PAGE 6 Spartans roll the Trojans on Homecoming night
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Tragedy at the Lake
Homecoming Royalty
ICCSD teacher dies attempting to save student Chris Umscheid Solon Economist
chris.umscheid@soloneconomist.com
Tragedy struck last week as an Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) teacher and student both drowned at Lake Macbride. According to the Kristen Silver, Public Information Officer for the Johnson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO), a report of people in the water at Lake Macbride Jorgensen State Park near the Coralville Reservoir spillway was received at 12:10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22. JCSO deputies, The Solon Fire Department, North Liberty Fire Department, Swisher Fire Department, Mount Vernon Fire Department, Lisbon Fire Department, Johnson County Ambulance Service, University of Iowa Air Care, University of Iowa MED ONE, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State Patrol, North Liberty Police Department, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers responded to the scene. The Johnson County Metro Dive Team, Johnson County Emergency Management Agency, the Johnson County Medical Examiner’s office, and Story County Sheriff’s Office also assisted with the search and recovery efforts. At 12:43 p.m. the body of Hannah Jorgensen, age 24, a 2020 Solon High School graduate and fifth grade teacher at Iowa City’s Borlaug Elementary School, was recovered. She was pronounced dead at the scene as the search for Ahmed Osman, age 10, continued. The search for Osman was suspended overnight and resumed Wednesday morning. Osman’s body was recovered at 1:24 p.m. Wednesday. Jorgensen and her students were participating in the UI College of Education’s School of the Wild; a week-long day camp held at the Macbride Nature Recreation Area. School of the Wild gives elementary school students hands on experience in woodlands, wetlands, and prairies, with 98 schools from 44 counties across the state participating. The program has been suspended in the aftermath of the incident and as of Sunday, Sept. 27, the incident was still under investigation by the JCSO.
Honoring the lost The ICCSD issued a statement Wednesday saying, “Hannah and Ahmed were both deeply valued members of our school district community, and we know their loss will be felt far beyond Borlaug. Our hearts are with their families and loved ones, as well as their students, classmates, colleagues, friends, and everyone who knew and cared for them. This is an unimaginable loss for the Borlaug community and our entire district.” Thursday, Sept. 24, the Solon Community School District offered condolences with a statement posted TRAGEDY | 2
INSIDE
Chris Umscheid | Solon Economist
Left: King Zander Bishop and Queen Piper Johnson pose after Johnson’s coronation Friday, Sept. 25 during halftime of the Solon vs. Fairfield varsity football game. Bishop was crowned Wednesday, Sept. 23 after the Homecoming parade. Right: Prince Winston Taylor and Princess Grace Stanton make their way down the track before the 2026 Homecoming Court (behind) is introduced Wednesday, Sept. 23 in Spartan Stadium.
More Homecoming photos on page 12
IVOE hosts annual Ruck-22 walk
Organizers and attendees hiked a 2.2 mile route around Solon to promote veteran suicide awareness and prevention Grace Escritt Solon Economist
Grace Escritt | Solon Economist
Members of IVOE, veterans, and Solon residents gather in preparation to embark on the 2.2 mile Ruck-22 hike around Solon Saturday, Sept. 26. The annual walk raises funds for the all-volunteer IVOE to provide outdoor activities for veterans as well as to raise awareness of veteran suicide.
man for the Fleet Marine Force in Vietnam, is the founder and main organizer of the walk. Each year, On Sept. 26, Iowa Veterans Out- IVOE hosts a 2.2 mile walk around door Experiences (IVOE) brought its Solon to bring attention to the annual Ruck-22 walk to Solon once struggles — often related to identity more in order to promote veteran sui- — veterans often grapple with upon cide awareness and prevention. This returning from the military. is the fourth year the walk has been Attendees have the option of wearheld. ing a 22 pound vest while completing Doug “Doc” Thompson, Chaplain the walk, which is something that for the American Legion Stinocher Thompson has done the entire time, Post 460 and a former Navy Corps- every year. news@soloneconomist.com
Solon Public Library News - 3 | Opinions - 4 & 5 | Sports - 6-8 |
“Right away, you can see the theme is 22, because on average, 22 veterans a day commit suicide across the country,” Thompson said. “That’s why I wear the vest: It’s a symbolic way of saying I’m carrying my brothers and sisters.” Each year, participating in the walk costs $22. Ruck-22 t-shirts run for the same price. Funding, donations and continued support from the com-
9 | Public Notices - 10 & 11
RUCK-22 | 2
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2 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | SOLON ECONOMIST
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Grace Escritt | Solon Economist
Dallas Humston carries a 22-pound rucksack on his back as he walks through the streets of Solon Saturday, Sept. 26, during IVOE’s annual Ruck-22.
on the district website: “The Solon community and school district send our deepest thoughts, prayers, and love to the Borlaug Elementary students, staff, and families. We are heartbroken over the loss of Ahmed Osman and Borlaug fifthgrade teacher Hannah Jorgensen, a beloved Solon graduate. We stand with our neighbors in the Iowa City Community School District today and in the difficult days ahead.” A moment of silence was observed for Jorgensen and Osman during the Wednesday night Homecoming festivities and “ Friday night during the pregame ceremonies for the
varsity football game. “Our hearts are heavy with news of the tragedy at Lake McBride [sic],” said Governor Kim Reynolds in a statement. “Kevin and I offer our deepest condolences to the families of Hannah Jorgensen and Ahmed Osman and ask that Iowans join us in prayer for their comfort and healing at this difficult time. This unimaginable loss touches the entire Borlaug Elementary community and Iowa City School District. Please know that Iowans across our state are standing with you in the difficult days ahead. We are grateful for the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement and first respond-
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ers who assisted. We value their professionalism, compassion and care.” Reynolds ordered flags at the State Capitol Building, in displays in the Capitol Complex, and on all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Jorgensen and Osman until sunset Monday, Sept. 28. A vigil was held Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Pheasant Ridge Neighborhood Center in Iowa City for Osman A visitation for Jorgensen was held Sunday, Sept. 27, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Coralville while the funeral was held Monday, Sept. 28.
COMMUNITY PROFILE
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munity help IVOE to hold annual fishing and bowhunting trips. Aside from transportation to the sites, everything on these trips — including lodging and food — is taken care of by IVOE. All IVOE board members who attend the trips have undergone PTSD survivor training to be able to address any issues that may come up. Thompson explained these trips are meant to help veterans find community and connection with one another as well as to establish a sense of camaraderie among individuals with similar experiences. He said thus far, 20 veterans have contacted IVOE stating its events had saved their lives. For Thompson, this is the entire purpose behind why he organized the Ruck-22 walk. “It’s a way for me to continue being a ‘doc’ by saving lives,” he said. “That’s the paramount for me.” Before the Sept. 26th walk, it was announced that unfortunately, the national number of 22 veterans suicides per day has doubled due to things like car accidents and rollovers now being considered in the tally. To honor his fellow veterans as well as work to bring this number down, Thompson was dedicated to completing the Ruck-22 walk regardless of outside weather conditions. He said regardless of rain or shine, he would be hiking. For more information about IVOE, its events and how to make donations, visit https://www. iowaveteransoutdoorexperience. com/. In the case of a crisis, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Grace Escritt is a senior in the University of Iowa's School of Journalism and Mass Communication as well as Department of Political Science. Grace is a reporting intern with the Solon Economist.
With the help of the UI Community News class, the Solon Economist plans to spotlight the people who live or work in Solon
being called, but it is an emergency, and it’s not something that is a normal day for them. They wouldn’t be calling if they didn’t want help or need assistance, so I think that the biggest lesson that everyone should learn in EMS is compassion. Hobbies/interests: Sewing, crocheting, embroidering, cross-stitching, cooking, biking and paddleboarding. Church and/or other memberships: Member of St. Mary Catholic Church; member of Solon Senior Support and Solon Senior Advocates; child passenger safety technician instructor with Safe Kids Johnson County. Favorite book(s): Janet Evanovich’s “Stephanie Plum” series. That is hilarious and just fun. Favorite TV show(s): “Yellowstone” and “Survivor.” Favorite movie(s): Disney’s “Up.” My granddaughter and I love to watch “Up.” Favorite music genre: Pop, kind of ’ 80smusic. There’s not really any that I don’t like. It’s usually oldies when I’m picking a radio station. Favorite sports team(s): The
Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Vikings. Favorite food: I am a veggie fanatic. I love all the garden stuff, everything that comes from a garden, I love. I could eat pizza every day. Love that. I love to cook, though, so I experiment. Favorite vacation spot: My favorite beach is Siesta Key Beach in Florida because they have beautiful sand, but really anywhere that it’s warm, sunny and I can have some water nearby makes me very happy. Greatest role model: My mom, for sure. She was a very strong, independent woman, and then there's another gal that was a paramedic on Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance…her name was Maureen Brown…I just idolized her. She was very smart and good at what she did. I will always remember her saying to me, “If you want to do it, get off the fence and do it. Just take the dive and do it.” Favorite quotation: From David Lynch’s “Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity”: “Ideas are like fish. If you want to catch little fish, you can stay in the shallow water. But if you want to catch the big fish, you’ve got to go deeper. Down deep, the fish are more powerful and more pure. They’re huge and abstract. And they’re beautiful.” What do you like best about Solon? That it’s a small community, but it’s progressive. I feel like we have a beautiful downtown, people are friendly, but I think one of the best-kept secrets is just the lake and the trails and all of that.
Name: Evelyn “Lou” Wolfe. Job: Dental assistant in Monticello for five years; paramedic with Johnson County Ambulance Service for 25 years; compliance worker with the Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Emergency Medical Services for 12 years; certified paramedic and compliance worker with Washington County Hospital and Clinics’ emergency room and hospice care up until retirement in 2024. Age: 63. Education: Graduated from Lisbon Community High School in 1981; completed dental assistant training at Kirkwood Community College in 1984; earned emergency medical technician (EMT) certification from Kirkwood Community College in 1985; completed paramedic training at Mercy Medical Center/St. Luke’s Hospital in 1988. Family: Husband, Scott; daughter, Jesse, 30; son, Spencer, 26; granddaughter, Eliza, 8; granddaughter, Emma, 2. Childhood hometown: Lisbon. How long have you lived in Solon? Roughly 32 years. Moved to town around the same time as getting married to Scott. Favorite part of job: 100% taking care of patients. There’s just a ton of variety. You don’t do the same thing every day, and I just very much enjoyed responding to calls and working with all of the local first responder agencies. Most challenging part of job: There’s traumatic Grace Escritt | Solon Economist calls that you will remember for your entire life, but there’s Lou Wolfe laughs with her granddaughter, more to it than that…it may not Emma, as they swing in rhythm with the breeze be a life-and-death emergency outside at Wolfe’s home in Solon on Sept. 22, for them at the time you’re 2026.
MacBride’s Pride 4-H Club and Clover Kids open house MacBride’s Pride 4-H Club and Clover Kids will host an open house Sunday, October 11, from 5-6 p.m. at the Solon United Methodist Church, 122 N. West St., in Solon to share their passion for 4-H and to recruit new members. The club is highlighting the
amazing opportunities that happen through 4-H and will have various exhibits including a baby bucket bottle calf, chickens, and a rabbit for attendees to meet. In addition, a tent will highlight the outdoor activities available through 4-H, and several previous static displays from fairs. Student activities will include pumpkin decorating and a fall snack. For more information email Beth Craig at rbcraig6@ gmail.com.
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP
The following is a statement of ownership, management, and circulation of the SOLON ECONOMIST, publication number 500-860, filed on the 23rd day of September, 2026. The Solon Economist is published 51 weeks/year in print. The annual in-town subscription price is $55.00. The mailing address of the publication and its publisher is: 100 Adler Journalism Building, Room E131, Iowa City, IA 52242-2004. The Publisher, Jason Brummond, and the Owner, Student Publications, Inc., can be reached at the above address. The Executive Editor and Managing Editor, Chris Umscheid, can be reached at P.O. Box 249, Solon, IA 52333-0249. No bondholders, mortgagees, or other security holders own more than 1% of any bond, mortgage, or security in Student Publications, Inc. The corporation’s non-profit authorization to mail at special rates has not changed in the preceeding 12 months. The following figures represent the extent and nature of the Solon Economist circulation. The column below is the average number of copies during the preceeding 12 months. Total no. copies Paid circ. Mail subscriptions Total paid/requested Free distrib. by mail Free distrib. out.mail Total free distrib. Total distribution Copies not distrib. TOTAL
640 593 567 593 5 3 8 601 38 639
As publisher, I certify that the statements made by me are correct and complete.
Volume 146 I Issue 40 Of a Little Weekly Miracle
PO Box 249, Solon, IA 52333 Phone: 319-624-2233 news@soloneconomist.com The Solon Economist strives for accuracy and fairness in reporting news. If we’ve made an error or a report is misleading, let us know about it: news@soloneconomist.com.
STAFF
Publisher Jason Brummond jason.brummond@dailyiowan.com Editor Chris Umscheid chris.umscheid@ soloneconomist.com Advertising Sales Catherine Bilskie catherine.bilskie@ soloneconomist.com Production Manager Heidi Owen heidi.owen@dailyiowan.com Advertising Director Juli Krause juli.krause@dailyiowan.com Interns Grace Escritt, reporter Cadence Dighton, reporter Abby Princehouse, digital/ social media, sports reporter Official Newspaper: Solon, Johnson County, Solon Community School District, Solon Tri-Township Emergency Response The Solon Economist (USPS 500860), a division of The Daily Iowan, is published weekly on Thursdays by Student Publications, 100 Adler Journalism Building, Room El31 Iowa City, IA 52242. Periodicals Postage Paid at the Solon Post Office and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Solon Economist at PO Box 249, Solon, IA 52333. Subscriptions: Contact Catherine Bilskie at 319-624-2233 or catherine. bilskie@soloneconomist.com for additional information. Subscription rates: Johnson and adjoining counties – $55 annually; elsewhere In Iowa – $75 annually; out of state – $85 annually. Copyright 2026 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.
