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CEDAR RAPIDS– A pair of “three-peats” marked Iowa City West High’s appearance in the 2016 State Volleyball Tournament Tuesday, Nov. 8, at the U.S. Cellular Center, in Cedar Rapids. It was the third consecutive appearance for the Women of Troy, and sadly, the third consecutive year eliminated in the first (quarterfinal) round. The Jaguars of Ankeny Centennial knocked West High out of the Class 5A championship hunt, 3-1 (26-24, 16-25, 14-25, 23-25).

NORTH LIBERTY– Jolene and Chad Darter traveled nearly four hours to give their daughter one hour of giant bowling, noodle hockey and aerobic drumming– activities that may seem more like fun and games than sports.
But Melissa Clarke-Wharff, founder and executive director of Courage League Sports based in Central Iowa, believes her organization provides just what kids with physical, cognitive or emotional disabilities need.
“It’s more than just sports,” she said.

IOWA CITY– You might call him the Johnny Appleseed of Johnson County.
Spend a little time talking apples with Paul Rasch and you easily imagine him sitting down with that iconic apple evangelist of the 19th century, quaffing hard cider and striking up a spirited conversation on the relative merits of heritage fruit trees and the ripening schedules of various cultivars.

BETTENDORF– They puzzled the pundits and baffled the Bulldogs as Iowa City West High’s 10th-ranked Trojans pulled off a 24-17 upset over No. 5 Bettendorf Friday, Oct. 28, in the Bulldogs’ kennel to survive the first round of the Class 4A football playoffs.
Bettendorf has often been a wrench in the gears of the Trojan football juggernaut, having knocked West out of championship contention in 2011 with a 45-13 pounding, and again in 2013 (27-24) as well as during the regular season in 2014 and 2015.

By Chris Umscheid
North Liberty Leader
NORTH LIBERTY– It’s not an easy time to be in law enforcement.
Some feel there’s a “war on cops,” with assaults and outright ambushes seemingly on the rise. Ninety-nine officers have died in the line of duty as of Monday, Oct. 10, and there will undoubtedly be more as well over 100 officers are killed on average every year.
Supporters of law enforcement officers (LEOs) have taken to displaying a thin blue line: a simple blue line symbolizing cops standing between the civil society and chaos; law and order vs. lawlessness; prey and predator.