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
The Solon High School Marching Band exits the field after pregame ceremonies Friday, August 29. The 40-some-member band performed the National Anthem and school fight song to open the first varsity football game of the season and debuted their competition piece for the year during halftime.

Pumping up the crowd

Chris Umscheid, Editor
September 3, 2025
Coach Elizabeth Rohner keeps a watchful eye as a team of cheerleaders launches Layla Knazze skyward while practicing before the start of the varsity football game Friday, August 29. Rohner and co-coach Kashi Griffith have 20 girls on the squad this season.

Firing up the team and the crowd under the Friday night lights

Chris Umscheid, Editor
September 3, 2025
Don Ellis, “The Voice of the Spartans,” announces the end of a lightning delay and that the crowd may reenter Spartan Stadium ahead of the pregame warm ups and ceremony before the opening kick Friday, August 29. Ellis has been the man on the mic since 1988, becoming a Friday night football tradition in Solon.

Until it isn’t fun anymore

Chris Umscheid, Editor
September 3, 2025
Maddox Kelley (4) was very (un)popular with the Assumption Catholic HS Knights Friday, August 29 in the season opening game. Kelley took nine passes 84 yards for three touchdowns in a 36-13 Spartan win.

[Photo] Solon football secures 36-13 victory over Assumption behind QB Kampman’s monster game

Chris Meglio, Special to the Solon Economist
September 3, 2025
Hudson Pauley (front) and Mac Svalstad bring down an Assumption Knight Friday, August 29 in the frosh-soph game. Solon shut out the Assumption Knights 8-0.

Frosh-sophs shut out the Knights 8-0

Chris Umscheid, Editor
September 3, 2025
Avery Feuerbach, a freshman, won the JV 100-yard backstroke, took 2nd in the JV 200 IM (shown here), and swam the first leg of the 2nd place JV 200 freestyle relay in Iowa City High’s season opening meet Tuesday, August 26 at Kennedy HS in Cedar Rapids.

[Photo] Cougars top Little Hawks 103-83 in season opening meet for girls swimming & diving

September 3, 2025
Falyn Svalstad, Addison Seamans, Mailee Schmidt, and Liv Nelson go full throttle down the short, steep downhill on a sharp S-curve Saturday, August 30 on the grounds of the Anamosa Middle School for their season opening meet.

[Photo] Solon Cross Country has strong open to 2025 season as Lady Spartans place first and Spartans place second in the Anamosa Invitational

Lance Peterson, Special to the Solon Economist
September 3, 2025
Maddox Kelley, a junior, takes a pass from senior quarterback Eli Kampman as the Spartans take on the Knights of Davenport Assumption Catholic Friday night in Solon. The Spartans scrapped the Knights 36-13.

Spartans reign 36-13 in season opener against Assumption

Chris Umscheid, Editor
August 30, 2025

‘Does anybody know what time it is?’

Chris Umscheid, Editor
August 28, 2025

SHS to host mental health/suicide awareness event Sunday, Sept. 7

Chris Umscheid, Editor
August 28, 2025
Eli Kampman (3) tackles a Linn-Mar Lion Friday, August 22, at home in a varsity scrimmage. The regular season starts this Friday as Assumption Catholic (Davenport) visits for a non-district

Week Zero for Spartans FB

Chris Umscheid, Editor
August 28, 2025
Maddie Elkins returns to the City High lineup this season as a junior.

Four lady Spartans and a large freshman class boost the Little Hawk’s ranks this season

Chris Umscheid, Editor
August 28, 2025
Solon Centennial Lions Club members Marti Hendricks and Jay Proffitt stand ready to assist as Pieter Frolichs refills his water bottle at an aid station the Lions set up at the SRNA Saturday morning in support of the Core 4 bike races.

Where there’s a need, there’s a Lion

Chris Umscheid, Editor
August 20, 2025
The American flag, and visitors are reflected in the highly polished panels making up The Moving Wall, a half-sized replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. The display, with the names of over 58,000 servicemen and women, was on display in the American Legion Stinocher Post 460’s ball field in August 2021. Next month a similar wall dedicated to the Global War on Terror, from the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon to the 2021 withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan will be in Solon at Legion Park.

Honoring, remembering, and healing

Chris Umscheid, Editor
August 20, 2025
The Spartans take the field.

More than meets the eye

Chris Umscheid, Editor
August 20, 2025
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[Photo] Two open houses announced for Solon Robotics

August 20, 2025
Xiang helps RJ fist-bump Trixie the Tyrannosaurus during the 4th annual Dinosaurs at Dusk event on the patio at the Solon Public Library. The event celebrated the life of Jack Neuzil, who hand-crafted well over 100 wooden dinosaurs combining his love of woodworking, dinosaurs, and improving the lives of children.

Keeping Jack’s memory alive

Chris Umscheid, Editor
August 6, 2025
Homeowners insurance may cover damage from fallen trees if caused by storms or other covered perils as defined by the policy. Understanding your policies and acting quickly can help minimize stress and out-of-pocket expenses in these unexpected events.

[Photo] Tree damage and insurance

Sonya Sellmeyer, Consumer Advocacy Officer for the Iowa Insurance Division
August 6, 2025
Reece Meyer works with her steer Whiskey in the show ring during the Johnson County Fair. Whiskey received several awards and was selected for the 43rd annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show at the Iowa State Fair Saturday, August 9.

Packing her bags and asking for your support

Chris Umscheid, Editor
August 1, 2025
Ken Fullard (bass and vocals) keeps the rhythm going while Dave Shawver wails on the saxophone as the Funk Daddies rock downtown Solon with their mix of R&B and soul music Wednesday, July 23 during the Music on Main Street concert series.

Hot funk on a summer night

Chris Umscheid, Editor
July 30, 2025
An architect’s site plan shows the location of the future Jordan Creek Church on a plot of land approximately ¼ mile west of Solon along Highway 382 where it meets the Hoover Trail.

JoCo Board of Adjustment approves conditional use permit for Jordan Creek Church

Chris Umscheid, Editor
July 30, 2025
Beef Days Committee Treasurer Don Ellis presents Janice Brugman with the keys to her brand new golf cart. Brugman is the 2025 winner of the Beef Days golf cart raffle.

Beef Days raffle winners announced

Chris Umscheid, Editor
July 30, 2025
Ashton Volkert shows Sheldon the sheep during the Johnson County Fair as one Solon’s Clover Kids. Volkert borrowed Sheldon from Jessica Egly, of Fairfax

Clover Kids have their moments in the ring too

Chris Umscheid, Editor
July 30, 2025
Carson Reid, a 2025 Solon High School graduate, gives a thumbs up while competing in the USBC Junior Gold Bowling Championships in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Reid picked up his first perfect game (300 score) in his fifth round of competition in the tournament.

Carson Reid nails his first perfect game

Chris Umscheid, Editor
July 30, 2025
Barbie Johnson performs with Sugar & Spice on the Main Street stage Friday, July 18 to kick off the live entertainment for Solon Beef Days.

[Photo] Music of Beef Days

July 23, 2025
Norm ‘Squirrel’ Ziskovsky is as much a Solon Beef Days tradition as the steak he grills for the weekend’s steak sandwiches. Ziskovsky started grilling for Beef Days in 1976 has been a mainstay ever since grilling over 300 tons of meat for the hungry masses.

[Photo] A Beef Days photographic smorgasbord

July 23, 2025
Members of the Solon Spartans softball team

[Photo] Six Lady Spartans named to 2025 WaMaC East All Conference softball teams

July 23, 2025
Nolan Seagren

[Photo] Five Spartans named to 2025 WaMaC East All Conference baseball teams

July 23, 2025
Seniors Addie Miller (left) and Izzy Frees embrace with tears flowing after the final out of the Class 3A regional semifinal against archrival Mount Vernon in Mount Vernon Saturday evening.

[Photo] Lady Spartans softball handed season-ending loss by Mustangs

AJ Dolan, Intern
July 16, 2025
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