Solon. Economist — 2.27.25

Ice safety and rescue: A look inside the dangers of ice

Ella McEntaffer

For the Solon Economist

SOLON — Following a recent drowning incident at Lake Macbride in early February, officials are urging the public to be aware of the dangers ice can pose in the winter. With an estimated 250 people dying from hypothermia after falling into frozen water each year in the United States, first responders emphasize the importance of ice safety.

Assistant Chief Scott Wolfe understands firsthand the risks of falling through ice. After serving 23 years with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department until his retirement in spring 2024, he continues to volunteer with the Solon Fire Department. While ice rescues are not everyday occurrences, Wolfe says the department conducts annual training exercises to review response protocols and rescue procedures. The next training session is scheduled for late February at a local pond. When asked about the department’s ice rescue procedures, Wolfe said, “At Solon, our general protocol is that we get a great rescue.”

He noted that response times vary based on several factors, including the call location, time of day, and weather conditions. However, the goal is always to arrive as quickly as possible. Wolfe estimates that the Solon Fire Department responded to the Lake Macbride incident within approximately ten minutes.

Wolfe says that firefighters begin preparing for rescues while en route to the scene. They arrange necessary equipment and begin suiting up, ensuring that at least the lower portion of their ice rescue suits are on before arrival. These Coast Guard-certified thermal wetsuits provide buoyancy and cold protection and are equipped with a harness for additional security, helping keep first responders safe during icy rescues.

A few days after the Saturday, Feb. 8, Lake Macbride incident that claimed the life of 85 year-old Cedar Rapids resident Jack Peacock, Johnson County Public Safety & Justice Public Information Officer Kristen Silver released a statement from Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel. He encouraged individuals seeking detailed safety tips on ice fishing and frozen lakes to consult the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (www.iowadnr.gov).

“We’re fortunate that our local fire departments are trained and have the proper equipment to respond to ice and water emergencies,” Kunkel said. “Incidents like this can be dangerous for first responders, and Solon did a great job making this a successful recovery.”

The Solon Fire Department was assisted by the North Liberty Fire Department, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Johnson County Metro Dive Team, Johnson County Emergency Management, Johnson County Ambulance, University of Iowa Med-1 EMS Physicians, and the Johnson County Medical Examiner.

The Solon Fire Department is a 100% volunteer-

YO HO!

Sail with the Pirate Sisters March 8 & 9 on stage at the Solon High School

So says the synopsis for The Pirate Sisters and the Bounty for Bluebeard, the spring play this year at Solon High School.

The play, by Richard Gremel and published by Brooklyn Publishers, takes the stage Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, for two performances.

Director Deanna Kleinsmith explained how the show came to be.

“After each show I ask the cast to answer some questions about what they would like to see in the future. Last year’s survey said melodrama and comedy so, I searched through a few publishers, and this was the one that fit the request and was a different time period, setting, and plot than we have done before.”

The performers were challenged in their character development by having to master piratespeak or a more formal tone, said Kleinsmith.

“Mateys, ye be shiver me timbers with a yo ho! Or, formal Your Majesty, with royal presentations.”

Chris Umscheid Solon Economist chris.umscheid@soloneconomist.com

SOLON — Famous pirate John Bluebeard

has given up his life of piracy for the love of Princess Maria. But, after he is captured by Queen Victoria and the powerhungry Prince George,

it is up to Maria and the Pirate Sisters, Jackie and Morgan Bluebeard (and their rag-tag group of pirates) to pillage the palace and save the day.

The curtain goes up Saturday, March 8 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 9, at 2:00 p.m.

Legion Fish Fry's start Friday, March 7

Solon tradition features all you can eat fish and shrimp

Chris Umscheid Solon Economist chris.umscheid@soloneconomist.com

SOLON — It’s been a local tradition for many decades, and it starts up again Friday, March 7, when the American Legion Stinocher Post 460 hosts the first of seven fish fry’s during the Lenten season. It began when the Sons of the American Legion (SAL) started serving fish and chips (homemade French fries). Later the Legion took on the meals and began serving “Mississippi Shrimp.” Denny

Hansen, Sgt. at Arms for Post 460 described it as carp that had been sliced and seasoned. “People just loved it,” he said.

From there the Legion served Pollock for many years but found it inferior as half its weight was lost in frying it. “It was cheap but there’s a reason it was cheap. You were paying for water.”

Again this year, the quest for the best fish has led Hansen and the Legion to Cod loins. “Everybody loves Cod,” he said, “and it’s about the best you can get. It’s more expensive, but it’s worth it.”

Post 460 will be serving up all you can eat fish and shrimp (for dine-in only) with cheesy potatoes, coleslaw, fresh baked rye bread from Sam’s Main Street Market, and a dessert (one per diner) for $18 for adults, which is up from last year. “The cost of everything is going up,” Hansen said. “Some of the stuff we get is up $10/case this year from what it was last year.” Kids (12 and under) are $9 with kids 5 and under eating for free. All money raised goes toward capital improvement projects for the

based organization, making its work in the city of approximately 3,100 residents and the surrounding small towns especially vital. Wolfe explained the volunteer system, stating, “We all have our pagers on and respond to the ones we can.”

The department is always accepting new volunteers, with new members starting on Jan.

Legion, Hansen explained.

“We’ve got some long-range plans to re-do the entire kitchen,” he said as well as taking out the ceiling tiles and going back to the original high ceiling.

The Legion exists to serve the veterans and to take care of veterans. “Our main goal for the past few years has been suicide prevention because there’s over 22 veterans a day killing themselves. So, what the bar tries to do is cover the cost (taxes, insurance, utilities) of being open, and then our fundraisers (Fish Fry’s and raffles) covers improvements to the building.” Previous projects with the help of

1 each year. Those interested in applying can find more information at https://solonfire.com/ request-to-join-the-solon-fire-department/. One of the biggest winter concerns for the department is ice fishing, a popular coldweather activity in Iowa. Wolfe stressed that following proper safety protocols is crucial to preventing emergency situations. He recommends consulting an ice thickness chart (one example can be found at www.almanac. com/ice-thickness-safety-chart) before

the Solon Beef Days Committee, the Solon Area Community Foundation, and the Lion’s Club have included replacing the women’s bathroom, installing a new sign and awning on the front of the building, roof repairs, and installing a new HVAC system.

While the Legion is a volunteer organization, it takes even more volunteers from throughout the community to make the fish fries run smoothly. “We have some people who come in every year and help who aren’t veterans or Legion members, they help serve, wash dishes, help in the kitchen, be a runner, or even sell tickets. Without them, we couldn’t pull this off.” There is a signup link at www.

solonamericanlegionpost460.com, or you can stop in or call the Legion at 319-624-2277.

venturing onto the ice. For example, a person on foot requires at least three inches of ice to safely support their weight. However, he says he frequently sees people taking unnecessary risks.

“If you drive by the lake, sometimes you’ll see people ice fishing 100 feet from open water,” Wolfe said, emphasizing the danger. His most important piece of advice for ice safety is simple: “Tell someone where you are and what time you expect to be done.”

With so many fish fry’s in the area, what makes Solon’s a “must-do?”

“I think it’s the breading we use,” said Hansen. “We don’t do beer batter or battered fish, it’s just a dry breading so you don’t get all that…fluff. And then the cheesy potatoes are made with a secret recipe by the Legion Auxiliary. We’ve had a lot of people tell us our coleslaw is the best they’ve ever tasted.”

Then there’s the desserts featuring at least seven 100% homemade pies baked by Jeanne Stinocher. “And she’s here from start to finish, and you just can’t get her to sit down.”

Serving is from 5-7:00 p.m. with carryout’s available. Delivery for homebound senior citizens is available by calling the Legion (319624-2277) before noon on Thursdays.

