Begin ning on Monday, November 4, the Solon Public Works will begin flushing fire hydrants starting at 9:00 a.m. It is anticipated that this will last two weeks. This work is necessary to ensure the proper operation of the hydrants and to draw water through the water mains at a faster than normal rate to remove any iron sediment in the pipes.
During the flushing operations, you may experience fluctuations in pressure and/or discolored water. This condition is temporary and does not pose a health risk. Run your cold-water tap until it clears. During periods of discoloration, postpone washing clothes and limit your use of hot water until the cold water clears.
For the updated information on this and other happenings and events within the community, visit the City of Solon’s website at http://www.soloniowa.com or the City of Solon Facebook® page.
Grassley announces Cedar Rapids Veterans History Project event
In honor of Veterans Day, the office of U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), along with students from Kirkwood Community College, will host its eighth annual Veterans History Project event to chronicle firsthand accounts of Iowa veterans Friday, Nov. 8, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building, 51 1st. Ave. Bridge, Cedar Rapids. Iowans interested in participating should contact Senator Grassley’s office in Cedar Rapids, (319) 363-6832 to schedule their interview.
“The past informs the present and shapes the future. That’s why the Veterans History Project is so valuable – it preserves our service members’ stories for future generations to learn about their experiences and the sacrifices they made for our great nation,” Grassley said. “I want to offer my deepest gratitude to all the veterans in Iowa for their selflessness, and many thanks to those
Making monsters and movies
Solon Public Library introduces kids to stop motion video
Chris Umscheid Solon Economist chris.umscheid@soloneconomist.com
SOLON — Stop motion – the process of making a movie or video literally one frame at a time, has been around since the early 1900s using various forms ranging from simple drawings through sophisticated clay models. Last Thursday, kids attending the Solon Public Library’s weekly early-out BAM POW event were able to try their hand at stop motion animation.
“I try at Halloween to do a sensory activity that the kids can get messy with because it’s a nice treat for them to get extra messy. Last year we made Slime, so this year, we did Play-Doh™,” said Lily Smith, Youth Services Librarian. The kids created monsters out of the clay and with an assortment of other items. Then, they were able to create a short stop motion video, bringing their monster to life.
“We always try to schedule something that will take the full hour, and we wondered how, and we have this really talented and creative kid in the drawing club that does
stop motion, and I thought these kids would be awesome at stop motion,” Smith said. “We give them the materials and they have so many options that their creativity just flourishes if you don’t give them too much guidance, but just give them the materials to work with. Then, they just run with it.”
The BAM POW events have been an early-out Thursday staple in Solon for many years and fills an important need in the community, Smith said. “They (the kids) can walk over here from the school and hang out at the library (until their parents pick them up).”
Upcoming BAM POW activities
“We’ve got painting day coming up and the kids are really excited about the Fort Building Day that we have coming up in a few weeks. They get the tables and chairs, and they have sheets, and then we get pom-pom snowballs out at the end and they do an inside snowball fight. They love it.”
Chris Umscheid | Solon Economist
Maddox and Youth Services Librarian Lily watch a stop motion video featuring Play-Doh™ monsters during the weekly BAM POW afterschool get-together at the Solon Public Library last Thursday.
PHOTOS
From the Office of Senator Grassley
participating in this year’s event.”
The Veterans History Project was Approved unanimously by Congress in 2000, Grassley said. “The Veterans History Project came about through a grassroots effort to preserve the oral histories of America’s brave service men and women. The Library of Congress serves as the permanent repository for recorded veterans’ interviews submitted from local communities across the United States. The project honors those who have served in uniform and helps ensure future generations understand military service and the realities of war. In addition to audio and video recordings, the mission to preserve the memories and memorabilia from America’s veterans also includes letters, diaries, artwork and photographs. In 2016, Congress expanded the collection to include oral histories from family members memorializing loved ones who died as a result of their military service during war. To date, the collection includes firsthand narratives of U.S. military veterans from World War I through present day. The
stories of more than 100,000 veterans are now part of the collection.”
Grassley said, “As a history enthusiast and U.S. Senator, I wanted to help preserve the stories of Iowa’s brave heroes who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. In 2018, my office launched an annual event to interview hometown heroes for the Veterans History Project. Typically held the Friday before Veterans Day, my office invites local veterans to share their stories in a 30- to 60-minute interview. To date, my office has submitted 83 interviews from Iowa veterans at events held across the state, including those recorded at the Iowa Gold Star Museum in Johnston (2018); the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown (2019); the Veterans Post in Waverly (2020); 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City (2021); the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in Waterloo (2022); and, the Rock Island Arsenal Museum (2023). It is my honor to provide a platform for Iowa veterans and their loved ones, so that their stories aren’t lost to history. Listening to the voices of veterans sharing first-hand accounts of their military service and experiences during wartime is powerful testimony.”
Grassley noted, “According to the U.S. Census, veterans make up 6.5 percent of Iowa’s population; the Department of Veterans Affairs calculates 193,861 Iowans are among approximately 18 million living veterans in the United States today. Of wartime veterans, Iowa is home to 3,716 World War II veterans; 16,246 from the Korean conflict; 64,900 during Vietnam era; and 65,926 from the Gulf War. Census Bureau data show a shrinking share of U.S. adults are veterans, from about 18 percent of the population in 1980 to six percent in 2022. As fewer people have a direct connection to an active duty service member, or serve in uniform themselves, it’s important to preserve the stories of those who have served in the Armed Forces to ensure their service and sacrifice on behalf of our nation is honored and remembered for generations to come. God bless our veterans and service members currently serving who have answered the call to protect and defend our cherished blessings of freedom.”
83 interviews are available for viewing at www.loc.gov/collections/veterans-historyproject-collection/?q=grassley.
County buildings to light up green in support
of Operation Green Light for Veterans
The Johnson County Veterans Affairs Department will light part of the Administration and Health & Human Services buildings green as part of Operation Green Light for Veterans, a nationwide effort by counties, the National Association of Counties (NACo), and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers.
From Nov. 4th through the 11th, county buildings and landmarks across the country will be illuminated green to show support for veterans and raise awareness about the unique challenges they face and the resources available at the county, state, and federal levels to assist veterans and their families.
The county's role in administering services for veterans includes County veterans service officers assisting veterans with accessing billions of dollars in federal health, disability, and compensation benefits each year. They also support approximately 200,000 service members who transition into civilian communities annually.
“To maintain military readiness, we must show the next generation of possible recruits that we will support them during and after service. The military makes a sacred commitment to leave no comrade behind on the battlefield, we owe it to our veterans to not leave them behind when they rejoin the civilian world. This includes access to mental health services, healthcare, employment,
Dear Iowa, eyes up, phone down.
– Your Deer Iowa Department of Transportation
If deer dispensed driving advice right now, they’d warn us that they’re distracted, unpredictable, and pursuing (or being pursued) because of the annual rut. They’d also scold us that we’re too often distracted behind the wheel and not working to avoid them on our travels. Most importantly, they’d tell us to put our biggest distraction – phones – down and get our gaze back on the road.
education, stable housing, and financial security,” said Mandy Coates, Johnson County veterans service officer and director of Veteran Affairs.
Johnson County residents are encouraged to participate by changing one light bulb in their home to a green bulb. This can be an exterior light that neighbors and passersby see or an interior light that sparks a conversation. Shining a green light lets our veterans know they are seen, appreciated, and supported. If you are a veteran or family member of a veteran needing services, please contact the Johnson County Veterans Affairs Department at 319-356-6049 or va@ johnsoncountyiowa.gov.
The reality is it’s challenging enough to spot deer when we’re not distracted. But failing to watch for them at all makes us most vulnerable to collisions. In 2023, there were 8,023 reported crashes between vehicles and animals on Iowa roads. Of those, five people were killed, 23 people suffered serious injuries and more than 260 more were listed on crash reports with minor injuries.
Deer don’t follow our rules of the road and often demand the right of way, so follow their tips to avoid them:
• Slow down: Be especially alert at dawn and dusk.
• Eliminate distractions: Put away phones and other distractions.
• Scan the road and roadsides: Be vigilant and shrubs/grasses where they could dart out.
• Look for eyeshine: When possible, use high-beam headlights for better sighting and look for reflective animal “eyeshine.”
• Plan for more: If you see one, more will likely follow.
• Brake, not veer: Apply your brakes and stay in your lane.
In 2024 in Iowa, 294 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of two since last Friday. In Iowa in 2023, there were 377 traffic-related deaths.
Solon Firefighters want to help you ‘Battery Up’
Captain John Studt Prevention Captain, Solon Fire Department
It’s that time of year when you should change out the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Your Solon Firefighters offer a Battery Up program to our senior and disabled individuals within our service area. We will come to your residence and change out the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
We will be providing this service on Saturday November 9, starting at 8:00 a.m.
If you are in need of this service please contact the Solon Fire Department via e-mail at john.studt@solonfire.com with your name, address, and contact info. If you do not have access to email call 319624-2386 and leave us a message with your name, address and a good phone number we can call you back at.
Volume 144 I Issue 45
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
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.
Copyright 2024 Solon Economist, a division of The Daily Iowan and Student Publications, Inc. All articles, photographs and graphics, both in print and online editions, are the property of Student Publications, Inc., and may not be reproduced or republished without written permission.
ROADSIDE CHAT
As we enter into shorter daylight hours, cold temps, and winter weather, we’re dreaming about travel to places near and far. Did you know the Library offers a fantastic resource for planning those trips? You can use A to Z World Travel or A to Z the USA to plan your next adventure, and learn about different cities, countries, and cultures. This online resource is available 24/7 to our Library patrons. Visit our website, solon.lib.ia.us and click on “Online Resources” to find all of these great tools available. Please let us know if you need help getting started, we’re happy to help!
Library Events
Saturday Storytime is perfect for the whole family to enjoy! Join us Saturday, November 9, at 10:30 a.m. for songs, games, and books.
Join us at Fun For All Night Saturday, November 9, at the Solon Community Center. This free night of fun for all-ages is sponsored by the Solon Public Library and Solon Recreation Department. We’ll enjoy gym games at 6:00 p.m. and then the movie, Trolls Band Together [PG] with popcorn at 7:00 p.m. Don’t forget to bring lawn chairs or blankets to get comfy in the gym for the movie.
Learn how to transform simple paper bags into stunning snowflakes at DIY Night Tuesday, November 12, at 6:30 p.m. DIY Night is for adults and young adults, 16+. Registration is required, as space is limited.
Join us at Cookbook Club for a delicious culinary adven-
Fall into Winter: How
Iowa’s
standing corn snow fence program keeps roads safer
Iowa Department of Transportation
At the Iowa Department of Transportation, our core values are the foundation of how we do business. Two of those values - “Safety First” and “People Matter” are at the heart of many of our programs.
With our days filled with football, apple orchards, warm sunny afternoons followed by chilly nights, and everything pumpkin spice it’s hard to believe that October 15 marks the first day of the winter season at the Iowa DOT. We are busy working to make sure we are using this time to prepare for the change from falling leaves to falling snow.
One of the ways we work to keep your drive safer during the winter is through our Standing Corn Snow Fence Program. Around since the 1980s, this program plays a crucial role in keeping snow off the roads, making travel safer for everyone in Iowa.
Here’s how it works: We team up with farmers whose fields are along highways in open, flat areas. Farmers leave corn standing in their fields over the winter, and those rows of corn act like natural snow fences. They help slow down or even stop snow from drifting across the roads. We’ve even had success using round bales as snow fences too!
In return for their help, we pay farmers $5.65 per bushel for leaving anywhere from six to 24 rows of corn standing. This is typically about $2 more than the statewide average price of corn on August 1. For round bales, we pay $1 per linear foot, and the landowners agree to leave the bales in place throughout the winter.
Craig Bargfrede, who oversees our winter operations, put it this way: “Studies show that plowing snow costs 100 times more than trapping it with a snow fence, so these partnerships really pay off.”
While the program is mutually beneficial by saving the DOT money in plowing costs and providing farmers compensation for their participation, the program goes well beyond the financial benefits. By working together Iowa DOT staff and local landowners build strong partnerships. Landowners are familiar with how snow
ture with Dips & Sauces Saturday, November 16, at 11:00 a.m.! This unique program invites food enthusiasts of all levels to explore the world of dips and sauces, perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re a novice cook or a seasoned chef, you’ll discover new recipes and techniques that elevate your appetizer game. Bring your dip, sauce, and foods to dip in them to share with our group.
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. As we approach the holiday season and winter weather, please always refer to our website calendar or call to check hours.
The Library will be closed in observance of Veteran’s Day Monday, November 11.
The Library will be open 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, due to staff in-service.
Plan ahead for Thanksgiving Holiday Hours! On Wednesday, November 27, the Library will be open 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. The Library will be closed Thursday, November 28 through Saturday, November 30.
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?
Our nonfiction collection is always growing, these are a few of the latest additions.
The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi by Wright Thompson. A shocking and revelatory account of the murder of Emmett Till that lays bare how forces from around the world converged on the Mississippi Delta in the long lead-up to the crime, and how the truth was erased for so long.
moves across their land and the DOT is familiar with areas of road that suffer from blowing and drifting problems. Together they can identify the best spots for standing corn or round bales to help keep everyone traveling through that area safe. We’ve also worked together to learn which corn hybrids work best for standing up to the winter. Setting up a successful snow fence takes a little planning between our team and the farmers. That’s why we start conversations early—before planting season begins.
We also work with farmers to install permanent or temporary snow fences made from trees, bushes, or other plants in some areas.
Once the corn has done its job through the winter, farmers can decide how to handle it. Sure, there’s a bit of extra work in the spring, but many farmers in the program see the long-term benefits of safer roads all winter. Some have even teamed up to harvest all the snow fence rows together, sharing equipment or donating the corn to local organizations, which turns into a great fundraising opportunity.
While the primary benefit of the Standing Corn Fence Program is keeping roads open and improving access between farms, towns, and essential services, keeping corn standing over the winter can:
• Provide habitat for wildlife
• Increase soil moisture in the end rows
• Help control soil erosion
We are actively looking for more volunteers to participate in our Standing Corn Snow Fence Program. If you think your property could benefit from participating in the program, reach out to your local Iowa DOT maintenance garage.
You can find the contact info online at https://iowadot. gov/districts/district-contacts. We’d love to work with you to help keep Iowa’s roads safer this winter!
By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land by Rebecca Nagle. A powerful work of reportage and American history that braids the story of the forced removal of Native Americans onto treaty lands in the nation’s earliest days, and a small-town murder in the 1990s that led to a Supreme Court ruling reaffirming Native rights to that land more than a century later.
The New Rules of Aging Well by Frank Lipman, MD and Danielle Claro. From the renowned integrative doctor Frank Lipman comes a radically simple program to reverse the symptoms we reflexively call “normal aging,” including feeling achy, stiff, sluggish, weak, and vulnerable to chronic illness. This improves not only our life span but, more importantly, our health span—our quality of life and how we feel.
Contributed photo
OPINIONS
Odds, ends, and oddities Stop underestimating women's sports
Food for Thought
By now, you probably know how the election turned out – I don't as of the writing of this column. By the time this gets to you it will be all over but the shouting. The process it has to go through between an idea swimming around in my head and the finished product arriving in your mailbox can't be crammed into the available few hours. I could write about the outcome in next week's column, but as it's pretty early to have any real indication of just what's in store for us as a nation, I'll let you get your impressions from more immediate sources. Anyway, I've never really been reassured, entertained, educated or otherwise enriched by what they call politics – whatever that actually is. Some call it a game, but it's too crucial to be that frivolous. Others call it a science, but it's too frivolous to be that orderly. There are those who call it an art, but it's far too inexact to fit that description. And we certainly can't call it a discipline because it's far too disorderly.
Personally, I'm just happy that the hoopla has quieted down and let us turn our attention to other things (at least briefly) and provided a chance to gather up some odds and ends that want their few seconds of attention.
A few months ago, I had told the story about my dad, my sister and me swimming across Lake Keomah near Oskaloosa. Dorothy, at sixteen with a curvy figure and brilliant green satin bathing suit, resembled a popular young movie starlet and appeared more mature than her actual years. Dad and I were a couple yards ahead of her when two lifeguards in a rowboat came bearing down on our expedition.
“You have to return to the beach area,” one of them told us, “It is against the rules to swim outside the designated area.” Dad asked if we could continue to the near shore to rest before going back but was refused. “I'm too tired,” Dorothy said. “I can't make it all the way back without a rest.” (For some unknown reason, these next few lines were omitted from the published version, leaving the account hanging, mysteriously incomplete.)
The rest of the story: The lifeguards hauled Dorothy into their boat and, never looking back, rowed back to the beach, leaving Dad and me to continue our intended swim across the lake and back.
I didn't complain to the editor at the time; such things happen, though seldom during the approximately fifty years I have been writing a column for the Economist. Most mistakes are my own fault and not worth the effort to explain or correct, but the pointlessness of the story as it appeared seemed to let down the readers, so I decided, after all this time, to point out the error and finish the story for those of you who may have wondered how it turned out.
