Jonathan Meyer.

There are weekends that leave you exhausted, and then there are weekends that remind you exactly why you do what you do. This past weekend was both.

I spent hundreds of miles behind the wheel driving back and forth between college and Tama-Toledo. By the time it was all said and done, I was sleep-deprived, running mostly on caffeine, and left without any social battery. Yet somehow, weekends like this always leave me feeling full.

Full of gratitude. Full of pride. Full of connection to the place that raised me.

That’s one of the beautiful things about serving the community through journalism. You don’t just cover events — you become part of them. You see the people. You hear the stories. You reconnect with the place that helped shape who you are.

Friday night kicked things off at the Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival with entertainment and music. This year’s event carried a little more emotion than usual after the announcement that longtime band director Mike Carnahan will retire at the end of the school year. That one hits close to home.

Mr. Carnahan was never just a band director to me. He was a mentor, a role model, and one of the clearest examples of what strong leadership looks like in a school and a community. I spent eight years in his band program, and even after graduating, I kept finding my way back — helping with pep band, concerts, marching contests, and all the little moments in between that made the program feel like family.

Because that’s what he built: a family.

It was an honor to listen to one of his final performances directing for this community.

Normally, I play in the community band that opens the evening festivities, but this year I couldn’t make it work. I was disappointed, but still happy to be there taking photos and supporting everyone involved.

Then came the Citizen of the Year ceremony, which is always one of my favorite traditions of the festival weekend. I love hearing the stories people share about the recipients — the ways they quietly help others, invest in the community, and leave things better than they found them.

This year’s recipient, Julie, embodied that spirit perfectly. Her kindness, service, and faith-driven commitment to helping others were impossible to ignore. If you see her around town, make sure to congratulate her.

And then came one of those unexpected moments that somehow turns into the part of the weekend you remember most.

Musicians are notorious for keeping instruments in their trunks “just in case,” and apparently, I’m no exception. Near the end of the ceremony, I was asked if I wanted to sit in with the high school jazz band. Truthfully, I was touched.

Getting one final opportunity to play under Mr. Carnahan’s direction meant more to me than I can properly explain. Was I prepared? Absolutely not. Was I perfect? Far from it.

But it was a whole lot of fun.

Saturday brought a completely different kind of chaos.

This year, Michael and I decided the newspaper should join the parade. Michael, being the artist that he is, created two banners promoting the paper and mounted them to his truck. Alongside Mike and his dog Dixie, we rolled through downtown Tama tossing candy to kids lining the streets.

When I say it was hectic, I mean it.

By the end of the parade, I felt like I had gone twelve rounds with a heavyweight boxer. Not because anything went wrong — just because of the nonstop energy flying at us from every direction. I haven’t thrown that much candy in years, and honestly, it may be another year before I do it again. Still, it was worth every second.

Honestly, the parade itself could probably become an entire column someday. I think Michael is writing about that experience for this week…

Then came Sunday and one of my favorite assignments every single year: South Tama graduation.

This marked my fourth time covering STC commencement, and somehow each class still brings something unique to the stage. I love hearing the speeches, seeing the personalities of each graduating class shine through, and watching the emotions hit families in real time.

One tradition that especially stands out to me is the opportunity for graduates to choose staff members to hand them their diplomas. It’s such a meaningful gesture and says so much about the relationships students build during their time at South Tama.

Beyond the ceremony itself, graduation always turns into a reunion of sorts. Conversations happen with people I haven’t seen in months. Teachers, parents, alumni, old classmates — all reconnecting for a few hours in one place.

That’s what this weekend reminded me of more than anything else.

Community matters.

Even with the long drives, late nights, and packed schedule, I never once regretted making the trip back home. Because every event, every conversation, every photograph, and every memory reinforced something I already knew deep down: I love this community.

Summer is right around the corner, and you’ll probably see me around town a lot more often.

And honestly? I can’t wait.

I love Tama-Toledo.

Until the next busy weekend, I’m Just Jonathan.