Reminder - 2025 Solon Senior of the Year Award nominations due March 19

SOLON — The Solon Senior of the Year Nominating Committee is now accepting nominations for the annual award. Nomination forms must be received by Wednesday, March 19, 2025. The Solon Senior Advocates established the award in 2006 to honor a senior citizen from the Solon area who has shared their expertise, time, and effort as a volunteer in the community, including programs and activities that benefit the lives of our seniors.

The nominating committee will make recommendations to the Solon Senior Advocates Board, and the Board will select the recipient. The recipient will be recognized at a meeting of the Solon City Council and during the annual Beef Days parade.

Nomination forms are available Solon City Hall, Solon Public library and Solon Post Office. Please contact Pat Ikan, Nomination Committee chairperson for more information or a nomination form at P.O. Box 148, Solon, IA 52333, pikan@southslope.net or (319) 6242643.

Eligibility Criteria

1. The nominee must be at least 65 years

of age, by May 1 of the year in which they are nominated.

2. The nominee must be a resident of the Solon area, but not necessarily of the town itself. They must live within the Solon School District unless the bulk of their service has been done within the Solon area.

3. The nominee’s record of service to the community should be based on voluntary efforts and not for work done as a paid employee or an elected official.

Selection Criteria

1. The nomination form should describe the details of the nominee’s volunteer work: length of service, approximate number of people impacted by the service, and the variety of service activities in which they were involved. Special attention should be drawn to leadership roles the individual has taken on.

2. Monetary contributions to community projects by the nominee will not be considered.

3. Work done for pay as an employee will not be considered. The nominee need not be retired.

4. The nominee must still be living; the award will not be given posthumously.

5. The nominee should have been a resident of the Solon area for at least the last five years.

The Solon Senior Advocates recognized Jack Neuzil as the first Solon Senior of the Year in 2006. The next recipients were Wayne Croy 2007, Milt Hunt 2008, Pat Ikan 2009, Marie Kroul 2010, Bev Noska and Elaine Reynolds 2011, Anna McAtee 2012, Jean and Bob Stinocher 2013, Fred Bark and Rita Brannaman 2014, Don Erusha and Marv Stastny 2015, Larry and Marcy Olson 2016, Jeanne Erhart and Phyllis Fiala 2017, Dave Frisbee and Duane McAtee 2018, Sandy Hanson 2019, Judy Shulista 2020, Kris Brown 2021, Larry Meister 2022, Don Ellis 2023, and Marilyn and Denny Hansen in 2024.

In 2018 Solon Senior Advocates created the Solon Senior of the Year Nominating Committee made up of past Solon Senior of the Year recipients. The nominating committee first made recommendations for the 2019 annual award and, with the approval of the Senior Advocates, formalized the eligibility and selection criteria. Current committee members are Don Ellis, Jeanne Erhart, Phyllis Fiala, Dave Frisbie, Pat Ikan, Larry Meister and Marcy Olson.

Solon Pantry to host vaccination clinic March 3

VFA program provides vaccinations to uninsured and underinsured adults

SOLON — Johnson County Public Health is partnering with community-based organizations in the county to offer Seasonal Flu and COVID-19 vaccines for eligible adults through the Vaccines for Adults (VFA) program. The VFA Program aims to increase adult vaccination rates and decrease disparities in immunization coverage by providing no-cost vaccine for uninsured or underinsured adults 19 years of age and older. The CDC recommends updated 2024-2025

vaccines to protect against severe COVID-19 and flu this winter and spring.

The Solon Community Food Pantry will host a vaccination clinic Monday, March 3, 2-6:00 p.m. at the pantry located in the basement of the Solon Methodist Church, 122 N. West St., Solon. Eligibility criteria applies to receive the vaccines.

Eligibility criteria for VFA vaccines:

Adults 19 years of age or older who are...

• Uninsured - Does not

have private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid

• Underinsured - A person who has health

insurance, but the insurance does not cover any vaccines; a person whose insurance covers

only selected vaccines; a person whose insurance does not provide firstdollar coverage.

STAFF

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Library Events

People of all ages enjoy hypothesizing the outcomes of battles in the annual March Mammal Madness program. With a fun twist to the age-old question of “Who Would Win?” patrons can pick up their 2025 March Mammal Madness Brackets beginning Friday, February 21, at the Library. Study the combatants, make your guesses, and return your completed brackets by Saturday, March 8, to watch the outcomes of these hypothetical battles between animals. One lucky winner will enjoy a prize at the end of the madness.

Library Events

Get ready to fill your bookshelves, find a gift for a friend, and stock the neighborhood library at the Friends of the Library Annual Used Book Sale Saturday, March 1, from 8:00 a.m. to Noon. All books and movies are offered for a free-will donation, with all proceeds supporting the Friends mission to help the Solon Public Library provide special programs throughout

the year.

Curl up with a good book and a good dog! Willa the French Bulldog will be joining us for individual youth reading sessions to boost reading confidence and provide a calming presence as kids read aloud. 1st-8th graders may sign up for a 10-minute reading slot with Willa. Pick out a book and join us in Study Room 2 when it is your registered time.

In March we’ll have 10-minute timeslots on the first and third Wednesdays, and additional opportunities coming. Please visit our website calendar to register for a timeslot.

We have just two Fun For All Nights left of the season! Join us for gym games, a movie, and popcorn at the Solon Community Center for an all-ages night of fun. Saturday, March 8, we’re showing Despicable Me 4 [PG] and will place votes for the April 12 movie. Gym Games start at

6:00 p.m. and the movie starts at 7:00 p.m. Don’t forget your lawn chairs and blankets to get comfy in the gym for the movie. .

After a short break, we’re excited to announce that DIY Night is back! Register to join us Tuesday, March 11, at 6:30 p.m. for clay sculptures. We’re going full-swing into the March Mammal Madness fun and using air dry clay to sculpt our favorite animals. DIY Night is for adults and young adults (16+) and registration is required.

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. Please always refer to our website calendar or call to check hours as winter weather may impact our ability to be safely open.

Please note the upcoming special hours at the Library:

The Library will be open Friday, Feb. 28, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. to allow time for our regular monthly staff in-service after closing.

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

What We’re Reading

Once again, Fiona Davis, doesn’t disappoint with her beautifully written historical fiction novel, The Spectacular. The depth of research and thought put into the historical details is captivating throughout the novel. If you enjoy histor-

Beef Days Committee seeking 2025 T-shirt artwork

Amateur and professional artists encouraged to submit designs

Solon Beef Days Committee

SOLON — The Solon Beef Days Committee is accepting original artwork for the t-shirt design of the 2025 Solon Beef Days Celebration, to be held Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19. Each artist may submit more than one design.

To qualify, designs need to meet the following guidelines:

• Artwork must be produced using a conventional

March

15 application deadline for Solon Women’s Club scholarships

Eileen Hageman

GFWC/Iowa Solon Women’s Club

SOLON — The GFWC/Iowa Solon Women’s Club will again be awarding two $500 scholarships to local graduating high school seniors. Applicants can be planning to attend either a community college, or a four-year college. Winners will be selected based on volunteerism, (particularly in the Solon community), leadership skills, need, and scholastic achievement.

Applications can be secured at the Solon High School, or by emailing the Solon Women’s Club President, Terri Jedlicka, terrijedlicka@gmail.com. Applications need to be received or postmarked by March 15th for scholarship consideration.

The GFWC/Iowa Solon Women’s Club is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and is a volunteer service organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others thru volunteer service.

media or desktop publishing software

• Artwork must be 5”x7” or larger

• Artwork must include the Beef Days Celebration and/ or the celebration dates (7/18 & 7/19)

• Artwork MUST be original and exclusive

***Please be sure to include your name and contact information on all entries.

The Solon Beef Days T-shirt committee will accept artwork until Saturday, May 10.

