Adopt-A-Pot program aims to keep downtown Colfax beautiful
For $125 one of the flower pots along Walnut Street can be ‘adopted’ to help with funding for care throughout the season
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune
Walking through downtown Colfax in the summer, pots full of beautiful flowers line the sidewalks creating a picturesque scene. Colfax Main Street is looking to expand on the work already being done by starting an Adopt-A-Pot program for the planters along Walnut Street.
“We’re excited about the sponsorship program because it gives the community more ways to invest in revitalization efforts in their community,” Colfax Main Street Director Stuart Patterson said. “I think people get more proud and excited about something that has their name on it.”
The $125 sponsorship includes a custom name plate for a business sponsor, family, individual or dedication on behalf of a friend, loved one or milestone. The funding will help purchase annual flowers, seasonal decorations and the continued upkeep of the planters.
Rozenboom admits strong feelings on proposed pesticide reform bill
Senate Study Bill 1051 would limit lawsuits against pesticide manufacturers
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of articles covering the topics discussed at legislative gatherings hosted by the LeagueofWomenVotersofJasper County. Iowa Sen. Ken Rozenboom admitted he has strong feelings about the proposed bill in the legislature that limits lawsuits against agricultural chemical companies.
Well, to be exact, he said he had “really, really strong feelings” about this topic.
He told guests at a legislative gathering hosted by the League of Women Voters of Jasper
Labor union negotiations with county in hot water
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Union leaders say the board of supervisors have made an “aggressive and targeted attack” by stripping Jasper County union employees of all their previous contract provisions except wages, but Supervisors Chairman Brandon Talsma objects to these, what he calls, “grandiose” and “very vague” comments.
In a Feb. 10 press release from AFSCME
Surplus secondary roads equipment to be auctioned off
Jasper County hires Kansas-based auctioneer at no cost
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Jasper County has hired a Kansas-based auction company to sell its surplus secondary roads equipment. County Engineer Michael Frietsch said many other many counties in the state, including Marion County, have used Purple Wave in the past. He said the company doesn’t charge the county for selling the equipment.
“They basically charge the buyer,” Frietsch said during the Feb. 11 board of supervisors meeting. “So you’ll see the listing fee has been waived
on that. So whatever they sell it for is what we get, and then they charge the buyer a fee on top of that. So that is how it essentially works. Pretty straight forward deal.”
All of the surplus equipment will be gathered at the current yard site so that it can be reviewed by an appraiser. According to county documents included in the agenda, a number of vehicles and other equipment are included on a property list and will be auctioned off by Purple Wave. The items include:
Council 61, the labor union for workers in the courthouse and the sheriff’s office, it states the county’s contract would eliminate essential workplace protections like seniority rights and grievance procedures. The union has called on the county to reconsider its contract.
AFSCME Council 61 also called on the community to stand in solidarity with the workers. The union said county officials five years ago ac -
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune
County the different viewpoints he is considering. As a lawmaker, he has issues with vague terminologies being used to stoke fear in the populace. As a farmer, he sees the benefits some pesticides can provide to crops.
Opponents of Senate Study Bill 1051 argue against pesticides and claim they could be a factor for why Iowa has the second highest cancer rate in the United States. Rozenboom is taking these issues into consideration, too, and he told constituents he is sensitive to the disease, which has killed two of his brothers. However, Rozenboom pushed
AFSCME Council 61 rejects proposal and wants past workplace protections, supervisors chairman says safeguards are in place via county policy
knowledged state law allows them to gut the contract but they went with a full contract instead.
Todd Copley, president of AFSCME Council 61, denounced the board’s new contract.
“This is nothing more than an effort to weaken workers’ rights and silence public employees. Stripping away workplace protections is an attack on the dignity and security of every worker.
We will not stand idly by while the board tries to
roll back the fundamental rights of those who serve our community.”
All bargaining units in Jasper County — including AFSCME and PPME — met with the board of supervisors on Monday, Feb. 10 to discuss their new contracts.
Talsma told Newton News that protections like seniority rights would be removed, but he argued most of what was in the current union
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune The Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency is one of a couple of public transporation options in Jasper County.
back against what some call the “Cancer Gag Act,” saying it is not a bill that prohibits any Iowans from suing companies like Bayer. He also disputed the link to glyphosate — the active ingredient in the weed killer Roundup — causing cancers like non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“They’ve been trying for decades to find a link because if they can find a link that will open up Bayer and other companies to bankruptcy-type lawsuits,” he said. “That link does not exist. So on the other side of the equation we have a product that has done more to feed people around the world than any other product.”
Rozenboom argued glyphosate has enabled farmers from all across the world to produce more food and given them a tool to implement more conservation practices. There is so much benefit from that technology, he said, but people want to throw it all away so lawyers have a “new bucket of cash to dig into.”
The Republican lawmaker also disputed the decade-old classification from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an agency of the World Health Organization, saying glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to hu-
HOWARD ST. CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples
mans.” Rozenboom said, to him, that means no real proof.
“Let me give you some other things they found probable cause on: Working at night probably causes cancer. Aloe vera probably causes cancer. Washing dishes is a probable cause of cancer,” Rozenboom said. “ …Glyphosate is in that same class. There are many more from this group, which I consider rogue.”
Rozenboom also considers the group to be non-scientific. He said the agency gets a lot of publicity from the press and has polluted the argument “while showing absolutely no proof.”
Rep. Jon Dunwell said the bill has not been presented to the House yet, but he does have some questions.
“What does the bill actually do? There has been some disagreement as to what the bill does,” Dunwell said. “There are those who say the bill total shields these companies, specifically Bayer… The Bayer folks and there other people in agriculture have clearly communicated to me that is not what the bill does.”
Dunwell said the bill does not shield pesticide manufacturers from lawsuits that could one day find a link to cancer. He echoed Rozenboom’s sentiments in that there are no reliable studies clearly linking glyphosate to cancer. Of note, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency does not consider glyphosate a carcinogen.
“That’s why it’s not on the label at this point, required by the EPA,” Dunwell said. “…I have been in support of protecting them (Bayer) from being sued from mislabeling when the reality is they’re doing exactly what we as a government have asked them to do.”
Dunwell also argued that lawsuits contribute to a declination to the GDP, so it impacts the economy. Two years ago, Iowa signed into law medical malpractice tort reform. Prior to that law passing, Dunwell said officials from the local clinic told him it was
Church Schedules
Pastor David Rex 641-521-4354 SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10:10 a.m. Worship Last Saturday of month - 8 a.m. Men’s Breakfast FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Colfax Minister, Pastor Cody Dyer Church Office 674-4165 SUNDAY, Feb. 23 - 9 a.m. Fellowship; 9:15 a.m. Bible Education Classes; 10:25 a.m. Communion Sunday, Message by Pastor Cody Dyer; 5 p.m. “The Well” Youth Group
SUNDAY - 8 p.m.
Elders meeting, Board meeting after church; Collect for Food Pantry
FOURTH SUNDAY - Potluck Dinner
FIFTH SUNDAY - Potluck Breakfast FIRST MONDAY - WIC appointments
FOURTH & FIFTH TUESDAY - 3 p.m. Table of Grace
IRA UNITED CHURCH Pastors Doug Cupples and Phil Butler
SUNDAY - 9:30 a.m. Church service; 10:30 a.m. Sunday school Communion first Sunday METZ COMMUNITY CHURCH 3253 W. 62nd St. S., Newton
TUESDAY, Feb. 25 - 3 p.m. Women’s Prayer and Coffee
COLFAX FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH S. Locust & W. Division St. Office - 674-3782 Rev. Phil Dicks pastor
SUNDAY - 10:30 a.m. Family Worship; Sunday School
The church schedule is brought to you by
HOPE ASSEMBLY OF GOD 126 E. Howard Rev. Paul Avery, pastor Church: 674-3700 hopeassemblyofgod@yahoo. com
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10 a.m. Worship
WEDNESDAY - 7 p.m. Evening Service
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
CATHOLIC CHURCH
302 E. Howard St., Colfax Fr. Marty Goetz 515-674-3711
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Mass DAILY MASS - 8 a.m.
MINGO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Rev. Phil Dicks 515-689-4926
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Worship service (Sunday school not meeting at this time)
ASHTON CHAPEL
8887 W. 122nd St. N., Mingo Pastors: Larry Craig & Mark Eddy
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10 a.m. Worship
BETHANY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 5627 N. 95th Ave. W., Baxter 641-227-3402
Pastor Chris Hayward
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday School (Sunday after Labor Day to second Sunday in May); 10 a.m. Sunday Worship. First Sunday communion. All are welcome. baxterbethanyucc. org
EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH BAXTER
Mike Mclintock, Pastor
SUNDAY - 9:15 a.m. Sunday
one lawsuit away from going under.
Still, Dunwell acknowledged the state’s high cancer rates and how that is of great concern for the governor and Iowa lawmakers.
Linda Wormley, of Newton, said constituents want to see action, but instead it feels like lawmakers are worried more about corporations.
“No,” Rozenboom said. “We’re worried about Iowa farmers.”
Wormley replied, “I am an Iowa farmer.”
To Rozenboom, Illinois uses a fair amount of Roundup, too, but that state’s cancer rate is well below Iowa. He argued if glyphosate
School; 10 a.m. Worship; 6 p.m. Awanas
WEDNESDAYS - 1st & 3rd6:30 p.m. Mens Bible Study
2nd & 4th - 6:30 p.m. Men’s and Womens Bible Study
THURSDAYS 10 a.m. - Womens Bible Study
BAXTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
218 S. Main, Baxter Pastor Ben Spera Church: 641-227-3382
SUNDAY - 10 a.m. Worship
WEDNESDAY - 6 p.m. Bible Study
THIRD THURSDAY of month
- 6:30 p.m. Theology on Tap at Bea’s Place on Main Street Check us out on Facebook and baxtercongregational.com
CORNERSTONE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP
1000 E. 12th St., Newton Rev. Josh Farver, pastor Phone 641-792-4650
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10:15 a.m. Worship
WEDNESDAY - 6:30 p.m. Prayer Meeting and Bible Study; Youth Group
HERITAGE WORD OF LIFE
ASSEMBLY OF GOD
102 Second St. NW, Mitchellville Pastor Dave Adams 515-967-3330
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF HOPE Capitol II Theatre in Newton
SUNDAY - 9:30 a.m. Livestream Worship Service
was the problem then Illinois would be just as high. Dunwell said the bottom line is the governor has started the process of studying why the state’s cancer rate is so high.
Rozenboom said opponents of Bayer have declared the company had a duty to warn users that their product may cause cancer. He decried the phrase “duty to warn” as vague and confusing legal standard. Rozenboom said the EPA is not a friend of farmers and has had 50 years to study this chemical.
“To that point, there are 1,500 long-term, very exhaustive, with thousands and thousands and thousands of factory workers and farmers and users that have found no link,” Rozenboom said. “So there’s scientific evidence on this. It’s just contrary to the ones that want to bankrupt the makers.”
The state senator said reports from media and
the classification on glyphosate from IARC have only fueled the fire and scared a lot of people.
“But that’s my feelings on this,” he said.
“I’ve been dealing with this for years.”
Rozenboom wanted to emphasize that he is sensitive to cancer. One of his brothers is fighting prostate cancer right now. His oldest brother died of cancer in 1962, which was before Roundup was on the market. Another brother of his died last September. He farmed his whole life and used Roundup like any farmer.
“There’s no causation there,” he said. “My wife is currently fighting lymphoma for the second time in 16 years. Cancer is really dominant in my family. So I’m sensitive to things that cause cancer. It’s as sensitive to anybody in this room, I suspect. So please don’t misinterpret my position on this as not caring.
“Because I care.”
Biscuits & Gravy Supper Monday evening in Baxter
Baxter Congregational Church, 218 S. Main St., is hosting a Biscuit & Gravy Supper from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24. The menu includes biscuits & gravy, a fruit cup, a cookie and beverages. A free-will offering will be accepted at the door.
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer
Iowa State Sen. Ken Rozenboom of District 19 speaks with audience members during a legislative gathering hosted by the League of Women Voters of Jasper County on Feb. 15 at the DMACC Newton Campus.
Auction
Negotiations
contract still applies those workers even though it does not expressly lay it out in the contract. Talsma said all of that old language in the current contract is already county policy.
“The contract itself is being stripped down to the bare minimum that state laws requires us to have, which is a one-page document and the only thing they can negotiate in accordance with Iowa law is beginning salary,” he said. “Everything else in their current union contract is already in the Jasper County handbook.”
Workplace protections like grievance procedures, Talsma added, still apply to the union workers since it is laid out in the county handbook. Vacation accruals stay the same, too, and Talsma said the county is even
Pots
creating policy so that workers can keep their longevity pay; the county is already in the works of increasing it.
“Before this ever came up we were in discussions — and it will be on a subsequent agenda — to increase the longevity pay,” Talsma said. “Right now, an employee who has been here for 20 years under the current longevity, which is in their union contract, is like $938. We’re increasing it.”
However, Talsma said other workplace benefits like seniority rights are likely not going to be added to the county handbook.
Why is the county going this direction with the union contracts? Talsma said it is the board’s belief that it is unnecessary in today’s world.
“It’s not 30 years ago. It’s not 50 years ago,” he said. “Everything they already have is already in the handbook. Jasper County has a 50- or 60-year
“In the past, we had some great local business owners donate time and resources to make them look good as well as a small budget from the Colfax Main Street program, but this year the volunteers wanted to start an official sponsorship program so that there is a more robust and comprehensive budget, especially with prices of everything getting higher each year,” Patterson said. “It gives the volunteers a little more leeway with
vator
• Water tank and pump on skid
“We’re going to scrounge around and clean house and get everything we can auctioned off so we can clean off the asset list,” Frietsch said.
Supervisor Brandon Talsma reminded Frietsch to let the auditor’s office know when the vehicles are gone so that way the county does not have to continue paying for their insurance. County Auditor Jenna Jennings said once the vehicles and equipment are sold Purple Wave will write a check to the county. Frietsch said the sales are typically held online and that he could put out public notices in the newspaper when the auction will be held and include the hyperlink.
track history of taking care of employees and trying to treat them fairly. Don’t think it’s necessary. It also makes it hard and cumbersome to deal with certain things.”
For example, Talsma said one of the policies second roads union contract says employees have to work one year before taking vacation.
“That costs us employees and that costs us new hires coming from other counties,” Talsma said. “There are things like if you’re not coming from a union shop or a union county, you’re starting down at the bottom. Never mind the fact that you’ve been doing whatever it is you’ve been doing for 10 years.”
Talsma argued there are bad provisions in the union contract that are not beneficial for new hires or current county employees or the county itself.
He also said the union has failed to factor in the cost of insurance, which in most part
what they can do with the planters.”
In another partnership, the volunteers plan to continue using annual flowers that are grown by Colfax-Mingo High School students. Patterson said it is a great way to tie in additional local volunteer efforts and promote the work done by the school.
“Since the planters are by the busiest street in town, they go through some wear and tear and need some maintenance,” Patterson said. “Every year we have to replace soil, damaged decorations, etc.”
The planters are an ongoing effort to make downtown Colfax a destination lo -
is covered by the county rather than the employees. Insurance has increased significantly over the past decade, but Talsma said the county has never once passed those costs on to the employees. If the union had taken the county’s offer, Talsma said they would have seen an 8.75 percent increase to their wages over the past 12 months when factoring in past deals.
Talsma said workers have 2.75 percent in their current contract that they have already received. Six months ago, the county also granted the unions a 2 percent supplement to their wages. The county is then offering another 4 percent tacked on to that. In total, that equates to 8.75 percent in additional wages.
“We feel like we’re being pretty generous,” Talsma said.
Talsma noted the meeting with PPME about new contracts went “extremely well,”
cation for not only residents but tourists, as well.
“In the six years I’ve been a Main Street director, last year was the first year people pulled me and our city leaders aside to tell us how beautiful our downtown looked,” Patterson said. “Our program and city hung up and took care for more than 40 hanging flower baskets, the city made a beautiful pocket park garden, the Walnut Street planters got cared for very well last year by Trier Chiropractic and Bank Iowa, The LaFemme Club did a great job on the gazebo planters and the street and park trees that were recently planted have started to mature and look great.
in contrast to the meeting with AFSCME.
Per state law, union workers cannot go on strike due to them working in the public sector. Chapter 20 of Iowa Code says it is unlawful for any public employee or any employee organization, directly or indirectly, to induce, instigate, encourage, ratify or participate in a strike against any public employer.
In a followup press release, AFSCME Council 16 called the county’s deal “shameful” and Copley condemned the action once more.
“These workers dedicate their lives to serving their community, and this is how the board repays them — by stripping away their rights and job security,” Copley said. “This isn’t about necessity. It’s about power and control. They want public employees to have no voice, no protections, no ability to stand up for themselves. We won’t let that happen.”
“These are all efforts of our community to make sure we live someplace that is beautiful. I think beautification efforts like flower planters really show visitors and ourselves as residents that our community is fighting apathy and is caring about itself.”
To participate in the Adopt-A-Pot program visit https://colfaxmainstreet-462147.square.site/ for additional steps. Main Street will be in contact with further details after purchase. To purchase a sponsorship via check, cash or with any questions email colfaxmainstreet@gmail.com or call at 515-6744096 ext 3.
Transit
Continuedfrompage1
different demographics in the area.
In the county, the assessment found only 0.08 percent of residents use public transportation as their primary means of commuting to work. That is lower than both the state and national rates.
Almost 6 percent of those surveyed identified transportation as a barrier for accessing healthcare and 6.65 percent said they have had trou-
ble paying for transportation in the past year.
A total of 4.08 percent of households do not have a vehicle in the county, which is lower than the state average of 5.61 percent. The percentage increases to 11.23 percent for those who are in a renter-occupied household versus an owner-occupied household at 1.86 percent.
In the county, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA) provide public transit for those in need.
In 2021, 806 riders uti-
lized RSVP, 927 in 2022 and 887 in 2023. HIRTA reported 13,254 rides to 411 unique riders, according to the county. To address the issue, the county plans to launch a public awareness campaign through local media about transportation resources to improve the health of the county. It will promote HIRTA and RSVP through the campaign and explore additional funding and volunteer opportunities for the services. By doing this, the county hopes to increase awareness about transportation resources available for residents.
C-M duo clinches first-ever state wrestling berths
COLFAX — A pair of wrestlers from Colfax-Mingo won district championships during the Class 1A District 1 tournament on Feb. 15.
Host Colfax-Mingo entered 10 grapplers in the tournament and placed fifth with 87 points. Lisbon won the district championship with 202.5 points and 1A No. 4 Jesup was the runner-up with 202 points.
Lynnville-Sully scored 91 points and finished fourth with only seven wrestlers. Belle Plaine (113) was third and Montezuma (84.5), Moravia (56.5), HLV (30), Baxter (27) and Pekin (25) completed the 10-team field.
The top two finishers at each weight in each 1A district advance to the state tournament.
Caden Sykes and Teagan Dybevik dominated their brackets to lead the Tigerhawks. Baxter’s trio of wrestlers fell short of clinching state berths.
Sykes and Dybevik led the Tigerhawks with 2-0 days. Sykes (37-6) advanced to his first state meet after one win by pin and one by major decision at 175. Dybevik (19-3) also advanced to state for the first time after winning twice by fall at 285.
Cason Fitch’s third-place finish at 126 included a 2-2 day with one pin. Fitch (36-7) lost a wrestleback against Lynnville-Sully’s Kimball Elliott and also dropped a match
to Cade Happel (39-10) of Lisbon.
Jayden Cherveny (120), Alex Hartson (190) and Allan Bregar (215) all were fourth at their weights.
Cherveny (22-18) was 1-2 with one of those losses coming against No. 2 Cooper Hinz of Jesup. Hartson (22-15) was 2-2 with two pins and Bregar (19-14) finished 1-2 with one pin.
The rest of Colfax-Mingo’s lineup featured Logan Roam at 106, Xavier Cross at 138 and Kyle Wood at 157. Cross was 0-1, while Roam and Wood both went 0-2.
Baxter’s trio included Jack Anderson, Maddox Peters and Derek Rominger, who was 1-2 at 132.
Anderson (46-8) came one spot shy of state with a third-place finish at 138. He was 3-1 with two pins and one major decision. The loss came against No. 6 Treven Delagardelle of Jesup.
Peters (33-23) placed fourth at 157 following a 2-2 day. He had one pin and one of his losses came against No. 11 Isaac Messamaker (44-5) of Moravia.
Sykes opens the state tournament with Kingsley-Pierson’s Calvin Harvey (37-12) in the opening round.
That winner faces No. 3 Justin Wirtz (37-1) of Emmetsburg in the next round.
Dybevik’s first-round opponent is Hudson’s Alston Loeb (30-10). That winner meets No. 9 Grant Gray (42-2) of Northeast in the second round.
Fast start not enough for C-M boys in district loss to Melcher-Dallas
first half on a 7-2 run, but the defense was the biggest issue for Tigerhawk head coach Michael Hunsberger.
Baxter girls advance past Colo-NESCO in regional opener
BAXTER — Baxter se-
nior Emie Tuhn sets a new school record every time she makes a 3-pointer.
And the way the Bolts’ all-time leading scorer is shooting it right now, that number will continue to grow by a decent margin with each remaining game in her career.
Tuhn started off the Class 1A Region 8 opener on Feb. 13 with back-toback 3s and then sunk six more in the second half during a 58-22 home win over Colo-NESCO.
“I’m just trying to make the most out of it because I know it’s coming to an end soon,” Tuhn said about her final games with the Bolts. “Seeing the ball go in gives me a lot more confidence. That helps me be more aggressive, too.”
COLFAX — The start of the Class 1A District 11 boys basketball game couldn’t have been any better for Colfax-Mingo.
The Tigerhawks built a 16-point lead in the first quarter and pushed that margin to 18 in the second, but struggled to score in the final two frames during a 67-60 loss to Melcher-Dallas on Feb. 14.
Colfax-Mingo scored more points in each of the first two quarters than it did in the second half and the Saints’ big comeback was led by Drew Heaberlin’s 23-point effort.
“We got flustered. We always come out of the second half slow,” C-M senior Harrison Rhone said. “The other team just started hitting shots, and we couldn’t respond. I tried my best to even the odds, but I wasn’t hitting.” Rhone needed 27 points to reach 1,000 for his career. He scored 28 but put in 23 of those in the first half.
The Tigerhawks led 25-11 after one quarter and both teams scored 18 points in the second. C-M ended the
“Lots of poor defense. Lots of imploding and making mistakes that are under our control,” Hunsberger said.
“You can’t make those types of mistakes and expect to win, and you can’t be overconfident when you play a team you think you should beat.”
Rhone totaled 16 points in the first. He scored three times on layups directly after making a defensive play at the other end of the floor and buried a pair of 3-pointes and four free throws in the frame. Those were his only four freebies of the night.
Rhone created a 6-0 run on his own toward the end of the quarter. He blocked a shot at one end of the floor and then scored a layup at the other end. He finished the run with a steal at one end and a layup at the other.
“Our energy was way better,” Hunsberger said about the differences with each half. “I think we made a lot of simple mistakes on defense though, and that hurt us.”
Tuhn’s aggressiveness has picked up lately. She’s made at least five treys in seven straight games. The shots also are going in more frequently, too. She’s shooting 36 percent from deep on the year but is making them at a near 50 percent clip during those seven games.
She also leads Class 1A and ranks second in the state with 83 treys.
“(Tuhn’s) been playing tremendous basketball the past three weeks or so,” Baxter head girls basketball coach Kyle Krampe said.
“We want her to shoot it. When she’s aggressive, we are such a better basketball team. Her aggressiveness opens things up for the rest of the girls, too.”
The back-to-back 3-pointers that started the game for Tuhn
helped the Bolts get out to a quick lead. Colo-NESCO responded with four straight points, but a 9-0 run pushed the margin to 15-4. That spurt featured back-to-back 3s from Kamdyn Krampe and Karlee Koehler. Tuhn’s putback later made it 17-5 and then she delivered an assist to Avery Wonders that swelled the margin to 19-5 after one quarter. The Bolts outscored the Royals13-3 in the second. Krampe hit a 3 both early and late in the period and Tuhn’s layup to end the half pushed the
margin to 32-8. There were no secrets in the game as the two teams were playing for a third time this season. The Royals (4-17) played a zone defense against Baxter for the third time this season, and the hosts made them pay to the tune of 12 triples.
“They didn’t change much so we knew we’d have to hit outside shots,” Coach Krampe said. “Kamdyn did a good job stretching it in the first half, and then Emie hit a bunch in the second half.
Jasper County Tribune
Photo by Randy Taylor
Colfax-Mingo senior Caden Sykes, right, clinched a berth into the state wrestling tournament for the first time after winning the 175-pound bracket at the district tournament on Feb. 15.
By Troy Hyde Sports Editor
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
Baxter senior Emie Tuhn scored 29 points and dropped eight 3-pointers in the Bolts’ regional win over Colo-NESCO on Feb. 13.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
Colfax-Mingo senior Harrison Rhone, left, scored 28 points against Melcher-Dallas on Feb. 14 and reached 1,000 career points in the 67-60 postseason loss.
By Troy Hyde Sports Editor
Big second quarter lifts Bolts past Tigerhawks
By Troy Hyde Sports Editor
BAXTER — Eli Dee scored 35 points, Perrin Sulzle added 22 and Dakota Parker buried four 3-pointers off the bench.
But Baxter head boys basketball coach Zach Hasselbrink gave the most credit to the Bolts’ best defender during a 93-48 non-conference home win over Colfax-Mingo on Feb. 11.
“Ultimately, the biggest difference maker for us the past few weeks has been Stadan (Vansice),” Hasselbrink said. “He’s an unbelievable defender. He makes us go and starts us up defensively. We morphed our defense to fit what he does best because we play at our best when we make it hard for the other team’s best player.”
Colfax-Mingo stayed in the game for most of the first quarter, but the Bolts used a 10-0 run that went into the second and outscored the Tigerhawks 32-5 in the period to pull away for good.
Baxter shot 61 percent from the floor, made 14-of-16 from the free-throw line and turned the ball over only 10 times.
The Bolts grabbed a significant advantage though by forcing turnovers at the other end of the floor.
“We started slow, but our energy on defense got us some easy layups in transition and that got us going,” Dee said.
Dee and Sulzle scored Baxter’s first 14 points of the game, but the hosts only led 14-10 and 16-12 after Harrison Rhone scored six early points and Wyatt Carpenter scored back-to-back buckets for Colfax-Mingo.
The 10-0 run that seeped into the second started with a pair of free throws from Sulzle. Parker ended the first and started the second with consecutive 3s to push them margin to 26-14.
Rhone ended the run with a pair of free throws, but the Bolts (13-8) used a 14-0 spurt to swell their advantage to 42-16.
“We got down and then we put our heads down and let it get out of control,” Colfax-Mingo head boys basketball coach Michael Hunsberger said. “All of halftime was us telling them we needed them to respond. We saw some better effort in the third.”
The 14-0 run featured nine points from Dee. He started an 8-0 run with back-to-back buckets and a 6-0 run that ended the second included a pair of buckets inside the lane by Logan Rainsbarger.
Rhone scored 12 of his 21 points in the first half, but the Tigerhawks trailed 55-19 at the break.
“You have to defend (Dee) a certain way, and every team has done something different,” Hasselbrink said. “It takes us a quarter to figure out what teams are doing. The slower starts have been like that all year long, really.
“Once we got it figured out, we kind of rolled. But the credit goes to the defensive end more than the offensive end. We got a lot more steals in the second quarter.”
Vansice did not score in the game. He had more steals than shot attempts, but his effort frustrated Rhone and led to easy baskets at the other end of the floor.
The two teams traded buckets in the third until an 11-0 run from the Bolts. The spurt included seven straight from Dee and back-to-back hoops by Sulzle.
Rhone scored seven points in the third, but Parker buried another 3 and Maddux Tuhn connected from deep to end the frame.
“We’ve talked a lot about knowing your roles. Dakota’s a shooter,” Hasselbrink said. “He’s confident and when we see zones, we’ll play him in those spots.”
The Tigerhawks (2-19) outscored the Bolts 13-11 in the fourth. Carpenter scored nine of his 13 in the frame, but Colfax-Mingo finished 2-of-10 from 3 and turned the ball over 20 times.
Dee led the Bolts with 35 points, five assists, five rebounds
and six steals and Sulzle tallied 22 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Parker drained four treys and scored a career-high 14 points off the bench, Cainan Travis chipped in four points, four assists and four rebounds and Tuhn collected three points and three boards off the bench.
Vansice, who had three rebounds, four assists and five steals, and Tuhn came off the bench in favor of seniors Rainsbarger and James Esqueda. Rainsbarger scored twice inside for four points and dished out
two assists and Esqueda buried a pair of free throws in the fourth for his first career varsity points in his first career varsity start.
“He’s been here for four years, and he gets in early to get his shots up,” Dee said about Esqueda. “It’s nice to see him get his first points.
“(Parker’s) going to be good. He’s getting his confidence back and if he can hit some 3s that’s nice. Guys are going to get open shots. They need to knock them down. He did that tonight.”
Cael Wishman scored three points and grabbed two boards in the fourth, Colten Damman also totaled two boards and two assists, Hayden Burdess scored four points and Liam Trent grabbed three boards off the bench.
The Bolts made 7-of-17 from 3 and grabbed 11 offensive rebounds.
Rhone led Colfax-Mingo with 21 points, seven rebounds and two steals. He was 11-of-11 from the foul line.
The Tigerhawks were 16-of-17 from the charity stripe in the loss but shot only 36.6 percent from the floor.
Carpenter added 13 points and two rebounds, Hostetter chipped in eight points and three boards and Jay posted two rebounds and two steals.
Lewis totaled three points and two assists and Gage Byal dished out two assists.
“We have to find a way to respond better even when the score might not be what we want it to be,” Hunsberger said. We’re going to get there. It’s just going to take some time, but we’ll keep
working at it.”
Troy Hyde/ Jasper County Tribune
Colfax-Mingo freshman Wyatt Jay, left, battles Baxter senior Perrin Sulzle for a rebound during the first half of their non-conference game on Feb. 11.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
Baxter senior Logan Rainsbarger, right, scores two points inside against Colfax-Mingo’s Harrison Rhone during the first half on Feb. 11.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune Baxter sophomore Dakota Parker made four 3-pointers and scored a career-high 14 points in the Bolts’ home win over Colfax-Mingo on Feb. 11.
Colfax-Mingo
junior
“I would say we were stagnant in the second. We rely on the outside shots too much, but that goes back to not having a true post. They took away our skip passes, too.”
Half of Tuhn’s 3s came in the third as Baxter outscored Colo-NESCO 18-11. Her first deep ball came at the end of a shot clock and then back-to-back triples pushed the margin to 45-15 and the Bolts led 50-18 after three.
It was one of those nights for Tuhn as her seventh 3 of the night was the first bucket in the fourth and it hit all parts of the rim before dropping in.
Tuhn finished with 29 points, five rebounds, four assists, seven steals and two blocks in the win. She was 8-of-17 from long range.
The other big statistic in the game was 22 points allowed by the Bolts. They held the Royals to five points or fewer in three of the four quarters.
“Ball pressure was our main emphasis,” Coach Krampe said. “We needed to apply pressure full court and make them play faster than they want to play. We wanted to get easy baskets.
“Our halfcourt defense could have been better, and it will have to be better against BCLUW.”
The Bolts faced BCLUW on Feb. 18 in Conrad. The Comets are 2-0 against Baxter this season.
Kamdyn Krampe finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals and Kendall Brummel tallied six points, three rebounds and two steals. Koehler chipped in three points, two boards, two assists and two steals, Kaylyn Krampe posted three rebounds, two assists and two blocks and Hannah Huffaker put in four points. Makayla True and Wonders both grabbed two boards each.
The Bolts (12-9) shot 33.3 percent from the floor, made 12-of-34 from 3 and connected on 6-of-11 from the free-throw line.
They turned the ball over only 12 times, swiped 19 steals and dished out 17 assists on 20 field goals. Baxter also grabbed 13 offensive rebounds.
The victory was the third straight over Colo-NESCO, and the Bolts have won 11 of the past 12 games in the series.
“We wanted to apply ball pressure on defense and push the pace on offense,” Tuhn said. “We knew scoring in transition and on the fast break would help us today.”
Notes: BCLUW (15-7) defeated the Bolts 48-45 and 70-56 this season. The first game was tied at halftime and Baxter trailed by two after three in the second meeting. Grace Farnsworth averages 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Comets, while Savannah Moeller averages 11 points and eight boards per contest.
“We have to rebound better,” Tuhn said. “They have taller girls so limiting their second-chance points will be key.”
West Central Valley 46, Baxter 36 BAXTER — Baxter struggled from the floor and turned the ball over 19 times during a 46-36 non-conference home loss to West Central Valley on Feb. 10.
Slow start hinders Tigerhawk girls in season-ending loss to Pella Christian
PELLA — A tough shooting night, 28 turnovers and a slow start plagued the Colfax-Mingo girls basketball team during a season-ending loss to Pella Christian on Feb. 15.
The Tigerhawks were limited to a season-low in points during a 51-16 defeat in Class 2A Region 5 action.
The Eagles led 25-5 after one quarter and outscored the Tigerhawks 14-7 in the second and 12-0 in the third.
Blain Houseman led Colfax-Mingo (6-16) with nine points, three rebounds and three steals and Isabelle Foglesong put in five points. Lydia Hansen totaled four rebounds and two blocks and Mickinley Bucklin swiped two steals.
The Tigerhawks shot 16 percent from the floor, made 2-of-10 from 3-point range and connected on 6-of-8 from the free-throw line.
Pella Christian (8-14) got 15 points and seven rebounds from Addie Van Arendonk and 12 points and seven steals from Faith Kacmarynski. The Eagles out-rebounded Colfax-Mingo 30-9.
The Bolts shot 26 percent from the floor and made only 9-of-35 from 3 in the loss. They also were only 3-of-7 from the free-throw line.
Tuhn highlighted Baxter with 15 points, six rebounds and two assists. She was 5-of-14 from 3 and now leads Class 1A with 83 made 3s.
Tuhn’s school-record career point total has climbed to 1,235 points. Her 374 points this winter sets a new single-season school record, passing her older sister Elie Tuhn.
She’s also made a school-record 250 treys in her career.
Koehler had 12 points and made four 3s for the Bolts, while Kamdyn Krampe added six points, two rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Brummel grabbed eight rebounds and dished out two assists and Wonders totaled three boards and two steals off the bench. Baxter and West Central Valley were tied at 5-all after one quarter, but the
Wildcats led 15-10 at halftime and outscored the Bolts 31-26 in the second half.
Malia Fuller led West Central Valley (14-8) with 14 points and four steals, while Abbie Benden added 11 points and seven rebounds.
The Wildcats made 41.5 percent from the floor, hit 3-of-4 from 3 and out-rebounded the Bolts 37-21. They also missed 11 free throws and turned the ball over 19 times.
Dunkerton 68, Baxter 50
BAXTER — Baxter couldn’t overcome 29 turnovers during its loss to Dunkerton on Feb. 8.
The Bolts were outscored by six in the first quarter and seven in the fourth and lost the Iowa Star Conference Challenge game 68-50.
Tuhn led Baxter with 24 points, seven rebounds and three assists. She was 6-of10 from 3.
Tuhn’s 18.9 points per game average ranks 11th in 1A.
Kamdyn Krampe finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. She was 5-of-7 from the freethrow line.
Koehler chipped in six points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals, Brummel registered five points, eight boards and three steals, Kaylyn Krampe grabbed three rebounds and Huffaker corralled two boards.
The Bolts shot 38 percent from the floor, made 8-of-21 from 3 and drained 6-of-9 from the foul line.
Kylee Pexa totaled 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and nine steals to lead Dunkerton.
Hailey Kipp put in 18 points and Daisy Fettkether tallied eight points, six rebounds and three assists.
The Raiders (14-7) shot 45 percent from the floor, connected on 4-of-14 from 3 and buried 8-of-14 from the foul line. They committed 13 turnovers and swiped 17 steals.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
Baxter freshman Kamdyn Krampe, top, dives for a loose ball against Colo-NESCO during their regional game on Feb. 13. Krampe scored 13 points in the win.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
Baxter freshman Kaylyn Krampe, left, hands the ball off to a teammate during the second half of the Bolts’ regional game against Colo-NESCO on Feb. 13.
Hansen
Jasper County Tribune
Troy Hyde/ Jasper County Tribune
Mallory Sipma, left, looks for an open teammate during a home game earlier this season. The Tigerhawks’ season was ended by Pella Christian during the opening round of the regional tournament on Feb. 15.
Prep wrestling changes get seal of approval from area coaches
By Troy Hyde Sports Editor
High school wrestling fans had to change the way they cheer at matches and tournaments this season.
TWOOOO became THREEEE because of a rule change to the sport, but area coaches, for the most part, liked the changes that happened before the season started.
“I do like them a lot,” Lynnville-Sully head wrestling coach Cayden Johnson said. “It makes the sport more enjoyable and more fun to watch. The scoring is up, and it brings a lot more technical falls to the mix. It gets them more ready for the college level, too.”
The high school changes do align closer with collegiate scoring. Takedowns are now worth three points, wrestlers can get four points for a near fall and the new out of bounds rule is clearer and easier for officials to make accurate calls.
But Newton head boys wrestling coach RJ Brown is one who is not a fan of the changes overall.
“It helps the good kids mostly,” Brown said. “Technical falls happen way more often now. I don’t think the new three-point takedown has much impact, and I don’t think the near fall change was needed at the high school level.
“There’s so many more turns than in college. I love the rule for college because turning someone is harder. You should be rewarded for that. Turns happen all the time in high school so you see scoreboards light up at this level. There’s a lot more points being scored and, ultimately, that’s the main reason they changed it.”
Technical falls are up. And the better wrestlers have typically benefited the most from the rule changes.
Baxter’s top wrestler was Jack Anderson, who finished with 46 wins. Twenty-four of those have come by pin, but he does have seven technical falls.
Maddox Peters has compiled 17 pins and two technical falls as part of his 27 wins.
“The dynamics of wrestling have changed,” Baxter head boys wrestling coach Dwight Gliem said. “For the good. I’m all for it. You used to be able to get taken down, but if you got a reversal it was back to even. Now, we’re
working harder on our feet than we ever had because takedowns are more important.
“You’ll see a lot more tilts and a lot more, what I call, cheap back points. We’ve had more technical falls this year than we’ve had in the last five years.”
Colfax-Mingo’s Cason Fitch has 37 wins, 22 pins, three technical falls and three major decisions.
Caden Sykes has produced 36 wins, 12 pins, six technical falls and three major decisions in his first season as a Tigerhawk.
“I think you might get a different answer depending on who you ask because of their wrestling styles,” Colfax-Mingo head boys wrestling coach Stacey Rice said.
“It hurts my heavyweight a little bit. He’s really good from the down position. It used to be if you gave up a takedown, you can tie it right away with
a reversal on bottom. You have to manage the match a little bit different and focus on different things with the new scoring system. Cason (Fitch) and Caden (Sykes) are really good on their feet so they can pile up a lead really quick.”
Rice’s heavyweight is Teagan Dybevik. He’s been in and out of the lineup due to injuries and in and out of the rankings because of those injuries but 11 of his 17 wins this season have been by pin.
Colfax-Mingo head girls wrestling coach Erin Hume said the changes haven’t affected how his staff operates during matches. He prefers that his wrestlers go for the pin first and foremost.
Colfax-Mingo’s Emma Cook, who just wrapped up a thirdplace finish at the girls state wrestling tournament, won 46 matches this winter and 30
came by pin.
Lily Webster, another topfour finisher at state last week, won 44 matches and half of those came by pin. She also produced two technical falls and one major decision.
Devan Chadwick, another senior for the Tigerhawks, won 43 matches in her final season and 29 came by fall. She also had one technical fall.
“I was a little nervous when we started the season how it would go, but after so many matches, I like it,” Hume said.
“The three-point takedown rewarding the more aggressive wrestler works. It incentivizes trying to score on your feet and changes how you wrestle on top, too.”
The Bolts’ top two female wrestlers were Johnelle Gliem and Zoey Gliem. Most of their wins came by fall as Johnelle produced 21 wins and 18 pins.
Twelve of Zoey Gliem’s 16 wins came by pin. For the most part, area girls preferred the pin to the technical falls.
Newton senior Stella Cupples had 30 wins and 27 of those came by fall. Ashlyn Van Manen also registered 15 pins and 25 wins.
Kylee Adams is the one who has benefited the most to the new scoring. She won 25 matches and only 10 came by fall. She produced five major decisions and three technical falls.
“I like it. It’s working well, but it will hurt you real quick or help you real quick,” Baxter head girls wrestling coach Randi Gliem said. “I think it’s forcing the girls to be more aggressive. There was so much dancing around last year. This year, it forces them to make a move.
“I think it will be a good thing, but it has taken some getting used to for all of us. The ones who have been doing this since they were little, it’s a big mind shift for them.”
The new scoring system also has allowed for wrestlers to never be out of a match. No lead is safe with a seven-point move. Cook trailed in four of her six matches at the girls state wrestling tournament and rallied from a 7-0 hole in an elimination match.
“If you make it to state and you’re down by four in the third, we’re no longer out of it,” Dwight Gliem said. “You can score points quick.”
The new out of bounds rule was changed to only one point of contact needs to be inbounds at all times. Wrestlers are still in bounds if a finger is still in bounds.
“I wish I would have had that when I was in high school,” said Johnson, who is a Lynnville-Sully alum, too. “That one is awesome. If there’s a toe or finger in bounds, you’re in bounds.”
While the new rule is beneficial for the wrestlers, it also helps the coaches and officials with a more clear-cut ruling. The judgement calls are now gone.
“I like the out of bounds rule,” PCM head wrestling coach Rusty Vos said. “It allows you to wrestle longer as long as you keep a body part inbounds. We are wrestling until the whistle is blown now.”
After C-M built its lead to 18 following a putback by Shane Hostetter, the Saints (3-16) began to close the gap with an 8-0 run.
Heaberlin, who scored 13 points above his season average, buried a trio of 3s in the frame to help Melcher-Dallas close to within nine, but four different Tigerhawks scored during a 7-0 run that swelled the margin back to 16. The deficit was 14 at halftime.
“It was just unselfish all around. It’s a privilege to play for a team that wants to see me succeed so I want that for everyone else,” Rhone said. “It was really on display in the first half.”
The 60 points C-M scored in the game were a season high, but the Tigerhawks were limited to eight in the third and nine in the fourth.
Isaiah Lewis scored consecutive buckets in the third after the Saints closed to within four and Gage Byal’s 3 with 2:16 left extended the Tigerhawks’ advantage to nine. But the Saints scored the final four of the frame and
trailed by five after three. It didn’t take long for the visitors to seize control in the fourth. The Saints scored the first six points of the frame to take their first lead. Back-to-back buckets by Wyatt Carpenter and Rhone put C-M back on top and a deep 3 by Rhone later made it 58-57 with just more than 3 minutes to play. That put him past the 1,000 point threshold.
But he was limited to five points in the second half.
“I talked to the coaches beforehand, and they were focused on letting the game come to me and letting me get my teammates going,” Rhone said. “They told me the points would come eventually and they did. It’s been a long time coming.”
Lewis’ bucket with 2:03 to go pushed C-M’s advantage to three, but it was the home team’s final
points of the game. The Saints ended the district contest on a 10-0 run and six of those came from the foul line in the final 1:02.
“We have to get better. We challenged them,” Hunsberger said. “We have to have guys who not only want to have a better program, but are willing to put in the time it takes to improve. If it doesn’t start tomorrow, it won’t get better. I hope this group wants to put in the time right away. We need to take it seriously and invest into that.”
Colfax-Mingo (2-19) got a career-high 10 points from Lewis, Hostetter scored eight points and Carpenter and Byal both put in five points.
The Tigerhawks were 9-of-12 from the freethrow line, but the Saints sunk 17-of-19 and had a nine-point advantage in 3-point makes.
Melcher-Dallas also got 14 points, four rebounds and four assists from Reece Chiabotta and 10 points and eight boards from Austin Remster.
The Saints shot 48 percent from the floor and connected on 8-of-19 from 3.
Notes: The Saints were eliminated by No. 2 Madrid, 119-36, during the next round of the district tournament.
Sykes
Colfax-Mingo senior Caden Sykes clinched a spot in the state wrestling tourney for the first time after winning the 175-pound bracket at the Class 1A district meet in Colfax on Feb. 15. Sykes improved to 38-6 in his first wrestling season.
Caden
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune Baxter junior Johnelle Gliem relied on the pin more than technical falls this past season. Eighteen of her 21 wins came by fall.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
Baxter freshman Derek Rominger, top, wrestles in a home match earlier this season.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
Colfax-Mingo junior Isaiah Lewis scored a career-high 10 points against Melcher-Dallas on Feb. 14.
So far this year our students have done contests, attended national convention, had one student (Emma Cook) apply for her Iowa degree, had the freshman do a couple of leadership opportunities like greenhand fire up and legislative symposium. The students have had a great time so far this year, and I have had so much fun teaching and working with them.
FFA Motto
Learning to DO. Doing to LEARN. Earning to LIVE. Living to SERVE.
This year our chapter membership is up to 41 members! Back in October, 8 students traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana for the National FFA Convention. (Photos 1, 3, 4) We toured a reindeer ranch, a specialty fruit farm, and listened to inspirational speakers at the convention. We have 10 Greenhand members this year who participated in the Greenhand Fire-Up event in Ankney! (Photo 2) Later this month Luci Kucera will be competing in public speaking at our sub-district contest in Ankeny. We are looking forward to the many events we have planned next week including a teacher breakfast, a truck and tractor contest, and ag olympics!
