#MonticelloRocks

     I am on a personal campaign to bring about some attention to the awesomeness that is Monticello, Iowa.

     No, my campaign is not political, though it started after meeting a political figure (but more on that later).

     If you’re not pumped up about all of the amazing things coming out of Monticello right now, I fear you might be living under a rock.

     Let’s start with our insanely talented youth.

     Our local high school students are excelling in more ways than one. Our girls basketball team played in the state quarterfinals on Feb. 27 in Des Moines. Although we went to press on Feb. 26, we don’t yet know the fate of the Monticello girls until Tuesday. (If you’re reading this on Feb. 28, you already know the outcome.)

     Monticello had three wrestlers receive medals while standing on the podium following the State Wrestling Tournament, Feb. 15-17, also in Des Moines: Kain Luensman, Chase Luensman, and Lake Stahlberg.

     Our MHS group speech team sent four students, two improv teams, to the All-State Large Group Speech Festival in Ames on Feb. 17.

     In all 11 MHS speech groups earned “I” ratings at districts earlier this month.

     Just this weekend, MHS individual speech students competed in districts in Central Point. Again, they did a fantastic job as they now look ahead toward State Individual Speech on March 10 in Cedar Rapids.

     MHS’s band was selected to take part in Conference Honor Band in May in Des Moines. Those musicians are certainly excelling under MHS Band Director Mike Kowbel’s leadership and instruction.

     Monticello also made a name for itself this past weekend with the 49^th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts car show. While there were some top-notch vehicles on display for all to see, “The Fonz,” Henry Winkler, was on hand to graciously visit with and talk to his Iowa fans.

     I was honored to get an interview with Henry a week before he arrived here. He was so great to talk to over the phone, and is not afraid to take questions, even from a reporter who wasn’t alive until “Happy Days” went off the air in 1984.

     I was there covering the car show and also met the Chamber Ambassadors there as they greeted Henry. After taking their group photo, he was so cool to allow some time for a one-on-one photo with myself, remembering our interview just a week prior.

     This local reporter was tickled!

     While in Monticello, Henry stayed at our very own Boulders Inn & Suites, purchased goodies from Karde’s 151, and surprised the heck out of several shoppers and employees at Fareway when he stopped in for food.

     Another bright light for Monticello this weekend took place late Friday night at The Jitney.

     I was working pretty late here in the office that night. I left for a few hours to attend a former high school teacher’s wake in Manchester, then came right back to the grind to finish my night. At about 10 p.m. I head for home, which takes me through our pocket park, passed The Jitney. I told myself I wasn’t going to partake in an adult beverage (much needed) if there were no cars out front. I didn’t feel the need to keep The Jitney employees here any longer than necessary. As luck would have it, I spotted two cars out front so I went in.

     I took off my coat, draped it over a bar stool and sat down. Katie Farrowe, one of the owners, was standing behind me conversing with a group of four people I didn’t recognize. Two of them had their backs turned from the door when I entered.

     Then I heard a very unmistakable voice… It was Bernie Sanders, congressman and former Democratic presidential candidate!

     I spun around and there he was! I was in shock!

     He was in Monticello after leaving Cedar Rapids for a rally he held earlier in the day. He was on his way to Wisconsin for a rally on Saturday and simply wanted to stop for supper mid-way through. It just so happens, Monticello is exactly half way between Cedar Rapids and Dubuque.

     All I could say upon seeing him was, “You’re Bernie Sanders!” To which his obvious reply was, “Yes I am.” (Of course the man knows who he is!)

     I shook his hand, told him what a huge fan I was and how he’s a bright light of hope in this crazy political world we’re in right now.

     He thanked me, asked what I did for a living. As luck would have it, The Jitney had a copy of the most recent Express on their bar and he thumbed through it, quite impressed with our hometown newspaper.

     Bernie and his group left about 15 minutes after I arrived. For me, it was short, yet mind-blowing encounter I will never forget. I mean when you walk into any eating or drinking establishment in Monticello at 10 p.m., a presidential candidate is the least person you’d expect to see inside, unless previously booked to be there.

     I do feel the need to apologize to The Jitney owners, specifically Katie and Angus Farrowe, who were working yet at 10 p.m. Friday night as they witnessed by psychotic breakdown upon seeing Bernie Sanders. I’m sure the security cameras caught my freak-out moment the second he left the establishment.

     So with all the awesome things going on in Monticello, I started posting photos over the weekend accompanied with the hashtag #MonticelloRocks. We need to be proud of our great community. We need to make others living here and those not aware of our successes.

     Monticello will continue to rock!