By J.O. Parker
 
        Sunset Hills Bison Ranch near Malcom is hosting its fifth annual National Bison Day event to celebrate our nation’s mammal, the Bison.
        The event, which is slated to run from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, includes a vendor fair, hay rack rides and the opportunity to check out the herd of 45 bison.
        “Bring your aging pumpkins (non-painted or treated) to feed the bison,” said Bethany Kriegel, co-owner of the bison ranch with her husband, Carl. “You can bring your chemically treated or painted pumpkins and we will dispose of them as well.”
         Sunset Hills Bison Ranch is located at 1307 400 Ave., just north of Malcom and about one mile on gravel.
Off-site parking will be available near the ranch for $5 per vehicle. Handicap parking is available at the ranch. Signs will be posted directing the way to parking.
          Admission to the event is free.
        By popular demand, ranch staff will be serving bison burgers with condiments, pickles and chips. Lean bison meat will also be offered for sale, so bring a cooler.
       The indoor/outdoor vendor fair currently has 15 vendors selling everything from candy to BBQ sauce, clothing, wood signs, benches, books and Christmas ornaments.
         The Iowa History on the Move Museum is also slated to be at this year’s event.
         The GrassHoppers, a local bluegrass band, will be performing at the event.
       Sunset Hills Bison Ranch was founded in August 2020 by Karl and Bethany Kriegel with eight yearlings and a 20-year-old cow. Karl’s parents, Don and Christy Kriegel, and brother, Neal, are also involved in the bison operation.
       Bethany said they love the bison and got into the business as a way to diversify their farming operation. The Kriegel family raises corn and soybeans and Karl is the owner of KDK Crop Services, a custom fertilizer and chemical application company. 
      In 2021, the Kriegel family purchased a fully-functional cabin and located it on the farm. Two years later, the family purchased two Conestoga glamping covered wagons.
     “The glamping wagons have heat and AC with a king bed, bunk beds, coffee maker, refrigerator and microwave all under a canvas cover,” said Bethany. “Each wagon has its own private bathroom and shower a short walk away.”
        There is also a firepit (for the cool nights) and a cowboy pool (large stock tank) for those hot days.
        The glamping covered wagons and the cabin will be open for viewing.
        When asked about hosting this event, Bethany said the purpose is to give the bison exposure.
        “The bison is our national mammal,” she said. “A lot of people don’t realize that.”
     Throughout the year, Sunset Hills Bison Ranch staff host area school groups, leadership groups and nursing home residents who come to check out the bison. The family also gives presentations on the bison at local and area schools.
     “We love this opportunity for community outreach,” said Carl. “We love to offer a fun, family day for everyone to enjoy.”
Saturday’s event is rain or shine.
    For more information on Sunset Hills Bison Ranch, check them out on Facebook or their website, sunsethills.life.
       “Come shop, play and eat,” said Bethany.

       Members of the Grinnell FFA Livestock Judging Team finished sixth in the nation and were 4th in the sheep/goat division at the American Royal 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest in Kansas City on Oct. 20. Pictured are, from left: Tristan Graff, Maggie Dayton, Kolton Kline and Aden Wolfe. Submitted photo.

         What a memorable weekend!
       The Grinnell FFA represented the State of Iowa extremely well at the American Royal 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest on Sunday, Oct. 20 in Kansas City. The team of Kolton Kline, Tristan Graff, Maggie Dayton and Aden Wolfe earned the right to compete in this National competition after placing in the top three at the State FFA Livestock Judging Contest in August.
        The team finished 6th in the Nation and were the 4th team in the sheep/goat division!
     Aden Wolfe had an outstanding day! He won the sheep/goats division and the swine division as an individual, and was 5th overall in oral reasons! He ended up 3rd Overall Top Individual! Congratulations to them all on their amazing finish at their first National competition!
     "As their advisor and coach, I can't tell you how awesome these kids are to work with," said Ashley Wolfe.  "Respectful and coachable. They listen, absorb, question and sometimes argue (Aden Wolfe )."
     "Huge thank you to my husband, Matt Wolfe, for helping coach this team! Your time and expertise are so valuable. We appreciate you," added Ashley.

​        Dick R. Simmons, right, a 1983 graduate of BGM, visits with Brooklyn High School graduates from the Class of 1953 and others at the 2023 BHS-BGM High School Alumni Association All-Class Reunion held on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Simmons, who lives and works in Mount Vernon, spearheads the All-Class Reunion at BGM. He will be inducted into the William Penn University Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. in the Musco Technology Center on the Oskaloosa campus. Simmons is a 1991 graduate of WPU.