Artwork will become the property of the Solon Beef Days Committee. An honorarium of $100 for 1st Place,

ical fiction and haven’t discovered Fiona Davis, we recommend you check it out!

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis. New York City, 1956: Nineteen-year-old Marion Brooks knows she should be happy. Her high school sweetheart is about to propose and sweep her off to the life everyone has always expected they’d have together: a quiet house in the suburbs, Marion staying home to raise their future children. But instead, Marion finds herself feeling trapped. So when she comes across an opportunity to audition for the famous Radio City Rockettes—the glamorous precision-dancing troupe—she jumps at the chance to exchange her predictable future for the dazzling life of a performer.

Meanwhile, the city is reeling from a string of bombings orchestrated by a person the press has nicknamed the “Big Apple Bomber,” who has been terrorizing the citizens of New York for sixteen years by planting bombs in popular, crowded spaces. With the public in an uproar over the lack of any real leads after a yearslong manhunt, the police turn in desperation to Peter Griggs, a young doctor at a local mental hospital who espouses a radical new technique: psychological profiling.

As both Marion and Peter find themselves unexpectedly pulled in to the police search for the bomber, Marion realizes that as much as she’s been training herself to blend in—performing in perfect unison with all the other identical Rockettes—if she hopes to catch the bomber, she’ll need to stand out and take a terrifying risk. In doing so, she may be forced to sacrifice everything she’s worked for, as well as the people she loves the most.

$50 for 2nd Place, and $25 for 3rd Place will be awarded to the artists whose designs are selected to promote the 2025 celebration by the Beef Days Committee. The selected artwork will be featured on all promotional material for the Beef Days Celebration including, but not limited to, programs, posters, billboards, and t-shirts.

Email designs to BeefDaysTshirts@gmail.com Artists may also mail their entries to: Theme Design Solon Beef Days P.O. Box 355 Solon, Iowa 52333

For more information or questions, please contact BeefDaysTshirts@gmail.com.

OPINIONS

When cooking controls your life Q&A: Taxpayer dollars deserve scrutiny

Food for Thought

Milli Gilbaugh

After helping friends with parties and wedding receptions, I found myself baking birthday and wedding cakes and putting together picnic lunches and family reunion dinners for several people I knew. When it became obvious that most of those occasions took place during weekends and holidays and deprived me of devoting time to my own family for those special times, I decided to give it up. Along with the decline in new cooking adventures, there came a decline in ideas for the newspaper column and it gradually morphed into more of a humor and opinion column.

Brian Fleck, my then editor, told me that readers liked my column and that it sold papers, so I was free to write about anything I wanted to. Since the column was shifting from food as a subject to ideas, we renamed it Food For Thought, which is a much overused phrase that has become so common that it is considered public domain and can't be copyrighted.

I don't know whence came the idea that columnists must have their pictures published along with their thoughts, but over the years, I suffered through various fads consisting of drawings and photos, none of which were particularly flattering or revealing of the real me, so what you see here is the final version – at 90, I must surely have the right to declare myself ageless.

As I look back at the various stages of life in the kitchen, I realize I lost, somewhere along the way, the fun and satisfaction of learning about new foods and new ways of preparing old familiar ones. Cooking with my mother had been both relaxed and adventuresome. Measuring was inexact and methods often old-fashioned (as she had learned from her mother.) Eggs were separated by dumping them back and forth between the two halves of their shells, and the egg whites for angel food cake were counted, not measured. I still smile to myself when I remember my dad watching me separate eggs for a cake one afternoon. He watched as I worked my way carefully through the required thirteen eggs and finally commented, “You'd get that done a lot quicker if you didn't play with each egg when you break it.” Mother and I shared amused glances but didn't explain. Dad was skilled at many things, but baking wasn't one of them.

Once I was exposed to cooks besides those in our family, I began to alter the meat-and-potatoes meals I grew up with. I learned to use the broiler in the oven, and that not all steaks need pounding and coating with flour to be edible. It was a major break-through to learn that liver could be served pink, juicy and tender instead of sliced thin and over-cooked until hard, pasty and bitter, and that there is no such thing as cooking it with too much bacon and onions. I learned how to make fluffy matzo balls with chicken soup, and that thick, golden homemade noodles cooked in rich chicken broth are delicious over mashed potatoes. I learned a whole lot about cheeses, that there are other Mexican foods besides chili, and that not all Italian dishes involve tomatoes and Parmesan cheese. Two of my more adventurous aunts introduced me to various appetizers, salads and desserts I would never have learned about at home, and even some institutional cooking, such as at my college dorm, added new insights into the world of things to eat. I admit to being 22 years old when I first tasted lobster.

Don't think that my palate became so sophisticated that I abandoned all the simple recipes I grew up with. Nothing can taste or smell better than my mother's tender, fallingapart pot roast with carrots, onions, garlic and little new potatoes, served with plenty of rich, brown gravy. Her unbeatable potato salad was loaded with extra eggs, sweet pickle relish, real mayonnaise and moistened with sweet, heavy cream. I've never been able to surpass the macaroni and cheese which, my dad claimed was the reason he married her. She buried the macaroni in a buttery cream sauce into which she melted freshly shredded American cheese that came in two-pound blocks packed in wooden boxes. Makes me wish I could still spend the necessary time and effort to make it myself.

With U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

Q: Why did President Trump create the Department of Government Efficiency?

A: The American people delivered a resounding message in November. They’re fed up with lawlessness at our southern border and sick and tired of being the bottomless piggybank for partisan spending sprees. President Trump won the popular vote for a historic second term and Republicans secured a congressional majority in both chambers of the people’s branch. The president wasted no time delivering on the electoral mandate. That includes strong fiscal stewardship. He created the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to comb the ledgers of the sprawling federal bureaucracy. As a taxpayer watchdog, I’ve worked to root out wasteful spending since my first term in the U.S. Senate, no matter who was in the White House. Holding government accountable is a tall order that previous administrations have tackled with limited success.

During the Obama administration, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff warned: “The most significant threat to our national security is our debt.” Fifteen years later, interest payments on the debt are now more than federal defense spending. Decades of deficit spending have saddled our children and grandchildren with a $36 trillion debt. The fiscal ramifications impact Americans every day. Burdensome debt service costs crowd out resources for other priorities, including tax relief and government services, as well as undermine the nation’s economic resiliency. High interest rates pinch private investment, job creation and prosperity from Wall Street to Main Street. We can’t afford to keep sweeping the nation’s debt under the rug from one year to the next.

The federal government hasn’t balanced its budget since the Clinton administration. Back then, we had a three-year budget surplus from 1998-2001. President Clinton joined Republicans to tackle wasteful spending, “end welfare as we know it” and cut bloated government programs. Clinton campaigned on a platform to Reinvent Government (RIGO).

After the Republican Revolution kicked Democrats out of the House majority for the first time in four decades, Clinton declared the “era of big government” is over. Between January 1993 and September 2000, the Clinton administration cut 426,200 jobs from the federal workforce. During that time, I led efforts to beef up customer service at the IRS and modernize its antiquated computer systems. During the Bush administration, I spearheaded reforms to cut rampant credit card abuse among federal agencies. Across administrations, I’ve hounded the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services about improper

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Klaps for Klep

After deciding some fourteen years ago to take on an additional career venture which involved direct communication with Public Works people, it didn’t take long for me to realize the important role that Public Works played in the image and progress of a city or town. I also came to realize that not only was Public Works a multitude of strenuous and tiresome jobs…but often, a very thankless and unappreciated department as well. Resident complaints largely outnumber compliments.

