MVL Sun — 10.24.24

Lisbon approves purchase of new vehicle

Nathan Countryman

Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com

The City of Lisbon approved the purchase of a new vehicle for the city’s fleet and reduce employees having to use their own vehicles. Council member Rick Scott provided the dissenting opinion, citing the amount of money the city was spending.

City administrator Brandon Siggins said council member Kevin Steele had brought a deal to the attention of the city at Lynch Ford Chevrolet. The truck had a price of $41,263, which is a $10,000 savings from a new vehicle purchase.

The vehicle would come from $15,000 expenses from water, $15,000 from sewer and the remaining from cable/TV fees fund. It would be used to run water samples twice a week from the sewage treatment plant to the testing lab. When it is not in use for that, the vehicle would be used by the parks and recreation department or the public works department.

“I just don’t understand why we need to purchase a $41,000 new truck,” Scott said. “No one said we needed a new truck.”

Public works director Travis Bagby said that the city needs to have their employees stop driving their own vehicles on the job, and this will help with that issue.

Scott agreed that it is a huge liability for staff to drive their own vehicles, but he again had an issue with a brand new truck at this price point.

Council member John Bardsley said he remembers a time when the city bought a used vehicle when they would have been better off buying a new one and the costs that arose.

“This is a good deal for a new vehicle,” Bardsley said.

Lisbon approves changes to Downtown Reinvestment Grant application

The Lisbon city council approved changes to the Downtown Reinvestment grant application program.

City administrator Brandon Siggins said that many of the changes addressed issues the council was having, including the timeline for a project’s completion and giving the council an opportunity to ask questions about a project before money is rewarded.

“I hope we get applications for this every year still,” said mayor Doug O’Connor. “I just have a hard time with money being tied up by a project that we never see fruition when others could use it in the same time frame.”

Perfect chili weather

Cornell College women’s basketball team sweeps judges, popular choice

Nathan Countryman

Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com

Mount Vernon’s Chili Cook-off proved to be popular again this year, with steady crowds to the festival Saturday afternoon.

People’s choice and judge’s choice in traditional chili this year went to Cornell College Women’s Basketball team. The team had developed a cheer for whenever someone voted for their chili, and people heard the cheer a lot on Saturday afternoon. Second place in the traditional chili cook-off went to Adoped Townie.

Winner of the best theme award went to The Plantiful Pantry. Non-traditional chili second place went to The Meat Sweats. First place non-traditional chili went to The Chili Consortium.

“It’s been an outstanding year,” said Sue Margheim, chili cook-off committee president. “We’ve had great turnout for participants, terrific weather and great crowd.”

The trophies this year were homemade trophies that

all teams were competing for.

Cooks for the chili had opportunity to cook their recipe from 11 a.m. up until 4 p.m., when open taste testing was allowed.

Smoked was a key flavor in this year’s chili, and there were five different white chilis offered this year. By 6 p.m., the chili supply for many vendors was beginning to dwindle and as is usual, the bread for grilled cheese and grilled peanut butter sandwiches was dwindling.

Another hugely popular booth at this year’s cook-off was White Tree Bakery’s booth offering mini cinnamon rolls as a palate cleanser.

Above:

a

and judge’s choice in chili.

Mount

Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

Top: The Plantiful Pantry crew serves up a sampling of their chili Saturday, Oct. 19. The crew won for best theme at the event.

The Cornell Women’s Basketball team work on dishing up

sample of their chili Saturday, Oct. 19. The team won people’s

Lynch Ford Chevrolet presents check to Mount Vernon Booster Club

Darin Vig and John Walz from Lynch Ford Chevrolet presented a check in the amount of $5,380 on Friday, Oct. 11 to Matt Thede and Eric & LeAnn Briesemeister for the Mount Vernon Booster Club. This check represents the money raised during the Drive 4UR Schools

news@mvlsun.com

The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun strives for accuracy and fairness in reporting news. If we’ve made an error or a report is misleading, let us know about it: news@mvlsun.com

STAFF

Publisher Jason Brummond jason.brummond@dailyiowan.com

Editor Nathan Countryman nathan.countryman @mvlsun.com

Nathan Countryman Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com

Mount Vernon Lisbon Community Development Group’s latest entrepreniueza event featured tips on social media use from social media manager Anna Wilson. Wilson, the owner of The Local, has been Visit Mount Vernon-Lisbon’s social media manager for the past year. In that time frame, she said she has grown Facebook and Instagram feeds for CDG by more than 1,000 new followers. That increased follower count has increased the reach of

CDG up 82.7 percent on Facebook (146,809 vs. the original 80,366).

People have especially interacted with more of the Visit MVL postings, with 15,8000 total interactions.

The Facebook visits to the VisitMVL Facebook page have also grown 94.8 percent.

Wilson’s first piece of advice to many of the small businesses who are already using social media – if what you are doing is working for you, keep doing that.

“There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel,” Wilson said.

If it isn’t, however, she

CDG Entreprenueza event focuses on social media Seeding for prairie begins

Nathan Countryman

Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com

The first application of prairie seeds took part Saturday, Oct. 19, at the ground north of First Street in Mount Vernon.

Sustainability committee member Darrow Center said that compost from the Bryant Park site was delivered by city crews Friday, Oct. 18, ahead of the seed plant-

ing day.

“They were very easy to work with on this project,” Center said. Center and a small group of volunteers spent the morning moving compost down the hill and then planting the first seeds for prairie ground in Mount Vernon.

“It’s imperfect, it’s

recommends starting slow and focusing on one or two social media platforms to utilize where your customers are located.

“The next thing is to be consistent with your posts, roughly the same time of day,” Wilson said. Finding the voice of your brand or company is also important.

Feel free to share photos of your space, your products and other things.

“You should always operate with a 7 to 1 or 10 to 1 model in mind,” Wilson said. “That means for every seven behind the scenes post, hours update, or education piece, you get the opportunity to remind

Anna Wilson with The Local and Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group’s social media manager shares tips for social media use at an Entreprenueza event.

customers to purchase your product/buy from you once.”

Wilson said the most important thing is that your social media feed grows by you interacting with other businesses.

“You have to participate in their content by liking, sharing or commenting,” Wilson said.

One thing that helped her with the VisitMVL site was as she was post-

ing, tying into groups or organizations with larger followers.

“If I’m ever posting about Mount Vernon in general, a lot of my posts might have had a tag to Cornell College,” Wilson said. “That’s because that’s more than a thousand followers of that college, from current students to alumni who might want to see what is being posted about the college.

Darrow Center and Ryan pick up a chunk of spilled seeds for prairie plants that were being mixed to be distributed in five gallon buckets.

spontaneous, it’s prairie”, said Hannah, one of the volunteers working on the project.

The plants will seed into the ground this fall

and fruit next year as prairie grounds. The sustainability committee reminds citizens it may take a few years for this to get the proper

level of prairie developed in uptown Mount Vernon. This is just one patch of prairie habitat being explored in Mount Vernon.

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Official Newspaper: Mount Vernon, Lisbon, Bertram, Linn County, Mount Vernon Community School District, Lisbon Community School District The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun (USPS 367-520), a division of The Daily Iowan, is published weekly every Thursday by Student Publications, Inc., 100 Adler Journalism Building, Room E131, Iowa City, Iowa 52242. Periodicals Postage Paid at the Mount Vernon Post Office and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun, 108 1st St SW, Mount Vernon, IA 52314. Subscriptions: Contact Rochelle Ferguson at 319-895-6216 or rochelle.ferguson@mvlsun.com for additional information. Subscription rates: Linn and adjoining counties – $55 annually; elsewhere in Iowa – $75 annually; out of state – $85 annually.

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Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

Scouting for Food brings in donations

Nathan Countryman

Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com

The annual Scouting for Food fundraiser was held Saturday, Oct. 19, with members of Boy Scout Troop 40 and Cub Scout Troop 40 collecting donations from Mount Vernon and Lisbon communities.

According to Southeast Linn Community Center director Nicole McAlexander, the center is serving 70 to 80 families a month at the moment.

“These donations will help us between now and the holiday season,” McAlexander said.

While there were a number of items that were expired, McAlexander said much of that will not necessarily be wasted, either.

“We’ll need to double check some of those dates on items, but there’s a chance that some of that canned food is still usable,” McAlexander said.

As well, the number of miscellaneous food items for the pantry, that is items that aren’t usually stocked, got a bolstering with the donations.

“We might actually have enough in some areas, like broth, to create a portion of the regular pantry for,” McAlexander said.

Scouts squeezed in the Scouting for Food in the morning and had an afternoon/evening camping activity Saturday night.

Explaining the role of death doulas

Speakers highlight the distinction between hospice and death doulas

Nathan Countryman

Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com

Mary McCall and Annie Brownsberger presented about death doulas at Thursday, Oct. 17’s Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center’s adult speaker series.

Before the speech occurred, the duo invited attendees to talk about what brought them to the event. Many spoke about their own experiences dealing with the grief of losing a loved one or learning more about these people they have rarely heard of before.

Brownsberger explained that every doula is different, and has different wounds or items they are looking to help someone or their family work through.

“It’s important for a family to find the doula that will work for you,” Brownsberger said.

Doulas are non-medical, while hospice care is medical.

“Hospice helps to get items like supplies, medications and materials,” Brownsberger said. “What doulas can do is help families facilitate some of those requests, to slow that process down and talk about real practical things that come near the end of life.”

One of the biggest challenges that doulas help with are what Brownsberger call the RUGS — regrets, unfinished business, guilt and shame.

“Those four items are sometimes what keep family members holding on, or may be what those who are still living are also grappling with,” Brownsberger said. “Sometimes a third person coming in can soften a space to help people work through those.”

McCall said that dealing with family dynamics is one of her strengths as a doula. Coming from a family of twelve, and having lost three brothers to cancer, she knows how rough that grief can be.

“We try to make sure everyone is on the same page and help to find the way they can support a loved one in

the last hours,” McCall said. “Could they work through any of those RUGS with one of us?”

There’s also work to make sure family members know what areas someone is able to help or provide strength from.

McCall said that one thing she always finds is best — if you have an advanced directive, it’s best to have that finished sooner and have those communications with as many people before you go.

“That doesn’t take away the loss of you from your family, but it does take away a lot of stress for the ambiguity these can cause,” McCall said.

While Iowa is not a state that allows people to participate in medically aided suicide for end of life care, doulas can find states that allow that if it is an option someone is looking for.

One of the ways people might experience someone passing away is voluntary stopping of eating or drinking (VSTED).

“That’s a way end of life advances for some with degenerative diseases, is if they can no longer feed themselves, they don’t want that care to be a burden for someone else,” McCall said. “We will help families understand why that choice was made. That doesn’t mean everyone has to agree with the decision, but it can mean that they will show up for that person in those final days.”

For doulas, some of it is just being there to listen to people’s concerns as a person is passing away, to help take some of their anxiety away.

An attendee asked about the longest case someone was on. McCall said her longest was probably a span of a year from a client choosing to go on hospice.

McCall said it is great that the networks of death doulas is growing in Iowa City and Johnson County, again highlighting having multiple strengths others bring to the community at large.

“If my strengths are not what will work for you, there are other people that may have strengths that work for you,” McCall said.

“Death work is community work, and has been for decades,” Brownsberger said.

There are multiple training resources and accreditations out there for doulas, depending on the focus they have.

“We’d rather this practice be more organic and not regulated,” Brownsberger said.

Costs can be as high as $2,500 for six months to work with a death doula, but the organization won’t turn people away due to lack of funds.

There is a Living Well Conference planned in Coralville in May 2025.

Photos by Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

Right: Scouts are looking over expiration dates to find the food that can be shelved and which are possibly questionable.

Above: Scouts work at sorting a cart of donations to the proper donation areas for the food pantry to be shelved in the coming week.

Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

Annie Brownsberger and Mary McCall talk about the role of death doulas.

OPINIONS

The Great (well, sort of) Pretender

Living in Iowa

Dan Brawner

The presidential election is just weeks away and so many pundits and journalists are piling on Donald Trump. He’s a felon, they say. He’s a racist. He’s a threat to democracy. He’s a bad dancer. But they don’t understand him. They aren’t giving him enough credit for his astonishing accomplishments.

Donald Trump is one of the longest-running shows in American entertainment history. He has played the role of the self-made billionaire. He has portrayed himself as highly intelligent, witty, a masterful deal maker with encyclopedic knowledge of world events and great hair. He’s handsome, charming and beloved of women everywhere. His crowds are the biggest. His buildings are the biggest. He’s the best at everything.

None of those things is true, of course. But it is so unfair to call Trump a liar. Was Marlon Brando a liar in his role in The Godfather? Was Tom Hanks a phony for playing Forest Gump? Do we hold it against Michael Keaton for portraying himself as Beetlejuice? Look at the Broadway shows of the 1970’s: Cats, Guys and Dolls, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Where are they now? But The Trump Show is still going strong.

Donald Trump has successfully created the role of Donald Trump and has managed to convince millions of Americans that the character is a real person. How many Hollywood actors could do that? It’s ironic (if frightening) that soon many voters will cast their ballots for Donald Trump although Donald Trump, the candidate is purely fictional.

Trump is running for “re-election” but, in fact, he never really was the president. He famously sauntered into the Oval Office most days around 10:30 or so, watched TV, drank Diet Coke, played some golf. He went to parties and talked on the phone and tried to get people to send him money. You know, the same thing any actor does, waiting for his next performance.

But unlike most actors, Trump never rehearsed. When a reporter asked him a question, he would wing it. “They’re eating the dogs! They’re eating the cats!” If you never had an opinion about Haitian immigrants before, now you do. Democrats want to ban red meat, Trump declared to an astonished Atlanta audience in August. “You know that means?” (We have to eat cats now?) “That means no more cows!” Oh, no! Trump suddenly grew sentimental. “I love cows,” he said. “They want to kill our cows!” Donald Trump has cows? Well, not really. Folks in Montana have an expression for the kind of rancher Trump is: “All hat and no cattle.”

Trump says the craziest things. You send your son off to school and he comes home a girl! What is our country coming to? The brutal Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was “a day of love.” Immigrants are poisoning our blood. He may not mean any of it, but he loves hearing that applause. If Trump manages to get re-elected, he’ll spend his days selling fake merchandise like his NFT trading cards and $100,000 watches (that only exist on paper). Meanwhile the real power brokers like Steve Bannon and Mike Flynn will be free to transform America into a fascist Apocalypse. But don’t blame Donald Trump. He’s not the president. He just plays one on TV.

SUN EDITORIAL

Vape shops, protecting kids and the importance of quorums for votes

Another Mount Vernon City Council meeting, another reminder on the importance of all members being present for votes.

We have no issues with the stance taken by council member Mark Andresen. On the contrary, he explained his vote and made it. That two other council members were not in attendance at the same meeting so the majority of votes would carry for an ordinance is its own issue.

But he is correct that when the council originally took measures in April against vape and smoke shops, it was doing so in clearly more uncertain times. In the span of six months, two similar shops showed up in the uptown, one of them almost overnight after the 2023 election. There were no rules to limit said shops in the community, and shop space available.

We get the efforts of Wellness Coalition of Rural Linn County and Mount Vernon city attorney as well to better define who can enter those establishments. When vapes

first appeared on the scene in the early 2000s, there was no one paying attention to who was shopping for these electronic cigarettes and the canisters, and slowly a health epidemic arose among youth and teens who were somehow impacted by the products. There’s a great documentary on Netflix “The Rise and Fall of Juul” about how the advertising, promotion and sales of these devices were targeted to children or when that was discovered, pivots were not quickly done.

We have no problem with adults making decisions that impact their long-term health, like smoking does. But as a society we do what we can to help teens put off those decisions until their adulthood, especially when the products contain addictive materials.

We also agree with Andresen that the laws pertaining to many of these shops changed in this past legislative session which will already make business hard enough for them moving forward.

The most expensive blemish ever

ny side

Nathan Countryman

I developed a boil in the middle of my back/right shoulder blade area early in October.

It was painful for most of the week, but I was doing some home remedies when I had the chance like warm washcloths over the area to help get it to hopefully rupture and drain. But it was in a location that every time I had to get in or out of my car, it would brush up against the seat and remind you “hey, I’m here!”

Friday, Oct. 11, it indicated that home remedies were no longer enough. The area was red, infected and was pushing towards a fever. When I tried to sleep Friday evening, every few hours I was getting up to use the restroom, and when I’d try to lay down and get comfortable my entire right side would erupt in fire.

I set out Saturday afternoon for an urgent care clinic to lance this boil. When I went into my appointment, the doctor took one look and said, yeah, no, you’ve got to go to the emergency room. Too inflamed for us.

So off I went to spend time in an emergency room and get this throbbing pain lanced.

GUEST COLUMN

Benefiting from high school civics classes

C. Sherene Hansen Player

What is a class from high school or middle school that you feel like you are still benefiting from today? I graduated from high school in 1987, so that question really gets me reflecting. Right now I am remembering my American Civics class that I took my Freshman year for one semester with Mrs. McCormick. Not only was this class a graduation requirement, but what I was taught has helped me throughout my life.

We were a group of students who had watched Saturday morning cartoons through the 70s and had seen every “Schoolhouse Rock” short. Because of that, we had a relative idea of how a bill became a law because we could sing

Of course, there’s road construction in Cedar Rapids, so getting to the E.R. is no cakewalk, and some of the roads in that area need more improvement than the ones they’re working on…

After a four hour wait in triage in the E.R., the nurse in charge lanced the boil and drained what she could. To say instant relief is an understatement. That boil was almost non-existent on my back immediately after.

Except there was the other infection. When given the choice of getting just oral medications and going home or staying overnight for observation, I chose observation.

And they poured a lot of antibiotics in between Saturday evening through Sunday morning.

Of course, where they placed my initial I.V. was at the crook of my left elbow, so if I moved or held my left elbow in the wrong direction, the machine would beep that it was occluded on the patient side.

I also hadn’t planned on a hospital stay, so my laptop and C-PAP machine were still at home. Which meant Saturday was an even less restful night of sleep.

The doctor visited Sunday morning and told me he’d like me to stay one more night for observation and to make sure they did all they could to get the infection under control and avoid impacting my bloodstream.

Which meant it was impacting work I do on Sundays and work I do Monday mornings for the newspaper.

By Monday afternoon, I was on my way home with oral medications for the next two weeks and exhaustion.

And one of the costliest skin blemishes I’ve ever had.

“I’m Just a Bill.” However, she produced for us a note taking sheet with boxes that we were to fill in so that we could learn all of the steps that the 3 minute song wasn’t able to teach us. After this, we understood why there was such a long process to get a law through Congress.

We studied the Constitution and all of the Amendments. We actually memorized each one of them. I’m sad to say that after 40 years I am unable to list them all, but many of them still remain in my memory because of Mrs. McCormick’s instruction. At the time I realized that this was a very important class, so I saved most of my notes and handouts in a binder and have it here next to my computer as I write this.

She also chose to teach us all about the Watergate scandal. Most of us knew the name and a few students were aware of the facts. I only knew a detail or two. Imagine our surprise to find out that this had all taken place when we were children! My parents had never spoken of it so I was intrigued as I listened to her lectures and took notes. It was one of the first times that I realized that politicians could be corrupt, but that the Constitution and laws were in place to take care of this.

You might wonder why I am taking you down this memory lane into my high school years. I work for the US Census Bureau and I am constantly shocked with how many people say to me, “I’ve never heard of the Census.” It is part of the Constitution (Article 1, Sections 2 and 9).

Admittedly, the Decennial Census only takes place every 10 years, so it could be easy to forget about it. But many people look at me as if I’m making it up. My Civics class taught me all about it.

Right now we have the General Election going on. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, but Early Voting for Iowa began on Wednesday, October 16. Anyone who is a citizen who will be 18 years old by November 5 is able to vote. For the 5th year now, I am working Early Voting. It is so exciting to see Voters coming in to cast their votes. Many choose to vote early because they will be out of town on Election Day. Others just want to get it taken care of sooner rather than later. Reading the Constitution and its amendments taught me about voting and the importance of it.

It is crucial that Civics Classes are taught so that people will understand how government works. A 2018 study funded by the National Science Foundation found elementary classrooms only spend an average of 16 to 21 minutes a day on social studies. Very little of that time was devoted to civics. Just last year, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the Nation’s Report Card, found only 22 percent of eighth

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Your choice this fall – fairly normal or proto-fascist?

HW Bush, McCain, and Romney were my GOP voting choices over the years. Now I ponder if there exists a “bottom” to what the GOP will accept. VP Mike Pence, dozens of former Trump administration and hundreds of prominent Republicans pledge not to vote for Trump again. General Mark Milley, whom Trump wanted executed, says Trump is a “Total fascist to the core”.

Some lowlights:

• Trump’s serial adultery, sexual assault, fraud convictions, business scams, tax dodging, THOUSANDS of documented lies, glaring economic ignorance.

• The 5-time draft-dodger’s slur against POW John McCain ”I like people who weren’t captured”.

• His “grab em” tape, and general disdain for women. What say ye, ladies?

• General John Kelly, confirmed Trump referred to US war dead as “losers and suckers”, also confirming that as they stood near Kelly’s son’s grave at Arlington, Trump mumbled” I don’t get it, what was in it for them?”

• Trump’s perpetual bowing before Putin and other dictators. His insistence that Russians didn’t interfere in the 2016 election against mountains of evidence that they did.

• Top Secret nuclear strategy documents knowingly kept at Mar-a-Lago. Hillary’s emails seem quaint by comparison.

• Trump initiated January 6, watched it unfold and did nothing as the J6 Cowards pummeled police officers and threatened to kill elected officials.

• The delusional “Big Lie” about 2020 and his unconstitutional efforts to overturn the vote, promote fake electors, threatening officials, committing Seditious Conspiracy.

• His lying, foot-dragging, and near-endorsement of QANON Covid vaccine conspiracies that cost thousands of lives, mostly among his gullible followers.

• Trump sent rare COVID test equipment to Putin, while Americans died.

Trump’s minions shout “Fake News!” Really? Trump has sued or been sued over 4000 times. But he will NOT sue John Kelly, or the Atlantic Magazine, over his “losers and suckers” statements. He will NOT sue the dozens of women claiming he sexually assaulted them. Why? Because he understands it’s one thing to lie continually to his sycophantic followers; quite another to lie before a judge. Now, you be the judge; an imperfect but fairly normal Democratic Party, or a proto-fascist clearly in love of dictatorship?

Kevin Woods Mount Vernon

Attention, Public Servants and Parents

If you are a teacher, firefighter, nurse, or other public servant with student loans, pay attention. If your child is considering a career in public service, pay attention.

A recent announcement tells us that loan relief reinstated by the Biden administration two years ago has benefited over one million people, up from 7000 prior to Biden’s actions.

graders scored proficient or above in civics. Less than half of those eighth graders were taking a class mainly focused on civics or government. Only 29 percent had a teacher whose primary responsibility was teaching civics.

You might wonder, “What do you mean by a Civics Class? What is covered in that class?” I consulted many websites and I found this same course description on all of them: “In its broadest sense, civics (also known as ‘civic education’ or ‘civic learning’) is the lifelong process that makes people into informed and engaged members of their communities—which range from schools and towns or neighborhoods to the whole nation and even the world.

“As defined in many state standards and other official documents, ‘civics’ usually refers to a K–12 curriculum that is part of the social studies. This curriculum typically draws heavily on political science and law and has close connections to other academic subjects, particularly U.S. History, and to experiences like service-learning. In a given grade or school, these disciplines may be integrated in various ways; for instance, one course or sequence of courses may combine civics

According to AP reporting, when Trump was president 99% of applicants for loan forgiveness were rejected because of little-known rules.

People who go into public service do so with the understanding that they likely will never have the income they could have had in the private sector. The loan forgiveness re-enacted by the Biden administration can help level that playing field.

If you are a public servant paying back school loans or if you believe in public service and want to encourage young people to enter these important professions, you must vote for Kamala Harris. Trump would find a way to cancel these incentives – leaving more public servants with crushing loans and fewer young people willing to choose public service.

Arlie Willems Mount Vernon

Forum ponderings

I wasn’t able to attend the forum for House District 83 (Sept 19) but I want to respond to coverage of it in the Sept. 26 MLV Sun.

I applaud Rep Golding for opposing carbon sequestration pipelines. I would urge her to focus on that fight.

I would urge her to reconsider her response to Iowa’s surplus. Gov Reynolds banks tax dollars paid by working Iowans rather than spending them on water quality remediation, public education, and our public parks.

Working people deserve to live in a state that provides for them, as they contribute to the funds that support the state.

Rep Golding’s response “the minimum wage was never supposed to be a living wage” tells a sad story of wage disparity in our country. If minimum wage is just for “high school students to gain experience” is that still the case? Are there adults working those same jobs in order to pay bills and care for family?

The designation “minimum wage” perpetuates a “class” system in which some work is better than other work, and by extension, some of us are better than others. I don’t believe some are better than others.

ESA money is collected from Iowa tax payers. Should those dollars be given to parents -- thousands of dollars put into their education savings accounts -- if those parents previously paid private school tuition from their own funds?

ESAs are managed by a company in another state, which is not a free service. The entire ESA program is now estimated to cost more than when Gov Reynolds pitched it. States who have a similar system have seen their public schools close and small communities lose their center of gravity. Imagine Mount Vernon and Lisbon without our public schools.

I believe a governor who has a surplus of tax funds should spend them for the good of the public. I believe health care providers and patients know what’s best for them and do not need Gov Reynolds or Rep Golding interfering with those decisions, whether it’s gender affirming health care or reproductive rights. I believe our Republican-led state government interferes in local government and in personal rights as if we don’t know how to care for ourselves, as if we were inferior. I’m looking forward to November 5.

Gretchen

Reeh-Robinson Mount Vernon

(as the study of politics) with U.S. history.”

My daughters all took the required one semester Political Science class at Mount Vernon High School, taught by Mr. Ed Timm. Here is his course description: “Political Science is the study of American Government. We will look at the Constitution in its form and function. We will look at the structure of the American Government and how it functions in theory and practice. We will explore political parties and their history and purpose. Finally, we will look at how to be an engaged citizen.”

I believe that one way to stem the misinformation going on in our country right now is for all of us to understand how government is designed to work, to understand the branches of government, and to read and understand the Constitution. If we don’t educate ourselves on these things, we are susceptible to believing anything we might hear as truth. I am extremely grateful for Mrs. McCormick who took the time to teach Freshmen how our government works so that when I exercise my civic duty to vote and enjoy the freedoms of being an American, I am doing so with an understanding of how this came to be.

LISBON CITY COUNCIL BRIEFS

Speaker highlights aid, assistance provided to Ukraine

Nathan Countryman

Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com

Charlie Becker, and his son, Chad, have completed two humanitarian aid missions to the country of Ukraine since the conflict with Russia has begun.

Becker explained that both trips have happened almost impulsively.

“My son would give me a call on Thursday about possibly doing a trip to Ukraine for humanitarian aid, and by the next Monday morning, we’re on board a plane to do so with more than 200 pounds of supplies to take with us,” Becker said.

Becker said without his son, he wouldn’t be able to provide much in line of supplies, but Chad, with his connections and emergency medical training, was able to collect needed supplies and offer some aid along the front lines.

Their first trip took them from Des Moines

to Chicago, Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany, and then on to Warsaw, Poland.

“The people in Poland are incredibly supportive,” Becker said.

He didn’t expect anyone in Poland to know about Iowa, but a friend of one of their hosts was a fan of the band Slipknot, and knew the band was from Iowa.

From Warsaw, the two traveled via car to Krakow, Poland, and the border with Ukraine.

Warsaw would remain the base apartment they worked from, in case anything went wrong.

Their first stop was to the military hospital in Poland, which was shut off from outside help at the time.

“That first trip was learning a lot of what not to do,” Becker said. “We learned that things like expired medicine are not something anyone wants to deal with, and that to distribute more care and supplies, we needed to be properly credentialed to do so.”

Becker said the day they left Kyiv was the day Russia blew up an oil field in town.

“That was literally the most that happened,” Becker said.

The second mission trip in 2023, the duo had ultrasound machines they were trying to deliver to certain hospitals, on top of additional medical supplies.

That trek took them from Des Moines to Chicago, to Warsaw, then Moldova. The duo planned to travel to Odessa, Ukraine.

Moldova proved to be a super short trip, but they lost a portion of our luggage,” Becker said. “Our biggest concern at that moment was just getting out of Moldova and to Ukraine.

Becker said conditions in Ukraine mandated curfews after 11 p.m.

“The stores we were seeing were full of food and groceries, but we were a distance from the front lines at the time,” Becker said.

The one thing Becker noted was that there was a lack of children in the streets and elsewhere, likely having evacuated elsewhere.

He also said he had to constantly keep in the back of his head that they were in an active war zone. Helmets and flak jackets were required wearing.

And life goes on, despite everything else.

Becker and Chad are looking to make a third humanitarian trek, but the election has put that on hold until later.

“We hope to get back there soon,” Becker said.

An attendee asked what was the most valued item they delivered. Becker said the ultrasound machines were hugely popular.

Another asked how the State Department was able to aid citizens abroad.

“Usually, you indicate to the state department your itinerary,” Becker said. “We just didn’t work with the state department on these visits.”

Becker was asked about the immigrants in Ukraine who had relocated. Becker said there were a number who moved to Poland at the war’s start, but many have since returned home.

“Many thought Ukraine was just going to be flattened by Russia, but that wasn’t the case,” Becker said.

As to the best way to support Ukraine –check with their area churches.

The Cornell College Peter Paul Luce Gallery will present “Evergreen” by Chicago-based painter Marina Ross from Oct. 21 to Nov. 20.

Ross uses the visual symbolism of the iconic American movie “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) to explore cultural and personal memory, grief, and performance. After a traumatic personal loss, she began to mine the idyllic film to depict her inability to process the impact of the event. Ross uses a softened and muted color palette to suggest a suspension of disbelief, mirroring cinema’s ability to construct an alternative reality. Using film stills, and AI/personal reconstructions, the resulting images—often dreamlike, fleeting, or ambiguous—indirectly reference the film, asking viewers to fill in the gaps with their own memory. In consideration of the legacy and countless remakes of “The Wizard of Oz,” Ross offers a version of the film as an enduring form of collective memory.

Ross is an artist and instructor based in Chicago. She earned an M.F.A. in painting from the University of Iowa in 2018 after earning a B.F.A. in painting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2012. Her work has been exhibited in New York at Sugarlift, Friday Studio Gallery, Art Helix, Highline Stages, and throughout Chicago at Goldfinch Gallery, Roman Susan, Heaven Gallery, The Franklin, Sulk, ARTRUSS, and Baby Blue Gallery, among others. She has received grant funding from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Projects (DCASE) in Chicago, the Illinois Arts Council, Loyola University Chicago, and The Stanley Award for Inter -

national Graduate Research from the University of Iowa to attend the Saint Petersburg Artist Residency in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Her work is in numerous public and private collections, and she teaches art at Loyola University Chicago.

Ross will discuss her work at an Artist Lecture on Friday, Oct. 25, at 3:30 p.m. in McWethy Hall’s Lecture Hall, Room 222. Following the lecture, a

Marina Ross mines ‘The Wizard of Oz’ in ‘Evergreen’ Halloween events

Nathan Countryman

Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com

Mount Vernon and Lisbon will see events that host ghouls and goblins starting this weekend.

Wellness Coalition of Rural Linn County will be holding their annual Trunk or Treat event at the parking lot of Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center Sunday, Oct. 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. The event will be held rain or shine. Donations of canned goods for SELCC or feminine care products for Mount Vernon High School earn chances to win door prizes.

Additional activities will be available inside the LBC during the event.

All attendees of the event this year will also receive

a discounted admission ticket to Bass Family Farms for the last day of their fall festival. Activities at Bass Farms include mini-golf, corn maze, hay rack rides, the new farm frenzy slide, yard games and other fall activities.

Mount Vernon Community Preschool will trick-ortreat at area businesses on Wednesday, Oct. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 31. Preschoolers leave the preschool at the Methodist Church around 10:30 a.m. and walk along the south and north sides of First Street those days.

Lisbon Elementary School will also have a costume parade Thursday, Oct. 31, at 2:30 p.m. Participants will walk around the district track, and parents are encouraged to come watch from the football bleachers. The other huge event for Mount Vernon and Lisbon

reception for “Evergreen” will take place in the Luce Gallery from 4 to 6 p.m. Both the lecture and reception are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday–Friday 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. and Sunday 2–4 p.m.

For additional information, contact Luce Gallery Coordinator Brooks Cashbaugh (bcashbaugh@ cornellcollege.edu) or visit Marina Ross’ website (http://www.marina-ross.com/)

is Halloweentown, which will again return in person from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, in downtown Lisbon. Lisbon parks and recreation director Drayton Kamberling is still looking for volunteers willing to assist with setting up during the day, running the games and tearing down afterward. If you can volunteer, let staff at city hall at 319-213-4991 know.

Street closures were approved by the Lisbon City Council Monday, Oct. 14, during the Lisbon City Council meeting.

Southeast Linn Community Center will also run their Halloweentown Soup Supper from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at SELCC.

Trick or treating hours will run from 5-8 p.m. in Mount Vernon and Lisbon Thursday, Oct. 31. If you are handing out candy, leave a porch light on.

coming for Mount Vernon, Lisbon

Nathan Countryman | Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

Charlie Becker speaks about his experiences in Ukraine on two separate mission trips over the past two years.

Contributed photos

An example of Marina Ross artwork, entitled Neverland is seen left. A sample of the work Ross does with fabric is shown right.