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SOLON PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS A new Little Free Library has found a home on the Library patio in honor of Patricia “Pat” Fiala, who served as a librarian at Solon Public Library. The Little Free Library was generously donated by Pat’s husband, Terry Fiala, and her children, Kellen Baird, Lori Shebetka, and Daniel Fiala, as a lasting tribute to Pat and her love of books, libraries, and community. We invite community members to stop by, choose a book, share a book, and enjoy the beautiful pollinator garden created and cared for by the Johnson County Master Gardeners. We are grateful to the Fiala family for this meaningful gift and wonderful way to honor Pat’s legacy at the Library.
library! We're painting small pumpkins for the fall season, and you can even enter it into our library-wide Great Pumpkin Decorating Contest. We'll bring the pumpkins and supplies; you just need to bring your imagination!
Library Access
Regular Library hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. -7 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Sundays. Please always refer to our website calendar or call to check hours as weather may impact our ability to be safely open. Thursday, October 8, the Library will be closed for Library Programs staff training as we attend the Iowa Library Association’s annual conference. We’re proud to be a Library with Heart! Stop in for Friday, October 23, the Library will be closed for Blood Pressure Screenings Wednesday, October 7, from annual staff safety training. Megan Richardson, Solon Public Library contributed photo 9:30 a.m. to Noon with College of Pharmacy students Everyone is welcome at the Library and our programs. The Fiala family (From left: Lori Shebetka, Terry Fiala, from the University of Iowa to learn why regular screen- Please contact us with access needs. Daniel Fiala, and Kellen Baird) honors the opening of the ings are important. Little Free Library. Friday, October 9, we have another new adult proWhat’s New? gram! Tech DIVE is for learning about or working with popular technologies. Whether we want to talk about a On hold for Yesteryear? Here are some recommenda- underground scene with an appreciative kindred spirit. special topic in today’s tech or tech needs, or we want to tions to read in the meantime! Fast-forward twenty years to suburban married life, deep dive using technology for specific purposes, join Atmosphere: a love story by Taylor Jenkins Reid. and alongside the challenges of parenting, they encounVictor, Adult Services Librarian, every second Friday Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as ter the often-baffling pursuits of health and happiness of the month at 3 p.m. to learn more about technology. long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, from polyamorous would-be suitors to home-renovation This month, we're learning the ins-and-outs of the Cricut Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and hysteria. Maker 3 cutting machine. No registration required. astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precoYellowface: a novel by R. F. Kuang. Authors June Join us for our Sixth Annual Great Pumpkin Deco- cious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin risrating Contest! Pick out the perfect pumpkin and get advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join ing stars. But Athena's a literary darling. June Hayward it all dressed up for the season! Decorate (not carve) a NASA's space shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white pumpkin no larger than 8 inches diameter. Get creative! be one of the few people to go to space. girls, June thinks. So when June witnesses Athena's Paint, glue, or any medium you can think of. Bring your Wellness: a novel by Nathan Hill. When Jack and death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals decorated pumpkin to the Library between October 12 to Elizabeth meet as college students in the gritty '90s Athena's just-finished masterpiece, an experimental October 17 before closing to be considered in our contest. Chicago art scene, the two quickly join forces and hold novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborMonday, October 12, come enjoy a messy evening at the on tight, each eager to claim a place in the thriving ers during World War I.
Solon Public Library celebrates 25th Grace Escritt Solon Economist
saur container created by Jack Neuzil. “Unlike many city department projects, this was funded news@soloneconomist.com entirely by the community,” Richardson said. “To have all of those individuals believing in and supporting the Saturday, Sept. 26, Solon Public Library welcomed the library to make it happen, that’s pretty special, and I community for a celebration marking 25 years since the wanted to celebrate that 25 years,” Richardson said. library’s current building opened its doors to the public. Looking ahead to the future, Richardson said she is Upon walking into the library building, guests were excited to continue updating the library according to comgreeted with the sight of mementos of the library’s history, munity needs. Brown concurred, stating the future of the the faces of old friends and even a light lunch offered by library is bright and that it could not have grown into what the Solon Women’s Club. it is today without the community. Megan Richardson, Interim Library Director, said the “We’re so grateful for the community that built the updated library building first opened in July 2001 after a building and that continues to support the building,” need for more space was acknowledged. Prior to the con- Brown said. “Thank you to the community, and we know struction of the current building, the library had moved that future success…[and] the continued great function of locations a few times; its final site before settling at 320 W. the building will depend on that community.” Main St. being where the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Substation is now on S. Iowa St. Grace Escritt is a senior in the University of Iowa's “I believe they said you could get one person in at a time School of Journalism and Mass Communication because it was just so crowded,” Richardson said. as well as Department of Political Science. Grace Upon realizing the old building was not sufficient is a reporting intern with the Solon Economist. enough to fulfill the needs of the Solon community, Photos by Grace Escritt | Solon Economist which was growing significantly at the time, library workAbove: Eileen Hageman, Lisa Ireland, Emmie Kroul and ers began organizing fundraisers to save up for a new Jan Dallas serve lunch at the Solon Public Library in building. Kris Brown, the retired Library Director, said celebration of its 25th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. fundraising for the current building began in 1999. 26. Right: Chris Schlotfelt, former president of Friends In raising money for the library construction projof the Solon Library, and Jen Leveck, former children's ect, Richardson and Brown said fundraising efforts librarian, chat about old memories at the Solon Public were unique. One method involved buying a section of a Library Saturday, Sept. 26, during a celebration of the quilt that would be embroidered with the donor’s name, Library’s 25th anniversary in its current location. whereas another included dropping pennies into a dino-
Solon class of 1962 Contributed photo
The Solon High School class of 1962 met recently for a fun afternoon and dinner at Baxa’s Sutliff Store & Tavern. Front row: Rosie (Peer) Fisher, Lou (Steinbrech) Ulch, Barbara (Wilson) Wilkes, Pat (O'Brien) Lacina, Darlene (Kabela) Brant, Juday (Reinhart) Earley, Marianne (Sovers) Harney and Nancy (Koss) Heathman Back row: Donald Kabela, Barry Beuter, Tony Ulch, Joe Miller, Jim Fencl, Bill Gleason, Larry Tellin, Mark Heathman, Ed Osborn and Bill Miller
OPINIONS
4 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | SOLON ECONOMIST
How do you like your coffee? Food for Thought Milli Gilbaugh
The first day of this month has been designated as International Coffee Day. While, in past years, I have consumed more than my share of coffee, ( both de-caff and high octane) I am at present a low-volume caffeine consumer. I began drinking the brew – reduced to a near-dessert with copious amounts of cream and sugar – when my mother's youngest sister, Virginia, urged me to try it. Having been overweight for most of her teens and early twenties, she was constantly dieting and insisted coffee would would help to take off a few excess pounds, apparently with no sacrifices in her usually abundant diet. She urged me to learn to like it in case I had inherited the family tendency for chubbiness which was, unfortunately, attributable to rich foods rather than genetics. Never mind that I was already pleasingly plump – a goal for most parents at the time as proof that they were good providers. All that cream and sugar counteracted any slenderizing effect the coffee may have had, though such a benefit was a myth itself, even when taken black and unsweetened. It seemed that Virginia shared my mother's lack of understanding of the workings of calories and their role in weight control. As an example; when her doctor told her that grapefruit was a good weight-loss food, she added it to her daily intake – not as a substitute for the sweeter apples and oranges but as an addition. Similarly to Aunt Opal's misinterpretations, Mother believed that grapefruit contained some magical potion that made her lose weight regardless of whatever else she consumed. And Virginia believed the same magic was contained in coffee, so she dutifully drank it right along with her pieala-mode and chocolate cake with fudge frosting. Perhaps home economics as taught in my mother's day concentrrated on cooking, sewing and other domestic arts and less on health and nutrition than in my high school years, but Virginia was only seven or eight years older than I was and I find it hard to believe she hadn't heard about the existence and role of calories, that taking in more calories than you used up results in excess fat and weight. Maybe she was influenced too much by Aunt Opal who, when told that dry bread (meaning unbuttered bread) was the better choice for Uncle Don who had had a mild heart attack, put the toaster on the dining table and insisted everyone dry out their bread in the toaster before slathering it with butter. I must confess that I have never been to a Starbucks or ordered a latte or even a demitasse in a restaurant. I like plain old coffee, which used to come free with a meal in most restaurants, with all the refills you wanted. Just a simple cup of joe was only five cents for most of my going-for-coffee days, along with nickel candy bars and ice cream cones and a few other things that are now sold at astoniishingly outrageous prices. It seems there is no such thing as “just coffee” these days, and knowing which coffee to order is as complicated as choosing a wine to go with your dinner. Even the way the coffee beans are processed affects not only the flavor, but the price as well. Coffee served in the U.S. comes from many places. Approximately one-third is imported from Brazil, with a close second coming from Columbia. The climate, the soil and the way the beans are processed greatly affect both the flavor and the cost of our coffee. The coffees from South America are generally smooth with sweet notes of chocolate, caramel or nuts. Asian coffees, preferred by many, have a deeper, bolder flavor, earthy, herbal and spicy. African coffees tend to have brighter flavors that are floral and fruity. Americans also enjoy specialty coffees from Switzerland, Vietnam, Honduras and Guatemala. Two common methods of processing coffee beans resultend in markedly different results. Wet processed coffee beans are removed from the fruit before drying. After roasting, wet roasted beans deliver a clean, crisp flavor with a higher acidity than do dry roasted. The dry roasted beans are dried slowly while still inside the fruit, resulting in sweeter, bolder and fruitier flavors when brewed.
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Guess who loses when the gov’t official snoozes?
When dealing with the Iowa Public Inforand renewed on an ongoing, monthly basis.” mation Board, being a mind-reader helps. In other words, he asserted each unanThat is one takeaway from the board’s swered follow-up email to the attorney dismissal last week of a public-records comgeneral was a fresh refusal that reset the plaint against Attorney General Brenna Bird’s 60-day deadline. office. The Public Information Board rejected The request was made on December 4, that continuing-violation theory. “Follow-up 2024, by Chad Brewbaker, who asked the emails cannot be used to extend or circumattorney general for the fees her office paid to vent the strict sixty-day filing deadline,” the private attorneys. His complaint to the Iowa order said. Public Information Board alleged he never The board reasoned repeated requests for received an acknowledgement of his request the same records do not pause the deadline or the data showing how taxpayer money was or start a new one. The clock runs from the spent. first stretch of silence, not the most recent Beginning in January 2025 and continuing one. until he filed the IPIB complaint on August Here is where the person seeking governRandy Evans 11, Brewbaker said he emailed the attorney ment records needs to be a mind-reader. Iowa Freedom of Information Council general each month to remind her of his The requester must somehow determine request and ask, “Please let me know when I when a permissible delay becomes an unlawcan expect to receive a response.” ful one and then file a complaint with the His case highlights a fundamental problem with Iowa’s Public Information Board within 60 days. public-records law: Common sense would say a 60-day filing period cannot It does not say how long a government body may take start before there is a violation to complain about. If silence to respond to a records request. The case also illustrates for a few weeks is still a lawful, reasonable delay, there is the problems Iowans can face when seeking help from the nothing yet to be aware of or complaint about. Public Information Board. But if the clock begins with the request and nothing is The Legislature created the board in 2012 to provide an heard for an unreasonable but unspecified time, the IPIB efficient way for people to resolve disputes involving access order effectively treats that passage of time as the silent to government meetings and records without the time and refusal to provide the records. expense of a lawsuit. The law requires complaints to be filed That leaves the requester with a difficult question: within 60 days of when a violation occurred. Exactly when does a lawful delay become an unlawful one? The public-records statute does not set a deadline for govBased on the board’s reasoning, an ignored request ernment officials to comply with access requests. Instead, becomes a knowable violation of the public-records law the law merely says “a good-faith reasonable delay” is by at least the 60th day. A requester who waits beyond that permissible. Even so, Public Information Board guidance point to file a complaint risks losing the board’s assistance, in 2014 said a records custodian “shall comply with the as Brewbaker learned. request as soon as feasible.” Effectively, that says you’d better file your complaint by The Iowa Supreme Court twice has held undue delays day 59 after your request has gone without acknowledgein providing responsive records violate the statute. In one ment or production of the documents you sought. case involving Gov. Kim Reynolds, journalists Laura Belin That is a short window for someone who may be left to and Clark Kauffman and the Iowa Freedom of Information guess whether a government agency is processing a request, Council, the court said a failure to respond to a records experiencing a legitimate delay or simply ignoring it. request was the same as an outright denial of the request. Efforts to extend the filing period to 90 days have failed That brings us back to Brewbaker, an Urbandale resi- to gain traction in the Legislature in recent years. A courtdent who often seeks government records as he pushes for house deadline for a lawsuit is significantly longer — two accountability. full years — but filing at the Public Information Board cuts On Thursday, without discussion, the Public Information off the direct path to court. Board unanimously threw out his complaint as untimely. There is a lesson here for people seeking government The board’s dismissal treats an ignored request for records: If an agency has ignored your request for more records as a knowable violation within roughly two months. than two months, the IPIB’s 60-day window may already The board also made clear that follow-up requests for the be closed and a civil lawsuit in district court may be the only same records do not restart the 60-day filing clock. remaining avenue to enforce the violation. While Iowa’s public-records law has never explicitly said So much for a speedy and efficient remedy. how long a government body may take to answer a request, And so much for a clear and predictable standard and the IPIB may have backhandedly provided an answer in the timeline for pursuing a case at the Public Information Brewbaker decision. Board — unless, of course, you are a clairvoyant who can The board’s order said Brewbaker missed his 60-day read the minds of government officials. filing deadline by a wide margin. He “could have become Score this one for Attorney General Bird and the Pubaware” of the attorney general’s delay “within the weeks lic Information Board, where silence beat action and the following his initial request being ignored,” the order said. clock ran out on an Iowan before he may have known it At the latest, he could have known “within the following was ticking. month or two after receiving no response.” Brewbaker had an answer for that analysis. He argued Randy Evans can be reached the attorney general’s violation was “active, continuous, at DMRevans2810@gmail.com.
