October

Northern Iowa's Jacqui Kalin during University of Northern Iowa media day at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Northern Iowa's head coach Tanya Warren speaks during University of Northern Iowa media day at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Northern Iowa's women's basketball players gather for a photo during University of Northern Iowa media day at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

From left to right, Kaley Bertch, Tammy Brousseau, Misty Cook, and Wylma Cook are joined by others to walk the bike trail around Meyers Lake as part of a lantern vigil in Evansdale, Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012. The vigil marks three months since the disappearance of Misty Cook's daughter Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 11, and her niece Elizabeth Collins, 9, who were abducted, and their bikes found near the lake in July. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Shalee Boyles, left, roasts her marshmallow while her little sister match Syleena Swanson, right, 9, both of Waterloo, adjusts her own marshmallows at the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Halloween party at George Wyth Memorial State Park in Waterloo, Iowa on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. The two have been a match for about two and a half years. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Andrea Comini, of Verona Italy, participates in a hot yoga class at Sol Yoga in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. The class is taught in a dimly lit room with a minimum temperature of 95 degrees farenheit, and humidity of 40 percent.  (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Kathy David, front right, owner/instructor of Sol Yoga, instructs Jed Smith, front left, of Cedar Falls, while leading a hot yoga class in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. The class is taught in a low-light room with a minimum temperature of 95 degrees farenheit, and humidity of 40 percent. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

August

 August was a busy month! It was my first time to cover mud volleyball, the president of the United States, and Pride Fest--it was all so much fun! Here are some of the highlights.

Patrick Murphy of Gaelic Storm performs at Lincoln Park during Iowa Irish Fest in Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 04, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

David LaMar, left, of Ames, competes in the Caber Toss, while Mark McVay, right, of Rock Island, looks on during the Highland Games at Lincoln Park during Iowa Irish Fest in Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 04, 2012. Both LaMar and McVay wear pink in support of finding missing cousins Lyric and Elizabeth.  (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Katie Steingraeber, of LaCross, Wisconsin, competes in the Caber Toss event of the Highland Games at Iowa Irish Fest in Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012. Earlier in the day, Steingraeber broke the world record in the Sheaf Tossing event by tossing her sheaf a total of 32 feet, 1/4 inches, breaking the world record by more than two feet. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Jessie Burns, center, plays violin as Gaelic Storm performs, with the Trinity Irish Dancers, right, in Lincoln Park during Iowa Irish Fest in Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

From back left to right, Mark Drahos, Tim Hoffman, and Joe Ayala look on while teammate Nate Gordon, front, all of Waterloo, and  team, "The Good, The Bad and the Muddy", dives for the ball during the Evansdale Mud Volleyball Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2012 in Evansdale, Iowa. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Gabby Borwig, left, gets pulled down by Kelsey Baxter, right, both of Evansdale during the Evansdale Mud Volleyball Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2012 in Evansdale, Iowa. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Brandon Smith, 6, front right, of Waterloo, takes a turn with the binoculars after Deon Talbor, 6, front left, of Waterloo finishes while Tyler Anderson, 6, back left, of Waterloo, Matthew Bordeaux, 7, back center, of Waterloo, and Javez Galloway, 7, back right, of Waterloo, wait their turns and leader Dale Tanner, of the Waterloo Boys and Girls Club, looks on during a campout at George Wyth State Park in Waterloo, Iowa on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Brian Geist, right, of the Waterloo Boys and Girls Club, looks on while Javez Galloway, center, 7, of Waterloo, Matthew Bourdeaux, left, 7, of Waterloo, and Brandon Smith, 6, of Waterloo fish off of a dock during a campout at George Wyth State Park in Waterloo, Iowa on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Laverne Lehman, of Lehman Trucking and Excavatiing, Inc., moves debrit into the back of a truck while the former Francis Grout School continues to be demolished on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, in Waterloo, Iowa. (DAWN J. SAGERT/ Courier Staff Photographer)

President Barack Obama, reaches into the crowd to shake hands after speaking for supporters at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre in Waterloo, Iowa on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

President Barack Obama, right, shakes hands as he makes his way through the crowd after speaking at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre in Waterloo, Iowa on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

President Barack Obama waves as he exits the stage and makes his way through the crowd after speaking at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre in Waterloo, Iowa on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

President Barack Obama, center, reaches for a Sharpie to sign an autograph as he makes his way through the crowd after speaking at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre in Waterloo, Iowa on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

The Crowd reacts while President Barack Obama speaks at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre in Waterloo, Iowa on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

President Barack Obama looks back and points as he exits the RiverLoop Amphitheatre after speaking to supporters at a rally in Waterloo, Iowa on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Young fans wait for President Barack Obama to speak on the the tops of shoulders at a campaign rally at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, in Waterloo, Iowa. (DAWN J. SAGERT/ Courier Staff Photographer)

Martha Ives, left, of Waterloo and friend Celinia Feruglio, right, of Argentina wait for President Barack Obama to speak at a campaign rally at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, in Waterloo, Iowa. (DAWN J. SAGERT/ Courier Staff Photographer)

President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign rally at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, in Waterloo, Iowa. (DAWN J. SAGERT/ Courier Staff Photographer)

Performer Vanessa Taylor, left, of Des Moines, moves to the edge of the stage to receive money from audience members Hoagie Hohenberger, front right, and Pam Jensen, back right, while Taylor performs during Cedar Valley Pridefest, in downtown Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Zach Wahls, author of My Two Moms, speaks during Cedar Valley Pridefest, in downtown Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Lane Rodenburgh, 9, front, and his mother Robyn Rodenburgh, back, both of Waterloo, look at merchandise in a vendor tent during Cedar Valley Pridefest, in downtown Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

The Comfort Kings perform during Cedar Valley Pridefest, in downtown Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Justin Collins, center, of Des Moines, wins the final heat in the Drag Race event during Cedar Valley Pridefest, in downtown Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Sissy's Sircus performs during Cedar Valley Pridefest in downtown Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012. (Photo by Dawn J. Sagert)

Prosecution's first witness Robert Roquet, left, is questioned by defense attourney Tom Frerichs, right, during the trial of Dunkerton Mayor Michael Schares and his nephew Thomas Adamson at the Black Hawk County Courthouse in Waterloo, Iowa on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

Cedar Falls' Jared Farley, right, works to pull down Iowa City High's Amos Lavela, left, during the first half of the game at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2012. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

The sun sets as Union takes down Aplington-Parkersburg as the sun sets in Parkerburg, Iowa on Friday, Aug. 31, 2012. Union would win 41-14. (DAWN J. SAGERT /  Courier Staff Photographer)

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Pool in March

Eddie Robinson Jr., left, of Des Moines, plays 9-Ball during the 2012 IOMA State Pool Championships at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center in Waterloo, Iowa on Wednesday, March  14, 2012.

 ©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Chris Siefken, of Lincoln, Nebraska, plays 9-Ball during the 2012 IOMA State Pool Championships at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center in Waterloo, Iowa on Wednesday, March  14, 2012. Siefken would place first in the tournament.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Closing Out 2011

Here are just a couple more that I like from 2011.

Deputy Jordan Gallagher, front, makes a splash after being tugged into a mud pit as his team, the Sherriffs, take on Team Tyson during Tuggin' for Kids Tug of War Tourney at the Evansdale Fire Department in Evansdale, Iowa on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011. The tournament was won by team Tyson, and all proceeds support the NE Iowa Food Bank, Salvation Army, and the United Way locally, in addition to Feeding America. Th event was organized by Tyson.
 ©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Northern Iowa's Marc Sonnen, front, struggles with Milwaukee's Ryan Allen, center, for control of the ball while Milwaukee's Tony Meier, back, looks on during the second half of the game at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011. Northern Iowa would win 67-51. 
 ©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Over the Summer

Fely Houts, of Cedar Falls, writes on the pink firetruck that is making a tour of the area to support those battling breast cancer, in the College Square Mall parking lot in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Sept. 9, 2011. Houts is a 19-year survivor, following a radical mastectomy in 1992, and was accompanied by her husband Tim Houts (not pictured).
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

A Benton's Sand and Gravel bobcat, at right, smooths out a layer of large rock, which is the first step of the three layer process in the new permeable pavement being layed in the University of Northern Iowa parking lot just north of the UNI-Dome near the Wellness Center on Friday, June 17, 2011 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Following the large rock, a smaller layer of rock will be layed, and lastly, a layer of asphalt, shown in foreground.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Brent Messmore tees off on the 18th hole in day two of the 2011 Waterloo Open Amateur Tournament at South Hills Golf Course in Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday, July 16, 2011.
 ©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Oelwein's Tyler Rau, left, leaves the field as Waukon celebrates their a winning run in the seventh inning in a substate final game in Oelwein on Wednesday, July 20, 2011.  Waukon won the game 2-1.
 ©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Rylan VanDaele,left, 7, and Kateri VanDaele, right, 5,  both of Hudson, play as they cool themselves in the fan in the exhibition hall for the non-livestock entries in the 2011 Black Hawk County 4H Fair held at the National Cattle Congress grounds in Waterloo, Iowa on Wednesday, July 27, 2011.
 ©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Iowa's Head Coach Kirk Ferentz speaks during a press conference at the Iowa Hawkeyes Media Day in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday, Aug. 5, 2011.
 ©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

The Trinity Irish Dancers perform during Irish Fest in Lincoln Park in Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011.
 ©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Observers watch as a competitor completes a jump in the Rock 108-National Cattle Congress Outlaw Motocross Championship in Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011. 
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

"Mormon", left, and Sarah Rynearson, second from left, both of Waterloo, watch the Rock 108-National Cattle Congress Outlaw Motocross Championship in Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011.
 ©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

  Shelby Bellinger, right, and Warren Bellinger, second from right, drive the family-owned 1920 Woods Brothers Steam Engine that pulls Scott Buck, left, of Waterloo, Dakota Bellinger, 11, second from left, of Eagleville, Missouri, and Terry Bellinger, center, of Eagleville, Missouri, during a steam plowing demonstration at the 47th annual Old Time Power Show at Antique Acres in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Friday, Aug. 19, 2011.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

 A 1920 Woods Brothers Steam Engine  pulls Terry Bellinger, left, Dakota Bellinger, 11, center, both of Eagleville, Missouri, and Scott Buck, right, of Waterloo, during a steam plowing demonstration at the 47th annual Old Time Power Show at Antique Acres in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Friday, Aug. 19, 2011.
 ©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

George Shimek,of Custom Blacksmithing and manufacturing, right, works on a fire-poker while apprentice Andy Mills, left, both of Waterloo, looks on while they customize a fire-poker at the 47th annual Old Time Power Show at Antique Acres in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Friday, Aug. 19, 2011.
 ©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Waterloo East's Elliott Thompson, left, comforts teammate Alex Schutte, center, while LeTray Reed, right, looks on, after Waterloo East gave up the ball to Iowa City West in the second half of the game at Memorial Stadium in Waterloo, Iowa on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011.  Waterloo East would fall to Iowa City West 56-13.
 ©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Paris Anding motions to family and friends as he makes his initial court appearance at the Black Hawk County Jail in Waterloo, Iowa on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011. Anding faces charges of murder in the second degree of Marcellus Andrews.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier