Homers

IT'S A FIRST:

Following the results of the 2014 Midterm elections Iowa no longer has the dubious distinction of being one of two U.S. states that has not elected a woman to Congress or to the office of governor. Joni Ernst of Red Oak is the first woman who will represent Iowa in Washington, D.C. Perhaps during the next election Mississippi also will join the fold.

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SPORTSMANSHIP:

The final 90 seconds of a fifth grade basketball game that pitted the Cedar Rapids Bulldogs against the Kennedy Junior Cougars are moments that won't soon be forgotten. Eleven-year-old Cougar Bella Trotter, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy before her first birthday, assisted with two baskets and finished out the game on defense. Trotter had been a supportive member of the team throughout the year, but this was her first time on the court during a game.

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NEW CROP:

Centerville farmer Joel Spring is drawing attention for his success with an unusual Iowa crop offering. Spring says his success with sorghum is connected to the plant's heat and drought resistance, and the recently expanded market. He reports earnings of $80 to $100 more per acre than with traditional Iowa crops.

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