the Uncommon Church, in Lisbon. He was also proud to be a veteran and a member of American Legion Post 109, serving as the Chaplain until his health would not allow him to do so any longer. He especially enjoyed calling BINGO annually during Sauerkraut Days at the Legion stand.
Left to treasure his memory are his wife, children, Cary (Lisa) Heiserman, and Sara Heiserman; step-children, Stan (Julie) Campbell, Karen (Darren) Hurt, Lance Campbell, Jim (DeAnna) Campbell, and Carson (Francis Schatz) Campbell; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild, sisters-in-law Nadine Heiserman and Pat Delong, numerous nieces and nephews, the extended Heiserman, DeLong, Pospisil, Campbell families, as well as his very good friends. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Marjory; siblings, Juanita, Eva Margaret, Dean, and Mary June; as well as son-in-law, Rick Clemons. Those unable to attend are invited to watch the service via livestream. Please find the livestream link on Gary’s tribute wall and share your support and memories with his family at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.
Spots
Living history walking tour with Bob Campagna
The History Center of Cedar Rapids will be hosting a living history walking tour of downtown Mount Vernon Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. Attendees are asked to meet at Abbe Creek Gallery, 105 First St. N.W., Mount Vernon. Use your camera (or cell phone) to explore, photograph what you see, and make a personalized living history poster collage of your walking journey. A 13x19” with a choice of poster templates will be made available for you to “fill in the blanks” with your images.
Professional photographer Bob Campagna will guide you in this creative endeavor. This program helps you learn with purpose, both as a historian and as an artist. You will learn camera functions as well as visual qualities to engage in this fun and informative activity.
Walking Tours are sponsored by Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust.
Tickets are $5 for History Center members and $7 for the general public.
Entreprenueza event
Join us for Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Devel opment Group’s Entrepreneuza event: “Social Media for Local Businesses.”
The event will take place Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 5:307:30 p.m. at the Plantiful Pantry.
Please RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/.../ 1FAIpQLSe9QcPmL39.../viewform...
Here is the itinerary for the evening:
5:30-6 p.m. Networking (light meal included!)
6-7 p.m. Meet the new CDG Executive Director, Jessie Thurn
Social Media Manager, Anna will present on:
Data from Visit MV-L socials, best practices, and howtos for small business social media
7 p.m. Social media Q & A with Anna.
An Iowan’s Medical humanitarian trips to the Ukraine
The Social Justice committee of Saint John’s the Bap Catholic Church will be hosting Charlie Becker, the CEO of Camp Courageous, to speak about his trips to Ukraine and share his perspectives on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 1 p.m. The event will be held at the lower level of the church and refreshments are provided.
Contact the parish office with any questions at 319895-6246.
POLICE CALLS
Sept. 30 – Animal control, 100 blk Second Ave NW, Mount Vernon
Oct. 1 – Disturbance, 100 blk Fourth Ave SW, Mount Vernon
Oct. 1 – Car unlock, 700 blk Palisades Rd SW, Mount Vernon
Oct. 1 – Accident, 100 blk First St, Mount Vernon
Oct. 1 – Medical, 200 blk Penn St, Lisbon
Oct. 2 – Agency assist- accident, Linn Co
Oct. 2 – Medical, 700 blk First Ave SW, Mount Vernon
Oct. 2 – Accident, 1200 blk First St NW, Mount Vernon
Oct. 2 – Suspicious vehicle, S. Jackston St, Lisbon
Oct. 3 – No contact order, 100 blk W. Main St, Lisbon
Oct. 3 – Accident, 100 blk First St, Mount Vernon
Oct. 3 – Accident, 600 blk First St SW, Mount Vernon
Oct. 3 – Medical, 100 blk Lincoln Dr, Mount Vernon
Oct. 3 – Alarm, 100 blk W. Main St, Lisbon
Cole Corner
Cathy Boggs Cole Library
Your next mystery books are at Cole
Some mystery writers have written successful series. If you enjoy their books it can be hard to wait for the next installment. This fall several mystery writers have new books out and we have purchased them for Cole Public Library. If you enjoy these writers the wait is over. New titles are:
• What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust, Alan Bradley
– This is the 11th in the Flavia de Luce novels
• A Murder Most French: An American Murder in Paris, Colleen Cambridge – This is the sequel to Mastering the Tami Hoag – This is the third in the BrousBrad Thor – This is number 33 in the Donna Leon – Commissario Guido Karin Slaughter – This is book 12 Richard Osman – a new series by
If I haven’t listed your favorite mystery writer, don’t worry there will be more to come. Louise Penny’s next title will be released Oct. 29 and expect C. J. Box’s next book at
Oct. 4 – Agency assist – accident, Linn Co
Oct. 4 – Accident, N. College Blvd, Mount Vernon
Oct. 4 – Animal control, 800 blk 10th Ave SW, Mount Vernon
Oct. 4 – Car unlock, 100 blk W First St, Mount Vernon
Oct. 5 – Medical, 200 blk N. Walnut St, Lisbon
Gary Heiserman
Lions shred Wapello 49-0
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
For Lisbon football, the final three games of the 2024 season are all about TCB.
Taking Care of Business.
The Lions accomplished that on Friday, Oct. 4, at Wapello, winning 49-0.
From the opening kickoff – when Wapello mishandled fielding the ball and Quinn
Coleman covered the ball at the 3-yard line, it was all Lions. Tiernan Boots scored on the first Lisbon offensive play, and it was off to the races.
Lisbon would go ahead 28-0 after one quarter and led 42-0 at half. Boots scored two more TDs before half to give him three, and
Dakota Clark had three for himself.
Boots finished with 128 rushing yards on nine carries. Grayson Wollum had three catches for 50 yards.
“We just spread the ball out … kudos to the offensive line,” Lisbon Coach Dylan Hastings said. “We did what we wanted to do.
“We learned from the Highland game. Going on the road is never easy. I’m proud of the way the boys
came out and got it going right away.”
The continuous clock made short work of the second half, but the reserves did add a touchdown – a Ryder Meeks 24-yard TD run -- and preserved the shutout.
“That’s good for our program to give the younger guys some reps,” Hastings said. “They have high expectations to live up to.”
In addition to the shutout, the defense had 10 tackles for loss – two each for Meeks and Riley Stone. Wapello was limited to just 66 total offensive yards.
Lisbon (6-0, 5-0 Class A District), which clinched a playoff spot with the win, hosts Danville (4-2, 4-1) for Homecoming this week at Walmer Field.
The Bears may end up being a playoff team, but they also lost to Pekin, 54-10, in Week 3. (Reminder: Lisbon beat Pekin 28-15.)
“Last year was their first year of having a football team in quite a few years,” Hastings said. “They’ve got athletes and do some good things.
MVLXC girls’, boys’ top field at Williamsburg
Evelyn Moeller sets new PR, Olberding new course record
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
There are breakout performances, and then there is what Mount Vernon-Lisbon sophomore Evelyn Moeller did Tuesday, Oct. 1 at the Williamsburg Invitational.
Moeller broke her personal best time by nearly a full minute and won her first varsity race.
“She was feeling great that night and ran confidently,” MVL Coach Kory Swart said. “She went for it.”
It was a cool night and Tipton phenom Noelle Steines didn’t run that night for the Tigers.
“She is putting everything together,” Swart said. “It was so fun to watch. I’m so proud of her.”
She finished in 18 minutes, 49.86 seconds. And it helped the Mustangs score the team title as well. They edged Solon, 67 to 71, just eight days after the Spartans had defeated them at the Solon Invite.
“We had a few other girls run considerably better, too,” Swart said. “Rose (Pisarik) ran 20-flat (20:00.83), her best of the year. She was our three. Edith set a PR. Miranda Sellner was our fifth scorer.”
Plus, Kiersten Swart finished third in 19:19.50, helping MVL top the 17-team field.
“Now we just need to build off that,” Swart said. “Make another jump. We should have a ton of confi-
dence for the big meets at the end of the season.”
MVL also won the boys’ title, with the Mustangs topping second-place ADM 58 to 83 at the 19-team invitational.
Grady Olberding set a course record, taking gold in a time of 15 minutes, 52.10 seconds.
“He did a good job of leading the way,” Swart said. Swart also pointed to the fifth scoring runner, sophomore Anthony Armstrong, who placed 25th in 17:30.18.
“That was his best race of the season,” Swart said. “He stepped up his game and really helped us from the team score standpoint.”
The Mustangs then competed in the Wartburg Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 5. It was a massive field of teams, split into two divisions.
The MVL boys’ finished 15th and the girls’ finished fourth. Kiersten Swart finished ninth to pace the girls’ and Olberding was 14th and Dawson Scheil was 15th on the boys’ side.
“For us to finish fourth on the girls’ side … that says something,” Swart said. “And we set a few more PRs. Cora Smith. Sam Schoff.”
The Mustangs ran Tuesday, Oct. 8, at the West Delaware Invitational. Next up is the WaMaC Invitational on Thursday, Oct. 17, at Antioch Christian Church in Marion. MVL is still waiting to find out their state-qualifier destination for Oct. 24.
the season.
Left: Lisbon’s Dakota Clark (No.1) runs a quarterback keeper into the endzone earlier in the season.
“We’ve just got to keep focusing on one week at a time. Especially a busy week like this. Homecoming. I think we’ll have a good week.”
WILLIAMSBURG INVITATIONAL
Boys team scores – 1. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 58; 2. ADM 83; 3. Bondurant-Farrar 111; 4. Carlisle 157; 5. Tipton 163; 6. Danville 191; 7. Pella 214; 8. Williamsburg 220; 9. Pella Christian 221; 10. LynnvilleSully 246; 11. Vinton-Shellsburg 254; 12. Solon 261; 13. West Delaware 319; 14. Cliton 389; 15. Belle Plaine 465; 16. Waterloo East 490; 17. HLV 490; 18. Iowa Valley 510; 19. North Mahaska 516. Medalist – 1. Grady Olberding (MVL) 15:52.10. MVL – 1. Olberding; 5. Dawson Scheil 16:11.19; 12. Seamus O’Connor 16:58.75; 22. Chasen Caskey 17:26.13; 25. Anthony Armstrong 17:30.18. Also: 44. Zane Van Regenmorter 17:55.40; 49. Graham Vavricek 17:58.44.
Girls team scores – 1. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 67; 2. Solon 71; 3. Williamsburg 139; 4. ADM 152; 5. Pella 185; 6. English Valleys 189; 7. Tipton 212; 8. Clinton 212; 9. Pella Christian 213; 10. Lynnville-Sully 245; 11. Danville 301; 12. Bondurant-Farrar 327; 13. Vinton-Shellsubrg 343; 14. West Delaware 345; 15. North Mahaska 376; 16. EddyvilleBlakesburg-Fremont 409; 17. Carlisle 418.
Medalist – 1. Evelyn Moeller (MVL) 18:49.86. MVL – 1. Moeller; 3. Kiersten Swart 19:19.50; 16. Rose Pisarik 20:00.83; 19. Edith Dawson 20:24.36; 28. Miranda Sellner 20:47.30. Also: 31. Sam Schoff 20:51.02; 42. Emrie Johnson 21:16.67.
Wartburg Invitational
Girls varsity gray team scores – 1. Pleasant Valley 30; 2. West Des Moines Valley 86; 3. Cedar Falls 127; 4. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 143; 5. Davenport Central 173; 6. Mid-Prairie 182; 7. Solon 184; 8. Linn-Mar 191; 9. Iowa City Liberty 241; 10. Gilbert 256; 11. Williamsburg 306; 12. Bettendorf 315; 13. Mason City 345; 14. Norwalk 367; 15. Denver 387; 16. Onalaska 499. Medalist – 1. Charlee Gall (CF) 18:11.2 MVL – 9. Kiersten Swart 19:19.7; 16. Evelyn Moeller 19:36.6; 42. Rose Pisarik 20:36.5; 44. Edith Dawson 20:42.3; 47. Sam Schoff 20:50.7; 53. Cora Smith 20:56.2; 57. Miranda Sellner 21:02.6. Also: 70. Josie Bothell 21:23.2; 79. Sorell Telecky 21:45.1; 80. Emrie Johnson 21:45.6. Boys varsity gray team scores – 1. Gilbert 74; 2. Bettendorf 148; 3. Johnston 159; 4. Norwalk 176; 5. Dubuque Senior 181; 6. Indianola 236; 7. Marshalltown 246; 8. Iowa City Liberty 251; 9. Linn-Mar 252; 10. West Des Moines Valley 270; 11. Urbandale 286; 12. Mankato West 286; 13. Mid-Prairie 294; 14. Denver 319; 15. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 330; 16. Iowa City West 361; 17. Onalaska 418; 18. Waverly-Shell Rock 508; 19. Williamsburg 520; 20. Mason City 541; 21. Solon 560. Medalist – 1. Manny Putz (Onalaska) 14:51.6. MVL – 14. Grady Olberding 16:04.0; 15. Dawson Scheil 16:05.1; 105. Seamus O’Connor 17:50.8; 116. Anthony Armstrong 18:05.4; 123. Wesley Sadler 18:14.5; 133. Chasen Caskey 18:28.6; 143. Graham Vavricek 18:47.5. Also: 144. Kyler Happel 18:49.2; 162. Cayden Scheil 19:48.8; 168. Brody Speidel 20:14.6.
Jennifer Tischer | Contributed photos
Above: Lisbon’s Ethan Hoekstra (No. 77) tries to catch a live ball in play earlier in
Mustangs crush Knights 46-14
with Michael Ryan on a 28-yard scoring strike.
Not one finger even got close to the panic button Friday, Oct. 4, when Mount Vernon beat Assumption 46-14 at Jack and Pat Bush Stadium in Davenport.
The Mustangs trailed 14-3 early.
“I absolutely felt like we could come back,” sophomore linebacker Jaxson Anderson said. “I felt like we were a better team than they were. It was just two bad plays that went south.”
“This group just doesn’t give up,” Mount Vernon coach Brad Meester said. “We’ve got to overcome the highs and lows and just keep working.
“That was a big low. We were down. Our backs were against the wall, and momentum was not on our side, and we were on the road. Literally, within 2-3 minutes it changed. That’s what this team is about. We just keep finding ways to win. They just don’t give up.”
After Bennett Harp connected on a 47-yard field goal to open the scoring, Assumption (1-5) struck with two big plays.
First, Assumption running back Ben Yeggy went untouched on a 53-yard sprint to the end zone.
Mount Vernon responded with a 6-play, 79-yard drive. But on the seventh play of the drive, Jase Jaspers lost the football and Yeggy picked it up and took it 94 yards the other direction.
Assumption led, 14-3, with 5:21 left in the first half.
“We were behind, but we were composed,” Jaspers said. “Our coach always talks about grit and adversity. We just came together. We can be down, but we’re going to keep fighting.”
Mount Vernon led at half, 25-14, so yeah, they responded.
First, the Mustangs put together a 9-play, 80-yard drive, capped with a 12-yard TD run by Jaspers.
