A walk to save lives
2nd annual Ruck 22 hike Sept. 21 to raise awareness of veteran suicide
Chris Umscheid Solon Economist chris.umscheid@soloneconomist.com
SOLON — It’s a sobering number.
In 2012 The Veterans Administration (VA) stated an average of 22 veterans commit suicide every day, which equals one every 65 minutes. Since then, some have questioned or even challenged the VA’s 2012 Suicide Data Report noting while veterans have a 50% higher suicide rate, during the period between 2001 and 2009, the average was less than one veteran suicide per day. The VA’s 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report notes 17.5 per day in 2021
Regardless, one veteran suicide is one too many, and since the 2012 report, much effort has gone into raising awareness of veteran suicide and pushing for improvements in mental healthcare for veterans particularly in the realm of treating Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS).
Solon veteran Doug “Doc” Thompson knows all too well the effects of PTS and the impacts it has on the veteran community. As a Navy corpsman (medic) he was assigned to the Fleet Marine Force and served as a combat medic during the Vietnam War. A member of the Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460, Thompson serves as the Post’s Chaplain and is one of the volunteers comprising the Iowa Veterans Outdoor Experiences (IVOE) organization, which provides opportunities for veterans to come together and heal the wounds they have hidden away for years if not decades. “For a lot of them, I think it’s the camaraderie,” Thompson said, “And they’re not all from Iraq or Afghanistan, we’ve got Vietnam veterans as well.” The all-volunteer staff of IVOE have all received some degree of training to recognize the signs and symptoms of PTS.
Thompson said when veterans return from a war,
Upcoming events in Solon
they have changed. “When they come home, they’ll have seen things that you don’t bring up in polite society. A lot of these guys and gals, things that have happened to them, things that they’ve seen, things they had to do, they don’t talk about, which is fine, but those things were out of their control.” Thompson said they need to realize they did what they had to do in that particular circumstance. “You give 100% to your efforts.”
Ruck 22 - hiking for veterans
Last September Thompson organized the first Ruck 22 walk to raise awareness of veteran suicide and to raise funds for IVOE. 35 people participated with some donning backpacks weighing 22 pounds. Thompson wore a special 22-pound vest. The event generated $3,000, which IVOE used to fully-fund a veterans’ fishing trip in April.
Originally Thompson was planning to walk 22 miles nonstop and to solicit sponsors at $22 (or more) apiece. But his daughter had a better idea; get others to walk along with him. “Well then I thought how about 2.2 miles. The 22 would be symbolic, but then I’d have
Calling all veterans, Armed Forces Night is Friday, Sept. 20
Friday, Sept. 20, our rivals to the immediate north, Mount Vernon, visits Spartan Stadium for JV and varsity football on Armed Forces Night. The American Legion Color Guards from Solon and Mount Vernon will present our nation’s colors and a Solon veteran will be recognized for his service to our country. All veterans are invited to attend and be recognized as well.
to make it at least a little challenging, so I said I’d get some sand and fill an old backpack with 22 pounds of sand,” he said. “For my birthday, she got me a 22-pound weighted vest. And when I pitched it to the (IVOE) guys, they thought it was a great idea.” IVOE is going into their sixth year of serving veterans, and Thompson said they know they’ve had a positive impact. “There’s been 19 veterans that told us they had been contemplating suicide until they went on a fishing trip or a bow hunting trip (IVOE sponsored events). For us, that’s our whole goal: to save the lives of our brother and sister veterans.”
There is a lot of symbolism behind the Ruck 22 event. September is Suicide Prevention Month, and Thompson’s goal is to have the ruck on or as close as possible to the 22nd. The entry fee is $22 as are T-shirts printed by Juan Santiago (SYNCERE Printing, LLC, in Tiffin), and the 2.2-mile distance represents the 22 suicides per day statistic. And although not required participants are encouraged to carry 22 pounds on their back (backpack full of sand or other weights, a weighted vest like Thompson wears, etc.). “Its to recognize that I’m
Child car seat safety inspections Saturday, Sept. 21
The Solon Public Library is hosting a car seat safety inspection event from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Library in recognition of Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 15-22). Certified car seat technicians will be on site to answer questions, check for any recalls, and assist in the correct installation of your child safety seat. Appointments (20-30 minutes) with registration required at https://solon-ia.whofi.com/.
Chris Umscheid | Solon Economist file photo
Doug “Doc” Thompson and Solon Firefighter Daylan Tompkins lead the way on a 2.2-mile ruck (walk/march) through Solon last September to raise awareness of the issue of veteran suicide. The event also raised nearly $3k for Iowa Veterans Outdoor Experience, an all-volunteer group who host events for veterans. This year’s event is set for Saturday, Sept. 21.
carrying the spiritual souls of some of these veterans, letting them know hey, I’m carrying you. I’m carrying 22 of you on my back. I like the symbolism that we’re using.” It can also represent the burdens weighing down veterans and leading them to contemplate suicide.
“You are carrying that weight for them.”
The ruck is also for the spouses and families.
“Those wives and husbands and children, they are amazing people. This Ruck 22 is also for them because we want to bring Dad back as close to how they were, as close to what ‘normalcy’ was for them.”
Raising funds for IVOE
Proceeds from the ruck go entirely to financing IVOE’s fishing and hunting trips for veterans, which have been shown to be beneficial, to the puzzlement of the psychological and psychiatric communities. “They don’t understand what it is about hunting and fishing, those two specific activities, why they have such a positive impact on the psyche of people with PTS. They’re focused on a specific activity and they’ve got that camaraderie there.” Studies have shown, he said, that talking a walk outside listening to the birds and other sounds of nature has a calming effect. “But the activity itself helps veterans.”
For more information on IVOE and how they help and support veterans call 319-631-0334 or go to www. iowaveteransoutdoorexperience.com. IVOE is also on Facebook at www. facebook.com/IowaVeteransOutdoorExperience, which includes a link to make a donation.
Veterans Crisis Line
If you are a veteran having a mental health crisis, or know a veteran in crisis, help is available 24/7 with confidential crisis support through the Veterans Crisis Line. Dial 988 then press 1 or text 838255 or chat online at www.veteranscrisisline.net.
This year’s event is set for Saturday, Sept. 21 at 9:30 a.m. and starts at the Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460 (222 East Main St.).
“We want to save lives,” Thompson said.
Chris Umscheid | Solon Economist file photo
Veteran Jason Rekers carried this rock in his rucksack for Iowa Veterans Outdoor Experience’s first 2.2-mile ruck walk last September. The rock memorializes friend and fellow vet Dave “Creature” Ashton, who committed suicide. The event raised funds for IVOE to use to help vets while raising awareness of veteran suicide, which is estimated at an average of 22 per day.
Sheriff's time report for Solon
SOLON — The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) provides law enforcement to the city of Solon on a contracted basis and releases a monthly Town Time Report documenting the agency’s activities and time spent within the corporate limits of Solon.
August
Deputies conducted 32 traffic stops (62 total since July 1), responded to nine 9-1-1 hangups (the same number as in July), 17 emergency medical incidents, and four fire responses among 136 total calls for service. Also, deputies responded to six animal calls, five motor vehicle accidents, and one missing person. One burglary was investigated as was a fraud/forgery/ID theft case and two domestic abuse cases.
As a reminder the Sheriff’s substation is open at 223 S. Iowa St. in Solon. The facility is not staffed 24/7 but if a deputy is needed (non-emergency) call 319-3566800 to make a request to have one meet you. In an emergency, dial 9-1-1. August Hours in Solon
Johnson County seeks volunteers for various boards
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors is seeking volunteers to serve on various County boards and commissions. Board and commission members serve in an advisory role to help direct policy by making suggestions and recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and County staff.
Vacancies are available on the following boards and commissions:
• Board of Health
• Building Code of Appeals
• Compensation Commission
• Conservation Board
• Coralville Public Library Board of Trustees
• Historic Preservation Commission
• Planning and Zoning Commission
• Zoning Board of Adjustment
Information about specific boards and commissions, vacancies and application forms are available on the Johnson County website at www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/vacancies, and in the Johnson County Board of Supervisors office, second floor of the Health and Human Services Building, 855 S. Dubuque Street, Iowa City. Questions can be directed to the Board of Supervisors Office at 319-356-6000 or applications@ johnsoncountyiowa.gov.
