Solon Economist – 10.10.2024

DASHING FOR KIDS

annual Bone Dash benefits kids with rheumatological diseases

Chris Umscheid Solon Economist chris.umscheid@soloneconomist.com

SOLON — For the third year runners and walkers, some in costumes, covered the trails of the Solon Recreation and Nature

Area (SRNA) in support of kids undergoing treatment at the U of I Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

The Bone Dash, as the event is called, raises money for the Joining Hands Support Group for pediatric rheumatology patients. Co-organizer Courtney Kremer said the

1-Mile Bone Dash Run Results

1, Emma Olsem, Solon, 6:50. 2, Peter Bittorf, Cedar Rapids, 7:03. 3, Lou Bittorf, Cedar Rapids, 7:03. 4, Lewis Ekroth, Solon, 7:32. 5, Sam Ekroth, Solon, 7:36. 6, Lincoln DeWild, Solon, 8:41. 7, Jason Dole, Cedar Rapids, 8:59. 9, Delaney DeWild, Solon, 9:10. 10, Cecilia Dole, Cedar Rapids, 9:12. 11, Lauren Vande Kamp, Olympia, WA, 9:35. 12, Mahaasrei Ghosh, Iowa City, 9:35. 13, Finn Grafft, Solon, 9:41. 14, Alice Ekroth, Solon, 9:52. 15, Margaret Ekroth, Solon, 9:52. 16, Grey Johanns, West Branch, 10:17. 18, Josh DeWild, Solon, 10:37. 19, DJ Borkovec, Solon, 11:21. 20, Rhett Borkovec, Solon, 11:22. 21, Emelyn Ward, Iowa City, 11:37. 22, Grayson Ward, Iowa City, 11:37. 23, Lillian Ward, Iowa City, 11:38. 24, Sarah Johanns, West Branch, 11:50. 25, Jonathan Hansen, Iowa City, 13:31. 26, Meredith Hartman, Altoona, 13:40. 27, Everett Welter, Iowa City, 13:41. 28, Eva Esch, Kalamazoo, MI, 13:41. 29, Matthew Hartman, Altona, 13:45. 30, Kathleen Hartman, Altoona, 13:47. 31, Sloane Owen, Solon, 14:10. 32, Blake Grafft, Solon, 14:29. 33, Denise Grafft, Solon, 14:34. 34, Isabel Vinson, Iowa City, 14:59. 35, Georgia C., Iowa City, 14:59. 36, Estelle Vinson, Iowa City, 15:06. 37, Robert Vinson, Iowa City, 15:07. 38, Noel Kamisar, Solon, 15:11. 39, Jason Kamisar, Solon, 15:15. 40, Katelyn Kamisar, Solon, 15:19. 41, Norah Owen, Solon, 15:30. 42, Clayton Owen, Solon, 15:32. 43, Paige Owen, Solon, 15:38. 44, Lillian DeWild, Solon, 15:59. 45, Kimberly DeWild, Solon, 16:02. 46, Anneliese DeWild, Solon, 16:09. 47, Stephanie Clark, Coralville, 16:16. 48, Jack Reynolds, Coralville, 16:16. 49, Daniel Bissell, Iowa City, 16:38. 50, Warren Staal, Iowa City, 16:45. 51, Westen C., Iowa City, 16:46. 52, Willow O’Sullivan, Solon, 17:10. 53, Kaden O’Sullivan, Solon, 17:11. 54, Amanda O’Sullivan, Solon, 17:13. 55, Kathy Ruppenkamp, Iowa City, 17:22. 56, Katie Ruppenkamp, Iowa City, 17:22. 57, Cora Welter, Iowa City, 17:30. 58, Madi Fetters, Solon, 17:53. 59, Alex Armstrong, Solon, 18:24. 60, Claudia Schultz, Solon, 18:25. 61, Kristin Hansen, Iowa City, 18:37. 62, Jacob Hansen, Iowa City, 18:38. 63, Nicole Fetters, Solon, 18:59. 64, Elise Sinnwell, Iowa City, 19:10. 65, Nolan Sinnwell, Iowa City, 19:11. 66, Leah Sinnwell, Iowa City, 19:11. 67, Trisha Welter, Iowa City, 19:13. 68, Shirley Best, Iowa City, 19:13. 69, Fred Phillips, Washington, 19:41. 70, Norma Axel, Letts, 19:52. 71, James Cecil, North Liberty, 19:58. 72, Tim Cumings, Cedar Rapids, 19:59. 73, Joe Cecil, Solon, 19:59. 74, Bennett Cumings, Cedar Rapids, 20:00. 75, Liz Cecil, North Liberty, 20:06. 76, JR Kenlin, North Liberty, 20:06. 77, James Peters, Galesburg, IL, 20:07. 78, Esther Phillips, Washington, 20:07. 79, Elliott Bissell, Iowa City, 20:12. 80, Jennifer Schubert, Iowa City, 20:13. 81, Alison Southern, Ames, 20:14. 82, Calista Colschen, Muscatine, 20:17. 83, Eloise Dole, Cedar Rapids, 20:18. 84, Violet Borkovec, Solon, 20:18. 85, Michelle Dole, Cedar Rapids, 20:18. 86, Jennifer Theurer, Iowa City, 20:27. 87, Brooklyn Stafford, Mount Vernon, 20:27. 88, Maria Frazer, Coralville, 20:30. 89, Sydney Jellison, Williamsburg, 20:31. 90, Katelyn Hass, Woodward, 20:38. 91, Betty Axel, Letts, 20:41. 92, Karl Theurer, Iowa City, 20:43. 93, Rory Phillips, Washington, 20:43. 94, Skylar Stafford, Mount Vernon, 20:44. 95, Maren Judisch, Woodward, 20:44. 96, Jessica Hass, Woodward, 20:45. 97, Joanna Reichert, Tipton, 20:54. 98, Michelle Phillips, Washington, 20:56. 99, Charlotte Southern, Ames, 20:57. 100, Scott Southern, Ames, 20:59. 101, Carrie Gaeta, Muscatine, 21:01. 102, Ryan Hass, Woodward, 21:30. 103, Brett Stafford, Mount Vernon, 21:31. 104, Jeff Vander Molen, St. Charles, 21:32. 105, Tessa Vander Molen, St. Charles, 21:34. 106, Sawyer Vander Molen, St. Charles, 21:34. 107, Devin Vander Molen, 21:35. 108, Kim Vander Molen, St. Charles, 21:35. 109, Cohen Vander Molen, St. Charles, 21:36. 110, Clair Vander Molen, St. Charles, 21:36. 111, Parker Stout, Washington, 22:35. 112, Becky Borkovec, Solon, 22:53. 113,

Darcy Stepanek, Cedar Rapids, 23:10. 114, Everly Stepanek, Cedar Rapids, 23:10. 115, Jennifer Yoder, Washington, 23:18. 116, Sonya Housholder, Washington, 23:19. 117, Grace Knowles, Solon, 23:32. 118, Amelia Knowles, Solon, 23:34. 119, Lauren Manning, Cedar Rapids, 23:50. 120, Callum Manning, Cedar Rapids, 23:51. 121, Lylah Manning, Cedar Rapids, 23:51. 122, Cindy Wilson, Altoona, 24:02. 123, Chris Hartman, Ankeny, 24:05. 124, Robin Frost, Altoona, 24:07. 125, Dan Hartman, 24:08. 126, Michelle Reichert, Tipton, 24:20. 127, Presley Reichert, Tipton, 24:20. 128, John Frost, Waukee, 24:21. 129, Julie Buhmeyer, Cedar Rapids, 24:51. 130, Mary Buhmeyer, Burlington, 24:57. 131, Lisa Crawford, Washington, 25:35. 132, Heather Knowles, Solon, 26:43. 133, Justin Knowles, Solon, 26:43. 134, John Frost, Des Moines, 27:49. 135, Janlyn Peters, Galesburg, IL, 28:49. 136, Jenny Strouse, Iowa City, 29:06. 137, Acie Strouse, Iowa City, 29:06. 138, Adam Strouse, Iowa City, 29:07. 139, Mina Satuito, 29:09. 140, Madalyn Walsh, Tiffin, 29:12. 141, Nancy Watson, Hiawatha, 32:50. 142, Rory Watson, Hiawatha, 32:50. 143, Everett Watson, Cedar Rapids, 32:20. 144, Corrina Watson, Cedar Rapids, 32:51. 145, Arielle Watson, 32:51. 146, Robert Watson, 32:51. 147, Molly Evans, Cedar Rapids, 39:34. 148, Robert Hartney, Cedar Rapids, 39:34. 149, Andrew Cecil, Solon, 1:05:19. 150, Clint Dairymple, Solon, 1:36:40.

5k Bone Dash Run Results

1, Jaciyon Willis, Cedar Rapids, 16:56. 2, Aidan Schlichting, Iowa City, 17:51. 3, Ryan Olsem, Solon, 21:14. 4, Jeanine Link, Durant, 22:16. 5, Isaac Lynch, Rochester, MN, 22:21. 6, Jahaii Willis, Cedar Rapids, 23:58. 7, Thomas Schneider, Iowa City, 24:09. 8, Fernando Ramos, Coralville, 24:31. 9, Campbell Mitvalsky, Iowa City, 24:49. 10, Grace Maurer, Iowa City, 25:37. 11, Blaire Frein, Ely, 26:42. 12, Katie Shatek, Ely, 26:42. 13, Filiz Korkmaz, Coralville, 27:00. 14, Jack Schneider, Iowa City, 27:09. 15, Daniel Dandridge, Coralville, 27:25. 16, Christopher Strouse, Iowa City, 27:33. 17, Waldo Lieberman, Iowa City, 27:43. 18, Kooper Pelzer, Tipton, 29:22. 19, Staci Esch, Kalamazoo, MI, 30:16. 20, David Noerper, Iowa City, 30:17. 21, Mirai Hong-Noerper, Iowa City, 30:17. 22, Eric Welter, Iowa City, 30:18. 23, Madison Lincoln, Charles City, 30:19. 24, Secalee Schinstock, Mount Vernon, 30:32. 25, John Kellbach, Solon, 30:39. 26, Daniel Ginger-Goodson, Marion, 30:52. 27, Kristine Roggentien Tiffin, 30:55. 28, Lily Hintz, Iowa City, 31:15. 29, Emma Buresh, Iowa City, 31:21. 30, Thomas Hart, Iowa City, 31:21. 31, Nicole Schneider, Iowa City, 31:45. 32, Isabel Scott, Iowa City, 32:53. 33, Jeffrey Murray, Iowa City, 33:12. 34, Sarina Murray, Coralville, 33:22. 35, James Braun, Iowa City, 33:33. 36, Stephanie Wilson, Delhi, 33:34. 37, Crystal Nicholson, Richland, 34:11. 38, Lindsay Vinson, Iowa City, 34:21. 39, Kelsey Harkrider, Solon, 34:22. 40, Vivienne Esch, Kalamazoo, MI, 35:02. 41, Kevin Esch, Kalamazoo, MI, 35:07. 42, Elizabeth Cerrito, Iowa City, 37:34. 43, Danielle Nicks, North Liberty, 37:45. 44, Ed Bjork, Mount Vernon, 38:32. 45, Jackie Reichert, Tipton, 39:15. 46, Dirk Stadtlander, Iowa City, 40:13. 47, Tina Coakley, Zwingle, 41:41. 48, Billy Coakley, Zwingle, 41:41. 49, Sarah Helle, Tiffin, 42:04. 50, Amber Gehring, Coralville, 43:38. 51, Brynn Bowers, Iowa City, 43:38. 52, Arden Gardner, Kalona, 52:31. 53, Cassie Moon, Nichols, 52:31. 54, Michelle Gardner, Kalona, 52:31. 55, Piper Wilson, Delhi, 58:33. 56, Holly Wilson, Mount Vernon, 58:36. 57, Shawn Walker, Charleston, IL, 1:01:42. 58, Scott Walker, Coralville, 1:01:42. 59, Andy Peters, Marion, 1:01:45. 60, Shannon Hampson Marion, 1:01:46. 61, Barb Walker, Charleston, IL, 1:01:49. 62, Kelly Willis, Cedar Rapids, 1:04:46. 63, Terry Larson, North Liberty, 1:04:48. 64, Mycah Kimble, Solon, 1:31:13.

