Hundreds of people gather to celebrate former Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty at retirement open house
A constant line of well-wishers could be found at former Jasper County Sheriff John
open house Jan. 4 at the Jasper County Fair Grounds. Memories from his 38 years of service lined the walls and friends, family and community members he met along the way stopped by to say thank you.
DUNWELL: Truth in taxation remains No. 1 priority in 2025 legislative session
Lawmaker also seeks solutions for preschool funding and corrections issues
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Iowa State Rep. Jon Dunwell of House District 38 has long advocated for what he calls “truth in taxation,” and in this upcoming legislative session he intends to recite that mantra once again so that Iowans have a clearer understanding about property tax adjustments from cities, counties and school districts.
Jasper County auditor, sheriff and supervisor sworn in
Elected officials take their oaths to uphold Constitution and serve the people
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Three elected officials in Jasper County were sworn in to their respective offices last week. County Auditor Jenna Jennings is now officially elected to the office after being appointed to it back in 2023; County Sheriff Brad Shutts takes over after a competitive primary; and Supervisor Doug Cupples secures his third term.
Senior Judge William Price swore in all three individuals before the start of the Dec. 31 board of supervisors meeting in the Jasper County Courthouse. After each person was sworn in, he allowed them a few moments to address the audience and make a few moments to their constituents.
Jennings thanked her friends and family for getting her through the elections process, especially when the past two years since she was appointed county auditor have been busy. In addition to running her first election in 2023, she also led her first presidential election this past year, as well as a recount. She also thanked the public for electing her to serve as county auditor for the next four years. Shutts swore his oath of office with one hand on the Bible, which was held by his wife Stephanie Shutts. The
have a conversation about their property taxes,” he said. “I think at that point it also allows the local entities, the county, the city and to lesser extent the schools … to have an interaction with voters and say, ‘I want to pay higher taxes’ or ‘I don’t.’”
“It puts the taxpayer and it puts the election official where they can actually
Dunwell said all Iowans should receive mailers alongside their tax bills that show them exactly what they paid last year, the proposed levies for next year, the precise amount they will then pay for their property if the levies are approved by the respective taxing entities and the public hearing dates to dispute them.
Baxter’s Luther ready for next big challenge on gridiron
When Rob Luther announced publicly on social media that he was stepping down as Baxter head football coach, many thought the long-time ball coach was retiring from the sport.
And it was a bit awkward and uncomfortable keeping his future quiet while things got settled on both sides. But Luther never really considered retiring. He just kind of knew his time at Baxter was winding down.
“I knew it was the right time,” Luther said. “I couldn’t be in the weight room over the summer because of the retirement and IPERS stuff. I got the juice back for a while, but it just felt different. I felt like the old guy who was just hanging on. I
need rejuvenated.”
This is year one of Luther being retired as Baxter High School Principal. He was not allowed in the building for a short time even as the football coach because of IPERS.
He didn’t go into this past season thinking it would be his last. But he figured it out pretty quickly that it was probably going to be it.
And right before Christmas, Luther got an opportunity he just couldn’t turn down.
While subbing at Ankeny High School, he received a text from a friend that would eventually lead to his latest role as the offensive coordinator for the Ankeny Hawks.
“It’s kind of fate. My wife and his wife were teaching partners for 10 years and Jeff Bauer subbed for us in Baxter about six years ago,”
Luther said. “He was a top scout for the New York Jets when Rex Ryan was there. Our families knew each other. His daughter baby sat our kids.
“We stayed in touch and then he got a job in Ankeny when Rick Nelson got there. I was subbing in Ankeny recently, and he shoots me a text to ask if I was in the building. Then he asked me to come to his room at lunch. He then told me his offensive coordinator had left and another offensive coach left and he wanted to know if I had any interest.”
The soul searching began there. Luther started to weigh his options but had already thought about contacting some bigger schools after the holiday break anyway.
LUTHER | 5
Regardless, property tax is a concern Dunwell heard about often from his constituents, especially those with fixed incomes. They see their housing values increase and the rollback not adjust enough. He also said the process is not easy enough for people to understand what they will pay before budget hearings.
“It’s not necessarily the city’s or the county’s or the school’s fault, it’s just a matter of how our system
Property tax legislation in 2025 has already been teased by state leaders, and Dunwell confirmed the issue will most definitely be on the schedule. To him, it is something the state needs to get right for Iowans and for cities and counties and school districts. But he knows it is also a complicated subject.
SWORN IN | 2
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune
Halferty’s retirement
Dunwell
DUNWELL | 2
Christopher Braunschweig/JCT Jenna Jennings is congratulated after being sworn in as auditor of Jasper County before the board of supervisors meeting on Dec. 31 in the Jasper County Courthouse in Newton.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune Baxter head football coach Rob Luther directs his team before a kickoff during the Bolts’ comeback win over Springville this past fall season. Luther has coached his final game in Baxter as he recently accepted the role of offensive coordinator for Class 5A Ankeny High School.
By Troy Hyde Jasper County Tribune
new sheriff was surrounded by family members, who had posed for pictures in the courthouse a few minutes earlier.
“I would just like to say thank you to my family and my wife Stephanie for all their support through this process,”
Shutts said after swearing in as the new sheriff, succeeding retired sheriff John Halferty. “It was a career goal. I’m glad that I have been given the blessing of the voters and the community of Jasper County.”
Cupples commended Shutts for taking his oath with his copy of the Bible. He also
thanked his Lord and savior for the opportunity to serve the people of Jasper County. Cupples also thanked the people who chose to vote for him and even those who didn’t vote for him.
Jennings ran uncontested for county auditor, and the official results showed she received the most votes of any candidate on the 2024 ballot. While there were 175 write-in votes against Jennings, she earned a whopping 15,993 votes, or 98.92 percent of the vote. The only other candidate to get close was the sheriff. Shutts also ran uncontested, but the real election for him was the June primary. He won over Tracy Cross and Jeremy Burdess with 834 votes,
claiming 40.13 percent of the vote. Cross came close with 795 votes, or 38.26 percent,
losing by only 39 votes. Burdess earned 446 votes, or 21.46 percent.
When it came time for the general election in November, Shutts secured 15,838 votes, or 97.47 percent of the vote. There were 411 write-in votes for sheriff.
Cupples was contested for his seat by no-party candidate Jerry Chandler, Jr., who has run for supervisor in the past. But the results showed it was no contest. Cupples earned a staggering 13,471 votes, or 72.13 percent, to Chandler’s 5,019 votes, 26.88 percent. There were also 185 write-in votes. Interestingly enough, all three individuals received more votes than President-Elect Donald Trump did in Jasper County. Trump only received 12,701 votes.
works,” Dunwell said. “It’s not easy to take a look at that.”
Dunwell would also like to see the state “get out of the way” and allow citizens interact with their local elected officials that control what their taxes look like. Keeping them informed with transparent and property-specific mailers would help in that regard, he argued, but there in lies part of the issue.
Counties would likely have to invest in some kind of software. There is also an expense to mailing out tax statements to every taxpayer in the county. It could cost between $20,000 and $40,000 in mailing fees.
But Dunwell said more counties might prefer this option rather than limiting growth or changing levies.
“I think sometimes the state has a hard time with it because they want to control it,” he said. “At that point, we’re getting
ourselves out of the way. There will still be limits on how high you can do the levy, but the idea of it is the limitation is the voter not some artificial cap.”
Property taxes vary from region to region. Dunwell said a lot of communities have high growth because they’re building new homes, but systems in place now can be somewhat penalizing for cities experiencing that kind of progress. Dunwell wants to make sure every community can address tax issues with citizens.
Another issue Dunwell wants to prioritize this next session is supporting families. While current trends show inflation is decreasing, the lawmaker said others have been negatively affected by the economy. He wants to co-sponsor a bill that will increase the per pupil weighting for funding schools receive for preschool.
Currently, schools only receive half the funding (0.5) for each preschool-aged child, but they get the full amount (1.0)
for students in kindergarten through high school. Dunwell said he wants to increase the funding to allow full-day preschool for parents at 185 percent of poverty. Ultimately, he said it saves the state money.
“We see the advances that happen to children in their third and eighth grade test scores. We see less difficulties that require interventions later,” Dunwell said. “We’re talking about hard working families that just need some assistance … This will allow them to get some of those educational advantages.”
Dunwell said there are benefits to having kids engaged in active education. Many are better prepared for kindergarten and have more successful educational years afterward. Communities with a diverse economic background may struggle to see those benefits. Dunwell said many just need assistance.
But there will be challenges in pursuing this kind of legislation.
“The pushback sometimes comes from the
daycare industry a little bit because it affects their business,” Dunwell said. “So we’ve got to work out some of those kinks because we all have the same goal of trying to help out families, help out moms and dads to make sure they have what they need for their family.”
Dunwell worries about the pressures being placed on families and their children. There are things the Iowa Legislature can do, he said, to alleviate those burdens.
Dunwell also wants to take a closer look at the Iowa Department of Corrections. He wants to address hiccups in the system and the safety of correctional staff and those who live within the confines of their facilities. He also wants to make sure correctional officers are being well paid and are respected.
By not properly addressing the rights of the incarcerated individual, Dunwell said it makes the state’s prisons dangerous. When there are hiccups like mail issues that affect
an incarcerated population over a period of time, they build up and affect the community of the prison and make it unsafe for everyone involved.
“Again, to me, it’s about correctional officer safety and recognizing those who live within those facilities are also going to be our neighbors at some point, so community connection with correctional facilities and community connection within the facility is extremely important,” Dunwell said.
To him, state corrections is an essential government service that needs to recognize and honor and fully support its staff.
Issues surrounding corrections have been brought to his attention by those who are incarcerated and the officers working from within prisons like Newton Correctional Facility. Dunwell said he looks at the issue from both ends. By not dealing with corrections, he fears it can become a time bomb.
“We don’t need to create frustration that’s unneces-
Durable foods to stock for emergencies
sary,” he said.
Creating a healthy community inside Iowa’s prisons means providing adequate safety for corrections officers and protecting incarcerated individuals, too. Dunwell said he wants corrections officers to be treated more like law enforcement and be included in that category.
Dunwell said it is also important for the community on the outside to engage with the community on the inside. It is extremely important, he added, and a healthy component that Iowa needs to figure out and get right. They are people, Dunwell said, and they will be rehabilitated back into society at some point.
“It’s about the incarcerated individual. It’s about the families. It’s about making sure we don’t have a problem in our correctional facilities,” Dunwell said. “But it also boils down to I’m worried about my corrections officers who are overworked and provide a tremendous service for our community.”
Protein can provide sustained nutrition and energy, but many protein sources in raw forms require refrigeration to prevent spoilage. However, canned and freeze-dried meats, seafood and poultry have extended shelf life. Freeze-drying, also known as lyophilization, is a water-removal process typically used to preserve perishable materials, according to Millrock Technology, a company that produces freeze dryers.
Canned or freeze-dried chicken, tuna, salmon, and beans are durable protein sources. Vegetarians will find that navy beans are high in protein. Freeze-dried
Public health emergencies or inclement weather can spiral out of control rather quickly. Emergency situations have the potential to derail shipping or delivery schedules or impede shoppers’ ability to get to the store for necessary supplies. Individuals should keep a stock of emergency provisions just in case weather or another adverse situation compromises their ability to get the items they need to survive. Different types of foods spoil at different rates depending on how they are stored. While there is no such thing as an entirely nonperishable food, packaging foods in air-tight containers can increase their life expectancy. Here’s a look at which nonperishable foods to keep on hand for emergencies.
HOWARD ST. CHRISTIAN CHURCH
(Disciples of Christ)
Pastor Josh Burns 101 N. Locust St., Colfax Cell - 515-779-3148
SUNDAY - 10 a.m. Fellowship;10:30 a.m. Worship, in person or online via YouTube
WEDNESDAY - 3:30 p.m. After school elementary youth; 6:15 ChiRho and CYF youth supper; 7:30 p.m. Youth Group
THIRD 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;
items are more common in pre-packaged, bulk emergency food supply kits sold at popular retailers, including Costco. However, they also can be purchased at camping retailers or Army/Navy stores.
Fruits and vegetables are necessary to ensure your body gets essential vitamins and minerals. Fresh items will spoil in a matter of days, so canned varieties are better for stocking up. Canned vegetables and fruits come in many varieties. The healthiest canned fruit options are those packed in their own juices rather than heavy syrups. Root vegetables like potatoes, turnips and parsnips can endure in cool areas of a home, but canned equivalents may be more practical.
Church Schedules
10:30 a.m. Sunday school Communion first Sunday
METZ COMMUNITY CHURCH
3253 W. 62nd St. S., Newton 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
FRIDAY, Jan. 10 - “The Cellar” following the Colfax-Mingo basketball game.
SUNDAY, Jan. 12 - 9 a.m. Fellowship; 9:15 a.m. Bible Education Classes; 10:25 a.m. Message by Pastor Cody Dyer; 5 p.m. “The Well” Youth Group
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15 - 9 a.m. Busy Bee Quilters and Fresh Encounter Prayer; 5:45 p.m. AWANA Family
The church schedule is brought to you by Coburn FUNERAL HOMES Colfax-Prairie City-Monroe 515-674-3155 www.coburnfuneralhomes.com
Meal; 6:25 p.m. AWANA Clubs
SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH Newton, Iowa
SATURDAY - 4 p.m. Mass
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Mass
COLFAX FIRST UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
S. Locust & W. Division St. Office - 674-3782
Rev. Phil Dicks pastor
SUNDAY - 10:30 a.m. Family Worship, Today is Food Pantry Sunday; Sunday School
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. Ron Hodges 515-674-3711
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Mass
DAILY MASS - 8 a.m.
MINGO UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH Rev. Phil Dicks
A balanced diet consists of a healthy mix of proteins, fruits and vegetables, and carbohydrates. According to Kelly Jones, MS, RD, a board-certified sports dietitian, whole grains are vital sources of carbohydrates and fiber, and most come in dried, non-perishable forms. Oats, rice, quinoa, barley, and whole-grain dried pastas can be used in emergency food kits. Packaged granola or trail mix bars also are good to have on hand.
FEMA and the American Red Cross advise keeping food in a dry, cool, dark spot. Carefully open resealable containers so they can be closed tightly after each use. Nuts, dried fruits and sugar packets can be put into air-tight canisters for protection from pests. Remember to also stock bottled water with emergency foods supplies. — Metro Creative
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
WEDNESDAYS - 1st & 3rd - 6:30 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 month6:30 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
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune
Brad Shutts is sworn in as sheriff of Jasper County before the board of supervisors meeting on Dec. 31 in the Jasper County Courthouse in Newton.
More than a Cup of Joe
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune
Sometimes when things take a little extra time, they are worth the wait. The SheepGate Coffee Co. was one of those ventures, adding a much- anticipated addition to downtown Colfax at the start of 2023.
“We bought it before COVID. Being a nonprofit, it was just kind of put on the back-burner not knowing what finances would do,” SheepGate Vice President Michael Hunsberger said. “We eventually started in on it and had some code things we had to do, and once we got those worked out things started rolling fast.”
Painted in bright white with prints covering the wall facing the coffee bar, the space at 15 E. Howard St. is welcoming to those looking for a cup of coffee or sandwich for lunch. It even serves a special SheepGate blend from roaster Windmill, along with the full array of blends from the coffee company.
A variety of cookies and breads are ready for those with a sweet tooth. Sandwiches, salads and soups of the day make SheepGate Coffee Co. a perfect stop for lunch with friends.
Not to be out-shined, the
SheepGate Coffee Co. serves up coffee and much more
caffeinated drinks brewing at SheepGate Coffee Co. are a can’t miss treat. Whether hot or cold, customers can chose from dozens of options including Americanos, refreshers, lattes, espressos, cold brew, macchiatos, mochas, smoothies and season selections. Lemonade, teas, water are also available along with Pup Cups for four-legged furry friends.
“It is a full coffee bar with drinks, cold and hot, to smoothies and also deli sandwiches and soup of the day at lunch time,” Hunsberger said.
“In the morning we will have fresh pastries, everything from our bakery and our chef. There will always be sweets and cookies.”
Tables fill the space from front to back with different
games placed on top for guests enjoyment. In a space looking out the large front picture window, four comfy leather chairs face each other providing a great spot for conversation.
An added bonus, the second floor features a wide open space and is available to rent. From meetings to baby showers, the multi-use room featuring beautiful exposed brick
walls and finished wood floors can be used as it or with personal design touches added.
“We are excited,” Megan Hunsberger said. “I feel like it is very cozy so it will be a great spot to hang out.”
Conceived as a way to be involved in the community, the response since opening has shown citizens are excited to have a place to grab more than just convenience store coffee. With additional uses for the space planned, it is set to become a new favorite spot in Colfax.
“We look for different way to be in the community. All the time I have lived here, it always ends up being one of the top things people want. We thought, ‘Can we provide something the town really wants and at the same time build partnerships?’” Hunsberger said. “So yes, we will be selling coffee, deli sandwiches and pastries, but it is really having the community place where we can share who we are as SheepGate. We also plan on doing some different group meetings where we can open this place up. We’re looking at some different youth options and partnering with veterans. We look to provide a central place for people.”
Sheriff’s office uses $27K grant for extrication tools
Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant Foundation continues to assist Jasper County agencies
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Paramedics working for the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and its advanced life support (ALS) program now have even more life-saving tools to their utility belts. But chances are there is no way any of them are going to be able to carry a set of battery-powered extrication tools on their person during calls.
Thankfully, these tools will be tagging along in the department’s own ambulance.
The extrication tools are the result of a nearly $27,000 grant from the Prairie Meadows Com-
munity Betterment Grant Foundation.
Sheriff John Halferty said the department appreciates the relationship Jasper County has with the foundation, which has helped finance a number of crucial items.
“Funding awards provided by the organization allows us to provide updated, safe and efficient equipment to all of our first responders who respond and provide the best care available to our citizens,” Halferty said in a Dec. 5 press release posted on the sheriff’s office Facebook page.
According to the press release, these extrication tools compete the de-
partment’s project goals of providing an ALS-level ambulance and rescue tools when responding to calls throughout Jasper County. Rescue 50 is also utilized with local first responder agencies or when their ambulance is out of service.
Danko Emergency Equipment provided the tools and training. One tool, the TNT Rescue Storm Surge ESLC-30, is a cutter; the other tool, a TNT Rescue Storm Surge ES-100-28 is a spreader. These tools are some of the fastest and most powerful batter-powered rescue tools available today. Jasper County has been the recipient of the Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Foundation in the past, and it has used the funds for similar life-saving equipment. In 2022, Newton News reported that the sheriff’s office received a $50,000 grant for two LUCAS drives and a set of extrication tools.
LUCAS devices are battery-powered, automated CPR compression machines. They can make efficient and consistent compressions, allowing a provider to perform other medical interventions. The extrication tools were also part of a cutter-spreader set. Again, this was to help the ALS program.
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune
SheepGate Coffee Co. opened in Colfax in 2023 and has become a community staple serving up delicious coffee, sandwiches, soups, salads and bakery treats.
Jasper County Sheriff’s Office
The new extrication tools made possible by the Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant Foundation will tag along with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office ambulance.
Colfax-Mingo’s Poulter named to IHSADA Hall of Fame
By Troy Hyde Sports Editor
Bryan Poulter paid his membership dues. He attended the yearly convention. And he was present for all of the meetings that were required of him during his time as Colfax-Mingo Activities Director.
But he never thought he necessarily did enough to warrant a membership into a hall of fame.
Many of those around him disagreed as Poulter was recently selected to the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame and will be recognized at the group’s annual banquet at the end of March.
“I was thrown off by the selection to be honest,” Poulter said. “I didn’t even really know there was a selection committee. I was nominated by someone though.”
Poulter said he still doesn’t know who he was nominated by. Someone on the IHSADA Hall of Fame Committee certainly felt like his
Sports Calendar
January 9
Girls Wrestling Colfax-Mingo at Johnston, 6 p.m.
Boys Wrestling Colfax-Mingo at BGM, 6 p.m.
Girls Basketball Pleasantville at Colfax-Mingo,
6 p.m.
Baxter at Ankeny Christian Academy, 6 p.m.
Boys Basketball Pleasantville at Colfax-Mingo,
7:30 p.m.
Baxter at Ankeny Christian Academy, 7:30 p.m.
January 10
Girls Basketball
Keota at Colfax-Mingo, 6 p.m.
Baxter at Waterloo Christian,
7:15 p.m.
Boys Basketball
Keota at Colfax-Mingo, 7:30 p.m.
January 11
Girls Wrestling
Colfax-Mingo at Ogden, 10 a.m.
Boys Wrestling
Colfax-Mingo at BGM, 10 a.m.
January 13
Girls Basketball
Baxter at North Mahaska, 6 p.m.
Boys Basketball
Baxter at North Mahaska, 7:30 p.m.
January 14
Boys Wrestling
Colfax-Mingo at Saydel, 5:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Colfax-Mingo at Sigourney, 6 p.m.
Colo-NESCO at Baxter, 6 p.m.
Boys Basketball
Colfax-Mingo at Sigourney, 7:30 p.m.
Colo-NESCO at Baxter, 7:30 p.m.
January 16
Boys Wrestling HLV/Earlham at Colfax-Mingo,
6 p.m.
January 17
Girls Basketball
Meskwaki Settlement School at Baxter, 6 p.m.
Boys Basketball
Meskwaki Settlement School,
7:30 p.m.
January 18
Boys Wrestling
Baxter at WACO, 9:30 a.m.
January 20
Girls Basketball
Colfax-Mingo at West Central Valley, 6 p.m.
Boys Basketball
Colfax-Mingo at West Central Valley, 7:30 p.m.
January 21
Girls Wrestling Albia/Ogden/Martensdale-St.
Marys at Colfax-Mingo, 6 p.m.
Boys Wrestling
Colfax-Mingo at Panorama, 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Colfax-Mingo at HLV, 6 p.m.
Baxter at North Tama, 6:30 p.m.
Boys Basketball
Colfax-Mingo at HLV, 7:30 p.m.
Baxter at North Tama, 7:30 p.m.
January 23
Girls Wrestling
Colfax-Mingo at West Marshall,
6 p.m.
Boys Wrestling Colfax-Mingo at Iowa Valley, 6 p.m.
Baxter at Lynnville-Sully, 6 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Earlham at Baxter, 6 p.m.
contributions were worthy of one of the highest honors for an AD.
Poulter’s first official year as Colfax-Mingo’s athletic director was the 1998-99 school year. He finished the 1997-98 year as an interim AD though.
The long-time Tigerhawk wrestling and softball coach helped Colfax-Mingo transition into the Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference as he took over just before the school joined the league in the late 1990s.
He exited the role the school year before the Tigerhawks moved into the South Iowa Cedar League in 2015-16.
“I first received a phone call from former BGM AD Gary Schroeder,” Poulter said.
“He told me he wanted to be the first to tell me. The official email I got came from David Huff.”
Both Gary Schroeder of BGM and David Huff of Nodaway Valley were inducted into the IHSADA Hall of Fame in 2016.
Poulter spent several years working with South Hamilton AD Todd Coy, who was inducted in 2024.
“When I took over as AD we were just getting into the HOIAC,” Poulter said. “And it was Colfax-Mingo’s turn to have its AD be
the conference chair, but I didn’t have any idea what I was doing yet. Todd was the current conference chair, and he agreed to do it one more year while I was figuring things out.”
Joining Poulter in the 2025 Hall of Fame class are Rollie Ackerman of Grundy Center and Marshalltown, Jeff Bevins of Creston, Jim Boehmer of Lake Mills and Alan Ling of English Valleys, another SICL school.
The annual IHSADA banquet begins at 5:30 p.m. on March 29 at the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel and Convention Center in Coralville.
Criteria to be inducted into the IHSADA Hall of Fame includes being a retired AD with at least 10 years of experience as an active AD and special consideration is given to those who serve the IHSADA. Poulter has been a district officer, according to Huff.
“Bryan was always an active member of the organization and met all of our criteria,” said Huff, who has served as the historian on the IHSADA board since 2014 and spent 26 total years as an AD at Nodaway Valley, Wilton and East Union.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
tournament
4-1
Baxter boys can’t find win column at BGM
BROOKLYN — The Baxter boys wrestling team won more matches than it lost at the BGM Holiday Duals on Jan. 4, but the short-handed Bolts couldn’t find the win column because of too many forfeits.
Alex Dille and Jack Anderson both finished 4-1 for the day and Maddox Peters was 3-2, but the Bolts suffered losses to Moravia, Louisa-Muscatine, WACO, South Tama County and host BGM.
The closest margin was the 36-24 loss to WACO. The Bolts were 3-1 in contested matches, but had a 5-1 disadvantage in forfeits and there were four double forfeits.
Anderson won his match by forfeit at 138, while Derek Rominger (126), Peters (157) and Ruger Kincaid (165) all won by fall. Kincaid scored his pin in 9 seconds and Peters’ match lasted 12 seconds.
The next closest dual for Baxter came in the 38-17 loss to BGM. Dille (120) and Rominger both won by fall, while Anderson scored a 17-2 technical fall victory. Rominger’s pin was registered in 13 seconds.
The Bolts were 3-2 in contested matches against the Bears but 0-5 in forfeits and there were four double forfeits.
Baxter lost 52-14 to Moravia despite finishing 3-2 in contested matches. Dille scored a first-period pin at 120, Anderson won 15-0 at 138 and Peters registered an 11-8 decision at 150.
C-M girls open new year with win over Iowa Valley
Jasper County Tribune
COLFAX — Isabelle Foglesong made four 3-pointers, Lydia Hansen posted her first career double-double and Mallory Sipma contributed a career high for points during the Colfax-Mingo girls basketball team’s 47-35 home win over Iowa Valley on Jan. 3.
The Tigerhawks began the new year with a fast start and never looked back in the South Iowa Cedar League contest.
Colfax-Mingo snapped a four-game skid overall and posted its first win over Iowa Valley since Feb. 2, 2017.
The hosts led 19-3 after one and 26-11 at halftime. Iowa Valley won the second half 24-21, but the Tigerhawks made eight 3s in the win.
Foglesong was 4-of-9 from distance and put in a game-high 16 points. She added three rebounds and four assists.
Hansen collected a career-high 10 points, matched a career-high with 10 rebounds and blocked three shots, Sipma added a career-high 11 points and grabbed six boards and Blain Houseman tallied five rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Dakota Allen grabbed four boards and swiped three steals, Katelyn Steenhoek scored six points, Victoria Woods corralled three rebounds and Mickinley Bucklin pulled down two boards.
The Tigerhawks (3-7, 2-5 in the SICL) shot 27.4 percent from the floor, made 8-of-22 from 3 and buried 5-of-8 from the free-throw line. They committed 14 turnovers.
Colfax-Mingo’s victory snapped the six-game win streak in the series for Iowa Valley, which fell to 4-6 and 3-3 in the conference.
BOYS Iowa Valley 54, Colfax-Mingo 19
A tough shooting night and 19 turnovers plagued the Colfax-Mingo boys against Iowa Valley on Jan. 3.
The Tigers outscored their hosts and limited the Tigerhawks to single digits in all four quarters during a 54-19 road win in SICL play.
Iowa Valley led 15-4 after one and outscored the Tigerhawks 14-4 in the second, 12-4 in the third and 13-7 in the fourth.
Harrison Rhone led Colfax-Mingo with three points, 11 rebounds and two steals. Jace Lewis added six points and three boards, Shane Hostetter had four points and three rebounds and Gage Byal grabbed six rebounds.
Wyatt Jay pulled down five boards, Wyatt Carpenter handed out four assists and Chase Trotter and Isaiah Lewis both had two rebounds.
The Tigerhawks (2-6, 1-5) shot 17.6 percent from the floor, made 1-of-6 from the free-throw line and missed all 14 of their attempts from 3-point range.
Colfax-Mingo and Iowa Valley are now 5-5 against each other since 2016, but the Tigers have won five in a row.
Caleb Haack finished with 14 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks to lead Iowa Valley.
The Tigers (6-3, 4-2) were 4-of-18 from 3 but committed only 10 turnovers and had 20 assists on their 23 field goals.
The Mohawks took seven forfeits, and there were two double forfeits.
Muscatine downed Baxter 48-12 with Dille winning by forfeit and Peters scoring a 44-second pin. The Bolts were 1-3 in contested matches and 1-5 in forfeits. There were four double forfeits.
Baxter lost to South Tama 64-12. Dille posted a first-period fall at 120 and Anderson won by pin at 138. The Bolts were 2-3 in contested matches and 0-8 in forfeits.
Dille finished 4-1 with three pins at 120, Anderson (13-3) was 4-1 with two technical fall wins and Peters was 3-2 with two pins. The Bolts were 1211 in contested matches for the day.
Baxter girls finish 11th at BGM Holiday Brawl
Johnelle Gliem finished third, Zoey Gliem was fourth and the Baxter girls wrestling team took 11th out of 11 teams at the BGM Girls Holiday Brawl on Jan. 4.
The Gliem sisters both were 2-2 with two pins. Johnelle was third at 145 and Zoey (9-6) finished fourth at 140. Both of Zoey’s pins were in the first period and Johnelle (9-6) had a 19-second win by fall.
The Bolts’ third wrestler in the tournament was Malayla Hurd, who was 0-4 and finished fifth at 235.
South Tama won the tournament with 237.5 points. The rest of the top five featured Marion (155.5), Pekin (114.5), BGM (80.5) and Louisa-Muscatine (51.5). Baxter scored 32 points in 11th.
Jack Anderson
Baxter senior Jack Anderson is currently 13-3 with five first-period pins and four technical fall victories at 138 pounds. Anderson was 4-1 with one pin and two technical falls at the BGM Holiday Duals in Brooklyn on January 4.
Poulter
Jasper County Tribune
Baxter senior Jack Anderson, right, competes in a wrestling
earlier this season. Anderson finished
at the BGM Holiday Duals on January 4, but the short-handed Bolts couldn’t find the win column as a team.
In the end, he decided to take the job at a high school which is located in his backyard.
“I always thought when I came to Baxter in 1997 that it would be a twoyear stop, and I would get back into the Des Moines area,” Luther said. “Baxter is a great place to be, and I just never had a reason to leave. I had some offers and some opportunities, too.
“This year at Baxter felt a little off. I wasn’t in the building. I love our kids, and I’m glad I coached this senior group, but I knew it was probably time.”
Jeff Bauer is the head football coach at Ankeny High School. The Hawks are coming off a 6-5 season in which they reached the Class 5A quarterfinals after playing one of the toughest schedules in the state.
Ankeny also won at least nine games in each of the four previous seasons, hoisted the state championship in 2020 and finished as the runner-up in 2021 and 2023.
Luther is tasked with calling the offensive plays and playing a role in setting up an offensive staff that goes eight deep.
He also returns to the 11-man game after guiding the Baxter Bolts at the 8-man level the past eight seasons.
“It’s a different world. I can tell that you after just a couple of weeks,” Luther said about coaching at the 5A level. “Being a head coach is so much work from organization, uniforms, purchasing and getting camps ready. It was perfect because I was tired of doing that and now I just get to coach ball at one of maybe the seven or eight schools in 5A that can win a state title every year.”
Luther’s coaching career spans 35 years so far. He began his run at Van Meter before spending three seasons as the offensive coordinator at Des Moines East. His first head coaching job came at Woodward-Granger where he spent two seasons.
Luther was brought to his alma mater, Collins-Maxwell, by his high school football coach. He spent one year as the Dean of Students there before being brought over to Baxter by former superintendent Neil Seales.
The football program and other athletic teams were under the tag of CMB during Luther’s time in those districts. He coached at CMB or Baxter from 1997 to 2024.
“I will remember the relationships. I’ve had multiple guys come back who played for me to coach with me,” Luther said. “Some of my best friends in the world are guys I hired or met on the football staff.”
Two of those former players who joined Luther’s coaching staff were Josh Russell and Braydon Aker, who both were on two of Luther’s best teams.
Russell played on Luther’s very first CMB team in 1997 and Aker was an all-state quarterback on the first Baxter Bolts 8-man squad that finished 8-1.
Neither of those teams made the playoffs though.
“My first team in 1997 was loaded,” Luther said. “We tied for the district championship. Our only loss was to Pleasantville, but we lost out on a coin flip because only eight teams made it back then. That team was really good.”
The 2017 Baxter squad which went 8-1 did not make the postseason because the Bolts started 8-man play during the
middle of the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s two-year cycle.
But they were originally told they’d be part of the postseason if they were good enough. That still doesn’t sit well with Luther even today.
“I think we were a Dome team if we were eligible,” Luther said. “We beat Midland that year, who was a semifinal team. And we weren’t full strength in the one game we lost.
“The 8-1 8-man team was a regret because I was told we would be able to play in the playoffs. They went back on that. That was a tough pill to swallow.”
Aker led 8-man with 2,615 passing yards and led all of the state with 52 passing TDs that season. He also rushed for 647 yards and 16 scores and added 43 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks on defense.
He went on to play collegiately at Iowa Western Community College and Wartburg College before joining Luther’s staff a few seasons ago.
“It was surreal to have someone who coached me from when I was in the fifth grade all through high school respect me enough to take my input as one of his assistant coaches,” said Aker, who played for Luther from 2014 to 2017. “To be able to share a sideline with him and ask for my input on certain things meant the world to me.”
Luther’s overall coaching record is something like 165-130. He coached eight CMB squads to the postseason and five of those teams won district titles.
The Raiders finished 9-0 in the 2014 regular season before ending the year 10-1. They also went 8-2 in back-to-back seasons in 2008 and 2009. That’s as far back as Bound goes.
And Luther thinks CMB had the best three-year stretch of any 2A team from 2007-2009.
“We had guys sit around and argue at my retirement party about which team was better,” Luther said. “That 9-0 team was really good. We had a CMB team in the early 2000s that was 7-2, lost a close one to Iowa Falls and another one. We were really good that year. That team is probably in the top three or four of best teams at CMB.”
Most of Luther’s coaching tenure has been with the 11-man game. The longtime coach is looking forward to having 22 players on the field at once again.
But he also enjoyed coaching from the home sideline at Collins-Maxwell one last time this fall.
“I had a lot of memories playing on that side of the field and a part of me thought that night it was going to be the last time I coached on that field,” Luther said. “I had a good feeling about that.”
He also had a better feeling about this past year’s team, which finished 3-5 and
missed the postseason.
“We won every close game the year before and lost them this year,” Luther said. “The Colo-NESCO game came down to a two-point conversion we didn’t get.
“We got killed with injuries. We should have had a better year than we did.”
While most fans and players will remember the wins, it’s easier for Luther to recall the losses.
The most recent “memorable” loss came against Montezuma a few seasons back. The Bolts were in position to host multiple playoff games but a 50-yard field goal as time expired gave Baxter its only district loss and changed the entire landscape of the playoffs.
“We’ve had a lot of wins. We just never got the big wins,” Luther said. “I can tell you about the worst three or four losses more than I can recall the great wins.”
Another memorable stretch for Luther, for better or worse, was making the switch from sharing athletics with Collins-Maxwell and competing as the CMB Raiders to creating the Baxter Bolts.
“I will be a Raider and a Bolt for life,” Luther said. “Changing over to the Bolts was a huge thing for me and the community.”
While Luther had many great seasons guiding the Bolts and Raiders on the gridiron, he does wonder why none of his best teams could get over the hump.
He has plenty of regrets during his time coaching both programs, including the final CMB season.
“That last CMB year was really tough. We were 6-3 the year before and had everyone coming back,” Luther said. “We knew going into the season we were done as a group. One of two things were going to happen — we were either going to catch fire because everyone was pissed CMB was breaking up or things would unravel. We lost two close games early and lost the team.
“We could feel that thing fading and just couldn’t keep it together. We had a bunch of dudes on that team, too. That season was one of my regrets. That’s too bad because that was a great group.”
There is never a perfect time to say goodbye to something you’ve been a part of for so long, but Luther thinks giving up the Bolts job now will be the perfect transition for the new coach.
The 2025 season for Baxter may be a transition year, but the freshmen class could be special eventually.
“This will be a rebuilding team at Baxter with really good freshmen so someone should come in and develop that young group,” Luther said.
His time at Baxter is not up entirely though. He plans to continue coaching track and field at the junior high level for at least one more season.
He coaches both the boys and girls and both high school coaches — Russell and Ryan Hermes — would like him to continue in his role for as long as he wants to do it.
“There’s a part of me that still wants to be part of the Bolts,” Luther said. “I really like coaching junior high track. There may be some other options (at Ankeny) with track, but I will coach junior high track at Baxter this spring. Then we’ll re-evaluate it after that.”
The high school girls track and field coach is Russell, who played linebacker and on the offensive line for Luther his senior year back in 1997.
Russell began teaching and coaching junior high football at Baxter in 2005. He eventually moved up to the freshmen and junior varsity level until 2010 and then coached football again under Luther from 2012-2014.
“I think one thing I learned from Coach Luther is that you have to have your beliefs and values but also be flexible and learn to adapt over time,” Russell said. “I think most importantly, from a unique perspective of being one of the first players he coached at CMB and also being able to coach with Luther, was he truly loved the game and the people he impacted through the game.
“While, the wins were important, the relationships that were built through the game were more important to him.”
It was and still is about the relationships for Luther. He was reminded of that by several former players who spoke highly of the way Luther impacted their lives at his retirement party.
“It’s not lip service,” said Luther, who was nominated for the Iowa Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame this past offseason.
“When you stand around the retirement party and hear dudes talk about all of their awesome experiences and how successful they’ve been in their lives, to have a little part in that is awesome. I’ve had many people reach out and thank me for the experiences. That’s what I will remember the most.”
Luther is unsure how long he will continue to coach football. He hopes to at least be at Ankeny for the next three seasons.
And fans can expect to see an offense that looked a lot like the offense he ran with CMB.
“We’ll be a spread, no-huddle tempo,” Luther said. “(Bauer) wants to take a lot more chances than he has the last three years so I think he’s hiring the right guy because I don’t like to punt. We’ll play the odds.
“I’m looking forward to a change. When you’ve done it in one place for so long, I just want to see what somewhere else looks like. The newness will be exciting.”
Submitted Photos
Rob Luther became the head football coach at CMB in 1997 and finished his eighth and final season as Baxter’s 8-man football coach this past season. He recently accepted a new role as offensive coordinator at Ankeny High School in December.
