JCT-04-11-2024

Serving Colfax

Western Jasper County

Everyone can be an artist

Baxter students show off artwork from kindergarteners to seniors

Supervisors approve bridge rail work, geotech services for F-48 W Phase 2

County

needs proper end sections for a bridge that goes over railroad

By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune

For the second phase of the F-48 West reconstruction project — extending from South Skunk River to Colfax — another supplemental agreement was needed in order to have proper structural designs for the end rails of a bridge that goes over a railroad. The agreement was approved April 2 by the board of supervisors. Jasper County Engineer Michael Frietsch said the “bridge the railings that are there do not have the proper end sections on them.” Since the project uses federal aid and goes over the railroad, the county needs a proper structural design of the end rails. The agreement also adds geotechnical services. Which mainly cover the approaches to the bridge. Frietsch said the

Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors on April 2 approved a supplemental project for the second phase of the F-48 West reconstruction project which authorizes geotechnical services and new end rail designs for the bridge that goes over a railroad.

concrete surface of the approaches need to be “rubblized,” or in other words “pounded into chunks into the ground and then new asphalt over top.” But in order to determine whether or not that is feasible, geotechnical services are needed.

The bridge rail end sections are estimated to cost $9,500 while the geotechnical engineering will cost $4,200. Combined, services amount to $13,700. But the $4,500 in savings from a past supplemental proj-

ect for culvert evaluations for F-48 will reduce the total costs to $9,200, paid for in farm-to-market funds.

In mid-March, the first phase of the F-48 West reconstruction project began. Frietsch stressed the highway is closed to through traffic, but those living and/or working on that road will still be able to access their homes or businesses. The $3.81 million project extends from Lambs Grove past the Baxter interchange of I-80.

Making beautiful music

By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune

More than 100 of the county’s top middle school student musicians took the stage for the 50th Jasper County Honor Band. Held April 2 at the Newton High School Center for Performance, students from the six area schools performed together after only a day of rehearsal.

Guest conductor Michelle Grant, Colfax-Mingo 5-12 music director, led the group through four pieces including “Castles and Dragons,” “Freefall!,” “After the Storm,” and “Theme from Spider-Man.”

“These kids have been incredible all day. I can’t think of a better group to work with,” Grant said. “We had some hard moments where things were difficult and they just played ‘After the Storm,” incredibly well. It was easily they best they played it all day. These guys are amazing.”

Honor band members included: Newton Berg Middle School

PICTURE PERFECT

PCM grad has unique experience photographing history at the U of I

By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune

With the eyes of the sports world centered on Iowa City this women’s basketball season, PCM grad Ayrton Breckenridge had a front row seat for the action as a photo editor for The Daily Iowan, the student led newspaper serving the University of Iowa community since 1868.

In his senior year, Breckenridge is double majoring in journalism and cinema with a minor in history. He is also in his fourth year at the DI, making him a senior member of the team and a trusted person to cover such an important topic.

“For sports that are doing really well or just a profit sports, we try to put more experienced people on them,” Breckenridge said.

Since the Big Ten Tournament, he has been on the road with the team. From Minneapolis to Albany and now in Cleveland, Breckenridge is capturing moments from the historic year.

“The few games I got to cover as an underclassman there wasn’t a lot of people around. People knew Caitlin Clark was a good player but it didn’t have quite the attention and draw that it does now,” Breckenridge said. “We saw it towards the end of last year but especially this year. All eyes were on Iowa basketball because they were returning from competing in the national championship. And obviously Caitlin Clark with all of the records.”

Breckenridge got his start behind the lens during a semester in journalism class at PCM. While he didn’t continue in the class because he wanted to try out as many extracurriculars as possible,

the pull towards the camera continued.

“I had a visual interest in high school, even middle school, making short films with the MacBooks they gave us. The semester I was in journalism I worked on Thunder TV. That is where I started,” Breckenridge said. “My editor at PCM went to Iowa and told me about The Daily Iowan. I went there and saw it, thought it was pretty cool and kept it in the back of my head.”

He hadn’t even stepped into his first classroom at Iowa before grabbing an application for the DI.

“I wanted to do more film making because of the cinema background, but the way it works at The Daily Iowan, since it is a print organization, they need pictures in print. So visuals are split between photo and video,” Breckenridge said. “I kind of got pushed a lot heavier into photo than I intended and it stuck. I enjoyed it that way.”

His first assignment saw him finding a subject within the campus and photographing it. He

Students from area middle schools perform at 50th Jasper County Honor Band

Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune

50th Jasper County Honor Band April 2 at the Newton High School

Submitted Photo

PCM grad Ayrton Breckenridge works at The Daily Iowan, the newspaper covering the University of Iowa.

Ella Jean Beard

April 2, 2024

Ella Jean “Jeanie” Beard, age 92 of Mingo, passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at Chariton Speciality Care. Graveside funeral services will be held on Friday, April 12,

Obituaries

2024 at 12:00 pm at Green Castle Cemetery. The family will greet friends following the burial at the Colfax Senior Citizen Center from 1:00 - 3:00

pm. Memorials may be directed to the Colfax Senior Citizen Center or the Mingo FIre and Rescue. Condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com

The daughter of Charles A. and Esther E. (Ervin) Van Tomme, Jeanie, was born on July 8, 1931 in Ira, Iowa. She

attended Plumber Grove Country School and attended Colfax High School. On July 23, 1949, she was united in marriage to Leo G. “Mike” Beard in Des Moines, Iowa. Jeanie was a lifelong resident of the area. She worked on the farm; milking cows, raising chickens, helping with

the cattle and hogs. After retiring from the farm, Jeanie cooked for several years at the Colfax Senior Citizen Center. She loved going to potlucks, her favorite dish to bring was angel food cake. Jeanie was also a 50 plus years member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Those left to honor her memory include her children Marilyn Bowman and her ex husband, Tom; Randy Beard and his ex wife, Jackie; five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Jeanie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three siblings and her beloved grandparents, John and Hettie Ella Van Tomme.

Bumble Bee Atlas seeks volunteers to search for declining Iowa bees

Iowa’s pollinators

By Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Iowa is home to at least 14 species of bumble bees that play an essential role in sustaining the health of the environment, from pollinating native wildflowers to flowering crops in farm fields and backyard gardens. Unfortunately, several bumble bee species native to Iowa have undergone alarming declines and face an uncertain future.

“The recent listing of the rusty patched bumble bee as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is increasing the need to collect data on the occurrence of all bumble bee species in our state,” Dr. Matthew O’Neal, professor of entomology at Iowa State University, said.

The effort is one of a growing number of Bumble Bee Atlas projects run by the Xerces Society and their partners in 20 states. In 2023 alone, more than 900 individuals participated in the Atlas, documenting over 20,000 bumble bees. The volunteers have discovered species previously thought to be gone from their states, contributed to new field guides, and rapidly improved scientists’ understanding of bumble bee populations across the United States. Without the efforts of these “community scientists”, it would be impossible to gather information across such a wide geographic area.

“Community science is a powerful conservation tool,” Genevieve Pugesek, an endangered species conservation biologist with the Xerces Society, said. “Declining species are typically not abundant on the landscape, which makes them really difficult to study. It requires a lot of time and dedication to collect sufficient data on these species. A great deal of what we know about rare

Iowa State University Iowa is home to at least 14 species of bumble bees that play an essential role in sustaining the health of the environment, from pollinating native wildflowers to flowering crops in farm fields and backyard gardens. Unfortunately, several bumble bee species native to Iowa have undergone alarming declines and face an uncertain future. IDNR and Iowa State University partner with national

and threatened bumble bees is thanks to volunteer contributions.”

Information gathered by community scientists provides a modern day snapshot of bumble bees and serves as a benchmark to which future conditions can be compared. Data can be used to assess bumble bee ranges, phenology, and habitat associations and evaluate how these patterns have changed over time. This information can then be leveraged to design conservation guidelines for atrisk species and create habitat management guidance for land stewards.

“Knowledge about vulnerable insects and other wildlife is so important to

Spring photo walk

Saturday at NSNWR

Join photographer Mike Cox at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 23 at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge for walk along one of the refuge trails to learn photography tips while enjoying the springtime changes on the tallgrass prairie. Contact nancy_corona@fws.gov or call 515-994-3400 to register and for information. Check out the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NealSmithNWR.

setting our management objectives, so that we can contribute to the continued health of these species,” Stephanie Shepherd, a wildlife diversity biologist with Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said. “We are excited to learn more about the bumble bees in our wild areas and everywhere else.”

Traditionally, community science projects receive much of their data from densely populated towns and cities, while rural and remote areas remain under-surveyed. In Iowa, monitoring wildlife in these rural areas can be particularly challenging because 98% of the state is privately owned. The Atlas

project prioritizes rural areas, allowing scientists to better understand how bumble bees are faring outside of urban settings. Collecting data across the state will call for volunteers ready to explore all areas.

The Iowa Bumble Bee Atlas is open to anyone with interest in pollinator conservation. Training will be provided on how to complete surveys, take high quality photographs of bumble bees, and submit observations using a platform called Bumble Bee Watch. Interested volunteers can sign up for the first online training event on April 13, 2024 and view other events at bumblebeeatlas.org.

For more information about the Iowa Bumble Bee Atlas project, please visit bumblebeeatlas.org.

To receive updates on the Iowa Bumble Bee Atlas, sign up for the mailing list or follow the Bumble Bee Atlas on Instagram and Facebook.

About the Xerces Society The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is a donor-supported nonprofit organization that protects our world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. Xerces works throughout North America to conserve pollinators and other invertebrates, protect endangered species, and reduce pesticide use and impacts. Our staff use applied research, policy advocacy, public education and on-the-ground habitat improvement to advance meaningful, long-term conservation. Xerces is the largest invertebrate conservation organization in the world. For over 50 years, we have been champions of Earth’s most biodiverse and overlooked animals, protecting the life that sustains us. Learn more at xerces.org.

Volunteer for Second Saturday Stewardship

Volunteer for Second Saturday Stewardship to help build tallgrass prairie on Saturday, April 13, from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. The task will be seed cleaning which takes place inside the seed lab located at the visitor center and involves removing

unwanted plant parts by hand, leaving the seeds for planting. If all the seeds are already cleaned by April 13, the task will be trail maintenance. Individuals, families, and groups are welcome to participate. Free snacks will be available for volunteers.

Volunteers are required to fill out a volunteer agreement. Volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign the form. Volunteers are required to wear closed sturdy shoes and pants. For additional information and to register contact nancy_corona@fws.gov or call 515-994-3400.

Photographer

traveled to the Pentacrest, the center of the university around the Old Capitol, and found students practicing outside for a dance class. A little out of his comfort zone, Breckenridge had his first chance to ask strangers permission to photograph them and what their names were.

“At PCM you know everyone but in Iowa City you don’t know anybody,” Breckenridge said “During the middle of that assignment, they announced they were cutting men’s and women’s swimming at the University of Iowa. The men’s coach was speaking somewhere on campus and no one else was taking the assignment. I was like I’m already on campus just a couple blocks away. So within five minutes of completing my first assignment, I was on my second. That was kind of funny.”

That spring he covered his first sporting event with the competitions just starting to open up to non-essential people. Since then, along with women’s basketball, he has covered football, wrestling, gymnastics, men’s tennis and track.

“I’ve never photographed track in Iowa City, only at the Drake Relays,” Breckenridge said. “That was the first time ever photographing track professionally. They just sent me to the Drake Relays.”

Breckenridge has covered the Hawkeyes at the most recent Citrus Bowl game, his first experience following the football team to a bowl game. He also spent time putting together a project on the men’s wresting team. Currently, along with following the women’s basketball team, he is working on a photobook to memorialize the season.

“It is cool to see the action part of both of those sports, and to see the athletes behind the scenes is something that not many people get to see or do, especially as a sophomore with wrestling and as a senior with the women’s basketball,” Breckenridge said.

Following the women’s basketball team, which has only grown in prominence in his time at the university, has been a learning experience. From finding the right shots to working with national media, he has gained valuable knowledge on what having a fulltime job in the industry entails.

“In terms of the media, I guess a good way to describe it is kind of crazy. You’re used to a calm, cool, collected environment just

Ayrton Breckenridge

The Daily Iowan

Ayrton Breckenridge, a senior at Iowa and photo editor for The Daily Iowan, is currently working on a photo book featuring the University of Iowa Women’s Basketball Teams historic season.

shooting a regular game, but you can tell when it is going to be record breaking because all of a sudden the amount of photojournalists, print writers or broadcast reporters increases into masses,” Breckenridge said. “Everyone is trying to compete for that same shot, like when Caitlin Clark is signing autographs or the team is high-fiving. You’re kind of elbow to elbow and it’s really fun to see the attention surrounding a sport, especially women’s basketball, that didn’t have that attention.

“It is also simultaneously kind of frustrating because you’re running all over the place to get the shots you need for your organization. That is also part of the fun, too. You’re competing with all of the national outlets and it is fun to see when I got a better photo than them. All in all it is a really fun experience to see history unfold in front of your eyes in a really unique spot, as well.”

The fast pace culminated in the national championship game April 7. Breckenridge and his counterpart were there for the whole wild ride all while trying to continue to be students preparing for graduation in a couple of months.

“Big Ten (tournament) was kind of calm because it took place closer to a weekend. Once NCAA

Tournament got in a full swing, especially once they got out of Carver, it has been a little hectic,” Breckenridge said. “I really haven’t been to class in a while. Ever since Albany I have been to one day of classes. That isn’t necessary the best, but it is a lot of travel. Packing, re-packing and then getting on the road again and then photographing. It is repeat of photograph, sleep, eat, photograph, eat, sleep — like that.”

The work won’t stop as the team works to finalize the photobook about the historic basketball season for the Hawkeye women. Breckenridge is looking ahead a bit with plans finalized for after he crosses the stage and receives his diploma.

“The current plan is an internship set up with the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. It will be a photo and video internship,” he said.

From there, he hopes to continue in the field he is passionate about.

“I’d like to stay in the nonfiction visual storytelling realm,” Breckenridge said. “Whether it is film

or stills it doesn’t’ bother me either way.”

He will use all that he has learned, both in the classroom and out in the field, as he embarks on his future assignments.

“One thing that I am learning from it is taking advantage of the opportunities that are in front of you. Also, learning how to build relationships. I had done it before but with this it was a little bit quicker. I had to adjust how I did certain things but it taught me how to build trust with people,” Breckenridge said. “There are times I’ve been with them (the women’s basketball team) and they have lost a couple of games and they didn’t tell me to put my camera away. They let me do my job because they knew I was a professional journalist just by the way I operated in practices or at other events. They have faith that I am going to tell the story.”

And he just needs one thing to keep doing the work he loves.

“If I can hold a camera and tell a story, I’ll do it just about anywhere,” he said.

Daily Iowan

Honor Band

Continuedfrompage1

Lual Akol, Haylee Adams, Bree Ergenbright, Izzy Wilson, Hayden Gasper, Lexi Burns, Sadie Booth, Rylan Allison, Gaby Layton, Abby Miranda, Christelle Lahart, Jude Jacobson, Kenzie Clark, Chloe Vander Weerdt, Sadie Stiles, Remington Storm, Brooklyn Jones, Layla Purvis, Owen Osterhaus, Andrew Braun, Sydney Schiebel, Hayden Dunkerson, Jalyn Stahl, Jackson Riney, Elijah Doran, Ben Shafter, Brandon Holmes, Gavin Stoner, Hudson Meyer, Talia Friedman, Heath Anderson, David Cope and Drew Lamont

Baxter

Grace Warden, Malayla Hurd, Piper Redman, Katt Wing, Olivia Parrie, Mel Smith, Zander Parker, Lincoln Russell, Brylea Nicholson, Nick Shedd, Victor Spohnheimer, Kenzie Cross and Robbie Richardson Colfax-Mingo

Jessica Gibson, Genesis Hardney, Brenna Miller, Aubrey VanderSchoor, Lily Anderson, Falicity Landon, Chelsie Kite, Mia Frangopol, Ashlynn Hosbond, Olyvia Grant, Wilson Hauschildt, Jessa Purdie, Joey Grimm, Xander Gerholdt, Zella Perry, Isabella Utz, Weston Boehm, Alexander Rodriguez-Briseno and Milo Knutson Lynnville-Sully Haleigh Hornbuckle, Tess Dunlap, Nikolai Van Wyk, Braxton Bucklin, Mandeesa Vos, Hayden Lewis, Willow Schinkel, Natalie Nore, Trycer Arends, Hudson Squires, Madden Gunsalus, Logan Gray, Grayson LeCompte and Jackson Van Wyk Newton Christian Karly Spear, Tori VanKley, Lucy Simon, Trevor Van Kley, Will McKinney and Temple Barton

PCM

Luke Ferneding, Abby Bradbury, Drake Eisbrenner, Emma Holt, Caleb Wilson, Caleb Ingle, Darbey DeRaad, Liz Egland, Owen Osterhaus, Andrew Braun, Erica Thomas, Cade Burkett, Eli Meyer, Patrick Jimenez, Caleb Kain and Hayden Pierson

Ayrton Breckenridge/The

During his time at The Daily Iowan, Ayrton Breckenridge has gotten the opportunity to photograph the Iowa Women’s Basketball Team including star Caitlin Clark.

Agriculture shapes our way of life in Iowa. Our heritage and traditions are rooted deep in the fields that cover our great state. That’s why I was thrilled to celebrate National Agriculture Week to recognize our farmers. They keep Iowa number one in corn, pork, egg, ethanol, and biodiesel production and make our state a top producer of soybeans, dairy, beef, turkey, and more.

This week serves as a meaningful reminder of my commitment to advocate for the needs of our farmers. Whether it’s opening up new markets for our agricultural goods and commodities, fighting red tape that hurts our local

YOUR VIEW

Questioning requirements

Holder of an Iowa driver’s license for 50 years. Veterans designation on driver’s license for many years. DD-214 indicating that I am an honorably discharged veteran. Payer of property taxes in Iowa for many years. Need to bring my social security card, a paid utility bill, and my birth certificate to the DOT to prove who I am in order to get a gold star on my license to board a plane?

I would certainly think that after all of the fees and taxes we have paid, the DOT should be able to easily figure out who most of us are.

Perhaps I walked into the wrong office. It seemed as though I needed the department of redundancy department. Rod Snodgrass Newton

meat processors, or championing homegrown biofuels, I will continue to push for policies that allow our producers to flourish.

I’m also making sure the work of Iowa farmers and producers is known throughout the halls of Congress, and I was proud to lead all the women in the Senate in designating March 21, 2024, as National Women in Agriculture Day. Together, the Senate unanimously recognized the more than 1.2 million female producers in the United States that are essential to feeding and fueling our world.

Unfortunately, even with so many accomplishments to celebrate, there’s a cloud of uncertainty hanging over our farmers and ranchers – a new Farm Bill.

Although rain is usually a good thing for folks in agriculture, this situation has left

our producers high and dry.

Putting more farm in the farm bill Ukrainian family finds a home in Mt. Pleasant

They stand at their window and watch squirrels romp and play in their yard. “Never have I seen so many squirrels!”

Ivanna Zimroz, laughs.

“Even the squirrels are happy here!” Her five kids cluster around her and giggle at the sight.

They also appreciate the positive change in lifestyle from what they left behind. They had been crammed into a small, two room apartment in Poland, seven of them— mother, father and five children—for two years, after fleeing Ternopil. They were waiting to find a sponsor in the United States. They had to be careful. There were disreputable sponsors who would take advantage of people fleeing war-torn Ukraine. Ivanna prides herself in having an intuition for knowing who they could trust. Her tuition told her she could trust Ken and Patty Madden from Crawfordsville, Iowa to be their sponsor. “We are so happy here,” Ivanna says. “This is home. We feel safe. This country cares a lot about its people. There is not the violence or the many widows in black, mourning their deceased husbands. We are so grateful and thankful for what everyone has done for us. People who don’t even know us are bringing food and toys for the kids, and making contributions. Americans are so friendly! God is looking after us.”

Her kids, Vadym, 14; Darii, 10; Makar, 9; Diana, 7; and Denys, 5 nod in agreement, and hug her. Volodymyr, her husband and the children’s father, is in Pennsylvania attending truck-driving school. Iowa’s CDL test is in English, which Volodymyr is still struggling with. Pennsylvania has a Russian Language test. He is staying with friends and will return to his family in a couple of weeks upon completion of his CDL. When he is home he spends a lot of time in the garage tinkering, arranging and building things. They did not have a garage in Poland.

The kids miss the friends they had in Poland, but love school here. Four of them are in grade school and the oldest in middle school. During spring break, the kids

Every five years, Congress is supposed to update the Farm Bill, a comprehensive piece of legislation that should provide our farmers with confidence as they generate our nation’s food, fuel, and fiber. The farm economy is much different today than it was five years ago, and we need a modernized piece of legislation to reflect those changes.

However, with a projected $1.5 trillion price tag, a new Farm Bill will continue to stall unless Democrats are willing to come to the table and negotiate. They continue to focus on costly food and climate change initiatives instead of programs that put our farmers first. In fact, less than 18% of the current Farm Bill is tied to programs that actually impact farmers.

The solution is plain and simple folks – we need more FARM in the Farm Bill!

Farmers, especially our producers and rural communities in Iowa, deserve a Farm Bill that works for them. I’m fighting to do just that.

My priorities include protecting our

food supply and national security, supporting rural prosperity and new farmers, and conserving both your hardearned dollars and our beautiful lands.

I’ve proposed measures to safeguard domestic farmland from our foreign adversaries, provide resources to prevent animal disease outbreaks, reverse California’s left-wing Prop 12 regulations, and streamline the process for getting innovative technologies into farmers’ hands that improve both water quality and soil health. I’m also working to strengthen the use and manufacturing of bio-based products, modernize Aggie Bonds and access to capital for first-time farmers, and improve the affordability of crop insurance.

As I see the evidence of our farmers’ hard work while traveling from river to river in our great state, I’m convinced that more farm in the Farm Bill doesn’t just protect our hardworking producers, it protects our way of life in Iowa.

Joni Ernst, a native of Red Oak and acombatveteran,representsIowainthe United States Senate

couldn’t wait to get back to school. Ivanna was surprised that she didn’t have to pay anything to get them enrolled in school. She thinks maybe an anonymous donor may have purchased the pencils, paper and supplies they needed. “Whoever you are,” she says, and looks up, “Thank you.”

In fact, the organization known as War Sucks for Children in Mt. Pleasant, the First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleasant, and others, stepped forward, surrounded the Ukrainian family with love and all the material possessions they would need to start a new life.

A home was found, furniture and utensils provided, clothes, a used vehicle, and so many other things, like computer tablets for the kids, bicycles, a larger computer and printer for

the home, a refrigerator full of food, bunk beds, the list goes on. Ivanna is shocked and so grateful.

“A lady even brings farm eggs once a week!” she proclaims.

Ivanna misses her family terribly. But she calls them daily, and hopes that maybe in the future she will be able to bring her family to the United States. There is another Ukrainian family in Mt. Pleasant, and they are friends. It helps with the home sickness.

Ivanna looked out her front door and saw iris coming up along the sidewalk. It’s an early spring, and the iris are choked with leaves. She’s itchy to spiffy up the flower bed. “They tell me this is the Iris City,” she beams. “Those iris will be blooming and looking real pretty for Volodymyr when he comes home.”

Contact Curt Swarm at curtswarm@yahoo.com

Why are Americans so welcoming to Ukrainians? It probably relates to the barbaric attack on a sovereign nation by Russia, and the basic feeling by Americans that there’s not a whole lot they can do about it. But they can help refugees. And also the realization that these European refugees are so much like Americans. They look like, act like and have the same aspirations as Americans: free will to achieve what they want without repression. So when the Ukrainians were brutalized and left homeless, Americans welcomed them with open arms, i.e., “Join us in the good life. Work hard, chase your dreams, and prosper. We have plenty of room.”

How to contact your elected officials Jasper County Supervisors

Brandon Talsma, chair 4309 W Fourth St. S. Newton, IA 50208 641-526-3142 btalsma@co.jasper.ia.us

Doug Cupples, vice chair 1205 S. 20th Ave. W. Newton, IA 50208 641-521-8725 dcupples@co.jasper.ia.us

Denny Stevenson 110 Railroad Street Kellogg, IA 50135 641-521-8553

dstevenson@co.jasper.ia.us

Rep. Dunwell welcomes Baxter High School students

Community Calendar

Send items to news@jaspercountytribune.com

SATURDAY

• Colfax Historical Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the second Saturday of the month. Admission is free.

MONDAY • Colfax Historical Society meets at 7 p.m. the third Monday of month at the museum

THURSDAY • Mingo Men’s Club meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of month at the Mingo Community Center

Whitebreast Campground and Boat Ramp temporarily closed for roadwork

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, has temporarily closed the Whitebreast Campground entrance road at Lake Red Rock for repairs. The closure, which is anticipated to last until April 25, affects access to the Whitebreast Campground and Boat Ramp. Boaters are advised to use an alternative boat ramp during the closure.

For more information, contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Red Rock at 641-8287522 or email:lakeredrock@usace.army.mil.

Uptick in counterfeit car seats raises safety concerns

How to identify legitimate car seats

There has been an uptick in counterfeit car seats in Iowa. UnityPoint Health – Grinnell shares concerns with parents falling victim to fake and potentially hazardous car seats.

“Counterfeit car seats pose a significant threat to the safety of children and infants,” Cherish Hansen, BSN, RNCMNN, C-EFM, OB nurse manager at UnityPoint Health – Grinnell Regional Medical Center (GRMC), said. “They often lack safety features and fail to meet industry standards. We want to make sure parents are aware this is happening, so they are on the lookout when purchasing a car seat for their little one.”

Signs of a Legitimate Car Seat:

• Check for certification labels: Look for labels that indicate com-

pliance with safety standards. Are there misspellings or grammatical errors?

• Verify manufacturer information: Legitimate car seats are manufactured by reputable companies that adhere to strict safety standards. Always purchase car seats from authorized dealers or the official website of the manufacturer. Make sure the brand, serial number, customer service number and an expiration date are listed on the car seat.

• Chest clip: Nearly every car seat approved for use on the U.S. market has a chest clip except for car beds and boosters.

• Harness straps: U.S. Safety Standards require harness straps to be 1.5 inches wide.

Tips for Consumers:

• Purchase from authorized retailers: Buy car

HOWARD ST. CHRISTIAN CHURCH

(Disciples of Christ)

Pastor Tom Burns Howard & Locust St., Colfax Office - 674-3746 Church Cell - 971-0569

SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Adult & Wired

Word Adult Sunday school classes; 10 a.m. Fellowship

Time;10:30 a.m. Worship, in person or online via YouTube

MONDAY - Tom’s day off

TUESDAY - 9:30 a.m. Coffee

Time/Fellowship; 2 p.m. Easy Yoga

WEDNESDAY - 3:30 p.m. After school elementary youth; 6:10 ChiRho and CYF youth supper/ youth group

THIRD SUNDAY of month -

Marathon Sunday includes elders, board, potluck and food pantry

FIRST MONDAY of monthWIC appointments

IRA UNITED CHURCH

Rev. Michael Omundson

SUNDAY - 9:30 a.m. Church

seats only from authorized retailers, reputable stores or the official websites of well-known manufacturers. Also avoid purchasing car seats from garage sales or sec-

ondhand places, as you may not know if the car seat has been in a prior car accident.

• Be cautious of unrealistic prices: If a deal seems too good to be

true, it probably is. Counterfeit car seats are often priced significantly lower than genuine products.

“Remain cautious and stay informed when purchasing car seats,” Han-

Church Schedules

service; 10:15 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, April 14 - 9 a.m. Fellowship; 9:15 a.m. Bible Education Classes; 10:25 a.m. Message by Pastor Cody Dye

TUESDAY, April 16 - 3 p.m.

Women’s Prayer and coffee; 6 p.m. Trustee meeting

WEDNESDAY, April 17 - 9 a.m.

Busy Bee Quilters and Fresh Encounter Prayer; 6:30 p.m.

AWANA Awards Night; No family meal

SATURDAY, April 20 - 9 a.m.

Church Work Day

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. Sunday School; Family Worship - Today is Food Pantry Sunday

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

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 & 3rd6:30 p.m. Mens Bible Study 2nd & 4th - 6:30 p.m. Men’s and Womens Bible Study

THURSDAYS 10 a.m. - Womens Bible Study

BAXTER

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

218 S. Main, Baxter Pastor Ben Spera

sen said. “If you ever are in doubt, reach out to the GRMC OB department at 641-236-2324. Our team is happy to help answer any questions you might have.”

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.,

SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Bible classes; 10 a.m. Worship service; 6 p.m. Evening service WEDNESDAY - 7 p.m.

Submitted Photo

Rep. Jon Dunwell (R-Newton) welcomes a group of Baxter High School students as they visit the Iowa House.

Metro Photo

Counterfeit car seats pose a significant threat to the safety of children and infants.

Baxter boys edge PCM, win another team title

BAXTER — The Baxter boys track and field team played catch up against PCM for most of the night during the Baxter Coed Relays on April 4.

The meet championship came down to the final event and the Bolts’ win in the 4x400-meter relay pushed them past the Mustangs on their home track.

Short-handed PCM won five events, but Baxter claimed 12 top-three finishes and edged the Mustangs by a single point.

The Bolts won the team title with 106 points, while PCM was the runner-up with 105.

The rest of the top five was tightly contested, too, with Pleasantville (79) edging BCLUW (78) and Lynnville-Sully (77) for third.

Ankeny Christian (62), AGWSR (44), Colfax-Mingo (27), Melcher-Dallas (7) and the Bondurant-Farrar JV (4) completed the 10-team field.

Matt Richardson and Max Handorf went 1-2 in the 3,200, the Bolts won both the 4x400 and 4x800 relays and Baxter finished second five times.

Colfax-Mingo’s lone win came from Xavier Woods in the high jump.

The annual event hosted by Baxter used to be a boys’ meet only.

The Bolts lost their girls meet that was scheduled around the same time as the Drake Relays so the hosts changed it to coed.

Baxter was the only area girls team at the meet, and the Bolts finished fourth in the six-team field. Camryn Russell claimed the team’s lone win in the 100 hurdles.

Bondurant-Farrar won the girls team title with 166.5 points. AGWSR was the runner-up with 152 and the rest of the field included BCLUW (109.5), Baxter (64), Melcher-Dallas (43) and Ankeny Christian Academy (28).

The Bolts lone individual boys’ win came from Richardson in the 3,200. He was clocked in 10 minutes, 20.25 seconds, while Handorf was second in 10:35.44.

The duo teamed up with Logan Jones and Cody Samson to win the 4x800 relay in 8:56.89.

Jones and Samson then joined forces with Cael Wishman and Logan Rainsbarger in the 4x400 relay and the foursome won the race in a season-best 3:48.91.

The Bolts were second in five events. Treyton Travis sprinted to second in the 200 with a career-best time of 23.9 seconds and Samson posted a career-best time of 54.6 to take second in the 400. Carter Smith also finished second in the discus with a toss of 127 feet, 11 inches.

Travis, Jones and Richardson teamed up with Lincoln Betterton to grab the silver in the

distance medley relay. They finished the race in 3:56.53. Baxter registered three thirdplace finishes.

Rainsbarger had two of them as he was third in the long jump with a leap of 18-5 1/2 and third

in the 110 high hurdles with a time of 16.49. Richardson (2:13.9) and Jones (2:14.26) were 3-4 in the 800 and Handorf (4:48.4) finished third in the 1,600. Smith (41-10) and Travis (5-

8) were fourth in the shot put and high jump, respectively. Baxter did not have the services of Cainan Travis. PCM was without top long jumper and hurdler Gavin Van Gorp as well as sprinter and hurdler Adrien

Robbins.

Colfax-Mingo’s Woods won the high jump with a leap of 5-10. He also was third in the 400 hurdles in a time of 1:00.43 and fourth in the 110 high hurdles in 16.63.

Sullivan Wilkins placed fifth in the 400 in 1:00.71 and sixth in the 1,600 in 5:19.99.

The Tigerhawks’ shuttle hurdle relay team of Wyatt Thornton, Izaiah Lewis, Kyle Wood and Woods placed fourth in 1:13.49.

Russell claimed the Baxter girls’ only win. She won the 100 hurdles in a career-best 16.51 and placed sixth in the long jump with a leap of 13-5.

Gwen Tichy (career-best 6:19.8) placed second in the 1,500 and Avery Wonders took third in the high jump with a mark of 4-8 and sixth in the 200 with a career-best time of 29.77. Baxter newcomer Makayla True placed fifth in the 3,000 with a time of 13:15.2.

The Bolts’ shuttle hurdle and 4x400 relay teams were second and the 4x100 relay team took third.

The shuttle hurdle relay team featured Grace Anderegg, Rossi Swihart, Kendall Brummel and Russell and they finished in 1:19.09.

The 4x400 relay team of Johnelle Gliem, Caydence Sulzle, Morgan Ratliff and Wonders placed second in 4:51.34. Anderegg, Camden Moffit, Swihart and Alyvia Burdess were third in the 4x100 relay in 1:00.97.

Central Iowa United girls score first victory

DES MOINES — Soccer players from Colfax-Mingo had their feet on the Central Iowa United girls’ soccer win on April 4.

Three Tigerhawks scored a goal and senior goalie Cassidy Smith made three saves in the 4-1 triumph over Grand View Christian at Cownie Sports Complex. It was the first win of the season for CIU, which won only one match all of last season. That also was a 4-1 margin. C-M sophomores Brooklyn Yanske and Lilyan Hadsall each had one goal and one assist in the win, while Tigerhawk sophomore Bianca Lane and Baxter sophomore Ashlyn Finch also tallied goals.

Haylee Merryman and Paige Ward had the other two assists. Central Iowa United (1-3) had a 27-13 advantage in shots and a 13-3 surplus in shots on goal.

Grand View Christian (2-1) led 1-0 at halftime following a goal by Katie Murphy

Nevada 10, Central Iowa United 0

NEVADA — Smith made 18 saves, but Nevada was too much for Central Iowa United on April 1.

The Cubs scored seven goals in the first half and then ended the match in the 53rd minute due to the 10-goal mercy rule.

Aubrey Thompson finished with three goals and two assists to lead Nevada, while Tori Meinecke, Isabelle Nelson and Avery Anderson each tallied one goal and one assist.

It was Thompson’s seventh goal of the season and Anderson’s fifth. The Cubs (3-1, 1-0) had a 37-0 advantage in shots and a 19-0 surplus in shots on goal. Central Iowa United fell to 0-1 in the conference.

BOYS Belmond-Klemme 4, Central Iowa United 3

BELMOND — Central Iowa United’s boys soccer team lost its second straight one-goal match on April 5. Belmond-Klemme got three goals

from Christopher Duerte and one goal and two assists from Andy Rivera during a 4-3 non-conference home win. Central Iowa United (0-5) trailed 3-2 at halftime and both teams scored a goal in the second half. Statistics for CIU were not available at press time. Jose Alfaro made nine saves for Belmond-Klemme, which improved to 2-1.

Nevada 2, Central Iowa United 1 NEVADA — Central Iowa United held a lead at halftime, but Nevada rallied with two goals in the second half during a 2-1 home win on April 1. Gavin Egeland and Kaden Weber each scored goals for Nevada in the HOIAC contest and Drake Hinson made two saves for the Cubs, who improved to 2-1 and 1-0 in the conference. Central Iowa United fell to 0-2 in the conference.