Then on the Knights’ next possession, Tyler Williams pounced on a fumble. Two plays later, Kellen Haverback connected
Next, Anderson got his hands on a wobbly pass from Assumption QB Braylon Thomsen and returned it 12 yards for a pick-6 TD.
“I’ve got to credit the guy that hit the quarterback,” Anderson said. “It wobbled just enough that I could get under it.
“I was super surprised that it came to me. I just looked up and it was there. I grabbed it and took off with it.”
Anderson said it was the first time he’s been in the end zone in a varsity game.
“That made me happy; I can’t say it didn’t,” he said.
“Jaxon is having a tremendous year for us,” Meester said. “And that was a huge pivotal point for us. We were getting momentum back, but that was the nail.”
Mount Vernon was up two scores, and got the ball to start the second half.
Assumption only gained 29 offensive yards in the third quarter.
The Mustangs put the game out of reach with a pair of fourth-quarter scoring strikes from Haverback to Watson Krob – one for 68 yards, the other for 23 yards.
The Knights tacked on 58 yards of offense on their final drive.
“Our defense did good the whole night besides the one play,” Jaspers said. “We had to fix a few things here and there.”
“I think we started to figure out what they were doing and got to the right adjustments,” Anderson said.
Haverback finished with 265 yards on 16-of-24 passing. Jaspers had eight catches for 112 yards. Cooper Hird led the rushing effort with 72 yards on 18 carries.
“Early on, they had some nice answers right out of the gate and took away some of the stuff we wanted to do,” Meester said. “We had to scramble a little bit.
“Once we figured out what we needed to do, the line started clicking, and good things happened.”
Mount Vernon (5-1, 2-0) returns home this week to take on Fort Madison (0-6) at Martha Parsons Activities Complex.
“Our biggest opponent right now is ourselves,” Meester said. “We’ve just got to keep focusing on what we do.”
Left: Mount Vernon’s Aaron Bellamy (No. 70) and Jase Jaspers (No. 9) celebrate Jasper’s touchdown.
MOUNT VERNON 46, DAVENPORT ASSUMPTION 14
TEAM STATS MV DA INDIVIDUAL STATS
2-1 2-1 Punts-ave. 3-40.6 5-33.8
Rushing – MV: Cooper Hird 18-72, Jase Jaspers 8-32, Kellen Haverback 6-25, Cole Thurn 1-12. DA: Ben Yeggy 17-56, Tommy Bedford 8-33, Jonathan Dang 4-32, Graham Woods 2-15, Braylon Thomsen 2-(-17).
Passing – MV: Kellen Haverback 16-24-265-0. DA: Braylon Thomsen 7-16-58-1.
Receiving – MV: Jase Jaspers 8-112, Watson Krob 2-91, Cooper Hird 3-11, Michael Ryan 2-44, Cole Thurn 1-9. DA: Brady Curoe 4-24, Synceare Simms 2-30, Brody Robertson 1-4. First downs 23 10 Rushes-yds. 33-141 33-119 Cmp.-Att.-Int. 16-24-0 7-16-1 Pass yds. 265 58 Total yds. 406 177
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
Lucy Wischmeyer | Mustang Moon
Top: Mount Vernon’s Watson Krob (No. 1) pulls down a catch amidst defense at Davenport Assumption.
Above: Mount Vernon’s Bennet Harp (No. 11) punts the ball in play against Davenport Assumption
MV spikers pick up five wins
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
Top-ranked Mount Vernon volleyball picked up five more wins last week as the calendar turned to October.
The Mustangs stayed undefeated in the WaMaC with a 25-10, 25-13, 25-9 sweep at Independence on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Mount Vernon attacked at a .429 efficiency and Indee countered at .035. Which is a dominating difference.
Chloe Meester led the attack with 17 kills, followed by Sydney Maue with 9 kills, Paige Schurbon with 7 and Sophia Meester with 5. Sydney Huber had 37 assists and Eryn Jackson led the defense with 11 digs.
The Mustangs then went to the Bobcat Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Western Dubuque. They defeated Dubuque Senior (21-15, 21-16), Tipton (21-5, 21-12), Cascade (21-8, 21-15) and Western Dubuque (25-21, 25-13).
It was a rare week with no ranked opponents for Mount Vernon (31-3)
“At the end of the day, I try to create a schedule that provides challenge and
diversity in opponents,” Mount Vernon coach Maggie Willems said. “So that come postseason, we really will have seen it all.”
The Bobcats did push the Mustangs a bit in the championship Saturday, but some of that was self-inflicted.
“In set one, we had 16 errors,” Willem said. “Thankfully we cleaned things up and were much more efficient in set two.”
Western Dubuque (12-12) isn’t ranked … but maybe should be in Class 4A.
“They are young and athletic and have some nice pieces,” Willems said. “They should go deep in the 4A postseason bracket.”
The schedule is winding down. The Mustangs hosted No. 8 (4A) Marion on Tuesday, Oct. 8, and travel to the Westside Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 12, at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. After that, all that is left is the WaMaC Championships and then regional and state tournaments. The brackets have yet to be announced.
