January
In one for the record books, Wilton sophomore Hannah Rogers earned the first girls wrestling state championship for Wilton Junior-Senior High School. She, along with other female wrestlers in Muscatine County, also received the exciting news that girls wrestling would gain officially sanctioned status for the 2022-2023 school year.
Pearl City Media took an important new step as well, introducing Pearl City TV in the middle of the month. Aired live on Muscatine Power and Water cable channel three as well as on Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Facebook, Roku, and YouTube, the channel brought the Muscatine Today Show, Muskie Sports, and more local news content together in one place.
February
As in-person events continued to return following the closures and postponements of the early COVID-19 pandemic, the Muskie Booster Club held its first Cake Auction since 2020. With a classic movies theme, the fundraiser brought in many star-studded cakes, as well as over $40,000 for clubs and teams at Muscatine High School.
March
A month of announcements, the Community Foundation released additional details and began accepting donations for the construction of the new physicians clinic at UnityPoint Health–Trinity Muscatine Hospital. They looked forward to coordinating with many organizations and people, including newly named UnityPoint Health–Trinity Muscatine Hospital Director Rachel Pohl, to see the project through to completion this fall.
KENT Corporation also shared plans to begin renovation work in the city with the purchase and rehabilitation of the McKee Button Factory for a new office building. They anticipated converting the building into a facility with approximately 115 offices by spring 2024. Later, Merge Urban Development submitted and had initial plans accepted to build mixed use residential and retail facilities nearby at Carver Corner, continuing to bring development to a long disused part of the riverfront.
April
As travel, both nationally and internationally, became easier again, Chinese Ambassador Qin Gang visited Muscatine to meet with the Muscatine-China Initiatives Committee. The visit ended with the Wanxiang America Corporation and the Sarah and Roger Lande Scholars Program signing an agreement to help fund future exchanges between students from Muscatine and China.
With supply chain issues for building materials easing slightly, Habitat for Humanity started their 13th build, breaking ground for a single family home for the Ross family. With assistance from both the community and the Ross family themselves, Habitat for Humanity intends to complete the home this year.
May
With the weather improving, members of the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office and Special Olympics of Muscatine County joined forces for their first full-scale torch ride in two years. This year’s ride brought in more than $14,582, beating their previous fundraising record.
June
The fundraising from the Torch Ride proved useful almost immediately, as 12 Special Olympics Athletes traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete in the Special Olympics USA games. The athletes distinguished themselves in flag football, swimming, and track and field.
Closer to home, the Fruitland Community Lions found reason to celebrate at the completion of their All Veterans Memorial. Dedicated June 12, the memorial honors veterans from all wars and in all branches of the armed services.
July
July ushered in a changing of the guards at the Salvation Army of Muscatine County. After three outstanding years, Lieutenants Greg and Liz Bock accepted a posting to Cadillac, Michigan, allowing them to live closer to family. Muscatine welcomed Lieutenants Lucas and Macy Gantner as they start their time with the Salvation Army.
Muscatine Girls Softball also put up a strong showing, earning third place in the state. With many young players on the team, they hope to return to tournament play this year.
August
Members of Stanley Consultants made the short trip to Iowa City to celebrate the opening of the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art. Muscatine’s late Richard and Mary Jo Stanley made the naming donation for the museum and the Stanley Consultants Charitable Fund later offered a $100,000 matching grant for the project.
September
The Muscatine Action Committee for Ukraine welcomed their first four Ukrainian Refugees, the Luka family, to Muscatine. Over the next four months, they welcomed three additional groups of Ukrainians and hope to help more fleeing the Russian invasion this year.
October
In collaboration with the Stanley Center for Peace and Security and American Field Service USA, Muscatine High School hosted five teachers from Austria for a week, exposing them to the United States’ education system and to local culture. In November, educators from Muscatine traveled to Gratz, Austria to learn about education abroad.
Students from Muscatine FFA also had a big month, traveling to Indianapolis for the annual FFA National Convention. Students competed in ag sales, forestry, and meat evaluation.
November
After an extensive search and the in-person interviewing of six candidates, the Muscatine Police Department named Patrol Captain Tony Kies, who has served in the Muscatine Police Department for 17 years, as their next police chief. Current Chief Brett Talkington will retire in March.
December
Continuing more that 20 years of Muscatine tradition, Two Week of Love’s Toy Time and Freezing for Food brought in huge numbers of toys and food items for the Salvation Army of Muscatine County. To meet the Salvation Army’s monetary needs for the upcoming year, Lieutenant Lucas Gantner made his first stay in the giant red kettle as part of the Red Kettle Campaign.
As holiday activities continued to gain steam, Pearl City Media put on its largest Jingle and Mingle to date. With many coming to downtown Muscatine to celebrate, shop, and have a good time, it proved a great start to the holiday season and end to the year.
