JanuaryMount Vernon’s voting districts changed, due to population increases in the United States Census.
Mount Vernon and Lisbon established a number of new snow routes in the cities at the beginning of the year. Those snow emergency routes were put to the test, with the first significant snowfall hitting the area at the tail end of 2021.
The Lisbon and Mount Vernon School Boards held discussions on vaccine mandates, as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration. The mandates were later ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, making the decisions moot.
The first pipeline easements for the proposed Navigator Pipeline were held Wednesday, Jan. 19. The City of Mount Vernon, as well as several citizens, voiced opposition to the proposed pipeline, and, towards the end of January, the Navigator Pipeline’s pathway through Linn and Johnson Counties left as ADM had a proposed pipeline along a similar route.
Lisbon secondary principal Aaron Becker announced he would be seeking a job as a superintendent at Hampton-Dumont.
Career and technical education program needs were the topic of discussion at Lisbon Schools.
Lisbon’s request to join another conference was vetoed by the Tri-Rivers Conference. The school was trying to get out of the conference, noting the further distance traveled by schools to certain competitions to the east boundary and the sizes of other schools in the conference.
Mount Vernon and Lisbon received $10,000 from Channel Seeds for tree replacement following the derecho.
Lisbon and Springville named their new superintendent, Autumn Pino, in late January.
February Lisbon Schools launched a new website.
Mount Vernon native Dan Bern was named to the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and inducted in September.
Mount Vernon’s levy rate remained the same, $12.99 per $1,000, following discussions on the city budget.
Lisbon Early Childcare Center received an Iowa Childcare Stabilization Grant from the American Rescue Plan act funding that helped backfill deficits the care center had operated under during the COVID-19 pandemic and gave the center breathing room.
Craig Engel was appointed to the Mount Vernon City Council to fill the remainder of Tom Wieseler’s term.
Six groups from Mount Vernon and two groups from Lisbon were named to the All-State speech tournament. At the tournament, Mount Vernon received an All-State banner for their ensemble acting piece “Controlling Interest.”
Additional solar panels at Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center and Mount Vernon-Lisbon Police Department were first discussed at a city council meeting.
Four men were rescued from a grain bin north of Mount Vernon Feb. 18, the same day as the state wrestling tournament. It required first responders from multiple agencies to assist in the rescue.
A mask mandate at Mount Vernon schools was lifted in February 2022.
Lisbon Schools found they could borrow up to $5.8 million in Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) funds from a new revenue purpose statement. At the end of February, Lisbon Schools announced that they were researching a new career technical education classroom wing for construction in the next years.
March Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group was one of eight semifinalists for a Great American Main Street Award.
The City of Lisbon approved removing lead paint from the Lisbon History Center building’s west wall.
Bauman’s added a new shoe department and point of sale inventory.
Mount Vernon’s Thespian troupe turned 50.
Lisbon School administration was working through how to aid students, as they were without a certified science teacher during the second semester.
The Mount Vernon Activities complex moved forward after planning and zoning approved the site plan and Mount Vernon City Council approved the plan.
Mount Vernon named Waters Edge as the pool consultant for the Mount Vernon Aquatic Center study.
The City of Lisbon looked at an avenue for the new parks complex using Third Avenue as the entry point, with a public hearing March 14.
The animals ordinance was reviewed in Lisbon after a dog bite incident happened in late January.
First responders were honored at Mount Vernon City Council for their lifesaving work in the grain bin incident in early February.
Mount Vernon student Edith Dawson advanced to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
Mount Vernon announced plans to move forward with Republic Waste Management for a new waste contract for the city in July.
AprilHolocaust survivor Michael Borenstein and his daughter Debbie Borenstein Holinstat spoke at Cornell College in late March.
Union Pacific clears up railroad crossing issues in Lisbon and Mount Vernon, and reminds citizens what to do if crossing arms are down.
Iowa BIG students were working on a trail improvement project for the Palisades-Kepler State Park, including labeling trails in the park and getting maps to first responders.
The Lisbon career technical education wing building comes in with an estimate of roughly $5.1 million.
Mount Vernon student Anna Moore placed second in a national photography contest. Moore and members of the Mustang Moon newspaper also received a number of awards from the Iowa High School Press Association in April 2022.
The Mount Vernon Marching Mustangs were selected to march in the Washington, D.C. Memorial Day Parade in May 2023.
Books were challenged at the Mount Vernon School’s library in April, with the books then going to a review process by members of the community and administration.
Cornell College Concert Choir also performed as part of the Voices of Change concerts.
Lisbon hosts the first annual youth track meet at the Lisbon High School Track meet.
The Mount Vernon Farmers’ Market closed doors at the First Street Community Center in uptown Mount Vernon after 15 years in operation. The market later relocated to Morning Glory Foods.
Lincoln Highway Arts Festival was canceled in 2022.
Lisbon United Methodist Church holds miniature golf course at church in late April.
MayChalk the Walk was held in early May.
The late Leah Rogers won a State Historical Society lifetime achievement award for her work on historic preservation efforts.
Cornell College holds commencement exercises for 223 students.
The Lisbon sports complex bids were approved for $1.3 million. A groundbreaking was held in late May.
The Mount Vernon Mustangs Activity Complex moves forward with a public hearing on the project.
Mount Vernon has 92 and Lisbon graduates 33 students in commencement exercises.
Mount Vernon had 12 retiring educators at Mount Vernon Schools.
JuneMount Vernon Chocolate Stroll was held June 3, 2022.
Cedar Rapids local celebrity Matthew “Hockey Man” Crawford makes a visit to Mount Vernon to visit and play some street hockey with some local youth.
An investigatory audit was requested on the Lisbon activities fund at the June school board meeting, highlighting potential discrepancies.
Mount Vernon approves some improvements to Davis Park baseball diamond, including new lighting.
Local artists were named winners in the Portrayal of Mount Vernon art show and poet laureate Debra Marquart created poems that went with the artwork.
Southeast Linn Community Center reopens congregate meals at the center every Friday, now labeled as Linn Lunch Bunch.
Garbage containers roll out in Mount Vernon the week of June 30.
Work on sand volleyball courts at Mount Vernon schools begins in early July, after the community raised more than $20,000 in less than a week.
The Mount Vernon Aquatics Center Feasibility study was held in Late June, with more than 50 participants.
Lisbon investigates forming a new tree board committee who will help with the development of the nature park at the former McElmeel property.
A new vet clinic opens in Mount Vernon, just off Hwy. 1 under Richardson, Hanson, Hotz Insurance Agency.
JulyMount Vernon Heritage Days returned this year with a celebration of Mount Vernon’s 175th birthday celebration.
The first Wine Run 5K was held in uptown Mount Vernon.
Mount Vernon Schools, city council and Cornell College worked on a potential grant for a possible daycare facility, especially since Mount Vernon and Lisbon were named childcare deserts. The application wasn’t filed as it required an amount of cash on hand.
Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance Service has new cardiac monitors in the service’s SUV.
A forum on the childcare issue was held in mid-July to spell out the issues, especially after a local daycare center closed this past summer.
Lorraine Kula retired as secretary at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Mount Vernon.
A site plan for Scooter’s Coffee, one of the first businesses to be built in the new Business 30 overlay district, was approved by the City of Mount Vernon.
The Mount Vernon Softball team brought home a trophy from the state softball tournament. The Mustangs defeated Davenport Assumption 10-5.
Autumn Pino starts as superintendent at Lisbon Schools.
Hilltop Park was dedicated at the end of July.
Citizens in Colonial Estates Mobile Home Park voiced concerns with the current dumpster set ups at the trailer park in Mount Vernon.
Michael Albert, New York Collage artist, visited Mount Vernon and Lisbon libraries.
AugustMount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group awards were distributed to The Local by Gwyn Mawr, The Mount Vernon Baseball team, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library project, Rich and Deb Herrmann and Heritage Days Committee.
Lisbon and Mount Vernon Marching bands prepare for their seasons.
Lisbon’s new secondary principal, Jack Leighty, started.
Lisbon also hired a new science teacher for the district, drawing to a close a five-month search.
First Street Community Center stage received a remodel this August, with a deeper stage and removal of a false ceiling.
The Eastern Iowa Observatory hosted an event on the Webb Telescope Sunday, Aug. 14.
Lisbon and Mount Vernon students return to school.
The Lisbon council revisited the alcohol in the park policy following the cancellation of the Lisbon Softball tournament. A decision was made to name the Lisbon Parks and Recreation Department a 501 C 3 to allow alcohol sales by the organization moving forward.
SeptemberMount Vernon football bests Solon for the first time in more than 19 years to kick off Labor Day weekend in Mount Vernon.
Kate Rose, a tenacious volunteer in Mount Vernon, passed away.
The City of Mount Vernon and Mount Vernon schools approve a trail project to connect the future activities complex to the Mount Vernon trails network.
King Chapel project work continues for Cornell College.
Mount Vernon Hall of Fame inductees were announced for the year including Dan Bern, Steve Goodall, Jeri Neal and Barb Thomsen Neal, Scott Peterson, Jerry Ringer and Larry Ringer.
Honorees were announced for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group’s Uptown Theatre gala including Myrt Bowers, Gwen Drahos, Randy Harman, Mike Smith and Steve and Susan Maurice.
Iron Leaf Press announced plans to move from their current location to a space further east on First Street, doubling the space of the stationery store in uptown Mount Vernon.
Lisbon Superintendent Autumn Pino honored with UNI award.
Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation and Mount Vernon Area Arts Council work on a sculpture path for the community.
A ribbon cutting was held for the recently completed sand volleyball courts at Mount Vernon schools.
Steven Miller had a portion of Bunting Field named after him for his long time work with the softball program, especially the maintenance of that field.
Lisbon Hall of Fame inducted Bob Caspers, Dianee Marri-Opatz-Muni, Jeremiah “JJ” Opatz, Alexina “Alex” Wilson Tuebel, Lavonne Bova, Kent Allison and the late Roger Teeling for the 2022 class.
October Bob Brus was named chaplain for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Police Department.
The Mustangs Activities Complex was approved.
Lisbon held the first annual Hwy. 1 Marching Band Classic Oct. 11.
Lisbon schools enacted new cash handling procedures at the concession stand at the beginning of the year.
The Cornell College Small Athletic and Wellness Complex was dedicated at a ceremony during Cornell College Homecoming festivities.
Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance Service is in the early stages of a building addition for their facilities, getting a boost for the plan with an American Rescue Plan Act funding from Linn County Board of Supervisors.
Lisbon Schools inducted new members into the National Honor Society.
Lisbon Parks and Recreation Commission was incorporated as a non-profit organization.
Mount Vernon slightly dips in Iowa School Performance Profiles, while Lisbon’s scores improved. This year the scores were weighted for those who showed growth in scores in categories.
November Mount Vernon football team advanced to the state football tournament at the UNI Dome after defeating Solon for the second time in a year, 17-0.
The first of two Shop Small Saturdays was held Saturday, Nov. 5.
City of Mount Vernon approved a tax increment funding deal for two owners for buildings adjacent to a historic building in uptown Mount Vernon.
Lisbon announced they were starting a junior high wrestling program, due to the increased interest at those levels.
The midterm elections statewide favored Republican candidates, while locally many supported the Democrat candidates in races.
The Aquatic Center feasibility study sought additional community input at a session in late November. The new survey is also now live until Jan. 8.
The Mount Vernon football team placed second in the state finals Friday, Nov. 18, with a 30-23 loss to defending state champions Harlan.
December An art piece is being designed for the Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center by Mount Vernon alum Christine Rebhuhn, a New Yok artist.
Mount Vernon Family Dentistry’s new site plan for a building out by the Business 30 and Virgil Avenue locations was approved. The construction will finish in spring 2023.
The champions of the 1973 Mount Vernon boys’ basketball team were recognized on the 50th anniversary of winning the title at a early basketball game this fall.
Enrollment at both Mount Vernon and Lisbon Schools saw upticks this year.
Lisbon Dance team places at the state meet, with a second place in pom and a fifth in jazz. Soloists Kennedy Baxa and McKenna Nost also earned Division I ratings at the competition.
Project 60 served up more than 140 meals this year.
Lisbon Schools hosted the Hwy. 30 24-hour theatre festival.
The holidays are impacted by a blizzard that hits the entire Midwest, with freeing temperatures and high winds enveloping the state for three days.
A youth meets the Red Queen (played by Kim Benesh) at the Memorial Park Fun Zone, one of the many activities offered to kids for prizes.