An assortment of goblins and other characters of all sizes took part in the Montezuma Fall Festival on Thursday, Oct. 30. Many of the stores around the square were open and handing out candy to costumed characters and family members throughout the two-hour event.

       The Montezuma Braves wrapped up its 2025 gridiron season with a second round playoff loss to the Audubon Wheelers on Friday, Oct. 31. The Braves finished the season with a 7-3 record. Submitted photo.

By J.O. Parker
 
       The Iowa Department of Education recently named nine teachers from across the state, including one from Montezuma, as the 2026 Iowa Regional Teachers of the Year.
        Among those named is Allison Pargeon, a 26-year veteran who engages students in upper-level math and computer science courses at Montezuma High School. She teaches algebra, calculus, statistics and computer science.
        Pargeon is the second Montezuma teacher in as many years to be named a Iowa Regional Teacher of the Year.
      In 2025, Kevin Gartman, a business teacher at Montezuma High School, was named a Iowa Regional Teacher of the Year finalist.
        When asked about the learning culture at Montezuma and having two teachers in two years be named a Regional Teacher of the Year, Pargeon said, “Montezuma really prioritizes academics and our administration encourages us to try different things in our classroom that allow our students to grow as individuals.”
      Other finalists joining Pargeon are Marissa Moore, Clear-Creek-Amana; Tony Onesto, Burlington; Kelly Myers, Murray; Gregory Barord, Des Moines; Jennifer Ries, Maquoketa; Dawn Rheingans, North Scott; Stephanie Pritts, Sheldon and Kristi Mentink, Harris-Lake Park in being named a Iowa Regional Teacher of the Year.
        “We are proud to recognize nine outstanding educators from all corners of the state in our second-ever Iowa Regional Teachers of the Year designation," said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “Like their colleagues across Iowa, these exceptional teachers partner with families to provide all learners with what they need to meet high expectations and realize their incredible potential. The Department, alongside each school community and education region, thanks and congratulates Iowa’s 2026 Regional Teachers of the Year for their expertise, dedication and care, putting students at the center of all they do.”
       Pargeon is a 1992 graduate of Montezuma High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education and applied computer science from William Penn University and a master’s degree in mathematics with a secondary teaching emphasis from the University of Northern Iowa.
      Pargeon also teaches college-level math and statistics and instructs pre-service teachers in algebra and geometry to prepare them to teach in K-8 classrooms. She is a former recipient of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching award and serves the district beyond the classroom as a grant writer, computer science career development liaison, National Honor Society sponsor and cheer coach. Pargeon believes that for students to be truly engaged, they must have fun and see how what they are learning is relevant to their lives.
      When asked to share highlights of her teaching career,  Pargeon said one of her greatest accomplishments is having a student(s) return and thank her for teaching them math and computer science because their careers have required all of those things.
       “I am very blessed,” she said.
    When asked what led her to become a teacher, Paregon credits former teachers at Montezuma, Ron Willrich, and the now late Dennis Wilson.
       “They just really put kids first and helped everyone be the best they can be,” she said of the two men.
When asked about becoming a teacher, Pargeon said, “I love getting to know so many different kids and just seeing them become adults that they were always meant to be.”
      Educators, administrators, students, families and other stakeholders submitted nominations for the Iowa Regional Teachers of the Year designation. In partnership with teachers and education leaders across Iowa, the nine regional teachers nominated represent a variety of schools, grade levels, subjects, endorsements, and pathways to the teaching profession, with expertise spanning English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Special Education, English Language Learners, World Languages, Fine Arts, Marine Biology and more.
Each of these outstanding teachers will now advance as a finalist for the 2026 Iowa Teacher of the Year award, to be announced later this month. 
     Established in 1958, the prestigious Teacher of the Year award honors an Iowa teacher who advances student learning through evidence-based instruction, empowers students with multiple pathways to postsecondary success, learns from and invests in fellow educators and serves students in partnership with families. 
      Last year, Melanie Bloom, an agriculture educator from Sioux Central Community School District and 2025 Prairie Lakes Regional Teacher of the Year, was named the 2025 Iowa Teacher of the Year. The Iowa Teacher of the Year serves as an ambassador for the Iowa Department of Education and a liaison for educators across the state.
     When not in the classroom, Pargeon enjoys spending time with her family and reading historical fiction novels, something she does a lot of.
      Pargeon is married to Daryl and the couple have three grown daughters. Their oldest, Aliya, is married to Bryan Kriegel and the couple has two sons with another on the way. Aliya works for Manatts and Bryan runs an agriculture spraying business.
      Their middle daughter, Mya, is married to Holden Jensen and the couple runs an agriculture spraying and spreading business.
     And their youngest daughter, Ava, a 2025 graduate of Montezuma, currently attends PCI Academy and is working to become an Esthetician.

       ​The Montezuma Drama Department presents the musical, “Monte Python’s Spamalot (Always Look on the Bright Side of Live)” school edition during four performances, Nov. 8, 9 and 15 and 16.
       The Saturday shows are slated for 7 p.m. and the Sunday shows are slated for 3 p.m.
Snacks will be made available during intermission by the Fine Arts Boosters and Evelyn’s Floral will be on site to allow families to purchase flowers for their actors, actresses and crew members.
       Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and are available in advance at Montezuma State Bank and at the door. 
        The musical is under the direction of Kelly Kaup and Liesl Roorda is the musical producer.
Show Synopsis
      Spamalot is adapted from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which retells the legend of King Arthur and his quest for the Holy Grail with Knights of the Round Table. Follow Arthur as he gathers his knights and attempts to fulfill a divine command to find the Holy Grail, despite numerous ridiculous obstacles, including being forced to sing and dance in outlandish situations. Along the way, you will meet many classic Monty Python characters, including The Black Knight, The Knights of Ni, and Tim the Enchanter!
Cast
     Ava DeWeese - Historian, Can Can Dancer, Bride; Lola Miller - Mayor, Mother, Laker Girl, Knights Chorus; A’Riyah DeLong - Finland Villager, French Person; Austin Wolford - Finland Villager, Knight; Clayton Ver Meer - Finland Villager, Knight; Dominic Reif - Finland Villager, Knight; Eloise Boughton -Finland Villager, French Person; Greyson Hudnut - Finland Villager, Knight; Lena Smothers - Finland Villager, Mime; Whitley Hudson - Finland Villager, French Person; Alison Wickham - Monk, Camelot Girl; Alyssa Bos - Monk, Laker Girl, Can Can Dancer; Carleigh Klein - Monk, Camelot Girl, Frenchie; Owen Desrochers - King Arthur; Letisia Wilson - Guard 1, Body, Knights Chorus, Tim the Enchanter; Isaiah Wilson – Patsy; Brielle Haughey - Guard 2, Minstrel, Knights Chorus; Jayden Doll - Sir Robin; Mya Smothers - Sir Lancelot; Jacob Meyer - Not Dead Fred, Knight, The Knight of Ni; Broox Stockman - Body, Prince Herbert’s Father; Dayton Reif - Body, Knight, The Black Knight; Marley Stowell - Body, French Taunter, Concorde, Bride; Will Rempp – Handler - Frenchie, Sir Bors; Armani DeLong - Handler, Frenchie; Ethan Desrochers - Dennis (Sir Galahad); Gracie Wilson - Lady of the Lake; Addilynn Ross - Frog, Laker Girl, Frenchie, Ni Knight; Addilyn Ver Meer - Laker Girl, Minstrel, Bride; Grace Burnett - Laker Girl, Camelot Girl, Minstrel; Ryanne Williams - Laker Girl, Minstrel, Knights Chorus; Tinsley Stowell - Laker Girl, Camelot Girl, Knights Chorus; Bryn Fantazia - Sir Bedevere; Easton Hudnut - Sir Not Appearing, God, Prince Herbert; Amber Hindman - Camelot Girl, Can Can Dancer, Ni Knight; Hope Tish - Camelot Girl, French Person, Ni Knight; Olivia Teumer - Camelot Girl, Can Can Dancer, Ni Knight; Karley Eichenberger - Camelot Girl, Can Can Dancer, Ni Knight; Karlie Mostek - Camelot Girl, Frenchie, Ni Knight; Ella McGrane - Minstrel, Brother Maynard, Bride.

​         Early in-person absentee voting is available now through election day on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
         Montezuma residents will vote on two (2) measures:
       Questions 1: Montezuma Community School District Public Measure SP (vote on the front page) – This vote authorizes the School Board to issue General Obligation Bonds of up to $6,250,000 to fund the proposed school projects.
       Question 2: Montezuma Community School District Public Measure SQ (vote on the back page) – This vote is to renew our Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS), which is separate (completely independent) from the proposed school projects. The RPS must be updated and/or renewed periodically as required by the Iowa Legislature.
   For more details about the two (2) votes and about #TheMonteWay proposed project, visit https://www.montezuma-schools.org or please don’t hesitate to reach out — we’d be happy to share more information or schedule a tour.

By J.O. Parker
 
      Three teams representing the Montezuma FFA Chapter will participate in the 98th National FFA Convention and Expo, Oct. 29 – Nov. 1, in Indianapolis, Ind.
         Montezuma and Grinnell are among more than 70,000 plus FFA members from across the country and their guests who will  take part in various competitions, activities and events throughout the week. 
         Montezuma has three teams at this year’s convention: Farm Business Management, Ag Communications and Conduct of Meetings. All three teams earned first place finishes at state competition in April and the right to advance to the national competition.
        The Farm Business Management team is comprised of Brady Boulton, Peyton Tindle, Broox Stockman and Claire Erselius.
        The Ag Communications team consists of Olivia Latcham, Leah Urfer, Rylee Thompson and Gracie Wilson.
      Conduct of Meetings team is comprised of Olivia Latcham, Sophia Semprini, Abbi Henkle, Isaiah Wilson, Lauryn Larmore, Hayden Sutherland, Alexa Rose, Kelsie Mostek and Emma Snook.
Grinnell FFA
        The Grinnell FFA Chapter Livestock Judging team is competiting this week at nationals. The team consists of Kolton Kline, Tristan Graff, Maggie Dayton and Aden Wolfe.
    Others attending from Grinnell but not competing include Lauren Louden, Alyssa Peterson, Jamison Hidlebaugh, Rylee Mauss, Gracie Kaufman and Isabel Rubendall.