One person sustained minor injures in a fire that totaled the garage and possibly the house
An early afternoon fire in Colfax resulted in a total loss of a garage and significant damage to a residence. The Colfax Fire Department was called at 12:47 p.m. to the 200 block of West Broadway Street on reports of a garage fire and explosions. It found a fully engulfed garage and spent the next hours fighting not only the fire but cold and wind to extinguish the flames.
“There was a lot of fuel in the garage,” Colfax Fire Chief JD Smith said. “It was a little windy and it pushed the fire to the house. It was all extinguished and then about an hour later the house rekindled. The house wasn’t that bad early but the second round it did more damage.
Not sure what rekindled it but it was really rolling the second time. Initially the house had smoke and water damage.”
It took only six minutes from the time the CFD got the call to arriving on scene. Along with CFD, fire departments from Mingo, Prairie City, Mitchellville and Newton were called in to help with the fire.
Given the time of year, the firefighters weren’t only battling the flames but also the conditions outside.
“The worse thing is the pump. Keeping the water flowing and the pumps going when it is that cold can be a challenge,” Smith said. “The guys have pretty good gear on that keeps you pretty warm. When it is that cold it doesn’t take long to get worn out, so we cycle people in and out.”
Survey shows Baxter overwhelmingly in favor of 4-day school weeks
Additional Q&A meeting about the potential schedule change Jan. 29
By Jamee
Results from the four-day school week survey for the Baxter Community School District found the majority of those surveyed are in favor of the change. The district shared the overall results of the 457 re -
sponses it received along with feedback in categories including staff, students, parents/ guardians and community members.
“We believe it is important to provide our community and families with both an outlook on the survey results and common FAQ information,” the dis-
Healthcare provider shortage high priority for county
trict said “We hope that as you review this information you are able to find it both useful and helpful as we continue to looking at the four-day instruction school week opportunity.”
Overall, 291 of those surveyed, or 64 percent, are in favor of the four-day school week. Those who are neutral on the topic came in at 15 percent, or 69 votes, with those opposed at 21 percent, or 97 votes. The group most in favor of the
change was staff at 83 percent, or 43 votes, in favor. Nine percent or five votes were neutral to the idea and 8 percent, or four votes, were opposed. Students, on the other hand, had the largest percentage opposed to the switch at 27 percent, or 43 votes. They had 58 percent, or 92 votes, in favor and 15 percent, or 23 votes, register neutral. Parents/Guardians had 62 percent, or 126 votes, in favor with 17 percent,
or 34 votes, neutral and 21 percent, or 43 votes, opposed to the idea. The community had the second most in favor at 68 percent, or 30 votes. Sixteen percent or seven votes were neutral with the same percentage opposed to the four-day school week. When listing top concerns, parents and guardians said the length of the school day,
Stay active outdoors in the winter by ice fishing
Jasper County Naturalist Greg Oldsen shares some tricks of the trade and how to stay safe while out on the ice Jasper County at about half of the state average for providers, less than half compared to the U.S.
By Jamee A. Pierson
Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of articles exploring the results of the Jasper County Community Health Needs Assessment.
Coming in as the second highest priority for Jasper County, shortage of healthcare professionals in not a new issue for the area. From OB services no longer being offered at MercyOne in Newton to more than 85 percent of Jasper County residents receiving healthcare services outside of the county in the past two years, the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) shined an even brighter light on the growing problem.
“This is really alarming to me,” Jasper County Health Department Administrator Becky Pryor said.
According to the assessment conducted over the past eight months by MercyOne Newton Medical Center and the Jasper County Health Department, secondary data indicates there are significantly less primary care providers in Jasper County than in Iowa or the United States. According to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, there is a rate of 55.54 primary care providers per 100,000 population in Jasper County. That is almost less than half of the state average of 109.71 per 100,000 and less than half of the national average of 113.29. Primary health providers include practicing physicians specializing in general practice medicine, family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics. More than one-third of those surveyed responded it was difficult to get a healthcare appointment and rated
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper
As the temperature outside falls into single digits, anglers who do their fishing when water is frozen are just getting warmed up. Ice fishing is a seasonal favorite that gives enthusiasts a chance to continue casting their rods, even if it looks a little different, and reel in “the big one” even
when it isn’t sunny and warm. “Ice fishing is a great way to get outdoors through the winter months,” Jasper County Naturalist Greg Oldsen said. “One main attraction that many ice anglers share is the ability to access areas of a pond or lake on foot. Those without a boat/canoe/kayak during the open water season are limited to fishing from the bank, but during ice season you
can explore as much of the water body as your feet will allow.” Like most outdoor activities there are safety protocols to follow and ice fishing has several important ones, including all of the same rules and regulations set for open water fishing. According to Oldsen, four inches of clear ice is the
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune
Fire crews from Colfax, Mingo, Prairie City, Mitchellville and Newton work on a garage and house fire Jan. 13 in the 200 Block of West Broadway Street in Colfax.
A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune
Metro Creative
Fishing doesn’t have to just be a warm-weather activity. Ice fishing gives anglers a chance to cast their line even when the temperature drops.
