It’s great to have a state champion team in southeast Iowa. Congratulations to the Big Reds baseball team from Centerville High School, which pulled off an upset Friday to reach the finals of the high school state baseball tournament. Then followed that success on Saturday by winning the state Class 3A championship game at Principal Park in Des Moines.

The game was televised live on Iowa Public Television.

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The artwork from South Ottumwa Savings Bank’s Sand in the City festival Saturday looked amazing.

We are awed by the artistic talent abounding in the Ottumwa area, and by the fact that the artists can transfer their skills to a pile of sand.

Wasn’t the color photo on page 1 of Monday’s Courier just awesome, showing the sand-sculptured head of an Indian in Indian Hills Community College’s entry?

That entry placed second. Americinn/Main Street won with their sculpture, “Where the Wild Things Are.” Coming in third was the Al-jon entry, “Surf’s up.”

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We won’t be bored for long.

The Iowa State Fair starts its 10-day run Aug. 7 in Des Moines.

The summer Olympics starts Aug. 8 in Beijing, China.

Iowans have a vested interest in the competition with Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines vying for gold medals in women’s gymnastics and Lolo Jones, a Des Moines high school graduate, running for the gold in track.

Main Street Ottumwa is planning its first downtown Walk on Art Street for Sept. 6.

All artists are invited to show their wares in booths lined up on Court and Third streets.

There will be food available and fun activities.