First Two

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©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Dierks Bentley performs during the first two songs of his set at McElroy Auditorium in Waterloo, Iowa, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Women's State Swimming

Cedar Falls' Bailey Pons swims in the 500 Yard Freestyle at the 2009 Iowa Girls High School State Swimming and Diving Championships at the YMCA in Marshalltown, Iowa, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009.
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Cedar Falls' Bailey Pons accepts first place after winning the 200 Yard Freestyle at the 2009 Iowa Girls High School State Swimming and Diving Championships at the YMCA in Marshalltown, Iowa, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009.
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Waterloo West's Mackenzie VanDenBerg swims in the first heat of the 100 Yard Backstroke at the 2009 Iowa Girls High School State Swimming and Diving Championships at the YMCA in Marshalltown, Iowa, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Wapsie Valley vs Columbus

Wapsie Valley's Bobbi Bockholt, back, blocks the ball as Columbus' Katie Conway, front, smacks it down at Wapsie Valley High School in Fairbank, Iowa, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. Wapsie Valley won the game 3-0.
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Waverly-Shell Rock vs Charles City

Waverly-Shell Rock's Morgan Kuhrt, center, hits the ball over the net as Charles City's Shelby Lewis, left, and Abby Lasher, right, block at Waverly-Shell Rock in Waverly, Iowa, on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009. Waverly-Shell Rock won the game.
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Waverly-Shell Rock reacts during their game against Charles City at Waverly-Shell Rock in Waverly, Iowa, on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009. Waverly-Shell Rock won the game.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Street Cleaner

Frank Hanson, left, of Waterloo, walks his seven year old Beagle, Lady, as she carries a piece of garbage that she picked up on Fourth Street in downtown Waterloo, Iowa, on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009.
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Classic

Phil Thomas, left, and Mary Thomas, right, of Waterloo, look at the classic cars exhibit at a fundraiser held by Veterans Memorial Hall in downtown Waterloo, Iowa, on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. The proceeds from the fundraising event will be used to repair the neon sign on the Memorial Hall.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Don Bosco vs Waterloo Christian

Don Bosco's Jenn Ortner, center, drives the ball over the net as Waterloo Christian's Gabby Facciani, left, and Cally Reed, right, block at Waterloo Christian School in Waterloo, Iowa, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009. Don Bosco won the game 3-0.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Waterloo East vs Waterloo West

Waterloo East's Tevin Brown, left, leaves behind Waterloo West's Mike Steimel, right, as he runs the ball in the first half of the game at Memorial Stadium in Waterloo, Iowa, on Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. Waterloo East won the game in overtime 34-33.
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Waterloo East's Head Coach Antonio Mays, left, speaks during a break before going into overtime in East's game against Waterloo West at Memorial Stadium in Waterloo, Iowa, on Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. Waterloo East won the game in overtime 34-33. It is East's first win over West since 2000.
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Waterloo East celebrates after winning their game against Waterloo West at Memorial Stadium in Waterloo, Iowa, on Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. Waterloo East won the game in double overtime with a final score of 34-33, in their first victory over Waterloo West in nine years.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Aplington-Parkersburg vs Dike-New Hartford

Aplington-Parkersburg's football players make their entrance at Aplington-Parkersburg's season opening game against Dike-New Hartford in Parkersburg, Iowa, on Friday, August 28, 2009. Aplington-Parkersburg won the game 30-14.

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Aplington-Parkersburg's Dylan Bellows, right, dives to assist Aplington-Parkersburg's Joey McKCracken, center, as he takes down Dike-New Hartford's Matt Dove, left, in the first half of Aplington-Parkersburg's season opening game against Dike-New Hartford in Parkersburg, Iowa, on Friday, August 28, 2009. Aplington-Parkersburg won the game 30-14.

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Kylie Fobian, 9, of Parkersburg, right, and Allie Ellerman, 8, of Parkersburg, left, show their support at Aplington-Parkersburg's season opening game against Dike-New Hartford in Parkersburg, Iowa, on Friday, August 28, 2009. Aplington-Parkersburg won the game 30-14.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

This was a very emotionally charged game. It was the first home game of the season to be played on this field without the team's long-time coach, Ed Thomas. Thomas was fatally shot by a former student in the weight room at the school on June 24, 2009. Coach Thomas put his heart and soul into his team and only a year ago they celebrated the their determination in the rebuilding of Parkersburg after an F-5 tornado tore through the town on May 24, 2008.

Coach Ed Thomas left a legacy behind and he will be missed.

FOOTBALL!!! Dunkerton vs Clarksville

Dunkerton's Mitch Donohue, right, pushes off Clarksville's Caleb Ciavarelli, left, as he runs the ball to gain yardage in the first half of Dunkerton's 8-man game against Clarksville at Clarksville, Iowa, on Friday, August 21, 2009. Dunkerton won the game 42-20.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Dunkerton's Mitch Donohue, center, defends against Clarksville's Scott Hempen, left, as he runs the ball while Clarksville's Caleb Ciavarelli, right, blocks in the first half of Clarksville 8-man game against Dunkerton at Clarksville, Iowa, on Friday, August 21, 2009. Dunkerton won the game 42-20.

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Whirlwind

I've gotten a little behind on my postings. Life and the school year have picked up, and I seem to be caught in the whirlwind of my schedule. I'm working on some gen eds right now, and between my freelance work, day job, the Courier, my classes, and family, I'm in for one roller coaster ride of a semester. Such is life :) I will try to update as much as possible. Thanks for looking!!

~~Dawn~~

An Afternoon of Kayaking

Piper Wall, of Ames, Iowa, kayaks in the Cedar River at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, August 15, 2009.
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Hannah Eden, left, and Marty Colbert, right, both of Cedar Rapids, Kayak in the Cedar River at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, August 15, 2009.
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Filling in the Gaps

Ramo Murdic, left, of Waterloo, Josh Thompson, behind Murdic, of Parkersburg, Chris Crane,second from right, of Cedar Falls, and Salih Goluvovic, right, of Waterloo, pour concrete in the West High School parking lot in Waterloo, Iowa, on Saturday, August 15, 2009.
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The West High School parking lot continues toward its completion in Waterloo, Iowa, on Saturday, August 15, 2009.
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After the Rain

A full rainbow is visible following rainstorms in Waterloo, Iowa, on Monday, August 10, 2009.

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Brandon Tyler, 15, of Waterloo, fishes in the Cedar River near the Fourth Street Bridge, following a rainstorm, in Waterloo, Iowa, on Monday, August 10, 2009.

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Silhouetted by the sunset, ducks congregate beneath the West Park Avenue bridge in Waterloo, Iowa, on Monday, August 10, 2009.

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On nights like tonight, I am reminded of how much I really love my job :)

Eager Companions

Sophie Johnson, 6, of Cedar Falls, walks Riley, left, an eight-month-old Jack Russell mix, on the Cedar Valley Bike Trail for the Cedar Trail Festival starting at Paw Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Friday, August 7, 2009. The dog walk was sponsored by Taylor Veterinary Hospital, and featured adoptable canines from the Cedar Bend Humane Society made available for participants to walk.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier