Doug Lindner

SOLON– It’s been a bumpy ride for kindergarten-through-fifth grade families opting for the Solon Community School District’s (SCSD) virtual learning option.
But SCSD Director of Teaching and Learning Josh Lyons reported things improved after lengthy and serious conversations with the third-party provider Edmentum, Inc.
Lyons and Superintendent Davis Eidahl updated Solon school board members on the district’s Return to Learn plan during a Sept. 17 meeting.
Eidahl opened the meeting by noting the district’s success with onsite learning.

SOLON– A lot of people think of a game warden as the friendly officer checking fishing licenses.
And while partially true, there’s another side to the job that’s not as family-friendly, according to Erika Billerbeck.
Billerbeck, of Solon, recounted some of the grittier true-life tales from her career as an Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) law enforcement officer in her newly-published memoir, “Wildland Sentinel: Field Notes from an Iowa Conservation Officer.”

SOLON– They bested Huskies and Tigers, but had trouble with Lions and Cougars.
Solon’s varsity volleyball squad went 2-1 at a home quad meet Sept. 10 and 1-2 at a Linn-Mar tourney Sept. 12. If you toss out the 3-0 sweep at the hands of the top-ranked (3A) Mount Vernon Mustangs to start the week, the team notched a .500 mark.
The Spartans stayed close with the No. 1 Mustangs in Mount Vernon, falling 25-18, 25-14 and 25-18.
“We did a good job of shutting down their big hitter, we just made too many mistakes,” observed Solon Head Coach Jeff Walker.

SOLON– It’s time to adapt for the Solon United Methodist Church (SUMC).
The COVID-19 pandemic shook up an already changing cultural landscape for many churches, but provided a silver lining for the local Methodists.
The global shutdown early in 2020 allowed the SUMC to tackle a messy basement remodel and pave the way for a new Director of Christian Education.
The renewed focus on families and youth will be front and center as the church re-launches live Sunday School classes Sept. 13.

SOLON– When things were looking bleak for fundraising, a Solon family came through.
The Dennis and Jana Munson family of rural Solon donated $500,000 to the Solon Firehouse campaign.
“Obviously, our hats are off to the Munson family,” said firefighter and Firehouse organizer and Greg Morris. “Dennis and his family are just committed to what we provide and do for our community. They all view it as an important entity of our community.”
Morris was on the treadmill when his phone rang with a number he didn’t recognize.