Completed applications must be returned to the Board of Supervisors Office by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
STAFF
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. soloneconomist.com
The Library is more than just a building and books, it’s the people who make it a special place in our community. We’re celebrating Alexis Kurth, Adult Services Librarian, and her five year anniversary at Solon Public Library. Alexis brings her positive and caring attitude with her each day as she plans interesting (and fun!) programs for adults, like DIY Night, Tech Talk, Trivia Night, and so much more! Alexis’s education background makes her the ideal person to teach us new things. We’re all so thankful to have Alexis on the Library team and part of our community.
Library Events
Join us Tuesday mornings at 10:30 for Storytime! We’ll share songs, books, and games with friends and caregivers. Our theme this month is vehicles! At the end of each Tuesday Storytime we’ll have special guests and their vehicles to see up close. We also continue to share Digital Storytime with you, anytime on your favorite device! Visit our website or find us on YouTube to enjoy.
Fun For All Night returns Saturday, September 14! In partnership with Solon Recreation we’ll enjoy this tradition on the second Saturday of the month (September - April) at the Solon Community Center. Join us for gym games at 6:00 p.m. and at 7:00 p.m. for the movie, Elemental [PG] and popcorn. This free night of fun is for all-ages to enjoy, so bring your friends and neighbors and enjoy a night out!
Tech Talk returns Thursday, September 19 at 9:30 a.m. and we’re highlighting Transparent Language, a Library provided resource to assist in learning a language or keeping up your skills.
You can use this resource on a computer (connected to the internet) and on your smart device via the Transparent Language app. Bring your favorite device or use a Chromebook to get hands on help at Tech Talk. Have your child’s car seat inspected by a trained professional! On Saturday, September 21 Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPST) will be on-site and ready to answer questions, check your seat for safety recalls, and assist with making sure your child safety seat is correctly installed. Appointments are available from 9:0011 a.m. Registration is recommended, as a limited number of walk-in appointments will be available. Plan to spend 20-30 minutes at your appointment, making sure your child is safe!
Cookbook Club is Saturday, September 21 at 11 a.m. This gathering is a celebration of all things pasta, where culinary enthusiasts come together to share their love for this versatile dish. Each member prepares a pasta recipe inspired by one of our cookbooks, bringing their own unique twist to the table. From classic spaghetti to inventive new creations, our potluck allows everyone to taste and appreciate a variety of pasta dishes. Join us for delicious food, recipe swapping, and pasta-inspired conversation!
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. Friday, September 27th, we will be open 9:00 a.m.4:00 p.m. to allow time for our monthly staff-in-service.
Don’t forget, the digital library is always avail -
able! 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?
Go back in time, learn something new, and hear from the experts with these new titles in the nonfiction collection.
All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles. A renowned historian
traces the life of a single object handed down through three generations of Black women to craft an extraordinary testament to people who are left out of the archives.
In 1850s South Carolina, an enslaved woman named Rose faced a crisis, the imminent sale of her daughter Ashley. Thinking quickly, she packed a cotton bag with a few precious items as a token of love and to try to ensure Ashley’s survival. Soon after, the nine-year-old girl was separated from her mother and sold.
Impossible Monsters by Michael Taylor. When the twelve-year old daughter of a British cabinetmaker pulled some strange-looking bones from the country’s southern shoreline in 1811, few people dared to question
that the Bible told the accurate history of the world. But Mary Anning had unearthed the first Ichthyosaurus, and over the next seventy-five years–as more “impossible monsters” emerged from the soil, and scholars began to identify the internal inconsistencies of the Scriptures–everything changed. In this “stunning work of popular history” (Steve Brusatte), celebrated young historian Michael Taylor brings to life the dawn of paleontology and the epic nineteenth-century battle of ideas that followed.
Ladder to the Light by Steven Charleston. Native America knows something about cultivating resilience and resisting darkness. Choctaw elder and Episcopal priest Steven Charleston offers
words of hard-won hope, rooted in daily conversations with the Spirit and steeped in Indigenous wisdom. For all who yearn for hope, Ladder to the Light is a book of comfort, truth, and challenge in a time of anguish and fear. Night will not last forever. Together we can climb toward the light.
Scotland Yard by Simon Read. The idea of Scotland Yard is steeped in atmospheric stories of foggy London streets, murder by lamplight, and fiendish killers pursued by gentleman detectives. From its establishment in 1829 through the eve of World War II, Scotland Yard–the world’s first modern, professional, and centrally organized police force–set new standards for policing and investigating.
Solon Public Library contributed photo
At the September 4, 2024, City Council Meeting, Alexis Kurth was recognized for her five years of service to the Solon Public Library. (First row, from the left: Paul Saupe, Liz King, Alexis Kurth, PJ Kurth, Harper Kurth, Kris Brown. Second row, from the left: Taney Kurth, Lily Smith, Janet Salathiel, Sandy Lawrence. Third row, from the left: Bob King, Mayor Dan O’Neil.
Solon Public Library contributed photo
On Tuesday, September 3rd we enjoyed a visit with friends from Antelope Lending Library and explored the bookmobile!
OPINIONS
The Hill, Dorothy's amusement park, and other hazards
Food for Thought
Milli Gilbaugh
Bobby and Beverly were twins, a few years older than I was. They lived in a large Victorian house at the end of our street. Because of the age difference, I seldom played with them, but often joined some of the other kids who lived nearby to play in the empty lot behind their house. Beverly was a friendly girl and sometimes invited us into the house or shaded grape arbor along the south side if the oldfashioned kitchen. By early September, the arbor, while refreshingly cool on a hot day, was nevertheless a bit creepy, being populated by Daddy-Long-Legs and other skittering things that might drop on one's head
at any time. And, when the grapes were ripe, we were invited to help ourselves.
Inside, the house was gloomy with dark woodwork and heavily patterned wallpaper. A huge grandfather clock sat in the hall near the front door, opposite an ornately carved hat rack with a tall mirror and low storage drawer that I visualized as serving as a convenient seat for changing winter boots. The clock struck on the quarter hour, echoing loudly throughout the house and I could imagine its merciless late night announcements repeatedly waking the house's residents.
Across the street, lived Burl Reynolds who was the twins' age, and next door to them was Jackie who was my age and shared both his tree-house and a case of mumps with me one summer. Behind the house and what must have once been a lawn or garden, The Hill sloped sharply down to the next street. It had no trees and little other greenery besides weeds but held a number of things such as salvaged building materials, broken furniture and several empty, rusted barrels that all suggested barrel-walking and new games to invent. A collection of children of many ages, with a few selfconfident and adventuresome young teens, can come up with a hair-raising number of bizarre and dangerous things to do on a Saturday afternoon.
My older sister Dorothy envisioned an amusement park akin to Riverside Park in Des Moines, where our dad took us at least once a year in lieu of the, sometimes tawdry, itinerant carnivals that made their rounds every summer. We couldn't build such an ambitious facility in just one afternoon, but Dorothy had an idea for one “ride” that we could create almost instantly. She called it The Barrel Roll and convinced me that it would be an honor to volunteer to be the test pilot. One
of the empty barrels was upended, banged to loosen some of the rust clinging to its insides, and fitted with a rectangle of old carpet. The theory was that gravity would keep the carpet at the lowest point in the barrel as it rolled down the hill, and gravity would keep the passenger (me) safely on the carpet as the barrel rolled and the carpet slid around inside. A passenger-less test drive showed that the carpet did slide as predicted, but the barrel veered gradually to the side as it followed the curvature of the hill, so to keep it going straight, a double row of the old bricks was laid to keep it on track. More bricks were piled at the bottom, forming a barrier it was assumed would stop the barrel from charging over the retaining wall and flying into the street. Two strong boys were stationed near the bottom to catch the plummeting barrel if the barricade failed to slow it to a standstill.
A final test run showed that the brick rails kept the barrel on track, the piled bricks brought it to a nearstandstill and the two strongmen triumphantly brought it to a dead stop. It was time for the test pilot. I climbed into my cockpit, crouched over my knees on the piece of carpet, tucked my arms close to my sides and confidently announced I was ready for take-off.