During the past few months I've seen several mentions of city wildlife, as if it were a new phenomenon. I think that, rather than there being an increase in “wild” animals in towns and cities, there has been a dramatic decrease in their obvious presence. I might point out that each generation thinks that the way things have been during their life is “normal.” They have little awareness of the past and seldom are able to imagine the future. They tend to think that things have always been, and always will be, as they are now. We are accustomed to a variety of birds (now dramatically declining) and of squirrels, rabbits, bats, insects and the occasional toad or garter snake. But we seldom see raccoons, possums, coyotes, deer and other animals who are more active during the wee hours of the night. From what I've seen during my lifetime – at least in this part of Iowa - so-called city wildlife is declining.
If you watch much television, I'm sure you've seen that commercial for that $79 personal EKG devise. The one that makes it possible for anyone to check their heart rate anywhere, anytime, simply by placing two fingers of both hands on little pads and seeing the results immediately. If you have a hypochondriac on your Christmas list, it may be the perfect gift!
This year's unequal ticket prices reflect continued inequity in collegiate athletics.
DI Editorial Board
If any institution is aware of the demand for women’s sports, it should be the University of Iowa.
After years of barrier-breaking and record-setting history with the UI women’s basketball team — led by former guard Caitlin Clark at the helm of that change — both the university and state of Iowa know there is a demand for women’s sports.
This was made clear last year when the university saw the women’s basketball team fill Kinnick Stadium with 55,646 fans, breaking the record for attendance at any women’s basketball game.
Courtside tickets on SeatGeek for Iowa’s game against Michigan on Feb. 15 — where Clark made history, passing Kelsey Plum for the NCAA Division I women’s scoring record — were listed at $4,624.
Both attendance and viewership for women’s basketball has subsequently exploded following Clark’s rise to national fame. This attention has spilled over to the WNBA, where fans are not only watching Clark as she plays with the Indiana Fever but teams across the league.
Yet, despite this energy and willingness to support the women’s basketball team, the Athletics Department made the decision in July 2024 to sell men’s season tickets ranging from $325 to $375 — the same price as the year prior.
Women’s season tickets, however, sold for a maximum of $225 and were cheaper with renewal passes at $210 for adults. While this is an increase from the year prior, the price for women’s tickets is still considerably less than men’s season tickets.
Back in 2022, tickets to women’s basketball games for students were entirely free. That only changed after Clark and the rest of the team made their historic run to the NCAA championship game.
Jim Hall, a library assistant at the UI Art Library, has been attending women’s basketball games at the UI for decades — prior to the establishment of “season tickets” for the program.
“Since we’ve been going so long, and the support of women’s athletics is so important to me and my wife, I doubt there’s a price that they would consider going to that we would refuse to pay,”
Hall wrote in an email to the DI
The university should have started charging for women’s basketball tickets back in 1988 when the all-time attendance record was broken at Carver-Hawkeye Arena with 22,167 fans. This was well over the arena’s 15,500 person capacity, establishing Iowa as a leader in women’s sports decades ago.
In a statement to The DI from the UI Athletics Department, “fan demographics, market research, historical pricing, strength of schedule and performance,” are the varying factors that go into ticket pricing for various programs.
Looking into the 202425 season, it is abundantly clear that Iowa is looking at an entirely different team. With the loss of head coach Lisa Bluder
and superstar Clark, as well as seasoned players Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall, Molly Davis, and Sharon Goodman, this year’s team is particularly young.
“They’re going to look different,” UI president Barbara Wilson said in an interview with the DI.
However, despite this new team, there’s still significant energy surrounding the program. With key returners like Hannah Stuelke and Sydney Affolter, who both made substantial contributions to the team last season, and the addition of transfer Lucy Olsen, Iowa has the makings of a strong group. Former associate head coach Jan Jensen is also leading the program as head coach, giving some level of stability to the team.
The excitement for Iowa women’s basketball is still strong, hence the cost of tickets to games.
Tickets for Iowa’s game against USC — featuring second-year star JuJu Watkins — are already listed for as much as $400 on resale sites.
Nebraska, the team Iowa narrowly beat in a nail-biter of a Big Ten championship game, plays in Iowa City on Jan. 16. Resale tickets are going from $50 to nearly $200, depending on the seat.
Money is talking — why isn’t Iowa listening?
The increasing energy surrounding women’s basketball may have started with Clark, but that’s not where it stopped. For proof of this excitement, just look at the WNBA. While it’s true that the highest-viewed games from this season featured the Indiana Fever — the team that drafted Clark as the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft — games featuring other teams also saw elevated viewership and attendance.
According to ESPN, the finals series featuring the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx saw a 115 percent increase in viewership over last season — and neither team featured Clark nor any other Iowa alumni. People are tuning in to watch basketball, independent of former Hawkeye Clark. They have been doing so for years. While her impact on the sport is undeniable, Clark is not the only talented player fans tune in to watch. Now that all eyes are on women’s basketball, the cost for tickets should, at the very least, match those of the men’s team. Anything less is a severe underestimation of the Iowa women’s basketball team.
Milli Gilbaugh
REDEMPTION
The Solon Spartans celebrate a 34-27 upset win Friday over No. 5 Benton Community in Van Horne. The Bobcats handed
Kyle Prondzinski
For the Solon Economist
VAN HORNE — It is very rare that you get a second chance. Benton Community ended Solon's undefeated run in early October 21-20. At the end of the game, as the scoreboard cast a haunting glow over the field, head coach Lucas Stanton snapped a photo—a quiet vow of unfinished business. With the playoffs looming and a rematch certainly a possibility, that single-point loss would become their rallying cry pushing the Spartans to return stronger and determined to rewrite the ending in their favor.
Solon got their wish as they drew Benton in the first round of the 3A State Playoffs. Solon chose an excellent time to have their best week of practice, which led to the No. 9 Spartans (8-2) defeating the No. 5 Bobcats (7-3), 34-27.
“[we] wanted redemption,” Stanton said with a smile, proud of his young team for believing they could edge out challenging games like this on the road. Embracing the road warrior mentality, knowing they will also continue traveling for the next week’s game.
The game itself was more like a chess match. Every play mattered. It came down to the very last drive to finally decide a winner. Solon took what felt like a commanding two-touchdown lead in the third quarter by way of a big-time throw from quarterback Ty Bell, trusting his
GIRLS'
Spartans avenge loss to Benton Community with 34-27 win, will play at Humboldt Friday
sophomore wide receiver Maddox Kelley, who went up and snatched the ball over the defender in the back corner of the endzone to make it 27-13.
“Maddox is just a stud. You give him an opportunity, and he will make a play,” Bell mentioned. Bell, a senior with playoff experience from the previous year, says he feels much more mature and looser. He’s just going out there trusting himself and his teammates and having fun doing it.
The fun didn’t last long. Benton struck back immediately, returning the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. Then, with an interception and another quick score, they tied the game at 27 with six minutes left in the fourth quarter.
All the gut-wrenching winter workouts, the hot summer practices, and the eight months of preparation came down to this drive. Six minutes to burn as much time as you can and, more importantly, score by any means necessary. This is when it all becomes worth it.
When you need to get a job done, you rely on the guys you trust the most. Senior Eddie Johnson, who was hurt on the previous defensive drive, would take advantage of this opportunity to help his team out.
“I knew I was coming back in. I’ll do anything for the team,” he said.
Solon had their way, constantly gaining chunk plays to keep the chains moving and the clock running. Benton defenders with hands on their hips, gassed by the attack
Girls' cross country places fourth at state meet
Joel Kellar Solon Economist joel-kellar@uiowa.edu
Finishing the race in 19:24, and after a brief pause to catch her breath, she waited for her teammates to join her at the finish. 39 seconds later, Kinley Mai crossed the finish line quickly followed by Addison Seamans. Another 26 seconds passed, and Livya Nelson joined her teammates. And 25 seconds after that Ella Sheeley finished as the final scorer GIRLS' XC | 8
from the Spartan offense. With the clock bleeding under a minute, Johnson called “Checkmate” with a run from three yards out giving Solon the lead again with 46 seconds to go, and punching Solon’s ticket to the Quarterfinals, where they will take on No. 3 Humboldt (9-1) Friday, Nov. 9 at Humboldt.
STATS
Passing – Ty Bell 17/23, 219 yards, three TDs, one interception. Rushing – Eddie Johnson 92 yards/20 carries, two TDs. Maddox Kelley 20 yards/five carries. Bell 17 yards/eight carries.
Receiving – Kelley 118 yards/five receptions, two TDs. Karsyn Regennitter 54 yards/five carries. Johnson 29 yards/two carries, one TD. Owen Einwalter 18 yards, two receptions. Defense – Kyler Jensen 14 solo tackles, two for a loss. Regennitter five solo. Lucas Feuerbach five solo. Kelley three solo. Oliver Owens two solo, one for a loss. Cody Milliman two solo. Einwalter one solo. Johnson one solo. Tripp Johnson one solo. Will Brandt one solo. Teague Williams one solo. Brady White one solo. Grant Wilson one solo. Colby Myers one solo. Jackson Feuerbach one solo.
Sacks – Jensen one.
Fumble recovery – Kelley one/33 yards. PAT – Ryan Locke 2/2
2-Point conversions – Johnson one.
Kyle Prondzinski | For the Solon Economist
Solon (No. 9) their first loss of the season on October 4.
Joel Kellar | For the Solon Economist
CROSS COUNTRY
FORT DODGE — Sydney Dee crossed the finish line in 20th place for the Solon girls cross country team at the 2024 Class 3A State Meet Friday, Nov. 1 in Fort Dodge.
All-Conference honors for four Lady Spartans
First Team
Grace Erwin, a senior, was named to the East Division First Team after leading the squad with 204 kills. Erwin started and played in 37 matches (91 sets) and also led with 46 solo blocks and 47 block assists. She made seven assists, 40 digs, and had 24 ace serves.
Second Team
Grace Erwin named to WaMaC East First Team
Solon Economist
The WaMaC Conference issued its 2024 All-Conference Volleyball Teams last week with four Solon Lady Spartans selected for honors. The team, in their first year under head coach Ruben Galvan, finished the season at 28-14 overall and 1-4 in the WaMaC.
WaMaC Recognition
Kennedy Whitford, a junior and the team’s Libero, made seven kills, 52 assists, and 418 digs in 42 matches (104 sets) this season. Whitford also produced 26 ace serves.
Yasmine Sell, a senior, was named to the East Division Second Team with 203 kills in 33 matches (85 sets). Sell made nine solo blocks, 29 block assists, and 39 digs.
WaMaC Recognition
Jozie Lahr, a junior, made 147 kills in 38 matches (94 sets), 31 solo blocks and 44 block assists with 29 digs and four ace serves.
Photos by
Umscheid
for the Lady Spartans.
As each girl finished, Dee was the first one to greet them. Through the chaos of 132 girls crossing the finish line and collapsing because of exhaustion, Dee tracked down every single teammate who competed in the race. She was quick with a hug and a smile. But the smiles quickly turned into tears when Dee realized that she had just finished her last ever race for Solon.
The Lady Spartans came into the year with expectations set high. They returned four of their five scorers from last year’s state meet and brought in a talented freshmen class. However, head coach Emy Williams never expected the team to finish in fourth place at the state meet.
“They just have come together as a team and really come and support each other,” said Williams. “I think that's really what makes cross country so great is the way that they just support each other.” The freshmen –Nelson, Mai, and Seamans – played a major role on the team in just their first year. All three scored for the Lady Spartans in every meet they ran at including the state meet, where the environment is unlike any other high school cross country meet in the state.
Under the eyes of thousands and with the intense expectations, the freshmen were thrust into the spotlight.
“First mile, it's just going to be sound and
there's going to be people everywhere,” said Williams. “They handled their first state meet awesome. [They] just came out, they competed, they moved during the race. I'm super proud of them.” Mai, Seamans, and Nelson were the second, third, and fourth runners across the finish line for Solon, providing key placements for the team to finish fourth in the state.
Mai finished in 34th with a time of 20:03. Seamans finished four seconds behind her in 38th with a time of 20:07. Then Nelson strolled across the finish line in 45th, finishing in 20:33. Senior Ella Sheeley rounded out the scorers for the Lady Spartans by placing 58th with a time of 20:58.
Sheeley and Dee did not just impact the team with their scores, as two seniors on a team loaded with freshmen, they took on a major leadership role to get the team prepared for the state meet.
“They both kind of just kept saying okay, now we're going to do this, now we're going to go here, this is what to expect next,” said Williams. The strong leadership powered the team to a successful state meet and pushed the team’s expectations higher for future years. The three freshmen scorers and the sixth and seventh runners – Falyn Svalstad and Ava Rolwes – all can return next year with the important experience of competing at the state meet.
Dee and Sheeley will be graduated and have concluded their Solon cross country careers. They ended their time as Lady
Spartans by helping the team finish four spots better than last year’s eighth place finish and helped make this team a closely knit team.
After the race, Dee found tears constantly trying to fight through her eyes and down
rolling down her cheek that was stylized with sparkled dots.
“It’s really sad because I know I'm never going to have a practice or a race with them again,” said Dee, “It's just it's hard to think that it's over with this team."
IAsports announces All Sports Award for Iowa High School Athletics
and Small Schools.
IAsports has announced the launch of the IAsports All Sports Award, a new annual recognition for Iowa high school athletics. This prestigious award will celebrate the achievements of both boys and girls sports across all high schools in the state of Iowa, making it a comprehensive and inclusive honor.
For several years, The Des Moines Register tracked the performance of Iowa high school sports teams, awarding points based on their finishes in various state events. At the end of each year, the school with the highest total points was named the Iowa High School All Sports Award Champion. This award was presented across three divisions: Large Schools, Medium Schools,
We are proud to carry on this tradition with the IAsports All Sports Award. The point system remains in place, rewarding schools for top-eight finishes in their respective sports. Below is a breakdown of the divisions and point allocations:
Divisions:
Large Schools: Schools with more than 800 students
Medium Schools: Schools with 351-799 students
Small Schools: Schools with 350 students or fewer
Point System:
1st Place: 10 points
2nd Place: 8 points
3rd Place: 6 points
4th Place: 5 points
5th Place: 4 points
6th Place: 3 points
7th Place: 2 points
8th Place: 1 point
Semi-Finalist: 5.5 points
Quarter-Finalist: 2.5 points
In cases where schools combine for team points, the points earned will be divided equally among the participating schools. For example, if Waukee and Waukee Northwest combine for swimming and finish in 2nd place, each school will receive 4 points.
Sports Included:
Boys Golf (team state results)
Girls Cross Country (team state results)
Boys Cross Country (team state results)
Girls Volleyball
Girls Swimming
Boys Football
Girls Wrestling
Boys Swimming
Boys Wrestling (Final Standings
from Traditional Tournament)
Girls Bowling (team state results)
Boys Bowling (team state results)
Girls Basketball
Boys Basketball
Girls Track
Boys Track
Girls Golf (team state results)
Girls Tennis (team state results)
Boys Tennis (team state results)
Boys Soccer
Girls Soccer
Girls Softball
Boys Baseball
Final Standings for 2023-2024:
Large School Division (Top 5):
WDM Valley - 85.5 Points
Dowling Catholic - 75.5
Dike-New Hartford - 33 Points
We look forward to celebrating the incredible athletic talent across Iowa’s high schools and recognizing their hard-earned achievements through this new and exciting annual award.
Tony Hager IAsports
GIRLS'
Joe Wilkinson | Special to the Solon Economist
The Lady Spartans finished fourth in team points at the 2024 Class 3A State Cross Country Meet this past Friday in Fort Dodge.
Photos by Joel Kellar | For the Solon Economist
Left: Sydney Dee (Left) and Falyn Svalstad (Right) embrace after the race Friday, Nov. 1 in Fort Dodge at the 2024 Class 3A State Meet. Dee completed her final cross country race as a Lady Spartan leading the team to a fourth place finish. Center: Sydney Dee paces one of the lead packs near a mile into the race. Dee placed 20th overall and was the top finisher for the Lady Spartans. Right: Addison Seamans races during the final mile of the 2024 Class 3A State Meet. Seamans was the third fastest Lady Spartan with a time of 20:07.
Anders Holmes runs at State cross country
FORT DODGE — The Solon boys’ cross country team entered 2024 off a remarkable run of 4 straight state meet appearances, including a team runner up, a fifth place finish and two WaMaC team titles. With the loss of five key seniors from last year, this year’s freshman class would have ample opportunity to contribute to the varsity. Anders Holmes stepped up to that challenge and inserted himself as the team’s leader early in the season as the injury bug bit the two top returners from 2023.
Holmes rookie season ended in Fort Dodge Friday November 1 at the Iowa Class 3A state championship race. The freshman turned in a 17:07 performance, good for 49th place in crisp but sunny conditions. “He just ran his race. He did what he did all year long, he just moved up the entire race, moving up, moving up, moving up,” said a proud Solon Head Coach Emmie Williams.
Holmes was happy with his performance. “The first mile and a half was so fun.”
Lakeside Golf Course is home to the state meet and is lined Tour De France style with screaming fans over
Grace Hoeper named MVC Valley Div. Swimmer of the Year
Solon Economist
The Mississippi Valley athletic Conference (MVC) released its 2024 Swimming and Diving All-Division selections last week with Solon’s Grace Hoeper receiving Valley Division Swimmer of the Year honors as a member of the Iowa City High School varsity Little Hawks this season.
Hoeper was also the 1st. Team pick for the 100 and 200-yard freestyle as well as 1st Team 200-yard freestyle relay with City’s Elsa Farber, Louisa BerryStoelzle, and Saoirse Miller. Hoeper, with Farber, Berry-Stoelzle, and City’s Celeste Miller also received 2nd Team honors for the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Regional swimming and diving meets are this week
The Little Hawks travel to Linn-Mar High School for Regional competition and a shot at the 2024 State Tournament. Burlington, Davenport Central, Decorah, Iowa City West High/Liberty High, Keokuk, LinnMar, Muscatine, Pleasant Valley, and Tipton will join City High. The Regional Diving Meet is set for Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5:00 p.m. with the Regional Swimming Meet set for Saturday, Nov. 9 at Noon. Tickets are available at www. gobound.com/ia/ighsau/
gsw/2024-25/tickets
The State Tournament will be held Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Marshalltown YMCA/YWCA. Preliminary heats for swimming are set for 11:00 a.m. Friday with the State Diving Meet scheduled for 4:30 p.m. State Swimming Finals begin at Noon on Saturday.
much of the first mile and a half.
However, a side stitch interrupted Holmes’ stroll at the halfway point in the 5k. “It kinda negated that good feeling in the first half of the race. It made it uncomfortable,” Holmes said. It was not going to slow him down though as he moved up despite the pain. Holmes navigated through the field of 132 runners to 71st at the mile and 63rd at the 2 mile before ignoring the cramp and finishing 49th.
“We’ll be in a much better position next year with our top three intact,” Holmes predicted. Two event state track qualifier Spencer Michaels, leads a trio of juniors (Rena Meza and Camden Lyons), along with Holmes and fellow freshman Preston Raasch and Deacon Waddell all looking forward to next year as returning varsity runners. More freshman help could be on the way next year again. Solon claimed third in the middle school 3A state championship along with a WaMaC title this year, each despite having their top runner sidelined due to injury.
Williams expects to have a full boys team in Fort Dodge next year. “None of the juniors had the season I think they wanted to have. I expect we will see some great senior leadership next year and I’m excited to see what we add with the freshman class.”
Joe Wilkinson | Special to the Solon Economist Solon freshman Anders Holmes charges through the field in the 2024 Class 3A State Championship race Friday, Nov. 1 in Fort Dodge. Holmes finished in 49th place in 17:07.
Chris Umscheid | Solon Economist Solon senior Grace Hoeper (shown here in the varsity 100-yard backstroke against Iowa City West High/Liberty High) was named the Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division Swimmer of the Year.
Mike Kabela For the Solon Economist
SOLON SENIORS
A card shower for Sandy!
Solon Senior Dining honored Sandy Hansen during in-house dining October 2 with a surprise appreciation “card shower.”
Sandy has been the inspiration of numerous programs in Solon benefiting not only seniors but the Solon community.
Her dedication and energy have touched many lives through these programs and projects; Solon Food Pantry, Solon history book “Solon Snapshots,” Senior of the Year, and countless restaurant and event trips, just to name a few.
Thank you Sandy!
NOVEMBER HAPPENINGS ••••
Wednesday, Nov. 13 – Sponsored mealSolon American Legion/Steve Hirl
Wednesday, Nov. 20 – Cindy Jensen, Solon Senior Transport
Wednesday, Nov. 27 – Celebrate Thanksgiving
Thursday, Nov. 28 – Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday, Nov. 29 – CLOSED for Thanksgiving holiday, NO MEAL DELIVERIES
DINING •••••••••••••••••••••
CALENDAR & PUZZLES
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
NOVEMBER MENU • • •••••••••
Friday, Nov. 8
Sauteed Shrimp Buttered Noodles
Broccoli
Raspberry Gelatin w/ Marshmallow Topping
Monday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day
Smothered Pork Chop
Scalloped Potatoes
Maple Brussel Sprouts & Squash Cherry Cobbler
Wednesday, Nov. 13 – Sponsored MealSolon American Legion
Chicken Parm Alfredo
Chalet Buttered Vegetables
Garlic Toast
Frosted Peanut Butter Bars
Thank you Solon Senior Dining volunteers! “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they just have the heart.” — Elizabeth Andrew
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 it possible to offer this important service to the students.