Results courtesy of Mark Kargol, Timing and Events Manager, True Time Racing Services

Broke down? Walk amuck, you could get struck

From the Iowa Department of Transportation

Did you know that most of the pedestrian fatalities in Iowa are not people getting hit as they cross a city street? In 2023, 22 of the 30 pedestrian fatalities were on roadways with a speed limit of 55 or higher when they were doing things like walking “amuck” outside of their car tending to a breakdown.

No matter how good of a shape you keep your car in, at some point, you may find yourself stranded along the side of the road with a flat tire, engine troubles, no gas, or a myriad of other issues. If you are ever in that situation the best course of action may seem counterintuitive, but it’s to stay in your car.

If you do encounter car trouble, following these steps can help keep you safe:

• As soon as you notice a problem, turn on your hazard lights.

• Slow down and pull off the road as far away from moving traffic as possible. Ideally it is best to be on the right shoulder on as flat of ground as you can find.

• Turn your wheels away from the road and put on the emergency brake. This will prevent your vehicle from rolling into traffic if you are on a hill or hit from behind.

• Stay in your vehicle, with your seat belt and hazards on. This will help signal to others that they need to follow Iowa’s Move Over law, which means when they see any flashing lights they must move over if it is safe to do so or slow down and pass at a speed that allows them to react if necessary. Your seatbelt protects you if you happen to get hit.

• Call for help. The best source of help is 911, which can send emergency responders. These responders are trained and have the proper equipment to assist along busy roadways. Many are hesitant to call 911 because they don’t feel being stranded along the road is an emergency. However, when you are in that scenario you are vulnerable and things can turn into an unsafe situation for both you and others driving past you.

In honor of spooky season we celebrate a Halloween classic movie where it is discovered that “All Hallow’s Eve has become a night of frolic, where children wear costumes and run amuck!: www. youtube.com/watch?v=MMHbO4WJA10.

In 2024 in Iowa, 255 people have been killed in traffic crashes as of Friday, October 4. That’s an increase of seven since Friday, Sept. 27. In Iowa in 2023, there were 377 traffic-related deaths.

SOLON FLU CLINIC

Tuesday, October 15

Solon United Methodist Church 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccines

Visit https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php? owner=21141420&calendarID=9040276 to register for the 10/15/24 COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine clinic online. A form must be submitted for BOTH flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Everyone will need to bring their insurance card(s) with them and we will make a copy at the time of registration. For those unable to register on-line please call 319-430-8655 to enable your registration.

Sponsored by: Solon Senior Advocates & Towncrest Pharmacy

Volume 144 I Issue 41

Of a Little Weekly Miracle PO Box 249, Solon, IA 52333 Phone: 319-624-2233 news@soloneconomist.com

The Solon Economist 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@soloneconomist.com.

STAFF

Publisher Jason Brummond jason.brummond@dailyiowan.com

Editor Chris Umscheid chris.umscheid@ soloneconomist.com

Advertising Sales Catherine Bilskie catherine.bilskie@ soloneconomist.com

Reporter Intern Joel Kellar

Production Manager Heidi Owen heidi.owen@dailyiowan.com

Business Manager Debbie Plath debra.plath@dailyiowan.com

Official Newspaper: Solon, Johnson County, Solon Community School District, Solon Tri-Township Emergency Response

Solon Economist USPS #500860 Copyright © 2024 by Student Publications, Inc. is published weekly by Student Publications, 100 Adler Journalism Building, Room El31, Iowa City, IA 52242. Call 319-6242233 to subscribe. Periodicals postage is paid at Iowa City, IA, and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Solon Economist at PO Box 249, Solon, IA 52333. Subscriptions: Contact Catherine Bilskie at 319-624-2233 or catherine. bilskie@soloneconomist.com for additional information. Subscription rates: Johnson and adjoining counties – $55 annually; elsewhere In Iowa – $75 annually; out of state –$85 annually.

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SOLON PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS

Embark on a chilling adventure with "Iowa Haunted Corridor," a spine-tingling presentation that maps out the Corridor's most haunted locations. Discover the eerie tales and ghostly legends behind each stop on this haunted road map. From abandoned asylums to historic inns, this journey uncovers the dark history and supernatural occurrences that make Iowa a hotspot for paranormal activity. Perfect for ghost enthusiasts and history buffs alike, this presentation offers an engaging blend of local folklore and intriguing insights into Iowa's haunted past. Buckle up and prepare for a spine-chilling exploration into the unknown! Local Author Katie Hopkins will share the paranormal experiences and the journey's she has taken Tuesday, October 29 at 6:30 p.m.

Library Events

We’re hosting another Homeschool Meetup Friday, October 18 at 10:00 a.m. Join us to meet other homeschoolers in the area and learn about resources that the public library offers to your household. We will start with introductions, hear from our Youth Services Librarian about helpful resources in the library and surrounding area, and have time to socialize with each other. Unable to make it to this program but want to know more? Email ysl@solon.lib.ia.us for more information.

Cookbook Club is Saturday, October 19 at 11:00 a.m. This month, we’re diving into the cozy, comforting world of pumpkin. We’re excited to host a potluck where every dish will feature the rich flavors of pumpkin or pumpkin spice. Bring your favorite pumpkin-inspired dish to share—whether it’s a savory pumpkin soup, sweet pumpkin pie, or a creative pumpkin-spiced treat. It’s a chance to explore new recipes, enjoy great food, and connect with fellow food lovers. LEGO Night is for all-ages! We'll have fun prompts, STEM challenges, and of course many, many LEGOs to build with. Bring your family or just bring some friends, who says adults can't play with LEGOs? Join us in the community meeting room for LEGO Night Monday, October 21 at 6:00 p.m.

Library Access

Regular Library hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00

a.m.-7:00 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Closed Sundays. We will be closed for our annual staff safety training Friday, October 25.

Thursday, October 31, we will be open 9:00 a.m.4:00 p.m. to allow staff and community members time to safely travel home before trick-or-treating begins. Don’t forget, the digital library is always available! Find an eBook, eAudiobook, magazines and more with Bridges, or with the Libby app on your favorite smart device. You can even stream classic films, discover new favorites, and more with Kanopy on your favorite smart device.

Everyone is welcome at the Library and our programs. Please contact us with access needs.

What’s New?

Discover forgotten history, learn something new, or be surprised by one of these new nonfiction titles at the Library!

America’s Deadliest Election: The Cautionary Tale of the Most Violent Election in American History by Dana Bash with David Fisher. The Election of 1872 was the most contentious in American history. After both parties complained of corruption, neither candidate would concede, two governors claimed office and chaos erupted. Rival newspapers engaged in a bitter war of words, politicians plotted to overthrow the government, and their supporters fought in the streets and attempted assassinations. The entire country watched in grim fascination as the wounds of the Civil War were ripped open and the promise of President Grant’s Reconstruction faltered in the face of violent resistance and the birth of the Ku Klux Klan.

The Great River: The Making & Unmaking of the Mississippi by Boyce Upholt. The Mississippi River lies at the heart of America, an undeniable life force that is intertwined with the nation’s culture and history. Its watershed spans almost half the country, Mark Twain’s travels on the river inspired our first national literature, and jazz and blues were born in its floodplains and carried upstream. In this landmark work of natural history, Boyce Upholt tells the epic story of this wild and unruly river, and the centuries of efforts

to control it. Over thousands of years, the Mississippi watershed was home to millions of Indigenous people who regarded “the great river” with awe and respect, adorning its banks with astonishing spiritual earthworks. The river was ever-changing, and Indigenous tribes embraced and even depended on its regular flooding. But the expanse of the watershed and the rich soils of its floodplain lured European settlers and American pioneers, who had a different vision: the river was a foe to conquer.

Iowa Haunted Corridor by Josh & Katie Hopkins. Learn about the urban legends and real ghost stories of the many locations they, as paranormal investigators, have researched. Discover the hidden charms of many well-known historic locations through the Corridor with a number of surprises Iowa has in store. Includes…* The Granger House Victorian Museum* Coe College* The Old Capitol (Iowa City)* Slater Hall at the University of Iowa* The “Outskirts” of the Corridor…and more! Without documented history, we as paranormal investigators would go into an investigation blind and would not have documentation to validate our experiences. With a field that is already not scientifically proven, we need history to back-up our experiences. History provides a catalyst for hauntings; it is the fuel and we, as investigators, are the flame. Let’s explore Iowa’s Haunted Corridor and join us for our program with the author on Tuesday, October 29th at 6:30 p.m.

Trash Talk: An Eye-Opening Exploration of Our Planet’s Dirtiest Problem by Iris Gottlieb. In a world of mass consumption and busy schedules, taking the time to understand our own trash habits can be daunting. In Trash Talk, the ever-curious and talented Iris Gottlieb pulls back the curtain on the intricacies of the global trash production system and its contribution to climate change. From the history of the mafia’s rule of the New York sanitation system to orbital debris (space trash) to the myth of recycling, Gottlieb will help readers see trash in a whole new way. Complete with beautiful illustrations and several landfills’ worth of research, Trash Talk shines a much-needed light on a system that has been broken for far too long, providing readers with surprising, disgusting, and insightful information to better understand how we affect garbage and how it affects us.

The Hero You Don’t Know: Hubert Humphrey and the Long Struggle for Civil Rights

IOWA CITY — To mark the 60th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, award-winning author Samuel G. Freedman, professor of journalism at Columbia University, and Norman Sherman, who served as Vice President Hubert Humphrey’s press secretary during Lyndon Johnson’s administration, will delve into a bit of history that bears remembrance this presidential election year Thursday, October 24 at 6:30 p.m. the Iowa City Public Library (123 S. Linn St.). The event, co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Johnson County, UI Political Science Department, UI School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Black Voices Project, Delta Sigma Theta, UI Afro-American Cultural Center, UI Hawkeye History Corps, and the Iowa City Public Library, will provide an opportunity for Freedman and Sherman to examine Humphrey’s efforts—in tandem with African

League of Women Voters of Johnson County to co-host event featuring award-winning author Samuel G. Freedman OPEN HOUSE You are invited to an with State Representative AMY NIELSEN Sunday, October 13, 2024 2-4pm

U S on community .

American leader A. Philip Randolph—to advance civil rights in the 1940s, which set the stage for what President Lyndon Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Humphrey accomplished in the 1960s.

The event will be live-streamed on the Iowa City Public Library’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/ thelibrarychannel. Recordings will be available on www.lwvjc.org and www.facebook.com/LWVJCIA.

The League of Women Voters of Johnson County, Iowa is a nonpartisan, grassroots civic organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of

major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to people 16 years and older, of all gender identities. With over 100 years of experience, the League is one of America’s oldest and most trusted civic nonprofit organizations.

OPINIONS

‘In fourteen hundred and

ninety-two...’

Food for Thought

I wonder if school children are still as misinformed as my generation was about the discovery of America - why our native people are called Indians, and a number of other mysterious inconsistencies.

In my day, children were told that “... Columbus sailed the ocean blue” and discovered America, even though he, himself, didn't think he had. We celebrated Columbus Day on October 12, and didn't even bother to wonder why our continent was called America rather than Columbia. We believed that he had discovered America even though it had clearly been discovered by the people who already lived here. He called them Indians, and died believing that what he had discovered was, not a continent previously unknown to Europeans, but a new route from Europe to India (thus the mistaken reference to the natives as Indians.)

Although Europeans were beginning to accept the belief that the world was round and not a flat plane with abruptly ending perimeters, they had no idea of its actual size or even the existence of the American continents. And they certainly had no clue that the continents had already been “discovered” at least seven times, by various adventurers over a wide range of years.

Although there is disagreement about the date, it is known that Polynesians discovered South America around 1200 A.D. where they encountered people descended from hunter-gatherers who had arrived from northern Asia by way of the Bering land bridge that at one time connected today's Russia and Alaska. And there is abundant evidence that Lief Erikson had sailed from Iceland to the Americas 500 years before Columbus even thought about it.

Erikson was the son of Eric the Red, a powerful Viking chieftain who ventured into the little-known waters of the North and Atlantic seas in search of new people, places and riches. While fearsome, these bold explorers contributed much knowledge of navigation and geography to the peoples with whom they came in contact. Their habit of claiming the strongest and most beautiful women from places they raided definitely contributed to the heartiness and handsomeness of subsequent generations, especially in the Nordic countries.

It was Giovanni Caboto (Cabot) who actually identified North America as a continent in 1497. Another adventurer, Amerigo Vespucci, made the first rudimentary maps of the newly-identified continent and whose name was consequently applied to it.

The name “America” does not, even today, refer to our nation but to the general area of the two continents known as North and South America. Once known to the natives as Turtle Island, our country had several other names before it became The United States of America. Various European countries explored and laid claim to portions of what was referred to as “the new world” until the original area populated by immigrants mainly from England became known as “the colonies.” It took roughly two hundred years before the residents of this “new” land agreed that they wanted to separate their destiny from that of the English and other European nations and establish a new, independent and true democracy. The achievement of that lofty goal is still a work in progress.

Columbus Day, long observed on the 12th of this month was changed in 1971 to the second Monday of the month to give citizens an extra day on the weekend. During the past fifty years, many Americans have begun to observe the date in a different manner. Owing to Columbus's own mistreatment of the indigenous people, they choose to focus on the American natives and the celebration of their culture. In 1989, South Dakota became the first state to officially change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day. Many states have since followed suit. Our native citizens traditionally celebrate with native food, performances, music, art such as beadwork, painting and sculpture, and the performance of traditional ceremonies. The rest of us can learn much from them.

Too many officials show lack of concern for transparency

Talk about lousy optics — and I am not referring to out-of-style eyeglasses. Public perception is the topic for today.

Stray Thoughts

There were a couple of recent news nuggets that illustrate in different ways an uncomfortable fact of life in Iowa — that too many state and local government officials are *not* comfortable with the public looking over their shoulders as they perform their official duties.

One case overflowing with irony involves the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors. The other involves State Treasurer Roby Smith.

I have been tracking issues like these since the earliest days of my newspaper career. Among the first watchdog stories I wrote involved a county supervisor who arranged to sell a county tractor to his son without any public bids.

Research studies and polls show the tax-paying public believes in the importance of government business being conducted in public, not in secret. Research also shows the public appreciates the work done by two-legged watchdogs, like journalists and concerned citizens, who attend government board and council meetings and shine the spotlight on how tax money is spent.

When the Des Moines County supervisors met in Burlington recently, they voted to kick out spectators and go into closed session to discuss with county department heads how the county handles requests for government records.

You read that correctly. The supervisors closed their doors to discuss the county’s position on transparency.

The Burlington Hawk Eye reported the county’s information technology director told supervisors they needed to discuss the matter without the public because other counties are facing many records requests from what he called data mining companies that create reports using government information and then sell that information to the public.

Supervisors Chairman Tom Broeker justified the closed meeting by pointing to a provision in the public meetings law that allows private discussions to “review or discuss records which are required or authorized by state or federal laws to be kept confidential.”

There’s just one problem with that justification. The records other counties are providing to these data companies are *not* required or authorized to be kept confidential. Often, those requests involve real estate records — which have been available to the public since pioneers crossed the Mississippi River nearly 200 years ago and began building houses in what is now Des Moines County.

Simply put, the supervisors did not want to discuss the public’s business with the public present. The supervisors failed to heed the very first paragraph of Iowa’s 50-yearold public meetings law — which says the law seeks to assure through open meetings that the basis and rationale of government decisions are easily accessible to the people.

The news about Treasurer Roby Smith grows out of a journalist’s request for records to show how often he works from his home in Davenport rather than his Capitol office in Des Moines. In rejecting the records request, officials said, in effect, that providing the *number* of days Smith scanned his security badge and entered the Capitol could jeopardize his safety.

Grassley and colleagues outline stark consequences of Biden-Harris failure to follow border laws, protect whistleblowers

WASHINGTON, DC — Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) led 32 Senate and House colleagues in demanding President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris collect DNA samples from every immigrant the Department

No one wants to jeopardize Smith’s safety. But it is poppycock to assert that knowing how many days he was at the Capitol last month somehow puts him at risk today.

There is an issue of his accountability to the public at stake here. He and other elected officials in Iowa government do not punch a timeclock when they are on the job.

But a couple of facts have put Smith in an uncomfortable position in the public spotlight. Three years ago, Gov. Kim Reynolds directed that most state government employees resume working from their offices, rather than their homes. U.S. Senator Joni Ernst has been a vocal critic of federal agencies allowing employees to work from home. She has called for more transparency on these work-fromhome practices.

Journalist Laura Belin, who publishes the Bleeding Heartland news and commentary website, learned from public records that Smith has been reimbursed for his travel expenses for driving from Davenport to attend work-related meetings of the Iowa Lottery Board and the IPERS retirement system’s investment board, which meet away from the Capitol complex.

Smith has not been reimbursed for travel expenses between his home and his Capitol office.

When Belin asked for any calendars that showed the dates Smith was in the Capitol, his staff said no such records existed. Belin then asked for the security card data showing the dates on which he used his card to enter the Capitol.

Officials refused, citing an exemption to the public records statute that protects information and records “relating to security measures such as security and response plans, security codes and combinations, passwords, restricted area passes, keys, and security or response procedures.”

Belin was not asking for any of that. All she wanted was the number of days Smith used his badge to enter the Capitol. Disclosing the number of days does not jeopardize the treasurer’s safety any more than releasing his reimbursement for trips he took by car or airplane.

As I told Belin, my hunch is the treasurer’s office does not want the public to know that Smith is spending most of his time working from Davenport.

I am OK if he chooses to work from home. I am not OK when his staff tries to keep from the public how often he goes to the Capitol.

I am OK with Des Moines County supervisors discussing how they should respond if companies come asking for large volumes of real estate and assessor data. I am not OK with those discussions occurring in private.

The Legislature has made it clear conducting government business in public may cause inconvenience or embarrassment to public officials or others. But that is an important way citizens can hold their officials accountable.

Randy Evans is executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes openness and transparency in Iowa's state and local governments. He can be reached at DMRevans2810@gmail.com.

of Homeland Security (DHS) encounters, per the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005.

Legally protected whistleblowers to Grassley’s office have exposed how DHS’s failure to collect DNA hampers law enforcement efforts to stop violent crime. Notably, DHS missed three separate opportunities to gather DNA from the illegal immigrant who murdered Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five.

“It is beyond heartbreaking to know that my daughter’s brutal death could have been prevented. This isn’t just a bureaucratic oversight; it’s a deadly failure that turned a protective measure into a hollow promise,” said Patty Morin, mother of Rachel Morin. “President Biden and Vice President Harris’ reckless disregard for border security puts every American family in imminent danger. How many more precious lives have to be lost before they decide to protect the people they were elected to serve?”

Randy Evans

Iowa Freedom of Information Council

Milli Gilbaugh

“Following the law, protecting whistleblowers and ensuring the safety of American citizens like Rachel Morin shouldn’t be controversial,” Grassley and colleagues wrote to President Biden and Vice President Harris.

“The Biden-Harris administration’s DHS must follow the law—the consequences are stark when they don’t.”

Background:

The DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005 requires federal law enforcement to collect DNA from every individual Customs and Border Protections (CBP) arrests, charges, convicts or detains. Yet, per whistleblower disclosures to Grassley’s office, DHS has collected DNA samples from fewer than

Voting yes for the conservation bond, an expense,

approximately 40 percent of the more than 10 million known illegal immigrants who have entered the country during the Biden-Harris administration. Whistleblowers additionally revealed to Grassley that a CBP official who recently visited major border facilities in Arizona and California did not observe any DNA collection taking place. As a result of disclosing DHS’s failures to Congress, whistleblowers have suffered long-term, severe retaliation.

Joining Grassley on the letter are House Judiciary Committee

Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.), House Foreign Affairs Committee

privileged to have significant green space. Adding in Kent Park, and the other parks and natural areas under county, city, and land trust control, one could argue that we have an abundance of protected recreational land.

Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), as well as Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Thune (R-S.D.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).

Additional House co-signers include Reps. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), Lance Gooden (R-Texas), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), Michael Rulli (R-Ohio), Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), Clay Higgins (R-La.), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), August Pfluger (R-Texas), Mike Ezell (R-Miss.) Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.) and Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.).

Jim Miller

Over 50 years ago, there was a small grove of poplar trees on the corner of Hazelwood Avenue and Rohret Road in southwest Johnson County. Once, coming home at sunset, I saw that grove turn a brilliant orange. Thousands upon thousands of monarch butterflies had chosen that spot to rest on their southward migration. Some of the branches held so many that their weight caused the branches to droop.

