Community

SOLON– The snow came late, but it was still a banner year for the Iowa Snowdrifters.

The area snowmobile club was the 2018 Club of the Year for the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA).

“I just want to thank club members, landowners, our sponsors– everybody, in terms of the award, made that happen,” said Bill Hogan of rural Solon, the current club president. “I’m just happy to be part of the club.”

Hogan said the club was recognized for outstanding achievement in fundraising, community projects and the dedicated efforts of the members to manage and maintain the trails.

NORTH LIBERTY– Two friendly, furry creatures were spotted at the annual Breakfast with Santa event at the North Liberty Recreation Center on Saturday, Dec. 8. One was the North Liberty Lions Club’s mascot; a six-foot tall lion who greeted kids and adults alike, freely dispensing hugs and posing for pictures. The other was a ten-year old German Shepherd named Katie who, despite being on the job and in her uniform (service dog vest), graciously accepted petting and pats from complete strangers.

NORTH LIBERTY– On Monday, Nov. 19, the North Liberty Community Fund (NLCF) presented a sizable donation to the North Liberty Community Pantry.
The charitable gesture was not the first of its kind, and one the organization wants to spread further throughout the community.

Supportive stewardship

The NLCF was established in 2007, as an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Johnson County, to help support the unmet needs of local organizations and to maintain a safe, vital, healthy quality of life for the community.

TIFFIN– Even with the onset of winter, work continues on the Clear Creek Amana (CCA) Community School District’s Oak Hill Elementary in Tiffin. The school, scheduled to open in August 2019, will house fourth- and fifth-grade students from Tiffin Elementary and North Bend Elementary in North Liberty. Amana Elementary and Clear Creek Elementary (CCE) in Oxford will continue to house their own fourth- and fifth-graders.

NORTH LIBERTY– When asked where she gets ideas for her award-winning books, children’s author Kate DiCamillo offered but a simple answer. 
“Do you know what eavesdropping is?”
An estimated 575 people packed the gymnasium at the North Liberty Community Center on Saturday, Nov. 17, for a highly-anticipated visit from the acclaimed author. DiCamillo read passages from her books and took questions from eager audience members, both young and the young at heart, followed by a book signing and photos.