For the past twenty seven years, our town of Solon has been blessed to have such a devoted Public Works Director in Scott Kleppe. Scott went above and beyond to make our town something we could all be proud of…and whin it came to dedication to a job, he had it. His passion for the job was evident

payments. Just last year, I pressed the Biden administration to account for tens of billions of dollars in improper health care payments, including my oversight efforts to root out fraud and abuse in the Affordable Care Act.

Taxpayers deserve stronger stewardship of their hard-earned money. The Trump administration is taking decisive action to cut wasteful spending. That’s what President Obama claimed he would do by launching “the Campaign to Cut Waste. Its stated mission: “to hunt down and eliminate misspent tax dollars in every agency and department across the Federal Government.” President Trump is breaking through the bureaucratic inertia to root out wasteful spending and hold government accountable to the people it serves.

Q: What about people facing uncertainty during the Trump administration’s top-tobottom review of the federal bureaucracy?

A: When I hear about people losing their jobs, whether from the federal government or in the private sector, I understand the financial stress and despair that job loss has on individuals and their families. During my years working in Iowa factories before getting elected to Congress, I was laid off from work on three different occasions, including from a job I’d held for 10 years before the company closed its doors. As the president’s team goes through its initial review of federal agencies, I’m keeping close tabs on the process to ensure the government continues to provide services to the American people and fulfills its responsibilities to keep the American people safe. As always, I’m keeping in touch with Iowans and sharing their concerns and questions with relevant federal agencies to advocate on their behalf.

Since day one of his second term in the White House, the 47th president has made clear he intends to deliver on his promises. The review currently underway has delivered an undeniable message to Washington, D.C.: the era of business-as-usual is over. Contrary to what alarmists are saying, America is not in a constitutional crisis. Article II of the Constitution vests all executive power in one person, the president of the United States. That means the power to hire and fire within the executive branch is constitutionally delegated to the president. Of course, our system of checks and balances empowers each branch to keep check on the others; the separation of powers reins in overreach to protect the fundamental rights of the people. My congressional oversight work is one example. These constitutional guardrails have endured for nearly 250 years to ensure government is of, by and for the people.

The sky’s not falling, and neither is our republic.

in so many ways, whether it was his proactiveness to winter storms clearing our streets, a miraculous recovery from a derecho, or his vision to improve our streets annually with new resurfacing and curbing projects.

As Public Works Director, Scott was on call 24/7, carrying out responsibilities for water main breaks, cut utility lines, resident emergency requests, and our annual Beef Days event to name just a few.

So grateful Scott, for all of your tireless and thankless hours of service that you and your Public Works team provided for our town of Solon. The sacrifices that you and your family have made over the years to make our lives easier didn’t go unnoticed! You will be missed, Klep!

Solon schools may implement a human trafficking prevention program

Ben Klein

For the Solon Economist

SOLON — Solon schools may soon take a step forward in the fight against human trafficking by introducing a prevention program aimed at educating students, staff, and parents.

At Solon Community School District (SCSD) school board meeting Thursday, Feb. 20, Nikki Stallman, the outreach program coordinator for Chains Interrupted, along with volunteer Diane Wurzer made their case for why they believe the human trafficking prevention curriculum should be taught in Solon schools. Chains Interrupted is a nonprofit combating human trafficking and exploitation in Iowa, the United States, and the world.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, it is estimated that over 100,000 children are trafficked internationally each year for sex. Also, a study published in the Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology found that a survey with 500 physicians showed that less than 10% could identify if

they had encountered a trafficked person and only 20% knew what to do if they did.

Stallman emphasized the importance of schools in the fight against human trafficking by showing the connection that students have with staff.

“Schools play a huge role in that because our teachers and our staff spend so much time for our young people, and they are a very important part in helping them keep safe,” Stallman said to the board.

Chains Interrupted offers a three-part program to help schools teach human trafficking prevention.

The first way is to teach students. They want to go into classrooms and have a period where students are educated about human trafficking, grooming, and being able to see it in friends.

The second way is to provide training for staff and faculty. Teachers receive similar training as students but also learn how to recognize signs that a student might be a victim of human trafficking.

The third way is to encourage schools to have a parent night. Stallman emphasized this point, explaining that to be a trusted adult, one must first be informed.

“Truthfully, if we’re telling our kids to go to a trusted adult, then we need to have trusted adults that understand what they’re talking about,” Stallman said.

Chains Interrupted has already gone to some schools in Iowa. At Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, they go into the school one day a year and talk to the seventh- and tenth-grade students.

Alongside schools, Chains Interrupted has been to hotels, motels, and financial institutions to train staff on noticing signs of human trafficking.

After the presentation, Board President Dr. Tim Brown praised the organization for its efforts in the community.

“I think it’s an important topic, and we do appreciate the fact that you guys are devoting your time to that,” Dr. Brown said.

New church development could reshape Solon borders — At a price

City Council hears proposal, needs more information on possible annexation

Jackson Miles

For the Solon Economist

SOLON — Jordan Creek Church is seeking to build a new facility along Highway 382 northwest of town, but the project faces hurdles due to annexation requirements, fragmented land parcels, and infrastructure costs.

City Council members said last week they support the project in principle but have questions over how to fund necessary road access and utility extensions without relying on taxpayer dollars.

Jordan Creek Church holds its meetings at the Solon Community Center, which is owned by the school district and leased to the city. However, the school district plans to demolish the building within the next few years, leaving the nondenominational Christian church, started in 2017, without a place to meet.

The property Jordan Creek wants to build on is owned by Bob Upmeyer, assistant director of External Programs at the University of Iowa, who spoke at the Council’s Feb. 19 meeting at City Hall. Upmeyer Farms LLC has 110 acres across six parcels with a combined land value of $155,000, all of which is farmland north and south of Highway 382.

The concept is considered an out-of-order development since the land where the church wants to build is not contiguous with city limits.

“It’s a unique piece of landscape and so I know that throws a bit of a wrench into the works and we appreciate you working with us,” Upmeyer said.

Solon would need to annex the land, a process City Administrator Cami Rasmussen said has been done in the past, but the complication lies in the multiple parcels involved.

“It’s not just the Upmeyers’ property, there’s a couple corner parcels that are going to need to be addressed,” Rasmussen said.

As the concept is still in its early stages nothing is set in stone, but the land would have to be annexed to become part of Solon. The property Jordan Creek Church wishes to buy is not developed or connected to any of the city’s systems, so roads, water, septic systems, etc. will all have to be routed to them from Solon.

Solon Mayor Dan O’Neil said taking on this project and having the city pay for it would be unfair for taxpayers.

“That’s not something the city should be responsible for,” O’Neil said.

All of the other members also agreed that the plan is fine but without the cost estimates for expanding infrastructure it wouldn’t be right for taxpayers to foot the bill.

A key question left unanswered was whether the church would cover the cost of building the street or if it would only be responsible for creating an access point—both options have significant financial implications.

“We don’t need a road all the way through there right now,” Rasmussen said. “How much of a road do we need for Jordan Creek to proceed with their project? Who pays for the road? You know typically in an orderly development the developers take up the roads and the infrastructure to the end of their properties so the next developers can hook on.”

Since the council doesn’t yet have that information, church leaders will have to plan out those details and come back at a later meeting.

“They obviously have a budget, and if that budget includes having to put in part of a street, then that budget changes significantly,” Rasmussen said.

Jordan Creek Church has continually been on the rise with attendance and fundraising, starting with around 30 members in 2017, to about 220 in 2024, while yearly donations jumped from $189,000 in 2021 to $354,000 in 2024, according to the church’s fundraising materials online.