County Tribune
Jasper County Tribune
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune
Support for those suffering from loss of a loved one at FRC
First Reformed Church in Prairie City will begin its winter/spring session of GriefShare from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1. If you have experienced the death of a loved one and are looking for support, healing and hope, you are welcome. The 13-week program consists of discussion; informative videos presented by Christian counselors, authors, pastors and others who share their stories and found hope through faith. In addition each participant will
Providers
access to healthcare the second highest priority for the county. Healthcare (including access to primary care and specialists) was rated the number one needed improvement. In line with the issue, perception of the quality of healthcare was rated at 3.3 out of five from those surveyed. The topics which had a rating below the 3.3 average included: inpatient services (hospital) at 3.26, pain clinic (hospital) at 3.14, emergency care (hospital) at 3.09, pediatrics at 3.08, family planning services at 3.07, disability centers at 2.97, nursing home/ long term care at 2.97, urology at 2.83, substance treatment at 2.76, mental health at 2.75 and neurol-
receive a workbook containing five daily exercises each week as well as other resources. There is a $20 registration fee (scholarships available).
Whether your grief journey has just begun or you’ve been walking this path for a long time, GriefShare can help. Register on line at GriefShare. org or contact Mary Lemmert at 515-205-0835 or at hope2you@aol.com. Begin your journey from mourning to joy with GriefShare.
ogy — specialist (hospital) at 2.67.
To address the shortage in healthcare professionals, a Jasper County Community Health Improvement Plan was developed with four main objectives. They include:
1. Expanding education and training opportunities for healthcare positions including funding, accelerated training programs and online by Dec. 31, 2026. Work to com-
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
plete this task includes working with DMACC in Newton to promote healthcare career opportunities and offer a job fair and explore employer onthe-job training programs.
2. Work on recruitment for careers in healthcare fields with financial, competitive salaries and benefits by Dec. 31, 2026. To do this, MercyOne Newton will work with healthcare recruiters to draw more people to Newton and ex-
plore options for OB providers in Newton. Newton Clinic will explore options for medical provider recruitment and retention. Capstone will explore options for provider recruitment and retention and the county will explore marketing to potential healthcare employees.
3. Focus on retaining existing healthcare professionals by Dec. 31, 2026. In the county, healthcare agencies will meet and discuss ways to keep existing staff including upward mobility programs. The Jasper County Cares Coalition will explore options for presenters about burn out and leadership.
4. Explore technology and innovation to improve access to healthcare by Dec. 31, 2030. Local healthcare offices will research telehealth and remote options for providing health coverage.
Church Schedules
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 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, Jan. 26 - 9 a.m. Fellowship; 9:15 a.m. Bible Education Classes; 10:25 a.m. Message by Pastor Cody Dyer
TUESDAY, Jan. 28 - 3 p.m. Women’s Prayer and Coffee; 6:30 p.m. Music/ Worship Team meeting
The church schedule is brought to you by Coburn FUNERAL HOMES Colfax-Prairie City-Monroe 515-674-3155 www.coburnfuneralhomes.com
Creating a community of healthy, happy, &
Community Calendar
Send items to news@jaspercountytribune.com
THURSDAY
• Mingo Men’s Club meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of month at the Mingo Community Center
MONDAY • Baxter School Board meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of month
• C-M Food Pantry meets at 6:30 p.m. the last Monday of month at the Food Pantry • Colfax Park Board meets at 6 p.m. the last Monday of month in the library meeting room
TUESDAY • C-M Education Foundation Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of month in Central Office
Prayer; 5:45 p.m. AWANA Family Meal; 6:25 p.m. AWANA Clubs SATURDAY, Feb. 1 - 7:30 a.m. Men’s Breakfast/Bible Study
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; 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. Marty Goetz
515-674-3711
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Mass
DAILY MASS - 8 a.m.
High school students are undoubtedly familiar with the belief that extracurricular activities can help separate applicants when seeking admissions to competitive colleges and universities. But research has long indicated that extracurriculars are more than mere résumé-padding activities.
A 2019 study published in The Excellence in Education Journal found that students who participated in extracurricular activities earned a significantly higher grade point average than those who did not engage in such activities.
The value of that participation has been evident for decades, as the National Center for Education Statistics notes that a 1992 study found that more than 30 percent of students who participated in extracurricular activities had a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, while just under 11 percent of non-participants performed that well academically.
The potential impact that extracurriculars can have on students’ academic performance underscores just how valuable such activities can be and how much students should consider getting more involved at school as their academic careers unfold.
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 School; 10 a.m. Worship; 6 p.m. Awanas
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 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
Metro Creative
Lack of medical providers is the second highest concern for Jasper County residents.
academic performance, child care and activities transportation were most important. Many also listed “no concern” when completing the survey.
The district also released a four-day school week fact sheet answering questions posed by those who participated in the survey. The responses addressed questions about teacher pay, what the new school day would look like, how extra-curricular activities would be addressed and childcare concerns.
To follow up on the initial meeting and survey, the district in holding a four-day instruction week community Q&A session from 6 to 7 p.m. Jan. 29 in the middle school commons. In attendance at the meeting will be representatives from Martensadale St. Marys and Saydel school districts along withe Baxter administration and school board.
Those wishing to submit questions can do so at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6NKMYRG. Questions need to be submitted by noon Jan. 24.
Baxter 4-day school week FAQ
If the four-day school week is to help attract or retain teachers, why can you not just pay teachers more?
While the district would love to pay higher salaries, our funding is based on two factors:
1. Enrollment — Our enrollment has stayed fairly stable but has not increased
2. State aid — State Aid has averaged 2 percent over the past five years. This is not enough to keep up with the cost of inflation or raise salaries to a level competitive with larger schools, especially those in the Des Moines Metro area.
Salaries and benefits make up 80 percent of our budget. We pay salaries and benefits within our budget. By going to a 4-day week, this would effectively pay higher salaries (per diem) due to having fewer contract days with no pay cut.
What would the school day look like?
The tentative school start time of 7:45 or 7:50 a.m. with an end time of 3:35 or 3:40 p.m. Our current start time is 8 a.m. with a dismissal time of 3:10 p.m. This new structure would add 15-20 minutes at the beginning of each day and 25-30 minutes at the end, for a total of 40 additional minutes per day.
What would the calendar look like?
Iowa Code requires to have 1,080 contact hours with students in their calendars. We currently have 172 student contact days with a one-hour late start every Monday, giving us a total of 1,100 student contact hours. A four-day model would have 145 student contact days with 1,104 student contact hours and no late start on Mondays. The school start date and end date would remain relatively similar. Iowa Code states that we cannot begin school before Aug. 23 and we would continue with an end date right around Memorial Day.
Ice Fishing
Continuedfrompage1
minimum depth recommended for foot traffic on the bodies of water. For those looking to use motor vehicles such as snowmobiles and four wheelers, five to seven inches is considered safe, and seven to nine inches is needed for side-by-sides.
“Ice conditions can vary drastically throughout a water body so it is important to check ice thickness as you move throughout the day,” Oldsen said. “When we start getting into late season ice, thawing and refreezing can impact the holding capacity of ice. Four inches of cloudy/honeycombed ice is not as safe as fresh clear ice so, again, check as you go.”
Finding a spot to fish can depend on how much work a person wants to do. Oldsen said both ponds and lakes can produce quality fish but a benefit of ponds is the smaller amount of water a person has to cover to find the fish. That means there is more time to fish and hopefully more luck bringing them in.
Once a location is found, the next big step is to drill a hole in the ice. There are a couple of ways to do it depending on how much of a workout a person wants to get before they even start fishing.
“Hand augers are the cheapest but the most work, so many anglers have opted for either a gas/propane auger or an auger that can be attached to a cordless drill,” Oldsen said. “For those on a really tight budget, you could get away with a hatchet or spud bar (long han-
Would a scheduled day off be used for snow/ weather makeup days?
There would be a very strong likelihood that a small number of the scheduled days off would be used for snow make-up days in the event they are needed.
Which day is likely to be omitted?
While nothing is official from a schedule or calendar standpoint, there is a very high likelihood that Mondays would be omitted. The reasoning behind utilizing Mondays as the day off is due to some holidays falling on Mondays, as well as, prior years’ professional development days. There are also fewer activity conflicts. To meet state hour requirements, there may be two to three times in the calendar where the omitted day is used as a school day.
Will lengthening the day mean my kids are getting home later if they are in extra-curricular activities?
Extra-curricular competitions are generally scheduled at the conference level, therefore, no adjustments would be made. Coaches/ sponsors may adjust practices just as they do now to accommodate other activities, etc. Additionally, in the current environment, many students playing recreational sports and/or school-sponsored activities understand their practices may run into the evening hours. If parents oppose the four-day school week in certain buildings, is implementation in other buildings an option?
District-wide systems in place would prevent us from implementing the four-day school week specific to certain buildings.
How does a four-day school week versus a five-day affect student behavior?
Data shows other districts have experienced fewer adverse student behavior instances as well as significantly fewer student absences.
When will teachers perform their professional development?
Professional Development would be completed by teachers on the off days. That schedule would be developed at a later time but would not interrupt any student contact hours. What if other schools move to a four-day week?
The four-day school week is gaining popularity statewide, and we will certainly see a handful or more districts move to that model for the 2025-26 school year. While we understand that may level the playing field from a hiring standpoint with neighboring districts if they also make the change, we also know that we lose a fair amount of teachers to large districts in the Des Moines Metro area that are not exploring the four-day option due to their size. If neighboring districts move to a fourday week and Baxter does not, it could provide those districts with a hiring advantage. What can be done about childcare?
The district is beginning the process of discussing options with local providers. While the district is not licensed to provide daycare, we will work in partnership with daycare providers to offer any help and assistance within the district’s ability.
Would there be activities and practices on the off day and would transportation be provided?
Practice times are determined by coaches and sponsors, and it would be very likely that they could/would occur on the off day. The activities department would work to ensure the practice schedule stayed as consistent and accommodating as possible for student-athletes. While an effort to schedule as few competitions on the off day will be made, it is still a possibility there will be some competitions on that day. The district will also work to provide transportation on a sport-by-sport and seasonal basis to student-athletes or participants who need it.
dled chisel) to chop a hole in the ice.”
The gear used to do the actual fishing is also slightly different from its warm weather counterpart. The biggest difference is the size of the gear, Oldsen said. Most ice fishing rodes are 24” to 36” long and rigged with a two to six pound test fishing line.
“Many anglers also downside their tackle, opting for tiny jigs that mimic macroinvertebrates which many fish eat throughout the winter,” Oldsen said. “The bait of choice for many ice anglers are wax worms while others may use minnows.”
When driving past a pond, oftentimes pop-up tents can be found dotting the ice. Further north where the ice sticks around for most of winter, semi-permanent structures can be erected to help ice fishers stay warm. While the protec-
tion can be beneficial when it is windy or extra cold, it isn’t necessary to have a good time.
“I have spent many days on the ice sitting on a five-gallon bucket and had a wonderful time,” Oldsen said. “When we start having days in the teens and any sort of wind it is sure nice to have a shack to get in and warm up.”
In Jasper County, Oldsen suggested a couple of lakes that are not only popular but have recently been filled with fish. Jacob Krumm Lake and Mariposa Lake both make great spots to drill a hole and start fishing, with Mariposa Lake having been restocked about five years ago with the bluegill being “quite plentiful” right now.
For anyone looking to take up ice fishing as a hobby, Oldsen has a few tips to help make it a successful day on
the frozen water.