No one will ever see this again. The poplar grove is gone, converted into corn field, and the monarch population is dwindling to the point of extinction. Since 1970, one estimate says that 69 percent of the world's wildlife has disappeared. Why have we - us, humans, the so-called intelligent species - allowed this to happen?

Mea culpas don't count. What matters is what we chose to do now - and what we can do, as individuals (because what other choice is there)?

I'm going to suggest two things: one easy, and one more difficult, but personally rewarding.

In Johnson County, the beautiful Iowa River bisects the landscape. With this corridor, including large tracts managed by the Corps of Engineers and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, we are

But a closer look reveals that development is taking a drastic toll on areas outside those perimeters. In the last fifteen years, the population of the county has increased by 23 percent. This has resulted in an explosion of new housing, businesses, schools, roads, and more. Coupled with the push to bring more marginal farmland under cultivation, this is resulting in the rapid disappearance of woodlots, wetlands, fencerows, and the other small, niche habitats that offer homes to wildlife [more on this later].

So what can you do? First, the easy part. In the upcoming election you can vote yes for a $30 million bond issue to help our county protect more land. In 2008, voters approved a similar $20 million bond issue that leveraged $17.1 million in grants, donations and revenues to protect 1,176,7 acres of land for public use and construct 9.2 miles of hardsurface trails (to see the full list, go to OurLandWaterFuture.org () ( (http://ourlandwaterfuture. org/ (http://OurLandWaterFuture. org)) (http://ourlandwaterfuture. org/))). It's time to replenish this funding source.

Will it increase taxes? Yes, but by a very modest amount. And this could be viewed as a savings account, rather than an expense, since it helps assure that some small part of the natural world will be protected for future generations. All you have to do is turn over the ballot and vote yes.

Now the difficult part, since it requires doing something. If you've driven around the county much, it's

Treasurer Smith celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month

DES MOINES — State Treasurer

Roby Smith is celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Held every October, NDEAM is an annual campaign to raise awareness of disability employment topics and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. “During NDEAM, we celebrate the value and talent workers with disabilities add to the workplace and economy,” said

Smith. “Good jobs change lives, and all workers—including those with a disability—deserve the opportunity to prepare for, obtain and succeed in them.”

IAble is Iowa’s Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) plan and allows Account Owners and their support system to save up to $18,000 per year without compromising their eligibility for federal means-tested programs like Supplemental Security Income. Working Account Owners can contribute an additional $14,580 to their account in 2024.

hard not to notice that many people are taking a proactive approach to wildlife and pollinator habitatcreating prairies, planting trees, and replacing lawns with native plants. You could join them. A little work upfront might result in a lot more leisure later on; you might even get rid of the noise and bother of lawn mowing altogether, not to mention the chemicals.

How important are these small, niche areas? A few years ago, I was working in the vegetable garden at Grant Wood Elementary (which adjoins what remains of the prairie Russ Bennett helped the school plant many years ago), when I heard the distinctive call of a male Common Yellowthroat warbler. I never got a glimpse of him, but I knew that he and his mate had found a safe and secure place to nest, even in this small space. Our yard, close to downtown Iowa City, has fireflies because we choose to "leave the leaves" that allow them to overwinter.

If you are fortunate enough to have a larger piece of propertybe it woodland, wetland, or even some of that "sacred" corn ground - you should consider putting a conservation easement on it, to protect it from development. The Bur Oak Land Trust and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation can show you how to do this.

Our community is growing because people find it a nice place to live. Let's keep it that way.

Jim Walters is retired from farming and as a groundskeeper for the University of Iowa Athletic Department. He helped to organize the Johnson County Songbird Project and is active in conservation work. He can be reached at: jcmwalt@infionline.net.

“To help spread the word about IAble benefits, we’ve created an Employment Toolkit for employers and employees,” concluded Smith. Employers can utilize the IAble Employer Guide to find ways to inform employees about IAble and learn how to establish IAble payroll direct deposit as a free tool to help expand their benefits package. Other organizations linked on the Resources for Employers page on IAble.gov /benefits/ contributions/able-to-work can help employers learn about ABLE plans, find tips on creating inclusive work environments and receive guidance on job accommodations. For additional information about IAble and to access these resources, visit IAble.gov. Connect with the Treasurer on Facebook, Instagram and X, to stay informed on current events and updates. For details about the Plan, review the Plan Disclosure Booklet.

Office of the State Treasurer of Iowa

Bringing butterflies and bees back to Johnson County

Johnson County Conservation teams up with Project Wingspan to boost regional pollinator populations through seed harvesting.

Emma Jane The Daily Iowan

Community members harvest seeds at the Conservation Education Center at Kent Park in Johnson County on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. Voulenteers hiked toward the fishing pond led by Johnson County Education Specialist Kristen Marrow. The seeds collected during the harvest will be used for ecosystem restoration projects across Johnson County.

As pollinator habitats continue to decline on the national level, Johnson County Conservation is participating in Project Wingspan — a multi-year initiative by the Pollinator Partnership aimed at restoring ecosystems across the Midwest and Great Lakes regions — for the first time.

Through this collaboration, volunteers participate in prairie seed harvests on Johnson County Conservation land, with the collected seeds designated for regional habitat plantings identified by the Pollinator Partnership, the world’s largest nonprofit dedicated to pollinator protection and ecosystem preservation.

Acting Director of the Conservation Board Bradley Freidhof said protecting and enhancing prairie plants native to the region is crucial in protecting pollinators.

“We’ve modified the habitats greatly. Even our own yards, they’re not great places for insect populations,” Freidhof said. “Native plants are what they specifically need, because those are the ones they’ve evolved with.”

Frances Owen, a naturalist and education specialist who studies migration patterns of monarch butterflies, emphasized the importance of habitat protection as monarch populations continue to decline.

“Anecdotally, I can say that I’ve seen fewer monarchs this year than I have in the past,” Owen said. “The good thing is it is possible for the population to rebound. But there’s so many things stressing their population, between climate change and habitat loss.”

Community members will have the chance to volunteer at three seed harvesting events for Project Wingspan after completing brief online training. The events will be hosted at Cedar River

Crossing in Solon throughout October and into early November.

This follows a series of events in September, where volunteers, led by Johnson County Naturalist Kristen Morrow, hiked through the restored prairie of Kent Park to collect seeds from existing native plants which will then be processed and prepared for future prairie or wetland restorations.

“People keep coming back year after year,” Morrow said. “It’s gaining in awareness that people can do this as a really easy way to contribute to environmental action.”

Morrow said the seeds harvested during last month’s events will primarily be dispersed at a 610-acre restored prairie site at the Cedar River crossing. This initiative, Morrow said, strengthens native plant populations and enables the conservation department to allocate more

Johnson County Board considers new property tax exemption policy

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors denied a late request for a property tax abatement from the North Liberty Community Pantry. They now look to model a new policy after Scott County.

Jacob Calvin

The Daily Iowan

Chairperson Rod Sullivan speaks during a Johnson County Board of Supervisors meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. The board denied the North Liberty Food Pantry a tax abatement.

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors denied the North Liberty Community Pantry a tax abatement, discussed updates to the Health and Human Service Building, and considered a project to expand the county’s Fleet Shop at their most recent meeting Wednesday.

The board discussed a request for a property tax abatement from the North Liberty Community Pantry.

While the Charitable Tax Exemption allows properties owned by nonprofits to be tax-exempt if they apply for the exemption by Feb. 1 of the assessment year, the board still has the power to grant abatements if they apply late, like in the case of North Liberty.

Sullivan reflected on the board’s past of giving abatements mainly to churches. He stated that this power to pick and choose on a case-by-case basis often brings public vexation, as the county will often believe the board stands for one faith or against another.

He reflected on the recent example of the board approving tax abatement for a synagogue.

“It can get very ugly very quickly,” Sullivan said. Another problem Sullivan cited was where the tax dollars were originally intended to go toward before their exemption. If a property is not tax-exempt, those

funds will be utilized by the school district, then the city, and then in a “distant third” by the board. The board agreed that their power to exempt property tax to begin with was questionable.

For the sake of consistency, the board declined the North Liberty Community Pantry abatement and discussed implementing a revamped application process.

The board now intends to adopt a formal policy like Scott County, which notifies property owners that tax exemptions or abatements will not be granted for late filings. The board believes this would provide clarity for property buyers, real estate agents, and future board members.

Prior to this, the Board of Supervisors Work Session meeting began with an update on the Health and Human Services remodeling project. Special Projects Manager Melissa Robert said that the project was making progress, referencing the next immediate steps are to receive and install glass for the skywalk and customer service counters.

Roberts requested the board modify the construction contract to include adding new light fixtures, emergency exits, and extra wire for door access readers, among other changes. The request costs nearly $23,000.

Robert said they are currently spending under budget. The total project was slated at $367,600. With the added $23,000, they are sitting at $228,578 for total project spending.

Robert believes there will be enough “breathing room” to add the changed plan while also staying

funds to larger projects.

“When we can pick seeds that are already existing on our properties, we can make our dollars go further for wider larger restoration projects,” Morrow said, noting that purchasing new seeds can be exorbitantly expensive.

Freidhof highlighted that the prairie seed harvests also play a crucial role in enhancing the diversity of plant life within the county’s restored prairies.

“The more diverse the seed mix is, the more successful it’s going to be, and the better success the pollinators and the animals that are utilizing it are going to have,” Freidhof said.

Morrow noted that in addition to fostering habitats for local pollinators, the volunteer seed harvest events provide an accessible opportunity for community members to participate in environmental protection.

prepared for future expenses, like the completion of construction on the second floor.

The topic then moved to a proposed expansion of Fleet Shop, which is a facility dedicated to maintaining the county’s vehicles and equipment.

Transportation Fleet Director Dawn Alam and Facilities Director Dave Curtis proposed the expansion options. They proposed the current budgetary constraints of the expansion, “seeking advice” from the board.

The original plan of the expansion was to add three bays to the west side of the current building, each measuring approximately 25 feet by 100 feet. As Curtis found out, however, adding just one bay would put the project over budget.

Chairman Rod Sullivan and the rest of the board agreed they would need to see the potential savings from installing three bays before they could make a decision. If the additional bays could “pay for themselves” over time as a worthwhile investment, the board will be more inclined to pay for them.

Talan Neldon | The Daily Iowan Chairperson Rod Sullivan speaks during a Johnson County Board of Supervisors meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. The board denied the North Liberty Food Pantry a tax abatement.

Emily Nyberg | The Daily Iowan

Community members harvest seeds at the Conservation Education Center at Kent Park in Johnson County on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. Voulenteers hiked toward the fishing pond led by Johnson County Education Specialist Kristen Marrow. The seeds collected during the harvest will be used for ecosystem restoration projects across Johnson County.

Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition expands efforts

The coalition held its annual meeting at Big Grove Brewery on Thursday.