Stray Thoughts
Q&A: Protecting fairness in sports With U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley Q: Why did you hold a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on women’s sports? A: Fifty four years ago, Congress passed legislation to ensure schools provide fair and equitable treatment for male and female student-athletes. Title IX opened the door for women to participate in sports at educational institutions that receive federal money, from elementary schools through college. In the last five decades, the law has revolutionized athletic opportunities for females in gyms, courts, tracks, fields, pools and mats across America. Nine times as many girls are participating in high school sports today than when President Nixon signed the law in 1972. More
than a quarter million women competed in college athletics in the 2024-2025 season. These statistics are just the tip of the iceberg. Millions of girls in communities across the country are empowered with self-confidence, teamwork, resilience, physical fitness and more by participating in clubs, recreational leagues and local teams. However, the equal footing launched in 1972 has one foot on a banana peel. Common sense and sound science have been thrown out the window by allowing men to compete in women’s sports. What’s worse, the practice is reckless and endangers opportunity, fairness and safety for female athletes. Simply put, allowing men to play in women’s sports
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OPINIONS/NEWS
breaks the promise of Title IX. The committee hearing I led gave female athletes a platform to tell their stories and inform policymakers about the impact of men competing in women’s sports. Witnesses explained the damaging consequences of prioritizing men over women and called upon lawmakers to recognize how young female athletes are getting sidelined and harmed by allowing men to compete in women’s sports. The Supreme Court ruling this summer allowed states to bar boys and men from competing in girls’ sports. To date, 27 states have laws and policies in place to protect girls sports. At least 66% of American adults favor a law or policy that would require athletes to compete on teams that match their sex at birth. And yet, none of the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee fully participated at the hearing. Not a single one asked a question or called witnesses to testify. It’s pretty ironic that the political party claiming to support women and science is the political party not backing science or girls’ aspirations to compete. Testimony from a former professional women’s soccer player pinpointed what’s at stake for daughters and granddaughters across the country, “We are training girls to suppress their correct instincts and feelings to cater to the desires of boys. We are failing female athletes as a society, and we are raising girls who are punished for standing up for what is right and obvious.” Women should not be asked to cede their opportunities just to make men comfortable.
a young age, athletes aspire to succeed and put in the work and sacrifice to reach their full potential. Many Iowans plan their calendars around sporting events to cheer for their favorite teams. Barbara and I are lifelong Panther fans for our alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa. In recent years, collegiate sports have experienced quite a bit of turbulence navigating the ecosystem of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) compensation rights, billion-dollar media contracts and the uncertainty of the transfer portal. Consensus has grown among fans, student athletes, coaches, and leaders of colleges and universities across the country to bring stability to college sports. A broad coalition supports the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act. This legislation would help foster fair competition, promote transparency and bring certainty to the chaos that’s disrupting collegiate sports in conferences across the country. It would establish a nationwide playbook, so athletes, coaches, professional sports leagues and Olympic organizations are on the same page.
Here’s some key provisions in the bill: • Strengthen NIL transparency (more than $600 must be disclosed) and establish a uniform national standard • Standardize rules governing transfer and eligibility • Restrict athletes to one penalty-free transfer, and a second transfer with a one-year loss of eligibility with limited exceptions • Codify a maximum five-year eligibility period for Q: What is the Protect College Sports Act? collegiate athletes and block professional athletes from A: Sports is woven into the social fabric of America. From returning to collegiate competition
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR United in their support for new Sheriff’s Office and Jail We are candidates for the Johnson County Board of Supervisor in District 3. District 3 covers Coralville, Tiffin, Sharon Center, and the townships of Union, Washington, Sharon, and Clear Creek. We border Iowa County to the west and Washington County to the south, with Joetown and Frytown tucked into our southwest corner. It's a district where secondary roads carry buggies and heavy farm equipment. Interstate 80 runs straight through Coralville and Tiffin. Our kids go to school in Clear Creek Amana, Mid-Prairie, and Iowa City Districts. We start with that picture because context matters — this is who we are, and it's where we live. There are a lot of opinions about government at every level, but our conversations are about Johnson County government — and right now, that means the November 3 bond referendum for the Sheriff's Office and Jail. We stand together on this: the bond issue is sound leadership, and it's fiscally responsible. Under Iowa Code, the Board of Supervisors is responsible for providing the sheriff and staff with the office space, equipment, and maintenance they need to do the job. That's not a policy preference — it's a basic function of county government. Refusing to face up to it isn't a solution, and we don't believe it's a choice. These are complex issues, and we'd rather you get your information from trusted sources than from us alone. Frequently asked questions and more information at the Sheriff's link on the Johnson County website: https://www. johnsoncountyiowa.gov/office-of-sheriff. Learn more at the Vote Yes website: https://yesjoco.com/. Follow on Facebook at YES Johnson County - YES JoCo We're committed to listening, to answering the questions we can, and to pointing people toward information they can trust. This is an important vote, and we both want to be part of getting it right. Jennie Wunderlich, Republican Candidate for District 3 Supervisor Sue Dvorsky, Democratic Candidate for District 3 Supervisor
Support the Johnson County jail bond I support the bond issue for the new jail. As a former elected official, educator, community activist, and long-
time volunteer I also support our jail diversion efforts in Johnson County. I am extremely proud of our community and what we have done over many years to decrease the jail population in Johnson County. We have the lowest incarceration rate per capita of any county in the state! This was not an accident. It has taken a great deal of time, money, and volunteer hours over many years to accomplish this. I applaud the efforts of our elected officials, our city, county, and school district employees, and the countless volunteers who have been a part of these efforts. Are we done? Definitely not! Can we do better? Of course! Will those of us committed to these efforts continue to work? Absolutely, because we know it takes a village to accomplish these goals. We know how important this work is and why we must continue to work to address these complex issues. This is the reason I donate to and volunteer at Habitat for Humanity, Open Heartland, the Shelter House, Domestic Violence Intervention Program, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the area Food Banks, and Houses to Homes. I am so proud of the work being done at the GuideLink Center, The Free Medical Clinic, Inside Out Reentry Community, The Dream Center, Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition, IC Compassion, The Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson County, and all of the churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques dedicated to helping and supporting others in our community. I know there are many other organizations and groups committed to these efforts and I applaud them and thank them for their commitment to reducing the incarceration rates in Johnson County. Our current jail is woefully inadequate for those who are staying there and those who work in the facility. We can and should do better. The jail bond provides us with an opportunity to address both. This has never been an either-or proposition. Build a new jail or reduce the jail population. We can and should do both. I will do my best to continue to volunteer in our community and look for ways to reduce our incarceration rates. I hope you will join me in those efforts. I will also be voting for the new jail and ask you to join me in our efforts to improve the facility so that those who are staying there have a safe place to serve their time. I support our law enforcement officials and their efforts to work in an environment that respects their service to our community. Vote “YES” for the jail bond on November 3rd. Mary Mascher Former State Representative and Retired Educator Iowa City
SFD annual Battery Up program is October 17 John Studt
change out the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. We will be providing this service on Saturday, October 17, starting at 8 a.m. If It’s that time of year when you should change out the you are in need of this service please contact the Solon batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monox- Fire Department via e-mail at john.studt@solonfire. ide detectors. com with your name, address and contact info. If you Your Solon Fire Fighters offer a Battery Up program do not have access to email call 319-624-2386 ext. to our senior residents and disabled individuals within 2208 and leave us a message with your name, address our service area. We will come to your residence and and a good contact phone number. Solon Fire Department
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• Require schools to maintain the number of roster spots and outlays for non-revenue generating sports and women’s sports roster at 2024-2025 levels • Provide health and safety protections for athletes, does not override state laws prohibiting men from competing in women’s sports
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6 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | SOLON ECONOMIST
UPCOMING SPORTS EVENTS
FOOTBALL Week Six Friday, October 2 AT Keokuk, 7:00 p.m. Week Seven Friday, October 9 AT Washington, 7:30 p.m. Week Eight Friday, October 16 HOME vs. Mount Pleasant, 7:30 p.m. VOLLEYBALL Saturday, October 3 Union HS Invitational, 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 6 HOME vs. Independence, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 10 CPU Tournament, Center Point, 8:30 a.m. CROSS COUNTRY Saturday, October 3 Steve Johnson Invitational (B&G), Max Championship Course (Wartburg College, Waverly), 12:10 p.m. Saturday, October 10 Bob Mudd Lynx Invitational (B&G), North Linn HS, Troy Mills, 8:40 p.m. Wednesday, October 14 WaMaC XC Championship (B&G), Seminole Valley Park, Cedar Rapids, 4:30 p.m. GIRLS SWIMMING (with Iowa City High School)
Tuesday, October 6 At Iowa City West (Coralville Rec Center), 6 p.m. Thursday, October 22 MVC Championship Diving Meet at IC West (Coralville Rec Center), 5 p.m. Saturday, October 24 MVC Championship Swimming Meet at IC West (Coralville Rec Center), 12 p.m.
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FOOTBALL
Spartans roll the Trojans on Homecoming night Solon 47 Fairfield 8 Quinn Felderman For the Solon Economist news@soloneconomist.com
The Solon Spartans added on to their commanding win streak, conquering the Fairfield Trojans 47-8 under the Homecoming lights Friday, Sept. 25. The Spartans started the night off with a battle in the trenches, eventually stuffing Fairfield’s three-headed backfield. A 16 yard punt return from Maddox Kelley (Sr) gave Solon a short field, allowing for Kaden Hoeper (Sr)
“This win continues to move us up. We’re climbing a mountain right now. You don’t use a ladder to climb a mountain, right? You’re going to have to endure the elements at some point and adjust.This game is just another mark on that mountain that we’re climbing to get where we want to be.” Lucas Stanton, Head Coach
to turn a screen pass into a 33-yard dash to put them on the board. The Spartans defense kept the fire going with a diving interception from Grant Gordon (Sr), which set up another short drive that was capped off by running back Jackson Burk (Sr). Solon would continue to control the field on both sides of the ball. Fairfield running back Tucker Robinson almost broke free after a 34-yard rush, but he was chased down by Kelley to save the touchdown. Massive back-to-back plays from Simon Einwalter (Sr) including a sack and a tackle for a loss stalled out the only hopeful drive the Trojans had put together. Kelley marched his offense 71-yards down the field, and finished the drive himself shifting between defenders for an 18-yard rushing touchdown to end the first quarter. The Spartans started the second quarter off just as hot as the defense chased Fairfield quarterback Voss Richardson (Sr) into his own endzone with James Thomsen (Sr) bringing him down
for the safety. The Spartans would continue to pound the rock with the combined efforts of Kelley, Burk, and backup running back Sawyer Hancox. Kelley and Burk would each find the endzone again on the ground before the end of the first half. After halftime, the coaches pulled the starters, and sent in Ryder Laing (Jr) to finish off the Trojans. Fairfield was able to sneak into the end zone late in the third quarter to ruin the Spartans’ shut-out, but that was quickly matched by Laing who used his legs to ice the night. Solon improved to 5-0 on the season while the Trojans dipped to 2-3 This Week: #1 Solon (5-0) travels south to take on the Keokuk Chiefs (1-4) on Friday, October 2, at 7:00 PM. Quinn Felderman is a senior in the University of Iowa’s School of Liberal Arts and Science. Quinn is a student in the Prep Sports Report class. Kate Blodig, a student in the Prep Sports Report class contributed to this report.
Class 3A District 4 standings District Overall Mount Pleasant 1-0 5-0 Solon 1-0 5-0 Fort Madison 1-0 3-2 Washington 0-1 3-2 Fairfield 0-1 2-3 Keokuk 0-1 1-4 Class 3A District 4 scores Mount Pleasant 29 Washington 28 Fort Madison 55 Keokuk 36 Solon 47 Fairfield 8
Photos by Chris Umscheid |
Solon Economist Top: Seniors Kaden Hoeper (5) and Jackson Burk (3) celebrate Hoeper’s touchdown Friday, Sept. 25, in the Homecoming game against the Fairfield Trojans. The Spartans improved to 5-0 on the season with a 47-8 win in the first night of district competition. Center: Senior quarterback Maddox Kelley (4) glides into the endzone Friday, Sept. 25, in the Homecoming game against the Fairfield Trojans. Above left: Senior Simon Einwalter (61) brings down Fairfield’s senior quarterback, Voss Richardson, at midfield Friday, Sept. 25, in the Homecoming game against the Fairfield Trojans. Above right: Senior Jackson Burk (3) tries to escape Fairfield senior Voss Richardson as he sprints for the endzone Friday, Sept. 25, in the Homecoming game against the Fairfield Trojans.
SPORTS
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VOLLEYBALL
Solon gets another win over Marion in rematch Aliya Stork For the Solon Economist news@soloneconomist.com
For the second time in ten days the 3rd-ranked Class 3A Solon varsity volleyball team lined up across a familiar opponent, 6th-ranked Class 4A Marion, in a battle between two teams with state championship aspirations. And for the second straight time the Spartans came out on top. Solon outlasted Marion in a thrilling fiveset match 26-24, 25-21, 21-25, 20-25, and 16-14. The win moved the Spartans to 24-4 on the season as they continue their push for the postseason. The win was Solon’s only match of the week. When the two teams met during the Linn-Mar tournament on September 12th, Solon won the matchup 2-0. The rematch was a back-and-forth affair. Marion started the game jumping out front, but big blocks from Solon’s Zephie Bishop and kills by Addison Walter helped Solon take an11-9 lead, causing Marion to call a timeout. Marion clawed back after the brief break, leading 19-18 before the two teams traded points back and forth and Solon ended up on top in the first set, 26-24. “Even when we let the hard points get to us, we can bounce back no matter what,”
said senior captain Macy Fueller, “We have so much trust in our team to know that ‘hey, it’s okay, but the next ball, we’re gonna work.’” Solon took an early lead in the second set, 3-0. But it did not last. Marion charged back 4-3. Solon would get a huge break taking the lead 12-8. Marion called timeout and the crowd buzzed. With a packed gym behind them, Solon would maintain the lead with kills from Amelia Guinn and Zephie Bishop winning the second set 25-21. In between sets, “Juicy Wiggle” blared over the gym speakers, sending a charge through the students and adults dancing along. But it didn’t help. Marion would control the third set and win 25-21. Set four would go similarly, with Marion evening the match and sending it to a fifth and final set with a 25-20 win. Photos by Aliya Stork | For the Solon Economist Before the fifth set the Solon student secAbove: Solon volleyball dances to "Juicy Wiggle" in between sets during their match tion did all it could to keep the energy high, against Marion Tuesday, September 22. Below: Libero Macy Fueller celebrates with her shuffling up and down the court, trying to team after a point is earned in their game against Marion Tuesday, September 22. get the Solon crowd excited for one more set. It worked. Solon took an early lead. Marion clawed back. Then kills from Bishop Head Coach, Ruben Galvan, “they trust and Charleigh Whitford brought the Solon each other and they work well together and Stats Kills – Amelia Guinn 16, Charleigh Whitford crowd to its feet. Marion tied it at 14, then they all have the same goals.” 14, Zephie Bishop 13, Makinley Galvan 11, Solon would score two more points, winAddison Walter 9, Harper Nicholson 3, ning the nailbiter 16-14. Aliya Stork is a freshman at the Scarlett Ferin 1 “I just don’t see them panicking,” said University of Iowa’s School of Journalism Assists – Ferin 37, Ava Hohn 22, Macy Fuller 3, and Mass Communications. Stork is a Walter 1, Guinn 1 student in the Prep Sports Report class. Solon blocks – Walter 2, Nicholson 2 Block assists – Nicholson 3, Bishop 3, Walter 1, Galvan 1 Digs – Fuller 15, Anabele Boelkins 14, Kalynn Timmons 14, Hohn 9, Ferin 9, Walter 8, Whitford 3, Nicholson 2, Galvan 2, Guinn 2, Bishop 2
IGHSAU weekly Class 3A rankings (9-24-26) Record Previous week 1 Western Christian 13-2 2 2 Dike-New Hartford 15-5 6 3 Humboldt 21-1 1 4 Solon 24-4 3 5 Center Point-Urbana 18-7 7 6 MOC-Floyd Valley 15-3 8 7 Cherokee 14-4 4 8 Wilton 20-4 9 9 Mount Vernon 17-7 5 10 Roland-Story 18-5 10 11 West Delaware 16-4 13 12 Kuemper Catholic 19-4 12 13 Knoxville 16-5 14 14 Van Meter 18-6 11
WaMaC Standings (9-27-26) Conf. Overall Solon 3-0 24-4 Grinnell 3-0 13-9 Marion 3-1 14-9 Clear Creek Amana 2-1 17-6 Center Point-Urbana 2-1 18-7 Benton Community 2-2 13-9 South Tama County 1-2 21-8 West Delaware 1-2 18-7 Mount Vernon 1-2 17-7 Williamsburg 1-2 16-8 Independence 0-3 14-10 Vinton-Shellsburg 0-3 1-21
SWIMMING
Little Hawks 4th in CR Kennedy’s invitational
Cedar Rapids Kennedy Cougar Invitational Team scores – 1 Iowa City West 527, 2 Johnston 454, 3 Pleasant Valley 313, 4 Iowa City High 285, 5 Southeast Polk 248, 6 Cedar Rapids Kennedy 245, 7 Decorah 213, 8 Cedar Rapids Jefferson 0 Results 50 freestyle – 7 Helena Mundisev 26.83. 9 MADELYN ELKINS 27.04, 20 Lydia Brown 30.07 200 freestyle relay – 4 City High 1:47.20. 12 City High 1:58.19 400 freestyle relay – 3 City High 3:51.01. 9 City High 4:14.53 200 medley relay – 2 City High 1:56.30. 13 City High 2:15.38 100 freestyle – 12 ELKINS 1:00.72. 19 Brown 1:07.85 200 freestyle – 3 Nora White 2:05.48. 9 Clara Solt Espinosa 2:08.20. 20 Vidya Kumar 2:23.83 500 freestyle – 2 Mundisev 5:21.76. 19 Kumar 6:20.33. 20 AVERY FEUERBACH 6:30.79 100 backstroke – 1 Maeve Waas 59.50. 3 White 1:03.88. 18 Brooke Kehres 1:14.64 100 breaststroke – 6 Lily Rowlette 1:16.31. 14 Adel Cilek 1:26.83. 100 butterfly – 2 Waas 58.76. 19 Cilek 1:17.72. 21 Halie Schweitzer 1:22.12 200 individual medley – 8 Lily Rowlette 2:29.10. 14 Schweitzer 2:50.04.
Solon Economist CEDAR R APIDS — The Iowa City High School Little Hawks took fourth place in Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Cougar girls swimming and diving invitational Saturday, Sept. 26, behind champion Iowa City West High, runner-up Johnston, and third place Pleasant Valley. Solon seniors Madelyn Elkins and Avery Feuerbach are competing for the Little Hawks this season. Elkins was ninth in the 50-yard freestyle (27.04) and 12th in the 100-yard freestyle (1:00.72) while Feuerbach was 20th in the 500-yard freestyle
Mississippi Valley Conference standings (9-27-26) Chris Umscheid | Solon Economist
Madelyn Elkins (at left) and Avery Feuerbach, with Coach Mandi Kowal, were introduced with the fall sports seniors during the Homecoming pep rally and King crowning Wednesday, Sept. 23 in Spartan Stadium. Elkins, Feuerbach, and senior Irelynd Hagarty are swimming for the Iowa City High School Little Hawks this season. (6:30.79). Available stats did not break down the relay teams. The season is nearing its end with the annual crosstown rivalry meet with Iowa City West High/Liberty
High set for Tuesday, October 6 at the Coralville Recreation Center. City High will host the MVC Swimming Championships Saturday, October 24.
Iowa City West High Cedar Falls Linn-Mar Wahlert Catholic Waterloo United Iowa City, City High CR Kennedy Dubuque Senior CR Washington Dubuque Hempstead CR Jefferson
Conf. 5-0 3-0 3-0 4-1 3-1 3-2 1-2 1-3 1-4 0-5 0-4
Overall 19-0 18-6 14-10 17-6 10-1 13-6 8-11 9-13 4-8 6-8 1-17
SPORTS
8 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | SOLON ECONOMIST
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CROSS COUNTRY
Weathering the storm: How Solon cross country has navigated two weeks of canceled races
Lady Spartans win in Anamosa, boys finish 10th
predict what’s going to happen.” The canceled meets have meant more than just a few empty spots on the schedule for the Spartans. Each race gives runners an opportunity to measure their progress, test their racing strategies, and learn how they respond under pressure. Without those opportunities Coach Williams feels it has become harder for athletes to know where they stand. In IATC’s class 3A rankings, the girls team dropped from fourth in the week three rankings to 17th in week five. Instead of allowing the break from competition to stall the team, Solon’s coaching staff tried to recreate the racing experience at practice. In their first week of canceled meets, Coach Williams scheduled a two-mile time trial with Clear Creek Amana. The next week, an assistant coach designed a 5K course around their high school and intermediate school to give their runners an additional opportunity to race. When another meet was cancelled, Coach Williams added harder sessions that normally would not fit into a raceheavy week. Replacing an actual meet is not as simple as putting runners on a course and telling them to race, however. Coach
Williams has had to adjust workouts and schedules while keeping an eye on the team’s physical and mental fatigue. “One thing we have done is just change things up from what we’ve normally done, such as different types of workouts, so that way they aren’t getting bored doing the same things,” Coach Williams said. The team captains and seniors have also helped to keep their team uplifted and engaged, creating different dress-up days for practice and hosting more team-bonding activities. “It has been good to see that they are willing to come and work every day, even if they don’t know if we’re going to have a meet,” Coach Williams said. “Their flexibility has been great to see.” However, this season has been especially frustrating for the senior class. They had to cancel their home meet due to a majority of the course being underwater. “It was really hard when we lost our home meet because the community does such a great job coming out and supporting the cross country team,” Coach Williams said. “Those seniors are not going to get to run on [our course] again.” The team’s unusual experience has helped to reinforce that cross country is about more than the races themselves. Coach Williams hopes for her athletes to realize that every practice, dress-up day, and team get togethers isn’t something to be taken for granted. “Meets aren’t what make cross country a great sport,” Coach Williams said. “The team, everybody suffering together, because you’re all doing the same thing, is a great thing.”
summer on the fence about whether to commit before ultimately deciding to go for it. “When you’re a senior, embarrassment isn’t a thing anymore. Everybody is looking up to you,” Miller said. The girls’ parents supported their decision and encouraged them to take the opportunity. Solon seniors try their hand They wanted to be involved throughout the season and made efforts to attend matches. at City High tennis At Miller's first match, her mom was there taking pictures, eager to watch her play. Ava Francois Because Solon doesn’t have a girls tennis For the Solon Economist program, they joined Iowa City High’s junior news@soloneconomist.com varsity girls tennis team, stepping into a new environment alongside a new group of teamIOWA CITY — A tennis ball sailed over the mates. They didn’t know anyone on the team, fence, and Emerson Miller and Emma Spen- creating a nerve-racking start to the season. gler could only laugh. But their new teammates quickly made them It was one of the many moments the two feel welcome, offering advice and support Solon seniors experienced while learning a and they became more comfortable with the sport neither of them had played before. For group. Emerson Miller and Emma Spengler, their Spengler and Miller have been best friends senior year meant trying something new. The since the age of four. Both played volleyball two had talked about going out for tennis since in school and on club teams and had experitheir junior year and spent the early months of ence playing pickleball, so they thought tennis
would be similar. What they didn’t expect was how different the sport would be or how much they would learn along the way. As the season progressed, the girls began to understand the fundamentals of tennis. Learning how to serve and consistently hit the ball over the net took time, and their first few practices came with plenty of adjustments. One day, while working on serves, one attempt turned into a moment they would remember. The ball ended up on the other side of the fence; it was a lighthearted reminder that learning a new sport comes with misses along the way. Once they understood the basics, the game came naturally. Spengler and Miller were used to moving around a volleyball court and reacting quickly to the ball, which gave them a foundation to build on as they learned tennis. Through it all, they stayed open to learning and leaned on each other as they figured it out. “We could mess up and just laugh at each other,” Spengler said. That attitude became an important part of
their season. They didn’t take mistakes too seriously, which allowed them to enjoy the season and keep improving. When reflecting on the season, Spengler’s biggest takeaway went beyond the court. “Learning how to get out of my shell and meet new people, and it’s okay if you make mistakes because in the big picture, it doesn’t matter,” Spengler said. City High’s junior varsity team finished the season 7-1 overall. Tennis gave Spengler and Miller a chance to step outside their comfort zone. In trying something unfamiliar, they learned mistakes are part of the process and taking a chance can lead to experiences they might not have otherwise had. They held each other accountable, encouraged one another, and grew together, making the season memorable and unique.
Parker Beck (Sr.) has been on the council for the past two years. “If I wasn’t a leader on the field, I could be a leader on the sideline and help the underclassmen who would be coming into the program.” One of the first things the council does before the season starts is assign a phrase made up of the ideals they want to embody throughout the season. During the 2025 season, the team followed L.E.G.I.T.: Love, Effort, Growth, Integrity, and Trust. This year’s motto is H.A.L.T. representing the teams core identity of Hungriness, Accountability, Love, and Toughness. “Hungry wasn’t the first word we had, it was more thinking of how bad do you want it.” Beck said, “We needed to represent toughness too, last year we fell short. We weren’t the tougher team when we went to the dome.” Beck spoke about how much accountability mattered in creating this unit. “A connected team is a powerful team. Having the ability to correct each other, that's what is going to build a connected
team. That’s going to take a good team to a great team, a playoff team to a championship team.” Love sticks out as the most important. It’s the word that comes back every year. “It’s always been around, love was a non-negotiable,” Beck said. “We want to be the toughest team every Friday night, we want to have that good community, we love each other and we want to win state,” Einwalter said. This year's council has created a powerful identity for the Spartans. It’s clear that Solon is looking to sharpen their metal through the back half of the season, and they won't be satisfied until they take it all. “Stay hungry and keep growing, you can always become a better leader,” Milliman said.