Jasper County Tribune

Troy Hyde/ Jasper County Tribune

Baxter junior Makayla True competes in the 3,000-meter run during the Bolts’ coed track and field meet on April 4.

Jasper County Tribune

Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune

Baxter sophomore Cody Travis, right, runs in the sprint medley relay at the Bolts’ home coed meet on April 4. The Bolts are 2-for-2 this season in outdoor competition.

Russell leads Baxter girls to fourth at home coed meet; Tigerhawks finish sixth

Jasper County Tribune

BAXTER — Camryn Russell registered the Bolts’ two wins, grabbed one of the two runner-up finishes and the Baxter girls track and field team placed fourth at its home coed meet on April 8.

The Bolts also took second in the 4x800 relay and was third twice as the hosts scored 90 points.

Colfax-Mingo’s Katelyn Steenhoek won the high jump and the Tigerhawks scored 67 points in sixth.

Van Meter won the meet championship with 139 points.

The rest of the top three featured West Marshall (123) and South Hardin (104). Ankeny Christian Academy (73) was fifth and the rest of the nine-team field featured Southeast Warren (53), Colo-NESCO (41) and Saydel (15).

The Bolts recognized Jo Harder, Regan Russell and Morgan Ratliff for Senior Night halfway through the meet.

Camryn Russell won the 100-meter hurdles in 16.64 seconds and was the long jump winner with a leap of 15 feet, 5 1/2 inches.

She also was the runner-up in the 400 hurdles.

Camryn Russell and Kendall Brummel went 2-4 in the event with times of 1 minute, 16.03 seconds and 1:17.23, respectively.

Baxter’s 4x800 relay team

placed second. That foursome of Brummel, Regan Russell, Ratliff and Gwen Tichy posted a time of 11:24.15.

Harder picked up one of the team’s two third-place finishes. She grabbed the bronze medal in the discus with a throw of 81-3.

The other third came from

Caydence Sulzle in the 800. Her time was recorded in 2:48.52.

Camryn Russell, Brummel, Ratliff and Avery Wonders were fourth in the 4x400 relay with a season-best time of 4:43.72.

The Bolts were top six in three other events. Callie Cross (27-2 1/2) placed fifth in the shot put,

Richardson’s big night powers Baxter boys to second at home

BAXTER — Matt Richardson had a big day on the oval for the Baxter boys track and field team on April 8.

The junior began his night by anchoring the Bolts’ 4x800-meter relay team to a season-best time and finished it with career-best times to win both the 800 and 1,600 at the Baxter Coed Invitational.

In between, he anchored the hosts to a win in the distance medley relay as the Bolts finished second for the first time this season.

Baxter scored 111 points and trailed only Class 2A South Hardin in the final standings. The Tigers won the meet title with 162 points. Colfax-Mingo posted three topthree finishes and scored 53 points

in sixth. The rest of the nine-team field included West Marshall (92), Van Meter (73.5), Ankeny Christian Academy (68), Saydel (52.5), Southeast Warren (52) and Colo-NESCO (43).

The Bolts’ first win of the night came in the 4x800 relay. The team of Logan Jones, Max Handorf, Cody Samson and Richardson posted a season-best time of 8 minutes, 44.53 seconds. That currently ranks ninth in 1A.

Richardson and Samson ran the final two legs of the distance medley relay. They were joined by Logan Rainsbarger and Treyton Travis and that foursome posted a winning season-best time of 3:52.8, which ranks 14th in 1A.

Richardson and Handorf finished 1-2 in the 1,600. Richardson

won the race in a career-best time of 4:45.47 and Handorf’s runner-up time was 4:49.66.

The Bolts also doubled up in the 110 high hurdles, 800 and the discus.

In the 800, Richardson won the with a career-best time of 2:08.26 and Samson finished fifth in 2:17.39.

Samson was part of a Baxter trio that was recognized for Senior Night. He was joined by Travis and Jones.

Carter Smith and Grant Anderegg were 3-4 in the discus. Smith’s career-best toss of 131 feet, 5 inches ranks 14th in 1A, while Anderegg was fourth with a career-best heave of 124-7 1/2.

Smith also was third in the shot put with a career-best toss of 42-0 and Travis finished third in the high jump with a leap of 5-8. Rainsbarger scored a fourth-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 18-3 1/2.

Rainsbarger (16.96) also took fourth in the 110 high hurdles, while Lincoln Betterton (19.52) was sixth.

Cael Wishman posted a career-best time of 25.14 seconds to place fifth in the 200, while Jones was fifth in the 400 with a season-best time of 56.7.

Jones also placed fifth in the 400 hurdles with a season-best time of 1:02.11.

Samson, Wishman, Jones and Rainsbarger teamed up in the 4x400 relay and the Bolts were fifth in 4:06.56.

Colfax-Mingo was held out of the win column, but Xavier Woods finished second in the high jump, third in the 110 high hurdles and fourth in the 400 hurdles.

Woods reached 6-0 in the high jump, finished the 110 high hurdles in 16.73 and completed the 400 hurdles in 1:01.73.

The Tigerhawks doubled up in the 110 high hurdles as Wyatt Thornton placed fifth in 18.29.

Sullivan Wilkins ran a career-best time of 5:13.33 to finish fourth in the 1,600 and Owen Ament (12:39.29) was fifth in the 3,200.

Thornton, Davion Long, Woods and Wilkins finished second in the distance medley relay with a time of 3:59.68. That’s a season best by almost 17 seconds.

Colfax-Mingo’s 4x400 relay team featured Long, Izaiah Lewis, Ament and Wilkins. That group finished fourth in 4:04.12.

while Tichy (1:12.17) and Wonders (4-8) were sixth in the 400 and high jump, respectively.

Steenhoek matched a career best in the high jump as her winning leap was marked at 4-10. Grace Hunsberger was third in the event with a jump of 4-8.

The Tigerhawks’ lone second-place finish came in the shuttle hurdle relay.

The team of Lily Webster, Cadence Linn, Evalyn Anderson and Arlo Steck posted a time of 1:18.7.

Colfax-Mingo had nine other top-six finishes. Lexie Aller (278 1/4) and Britney Keeney (26-8 1/2) went 4-6 to give the Tigerhawks double points in the shot put.

