News

By Eric Hawkinson
Solon Economist
SOLON– The teachers have spoken.
A committee of Solon teachers met Friday. Aug. 9, to discuss the future of Standards-Based Grading (SBG) in Solon schools. Although the meeting did not result in a comprehensive plan for the year, teacher representatives felt confident with the direction the administration is heading.
The Solon school district administration, and members of the teacher committee, presented their SBG guiding document to the board on Monday, Aug. 12.

NORTH LIBERTY– It’s been almost five years since John and Amanda Hruby bought a long-established bar in North Liberty and began working to make it better.
Since then, J&A Tap’s food, beverage selection, live music and volleyball leagues have drawn so many patrons the couple has had to expand their offerings.
On July 23, the North Liberty City Council approved conditional use permit and site plan for J&A Tap, so the crowds of people who come to play volleyball will be able to both serve and be served outdoors.

SOLON– A splash pad was out of the question– too expensive.
Ball diamonds would cost $25,000 each.
So with donations in hand, the Solon Parks and Recreation Commission went before the Solon City Council last week to ask for permission to spend $16,200 on a modest, open-air park shelter at the Solon Recreation and Nature Area (SRNA).
It wasn’t as easy as it might have sounded.

NORTH LIBERTY– North Liberty police uncovered the pre-cursor materials for a meth lab in a North Liberty apartment building last week.
On Thursday, Aug. 8, at approximately 9:46 p.m., a North Liberty police officer made contact with a subject near a vehicle in the parking lot of 40 Sugar Creek Ln. in North Liberty. The female subject reportedly had outstanding arrest warrants. During the contact, officers discovered material used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, including pseudoephedrine. Additional pre-cursors were believed to be in the apartment at 40 Sugar Creek Ln. #202.

IOWA CITY– Nearly a year after charges were filed and a little over a week from when his vehicular homicide trial was to begin, 20-year-old Zachary Swenka agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. Swenka, the driver in an October 2011 wreck near the Clear Creek Amana (CCA) High School, will formally enter his guilty plea and be sentenced on Friday, Sept. 6.