HOMETOWN SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017 | muscatinejournal.com | SECTION F Looking back at the past year his is not your typical look back at 2016 but in pausing to relect on some of the stories which appeared in the pages of Tthe Muscatine Journal during the course of the year we decided to focus on ones that our valuable writers wanted to revisit and provide updates as warranted. We hope that you enjoy this diferent sort of Year in Review as much as we have enjoyed putting it together for you. BETH VAN ZANDT PHOTOS, MUSCATINE JOURNAL Louisa- Muscatine Elementary School kindergarten students Madilynn Smith, leans over to take a peek to see how many more graduates are coming down the hall at the elementary school. The seniors at L-M High School are hoping to start a new tradition of walking the hall of their former school. Classmates Jalynn Phillips and Owen Hayburn also enjoyed watching the senior walk through the halls. Two Muscatine ireighters watch the lames develop up the wall and across the ceiling in the interior of a mobile home behind the old armory next to ire station 2 in Muscatine. This opportunity gives new ireighters valuable training with live ires. Muscatine senior Drew Greenhaw breaks away from Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Jared White during the season opener at Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids. Spencer Reichert, a member of the Fulton 4-H, toasts marshmallows to make s’mores at the Healthy Living Festival in Weed Park. The event took place at four parks in Muscatine, Weed Park, Discovery Park, Deep Lakes Park and Riverside Park. The Kids Zone was held at Weed Park with a bounce house, music, and cooking demonstrations. Surrounded by his artwork, Lonnie Mason of Muscatine creates a piece on Second Street in downtown Muscatine at the Second Saturday event. Mason was showing of his talents at the Calvary Church The sound of a car door causes these two geese to pop their heads up booth which was promoting the church’s new “Canvus Art Studio” opening Oct. 2. The event is an arts out of the tall grass on the island in one of the lagoons in Weed Park in and music street fest that is held every month June –October and is presented by CBI Bank and Trust Muscatine. They both quietly start honking to alerting the other geese and and the Muscatine Journal in collaboration with the Muscatine Convention and Visitors Bureau. ducks on the island until they were all making noise. LOAN APPLICATIONS now available ON OUR To apply for a Personal or Home Loan visit: www.fnbmusc.com Member FDIC | 563.263.4221 00 1 F2 | SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017 AN EDITION OF THE QUAD-CITY TIMES Courage respected World wide support, respect grows for Devin Martz JAN TOUNEY For more information [email protected] MUSCATINE, Iowa – Updates on Devin Martz’s progress can be found on Facebook Courage is a trait that at http://www.facebook.com/dabnfordevin. doesn’t seek to be noticed A Go Fund Me account has been established to help the but commands our re- Martz family with expenses. It can be found at https://www. spect. gofundme.com/2asnds9c. And during 2016, the courage of 10-year-old Find out more about the Jessie Rees Foundation at www. Devin Martz radiated jessie.org. throughout the commu- nity, extending its reach to Iowa City, to school- children 400 miles away in northwest Iowa, to a foun- dation based in southern California, and even to U.S. military stationed in BETH VAN ZANDT/MUSCATINE JOURNAL Afghanistan. Through it all, Devin, Aaron Eversmeyer takes a look at Devin Martz’s left leg during his irst physical therapy at who lost part of his leg to River Rehab in Muscatine. In September 2016, Devin underwent a rare procedure called osteosarcoma, a bone can- rotationplasty where the middle portion of Devin’s leg with the osteosarcoma tumor was cer that strikes about 400 removed and his foot and ankle, rotated 180 degrees, was reattached to serve as his new children and teens in the knee joint. U.S. every year, has main- tained a “can-do” attitude that has brought him to set new goals for 2017. During an interview earlier this month at his home, Devin is quick to demonstrate how he puts on the prosthetic leg that he’s had since just before Christmas, deftly securing it with twists and turns, locking it into place on his left foot. “It’s pretty easy once you get used to it,” he says matter-of-factly. “It didn’t take that long to CONTRIBUTED PHOTO learn.” CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Former Muscatine High School athlete and current Iowa In a still somewhat rare Hawkeye football player, Drake Kulick, stopped in to meet Lead by his younger brother Daine, in front, the entire school at Colorado Elementary School procedure called rotation- Devin Martz who is a huge Iowa Hawkeyes fan. Kulick gave showed their support for Devin Martz as he battles cancer by Dab’n for Devin. plasty, the middle portion Devin his football gloves he’s wore in a few games and wrote of Devin’s leg with the tu- ‘keep ighting’ along with his autograph. He also signed a mor was removed in Sep- t-shirt and hat for him. tember, and his foot and ankle, rotated 180 degrees, Series championship, he Justin Sandersfeld, who was reattached to serve as said. heard about Devin from a his new knee joint. During the Cubs’ de- mutual friend. Sanders- Muscatine Journal read- cisive Game 7 against the feld, like Devin, is a Dallas ers met Devin in Septem- Cleveland Indians, Devin Cowboys fan, and gathered ber, as one of several area was in the hospital, falling a large group of his fellow children whose story was in and out of sleep, his dad service members for a featured during Childhood said. Jeff would wake him photo to show support. Cancer Awareness Month. up when something crucial Part of the message BETH VAN ZANDT/MUSCATINE Since that time, much happened in the game. Pa- reads: “Keep fighting JOURNAL has happened to Devin, tients and their families in Devin and know that we son of Jeff and Lind- surrounding rooms had the support you from half way Jef and Lindsay Martz watch BETH VAN ZANDT/MUSCATINE JOURNAL say Martz of Muscatine, game on television as well. across the world!” as Aaron Eversmeyer, owner Lindsay Martz, left, along with sons Devin and Daine, and proud big brother to “The entire floor was Still another surprise of River Rehab Physical listen as her husband, Jef, reads his irst story about Daine, 8. nail-biting,” Jeff remem- has come in the form of Therapy in Muscatine, has children ighting cancer using animals as the characters. He has continued che- bers. the Martz family’s con- Devin Martz balance on his Jef hopes to make it into a series of stories. motherapy treatments and When the Cubs won the nection to the Jessie Rees right leg while lifting his has four more scheduled, game after a rain delay, Foundation, based in Ran- left leg with the prosthetist the last one on Feb. 22. cheers could be heard up cho Santa Margarita, Cal- during his irst physical A whole new book He sports a “STRAIGHT and down the halls. ifornia. The foundation therapy on Jan. 12, 2017. OUTTA CHEMO” T-shirt In December, Devin got is sending the family to that matches the slogan on a surprise visit from three southern California for a wants to see “otters, palm for the Martz family his prosthetic leg. members of the Iowa vacation in March. trees and the beach.” Since receiving the Hawkeyes football team – The foundation is named Physical therapy that he JAN TOUNEY in spoken word compe- prosthetic leg on Dec. 22, Drake Kulick, who is also for 12-year-old Jessica Joy began recently will help [email protected] titions. he has worked diligently from Muscatine, Parker Rees, who fought two brain him develop muscular MUSCATINE, Iowa— A talented artist, he to walk without assis- Hesse and Brandon Sny- tumors before passing away strength in different areas Jeff Martz, who has also is sketching pic- tance. Video clips on his der. The players brought in January 2012. During her of his leg, strength that watched his son, Devin, tures of the animals to Facebook page, “Dab’n for gifts and some special 10-month ight, she shared he needs to work with the battle cancer since June, illustrate his work. Devin,” show him walking surprises from a third- a message of NEGU, Never prosthetic leg that weighs said he doesn’t see 2017 His first story is about at home, pushing a metal grade class in the West Ever Give Up, with as many between 5 and 6 pounds. as just a new chapter in a bear and is based on walker out of the way to Lyon Community School children as she was able. “He’s still kind of get- the life of his family. Devin’s story. take steps unassisted. District in far northwest Through her blog and Face- ting used to it,” said Lind- “I want to start a whole Here’s an excerpt from “He’s got some pep in Iowa. Snyder’s father, book page, her wish was to say. “Sometimes it gives new book,” he said. his first draft: his step,” Lindsay said. Tim, is principal of the send encouragement to him muscle aches.” And, really, he has be- “My run was fast and, Devin’s trips to the Uni- school there.