The community newspaper for Solon

Solon Economist
The community newspaper for Solon

Solon Economist
The community newspaper for Solon

Solon Economist
All content by Joel Kellar
Falyn Svalstad (335) and Addison Seamans pace each other during last year’s Bob Brown Cross Country Classic. Svalstad, a junior this year, and Seamans, now a sophomore, add to the Lady Spartans’ depth this season.

[Photo] Focused on health and Fort Dodge

Mike Kabela, Special to the Solon Economist
August 28, 2025
Rene Meza, a member of Solon Robotics, observes the arena seconds before a scrimmage competition begins Thursday, October 24, 2024, at the Solon Community Center.

[Photo] Two open houses announced for Solon Robotics

August 13, 2025
Ali Dorn tosses a bale over the bar in the 2024 Solon Beef Days Hay Bale Toss. This year’s competition is set for Friday, July 18 on Main Street.

[Photo] It’s almost time for Beef Days again!

AJ Dolan, Intern
July 9, 2025
Exterior bricks are cracked and the mortar meant to connect bricks is disconnecting at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and Jail in Iowa City. Repairs on the 45-year old building this year will cost $3.5 million, Sheriff Brad Kunkel said at the June 4 Solon City Council meeting.

[Photo] Johnson County Sheriff’s Office seeks community input ahead of 2026 jail referendum

Natalia Scales, Intern
June 11, 2025

Lady Spartans finish their track season Saturday with sprint medley

Joel Kellar
May 24, 2025

Girls’ 4×400 Relay top ten finish highlights Friday at State Track

Joel Kellar, For the Solon Economist
May 23, 2025

Spartan’s jump out of the blocks to start the 2025 State Coed Track Meet

Joel Kellar, For the Solon Economist
May 22, 2025

Defunding and definition: What’s next for Iowa libraries

Joel Kellar
May 14, 2025
Marin Ashbacker hands off the baton to Kobi Lietz for the third leg of the 4x200-meter relay Thursday, April 3, at the Mount Vernon Relays. Piper Stahle, Ashbacker, Lietz, and Aly Stahle took third place in 1:47.77 while the Lady Spartans were third overall in team points.

Haluska leads Lady Spartans to a third place finish at Mount Vernon

Joel Kellar, For the Solon Economist
April 10, 2025
Evan Burg blasts out of the blocks for the first leg of the 4x200-meter relay Thursday, April 3 in the Mount Vernon Relays. Burg, Brady White, Eli Kampman, and Caleb Bock took 4th in 1:34.13 and the Spartans were sixth in overall team points.

Boys’ track notches two first place finishes at Mount Vernon

Joel Kellar, For the Solon Economist
April 10, 2025
Farrah Hendricks attempts to steal the ball back from Regina.

Lady Spartans drop frigid season opener to Regina Catholic

Joel Kellar, For the Solon Economist
April 10, 2025

Spartans postseason run ended by undefeated Clear Lake Lions

Joel Kellar, For the Solon Economist
March 5, 2025
Grant Gordon heaves up a three from the corner that breaks the tie in overtime and sends the Spartan faithful into a frenzy last Thursday (Feb. 27) in a Class 3A Substate 3 semifinal game against the Nevada Cubs.

Grant Gordon delivers to send Spartans to state qualifier

Joel Kellar, Sports Reporter
March 5, 2025
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

Bock leads Spartans past Benton in substate thriller

Joel Kellar, For the Solon Economist
February 27, 2025

A shift into spring means it’s budget season for the Solon Community School District

Joel Kellar, Solon Economist
February 21, 2025
Jerzey Haluska (24) battles for a rebound as CPU Stormin’ Pointers and Quinn Armentrout (10) join in the fray Tuesday, Jan. 28 at home. The Pointers outlasted the Spartans 57-53 (with ten points from Haluska) to improve to 11-5 on the season while dropping the Lady Spartans to 8-8.

Lady Spartan hoops’ comeback attempt falls short vs CPU

Joel Kellar, Reporter
February 5, 2025
Sophomore Maddox Kelley (11) draws a foul from Mount Vernon sophomore Seth Rushford (33) in the second half of the varsity game Friday, Jan. 24 against Mount Vernon. The Spartans improved to 9-4 with a 58-41 upset of the Mustangs, who dipped to 11-3.

Spartans’ hoops extends winning streak to six upsetting Mount Vernon

Joel Kellar, Reporter
January 30, 2025
Freshman Beckett Kruse (32) is fouled by Mount Vernon freshman Quinn Pershing 4) in varsity action Friday, Jan. 24. The No. 1-ranked Mustangs rolled past the Lady Spartans 57-33.

Lady Spartans unable to knock off top-ranked Mount Vernon

Joel Kellar, Reporter
January 30, 2025
McKenna Rogers takes down Mount Vernon’s Kiersten Swart in the 110-pound match Thursday, Jan. 23 at home. Swart and Rogers battled through nearly the full three periods before Swart got the advantage over Rogers, pinning her in 5:51. Mount Vernon took the dual meet 49-27.

Lady Spartans wrestlers fall to rival Mustangs

Joel Kellar, Reporter
January 30, 2025
Charlie Karam goes for the pin against Mount Vernon’s Chasen Caskey in the 138-pound match Thursday, Jan. 23 at home. Karam won by technical fall, 16-0, in 4:03.

Spartan Wrestling unable to take down Mount Vernon

Joel Kellar, Reporter
January 30, 2025
Kobi Lietz (1) puts up a two-point shot in varsity action Friday, Dec. 13 against Benton Community. The Lady Spartans powered past the Bobcats for a 61-24 win with a game-high 19 points from Lietz.

Lady Spartans dominate Benton in statement victory

Joel Kellar, For the Solon Economist
December 19, 2024
Senior guard #1 Kobi Lietz goes up for a layup during the game against Iowa City West.

Lady Spartans basketball falls in tough test against Iowa City West

Joel Kellar
November 27, 2024
The Lady Spartans take the floor for the second half of the Class 3A Championship Game Friday, March 1, 2024, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Solon defeated Estherville-Lincoln Central 54-47 for their first 3A State Championship, and the first since 1998 (2A).

New team, same expectations for Lady Spartan Hoops

Joel Kellar, Solon Economist
November 20, 2024
Emotions begin to show for the Lady Spartans after finishing the 5k. They placed fourth place at the State Meet Friday, Nov. 1 in Fort Dodge.

Girls’ cross country places fourth at state meet

Joel Kellar
November 7, 2024
Rene Meza, a member of Solon Robotics, observes the arena seconds before a scrimmage competition begins Thursday, October 24 at the Solon Community Center.

A new season begins for Solon Robotics

Joel Kellar
October 31, 2024
Livya Nelson, Sydney Dee, and Kinley Mai run in a pack at the front of the race. The Lady Spartans placed second at the Williamsburg

Williamsburg meet primes cross country for big October

Joel Kellar
October 10, 2024
Preston Raasch and (right) Deacon Waddell finish together. The freshmen are two of three that scored for the Spartans this past Saturday in Anamosa.

Girls cross country places second at Anamosa, boys place six amid more injuries

Joel Kellar, Solon Economist
October 2, 2024
Sydney Dee battles her way to a 4th overall finish in the Women's Varsity race Monday in Solon’s home invitational meet.

Lady Spartans win, Spartans fourth at home XC meet

Joel Kellar, Solon Economist
September 25, 2024
Allen Shima (left) and Kacey Craig (right) set up for their shots during trapshooting practice.

The perfect shot

Joel Kellar, Solon Economist
September 25, 2024

‘The energy was electric’

Joel Kellar, Solon Economist
September 19, 2024
Senior Evan Burg (339) and teammate Anders Holmes, a freshman, charge up the steep hill at the Kickers Soccer park in Iowa City last Thursday during Regina Catholic’s Bob Brown Cross Country Classic.

Lady Spartans win, Spartans fifth at Regina’s Bob Brown Cross Country Classic

Joel Kellar, Reporter
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.

Spartan football dominates Assumption 33-7 in season opener

Joel Kellar, Reporter
September 5, 2024
Fire Chief Bob Siddell receives a $1,000 donation from Henry Rios and Larry Swan, representing the American Legion of Iowa Foundation.

American Legion of Iowa Foundation makes donation to Solon firefighters

Joel Kellar, Reporter
August 28, 2024

$30 Million Conservation bond up for vote in November’s general election

Joel Kellar, Reporter
August 28, 2024
Contributed

New senior housing complex proposed for Solon

Joel Kellar, Reporter
August 21, 2024
Ruben Galvan is the new head coach for Lady Spartans volleyball this season. Galvan, who spent 26 years leading the program at West Liberty, brings 35 years of coaching experience to Solon.

A new season and a new coach for Solon volleyball

Joel Kellar, Reporter
August 21, 2024
The Spartans gather around the Class 3A State Participant trophy after falling 45-14 to WaMaC West rival Williamsburg Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in the Semifinal round at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls. (Deb Rebal / Special to the Solon Economist)

Solon football looking to finish the job

Joel Kellar, Reporter
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.

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

Joel Kellar, Reporter
August 21, 2024
Erin Kerkhoff and Jessica Heims

Local athletes to represent Team USA in Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

Joel Kellar, Reporter
August 21, 2024
Jessica Heims throws the discus during the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. This was the first meet that Heims committed to only throwing discus. (Contributed photo)

Jessica Heims’ pipe dream turns into a reality for a third time

Joel Kellar, Reporter
August 21, 2024
Erin Kerkhoff finishes a relay race during her high school career at Solon. Kerkhoff won 11 state medals and broke two school records during her time racing as a Lady Spartan. (Contributed)

Erin Kerkhoff, the Hometown Hero that can’t see

Joel Kellar, Reporter
August 21, 2024
SCSD’s first day is next Friday

SCSD’s first day is next Friday

Joel Kellar, Reporter
August 14, 2024
Allen ties these beads to his guitar and mic for every show he performs. Allen uses the beads to honor his longtime friend he shared the stage with many times, Stevie G.

Solon’s own stars at Music on Main Street

Joel Kellar, Reporter
August 7, 2024
Brodie Hansen looks at one of the dinosaurs that were scattered around the library lawn for the scavenger hunt.

An evening with the dinosaurs

Joel Kellar, Reporter
August 7, 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
Solon high school welcomes new principal, Drew Bunkers

Solon high school welcomes new principal, Drew Bunkers

Joel Kellar, Reporter
July 31, 2024
Lane Steinbrech leads his cow into the ring to be judged.

[Photo] Photos/Results: Solon’s 4-H’ers shine in the ring

July 31, 2024
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2