“For someone looking to get into ice fishing I would suggest asking around and find someone with some experience to take them out,” Olsen said. “It is always a good idea to go with at least one other person in case something were to happen.”
He also recommends investing in ice cleats, ice picks and a spud bar to keep safe on the ice. Ice cleats come in handy if there is a little snow cover on the ice making it can becoming quite slick. Ice picks are used to assist a person who has fallen through the ice into the water. He said they often have a rope tied to them and can be worn around the neck for easy access in an emergency. The spud bar is an essential tool to check ice thickness when exploring a pond/lake. The spud bar can be used to hit the ice in front while walking to check for thin spots. Two hard blows to the ice without going through means the ice is thick enough for foot traffic. Ice fishing can be a rewarding hobby and help itch the scratch often felt by anglers when the weather no longer favors open water fishing. Making sure preparations are made to have a safe outing will lead to a great day on the ice and hopefully a bucket full of fish.
“There are several reasons why I love ice fishing,” Oldsen said. “Being able to get out through the winter months and enjoy my favorite hobby is one reason. I also love catching fish on short rods and light line. There is something very rewarding about catching fish on light gear and short rods. Last but not least is cooking on the ice. For some reason a hot meal just tastes so much better when you’re standing on frozen lake.”
Metro Creative
Ice fishing can be a fun way to be active outdoors during the cold winter months.
Baxter boys rally past conference rival Royals
By Troy Hyde Sports Editor
BAXTER — The Colo-NESCO boys basketball team came into its game against Baxter shooting just 25 percent from 3-point range.
But after making six treys in the first half, the Royals led the Bolts at halftime of their Iowa Star Conference South Division contest.
However, a strong start to the second half flipped the script for Baxter, and the hosts made enough free throws in the final frame to pull out a 64-58 victory on Jan. 14.
“They were hot. We had guys on the roster we weren’t going to guard, and those guys came out and hit some 3s,”
Baxter senior Perrin Sulzle said. “We knew they’d cool off. But they also got a lot second-chance points, and the first thing that was said at halftime was being better on the boards.”
Baxter rebounded the ball much better in the second half, finished with a 10-board advantage in the game and massive double-doubles from Sulzle and Eli Dee lifted the Bolts to a huge conference win.
The Royals led 18-14 after one quarter and outscored Baxter 16-14 in the second. Colo-NESCO scored 10 of the first 12 of the second and led by as many as 12 in the game.
“They were making everything to begin with,” Baxter assistant boys basketball coach Ryan Travis said. “We knew that wasn’t going to continue. We got in a battle (Jan. 13) and came back from 26 down so they know we can do it. It’s a four-quarter game.”
It was technically the first varsity win for Travis. He filled in for head coach
Baxter girls fire up intensity, pull away from Colo-NESCO
By Troy Hyde Sports Editor
BAXTER — Emie Tuhn has scored more points than any other Baxter Bolt in the short history of the program.
But sometimes she can be unselfish to a fault. And when she decided to take a few more shots against Colo-NESCO on Jan. 13, the Bolts created the separation they needed to grab control of the contest, and Baxter dominated the second half during a 50-27 home win.
“She’s one of the most unselfish players I’ve coached,” Baxter head girls basketball coach Kyle Krampe said. “She has the green light on our team. I want her to be aggressive and sometimes she needs to go to the basket and score or get fouled.”
The Bolts led 7-6 after one quarter against the Royals. Tuhn barely attempted any shots in the frame, but put in nine of her game-high 21 in the second. That output helped Baxter lead by eight at the break, and her quick five points the third pushed the margin to double-digits. It stayed that way for the rest of the game.
“It’s hard to balance it. I like to prioritize sharing the ball and getting open looks for my teammates,” Tuhn said. “But sometimes I think about that before I think about my own shots. It takes me a while to get into a groove, and it’s challenging for me to know when it’s my time to shoot more often.”
The Bolts (8-4, 6-1 in the conference) have won eight of the past nine games against Colo-NESCO. The two teams have split the first 20 matchups since 2007.
But it took Baxter more than eight minutes to grab a significant advantage.
Kamdyn Krampe scored five of her 14 points in the first, but the Bolts only led by one after the quarter.
Tuhn buried a 3-pointer to open the second and then her steal and layup later pushed the margin to 12-7. She finished the half with back-to-back buckets inside the lane, and the Bolts led 19-11 at the break.
Baxter won the third 17-5 to put the game away. All of those points came from Tuhn, Kamdyn Krampe and Kendall Brummel.
Tuhn opened the second half with a 3 and another steal and layup.
A 9-0 run by the Bolts that featured two layups from Tuhn and five points from Kamdyn Krampe extended their advantage to 34-14.
The Royals (1-10, 0-7) never got closer than 18 the rest of the way. Hannah Huffaker scored all four of her points in the final frame, and Kamdyn Krampe and Tuhn added triples to close out the win.
“We were lackadaisical. I challenged them at halftime, and you can see when we play with effort, we are such a better team,” Coach Krampe said. “When we can play in the full court, apply defensive pressure and turn the other team over, that’s when we are at our best.”
The Bolts turned the Royals over 40 times. Coach Krampe took some of the blame for his team not coming out with more intensity to start the game.
One player he doesn’t have to fire up is Brummel, who brings a positive intensity at both ends of the floor. She finished with nine points, six rebounds, eight steals and two blocks to com-
Zach Hasselbrink, who missed the game because of an ejection the night before against North Mahaska.
The Bolts (7-3, 5-1 in the conference) improved to 14-5 against the Royals since 2009. It was Baxter’s seventh straight win in the series.
A pair of putbacks by Cainan Travis and Sulzle tied the game at 4-all early, but seven straight points from the Royals kept the visitors in front the rest of the half.
Dee buried a 3-pointer and nailed a jumper to keep the Bolts close. His two free throws trimmed the margin to four after one.
The Royals made 9-of-27 from 3 in the game and six of those treys came in the first half.
Jack Angell, who came into the game 3-of-20 from deep, started the second with a triple and then Gannon Short extended the Royals’ lead with a 3 and a bank shot.
Trailing by 12, the Bolts rallied behind Sulzle and Dee. A 12-1 run trimmed their deficit to 29-28. Travis opened the spurt with a pair of free throws, Dee made another 3 and Sulzle scored two times inside and once from deep during that stretch.
But the Royals led 34-28 at the break thanks in part to a 3 from Mark Bower, who scored 17 points for C-N in the loss.
“If a team shoots 35 percent but gets three chances one of them is probably going in,” Coach Travis said about the rebounding in the first half.
“That was our focus at halftime. No straight line drives and just one shot. We got much better on the boards in the second half.”
pliment Tuhn and Kamdyn Krampe.
“We are still playing with some young players, and I can’t expect them to get going on their own,” Coach Krampe said.
“I think I can do a better job with that myself also. That’s on me.
“I love Kendall’s effort and energy, and that brings juice to the rest of the team. She gets
the toughest defensive assignment because of her effort and how hard she plays. She goes and gets it.”
Tuhn led the Bolts with 21 points, six rebounds, three assists and seven steals. Kamdyn Krampe added 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks.
Colfax-Mingo hoops fall to Sigourney in SICL play
SIGOURNEY — Harrison Rhone scored more than half of Colfax-Mingo’s points during the Tigerhawks’ boys basketball game against Sigourney on Jan. 14. But Colfax-Mingo started slow, turned the ball over 19 times and lost the battle on the boards during an 8647 road loss to the Savages in South Iowa Cedar League action.
Shane Hostetter had six points, five rebounds and three steals, Isaiah Lewis pitched in six points and six boards and Jace Lewis put in six points. Wyatt Carpenter scored four points and Gage Byal dished out two assists.
Colfax-Mingo, which has lost five straight, shot 36 percent from the floor, made 5-of-16 from 3-point range and connected on 6-of-8 from the free-throw line. Hostetter and Rhone both were 3-of-4 from the charity stripe.
Sigourney led 25-16 after one quarter and outscored the Tigerhawks 27-9 in the second. Colfax-Mingo was outscored 34-22 in the second half. Rhone led the Tigerhawks with 25 points, four rebounds, three assists and four steals.
Jasper County Tribune
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
Baxter junior Eli Dee, left, finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds in the Bolts’ home win over Colo-NESCO on Jan. 14.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
Baxter freshman Kamdyn Krampe, right, had 14 points and five rebounds in the Bolts’ home game against Colo-NESCO on Jan. 14. The Bolts swiped 26 steals and blocked six shots in the victory.
BAXTER
BAXTER
County Tribune
C-M wrestlers down HLV on Senior Night
By Troy Hyde Sports Editor
COLFAX — The Colfax-Mingo boys wrestling team came out fast during its home quadrangular on Jan. 16.
The Tigerhawks controlled their dual with South Iowa Cedar League foe HLV but struggled in contested matches against Earlham and were edged by Wayne Community in their finale on Senior Night.
Colfax-Mingo defeated the Warriors 54-24 but lost 58-18 to Earlham and 43-29 to Wayne.
“We wanted to come out fast. We haven’t always done that the past year or so,” Colfax-Mingo head boys wrestling coach Stacey Rice said. “We start slow in the first dual way too much, so it was nice to get off to a good start. We knew Earlham and Wayne were going to be tough, especially with five open weights.”
C-M had an 8-5 disadvantage in combined forfeits against the Cardinals and Falcons.
But the team’s lone senior Caden Sykes and Logan Roam each went 3-0 with two forfeits for the night. Cason Fitch, Jayden Cherveny and Teagan Dybevik each went 2-1.
Fitch started his night with a win by fall and ended it with a technical fall victory against Wayne. It was the 100th victory of his career.
“I felt like I missed out on it some. I got it a little later than I wanted to,” Fitch said. “But overall I got to it my junior year. That’s a big accomplishment.
“I felt great in the first one, but I was a little tired in that last match. I have more to work on, and I’ll get back at it next week.”
Fitch and Sykes do their best to lead in the wrestling room, but Colfax-Mingo’s squad is filled with a plethora of freshmen and sophomores.
Colfax-Mingo was 4-0 in contested matches against HLV and had a 5-4 surplus in forfeits. Roam (106), Cherveny (120), Fitch (126) and Alex Hartson (215) all won by fall, while Xavier Cross (150), Kyle Wood (165), Willie Fitzgerald (175), Sykes (190) and Dybevik (285) all took forfeits.
The Tigerhawks were 0-6 in contested matches against Earlham. Roam, Sykes and Nathan Endersbe (215) accepted forfeits.
Fitch, who is ranked No. 12
in Class 1A at 126 pounds, lost 11-3 to 10th-ranked Dallas Conoyer.
“I faced him a couple of times before. I wasn’t in the right headspace,” Fitch said. “I should have been quicker at the start and he takes random shots so I knew staying low would be important. I didn’t execute that off the start. That just led to an early deficit right away. The first period kind of killed the style.”
In the dual against Wayne, the Tigerhawks were 3-4 in contested matches and 2-4 in forfeits.