“Our training does not really change much,” Willems said. “We’re at the point in the season where we have very targeted training -- working on moving forward just a bit more, whether it is skill-based or rotation-based for us.”
LISBON VOLLEYBALL
Lisbon VB smashes past PoP
Ryan Suchomel
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com
There was a whole lot going on Thursday, Oct. 3, when Lisbon volleyball hosted Prince of Peace.
Senior night, Pink out (for breast cancer), youth camper night, and the pep band even showed up.
“That was something we hadn’t done before,” Lisbon coach Lance Kamaus said. “The kids couldn’t hear me during time outs … because we have a really good pep band.”
And, there was some volleyball, too. Lisbon won 25-14, 25-11, 25-13.
“I think all that extra stuff gave us a lot of adrenaline and energy,” senior setter Kaitlynn Hasselbusch said. “We try to play every game as seriously as possible, no matter who the team is.”
Hasselbusch recorded the 1,500th assist of her career on her final assist of the night. Before the match, junior Mykala LuzumSelmon was honored for her 500th kill and 100th ace serve.
Lisbon got off to a 9-0 lead in the first set behind three ace serves from Hasselbusch and some elite net play by senior middle blocker Sarah Dietsch. The match wasn’t a total
rout. Kamaus did call one time out to straighten out his team.
“Kamaus always pushes us to be the best we can be,” Hasselbusch said. “That’s what you should expect.”
The Lions got out to a 9-2 lead in the second set, and a 13-2 lead in the third set. Prince of Peace (1-16) has some talented hitters, but struggles to get them in position to attack.
Hasselbusch had 23 assists and Luzum-Selmon led with 10 kills. Dietsch added eight kills and Kamryn Kahl had six.
Lisbon finished the match with 22 aces, led by Presley Studt with six. Studt, a senior, has been sharing the libero role with freshman Kyla Kahl. The two had to do a quick-change between sets. Typically, because the libero wears a different colored uniform, teams stick with one libero for a full match.
“We’re going to have to make that decision sooner or later,” Kamaus said. “They each bring something to the table.”
It was a special match for Studt in several ways. She transferred to Lisbon last season after missing her junior season at North Cedar following knee surgery.
She also has an aunt who survived breast cancer
and was proud to wear the unique pink uniform.
“This game is really important to me because of my aunt,” Studt said.
Two days earlier, Lisbon won at Bellevue Marquette, 25-11, 25-14, 25-11.
It was a triumph for Kamaus because of how the Lions handled the other team’s serving. The Lions were
positively rotten – “worst in recent memory” Kamaus said -- at serve receiving in a loss to Mid-Prairie back on Sept. 28. So last week Lisbon went through “passing boot camp,” Kamaus said. Against Marquette, the Lions were 33 of 34 in serve receiving. That means only once were they unable to set up an attack.
Offensively Lisbon hit .301 as a team. LuzumSelmon had 15 kills, Kamryn Kahl had 10 and Dietsch eight. They also had 14 aces a team, with four each for Hasselbusch and Luzum-Selmon.
The Lions (22-7) finished a busy week with four wins Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Northeast Invitational in
Goose Lake. Lisbon beat Bellevue Marquette (21-13, 21-14), Maquoketa (21-15, 18-21, 15-9), Calamus-Wheatland (21-19, 21-17) and Northeast (21-17, 21-16). The Lions wrap up Tri-Rivers play with trip to North Cedar on Tuesday, Oct. 8, and to Easton Valley on Thursday, Oct. 10.
Sydney Goldberg | For the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Lisbon players including Keira Bergman (No. 12) Mykayla Luzum Selmon (No. 8), Kamryn Kahl (No. 4) celebrate a point against Prince of Peace.
Kendal Hoeppner | Mustang Moon
Mount Vernon’s Eryn Jackson (No. 5) prepares to serve earlier in the season.
How HACAP deters food insecurity
Nathan Countryman
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com
Kim Guardado of the nonprofit Hawkeye Area Community Action Plan, or HACAP, presented at the Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center Thursday, Oct. 3, as part of the adult speaker series. More than 30 members of the community were in attendance.
The four pillars of the HACAP Food Reservoir strive to meet are to feed, nourish, empower and unite.
Guardado has lived in Mount Vernon for more than 27 years. She became director of the Food Reservoir in 2018.
“I just got my feet wet in what we were doing there to distribute food before the pandemic hit, and we had to shift what we were doing,” Guardado said.
Guardado said the need has drastically increased for HACAP Food Reservoir and their services since the pandemic.
One of the areas they are working on is finding ways to make access to food more equitable, by focusing on the types of foods that are offered that people would use in their diets.
Guardado said when discussing food insecurity, they are always using the term “neighbors impacted” instead of “individuals” or “person” to keep the focus on the fact that the person who needs help could be someone in the same community as you and keep the dignity for those who need to utilize the resource.
HACAP works with multiple partner agencies in the area, more than 300 in the seven-county area they serve.
The majority of the food they receive comes from direct donations, with 60 percent of all food received being donated. Some of that comes from partners like large grocers of Target, Wal-Mart, Hy-Vee and even Quaker Mills.
HACAP has a 19,000 square foot warehouse in Hiawatha which is able to store 1.2 million pounds of food.
A total of 25 percent comes from the USDA, which amounts to a lot of the staple food items.
“The USDA has done a lot to make sure what we’re receiving from them is more nutritious in value,” Guardado said. “We get a lot more fresh produce, whole meat and even canned goods with reduced sodium.”
The remaining 15 to 20 percent of food for the reservoir comes from direct purchases. Guardado said that mount has increased in recent years due to the increased use of the facility.
A quarter of HACAPs mobile food pantries are set up in Jones County, as a portion of that county operates in a food desert with no direct access to food in their community without the pantries.
Other mobile pantries rotate through the seven-county
radius, with different days of the week they may be set up in these towns.
One of the commitments they strive to meet is not to purchase more than 20 percent of foods people should eat sparingly.
“Palm oil is one of those foods that is a ‘use sparingly’ produce that is used in a lot of cooking for some of our international clientele they can’t always find locally,” Guardado said.
For the nourish goal post, Guardado said the goal is to help make the healthy choice easier for people they serve. That’s come through with partnerships with the Department of Health and Human Services and local clinics and hospitals to screen for people who need access to food.
Empowering is working with other individuals to spread the word about the need for hunger in the community.
“There’s a good chance that even if we have all the food we think we’re going to need, we’re never going to be able to solve the problem of hunger,” Guardado said. “Feeding people is important, as is access to healthy food, but there are things we need to tackle through policy changes.”
Guardado said they work with partner agencies to get food to as many people as possible, and they can’t let “perfection get in the way of progress.”
One of the areas the organization will be working on in the future is the Wellington Heights neighborhood in Cedar Rapids, which just lost a Hy-Vee grocery store.
“We’re working to make sure whatever we implement at Wellington Heights meets the needs of the people who live there,” Guardado said.
She said the unite pillar works to make sure people see neighbors who are hungry as something people can not ignore.
During the past legislative session, the organization received an additional $350,000 to help with the Choose Iowa program. That was from a $5 million request, but that will still help people in the state.
During audience comments and questions, one attendee pointed out that up to a third of Mount Vernon and Lisbon may be dealing with food insecurity, and many of them work at some of the larger donors for food to the food reservoir. The same commenter also noted that in some ways those who provide assistance to those suffering food insecurity become an industry themselves.
Guardado said she agreed with the first point, but on the second that no matter what is done to tackle food insecurity, there will need to be people working to keep the equitable distribution.
“I’d love to work myself out of my own job, because that means we’ve tackled a lot of grounds to make hunger a thing of the past,” Guardado said.
HACAP is also one of the only food reservoirs that has a designated social worker.
Donations benefit Lisbon Dollars for Scholars program
Honorary members of School Foundation also honored
At halftime of the September 13 Lisbon - Columbus Junction football game, the Lisbon Community School District Foundation Dollars for Scholars had presentations for receiving a donation from the Howard and Phyllis Ciha Trust and presented five Honorary Foundation Membership plaques.
Presenting the Foundation with a $154,805.67 Ciha Trust check was Gary Ciha. Howard and Phyllis were life-long farmers south of Lisbon. Howard was a 1944
graduate of Lisbon High School, and an honorary foundation board member. Their donation will help fund future Foundation scholarships for graduating Lisbon senior students.
Five retired Foundation board members were presented plaques. These five members volunteered thousands of hours together and were key in the success for establishing and awarding 911 scholarships totaling $518,645 to graduating Lisbon Seniors since 1986, when the first scholarships were presented. They joined a
current group of nine honorary board members that include: Marion Louise Pike, Howard Ciha, Pete Greiner, Ann Opatz, Linda Noll, Julann Clark, Tammy Bohr, Connie Hasek and Jim Jensen.
The Foundation gave a special recognition to Mike Jones and his family, and all their friends and loved ones that gave to the Val Jones Memorial – Val’s memorial donation to the Foundation will help fund over $3,200 for future Foundation scholarships.
Current LCSDF DFS Board Members are Sean Miller, Ed Dougherty, Tracy Bergmann, Sarah Clough, Andrea Hasselbusch, Melissa Kahl, Joe Kilburg,
In Linn County, 10 percent of the population is food insecure, including 15 percent of the child population. The average person pays $342 for meals per month, while the average SNAP benefit is $127 per individual, leaving a $215 deficit.
Another questioner asked if they grow large amounts of produce like peppers, what is the best option to get those to people — providing to the local food pantry at Southeast Linn Community Center or to the HACAP food reservoir. Guardado said checking with the local food pantry first is advised, and if they have too many then check with HACAP.
“There are times when SELCC is asking people to take produce off their hands, that is meant for everyone who sees it,” Guardado said. “They want the produce to go to people, not just rot.
Guardado also said that resources like dietitians help by teaching people how to use certain items in recipes or their cooking.
Christina Meierotto (New 2024 Members: Niki Davis, Payton Donohoe, Todd Nelson & Phil Whitman.
The Lisbon Foundation (lcsdfoundation@ lisbon.k12.ia.us) works with families, businesses, community and school organizations to help establish and fund scholarships. Donations can be made On-Line: Lisbon School Website https://www.lisbon.k12.ia.us/ or on the LCSD FOUNDATION WEBSITE = https://lisboniowa.dollarsforscholars.org/
Contributed photos
Ciha check distribution(from left) Payton Donohoe, Andrea Hasselbusch, Tracy Bergmann, Sean Miller, Gary Ciha and Mike Jones were present for the Ciha check presentation at Lisbon Schools.
Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun
Kim Guardado of HACAP’s food reservoir discusses the work of the agency throughout their nine county region and the work to fight food insecurity at the Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center Thursday, Oct. 3.
Plaques – (from left) Mike Jones, Marc Whitman, Trish Smith, Craig Smith and Bob Brus were recognized as Lisbon School Foundation Honorary members with plaques at the halftime game.
CLASSIFIEDS
Moving Sale
425 4th St NW, Mt. Vernon. Fri. 10/11 9AM-5PM & Sat. 10/12 9AM-4PM. Outdoor tools, patio table & chairs, lots of craft & sewing supplies, some furniture.
Sporting Goods
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Celebration commemorates final paving of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail
Ribbon cutting event marks 40 years since initial trail dedication.
Black Hawk and Linn County Conservation hosted a ribbon cutting today to celebrate the paving completion of the original 52-mile Cedar Valley Nature Trail. This recreation corridor was initially developed from an abandoned rail line between Hiawatha and Evansdale decades ago. Today’s commemoration also marked 40 years since the initial trail dedication, further underscoring the value of community recreational trails. The event was attended by many of those who have played a role in its development, including
trail advocates, community supporters, state and local officials.
“When we embarked on this journey to create this trail system, our vision was clear: to provide a space where people of all ages and abilities could engage in healthy activities, come together to enjoy the beauty of nature, and forge connections with one another,” said Dennis Goemaat Linn County Conservation Director. “Today, that vision becomes a reality.” added Goemaat.
Abandonment of the WCF&N railroad line in 1976 prompted trail enthu-
siasts to explore a “rails to trails” program, converting the former rail corridor into a multi county trail. Along with a coalition of trail supporters known as Iowa Rails to Trails and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, 52 miles of public right of way along Black Hawk, Benton, Buchanan and Linn Counties was purchased in 1980, with management by the Linn and Black Hawk County Conservation Boards. After more than 30,000 hours of volunteer labor, the dirt trail was officially dedicated in 1984 by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad.
“The Cedar Valley Nature Trail represents the spirit of our communities coming together to enhance our quality of life,” said Mike Hendrickson, Black Hawk County Conservation Director.
“It is a testament to what we can achieve when we
work united by a common goal. Finishing the hard surfacing of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail represents the achievement of years of effort and commitment, opening a new chapter in showcasing the significance and benefits of recreational trails within our communities.” Hard surfacing the Cedar Valley Nature trail began in the early 2000’s as a result of growing interest and more funding opportunities. The final 16 miles were completed in September
Contributed photo
Debi Durham (center), Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority cuts ribbon to mark completion of Cedar Valley Nature Trail paving. She is flanked by Black Hawk County & Linn County Conservation teams and trail supporters.
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
Sun.: 8:30 a.m. Praise Worship
11 a.m. Traditional worship
Both worships available online at UMCMV.com
An LGBTQ affirming congregation
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
Pastor Carla Burge Sun: 9 a.m. in-person worship, masks requested 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
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Thursday, Oct. 10
MVL Community Development Group’s Community leader’s breakfast, Cornell College Thomas Commons, 7:30 a.m.
Story Time, Cornell Public Library Byerly Room, 9:30 a.m.
Fiber Friends, Southeast Linn Community Center, 10:30 a.m.
LBC Open house, Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
LBC Adult Speaker Series “SHIIP Unity Point Welcome to Medicare” by Valerie Boddicker, Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center, 1 p.m.
Masculinity in the 2024 election, Cornell College Zamora’s Market, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 11
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.
Saturday, Oct. 12
Question and Answers with Catholic Archbishop Thomas Zinkula, Cornell College Thomas Commons orange Carpet, 2 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 13
Cornell College Spirit Squad Kid’s Clinic show, 12:30 p.m., Cornell College SAW gymnasium.
Cornell Jazz Band and pop/contemporary ensemble fall concert, Cornell College Thomas Commons Smith Dining Room, 7 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 14
Matinee movies for adults presents “The Birds,” Cornell College Cole Library Room 108, 1 p.m.
200 E. Market St., 455-2000 livinghopegmc.org
Interim Pastors
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 Jack Ray 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
Lisbon City Council, Lisbon City Hall, 7 p.m.
Master Gardener Talks “Spectacular Spring Bulbs” by Angel Burns at Cole Library, Cornell College Cole Library Room 108, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 15
Tuesday Morning Book Club, Cornell College Room 108, 9:30 a.m.
Lego Club, Cornell college Room 108, 3:30 p.m.
Yarn squad, Cornell College Cole Library Room 326, 6:30 p.m.
Hwy. 1 Marching Band Classic, Martha Parsons Activity Complex, 7 p.m.
Learn to play Bridge, Cornell College Cole Library room 108, 7-9 p.m.
Community of Readers book group, Cornell College Cole Library Room 310, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 16
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, 1-3 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 17
Story Time, Cornell Public Library Byerly Room, 9:30 a.m.
Fiber Friends, Southeast Linn Community Center, 10:30 a.m.
Fall Community Book Talk, Cornell College Cole Library, noon
LBC Adult Speaker Series “Death Doulas: Their Role in End of Life Planning and Processes“ by Mary McCall and Annie Brownsberger, Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center, 1 p.m.
Across
1 Visitor to Mecca
5 Choices for party organizers
11 Quick refresher
14 Lamar ___, ex of Khloé Kardashian
15 Top pilot
16 Rapper Lil ___ Vert
17 It will change the way you see yourself
19 Operate, as a program
20 Throw one’s hands up, say
21 Foreign policy grp.
22 Floral bubble tea flavoring
24 On the line
26 Spiral-horned antelope
28 Point of no return on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”
32 Garment that might have a built-in bra, for short
36 Work on Broadway, say
37 Investigator’s interest
38 Pain
40 AirPod holder
42 Boxes for crackers?
43 “A Hard Day’s Night” songwriter
45 U.K. military arm
47 Monthly expense
48 Warhead carriers
51 Microwave no-no
52 Cleaning product made in “Fight Club”
57 V fliers
59 Frosty
61 Symbol seen on eight national flags (though, ironically, not the U.S. flag)
62 Writer Rand
63 First- and third-quarter moons, e.g. … or a hint to this puzzle’s theme
66 Call that might precede “first service”
67 Bartender’s valve
68 Comic book figure
69 Major campaign expense
70 Penny pinchers
2 What Peter Pan refuses to become 3 Pop rock’s ___ Brothers 4 Duel cry
5 … rho, sigma, ___, upsilon …
6 Honorific for a Catholic cardinal
7 Makes mistakes
8 Painter Duchamp 9 Prefix with efficiency 10 Hot peppers 11 Caregiver for a pregnant woman 12 Blue, in Spanish 13 Like much cotton candy
18 “Frozen” snowman
23 General Motors subsidiary with emergency services
25 Its parent company is Hyundai
27 On the ___
29 Asteroids made a big impact on it in the 1980s
30 Flat
31 Conclude in court
32 H.S. course in which one might be graded on a curve?
33 Teen follower
34 Mount Rushmore and the Taj Mahal, e.g.
35 Some navels
39 Red-haired toon who is always seeing red
41 Light racing vehicle
44 Secretive org.
46 Tina of “30 Rock”
49 Covers in goo
50 Forward-looking sort
54 Lewd looker
55 On guard
56 Cancún coins
57 Ball
58 Stared at
71 London’s Royal Academy of ___ Down 1 Labor leader Jimmy
53 Comic actor ___ Baron Cohen
60 Include in a footnote
64 ___ Moskowitz, a.k.a. “Hawk” on Netflix’s “Cobra Kai”
65 Computer addresses: Abbr.
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.
2024, thanks in part to a Destination Iowa grant. This Federal grant award administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority is designed to bolster the quality of life in Iowa’s communities and attract visitors and new residents to the state.
“Recreational trails are a key driver of Iowa’s tourism, combining outdoor adventure with economic growth,” said Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority. “IEDA has supported trail development for decades. In the last five years alone, between Destination Iowa and CAT, the state has awarded more than $24 million to trail projects, representing more than $79 million in trail development. The Cedar Valley Nature Trail is a vital component to Iowa’s outdoor recreation opportunities.”
Black Hawk and Linn County Conservation Boards continue to promote the wide range of benefits provided by the trail system including improved physical health, expanded recreational opportunities, mental health advantages, and community connections. Collaborations, which include the Cedar Valley Trails Partnership in Black Hawk County and the Linn County Trails Association, continue to help advance trail advocacy goals and creating a more accessible and enjoyable outdoor experience, making a real difference in promoting trail development and preservation.
About the Cedar Valley Nature Trail:
• Black Hawk County Conservation owns 26 miles of the original trail in Black Hawk and Buchanan Counties from Evansdale to the Bear Creek Bridge at the Buchanan/ Benton County Line. Linn County Conservation owns the remaining 26 miles from the bridge through Benton County to Hiawatha in Linn County. The original Cedar Valley Nature Trail passes through Gilbertville, LaPorte City, Brandon, Urbana, Center Point, Lafayette, Robins, and Hiawatha.
• With continued development, the trail now extends south into Johnson County to Solon, passing through Cedar Rapids and Ely. The trail extends north through Evansdale, Waterloo and Cedar Falls, connecting to the Cedar Valley Lake Trail Network
• The Center Point Depot and Museum and La Porte City Station along the trail are listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places.
• The Cedar Valley Nature Trail is part of the nationwide Great American Rail-Trail and the American Discovery Trail.