Dorothy gave the barrel a mighty shove. My carpet failed to slide. My barrel veered to the side before reaching the brick-lined track and bounced several times before crashing into a heap of old lumber and window shutters. I was pulled out of the barrel, covered with rust, dirt and bloody scrapes, too shaken and tearful to speak. Dorothy said, “Next time, wear long sleeves and slacks. You should have known better.” Oh yeah - I should have known better - better than to “volunteer.”
Grassley puts HHS vetting, information-sharing under the microscope amid Biden-Harris admin’s neglect to protect migrant children
Oversight inquiry comes on heels of alarming DHS watchdog report
Office of Senator Chuck Grassley
BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is seeking information from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security (DHS) regarding their documented failure to protect over 291,000 unaccompanied migrant children (UCs). Grassley’s oversight follows up on an August 19, 2024 watchdog report revealing DHS has not accounted for all UCs HHS released to sponsors, scheduled UCs’ immigration court appearances or attempted to locate UCs who skipped scheduled proceedings.
“[The HHS Office of Refugee Reset-
tlement (ORR)]’s lax vetting has placed migrant children in grave danger of exploitation and abuse and makes locating these children after placement difficult, something I fear hinders the work of DHS as well,” Grassley wrote. “I won’t tire in my commitment to protect these children and bring about needed reforms to ensure they aren’t placed in the hands of traffickers and those seeking to exploit them.”
The Biden-Harris administration, as part of its open border agenda, terminated a Trump administration policy that enhanced critical HHS and DHS information-sharing. This action resulted in broken inter-agency communications channels and continues to contribute to the growing migrant children crisis. Specifically, the DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) uncovered last month:
• UC entries into the U.S. have surged under the Biden-Harris administration. Of the 448,820 UCs in ORR custody
Solon Hereford farms earn honors in Iowa State Fair Show
from fiscal year (FY) 2019 to FY 2023, DHS placed roughly 366,000 of them – or 81 percent –with ORR between FYs 2021 and 2023.
• The Biden-Harris administration is not keeping tabs on UCs in its custody. Between FYs 2019 and 2023, Immigration and Customs Enforcement neglected to issue notices to appear (NTAs) in immigration court for 65 percent of UCs transferred from DHS custody within that same period.
• The Biden-Harris administration has lost track of thousands more UCs. Between FYs 2019 and 2023, over 32,000 UCs who received NTAs did not appear in court.
Background:
Grassley has a nearly decade-long history conducting oversight of the federal government’s care for unaccompanied minors.
This Congress, he’s sought to overturn a
Biden-Harris HHS rule endangering UCs. Grassley in July held a roundtable to hear from whistleblowers who witnessed firsthand the rampant issues in the Biden administration’s UC program. He launched an extensive review of federal contractors and grantees who are paid to provide UCs food, shelter and other basic services, as well as vet sponsors with whom they stay while they await their immigration proceedings. In January, Grassley alerted federal law enforcement to evidence of suspected child trafficking and sponsorship vetting shortfalls at HHS.
Given whistleblowers’ pivotal role in rooting out wrongdoing in the executive branch, Grassley raised serious concerns HHS policies aim to prevent employees and contractors from making whistleblower disclosures to Congress or the HHS OIG. He called on the Office of the Special Counsel to examine HHS’ deficient whistleblower protections.
competition while Morgan was third in the Horned Junior Yearling Heifer (Feb. 1-29, 2023) and sixth in the Polled Spring Yearling Heifer (March 1-30, 2023) competitions.
Tyler Davisson of Calamus took home the Grand Champion Horned Female and Champion Iowa Horned Female awards in the Hereford Show judged at the 2024 Iowa State Fair.
Emmett Lovrien of Clarksville received Reserve Grand Champion Horned Female.
Patrick Wall of Pleasantville claimed the Grand Champion Bull and Champion Iowa Bull.
Macy Macke of Lake City received the Reserve Grand Champion Bull award.
The Iowa State Fair is one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country and the single largest event in the state. The Fair began 170 years ago and is now considered one of the best events in the nation, attracting more than one million Fairgoers every year from all over the world. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University, just off the interstate and minutes from Downtown Des Moines. Catch Fair Fever at the Iowa State Fair, August 8-18, 2024. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.
DES MOINES — McKenna Rogers and Morgan Rogers of Solon took home awards from the Hereford Show at the 2024 Iowa State Fair. McKenna placed third in the Horned Early Summer Yrig Heifer (May 1- 31, 2023)
Iowa HHS announces intent to award Medicaid contract
Alex Murphy Iowa HHS Director of Communications
DES MOINES — On September 3, 2024, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the intent to award a Managed Care Organization (MCO) contract to Iowa Total Care. The new Iowa Medicaid contract period begins July 1, 2025, with no change in operations. Iowa Total Care has been serving Iowa Medicaid members as a MCO since July 1, 2019. his RFP and resulting contract aligns all three MCO contracts to the same contract cycle. All three MCO contracts will have a final contract end date of June 30, 2031.
“Providing access to quality health care is critical and a cornerstone of our work at Iowa HHS. Iowa Total Care has demonstrated a commitment to continuous quality
improvement and innovation—making them a valued partner for Iowa Medicaid,” said Kelly Garcia, Director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. “We are pleased to award Iowa Total Care with this contract as they continue to meet the needs of Iowans and deliver essential medical services.”
Iowa Medicaid members will continue to receive their Medicaid benefits with the health plan they are currently enrolled in – there are no changes as a result of this contract award. Members will be able to make an enrollment selection change during the annual open choice enrollment period in Spring 2025. Iowa HHS staff will communicate with Medicaid members and providers on the continuation of service provision.
Iowa Medicaid contracts with three MCOs: Iowa Total Care, Molina and Wellpoint Iowa, Inc. to provide health care services to Iowans.
within a 12-month period.
Notices requirements to consumers purchasing STLD plans must be in 14-point font on the first page of all plans, applications, and marketing and enrollment materials. These requirements assist the consumer in understanding they are not purchasing an ACA compliant major-medical plan.
Sonya Sellmeyer
Consumer Advocacy Officer, Iowa Insurance Division
Short-term limited duration (STLD) insurance is a type of health insurance coverage traditionally designed to fill the gaps in coverage when an individual is transitioning from one health insurance plan to another.
STLD plans attract a diverse group of individuals, particularly those facing specific life circumstances where traditional health insurance isn't immediately accessible or necessary. Common scenarios when STLD is needed are people between jobs, early retirees, individuals who missed open enrollment or people who find the ACA plans unaffordable. In 2023, the number of Iowans enrolled in STLD plans was 3,802.
Effective September 1, 2024, a new federal law significantly alters the landscape for STLD plans. The key changes under the new law include reducing the coverage duration to no more than 3 months with renewals extending the total coverage period up to only 4 months. Carriers are also prohibited from offering a STLD plan, including permissible renewals, to the same policyholder
The federal changes do not impact any plans effective before September 1, 2024, and do not impact the duration of currently active plans. Individuals enrolled in plans before the law took effect, may continue to receive coverage under their plan for the full duration, including renewals, of the plan.
Individuals considering a STLD plan may need to consider other options for health insurance such as the ACA Marketplace. Marketplace plans may offer a subsidy in the form of a tax credit that lowers your monthly premium and, depending on your income, cost-sharing reductions that will lower your deductible and copays. Ninety percent of all Iowans receive significant monthly subsidies and the average monthly premium after the advance premium tax credit is $93. Open enrollment for the ACA Marketplace is November 1, 2024 - January 15, 2025.
Individuals who lose coverage in STLD plans are eligible for a 60-day special enrollment period into group health plans but not into an individual health plan, and the law did not allow for a special enrollment period into individual ACA plans. The September 1, 2024, effective date was set so individuals may receive coverage in STLD plans for up to 4 months until they are able to receive coverage in the individual ACA plans offered on the Marketplace beginning January 1, 2025.
Iowans considering purchasing or renewing a STLD should speak to a licensed insurance agent or contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Consumer Advocate at 515-654-6538.
Lake Macbride event details:
Time: 9:00 -11:30 a.m.
Meeting Location: Main lodge Park Address: 3525 Highway 382 NE, Solon IA 52333
Description: Lake Macbride State Park staff need help with invasive species management and removal as well as shoreline clearing below the main lodge. Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to our parks as they can take over natural areas and outcompete native species.
and forests
Volunteers needed to help at Lake Macbride
Iowa state parks invite you to lend a hand on Saturday, Sept. 28 for Statewide Volunteer Day. Several state parks and forests (including Lake Macbride State Park) will host events that include picking up litter, trail maintenance, prairie seed gathering and more. No experience necessary, come enjoy the outdoors!
What to Bring: A water bottle, gloves (thick ones for thorny brush), sunscreen, safety glasses (recommended), bug spray, and snacks. Limited loppers and pruners will be available - please bring some if possible. Plan to wear closed toe shoes, long pants and sleeves, and clothes/shoes that can get dirty or stained.
Other Details: All ages are welcome, but please be aware the nature of the project requires participants to use loppers and pruning shears to cut up to 1.5” diameter woody plant stems and drag cut shrubs that may have small thorns. We will work to accommodate all ages and abilities. There will be a place to refill water.
Volunteers Needed: 10-15 (max of 15 volunteers as the project is small in scope)
RSVP: No RSVP needed.
Contact: Ron Puettmann (Park Manager) at ron.puettmann@dnr.iowa.gov / 319-330-5227.
Sellmeyer
Keep cozy this season by preparing your home for the cooler weather.
• Clean out gutters and downspouts
• Seal up air leaks
• Inspect roof and chimneys
• Protect faucets from freezing temps
• Freshen furnace filters
• Replace batteries in carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
Geothermal — a customizable alternative to high utility bills
Year-round comfort is right under your feet
Chris Umscheid Solon Economist chris.umscheid@soloneconomist.com
SOLON — As utility bills for natural gas, propane, and electricity continue to increase homeowners may not be aware that the very ground their home sits on may be an option for their heating and cooling needs.
Geothermal energy is a more efficient way of exchanging heat for your home or office building, said
Tom Rutkowski, General Manager for E&J in Solon as well as President of the Iowa Geothermal Association. “We use the ground as a thermal battery. We send a water and antifreeze mixture down, and that is what is transferring heat into and out of the ground. That water flows inside and hits a ground source heat pump. That’s where the water will interact with the refrigerant system and that will produce hot or cold air for the house, or depending on what type of geothermal system, it will also produce hot or cold water.” Geothermal systems can also provide in-floor heat or traditional forced air heating and cooling and while these systems are ideal for new construction they can also be retrofitted into existing homes. “About half of our business now is retrofit,” said Rutkowski.
Geothermal vs. traditiona heating and cooling
“Geothermal is just a more efficient way of doing your heating and cooling,” Rutkowski said. “You can have electric backup, you can have gas backup. Either way the geothermal portion, that heat pump portion, is there to do the majority of your heating and cooling. How you back it up with a redundancy is based on the type of house and what the homeowner’s preference is.”
So for example, if a homeowner wants to keep their reliable gas water heater, E&J can install a geothermal system that utilizes a furnace. One advantage to this system is in
the event of a power failure, the furnace will take less power (once restored) to restore heat. And if a homeowner wanted to go 100% electric Rutkowski said they can accommodate that too. “We have units that do that as well. It can be tailored to each person, and some of that has to do with what power company you have, what the utility rates are, and what their structure is. Then, we can pair that with the energy load of the house and design a system that is going to be the most efficient and the most comfortable for you. You’ve got every option available. It’s a very redundant system so it’s very similar to conventional heating and cooling. The only difference is we’re using a ground loop as a more efficient means of heat exchange.”
geothermal doesn’t react to it as fast.” He explained it could take up to several days or even a week (during a prolonged extreme cold spell) to fully adjust because of the 50-55-degree ground loop, which does not adjust on a dime.
“If somebody wanted to have that gas backup, that’s not a problem, we have that system. We put them in all the time. If they want to go full-electric (as with the REC) because they have a reduced rate for geothermal, we can put in an electric backup.” Rutkowski noted even straight-resistance heat on REC’s rate is less expensive than gas. On the flip side, Alliant Energy’s electric rates tend to be higher, which could make a gas backup system more desirable.
“Mid-American has a decent electric rate, REC has an awesome electric rate. I would typically guide somebody toward an electric backup system in those locations unless they really wanted to have gas, and then we’ll make it work for them.”
The installation process
A typical retrofit project takes a couple of days to execute once all utilities have been located, permits secured, and the plans marked out. Geothermal systems utilize a “loop” buried in the ground and Rutkowski explained that once you get below the frostline the next 40-feet or so is pretty consistently 50-55 degrees, the ideal.
ing up to the six-to-seven foot level on the ends. For an extremely tight and limited lot, a vertical loop option exists as well. E&J’s crews, with the horizontal boring, are even able to run the loops underneath a house, if needed. “Even on really, really tight lots, we can still get geothermal in.”
“To get into the house we’ll go into the basement and cut about a foot-and-a-half- square hole in the floor near the furnace, dig down a few feet, pull the pipe back, then we’ll put in bentonite and re-concrete it, and it will look like the pipe has been there since day one.”
The boring and other exterior work typically takes a day or a day-and-a-half to complete followed by a pressure test and back-fill (usually the second day). “Once the pressure test has been inspected and released, the ground portion is more or less complete,” he said. Next is the interior work led off by the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) crew replacing the furnace with a geothermal unit and connecting the piping to it. Electrical work is coordinated with the utility company. “The interior process takes about two-to-three days. We’ll set up your thermostat, do a walk-through with you, and go over your paperwork.” Rutkowski noted there are many different rebates and tax incentives and credits available for geothermal systems.
It's simple physics, explained Rutkowski. “BTUs want to move. Your heat wants to move so hot wants to move to cold.” A conventional air conditioner takes heat from the house and kicks it to a hotter environment outside, which necessitates larger and larger units with bigger and bigger coils inside to raise the efficiency and force the heat to move. “When you’re rejecting that heat into a 55-degree ground loop, it wants to move that much easier. Those BTUs will flow easier when there is a liquid or a solid instead of air. “Because we’re flowing liquid its going to transfer the heat easier.” The bottom line, he said, is that “you’re moving more heat at less amps, and you’re having a more efficient heat exchange.”
Geothermal systems are also less impacted by the outside temperatures, he said. “If its minus-40 out in the dead of winter, it doesn’t matter because the ground is always going to be a consistent 50-55 degrees. Yes the house is going to lose more heat, but that’s where that backup comes in.” E&J designs for the average temperature range in east central Iowa, which typically goes from minus-five for heating and 92 for cooling. “The reality is it gets colder. So having a good system in place for that backup is a good idea, but
“When we do our loops, we primarily use horizontal loops where we stay 19-feet down or shallower.” The depth is in part due to DNR regulations as well as industry standard installation process. For a ‘Slinky’ style loop a pit contains what looks like a giant Slinky toy, but only goes down six-to-seven feet, which puts it a couple of feet below the frostline. “But we’re still in that range where we have plenty of buffer. If we are doing a retrofit application or if it’s a really tight lot or there’s a lot of trees to where we can’t dig, we’ll bring in our horizontal boring machine and directional borer.” In such instances the loop is typically placed 12-15 feet down com-
Overall, “It’s a relatively painless process and we do 50-100 retrofits per year. It’s a very tried-and-true technology, it’s very robust, and it’s just a better and more efficient way to do your heating and cooling. It’s definitely a technology that you want somebody who knows what they’re doing. You can have the best unit in the world but if its not installed properly its not going to give you the desired results. Having it done with a quality installation by somebody who knows what they’re doing is very important.”
Starting the process
For more information go to www. ejgeothermal.com or call 319-624-2065 (office) or Rutkowski direct at 319-538-7440.
SOLON — Fall in Iowa means temperatures start to drop with winter looming large on the horizon. It also means furnaces will be turned on for the first time in several months. If all goes well, the unique smell of burning dust will be followed by warm air filling your home. However, without a thorough check-up and possible maintenance, you might be on the receiving end of cold air, or nothing at all.
Tom Rutkowski, General Manager for E&J Electric, Inc.