Arbutis Constance McCoy, 100, of Lisbon, peacefully passed away on Saturday, Oct. 12 , at Mechanicsville Specialty Care. Visitation was 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 23 at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services in Mount Vernon. Celebration of life was 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services in Mount Vernon. Burial followed at Lisbon Cemetery in Lisbon.

Arbutis was born Nov. 8, 1923, in McComas, W. V., the daughter of Robert and Bertha (Bryant) Stafford. She was united in marriage to Charles McCoy Sept. 12, 1946, in Christiansburg, Va.

Arbutis was baptized January 20, 1952, at Cedar Christian Church. She was a past member of the Cedar Christian Church and First Federated Church in Lisbon. Arbutis enjoyed her daily morning activities, praying for family, and others at night. She enjoyed flowers and plants inside and outside of her home. She loved her family dearly. Arbutis was known as Grandma Booty to everyone.

Arbutis is survived by her children, Charles (Julie) McCoy and Marlene (Joe) Marolf; grandchildren, Lisa (Jesse) Tillman, Jeff (Leigh) McCoy, Melanie (Kevin) Ostmo, and Tara (Billy) Reiter-Marolf; great-grandchildren, Alex, Austin, Abby, Andrew, Kyla, Sonja, Camille, Iris, and Aldo; and siblings, Mida Stanger, and Joyce Proco.

Arbutis was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, Jesse (Evelyn) Stafford; and brothers-in-law, Delmer Stanger and Wendell Proco.

Those unable to attend are invited to watch the service via livestream. Please find the livestream link on Arbutis’s tribute wall and share your support and memories with her family at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries. Memorials may be made to Southeast Linn Community Center or Mechanicsville Specialty Care.

WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT

Coreyne and Alexander Kurjatko

Coryene and Alexander Kurjatko are pleased to announce their marriage.

Coreyne, originally from New Hampton, is the daughter of Rachel and Troy Federspiel; Sean and Jessica Conlin and Amy Dobbles-Conlin. She currently works as a CRNA in Dubuque.

Alexander was originally from Redwood Shores, Calif., and is the son of Eugen and Irina Kurjatko

Alexander is a General Surgery, Trauma, and Burn Surgeon in Iowa City.

Coreyne and Alex were married Aug. 31, 2024, at their home in Mount Vernon, with the reception at their home. The ceremony was officiated by the bride’s uncle Matthew Bormann.

The bride’s sisters, Cecelia Conlin and Elena Federspiel, stood by her side as she said, “I Do.” The lovely four-yearold Olivia Rieckmann was the flower girl.

The Groom had his long-standing friend Amy Adelsguber and his new brother-in-law Troy Federspiel stand

MOUNT VERNON TRAILBLAZERS

The Mount Vernon Trailblazers 4-H club held their monthly meeting Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Mount Vernon Fire Department. The meeting started by decorating pumpkins in small groups planned by the Education Recreation committee leaders. Then a guest presenter, Mike Clark, gave a presentation on how to properly run a meeting. We then proceeded with the meeting. Mya requested photos of members doing any 4-H activities. Community Service discussed donating $200 to Sleep In Heavenly Peace, a charity that gives kids and adults bedding and other sleeping supplies. The club voted to donate $200 out of the club’s budget. The next meeting will be held Nov. 3 at the Mount Vernon Fire Department.

Jacob Stewart Club reporter

POLICE CALLS

Oct. 14 – Gas leak, 500 blk 13th Ave, Mount Vernon

Oct. 15 – Medical, 300 blk W. South St, Lisbon

Oct. 15 – Car unlock, 700 blk S. First Ave, Mount Vernon

Oct. 15 – Welfare check, 400 blk W. South St, Lisbon

Oct. 16 – Welfare check, 100 blk S. Chestnut St, Lisbon

Oct. 16 – Agency assist- suspicious package, Linn Co

Oct. 16 – Accident, 400 blk Truman St, Lisbon

Oct. 16 – Accident, Ink Rd, Mount Vernon

Oct. 16 – Welfare check, 300 blk Virgil St, Mount Vernon

Oct. 17 – Medical, 200 blk Eighth St NW, Mount Vernon

Oct. 17 – Harassment, 380 Old Lincoln Hwy, Mount Vernon

Oct. 18 – Motorist assist, 500 blk W. Market St, Lisbon

Oct. 18 – Theft, 600 blk W. First St, Mount Vernon

Oct. 18 – Fraud, 500 blk business 30, Mount Vernon

Oct. 18 – Juvenile issue, 500 blk Palisades Rd SW, Mount Vernon

Oct. 18 – Medical, 100 blk Candlestick Dr NE, Mount Vernon

Oct. 18 – Welfare check, 400 blk W. South St, Lisbon

Oct. 18 – Disturbance, 1225 blk First Ave NW, Mount Vernon

Oct. 19 – Alarm, 1200 blk W. First St, Mount Vernon

Oct. 19 – Car unlock, 100 blk E. business 30, Lisbon

Oct. 19 – Animal control, 300 blk Grant Ave Cir, Lisbon

Oct. 19 – Welfare check, 200 blk Seventh St NE, Mount Vernon

Oct. 19 – Animal control, 1200 blk business 30, Mount Vernon

Oct. 20 – Animal control, 200 blk Grant Ave Cir, Lisbon

Oct. 20 – Car unlock, 700 S. First Ave, Mount Vernon

Oct. 20 – Suspicious vehicle, 300 blk business 30, Lisbon

Oct. 21 – Suspicious person, 600 blk W. First St, Mount Vernon

beside him, as he said his vows.

The couple’s faithful black lab, Bowser, was led in with the rings by the bride’s lifelong friend Samantha Wood.

The Bride and Groom felt so grateful to have family members, friends, and neighbors join in the wedding cel ebration. The day was made special by the following local businesses:

• Brozik Farms: Tim Keegan was extraordinarily help ful, ensuring a well-groomed reception area with about 9,000 square feet of sunflowers planted (roughly 50,000 seeds).

• Iron Leaf Press: Danielle worked exceptionally fast creating beautiful invites. Her attention to detail was appreciated and guests loved the flower design on the envelopes.

• Our local USPS: Ensured all invites were sent out. Spe cial thanks to Kathleen, who is extremely knowledgeable in her field and a delight to visit with.

• Bauman & Co: Dressed the groom and outfitted the groomsmen in tailored suits. Oliva was diligent in her work, making sure the ever-growing teenagers had appro priately sized suits.

• Paper Wrangler: Jocelyn Châteauvert constructed a one-of-a-kind wedding bouquet that was constructed of both paper wildflowers and traditional roses.

• The Sleep Inn: Accommodated all our guests and ensured a warm breakfast each morning.

• Hair Studio: Linda and Carissa gave great attention to the bride and the bridal party. Hair and makeup were all done in time for pictures and stayed done through the day and night!

• Anbriette’s Pet Salon: Took great care of Bowser. They were very flexible and allowed for last minute scheduling.

• Old Brick Manor: Thank you, Jo Kutcher, for your flexibility and beautifully crafted centerpiece decorations.

• Little Scratch Coffee Roasters: vided freshly ground coffee wedding favors. The bride and groom were grateful for the collaboration between Little Scratch and Iron Leaf Press. Custom stickers were placed on each individual coffee packet with the same invite design!.

• Amos Deans Catering Service: tering brisket and chicken dinner that family and friends raved about for weeks after the wedding. Thank you, Michael for a great and affordable dinner service.

Cole Corner

Cathy Boggs Cole Library

Can you hear them now? New audio books arriving at Cole Library

As times change, so do libraries. We keep our finger on the pulse of readers so we can make sure that they have access to the books they want. One way that we are continuing to evolve is offering eBooks and audiobooks. At Cole Library, we subscribe to two services that provide books for you to download to your smartphone, tablet or computer. They are located on our website—www.colelibrary.org--and housed under the Resources tab, then eBooks and Entertainment.

Today I am highlighting Bridges and how we are enhancing your experience. To make more current and in demand materials available with less wait times, we have now purchased titles for Cole Library patrons only. You still have access to the many titles that the Bridges consortium purchases, but now you have titles for Mount Vernon residents and Linn County users exclusively. These new titles are:

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (audiobook)

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (eBook)

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston (audiobook)

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne (audiobook)

Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks (eBook)

First Lady from Plains by Rosalynn Carter (eBook)

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (eBook)

Funny Story by Emily Henry (eBook and audiobook)

Here One Moment by Liane Moriatry (audiobook) by Kristen Perrin (audioby Luis by Richard Osman (eBook and audio-

If you need help accessing these materials or downloading the apps, please stop in and we can help you get started.

October, Thursday 24: 8am-10pm

October, Friday 25: 8am-5pm

October, Saturday 26: 10am-4pm

October, Sunday 27: 12pm-10pm

October, Monday 28: 8am-10pm

October, Tuesday 29: 8am-10pm

October, Wednesday 30: 8am-10pm

October, Thursday 31: 8am-10pm

edible gold flecks. Jen took the time to make 300 desserts as fresh as possible, including frosting the cake the day of

DJ Dan provided the most incredible ceremony and reception music. Thank you, Dan, for keep-

Captured every blissful moment from the dress rehearsal to reception. Thank you,

• Trails End Mobile Bar: Angie was wonderful to work with and gave the couple an accurate drink count to guarantee enough soft drinks and alcohol for each guest.

• White Tree Bakery: Provided an artfully created twotiered chocolate and raspberry cake with real fruit and

The wedding couple greatly appreciated officers Jason and Willy who brought Alex and Coreyne moved to Mount Vernon in July of 2023 and were enamored with our new home and town. We especially enjoy attending the monthly city hall meetings, numerous yearly festivals, and getting to know our neighbors. We can’t say thank you enough to everyone who made us feel welcome and home here in Mount Vernon. There are many others to thank that we missed but appreciate all your support.

Arbutis McCoy

Hwy. 1 Marching Band Classic held

Nathan

Countryman Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun nathan.countryman@mvlsun.com

The third annual Hwy. 1 Marching Band Classic was held Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Martha Parsons Activity Complex at Mount Vernon High School.

The evening started with all four bands delivering a rendition of the national anthem, while Hahn-Howard Post 180 presented the colors.

Anamosa was the first band to perform Tuesday evening, a show focused on homesteading.

Lisbon was next, rocking the crowd with the music of Elvis.

Solon followed with their show, depicting five variations on weather.

The evening concluded with the Marching Mustangs performing Among the Stars.

Lisbon, MV add to season awards

Mount Vernon’s season accolades for Among the Stars continue to pile up. On Saturday, Oct. 12, the band performed at state competition at Kingston Stadium and Muscatine.

For the 10th straight year, the band earned a Division I rating at state contests.

At Muscatine, the band placed first in Class 3A out of 10 bands performing, and earned accolades best color guard, best percussion and best horn line.

Lisbon also earned a Division I at state competition this year.

Opposite page top left: Members of the Marching Mustangs pit for the band perform a portion of the song in “among the Stars.”

Opposite page bottom left: The Marching Mustangs trumpets and horns section accents a piece in “among the Stars” Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Top center: Marching Mustangs color guard and band perform “Among the Stars.”

Photos by Nathan Countryman | Vernon-Lisbon Sun

Above: A pair of clarinetists perform as the color guard flags swoop in the background.

Bottom center: Te Lisbon Marching Band shows off their fancy footwork to an Elvis song.

Right: Members of the Lisbon Marching Band pit help perform music of Elvis Tuesday, Oct. 15.

In-person early voting options began Oct. 16

Local

satellite stations in Linn

County

In-person absentee “early” voting began October 16 at the Linn County Public Service Center and Lindale Mall. Nine other short-term satellite voting locations will be available in the 20 days leading up to the election. In-person “early” voting locations include:

Linn County Auditor’s Office:

Linn County Public Service Center

935 Second St. SW, Cedar Rapids

Voting will be on the basement level October 16 through November 4

• Regular Business Days: 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

• Saturday, Nov. 2: 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Satellite voting locations include:

Lindale Mall

4444 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids October 16 through Nov. 3

• Tuesday through Saturday: 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

• Sunday: noon to 5 p.m.

Kirkwood Community College 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids

• Thursday, October 17: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cedar Rapids Downtown Library 450 5th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids

• Saturday, Oct. 19: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Sunday, Oct. 20: 1:30-4:30 p.m.

St. Mark’s Methodist Church

4700 Johnson Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids

• Tuesday, October 22: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Coe College

1220 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids

• Thursday, October 24: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Meth-Wick Community 1224 13th St. NW, Cedar Rapids

• Friday, October 25: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cedar Rapids LADD Library 3750 Williams Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids

• Saturday, October 26: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Sunday, October 27: 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Marion Public Library 1101 Sixth Ave, Marion

• Monday, October 28: 1-7 p.m.

Cornell College

835 First St. W, Mt. Vernon

• Wednesday, October 30: Noon-6 p.m.

Hoover Elementary School 4141 Johnson Ave NW, Cedar Rapids

• Friday, November 1: 4:15-10:15 p.m.

Voter ID Requirements

Iowa law requires an approved ID to vote during early in-person and satellite voting and on election day. Valid forms of ID include:

• Iowa Voter Identification Card (needs to be signed)

• Iowa Driver’s License

• Iowa Non-Operator ID

• U.S. Military ID or Veteran ID

• U.S. Passport

• Tribal ID Card/Document

A voter without one of the above forms of ID may have their identity attested to by another voter registered within their precinct. Early voter registration is available through 5 p.m. on October 24.

Eligible Linn County residents may also register using Election Day Registration documents after 5 p.m. on October 21.

Requesting an Absentee Ballot

The Linn County Auditor’s Office is also accepting Absentee Ballot Request (ABR) forms to receive a ballot by mail until 5 p.m. on Monday, October 21. There are

WTU grants $1.6 million toward hunting preservation

Whitetails Unlimited is a steadfast supporter of the Second Amendment, hunter rights, and promoting the sport of regulated hunting. Last fiscal year WTU issued grants totaling more than $1,647,924 in support of various initiatives through the Preserving their Hunting Tradition program.

Every year America’s hunters and target shooters

have an economic impact of over $110 billion and support over 866,000 jobs. Hunting is a wholesome family activity that provides outdoor recreation and organic food for millions of U.S. citizens. Major initiatives of Whitetails Unlimited focus on increasing hunting opportunities and providing outdoor experiences to youth, veterans, and those disabilities. This is done through our many chapter mentored hunts.

three ways to obtain an Absentee Ballot Request form for a mailed ballot:

• Download a form from the Linn County website.

• Visit the Election Services office at 935 Second St. SW, Cedar Rapids on the second floor.

• Until October 16, call 319-892-5300 or email the Election Services office at Elections@LinnCountyIowa.gov to have a form mailed to you. Requests for forms after October 16 will not have enough time for the round-trip in the mail.

Returning an Absentee Ballot

There are three ways to return completed absentee ballot request forms:

• Mail completed forms to: Election Services 935 Second St. SW Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

• Deposit completed forms in the drop box marked for elections outside the Linn County Public Service Center, 935 2nd St. SW in Cedar Rapids.

• Drop off completed forms at the Elections Office service counter on the second floor of the Linn County Public Service Center.

The Auditor’s Office will begin mailing absentee ballots out on Wednesday, October 16.

Please be advised, many of our precincts and polling places were changed in January 2022 due to state-wide redistricting. The Auditor’s Office will be mailing polling place change notices on October 19. Keep an eye out for the yellow postcard. Voters may also view their updated precinct and polling place information by entering their address at: LinnCountyElections.org/lookup.

Additional election information may be found at LinnCountyIowa.gov/Vote.

For questions regarding this election, call the Linn County Election Services Office at 319-892-5300 or email Elections@LinnCountyIowa.gov.

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. 24

Story Time, Cornell Public Library Byerly Room, 9:30 a.m.

Fiber Friends, Southeast Linn Community Center, 10:30 a.m.

LBC Adult Speaker Series “The Bonus Army, Great Depression and the G.I. Bill” by Mike Woods, Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center, 1 p.m.

Mount Vernon Middle School parent teacher conferences, Mount Vernon Middle School, 4-8 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 25

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.

Evergreen opening reception, Cornell College McWethy Hall Peter Paul Luce Gallery, 4 p.m.

MVLCT presents Neil Simon’s “Rumors,” First Street Community Center Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 26

MVLCT presents Neil Simon’s “Rumors,” First Street Community Center Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 27

Trunk or Treat, Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center, 2-4 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 28

Mount Vernon High School parent teacher conferences, Mount Vernon High School, 4-8 p.m. Lisbon City Council, Lisbon City Hall, 6:30 p.m.

CALENDAR & PUZZLES

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

Master Gardener Talks “Organic vegetable gardening“ by Phil Pfister at Cole Library, Cornell College Cole Library Room 108, 6:30 p.m. Mount Vernon High School Marching Band finale, Martha Parsons Activity Complex, 7 p.m. Lisbon Reading Friends book discussion group, Lisbon Library, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 29

Lego Club, Cornell college Room 108, 3:30 p.m. Yarn squad, Cornell College Cole Library Room 326, 6:30 p.m.