Dybevik rallied to win his match by fall at 285, Sykes earned a pin at 175 and Fitch’s 100th career victory was a 19-3 technical fall. Roam and Cherveny took forfeits at 106 and 120.
“The guys gave 100 percent effort for six minutes,” Rice said.
“Some of the guys showed frustration in their losses when they came off, but I told them the most we can ask from them is 100 percent effort. And as long as I get that, I won’t complain. That’s how they learn, too. If they give effort but can’t finish a takedown, for instance, we teach those moments and hopefully make them better for it.”
Sykes was the lone Tigerhawk recognized for Senior Night. He improved to 24-4 in his only season at Colfax-Mingo.
“Some of the kids don’t have that belief that they can be good. (Sykes) has that inner belief, and he’s brought that to the team this year,” Rice said. “We need more of that in the room. It bleeds through to the other guys. He’s been a great addition. I just wish I had him more than just this year.”
Class 1A No. 12 Dybevik (122) suffered his first loss since returning from injury and returning to the rankings at 285. He was defeated by fall against Earlham.
Fitch is now 23-3 after the 2-1 night at 126. He joined his older brothers Cauy and Cyden in the 100-win club.
“There’s 100 support from that family. That’s the third Fitch boy who’s got to 100,” Rice said. “He gives 100 percent effort in the room and sets a great example. I couldn’t ask for anything more from him.
“He wanted to go 3-0 tonight, but Canoyer’s tough and he’s really quick. He’s really good on top. Last year, the first
match was not close and then the second one was an overtime match. We can regroup and correct the mistakes now before we may have to face him again.”
Notes: The team was open at 113, 132, 138 and 157 all night. They surrendered forfeits at 150 twice and 144 once, too. Rice said the team has three wres-
tlers at 106 but none of them weigh more than 100 pounds, Wood was not available at 157 or 165 because of an injury and the team may have lost another wrestler to transfer. “It’s really a domino effect,” Rice said. “You lose some of the duals because you don’t have enough weights. But in the room, the more bod-
Anderson leads Baxter wrestlers at WACO tourney
WAYLAND — Three Baxter wrestlers scored 30.5 points at the WACO Warriors tournament on Jan. 18.
Jack Anderson finished third, Maddox Peters won three straight matches after losing and the Baxter boys wrestling team finished 14th in the 15-team field.
Washington won the tournament with 182.5 points. Mount Pleasant was second with 160 and the rest of the top five included Highland (117), New London (107.5) and host WACO (101).
Anderson (21-6) was third at 138 pounds. He was 2-1 with two pins and his lone loss was a 6-2 decision in the semifinals to Class 1A No. 5 Gage Burden of New London.
Peters (17-10) finished fifth at 150 and Derek Rominger was 1-2 at 126. Peters lost his first match but finished his day 3-1 with two pins and one technical fall.
Bolts lose twice in pair of duals NEW SHARON — Anderson won twice, but Baxter was plagued by 15 forfeits in a pair of a losses on Jan. 16.
The Bolts fell 42-6 to English Valleys and dropped a 66-9 dual to host North Mahaska. But Baxter was 3-3 in contested matches. Against North Mahaska, Ander-
son won 12-5 at 138 and Rominger claimed a win by fall at 126.
Baxter was 2-1 in contested matches against the Warhawks, but North Mahaska took all 10 forfeits.
Anderson won by fall at 144 against English Valleys, but that was the only points as the Bolts were 1-2 in contested matches and 0-5 in forfeits.
Anderson’s pin came in 55 seconds.
He’s now 21-5 and picked up his 100th career victory at the North Mahaska tournament last weekend.
ies you have the more competition there is.” … Wayne went 3-0 on the night after a 33-27 win over Earlham and a 58-18 victory over HLV. Earlham downed HLV 49-12. … The Jan. 16 quadrangular is the Tigerhawks’ only home meet of the season but they will host districts next month.
Cason Fitch
Colfax-Mingo senior Cason Fitch became the third member of his family with 100 career victories after going 2-1 during a home quadrangular on Jan. 16. Fitch won once by fall and once by technical fall and is now 100-19 for his career.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
Colfax-Mingo junior Cason Fitch, right, reacts to his 100th career victory during the Tigerhawks’ home quadrangular on Jan. 16. Fitch went 2-1 for the night and Colfax-Mingo downed HLV on Senior Night.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
Colfax-Mingo junior Teagan Dybevik, top, rallied to win by fall at 285 pounds against Wayne Community on Jan. 16.
Jasper County Tribune
Submitted Photo Baxter senior Jack Anderson won his 100th match at the North Mahaska tournament last weekend. He led the Bolts with a third-place finish at WACO on Jan. 18.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune Baxter junior Maddox Peters took fifth at 150 pounds at the WACO Warriors tournament on Jan. 18.
Baxter Girls
Baxter turned the ball over 17 times and was out-rebounded 32-24. But the Bolts swiped 26 steals and blocked six shots in the victory.
“Our intensity on defense got a lot better,” Tuhn said about the team’s second-half performance.
“We guarded them closer and affected their ball handlers, and that gave us more energy and helped at the offensive end, too.”
Kaylyn Krampe chipped in three rebounds, three assists and four steals, Avery Wonders grabbed a pair of boards and Myah Johnston totaled two steals.
The Bolts won the game despite shooting only 31.7 percent from the floor and making just 4-of-25 from distance. They were 6-of-8 from the free-throw line though.
Abigail Kettwig led the Royals with six points and 11 boards, while Jadyn Niemeyer added nine rebounds and four assists.
Colo-NESCO came into the game shooting only 5.8 percent from 3 and committing 30.4 turnovers per contest. The Royals were 5-of-86 from 3 before the game but finished 1-of-1 against the Bolts.