Miranda Davis

The Daily Iowan

Attendees listen to the Executive Director of the Domestic Violence and Intervention Program, Kristie Fortmann Doser, during an annual Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition meeting at Big Grove Brewery on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. The Affordable Housing Coalition’s mission is to increase access to affordable housing for lower-income people living in Johnson County through education, advocacy, and partnership.

The Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition held its annual meeting on Thursday, where they celebrated past accomplishments and looked toward new goals for the coming year.

The meeting highlighted accomplishments over the past fiscal year and their goal of growth as an organization, as well as discussing the progress being made in affordable housing.

The meeting kicked off with the recognition of outgoing board members June Juenger of Heartland Bank and Trust and the Affordable Housing Coalition Board President Andy Martin with Martin Construction. They then celebrated the nomination of new board members Art Floss and Amy Hospodarsky.

Martin detailed his gratitude to the coalition over his time with the group. At the end of his six-year term, he is proud to pass on the torch to such a strong and dedicated group of individuals on the Board of Directors, the collaborations with local businesses and nonprofits, and the members and residents who work to enhance the group’s goal.

Through education, advocacy, and partnership, the organization focuses on making housing affordable in the greater Johnson County area.

The keynote speaker for the evening, Kristi Fortmann-Doser with the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, was presented with the 2024 Housing Impact Award.

A graduate of the University of Iowa, Fortmann-Doser has over 20 years of

listen to the Executive Director of the Domestic Violence and Intervention Program, Kristie Fortmann Doser, during an annual Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition meeting at Big Grove Brewery on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. The Affordable Housing Coalition’s mission is to increase access to affordable housing for lower-income people living in Johnson County through education, advocacy, and partnership.

work experience with the Domestic Violence Intervention Program and was honored at the meeting for the work she’s done to provide support and advocacy services to survivors of domestic violence, especially with the program’s focus on long-term safety such as housing.

The Domestic Violence Intervention Program offers free and confidential outreach services and 24/7 crisis support line which includes medical advocacy, law enforcement, housing assistance, peer counseling, youth services, mobile transportation, pet support, and safety planning.

Fortmann-Doser discussed at the Affordable Housing Coalition meeting the importance of community support.

Within the eight-county service region, 2,563 individuals were served in the fiscal 2024, a four percent increase since 2023. Between 350 and 400 men receive

The River Products Company awarded national safety award

IOWA CITY — The River Products Company of Iowa City was presented a Sentinel of Safety Award by the National Mining Association (NMA) in a ceremony held Sept. 24 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sentinels of Safety are awarded annually to the nation’s safest mines with a minimum of 4,000 injury-free hours.

The NMA’s Sentinels of Safety Award recognizes coal and mineral mining operations in ten categories for recording the most hours in a calendar year without a single losttime injury. Twenty American mining operations – six coal mines and 14 mineral/metal mines – were honored for their extraordinary safety performance in 2023.

The River Products Company co-owners, Todd Scott (President and CEO) and Erik Amunson (Vice President and COO) accepted the award on behalf of their Quarry Development Crew. Scott stated, “We are proud and honored to receive one of 20 Sentinels of Safety Awards sponsored by the National Mining Association. We are so proud of the dedication every employee has to our training and safety programs. Our employees make safety a daily priority, and we appreciate and thank all of our employees.”

The awards were initiated in 1923 by then Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover and remain the nation’s most-prestigious awards recognizing mining safety.

The River Products Company was established in 1920 and has limestone, sand, and gravel mining operations in Johnson, Washington, and Louisa counties.

emergency safe housing each year within the program’s coverage area, according to Fortmann-Doser.

With four shelters, including the brandnew Terry Fortmann Emergency Shelter, emergency housing is at the forefront of the Domestic Violence Intervention Program. Fortmann-Doser mentioned in her keynote speech that 10 years ago, when they began the planning for the new shelter, it was nearly impossible to envision.

“We really wanted to address the fact that trauma and trauma care are nearly impossible in most community living shelters,” Fortmann-Doser said. “There is no privacy. It doesn’t exist. There isn’t a place to retreat to. And so we wanted to come up with an option for everybody.”

The Terry Fortmann Shelter includes 70 beds in 22 bedrooms, with accessibility features, bathrooms, personal kitchens,

shared living spaces, and pet shelters available for every resident who comes through looking for a safe space.

“Affordable housing is really a baseline for basic living,” Fortmann-Doser said. “For victims of domestic violence, specifically, affordable housing is really their only option to get away. And so, working with organizations like the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition is a critical part of the work we do.”Executive Director Jessica Andino reflected on the past year at the coalition’s work with gratitude for the groups that have collaborated together. In addition to the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition does work with the community at large, including advocates, nonprofits, businesses, and residents. Organizations such as the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County have partnered with the Coalition to provide housing and other basic needs to Johnson County residents.

“Affordable housing has been exacerbated by COVID and that additionally, there has been a larger gap between wages,” Andino explains. “The rent increases we’re seeing in overall housing prices are rising. There’s a bigger gap that’s causing a disparity and it’s hitting the hardest at the lowest incomes.”

In fiscal 2025, the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition plans to increase partnerships, educational opportunities, and advocacy both at the local and state levels to acknowledge the needs of Johnson County and create a welcoming environment for all.

Andino said this year has been one of many successes, from informing local policy changes to promoting innovative housing solutions among many more accomplishments.

“Strengthen is the word for 2025,” Andino said. “We will strengthen our organization internally to meet our community’s affordable housing needs. We will strengthen our inclusion of all municipalities in Johnson County in our fight for housing justice. Most importantly, we will strengthen our relationships with our members.”

Fall Arts & Crafts Show this weekend

Callahan Promotions, Inc.

CORALVILLE — Make plans now to attend the Annual Fall Arts & Crafts Show next Saturday and Sunday, October 19-20, at the Hyatt Regency Conference Center in Coralville.

This is the area's largest show with over 125 talented exhibitors presenting and selling the Midwest's finest handcrafts. The show is a production of Callahan Promotions, Inc. and offers patrons the opportunity to enjoy original affordable arts and crafts.

Among the various products presented at the show are paintings and prints, gourd art, bird houses, bird feeders, ceramics, jewelry, metal art sculptures, oak furniture, pet products, yard and garden art, stained and fused glass, quilts, photography, pottery, candles, clothing, floral wreaths, dolls & doll clothes, rugs, baskets, aprons, place mats, table runners, purses, wood and metal signs, wall hangings and many more original products.

Exhibitors will also be selling homemade salsa, wines, breads, fudge, barbeque sauce, jams, dried soup and food mixes.

The Hyatt Regency Conference Center is connected to the Hyatt Regency Hotel and is located at 300 East 9th Street in Coralville, just off of I-80 at Exit 242.

Admission to the show is $6, with anyone 10 and under free. Parking is always free. Show hours are Saturday from 8 AM to 4 PM and Sunday 10 AM-4 PM.

For additional information, call 563-357-1986 or visit our Facebook page at Callahan Promotions, Inc. Iowa’s Largest Arts & Crafts Shows.

Jordan Barry | The Daily Iowan

Attendees

SPORTS

Little Hawks fall to Trojan-Bolts in crosstown rivalry meet

Hoeper wins 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke on West's Senior Night

Solon senior Grace Hoeper won the varsity 100-yard backstroke last Tuesday as Iowa City High met Iowa City West High/Liberty High in the annual crosstown rivalry meet. Hoeper also won the 50-yard freestyle.

Chris Umscheid Solon Economist chris.umscheid@soloneconomist.com

CORALVILLE — Iowa City West High and Liberty High’s (North Liberty) Trojan-Bolts dominated the annual crosstown rivalry meet against City High last Tuesday at the Coralville Recreation Center with the junior varsity (JV) winning 128-58 and varsity winning 129-48.

All four Solon swimmers – Grace Hoeper, Madelyn Elkins, Ella Pressler, and Nora Bumsted, were in action for the Little Hawks. Hoeper and City High seniors Kate Bird, Elsa Farber, Ellie Galloway, Elsie Gavin, Keira James, and Saoirse Miller were recognized with West’s and Liberty’s seniors on Senior Night.

Hoeper, a Captain for the Little Hawks, won the 50-yard freestyle in 23.63 seconds and the 100-yard backstroke in 58.72. She anchored the winning 200yard freestyle relay, which was led off by Solon sophomore Elkins with City’s Saoirse Miller and Elsa Farber (1:45.63) and the second-place 400-yard freestyle relay with Celeste Miller, Farber, and Louisa Berry-Stoelzle (3:56.28).

Elkins finished fourth in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:37.44, was fifth in the 100-yard freestyle in 1:01.76, and

anchored the second place 200-yard medley relay with Celeste Miller, Saoirse Miller, and Berry-Stoelzle (2:06.01).

Pressler, a sophomore, was fourth in JV 1-meter diving with 77.50 points scored.

Bumsted, a freshman, was fifth in the JV 100-yard freestyle in 1:18.61 and the JV 100 backstroke in 1:33.65. She anchored the fifth-place JV 200 freestyle relay with Malorie James, Betsy Gavin, and Shaona Emmanuel in 2:19.70 and the fifth-place JV 400 freestyle relay with Keira James, Malorie James, and Gavin in 5:32.72.

Upcoming Events

Friday, October 24 – MVC Diving Championship, 5:00 p.m. at Mercer Park Aquatic Center

Saturday, October 26 – MVC Swimming Championship, Noon at Mercer Park Aquatic Center

Thursday, Nov. 7 – Regional Diving, TBA Saturday, Nov. 9 – Regional Swimming, TBA Friday, Nov. 15-Saturday, Nov. 16 – Girls State Swimming & Diving Meet

Photos by Chris Umscheid | Solon Economist

Top: Solon sophomore Madelyn Elkins finished fourth in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:37.44, was fifth in the 100-yard freestyle in 1:01.76 last Tuesday against IC West/Liberty High.

Bottom: Solon sophomore Ella Pressler finished fourth in JV 1-meter diving last Tuesday against IC West/Liberty High at the Coralville Rec Center.

Williamsburg meet primes cross country for big October

Joel

Solon

Kellar

Economist

joel-kellar@uiowa.edu

WILLIAMSBURG — An unexpected hinderance awaited the Solon girls’ cross country team at the Williamsburg Invitational last Tuesday. With insufficient parking at the Williamsburg Sports Complex, one fan decided to park on the course. The varsity girls race was delayed by five minutes as meet officials tracked down the owners of the vehicle to get it moved. Senior Lady Spartan, Sydney Dee used the delay to her advantage.

After an extra two run outs. Dee used the time to visualize the course and how fast she wanted to start the race.

“I was visualizing certain parts of the race that I knew from years past were going to be difficult,” said Dee. Dee’s strategy worked. The senior got out to one of her best starts of the season and stuck with the top runner for most of the race. “I’ve just heard everybody tell me if I start faster, I can run faster,” said Dee, “I’ve been working on that and now I’ve learned who the girls are I need to be next to and to stick with them.” Dee finished the race in 19:05, good enough for second place.

The 23-second personal record for Dee helped power the Lady Spartans to their second-place finish, only four points behind Mount Vernon-Lisbon.

