Home / Sports / Iowa High School Sports / High School Basketball Former assistant inherits an elite backcourt from a team that won the Class 3A state championship last season The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread “I don’t need to come in and reinvent the wheel,” Jacob Misener said Monday upon the announcement that he has been promoted to girls’ head basketball coach at Mount Vernon High School “This is a ready-made program.” Misener, 32, had served as an assistant for the past four years under Nate Sanderson, who resigned April 8 “Nate and the girls put a great foundation in place,” Misener said Mount Vernon captured the Class 3A state championship in March The Mustangs will take a 25-game winning streak into 2025-26, and are slotted as the state’s fifth-ranked team in The Gazette’s preliminary Class 3A rankings Despite the graduation of all-staters Chloe Meester and Sydney Huber Mount Vernon will return an elite backcourt Twins Taylor and Courtney Franck will be seniors next season; Savanna Wright will be a sophomore That trio combined to average 28.4 points per game Junior-to-be Rylee Rasmussen will be counted on in the post Misener graduated from Cedar Rapids Kennedy in 2011 He works at the Shoot 360 basketball facility in Robins “I’d kind of been dragging my feet for the past decade on being a head coach,” he said who played at Central DeWitt and the University of Wisconsin and has served as an assistant at Cornell College The hire leaves two prominent girls’ basketball coaching vacancies — at Cedar Rapids Xavier and at Clear Creek Amana High School Sports Reporter. Get the Sports Newsletter The Gazette has been informing Iowans with in-depth local news coverage and insightful analysis for over 140 years independent journalism with a subscription today © 2025 The Gazette | All Rights Reserved SIOUX FALLS — A Mount Vernon man's felony illegal firearm possession case in U.S district court has been postponed to later in 2025 Cory Cumings' case was scheduled to go to trial in federal court in April but has been pushed back Cumings faces one charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person the criminal indictment alleges that on or about Dec knowing he was an unlawful user of controlled substances was in possession of excess of 100 firearms and ammunition The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 15 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund Those firearms are subject to a federal forfeiture case which has been stayed in court until the resolution of the illegal firearm possession case The firearms and ammunition were seized by authorities from his Mitchell Roofing business in Mitchell and his residence near Mount Vernon Cumings answered the federal complaint against him denying the allegations argued that Cumings' Second Amendment and Fifth Amendment rights were violated by the federal authorities seizing his property without a hearing or other due process and violating his right to keep and bear arms Iowa — The 20th annual Chalk the Walk festival is underway today on Mount Vernon’s historic 1st Street This year’s event honors Henri Matisse with a massive community re-creation of “Woman in a Purple Coat.” participants get chalk and a square to help complete the 40’ x 80’ mural More than 160 artists are also creating original chalk art and $1,375 in prizes rounding out the weekend Vernon will host an electronics recycling event Saturday Residents are encouraged to bring recyclable items to help keep the community clean and sustainable A limit of two televisions per household will apply Mount Vernon is marking a major anniversary with a reenactment and the ribbon cutting of a new feature on Sunday in Virginia Sunday marks 250 years since George Washington left Mount Vernon to travel to Philadelphia where he was appointed commander-in-chief of the new Continental Army It marks the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia media and communications at Mount Vernon told WTOP “They can meet the women and children who traveled with the Continental Army and learn about their daily lives We have colonial artisans and crafts people where they can have demonstrations and people can actually shop for artisan wares.” Washington only briefly returned to Mount Vernon in 1781 just before the Yorktown campaign and ultimate victory for American independence “He was never back in his beloved estate for almost the entirety of the Revolutionary War So it’s a big deal for him to leave,” Almacy said “There are actual replica battles,” Almacy said “There will be cannon fire and there will be George Washington’s replica tent from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia They come down and they interpret what George Washington’s tent was like and people can actually go experience that themselves as well,” she said The event will also feature remarks from a George Washington reenactor Fairfax County Supervisor Dan Storck and Mount Vernon CEO Doug Bradburn a George Washington reenactor will march down the Patriots Path and out of Mount Vernon’s front gates marking the start of his journey to Philadelphia He will be accompanied by 18th-century musicians and several historic reenactors dressed in period costumes The reenactment is part of the Revolutionary War Weekend during which Mount Vernon’s serene 12-acre field transforms into a battleground and Hessians conduct military drills and 18th-century tactics Visitors to Mount Vernon can step back in time to experience the hardship and resilience of the Continental Army visitors are going to be able to walk through an 18th century Continental Army encampment that we’re going to have here at Mount Vernon and it’s featuring soldiers tents and an officer’s tent,” Almacy said “It’s going to be a hands-on attraction where they can touch the items inside the tents.” The Patriots Path includes opportunities to explore 18th-century tents examine cooking utensils and engage with historical interpreters “It is something that people here in the DMV can experience for themselves what it would have been like to be in an encampment in the 18th century,” she said Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area Valerie Bonk started working at WTOP in 2016 and has lived in Howard County She's thrilled to be a reporter for WTOP telling stories on air She works as both a television and radio reporter in the Maryland and D.C KARK – A Mount Vernon man is offering a $4,000 reward for anyone with information as to who fatally shot his dog on Sunday Josh Brown said he was returning from Mississippi on Sunday and his elderly father had let out his three dogs to chase rabbits in the yard “It wasn’t long after that he came walking up on the porch here and his face covered in blood,” Brown said judging by the amount of blood on his dog Draco’s face that he had to wipe off with a hot rag and the “little pellet holes” left on his skin he believes the fatal injuries came from a shotgun “It was definitely a turkey load,” Brown said.  “But he was just doing what I trained him to do Brown said he trained Draco to hunt rabbits ever since he was three months old “It was wrong to have him out there this time of year I get that,” Brown said.  “But we have names on the collars every dog man does all you have to do is call us.” Brown said he believes he knows who shot and killed his dog and said there are landowners in the area who let people onto their land to hunt annually “I know every truck that comes down this road I know every hunter who hunts this road,” Brown said. “It’s weird that every year there’s a certain person that comes here and it seems like there’s always a problem.” Brown said he worried about Draco suffering long from the aftermath of the fatal shot Brown said during turkey-hunting and deer-hunting seasons it’s practice to not let a dog out for fear a similar incident could occur Brown is asking for the community’s help to confirm the name of the person responsible for shooting and killing his dog and I hope he doesn’t do it again,” Brown said.  “I hope it help someone else not do it either.” Brown said he spoke with an Arkansas Game & Fish warden but is not pressing charges or pursuing a legal avenue at this time anyone who intentionally kills or injures an animal owned by another person without their consent could face up to a year in jail and a $1000 fine Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" these are the actual most popular baby names so far in 2025 Whether it’s a short vacation or they’re jetting off to begin their career show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift National Teacher Appreciation Week begins May 5 take advantage of these freebies and deals Anyone who has watched Mount Vernon shortstop Xavier Neyens step into the batter’s box can see that he has exciting things ahead for him on the baseball diamond.  as well as his cannon of an arm and outstanding defense Along with his ability to hit the ball to the farthest reaches of any field he plays on “He’s a once-in-a-lifetime talent for a coach,” Mount Vernon baseball coach Tony Wolden said “I’ve been fortunate enough to coach some really good players over the years but (I) know that odds are I’ll never coach another talent like Xavier.” While Oklahoma high schooler Ethan Holliday (the brother of current Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday and son of former big leaguer Matt Holliday) is expected by many to be the first-overall pick Neyens might be the best power hitter available in the draft MLB.com says that Neyens has “the ingredients to become an All-Star third baseman with huge left-handed power and a strong arm,” and projects him to be picked No. 8 overall by the Toronto Blue Jays.  JustBaseball.com has him going No. 4 overall to the Colorado Rockies just one pick behind the Seattle Mariners at No While there are a lot of expectations heaped upon the 18-year-old Neyens’ shoulders Wolden hasn’t seen any of it go to his head describing him as a fantastic teammate and an excellent team leader in addition to being an incredible talent on the field.  “I do know there’s a lot of pressure I don’t see it weighing down on Xavier I do know during batting practice and when we hit at our field he hits balls that I didn’t think could ever travel as far as they do It’s amazing to see the ball come off his bat.” the senior was hitting .442 on the season with a .671 on-base percentage “Those experiences were great,” Neyens said “There’s times where you’re standing around some of these guys are gonna be first rounders hopefully a lot of us are gonna be big leaguers.’ So it’s definitely kind of surreal to think about when you’re in the moment.” While he will almost certainly get the chance to take a multimillion paycheck and turn pro, Neyens is also an Oregon State commit, having committed to the nation’s No. 3 ranked baseball program as an eighth grader back in 2021 It’s a choice Neyens is considering carefully. If he is picked high and goes pro, Neyens would be the 10th Washington high school position player to be drafted and signed in the first round.  “The way I look at it is the only thing that’s promised right now is my scholarship to Oregon State,” Neyens said that’s the only thing that’s promised until another opportunity presents itself.” Neyens spends his time hanging out with his friends and going to as many baseball games as he can calling himself and his buddies “baseball rats.” They went to an Everett AquaSox game recently and made the trip to Tacoma to watch Bellingham native Austin Shenton play with the Rainiers The time he spends around his teammates and friends seems to matter deeply to Neyens who could’ve left to go play in a year-round baseball haven like Arizona rather than play in often-rainy Mount Vernon.  