 Tara Thomas - Faith and Four Letter Words By J.O. Parker Tara Thomas and Amanda Goodman are bringing their speaking series, “Faith and Four Letter Words,” to the Malcom American Legion Hall on Wednesday, April 16. Through humor and raw honesty, Thomas and Goodman want to empower other women to find their voice and never apologize for using it. The event is being hosted by Katy Calkins of Brooklyn. This is a ticketed event. All attendees need to purchase a ticket to attend. Tickets are $35 each and can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/.../faith-four-letter-words... Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. to shop from local, women-owned businesses. Cash bar will be available and a loose meat sandwich meal with sides will be available to purchase for supper. The meal benefits the Malcom American Legion. Tara and Amanda will take the stage promptly at 6 p.m. and will wrap up at 8 p.m. The duo of Thomas and Goodman have what they call a “unicorn friendship.” One's departure from the boys' club was led by faith, the other was led by four-letter words. Thomas is the communications director for Waterloo Pubic Schools. For nearly 20 years prior, she was a television news anchor and reporter for KWWL in Waterloo and stations in Yakima, Wash., and Mason City. Her baby steps blog chronicling her family’s ups and downs became a popular way for eastern Iowa viewers to connect with her. Goodman is the executive director of Family & Children’s Council, an agency devoted to preventing child abuse. Because of her outspoken determination to keep every child safe, she was recently named Child Advocate of the Year. Goodman is an Emmy Award winning journalist who worked in television news for nearly two decades in four different states. She started writing a popular blog that pulls the rug out on community issues, motherhood, and being a woman constantly under the microscope.  Amanda Goodman - Faith and Four Letter Words
 Richard "Rich" Hicks, 88, of Denver, died Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Denver Sunset Home in Denver.
Rich was born August 3, 1936, in Grinnell, Iowa, the son of Clifford and Byrdie (Byers) Hicks. In 1955, he entered the United States Army where he served on the east coast at the Nike Missile Base, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. While on leave he married Beverly Johnston in Montezuma, Iowa, on October 16, 1955. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1957. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He then went to work for Rockwell Collins, Schumacher Elevator and retired from John Deere in 1998. Rich was a longtime member of Saint Paul United Church of Christ in Denver where he sang in the church choir. He was a member of the Acker-Matthias Legion Post #653 in Denver for many years. Rich served on the Hawkeye Community College Advisory Council for Engineering. He loved to tinker with all sorts of electronic gadgets and could often be found fixing or inventing things. He loved the outdoors, especially fishing, boating and camping. He was famous for his story telling, pranking his grandsons and being extra sweet to his granddaughters. His greatest joy in life came from his family, he especially liked attending and supporting his grandchildren at their events. Rich is survived by his wife, Beverly, four children; Brenda (Keith) Heidemann of Denver, Nancy (Craig) Smolley of Wyoming, MN, Tom (Tammy) Hicks of Denver and Kari (Brent) Matthias of Indianola, 12 grandchildren: Shane (Jessie) Heidemann, Jason Heidemann, Jeremy (Bethany) Heidemann, Stacey Larsen, Erica (Bryce) Siemback, Danielle Hicks, Joseph Hicks, Reece Harrenstein, Brenden Matthias, Kali Matthias, Kira Matthias and Keela Matthias, ten great grandchildren, one sister, Harriett Norem of Iowa Falls and a sister-in-law, Lee Hicks of Port St. Lucie, FL. He is preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Stanley Hicks. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Saint Paul United Church of Christ in Denver. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 28, at the church with a visitation one hour prior. The service will be livestreamed on the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home YouTube page. Burial with military rites will be held in the Fairview Cemetery in Denver by the Acker-Matthias American Legion Post #653. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for a later designation. Online condolences may be left at kaisercorson.com. Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Denver is in charge of arrangements. 319-352-1187  Click the link for the advertising form. monte_journal_advertising_special_business_expo_form.docx
 The Montezuma Musical Theater group "Nunsense" made it to All State Speech and got the chance to perform on Feb. 22. Nunsense is a comedy, written by Dan Googin, about five nuns who are putting on a show as a fundraiser to help pay for the cost of burying several of their sisters who were poisoned by bad food! Pictured are, stating clockwise from bottom: Mya Smothers, Letisia Wilson, Lola Miller, Hayley Burnett and Marley Stowell. Other state results Radio Broadcast: Carson VanDerHart, Claire Erselius, Landon Wilkerson, Dayton Reif, Larry Mohr, Shiressa Wetering, & Luke Erselius Musical Theatres: Frozen: Addyson Probasco, Owen Desrochers, & Jayden Doll Beetlejuice: Gracie Wilson & Ethan Desrochers Nunsense: Hayley Burnett, Letisia Wilson, Lola Miller, Marley Stowell, & Mya Smothers Group Improvs: Easton Hudnut, Ethan Desrochers, Jayden Doll, & Owen Desrochers Addyson Probasco, Claire Erselius, Lola Miller & Taylor Wilcox Bryn Fantazia, Hayley Burnett, Letisia Wilson & Tayler Wickham Ensemble Acting: Carrie Ann Maxwell, Emma Snook, Isaiah Wilson, Ryanne Williams & Talen Holland Choral Reading: Bryn Fantazia, Carrie Ann Maxwell, Dayton Reif, Easton Hudnut, Gracie Wilson, Isaiah Wilson, Lydia Kramer, Marley Stowell, Ryanne Williams & Taylor Wilcox Four Montezuma DECA students raising funds to travel to international conference in Orlando3/16/2025  Pictured are members of the Montezuma DECA Chapter at state conference in February. From left, front row: Abbigail Henkle (ICDC qualifier), Sophia Semprini, Olivia Latcham, Alexa Rose, Elizabeth De Jong, Lauryn Larmore, Taylor Wilcox (ICDC qualifier), Emma Snook (ICDC qualifier). Back row: Dayton Reif, Cade Lowry, Isaac Wedgewood, Briar Simpson (ICDC qualifier), David Rose, Breck Simpson, Lars Taylor, Nicholas Damon and Chapter Advisor Kevin Gartman. Submitted photo. By J.O. Parker
A March Madness Bracket Challenge is now underway at Montezuma Community Schools to raise funds to help send four students to the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) next month in Orlando, Fla. Qualifiers include: Briar Simpson, Personal Financial Literacy; Taylor Wilcox and Abbi Henkle, Travel & Tourism Team Decision-Making and Emma Snook, Principles of Hospitality. “These outstanding students earned their spots at ICDC through their success at the state competition last month,” noted Kevin Gartman, business teacher and DECA advisor. “They demonstrated their knowledge and skills in business, marketing, and leadership. Now, they have the opportunity to compete at the highest level against students from around the world.” Traveling to ICDC comes with costs, including registration, flights and hotel expenses. The program is asking for community support to help make this dream a reality for the four qualifying students. Bracket Challenge The Montezuma Chapter is now offering a March Madness Bracket Challenge fundraising event. If you would like to participate in the challenge, please visit the DECA table at the Montezuma Community Development’s Bingo Night at Memorial Hall on Saturday, March 15 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Information on the bracket challenge was also available earlier at parent/teacher conferences. Brackets are $5 each or five for $20. Participates get a chance to compete for awesome prizes while supporting the four students headed to Orlando to compete at the ICDC. Prizes for first – third place winners will be awarded. If you have questions or a fundraising opportunity, contact Kevin Gartman at [email protected]. Other ways to support the students include a cash or check donation payable to Montezuma Community School or a Venmo donation to Kevin Gartman (@Kevin-Gartman on Venmo). “Every contribution—big or small—helps our students represent Montezuma on the international stage,” said Gartman. State DECA Results The Montezuma DECA Chapter competed at state competition held on Sunday, Feb. 16 at Southeast Polk High School. Montezuma students competed in several different individual or partner competitions, bringing home several top honors. Each DECA competition had two parts - a case study and an exam. Students were given 10 minutes (individual competitions) or 30 minutes (partner competitions) to review a case study they had not seen prior, take notes and make recommendations, and prepare a presentation to a judge/judges. On Monday, Feb. 17 students ventured to the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny for state awards. The top three individuals/teams in each competition move on to the International Career Development Conference in Orlando at the end of April. Below are results: Grand Awards (Qualified for Internationals)
 March Madness brackets are released in one week, and Montezuma DECA is bringing the excitement with our DECA Bracket Challenge Fundraiser! For just $5 per bracket (or 5 for $20), you can compete for awesome prizes while supporting four of our students as they head to Orlando, Florida to compete at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC)!
Where to Find Us: We’ll have a DECA table set up at: Tuesday & Thursday’s school conferences (3 - 7 p.m.) Montezuma Community Development’s Bingo Night on Saturday, March 15 (5:30 - 7:30 p.m.) Stop by to enter in person, ask questions, and learn more about how your support helps Montezuma DECA! Prizes for 1st-3rd place winners! Stay tuned for more details. Let’s fill out some brackets and make this fundraiser a slam dunk! |
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