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 31
MS/HS Alt: Taco Bake
Cheesy Potatoes & Ham, Dinner Roll (MS/HS)
Peas, Apple Juice (MS/HS)
Dragon Punch (SIS/LV)
Bug Bites
Peaches (MS/HS)
“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, Nov. 7
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
Friday, Nov. 8
Mini CC French Toast (LV/SIS)
G&G Bag Donut
Long John or Cinnamon Roll
Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk
Monday, Nov. 11
Breakfast Pizza (LV/SIS) G&G (LV) Oatmeal Bar
Sausage & Gravy over Biscuit, Frudel
Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk
Thursday, Nov. 7
MS/HS Alt: Lasagna Roll-up
Chicken Drumstick
Baked Beans, Celery Stalks
Melon Fruit Salad, Sun Chips
Biscuit & Honey (HS)
Friday, Nov. 8
MS/HS Alt: Cooks Delight
Bacon Scramble Pizza
Trix Yogurt Cup, Pepper Spears & Carrot Poles
Oranges, Cereal Bowl Pineapple (HS)
Monday, Nov. 11
MS/HS Alt: Shrimp Poppers/ Fish Sticks
Pizza Crunchers & Marinara
Tator Tots
Cucumbers, Applesauce Delight
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie
Edited by Will Shortz
Across
1 Strikes, perhaps
6 Animal cry that sounds like a Greek letter
9 Girls, ___ (nonprofit since 1864)
12 Find on the radio
14 Move, in real estate lingo
15 Woman on un árbol genealógico
16 Value
17 More slippery
18 TV channel showing lots of pitches
19 Disclaimer on a sale poster
21 –
23 Contradict
Tuesday, Nov. 12
Parfait (LV/SIS)
G&G Bag (LV) Pump/Banana Bread
Egg Breakfast Bake, Dutch Waffle & Bacon
Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk
Wednesday, Nov. 13
Sausage Pancake Wrap (LV/ SIS)
G&G Bag (LV) Nutri Grain Bar
Breakfast Pizza or Cinnamon Doughnuts
Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk
Thursday, Nov. 14
Mini Pancakes (LV/SIS)
G&G Bag (LV) Mini Pancakes
Muffin Top, Mini Pancakes & Sausage Links
Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk
Friday, Nov. 15
Long John (LV/SIS)
G&G Bag (LV) Donut
Potatoes & Egg Boat or Long
John
Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk
Tuesday, Nov. 12
MS/HS Alt: Fiestada Pizza
Tacos on Flour Tortilla Cheese, Salsa, Lettuce
Corn, Queso (MS/HS)
Tortilla Chips, Kiwi, Pears (HS)
Wednesday, Nov. 13
MS/HS Alt: Pepperoni Boat
Mandarin Chicken & Rice
Caesar Salad, Grape Tomatoes, Seasoned Broccoli (HS)
Fruit Cocktail, Cottage Cheese (SIS/MS/HS), Cheez its (HS)
Garlic Toast (MS/HS)
Thursday, Nov. 14
MS/HS Alt: Chicken Patty
Sandwich
Chili & Cinnamon Rolls
Shredded Cheese (MS/HS), Green Beans
Fresh Citrus Fruit Salad Crackers
24 Save money on one’s commute home, perhaps
26 Actor who played a character with the same first name on “Two and a Half Men”
28 –
29 You can see right through it
30 Up to ___
31 Like nearly everybody on a Reply All thread
32 Genre influenced by Jamaica’s independence
34 Puts on a Christmas list, say
36 Some young studs
40 Lisbon’s land: Abbr.
41 First name in student loans
42 Louvre Pyramid architect
43 ___ facto
46 Skeptics
48 –
49 Half of a sprinter’s pair
51 One of the four classical elements, along with ignis, aqua and terra
52 53-Across feature, as seen three times in this puzzle
53 Test required for all C.I.A. applicants … or a hint to this puzzle’s theme
57 Major British tabloid, with “The”
58 When sudden death can occur, for short
60 “Understood”
61 Caribbean clock setting: Abbr.
62 New Mexico county or its seat
63 Early bird’s bedtime, maybe
64 Baseball players who only bat, for short
1 Cocido or callaloo
2 Luxuriant
65 Snide chuckle 66 Boardroom support
3 Like some dog collars
4 Tool used in making applesauce and mashed potatoes
5 Metal marble
6 Human-shaped board game piece
7 Singer/songwriter Goulding
8 Truly awful, with “the”
9 City that’s absolutely “gorges”
10 Leaf maker
11 “There’s no way!”
13 Mantra chants
14 Went door to door for
20 Performer at 2024’s Super Bowl halftime show
22 Wash against, as waves on the shore
25 It fits under a tongue
26 Busy Apr. professional
27 Contracts
28 Derides
31 Budget planner, for short
33 Half sister of Kim, Khloé and Kourtney
35 TV character who said “Computers make excellent and efficient servants, but I have no wish to serve under them”
36 City name in Genesis
37 Runs
38 “___ outta here!”
39 Female friend, casually
41 Elitists
43 “What a shame!”
44 Major media campaign, say
45 N.F.L. franchise that went its first 20 seasons without a singl winning record
47 “Darn it!”
48 Home to “star-cross’d lovers”
50 Urban artist?
51 Longhorn’s college rival
54 Philosophical darkness
55 Decorate, as a baker might
56 Web code
59 When doubled, dance move
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.
Top: Last Thursday’s BAM POW activity was making monsters out of Play-Doh™ and filming a short stop-motion (Claymation) video. The Solon Public Library hosts these free activity-driven events weekly on early-out Thursdays.
Above: Cora shows her PlayDoh™ creation made during last Thursday’s BAM POW activities at the Solon Public Library. Right: Everly, dressed as a Monarch butterfly for Halloween, works on creating a Play-Doh™ monster during last Thursday’s BAM POW activities at the Solon Public Library. Below: Two boys watch stop motion videos Timmy has created with his smart phone and action figures.
Above: Layla proudly shows her Play-Doh™ creation made during last Thursday’s BAM POW activities at the Solon Public Library. Below: Kaia watches as Teen Services Librarian Christian Brauns snaps an image on an iPad as part of a stop motion (Claymation) video Thursday, October 31 at the Solon Public Library. Kids taking part in the weekly BAM POW get-together made monsters out of Play-Doh™ and posed them one shot at a time for the videos.
• Holidays & Dementia
Thursday, November 14th, at 5PM
The holiday season can be di cult to navigate when you are dealing with the stressors of the holidays also paired with dementia. This presentation touches upon the senses a ected by the holidays and practical tips to adapt into your holiday plans when also balancing someone living with dementia.
Presented by: Janel Meints, CTRS, DCP will help navigate & educate others on Dementia and how it a ects the individual & their caregivers.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Please RSVP by Wednesday, November 13th at 319-325-8037 or scottmaiers@solonretirementvillage.com
Center: Kaia (left) and Kendal make adjustments to their Play-Doh™ monsters for the next shot in a stop motion video during the BAM POW afterschool get-together last Thursday at the Solon Public Library.
