The community newspaper for Solon

Solon Economist
The community newspaper for Solon

Solon Economist
The community newspaper for Solon

Solon Economist

Chris Umscheid, Editor

Chris Umscheid is the editor of the Solon Economist.

All content by Chris Umscheid
Alexis Kurth, Adult Services Librarian, installs a child safety seat in the backseat of a vehicle during a car seat safety inspection event Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Solon Public Library. Kurth and former Solon staffer Cassi Elton helped participants figure out the maze of straps, buckles, and clips to ensure proper use of the seats.

Close isn’t enough, it has to be right

Chris Umscheid, Solon Economist
October 2, 2024
Rucking through Solon for vets

Rucking through Solon for vets

Chris Umscheid, Editor
September 25, 2024
Solon senior Grace Hoeper won the varsity 200-yard IM and the 500-yard Freestyle events last Tuesday at Cedar Rapids Washington High School, easily out-pacing the field and besting the state qualifying times in both.

Hoeper smokes the field in 200 IM and 500 Freestyle but CR Wash tops City High

Chris Umscheid, Solon Economist
September 25, 2024
Eli Kampman (7) attempts to break up a pass intended for Mount Vernon’s Watson Krob (1) this past Friday at home on Armed Forces Night. The Spartans held off their archrivals for a 7-6 win to remain undefeated at 4-0 on the season ahead of the start of district play this week.

[Photo] Spartans survive late charge by Mustangs

September 25, 2024
The sophomore football team carries a 35’ American Flag (on loan from the Cedar Rapids Fire Department) along the sideline as pregame ceremonies for Armed Forces Night are about to get underway this past Friday during the Mount Vernon vs. Solon varsity football game.

[Photo] Armed Forces Night

September 25, 2024

A new season and a new career too?

Chris Umscheid, Editor
September 19, 2024
Gable Knight (10) slams the ball back to the Vikettes in varsity action at home last Thursday.

Lady Spartans sweep Vikettes 3-0

Chris Umscheid
September 19, 2024
Mabel Kremer takes Finn for a fast ride in the gym at the Solon Community Center as the September Fun For All Night gets underway. The free monthly event gives kids an hour to burn off energy before settling in for a movie.

Bringing the fun indoors

Chris Umscheid, Editor
September 19, 2024
Denny Hansen, U.S. Army veteran, retired firefighter, and Sgt. at Arms for the American Legion Stinocher Post 460 folds a large American flag with help from sophomore football players Nicholas Gerdin (22), Tripp Johnson (14), and Caden Bails (26) . The sophomore team (JV) carried the flag onto the track for the pregame ceremonies for last year’s Armed Forces Night. This year active duty military personnel and veterans will be honored Friday, Sept. 20 at the Mount Vernon vs. Solon football game in Spartan Stadium.

[Photo] Solon High School hosts Armed Forces Night this Friday

September 19, 2024
Doug “Doc” Thompson and Solon Firefighter Daylan Tompkins lead the way on a 2.2-mile ruck (walk/march) through Solon last September to raise awareness of the issue of veteran suicide. The event also raised nearly $3k for Iowa Veterans Outdoor Experience, an all-volunteer group who host events for veterans. This year’s event is set for Saturday, Sept. 21.

A walk to save lives

Chris Umscheid, Editor
September 11, 2024

Fall is the ideal time for a furnace check up

Chris Umscheid, Editor
September 11, 2024

Geothermal — a customizable alternative to high utility bills

Chris Umscheid, Editor
September 11, 2024
Sophomore Maddox Kelley (4) sails toward the soft new turf after being tripped up by an Assumption defender this past Friday in the varsity season opener.

[Photo] Spartan football dominates Assumption 33-7 in season opener

Joel Kellar, Reporter
September 5, 2024
Freshman Kinley Mai and senior Sydney Dee each ran 21:16.8 with Dee being declared the third place finisher and Mai 4th in the girls race Saturday morning at the Anamosa Middle School for the Anamosa meet while the Lady Spartans edged out Washington for the team title.

[Photo] Newcomers help varsity cross teams to fast start in Anamosa

Mike Kabela
September 5, 2024
Christian Brauns, new Teen Services Librarian at the Solon Public Library, is charged with creating programming for Solon students from 6th-12th grade and curating book collections appropriate to their age groups and interests.

Making the Library a place for tweens and teens

Chris Umscheid, Editor
September 5, 2024

Done, done, and almost done (finally)

Chris Umscheid, Editor
September 5, 2024
Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460 has partnered with the City of Solon for a hometown heroes banner program called “Solon Salutes!” The banners will be up until after Veterans Day. More banners are coming and applications are still being accepted.

Solon Salutes vets with banner program

Chris Umscheid, Editor
August 28, 2024
Freshmen Dayne Rickertsen (65), Ian Cronk (24), Foster Owens (22), and Sawyer Hancox (26) get ready for battle. The freshmen scrimmaged against Maquoketa this past Friday evening in a non-scoring half-field game while the JV squad (sophomores) battled Monticello on the other half of the field before the varsity tangled with Maquoketa and Monticello in a triangular fashion.

Week Zero: The Solon Spartans prepare for football season

Chris Umscheid, Editor
August 28, 2024

IHSAA, IGHSAU separate golf starting in 2025-26

Chris Umscheid, Editor
August 21, 2024
Rene Meza (303) and Gabe Nicholson (305) charge up the hill at the Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City during Regina Catholic’s Bob Brown Invitational last year.

[Photo] A tale of two cities for Solon’s runners this season

Joel Kellar, Reporter
August 21, 2024
Two employees of Johnson County Refuse wait while a third crushes and compacts a plastic deck box during the annual Citywide Clean Up Day this past Saturday morning at the SRNA. Residents were able to dispose of unwanted items cluttering up their property during the two-hour event.

Cleaning up the town

Chris Umscheid, Editor
August 14, 2024
People stand in line for the Rockstar ride back-lit by the Sizzler in the Sam’s Mainstreet Market parking lot Friday evening. Sam’s Amusements & Carnival from Shawnee, OK returned to Beef Days and once again filled the lot and Main St. with rides and games.

Photos: Solon Beef Days

Chris Umscheid and Joel Kellar
July 31, 2024
Rex Schmidt, from Solon, checks the sled as he competes in the 2024 Beef Days Kid’s Tractor Pull Friday, July 19. Schmidt made it 11’-9” for second place in the 35 pounds and under class.

Photos: Kid’s Tractor Pull – Solon Beef Days

Chris Umscheid, Editor
July 31, 2024
Kayla Meseck, a junior, received WaMaC Recognition and was named to the Iowa Girls Coaches Association’s Academic All-State Team.

[Photo] ‘The Best 18-24 Team You’ll Ever See’

Joel Kellar, Reporter
July 31, 2024
Solon's Brett White was named the WaMaC East Player of the Year.

[Photo] Seven Spartans earn WaMaC East honors

July 31, 2024
The 2024 Solon Beef Days Parade stretches down the length of Dubuque St. Saturday morning. The parade began at 10:00 a.m. and lasted a little over an hour.

Photos: Solon Beef Days Parade

Chris Umscheid and Joel Kellar
July 24, 2024
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