Geothermal, Inc. in Solon offers the following advice for homeowners to avoid a nasty sur-
Things a homeowner should do
“The biggest thing, check your filter. Most fur naces are going to have just a large, pleated filter. Try stay with something in a MERV (Minimum Effi ciency Reporting Value) rating of seven or eight.” MERV is a measure ment of particles in the air, and how well your furnace’s filter can capture them. Ratings go from 1-20 with the highest numbers essentially meaning virtually nothing will pass through. Air particles include pollen dust mites, textile and carpet fibers, mold spores, dust, pet dander, bacteria, and even molecules from tobacco smoke. As a point of reference, higher MERV ratings are typically found in hospitals and healthcare settings.
of the pressure switch tubing, and going through all of the safety components as well and making sure the unit is operating correctly.”
He encourages homeowners to have this done now, “And not when its minus-20 outside. Going through those items will set you up for success and should be done annually.”
When should you consider replacing Old Reliable?
“The old adage that ‘they don’t make them like they used to’ is a true thing,” said Rutkowski. “When you get older furnaces, 20-plus years, some of those are just tanks. You’ll have to do some maintenance, we might have to put some parts in them, but a lot of those will run for a very long time.”
“Anything above 11 and you’re starting to get like a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air filter) filter,” he said. HEPA filters and masks were in the spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in a furnace, HEPA filters can actually have the same effect as a dirty filter, making the furnace work harder to draw in enough air to distribute throughout your home cutting its efficiency and making it more expensive to operate. “The seven or eight range is pretty safe for most applications,” he added emphasizing the importance of starting the season with a clean filter.”
If your thermostat is battery powered, “Change them out, make sure you have fresh batteries in that thing before winter.”
A vital and potentially life saving task is to go outside and look at your furnace vent. “If it goes up through the roof, make sure it isn’t blocked with a bird’s nest. If it comes out through a side wall follow the PVC pipes, make sure there isn’t any damage or mice nests, anything that could be blocking it.” A blocked vent can make your furnace work harder (less efficiently) and cause it to fail prematurely. In addition a blocked vent can decrease the air quality in your home triggering allergies, respiratory issues, and other health problems. More dangerous is the fire risk posed by heat buildup in the ductwork. Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is also a risk as blockage can lead to incomplete combustion, allowing CO levels to increase. Having a working CO detector is important, which includes fresh batteries.
When it is time to call in a professional
A trained and experienced technician should be called in to clean the flame sensor, checking the ignitor, cleaning the burners, and checking the gas pressure. “That’s a really big one,” said Rutkowski. “Especially if you’re on LP because if that pressure is off you can have problems with how the furnace burns.” The technician will also brush out the heat exchanger and clean out the burner compartment. “They will also check the amp draw on the blower motor (making sure it is getting the right amount of electrical current for efficient operation) and inducer motor, cleaning out any
When you look at more higher-efficient models, “there’s a lot more going on. That’s just a fact. And now they’re looking at about a 10-15-year lifespan. That’s why they put a ten-year warranty on a lot of them. Because its got combustion, and because they’re operating at a higher temperature, that 10-15-year range is pretty typical. If you’re in that range, it’s probably time to at least start to put a plan together.”
Rutkowski recommends making a plan for replacement, and financing, before your furnace gives up the ghost.
“Then you’re not scrambling trying to figure out what you can do to get heat because once you’re out of heat and if it’s really cold, you’re not going to care, you’re going to want the first thing that gets in there to get your heat back on. And you’re not going to be making as informed of a decision. Its going to be a ‘need’ vs. a well-thought out plan.”
If your furnace is older than 12-15 years, he encourages you to start looking at options now. “The reality is there is stuff that is more efficient, more comfortable, and…it’s time.”
ers, with about a ten-year lifespan; less depending on water quality.
Rutkowski noted where the water is particularly hard, the tank itself may be completely rotted out, but there is enough lime build-up for it to keep holding water.
“Ten years is the rule-of-thumb for a water heater.” If it is time for a replacement, Rutkowski recommends an electric heat pump water heater. “The don’t rely on just the two elements like a normal water heater. There’s a small compressor on top and it is extremely efficient and in most households, it’s plenty of hot water. It’s worth looking at, and another option. Its all about presenting the options so that the homeowner can make an informed decision about what’s best for them.”
When fall arrives some people put covers over their central air conditioning units. Rutkowski, however, is not one of them. “I’m not a fan as they can become a mouse hotel. And keep in mind, with a lot of these AC units, if you don’t kill the power to it some of them have little crankcase heaters inside them that puts out just enough heat that mice really like going there.” Depending on where your AC is situated, underneath a roof overhang, for example, he said it might be a bad idea to put something on top of it to protect it from falling ice such as a thick piece of plywood (held in place with bungee cords). “That would do you a lot of good against physical damage.” He warned that if you do kill the power to your AC unit, next spring or if there’s a late heat wave, it would be best to put the power back on for a day or so before starting up the AC again in order to give the refrigerant inside a chance to migrate back lest you put a great strain on the unit with a sudden start.
Of water heaters and air conditioners
On a related note, the prognosis is worse for water heat
To schedule an appointment Call 319-624-2065 and ask for the Service Department.
Cost of this publication: $228.57 Fiscal year to date cost: $3075.17
THE JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FORMAL MEETING MINUTES
AUGUST 29, 2024
Proclamations adopted by the Board of Supervisors are only summarized in the published minutes; the full text may be inspected at the Office of the County Auditor, 913 S. Dubuque Street, Iowa City, Mon. thru Fri., between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and at www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov.
Chairperson Sullivan called the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to order in the Johnson County Health and Human Services Boardroom at 9:00 a.m. Members present: V Fixmer-Oraiz, Jon Green, Lisa Green-Douglass, Royceann Porter, and Rod Sullivan.
All actions were taken unanimously.
PROCLAMATION NO. 08-01-24-01
LABOR DAY
SEPTEMBER 2, 2024
Summary: The labor force of Johnson County plays a pivotal role in the growth, prosperity, and development of our communities, contributing to the well-being and quality of life enjoyed by all. Board Action: Resolved that Monday, September 2, 2024, is Labor Day in Johnson County, and encourage residents to join in commemorating and honoring the contributions of our local workforce. Motion by Green, second by Porter, to approve Proclamation No. 08-29-24-01. The following persons spoke: Iowa City Federation of Labor members Ben Kayser and Pauline Taylor, retired American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (ASFME) Locals 183 and 12 member Dan
University of Iowa Labor Center Director Robin Clark-Bennett, and Iowa State Senator Janice Weiner. Motion by Green-Douglass, second by Porter, to approve the claims
second by Green-Douglass, to approve the minutes of the Formal Meeting of August 22, 2024.
Motion by Green-Douglass, second by Porter, to approve the payroll authorizations submitted by department heads and elected officials, as approved by a majority of the Supervisors.
Motion by Green, second by Fixmer-Oraiz, to approve the application for alcohol license from the Midnight Gem, pending dramshop certification, as contained in the agenda packet of this meeting. The Board acknowledged receipt of the Johnson County Attorney's Office Equitable Sharing Agreement and Annual Certification Report to the United States Department of Justice and United States Department of Treasury regarding monies gained through federal forfeitures.
Motion by Fixmer-Oraiz, second by Green, to approve the utilization of the Employee Group Health fund to expand eligibility for respiratory virus vaccination (seasonal influenza and COVID-19) in the estimated amount of $15,306.50.
Motion by Green-Douglass, second by Fixmer-Oraiz, to approve the revised job description for the position of Assistant Ambulance Director, effective August 29, 2024.
Motion by Green-Douglass, second by Porter, to approve the revised job descriptions for the positions of Conservation Department Park Ranger I and Conservation Department Park Ranger II, effective August 29, 2024.
Motion by Fixmer-Oraiz, second by Porter, to approve the revised job description for the position of Veterans Affairs Director, effective August 29, 2024. Motion by Porter, second by Green, to approve American Rescue Plan Act Community Food and Farm Grant Program Agreement with 5M Emprendimiento Latino LLC in an amount not to exceed $25,000.
Adjourned at 9:33 a.m. /s/ Rod Sullivan, Chair, Board of Supervisors /s/ Attest: Erin Shane, Auditor
On the 5th day of September 2024
Recorded by Auditor’s Office: Marly Melsh, Executive Clerk to the Board These minutes were sent for formal approval and publication on September 5, 2024. Published in the Solon Economist September 12, 2024.