The church estimates a 16,000-19,000-square-foot building including an auditorium, large lobby, gym and offices will cost between $6.5 million and $7.5 million to build.

SPORTS

Lucas Feuerbach rolls to a second place finish at state

Joel Kellar

For the Solon Economist

DES MOINES — It was the Lucas Feuerbach show in Des Moines at Wells Fargo Arena during the State High School Wrestling Tournament last week. After receiving a bye in the first round, Feuerbach dominated the next three matchups. Feuerbach pinned Creston’s Gunnar Martwick in his second-round matchup, his most dominant matchup of the week. Feuerbach achieved the pin in only 28 seconds, setting the tone for what was to come for the sophomore.

Feuerbach won his next two bouts by decision, but they still were not particularly close. He seemed unstoppable after he upset the two-seed in the 215-pound weight class, 10-4.

Going into Saturday evening, Feuerbach was set with a date on the mats with the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class, Mason Koehler. A big prime-time moment for the young wrestler that has made his name known around the state this season.

“At the end of the day, it's another match and we needed to go out and wrestle how we usually wrestle,” said Aaron Hadenfeldt, Solon’s wrestling head coach. “We weren't going to change how we wrestled as this is what has gotten us to this point.”

Living in the moment Feuerbach put up a fight against his highest ranked opponent.

Feuerbach limited the damage after a couple of takedowns and lost by only a 7-0 decision.

"I like that he competed until the end,” said Hadenfeldt, “After giving up the second takedown, he could have laid his head and given up, but he kept fighting.”

The constant fight was a theme for the rest of the Spartans at the tournament, though none were able to advance past the second round. Jackson Feuerbach had a tight battle in the first round on Wednesday, but was

unable to notch the takedown needed for the victory as he lost 3-1.

Jordan Schmidt earned himself a bye in round one but was unable to get the job done against Ben Walsh of Sergeant Bluff-Luton. Schmidt lost 6-9 in the secondround battle in the 144-pound weight class.

Charlie Karam was the only other Spartan to get a victory at Wells Fargo. Karam took down Atlantic’s Kalvin Hayes with ease. Karam shut Hayes out and notched a 10-0 major decision. However, his next match against the top ranked wrestler in the 138-pound weight class was the end of the road for Karam. He held off getting pinned, but ultimately lost by a tech fall 2-17.

“Obviously, none of the other three attained their goals of getting a medal down there, but it was not for lack of effort,” said Hadenfeldt, “I'm proud of those guys and am glad they were able to wear the Solon singlet.”

Jackson Feuerbach, Schmidt, and Karam were all seniors for the Spartans and officially ended their wrestling careers as a Spartan last weekend. Finishing off their senior year by competing in the state meet was a goal for each of them and they completed it after a long season and tough offseason.

“The time they were able to put into the sport is what gave them the opportunity to get to state,” said Hadenfeldt, “They put time into the offseason when they could have

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Spartans start slow, win big over Demons in regular season finale

Kyle Prondzinki

For the Solon Economist

SOLON- With Playoffs looming, the (13-4) Solon Spartans had one last regular season game to keep the momentum rolling.

The Solon Spartans ended their regular season on a six-game win streak, winning 85-50 over the Washington Demons (9-13). The Spartans dominated in the paint and were led by Senior Caleb Bock, who had a 31-point performance—shooting 13/15 (87%) from the field.

“I knew I was bigger, I just sat in the paint and let my teammates get me the ball.” Bock said postgame. He also mentioned how his first instinct is to drive to the hoop and get the best opportunity to score points.

With Playoffs coming up, one of the main focuses will be to get off to a stronger start. On Friday night, they found themselves going back and forth in the first quarter, giving up three shots from behind the arc and two free throws to add on, ultimately finding themselves down 13-12 after one.

Head Coach Jared Galpin mentioned the struggles in the first quarter, saying, “ I wasn’t very happy how we started.” He also noted that the team seemed sluggish and slow to get to spots.

Solon got back on track as Bock got things started in the second quarter. Bock drove to the basket, was fouled, turning him 180 degrees, and still

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

Solon girls' basketball comes to a close

MOUNT VERONON — With her warmups back on, backpack slung over her shoulder, and tears in her eyes, senior Kobi Lietz walked out of the locker room after playing with her teammates one last time. Just 15 minutes earlier, the final buzzer sounded, marking the ending of a 52-32 sub-state semifinal loss to rival Mount Vernon. The Solon Girls Basketball 2024-25 season came to a close, along with Lietz’s career with the Spartans. The three year varsity starter had to say goodbye to a program that not only provided a team for her to play basketball with but provided a family and sisterhood for her as well.

“This program is amazing,” said an emotional Lietz. “It’s a lot different than other programs and it means so much to me.”

Before reuniting with her teammates, Lietz left a postgame interview with a wholehearted message:

“Thanks to my family, my coaches, my teammates, and the town for supporting me like crazy,” she said.

Lady Spartans head coach Jamie Smith couldn’t help but show his emotions when reflecting on Lietz’s time playing for Solon.

was able to get the shot down. Senior Jackson Link also got involved, hitting three of his five total threes in the quarter. This display of offense proved to be too much for Washington as the Spartans found themselves up 37-26 at the half.

“We woke up.” Coach Galpin stated, seeming much more pleased with how the second set of eight minutes went by than the first.

Coming out of the break, Washington had no answer for Bock as he scored 15 of the team’s first 22 points. Sophomore Maddox Kelley had no problem sharing the rock. He accounted for four assists, including a steal, finding Bock and Senior Isaiah Zoske twice each within the 2:21 of the quarter, jumping the lead to 51-28. In the following two minutes, Bock did it all on the floor as he got a layup, went two for two at the stripe, got a steal, and then added two more layups, bringing his total to 24.

Sophomore Kaden Hoeper closed the quarter with a steal of his own and took it all the way for two, making it a 61-38 game.

The Starters didn’t see much action in the fourth, as the lead was insurmountable. This allowed guys like Junior, Tyler Greazel, and Junior Ryan Locke to get more playing time. The Crowd was able to come back to life after Locke got a steal and took it himself for two. The fourth quarter didn’t slow down for the new-look Spartans as they gathered 24 points to Washington's 12.

Above: Caleb Bock drives through two defenders on his attack to the rim. Bock was dominant on the interior versus the Washington Demons with a game high 31 points in an 85-50 non-conference win Thursday, Feb. 20. Right: Grant Gordon lunges for a loose ball to keep the possession with the Spartans in a non-conference game to end the regular season Thursday, Feb. 20. The Spartans drove out the Demons with a decisive 85-50 win.

“Kobi’s special to me,” Coach Smith said. “She’s been part of this program since I got here, going back to when she was in middle school.”

When addressing the team after the game, Coach Smith talked about Lietz, and left the team with this:

“You think you’re gonna be here for a long time, the next thing you know you wake up and it's over,” he said.

The Lady Spartans will return 14 of their 15 players next season. Delainey Durr, whose season ended prematurely with a foot injury, will be next year’s lone senior. She was the team’s second-leading scorer behind Lietz, averaging 12.3 points per game before the injury.

“I learned not to take playing with this team for granted,” Durr explained. “I know I have one more season left, but I also know it goes by so fast.”

Durr knows, as the lone senior and returning leading scorer, she will play a big role in the Lady Spartan’s success next season.

“I want to be even more of a leader next year than I was this year,” Durr said. “Every second I leave on the court I’ll never get back, so I need to leave it all out there for my last season.”

Finishing the season with a 12-11 record, the Lady Spartans have a lot to look forward to in the years to come. With the young roster they have, they’ll continue to improve with experience, leadership, and culture.