Kate Blodig For the Solon Economist news@soloneconomist.com
For two weeks, Solon cross country has done almost everything except race. They’ve trained through changing schedules, completed a two-mile time trial with Clear Creek Amana, and even raced a makeshift 5K course on their own as a team. But with three meets canceled because of heat and weather, the team has been forced to find new ways to prepare for a season that refuses to follow its original schedule. The Spartans have not competed since Sept. 10 leaving runners with a 16-day gap between races, making it difficult for them to achieve the goals they had set before the season began. “It’s hard to maintain that mental focus,” head coach Emy Williams said. “It’s just not the same in practice as it is when you’re competing in a meet.” For Coach Williams, who has spent 27 years coaching cross country, the situation has required more flexibility than usual. “This has been the most meets that I’ve had canceled in my entire career,” Coach Williams said. “As a coach, you just can’t
The Lady Spartans finished in 1st at the Anamosa XC Meet Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Anamosa Middle School. Junior Addison Seamans led the way for the Spartans, finishing in 6th with a time of 20:21.3. The boys were tenth in team points in Anamosa. Junior Anders Holmes finished in 7th with a time of 17:20.8, leading the way for the Spartans. Kate Blodig is a sophomore in the University of Iowa's School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Kate is a student in the Prep Sports Report class. 2026 Anamosa Invitational results Varsity girls team scores – 1 Solon 67. 2 Maquoketa Valley 86. 3 Tipton 96. 4 Monticello 98. 5 Central Lee 135. 6 Denver 141. 7 EdgewoodColesburg 174. 8 North Linn 181. 9 Anamosa 211. 10 Cedar Rapids Jefferson 258 Varsity girls results – 6 Addison Seamans 20:21.3. 10 Livya (Liv) Nelson 20:31.8. 13 Mailee Schmidt 20:47.0. 16 Kinley Mai 20:51.5. 25 Ava Rolwes 21:52.9. 28 Stella Beck 22:03.4. 32 Falyn Svalstad 22:14.2. 34 Laeni Hinkle 22:28.5. 35 Jillian Jansen 22:30.7. 60 Mya Fordice 24:14.4 Varsity boys team scores – 1 Iowa City, City High 66. 2 Denver 72. 3 Springville 95. 4 Anamosa 141. 5 Tipton 159. 6 Fort Madison 162. 7 Monticello 173. 8 Central Lee 190. 9 Cedar Rapids Jefferson 221. 10 Solon 221. 11 North Linn 260. 12 Alburnett 292. 13 Maquoketa Valley 399. 14 Edgewood-Colesburg 401 Varsity boys results – 7 Anders Holmes 17:20.8. 25 Deacon Waddell 18:14.3. 64 Layne Harden 19:51.0. 70 Colton Kolar 20:19.6. 82 Asher Sutton 21:01.2. 92 Ben Yeomans 21:27.7. 93 Will McAtee 21:30.2. 95 Sam Ekroth 21:37.3. 98 Sawyer Gerlits 21:41.9
TENNIS
A new court, same friendship
Ava Francois is a junior at the University of Iowa’s School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Ava is a student in the Prep Sports Report class.
FEATURE
Are you “halting” when things get hard Quinn Felderman For the Solon Economist
but has also allowed the players involved to reach higher levels of success across the news@soloneconomist.com board. The Solon Spartans varsity football team “I think you need to be able to serve other has made a statement that they want it all people,” Cody Milliman (Sr.) said, on what this year, and they’ve shown it through their he thinks is integral to leadership. “You need first five games. to be humble and know that you need to be The team has mounted a string of com- doing stuff for the team.” manding wins to open the season. To the The team's leadership council is now in players and coaches, however, these reg- its fifth year. It’s a player-led body that helps ular-season games serve as extra time to build a bridge between the players and sharpen up before the playoffs begin. coaches, and it constantly adapts from the It’s the sixth year under head coach Lucas individuals shaping it. Stanton, and after falling short in the Class “Leadership council gives a lot of oppor3A semifinals last year, this team is hungry tunities to talk with each other and address to take it all. issues within the team.” Simon Einwalter After Stanton's first season coaching the (Sr.) said, “It helps me be kind of in the know Spartans, he introduced a new initiative to with the coaches, seeing what they’re thinkpromote player leadership, which has not ing and being a mediator between them and only impacted the team's success on the field the team.”
Quinn Felderman is a student in the University of Iowa’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Quinn is a student in the Prep Sports Report class.
SOLONECONOMIST.COM
CALENDAR & PUZZLES
SOLON ECONOMIST | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | 9
SOLON SENIORS DINING • • • • • • • • • • • In-House Dining - Wednesdays only at 11:30 at the Solon Methodist Church. Call 319-624-2251 for reservations (required two days in advance) or information Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10-11 a.m. Home Deliveries (within a five-mile radius and paved roads only) Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Meals cost $5.00 Call 319-624-2251 for reservations (required) two days in advance of meal. Cancellations Since meals are ordered in advance payment is required if a meal is cancelled on the same day it was to be received. No meals Tuesdays and Thursdays
OCTOBER MENU • • • • • • Friday, October 2 Lasagna Roll Sliced Beets Garlic Toast Brownie
Friday, October 9 Breaded Fish Sandwich French Fries Apple Cider Slaw Lemon Fluff Monday, October 12 Nacho Chicken Shredded Lettuce/Tomatoes Refried Beans Corn Frosted Marble Cake Wednesday, October 14 Sponsored Meal – Rick Jedlicka Pork Chop Supreme Baked Potato Baked Beans Homestyle Peach Cobbler Friday, October 16 Shrimp Scampi Parmesan Orzo Pasta Lemon Broccoli Breadstick Fresh Fruit Monday, October 19 Baked Caesar Chicken Buttered Noodles Carrots Chocolate PB Cake Roll
Monday, October 5 Garlic Parmesan Baked Chicken Pasta w/Marinera Sauce Tossed Salad Garlic Toast Seasonal Fresh Fruit Wednesday, October 7 Birthdays Open Faced Hot Beef Sandwich Mashed Potatoes Buttered Peas Cherry Bar
Wednesday, October 21 Pumpkins Dee Entertains Salisbury Steak Parslied Potatoes Orange Glazed Carrots Classic Strawberry Shortcake Friday, October 23 Catch of the Day Baked Potato w/Sour Cream Seasonal Vegetable Banana Split Dessert
October Solon Senior Advocates news Vaccine/Flu Clinic
Island), “Oklahoma,” $75 Thursday, May 20 – Ila Miller/Community Store/Perry Bender/String Town, $30 meal
Monday, October 5, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Solon Methodist Church Be sure to enroll at https://solontowncrest. Watch the monthly newsletters for informamedmeapp.com/schedule?sublocationId=969 tion about new and exciting events and activities deaaa-c180-4c5f-a260-e87958b5c2d0 for our seniors!
Proposed 2026 events
Solon Senior Transport
Restaurant run Thursday, October 15 – Baxa’s Sutliff Store & Tavern, 5546 130th St. NE, Lisbon. Noon, personal cars
Providing volunteer transportation for seniors to medical appointments. For information and to enroll please call Cindy Jensen, 319-3603279. Please consider signing up as a volunteer driver!
Call 319-430-8655 for reservations
Meal and Movie Friday, October 31 – “Senior Entourage,” 11 a.m., Solon Public Library, $5.
Edited by Will Shortz No. 0827
Senior Advocates Board
Larry Brecht 319-624-2925, Phyllis Fiala 319-331-7447, Joyce Cook 319-541-6527, Penny Tompkins 319-471-3662, Lou Wolfe 319-321Wednesday, April 7 – Circa 21 (Rock 3113, Mark Hollinrake 319-551-2811, Cindy
Proposed 2027 events
Across
1 Open with one’s teeth? 6 Network that launched in 1994 with the film “Scent of a Woman” 11 Bed threads 14 Pre-Inca civilization known for its underground aqueducts and geoglyphs 15 November birthstone 16 CNBC subj. 17 Currently being tried 18 Apt synonym for “wake-up call” 20 Seattle pro soccer team 22 Look at this! 23 Make a right turn? 24 Greek organization, informally 26 4x platinum self-titled album of 2001 27 More saplike 29 “Sesame Street” character with a pet rock named Rocco 32 Alertness aid 34 Founder of Stoicism 35 Go the other way 36 Not just my 37 Loaded with energy 40 When doubled, first name in classic Hollywood 41 ___ Khamenei, former supreme leader of Iran 42 Daughter of Saturn, in Roman myth 43 Just sat around 45 One sitting on a coop board? 46 Colombian offerings that may be served with hogao 49 Conditions 50 “___ counting?” 51 Check-in from a texter 53 Discombobulated 56 Large storage unit 59 Be a rat 62 2007 horror sequel 63 “The Simpsons” character ___ Nahasapeema-petilon 64 Monotonous hum 65 Hat decoration in a marching band 66 Relay division 67 Word before park or after cheap 68 Less candid, perhaps
Down
1 Some, in León 2 Allied grp. 3 Astronaut for whom a Pixar character is named 4 “You’re not the only one!” 5 Longtime “Saturday Night Live” announcer Don 6 Start to type? 7 Action figures and such 8 Parrot 9 Indian P.M., 1991-96 10 Totino’s frozen food offering 11 Tropical fruta 12 Pic file format 13 Put out 19 911 responder 21 “Music for Airports” composer 24 Feudal estate 25 Lens solution brand 26 10,000,000 ergs 28 2004 inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ... and a hint to 3-, 10-, 29- and 33-Down 29 Bear of children’s rhyme 30 Desert havens 31 “Heavens to Murgatroyd!” 32 Biblical “captain” 33 Gesture also known as “spirit fingers” 38 French bread? 39 Console for Chrono Trigger, in brief 44 Completely missed shot 47 “It makes sense now!” 48 Soak 50 Microscopic 52 Insects responsible for virtually all fig pollination 53 Obsessively oriented 54 Record, in a way 55 A little too pleased with oneself 56 Bloke 57 “The devourer of all things,” per Ovid 58 Perpetually 60 Clumsy vessel 61 Bygone cousin of a kiwi
SUDOKU COLLEGE NEWS The University of Dubuque announces summer 2026 graduates DUBUQUE — The University of Dubuque is excited to celebrate the academic accomplishments of undergraduate, graduate, and seminary students who graduated this summer, including Jaden Gatts, Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude, of Solon.
University of Iowa summer 2006 graduates Ely – Madelyn Plotz (Interdepartmental Studies, Bachelor of Arts) Solon – Devyn High (Social Work, Bachelor of Arts/Psychology, Bachelor of Arts), Brenton Lumpkin (Economics, Bachelor of Business Administration), Morgan Meiers (Health Studies, Health Studies with Distinction), Jennifer Sassman (Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Certificate)
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.
