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NORTH LIBERTY– You won’t often find Nick Bergus jogging around the indoor track at the North Liberty Recreation Center.
“I don’t like running inside,” he said. “It’s definitely not my favorite.”
Despite his office in the North Liberty Communications Department being located virtually underneath the track, Bergus said he prefers outdoor runs– even in the winter.
“I’ve got my whole chart for outside temperature and what I need to actually wear,” he said. “This time of year I’m in the baklava and I’m wearing two layers on my legs and two or three layers on top.”

IOWA CITY– You might call him the Johnny Appleseed of Johnson County. Spend a little time talking apples with Paul Rasch and you easily imagine him sitting down with that iconic apple evangelist of the 19th century, quaffing hard cider and striking up a spirited conversation on the relative merits of heritage fruit trees and the ripening schedules of various cultivars.

SOLON– The Solon Community Food Pantry recently received an exceptionally large, 1,425-pound food donation from a very unique project. Four students in Jodi Leimkuehler’s Business Management class at Solon High School did not just talk about management, they actually became managers. Cael Starr, Clay Gerdin, Colton Spellman and Lucas Walker helped organize a competitive food drive between classes at Lakeview Elementary as part of Jodi’s Lead2Feed Service Leadership program.

CEDAR RAPIDS– A pair of “three-peats” marked Iowa City West High’s appearance in the 2016 State Volleyball Tournament Tuesday, Nov. 8, at the U.S. Cellular Center, in Cedar Rapids. It was the third consecutive appearance for the Women of Troy, and sadly, the third consecutive year eliminated in the first (quarterfinal) round. The Jaguars of Ankeny Centennial knocked West High out of the Class 5A championship hunt, 3-1 (26-24, 16-25, 14-25, 23-25).

NORTH LIBERTY– Jolene and Chad Darter traveled nearly four hours to give their daughter one hour of giant bowling, noodle hockey and aerobic drumming– activities that may seem more like fun and games than sports.
But Melissa Clarke-Wharff, founder and executive director of Courage League Sports based in Central Iowa, believes her organization provides just what kids with physical, cognitive or emotional disabilities need.
“It’s more than just sports,” she said.