SOLON — Again this year the Solon Economist is fortunate to have some extra help in the form of interns through our ownership by The Daily Iowan (Student Publications, Inc.) and partnership with the University of Iowa’s journalism school. Last year Joel Kellar blazed a trail as the Economist’s first intern, covering everything from sports to general assignments. His efforts netted him two First Place awards from the Iowa Newspaper Foundation.

This summer we have three interns – Ella McEntaffer, AJ Dolan, and Natalia Scales.

McEntaffer worked this spring as an intern and did a fine job including providing good coverage of the recent Firefighter’s breakfast and Memorial Day ceremonies. Dolan covered Solon’s winter sports through the U of I’s prep sports reporting seminar class and Scales was in the community news capstone class.

The following are introductions, in their own words.

We are excited and grateful for their help and for the opportunity to provide real world experience in the field of journalism in general, and smalltown newspapering in particular.

When you see them at events and gatherings in Solon, please tell them hello and welcome them to Solon. We’re glad to have them.

Ella McEntaffer

I joined the Solon Economist and the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun as an intern in February, and I have had an amazing experience so far. Working under (publisher) Jason Brummond, Chris Umscheid, and (Sun editor) Nathan Countryman, I have learned so much and truly grown my reporting and writing skills. I couldn’t ask for better mentors, I am excited to continue working with them. Besides the great staff, I have loved being able to meet so many different people in the Solon, Mount Vernon, and Lisbon areas. Everyone I have gotten the opportunity to interview has been incredibly welcoming and supportive of my work and learning.

I will be a senior at the University of Iowa, majoring in journalism and mass communications with a minor in music and history. I originally came into college as a science major, but I quickly realized that I enjoyed classes with written and creative elements far more. I have always enjoyed stories, so I guess it is no surprise that I ended up pursuing a degree telling them.

Besides writing, I enjoy going to Hawkeye games with my friends, playing guitar, working out, traveling, and walking my dog.

One aspect that I have liked about this internship is being able to experience and tell the stories of small-town Iowa. I am from a large suburb, so I feel lucky to have been given the opportunity to explore eastern Iowa through my writing. Solon, Mount Vernon, and Lisbon are all such beautiful communities, and I am excited to gain more connections in the area.

AJ Dolan

Through mountains of homework, late nights with friends, and downtown Iowa City adventures; endless stories have blossomed themselves into the lives of so many, especially me.

Those experiences are what drive people today, giving many the opportunity to tell a story and, in turn, feeding into what we’ve come to understand as our area’s version of modern journalism. Seeing this firsthand is where my love for journalism began.

From a younger age, I always knew that writing was the art medium that called to me. It called to me in a way where I could employ its abilities and grasp its capabilities, coming to me naturally by means of which nothing had before in my life. I valued writing all throughout public school but lost its touch when enrolling at the University of Iowa where I so tentatively decided on being business major. As a freshman in college, I felt that, like so many do, I was not following my true passion, but the school’s journalism program landed in my lap at the right time, and I knew that this is what I should follow.

Now, as a 21-year-old amid life’s changes, I’m nothing short of excited to be writing and reporting for the Solon Economist and Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun as an intern. This past semester, I had the privilege of capturing special moments in high school sports in the form of photos and articles for said respective papers, and I wouldn’t trade those experiences for the world. It is where my previously stated love for journalism truly planted its flag in my life.

As an intern, I plan to display that love in every piece I produce this summer, not only for the sake of good journalism, but also for the sake of the communities involved.

I am an Iowa resident through and through and to be able to represent our area’s stories is a dream come true. Like I said, I’m a young man with much to learn, particularly about journalism in this case, but with the help of our editors Chris Umscheid and Nathan Countryman, I feel I will continue to be at home within the communities of Solon and Mount Vernon.

Natalia Scales

For me, I knew I wanted to become a journalist when I joined my high school newspaper. What started as a curiosity quickly became a passion—I found joy in telling stories, asking questions, and connecting with readers through writing. That sense of purpose and excitement has stayed with me ever since.

Now, I’m thrilled to introduce myself as the new summer reporting intern for the Solon Economist and Mount
Vernon-Lisbon Sun. I graduated this spring from the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism, ready to take the next step in a field I have grown to love. This internship was offered to me by publisher Jason Brummond, and I did not hesitate to say yes. It is a privilege to have the chance to work along-
side both—Nathan Countryman of the Sun and Chris Umscheid of the Economist. Their experience and commitment to local journalism make them ideal mentors as I continue developing my skills and learning what it takes to produce meaningful, community-centered work.

I have spent most of my life in Iowa, growing up in the Des Moines suburbs and attending school at the University of Iowa. In that time, I have come to appreciate the stories that make up this state—the people, places, and values that define it. I am looking forward to getting to know Solon and the Mount Vernon-Lisbon area more deeply through the lens of local reporting. This summer, I hope to grow as a journalist, contribute to the community, and tell stories that matter. I am excited for what lies ahead.