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 2
NEWS
10 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | SOLON ECONOMIST IowaPublicNotices.com THE JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FORMAL MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 Proclamations, ordinances and resolutions 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 Green called the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to order in the Johnson County Health and Human Services Building Boardroom at 9:00 a.m. Members present: V Fixmer-Oraiz, Jon Green, Lisa Green-Douglass, Mandi Remington, and Rod Sullivan. Green sought and received unanimous consent for approval of the agenda as presented. Public Comment - No one from the public spoke. Motion by Sullivan, second by Fixmer-Oraiz, to approve the following consent agenda items: 1. Payroll authorizations submitted by department heads and elected officials. 2. The claims on the Johnson County Auditor’s Claim Register for September 17, 2026, in the amount of $1,266,602.03: ABC Disposal Systems............... $972.00 Ace Reporting.............................. $197.75 Action Sewer & Septic................ $488.00 Advantage Archival Solut............... $5.00 Amazon Capital Svcs................ $1284.34 America Home Find Assn......... $3592.05 Apts In IC................................... $1137.50 Arc Of Southeast IA.................... $524.00 Arnold Motor Supply.................... $39.48 Billion Of Iowa City................. $40907.55 Bob Walker.....................................$16.00 Boostlingo....................................$523.19 Bound Tree Medical.................$11750.66 Cambrie Schute.............................$18.00 Candi Schmieder......................... $286.79 Cathy Swenning...........................$287.40 Chemsearch................................ $212.50 City Laundering.......................... $559.36 City Of Iowa City-Acc Rec........ $3366.71 City Of North Liberty...................$131.00 Clyde Seery................................. $625.00 Copy Systems............................$1101.58 Corp Translation Svcs................ $209.44 Corridor Energy Coop................$2161.59 Custom Hose & Suppl................ $432.83 Deery Bros Ford Lincoln........... $3236.67 Delta Dental IA.........................$11662.78 Dennis M Hebl................................$16.00 DKC Real Estate.......................... $750.00 Dorothy A Johnson Estate.......... $656.44 East Cent IA Councl Gov.........$48673.94 East IA Light & Power .................... $3.86 Eastern IA Tire Inc...................... $315.65 Ecolab........................................ $1026.96 Election Sys & Software............. $314.21 Elite Fire Sprinkler Sys............. $7856.78 Emerald Court Apts.................... $800.00 EO Johnson Busin Tech.............. $290.00 Erin Shane......................................$21.00 Farm & Home Publish................. $675.00 Foreman Construction.......... $491764.54 Galls ......................................... $4932.84 Gannett IA Localiq........................ $45.84 Geoff Lauer..................................... $4.56 Golfview Estates..........................$719.00 Graphic Print & Embroid............ $435.00 Hands Up Communicat............. $2803.71 Harris ERP................................. $2500.00 Hawk Wash................................. $546.00 Heartland Language Svc............ $140.00 Heartland Shredding....................$195.70 Hilltop MHP..................................$510.00 Holiday Wreck & Crane............... $140.00 Hospers & Bro Printer.................. $58.00 Hughes & Trannel PC.................. $610.80 Hy-Vee....................................... $1263.20 Installed Rite..............................$1874.00 Interactive Data........................... $235.00 IA Counties Info Tech.................... $50.00 IA Law Enforce Acad....................$175.00 IA Paper Inc............................... $1298.36 IA Secretary Of State.............. $20913.33 IA State Assn Counties............. $1525.00 IA Valley RC&D ...........................$688.16 Jackson County...................... $10400.00 Jennifer Miller............................. $163.92 Jessica Lang................................$159.60 Joe Barry......................................... $9.88 John Deere Financial ................... $82.45 Johnson County...................... $19773.32 Johnson County Refuse............. $437.36 Josie Dalton................................ $233.62 Katie Mccune...............................$447.64 Kelly Bentow............................... $298.04 Kirkwood Cmty College................ $44.00 Lees Alterations.............................$31.90 Linde Gas & Equipment...............$152.28 Linder Tire Service Inc............. $9094.88 Liquidspring.................................$847.34 Little Clippers CDC................... $2986.00 LL Pelling Co............................. $7525.35 Madison Slay.............................. $286.79 Madison Tunning.......................... $44.50 Mara Drew..................................... $98.20 Mark Phillips................................. $56.00 Martin Equipment IL.................. $1147.45 Medline Industries Inc................ $586.33 Menards - Iowa City.....................$133.41 Midamerican Energy................. $3627.89 Midwest Janitorial Svc............. $3548.71 Midwest Mailworks......................$367.59 Monoprice Inc............................... $52.79 Mutual Wheel Company..............$821.15 Napa Auto Parts.......................... $576.85 Navigate 360................................$749.00 NBI Engineering Svcs............. $23920.00 Newegg Business...........................$57.81 Nat Instit Jail Operation............ $1250.00 Office Express Products............... $76.38 Patrick Seydel............................. $850.00 Pleasant Valley Lp....................... $700.00 Point And Pay............................. $660.39 Premistar IA.............................. $3481.56 Purple Bloom School................ $7346.65 Quadient.......................................$435.15 Quality Home Repair................. $1240.00 Rachel Joselson.............................. $3.80 Rapids Reproductions.................$155.72 River Products........................ $21370.33 Roger D Hurt..................................$16.00 Sameer Mugatsaheb Shivapur... $800.00 Sarah Thompson.........................$176.32 Scott Carstens.................................$7.60 SG Construction...................... $51319.16 Shive Hattery.......................... $37552.24 Shoemaker & Haaland.............. $5756.00 Solon Cmty Hous Corp............. $1000.00 Southgate Prop Mgmt................ $668.00 Staples Contract........................$1313.63 Stericycle...................................... $78.39 Stitch In Time................................ $45.00
Storey Kenworthy........................$811.97 Streichers.....................................$412.00 Stryker Medical............................$195.02 Student Publications................ $1062.01 Suburban Rentals 2.................... $700.00 Summer Of The Arts................. $5000.00 Summit Food Service ............ $25936.47 TA Reporting............................... $525.50 Teleflex Llc.................................$1748.00 Teri Billick.................................... $286.79 The Kalona News.......................$1114.68 The Law Shop Iowa......................$787.20 Three Guys Holdings.................. $700.00 Titan Machinery...............................$7.00 Tom Furlong................................ $850.00 Treasurer IA 6th Judicial..........$3656.25 Tristar........................................ $2952.66 Trizetto Provider Solut...............$1645.10 United Act For Youth................$12531.09 Unitypoint Health........................ $816.31 University Of Iowa.................... $5855.35 US Jail Supply............................. $300.00 Van Buren County Sheriff............. $35.00 Vermeer Sales & Svc.....................$77.99 Villa Garden Apts........................ $750.00 Visa......................................... $14955.33 Washington County................$29400.00 Wellmark BCBS IA................ $247000.00 Wendling Quarries........................ $68.89 Zavash Zarei................................ $800.00 3. The minutes of the Formal Meeting for September 10, 2026. 4. Accepting and placing on file the Clerk of Court August 2026 report of fees collected in the amount of $41,830.56. 5. Application for an alcohol license for The Midnight Gem. 6. Release of Conservation Easement for property located at 1722 255th Street NW, Oxford. Approved unanimously. PROCLAMATION NO. 09-17-26-01 WELCOMING WEEK - SEPTEMBER 10-19, 2026 Summary: Johnson County’s success depends on making sure that all community members feel welcome and invited here. Welcoming communities create opportunities for residents to connect with one another, build relationships, and develop a greater understanding of the people who call Johnson County home. Board Action: Proclaim the week of September 10-19, 2026, as Welcoming Week in Johnson County and call upon residents to help make Johnson County a place where everyone feels welcome and belongs. Motion by Fixmer-Oraiz, second by Remington, to approve Proclamation No. 09-17-26-01. Approved unanimously. The following people spoke: Tom Martinez, Greater Iowa City, Inc. Community Development Program Manager; Paola Jaramillo Guayara, County Board Office Community Engagement & Policy Coordinator; Roger Goedken, IC Compassion Board member; and T’Shailyn Harrington, City of Iowa City Neighborhood Outreach and Engagement Specialist. PROCLAMATION NO. 09-17-26-02 CONSTITUTION WEEK - SEPTEMBER 17-23, 2026 Summary: September 17, 2026, marks the 239th anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention and the Constitution stands as the cornerstone of our nation’s legal and political framework, securing the blessings of liberty, establishing justice, and ensuring the principles of representative government. Board Action: Proclaim the week of September 17-23, 2026, as Constitution Week in Johnson County and urge residents to join in celebrating the ideals of freedom and democracy guaranteed to us through this foundational document. Motion by Sullivan, second by Remington, to approve Proclamation No. 09-17-26-02. Approved unanimously. Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith spoke. Convened a public hearing at 9:26 a.m. on Fiscal Year 2027 County Budget amendment. County Finance Director Dana Aschenbrenner presented information on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 County Budget amendment. No one from the public spoke. Public hearing closed at 9:27 a.m. RESOLUTION NO. 09-17-26-01 RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 JOHNSON COUNTY BUDGET Summary: The Board conducted a public hearing to amend the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) County Budget. Board Action: Amend the FY27 County Budget by increasing expenditures accordingly: Public Safety & Legal Services service area increases by $7,134 to $44,426,017; Physical Health & Social Services service area increases by $44,343 to $21,881,924; County Environment & Education service area increases by $6,004 to $8,770,428; Government Services to Residents service area increases by $7,582 to $4,287,548; Administration service area increases by $31,217 to $19,376,926; Capital Projects service area increases by $13,390,944 to $43,764,607; Non-Program Current Expenditures service area increases by $3,362 to $356,665; Operating Transfers Out increases by $14,000,000 to $38,420,861. And by increasing revenue accordingly: Miscellaneous Revenues increases $24,400 to $6,442,336; Operating Transfers In increases by $14,000,000 to $38,420,861. Motion by Sullivan, second by Fixmer-Oraiz, to approve Resolution No. 09-17-26-01. Approved unanimously. RESOLUTION NO. 09-17-26-02 CHANGING DEPARTMENTAL COST CENTER APPROPRIATIONS BY FUND AND SERVICE AREA Summary: The Board conducted a public hearing to amend the FY27 County budget and approved Resolution No. 09-17-26-01. Board action: Authorize the dpeartmental cost center appropraitions in accordance with approval of Resolution No. 09-17-26-01. Motion by Green-Douglass, second by Sullivan, to approve Resolution No. 09-17-26-02. Approved unanimously. RESOLUTION NO. 09-17-26-03 ESTABLISHING AN INTERFUND LOAN BETWEEN THE GENERAL BASIC FUND AND THE DEBT SERVICE FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 Summary: The Board intends to retire a portion of debt with funds from General Basic and the interfund loan will be repaid to the General Basic Fund by the Debt Service Fund once sufficient amounts of FY27 property tax revenues
are received. Board Action: Authorize the Johnson County Finance Director to transfer up to $7,000,000 to the Debt Service Fund from the General Basic Fund during Fiscal Year 2027 as tax revenues are available and adequate cash flows are appropriate; and to transfer the repayment of the interfund loan as property tax receipts become available in the Debt Service Fund during the remainder of Fiscal Year 2027. Motion by Fixmer-Oraiz, second by Remington, to approve Resolution No. 09-17-26-03. Approved unanimously. ORDINANCE NO. 09-17-26-01 Zoning Application REZ26-000005 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE JOHNSON COUNTY UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE BY CHANGING THE CLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN PROPERTY FROM ML – LIGHT INDUSTRIAL TO MH – HEAVY INDUSTRIAL Summary: The purpose of this ordinance is to amend the Johnson County Unified Development Ordinance by changing the classification of the real estate described below from ML – Light Industrial to MH – Heavy Industrial located in Clear Creek Township and comprised of approximately 4.4 acres to wit: Legal Description: Lot Four (4), River Products Industrial Park Subdivision, Johnson County, Iowa, according to the amended plat thereof recorded in Book 59, page 144, Plat Records of Johnson County, Iowa. is hereby changed from ML – Light Industrial to MH – Heavy Industrial. Effective Date: After its passage, approval, and publication as part of the proceedings of the Board of Supervisors. Motion by Remington, second by Fixmer-Oraiz, to approve the proposed ordinance associated with Zoning Application REZ26- 000005 of Todd Scott on behalf of River Products Company Inc. on third and final consideration and adopt Ordinance No. 09-17-2601. Roll call: Aye: Fixmer-Oraiz, Green, Green-Douglass, Remington, Sullivan. ORDINANCE NO. 09-17-26-02 Zoning Application REZ26-000004 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE JOHNSON COUNTY UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE BY CHANGING THE CLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN PROPERTY FROM A-AGRICULTURAL TO R-RESIDENTIAL Summary: The purpose of this ordinance is to amend the Johnson County Unified Development Ordinance by changing the classification of the real estate described below from A-Agricultural to R-Residential located in Oxford Township and comprised of approximately 1.70 acres to wit: Legal Description: A portion of the Northeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Section 10, Township 80 North, Range 8 West of the Fifth Principal Meridian More Particularly Described as: Commencing at the East 1/4 Corner of Section Said Section 10; thence S00°19'42"E, along the East Line of the Northeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Said Section 10, a Distance of 1308.35 Feet, to the Southeast Corner of Said Northeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter; thence S88°37'53"W, along the South Line of Said Northeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter, 501.33 Feet; thence N13°55'10"W, 135.45 Feet, to the Point of Beginning; thence N53°21'33"W, 86.00 Feet; thence N24°15'48"W, 265.00 Feet; thence N00°53'59"E, 70.00 Feet; thence N55°27'22"E, 41.71 Feet; thence S88°32'43"E, 167.21 Feet; thence S21°27'24"E, 267.78 Feet; thence S42°39'58"W, 181.00 Feet, to the Point of Beginning. is hereby changed from A-Agricultural to R-Residential. Effective Date: After its passage, approval, and publication as part of the proceedings of the Board of Supervisors, only upon recording of a subdivision of the subject property which contains only one zoning district per lot. Motion by Sullivan, second by Remington, to approve the proposed ordinance associated with Zoning Application REZ26- 000004 of Taylor Getting on third and final consideration and adopt Ordinance No. 09-17-26-02. Roll call: Aye: Fixmer-Oraiz, Green, Green-Douglass, Remington, Sullivan. Adjourned at 9:42 a.m. /s/ Jon Green, Chair, Johnson County Board of Supervisors Attest: /s/ Julie Persons, Johnson County Auditor
On the 24th day of September, 2026 Recorded by Auditor’s Office: Marly Melsh, Executive Clerk to the Board These minutes were sent for formal approval and publication on September 24, 2026. Published in the Solon Economist October 1, 2026.
SOLON CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 Mayor Pro Tem John Farligner called to order the regular City Council meeting at 5:30 pm. Roll Call: Tim Gordon, Greg Morris, Andrew Kramer and Matt Macke. Absent: Mayor Dan O’Neil. Also Present: Cami Rasmussen City Administrator, Kevin Olson City Attorney, Dave Schechinger City Engineer – Via Zoom, Susie Siddell City Clerk and Megan Richardson Library Director. Civility Pledge Motion by Macke to approve the agenda. Seconded by Kramer. Roll Call Vote: Gordon, Morris, Farlinger, Kramer and Macke. All Ayes. Motion Carried. 5-0. Citizen Speak: Kris Brown was present stating the library will be having their 25th Anniversary celebration on September 26, 2026. The project started in 1999 with the doors being opened in 2001. Tony Russo was present to discuss with council the pesticides companies putting chemicals on lawns, stating the chemicals go airborne and expose neighbors and has concerns of the pesticides harming the monarchs. Consent Agenda: Motion by Gordon to approve the September 2, 2026 regular meeting min-
utes, approval of list of bills, treasurer’s report and transfers and building. Event application for the Solon Homecoming Parade September 23, 2026 and the IVOE Ruck 22 September 26, 2026. Seconded by Macke. Roll Call Vote: Gordon, Morris, Macke, Kramer and Farlinger. All Ayes. Motion Carried. 5-0. Public Works Superintendents Reports: Kris Richardson stated a fountain at Randall Park has been installed and the Recreation staff had worked on painting the park shelter. Ryan Stebral stated they have been working on West Street storm sewer project and mid next week will start on some curb and gutter projects depending on the weather. Dave Richardson stated he has finished Leadership classes and they had a four hour water inspection with the DNR and received a perfect report. City Engineer Report: Schechinger stated they are working on permits for Windstream and Kinetic. Schechinger stated 60% of the new WWTP plans are completed, they will be going over them next week…. City Attorney Report: None Johnson County Supervisor Rod Sullivan: Absent Proclamation – Trick or Treating in Solon, IA on October 31, 2026. Mayor Pro Tem Farlinger read and proclaimed October 31, 2026. New Business: Core4 Event Request: Rasmussen stated Alex Buhmeyer was present representing Core4, he had met with herself and public works previously. Buhmeyer is the Race Director, they are requesting Solon to be the start and finish for the event. They are requesting main street to be closed from Thursday August 19, 2027 through Sunday August 22, 2027. Buhmeyer stated it would bring in 40005000 people a day, safety is their first priority, they will contact the sheriff department and EMS. Gordon questioned what the benefit would be for the community and commented his concerns on parking for the businesses. Rasmussen stated there is a lot of planning, it was questioned about alcohol and where campers would be. Gordon stated he felt there were many variables and questioned food trucks, he would like to see a map of the proposed event and more information. Resolution No. 26-38 Approving Amended Developer’s Agreement for Trail Ridge Estates Part 4 Solon, IA: Olson stated there were some minor changes that were not on the last agreement. Motion by Gordon to approve Resolution No. 26-38. Seconded by Kramer. Roll Call Vote: Kramer, Morris, Macke, Gordon and Farlinger. All Ayes. Motion Carried. 5-0. Annual Audit Services – FY 2026, 2027 and 2028: Rasmussen stated when a city’s population is over 2000 an annual audit is required. Rasmussen stated she had sent out a request for proposal to three different audit firm services. Two of the firms had not responded, Kronlage & Olson, PC submitted a three year proposal contract. Rasmussen recommended working with Kronlage & Olson, the city has worked with them the last three years. Motion by Gordon to approve audit services with Kronlage & Olson with a three year contract. Seconded by Gordon. Roll Call Vote: Morris, Kramer, Gordon, Macke and Farlinger. All Ayes. Motion Carried. 5-0. Fire Agency Clerk: Rasmussen stated when the Fire Agency was formed there was an agreement to provide Clerk Services, Siddell pays their bills, attends meetings, takes minutes and takes care of their bookwork. Motion by Gordon to approve the Fire Agency Clerk Contract for FY27. Seconded by Kramer. Roll Call Vote: Macke, Kramer, Morris, Gordon and Farlinger. All Ayes. Motion Carried. 5-0. Other Business: Council Committees: None City Clerk Report: Siddell requested direct deposit information from council as it will be easier in payroll with the new software conversion. City Administrator Comments: None Council Comments: None Mayor Comments: None Motion by Macke to adjourn the meeting at 6:15 pm. Seconded by Gordon All Ayes. Motion Carried. 5-0 ATTEST Susie Siddell, City Clerk John Farlinger, Mayor Pro Tem Published in the Solon Economist October 1, 2026.