Durr looks to fill the shoes that her teammate and friend Lietz will leave behind after an outstanding and unforgettable career.

Before following his players back to the team bus, Smith praised Lietz one last time and shared a heartfelt hug with his senior leader.

“She’s an unbelievable kid,” Smith said. “We wouldn't have won a state championship without Kobi. She led by example and we’re gonna miss her.”

Carson Reid qualifies for State Bowling

Solon senior bowls for City High, earns All-District and All-State honors

Solon Economist

IOWA CITY — Solon’s Carson Reid bowled 703 in a Class 3A State Qualifying Meet Tuesday, Feb. 18 at Colonial Lanes in Iowa City to advance to the 2025 Boys State Bowling Tournament as an individual qualifier. City High teammate Henry Sexton bowled 678 to also advance.

Reid and Solon junior Trendon Walker bowl with the Little Hawks under a program sharing agreement.

Reid also was recently named to the Iowa High School Bowling Coaches Association’s Class 3A Boys All-State and All-District First Teams. He led the Little Hawks this season with 4,458 pins knocked down through 20 games, a high game of 299, and a high series of 546.

The 2025 State Tournaments was held at Cadillac XBC, 650 LaPorte Road, Waterloo Tuesday, Feb. 25 (team), and Wednesday, Feb. 26 (individuals).

Flood Preparedness and insurance

Sonya Sellmeyer

Consumer Advocacy Officer for the

Iowa

Insurance Division

Each spring brings about the possibility of flooding in Iowa. Damage caused by flooding is often a standard exclusion in homeowner, renter, and property insurance policies. In most flood-prone areas, flood insurance coverage has traditionally been available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Those not living in an NFIP community (www.floodmart.gov) have flood insurance options from private insurance carriers. According to FEMA, one inch of water can do $25,000 worth of damage, and the average NFIP flood claim paid between 2016 and 2022 was more than $66,000. If you live in or around a high-risk flood area, you may be required to have flood insurance. The FEMA Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov) is the official public

Bock leads Spartans past Benton in substate thriller

Nevada visits Thursday with a trip to state qualifier on the line

Joel Kellar For the Solon Economist

SOLON — Under one minute remained on the clock in the Solon High School gym.

The bleachers were shaking as the Spartan home crowd chanted, “Defense! Defense! Defense!” Benton Community inbounded the ball up by one point, 54-55. With every step of the Benton ball handler, the crowd’s chants grew more powerful. As he neared halfcourt, the Spartan defense stiffened up and forced a pass. The ballheaded for a Bobcat - was suddenly pushed in the opposite direction down the court, with a Spartan chasing after it.

“I just had to make a play for this team,” said Solon’s Caleb Bock, “to give us a chance to win the game.”

Bock hunted the ball down the court after he tipped the pass. A pack of Bobcats tried to catch up, but Bock corralled the ball, took three dribbles, and leaped toward

the basket for a contested left-handed layup that would keep the Spartan season alive.

“It’s one of the basics that people overlook,” said Bock, “I got a little fouled, but I went through it.”

The ball floated out of Bock’s left hand, touched off the backboard box, and fell through the net. The Spartans were in control of the game. A game they would win 58-55 to advance to the substate semifinals.

Solon shut down the Bobcats for the rest of the final minute as they tightened up on the defensive glass. When they grabbed the first of two deep threes by Benton, the Spartans drained just over 20 seconds off the clock. Until, finally, Maddox Kelley was sent to the free throw line. Kelley stepped up and knocked both free throws down with the eyes of every person in the gym bearing down on him.

“Just a lot of smart basketball plays down the stretch,” said Solon’s head coach Jared Galpin, “[Then] Maddox Kelley hits the two biggest free throws of his high school career.”

The Spartan's three-point win and a Nevada (19-4) win means the two will match up Thursday, February 27, at Solon (17-5), with a chance to play in the state qualifier (Monday, March 3 at a location to be determined) on the line.

SHIIP-SMP accepting volunteer applications for 2025

Volunteer Medicare counselors needed across Iowa

The Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) are free, confidential, and unbiased services of the State of Iowa Insurance Division. Every year, nearly 400 certified SHIIP-SMP volunteer counselors meet with more than 40,000 Iowans to provide one-on-one support understanding Medicare coverage options and navigating unique challenges related to health insurance. If you have considered volunteering with SHIIP-SMP as a counselor for your community, now is the time to apply and join the effort!

Applications for the 2025 SHIIP-SMP New Volunteer Training will be accepted through April 20, 2025.

Live virtual new volunteer trainings will be available:

• Tuesdays, May 13-June 24, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

• Thursdays, May 15-June 26, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Whether it is helping individuals prepare for signing up for Medicare after retirement, comparing prescription plan options, completing applications for financial assistance, or responding to Medicare fraud – SHIIP-SMP volunteers go above and beyond to make sure their clients are provided unbiased answers to questions so they can

source for flood hazard information in support of the NFIP. The NFIP offers two types of coverage – buildings and contents, to protect your home and belongings. NFIP also provides flood insurance for renters, businesses, and preferred risk policies specifically designed for residential properties in moderate-to-low risk flood zones. Typically, there is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance takes effect. Call a licensed insurance agent soon to see about coverage.

Why do you need private flood insurance? Iowa is a state with previous historical flooding experience. So, if you don’t live in an area that requires flood coverage or participates in the NFIP program, private flood protection should be considered. Private flood insurance is sold by licensed insurance agents in Iowa and may also have a waiting period before coverage takes effect. Also, consider parametric flood insurance, which pays out when a predefined flood event occurs, rather than the actual amount of loss.

Water and sewer backup coverage are different from flood insurance. While some homeowners policies include these provisions, neither are automatically included as part of a regular homeowners policy and will need special endorsements to provide coverage. Review your homeowners policy annually for the necessary endorsements and adequate coverage amounts.

leave confident in their choices.

By becoming a SHIIP-SMP volunteer Medicare insurance counselor, you can:

• Feel satisfied knowing you help Iowans make the best decisions for them, save money, and gain a better understanding of Medicare.

• Develop new skills or enhance your existing knowledge with excellent training and resources.

• Give back to your community and make lasting connections.

Who makes a good counselor?

SHIIP-SMP volunteer counselors are most often retired individuals who enjoy tackling new challenges and learning new information. They gain satisfaction from helping people, are happy to work with diverse populations, and value being an objective and trusted source of information. As we learn to connect in new ways, being comfortable with learning new computer skills is also important.

SHIIP-SMP provides excellent training and resources to assure SHIIP-SMP volunteers are prepared and have the tools they need for Medicare counseling and community education.

If this sounds like a volunteer role you would enjoy, you can learn more about the opportunity and how to apply through the SHIIP-SMP website: www.shiip.iowa.gov/ get-involved.

As with any insurance policy, read the policy to ensure you understand what is covered. Coverage through FEMA;s NFIP may cover direct physical losses to your structure and belongings. Private flood insurance may also provide loss-of-use coverage, which is not reimbursed by a federal government policy. Pay specific attention to what is not covered under the policy and discuss the coverage limits with your agent to ensure you have enough protection.

Additional information about flooding and flood risks can be found on the NFIP website (www.floodsmart. gov). For current flood alerts and stream levels in Iowa, visit the Iowa Flood Information System (https://ifis. iowafloodcenter.org).

Iowans who believe they have flood coverage under their property insurance and are not receiving compensation per their insurance policy may file a complaint with the Iowa Insurance Division (iid.iowa. gov). Before disaster strikes review the Post-Disaster Claims Guide at https://iid.iowa.gov to help you complete a home inventory and assist with the filing of any future insurance claims.