When asked why he chose to stick around his hometown rather than go play in a warm-weather state where he might face better competition Neyens makes it clear that his decision is bigger than just playing somewhere with the most highly rated players you’re playing high-school baseball with your friends the guys that you’ve grown up with your entire life It would mean a lot more to go out and win with those guys than some random guys that want to go play at a school in Florida or something.” That’s what matters most to Neyens for the rest of his senior season and not the choice he will have to make between going pro or spending a few seasons suiting up for the Beavers This is one last chance to play with his friends and go chase the state title that eluded them last season.  The Bulldogs lost to West Seattle in the 2024 Class 3A championship game a defeat that Wolden described as “crushing” for a team that came into the title game with a 23-3 record Neyens wants to finish the job and raise the title trophy with the Bulldogs.  “Nothing comes before this right now,” Neyens said “Everything that’s going to be going on after comes after high-school baseball season you might as well just give 100% focus to high-school baseball season and trying to win that state championship.” The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser A pedestrian was struck the afternoon of Tuesday on Westchester's Cross County Parkway in Mount Vernon snarling traffic on the westbound Cross County Parkway and southbound Hutchinson River Parkway The accident prevented traffic southbound on the Hutch and at New Rochelle Road from accessing the Cross County for about three hours The man in his 70s was struck around 2:30 p.m by a foot bridge near Mount Vernon High School He said the victim was taken to Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx in critical condition But he had no immediate details on the extent of the man's injuries or what he was doing on the parkway as detectives had just begun their investigation The Cross County was reopened by 5:30 pm but traffic delays continued The Mount Vernon City School District will lay off 84 staff — teachers, teaching assistants and administrators — plus 40 civil-service employees at end of the 2024-25 school year, the acting superintendent said in a community message posted April 30. “I want to thank every one of them for the great work they have done for the district and I am saddened that our financial situation required a reduction of workforce,” K Dig deeper: Mount Vernon, with fewer students, proposes closing 3 schools, moving away from K-8 model Mount Vernon voters had approved a $106 million bond several years ago to reorganize schools including closing two middle schools and moving grades 7 and 8 to 13 elementary schools the district said the K-8 model proved too costly as student enrollment declined Parker School on South 6th Avenue; the former Nichols School on North High Street now called Mount Vernon Leadership Academy; and the Mount Vernon Honor Academy next to district offices on North Columbus Avenue we needed to develop a plan where we could staff the district in accordance with our declining enrollment," Smith said "Expensive building repairs and a designation of significant fiscal stress from the New York State Comptroller also contributed to the decision." The district cut its expected expenses for the 2025-26 school year by $16.9 million Certified staff were notified of the layoffs by March’s end while civil service employees were notified by April 22 A 74-year-old Mount Vernon man hit by a car as he walked on the Cross County Parkway has died from his injuries Samuel Wallace was crossing the westbound lanes of the parkway at about 2:30 pm Tuesday when he was struck in the left lane near the Mount Vernon High School footbridge just west of the entrance ramp from New Rochelle Road He was taken to Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx Westchester County police detectives are continuing their investigation and trying to determine why Wallace No charges are expected against the driver of the SUV that hit him The accident forced the closure of that section of the Cross County from the Hutchinson River Parkway for about three hours (LEX 18) — A vehicle collision involving a school bus in Mt Vernon is under investigation by Kentucky State Police officials responded to an injury accident on South Wilderness Road involving a pickup truck and a Rockcastle County Schools bus Investigation revealed that 76-year-old Ronald McClure was driving a truck when it collided with the school bus 23 children were transported to a local hospital for evaluation The bus driver and McClure were also transported for medical evaluation in private vehicles The bus monitor was treated at the scene of the collision and was also transported to a local hospital Report a typo Van Nuys News Press Covering the San Fernando Valley & the Greater Los Angeles area Mount Vernon, VA — As the nation gears up to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of America, George Washington’s Mount Vernon will host a once-in-a-lifetime recognition and reenactment of George Washington’s historic departure on May 4 from his beloved Mount Vernon to attend the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia Washington was appointed commander in chief of the newly created Continental Army just prior to the Yorktown campaign and ultimate victory for American independence Scheduled for Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 1:30 PM, the reenactment of Washington’s historic departure also will include a ribbon cutting of the newly-installed Patriots Path Revolutionary War encampment and remarks from George Washington News outlets are invited to use related video footage and photographs attributable to the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association Media outlets interested in covering this historic event must pre-register with Mount Vernon to ensure access. Please contact Julie Almacy, Vice President of Media & Communications, at julie.almacy@mountvernon.org to schedule attendance George Washington will march down the Patriots Path and out Mount Vernon’s front gates Washington will be accompanied by 18th-century musicians and a cadre of historic reenactors dressed in period costumes This reenactment is part of the highly popular Revolutionary War Weekend during which Mount Vernon’s serene 12-acre field transforms into a battleground is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States The estate is open to visitors and includes the Mansion It also includes the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon Remove all graphics and images from the website so that only the text and links are visible Reverts to original layout including graphics and images The Fairfax County Park Authority is excited to announce open hire events for the newly renovated Mount Vernon Rec Center which is reopening in May 2025 and looking to fill over 290 part-time positions across multiple departments Local job seekers are encouraged to attend these walk-in hiring events where they can learn about job opportunities and even complete hire paperwork on the spot if selected Attendees should bring a resume (if available) an original photo ID and Social Security card and bank account routing information to facilitate the hiring process if selected The Park Authority is hiring in the following exciting areas: FCPA offers a flexible work environment with competitive pay and opportunities for professional growth through training and development programs Employees enjoy a fun and dynamic team atmosphere where they play a vital role in bringing the community together Team members also receive free use of the Rec Center where they work making it a great opportunity for those who love recreation and fitness Whether you're looking to gain valuable experience or be part of an energetic team FCPA provides an engaging workplace where you can make a difference Mount Vernon Rec Center is located at 2017 Belle View Blvd. in Alexandria. To learn more about the open positions at Mount Vernon Rec Center and to submit an application online, visit the Mount Vernon Rec Center jobs webpage For questions, contact FCPAJOBS@fairfaxcounty.gov 703-324-7329 Website Accessibility Translate Download Mobile App ADA Accessibility FOIA Requests Website Administrator Fairfax County Public Schools Economic Development Authority Visit Fairfax Council of Governments Commonwealth of Virginia USA.gov The Fairfax County Park Authority invites the community to a special information meeting about the highly anticipated reopening of the Mount Vernon Rec Center at Belle View Elementary School in the cafeteria Residents are encouraged to attend to learn about the exciting updates and opportunities coming to this beloved community facility The meeting will provide residents with key information about the reopening View the Information Meeting flyer The Mount Vernon Rec Center has been a cornerstone of the community for more than 42 years Thanks to voter-approved Park Bonds in 2008 the facility is undergoing a transformative 75,000-square-foot expansion The renovation includes a two-story fitness center comprehensive building upgrades and a second NHL-sized ice rink The newly renovated facility is on track to reopen in May 2025 For ongoing updates about the project and to access related materials, visit the Mount Vernon Rec Center Renovation webpage Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the future of the Mount Vernon Rec Center and how it will continue to serve as a vital resource for Fairfax County residents for years to come For questions, contact the Public Information Office at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov he led the Mustangs to the Class 3A state championship Nate Sanderson helped lead Mount Vernon High School to the zenith of a four-year girls’ basketball reclamation project Sanderson confirmed to The Gazette on Tuesday he has vacated his position as head coach I informed the administration of my decision to step down,” he said in an email statement Sanderson said: “I don’t know if I want to add anything other than what’s in the statement.” Mount Vernon athletics director Matt Thede released a statement of his own Tuesday morning: “The school district thanks Coach Sanderson for his time and contribution to the girls’ basketball program over the past four years and respects his decision to move in a different direction.” came to Mount Vernon in 2021 with the program in bad shape we came to Mount Vernon as strangers in a new land,” Sanderson said we found a tight-knit community with a strong athletic culture and a basketball program on the verge of revival “Led by some exceptional student-athletes the program ascended back into prominence behind the hard work and dedication of some of the finest young people I have ever been around “Through their effort and determination they forged a path back to the state tournament undeterred by the various obstacles they encountered along the way “It has been one of the great honors of my life to serve this program and I am proud of all we have accomplished on and off the court I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work with so many amazing athletes and coaches.” Sanderson missed one game in January for what Thede called “an internal matter.” The Mustangs were 1-20 in the season before Sanderson’s arrival Then it was 16-8, then 22-4, then 26-1 and a Class 3A state championship Mount Vernon was Sanderson’s fourth stop and owns a 23-year career record of 274-219 He won a pair of Class 1A championships at Springville From there, he coached at Linn-Mar for 2 1/2 seasons before resigning midway through the 2019-20 campaign He was an assistant at North Linn in 2020-21 I don’t know if this is retirement.” Mount Vernon will have one the state’s premier backcourt trios next year in senior twins Courtney and Taylor Franck Sanderson’s exit means three high-profile girls’ basketball programs in the area have coaching vacancies Tom Lilly announced in November he would retire at Cedar Rapids Xavier after the season and the Saints went on to win the Class 4A state championship who guided Clear Creek Amana to the 4A title in 2024 Click the search icon or 'view more results' to see all results ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship was joined by Alabama State Senator Jack Williams and other local officials for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the reopening of the recently renovated J.E representatives from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Town of Mount Vernon and Mobile County took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the reopening of the recently renovated J.E Turner Mount Vernon Public Boat Ramp located just east of Mount Vernon in south Alabama The facility was temporarily closed in August 2024 for a $2 million renovation that included a new two-lane launching slab that was constructed directly into the river channel to alleviate siltation issues experienced at the previous boat ramp Additional improvements include a new 170-foot floating access pier an expanded parking area and a new weigh-in pavilion for fishing tournaments The facility is also Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible Turner Mount Vernon Public Boat Ramp is one of several public boat ramps operated by ADCNR that offer access to outdoor recreation on the Mobile River and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta “This updated facility will benefit the local community and surrounding areas for decades to come by providing improved access to boating and fishing,” said Chris Blankenship “The improvements at Mount Vernon also make it an excellent choice to host fishing tournaments that positively impact the local economy We are grateful for the partnerships that made this project a reality I especially thank Governor Kay Ivey for supporting all of the outdoor recreation infrastructure projects we’ve completed recently We are excited about several additional boating access projects currently in the works throughout the state.” Alabama State Senator Jack Williams and State Representative Shane Stringer praised the partnerships that made the J.E Turner Public Boat Ramp renovation possible Mobile County and the State of Alabama,” said Sen “I want to thank Governor Ivey and Commissioner Blankenship for their efforts to get this project completed This boat launch is very important to all Alabamians that enjoy our great outdoors Representative Stringer and I have spoken with many local residents about how important this boat launch is to them and their families We encourage everyone to visit the new facility and experience the exceptional outdoor recreational opportunities that south Alabama has to offer.” “We extend our sincere gratitude to Governor Ivey Commissioner Blankenship and everyone involved in the approval Turner Boat Ramp in Mount Vernon,” said Rep “This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and commitment to enhancing recreational access for our community The dedication and hard work that went into this project is truly appreciated We look forward to seeing this new facility benefit residents and visitors alike for years to come.” The Mount Vernon renovation is part of a series of boat ramp improvement projects currently in progress throughout the state This boating access improvement project was completed through a partnership between ADCNR the Town of Mount Vernon and Mobile County The project was funded by ADCNR from Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) funds In addition to the Mount Vernon renovation the parking lots and entrance road at the McIntosh Bluff Public Boat Ramp on the Tombigbee River in Washington County were recently repaved Funding for the McIntosh improvements was provided through the Sport Fish restoration Program which is supported through excise taxes on the sale of outboard motor fuel fishing equipment and the sale of Alabama fishing licenses Additional funding was provided by Innovate Alabama a statewide public-private partnership focused on entrepreneurship technology and innovation with a mission to help businesses grow roots in Alabama Turner Mount Vernon Public Boat Ramp features a new two-lane launching slab and a new weigh-in pavilion for fishing tournaments Official Web Site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources © 2025 Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources A 75,000 square foot expansion will bring National Hockey League sized ice rinks and much more After two and a half years of a massive renovation the 42-year old Fairfax County Mount Vernon Rec Center will reopen to the public in June The facility has undergone a transformative 75,000 square-foot expansion The expansion was paid for with voter-approved Park Bonds in 2008 Fairfax County Park Authority looks forward to welcoming the community back to Mount Vernon Rec Center The renovated facility features some exciting additions: Read more about the project here. Alexandria Living Magazine is your go-to source for exploring the past