The community newspaper for Solon

Solon Economist
The community newspaper for Solon

Solon Economist
The community newspaper for Solon

Solon Economist

Solon’s farming roots run deep

Emma Jane, Solon Economist • March 11, 2025

SOLON — For more than a century, agriculture has been at the heart of Solon evolving alongside the town itself. From grain elevators to feed mills, family-run businesses like Solon Feed Mill and...

Abigail Allen and Leila LaRoche (at left) and Trevin Wilcox and Gwen LaGrange (at right) take aim during their flights at the 2025 Iowa National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) State Tournament at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The high school Spartans took second place in Bullseye (traditional target) competition. Solon's high school and middle school teams advanced to Nationals in May.

Spartan archers 2nd at State

March 11, 2025

DES MOINES — High school and middle school archers from across the state gathered at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Friday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 1, for the 2025 Iowa National Archery in the...

(From left) Jadlyn Huynh (Agnes/Pirate 1), Abby Kramer (Pirate), Merrick Gravert (Morgan Bluebeard), Evann Freerks (Princess Maria), Natalie Arthur (Jackie Bluebeard), and MacKenna Kramer (Pirate) rehearse a scene from The Pirate Sisters and the Bounty for Bluebeard, this year’s spring play at Solon High School. The curtain goes up Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9 in the Center for the Arts.

YO HO!

Chris Umscheid, Editor • February 27, 2025

SOLON — Famous pirate John Bluebeard has given up his life of piracy for the love of Princess Maria. But, after he is captured by Queen Victoria and the powerhungry Prince George, it is up to Maria...

Solon’s Lucas Feuerbach reacts to his defeat as Glenwood’s Mason Koehler celebrates winning the 215-pound State Championship match Saturday night in the finals of the 2025 State Wrestling Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Koehler took a 7-0 decision from Feuerbach, a sophomore and now two-time state qualifier.

Lucas Feuerbach rolls to a second place finish at state

Joel Kellar, For the Solon Economist • February 27, 2025

DES MOINES — It was the Lucas Feuerbach show in Des Moines at Wells Fargo Arena during the State High School Wrestling Tournament last week. After receiving a bye in the first round, Feuerbach dominated...

Contributed photo

Lions, a puppy, and a mission

Chris Umscheid, Editor • February 21, 2025

MISSOURI — Bobbi Jo is a very busy little girl. As a Future Leader Dog, she’s enjoying all of the excitement and adventures of being a Labrador retriever puppy, such as sitting and watching, playing...

Lake Macbride Fat Tire Classic in Solon, IA on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. The annual race featured a 30-mile loop as well as a 15-mile loop and spanned across wooded single track, gravel trails, and fields.

Cyclists take on snow and steep climbs at Lake Macbride

Emma Jane, The Daily Iowan • February 12, 2025

Cyclists braved the cold and flurries near Lake Macbride State Park on Saturday for the Lake Macbride Fat Tire Classic, an annual bike event bringing cyclists from across the state to Solon. Presented...

18 Solon High School students were among 51 members of the Cedar Rapids Prairie HS FFA Chapter who received their traditional blue FFA jackets Tuesday, Jan. 28 during a ceremony at Prairie. (Kristy Thomann | Contributed photo)

Solon HS students receive FFA jackets

February 5, 2025

CEDAR RAPIDS — Eighteen Solon High School students enrolled in Future Farmers of America (FFA) classes this year received their distinctive and traditional National Blue with Corn Gold trim jackets...

Participants in the Solon Optimist Club’s and Knights of Columbus’ annual basketball events pose with their trophies, plaques, and certificates Sunday, Jan. 26, in the gym of the Solon Community Center.

Putting their basketball skills to the test

Chris Umscheid, Editor • January 30, 2025

SOLON — With the varsity basketball seasons rushing headlong toward the postseason, the next generation of Spartans and Lady Spartans put their skills to the test in the Solon Optimist Club’s and...

The architect’s rendering show what a proposed senior (55+) apartment complex, to be built along Windflower Lane in the Fox Ridge development on the south side of Solon, will look like.

Council approves site plan for proposed senior housing complex

January 16, 2025

The Solon City Council took action on two items related to a proposed senior housing (55+) complex during their regular meeting Wednesday, Jan. 8. The Solon Community Housing Corporation is proposing...

Solon Middle School 7th grade student RJ Smalley presents balloons, a T-shirt, and a small scale replica of the leg lamp from the 1983 comedy movie “A Christmas Story” to Principal Mike Herdliska as the students and staff celebrate an “Exceptional” rating from the Iowa Department of Education for the 2023-2024 school year Friday, Dec. 13.

One of the best

Chris Umscheid, Editor • December 19, 2024

SOLON — The Iowa Department of Education released performance ratings for the 2023-2024 school year last month marking the first time new state school performance ratings and federal designations...

The Solon United Methodist Church will host the annual Christmas Tree Walk Saturday, Dec. 7, in the Family Life Center. This year’s event is sponsored in part by the Solon Recreation Dept. and the Solon Economic Development Group along with volunteers from the Methodist Church.

The Season is upon us

Solon Economist • November 27, 2024

SOLON — The Christmas Season kicks off in grand style Saturday, Dec. 7 as the annual Christmas Tree Walk and Arts Festival returns to the Solon United Methodist Church’s Family Life Center. This...

The front of The Eat Shop was boarded up Tuesday evening after a vehicle jumped the curb and struck it. Photo by Trevor McGill and provided to the Economist my Tim Brown.

Driver takes a bite out of The Eat Shop

November 13, 2024

A Cedar Rapids driver was cited after a single vehicle crash Tuesday evening in Solon. At 5:12 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Joint Emergency Communications Center (JECC) received a report that a vehicle...

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