“Flip-flopping now with Mount Vernon, we beat them at home, now they beat us here,” said Solon head coach Emy Williams, “That just makes it a friendly rivalry and is good for us to keep competing.”

Livya Nelson and Kinley Mai finished in second and third for the Lady Spartans. The freshman placed seventh and 13th overall. Sophomore Falyn Svalstad was the fourth runner in for Solon as she placed 22nd. Then to round out the scorers, freshman Addison Seamans placed 27th.

The boys' team struggled place-wise against very strong competition, but they continued to improve their times.

Anders Holmes led the team once again, this time finishing in 17:17, a personal record. The freshman was the top placing underclassmen as he finished in 18th. Holmes battled all the way to inside the top 20 after passing the mile mark in 30th. Camden Lyons and Rene Meza rounded out the Spartans top three runners. The juniors finished within a second of each with Lyons running 18:08 and Meza at 18:09. Lyons placed 55th and Meza placed 57th.

It was two more freshmen who rounded out the five scorers for the Spartans. Deacon Waddell and Preston Raasch crossed the line at nearly the same time as they ran 18:38.6 and 18:38.9. They placed 72nd and 73rd.

The girls’ JV team placed second led by seniors Rose McAtee and Aly Stahle who placed second and fourth.

The boys’ JV team placed eighth. Junior Charlie Petit led the team with a time of 19:16 and placed 26th. Both middle school teams won their 1.5-mile races. Mailee Schmidt placed second for the girls as she ran a 9:03. Macklin Svalstad won the race for the boys with a time of 7:42.

by Joel Kellar | Solon Economist

Top right: Anders Holmes finishes the race for the Spartans’ varsity. Holmes ran a personal record as he placed 18th in last Tuesday’s Williamsburg invitational meet.

Center: Sydney Dee finishes the varsity girls race in second place for the Lady Spartans during last Tuesday’s Williamsburg invitational. Dee continued her run of placing in the top ten.

Left top: Rene Meza (at left) and Camden Lyons run during the boys varsity race last Tuesday in Williamsburg’s invitational. The juniors placed second and third for Solon and 55th and 57th overall.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, October 12 – North Linn invitational (Troy Mills). 8:10 a.m.

Thursday, October 17 – WaMaC Conference Meet, Antioch Christian Church (Marion). 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 23 – 3A State Qualifying Meet, Solon Recreation & Nature Area.

Friday, Nov. 1 – State Meet, Lakeside Municipal Golf Course, Fort Dodge.

Jr. High girls 1.5-mile – 2, Mailee Schmidt, 9:03.5. 10, Nora Sanderson, 9:41.7. 16, Kali Poe, 9:58.0. 18, Stella Beck, 9:59.1. 22, Katherine Rolwes, 10:12.3. 26, Keatyn Schnoor, 10:23.0. 35, Evelyn Osgood, 10:40.1. 36, Chloe Madura, 10:41.7. 47, Raelynn Hamer, 11:06.7. 48, Hannah Thomsen, 11:07.6. 52, Isabelle Walter, 11:11.4. 53, Thea Bonnema, 11:11.6. 55, Kennedy Dennison, 11:14.1. 67, Alli Kallaus, 11:35.0. 81, Lila Kleinmeyer, 12:36.7. 104, Natalie Macke, 13:55.9. 105, Maya Lord, 13:56.1. Jr. High boys 1.5-mile – 1, Macklin Svalstad, 7:52.1. 4, Brooks Kabela, 8:42.7. 8, Jaimyn Lang, 8:58.0. 9, Declan Doyle, 8:58.4. 23, Layne Harden, 9:32.3. 29, Sam Ekroth, 9:45.7. 31, James Dooley, 9:49.2. 57, Kale Applegarth, 10:45.7. 62, Asher Sutton, 10:49.5. 64, Sawyer Gerlits, 10:54.6. 71, Grant Gleason, 11:07.1. 98, Lucan Botsford, 13:22.1. 165, Ben Yeomans, 20:25.6. 246, Owen Rekers, 23:02.9.

Varsity girls 5k – 2, Sydney Dee, 19:05.2. 7, Livya Nelson, 19:40.3. 13, Kinley Mai, 19:53.4. 22, Falyn Svalstad, 20:27.7. 27, Addison Seamans, 20:44.4. 29, Ella Sheeley, 20:47.9. 57, Quinn Armentrout, 21:57.6.

Varsity boys 5k – 18, Anders Holmes, 17:17.0. 55, Camden Lyons, 18:08.7. 57, Rene Meza, 18:09.7. 72, Deacon Waddell, 18:38.6. 73, Preston Raasch, 18:38.9. 83, Owen Young, 18:50.1. 96, Max Ferin, 19:15.8.

JV girls 5k – 2, Rose McAtee, 21:18.6. 4, Aly Stahle, 21:35.5. 10, Kenley Murken, 22:34.6. 13, Jillian Jansen, 22:49.8. 19, Beckitt Kabela, 23:09.6. 20, Madelyn McCandless, 23:10.1. 24, Joli Sinnwell, 23:25.1. 28, Kayanna Schmidt, 23:35.0. 41, Sydney Kunkel, 23:58.8. 45, Avery Johnson, 24:13.9. 49. Kailee Miller, 24:29.2. 50, Piper Stahle, 24:32.4. 53, Olivia Bonnema, 24:34.9. 55, Sophia Miles, 24:44.6. 60, Piper Barnhouse, 24:54.8. 64, Kendall Werner, 25:01.7. 66, Marin Ashbacker, 25:12.4. 67, Vivi Schmooke, 25:12.9. 72, Lucy Miller, 25:17.6. 86, Miranda Simison, 25:43.0. 90, Caidence Macke, 25:53.6. 104, Violet Houtakker, 26:54.3. JV boys 5k – 26, Charlie Pettit, 16:16.6. 40, Braydon Baker, 19:42.7. 49, Caden Mai, 20:03.4. 70, Ethan Ressler, 20:48.3. 91, Will McAtee, 21:21.2. 92, Harber Viet, 21:22.0. 115, Beck Lary, 21:58.0. 129, Clayton Cooney, 22:24.8. 140, Evan Gleason, 23:08.9. 144, Benjamin Fetzer, 23:38.2. 169, Ian Stranberg, 31:23.1. 171, Porter Ball, 35:58.9.

Photos

Left bottom: (Left to right) Livya Nelson, Sydney Dee, and Kinley Mai run in a pack at the front of the race. The Lady Spartans placed second at the Williamsburg Invitational.

Solon girls seventh, JV girls fifth on Waverly’s

Max CC course

Solon Economist

WAVERLY — Solon’s varsity and junior varsity (JV) squads ran Saturday, October 5 in the Steve Johnson High School Meet on the Max Cross Country Course in Waverly. The meet, arguably one of the largest this side of the State Meet, divided high

school varsity teams into two groups with a mix of small-to-large schools represented.

Sydney Dee blazed a trail for the Lady Spartans finishing 11th out of 142 runners with a time of 19:27.20 and leading Solon to a seventh place finish out of 16 teams.

Pleasant Valley took the team championship with

30 points followed by Valley (86), Cedar Falls (127), Mount Vernon (143), Davenport Central (173), and Mid-Prairie (182).

Anders Holmes, a freshman, once again led the way for the Spartans. Holmes battled through 187 competitors for an 84th place finish in 17:34.90. The Spartans finished 21st out of 21

teams in a field dominated by champion Gilbert (74), Bettendorf (148), Johnston (159), Norwalk (176), and Dubuque Senior (181).

Caden Mai led the JV boys with a 159th place finish in 20:43.40. Overall the Spartans were 18th out of 23 teams with 548 points. Cedar Falls won the team title (15) with Johnston (61), Liberty (125), Linn-Mar (137), and Valley (137) rounding out the top five teams.

Madelyn McCandless led the JV girls with her 30th place finish in 23:51.50. Overall the Lady Spartans were fifth out of 16 teams behind Champion Pleasant Valley (22), Cedar Falls (44), Valley HS (83), and Norwalk (120).

Results

Varsity girls – 11, Sydney Dee, 19:27.20. 29, Kinley Mai, 20:00.50. 41, Falyn Svalstad, 20:31.40. 61, Livya Nelson, 21:06.20. 63, Addison Seamans, 21:12.60. 72, Ella Sheeley, 21:27.50. 87, Rose McAtee, 22:00.60. 101, Quinn Armentrout, 22:30.60. 107, Aly Stahle, 22:44.00. JV girls – 30, Madelyn McCandless, 23:51.50. 34, Sydney Kunkel, 24:02.80. 39, Joli Sinnwell, 24:11.90. 48, Sophia Miles, 24:50.00. 50, Avery Johnson, 24:52.80. 64, Jillian Jansen, 25:31.00. 65, Marin Ashbacker, 25:33.00. 69, Beckitt Kabela, 25:43.90. 73, Kailee Miller, 25:49.30. 77, Olivia Bonnema, 25:59.10. 85, Piper Barnhouse, 26:12.70. 99, Piper Stahle, 27:00.40. 104, Kayanna Schmidt, 27:21.50. 106, Kendall Werner, 27:23.30. 119, Caidence Macke, 28:02.40. 134, Vivi Schmooke, 29:22.70. 146, Violet Houtakker, 31:13.60. Varsity boys – 84, Anders Holmes, 17:34.90. 125, Rene Meza, 18:14.90. 142, Preston Raasch, 18:46.50. 152, Deacon Waddell, 19:17.30. 153, Owen Young, 19:18.10. 161, Charlie Pettit, 19:48.50.167, Max Ferin, 20:13.30. 169, Camden Lyons, 20:15.20. 178, Braydon Baker, 21:33.50. JV boys – 159, Caden Mai, 20:43.40. 207, Ben Yeomans, 21:30.10. 254, Will McAtee, 22:18.50. 264, Ethan Ressler, 22:30.80. 301, Clayton Cooney, 23:12.50.304, Beck Lary, 23:14.90. 347, Ben Fetzer, 24:40.10. 352, Harbor Viet, 24:52.90. 383, Evan Gleason, 26:52.10. 410, Porter Ball, 34:55.30.

Bobcats claw out an upset win

over Spartans

Benton Community edges past Solon 21-20

VAN HORNE — A three-way battle for the District championship is in place after Solon fell to Benton Community Friday in Van Horne. The 3-2 Bobcats upset the 5-0 Spartans 21-20 tying Solon with Grinnell and this Friday’s opponent, Williamsburg, at 5-1 on the season.

Senior quarterback Ty Bell put Solon on the board in the first quarter as he scampered in to score. The Spartans ended the quarter down 7-6 however. After a scoreless second quarter senior Owen Einwalter took a Bell pass 51 yards to score in the third. Solon trailed 14-12 going into the fourth. Eddie Johnson ran the ball in to score in the fourth and got the two-point conversion to pull the Spartans ahead 20-14, but the Bobcats scored with just over a minute remaining to clinch the win.

Head Coach Lucas Stanton said the loss was tough, but also an opportunity for the squad to learn from.

FOOTBALL VOLLEYBALL

“We will be better for it. We had many

guys step in and step up for injured teammates and they performed well,” he said. The Spartans had some early miscues that put them in a bad position, and Stanton noted they didn’t handle some situations very well, but “That’s on me, not the kids though. They played with heart and gave it their all.”

While a 21-20 setback is tough for a good team to swallow, Stanton said the Spartans have to use it propel themselves forward. “I still believe and know we have a really good football team. We won’t look at it as a setback but rather a moment that will help us with future success. We have to learn from it and apply those lessons moving forward.”

The shock, he said, will only help to build more resilience and mental toughness, “Which is key to achieving our long term goals for the season. We still have three (regular season) games left and still have everything we want right there. I’m excited to see what this team will do and how they respond.”

Up next – Williamsburg

The Spartans travel to Williamsburg this Friday with the frosh-soph game at 5:00 p.m. and varsity to follow around 7:30 p.m. Stanton knows it will be another challenge.

“(There’s) no time to hang our heads as we have to prepare for Williamsburg right away. We have had some good battles with Williamsburg and this one will be no different. They have a really explosive offense and sound defense.”

The Raiders rolled over Solon 45-14 last year in the 3A State Semifinals after a 21-14 Solon win in the regular season.

One concern is Tayce Heitman, a senior who has racked up 746 yards and 16 touchdowns this season on 39 receptions. “Heitman is one of the best players in 3A,” said Stanton. “We know what we are going to get with them and know the challenges they present. It will be another tough road game but we are excited for the challenge and opportunity.”

Looking ahead

Solon returns home Friday, October 18 to face 1-5 Fairfield on Senior Night and ends the regular season at South Tama (0-6 as of this writing) Friday, October 25.

Class 3A playoffs start Friday, Nov. 1 with tickets available through Home Town Ticketing at www.iahsaa.org/tickets/.

Quarterfinals are set for Thursday and Friday, Nov. 7 and 8 with Class 3A semifinals scheduled for Saturday,

Hawks thwart Lady Spartans 3-1

Little movement in 3A rankings

Passing – Ty Bell 19/33, 273 yards, one TD. Rushing – Einar Stecher, 41 yards/21 carries. Cole Carney 36 yards/nine carries. Eddie Johnson 19 yards/two carries, one TD. Bell 15 yards/seven carries, one TD.

Receiving – Maddox Kelley 105 yards/eight receptions. Karsyn Regennitter 67 yards/ seven receptions. Owen Einwalter 51 yards/ one reception, one TD. Eli Kampman 50 yards/three receptions.

Defense – Tripp Johnson ten solo tackles, two for a loss. Kelley five solo. Kampman four solo. Einwalter three solo, one for a loss. Teague Williams two solo. Colby Myers two solo. Jackson Feuerbach two solo. Beau Mullen one solo. Regennitter one solo. Stecher one solo. Kaden Hoeper one solo. Owen Grimm one solo. Grant Wilson one solo. Lucas Feuerbach one solo.

MANCHESTER – The Lady Spartans suffered a setback Tuesday, October 1 as they fell 3-1 to the West Delaware Hawks in Manchester.

Solon fell 10-25 in the first set but rallied back to a 29-27 win in the second. Unfortunately the Hawks took the third and fourth sets 25-15 and 25-14 dipping the Lady Spartans to 16-10 on the season. Stats were not available as of deadline for this publication.

Solon picks up four wins at Union’s tourney

Solon 2 Beckman Catholic 1 – 18-21, 21-12, 15-13

Solon 2 Central Springs 0 – 21-19, 22-20

Solon 2 Gladbrook-Reinbeck – 25-20, 25-20

Solon 2 Beckman Catholic 1 – 15-25, 25-20, 15-11

Solon held onto the No. 11 spot in the Thursday, October 3 weekly rankings released by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. Mount Vernon, Western Christian, West Delaware, Wahlert Catholic, Assumption Catholic, Sioux Center, Kuemper Catholic, Mid-Prairie, Cherokee, and Wilton kept their top-ten spots from the previous week. Anamosa moved up to No. 12 from No. 14, Roland-Story dipped to No. 13 from No. 12, Clarinda moved up from No. 15 to No. 14, West Liberty dropped out, and Nevada entered the rankings in the No. 15 spot.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, October 12 – CPU tournament. 8:30 a.m.

Thursday, October 17 – WaMaC tournament, Marion HS. 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 22 – 3A Regional Quarterfinals

Thursday, October 24 – 3A Regional Semifinals

Tuesday, October 29 – 3A Regional Championship

Monday, Nov. 4-Thursday, Nov. 7 – 2024 State Tournament, Xtream Arena, Coralville

Solon Economist

Nov. 16 at 4 and 7:00 p.m. in the UNIDome in Cedar Falls. The Class 3A State Championship game will be Friday, Nov. 22 at 1:00 p.m. in the UNI-Dome.

Solon Economist

SOLON SENIORS

Get ready, It’s SPOOK MONTH!

OCTOBER HAPPENINGS ••••••

Wednesday, October 16 – EntertainmentAccordion Club, at Noon

Wednesday, October 30 – Halloween Party

DINING •••••••••••••••••••••

Home Deliveries

Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call 319-6242251 for information.

In-House Dining

Solon Methodist Church, Wednesdays only at 11:30 a.m. Meals cost $5.00, call 319-624-2251 for reservations (required) Monday between 10-11:00 a.m.

Bingo – Wednesdays AM/PM Cards – Wednesdays PM

OCTOBER MENU

Friday, October 11

Butter Burger on a Bun French Fries

Creamy Coleslaw Scotcharoos

Monday, October 14

Meatloaf

CALENDAR & PUZZLES

Mashed Potatoes

Carrots

Peanut Butter Blondie

Wednesday, October 16

Entertainment-Accordion Club

Smoked Pork Chop

Garlic & Herb

Scalloped Potatoes

Buttered Peas

Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler

Friday, October 18

Hushpuppy Fish

Tator Tots

Creamy Cucumber Salad

Tropical Pumpkin Pie

Monday, October 21

Pony Shoe

Sweet Pepper Slaw Seasonal Fresh Fruit

Wednesday, October 23

Country Fried Steak

Mashed Potatoes

Country Gravy Candied Carrots

Cheesecake w/Cherries

Friday, October 25

Panko Crusted Tilapia

Lemon Kissed Asparagus

Cheesy Potato Tot Bake Fresh Fruit

Thank you Solon Senior Dining volunteers!

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they just have the heart.”

SCHOOL BREAKFAST

The Solon Community School District is an equal opportunity provider.

Menus will vary to accommodate the Federal Nutrition Guidelines. Please understand that menus are subject to change as needed. Please check your lunch account balances, purchases, and deposits online at solon. total.k12.com.

Nutrition office: 319-624-3401, Ext. 1120 or bwest@solon.k12.ia.us.

Student breakfast is FREE again this year

The Solon Community School District (SCSD) is once again able to offer free breakfast to students for the academic year. Becky West, Nutrition Director, explained the Nutritional Department’s financial situation, based on standard practice and guidance from the state, makes

SCHOOL LUNCH

For information on the free and reduced program, and an application, go to www.solon. k12.ia.us/page/nutritionprogram and scroll down to Nutrition Documents & Links.

STUDENT LUNCH PRICES

High School - $2.70 Middle School - $2.60 SIS/Lakeview - $2.55 Reduced - $.40 Adult/Guest lunch: $4.70

Thursday, October 10

MS/HS Alt: Spicy Chicken

Sandwich

Pepperoni Stuffed Crust Pizza

Colorful Mixed Vegetables, Pepper Strips

it possible to offer this important service to the students.

“I believe that eating breakfast fuels the kids and teaches them how to eat a healthy breakfast to start your day,” said West.

Adult/Guest breakfast: $1.75

Thursday, October 10

Egg Scramble w/Hash Brown (LV/SIS)

Grab Bag (LV) Muffin

CC French Toast w/ Sausage

Links or Egg Scramble w/ Hash Brown

Fruit, Juice Crackers & Milk

Friday, October 11

Muffin Top (LV/SIS)

Grab Bag (LV) Oatmeal Bar

Breakfast Pizza or Cinnamon Doughnuts Fruit, Juice Crackers & Milk

Triple Fruit Salad

Cheez It’s

Friday, October 11

MS/HS Alt: Cook’s Delight

Chicken Fillet Sandwich Cauliflower & Cheese, Pickles, Carrots Grapes

Baked Potato Chips SC (SIS/ MS/HS)

Monday, October 14 NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, October 15

MS/HS Alt: Grilled BBQ Rib

Cheeseburger

French Fries, Tomatoes Sliced (MS/HS)

Pickles (SIS/MS/HS)

Applesauce Cup, Fruit Roll-Up

Across

1 Visitor to Mecca

5 Choices for party organizers

11 Quick refresher

14 Lamar ___, ex of Khloé Kardashian 15 Top pilot

16 Rapper Lil ___ Vert

17 It will change the way you see yourself

19 Operate, as a program

20 Throw one’s hands up, say

21 Foreign policy grp.

22 Floral bubble tea flavoring

24 On the line

— Elizabeth Andrew

Monday, October 14 NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, October 15

Mini Doughnuts (LV/SIS)

G&G Bag (LV) Mini Doughnuts

Breakfast Bagel or Blueberry

Bubble Cake

Fruit, Juice Crackers & Milk

Wednesday, October 16

French Toast Sticks & Sausage Links (LV/SIS)

G&G Bag (LV) Waffle Crackers

Breakfast Sandwich or Tornadoes

Fruit, Juice Crackers & Milk

Thursday, October 17

Breakfast Sandwich (LV/SIS)

G&G Bag (LV) Cereal Bar

Egg Scramble w/ Hash Brown or Mini Pancakes w/ Sausage

Links

Fruit, Juice Crackers & Milk

Wednesday, October 16

MS/HS Alt: Pork Tenderloin

Sandwich

French Toast Sticks & Syrup

Egg & Cheese Omelet, Hash

Brown

Cucumber, Fresh Strawberries

Chocolate Chip Muffin (SIS/ MS/HS)

Thursday, October 17

MS/HS Alt: Cheese Bites

Chicken Tenders (LV/SIS)

Chicken Wings & Sauce (MS/ HS)

Steamed Carrots, Celery

Chilled Pears

Biscuit with Butter Patty, Sunchips (HS)

26 Spiral-horned antelope

28 Point of no return on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”

32 Garment that might have a built-in bra, for short

36 Work on Broadway, say

37 Investigator’s interest

38 Pain

40 AirPod holder

42 Boxes for crackers?

43 “A Hard Day’s Night” songwriter

45 U.K. military arm

47 Monthly expense

48 Warhead carriers

51 Microwave no-no

52 Cleaning product made in “Fight Club”

57 V fliers

59 Frosty

61 Symbol seen on eight national flags (though, ironically, not the U.S. flag)

62 Writer Rand

63 First- and third-quarter moons, e.g. … or a hint to this puzzle’s theme

66 Call that might precede “first service”

67 Bartender’s valve

68 Comic book figure

69 Major campaign expense

70 Penny pinchers

3 Pop rock’s ___ Brothers 4 Duel cry

5 … rho, sigma, ___, upsilon …

6 Honorific for a Catholic cardinal

7 Makes mistakes

8 Painter Duchamp

9 Prefix with efficiency 10 Hot peppers

11 Caregiver for a pregnant woman

12 Blue, in Spanish

13 Like much cotton candy

18 “Frozen” snowman

23 General Motors subsidiary with emergency services

25 Its parent company is Hyundai

27 On the ___

29 Asteroids made a big impact on it in the 1980s

30 Flat

31 Conclude in court

32 H.S. course in which one might be graded on a curve?

33 Teen follower

34 Mount Rushmore and the Taj Mahal, e.g.

35 Some navels

39 Red-haired toon who is always seeing red

41 Light racing vehicle

44 Secretive org.

46 Tina of “30 Rock”

49 Covers in goo

50 Forward-looking sort

53 Comic actor ___ Baron Cohen

54 Lewd looker

55 On guard

56 Cancún coins

57 Ball

58 Stared at

60 Include in a footnote

64 ___ Moskowitz, a.k.a. “Hawk” on Netflix’s “Cobra Kai”

71 London’s Royal Academy of ___ Down 1 Labor leader Jimmy 2 What Peter Pan refuses to become

65 Computer addresses: Abbr.

SUDOKU

To play: Complete the grid so that every row, column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. There is no guessing or math involved, just use logic to solve.

FOR COUNTY AGRICULTURAL

EXTENSION COUNCIL

Schrock

Donohue

For County Agricultural Extension Council, To Fill Vacancy

JUDICIAL BALLOT SUPREME COURT Shall the following judges of the Supreme Court be retained in office?

David May

COURT OF APPEALS

Shall the following judges of the Court of Appeals be retained in office?

Mary Ellen Tabor

Tyler J. Buller

Mary Elizabeth Chicchelly

Samuel Langholz

DISTRICT COURT Shall the following judges and associate judges of the District Court be retained in office?

Elizabeth Dupuich

Andrew B. Chappell

David M. Cox

Nicholas Scott

Joan M. Black

Brandon L. Schrock

CLASSIFIEDS

Moving Sale

425 4th St NW, Mt. Vernon. Fri. 10/11 9AM-5PM & Sat. 10/12 9AM-4PM. Outdoor tools, patio table & chairs, lots of craft & sewing supplies, some furniture.

For Rent:

3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath home for rent just outside of Solon and in the Solon School District. Unfinished basement for storage and on a blacktop road. Attached 1 stall garage. Nice deck with an amazing country view. No pets. Call Lou at 319-6242912

Miscellaneous

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Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 7-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-855-954-5087 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

PUBLIC MEASURES

1 Shall the following amendment to the Constitution be adopted?

Summary: Provides for only U.S. citizens aged 18 or older and meeting state and county residency requirements to vote in all elections. Further provides that 17-year-olds who will be 18 years old by the General Election are eligible to vote in the primary election, subject to the same citizenship and residency requirements.

Full Text: Section 1 of Article II of the Constitution of the State of Iowa, as amended by the amendment of 1970, is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

Section 1. Electors. Only a citizen of the United States of the age of eighteen years, who shall have been a resident of this state for such period of time as shall be provided by law and of the county in which the citizen claims the citizen's vote for such period of time as shall be provided by law, shall be entitled to vote at all elections which are authorized by law. However, for purposes of a primary election, a United States citizen must be at least eighteen years of age as of the next general election following the primary election. The required periods of residence shall not exceed six months in this state and sixty days in the county.

2

Shall the following amendment to the Constitution be adopted?

Summary: Provides that the lieutenant governor will act as the governor if there is a temporary disability of the governor. Further provides that the lieutenant governor or lieutenant governor-elect will be the governor or governor-elect in the case of the resignation, death, or permanent disability of the governor or governor-elect thus creating a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor or lieutenant governor-elect, as appropriate.

Full Text: Section 17 of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

Sec. 17. Lieutenant governor or lieutenant governor-elect to become or act as governor or governor-elect. If there is a temporary disability of the governor, the lieutenant governor shall act as governor until the disability is removed, or the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office. In case of the death, resignation, or

Understanding Auto Insurance and Animal Collisions: Prevention and Coverage

Sonya Sellmeyer Consumer Advocacy Officer for the Iowa Insurance Division

Auto collisions involving animals or deer account for 13.8% of reported motor vehicle crashes in Iowa. Understanding how auto insurance works in these situations along with effective prevention strategies can help you navigate the experience.

Understanding Coverage

If you find yourself in a collision with an animal, the type of auto insurance you have will determine what costs are covered. Most standard auto insurance policies include two key components for coverage:

Comprehensive Coverage: This is the most relevant coverage for animal collisions. Comprehensive insurance covers damages to your vehicle caused by events other than a collision, such as animal strikes, theft, vandalism, and natural disasters. If you hit an animal, this coverage may help pay for repairs minus your deductible.

Collision Coverage: This covers damages when you collide with another vehicle or object, minus your deductible. If you only have liability coverage on your auto insurance as required by Iowa law an animal strike would not be covered.

Preventive Measures

While insurance can help mitigate financial loss after hitting an animal, prevention is key. Here are some effective strategies:

• Warning Signs: Pay attention to deer crossing signs, especially in areas known for deer activity.

Use Your High Beams: When driving in rural areas at night, use your high beams when there is no oncoming traffic.

• Reduce Speed: Driving at a safe speed allows for quicker reaction times if an animal suddenly appears. Lower speeds can reduce both the likelihood and severity of a collision.

• Be Cautious at Dawn and Dusk: Deer are most active during these times. If you can, plan your travel to avoid driving during peak deer movement hours.

• Watch for Movement: Be on the lookout for deer near the road. If you spot one, slow down and be prepared to stop, as they often travel in groups.

• Use Horns Wisely: If you see a deer on or near the road, honking your horn may cause the deer to retreat and prevent a possible collision. Installing a deer whistle on your grill may also help, but don’t rely on their effectiveness.

• Don’t Swerve: Swerving to miss an animal may cause more damage or injury and involve other vehicles.

What to Do After a Collision

If you do hit an animal, the first step is to ensure everyone is safe. Move your vehicle to a secure location, call authorities, and stay away from it. It’s crucial to document the incident for insurance purposes— take photos of the damage, note the time and location, and gather any witness information. File an insurance claim for damages, if they are more than your deductible.

Conclusion

Hitting an animal can be a distressing experience, but understanding your insurance coverage and implementing preventive strategies can help minimize risks and ensure you are financially protected. Regularly reviewing your insurance policy, staying vigilant, and taking precautions can significantly reduce the chances of an animal-related accident.

removal from office of the governor, the lieutenant governor shall become governor for the remainder of the term, which shall create a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor. This section shall also apply, as appropriate, to the governor-elect and the lieutenant governor-elect.

LY

Shall the following public measure be adopted?

Shall the County of Johnson, State of Iowa, issue its general obligation bonds in an amount not exceeding the amount of $30,000,000 for the purpose of acquiring and developing lands with public access provided, in order to protect the water quality in rivers, lakes and streams; protect forests to improve air quality; protect natural areas and wildlife habitat from development; and provide for parks and trails; to be managed by the Johnson County Conservation Board? All expenditures will be subject to an annual independent audit. It is estimated the annual increase in property taxes on a residential property with an actual valuation of one hundred thousand dollars resulting from issuing the bonds will be $7.09. However, the Board of Supervisors may determine in any fiscal year the debt is outstanding to alternatively budget from any other available revenues for the payment of principal, interest, and premium, if any, pursuant to the terms of the bonds.

VF

Shall the following public measure be adopted?

Shall the Board of Directors of the Highland Community School District in the Counties of Washington, Johnson, and Louisa, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $15,000,000 to provide funds to construct, build, furnish, and equip renovations and additions to the middle/high school building, including locker room and athletic support spaces, multipurpose area/gymnasium, commons, and site improvements;

Sellmeyer

funds go toward educational events, gatherings, and networking for the young patients and their families.

“It’s just been wonderful to see all of the friendships that have been made and the support and awareness for pediatric rheumatic disease.”

Herky the Hawk took time out of a busy Hawkeye football Saturday to mingle with the crowd and serve as the official starter for the 5k and 1-mile runs. A handful of Disney princesses also made an appearance.

Front page top: Lewis Ekroth (479) and Sam Ekroth (480), from Solon dash through an S-curve at the SRNA Saturday morning during the third annual Bone Dash. The pair finished fourth and fifth in the 1-mile run, which raised funds for the Joining Hands Support Group for pediatric rheumatology patients at the U of I Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Front page bottom: Grey Johans (314), Crystal Nicholson (361), Lauren Vande Kamp (425), and Mirai Hong-Noerper (309) with many others, start the 5k and 1-mile runs Saturday morning for the third annual Bone Dash fundraiser at the SRNA.

Right: Solon’s Emma Olsem sprints toward a winning 6:50 finish in the third annual Bone Dash fundraiser Saturday morning at the SRNA.

Right: Herky helps Jackson Frein of Ely pose for a photo Saturday morning at the SRNA during the third annual Bone Dash 5k and 1-mile run/walk event.

Center: Thomas Hart and Emma Buresh dash for the finish line of the third annual Bone Dash 5k run Saturday morning at the SRNA.

Far right: Herky performs an impromptu drum solo at a button making table Saturday morning at the SRNA. Button making was one of several family-friendly events held in conjunction with the third annual Bone Dash 5k and 1-mile run/walk event.

Photos by Chris Umscheid | Solon Economist

Emma Leisinger received a distinguished service award from Courtney Kremer (at right) for co-founding the Joining Hands Support Group for pediatric rheumatology patients at the U of I Stead Family Children’s Hospital before the start of the third annual Bone Dash 5k and 1-mile runs, a fundraiser benefiting the group.

5k and 1-mile runners leave the starting line for the third annual Bone Dash Saturday morning at the SRNA. The 5k and 1-mile run/walk event raised funds for Joining Hands, a pediatric rheumatology support group at the U of I Stead Family Children’s Hospital. 1-mile participants followed the 5k runners.

Above: Herky and Christopher Strouse (Peds Rheumatology, Iowa City) jam to AC/DC’s “Back in Black” shortly before the start of the third annual Bone Dash Saturday morning at the SRNA. The 5k and 1-mile run/walk event raised funds for Joining Hands, a pediatric rheumatology support group at the U of I Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Left: Creed, a five-year-old boxer dressed as a 1980s skater, Terry Larson (336), Jahaii Willis, and Kelly Willis (460) make their way down the trail at the SRNA Saturday morning during the third annual Bone Dash 5k and 1-mile run/walk event.

Jenny Strouse (423), Madalyn Walsh (474), Mina Satuito (469), Madi Fetters (273), Scott Southern (412) with many others, start the 5k and 1-mile runs Saturday morning for the third annual Bone Dash fundraiser at the SRNA.