Homers: What's going right

COE COACH: Steve Staker, head football coach at Coe College, was named the Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year in NCAA Division III. In just his second year as head coach, Staker guided the Kohawks to a 10-2 record, the second round of the playoffs and the No. 10 spot in the final national ratings, highest ever in school history. The award also is based on sportsmanship and off-the-field achievements, and it earns $20,000 to benefit Coe alumni programs, plus $50,000 for charities of Staker's choice.

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HELPING OTHERS: Cedar Rapids area residents stepped up for the local Salvation Army chapter. A large surge in giving, including a record Christmas Eve collection, pushed the Christmas fundraising total past the goal of $640,000. At last report, it was approaching last year's record of $654,433. The campaign funds much of the Salvation Army's services, which are in higher demand because of people hurt by 2008 flood and the economic recession.

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WIRED: A group of retired electricians self-dubbed “Old Farts Electric” has helped rewire 200 flood victims' homes free of charge - worth an estimated $1 million.