Learn to play Bridge, Cornell College Cole Library room 108, 7-9 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 30

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. 31

Story Time, Cornell Public Library Byerly Room, 9:30 a.m.

Fiber Friends, Southeast Linn Community Center, 10:30 a.m.

LBC Adult Speaker Series “Keith Haring and Iowa City: Exhibiting a Book Full of Fun” by Lauren Lessing, Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center, 1 p.m.

Halloweentown, downtown Lisbon, 5-7 p.m. Trick or treating Mount Vernon and Lisbon, 5-8 p.m.

Across

1 Out

6 Law mandating curb cuts, in brief

9 A state slogan: Don’t ...

14 Monument seen in the Pacific Northwest

15 “It’s a ___” (2021 miniseries chronicling the AIDS crisis)

16 Piece of equipment for a pitmaster

17 A proverb about risk: Don’t ...

19 Party animal?

20 Govt. agency whose initialism omits “Explosives”

21 Yankees slugger Juan

22 Topper

23 Miniature dog

24 Therefore

26 Snickers component

28 Department store department

29 Haul

31 In a subdued manner

33 Performers wearing oshiroi makeup

37 Cable channel known for its original movies

41 A tip in the working world: Don’t ...

43 At the wheel

44 Pasta specification

45 Population centers, informally

47 Posed for a portrait

48 Act out

51 Electricians, at times

54 February Revolution abdicator

57 An idiom about regret: Don’t ...

58 Rosten who wrote “The Joys of Yiddish”

59 Genesis creator

61 Group for alkali metals on the periodic table

62 More frosty

64 A plea to plan wisely: Don’t ...

66 One way to be caught

67 President Obama’s caused Reddit to crash, for short

68 Made public

69 Sets of elevators

70 Half a score

71 With a wink, say Down

1 Attempting to beat the curve?

2 Reluctant (to)

3 “There’s no point”

4 Most important thing

5 Jason Mraz hit that spent 76 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart

6 Request that one can

7 Fade away

8 Leaf-cutter, e.g.

9 Betwixt

10 Long stretch

11 Senator’s footwear?

12 Wyoming peak

13 Diagnostics done with “Foot-oscopes” in old shoe stores

16 Malicious

18 Goads

22 Thin layer

25 “I said what I said!”

27 Some square dancers

28 “Put your wallet away!”

30 Reporter’s question

32 Largest city in Yorkshire, England

33 Modern navigation aid

34 Certain grocery payment option, for short

35 So to speak

36 Japanese company that created Hello Kitty

38 Has no remorse

39 Mr. ___ (baseball mascot)

40 L.A.-to-Austin dir

42 Composer Stravinsky

46 Bagel option

48 Fast-food sandwich that has had multiple “farewell tours”

49 Character name in both “The Seagull” and “Three Sisters”

50 “I knew you’d come through, bro!”

52 Performed again, as an experiment

53 Command ___ Maj. (onetime rank for Tim Walz)

55 Photographer Adams

56 Like a bassoon’s sound

58 Items given to arriving passengers at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport

60 Sounds of realization

63 Sort

64 Abraham Lincoln was the first to keep one at the White House

65 Paint type

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.

Published in the Sun October 24, 2024.

LINN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

CEDAR RAPIDS, LINN COUNTY, IOWA MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2024 10:00 A.M

(These are the minutes in their entirety. Archived minutes can be found at www. linncountyiowa.gov).

The Board met in session at the Linn County Jean Oxley Public Service Center. Present: Vice Chairperson Rogers and Supervisor Zumbach. Absent: Chairperson Running-Marquardt (other county business). Board members voting “AYE” unless otherwise noted. Vice Chairperson Rogers called the meeting to order. Motion by Rogers, seconded by Zumbach to approve minutes of October 7, 8 & 9, 2024 as printed.

Cara Matteson, Sustainability Prog. Dir., presented the Linn County watershed summary including Watershed Partnerships. Matteson also presented the 28E Agreement for Linn County to be a Middle Iowa Watershed Management Authority member. The Board will approve on Wednesday. Motion by Rogers, seconded by Zumbach to approve Employment Change Roster (payroll authorizations) as follows:

LINN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

CEDAR RAPIDS, LINN COUNTY, IOWA TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024 9:00 A.M.

(These are the minutes in their entirety. Archived minutes can be found at www. linncountyiowa.gov).

The Board met in session at the Linn County Jean Oxley Public Service Center. Present: Chairperson Running-Marquardt, Vice Chairperson Rogers and Supervisor Zumbach (arriving at 9:05 a.m.). Board members voting “AYE” unless otherwise noted.

Chairperson Running-Marquardt called the meeting to order.

Motion by Rogers, seconded by Running-Marquardt to approve minutes of October 14, 2024 as printed.

Motion by Rogers, seconded by Running-Marquardt to approve claims dated 10/11/24 for payroll deduction checks #71015820 - #71015824 in the amount of $595.33, ACH in the amount of $21,112.40, an EFT wire in the amount of $50,414.73 and a Ceridian ER Funds Trust Wire in the amount of $2,185,175.26, for a total of $2,257,297.72.

The Board received updates from the following Department Heads: Charlie Nichols, Planning & Development Dir. – Quarterly department goal: Work on improving communication between the department and homeowners acting as their own general contractors; budget is on track; assisting the Mt. Vernon City Council on current state of King’s Chapel (temporary safeguards have been put in place); clerical staff remains extremely busy; Unified Development Code text amendments addressing required setbacks and allowing tiny homes to be constructed for uses as accessory dwelling units; Dows Preliminary Plat and proposed changes to Dows Farm Governing Plan; and permit activity year to date.

Chairperson Running-Marquardt clarified that Linn County has contracted inspectors for the City of Mt. Vernon and the city is the enforcer. Linn County has communicated many times with Cornell College and Mt. Vernon City Council. Both parties have been fully advised. Britt Hutchins, Purchasing Dir. – fully staffed and budget on target; postage statistics; working with Elections for mailing absentee ballots; worked on bids for Health Dept., IT, Conservation, Engineering, Sheriff, LCCS, Facilities and Mental Health Access Center. Steve Estenson, Risk Management Dir. – Reportable Injury Summary 2024 (Sheriff & Juvenile Detention have the highest incidents); 277 employees attended the Health & Safety Fair this year (Elected Officials and Dept. Heads encouraged employees to attend); the county employee’s fitness centers no longer have a monthly fee; FEMA disaster projects are moving along (demo of County Home and Dows barns and Conservation’s bike trails at Wanatee).

Chairperson Running-Marquardt thanked Estenson for making health and safety a priority for the employees of Linn County. She also recognized the work of the Safety Committee. Discussion continued regarding recent disasters and homeowners’ insurance that has been in the news lately. Estenson stated that Linn County must reapply for insurance every year.

Luke Fischer, Facilities Dir. – Working on strategic goals; classes staff has attended; budget on track; one vacancy; building preparations for Overflow Shelter; design meetings for Secondary Roads Headquarters; met with Alliant rep to discuss options for Interruptible power program, rebate programs and energy monitoring; moving to a cloud based Help Desk Ticket; involved in Correctional Center isolation cell buildouts; Conservation Geothermal extensions completed; added cameras and added security for elections; Sustainability office buildout (gathering quotes); Sheriff’s Office roof is 90% complete; job description survey is in second phase of review; assisted with Health & Safety Fair; focusing on exterior lighting and identifying heating issue for buildings. Upgrade to lighting in the Davidson Bldg. (used Alliant rebate); and invited to Courthouse celebration meetings.

Joi Alexander, Communications Dir. – Quarterly department goal is Boards and Commissions vacancies and appointments; FY 25 KPI: Increase website accessibility compliance; Veteran Services name change; met with Recorder’s Office to discuss passport renewals in office vs. online; Blue Bridge kiosk in place; working on a web page on the Secondary Roads Headquarters project; Covington Rd. project is taking longer than planned; created draft brochure for Sustainability Program; communications campaign & RFP for Mental Health Access Center (MHAC); Alliance for Equitable Housing (working with Cedar Rapids); General Assistance policy updates; Social Media: Hwy 30 turn lane project is complete (Facebook post) and working on an Instagram strategy; Courthouse 100 year anniversary planning meeting last week; working on FY24 PAFR; recent DOJ ruling on website accessibility, specifically PDF files may need converted as it mandates specific standards for making programs accessible to the public (compliance deadline April 24, 2026). Board Resolutions are not compliant as an example and there could be a budget impact.

Supervisor Zumbach asked that Alexander check into the State funding the MHAC communications campaign & RFP.

Chairperson Running-Marquardt stated that there is a barrier that needs to be eliminated as it relates to the MHAC and persons worried about insurance coverage. It’s the private pay insurance individuals that know their plans and deductibles and costs for medications and visits that have that fear.

Public Comment: Auditor Joel Miller commended Joi Alexander for her department’s pro-active work with Elections during their preparation for the General Election. He noted that she is also a part of a group put together last week for planning for contingencies for elections and thanked her for that.

stated that yesterday morning was not a good way to start a week when early voting starts tomorrow. He stated that they had staff in Accounts Payable that couldn’t log in yesterday. It was off and on, couldn’t read or respond to emails and lost time. They had trouble getting into systems in the morning and afternoon. The Real Estate Helpdesk was down all day and network and internet connections dropped continually throughout the day. The GIS program kept crashing and they lost edits that had been updated. Programs were slow, hit and miss. In Elections they knew they had problems at 7:21 a.m. at the Public Service Center. The DHCP server was down for the computers and phones. The IT Helpdesk was not staffed (it was back up by 7:35 a.m.). At the local storage facility, they had the same problems as the Public Service Center and had to restart the router to get reconnected. At another election’s location, staff came in at 6:00 a.m. and couldn’t work. Miller stated that they can’t have this. They work in the Public Service Center and are in the public service industry. He has potentially 160,000 voters that may want to exercise their right to vote starting tomorrow. He is asking the Board to make it known that these things can not continue. He has personally contacted vendors and providers related to their internet and voice service. They have all been made aware that Oct. 16 – Nov. 16 is a very critical time. He met with the post office last week and they are instituting extra ordinary measures starting on Oct. 21 to basically ensure that the mail gets to us. Why? Because they don’t want to be the headline saying that they somehow affected the outcome of any election. He encouraged the Board to think along those ways. He’s thinking along those ways because he doesn’t want to be the headline as to why people couldn’t cast their ballot, why they couldn’t call in and find out where their polling place was, why they didn’t know what the hours were and why they didn’t know where the satellites were. He doesn’t think the Board wants to be the headline either. He reminded them that he fell on his sword two years ago because he made an error. He took the hit and the blame. He’s not going to be so easily persuaded to take the blame for things that are under the Board’s control for an office that reports to them, that office being IT. He suggested that IT come in and pre-check everything every day from now and through the election (and beyond) to ensure that the systems are up and running before the employees get to work (6 a.m. and 5 a.m. on election day). Things must work.

Adjournment at 10:22 a.m.

Respectfully submitted, JOEL D. MILLER, Linn County Auditor By: Rebecca Shoop, Deputy Auditor

APPROVED BY: KIRSTEN RUNNING-MARQUARDT, Chairperson Board of Supervisors

Published in the Sun October 24, 2024.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

MOUNT VERNON CITY COUNCIL

NOVEMBER 4, 2024 6:30 PM

The City Council for Mount Vernon, Iowa, will conduct a Public Hearing on November 4, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 213 First Street NW in Mt. Vernon, IA 52314. Individuals wishing to join via Zoom may contact City Hall at (319) 895-8742 at least one day in advance of the meeting. The public hearing will be held in consideration of amending Chapter 165 Zoning Regulations of the Mount Vernon Code of Ordinances, defining Smoke Shop and making it a permitted use in Limited Industrial districts. The amendment is available for review in the City Clerk’s office, 213 First St. NW, Mt. Vernon, IA 52314. Published in the Sun October 24, 2024.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

MOUNT VERNON CITY COUNCIL

NOVEMBER 4, 2024 6:30 PM

The City Council for Mount Vernon, Iowa, will conduct a Public Hearing on November 4, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 213 First Street NW in Mt. Vernon, IA 52314. Individuals wishing to join via Zoom may contact City Hall at (319) 8958742 at least one day in advance of the meeting. The public hearing will be held in consideration of amending Chapter 46 Minors of the Mount Vernon Code of Ordinances, restricting person under the age of twenty-one (21) from entering the premises of a Smoke Shop, as defined in CH165 of the Ordinance. The amendment is available for review in the City Clerk’s office, 213 First St. NW, Mt. Vernon, IA 52314. Published in the Sun October 24, 2024.

CITY OF LISBON REGULAR COUNCIL

MEETING MINUTES

OCTOBER 14TH, 2024

CALL TO ORDER: The City Council of Lisbon, Iowa, met in regular session on October 14th, 2024, at 7:00p.m. with Mayor Doug O’Connor presiding. The following City Council members were present: John Bardsley, Kevin Steele, Rick Scott and Nathan Smith. Mike Williams was absent.

OTHERS PRESENT: Brandon Siggins, Travis Bagby, Doug Shannon, Nick Eicher, LuAnn Yarbrough, and Drayton Kamberling. Dean and Miriam Johnston and Nathan Countryman were present via zoom.

sley to change the address for Engineer Systems Inc. to 701 N Jackson Street. All Ayes. Motion carried 4-0. Motion by Bardsley, seconded by Smith to approve road closures for Halloweentown. Halloweentown will be October 31 from 5-7pm. Road closures will begin around 4pm in the downtown area. All Ayes. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Smith, seconded by Steele to approve the purchase of a 2024 F150 truck from Lynch Ford Mount Vernon in the amount of $41,763. Ayes: Steele, Bardsley, Smith. Nays: Scott. Absent: Williams. Motion carried 3-1.

Motion by Smith, seconded by Bardsley to approve Urban Renewal Report. All Ayes. Motion carried 4-0. Financial advisor Maggie Burger was unable to attend the meeting and has rescheduled for another date.

Motion by Bardsley, seconded by Smith to approve Resolution 33-2024 approving Part-time Library Helper. Roll call vote. Ayes: Bardsley, Steele, Smith, and Scott. Absent: Williams. Nays: None. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Smith, seconded by Bardsley to approve Resolution 29-2024 approving TIF Certification to the county. Roll call vote. Ayes: Bardsley, Steele, Smith, and Scott. Absent: Williams. Nays: None. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Smith, seconded by Bardsley to approve Resolution 30-2024 approving Annual Appropriation Urban Renewal. Roll call vote. Ayes: Bardsley, Steele, Smith, and Scott. Absent: Williams. Nays: None. Motion carried 4-0. Motion by Smith, seconded by Bardsley to approve Resolution 32-2024 approving TIF Rebate Transfer. Roll call vote. Ayes: Bardsley, Steele, Smith, and Scott. Absent: Williams. Nays: None. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Smith, seconded by Bardsley to approve Resolution 31-2024 approving Plat of Survey for Truesdell. Roll call vote. Ayes: Bardsley, Steele, Smith, and Scott. Absent: Williams. Nays: None. Motion carried 4-0.

The council received the following reports from city departments:

Public Works Director Travis Bagby –alley work and clean up is almost complete.

Parks and Recreation Director Drayton Kamberling – fall sports are done, moving to girls’ basketball and then boys. Halloweentown will be October 31st from 5-7pm.

Library Director Elizabeth Hoover de Galvez – attended the Iowa library association conference.

Police Chief Doug Shannon – report submitted.

City Administrator Brandon Siggins –fire department worked with the school on fire prevention week and poster contest. November 8th Feld Fire will being work on new grass truck conversion. Highway 30 update, lines are painted, shoulder work in progress. Engineer is checking on watermain punch list, Fall cemetery seeding done by Public Works, YTT in town last week making a punch list for the sports complex. Next phase meeting to come, sprinkler bid, scoreboard down at the park as the school got a donation from Casey’s for a new bigger one.

Council member Smith thanked council member Steele for bringing the new truck opportunity to the city.

Motion by Smith, seconded by Bardsley to go into closed session at 7:30pm pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 21.5(j) to discuss possible purchase/sale of real property. Roll call vote. Ayes: Bardsley, Steele, Smith, and Scott. Absent: Williams. Nays: None. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Smith, seconded by Bardsley to go out of closed session at 8:26pm. Roll call vote. Ayes: Bardsley, Steele, Smith, and Scott. Absent: Williams. Nays: None. Motion carried 4-0. Motion by Scott, seconded by Smith to have City Administrator Brandon Siggins and the City Attorney work on a transfer agreement and Siggins and the City Engineer work on the easement agreement for new well and watermain pipe. All Ayes. Motion carried 4-0. Mayor Doug O’Connor adjourned the meeting at 8:27pm. Christina Eicher, City Clerk Doug O’Connor, Mayor Published in the Sun October 24, 2024. CITY OF LISBON LIST OF CLAIMS 10-14-2024 - UPDATED

VENDOR NAME DESCRIPTION AMOUNT AAA PEST CONTROL PEST CONTROL 50

SYSTEMS TECH SUPPORT 976.61 ACCESS SYSTEMS LEASING COPIER

259.1 AFLAC CANCER INSURANCE 248.69 ALLIANT UTILITIES UTILITIES 3,842.17

Published in the Sun October 24, 2024.

