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One is too many Next month’s RUCK 22 walk continues the mission to raise awareness and prevent veteran suicide
Hardcore cycling defines core4 Annual weekend run and ride event put participants to the test Solon Economist
Chris Umscheid Solon Economist
Distance cyclists and runners had their choice of challenges this past weekend as the annual core4 run/ride event took participants on trails, Level ‘B’ roads, gravel, and paved roads in the Iowa City, Coralville, Tiffin, and Solon areas. Cyclists had their choice of a 20, 40, 70, or 120-mile course while runners tackled either a 5 or 10k course. Volunteers from the Solon Lions Club assisted with the event.
chris.umscheid@soloneconomist.com
Researchers have said for many years that on average, 22 veterans end their lives by suicide every day. However, some feel the estimate is too low, arguing some medication overdoses and “accidents” may have been suicidal efforts in actuality. Regardless, veterans advocates like Solon’s Doug “Doc” Thompson, believe even one is too many. Thompson is intimately acquainted with the trauma – physical and mental – of war. As a Navy hospital corpsman he was sent to the Fleet Marine Force in Vietnam where he served as a combat medic. In the decades since the Vietnam War, he has seen veterans (from all conflicts) battling Post Traumatic Stress and has seen veterans lose their personal war with their demons. RUCK | 2
More photos of core4 run/ride on page 12
Solon CSD Back-to-School Guide Everything you need to know going into the new school year Grace Escritt
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Chris Umscheid | Solon Economist file photo
Doug “Doc” Thompson, U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman (combat medic) assigned to the Marines’ Fleet Marine Force during the Vietnam War, organized Iowa Veterans Outdoor Experience’s first 2.2mile ruck (walk/march) in 2023 to raise awareness of veteran suicide (estimated by some at 22 per day). This year’s RUCK 22 event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26. All proceeds go directly to IVOE to fund their mission to support veterans.
INSIDE
As the new school year approaches for the Solon Community School District (CSD), there are a plethora of slight changes and updates that the district encourages families to be mindful of. Josh Lyons, the district’s associate superintendent of teaching and learning, explained the renovation work being done at Lakeview Elementary is one of the biggest things students,
2027-28 academic year begins, according to Lyons and superintendent Davis Eidahl. Although the ultimate goal of the building’s parents and guardians will be However, the two main priorities interior renovations is to create a affected by. have been reshaping the build- better flow in the long run, Lyons “When we look at some of our ing’s interior to facilitate a said creating that fluidity in other buildings across the district better flow of traffic and improv- movement may be challenging as and some of the new construc- ing parking. the 2026-27 school year begins, tion, Lakeview is obviously our “I think some of the renova- as the center of the building will oldest building and probably in tions are really going to help the be closed down while work conthe most need of some tender love flow of traffic and the flow of stu- tinues. and care,” he said. “As we looked dents throughout the building,” Although most everything at what the needs were of the dis- Lyons said. is progressing on pace with the trict, that was one of the areas In addition to improving move- Lakeview Elementary renovathat we really wanted to try and ment within the building, these tions, Eidahl said it will be about uplift.” interior renovations are also three weeks until the east parkAlong with ensuring the build- intended to simplify navigation. ing lot is completed. However, ing is up-to-code, Lyons said a Lyons said these renovations will parking will be available on the few key focuses of this renova- result in each grade level having west side of the building. Along tion work have been on replacing its own “area” or section of the with this, student pick-up and HVAC pieces that have deterio- building that can be more clearly drop-off will take place in the bus rated over the years, upgrading identified. loop during these first few weeks the central office area, improving All renovations at Lakeview of school. security pieces, and placing new Elementary are projected to carpet as well as other flooring. be completed by the time the BACK-TO-SCHOOL | 2
Legion Riders Legacy Run coming through Solon Monday The 20th anniversary Legacy Run for the American Legion Riders will pass through Solon Monday, August 24. The Riders are expected to arrive from the west via Hwy. 382 between
10:30 and 11 a.m. with a stop at the All Veterans Memorial for a short presentation. Main St. will be closed in the vicinity of Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460 for a few hours as the Riders
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make a lunch stop at the Legion before departing for their end-ofday stop in Muscatine. The Legacy Run will assemble and leave Lincoln, Neb., Sunday, August 23, and travel approx-
imately 1,000 miles through Iowa, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana before finishing Thursday, August 27, at the General George Patton Museum of Leadership in Fort Knox, Ky.
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