CITY OF SOLON LIST OF BILLS
SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 VENDOR DESC AMOUNT 1ST AYD CORPORATION SUPPLIES........ .................................................... $249.37 AGVANTAGE FS BULK OIL FOR EQUIPMENT.........................................$1,516.33 ANCHORPOINT COUNSELING EVALUATION SERVICES.......................... $600.00 APEL, ALEXANDER UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND...................................... $150.00 BRECHT, DELORES UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND...................................... $150.00 BRECKE MECHANICAL CONT. SPLASH PAD REPAIR............................. $1,492.65 CITY OF IOWA CITY FY 26 MPOJC PROGRAM....................................... $3,046.00 CONNELL, ROSE UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND........................................... $150.00 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS INC MEADOW PATCH...........................$41.65 CORRIDOR ENERGY COOPERATIVE UTILITIES.................................... $620.71 DAVIS EQUIPMENT CORPORATION FIELD GROOMER PART...............$285.13 DEPOVER, TEAH UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND........................................... $150.00 DONALDSON, ALYSSA UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND.................................. $150.00 WEATHER PLATFORM................ $633.93 DUNN, YOLANDA UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND........................................... $150.00 HI-LINE INC SHOP SUPPLIES.........$4.75 HOBBS, PRESTON UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND...................................... $150.00 HOTSY CLEANING SYSTEMS TRUCK WASH SOAP................................ $104.50 HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK CONTRACT PAYMENT.................... $1,464.98 IOWA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK LIBRARY INTERNET................... $188.00
JOHNSON COUNTY RECORDER RECORDINGS...................................$141.00 JOHNSON COUNTY SHERIFF SHERIFF DEPT CONTRACT................... $12,423.67 KIELKOPF, TARA UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND........................................... $150.00 KONICA MINOLTA BUS. SOLUTION IT SUPPORT..................................$1,871.60 KRIVACHEK JANITORIAL SHOP-PARK SUPPLIES.................................... $223.00 LAWSON PRODUCTS SPRAY PAINT FOR PARK............................................. $83.04 MAGSTADT, BETH UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND...................................... $150.00 MCCOLLUM, MICHELLE UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND........................... $150.00 MIDWEST SAFETY COUNSELORS CALIBRATION..................................... $150.00 MT VERNON ACE HARDWARE RANDALL PARK FOUNTAIN PARTS............ $429.68 OPG-3 INC LASER FICHE RENEWAL....... .................................................... $654.89 PENCE, MAGGIE UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND........................................... $150.00 PHILLIPS, ZEBULYN UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND...................................... $150.00 RICKARD SIGN & DESIGN SIGNS............ .................................................... $675.00 RJZ EXPRESS FUEL..................$1,531.32 ROGERS, KATIE REIM WATER PAYMENT ..................................................... $117.07 SAM'S MAIN STREET MARKET SUPPLIES..............................................$16.62 SANDERS, CODY UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND........................................... $150.00 SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT...... $643.76 SOLON COMMUNITY SCHOOL SWIM LESSON TRANSPORTATION... $1,092.28 SOLON HARDWARE SUPPLIES..$194.75 STATE HYGIENIC LABORATORY TESTING.............................................. $379.00 STUDENT PUBLICATIONS PUBLICATIONS.......................................... $565.97 VILLAGRANA, MIQUEL UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND.................................. $150.00 WYSS, PAULA UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND........................................... $150.00 TOTAL.....................................$33,690.65 Published in the Solon Economist October 1, 2026.
SOLON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES
09/17/2026 05:45 PM Attendance Voting Members Dan Coons, School Board President Dr. Tim Brown, School Board Vice President Adam Haluska, School Board Member Cassie Rochholz, School Board Member Megan Laing, School Board Member Non-Voting Members Dr. Davis Eidahl, Superintendent Natalie Johnson, Business Services Manager & Board Secretary Brady Miller, School Business Official/Board Treasurer Piper Johnson, Student Board Representative • Call to Order and Roll Call • Pledge of Allegiance • Welcome of Visitors and Representatives of the Press • Celebrations of Achievement The Department of Education awarded the FAFSA Focused School of Excellence award to 28 Iowa schools for meeting or exceeding a 70% FAFSA completion rate. Solon High School had a 75% completion rate (tied for #11 in the state) Alina Steele has been named a semifinalist in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program, giving her an opportunity to compete for 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million that will be offered next spring. • District Reports • Focus On Learning Fall ICAP day at the High School, Seniors had a financial aid and resume building session. Juniors went to a college fair at Kirkwood Community College. Sophomores went on a walking tour of business in Solon and Freshman had a Xello and graduation cord presentations. • Board Committee Update • Strategic Plan (Rochholz, Coons) • Capital Projects (Brown, Haluska) Lakeview is moving along, Spartan Fieldhouse is going to be delivered around the beginning of October. 28E is still in progress. • Financial Services (Haluska, Laing) Meeting in October, Piper Sandler rep will attend the October board meeting. • Governance (Rochholz, Laing) • Consent Agenda Items Motion to approve the consent agenda items as presented. Motion made by: Dr. Tim Brown Motion seconded by: Cassie Rochholz Voting results: Unanimously Approved • Approval of Minutes • Approval of Claims • Financial Report • Overnight Field Trip(s): • Contracts • Action Items • Second Reading of Board Policy 504.06 Aaron Hadenfeldt high school boys wrestling coach, Jake Munson on behalf of girls wrestling, and Jamie Smith girls basketball coach, spoke about the 504.06 board policy their support for the 8th grade athletes to participate in varsity sports. Motion to approve board policy 504.06 with the amended 2nd paragraph revised by Vice-President Brown, as presented. Motion made by: Dr. Tim Brown Motion seconded by: Adam Haluska Voting results: Unanimously Approved Motion to approve the 2nd reading of board policy 504.06 as amended with monthly reports from the superintendent and activities director, as requested. Motion made by: Dr. Tim Brown Motion seconded by: Adam Haluska Voting results: Yes: Dan Coons Yes: Dr. Tim Brown Yes: Adam Haluska No: Cassie Rochholz Yes: Megan Laing • Lakeview Furniture Bids Motion to approve the Lakeview furniture bids $422,967.04, as presented. Motion made by: Dr. Tim Brown
SOLONECONOMIST.COM Motion seconded by: Megan Laing Voting results: Unanimously Approved • Allowable Growth & Supplemental Aid for FY 26 Negative Special Education Balance Motion to approve the Allowable Growth & Supplemental Aid for FY 26 Negative Special Education Balance of $486,039.58, as presented. Motion made by: Dr. Tim Brown Motion seconded by: Cassie Rochholz Voting results: Unanimously Approved • Information Items • Talking Points Student Rep Piper enjoyed the ICAP day and how it is successful for the students. Vice President Brown also highlighted the ICAP day and appreciated the work the staff put into the day and events. Director Rochholz gave a shoutout to Director Laing's work she had put into the 504.06 policy work. Director Haluska praised Alina Steele for her accomplishment with the Merrit scholarship. Director Laing was appreciative of the board and coach's growth through the process with the 504.06 policy. President Coons was happy that the Lakeview furniture bid came in lower than originally expected and the time administration put into being fiscally responsible. • Next Regular Board Meeting The next regular board meeting is October 15, 2026, in the Central Office Board Room. • Adjournment A motion was made to adjourn the meeting. Time 7:06p.m. Motion made by: Cassie Rochholz Motion seconded by: Megan Laing Voting results: Unanimously Approved Published in the Solon Economist October 1, 2026.