“We just wanted to play full-court pressure defense,” Coach Krampe said. “We were a little rusty out of break. Our focus was effort and just competing. I really thought we competed in the second half a lot better than the first half.”
Notes: Tuhn played in her first home game since scoring her 1,000th career point. She was recognized before the
Baxter Boys
The second half belonged to Dee, who came into the game ranked fifth in Iowa and third in Class 1A in scoring at 29.8 points per game.
Baxter opened the final half on a 13-0 run and took a 41-34 lead. That stretch featured four points each from Dee and Maddux Tuhn and five from Sulzle.
Dee added a putback and a logo 3 later, but Bower scored the final five points of the frame to keep Colo-NESCO (8-3, 4-3) within two after three.
Dee finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds in the win. Twenty-one of those 31 came in the second half and 12 were dropped in the fourth.
“They were hitting a lot of shots so we just had to lock down and guard everybody,” Dee said. “The offensive rebounds hurt us in the first half so we boxed out better and good things happened.”
Dee opened the fourth with a layup then converted a putback before draining another 3 to push the Bolts’ lead to 59-50. The triple came on Baxter’s third shot of the possession, too.
The Royals had plenty of chances down the stretch to close the gap, but Bower missed three free throws after being fouled on a 3 and C-N couldn’t convert two layups in a seven-point game.
Dee closed out the win with four free throws in the final 23 seconds after missing two with 38 seconds to play.
“Those were two big free throws that I missed, but I’m happy I knocked down the last four,” Dee said. “Them missing three free throws was obviously big. They missed a few layups late, too, so that helped.”
Sulzle had 21 points and 12 rebounds in the victory. Travis tallied six points, seven rebounds and two steals and Tuhn posted four points and three rebounds before fouling out with 3:31 to play in the game.
The Bolts shot 47 percent from the floor, made 5-of-14 from 3 and buried 11of-15 from the foul line. They also turned the ball over 15 times.
“It’s an effort thing,” Sulzle said about the rebounding improvement. “Do you want to go get the board? Do you want to help your team get another possession?
game for the milestone and now has a school-record 1,059 career points. “It’s really cool, and it’s nice to have supportive teammates,” Tuhn said.
Baxter 49, Meskwaki Settlement School 28
BAXTER — Kamdyn Krampe posted her first career double-double, Brummel set a new personal best for rebounds in a game and the Bolts cruised to a 49-28 home win over Meskwaki Settlement School on Jan. 17. The Bolts led 11-6 after one and outscored the Warriors 17-8 in the second.
They won the second half 22-14. Kamdyn Krampe led Baxter with 18 points and a career-best 11 rebounds and added two assists, two steals and two blocks.
Tuhn posted 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals and Karlee Koehler returned from injury to produce six points, five rebounds and three assists.
“For us to be successful, we need Emie and Kamdyn to score the basketball,” Coach Krampe said. “That’s what they are good at, and that’s what we need from them.”
I think we realized we weren’t going to win unless we rebounded better on both ends.”
Short led the Royals with 21 points and nine boards and Bower registered 17 points and six rebounds.
Colo-NESCO shot 35.5 percent from the floor, made 9-of-27 from 3 and committed only eight turnovers.
The Royals entered the game shooting only 49 percent from the foul line. They were 5-of-13 from the charity stripe in the game and went 0-of-4 in the fourth.
Notes: The Bolts came into the game losers of three of their past four games, but Baxter snapped Colo-NESCO’s sixgame win streak. … Baxter doesn’t use a deep varsity roster. The Bolts played six guys until Tuhn fouled out midway through the fourth. The Royals closed their gap a bit with full-court pressure.
“We haven’t seen it a ton of this year,” Coach Travis said about the full-court press. “Plus, we ran into some foul trouble and had a few of our ball handlers out. We have enough leaders though who we trust to get fouled and go to the freethrow line. We don’t go too deep, but our kids are in shape, and they don’t want to
cent from the floor, made 9-of-24 from 3-point range and connected on 17-of-21 from the foul line. Sigourney, which has defeated Colfax-Mingo in five straight games, turned the ball over 13 times.
Brummel registered seven points, a career-high 10 rebounds and two assists, Kaylyn Krampe grabbed six boards and Huffaker collected three rebounds.
The Bolts shot 30.5 percent from the floor, made both of their free throw attempts and turned the ball over 19 times. They also grabbed 19 offensive rebounds.
Baxter made a season-best 11 treys in the win. It finished 11-of-33 from deep and Tuhn and Kamdyn Krampe both were 4-of-11.
The Bolts are 9-7 against Meskwaki Settlement (4-5, 4-3) since 2017. Baxter has won two straight and nine of the past 11 in the series.
North Mahaska 59, Baxter 27 NEW SHARON — A tough shooting night and 26 turnovers plagued the Bolts against Class 2A No. 2 North Mahaska on Jan. 13.
Baxter trailed by 16 after one and never recovered during a 59-27 non-conference road loss.
The Bolts shot 28 percent from the floor, made 3-of-14 from 3 and were held to single digits in three of the four quarters. They also were out-rebounded 3627.
Kamdyn Krampe led Baxter with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists and Tuhn added five points, four rebounds and three assists.
Huffaker collected four points and five boards, Brummel had six points, two steals and two blocks and Wonders collected four points and three rebounds.
Kaylyn Krampe finished with three rebounds, three assists and two steals and Johnston grabbed two boards.
Sydney Anderson led North Mahaska (13-1) with 16 points and eight rebounds. The Warhawks were 6-of-21 from 3 and turned it over 11 times.
points and two boards off the bench.
