Innovaire Primary Health opened its doors in downtown Burlington seven weeks ago — the only private primary care practice not associated with Great River Health.

Since then, DNP (doctor nurse practitioner) Angela Hedges has welcomed dozens of new patients into the clinic.

She has only one rule for first-time appointments.

&nbsp;“That first appointment’s an hour. I’m the one that checks you in. You won’t even see my nurses. I think it’s important to get the upfront work on top of just knowing their background,” she said.

Hedges has been a nurse — and more recently a DNP— for over 20 years and quickly learned the golden rule when treating patients.

The better you know them, the more accurate and helpful the treatment can be. Hedges learned that from one of her mentors — Dr. JoEllen Hoth, who practiced medicine in Burlington for over 50 years. She ended her career in the same building Hedges now occupies.

In 1978, Dr. Hoth and urologists Roderick Kellogg, MD, and Herbert Tjaden, MD, partnered to buy the former Christian Science church at 515 N. Third St.

Dr. Hoth’s clinic occupied the first floor, and Hedges became a massive fan of her incredibly detailed patient reports. She loved reading them as a nurse and strives to bring that same attention to detail to her office.

“She knew everything about every patient that she has ever had,” Hedges said. “She knew their aunts, their cousins, their sisters,” she said. “So I feel very blessed to be in the same space as her.”

Hedges isn’t afraid of hard work or setbacks. She was a nurse at Great River Health for years and spent some time as a traveling nurse during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Hedges worked at a limited hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y., for a month during her travel nurse stint. She will never forget the refrigerated trucks full of dead bodies that were waiting for a place to take them.

“Times Square was just empty. All the ER nurses at the hospital were out with COVID,” she said, noting she didn’t catch COVID until she returned to Iowa.

Setting up a private practice – from remodeling the interior of the building to setting up a payment system — is likely the most challenging thing Hedges has done. She purchased the building three years ago and has been setting up the practice for the past three years.

She said it wouldn’t have been possible without her office manager, Misty Harris. Misty has a head for the financial side of the practice, from insurance to billing.

“I always say she is the reason I opened as soon as I did,” Hedges said.

Innovaire Primary Health opened just as Great River Health announced that it was changing its billing system, which led to higher costs for some patients. Harris said that has positively impacted her business, but so far, most of her patients have signed up for reasons outside of finances.

“I have had some patients that came in because they want to know exactly what they’re paying up front. But I have a lot that just wanted to come because they wanted something a little different. A different look to health care. I think that’s been the majority of the patients I’ve gotten,” she said.

That different look Hedges mentioned revolves around improving a patient’s overall wellness so they won’t have to visit the doctor as often.

“The goal is to get them well. That’s the goal here, is to not have them sick all the time,” Hedges said.

Hedges offers more open options for treatment and prevention, combining Eastern and Western medicine. Her expertise is in Western medicine, which gives her the adaptability to cater to care for a wide range of patients.

In Hedges’ opinion, poor eating habits are the most significant detriment to patient health. But she said those can be hard to break in the Midwest, where options for healthy food are more limited than in heavily populated areas.

She said many food problems — from obesity to food allergies — could be solved if fewer additives were incorporated into American food.

“I’m thinking outside the box a little bit. A lot of times, that’s just sitting down and listening to patients and really hearing them,” Hedges said.

Hedges was born and raised in West Burlington and graduated from West Burlington High School. She was drawn to nursing at a young age and interned at the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center before becoming a nurse.

“I took a management job on the floor and then ended up moving to critical care,&nbsp; which is kind of my background, and was managing the critical care unit,” she said.

Hedges thought about becoming a DNP early in her career but wasn’t quite ready yet. However, she returned to school while working as a nurse and went into a doctorate program.

“I knew three years of my life had to be dedicated full-time to it,” she said. “I had clinicals everywhere. I did a few out at the hospital here but was up in Marion, too. I came and went from the hospital off and on for 20 years. It was my home.”

Despite her long working hours, Hedges did find time to start a family. She married a farmer north of Mediapolis, and they had three children. They now range in age from 25 to 16.

Right now, Hedges’s only competition comes from Great River Health and the practices associated with the organization. She wants as many patients as possible but pointed out that healthcare is a very personal decision.

It might not suit her bottom line, but Hedges wants people to visit a doctor they feel comfortable with — wherever that might be. She would also like more private practices like hers to spring up to give locals more options.

“It’s great for health care and for people in general,” she said.

Being a small, private practice, Innovaire does not accept Medicare or Medicaid. The reimbursement rates for the practice are simply too low and untenable for a small business.

She said those covered under the Affordable Care Act or other insurance companies should be fine. Misty is always at the front of the clinic to answer any financial questions.

Right now, Hedges is the only doctor at the clinic. However, that will change when a male doctor joins the clinic to focus on men’s health next year. Hedges focuses on women’s health but notes that neither doctor is restricted to treating a specific gender.

Down the line, Hedges would like to expand services by adding a mental health clinician.

Those are big plans, but Hedges has already proven she can handle big projects. The hard part is done.

“This is a wellness place, too, and we have a lot of fun things coming,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2024/12/1734319918647.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithInnovaire Primary Health opened its doors in downtown Burlington seven weeks ago — the only private primary care practice not associated with Great River Health.Since then, DNP (doctor nurse practitioner) Angela Hedges has welcomed dozens of new patients into the clinic.She has only one rule for first-time appointments.&nbsp;“That first appointment’s an hour. I’m the one that checks you in. You won’t even see my nurses. I think it’s important to get the upfront work on top of just knowing their background,” she said.Hedges has been a nurse — and more recently a DNP— for over 20 years and quickly learned the golden rule when treating patients.The better you know them, the more accurate and helpful the treatment can be. Hedges learned that from one of her mentors — Dr. JoEllen Hoth, who practiced medicine in Burlington for over 50 years. She ended her career in the same building Hedges now occupies.In 1978, Dr. Hoth and urologists Roderick Kellogg, MD, and Herbert Tjaden, MD, partnered to buy the former Christian Science church at 515 N. Third St.Dr. Hoth’s clinic occupied the first floor, and Hedges became a massive fan of her incredibly detailed patient reports. She loved reading them as a nurse and strives to bring that same attention to detail to her office.“She knew everything about every patient that she has ever had,” Hedges said. “She knew their aunts, their cousins, their sisters,” she said. “So I feel very blessed to be in the same space as her.”Private PracticeHedges isn’t afraid of hard work or setbacks. She was a nurse at Great River Health for years and spent some time as a traveling nurse during the COVID-19 epidemic.Hedges worked at a limited hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y., for a month during her travel nurse stint. She will never forget the refrigerated trucks full of dead bodies that were waiting for a place to take them.“Times Square was just empty. All the ER nurses at the hospital were out with COVID,” she said, noting she didn’t catch COVID until she returned to Iowa.Setting up a private practice – from remodeling the interior of the building to setting up a payment system — is likely the most challenging thing Hedges has done. She purchased the building three years ago and has been setting up the practice for the past three years.She said it wouldn’t have been possible without her office manager, Misty Harris. Misty has a head for the financial side of the practice, from insurance to billing.“I always say she is the reason I opened as soon as I did,” Hedges said.Innovaire Primary Health opened just as Great River Health announced that it was changing its billing system, which led to higher costs for some patients. Harris said that has positively impacted her business, but so far, most of her patients have signed up for reasons outside of finances.“I have had some patients that came in because they want to know exactly what they’re paying up front. But I have a lot that just wanted to come because they wanted something a little different. A different look to health care. I think that’s been the majority of the patients I’ve gotten,” she said.A Focus on WellnessThat different look Hedges mentioned revolves around improving a patient’s overall wellness so they won’t have to visit the doctor as often.“The goal is to get them well. That’s the goal here, is to not have them sick all the time,” Hedges said.Hedges offers more open options for treatment and prevention, combining Eastern and Western medicine. Her expertise is in Western medicine, which gives her the adaptability to cater to care for a wide range of patients.In Hedges’ opinion, poor eating habits are the most significant detriment to patient health. But she said those can be hard to break in the Midwest, where options for healthy food are more limited than in heavily populated areas.She said many food problems — from obesity to food allergies — could be solved if fewer additives were incorporated into American food.“I’m thinking outside the box a little bit. A lot of times, that’s just sitting down and listening to patients and really hearing them,” Hedges said.A Homegrown DoctorHedges was born and raised in West Burlington and graduated from West Burlington High School. She was drawn to nursing at a young age and interned at the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center before becoming a nurse.“I took a management job on the floor and then ended up moving to critical care,&nbsp; which is kind of my background, and was managing the critical care unit,” she said.Hedges thought about becoming a DNP early in her career but wasn’t quite ready yet. However, she returned to school while working as a nurse and went into a doctorate program.“I knew three years of my life had to be dedicated full-time to it,” she said. “I had clinicals everywhere. I did a few out at the hospital here but was up in Marion, too. I came and went from the hospital off and on for 20 years. It was my home.”Despite her long working hours, Hedges did find time to start a family. She married a farmer north of Mediapolis, and they had three children. They now range in age from 25 to 16.CompetitionRight now, Hedges’s only competition comes from Great River Health and the practices associated with the organization. She wants as many patients as possible but pointed out that healthcare is a very personal decision.It might not suit her bottom line, but Hedges wants people to visit a doctor they feel comfortable with — wherever that might be. She would also like more private practices like hers to spring up to give locals more options.“It’s great for health care and for people in general,” she said.Being a small, private practice, Innovaire does not accept Medicare or Medicaid. The reimbursement rates for the practice are simply too low and untenable for a small business.She said those covered under the Affordable Care Act or other insurance companies should be fine. Misty is always at the front of the clinic to answer any financial questions.Right now, Hedges is the only doctor at the clinic. However, that will change when a male doctor joins the clinic to focus on men’s health next year. Hedges focuses on women’s health but notes that neither doctor is restricted to treating a specific gender.Down the line, Hedges would like to expand services by adding a mental health clinician.Those are big plans, but Hedges has already proven she can handle big projects. The hard part is done.Now, the healing begins.“This is a wellness place, too, and we have a lot of fun things coming,” she said.

52 Faces: A fresh approach

Southeastern Community College’s men’s soccer team rallied from a two-goal deficit and ousted Iowa Central, 4-3, in overtime in the Division 2, Region 11 quarterfinals at Bracewell Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Juan Lagares scored in the 98th&nbsp;minute off a pass from Felix Martin for the sudden victory.

SCC (11-7-2), the tournament’s No. 4 seed, advances to Tuesday’s semifinal round at Norfolk, Neb., facing top-seeded Northeast (17-1-1). Western Iowa Tech (10-6-3) plays No. 2 seed Iowa Lakes (12-1-3) at Estherville in the other semifinal. The Region 11 championship match is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2, to be hosted by the higher seed.

“It was a really difficult game,” SCC head coach Jorge Sierra said. “It was a good opponent coming in so it was whoever wanted it more. Thankfully for is we wanted it more. We just have to be ready for Northeast Nebraska on Tuesday.

“I feel they (the Tritons) really wanted to advance,” Sierra said. “They wanted to win, same way we wanted to win. This conference is the best one in the country and any team can beat the other on a given day. Thankfully, today it went for us.”

The Blackhawks struck first with a goal by Timeo Cordiez in the 14th&nbsp;minute, Diego Lozano assisting, but Iowa Central tied the score two minutes later. The Tritons scored twice more in the first 23 minutes of the second half for a 3-1 cushion.

Cordiez scored, this time unassisted, in the 80th&nbsp;minute, and Lagares added the tying goal in the 87th minute, assisted by Javier Hernandez. That set up overtime and Lagares's game-winner.

Sierra is expecting pressure from Northeast in Tuesday’s semifinal. “They just beat the No. 1 team (Iowa Lakes) in the country,” Sierra said, “so it’s going to be a difficult game for us. But we’ll be ready for it.”

No. 1 ranked Iowa Lakes fell at home to Northeast, 3-2, on Oct. 23. On Sept. 28, the Lakers visited Bracewell Stadium and tied with the Blackhawks, 3-3.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/10/1730041733126.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By Joe GerenSoutheastern Community College’s men’s soccer team rallied from a two-goal deficit and ousted Iowa Central, 4-3, in overtime in the Division 2, Region 11 quarterfinals at Bracewell Stadium Saturday afternoon.Juan Lagares scored in the 98th&nbsp;minute off a pass from Felix Martin for the sudden victory.SCC (11-7-2), the tournament’s No. 4 seed, advances to Tuesday’s semifinal round at Norfolk, Neb., facing top-seeded Northeast (17-1-1). Western Iowa Tech (10-6-3) plays No. 2 seed Iowa Lakes (12-1-3) at Estherville in the other semifinal. The Region 11 championship match is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2, to be hosted by the higher seed.Iowa Central ended its season at 4-11-2.“It was a really difficult game,” SCC head coach Jorge Sierra said. “It was a good opponent coming in so it was whoever wanted it more. Thankfully for is we wanted it more. We just have to be ready for Northeast Nebraska on Tuesday.“I feel they (the Tritons) really wanted to advance,” Sierra said. “They wanted to win, same way we wanted to win. This conference is the best one in the country and any team can beat the other on a given day. Thankfully, today it went for us.”The Blackhawks struck first with a goal by Timeo Cordiez in the 14th&nbsp;minute, Diego Lozano assisting, but Iowa Central tied the score two minutes later. The Tritons scored twice more in the first 23 minutes of the second half for a 3-1 cushion.Cordiez scored, this time unassisted, in the 80th&nbsp;minute, and Lagares added the tying goal in the 87th minute, assisted by Javier Hernandez. That set up overtime and Lagares's game-winner.Sierra is expecting pressure from Northeast in Tuesday’s semifinal. “They just beat the No. 1 team (Iowa Lakes) in the country,” Sierra said, “so it’s going to be a difficult game for us. But we’ll be ready for it.”No. 1 ranked Iowa Lakes fell at home to Northeast, 3-2, on Oct. 23. On Sept. 28, the Lakers visited Bracewell Stadium and tied with the Blackhawks, 3-3.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/10/1730041771982.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>

SCC rallies for regional win

Notre Dame struggled against No. 3 Holy Trinity in volleyball action on Thursday, and the Nikes' late surge down the stretch of the third game wasn't enough to avoid a sweep at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.

The Nikes trailed the third set 15-9, but over the next five servers cut the lead to 18-17. The Nikes then took the lead at 20-19 and soon led 22-20. After trading side outs, Notre Dame led 23-21, but Adalyn Kruse for the Crusaders made a kill to return the serve. Presley Myers served out the set and the match, with Kruse making another kill to end it.

It didn't help that Notre Dame missed six serves in the first two sets. But Holy Trinity missed six serves in the final set.

Notre Dame drops to 18-10 overall, 4-2 in the South and plays in the New London Tournament Saturday.

Holy Trinity remains unbeaten at 5-0 in the South and is 19-5 overall. The Crusaders host Central Lee next Thursday.

“We've got some young players, and we couldn't get in system some times,” Notre Dame coach Susan Reid said.

“We had a pretty good game plan, and when we're in system, that game plan works.”

It's never easy taking on HTC on its home court.

“It's a big environment to play in,” Reid said. “They have some good players, and they're a tough team to play.”

HTC coach Melissa Freesmeier said, “We were doing the little things we've been working on in practice.

But in the third set, Freesmeier said there were “a lot of mistakes on our end that shouldn't have happened. But we still overcame it. We still stayed in the set, and we were able to pull it off.”

Freesmeier said that Notre Dame is a “great ball club. They continue to have a good season.”

So even though it was a three-and-out&nbsp;match, “you know it was a better match than that,” Freesmeier said.

Notre Dame had a balanced hitting attack. Addi Brockway made nine kills, Madelyn Knapp eight and Chloe Wenzel seven. McKenna Kipp added two.

Mallory Lily had 23 digs, Brockway 11, Knapp nine, Elmore five and Bella Drew and Addison Reid two each.

Wenzel made two blocks and also served an ace.

For Holy Trinity, Kruse had 14 kills and Myers 13 to lead the team. Anna Bendlage made 16 assists, and Elizabeth Griffith had 12.

Myers served four aces, and Olivia Bendlage three. Kruse led in digs with 12. Myers had three blocks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/10/1728060843131.jpeg" alt="Photo by Chris Faulkner" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Chris Faulkner</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerNotre Dame struggled against No. 3 Holy Trinity in volleyball action on Thursday, and the Nikes' late surge down the stretch of the third game wasn't enough to avoid a sweep at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.Holy Trinity 25-12, 25-20, 25-23.The Nikes trailed the third set 15-9, but over the next five servers cut the lead to 18-17. The Nikes then took the lead at 20-19 and soon led 22-20. After trading side outs, Notre Dame led 23-21, but Adalyn Kruse for the Crusaders made a kill to return the serve. Presley Myers served out the set and the match, with Kruse making another kill to end it.It didn't help that Notre Dame missed six serves in the first two sets. But Holy Trinity missed six serves in the final set.Notre Dame drops to 18-10 overall, 4-2 in the South and plays in the New London Tournament Saturday.Holy Trinity remains unbeaten at 5-0 in the South and is 19-5 overall. The Crusaders host Central Lee next Thursday.“We've got some young players, and we couldn't get in system some times,” Notre Dame coach Susan Reid said.“We had a pretty good game plan, and when we're in system, that game plan works.”It's never easy taking on HTC on its home court.“It's a big environment to play in,” Reid said. “They have some good players, and they're a tough team to play.”HTC coach Melissa Freesmeier said, “We were doing the little things we've been working on in practice.But in the third set, Freesmeier said there were “a lot of mistakes on our end that shouldn't have happened. But we still overcame it. We still stayed in the set, and we were able to pull it off.”Freesmeier said that Notre Dame is a “great ball club. They continue to have a good season.”So even though it was a three-and-out&nbsp;match, “you know it was a better match than that,” Freesmeier said.Notre Dame had a balanced hitting attack. Addi Brockway made nine kills, Madelyn Knapp eight and Chloe Wenzel seven. McKenna Kipp added two.Emma Elmore made 23 assists.Mallory Lily had 23 digs, Brockway 11, Knapp nine, Elmore five and Bella Drew and Addison Reid two each.Wenzel made two blocks and also served an ace.For Holy Trinity, Kruse had 14 kills and Myers 13 to lead the team. Anna Bendlage made 16 assists, and Elizabeth Griffith had 12.Myers served four aces, and Olivia Bendlage three. Kruse led in digs with 12. Myers had three blocks.

ND falls to HTC

Southeastern Community College's Taryn Havener took on  Northeast Community College on Wednesday at  SCC's Loren Walker Arena. SCC defeated Northeast 3-1. First set 25-20, second set 23-25, third set 25-15, and fourth set 25-21.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/9/1726806669986.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Photos by John LovrettaSoutheastern Community College's Taryn Havener took on Northeast Community College on Wednesday at SCC's Loren Walker Arena. SCC defeated Northeast 3-1. First set 25-20, second set 23-25, third set 25-15, and fourth set 25-21.<figure>
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SCC vs. Northeast Community College

West Burlington's ninth-ranked (Class 2A) volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit at No. 5 (1A) Holy Trinity Catholic and sent the match into a fifth set.

But the host Crusaders defeated the Falcons 15-11 in the deciding set to win the two-hour, 10-minute match at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.

West Burlington (14-2) plays Saturday in the Williamsburg Tournament. Holy Trinity improves to 3-2.

HTC won the first set 25-17 and had West Burlington down 20-11 and 22-15 in the second set. But the Falcons stormed back with five service points from Jayonna Hiley – including two from aces – to make it 22-20. West Burlington was serving match point, but Holy Trinity managed to stay alive and finally won 27-25.

West Burlington won the next two sets, 26-24, 25-17, getting big help from Brenna Beggs, who had 11 kills and a couple of big blocks in those two sets.

In the fifth set, through the first five rotations, West Burlington led 6-4. But HTC soon led 10-8 and pulled out the victory.

There were a number of long rallies in the two-hour night. West Burlington finished with 139 digs and Holy Trinity 124.

“I'm very, very pleased with the way they battled,” West Burlington coach Maureen Heath said of the Falcons. “That was a very good match. It didn't go our way, but that's going to make our team grow and grow.

“Everybody got their money's worth, that's for sure.”

Coach Heath praised Beggs for her contribution on the night. Beside Beggs' team-high 17 kills and six blocks, she also served 20 of 20 with two aces and added 15 digs.

Beggs' strength as a middle hitter is her swift windmill motion on her attacks that are hard for opposing defenses to dig up.

“No, I taught myself,” Beggs said. “It's just something I caught on.”

Taryn Snodgrass plays a big part in that as her setter. “We've been playing togther since like the sixth grade,” Beggs said. “We have a good connection.”

Coach Heath praised Snodgrass for her abilities.

“Snodgrass is like a workhorse out there,” Heath said. “You know you're going to get every maximum effort from that girl. She tries to move the ball around, running things down, but with control.”

Jayonna Hiley had 12 kills and served 14 of 14 with five aces, Mady Hamelton had 10 kills, Isabella Callison five and freshman Kaylee Webb four.

Webb came into the game as a middle hitter, “trying to mix things up,” Coach Heath said. “In this big of a game, she was very in tune, she was asking questions, the girls were helping her, I thought she did a great job.”

Hiley had a block and Webb and Snodgrass had one each.

Carli Cline led in digs with 42, Hiley had 31, Hamelton 20 and Snodgrass 15. Baylee Woodsmall added 12.

Cline served 21 of 22 with an ace, Hamelton was 16 of 16 with an ace, Snodgrass 11 of 12 with an ace and Woodsmall 12 of 12.

The Falcons served 94 of 96 on the night.

Holy Trinity is tough to beat at home, especially in the fifth set, but Crusaders coach Melissa Freesmeier didn't take anything for granted.

“When you play a team like West Burlington, and they're going to dig the ball, and they're going to keep the ball in play, they're not going to make a lot of mistakes, we're just going to have to go at them. Our hitters did that in set 5.”

HTC's 6-2 standout in the middle, Presley Myers, had a career high 23 kills and six blocks. Adalyn Kruse had 21 kills and Olivia Bendlage 13. Anna Bendlage made 38 assists. Teagan Snaadt had 33 digs and Elizabeth Griffin 32.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/9/1726584171021.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Falcons rallied from 2-0 deficitBy Chris FaulknerWest Burlington's ninth-ranked (Class 2A) volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit at No. 5 (1A) Holy Trinity Catholic and sent the match into a fifth set.But the host Crusaders defeated the Falcons 15-11 in the deciding set to win the two-hour, 10-minute match at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.West Burlington (14-2) plays Saturday in the Williamsburg Tournament. Holy Trinity improves to 3-2.HTC won the first set 25-17 and had West Burlington down 20-11 and 22-15 in the second set. But the Falcons stormed back with five service points from Jayonna Hiley – including two from aces – to make it 22-20. West Burlington was serving match point, but Holy Trinity managed to stay alive and finally won 27-25.West Burlington won the next two sets, 26-24, 25-17, getting big help from Brenna Beggs, who had 11 kills and a couple of big blocks in those two sets.In the fifth set, through the first five rotations, West Burlington led 6-4. But HTC soon led 10-8 and pulled out the victory.There were a number of long rallies in the two-hour night. West Burlington finished with 139 digs and Holy Trinity 124.Falcons can grow from this“I'm very, very pleased with the way they battled,” West Burlington coach Maureen Heath said of the Falcons. “That was a very good match. It didn't go our way, but that's going to make our team grow and grow.“Everybody got their money's worth, that's for sure.”Coach Heath praised Beggs for her contribution on the night. Beside Beggs' team-high 17 kills and six blocks, she also served 20 of 20 with two aces and added 15 digs.Beggs' strength as a middle hitter is her swift windmill motion on her attacks that are hard for opposing defenses to dig up.Did someone teach her to do it that way?“No, I taught myself,” Beggs said. “It's just something I caught on.”Taryn Snodgrass plays a big part in that as her setter. “We've been playing togther since like the sixth grade,” Beggs said. “We have a good connection.”Snodgrass had 40 assists.Coach Heath praised Snodgrass for her abilities.“Snodgrass is like a workhorse out there,” Heath said. “You know you're going to get every maximum effort from that girl. She tries to move the ball around, running things down, but with control.”Jayonna Hiley had 12 kills and served 14 of 14 with five aces, Mady Hamelton had 10 kills, Isabella Callison five and freshman Kaylee Webb four.Webb came into the game as a middle hitter, “trying to mix things up,” Coach Heath said. “In this big of a game, she was very in tune, she was asking questions, the girls were helping her, I thought she did a great job.”Hiley had a block and Webb and Snodgrass had one each.Carli Cline led in digs with 42, Hiley had 31, Hamelton 20 and Snodgrass 15. Baylee Woodsmall added 12.Cline served 21 of 22 with an ace, Hamelton was 16 of 16 with an ace, Snodgrass 11 of 12 with an ace and Woodsmall 12 of 12.The Falcons served 94 of 96 on the night.HTC shines in Set 5Holy Trinity is tough to beat at home, especially in the fifth set, but Crusaders coach Melissa Freesmeier didn't take anything for granted.“When you play a team like West Burlington, and they're going to dig the ball, and they're going to keep the ball in play, they're not going to make a lot of mistakes, we're just going to have to go at them. Our hitters did that in set 5.”HTC's 6-2 standout in the middle, Presley Myers, had a career high 23 kills and six blocks. Adalyn Kruse had 21 kills and Olivia Bendlage 13. Anna Bendlage made 38 assists. Teagan Snaadt had 33 digs and Elizabeth Griffin 32.

HTC outlasts West Burlington in five sets

Notre Dame swept Van Buren County 25-9, 25-17, 25-22 in volleyball Thursday night at Father Minett Gym.

Madelyn Knapp made 13 kills, and Addi Brockway 11 to lead the winners. Chloe Wenzel added six kills, McKenna Kipp five, Addison Reid four, and Emma Elmore three.

Knapp made 13 digs, Mallory Lillie and Brockway 12 each, and Bella Drew 10.

Elmore served 13 of 14 with an ace, Brockway was 12 of 12 with an ace, Reid was 12 of 13 with two aces, Lillie was 11 of 12 with three aces, and Lexi Korschgen served an ace on her only attempt.

The team plays at Central Lee next Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/9/1726252360221.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Beacon SportsNotre Dame swept Van Buren County 25-9, 25-17, 25-22 in volleyball Thursday night at Father Minett Gym.Madelyn Knapp made 13 kills, and Addi Brockway 11 to lead the winners. Chloe Wenzel added six kills, McKenna Kipp five, Addison Reid four, and Emma Elmore three.Emma Elmore made 36 assists.Knapp made 13 digs, Mallory Lillie and Brockway 12 each, and Bella Drew 10.Wenzel made four blocks and Reid two.Elmore served 13 of 14 with an ace, Brockway was 12 of 12 with an ace, Reid was 12 of 13 with two aces, Lillie was 11 of 12 with three aces, and Lexi Korschgen served an ace on her only attempt.The team plays at Central Lee next Tuesday.<figure>
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NDHS Volleyball vs. Van Buren 

Indian Hills spoiled Southeastern Community College’s soccer home openers, sweeping the Blackhawks at the Burlington Regional RecPlex Monday afternoon.

Indian Hills won the women’s match 5-1 and the men’s game 6-0. Indian Hills is an NJCAA Division I school; SCC is Division II.

In the women’s match, Kevynn Siefken scored SCC’s lone goal on the rebound of a Myah Rehman shot in the 50th minute. Rehman was awarded an assist. It was the first goal scored this season by SCC, now 0-4.

Siefken and Rehman were freshmen and teammates at Burlington High School last spring.

“We’ve been struggling with injuries the past couple of weeks,” Siefken said, “but we’re slowly getting those girls back, and we know we deserve it. We worked hard, that’s for sure.”

On her goal, she said, “It was good. It was well deserved. That first half was hard-fought, and that second half, we wanted it, and we got it.” 

          In the men’s game, SCC managed just five shots, three on goal. The defense held Indian Hills scoreless for the first 33 minutes. SCC fell to 1-4. 

It was the first time former SCC coach Zac Newton coached against the Blackhawks. He coached SCC to its spring 2021 national championship. Newton is currently in his first year as head coach at Indian Hills. 

“It’s a weird experience,” Newton said of his return to West Burlington, “and then to have the sort of result we had was tough because this place always has a special place in my heart. It’s very, very weird, but it does bring back a lot of good memories.”

The Indian Hills men improved to 5-0; the women are 3-1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/9/1725582340335.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Beacon SportsIndian Hills spoiled Southeastern Community College’s soccer home openers, sweeping the Blackhawks at the Burlington Regional RecPlex Monday afternoon.Indian Hills won the women’s match 5-1 and the men’s game 6-0. Indian Hills is an NJCAA Division I school; SCC is Division II.In the women’s match, Kevynn Siefken scored SCC’s lone goal on the rebound of a Myah Rehman shot in the 50th minute. Rehman was awarded an assist. It was the first goal scored this season by SCC, now 0-4.Siefken and Rehman were freshmen and teammates at Burlington High School last spring.“We’ve been struggling with injuries the past couple of weeks,” Siefken said, “but we’re slowly getting those girls back, and we know we deserve it. We worked hard, that’s for sure.”On her goal, she said, “It was good. It was well deserved. That first half was hard-fought, and that second half, we wanted it, and we got it.” In the men’s game, SCC managed just five shots, three on goal. The defense held Indian Hills scoreless for the first 33 minutes. SCC fell to 1-4. It was the first time former SCC coach Zac Newton coached against the Blackhawks. He coached SCC to its spring 2021 national championship. Newton is currently in his first year as head coach at Indian Hills. “It’s a weird experience,” Newton said of his return to West Burlington, “and then to have the sort of result we had was tough because this place always has a special place in my heart. It’s very, very weird, but it does bring back a lot of good memories.”The Indian Hills men improved to 5-0; the women are 3-1.

Warriors sweep SCC soccer teams

The Southeastern Community College volleyball team scrimmaged against three other teams on Saturday, and the optimism in the Blackhawk camp is sky-high. 

“I expect us to take it all the way to nationals,” said McKenna Marlow, a sophomore from West Burlington.“I expect us to take it all the way to nationals.,” said Taryn Stephens, a freshman who played for Burlington’s Notre Dame High School last season. 

“That just seems like so much fun. We all want to go so bad. We’ve been working for it.”Read Joe Geren's story in this Friday's print edition of The Beacon.

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 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/8/1724023610717.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>Photos by John LovrettaThe Southeastern Community College volleyball team scrimmaged against three other teams on Saturday, and the optimism in the Blackhawk camp is sky-high. “I expect us to take it all the way to nationals,” said McKenna Marlow, a sophomore from West Burlington.“I expect us to take it all the way to nationals.,” said Taryn Stephens, a freshman who played for Burlington’s Notre Dame High School last season. “That just seems like so much fun. We all want to go so bad. We’ve been working for it.”Read Joe Geren's story in this Friday's print edition of The Beacon.<figure>
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Spike in Optimism

By Joe Geren Beacon Sports When you’re already a national champion, perhaps only one goal remains. Perfection. That’s the goal for Odessa Cornick in the upcoming indoor archery season. Odessa, 16, of Burlington, and her sister Alina, 12, are three-time national champions. Their most recent titles occurred in July at the Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) Eastern Outdoor National on the University of the Cumberlands campus in Williamsburg, Ky. Odessa won the female young adult (age 15-18) championship, and Alina captured the female Eagle division for ages 10-12. In June, Alina won an indoor national title in Rend Lake, Ill. “They shoot their first couple rounds, and that’s how they get into the shoot-off,” their dad, Zach Cornick, explained. After the shoot-off, “there’s a bracket-type system where they shoot against each other. It’s two full days.” In young adult competitions, “the top three finishers get academic scholarships,” Zach said. “There are probably 15 scholarships around the country. They’re adding up.” Last March, Odessa won the national title in the Eastern Indoor S3DA in Owensboro, Ky., and won several scholarships, including some to the University of the Cumberlands, Kentucky Christian, Southeast Illinois, and Lindenwood. With the win in Williamsburg, some of the scholarships were duplicated. Odessa, who soon begins her junior year at Burlington High School, has not decided which scholarship she’ll use. “I haven’t started looking too much yet,” she said. Zach and his wife Denissa founded the Flint River Archery Club in late 2020. Last Sunday, the Cornick sisters were among four Flint River Archery Club members who won state titles in the Iowa State ASA championship in Iowa City. Odessa won the young adult female pins division, and Alina captured the Eagle girls’ pins. Isaiah Mendenhall won the Eagle boys open division and Brody Foley won young adult male pins. Other club members competing in the state meet were Timothy Burns Jr. (2nd, Eagle boys open), Addison Ewinger (2nd, Eagle girls open), Raelle Miller (2nd, Eagle girls pins), and Abigail Foley (3rd, Eagle girls pins). Miller also finished 10th in the Eastern Outdoor National in Kentucky last month. According to a Flint River Archery Club Facebook post, Miller’s sights were going low left the first day of the competition. Coaches fixed the problem, and Miller shot a personal best the second day. “In a couple weeks, the ASA Outdoor National is in South Dakota,” Zach Cornick said. “We’ll be going to that.” Both Cornick girls have played other sports, but archery is their preference. “I did golf for a little bit, but mostly archery is what I do,” Odessa said. She played on the BHS girls’ golf team. “I started (archery) when I was four years old.” “I played volleyball and soccer, but not right now,” Alina said. In archery, “I like outdoor targets better. It’s cells (in 3D animal-shaped targets). Basically, it’s upper and lower cells.” Odessa has goals. “I want to win some more things, obviously,” she said, “get some more scholarships collected. Indoor season is next, so right now, my goal is to shoot an absolutely perfect score, a 150 with 30 Xs.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/8/1723517598554.jpeg" alt="Photo by Joe Geren Odessa Cornick, left, and her sister Alina won national championships in archery recently. Alina won two in the Eagle (age 10-12) Division and Odessa captured a national outdoor championship in the Young Adult (15-18) Division. " />
 <figcaption>Photo by Joe Geren Odessa Cornick, left, and her sister Alina won national championships in archery recently. Alina won two in the Eagle (age 10-12) Division and Odessa captured a national outdoor championship in the Young Adult (15-18) Division. </figcaption>
 </figure>By Joe Geren Beacon Sports When you’re already a national champion, perhaps only one goal remains. Perfection. That’s the goal for Odessa Cornick in the upcoming indoor archery season. Odessa, 16, of Burlington, and her sister Alina, 12, are three-time national champions. Their most recent titles occurred in July at the Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) Eastern Outdoor National on the University of the Cumberlands campus in Williamsburg, Ky. Odessa won the female young adult (age 15-18) championship, and Alina captured the female Eagle division for ages 10-12. In June, Alina won an indoor national title in Rend Lake, Ill. “They shoot their first couple rounds, and that’s how they get into the shoot-off,” their dad, Zach Cornick, explained. After the shoot-off, “there’s a bracket-type system where they shoot against each other. It’s two full days.” In young adult competitions, “the top three finishers get academic scholarships,” Zach said. “There are probably 15 scholarships around the country. They’re adding up.” Last March, Odessa won the national title in the Eastern Indoor S3DA in Owensboro, Ky., and won several scholarships, including some to the University of the Cumberlands, Kentucky Christian, Southeast Illinois, and Lindenwood. With the win in Williamsburg, some of the scholarships were duplicated. Odessa, who soon begins her junior year at Burlington High School, has not decided which scholarship she’ll use. “I haven’t started looking too much yet,” she said. Zach and his wife Denissa founded the Flint River Archery Club in late 2020. Last Sunday, the Cornick sisters were among four Flint River Archery Club members who won state titles in the Iowa State ASA championship in Iowa City. Odessa won the young adult female pins division, and Alina captured the Eagle girls’ pins. Isaiah Mendenhall won the Eagle boys open division and Brody Foley won young adult male pins. Other club members competing in the state meet were Timothy Burns Jr. (2nd, Eagle boys open), Addison Ewinger (2nd, Eagle girls open), Raelle Miller (2nd, Eagle girls pins), and Abigail Foley (3rd, Eagle girls pins). Miller also finished 10th in the Eastern Outdoor National in Kentucky last month. According to a Flint River Archery Club Facebook post, Miller’s sights were going low left the first day of the competition. Coaches fixed the problem, and Miller shot a personal best the second day. “In a couple weeks, the ASA Outdoor National is in South Dakota,” Zach Cornick said. “We’ll be going to that.” Both Cornick girls have played other sports, but archery is their preference. “I did golf for a little bit, but mostly archery is what I do,” Odessa said. She played on the BHS girls’ golf team. “I started (archery) when I was four years old.” “I played volleyball and soccer, but not right now,” Alina said. In archery, “I like outdoor targets better. It’s cells (in 3D animal-shaped targets). Basically, it’s upper and lower cells.” Odessa has goals. “I want to win some more things, obviously,” she said, “get some more scholarships collected. Indoor season is next, so right now, my goal is to shoot an absolutely perfect score, a 150 with 30 Xs.”

Cornick sisters claim national titles

Bryce Brown’s two-run double to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Burlington Bees to a 7-6 win over Clinton in a Prospect League baseball game at Community Field Saturday night. It was the third win in the last four games for the Bees, who are now 11-7 in the season’s second half.

Clinton went up 2-0 in the first half-inning, but Burlington tied it in the second and led 3-2 after three innings. The score was knotted at 3-3 and 4-4, then the LumberKings scored twice in the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the Bees came to within a run of Clinton at 5-6 on Cedric Dunnwald’s RBI double.

Both teams had 12 hits. Brown and Landon Akers had three hits each for the Bees. Jeremy Figueroa tripled for the Bees and Logan Reidelberger doubled. Catcher Noah Gordon went 3-for-5 to lead Clinton.

Erik Kiewiet (2-1) pitched the final inning and picked up the win. He allowed no runs on one hit and two walks. Clinton’s Kieran Bailey (2-1) took the loss.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/7/1722270737475.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Beacon SportsBryce Brown’s two-run double to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Burlington Bees to a 7-6 win over Clinton in a Prospect League baseball game at Community Field Saturday night. It was the third win in the last four games for the Bees, who are now 11-7 in the season’s second half.Clinton went up 2-0 in the first half-inning, but Burlington tied it in the second and led 3-2 after three innings. The score was knotted at 3-3 and 4-4, then the LumberKings scored twice in the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the Bees came to within a run of Clinton at 5-6 on Cedric Dunnwald’s RBI double.The LumberKings wouldn’t score again.Both teams had 12 hits. Brown and Landon Akers had three hits each for the Bees. Jeremy Figueroa tripled for the Bees and Logan Reidelberger doubled. Catcher Noah Gordon went 3-for-5 to lead Clinton.Erik Kiewiet (2-1) pitched the final inning and picked up the win. He allowed no runs on one hit and two walks. Clinton’s Kieran Bailey (2-1) took the loss.&nbsp;

Brown’s Double Lifts Bees

Tanner Gebhardt captured the 305 Winged Sprints class on Saturday, July 20, at 34 Raceway. 

Cole Helmerson of New London came in second and points leader Cody Wehrle finished third. John Barnard of Sherman, Ill., came in fourth, followed by a trio of Burlington drivers: Dugan Thye, Nathan Murders, and Nick Guernsey. Chase Young of Altoona was eighth, Travis Pence of Stronghurst, Ill., was ninth, and McCain Richards of Burlington 10th.

Wehrle leads the standings with 326 points, and Gebhardt is 14 back at 312. Guernsey is third at 278, Helmerson fourth at 264, and Thye is holding onto a top-five spot, ahead of Chase Richards, 259-252.

Because of rain late in the night, the features for Sport Compacts, Modifieds, and Stock Car didn't run. There will be double features this Saturday, which will be 34 for Kids Night, presented by the New Mix, 107.3. Kids 10 and under get in free with a paid admission. Pits open at 4 p.m., and the gates open at 5 p.m. All seven classes will run.

The Sprint Invaders event will run on Aug. 16, and the Pepsi Season Championship will run on Aug. 24.

John Oliver Jr. of West Burlington won the Sports Modified class, narrowing the gap to within one point, 299-298, of Sean Wyett of Danville. Wyett came in fifth. Oliver Jr. beat out Logan Cumby of Quincy, Ill., and Matt Thomas of Danville. Brian Schrage of Creston was fourth.

There's a tight race for third: Matt Tucker of Lomax, Ill., is third with 235, but Thomas is next at 234 and Kevin Goben of Sherrard, Ill., is fifth at 232.

Trenton Witt of Oskaloosa took the checkered flag in the Stock Car class. Chad Krogmeier of Burlington was second, Blake Woodruff of Knoxville, Ill., was third, Jerry Jansen of Plainville, Ill., fourth, and Doak Allen of West Burlington fifth.

Oliver Jr. holds a solid lead in the standings with 311 points. Krogmeier is a point ahead of Wapello driver Kirk Kinsley, 280-279. Corey Strothman of New London is fourth at 224, and David Brandies of Wilton is trying to hold off Derek Schwandt of Burlington, 155-153, for a top-five spot.

In the Modifieds class, Michael Claeys of Knoxville won the first heat, followed by Bill Roberts Jr. of Burlington. Dustin Smith of Long Grove came in third, followed by Blaised Lewis of Kewanee, Ill., and Zach Dockter of Norwich, North Dakota.

Austen Becerra of Carthage, Ill., won the second heat, and Jadin Fuller of Memphis, Mo., was second.

Roberts Jr. has an eight-point lead in the standings, 265-257, over Chris Zogg of New Liberty. Claeys is third at 241, and Becerra is a distant fourth at 191.

Brian Tipps of Wapello won the Mini Hauler class, with Sheldon Brockett second. Grady Jones of Monmouth, Ill., was third, followed by Darin Ronner of Gladstone, Ill., in fourth, and Lyle Timmerman of Wapello fifth.

Tipps leads Brockett in the standings, 198-189. Roger Brockett has 181 points, Ronner is fourth with 171 and Eric Detlefsen of Burlington is fifth, four points ahead of Jones for a top-five spot.

Larry Miller of Burlington won the first heat of the Sport Compact class, with Tim Schnathorst second. Noah Kayser won the second heat ahead of Darrian Hammitt of Burlington, T.J. 

Weyls of Burlington, and Barry Taft of Argyle.Kayser barely leads Dylan Bonk of Hannibal, Mo., in the points standings 226-225. Darin Smith of Columbus Junction has 219 for third, and Shane Vancil of Salem is just a point ahead of Miller for fourth, 200-199.

In a tight race for sixth, Weyls has 187 points, and Schnathorst is tied with Hammitt at 186 each.In the Dirt Late Models class, Ray Raker of Danville leads Jay Johnson of West Burlington, 218-211.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/7/1722269489994.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerTanner Gebhardt captured the 305 Winged Sprints class on Saturday, July 20, at 34 Raceway. Cole Helmerson of New London came in second and points leader Cody Wehrle finished third. John Barnard of Sherman, Ill., came in fourth, followed by a trio of Burlington drivers: Dugan Thye, Nathan Murders, and Nick Guernsey. Chase Young of Altoona was eighth, Travis Pence of Stronghurst, Ill., was ninth, and McCain Richards of Burlington 10th.Wehrle leads the standings with 326 points, and Gebhardt is 14 back at 312. Guernsey is third at 278, Helmerson fourth at 264, and Thye is holding onto a top-five spot, ahead of Chase Richards, 259-252.Because of rain late in the night, the features for Sport Compacts, Modifieds, and Stock Car didn't run. There will be double features this Saturday, which will be 34 for Kids Night, presented by the New Mix, 107.3. Kids 10 and under get in free with a paid admission. Pits open at 4 p.m., and the gates open at 5 p.m. All seven classes will run.The Sprint Invaders event will run on Aug. 16, and the Pepsi Season Championship will run on Aug. 24.John Oliver Jr. of West Burlington won the Sports Modified class, narrowing the gap to within one point, 299-298, of Sean Wyett of Danville. Wyett came in fifth. Oliver Jr. beat out Logan Cumby of Quincy, Ill., and Matt Thomas of Danville. Brian Schrage of Creston was fourth.There's a tight race for third: Matt Tucker of Lomax, Ill., is third with 235, but Thomas is next at 234 and Kevin Goben of Sherrard, Ill., is fifth at 232.Trenton Witt of Oskaloosa took the checkered flag in the Stock Car class. Chad Krogmeier of Burlington was second, Blake Woodruff of Knoxville, Ill., was third, Jerry Jansen of Plainville, Ill., fourth, and Doak Allen of West Burlington fifth.Oliver Jr. holds a solid lead in the standings with 311 points. Krogmeier is a point ahead of Wapello driver Kirk Kinsley, 280-279. Corey Strothman of New London is fourth at 224, and David Brandies of Wilton is trying to hold off Derek Schwandt of Burlington, 155-153, for a top-five spot.In the Modifieds class, Michael Claeys of Knoxville won the first heat, followed by Bill Roberts Jr. of Burlington. Dustin Smith of Long Grove came in third, followed by Blaised Lewis of Kewanee, Ill., and Zach Dockter of Norwich, North Dakota.Austen Becerra of Carthage, Ill., won the second heat, and Jadin Fuller of Memphis, Mo., was second.Roberts Jr. has an eight-point lead in the standings, 265-257, over Chris Zogg of New Liberty. Claeys is third at 241, and Becerra is a distant fourth at 191.Brian Tipps of Wapello won the Mini Hauler class, with Sheldon Brockett second. Grady Jones of Monmouth, Ill., was third, followed by Darin Ronner of Gladstone, Ill., in fourth, and Lyle Timmerman of Wapello fifth.Tipps leads Brockett in the standings, 198-189. Roger Brockett has 181 points, Ronner is fourth with 171 and Eric Detlefsen of Burlington is fifth, four points ahead of Jones for a top-five spot.Larry Miller of Burlington won the first heat of the Sport Compact class, with Tim Schnathorst second. Noah Kayser won the second heat ahead of Darrian Hammitt of Burlington, T.J. Weyls of Burlington, and Barry Taft of Argyle.Kayser barely leads Dylan Bonk of Hannibal, Mo., in the points standings 226-225. Darin Smith of Columbus Junction has 219 for third, and Shane Vancil of Salem is just a point ahead of Miller for fourth, 200-199.In a tight race for sixth, Weyls has 187 points, and Schnathorst is tied with Hammitt at 186 each.In the Dirt Late Models class, Ray Raker of Danville leads Jay Johnson of West Burlington, 218-211.

Gebhardt wins in Winged Sprints Class

Wherever he looks inside Mundt Piano and Organ, Bill Mundt Jr. sees his late father — Bill Mundt Sr.

He remembers the numerous hours he spent working alongside his father, traveling as far as Keosauqua to tune pianos alongside him.

Bill Jr. didn’t go to school to learn the art of tuning. He was already busy attending junior high. He learned on the job.

&nbsp;“My dad started waking me up at 14 on Saturdays and said, ‘You’re coming to work,’ ” he said.

The history of Mundt Piano and Organ stretches back to Bill’s great-grandfather, who came to the U.S. from Germany to tune pianos. That soon became a business.

“He started the piano service. For years, it was just a service business. And then my grandpa opened the retail when he was 61,” Bill said.

Bill was born in Burlington in 1954 and was not thrilled about going into the family business when he was a teenager.

“I wanted to be a Major League Baseball player. But I realized if you don’t make the local high school team, you’re probably not going to make a Major League team,” he said.

But then something strange happened as Bill worked on pianos. He started to like it. That led to piano lessons –&nbsp; though Bill would never consider himself a musician — more of a hobbyist.

“I played the piano a little bit; when the organ business was good, I liked that. I played quite a bit so I could demonstrate the pianos,” Bill said.

The store itself hopped around Burlington for decades, moving to a new location every few years. It finally settled at its current location on Jefferson Street.

Bill still remembers specific conversations with his father in the break room. He treasures the years he spent working side-by-side with Bill Sr. When Bill got older and bought his own house, his father spent every free moment helping him renovate it.

“In all those years, I think we only got into an argument a few times. Whatever it was, it was forgotten the next day,” Bill said.

Those days didn’t last forever. Bill took over after his father passed, working six days a week tuning pianos and running the store. The 1980s was a strong era for music sales of any kind, and Mundt sold everything you needed to make music. Clarinets, pianos, organs, guitars. He still does.

However, the piano market has shrunk considerably over the past few decades, and the organ market is nonexistent. Mundt said he was able to survive the downturn through diversifying. His biggest moneymaker comes through instrument rentals for local students.

There are at least a couple of hundred Mundt instruments in students’ hands right now. The instruments are tuned and serviced every time they return to the store, giving Mundt’s an advantage over retail stores with no service plan.

“We take care of all routine maintenance unless, your kid hit his sister over the head with the trombone,” Mundt said with a laugh. “We don’t cover that.”

Despite working nearly every day, Bill’s personal life was just as full as his business. He got married, got divorced, and got custody of his three children. Raising three children at the ages of eight, five, and four wasn’t easy, and Bill remarried a woman with three kids of her own.

“People used to call us The Brady Bunch,” he said, laughing again.

That marriage later ended, but Bill only had kind words about both his ex-wives.

“I don’t regret any of it,” he said.

Bill’s heart was scarred more profoundly by the loss of his son, who died of cancer. Just like his father, Bill worked alongside his son every day.

“It was a tumor up here,” Bill said, pointing to his head. “They couldn’t operate on it. It wasn’t even a tumor. It (the cancer) was just all spread out.”

These days, Bill is semi-retired and is having the time of his life. He joined some local pool leagues after his kids grew up and moved out. He also installed a gym on the bottom floor of the shop, which he treats like a second home.

“I can’t just sit around at the house and do nothing,” he said. “I’m still having fun.”

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 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2024/12/1733799463225.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithWherever he looks inside Mundt Piano and Organ, Bill Mundt Jr. sees his late father — Bill Mundt Sr.He remembers the numerous hours he spent working alongside his father, traveling as far as Keosauqua to tune pianos alongside him.Bill Jr. didn’t go to school to learn the art of tuning. He was already busy attending junior high. He learned on the job.&nbsp;“My dad started waking me up at 14 on Saturdays and said, ‘You’re coming to work,’ ” he said.The history of Mundt Piano and Organ stretches back to Bill’s great-grandfather, who came to the U.S. from Germany to tune pianos. That soon became a business.“He started the piano service. For years, it was just a service business. And then my grandpa opened the retail when he was 61,” Bill said.Bill was born in Burlington in 1954 and was not thrilled about going into the family business when he was a teenager.“I wanted to be a Major League Baseball player. But I realized if you don’t make the local high school team, you’re probably not going to make a Major League team,” he said.But then something strange happened as Bill worked on pianos. He started to like it. That led to piano lessons –&nbsp; though Bill would never consider himself a musician — more of a hobbyist.“I played the piano a little bit; when the organ business was good, I liked that. I played quite a bit so I could demonstrate the pianos,” Bill said.The store itself hopped around Burlington for decades, moving to a new location every few years. It finally settled at its current location on Jefferson Street.Bill still remembers specific conversations with his father in the break room. He treasures the years he spent working side-by-side with Bill Sr. When Bill got older and bought his own house, his father spent every free moment helping him renovate it.“In all those years, I think we only got into an argument a few times. Whatever it was, it was forgotten the next day,” Bill said.Those days didn’t last forever. Bill took over after his father passed, working six days a week tuning pianos and running the store. The 1980s was a strong era for music sales of any kind, and Mundt sold everything you needed to make music. Clarinets, pianos, organs, guitars. He still does.However, the piano market has shrunk considerably over the past few decades, and the organ market is nonexistent. Mundt said he was able to survive the downturn through diversifying. His biggest moneymaker comes through instrument rentals for local students.There are at least a couple of hundred Mundt instruments in students’ hands right now. The instruments are tuned and serviced every time they return to the store, giving Mundt’s an advantage over retail stores with no service plan.“We take care of all routine maintenance unless, your kid hit his sister over the head with the trombone,” Mundt said with a laugh. “We don’t cover that.”Despite working nearly every day, Bill’s personal life was just as full as his business. He got married, got divorced, and got custody of his three children. Raising three children at the ages of eight, five, and four wasn’t easy, and Bill remarried a woman with three kids of her own.“People used to call us The Brady Bunch,” he said, laughing again.That marriage later ended, but Bill only had kind words about both his ex-wives.“I don’t regret any of it,” he said.Bill’s heart was scarred more profoundly by the loss of his son, who died of cancer. Just like his father, Bill worked alongside his son every day.“It was a tumor up here,” Bill said, pointing to his head. “They couldn’t operate on it. It wasn’t even a tumor. It (the cancer) was just all spread out.”These days, Bill is semi-retired and is having the time of his life. He joined some local pool leagues after his kids grew up and moved out. He also installed a gym on the bottom floor of the shop, which he treats like a second home.“I can’t just sit around at the house and do nothing,” he said. “I’m still having fun.”

52 Faces: A legacy  in tune

Lawrence DuCharme was surrounded by hundreds of potatoes Tuesday morning inside the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry — and he couldn’t have been happier.

Each potato will find its way to the hands of a local person in need. But that’s just a side dish. For over a century, the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry has provided every kind of food a family could need.

DuCharme, who heads up the pantry, started volunteering for the organization about a year ago. He had retired from a long career at CNH (Case New Holland) and was looking for a way to give back.

He never imagined that a local organization like St. Vincent DePaul would have such an intricate network of volunteers. He was stunned – and impressed.

“I became very interested when I realized just how big of an operation it was and how many families it served. We’re serving people who maybe don’t have a good source of food. I felt like it was doing some good for the community,” he said.

The pantry, one of about a dozen in Burlington and the largest, exists entirely through a network of 70 volunteers. The pantry is open 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday to local families who meet income requirements.

“We use the same income requirements the Food Bank of Iowa uses,” DuCharme said.

About 70 percent of the food in the pantry is purchased at cost through the Food Bank of Iowa, which supplies hundreds of other pantries across the state. The rest comes from donations or direct purchases by the pantry to fill any food gaps. Clients are allowed to get food once a month.

DuCharme puts in about 20 hours a week, and some of the other volunteers put in as much as 10 to 20 hours a week. That’s not counting all the special helpers, like the Boy Scouts.

The pantry used to operate out of the church basement but was moved upstairs to a parish building after the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for local families grows monthly and has become even more significant since the pandemic.

“Last year, we served over 7,700 families. That’s over 600 a month. Last year, we saw a continued growth of need, and this year, we’ve seen the same thing,” DuCharme said. “It looks like we’re going to have another record year.”

DuCharme moved to Burlington six years ago with his wife and three children. He was born and grew up in Wisconsin, and he worked for CNH there before taking a job at the Burlington plant in 2016.

DuCharme has the pantry running like a finely tuned automobile. A network of 70 volunteers ensures that the pantry never goes unattended. During shopping hours, about a dozen volunteers work to fill carts from tables stacked with food items. Taller stacks of food boxes sit behind the tables, allowing volunteers to re-stock the tables as they go.

“We have nine different bread teams. Their job is to every day go to the two Hy-Vee stores, pick up whatever day-old bread they’re donating. I’ve got a team of folks that come in just to help with food bank delivery. We get that twice a month, so I’ve got a team for that. I’ve got a couple of teams that pick up Walmart a couple times a week. I’ve got five different teams, one for each day of the week, for distribution. Then I’ve got a few extra individuals that help me with ordering and stocking and those types of things,” DuCharme said.

A walk-in freezer makes it possible to meet the protein demands of clients, and all clients get extra food in December — a benefit that replaces the Christmas food baskets the organization used to put together.

The joy of giving to others practically makes DuCharme giddy – but he isn’t the only one. Frank Paolo has also volunteered at the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry for over 20 years. He still hasn’t grown tired of it.

“I got into it because one of my buddies was working here,” he said.&nbsp;

“It actually makes you feel good because you’re getting to be a part of the community. And when you get as old as I am, you’ve got to find things to do.”

Though he’s been at the pantry much longer, Paolo has seen the same increase in need as DuCharme. He’s just seen it growing since he arrived two decades ago.

“Instead of getting better, it’s getting worse,” he said.

Paolo is surprised to see people he knows using the food pantry. People he thought would never have to. He hasn’t had to use the pantry himself and thanks God for his good fortune.

DuCharme has made a few tweaks to the organization in his year as president and has enjoyed welcoming new volunteers into the food pantry.

He hopes to welcome many more. Feeding the hungry is a job that never ends — it just gets passed on. DuCharme is delighted he picked up the baton.

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2024/11/1732488955601.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithLawrence DuCharme was surrounded by hundreds of potatoes Tuesday morning inside the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry — and he couldn’t have been happier.Each potato will find its way to the hands of a local person in need. But that’s just a side dish. For over a century, the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry has provided every kind of food a family could need.DuCharme, who heads up the pantry, started volunteering for the organization about a year ago. He had retired from a long career at CNH (Case New Holland) and was looking for a way to give back.He never imagined that a local organization like St. Vincent DePaul would have such an intricate network of volunteers. He was stunned – and impressed.“I became very interested when I realized just how big of an operation it was and how many families it served. We’re serving people who maybe don’t have a good source of food. I felt like it was doing some good for the community,” he said.The pantry, one of about a dozen in Burlington and the largest, exists entirely through a network of 70 volunteers. The pantry is open 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday to local families who meet income requirements.“We use the same income requirements the Food Bank of Iowa uses,” DuCharme said.About 70 percent of the food in the pantry is purchased at cost through the Food Bank of Iowa, which supplies hundreds of other pantries across the state. The rest comes from donations or direct purchases by the pantry to fill any food gaps. Clients are allowed to get food once a month.DuCharme puts in about 20 hours a week, and some of the other volunteers put in as much as 10 to 20 hours a week. That’s not counting all the special helpers, like the Boy Scouts.The pantry used to operate out of the church basement but was moved upstairs to a parish building after the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for local families grows monthly and has become even more significant since the pandemic.“Last year, we served over 7,700 families. That’s over 600 a month. Last year, we saw a continued growth of need, and this year, we’ve seen the same thing,” DuCharme said. “It looks like we’re going to have another record year.”DuCharme moved to Burlington six years ago with his wife and three children. He was born and grew up in Wisconsin, and he worked for CNH there before taking a job at the Burlington plant in 2016.DuCharme has the pantry running like a finely tuned automobile. A network of 70 volunteers ensures that the pantry never goes unattended. During shopping hours, about a dozen volunteers work to fill carts from tables stacked with food items. Taller stacks of food boxes sit behind the tables, allowing volunteers to re-stock the tables as they go.“We have nine different bread teams. Their job is to every day go to the two Hy-Vee stores, pick up whatever day-old bread they’re donating. I’ve got a team of folks that come in just to help with food bank delivery. We get that twice a month, so I’ve got a team for that. I’ve got a couple of teams that pick up Walmart a couple times a week. I’ve got five different teams, one for each day of the week, for distribution. Then I’ve got a few extra individuals that help me with ordering and stocking and those types of things,” DuCharme said.A walk-in freezer makes it possible to meet the protein demands of clients, and all clients get extra food in December — a benefit that replaces the Christmas food baskets the organization used to put together.The joy of giving to others practically makes DuCharme giddy – but he isn’t the only one. Frank Paolo has also volunteered at the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry for over 20 years. He still hasn’t grown tired of it.“I got into it because one of my buddies was working here,” he said.&nbsp;“It actually makes you feel good because you’re getting to be a part of the community. And when you get as old as I am, you’ve got to find things to do.”Though he’s been at the pantry much longer, Paolo has seen the same increase in need as DuCharme. He’s just seen it growing since he arrived two decades ago.“Instead of getting better, it’s getting worse,” he said.Paolo is surprised to see people he knows using the food pantry. People he thought would never have to. He hasn’t had to use the pantry himself and thanks God for his good fortune.“It just blows my mind,” he said.DuCharme has made a few tweaks to the organization in his year as president and has enjoyed welcoming new volunteers into the food pantry.He hopes to welcome many more. Feeding the hungry is a job that never ends — it just gets passed on. DuCharme is delighted he picked up the baton.“It’s been very fulfilling,” he said.The St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry on Division Street is open from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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