Remember, flood damage can happen to anyone in Iowa, and an NFIP or private flood insurance policy may protect you from water damage losses. Act quickly to obtain coverage before flood season begins.

SOLON SENIORS

A Big Thank You to our sponsors and donors for their support in Senior Dining’s mission to serve the Solon Community, and especially to those who support Senior Dining by attending the lunches or receive home deliveries.

Reminders

Bad weather closings – Senior Dining will notify our clients by phone of cancellations.

MARCH HAPPENINGS •••••••

Wednesday, March 5 – Birthdays celebration

Wednesday, March 12 –Sponsored meal – South Slope

Wednesday, March 19 – Larry Olson, Purple Martin program

Graceful in flight, musical in its pre-dawn singing, this big swallow is one of our most popular birds. Almost all Purple Martins in the east now nest in birdhouses put up especially for them.

Wednesday, March 26 – City Representative

DINING ••••••••••••••••••••• Home Deliveries

CALENDAR & PUZZLES

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

MARCH MENU • • •••••••••••••

Monday, March. 3

BBQ Turkey Platter

Cheesy Corn

Creamy Coleslaw

Cornbread Pudding Tart

Wednesday, March 5 - Birthdays

Glazed Ham Balls

Cheesy Party Potatoes

Carrots Heath Cheesecake

Friday, March 7

Catch of the Day Fried Potatoes & Onions Cabbage Cheddar Bake Autumn Gelatin Parfait

Thank you Solon Senior Dining volunteers! “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they just have the heart.”

Across

1 Tavern regular

7 Bit of haunted house décor

13 Remove some bugs from

14 Beethoven work initially dedicated to Napoleon

15 Classic line from the Dick and Jane series

— Elizabeth Andrew

16 Hiring practice at a family business, say

17 Like many shots in soccer

61 In the interim

Down

1 Singers who co-starred in the 1978 film “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”

2 Too 3 Either of two diverging in a Robert Frost poem

4 Horse-racing measurements

5 Football powerhouse in the S.E.C.

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. “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, Feb. 28

Muffin Top (LV/SIS)

G&G Bag (LV) Oatmeal Bar

Breakfast Pizza or Cinnamon Doughnuts Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk

Monday, March 3

Breakfast Pizza (LV/SIS)

G&G (LV) Oatmeal Bar

Sausage & Gravy over Biscuit, Frudel

Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk

Tuesday, March 4

Parfait (LV/SIS)

G&G Bag (LV) Snackbread

French Toast Bake, Fruity Oatmeal, Waffles & Sausage Patty

Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk

Wednesday, March 5

Sausage Pancake Wrap (LV/SIS)

G&G Bag (LV) Nutri Grain Bar

Breakfast Pizza or Cinnamon Doughnuts

Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk

Thursday, March 6

Mini pancakes (LV/SIS)

G&G Bag (LV) Mini Pancakes

Muffin Top, Mini Pancakes & Sausage Links

Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk

Friday, March 7

Long John (LV/SIS)

G&G Bag (LV) Donut

Fruit, Juice, Crackers & Milk SCHOOL BREAKFAST SCHOOL

Potatoes & Egg Boat or Long John

18 Suppose

19 One might be worthy or formidable

20 Years of decline

23 Pilots’ chronicles

25 “___ plaisir!”

27 Where people amass for Mass

28 Bee-dazzler?

29 Adequate

30 Hurdle for a future Ph.D.

31 E, in a musical mnemonic

32 Land whose name meant “between two rivers”

36 Gets up

39 Grp. with a lot of intelligence

40 Painter Bob who said “We don’t make mistakes. We have happy accidents”

44 Advocacy org. that gained prominence in 1980s New York City

45 Eastern currency

46 Word repeated in a children’s game

47 Laura of “Jurassic Park”

48 Structure with smoke flaps

50 Prefix with color and county

51 “Snow Falling on ___,” 1994 mystery novel set in Washington State

53 Bank assessment

55 Sichuan bean curd dish

56 Obstacles for a driver ... or what this puzzle’s circled squares represent

58 “When in the course of human ___ …” (start of the Declaration of Independence)

6 Eastern currency

7 Perfume ecclesiastically

8 Unrefined metal sources

9 Sunset in the West?

10 Motion-sensing gaming device

11 Popeye’s creator

12 “Kapow!”

13 All over again

15 Lounges, e.g.

18 Bit of biographical data

21 ___ chips, snack from Hawaii

22 Way

24 Vulpine

26 Fall apart mentally

28 Canadian province where “Anne of Green Gables” is set: Abbr.

33 Special reading ability, for short

34 “And make it snappy!”

35 Hall & Oates hit with the opening lyric “She’ll only come out at night”

36 Beyond cool

37 Geologic formation from glacial melting

38 Word with clothes or cleaner

41 Discharge of water, e.g.

42 Filter

43 Heavens

45 “You rang?”

48 Arrangement for an heir, perhaps

49 Literary husband of Zeena Frome

52 Early p.m. times, in brief

54 Steamed dumpling in Tibetan cuisine

55 ___ school

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

Friday, Feb. 28

MS/HS Alt: Cook’s Delight

Chicken Parmesan Garlic Noodles, Garlic Knot (MS/HS)

Steamed Broccoli Trees

Zucchini Poles, Pears of Paradise

Monday, March 3

MS/HS Alt: Quesadilla Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

Peas & Carrots, Grape Tomatoes, Garlic Toast Watermelon, Mixed Fruit (HS)

Cottage Cheese (MS/HS)

Tuesday, March 4

MS/HS Alt: Hot Dog Spaghetti Dinner Roll Caesar Salad with Cucumbers Coins Green Beans (MS/HS), Peaches

Wednesday, March 5

MS/HS Alt: Chicken Burrito Cheesy Lasagna Garlic Knot, Crunchy Cauliflower Grapes

Snickerdoodle Cookie

Thursday, March 6

MS/HS Alt: Teriyaki Chicken & Rice or Lasagna roll-up

Chicken Drumstick

Baked Beans, Celery Stalks

Melon Fruit Salad, Sun Chips Biscuit & Honey (HS)

Friday, March 7

MS/HS Alt: Cook’s Delight

Quesadilla Pizza

Trix Yogurt Cup, Pepper Spears & Carrot Poles Oranges, Cereal Bowl Pineapple (HS)

59 “You’re kidding yourself!”

60 Hate

56 Common download

57 Metal para una medalla olímpica

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.

March Solon Senior Advocates News

• Thursday, March 20 – Doris Montag, “A Lady and Her Legs”

History and exhibits of women’s shaving, hosiery styles, innovation of garter belt, girdles, and traditionally hushed topics. Brought by a local homespun historian and humorist.

Mount Vernon Hills Bank Community Room (720 First Ave. SE), 2:00 p.m. Register by Monday, March 15 by calling 319-895-4018. Personal cars

• It's not too soon to think about 2025 bus trips

Thursday, May 15 – Kalona

Illa Miller’s homecooked meal, Golden Delight Bakery, String Town Community Store, South West Valley Greenhouse (Perry Bender’s).

Leave SRNA (“Rec Park”) at 11:00 a.m.

Cost TBA

Wednesday, June 18 – Circa 21/Rock Island, “Chicago, the musical”

Thursday, July 10 – Newton art tour/Neal Smith’s Wildlife Buffalo Refuge.

Cost TBA

• Restaurant Runs

Thursday, March 20 – Odies, Ely. 12:00 Noon, personal cars. Sign-up sheet Wednesdays at Senior Dining or call 319-430-8655.

• Senior of the Year nominations due March 19 May is Older American’s Month and each year the Senior Advocates award a Senior of the Year certificate at the first May City Council meeting. Nominations are for a senior citizen who has given of himself in service to the community through volunteerism, or in enhancing the well-being of others.

