Eric Hawkinson

SOLON– Corn means something more to us here in Iowa, and nothing shows it off better than events like the corn-shucking party at Solon High School Aug. 25.
The party, which ended when the work was done, was expected to take place from 2 until 5 p.m. Surprisingly, though, it finished an hour and a half after the fun started. The corn was served to students during the first week of school during lunch.
“It was great to see everybody working together,” Laurie Broghammer said as she cleaned up the last bits of corn from the cafeteria kitchen.

SOLON– The Bald Eagle has been the natural representative of the United States since 1782, when congress adopted the gallant bird onto the centerpiece of the great seal. It is now an unmistakable figure of America, but founding father, Benjamin Franklin never agreed with the choice– he liked the turkey.
In a letter to his daughter, Franklin said the turkey, “is besides, though a little vain and silly, a Bird of Courage…”

SOLON– Lianne Westcot, Dick Schwab and Matt Townsley left smiling after the latest Solon school board meeting on July 8. The school board unanimously approved the group’s report on Standards Based Grading (SBG).
The trio had spent hours in meetings over the last weeks synthesizing recent public comments (including the June 3 public hearing), as well as information from throughout the school year. Board member Dan Coons shared his appreciation during the short, 35-minute meeting, held at the central office conference room, 301 S. Iowa St.

After years of school board deliberation, location studies, public hearings and sometimes hot debate, North Liberty and some of its residents await to see if the community will finally gain its own high school facility.

NORTH LIBERTY– School is out of session and summer is in full swing, but back-to-school preparation has already started for some.
Educator Nick Proud, the new principal at Garner Elementary School in North Liberty, has been working tirelessly over the last weeks to get ready for the upcoming school year– his first year as a principal.
Proud’s daughter, Ainsley, is starting a first of her own this year as she enters kindergarten at Garner Elementary.
“It’s both of our first day at school at Garner this fall. We’re excited about that,” Proud said.