APPROVED BY:BEN ROGERS, Vice Chairperson Board of Supervisors

He also stated that he is speaking to the Board today to make the Board aware of outages yesterday and an email from IT sent this morning stating that everything is fine and recovered from yesterday. He

CONSENT AGENDA: Motion by Scott, seconded by Smith to approve the consent agenda consisting of minutes of September 23rd, September Treasurer’s Report, utility refunds and list of bills. All Ayes. Motion carried 4-0. Police Chief Doug Shannon introduced the department’s new hire Nick Eicher. Eicher will be attending the police academy in January 2025. Motion by Scott, seconded by Bardsley to cancel the November 11th, 2024, council meeting due to it falling on Veteran’s Day when city offices are closed. All Ayes. Motion carried 4-0. Motion by Bardsley, seconded by Smith to update the Downtown Reinvestment applications with a section requiring a presentation to council and a project timeline. All Ayes. Motion carried 4-0. Motion by Smith, seconded by Bard-

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Mustangs trot over Washington 42-21

Ryan Suchomel Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com

No. 4 Mount Vernon beat Washington 42-21 on Friday, Oct. 18 at Case Field. It was … a lot.

The Mustangs passed the ball all over the field, but the Demons ended up with five interceptions.

Coach Brad Meester said those turnovers were not cause for undue concern.

“We took some shots down the field and just missed them,” Meester said. “And one was a fluke. And part of it was poor execution late.”

Starting quarterback Kellen Haverback did throw for 271 yards on 17-of-23 passing. All before halftime. Jase Jaspers led the way with six catches for 101 yards and two scores.

Cole Thurn and Michael Ryan each also caught scoring passes. Ryan, a junior, had a 54-yard gain to open the game offensively for the Mustangs but was tackled short of the end zone.

“I got hawked,” Ryan said. “I got chased down.”

So, when his number got called again one play later, he appreciated it.

“I think they might’ve felt bad for me being so slow,” Ryan said.

Ryan also made one of the sickest defensive plays of the year for Mount Vernon, coming up with a one-handed interception while falling to the turf.

“That might be something that can hit ESPN or something,” Meester said. “That was the craziest catch I’ve ever seen. That was a one-handed stab. Unbelievable. You don’t see those very often.”

(Check out the replay on X by @PastorGlaza if you want to see for yourself.)

“It was a slippery field; I was kind of slipping,” Ryan said. “I just saw the ball, went up for it. I surprised myself that I caught it. It was awesome.”

Already up 21-0 after one quarter, the Mustangs opened the second quarter with a 5-play scoring drive. It was capped off with a rushing TD by senior Kael Riniker.

That’s 225-pound defensive lineman, Kael Riniker. The always enjoyable big-man touchdown.

“We’ve been working on it in practice for a few weeks,” Riniker said. “It ended up working out really well for us.”

“We’ve always had stuff like that in the past, so we brought it back a little bit,” Meester said. “(Kael) was chomping to get one in there. Kael did a nice job.”

After Washington junior Kael Williams scored on a 98-yard interception return late in the second quarter, the Mustangs responded with two quick scores in the final minute before half.

Haverback capped a 6-play, 53-yard drive with a oneyard sneak to make it 35-7. Then, after getting the ball back with nine seconds left, Haverback connected with Cole Thurn on a 40-yard Hail Mary to make it 42-7 at intermission.

At halftime, Mount Vernon had 314 offensive yards and 14 first downs compared to 38 yards and six first downs for Washington.

The Demons were able to rack up both yards and points

in the second half, mainly against the JV Mustangs.

“Obviously it was a different feeling in the second half,” Meester said. “But I felt we came out and did what we need to do right away. We talked about starting fast and that group came out and executed really well to start the game.”

The coach didn’t want the team to get too hung up on giving up points and yards in the second half.

“We didn’t finish how we wanted to, but we executed in the first half,” Ryan said.

After all, the win did clinch a Class 3A, District 4 title for the Mustangs. Mount Vernon (7-1, 3-0) can earn that title outright Friday at home against Keokuk (3-5, 1-3).

“We are one step closer to the playoffs and a state championship,” Riniker said. “We were disappointed in how we finished. It is a sucky feeling. But I think we’re good now. We’ve got our energy back.”

MOUNT VERNON 42, WASHINGTON 21 TEAM STATS MV W

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Rushing – Mount Vernon: Cooper Hird 8-60, Kellen Haverback 4-7, Jase Jaspers 1-5, Kael Riniker 1-2, Jakob Yock 3-3, William Goodlive 4-6. Washington: Logan McDole 16-44, Jude Carter 1-2, Kael Williams 1-(-7), Conner Leyden 1-(-24), Jayfred Espinosa 2-1. Passing – Mount Vernon: Kellen Haverback 17-23-271-3, Tommy Rhomberg 0-3-0-2. Washington: Logan McDole 18-34-199-3. Receiving –

Mount Vernon: Jase Jaspers 6-101, Cole Thurn 5-58, Michael Ryan 3-63, Watson Krob 2-46, Cooper Hird 1-3. Washington: Jayfred Espinosa 4-75, Conner Leyden 5-80, Mason Morgan 3-8,

Rachel Bierman | For the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun Coaches on the sideline congratulate Kael Riniker (No. 62) for his touchdown on a carry in rushing at Washington.

Rachel Bierman | For the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun Mount Vernon’s Jase Jaspers (No. 9) throws the ball to an official at Washington.

ship was negative .136. Mount Vernon had eight blocks (three by CaliAnn Whitaker). Eryn Jackson led with 11 digs.

“Our middles really did a great job of picking up their middle attack,” Willems said. “It is a hard read, but we got our hands up fast and they shut it down better than any time we’ve played against it.”

Meester and Maue each had seven kills in the championship. Schurbon added four and Whitaker had two. Sydney Huber had 18 assists.

“I think everyone did really well,” Maue said. “It was a relief after our first game against them, because that was scary, but we came out and executed right away.”

MV opened Class 3A, Region 1 action against West Marshall (13-22) on Tues -

LISBON VOLLEYBALL

day, Oct. 22. Then they’ll get either PCM (15-10) or Clark (9-20) on Thursday, Oct. 24 in Mount Vernon. The regional final is Tuesday, Oct. 29, in Mount Vernon.

“I love the opportunity to play at home,” Willems said. “So many benefits to that.”

The seniors are ready to return to state and try to better their runner-up finish in 2023.

“It is win or you’re done time,” Meester said. “I feel we’re going to come out and give it our all. We don’t want the season to end.”

LISBON FOOTBALL MV VOLLEYBALL

Lisbon blanks Van Buren 49-0

Ryan Suchomel

Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com

No. 4 Lisbon thumped Van Buren County 49-0 on Friday, Oct. 18, in Keosauqua.

The win clinched the outright Class A, District 5 crown and the Lions finished the regular season undefeated (8-0).

“It was a test,” Lisbon coach Dylan Hastings said. “It is a long bus ride down there, but the boys came out ready to play.”

It was a blue-collar win, with the Lions doing a little bit of everything.

Lisbon had three interceptions, including two picksixes – one by Dakota Clark and one by Tiernan Boots. Ben Kelley had the third pick.

The Warriors managed just 83 yards of offense. Their quarterback, sophomore Will Cocherell, was 6-of-26 passing (23.1 percent) for 56 yards.

“What is special about our defense is we get tons of pressure on the quarterback,” Hastings said. “We don’t track that stat, quarterback pressures, but if we did, we’d be one of the top teams in the state. We make the ball come out quick. And our defensive backs can lock down on the back end and break on the ball.”

Sophomore Ryder Meeks had the lone sack, but the Lions did have 6.5 tackles for loss (two for Gage Holub).

Because of great defense, the offense didn’t have to do too much. Clark finished with 118 yards passing and 83 yards rushing. Eight different players caught at least one pass, led by Holub with three catches for 55 yards.

Lions VB takes Tri-Rivers crown

Ryan Suchomel

Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com

Lisbon left no doubt which team was the top of the Tri-Rivers pack.

The Lions swept three pool play matches Thursday, Oct. 17, in the Lion’s Den, then traveled to Starmont on Saturday, Oct. 19, to win three more times to claim their third Tri-Rivers Tournament title in the past six seasons.

That included a win over Springville in the championship, 25-16, 26-24. The Orioles beat the Lions in five sets back on Sept. 12 in Springville.

“Honestly, we’re a different group,” Lisbon Coach Lance Kamaus said. “We have different pieces we didn’t have that night.”

Kamaus added that top hitter Mykala Luzum-Selmon did not “play up to her standards” in the loss to Springville. “But on Saturday, she definitely did.”

Luzum-Selmon had 12 kills and hit at a .435 efficiency, with just two errors.

Kamaus also cited the play of junior middle Alexa Roos, who had three kills.

“She doesn’t get the ball a ton, but we started going to her and she finished,” Kamaus said. “All were at critical junctures.”

On Thursday, Lisbon beat Central City 21-13, 21-11, Bellevue Marquette 21-10, 21-8, and North Linn 21-7, 21-18. On Saturday, they beat North Cedar 25-13, 25-20, and Edgewood-Colesburg 25-17, 25-14, before the championship.

Kamaus said a big key in all the matches was the Lions serve receiving.

“We were only aced three times,” Kamaus said. “That really allowed us to dictate the tempo of our matches. Our passing has been spot-on, lately.”

The coach said the fall has been filled with a lot of practices where the Lions do a lot of passing drills.

“We hammer into the kids this is the most important thing that we do,” Kamaus said. “We will always pass, no matter what.”

Lisbon has now won the Tri-Rivers Tournament in 2024, 2022 and 2020. The Lions also made the finals in 2023 and 2021.

But now attention shifts to the Class 2A postseason. Lisbon (30-7) opened against Durant (14-12) in Region 3 play on Wednesday, Oct. 23. The Wildcats play in the deeper River Valley Conference, and bring a pair of tall problems with 6-foot-2 sisters Katelynn and Allison Toft.

“Durant is a tough nut, right away,” Kamaus said. “I watched them last week. They have tall players that are good volleyball players.”

Win that, and Lisbon would have to travel to No. 14 West Burlington (35-6) on Monday, Oct. 28. The regional final is Wednesday, Oct. 30 at neutral site. No. 3 Dyersville Beckman (32-6) looms large in the top half of the bracket.

Boots, one of the top rushers in Class A, was limited to 25 yards on seven carries.

“You could really tell Van Buren was trying to take him away,” Hastings said. “That’s what is special about our offense. Sometimes Boots has to be the sacrificial lamb. But that opens it up for Dakota to run and throw.

“If a team keys on Boots, it opens it up for all of our other athletes to make plays.”

Lisbon now begins the playoffs with Starmont (5-3), the fourth-place team from District 4, on Friday, Oct. 25 at Walmer Field.

“Our first goal was to win district and be able to host in the first round,” Hastings said. “We love playing at home. We have great fans and our band does great

things. It is a fun atmosphere.”

Starmont is a team from the Tri-Rivers Conference and a team the Lions have played in the past. They lead with a strong rushing attack, led by senior Avery Vaske (827 yards, 14 TDs).

“They have a big, solid offensive line and can move you up front,” Hastings said. “We’re excited for the challenge to stop the run and make them do something they don’t want to have to do.”

The Class A playoffs are reshuffled after the first round, but the Lions could host again the following Friday.

“We’re focused on one game at a time,” Hastings said. “That’s the biggest thing for us.”

Jennifer Tischer | Contributed photo

Lisbon’s Dakota Clark (No. 1) tackles a defender earlier in the season.

Chris Umscheid | Solon Economist

Mount Vernon players celebrate match point in their game against Solon.

Contributed photo

The Lisbon Volleyball team celebrates being the Tri-Rivers Conference Champion this year.

SPORTS

MVLXC girls win WaMaC for third straight season

Olberding wins second straight title for boys

Ryan Suchomel

Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com

The Mount Vernon-Lisbon girls cross country team won the WaMaC Invitational for the third straight season, while senior Grady Olberding won his second straight title on the boys’ side Thursday, Oct. 17, at Antioch Christian Church in Marion.

MVL girls scored 53 team points to outpace Solon (76), Marion (93) and Clear Creek Amana (109).

Evelyn Moeller and Kiersten Swart finished second and third, respectively, to lead the Mustang attack.

“We knew it was going to be a battle with Solon,” MVL coach Kory Swart said. “The girls really ran so well. I’m super proud of them.”

Moeller finished in 19:14.7, about 20 seconds behind medalist Grace Estling of Center Point-Urbana.

Moeller tried to push past her on a windy, chilly night, but

didn’t quite have enough in the tank.

“She’s really good,” Moeller said of Estling. “With the wind and the hills … You’re not supposed to settle, but I guess I settled.”

That’s about the only time she’s came up short in the second half of the season. Since shattering her personal best by a minute at Williamsburg on Oct. 1, Moeller has been running near the front of every race.

“That race was crazy, it was like an out-of-body experience,” Moeller said. “I just kept going and my legs never hurt. I was in the front, and thought, well, I’ve never done this before.

“That gave me a lot of confidence. Once you do it once, you trust that you can.”

Moeller and Swart were followed by Edith Dawson (13th), Rose Pisarik (17th) and Cora Smith (18th). The entire second pack was fairly tight, with Miranda Sellner (21st) and Sam Schoff (25th) close behind.

“Edith ran a PR in less-than-ideal conditions,” Swart said. “Those girls really helped us secure the conference championship.

“Winning the WaMaC is always going to be a battle.”

It was a battle the MVL boys fell a little short in. Grinnell won the boys title with 50 team points. CCA was second with 56 and MVL was third with 61 points.

The Mustangs were missing their No. 3 runner, Seamus O’Connor, who was out sick.

“That didn’t help,” Swart said. “But Grinnell and CCA were very formidable. Even with him, it would have been interesting. They would have been hard to get.”

Olberding finished in 15 minutes, 47.9 seconds to claim medalist honors. He finished about 13 seconds ahead of Alex Torres of Vinton-Shellsburg.

“I’m starting to really enjoy racing and I’m having fun with it,” Olberding said. “I take risks, but I’m smart about it, smart about how I race best.”

Olberding was happy to win the individual title, but was hoping the entire team could celebrate.

“It kind of wasn’t the best feeling knowing we didn’t win as a team,” Olberding said. “I’m more team-based. Celebrating with my team is more important.”

Dawson Scheil was close on Olberding’s heels, as usual, finishing third. The pack did perform well, with sophomore Anthony Armstrong (18th), freshman Danny Dye (20th) and senior Wesley Sadler (22nd) rounding out the team score.

“It was a huge race for Danny to come in and run varsity,” Swart said. “And for him to earn second-team all-conference says a lot about Danny Dye.”

The championship against West Delaware was a rematch of their outdoor match Sept. 17 when the Mustangs had to rally from a 2-0 deficit to pull off the reverse sweep.

“We kind of didn’t really wake up right away (in Manchester),” senior Chloe Meester said. “We knew they run their middles fast, so our blocking coach (Dolfi Kalm) told us we had to get four blocks a set.”

Mount Vernon (39-4) had dropped its second match to an Iowa-based team the previous Saturday to Dike-New Hartford. So, at practice Tuesday, the Mustangs had a lot …. A lot … of defensive drills.

Team undefeated against CP-U, West Delaware, Solon

Ryan Suchomel

Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun ryan.suchomel@mvlsun.com

The WaMaC Volleyball Championships are always a battle. Top-ranked Mount Vernon had to navigate through some of the top teams in the state to claim the crown Thursday, Oct. 17, in Marion.

Mount Vernon didn’t drop a set. They beat No. 11 Solon 25-13, 27-25, Center Point-Urbana 25-19, 25-17, and No. 3 West Delaware 25-19, 25-13.

The Hawks eliminated No. 4 (4A) Clear Creek Amana in the other semifinal. CPU upset No. 9 (4A) Marion in the quarterfinal round.

“Any time you can win a WaMaC title, that’s a pretty big feather in your cap,” Mount Vernon coach Maggie Willems said. “Half of the field is rated. So, to come out on top is pretty exceptional, and I think it feels good.”

“We knew practice was not going to be pretty,” Meester said. “Coach was a little disappointed that our effort wasn’t there, and we did a lot of defensive drills. We kind of showed it off tonight.”

Willems said: “We were really working this week on our defensive pursuit. And tonight, I think our defense was just at a different level. The training we were working on really paid off.”

The aforementioned block came up big against the Hawks.

“We just came out strong and we came out ready because we had played them before,” senior Sydney Maue said. “We were just hitting on all cylinders.”

The first serve of the championship match was at 8:43 p.m. That didn’t bother the Mustangs, who played a match in Omaha this fall that ended close to midnight.

“We’re used to playing late,” Meester said.

Mount Vernon built an early 8-3 lead in the first set, getting three early kills from Maue. The Hawks closed the margin to one, 13-12, but MV responded with a Maue kill, a Paige Schurbon kill and two stuff blocks by Meester to push the margin back to five, 18-13.

The second set was even more impressive. Tied 5-5,

The Mustangs next run in the State qualifying meet Wednesday, Oct. 23, in Waverly. MVL will head north instead of 10 miles to the south in Solon, where the closest 3A SQM is.

“We’re excited to travel,” Swart said. “We’ve ran there this year, so we know the course. We’ve got to go do our job, and if we do, we’ll qualify for state.”

WaMaC Invitational Girls team scores – 1. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 53; 2. Solon 76; 3. Marion 93; 4. Clear Creek Amana 109; 5. Center Point-Urbana 113; 6. Williamsburg 126; 7. West Delaware 201; 8. VintonShellsburg 206; 9. Benton Community 228; 10. Grinnell 259. Medalist – 1. Grace Estling (CPU) 18:55.7. MVL – 2. Evelyn Moeller 19:14.7; 3. Kiersten Swart 19:36.5; 13. Edith Dawson 20:13.8; 17. Rose Pisarik 20:38.4; 18. Cora Smith 20:48.7. Also: 21. Miranda Sellner 21:03.3; Sam Schoff 21:15.1. Boys team scores – 1. Grinnell 50; 2. Clear Creek Amana 56; 3. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 61; 4. Williamsburg 125; 5. VintonShellsburg 132; 6. Solon 162; 7. Center Point-Urbana 188; 8. Marion 201; 9. West Delaware 244; 10. Benton Community 248; 11. Independence 322. Medalist – 1. Grady Olberding (MVL) 15:47.9. MVL – 1. Olberding; 3. Dawson Scheil 16:18.6; 18. Anthony Armstrong 17:34.0; 20. Danny Dye

25.

the Mustangs went on a 9-2 run with two aces by Mavrik Schweer, an ace by Maue, and a monster kill by Meester. West Delaware’s attack efficiency in the champion-

17:40.1; 22. Wesley Sadler 17:44.9. Also:

Chasen Caskey 17:50.3; 40. Grahm Vavricek 18:33.0.

Jonah Frey | For the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

Sophomore Evelyn Moeller finishes second overall in girls’ varsity race, leading Mount Vernon-Lisbon to a team victory and conference championship.

Jonah Frey | For the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun Mount Vernon-Lisbon senior Grady Olberding (Middle) and Junior Dawson Scheil (Left) in a fight up front for Mount Vernon-Lisbon in the boys’ varsity race.

Chris Umscheid | Solon Economist Mount Vernon’s Sydney Maue (No. 9) spikes the ball over the net.

The Daily Iowan

The 2024 Election Guide is a collaboration between The Daily Iowan, Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun, and Solon Economist. The guide includes preview stories on the election and candidate profiles in national, state, and local races.

STAFF

Jason Brummond | Publisher

Jami Martin-Trainor | Executive Editor, The Daily Iowan

Nathan Countryman | Editor, Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun

Chris Umscheid | Editor, Solon Economist

The

Daily Iowan

Jami Martin-Trainor | Executive Editor

Stella Shipman | Managing Editor

Marandah Mangra-Dutcher | Managing Editor, Print

Jack Moore | Managing Editor, News

Cody Blissett | Managing Editor, Visuals

Isabella Tisdale & Emma Calabro | Visual Editors

Roxy Ekberg | Politics Editor

Liam Halawith | Elections Editor

Riley Dunn | Digital Editor

Shreya Reddy | Audience Editor

Isabelle Foland | News Reporter & Spanish Translator

Debra Plath | Business Manager

Juli Krause | Classifieds/Circulation Manager

Heidi Owen | Production Manager

Nathan Countryman | Editor

Ryan Suchomel | Sports

Paul Rowland | Advertising Sales

Rochelle Ferguson | Office/Sales Assistant

Chris Umscheid | Editor

Catherine Bilskie | Advertising Sales

How to vote in the general election

Learn more on how to vote in-person, absentee, and by mail in Iowa.

Mia O’Connor-Walker Politics Reporter politics@dailyiowan.com

The 2024 general election will take place on Nov. 5. In order to vote in this election, a voter must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and an Iowa resident. Election day polls will be open in Iowa from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 pm.

Voter Registration

The deadline for online voter registration has passed, however, you can register to vote at the polls or the auditor’s office if voting early in person. As long as you are a resident of Iowa, you may register to vote at the polls on election day before receiving your ballot. You must bring proof of identity and residency such as a driver’s license or other official photo ID.

Certain college students may be able to register by showing a current student identification card for an Iowa college or university and a copy of their residential agreement. Once the in-person same-day registration form is complete and has been checked for completion by an elections clerk, the voter will be issued an in-person ballot.

College students may choose to register to vote at their home or their school address. If attending college in Johnson County, such as the University of Iowa, you may register with your Johnson County address. If your address is a dorm, include the dorm number and room number, but the street address of the dorm is not needed. In the “Where You Receive Mail” portion of the form, do not include your home address if you’re planning on voting in Johnson County with your school address.

If you’re a student who wishes to vote from their permanent/ home address, you either need to travel to vote in that county, or you will need to vote by absentee ballot.

How to return your absentee ballot

If you have not requested your absentee ballot in Iowa already, the deadline has passed and you will have to vote early in-person or at your polling precinct on election day. However, if you have already requested your absentee ballot, once it arrives follow the instructions that arrived with your ballot to complete it and send it to your auditor’s office.

However, to ensure your absentee ballot is counted it must be received by your county’s auditor on election day by 8 p.m. You can return your ballot via mail to the auditor’s office in the envelope provided to you with your ballot.

If you are worried it may not make it by election day you can return your ballot in person to the auditor’s office by 8 p.m. on election day, surrender your absentee ballot at your polling precinct on election day, or vote a provisional ballot at your polling precinct if your ballot cannot be surrendered. You cannot return your ballot to your polling precinct.

You can also track your absentee ballot request on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website.

In-Person Voting

Early voting began on Oct. 16 and continues through Nov. 4. Voters may vote early in-person at their county auditor’s office:

Johnson County

Johnson County Auditor’s Office, 913 S. Dubuque St.

There will also be a drive-thru voting option at the Health and Human Services Building parking ramp, 855 S. Dubuque St. Hours are:

• Weekdays from Wednesday, Oct. 16 through Monday, Nov. 4, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Evening hours from Monday, Oct. 28, through Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Saturday, Oct. 26 through Sunday, Oct. 27, from noon to 5 p.m.

• Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Sunday, Nov. 3, from noon to 5 p.m.

Find more information on the Johnson County Auditor’s website or call 319-356-6004.

Linn County

Linn County Public Service Center, 935 Second St. SW, Cedar Rapids.

Hours are:

• Weekdays from Wednesday, Oct. 16 through Monday, Nov. 4, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Find more information on the Linn County Auditor’s website or call 319-892-5300.

Jones County Jones County Auditor’s Office, 500 W. Main Street, Anamosa.

Hours are:

• Weekdays from Wednesday, Oct. 16 through Monday, Nov. 4, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Extended hours: Monday, Oct. 21 and Friday, Nov. 1, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Find more information on the Jones County Auditor’s website or call 319-462-2282.

Cedar County

Cedar County Auditor’s Office, 400 Cedar Street, Tipton.

Hours are:

• Weekdays from Wednesday, Oct. 16 through Monday, Nov. 4, from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Extended hours: Monday, Oct. 21, Friday, Oct. 25, and Friday, Nov. 1, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Find more information on the Cedar County Auditor’s website or call 319-886-3168.

On election day, there is no in-person absentee voting. Voters will have to vote at their polling place.

Polling places are determined by address, and voters may go to your county auditor’s website or contact their office to find their Nov. 5 polling location.

To vote in person you must provide one of the following forms of ID at the polling place on election day:

• Iowa Driver’s License (not expired more than 90 days)

• Iowa Non-Operator ID (not expired more than 90 days)

• U.S. Passport (not expired)

• U.S. Military ID or Veteran ID (not expired)

• Iowa Voter Identification Card (must be signed)

• Tribal ID Card/Document (must be signed, with photo, not expired)

Top-of-ticket excitement trickles to Iowa

Changing dynamics signal a tight race from the top to the bottom of the ticket.

Liam Halawith Elections Editor liam.halawith@dailyiowan.com

Months ago, voters’ collective outlook on the 2024 election wasn’t optimistic. Not many were excited by the impending presidential race. With President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump hurling towards an unpopular rematch, not many voters were excited to rehash the wounds of just four years earlier.

Polling bore that collective doom out with a January 2024 Reuters/Ipsos poll finding that 67 percent of poll respondents were “tired of seeing the same candidate.”

Voters were dissatisfied with their choices, and Democrats were anxious that Trump would be able to capitalize on disappointment with Biden’s administration and eke out a win.

Those anxieties reared their head just four months later when Biden, 81, fumbled a June 27 debate against Trump. Biden was seen looking confused, freezing mid-sentence, and stumbling over his responses to questions.

The poor debate performance started a media frenzy questioning Biden’s fitness for office, people wondering whether he would be able to fend off Trump’s increasing support.

Democrats, including Iowa’s 1st Congressional District Democratic Candidate Christina Bohannan and 2nd Congressional District Candidate Sarah Corkery, called for Biden to drop out.

Biden announced he would not continue his bid for the White House almost a month after his debate with Trump ended his electoral chances. Within hours, he endorsed his running mate Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place as the Democratic nominee for president of the United States.

The Democratic party quickly coalesced around Harris, nominating her in August at an energy-filled Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

Now, with Harris at the helm, Democrats are more excited about the upcoming election. Nationally, nearly eight in ten Democrats say they are more excited than ever to vote in November, according to an August Gallup poll. More

voters at-large are excited about voting on Nov. 5 with 69 percent of Gallup poll respondents saying as much. The poll shows that excitement is at the highest it has been since 2000.

This has translated to a transformed race with Harris leading national polling by small margins just weeks before the election, where Biden was behind Trump in the polls. The excitement opens new pathways to victory for Harris in the Electoral College, increasing her chances of winning in November.

Harris’ rise has also changed the race for down-ballot races, like those in Iowa. Cutting into Trump’s lead in the state Harris is only four points behind Trump in Iowa according to a September Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll. Democrats are also more excited in Iowa, with excitement among the party doubling from the June to the September edition of the Iowa poll. Now, more than 80 percent of Iowa Democrats are excited about the upcoming election.

Experts say that Harris’ rising tide could lift Iowa Democrats to electoral success by bolstering excitement at the

top of the ticket and bring down-ballot races from Congressional seats to state house races into play. With an exceptionally close race in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, this changing dynamic could decide the balance of power in the halls of Congress.

However, nationally, the presidential race is still in a dead heat with Harris only leading by three points, according to an October New York Times/Sienna College poll. Harris and Trump are also deadlocked in key swing states that will decide the election, according to October polling from Emerson College.

While the race is currently neckand-neck, Harris has expanded the map where Biden was unable to. Before Biden’s departure from the race, only Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania were considered “tossups,” but with Harris at the helm, she turned Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and North Carolina into swing states that could go either way — opening more pathways to victory for Harris than Trump.

Jordan Barry | The Daily Iowan Donald Trump speaks at a rally ahead of the Iowa caucuses at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Oct. 7, 2023.

Katina Zentz | The Daily Iowan

Then-Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calf. walks on stage during a town hall meeting at the IMU on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.

Harris brings Sun Belt states into play

Harris’s entry into the race expanded the map in states that pollsters previously thought would go to Trump, while Trump has been unable to convert states thought to be blue states into toss-ups.

“Essentially, it makes it harder for Trump to win and easier for her to win, because Trump is not changing what were blue states into tossups for him,” Sara Mitchell, a political science professor at the University of Iowa, said.

The collection of four swing states — Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and North Carolina — are colloquially known as the “Sun Belt” and open another path to a victory in the Electoral College for Harris.

The states were previously unmovable for Biden, whose lackluster polling and enthusiasm worried Democrats. But under Harris, she has closed in on Trump’s lead in the states, in some surpassing his lead.

October polling by Emerson College found that Harris leads in Nevada and is tied with Trump in Wisconsin and

Michigan, with Trump ahead in Pennsylvania, a state considered key in winning the Electoral College.

Candidates need 270 Electoral College votes to win the election. Each state is awarded Electoral College votes based on the number of members of Congress the state has. Forty-eight of

Two Iowa Congressional Districts considered tossups

With Harris closing in on Trump’s lead in Iowa and rising Democratic excitement, Iowa’s 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts are now considered toss-ups by election forecasters, signaling a tight race that could

“Essentially, it makes it harder for Trump to win and easier for her to win, because Trump is not changing what were blue states into toss-ups for him.”

Sara Mitchell

University of Iowa political science professor

the 50 states award Electoral College votes based on who wins the state, with Nebraska and Maine awarding votes based on Congressional districts.

While Harris’ expanded map means more ways to win the Electoral College, Iowa isn’t part of what experts consider a “swing state” despite Harris being only four points behind Trump in the state. Though Iowa Democrats hope that Harris’ tide of enthusiasm could turn into down-ballot success for the state.

affect the balance of power in Congress.

Iowa’s 1st District is especially close with an October Des Moines Register/ Mediacom Iowa Poll finding that a generic Democratic Congressional candidate is preferred by three percentage points to a generic Republican Congressional candidate in the district.

The three-point lead is well within the poll’s margin of error but is the first time a Democrat has taken the lead in a Congressional poll in Iowa this election cycle.

Donna Hoffman, a University of

Northern Iowa political science professor, said that the changing dynamics in Iowa’s 1st and 3rd Districts are unsurprising. The districts have a history of being competitive with three of Iowa’s four Congressional seats being held by Democrats as recently as 2018.

The race in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District has been competitive during most of recent political memory. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, won her seat in 2020 by only six votes when she ran for a seat vacated by long-time Democratic incumbent Dave Loebsack. In 2022, she won by only seven percentage points over Iowa City Democrat Christina Bohannan, who is running against Miller-Meeks for the second time this election cycle.

“In those kinds of situations, turnout makes and enthusiasm connected to that makes a huge difference,” Hoffman said. “That can make Democratic turnout surge, and down-ballot races can oftentimes benefit from that enthusiasm at the top of the ticket, just like they can be harmed by lacklusterness at the top of the ticket.”

Democrats have looked to capitalize on the changing dynamics in their favor. Iowa’s 1st District started the election cycle as “likely Republican” and has since

Ava Neumaier | The Daily Iowan

Christina Bohannan speaks to a student rally in the Iowa Memorial Union’s Big Ten Theater on Oct 11. Bohannan is running for Congress, and held a Q&A where she discussed reproductive rights, funding for education, and sustainable solutions for Iowa farmers.

Emma Calabro | The Daily Iowan

Mariannette Miller-Meeks speaks at a Wilton Back The Blue Rally at Axe & Oak Whiskey House on Oct 9. Alongside Miller-Meeks, Joni Ernst and Brenna Bird spoke on the upcoming election.

changed to “toss-up” status, showing favor moving towards Democrats in the district.

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said that the state party has been working to capture the recent uptick in Democratic excitement in the state, which doubled when Harris entered the race, by knocking on hundreds of thousands of doors across the state to turnout results for Democrats in key races.

“We’re excited to see what the enthusiasm around the Harris-Walz ticket brings to Iowa,” Hart said in a statement to The Daily Iowan. “We’ve always known that if we can get Democrats to the polls that we have an opportunity for our down-ballot races to get across the finish line. With this enthusiasm, we can make that happen.”

Bohannan said the change in polling reflects the changing dynamics that her team has seen on the ground.

“The truth is that polling really is

only useful if it reflects what we’re seeing and feeling on the ground, and we are. For many months now, we have felt that something is happening in Iowa,” Bohannan said in an interview with the DI . “People are ready for change and we have been seeing that appetite for change here for the last year since I got into this race.”

tossup race, obviously people are getting even more excited and more committed to doing this work and to really getting out the vote here,” Bohannan said. “So we have seen a lot of energy and enthusiasm around this race, especially in these last few weeks, as the race has started to move in our favor and it’s really exciting to see your hard work pay off.”

“The truth is that polling really is only useful if it reflects what we’re seeing and feeling on the ground, and we are.”

Christina Bohannan

Running

for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District

Bohannan said she has seen a large uptick in excitement in the district in just the past few weeks — ever since the race had signaled changing dynamics in polling.

“When they see that this is officially a

could see a boost from races at the top of the ticket.

“When the dynamics of the race seem to be changing, with more enthusiasm at the national level, you can see that may have a down-ballot effect,” Hoffman said.

Increased enthusiasm could turn into down-ballot success

While increased enthusiasm and Democratic results at the top of the ticket is likely to affect key Congressional races in Iowa, it could also mean results for state house races this election cycle.

Democrats in Iowa’s legislature currently hold a minority with only 36 seats in the 100-person Iowa House of Representatives, and only 16 seats in the 50-person Iowa Senate.

However, state house Democrats could see a boost from excitement for the top-of-the-ticket races.

Hoffman said that with today’s hyper-politicized world, not many voters are voting “split tickets,” or voting for a different party for races at the top of the ticket, like the president, and down-ballot races, like statehouse races. However, with Iowa’s large number of independent voters, it is more common in Iowa than in other states. Pairing a number of swing voters that will vote for Trump and a Democrat for state house, and increased turnout for Democrats, could spell electoral success.

“Having that enthusiasm, which can translate into having more boots on the ground talking to real people, can have a cascading effect to those state-level races that will benefit partisans of the same ticket,” Hoffman said.

Hart said that they expect a number of tight state house races this election cycle and have a higher number of Democrats running for state house seats than previous cycles.

This increase in excitement could mean electoral results for Iowa Democrats, Hoffmann said, but mostly signal that this election will be tighter than originally predicted from the presidential race down to state house seats that

“We are excited that these are quality candidates who have stepped up to run because they are dissatisfied with the extreme laws that have come from the Republican-controlled legislature,” Hart said in a statement to the DI. “Democrats will put people over politics and bring some common sense back to the statehouse that has been lacking with the Republican supermajority that’s currently in power. It’s time to bring common sense back into the halls of government.”

Ayrton Breckenridge | The Daily Iowan

Lawmakers sit in the house chamber during the first day of the 2024 Iowa legislative session at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines on Monday, Jan. 8.

AREA POLLING PLACES

JOHNSON COUNTY

Big Grove - St. Mary Catholic Church, 1749 Racine Ave. NE, Solon

Cedar - Johnson County Conservation Sutliff Shop, 5438 Sutliff Rd. NE

Graham - Celebration Farm, 4696 Robin Woods Ln. NE

Newport - Celebration Farm, 4696 Robin Woods Ln. NE

Solon - Solon Public Library, 320 W. Main St. (new location)

LINN COUNTY

Bertram Township - Camp Tanager, 1614 W. Mount Vernon Rd, Mount Vernon

Brown – Linn - Springville Memorial Library, 264 Broadway St., Springville

Franklin Township - Lisbon City Hall 115 N. Washington St., Lisbon

Mount Vernon 01 - Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, 212 7th St. SE, Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon 02 - Mount Vernon City Hall, 213 1st St. NW, Mount Vernon

Putnam Township - St. John Lutheran Church, 14 20 Walker St, Ely

JONES COUNTY

Greenfield - Martelle Fire Station, 212 Iowa Street, Martelle

YES

STATE BALLOT MEASURES

PUBLIC MEASURE ONE

A yes vote on Public Measure 1 would allow all 17-yearolds to vote in primary elections if they would be 18 on or before the date of the general election. This is currently state law but would codify the law in Iowa’s constitution.

A no vote would block the measure allowing 17-yearolds to vote in primary elections if they would be 18 on or before the date of the general election from becoming enshrined in the state constitution but would not reverse the current state law that allows this.

PUBLIC MEASURE TWO

A yes vote on Public Measure 2 would clarify the gubernatorial line of succession in Iowa’s constitution to say the lieutenant governor would assume the governorship if the current governor resignes, dies, or is removed from office. The new governor would be able to then appoint a new lieutenant governor.

A no vote on Public Measure 2 would reject the change to the state constitution and in the case of the governor leaving office, the lieutenant governor would not be able to legally appoint a new lieutenant governor until they are reelected.

JOHNSON COUNTY BALLOT MEASURE

PUBLIC MEASURE LY

A yes vote on Public Measure LY would allow Johnson County to borrow $30,000,000 in bonds for acquiring and developing public lands, protecting water quality, protecting air quality, protecting natural areas, protecting wildlife, and provideing for parks and trails, all of which will be managed by the Johnson County Conservation Board. The bond will increase property taxes by $7.09 per every $100,000

A no vote would reject the bond that the county has historically used to expand conservation efforts in Johnson County.

Lua Rasga | The Daily Iowan

CHRISTINA BOHANNAN

LOCATION: Iowa City

OCCUPATION: University of Iowa law professor

EDUCATION: University of Iowa

BIOGRAPHY

IOWA 1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Christina Bohannan is a University of Iowa law school professor and is originally from Florida but moved to Iowa more than to two decades ago to teach at the UI. Bohannan attended the University of Florida, where she obtained a degree in engineering and later went to law school. After law school, Bohannan served as a clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit.

The 1st Congressional District race has tightened in recent months with a generic Democrat being favored in the district by three percentage points, well within the poll’s margin of error, according to a September Des Moines Register/ Mediacom poll. The district is also rated as a toss-up by several election forecasters signaling the race is closing in.

ISSUES

Immigration: Bohannan said she supports securing the border and providing an earned pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Abortion: Bohannan supports codifying federal protections for abortion rights into law if she were elected to Congress.

AGE: 48

LOCATION:

SARAH CORKERY

BIOGRAPHY

Sarah Corkery is a small business owner from Cedar Falls and has previously worked in non-profits in the Cedar Falls area. Corkery has made reproductive rights, an issue her opponent

Ashley Hinson has staunchly supported restricting, a hallmark of her campaign. However, she has failed to gain traction against incumbent Hinson in the 2nd Congressional District.

Corkery is not expected to win the race with election forecasters rating the 2nd Congressional District race “Solid Republican.” A September Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll found that a generic Republican is favored by eight percentage points in the 2nd Congressional District.

ISSUES

Immigration: Corkery supports securing the border by providing more resources to the border and reforming the over-burdened immigration system to provide more pathways to citizenship.

Abortion: Corkery supports restoring federal protections for abortion and leaving the decision to a woman and her doctors.

MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS

BIOGRAPHY

Mariannette Miller-Meeks currently represents Iowa’s 1st Congressional District in Congress, claiming the open seat after incumbent Democrat Dave Loebsack retired. She won the seat by six votes in 2020 after several recounts. Miller-Meeks currently serves on the energy and commerce committee and the veterans affairs committee in the U.S. House.

The 1st district race has tightened in recent months with a generic Democrat being favored in the district by 3 percentage points, well within the poll’s margin of error, according to a September Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll. The district is also rated as a toss-up by several election forecasters signaling the race is closing in.

ISSUES

Immigration: Miller-Meeks said she supports securing the southern border and improving immigration policy and technology at the border.

Abortion: Miller-Meeks said she is pro-life and supports exceptions for rape, incest, or the life of the mother.

BIOGRAPHY

Ashley Hinson currently represents Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District after being elected in 2020 and beating incumbent Abby Finkenauer. Hinson was handily reelected in 2022 and won against Democrat Liz Mathis with over 55 percent of the vote. Hinson currently serves on the appropriations committee and the house select committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

ASHLEY HINSON

Hinson is expected to win the race with election forecasters rating her race as “Solid Republican.” A September Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll found that a generic Republican is favored by 8 percentage points in the 2nd Congressional District.

ISSUES

Immigration: Hinson said she supports restarting the border wall construction, increasing the number of border patrol agents, ending catch and release policies, and closing asylum loopholes.

Abortion: Hinson said she supports pro-life policies and exceptions to abortion bans.

IOWA 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

KAMALA

AGE: 59

LOCATION: Los Angeles, California

OCCUPATION: Vice President

EDUCATION: Howard University, University of California Law School San Francisco

U.S. PRESIDENTIAL

BIOGRAPHY

Vice President Kamala Harris rose to the top of the Democratic ticket in July after President Joe Biden ended his campaign. Biden stepped out of the presidential race after top party officials called for him to step down because of his poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump on June 27. Immediately after he announced he would be ending his campaign, Biden endorsed Harris to fill his spot. The party quickly coalesced around Harris and nominated her in August.

Harris has made the race more competitive by opening more pathways to victory in the Electoral College and gaining on Trump in polling across the country. In a Des Moines Register/Mediacom Poll Harris cut down on Trump’s lead in the state to only 4 percentage points, where Biden was 18 percentage points behind Trump. Poll respondents favored Trump with 47 percent saying they would vote for the former president and 43 percent saying they would vote for Harris. Harris is ahead according to an October New York Times/Sienna

College poll that shows her leading Trump by three points. However, Harris and Trump are in a dead heat in seven swing states that will decide the election.

Harris was the junior Senator from California from January 2017 to January 2021. Before that, Harris served for nearly a decade as the Attorney General of California, a title she often emphasizes in the campaign to draw a contrast between her and Trump, who is being prosecuted for over one hundred felony charges. Before her tenure as attorney general, Harris was the district attorney for San Francisco — another title she held for nearly a decade.

Harris has beat Trump in fundraising despite starting late. Harris has raised more than $670 million throughout her campaign, according to an Aug. 31 campaign finance report. Meanwhile, Trump has raised more than $313 million, according to an August campaign finance report. Harris has a cash-on-hand advantage with $235 million compared to Trump’s $145 million on hand.

ISSUES

Immigration: Harris supports securing the U.S.Mexico border, which has become a hot-button issue this election cycle. She also supports reforming the immigration system to make an easier path to citizenship. Harris would sign the bipartisan Senate immigration reform bill that she claims Trump killed for political gain.

Abortion: Harris has made abortion a hallmark issue for her campaign. She has committed to signing a bill to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law. Harris has said she supports protections for fertility treatments that have come under attack by abortion bans.

Education: Harris has vowed to make college more affordable and will continue to expand viable pathways to apprenticeships, trades, and alternative forms of higher education. Harris also pledged to continue fighting for student loan debt relief.

Gun control: Harris has said she will ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require universal background checks, and support red flag laws that keep weapons from people deemed dangerous. She will continue to support proven gun violence prevention programs. Harris said she will also continue to invest in funding law enforcement including training and hiring officers.

Katina Zentz | The Daily Iowan

Then-Sen. Kamala Harris speaks during her town hall at CarverHawkeye Arena on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. Harris stuck to her stump speech about equality, specifically among marginalized communities and condemned former President Trump’s divisive

AGE: 78

PRESIDENTIAL RACE DONALD TRUMP

LOCATION: Palm Beach, Florida

OCCUPATION: Former president, entrepreneur

EDUCATION:

Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania

BIOGRAPHY

Former President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign has been chock-full of highs and lows, ranging from unprecedented caucus results to legal woes and assassination attempts. Trump followed a high point of his campaign after trouncing challengers with an over 30-point lead in the Iowa Caucuses in January. His polls soared after his debate performance against President Joe Biden on June 27, before souring after a Sept. 31 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Since Harris took to the top of the Democratic ticket, Trump’s polling fell and the gap between the two parties closed. A September Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows Trump’s lead in the Hawkeye state cut to only 4 percentage points ahead of Harris. Respondents to the poll favored the former president with 47 percent saying they would vote for Trump and 43 percent saying they would cast a ballot for Harris.

An Oct. 8 national New York Times/Siena College poll shows Harris taking a slim lead in the race to the

Oval Office. The findings show that it was the first time Harris had led Trump in the Times/Siena poll since Biden dropped out of the race. The flip came as the candidates’ campaign entered its final month. However, Trump and Harris are in a dead heat in the seven swing states that will decide the election.

On May 30, a New York state jury convicted Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with 2016 payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He was later indicted on dozens of other federal and state charges.

Multiple assassination attempts have been made on the former president as he campaigns for his second term in office. The first attempt occurred at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13 when a young man fired shots at Trump from a rooftop near the rally site. Another attempt was made on Trump’s life as he was golfing on Sept. 15 at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

ISSUES

Immigration: Trump supports a historically restrictive agenda on immigration, including carrying out the largest deportation operation in American history. Trump plans to continue with his previous immigration policies, including finishing building a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump supports ending birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented parents.

Abortion: Trump’s messaging on abortion remains inconsistent, ranging from taking credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 to criticizing some of the most restrictive state laws on abortion, including his home state Florida. Trump supports abortion rights being decided by states and recently vowed to veto a federal abortion ban.

Education: Trump plans to cut federal funding for any school teaching critical race theory, “radical gender ideology,” or other “inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content.” Trump’s education platform focuses on parental rights, universal school choice, and a fight for “patriotic education” in schools. Trump opposed widespread student loan debt cancellation but backed measures to consolidate income-driven repayment plans. Trump plans to “deport pro-Hamas radicals” who protest on college campuses.

Gun control: Trump remains a staunch supporter of the right to bear arms. Trump plans to safeguard gun rights by appointing federal judges who oppose new firearm limits.

Cody Blissett | The Daily Iowan Former President and 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during the annual Lincoln Dinner at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines on Friday, July 28, 2023. Thirteen different 2024 Republican presidential candidates had 10 minutes to speak.

AGE: 43

LOCATION: Des Moines

OCCUPATION:

Former U.S. Department of Agriculture official

EDUCATION: Drake University

LANON BACCAM

IOWA 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

BIOGRAPHY

Lanon Baccam is a former U.S. Department of Agriculture official who worked with farmers and veterans for almost a decade. Baccam, originally from Mount Pleasant, now lives in Des Moines. Baccam also served in the Iowa National Guard for a decade and served a tour in Afghanistan.

The 3rd Congressional District race has tightened in recent months with a generic Republican being favored in the district by eight percent, according to a September Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll. The district, however, has been moved to a toss-up by election forecasters, signaling the race is closer than previously thought.

ISSUES

Immigration: Baccam said he supports securing the U.S.-Mexico border and would work across the aisle to do so and create more pathways to citizenship.

Abortion: Baccam supports restoring federal protections for abortion access and preventing a national abortion ban.

RYAN MELTON

LOCATION:

ZACH NUNN

BIOGRAPHY

Zach Nunn currently represents Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District in Congress after being elected in 2022. Nunn beat then-incumbent Democrat Cindy Axne by only a few thousand votes. Nunn currently serves on the Agriculture Committee and the Financial Services Committee.

The 3rd Congressional District race has tightened in recent months with a generic Republican being favored in the district by 8 percent, according to a September Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll. The district, however, has been moved to a toss-up by election forecasters, signaling the race is closer than previously thought.

ISSUES

Immigration: Nunn Supports reforming the immigration system, but supports more aggressive actions to secure the border.

Abortion: Nunn said he is pro-life but does not support a nationwide abortion ban and thinks it should be left to the states.

IOWA 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

BIOGRAPHY

Ryan Melton is an insurance supervisor from Webster City and has lived and worked in the community for most of his life. Melton was born and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. He went to Iowa State University and obtained a Bachelor of Science in history and political science.

Melton has made environmental issues and property owner rights the key tenants of his campaign against his opponent Randy Feenstra. However, he has failed to gain traction against Feenstra in the district.

Feenstra is expected to win the race with election forecasters rating the race as “Solid Republican” and a generic Republican is favored by 19 percent, according to a September Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll.

ISSUES

Immigration: Melton said he supports fixing the broken and overwhelmed immigration system and providing more pathways to citizenship. He also supports addressing the root causes of migration to the U.S.

Abortion: Melton supports codifying federal protections for abortion rights into law if he were elected to Congress.

RANDY FEENSTRA

BIOGRAPHY

Randy Feenstra currently represents Iowa’s 4th Congressional District after being elected in 2020, beating incumbent Republican Steve King in a primary contest. Feenstra was reelected in 2022, beating Democrat Ryan Melton by a wide margin. Feenstra has faced a primary challenge by Kevin Virgil earlier this year for not being conservative enough, but Feenstra won the primary contest. Feenstra currently serves on the house agriculture and house ways and means committee.

Feenstra is expected to win the race with election forecasters rating his race as “Solid Republican” and a generic Republican is favored by 19 percent, according to a September Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll.

ISSUES

Immigration: Feenstra said that he supports securing the southern border by ending “catch and release” policies and reinstating “Remain in Mexico” policies. He also supports fighting the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.

Abortion: Feenstra said he is pro-life and that he is against using tax-payer funding to legalize abortion.

MOLLY DONAHUE

BIOGRAPHY

Molly Donahue of Marion has been both an Iowa state senator and representative over the past six years. She has also been a teacher in public schools for the past 33 years. She was a ranking member on the Workforce Committee and Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee. She also served on the Appropriations Committee, Education Committee, and Health and Human Services Committee in the Iowa Senate.

BIOGRAPHY

BRANDY ZUMBACH MEISHEID

Brandy Zumbach Meisheid was born and raised on a farm in rural Coggon. She works as director of development for Buena Vista University. Brandy has served on AmeriCorps, working with youth at the Bridge of Storm Lake and coaching high school basketball. She also serves as vice chair on the Linn County Board of Adjustment and has volunteered with the Linn County Fair Association and Walker Pickle Days.

LINN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DISTRICT 3

Rod Sullivan, of Sutliff, Iowa, is running for reelection as a Johnson County supervisor in 2024. Sullivan has served as a supervisor since 2004 and currently holds the position of board chair. Sullivan graduated with a B.A. from the University of Iowa in 1998. His campaign focuses on raising the minimum wage, expanding affordable housing, advocating for human rights, and preserving local landmarks like the Historic Poor Farm. He also prioritizes issues such as climate action, public transportation improvements, and sustainable development. In addition to his public service, Sullivan’s work is deeply rooted in community-centered governance and fiscal responsibility.

Lisa Green-Douglass, of rural North Liberty, is running for reelection to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors in 2024. She was first elected in a special election in January 2016, filling a vacancy, and has since been reelected in 2016 and 2020. Originally from Carson, California, Green-Douglass moved to Johnson County in 1980 and holds a Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Iowa. Before her role on the board, she worked as a Spanish-language trainer, collaborating with local law enforcement and other agencies. GreenDouglass is known for her advocacy in mental health care, contributing to the creation of the GuideLink Center.

JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Mandi Remington, of Iowa City, who has lived in Johnson County for most of her life, is running for a seat on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors in 2024. Growing up in a military family, life in Southern California and Japan before settling in North Liberty at age 14. Over the past 26 years, Remington has experienced the community from many perspectives: as a student, small business owner, single parent, domestic violence survivor, and University of Iowa employee. Currently, Remington is vice chair of the University of Iowa Council on the Status of Women and the founder and director of the Corridor Community Action Network, where she focuses on equity, advocacy, and empowerment.

BIOGRAPHY

LISA GREENDOUGLASS

BIOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHY JAY GORSH

Jay Gorsh, a former public school teacher and current director of University of Iowa Wildlife Instruction and Leadership Development, is running for Iowa House District 91 as a Democrat. Gorsh grew up in Williamsburg, Iowa. Education is a prominent issue on Gorsh’s campaign website, stating that he wants to increase investment and ensure adequate oversight of funding use. He aims to lower student-teacher ratios and collaborate with school districts and communities across the state to make Iowa the top state for education. Gorsh’s campaign website also highlights conservation as a top priority. He aims to spearhead creative policies to protect soil and water quality and provide incentives to bring long-term benefits.

KENT MCNALLY

BIOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHY

JUDD LAWLER

Judd Lawler is a former assistant U.S. attorney and seventh-generation Iowan, according to his campaign website. He advanced from the Republican primary on June 4 and is running for Iowa House District 91. Lawler vows to protect individual rights, particularly the rights of the unborn, and the first six amendments of the U.S. Constitution. He is also committed to ensuring public safety by protecting law enforcement officers, firefighters, public health workers, and the military. His campaign website says Lawler will support legislative measures to give small farmers more freedom and support agriculture and agribusinesses. Having spent years homeschooling his two children, he also supports parents’ right to choose the best educational model for their children.

IOWA HOUSE DISTRICT 91

Kent McNally of Central City is the Democrat nominee for House District 83. McNally has served for 30 years as a union electrician. He’s been vice president and a board member of the union for multiple years. For the past eight years, he has served as an instructor at the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, a national organization focused on providing apprenticeships. McNally has also served as a volunteer with his church and in his community of Walker.

McNally’s priorities in the election include strong public schools for all Iowans, collective bargaining for Iowa workers, increasing the minimum wage, and equal rights for all Iowans.

BIOGRAPHY

CINDY GOLDING

Incumbent Cindy Golding of Palo has been representing House District 83 since 2020. Prior to serving in the Iowa Legislature, she has served as an entrepreneur, farmer, and chemist. She has served 22 years on the Linn County Farm Bureau board, 18 years as a church youth leader, and 32 years on the statewide leadership of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. In the legislature, she serves on the Labor and Workforce Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee, and the State Government Committee. She is the vice chair of the Local Government Committee for the Iowa House.

Landowner rights is a key issue for Golding. She joined with several Republicans to stand against the use of eminent domain for the proposed carbon sequestration pipelines in northern Iowa. Education, economic, health, and family values are also key issues for Golding.

IOWA HOUSE DISTRICT 83

PHIL

BIOGRAPHY

WIESE Phil Wiese is a sixth-generation farmer who lives outside Blue Grass. He grew up in Dixon, and managed the Tipton Maid-Rite when he turned 18. He and his partner, Bao, farm outside Blue Grass. He earned degrees from Kirkwood Community College and the University of Iowa. He is an Eagle Scout and also serves as a volunteer firefighter and first responder with the Montpelier Fire Department.

BIOGRAPHY

Bobby Kaufmann, who grew up in Wilton and then went to Muscatine Community College and the University of Iowa, has been part of the legislature since 2012. Kaufmann currently serves on the State Government, Government Oversight, Judiciary, and Legislative Council committees, and is chair of the Ways and Means Committee. Kaufmann is a crop and livestock farmer and owns and operates a steel hauling, construction and demolition business in Cedar County.

IOWA HOUSE DISTRICT 82

BOBBY KAUFMANN

BIOGRAPHY

Andy is a husband, father, grandfather and retired attorney from Jones County. Andy and his wife, Connie, have been married for 40 years. They live on an acreage on the edge of Anamosa. Andy served 28 years in the House and Senate, and was first elected in 1978. He went on to serve on the Jones County Board of Supervisors. After retiring from a 35-year law practice, he ran for and was elected to the Iowa House in 2016, and defeated in 2020 by Steven Bradley.

BIOGRAPHY

DR. STEVEN BRADLEY

Steven Bradley, who was elected in 2020, is from Cascade and is a dentist and flight instructor. Bradley serves on the Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor and Workforce committees. Bradley has been a dentist for 35 years, and has worked his way to the president of the Iowa Dental Association. He has served as president of the Cascade Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Finley Hospital Foundation Board, and completed dental missions in Bolivia, as well as the Iowa Mission of Mercy.

Ed Chabal, a Democrat, is running for the District 46 seat in the Iowa State Senate. According to his campaign website, Chabal was raised on a farm in rural Southeast Iowa. Chabal is a husband and father of two. He has previously served in several roles in education organizations, including as a school business official in the Mount Pleasant Community School District and president of the Association of School Business Officials International Board of Directors. He has also volunteered as a coach for various youth sports teams in his community. Chabal’s campaign website states that he is running to support and fully fund public education, support small businesses, and protect reproductive freedoms.

BIOGRAPHY

Dawn Driscoll, a recruiter for Hummer AgriBusiness Search, Inc., is seeking reelection to her seat in the Iowa State Senate for Senate District 46. Driscoll is a Republican and has served her district since January 2023. From 2023-24, she was the chair of the Senate agriculture committee and a member of several other committees, including local government, natural resources and environment, state government, ways and means, and workforce. Driscoll, a sixth-generation farmer, was previously the president of the Iowa County Farm Bureau. Driscoll has been involved in volunteer positions in her community, such as coaching sports teams, teaching religious education classes, and being chair of agriculture programming in local schools.

Todd Taylor, a Democrat of Cedar Rapids, has served two terms as a state senator. Prior to serving as a senator, Taylor served 12 years as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives. Taylor received a B.A. in English from Graceland College and a B.S. in political science from the University of Iowa.

Terry Chostner of Alburnett has served as a sales engineer for Hartfiel Automation since July 2000. He was chosen by the Republican party to run as a candidate for Linn County Auditor. Chostner had previously run for a seat on the Alburnett School Board in 2023.

Abortion takes center stage in the election

Reproductive rights and abortion are a focus for Democrats this election cycle.

Roxy Ekberg Politics Editor roxy.ekberg@dailyiowan.com

Before receiving abortion care, Allison Bierman, 31, of Iowa City, did not consider herself to be politically active. If someone had asked her if she would be speaking at public forums and appearing in Congressional candidate’s ad campaigns, she said she would have laughed in their face.

However, Bierman is now speaking out about her experience requiring an abortion for an ectopic pregnancy, which means the baby was growing outside of

the uterus.

Featured in an ad for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District candidate and Democrat Christina Bohannan, Bierman is encouraging voters to cast their ballots for Bohannan, whose campaign centers on reproductive rights and access to abortion.

Bierman said Iowa’s recent six-week abortion ban catalyzed many people, including herself, to become politically active and advocate for reproductive freedom. The ban, enacted on July 29, bars almost all abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected.

Local artist Kymbyrly Koester

does not consider herself to be an activist. Instead, she uses art as a medium to express her pro-abortion rights stance. She helped facilitate a visit from the BodyFreedom for Every(Body) truck, a cross-country art exhibition tour advocating for abortion rights, in Iowa City on Sept. 18.

Sitting barefoot in her garden at Public Space One, Koester spoke about her experience receiving an abortion at the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City when she was 23 years old. Koester said Iowa’s abortion ban both saddens and enrages her.

“It breaks my heart if I let it because it should not even be a conversation,” Koester said. “It’s a medical procedure. Everybody, everybody has the right to medical procedures.”

Koester uses art to create space for joy and says holding spaces against the horribleness of hateful legislation is important.

“There’s no excuse, really, to be quiet in this day and age,” Koester said.

Encouraging people to take up space and speak out for their rights, Koester said it is important to vote in both local and national elections, and voters must take the time and energy to read up on candidates’ stances.

With similar and more restrictive abortion bans enacted in 21 states, the upcoming 2024 general election marks the first presidential election in which abortion is on the ballot since the overturning of Roe v. Wade two years prior.

Candidates from the top to the bottom of the ballot have put abortion at the forefront of the upcoming election.

Democrats advocate for abortion rights and push to overturn bans restricting access. Bohannan, running against incumbent U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, has placed reproductive rights at the center of her campaign. Vice President Kamala Harris has done the same in her bid for the White House, using the issue as a platform for her campaign.

Republicans running for office, such as former President Donald Trump, take varying stances on the issue, with some calling for a national abortion ban and others supporting abortion bans with exceptions for rape, incest, or the life of the Mother. Others suggest the issue should be left to the states to decide.

Political messaging from both parties centers around key issues for voters. In this election cycle, abortion is top-of-mind for a large swath of voters.

Reproductive rights and abortion access are top issues for voters in Iowa and across the nation. A September 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 51 percent of voters feel abortion is an important issue when considering who to vote for in the 2024 election.

A candidate’s stance on the issue is likely to determine whether or not a voter casts a ballot in their favor.

Campaigning on abortion

Megan Goldberg, Cornell College political science professor, said Democratic campaigns are focusing on stories of real women who have required abortion care or have been negatively impacted by restrictive abortion policies, such as Bohannan’s ad featuring Bierman.

Goldberg said this tactic is emotionally appealing to voters and helps show the magnitude of the issue to voters, and Democrats are most effective when they use real stories and real people impacted by the issue.

“It’s one thing for a candidate to come and say there’s a lot of gray area, let me get into the technicalities and the medical terms,” she said. “Frankly, even if it’s a really high-stakes issue when it’s technical, it’s often boring. It’s much more effective to relay information — and this comes from cognitive psychology — to do it in a narrative form, and to illustrate this with a narrative.”

Vice President Kamala Harris has been the White House’s public face for efforts to ensure abortion access and improve maternal health care. She became the highest-ranking U.S. official to make a public visit to an abortion clinic in March.

Her messaging on abortion has highlighted the stories of those impacted by the abortion ban.

At a rally in Atlanta, Georgia, a swing state, she referenced reporting from ProPublica about two Georgia women whose deaths were deemed preventable by maternal health care experts, who blamed the state’s abortion ban.

Republicans have struggled to navigate how to campaign on abortion.

“Trying to sort of stage out where they actually are on this issue is really tricky for them sometimes,” Goldberg said.

“We saw that there are several candidates right now trying to walk back where the party stands.”

Despite deeming himself the “most pro-life president in history,” Trump has waffled on abortion policy over the years.

Trump cemented the conservative U.S. Supreme Court majority which overturned Roe v. Wade.

His latest position is that abortion policies should be decided by the states.

Republican vice presidential candidate Ohio Sen. JD Vance called for a national abortion ban in 2022, however, in an Oct. 1 debate against Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, he echoed Trump’s stance that abortion should be decided by states.

Goldberg said abortion was not always a polarizing issue as we see it today. Goldberg said before the Roe v. Wade decision, neither party had staked out their contrasting positions on abortion.

Goldberg said in the 2016 election, abortion was top of mind for certain types of voters, especially religious political groups, but it is now a much more important issue to voters because state and national lawmakers can now enact legislation and policy

about abortion.

“When you’re voting for a legislator, there is a good chance that they’ll be voting on some sort of reproductive rights concerning abortion, and that wasn’t really the case before,” she said.

Goldberg said the abortion debate that people are familiar with now is very divisive and deeply tied to religion.

“This is one of those issues that they start to become active on as part of an overarching ideology about what family life should look like in the U.S.,” Goldberg said.

Abortion issue spurs endorsements, activism

Reproductive health care and abortion access are critical issues for voters in Iowa politics and across the nation, following restrictive abortion bans such as the Hawkeye state’s recent sixweek abortion ban. A recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll found 64 percent of Iowans think abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

Nationally, voters largely support abortion access. According to Gallup’s May 2024 poll on Americans’ abortion views, 51 percent of U.S. adults favor expansive abortion rights, wanting abortion to be legal in all or most cases.

Organizations on either side of the abortion issue support candidates who back their views.

Within hours of President Joe Biden announcing his decision to drop out of the race, several pro-abortion advocacy groups endorsed Harris. EMILYs List, which champions Democratic women in support of abortion rights, announced it would spend at least $20 million to boost Harris. Anti-abortion rights groups have been dismayed by Trump not endorsing a national abortion ban, they continue to rally for the former president.

In Iowa, both pro and antiabortion groups support candidates who align with their views on the issue.

Pulse Life Advocates, an Iowa

pro-life group, does not endorse candidates but is working to educate Iowans on how candidates stand on the issue of abortion.

Maggie DeWitte, executive director of Pulse Life Advocates, said the organization has been stressing the importance of the upcoming election via its website, blogs, and social media posts. The material highlights the positions of national and state candidates.

“We’re working very vigorously to make sure that Iowans are aware of where candidates stand on the life issue, and if they are in support of restricting abortion, if they’re in support of protecting moms and babies from the harm of abortion,” DeWitte said. “We want people to be educated on that and understand what their positions are regarding the life issue.”

DeWitte and her organization are laying the groundwork with Iowa legislators to bring forward a Life at Conception Act next legislative session.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa PAC is investing a quarter million dollars into this election, said Mazie Stilwell, director of public affairs in Iowa for Planned Parenthood North Central States. The funds are invested directly into candidates and used to spread education about the importance of reproductive freedom

Stilwell said the organization knows momentum for reproductive freedom is at an all-time high, and they want to capitalize on that and help voters see how their current representatives have either supported or failed them on the issue. She said she wants Iowa’s voters to see the difference they can make on the issue.

“We’re in a time where, of course, there’s so much conversation about the presidential election, and we do have an incredible champion at the top of the ticket in Vice President Harris and Governor Walz, but what we also know is

former Iowa state senator and current Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart in 2020 by just six votes. She won reelection against Bohannan in 2022 by seven percentage points.

in Iowa’s closest race

Races in two of Iowa’s Congressional districts tighten, with Democratic candidates capitalizing on their Republican opponent’s wavering and unpopular stances on abortion.

The 1st and 3rd District U.S. House races in Iowa are now considered true “tossups,” according to an Oct. 5 Cook Political Report, an organization of nonpartisan elections analysts.

A September Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll found Democrats are favored in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District by three points, well within the poll’s margin of error. The poll marks the first time during the 2024 election cycle that polling showed favor for a Democrat over a Republican in an Iowa congressional district.

Stilwell said voter turnout for reproductive freedom is especially important in these local elections because legislative seats have come to just six votes in past elections.

Miller-Meeks, running for reelection in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, first won her seat in Congress against

“We know that these come down to just a handful of votes,” Stilwell said. “So when voters are feeling like their vote doesn’t make a difference, or nobody cares what I really think about these issues, or my one vote isn’t going to tip the balance of power here, my one vote is not going to go far. It’s so important for us to be able to get that message across.”

Bierman said if people want to see an immediate change in Iowa regarding reproductive health care, they need to focus on local and state government and ensure the state has elected officials who reflect what the people want.

Electing pro-choice candidates like Bohannan to Iowa’s legislature won’t reinstate Roe v. Wade, Bierman said, but it will go a long way in the state government of overturning Iowa’s abortion ban. She said electing just a Democratic president will not trickle down to make these changes in local government.

“I really hope people are focusing as much on their local elections as they are the national one as well, because it’s equally, if not more important right now,” Bierman said.

Bohannan

Miller-Meeks

SAMPLE BALLOTS

Sample ballots are shown for the Mount Vernon 01 and Solon districts. You can find a sample ballot for your district on your county auditor’s website.