By J.O. Parker
 
      Dick R. Simmons, a former Brooklyn resident and long-time supporter of the Poweshiek County community, is being inducted into the William Penn University (WPU) Hall of Fame this week.
Simmons, who currently lives and works in Mount Vernon, will be inducted on Friday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. in the Musco Technology Center on the campus of WPU in Oskaloosa.
Simmons is a 1983 graduate of BGM and the youngest of seven children of the late William and Martha Simmons.
        Simmons has been a life-long supporter of the Brooklyn community and currently serves as the BHS-BGM High School Alumni Association Committee Chair and is charged with spearheading the All-Class Reunion at BGM held Memorial Day weekend.
        “I do that because my dad was a 1944 graduate of Brooklyn High School,” said Simmons. “The All-Class Reunion was very important to him.”
       He also posts on two Brooklyn-based Facebook pages – “BHS-BGM High School Classmate” page for all alumni and “You know you grew up in Brooklyn Ia area if….” page.
       “Anybody who knows me knows that I am from Brooklyn and Brooklyn is God’s Country,” added Simmons. “John Wayne lived there for a while and everyone knows I’m a big John Wayne fan. I used to hear my dad, his friends and others talking about Harold “Pie” Keller, who helped raise the American Flag on Mount Suribachi during the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima and Byard Braley, who fought on Iwo Jima. When I watched “The Sands of Iwo Jima” with John Wayne, I thought that movie was made about all the Brooklyn veterans.”
          Simmons has spent much of his professional career working as an athletic trainer and associate athletic director and supporting Division III men and women’s wrestling.
         He served as the NCAA DIII Wrestling Championship Tournament Director in Cedar Rapids, a position he held in 2008-2010, 2013-2014, 2016, 2020 and 2022.
         He served on the NCAA Division III Wrestling Committee from 2011-2016 and was chair in 2013-2014 and again in 2016.
      Most recently, he has served as the 2023-2024 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship Tournament Director in Cedar Rapids.
        In 2021, he served as the NWCA (National Wrestling Coaches Association) DIII Wrestling Championship Tournament Director in Coralville, and in 2016, was inducted and became a member of the NWCA Hall of Fame.
      He was the head athletic trainer at Cornell College from August 1991 to May 2008, where he worked under the supervision of Cornell College’s team physicians in dealing with all athletic injuries. He also taught athletic training courses at the college from 1991-2008.
     Simmons currently works for Mount Vernon Construction in Mount Vernon, where he serves as the company’s controller, human resource manager and safety officer. He also works for the First Street Community Center in Mount Vernon as a web designer.
        Simmons said he became interested in being an athletic trainer as a freshman at BGM.    
       “During my freshman year in 1979, BGM had a new boys’ basketball coach and shop teacher named Steve Allman,” recalled Simmons. “I asked him if I could be the basketball manager and he said “yes.” A couple days later, he asked me if I wanted to learn to tape an ankle. And it wasn’t too long after that when I realized I wanted to be an athletic trainer.”
       After graduating from BGM, Simmons spent two years at the University of Iowa where he studied athletic training before transferring to WPU, where he finished his degree in physical education with a minor in psychology, graduating in January 1991.
       “The U of I was too big for me being from a small town like Brooklyn,” said Simmons. 
       It just happened that Coach Allman at BGM was a graduate of WPU. And it was through Coach Allman that Simmons became acquainted with Coach Leon Richardson, the former long-time athletic director, men’s basketball coach and athletic trainer at WPU.
       He said Coach Allman and Coach Richardson both had big impacts on his life. 
      In addition, Simmons said Mike Laird, the current boys’ basketball coach at WPU;  Garey Smith, former women’s basketball coach at WPU; Jim Overturf, long-time softball and volleyball coach at WPU and Mike Riordan, WPU strength and conditioning coach when Simmons was at WPU all had an impact on his life. He also mentioned Duane Munson, high school principal at BGM when he was a student as someone who played a positive role in his life.
       “I was blessed to have great teachers at BGM,” Simmons said. “They inspired me to go and grow and do what I want to do.”
        When asked if there were others who impacted his life, Simmons said it would take forever to name them all.
        “I have been blessed,” he said.
        When asked about being named to the WPU Hall of Fame, Simmons said it is very humbling.
“I have been blessed in my career to work with great people from students to volunteers and staff,” he said. “They have all played and continue to play a major part in my life. This award is as much about them as it is about me.”

       Have you seen these little ghosts popping up around town?
       It's all part of the “You Got Booed” fundraiser for Brooklyn’s 175th Celebration and Flag Festival! If you'd prefer not to have a ghost haunting your yard, just pay $30 (or higher amount of your choice!) via cash, check, Venmo https://www.venmo.com/u/Brooklyniachamber, or our website: https://bit.ly/BrooklynBoo.
     To arrange a "Booing" or ghost removal it is $20, contact Ghost Hunter Beth Hennes (641-990-6365) or Casie VanTomme Olson (641-891-7417)
      **We will do our best to fit you in. We cannot guarantee all requests be fit in before Halloween. First come First Served!!
      A huge thank you to our sponsor The Attic, a new short term rental coming to downtown Brooklyn! Let's keep the fun going and support our town! 

      Saty Sharma and Josie Smith, both center, were named the 2024 Grinnell High School Homecoming King and Queen during homecoming activities on Thursday, Oct. 3 at Central Park. Queen candidates pictured are, from left: Kaela Lavender, Isabel hart, Josie Smith (Queen), Taylor Smith and Kennedy Harms. King candidates pictured are, from left: Beaux Blanchard, Brady Coffman, Saty Sharma (King), Jack Hoopes and Broc Heishman. Homecoming activities included a parade, a pep rally, Dogs for Dollars and king and queen coronation. Submitted photo.