Addie Schroeder (12:59.8) and Shae Wilkins (13:10.34) scored double points in the 3,000 as Schroeder was fifth and Wilkins placed sixth.

Mallory Sipma took fifth in the 800 with a career-best time of 2:55.32 and Webster was sixth in the 100 hurdles in 18.8.

Colfax-Mingo’s 4x800 relay team of Rachael Uecker, Sipma, Claire Hunsberger and Schroeder placed fourth in 12:09.49.

The Tigerhawks’ sprint medley relay team posted a season-best time of 2:11 with Olivia Rausch, Dakota Allen, Victoria Woods and Steck.

Krissy Snow, Claire Hunsberger, Allen and Uecker also placed fifth in the 4x200 relay. They posted a time of 2:08.18.

Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune

Colfax-Mingo junior Lily Webster starts the shuttle hurdle relay at the Baxter Coed Invitational on April 8. The Tigerhawks were second in the event and sixth in the final team standings.

Jasper County Tribune

Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune Baxter junior Carter Smith registered career-best distances in the shot put and discus and finished third in both events at the Baxter Coed Invitational on April 8.

Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune

Colfax-Mingo sophomore Sullivan Wilkins hands the baton to freshman teammate Fisher Grove, left, as Baxter junior Cade Robinson passes the baton to freshman Lincoln Betterton during the boys’ sprint medley relay at the Baxter Coed Invitational on April 8.

as presented. Motion carried (5y0n) III. Approval of Consent Items: Kucera moved, seconded by Hauser to approve the payment of bills totaling $104,249.67 and minutes of the February 21, 2024 board meeting as presented. Motion carried (5y-0n)

IV Correspondence: None.

V. Public Forum: Sue Atkinson explained more about the previous email she sent to board members.

VI Business Items: A. Principals Reports: Each month, principals, Rob Luther and Zach Hasselbrink, share activities during the past month B. Solar Present ation: Representatives from UES Solar and 413 Solutions reviewed their solar power proposal The district is exploring alternative power options

C. Open Enrollment: Northrup moved, seconded by Akins, to approve open enrollment in applications for 2024-25 from Breanna Grider and David Grider for their child Sebastian, from Newton CSD; from Amy and Thomas Foster for their son, Isaac from West Marshall; from John and Darci Damman for their daughter Jane; and from Kenny Poage and Dana Poage for their children, Jaelynn Poage, Haidenn Poage, Kinnick Poage, Kenzie Wignall, and Kylah Wignall from BCLUW CSD, as presented Motion carried (5y0n)

Theresa Beacher and Cliff Johnsen requested their son, Jack Johnsen, continue to attend Ames CSD. Jack attends Ames PK currently. D. Personne l: Kucera moved, seconded by Northrup, to approve a resignation from Anna Brown as secondary teacher and coach/sponsor, as requested. Motion carried (5y-0n) Northrup moved, seconded by Hauser to approve a contract for Clay Harrold as Secondary Principal as recommended. Motion carried (5y-0n) Northrup moved, seconded by Kucera, to accept the rescission of resignation from Kristin Luther as requested. Motion carried (5y0n) E. Facilities, Grounds, & Transportation: Board members reviewed a quote for the replacement of door handles with inside locking door handles This project will be included in the Safety Grant project rather than the relocation of the outdoor sign.

F. Approve District Auditor: Kucera moved, seconded by Akins, to approve Nolte, Cornman, & Johnson PC as district auditors for the next three fiscal years beginning with FYR 2024, as recommended. Motion carried (5y-0n) G. Superint endent's Report: Administration has been working on staffing and transition plans for the new school year H. BEA Initial Proposal : The BEA (Baxter Education Association) provided their initial language only proposal I. Closed Session: (as allowed by Chapter 20, Section 20.17(3), of the Code of Iowa for strategy in the collective bargaining negotiating process): Akins moved, seconded by Northrup, to go into closed session at 7:33pm as per Iowa Code Section 20.17 (3), for strategy in the collective bargaining negotiating process. Motion carried (5y-0n) Akins moved, seconded by Hauser to come out of closed session at 8:26pm. Motion carried (5y-0n) J. Initial Proposal to BEA: Board members did not decide on an initial proposal to the BEA due to initial funding amounts not available from the legislature.

XI Adjournment: Northrup moved, seconded by Akins to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 8:26pm Motion carried (5y-0n) The regular March board meeting minutes will be presented for approval at the regular April board meeting. Cory Robinson 4/17/24

Board President Julie McWhirter 4/17/24

Board Secretary April 11

Colfax-Mingo Community School District Public Heari ng 03/25/202405:30 PM Colfax Mingo Central Office Board Room1000 N. Walnut St Colf ax, IA 500541 MEETING MINUTES Attendees

Voting Members Dawn Gibson, Board Member Chet Williams Board Member Patrick Utz, Board Member Kendra Perry Board Member Mary Poulter, Board Vice President Shannon Boehm Board President Ashley Vanderschoor, Board Member Non-Voting Members Tim Salmon Superintendent Kelly Disney, Board Secretary I 2024-25 Proposed Property Taxes PUBLIC HEARING II Ca ll to Order III. Determination of Quorum IV Approval of

Study finds 29% of Americans procrastinate on taxes

With Tax Day just a week away, many Americans are scrambling to file their returns, but according to IPX1031’s 5th annual Tax Procrastinators report, some are more likely to put off this annual task than others, proving that when it comes to taxes, procrastination is a national pastime.

The report found 1 in 4 Americans don’t feel pre -

pared to file their taxes this year and 29 percent admit to procrastinating Tax Day is April 15 this year, but 28 percent don’t know when the tax filing deadline is this year.

Insights into American Filing Practices and Challenges: Top tax procrastinators by state: Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, and Delaware The #1 reason Americans

procrastinate taxes: the process is too complicated and stressful 1 in 5 think Tax Day is on April 18

According to the Internal Revenue Service, the average tax refund amount in 2023 was $2,903. In 2024, Americans expect the average refund to be $2,552. Compared to 2023, 30 percent expect to get less of a refund this year.