The Jeremy and Andrea Goodrich home at 306 Montezuma St., along Highway 63 in Malcom, is decorated each year with ghosts, goblins, clowns, grave stones, spooky and scary characters, which is all lit up at night. Jeremy said he changes the decorations most years and that it is a popular stop for folks taking Halloween photos.

      It’s time to dig out your spooky costumes and grab a bag for treats and head on down to your favorite town, or all the towns, for some frightening family fun. Following is a list of Poweshiek County Halloween events:
 
Brooklyn
       • Trick-or-Treat – Saturday, Oct. 30, 5 – 8 p.m.
 
Deep River
       • Trick-or-Treat Night is Saturday, Oct. 30, 5 – 7 p.m.
 
Grinnell
   Please join the Grinnell Parks and Recreation Department along with multiple local businesses and community groups for our Trunk-or-Treat at the Ahrens Park parking lot on Saturday, Oct. 23 from 9 – 11 a.m.!
     “We will have a mixture of tents and vehicles decorated in different themes for all ages of kids to enjoy,” noted Shelby Davis, Grinnell Recreation Coordinator. “This is a free event to all participants.” 
     If you are a local business or community group and are interested in reserving a free parking spot, please email Davis at sdavis@grinnelliowa.gov or call 641-236-2620.
 
Grinnell
      • Trick-or-Treat Night around town – Sunday, Oct. 31, 6 – 8 p.m.
 
Malcom
    Join the City of Malcom for Tricks and Treats on Saturday, Oct. 30 for various family fun events from a chili supper to a haunted park.
      • Truck-or-Treat, 4 – 6 p.m., Malcom City Park, free to the public.
      • Chili Supper, 5 – 8 p.m., Malcom Auditorium, free will donation
      •  Haunted Park, 7 – 10 p.m., Malcom City Park, cost is $5
 
Montezuma
      Montezuma is hosting two events on Friday, Oct. 29, 5 – 6:30 p.m.
      • Truck-or-Treat on the Montezuma Square
     • Trick-or-Treat around town. Anyone inviting trick or treaters to their home should leave a light on. 

Montezuma's Eddie Burgess shows who is number 1 following a 45-24 win at Baxter on Friday, Oct. 8. The Braves finished the regular season, 9-0, after Woodward Academy forfeited the final game of the season. The Braves, who earned the 8-player District 7 title, open the playoffs at home on Friday, Oct. 22 against New London. Game time is 7 p.m.

    There were knock downs, knock outs, high-flying catches bruising runs. It was everything any Iowa high school football fan would want in a game.
   Montezuma’s Eddie Burgess and company traveled to Baxter on Friday night, coming home with an impressive, 45-24, victory over the previously unbeaten Bolts, who fell to 6-1 on the season.
    The number one Braves end the regular season with a perfect 9-0 record, thanks to Woodward Academy forfeiting the final home game, earning the 8-player District 7 title in the process. The win secured the Braves spot in the playoffs.
    The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Burgess scored 6 touchdowns in the game, finishing the night with 447 total yards, giving him 2,960 for the season and 53 total touchdowns, tops in the state.
    Of his 6 total touchdowns, Burgess went 18 for 26 passing and 2 touchdowns and rushed for 168 yards on 27 carries and 3 touchdowns. He leaped into the air in the third period and grabbed a 17-yard pass from Owen Cook for a TD. The leaping catch in the corner of the endzone followed a late hit on Burgess. After sitting out a down, he returned as a wide receiver to put the Braves ahead for good. Later, Burgess scored on a gut-busting run, running over and dragging several defenders on the way to the endzone.
    Burgess finished with 3 two-point conversions and Cook had 1 two-point conversion.
   Connor Van Zee had 1 interception for 6 points and picked up 2 more scores on 4 rushes for 89 yards. Masin Shearer has a good night as well, finish the game with a 111 yards on 8 receptions.
     On defense, Burgess finished the game with a 11 tackles including 9 solo. Van Zee finished with 7.5 tackles including 6 solo. Cook finished the game with 4 solo tackles and Eli Bustamonte finished the game with 5 tackles, 4 being solo. Others had tackles for losses.
     Cook had 7 kickoffs with 6 being touchbacks for 312 yards.
    The Braves will face New London on Friday, Oct. 22 at Badger-Gabriel Field in the first round of the playoffs. Game time is 7 p.m.   

     The Poweshiek County Extension Office recently announced that Haley Princehouse has been named the new County Youth Educator. Her first day on the job was Monday, Oct. 4
     Haley grew up in Toledo and was involved in both 4-H and FFA while attending South Tama Community Schools. Her project areas included communications, non-livestock, sheep and dairy cows. 
     “These programs lead me to attend Iowa State University and major in Animal Science,” Haley said. “I graduated from ISU in May 2019. During my summers, I was an intern at the Tama County Extension Office.”
Following 4-H, Haley showed sheep and dairy cows at the Iowa State Fair as well as entered wood working project, horticulture, floriculture and photography.
      When asked what led her to apply for the CYE position, Haley said she was working as a veterinarian technician, but wanted to get back to working with youth.
        “I really enjoyed working with the animals, but I wanted to get back to a program that allowed me to work with youth who helped shape me so I can help shape others,” she said. 
         Haley recently married Garrett. The couple has a dog named Paisly Marie. In her spare time, Haley loves to bake, craft, go biking and hang out with her sheep.
      “I am excited to get to know everyone and share my knowledge and passion for 4-H with Poweshiek County,” Haley said. “Please stop in and introduce yourselves, I would love to meet you all.”
         Haley can be reached at hphouse@iastate.edu or 641-623-5188.

Casey DeZwarte plans to give donations he received to the Montezuma American Legion Building Fund

​    Casey DeZwarte, 13, of rural Montezuma expresses excitement and relief after completing the last of 50 yards he mowed for free from June through September. Casey’s mom, Rachel, heard about a 50 yard mowing challenge from Raising Men and Women Lawn Care Service, a nationwide non-profit based in Huntsville, Ala. The organization has been challenging youth ages 7 to 17 since 2016 to mow 50 yards for the elderly, disabled, single parents, veterans and anyone in need of help in their town, all for free. Casey missed the signup deadline, but decided to take the challenge anyway. In addition to the challenge, Casey also mowed a half dozen or so lawns in the Montezuma area. 

J.O. Parker

    Casey DeZwarte may have missed the signup deadline, but that didn’t stop the 13-year-old rural Montezuma boy from spending his summer mowing yards and helping others.
      In June, Casey’s mother, Rachel, saw a post on Facebook about a 50-yard lawn challenge from Raising Men and Women Lawn Care Service, a nationwide non-profit based in Huntsville, Ala. The organization has been challenging youth ages 7 to 17 since 2016 to mow 50 yards for the elderly, disabled, single parents, veterans and anyone in need of help in their town, all for free. Young people who accept the challenge earn T-shirts and once they mow all 50 yards, they receive a new lawn mower, weed eater and blower.
     Casey, who was already mowing a half dozen or so yards in the Montezuma area for the last two years, decided, deadline or no deadline, he’d take on the challenge.
    Casey changed the focus the challenge, adding in firemen and current military along with veterans and disabled people.
     He completed the challenge in September, doing so in addition to mowing his own customer’s yards. Casey mowed yards in Montezuma, Oskaloosa, Lynnville, Sully, Grinnell and Galesburg, where Rachel is from.
“He mowed the yard a couple times for a man in the burn unit at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics,” his mom said.
       Casey said he couldn’t have done the challenge without the help of his mom and grandparents, Steve and Kelley Zuidema. They hauled Casey around to the different yards and are quite proud of his accomplishments.
        “They helped out every chance they could,” Rachel said of her parents and Casey’s grandparents.
“We are super proud of this kid,” said his grandmother Kelley.
        Even though his services were free, some customers donated money to Casey for gas and supplies. With about $200 left over, Casey said he plans to add some of his own money and help a local cause.
         “I am going to donate the money to the Montezuma American Legion Building Fund,” he said.
Casey said it was tough going at times, but his goal in taking on the mowing challenge was to give and help those who needed it.
         “My hope is that taking part in this challenge will inspire others to help and be kind to people.”
Casey is a seventh-grader at Montezuma where he plays football, basketball and baseball and participates in FFA.
         He is also involved in the 4 Bar H 4-H Club where he shows rabbits and goats. His goal is to show rabbits at shows around the state.
         He is the son of Chad and Rachel Thompson.
         Casey said he didn’t know if he will do the challenge again.
         “I might do a few free yards, but maybe not so many.”

​    If you’ve been driving through Montezuma anytime lately, you might have noticed a volunteer perched on a blue and white motorized cart with a large tank bolted to the back watering flowers around the square and at city hall. The new watering cart, which was purchased by the city earlier this summer from Hupp Toyotalift for about $12,000, was made possible thanks to the generosity of both monetary and in-kind donations from area businesses and individuals.
    Donations came from ASI, City of Montezuma, DeJong Manufacturing, Lyle Roorda, Montezuma Community Boosters, Montezuma Community Development, Montezuma Light & Power, Three Sisters Fabrics and Travis Johannas. Several modifications were made to the new cart, which was put into service in July. Those helping with watering of flowers include: Alexa Jack, Vince Johnson, Doug Ver Meer, Lyle Roorda, Dave Elbert, Dean and Joy Hubbard, city office staff, Tabitha Sinclair, Dennis and Vera Latcham and Don and Janice Henry. The Montezuma FFA program also pitched in with watering duties on weekends during the summer months. There are 19 planters, 40 hanging baskets, six large flower pots and a flag pole flower bed that needs watered every day.
    “The new machine is so much easier to drive and makes going around the square much easier and plus it looks great,” said Deb Ver Meer, volunteer watering coordinator. “Thank you to all who helped plant (Gina Urfer, Susan Hutchison, Deb Iverson, Rick Iverson and the FFA growers) the flowers.” 

Montezuma's Cruz DeJong throws a pass during the second half of the Braves 87-0 win over the Twin Cedars Sabers on Friday night Oct. 1.

By J.O. Parker

    If you blinked at Friday night’s game against Twin Cedars, Eddie Burgess and company may have scored a couple touchdowns on the way to a 87-0 win over the winless Sabers.
   The varsity played the first half of the game with the junior varsity taking control in the second half. The Braves scored 41-points in the first quarter, followed by 28 in the second quarter, a 2-point safety in the third and wrapped up the game with 16-points in the final period.
   Burgess went 10/11 for 175-yards and 6 touchdowns in the passing department. He now leads the state with 47 touchdowns.
    Garrett Watts, a sophomore, briefly took the reins in the second half before suffering a game-ending injury. It is not know the extent of his injuries.
    Cruz DeJong, a sophomore, finished the second half, going 1/4 for 21-yards and 1 touchdown. He rushed 9 times for 80-yards and 1 touchdown.
    Masin Shearer caught 4 passes for 74-yards and 2 touchdowns. Owen Cook had 2 receptions for 65-yards and 1 touchdown. David Rose, a freshman, had one catch for 21-yards and a touchdown. Eli Bustomonte, a junior, finished the game with a 1-yard reception for a score. Tod Geiger had 2 catches for 22-yards and 2 touchdowns. Connor Van Zee finished the game with 1 reception for 13-yards.
   On defense, Martavious Knox, a junior, had 7 tackles including 6 solo in the game while Brett Plants, a freshman, finished the game with 6.5 tackles including 2 solo. Butamonte finished with 3 solo tackles and a host of other players had tackles in the game.
   Braxton Simpson and Matt Karadios, both sophomores, had fumbles while Van Zee and Burgess had 1 interception each.
    Cook had 11 kickoffs with 10 being touchbacks for 552-yards. DeJong had 2 kickoffs for 59 yards. He also had one punt for 33-yards and Burgess had 1 punt return for 36-yards.
   Next up, the 7-0 Braves travel to Baxter for a game against the 6-O Bolts at the Baxter – Seales Sport Complex. It should be a good one!
     Game time is 7 p.m.
 

The Montezuma Varsity played tough, earning a 3-1 victory over previously unbeaten Colfax-Mingo in a home match on Monday, Sept. 27.

Montezuma JV Volleyball team played tough in a loss to Colfax-Mingo on Monday, Sept. 27. The junior varsity squad is 6-5 on the season, which includes the Montezuma and BGM tournament games. The junior varsity squad also fell to Iowa Valley at home on Thursday, Sept. 30.

Law enforcement officials closed a section of 110th Street from 470th Avenue to 460th Avenue due to the discovery of the body of an adolescent found in the area.