When it comes to archery, the Siouxland Christian School hits the target with multiple students qualifying for the state tournament. Four of those Eagles we care more about here in the Review world.
    Nicole and Sean Shea of rural Danbury stayed busy with archery as their three children, Junior Kristen, Freshman Mandy, and sixth-grader Trenten all participated in archery this year. All three qualified for State.
    Trenten had a phenomenal season for a sixth-grade first-year archer. He added 53 points to his bullseye score during the season, and 75 points to his 3D score. His middle school team qualified in both bullseye and 3D for the Iowa NASP State Championships, held March 27-29 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.
    "I was nervous at first, but I was shooting fine," said Trenten.
    Trenten added that his big sisters didn't share archery tricks to their little brother.
    "My sisters did not give me advice, but my team coaches did," he added.
    "In the three weeks before the state tournament, it was my goal to really build a team mentality for the 24 archers chosen to represent the bullseye team and the 18 archers chosen for the 3D team," said Julie Hamann, the Siouxland Christian head archery coach. "I told them, ‘We qualified as a team, we're practicing as a team, we're encouraging each other as a team and we're going to state as a team.' We set team and individual goals and did team-building activities. And they did it."
    The teamwork paid off. The bullseye team went into the tournament ranked 31st, added 88 points to the school record team score, 11 of 24 archers shot new personal records, and they finished 7th of 39 teams. The middle school 3D team was ranked 19th and finished 16th of 28 teams. Trenten contributed to the team scores with personal records in both bullseye (score of 263) and 3D (score of 268).
    "Trenten was a huge part of building that team and stepping up as a sixth grader to increase that team score," Hamann said.
    "One of the team goals was to finish in the top 5, and if we did, then we would go to Nationals," Hamann said. "But when they did as well as they did and because of the work they put into practicing, I felt I owed it them to at least have a discussion about going to Nationals."
    The middle school team will compete at NASP Eastern Nationals May 7-9 in Louisville, KY. It will be the first time in school history a Siouxland Christian team will compete at a national tournament.
    While they didn't help their brother out,     Kristen and Mandy also had high marks this season, with Mandy shooting new personal records in both bullseye and 3D, and Kristen shooting new personal record (PR) in bullseye.
    "One of the things I love about coaching archery is seeing the kids grow in their skills and maturity of shooting," Hamann said. "I definitely saw that in Kristen and Mandy this year. Kristen always stays calm and focused on the bullseye. Nothing seems to rattle her. Mandy's skills improved so much, and it showed in the new PRs she shot."
    "Past experiences going to State can help to some degree," said Kristen about competing at State, "but nothing quite prepares you for standing on that line with thousands of pairs of eyes watching you and being watched by complete strangers you have never met before."
    Kristen's trick to keeping calm and focusins is something anyone facing a challenge can do.
    "Mentally, I take a few minutes to just sit and breathe, find something to focus my mind on while I wait or even hold casual conversation with those around me as we're waiting for the DNR officials to finish checking bows," she said.
    Mandy, upon asking how she fared at the state competition, was a girl with little words.
    "I did okay," she said.
    Senior Gabby Hamann, daughter of Julie and Jason Hamann of rural Correctionville (but are involved in Danbury organizations) spent her final year in high school doing what she had done for the last 6 years, shooting arrows. She advanced in both 3D and Bullseye this year, making her a 5-time state archer.
    "I definitely was pretty calm going this year and just had some fun," stated the veteran archer about her final competition.
    Kristen, Mandy and Gabby all qualified as individuals in bullseye for the state tournament, as well as shooting for the high school team score. Gabby also qualified individually in 3D.
    At the archery banquet held on April 6th, the Shea kids and Gabby were recognized for their season high scores, and all were named Academic Archers, a designation give by the national organization for academic success.
    Gabby, a senior, was recognized for her career high scores, 282 in bullseye and 272 in 3D. During six years in archery, Gabby shot at exactly 100 tournaments. Gabby was the first archer in Siouxland Christian school history to qualify and compete at Nationals in 2022. She held the bullseye school record in the middle school girls division until it was broken this year.
    "There are a lot of joys in coaching," Julie said. "The greatest joy and blessing has been having a front-row seat to Gabby's last three archery seasons."
    Gabby had a bit of advice for anyone who was interested in trying archery, either for competition or for recreation.
    "Archery isn't as easy as it looks, but if you simply follow the main 11 steps down and have good mental focus you can do well," she said. "You have to stick with it and trust in the process even when you hit a slump."
    Congratulations to the archers on a successful season, and good performance to Trenten at Nationals.

    The LWML Mapleton Zone Rally will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Anthon. The ABC Triple Parish group will be hosting.
    Registration and brunch will be from 9-10am. (registration fee is $7). The rally will begin at 10. Bethany Kuhlmann, team member of Lutheran Family Service, is the guest speaker. She will discuss "human trafficking" in our communities.
    Guests are welcomed.

    Cord Memorial Library had planned a garden swap earlier this month, but cold and rain put most people in the mood to stay indoors instead of in gardens. Thus, the library rescheduled the swap for this coming Tuesday, April 28th.
    On Tuesday, bring garden tools, seeds, divided perennials, pots, houseplants, watering cans, gloves, hoses, etc. to the library to find new owners. Then from 4:00 until 5:00 p.m. on that day, check out the new-to-you items and give homes to some of the items. Bomgaars is also donating plants to the cause.
    Please plan to take advantage of the swap to get rid of gardening items you no longer use and find some new treasures.

    MOVILLE, Iowa – April 17, 2026 – Work on a pavement replacement project on U.S. 20 from 0.4 miles east of Franklin Avenue to east of Humboldt Avenue near Moville will require shifting both directions of traffic on U.S. 20 into a head-to-head traffic pattern starting on Friday, April 24, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation's Sioux City construction office.
    During this project, there will be an 11-foot lane-width restriction in the work zone. This traffic pattern is expected to last throughout the construction season.
    The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.