SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
December 22, 2025
Sullivan’s Salvos 12/25/25
In this edition:
*Happy New Year!
*Congratulations Matt Degner!
*Salvos Salutes!
*Did You Know?
*Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all Salvos readers! I hope you and your loved ones enjoy a wonderful 2026!
*Congratulations Matt Degner!
Huge congratulations to Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) Superintendent Matt Degner on being named the 2025 National School Superintendent of the Year! What an amazing honor!
I think Matt is wonderful, and we are lucky to have him. But it should be noted that the ICCSD is a large and wonderful team, including students, parents, paras, teachers, other building staff, administrators, facilities, and more! Congratulations to you all, and keep up the great work!
*Salvos Salutes!
2025 is coming to a close, and it is time for honoring a few select Johnson County residents with that most treasured of honors, the Salvos Salute. A few observations:
* This is the 20th annual set of awards, and there are always more people who deserve awards than there are awards to give. We live in a great County!
* The focus is on Johnson County. It is certainly worth noting the daily heroism of someone like our firefighters, police, and paramedics. There are also examples that garner international attention. But we have everyday heroes right here in Johnson County that deserve a shout out.
* There are some people out there that could win every year. I am trying to honor different folks, but repeat winners are not out of the question.
* Salvos Salutes do not have specific criteria, but you can bet that in general, most of the winners are courageous, advocate for peace and justice, have good ideas, speak truth to power, avoid hypocrisy, exercise common sense, and look out for the less fortunate.
Without further ado, your 2025 Salvos Salutes go to:
Clayton Schuneman: The Office of the Johnson County Medical Examiner is by far the best in the State of Iowa, and probably far beyond. There are many reasons for this, but chief among them is ME Department Director Clayton Schuneman. I do not even have the superlatives to do him justice. They simply do not come any better! This is a service that most people never think about until they realize they are using it. Rest assured that the Johnson County Medical Examiner’s Office will handle every case exactly as it should.
Michael Flaum: University of Iowa Professor of Psychiatry Emeritus Dr. Michael Flaum has many accomplishments listed on his CV. But the thing that makes Michael really stand out is his work in the community. Michael started the Johnson County Systems of Care meeting well over 15 years ago, bringing together everyone who serves some of our most challenged residents. Because of his work, we have GuideLink, Permanent Supportive Housing, and thousands of people with better lives. Thank you, Michael!
Fred Newell: It does not get a lot of press, but the past couple of years have been difficult for the local African American community. Luckily, Pastor Fred Newell and Dream City are here to uplift people in whatever way they need uplifted. I am a huge fan of Fred Newell. The local African American community still has some frustrations, but working with Fred, we can get through it. We are lucky to have him in our community!
Tess Judge Ellis: A professor at the UI College of Nursing, Judge Ellis has taken her practice out into the community. Tess serves a group of patients with very complex needs through her work at Shelter House, Chatham Oaks, and Agape Café, and does so without fanfare. No one would know she does this; Tess is not looking for praise. She just believes everyone deserves great medical care. Thank you, Tess, for bringing your vast expertise to our neediest residents!
Ed Williams: Ed Williams has always done farming just a bit differently. He has always been willing to plant new crops, try new conservation practices, and generally challenge the status quo in agriculture. Ed tinkered with hemp, miscanthus, and created a company named Harvest Heat to grow energy sources. Recently, Ed has provided a great service by setting up Black Diamond Hallel Meats, a Hallel butchering facility that serves the many Muslims in our county. Creating jobs and food for new immigrants; Ed just keeps doing ag differently!
Leslie Carpenter: Everyone deals with grief differently. My friend Leslie has channeled her grief to do more good than anyone I have ever known. Leslie’s son has had a very serious mental illness for many years now. So Leslie’s response has been to become Iowa’s best advocate for people with mental illnesses and their families. God bless you, Leslie. Your work helps others more than you will ever know!