South Slope welcomes international delegation for Indo-Pacific Infrastucture Cooperation
Shane Starke Marketing Manager, South Slope Cooperative Communications
NORTH LIBERTY — On September 5th, South Slope Cooperative Communications proudly hosted an international delegation participating in the "Cooperation on Infrastructure for the Indo-Pacific" project, part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Organized by American Councils for International Education, this initiative brings together key infrastructure leaders from the Indo-Pacific region to engage with U.S. counterparts on infrastructure development, policy, and innovation. As part of their visit, South Slope provided the delegation with an exclusive tour of their critical infrastructure facility supporting broadband operations in the region. This was followed by a panel discussion where South Slope CEO, Chuck Deisbeck, South Slope COO, Brian Hamacher, and Plant Manager, Jason Urell, shared insights into the construction, maintenance, and management of broadband networks. The group expressed particular interest in how South Slope ensures reliable and high-speed connectivity in both urban and rural areas, a vital concern for many Indo-Pacific nations.
The delegation includes the following participants:
Australia: Timothy Huggins, Assistant Secretary, Connectivity and Infrastructure Policy Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
India: Abhishek Vijaykumar Agarwal, Senior Specialist, National Institution for Transforming India
India: Dorjee Pintso Bhutia, Assistant Engineer, Culture Department, Government of Sikkim
Japan: Akihiro Mizushima, Deputy Assistant Director, Transportation Group, Infrastructure Management Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency
Japan: Yuya Ueda, Deputy Assistant Director, Office for Loan Project Technical Examination, Infrastructure Engineering Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency
Laos: Somsanouk Pathoumvanh, Ph.D., Director, Lao Japan Technical Training Center, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Laos
Maldives: Fathimath Shaana Farooq, Director General, Infrastructure, Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
New Zealand: Katherine Anna Halliburton, Acting Unit Manager, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Vietnam: Manh Linh, Finance and Budget Specialist, Financial and Budgetary Department, Office of National Assembly
The program aims to:
Examine how the American infrastructure industry is modeled.
Explore the relationships between infrastructure investors, contractors, and regulators in the United States.
Build trust between American infrastructure investors and their international counterparts.
Explore alternative regional infrastructure investment models; and
Examine the public policy process for funding and developing infrastructure.
“We are honored to have hosted such a distinguished group of international leaders and shared our expertise on broadband infrastructure,” said Deisbeck. “Their interest in broadband networks highlights the critical role telecommunications play in infrastructure development globally. We were excited to engage in discussions that will strengthen partnerships and improve digital connectivity across the Indo-Pacific.”
About South Slope Cooperative Communications
South Slope Cooperative Communications provides reliable broadband internet, phone and television services to homes and businesses in East Central Iowa. With unrivaled customer service and a dedication to the community, South Slope operates as a co-op so members’ investments go right back to improving Eastern Iowa infrastructure. Providing cutting-edge communications solutions since 1958, South Slope continues to lead the charge in delivering world-class technologies to its service area on an extensive fiber network. For more information, please visit southslope.com.
For Rent
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CALENDAR & PUZZLES
SOLON SENIORS
SEPTEMBER HAPPENINGS ••••
Wednesday, Sept. 25 - City Representative
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
Thank you Solon Senior Dining volunteers!
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they just have the heart.” — Elizabeth Andrew
SEPTEMBER MENU •••••••••••
Friday, Sept. 13
Hushpuppy Fish Tater Tots
Creamy Cucumber Salad Tropical Pumpkin Pie
Monday, Sept. 16
Pony Shoe Sweet Pepper Slaw Seasonal Fresh Fruit
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
Friday, Sept. 13
MS/HS Alt: Cook’s Delight
Bacon Scramble Pizza
Trix Yogurt Cup, Pepper Spears & Carrot Poles Oranges, Cereal Bowl Pineapple (HS)
Wednesday, Sept. 18
Country Fried Steak Mashed Potatoes Country Gravy Candied Carrots Cheesecake w/Cherries
Friday, Sept. 20
Panko Crusted Tilapia
Lemon Kissed Asparagus Cheesy Potato Tot Bake Fresh Fruit
Monday, Sept. 23
Spinach Alfredo Lasagna Roll-Up Carrots Garlic Toast Monster Cookie Cake
Wednesday, Sept. 25
City Representative
Loaded Turkey Noodle Casserole Blended Vegetable Breadstick French Chocolate Cheesecake
Friday, Sept. 27
Shrimp & Chips Broccoli w/Cheese Cornbread Fresh Fruit
Monday, Sept. 30
Fried Chicken Mashed Potatoes Carrots Strawberry Rhubarb Snickerdoodle Crunch
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
Friday, Sept. 13
Long John (LV/SIS)
G&G Bag (LV) Donut
Potatoes & Egg Boat or Long John
Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk
Monday, Sept. 16 Blueberry Waffle & Bacon (LV/ SIS)
G&G Bag (LV) Cereal Bar
Breakfast Taco & Cini Mini Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk
Tuesday, Sept. 17
Pumpkin/Banana Bread (LV/ SIS)
G&G Bag (LV) Pumpkin/
Monday, Sept. 16
MS/HS Alt: Shrimp Poppers/ Fish Sticks
Pizza Crunchers & Marinara Tator Tots
Cucumbers, Applesauce Delight Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie
Tuesday, Sept. 17
MS/HS Alt: Fiestada Pizza Tacos on Flour Tortilla Cheese, Salsa, & Lettuce Corn, Queso (MS/HS) Tortilla Chips, Kiwi
Wednesday, Sept. 18
MS/HS Alt: Quesadilla Mandarin Chicken & Rice
Caesar Salad, Grape Tomatoes Fruit Cocktail, Cottage Cheese
Edited by Will Shortz
Across
1 Catherine ___, last wife of King Henry VIII
5 Basic level of a popular ridesharing app
10 Part of a routine
14 Orchestra tuner
15 “You can’t make me!”
16 Dry
17 Mixed drink with an alliterative name
19 Fuse by heat
20 Bad weather forecast, informally
21 Preceder of the Three Kingdoms in Chinese history
23 Slightest idea
Banana Bread
Egg Breakfast Bake, Dutch Waffle & Bacon
Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk
Wednesday, Sept. 18
Cini Mini’s (LV/SIS)
G&G Bag (LV) Pop tart
Breakfast Sandwich, Frudel Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk
Thursday, Sept. 19
Egg Scramble 2/ Hash Brown (LV/SIS)
G&G Bag (LV) Muffin
CC French Toast w/Sausage Links or Egg Scramble w/Hash Brown
Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk
Friday, Sept. 20
Mini Doughnuts (LV/SIS)
G&G Bag (LV) Mini Doughnut
Breakfast Pizza or Cinnamon
Doughnuts
Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk
(SIS/MS/HS) Cheez Its (HS) Garlic Toast (MS/HS)
Thursday, Sept. 19
MS/HS Alt: Chicken Patty
Sandwich
BBQ Pork Sandwich
Baked Beans
Broccoli Trees, Fresh Citrus
Fruit Salad
Kettle Chips (MS/HS)
Friday, Sept. 20
MS/HS Alt: Cook’s Delight
Cheesy Chicken & Noodles
Peas & Carrots, Crunchy
Cauliflower
Sliced Bread (MS/HS)
Mandarin Oranges Strawberries (MS/HS)
24 “The Lucy-___ Comedy Hour” (classic TV release)
25 Tons
27 Kind of school
28 Sudden inspirations?
33 He asked Bud “Who’s on first?”
34 Cry of terrier?
35 Response to an anticlimactic reveal
36 “It’s not as simple as it sounds”
40 Forever, poetically
41 A carved one hangs in the chamber of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
42 Itty-bitty
43 Galileo, by birth
44 Name spelled out in “The Alphabet Song”
45 Immune system agent
47 Golden rule preposition
49 Arctic food fish
50 Ornate lighting fixture
54 Sours
57 Setting for the FIFA World Cups of 2002 and 2022
58 Part of a clock depicted four times in this puzzle?
60 Darkness
61 It happens
62 Jazz singer Jones
63 Weapon that shares an etymology with “spade” and “spatula”
64 Company with a purple heart in its logo
65 Ricotta ingredient
Down
1 Thread component
2 Fundamentals
3 Fundamental issues
4 Like old chestnuts
5 “Let go, you brute!”
6 Porgy’s partner
7 ___ Morales, former president of Bolivia
8 Bad way to get caught
9 Revealing images
10 First nonhuman species encountered in the “Star Wars” franchise
11 Valuable deposits
12 Bagpiper’s garb
13 Circular current
18 French vineyards
22 Ill-advised time for an ocean swim
24 Actual
25 “Don’t give up on your dreams. ___ longer” (quip)
26 Raccoon relative
27 ___ Butterworth’s
29 Within reach
30 Hybrid fixture with a tub and nozzle
31 Group of experts
32 What many tins are made of, despite their name
34 Equal
35 Like most primes
37 ___ Aldridge, early Black American playwright
38 The blahs
39 The vowels not seen in “bad debt,” ironically
44 Try hard
45 Proverbs pronoun
46 Vegan cheese ingredient, often
48 Site of a Herculean labor
49 Terra ___
50 Turned out
51 Robber’s order
52 Where drinks are toasted with “Sláinte!”
53 The Dead Sea is one, technically
54 Tim of “Project Runway”
55 Dealer’s request
56 Its 80-year anniversary was observed in June of 2024
59 Zero preceder
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.
Lady Spartans open the volleyball season with 8-2 week
Solon Economist
Solon 2 West Branch 0, Solon 2 West Liberty 1
The varsity Lady Spartans opened the 2024 season with a quad in West Branch Tuesday, Sept. 3 defeating the host Bears 2-0 (25-19, 25-17) and West Liberty 2-1 (24-26, 25-18, 15-9)).
Senior Grace Erwin led against West Branch with a match high seven kills, senior Addie Miller produced five while junior Jozie Lahr and senior Yasmine Sell made four apiece. Junior Cydney Jaster had 13 assists with a dozen from sophomore Scarlett Ferin. Erwin had a pair of block assists with one each by Miller, Lahr, and junior Gable Knight. Erwin, Jaster, and sophomore Macy Fuller had an ace serve each.
Erwin, Sell, and junior Kiley Devery led all with eight kills each against the 8th ranked (in Class 3A by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union in their preseason rankings) Comets while Miller produced seven, Lahr made four, and junior Kennedey Whitford and senior Izzy Frees had one each. Sell and freshman Charleigh Whitford made two solo blocks with one from Kahr. Erwin, Fuller, and Frees had an ace apiece.
Solon goes 3-0 in
Marshalltown’s Apgar Invitational
Last Thursday and Friday the Lady Spartans competed in Marshalltown’s Apgar Invitational and came home victorious against Waverly-Shell Rock (WSR) (21-14, 18-21, 15-5), Marshalltown (21-9, 21-8), and Columbus Catholic (Waterloo) (21-8, 21-10).
Yasmine Sell led with six kills against the WSR Go-Hawks (ranked 14th in Class 4A in the preseason rankings) with five by Kiley Devery and four each from Grace Erwin and Jozie Lahr. Erwin and Lahr made two solo blocks each with one by Devery while Erwin also had a pair of aces.
Lahr made a team high four kills against Marshalltown with three each from Erwin and Gable Knight, and two apiece by Addie Miller, Sell, Devery, and Charleigh Whitford. Erwin produced three solo blocks with Kennedey Whitford and Macy Fuller making two ace serves each against the Bobcats.
Little Hawks soak the Golden Eagles
Hoeper wins twice, anchors winning 200-freestyle relay as City High swimmers top Wahlert Catholic
Solon Economist
DUBUQUE — City High’s varsity girls topped the Wahlert Catholic Golden Eagles 103-83 in a Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division swimming and diving meet Tuesday, Sept. 3 at Loras College, improving to a 1-1 record after a season opening home loss to Cedar Rapids Kennedy.
Solon senior Grace Hoeper won the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard fly in 1:55.48 and 57.89 and anchored the winning 200-yard freestyle relay with Solon sophomore Madelyn Elkins and City High’s Elsa Farber and Louisa Berry-Stoelzle (1:47.00). Elkins and Hoeper joined Farber and Celeste Miller in the second place 400yard freestyle relay (3:59.85).
Elkins joined City’s Celeste Miller, Saoirse Miller, and Eliza Mitchell in the second place 200-yard medley relay (2:05.82) and took fourth in the 50-yard freestyle (27.75).
Erwin and Sell torpedoed the Sailors with a salvo of seven and six kills respectively with three each from Lahr and Devery. Erwin and Lahr made one solo block each and Charleigh Whitford slammed three aces.
CR Washington’s Warrior Invitational nets a 3-2 showing
Cedar Rapids Washington hosted their Warrior Invitational this past Saturday pitting the Lady Spartans against a field consisting of Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Dubuque Senior, Johnston, Oskaloosa, Xavier Catholic (Cedar Rapids), Davenport North, Linn-Mar, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, and the host Warriors.
Solon disposed of Johnston 2-0 (21-13, 21-17) with Jozie Lahr and Yasmine Sell producing four kills each, Grace Erwin making three, Addie Miller producing two, and one each by Gable Knight and Kiley Devery. Miller, Erwin, Lahr, and Devery each had a solo block with three aces by Izzy Frees, two from Macy Fuller, and one by Erwin.
The Lady Spartans fell 2-1 (21-12, 16-21, 13-15) to Linn-Mar, who had just dropped out of the IGHSAU rankings after sitting in the No. 10 spot in the 5A preseason rankings. Lahr led Solon with six kills, Sell made five, Knight had four, Devery made three, and Miller produced two. Miller and Lahr made a solo block each with three aces by Charleigh Whitford. The Lions’ Kelsey Klesner led all with nine kills.
Solon bounced back for a 2-0 (21-10, 21-17) win over Davenport North with a match-high seven kills by Erwin, five from Sell, four by Miller, three from Devery, two by Lahr, and one by Knight. Miller and Erwin made a solo block each. Cydney Jaster made two aces with Macy Fuller, Scarlett Ferin, and Charleigh Whitford producing one apiece.
Solon had no trouble with the Warriors, taking a 2-0 win easily (21-5, 21-5) led by Sell with six kills. Devery made three, with two each from Miller and Lahr while Erwin and Frees had one apiece. Lahr also made a solo block. Charleigh Whitford shelled Washington with seven ace serves and Frees pounded away with five of her own.
It was a different story when Solon faced the No. 1-ranked (in 4A) Xavier Saints, falling 2-0 (18-21,1121) despite six kills from Erwin and four by Sell. Lahr
JV splashes Wahlert 85-41
Solon freshman Nora Bumsted took fourth in the 100-yard freestyle in 1:18.25 and anchored the third place 200-yard medley relay with Keira James, Lolita Hurlbutt, and Ily Jensen (2:59.59). She swam the second leg of the third place 200 freestyle medley with Malorie James, Betsy Gavin, and Jensen (2:22.86), and the third place 400 freestyle with James, Gavin, and Keira James (5:31.36)
and Sell had one solo block each while Fuller and Charleigh Whitford each made an ace.
Lady Spartans 9th in IGHSAU’s 2nd weekly rankings
Solon improved from No. 11 in the preseason rankings to the No. 9 spot in Class 3A in the IGHSAU’s rankings released last Thursday. Mount Vernon held the No. 1 spot followed by Assumption Catholic (Davenport), Wahlert Catholic (Dubuque), Western Christian, Sioux Center, Mid-Prairie, Kuemper Catholic, and Cherokee. West Liberty dropped to the No. 10 spot, down from No. 8 in the first rankings while WaMaC West foe Center Point-Urbana dropped from No. 7 to No. 11. West Delaware, Union, Van Meter, and Wilton rounded out the top-15 teams in the state.
WaMaC Standings
Upcoming Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 12 – HOME vs. Vinton-Shellsburg (Military Appreciation Night), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 14 – At Linn-Mar tourney, 9:00 a.m.
• Solon vs. Linn-Mar, 9:00 a.m.
• Solon vs. Tipton, 12:00 p.m.
• Solon vs. North Tama, 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 17 – At Center Point-Urbana, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 21 – At Clinton HS tournament, 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 24 – HOME vs. Marion (Youth Volleyball Night/Cancer Awareness Night), 7:30 p.m.
Upcoming Schedule
Tuesday, Sept. 17 – AT Cedar Rapids Washington, 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 21 – HOME Little Hawk Relays (Mercer Park), 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 24 – AT Linn-Mar, 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 28 – AT CR Kennedy tournament, 9:00 a.m.
Lady Spartans win, Spartans fifth at Regina’s Bob Brown Cross Country Classic
Joel Kellar Solon Economist joel-kellar@uiowa.edu
IOWA CITY — In the middle of acres of soybeans lays a cross-country course that the Lady Spartans would conquer. Specifically, a freshman running one of the first 5k’s of her high school career. Kinley Mai finished third overall with a time of 20:48 and anchored the girls’ cross-country squad to a victory last Thursday in Regina Catholic’s Bob Brown Cross Country Classic at the Kicker’s Soccer Complex.
The girls’ team won handedly with a score of 54. The second-place team, CCA, scored 71. The Lady Spartans had all five of their scoring runners finish in the top 16. Sydney Dee and Mai were the top two runners for Solon and the only to place in the top ten. The senior and freshman ran together for the majority of the meet, working off each other's energy. Dee provided the experience to help lead Mai to her top-three finish. Upperclassmen helping talented freshmen will be the story of the season as three of the top five runners for Solon are freshmen.
Solon head coach Emy Williams said, “[The freshman] haven’t run 5k’s before so their knowledge and having the seniors run and train with them has really helped those freshmen.”
The three runners to round out that top five - freshman Liv Nelson, sophomore Falyn Svalstad, and freshman Addison Seamans stuck together the entire meet and finished 14th, 15th, and 16th to clinch the first-place finish for the Lady Spartans.
Ava Rowles and Ella Sheeley rounded out the varsity squad for Solon. The sophomore and senior finished 21st and 24th.
The boys’ cross-country team placed fifth scoring 137 and were led by junior Spencer Michels. He placed 18th and ran a time of 18:16. Evan Burg followed right behind Michels as he placed 20th with a time of 18:30.
These two runners are the only returning scorers from the state qualifying squad last year. They stepped up and provided two solid races to anchor the inexperienced varsity squad.
Rene Meza, Camden Lyons, and Preston Raasch rounded out the scoring for the Spartans.
Williams said, “Every single one of the boys had someone to compete with and make themselves better. We've had some great time drops with a lot of the boys.”
The Iowa City course had its own unique challenges with a tough hill at the beginning of the course. They ran the hill twice during the meet and it was a good learning experience for many of the runners of both teams.
Williams said, “That huge hill is going to take a lot out of you, so you just have to keep your momentum going up the hill, don’t sprint up it, don’t kill yourself going up it. Because as soon as you get up it then you get to come back down the hill and you can let gravity do the work there.”
Despite the different finishes, both teams learned a lot about themselves and what they will need to do in the next few meets to have success in October. Williams said, “Every meet we’re just going to grow and get better.”
Both teams will be travelling to Ames Thursday, September 12 to compete against a loaded field in Gilbert’s meet on the Iowa State University course. Williams said, "It will be like a mini–State Meet."
Upcoming Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 19 – At Independence Mental Health Institute, 5:40 p.m. (boys), 6:10 p.m. (girls) Monday, Sept. 23 – HOME MEET at Solon Recreation and Nature Area, 5:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 – At Anamosa Middle School, 9:00 a.m.
Photos by Joel Kellar | Solon Economist
Left: Freshman Kenley Murken leads a pack in last Thursday’s Bob Brown Classic at the Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City. Murken finished 41st in 23:32.06. Right: Seniors Ella Sheeley (329) and Rose McAtee finish back-to-back for the Lady Spartans in last Thursday’s Bob Brown Cross Country Classic at Kickers in Iowa City. Sheeley’s time was 22:46 and McAtee ran the 5k in 22:47.
Left: Senior Evan Burg (339) and teammate Anders Holmes, a freshman, charge up the steep hill at the Kickers Soccer park in Iowa City last Thursday during Regina Catholic’s Bob Brown Cross Country Classic. Right: Camden Lyons keeps Washington’s Ethan Hotchkiss in his rear view mirror Thursday, Sept. 5 during Regina Catholic’s Bob Brown Cross Country Classic at the Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City. Lyons, a junior, finished 43rd in 19:26.82.
SPORTS
Spartans scuttle the Clippers
Eddie Johnson wrecks the Boats with five TDs in 42-14 rout of CCA
TIFFIN — It was the Eddie Johnson show from start to finish.
Under Clear Creek Amana’s (CCA) Friday night lights, the senior running back trampled the Clippers with a five-touchdown game leading the Solon Spartans to their second victory of the season.
“I think [Eddie] is one of the most underrated football players in Eastern Iowa. I don’t think there’s enough talk about Eddie Johnson and his teammates, in my opinion,” Spartans head coach Lucas Stanton said. “He’s starting to show what kind of football player he is and the great thing about him is he’s an even better person. Great character, integrity. He’s who you’d want to have as a son.”
Standing at 6’2” and 210 pounds, Johnson used his power to run for 138 yards and four touchdowns with an additional 18-yard receiving touchdown pass from senior quarterback Ty Bell. Although CCA displayed tough defense in their win against the Marion Wolves in Week 1, their brick wall crumbled as they were unable to stop Johnson and the No. 2-ranked Spartans. With their 42-14 landslide win, Solon is looking to climb to the top of the rankings, pushing aside current Class 3A No. 1 Williamsburg after their loss to 4A No. 7 Cedar Rapids Xavier.
Although the Spartans won big, it was not all physical.
Touching on the mental aspect of the game, Stanton’s strategy for keeping the team’s momentum consistent throughout
all four quarters was simple. “We have a young team, so it really comes from us as coaches to stay on them about staying focused, it’s not about being up two scores. We’re playing a good football team, we can’t just take our foot off the gas and our leaders have got to stay on each other as teammates.”
The offense was not the only part of the team that succeeded. The Spartans’ defense dominated against the Clipper offense with 50 total tackles and two interceptions, one being a pick-six by junior secondary Eli Kampman, his first of the season. In the last two games, Solon has only allowed 21 points.
“We knew they had a ground game, so defensively we had to stop the run. Two good quarterbacks, we had to not let them get the big shots on us,” Stanton said.
At 2-0 on the year, Solon has 351 rushing yards and 379 receiving yards in the books, some of the highest numbers in the 3A Class. Johnson has 258 of the Spartans’ 351 rushing yards, 313 all-purpose yards, and six touchdowns on the season, five being from last Friday alone. Currently ranked No. 2, Solon will be eager to receive their updated ranking on Monday. They will face the Central DeWitt Sabers this Friday in DeWitt.
Class 3A District 5 standings
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Sept. 20 – HOME vs. Mt. Vernon (Armed Forces Night), 7:30 p.m. (JV plays at 5:00 p.m.)
Friday, Sept. 27 – HOME vs. Grinnell (Homecoming), 7:30 p.m. (JV at 5:00 p.m.)
Friday, October 4 – At Benton Community, 7:30 p.m. (JV at 5:00 p.m.)
Photos by Elise Gan | For the Solon Economist
The Spartans celebrate an Eddie Johnson (10) touchdown Friday, Sept. 6 at Clear Creek Amana in Tiffin. Johnson, a senior, scored five touchdowns in a 42-14 win over the rival Clippers.
Oliver Owens (6), Ty Bell (8), and their fellow Spartans celebrate an Eddie Johnson (10) touchdown as the sky behind them turns Spartan Orange Friday, Sept. 6 at Clear Creek Amana in Tiffin. Johnson, a senior, scored five touchdowns in a 42-14 win over the rival Clippers.
Eli Kampman (7) and looks to quarterback Ty Bell (8) before the snap Friday, Sept. 6 at Clear Creek Amana in Tiffin.
Below left: The Spartan line goes to work as quarterback Ty Bell (8) hands off to Eddie Johnson Friday, Sept. 6 at Clear Creek Amana High School in Tiffin. Johnson scored five touchdowns in a 42-14 win over the rival Clippers. Below right: Eli Kampman (7) looks to the sideline before the snap Friday, Sept. 6 at Clear Creek Amana in Tiffin.
Elise Gan Student Reporter for the Solon Economist