Stadan Vansice registered four points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals and Tuhn chipped in eight points and seven boards.
Wishman led the Baxter bench, but Colten Damman and Rainsbarger each grabbed four rebounds, Dakota Parker put in three points and Hayden Burdess pulled down two boards.
The Bolts shot 57 percent from the floor and made 7-of-16 from 3. It was Baxter’s seventh straight win over Meskwaki Settlement.
The Warriors (0-8, 0-7) got 10 points and five boards from Yamni Whiteman and nine points and five rebounds from Layne Steuhm.
Meskwaki Settlement shot 36.4 percent from the floor, made 4-of-14 from 3 and committed 15 turnovers.
The Tigerhawks (2-10, 2-8 in the SICL) were out-rebounded 36-17.
Solon Yates led Sigourney with 21 points, four assists and four steals and John Berg added 11 points and eight rebounds.
The Savages (9-4, 6-4) shot 51 per-
GIRLS Sigourney 55, Colfax-Mingo 22
The Colfax-Mingo girls basketball team struggled from the floor and turned the ball over 31 times during a 55-22 road loss to Sigourney on Jan. 14. The Tigerhawks trailed 18-9 after one,
come off the floor anyway.”
Baxter 89, Meskwaki Settlement School 41
BAXTER — Dee made all six of his 3-pointers and scored 42 points, and Baxter used a 38-point first quarter to grab an advantage and never trailed during an 89-41 home win over Meskwaki Settlement School on Jan. 17.
The Bolts made more than half of their shots from the floor, buried 16-of25 from the foul line and turned the ball over just 10 times in the Iowa Star Conference South Division contest.
Dee dropped 42 points on 13-of-16 shooting from the floor. He was 6-of-6 from 3 and now ranks fifth in Iowa with 341 points.
Dee is shooting 43 percent from 3 and his 31 points per game average leads 1A.
The Bolts (8-3, 6-1 in the conference) led 38-4 after one and outscored the Warriors 22-11 in the second and 21-14 in the third.
Sulzle finished with 12 points, four rebounds and two steals, Travis added eight points, six rebounds and two assists and Cael Wishman totaled eight
and the Savages extended their margin in each quarter the rest of the way.
Lydia Hansen led the Tigerhawks with six points, six rebounds, two steals and four blocks and Blain Houseman added five points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals. Isabelle Foglesong tallied seven points and four boards, Mallory Sipma grabbed six rebounds and Dakota Allen pulled down five boards. Mickinley Bucklin and Victoria Woods corralled three rebounds each.
North Mahaska 59, Baxter 57 NEW SHARON — The Bolts shot better from the floor, made one more 3 and had a small advantage from the foul line but lost the battle on the boards and committed five more turnovers than North Mahaska during a 59-57 non-conference road loss on Jan. 13. The 1A No. 10 Warhawks lost a 26-point lead but held on to win after outscoring the Bolts 17-15 in the final frame.
Baxter trailed by 16 at halftime but rallied to tie the game after three following a 21-5 advantage in the third.
Dee led the Bolts with 19 points, seven rebounds and two assists and Sulzle added 16 points, three rebounds and two steals.
Travis posted 14 points and nine boards, Tuhn tallied three points and four rebounds and Vansice collected two rebounds and two assists. Parker finished with five points and two boards off the bench.
The Bolts shot 40.4 percent from the floor, made 8-of-22 from 3 and buried 11of-14 from the foul line. They committed 15 turnovers.
North Mahaska (12-2) shot 36 percent from the floor, connected on 7-of-29 from 3 and sunk 8-of-13 from the foul line. The Warhawks out-rebounded the Bolts 40-27 and committed 10 turnovers.
Gabe Hora scored a team-best 18 points for North Mahaska, and Asher DeBoef added 13 points, 11 rebounds and four steals.
Colfax-Mingo (4-10, 3-7) shot 22 percent from the floor, made 2-of-18 from 3 and missed all four of its free throws.
Sigourney won the game despite shooting 25.3 percent from the floor and 4-of-26 from 3. The Savages sunk 13-of-15 from the foul line and out-rebounded the Tigerhawks 40-33.
Brynn Clarahan led Sigourney (9-4, 7-3) with 20 points, nine rebounds and 14
and Josephine Moore collected 19 points and 13 rebounds.
steals
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
Baxter sophomore Kendall Brummel, left, swipes one of her eight steals against Colo-NESCO on Jan. 14.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
From left: Baxter junior Eli Dee, senior Cainan Travis and junior Stadan Vansice celebrate a basket by senior Perrin Sulzle, front, during the second half of the team’s come-from-behind win over Colo-NESCO on Jan. 14. Sulzle finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds in the victory.
OBSTAINED: Talsma Motion by Cupples seconded by Talsma to nominate Thad Nearmyer as Vice Chairman of Board of Supervisors for 2025. YEA: Cupples, Talsma
OBSTAINED: Nearmyer Motion by Cupples, seconded by Nearmyer to adopt Resolution 25-01 Establishing Board Meetings to continue the first four Tuesdays of each month of 2025 at 9:30a.m in the Board of Supervisors room (203) of the Jasper County Courthouse, and in compliance with Iowa Code Chapter 21 YEA: CUPPLES, TALSMA NEARMYER Motion by Cupples seconded by Nearmyer to designate the Official Newspapers as: Newton Daily News Jasper County Tribune, and Hometown Press. YEA: TALSMA NEARMYER
CUPPLES Motion by Cupples seconded by Nearmyer to adjourn the Thursday, January 2,