Audrey Wiedermeir: The Iowa City Bike Library has grown into an important piece of community infrastructure, and this growth has come under the leadership of my friend Audrey. Want to donate a bike? Need a bike? Need a bike repaired? Need to find a community of riders? The Bike Library does it all, and Audrey can help you with it all!
Mike Owen: Common Good Iowa is a nonprofit think tank that reviews public policy in Iowa and makes policy recommendations that help everyday Iowans. It is a noble cause. And for 25 years, Mike Owen of West Branch was a big part of it. First with the Iowa Policy Project, and later (after they merged) with Common Good Iowa, Mike has fought for economic justice for the people of Iowa. His work has made a huge difference in the lives of thousands of Iowans. Now he is retired. Thanks, Mike!
Ryan Bobst: I have written a great deal over the past several years about the economic woes of everyday Iowans and how that leads to food insecurity. One of the many people doing great work to combat this is Ryan Bobst, Director of the North Liberty Pantry. They have a new building, and have been breaking records for the number of people and amount of food and clothing they are providing. Check them out! Ryan does a great job, and his organization could use your help!
Erek Sittig: Erek served on the North Liberty City Council, and in my opinion, served with distinction. He is smart, thoughtful, fair, and compassionate – all good traits in a Councilor. Then Erek did something very rare – he gave up his seat! You see, Erek had been urging women to run for the North Liberty Council, which had become 100% male. So when a woman decided to run, setting up three candidates for two seats, Erek took his name out of contention. He felt North Liberty needed a woman, and he believed it strongly enough to give up his own seat. I respect the Hell out of that. Thank you, Erek, for excellent service and leading by example!
Patrick Kearns: It has been an awful time for federal workers of late – especially in anti-worker States like Iowa. Luckily for us, Patrick Kearns has been ably leading the United Federation of Governmental Employees (UFGE) at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Iowa City. Patrick does a fantastic job of explaining what is happening, why it is wrong, and what we should do differently. Patrick is going to win in the long run, because as Dr. King said, "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Keep up the great work, brother!
Kristie Fortmann Doser: Retiring after 32 years as Director of DVIP/RVAP, Kristie has left an amazing legacy of service to victims. (Kristie and I actually met when she interviewed me to teach Batterer’s Education back in 1989!) Thousands of victims have been able to move on to better lives because of her advocacy. Congratulations, Kristie, and thank you!
Sunday Goshit: Sunday came to the US over 25 years ago from his native Nigeria. He and his family have been making Johnson County a better place to live ever since. One example is the annual Africa Fest, which has grown into a large and wonderful community event. Now, barring some horrible action by our federal government in the next 30 days, he will be a US citizen. Congratulations, Sunday!
Chris Edwards: Chris has served as Deputy Auditor in Johnson County for over 38 years, and has decided to retire at the end of the year. Over the years, Chris has overseen the processing of a couple billion dollars in claims, over a billion dollars in patrol, and millions of votes. Chris was instrumental in bringing every new technology to the office. And through it all, he has remained one of our most respected employees. Congratulations, Chris!
Barb Turner: The odds are good that not many of you know Barb Turner. Barb is a Johnson County employee – the custodian that cleans the Health and Human Services Building five nights per week. Barb is also friendly, kind, caring, honest, dedicated, and hard-working. Every day we have a brief conversation, and every day I feel better after speaking to her. I don’t know if Barb has any idea of her impact, but I assure you, it is significant! Barb leads by example, and every day she makes me want to be a better employee and a better person. Thanks, Barb! You are great!
Linda Herring (third time): Last but certainly not least, we lost Linda Herring earlier this year. Linda, of Tiffin, gained national notoriety for serving as a foster parent to over 600 kids over 50+ years. I had the pleasure and privilege of knowing Linda, and seeing firsthand her incredible capacity to love others. That is why she had won two previous Salvos Salutes, and why she is honored here posthumously with a record third Salvos Salute. Thank you, Linda. You will be missed!
Congratulations to all our winners! Thanks for all your great work!
*DID YOU KNOW? 288 individuals/groups have received a Salvos Salute since they were started in 2006.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 11:05 AM
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