SOLON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT LIST OF BILLS
THROUGH 09/17/2026 3E Misc maintenance supplies......351.92 Ace Hardware Hardware................120.75 Acme, Tools Wood Shop Supplies Quote 27573209........................... 362.38 Ahlers and Cooney, PC Prof Services thru 8/13/26.................................. 248.50 Alliant Energy Electricity......... 61,068.70 Alphagraphics decals........................6.57 Amazon Capital Services Supplies........... ................................................... 9,085.78 Apple Inc Technology................ 4,634.00 Ascendance Truck Centers filters, hose... ....................................................2,637.99 Assurity Life Insurance Company Accident and Critical Illness.......4,626.11 Baker Paper Co Inc Misc custodial supplies.......................................... 601.14 Carolina Biological Supply Co Prepared Microscope Slides........................ 236.63 City of Solon water, diesel....... 28,401.81 Cooper, John Fuel........................... 20.00 Covenant Workplace Solutions, LLC Employee Assistance Program.....412.68 D&R Pest Control Monthly pest control-MS................................................ 453.60 Dashr, LLC LED Display............. 2,000.00 Delta Dental Of Iowa Vision........2,227.56 Dick Blick Art Materials Supplies..807.53 E & J Electric PM Maintenance................ ................................................. 26,716.00 Eastern Iowa Tire spin balance.... 166.92 Floura, Sierra Added Hours/Time........... ...................................................... 868.00 Follett Content Solutions HS Spanish Books.............................................531.09 Gazette Communications, Inc Digital Advertising..................................1,541.67 Gopher Sports Medballs/racks..6,120.07 Grant Wood AEA Seesaw Licenses.......... ................................................. 32,973.94 Green, Fletcher Added Hours/Time......... ........................................................ 85.25 Hack, Casey Phone Reimbursement....... ........................................................ 65.00 Half-Pint Kids, Inc SEF- Brimeyer LV Decodables................................... 422.40 Hawkeye Fire & Safety Company fire system inspection..........................743.00 Heinsius, Bryan Phone Reimbursement ........................................................ 65.00 Hillyard Des Moines Equipment repair..... ................................................... 3,802.65 Home Depot Pro, The Misc maintenance supplies...................................... 1,680.36 HWZ LLC/RJ'Z Express Fuel..... 2,303.25 Inspiring Young Learners, LLC Equipping ELLs subscription..........................347.00 Instrumentalist Awards Awards..... 32.50 Intek Manufacturing SEF Equipment, Trap Bars.................................... 5,692.50 Interstate All Battery Center Misc maintenance supplies................... 295.04 Iowa City Community School District Open Enrollment 2nd Semester............... ................................................. 96,021.50 Iowa Communications Network Network Services........................................ 775.00 Iowa HS Music Association All State Auditions........................................367.00 Iowa School Finance Information Services GASB 75...................... 3,750.00 JourneyED.com, Inc Adobe CC Annual Licensing.................................... 2,699.90 Kessler, Randall Mowing at Stone Academy....................................... 200.00 La Porte Motor Supply (Carquest of Lisbon) filters and wipers............. 252.50 Lakeshore Learning Materials Preschool table.............................................1,182.20 Linder Tire Service Valve stems............... ................................................... 2,465.38 Lisbon Comm School District Lisbon 2nd Semester Sped open enrollment....... ................................................. 23,949.36 Lynch Ford-Mt Vernon, Inc Louver, Plate bracket, mud flaps.........................418.94 Marco Technologies, LLC Printer/Copier Lease..............................................981.78 Marco Technologies, LLC Copier/Printer Lease.......................................... 1,254.55 Master Teacher, The Paraeducator subscription............................... 1,566.00 Menards Wood Shop Tools...........179.95 Mercy Physician Associates- Prairie Creek Emp Physical...................... 625.00 MH Equipment Company Yearly lift inspections--One man lift............. 660.40 Midwest Wheel Companies air dryer, cores, purge valve, rtv, cl.............912.00 Mizaur, Russell Phone Reimbursement.. ........................................................ 65.00 Munkey Industries CFA lighting repair..... ........................................................ 99.99 North Liberty True Value Misc maintenance supplies......................70.93 nRich Educational Consulting District PD ....................................................7,500.00
SOLONECONOMIST.COM Office Express Yellow copy paper...58.41 Ozobot Ozobots - SEF................ 3,020.97 Performance Therapies Pc Strength/ Conditioning, HS........................ 2,750.00 Petroleum Service Company oil, DEF, Washer Fluid.............................. 2,355.65 Pioneer Valley Books Betsy Brown Supplies.......................................... 23.00 Pipe Pro Inc Decommission water heater-- MS.................................4,016.49 Plumbers Supply Company Misc maintenance supplies....................511.54 Prull Group, Inc, The HVAC repairs--LV ....................................................1,581.63 Reliable Network Solution SIS WAP E-Rate Project.......................... 12,289.76 Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company LifeLTD.......................6,357.27 Republic Services #897 Monthly recycle/trash pick up................. 1,398.07 RevTrak Merchant Fees - general fund..... ................................................... 3,024.80 Sam's Main Street Market Misc custodial supplies............................................79.62 Scholastic Inc "Let's Find Out Magazines" digital/print....................................130.63 School Bus Sales Horn Bracket, Harness, LED light.........................................432.19 School Specialty, LLC Foss NG Digital Renewal...................................... 2,244.00 Science Take-Out LLC STO A&P...157.90 SDI Innovations, Inc School Planners..... .......................................................748.31 Snap-On drill bits.............................27.35 Solon Ecomomist HS Subscription.......... ........................................................ 55.00 Solon Hardware Misc maintenance supplies..........................................178.22 South East Iowa Band Association SEIBA Active Member Dues....................... 20.00 South Slope Coop Telephone Co Phone Service........................................1,251.45 South Tama High School WaMac legal fee...................................................181.08 Staples Advantage Preschool order 26-27..............................................651.39 Student Publications, Inc Student Publications...................................418.46 Summit Companies Fire panel repair at MS.............................................. 1,269.72 Supreme School Supply Co Office Supply............................................122.71
NEWS
Teaching Strategies, LLC Assessment Portfolios...................................... 980.25 Terry-Durin Company Misc maintenance supplies......................................... 335.22 Tifco Industries Misc maintenance supplies........................................... 52.26 Truck Country Of Iowa control module.... .......................................................142.66 US AutoForce tires........................ 588.76 Visa Supplies............................. 9,556.96 Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield Of Ia September Health Ins............ 113,423.25 West Music Co STYK Bass Repair........... ....................................................... 117.49 Whole Phonics SEF- Brimeyer LV DEcodables................................... 792.00 Zaner Bloser Educational Publ Math Intervention................................ 5,500.00 Zimmerman, Kevin Clothing allowance-Kevin Zimmerman........................... 50.00 General Fund........................... 525,647.14 City of Solon Engineering Fees.... 265.00 Larson Construction Co., Inc. CP, Lakeview Renovations........... 923,605.15 OPN Architects, Inc CO Project Architect ..................................................12,656.14 Watts Group, LLC Spartan Fieldhouse..... ................................................. 76,921.00 Capital Projects....................1,013,447.29 Replace two enclosures........... 15,330.00 Grant Wood AEA Powerschool................. ..................................................23,897.89 Premier Furniture & Equipment Cafeteria tables HS.................................. 48,956.70 Prull Group, Inc, The HVAC install of vandalized unit at LV.................. 9,500.00 Riser Incorporated Repair bleachers in HS main gym............................... 7,141.00 PPEL ...................................... 104,825.59 Amazon Capital Services Supplies........... .................................................... 2,177.48 Armstrong, Christopher Official....145.00 Atlantic Bottling Company Concessions drinks..........................................1,428.01 B & H Photo-Video Camera, Lens............ ...................................................... 988.05 Barta, Robert Official.................... 395.00 Bell, Tyler ICA Weightroom..........160.00 Benton Comm School District Entry fee.. ........................................................ 50.00 Borchardt, Mark Official............... 250.00 Bowen, Casey Official................... 250.00
Bowen, Marty Official................... 298.02 Carlson, James Official.................167.00 Center Point Urbana School District Entry fee........................................ 250.00 College Community School Dist Entry fee...................................................110.00 Cummins, Joshua ICA W.Room... 240.00 Daktronics Inc Power supply....... 350.00 Dietz, James Official..................... 280.00 Donnolly, Matthew Official........... 250.00 Dusterhoft, Avery Official............. 280.00 Elite Awards Awards......................187.50 Elite Sports Shirts...................... 4,021.00 Federer, Michael Official................145.00 Fritz, Scott Official........................ 250.00 Gilbert High School Entry fee........160.00 Goerdt, Rob Official........................ 95.00 Grant Wood AEA Printing................77.25 Greene, Troy Official....................... 95.00 Grinnell Community Schools Entry fee.... .......................................................150.00 H2I Group Volleyball supplies...... 384.00 Hack, Casey Visa Reimbursement.......... ...................................................... 220.04 Hargrave, Adam Scheduling Wrestling Services.........................................110.00 Hudl Purchased Service.......... 15,390.41 Inter-state Studio & Publishing Co Evolis printer cartridge...............................70.07 Iowa Girls Coaches Association membership...................................105.00 Iowa HS Music Association Annual Dues ...................................................... 205.00 JD Music Composistion marching band show drill........................................719.55 Klinefelter, Blair Official................ 280.00 Leonard, Ryan Official...................310.00 Lindsey's Stitchins MS Football uniforms..................................... 4,400.00 Linn Mar Comm School Entry fee............ ...................................................... 200.00 Manske, Raymond Official........... 250.00 Marshalltown High School Entry fee........ .........................................................75.00 Martin Brothers Distributing Concessions food..........................475.08 MatBoss, LLC 26-27 Video Stats............. ...................................................... 299.00 May, William Official......................115.00 Menards Musical Supplies............729.15 Miller, Matt Official....................... 280.00 Monticello Sports Volleyball practice
balls.............................................4,761.50 Mount Vernon Community School District Entry fee............................100.00 Moyers, Adam Official.................. 250.00 NASP, Inc Archery Supplies....... 4,741.00 Nguyen, Chin Official.................... 280.00 Performance Therapies Pc 26-27 Athletic training services........... 8,362.50 Piper, Michael Official.................... 95.00 Pitcher, Craig Official.................... 280.00 Rebel Athletic Poms..................... 289.38 RevTrak Merchant Fees ................811.95 Rogers, David Official................... 280.00 Sam's Club Renewal......................120.00 Sam's Main Street Market Concessions buns...................................................8.76 Schaub, Steven Official.................. 95.00 Schneekloth, Terry Official........... 265.00 Seagren, Scott Official................. 225.00 Student Publications, Inc Robotics advertising.......................................97.60 Tipton Community School District Entry fee.................................................... 60.00 Union High School Entry fee.........100.00 University of Iowa College of Engineering Registration.................................. 900.00 Velazquez, Sergio Official............. 280.00 Vinton-Shellsburg High School Entry fee .......................................................100.00 Visa Supplies.............................. 1,173.42 Washington High School Entry fee.......... .......................................................100.00 West Delaware High School Entry fee...... .......................................................100.00 West Music Co Marching Shoes.............. ....................................................1,237.20 Wilkerson, Jason Official..............130.00 Williamsburg High School Entry fee........ ...................................................... 200.00 Wilton Community School District Entry fee.................................................... 80.00 Yanecek, Doug Official................. 250.00 Student Activity Fund.............. 63,639.92 Apple Inc Apple Store - BASP laptop....... ................................................... 1,399.00 City of Tipton City of Tipton, BASP August swim trip........................... 580.00 Feaker, Amber Cell Phone Reimb.. 65.00 General Fund BASP summer 2026 transportation invoice................ 3,744.10 Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company LifeLTD........................... 30.20
Solon volleyball rallies a win for Cancer Awareness Night Aliya Stork For the Solon Economist news@soloneconomist.com
Walking into Solon High School on Sept. 22, you could sense a battle about to commence. The crowd roared inside the gym. However, it wasn’t just for the high-stakes volleyball game. On this night, the fight was against cancer. In the center of it all was nineyear-old Benjamin Phillips. Phillips is a nine-yearold boy who attends Solon Intermediate School. He was diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in February of 2025. For his treatment, he has been going to UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital. He is currently in remission and will complete treatment in July of 2027. Throughout the game, fans raised over $1,000 to help support Phillips’ medical expenses.
“It was really important to us that this was special for him, and that he knew that everybody in this Solon community is there for him in his battle,” said Macy Fueller, one of the senior captains for the volleyball team. As he was being introduced, the crowd erupted in support. Benjamin was all smiles throughout the introduction. He was given the honor of the first serve, which led to an ace. This pumped the crowd up throughout the entire game. The night was unlike any other game for Solon. Streamers covered the entire entrance as well as other various pink decor. Pink balloon bundles were tied to each handrail in the bleachers, others tied above the bleachers. A sea of pink shirts filled those bleachers. What stood out was the long table that was placed
right in front of Solon’s entrance to the gym. There, they were selling luminaries to honor those who are battling cancer or have lost their fight. T-shirts and raffle tickets were also for sale. Before the game, coaches and players from Solon and Marion recognized someone they knew who is currently battling cancer or previously fought the disease. “It’s emotional for all of us,” said head coach Ruben Galvan. “We’ve all had a family member that’s going through this disease.” Solon was able to make the night extra special with a win over No. 5 (4A) Marion, 3-2. Aliya Stork is a freshman at the University of Iowa’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Stork is a student in the Prep Sports Report class.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON A CONVEYANCE OF REAL PROPERTY
In accordance with Iowa Code § 359.52, the Big Grove Township Board of Trustees has set forth in Resolution No. 20260911_ its proposal to gift the Township’s interest in Johnson County Parcel Number 0212252002 bearing street address 1297 Highway 1 NE, Solon, Iowa 52333 to Solon Community School District. A copy of the proposal may be obtained by contacting the Big Grove Township Clerk. The Trustees are holding a public hearing to discuss the proposal at 5:30 PM, Thursday, October 15, 2026 at the Solon Community School District Central Office, 301 South Iowa St.. Solon, Iowa. Residents of the Township may attend this hearing where they may provide public comment for or against this transaction, after which the Trustees may make a final determination on the proposal. Published in the Solon Economist October 1, 2026.
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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 1-855-954Aliya Stork | For the Solon Economist 5087 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a genJoined by his family, Cancer Awareness Night honoree, Benjamin Phillips, waves to the crowd before the game on erator. It’s a power move. September 22nd.
October 6 community session for proposed Sheriff’s Office and Jail moves to Hy-Vee Center at Centennial Park, North Liberty informational sessions that Johnson County scheduled to provide information about the proposed sheriff’s office and jail. The session will include an overview of the proposal, explain the need for a new facility, and provide an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions. The informational session will
US Foods, Inc Iowa Snack......... 2,689.44 BASP........................................... 8,507.74 Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company LifeLTD........................... 56.43 Preschool ....................................... 56.43 Anderson Erickson Dairy Co Milk............. ................................................... 5,243.66 Buffalo Ridge Orchard Produce... 600.00 Dan and Debbie's Creamery, Inc Dairy..... ...................................................... 148.50 EMS Detergent Services Supplies............ ....................................................1,491.43 Grant Wood AEA Printing................15.00 Martin Brothers Distributing HS Lunch... ..................................................50,503.17 Pipe Pro Inc MS Walk-In Freezer.............. ....................................................1,476.38 Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company LifeLTD............................81.42 School Nutrition Fund.............. 59,559.56 Published in the Solon Economist October 1, 2026.
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NEWS FROM JOHNSON COUNTY
The Tuesday, October 6 community session for the proposed Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and Jail will now be at the Hy-Vee Center at Centennial Park, 1565 St. Andrews Dr., North Liberty. The location change will provide additional space for attendees. The session will still begin at 6 p.m. This is the final of three public
SOLON ECONOMIST | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | 11
feature presentations from Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel and representatives from Shive-Hattery, the architectural and engineering firm working with the county on the project. More information about the public informational sessions and the proposed project is available at https:// www.johnsoncountyjailbond.com/.
NEWS
12 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 | SOLON ECONOMIST
SOLONECONOMIST.COM
Homecoming 2026
Photos by Chris Umscheid | Solon Economist Left top to bottom: “They’re coming!” Bethany (left) said to Ruby as the 2026 Homecoming parade approached the
intersection of West Sovers St. and Racine Ave. NE in Solon Wednesday, Sept. 23. The brief parade featured Solon’s athletic teams and provided a bountiful harvest of candy for the kids. Annelise Bovenmyer fires up the student section with her fellow cheerleaders during the Homecoming pep rally and King coronation Wednesday, Sept. 23 in Spartan Stadium .Cheerleaders and Sparty show their support for the Solon Spartan Marching Band as they leave the field after their halftime performance Friday, Sept. 25 during the varsity Homecoming football game against Fairfield. The Solon High School Dance Team performs during the Homecoming pep rally and King coronation Wednesday, Sept. 23 in Spartan Stadium. Above top to bottom: Kids eagerly await candy tossed from the Sophomore Student Council’s float. The varsity Spartans, with senior Simon Einwalter carrying the Shield, take the field to face the Fairfield Trojans Friday, Sept. 25 for the Homecoming game. Solon rolled the Trojans 47-8 to improve their overall record to 5-0 and 1-0 in Class 3A District 4. The Solon High School Marching Band performs their 2026 halftime show during the Homecoming game Friday, Sept. 25 in Spartan Stadium. The band will participate in the 5 Seasons Marching Invitational Saturday, October 3 at Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids.