​       A youngster gave American Legion Commander Ron Hensel a coloring of the American Flag.

J.O. Parker
 
       From wrestlers to crafters, community gatherings and veterans events, the new Montezuma Blakely-Stevens American Legion Post 169 building is quickly becoming a shining star for the Montezuma community.
One of the building’s most recent events was the Veterans Day Service on Nov. 11 attended by nearly two hundred veterans, their families, friends and community members.
       “It’s a nice building for our veterans and the community,” noted Ron Hensel, Montezuma American Legion Commander, who helped spearhead the building project.
          Following a tasty potluck meal, Commander Hensel introduced the three Montezuma Fifth graders who won the American Legion Fifth Grade Flag Essay Contest.
        Mackenzie Fleming, Ayva Olweny and Gage Haynie all read their essays. Each student was awarded a certificate and a $35 cash prize.
          Following that was the introduction of Boys’ State Representatives Peyton Tindle and Larry Moore, who both shared about their time at boys’ state.
         On the girls’ side, Bea Hensel, Montezuma American Legion Auxiliary President, introduced Sara Bos, who shared about her experience at girls’ state.
            Kami Mathes also attended girls’ state, but was unable to attend due to an illness.
           The guest speaker was Jim Keller, founder and curator of the Welcome Home Soldier Memorial in Albia.
The building is located at 803 E. Jefferson on two acres of land donated in June 2021 to the American Legion by Scott, Kevin and Kerri Carl, the grandchildren of the late Cloyd and Francis Carl of Montezuma.
          Funding for the project came from several sources, including the sale of land owned by the American Legion located west of Lake Ponderosa.
           The Legion held numerous watermelon and root beer float fundraisers during community events such as summer nights.
         Other funds have come from Legion sponsored car shows on the last Saturday in September. The fourth show was held on Sept. 27. 
      Additional funds have come from an ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) grant through the Poweshiek County Board of Supervisors. In addition, the American Legion received a sizeable grant from the Poweshiek County Alliance.
       Construction on the new 60’ by 80’ foot building began in the summer of 2024. The building opened its doors one year later in August 2025.
       The building features a large gathering area for meetings, community events, ans celebrations. It also features an large kitchen with a serving counter, two stoves, two refrigerators and three sinks, a bar area, plenty of seating, a storge and HVAC room, restrooms, a patio and vestibule.
        “It is a very nice facility for our community,” said Roger Schroeder, a member of the Sons of the American Legion. “The program was very good.”
        Schroeder said the Montezuma Sons of the American Legion visited the Welcome Home Soldier Memorial and said it was great.
             “Jim Keller gave us a personnel tour,” he added. “That made it very special.”
             “It was wonderful,” said Chris Nolte. “There was lots of patriotism and the kids did a great job.”
            “The building is a tribute to the dedication of the Legion, Auxiliary and Sons,” added Nolte. “It’s a great asset to Poweshiek County and Montezuma.”
            “This is a great building,” said Uwe Meyer. “This is great for the community and for all of us.”
         “The girls and boys state representatives were well spoken,” noted Janice Albrecht, who was helping serve the veterans and attendees. “Our guest speaker did a great job. What a great program.”
        Contact Hensel at (515) 979-2705 for information on using the new Montezuma American Legion building for a family gathering or community event.

       The Montezuma Color Guard carries the flags into the high school gym at the start of the Veterans Day program on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

        Tim Burgess, the second-year head coach of the Montezuma Bravettes Volleyball team, gives instructions to two players in an early-season match. Burgess was named the SICL Coach of the Year following the 2025 season. The Bravettes went undefeated in conference play and finished the season in the third round of playoffs.

By J.O. Parker

         A total of nine volleyball players at BGM and Montezuma were among those earning SICL All-Conference honors following the 2025 season.
     In addition, SICL Coach of the Year honors went to Tim Burgess, who coached the Bravettes to an SICL conference championship and third round playoff finish in only his second year at the helm.
When asked, Burgess said this honor isn’t about him, it should be about the staff and kids that were the ones to make all the plays.
        “This honor is about winning the conference championship and all those involved in making it happen,” noted Burgess. “I am incredibly lucky to have Tiffany Kercheval on my staff. She has been instrumental with what we have done these past two years. I have incredibly dedicated players who chose to put the their team first above personal glory. They chose to focus on What’s Important Now (WIN) every day, every set, every match. They focused on the right things and worked very hard. These players thrived at meeting new expectations. They were coachable and put trust in what we were trying to do. Honestly, this was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. I don’t miss the competition as much as I miss the day to day together. I am extremely proud of what they accomplished and am equally excited for the future.”
 
1st Team SICL All-Conference
Chloe Snook, Senior – Montezuma
Sydnee Burgess, Junior – Montezuma
Shaye Strong, Senior – BGM
Erilea Kupka, Sophomore – HLV-TC
Nicole Gensley, Senior – HLV-TC
Nataliya Linder, Junior – North Mahaska
Ava Gehrking, Junior – English Valleys
Britney Keeney, Senior – Colfax-Mingo
Addy Fineran, Senior – Sigourney
Bailey Gretter, Junior - Sigourney
Allison Hoover, Sophomore – Belle Plaine
Tatun Huyser, Senior – Lynnville-Sully
 
2nd Team SICL All-Conference
Lauryn Larmore, Sophomore – Montezuma
Lilly Ferry, Senior - Montezuma
Carly Lake, Junior – North Mahaska
Abby Van Weelden, Senior – North Mahaska
Katelyn Steenhoek, Junior – Colfax-Mingo
Emery Hall, Junior – HLV-TC
Hadyn Bender – Junior – English Valleys
Elise Lyle – Sophomore – Keota
Jules Stamp, Sophomore – Belle Plaine
Maeci Marshall, Junior – Iowa Valley
 
Honorable Mention SICL All-Conference
Emy Minnaert, Sophomore – BGM; Mya Beck, Sophomore – BGM
Mya Smothers, Junior – Montezuma; Leah Urfer, Junior – Montezuma
Kennedy Coover, Junior – Belle Plaine; Jadie Dahlquist, Sophomore – Belle Plaine
Grace Hunsberger, Senior – Colfax-Mingo; Grace Allen, Junior – Colfax-Mingo
Joslyn Bender, Sophomore – English Valleys; Anna Gorsh, Senior – English Valleys
Caidyn Schmidt, Sophomore – HLV-TC; Raegen Stowell, Senior – HLV-TC
Clara Fry – Senior – Iowa Valley; Olyvia Grant – Freshman – Iowa Valley
Kennedy Jackson, Senior – Keota; Jaylah Redlinger, Junior – Keota
Kate Harthoorn, Senior – Lynnville-Sully
Gracie DeGeest, Senior – North Mahaska; Alivia Schock, Senior – North Mahaska
Becca Gretter, Junior – Sigourney; Clara Hanselman, Junior - Sigourney
 
Golden Award
Kieren Perez, Senior – North Mahaska; Olivia DeBevec, Sophomore – English Valleys.
         The league’s Golden Award honor is given to a player or players who the coaches felt would have been an honoree, but was unable to play most of the season due to an injury.
 
Coach of the Year
Tim Burgess – Montezuma

     Our Christmas recital is scheduled and set to roll! What a fun time to be merry and bright while listening/dancing to some of the best Christmas tunes! Don’t miss out

​Peyton Tindle hangs on to his signed Denver Broncos football while meeting and shaking hands with Bo Nix, the starting quarterback for the Broncos. Photo by Ben Swanson.

by J.O. Parker
 
   A trip to Colorado to see the Denver Broncos play football was a memory of a lifetime for a Montezuma High School senior.
   Peyton Tindle, 18, and his family spent four days in Denver where they toured the Broncos training facilities and watched the Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs play football at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 16.
   Peyton’s parents, Jeff and Megan Tindle, and his brothers, Gavin and Sawyer, joined him on the trip.
   Make-A-Wish Iowa and Make-A-Wish Colorado organizations worked together to make the trip to possible for Peyton, a cancer survivor.
   Peyton was diagnosed in the Spring of 2024 with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Stage 2. He endured four rounds of chemotherapy (eight treatments in total) over a three month time table with his final round on Aug. 7 that year.
   He rang and signed the cancer-free bell at Blank Children’s Hospital in September 2024 with family present, and has remained cancer free ever since.
   He was nominated for the Make-A-Wish trip by his doctors and nurses at Blanks.
  Peyton, a huge Broncos fan, and family enjoyed a ride in a limo to visit and tour the Broncos Training Facility on Saturday, Nov. 15.
   It was there that Peyton mingled with the players and coaches and caught a touchdown pass from No. 8 Jarrett Stidham, the Broncos backup quarterback.
   He then spiked the ball in the endzone.
   Ben Swanson, manager of photography and digital media for the Broncos, took photos of Peyton and his family while on the tour.
   Peyton was able to meet Eyioma Uwazurike, an Iowa State University football player, who plays on defense for the Broncos and Riley Moss, a University of Iowa player from Ankeny, who plays cornerback at Denver.
   They also met head coach Sean Payton and George Paton, general manager of the Broncos.
   All the players and coaches signed and gave him a Bronco’s football.
   Peyton plans to put the football in a display case.
   Peyton and family enjoyed lunch in the team dining room as part of the three-hour training facility tour.  
   Peyton said the menu included steak, pasta, grilled shrimp, a large salad bar and chicken strips, his favorite.
   “They have a whole area of all kinds of nutritional and other drinks,” said his mom, Megan.
   They toured all the facility including team meeting rooms, therapy/training room, weight room, pools, a video production and television studio and more.
   Peyton also saw the team’s three Super Bowl trophies from 1998, 1999 and 2016. He said there are replica trophies located throughout the training facility to remind the team what their ultimate goal is each season.
   He also received a Broncos Jersey with No. 1 on it and his name across the back that he wore to the game.
   And on game day, Peyton and family were able to be on the sidelines as the team warmed up. The family had 11th row seats right behind the team bench.
   The Broncos won the game, 22-19, on a last minute field goal by Wil Lutz, who Peyton also met during his tour. The Broncos hold a 9-2 record with an eight game win streak following the Kansas City win.
   In addition to the jersey, Peyton received numerous shirts, hats and memorabilia from the Broncos and Make-A-Wish.
   All expenses of the trip were paid by Make-A-Wish. The family stayed at the Crawford Hotel at Union Station in Denver.
   They had a rental car with a gas voucher, a food voucher and fun money for souvenirs.
   While in Colorado, Peyton and family visited the Garden of Gods, went bowling, rode go carts and visited an escape room, which they solved with five minutes to spare. The family also visited a couple souvenir shops and toured Denver and nearby Boulder.
   When asked what his favorite part of trip was, Peyton said he enjoyed it all.
   “It was great to watch the game from row 11,” he said.
   “There were too many one-of-a-kinds,” added Peyton’s mom, Megan.