Nomination forms are at the Post Office, City Hall, or Library.

Contact Pat Ikan for forms or information at pikan@ southslope.net, P.O. Box 148, or call 319-624-2643.

NEWS

FROM JOHNSON COUNTY

Second installment of property taxes due now

Late payment penalties begin April 1, 2025

Johnson County property owners are reminded that the second installment of property and mobile home taxes is due Saturday, March 1, 2025. Payments need to be delivered to the Treasurer’s Office, paid online or postmarked by Monday, March 31, 2025, to avoid a 1 ½ percent monthly penalty that will begin on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

In-person payments must be made at the Treasurer’s Office, located at the Johnson County Administration Building at 913 S. Dubuque St. in Iowa City. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

If paying by mail, the stub portion of the tax statement must be submitted with the payment and mailed to the Johnson County Treasurer, PO Box 2420, Iowa City, IA 52244-2420. Payments postmarked by

March 31, 2025, will be considered paid on time and no interest will be charged.

The U.S. Postal Service postmark is the only date recognized for the date of mailing.

The date written on a check or a business metered date cannot be accepted as proof of the mailing date. Residents who would like a receipt must include a self-addressed stamped envelope with their payment.

To make an online payment, visit www. IowaTaxAndTags.org. You can pay with an e-check, debit card, or credit card. Those payment methods, whether online or at the Treasurer’s Office, are subject to a convenience fee.

Questions about payments should be directed to the Treasurer’s Office at 319356-6087 or rblack@johnsoncountyiowa. gov. Additional information about property taxes is available at www. johnsoncountyiowa.gov.

• Solon Senior Transport – Provides volunteer transportation for seniors to medical appointments. For information and to enroll please call Cindy Jensen at 319360-3279.

• Senior Advocates Board Art Tellin 319-626-2816, Sandy Hanson 319-430-8655, Barry Byrne 319-354-8757, Cindy Jensen 319-360-3279, Larry Brecht 319-624-2925, Ivan Hasselbusch 319-6709150, Phyllis Fiala 319-331-7447, and Mark Hollinrake 319-551-2811.

Solon Senior Support March News

Solon Senior Support is a non-profit volunteer group helping Solon-area senior citizens. Please call Jill Weetman at 319-624-2773 for questions or information.

• Cards and Bingo Fridays at 12:30 p.m.

Solon United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall We’ll break for coffee and a snack around 2:00 p.m. Interested? Email Jill at solonseniors@gmail.com or call 319-624-2772. Feel free to leave a message. Sponsored by Solon Senior Support, no cost to play, win prizes!

• Senior Coffee now on Thursdays

Stop by for FREE coffee/tea/hot chocolate and treats, meet new people, and enjoy great conversation! Coffee is better with friends!

Thursdays, 9-11:00 a.m. at the Solon United Methodist Church. Need a ride? Call Jill at 319-624-2773.

• Advice on Aging program Monday, March 10

A discussion with Iowa’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program:

• What is the LTCO?

• How do I get the Ombudsman’s help?

• How can I help my friends and my community?

Details:

Monday, March 10, 2-3:00 p.m. at the Solon Retirement Village Assisted Living Building, 623 E. 5th St. FREE to attend and open to the public RSVP required by calling 319-325-8037.

Program presented by Pam Railsback & Angela Van Pelt, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

In honor of Bob Welsh – Bob dedicated his life to the betterment of Johnson County through volunteerism, advocacy, and the promotion of lifelong learning. “Advice on Aging” is proudly hosted in Bob’s memory by the Johnson County Task Force on Aging.

• Questions about your current medications? Need to get rid of old medicine? What: Pharmacy “Brown Bag” Event

When: Saturday, March 29, 9:00 a.m.-12 Noon

Where: Solon United Methodist Church, 122 North West Street, Solon Who: University of Iowa College of Pharmacy Students and Pharmacists

• Bring your current medications and questions for the pharmacists and pharmacy students.

• Bring your old medications to destroy.

• Make a wallet card with your list of meds.

• Get a free pill planner

Event sponsored by Solon Senior Support

Pets For Sale

Shih Tzu's & Chishi Puppies. Fluffy, healthy. Parents on site. Vet checked & vaccinated. $900 & up. 563-210-5843

Wanted To Rent

Young, growing & hardworking family searching for acreage with home & building(s) for 4-H animals to rent, maybe buy. Fixer upper is fine. Prefer Mt Vernon/Lisbon area. References available. Thank you. 563-210-5843.

Wanted

WANTED: JUNK APPLIANCES. Will pick up for free. Farm clean-up, batteries. Will buy junk cars. 319-331-8122

Miscellaneous

Does your basement or crawl space need some attention? Call Thrasher Foundation Repair! A permanent solution for waterproofing, failing foundations, sinking concrete and nasty crawl spaces. FREE Inspection & Same Day Estimate. $250 off ANY project with code GET250. Call 1-866-5541730

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

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-844376-4154.

Tickets are available at https:// soloniahighschoolplay.ludus. com/200476246.

Kleinsmith added, “A big shout-out to our seniors that will set sail for the last time on a high school stage. They have been great encouragers and role models for the program.”

Cast list for The Pirate Sisters and the Bounty for Bluebeard

John Bluebeard – Kardyn Huynh

Morgan Bluebeard – Merrick Gravert

Jackie Bluebeard – Natalie Arthur

Queen Victoria – Allison Hedge

Prince George – Jake Grimm

Princess Maria – Evann Freerks

Duchess of York – Ella Havlicek

Duchess of Kent – Holly Whitehead

Admiral Moneypenny – Evan Smith

Rear Adm. Applebottom – Silas Billerbeck

Royal Staff – Toby Kleinsmith

Agnes/Pirate 1 – Jadlyn Huynh

Priscilla – Joli Sinnwell

Lady Jane – Alina Steele

Lady Isabella – Madilyn Dunbar

Lady Sylvia – Stella Facinelli

Lady Meredith – Maddie Elkins

Lady Katherine – Annie Bovenmyer

Townsperson/Guard 1 – Holly Whitehead

Guard 2 – Brady Evers

Guard 3 – Carter Brock

Pirates – Abby Kramer, MacKenna Kramer, Delaney Emerson, and Jayden Merrick

Left: (From

Merrick Gravert (Morgan Bluebeard), Natalie Arthur (Jackie Bluebeard), Evan Smith (Admiral Moneypenny) and Silas Billerbeck (Rear Adm. Applebottom), rehearse a fight scene from The Pirate

and the Bounty for Bluebeard, this year’s spring play at Solon High

The curtain goes up Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9 in the Center for the

John

SIS Alpha Club fills the Pantry

SOLON — “They filled up the Pantry!”

So said Elaine Claude, Director of the Solon Community Food Pantry after the Solon Intermediate School (SIS)’s Alpha Club delivered 1,259 pounds of food (2,788 items) and $315.00 raised during their recent Souper Bowl for Caring food drive.

The annual campaign kicked off Monday, Feb. 3, and ran through Friday, Feb. 7 and marks the third year the club has participated and coincided with the 35th annual national Souper Bowl of Caring through Tackle Hunger (tacklehunger.org). The Alpha Club is part of the Junior Optimists International.

Pantry hours and contact information

• The Pantry is open 2-6:00 p.m. Mondays.

• Donations are accepted Monday mornings or can be placed in the donation box outside.

• For questions or more information call 319-321-5232 or email luv2runiowa@yahoo. com or message the Pantry via the Facebook page at www.facebook. com/solonfoodpantry.

• The mailing address is P.O. box 582, Solon, IA, 52333.

“If

people want to donate or volunteer,

we can always use the help.”