JCT-04-18-2024

Emergency management to create EMS advisory group

By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune

Jasper County Emergency Management Agency is creating an advisory group to help build out the EMS system across the county and be eligible for state grants. Jamey Robinson, director of Jasper County EMA, said last week that the group should consist of EMS directors, a medical director and a county supervisor.

During the April 2 board of supervisors meeting, Robinson solicited the help of a county supervisor who would be willing to volunteer their time and serve in the EMS advisory group. Robinson said the group would likely meet monthly or at least more frequently early on but eventually transition to quarterly meetings.

With the recent addition of Steve Ashing as deputy director of Jasper County EMA, Robinson is excited for the department to “get things rolling and on track” in order to “get a product that everyone can be happy with” and also address EMS concerns across the entire county.

Supervisor Brandon Talsma volunteered to join the group. Robinson said he would be sitting in on meetings and discussions, and he will provide feedback when needed. Especially when funding is concerned. Robinson said it will be a couple months before the group is fully established.

“We want to lay some groundwork,” Robinson said. “Like I said, since Steve started yesterday and this will kind of be his

Jasper County EMA director says team will address first responder challenges

main focus; that’s what this position was originally started for. But we want to get some things laid out so you’re not just walk-

ROAD CLOSED

Highway 14 from Monroe to south of Newton under construction for

By Jamee A. Pierson

Starting April 8, travelers who frequent Highway 14 from Monroe to Newton need to search for a new route. From the northern city limits of Monroe to South 60th Avenue West north of the Skunk River, road construction has closed the busy thoroughfare for an extended period of time.

“They anticipate the closure

of this portion of the highway to last about three months,” Jasper County officials shared on the county website. The Iowa Department of

HIGHWAY 14 | 3

ing into a blank piece of paper.”

In a follow-up with Newton News, Robinson said building out an EMS system across the

county involves recognizing the challenges faced by volunteer EMS providers. Many of them are often juggling between demanding schedules and commitments outside of their emergency response roles.

With many volunteers also balancing full-time jobs and other responsibilities, it can be challenging to ensure round-theclock availability for EMS services, Robinson said; recruiting and retaining people willing to commit to extensive EMT and/ or paramedic training is becoming increasingly difficult, too.

“By establishing a countywide EMS system, our aim is to address these challenges by ensuring that all EMS services have the capability to function at a

Jasper County to re-line and reinforce two culvert pipes on F-48

Engineer says hiring contractor for $60K project is best bet considering the active construction along highway

By Christopher

Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune

Two culvert pipes along F-48 West in Jasper County have been approved for new, reinforced lining as opposed to an all out replacement, which the county engineer noted would be difficult. Both culverts are located along the first phase of the reconstruction project between Lambs Grove and the Baxter interchange.

Jasper County Engineer Michael Frietsch said the culverts would be difficult to replace considering the existing — and old — inlet structures are still underneath the pavement and are tied together. By lining it, contractors can essentially in-

NO-TILL THE END OF TIME

Farmer prefers no-till to preserve Iowa’s rich soil and to keep land fertile for the next generation

By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune

In the kitchen of Richard Roorda’s rural Prairie City home is a small table covered with so many newspapers and farming magazines you could hardly tell what the surface looked like underneath all those publications. We sat across from each other, with his back toward the kitchen counters and mine toward the foyer. He had just returned from chores and apologized for the mess in front of us. I told

him it I didn’t mind, and then we began our interview for an AgMag story that would very likely be added to the rest of the pile in the next few months. Roorda is a no-till farmer, and has been for nearly 30 years. Which means, when growing his corn and soybeans, he takes great care not to agitate the soil too much with cultivators or other tilling machinery. In addition to rotating his crops — an extremely common practice where farmers alternate which

crops are grown in their fields, meaning a soybean field last year will likely become a corn field this year — Roorda has also planted cover crops. As a steward of fertile Iowa farmland, he sees these practices is an effective way to reduce soil erosion. For many Iowa farmers, that means their fields will have longer lifespans and their prized topsoil stays intact. Much of Roorda’s fields are covered with a layer of crop residue, like stalks, husks, leaves or cobs,

and together they are protecting that topsoil. Roorda must have sensed my confusion, so he paused for a moment to think of an example. He looked down, and then his eyebrows perked up. The perfect illustration for cover crops and notill farming was right in front of us.

“It’s kind of like my table here. It’s covered with magazines. If a rain shower comes through, well the raindrops don’t hit the soil — you know, the bare table — they hit the magazines, the crop

stall a fiberglass “sock,” pressurize it and then set it with UV lights. Then contractors can use structural foam to fill in the inlets. Frietsch said the liner will create a pipe inside of the existing pipe. Which is good because if the original pipe fails or is compromised, the newly reinforced lining will have maintained its shape and will still be stronger than the actual pipe that is there today.

Secondary roads crews determined four other pipes along F-48 also needed assistance, but Frietsch said local teams can line the structures themselves using Snap-tite

CULVERT | 3

residue,” Roorda said. “The raindrops are not hitting directly on the soil and making a splash or dislodge the soil particles so much that they start to move, and move downhill. The magazines absorb that impact of rain and then allow it to soak in to the table and not run off the side.” Of course these soil conservation practices do not outright prevent soil erosion and runoff, but farmers can drastically reduce soil movement or

Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer

Jamey Robinson, director of Jasper County Emergency Management Agency, is establishing an EMS advisory group in order to better address emergency services across the county.

Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer

Richard Roorda, a rural Prairie City farmer, shares a laugh in his field, which is covered in soybean stubble and corn cobs from past harvests. As a no-till farmer, Roorda says this practice of leaving crop residue on top of the soil gives him a better chance of reducing soil loss or soil movement.

Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune

Signs have been out for several weeks warning drivers of the upcoming closure to Highway 14 from the northern city limits of Monroe to South 60th Avenue north of the Skunk River.

several months

Jasper County Tribune

Obituaries

Kenneth Duane Bucklin

April 10, 2024

Kenneth Duane Bucklin was born August 5, 1939, on the family farm near Baxter, Iowa. He was a son of Edward & Helen (Pershall) Bucklin. He attended country school through 8th grade and graduated from Baxter High School. Kenneth received his B.S. in civil engineering from Iowa State University in 1962, and was a licensed Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor in Iowa until retirement. He retired from French-Reneker-Associates, Inc, in December

2004 after being employed as marketing director and project manager. During his last 10 years of employment there he served as President and CEO of the firm. Prior to joining French-Reneker-Associates, Inc, he spent 7 years with the Iowa Highway Commission and 13 years as County Engineer. In May of 1963 his civilian career was interrupted by a military obligation. He went on active duty with the Army Corps of Engineers and spent two years as a platoon leader and as commanding officer of a combat engineering company (Company B, First Engineer Battalion, First Army Division, known as Big Red One), stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas. On December 26, 1972, Kenneth was united in marriage to Beverly Ann Dabney, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua.

They built a home on a farm northwest of Sigourney where they raised their two daughters. Kenneth was a member of the Sigourney United Methodist Church, Sigourney Kiwanis and the Fairfield Rotary Club. In his free time Ken enjoyed woodworking, photography, genealogy, and maintenance on the farm. Traveling for family vacations and boating on Lake Rathbun were just a couple of places where they created many lasting memories as a family. Kenneth died on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, at the age of 84 years.

He is survived by his wife Beverly of Sigourney; two daughters Kimberly (Matthew) Shera of Sigourney and Jenny Bucklin of Clive; two grandchildren Maitlynn

Bucklin-Pagano and Owen Shera; three brothers Eugene (Jean) Bucklin of Oakes, North Dakota, David (Mary) Bucklin and Denny (Lois) Bucklin all of Baxter; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his parents and an infant brother Donald Bucklin. Funeral Services will be held 10:30 am on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at the Sigourney United Methodist Church in Sigourney. Burial will be in the Restland Cemetery, Baxter. Visitation will be on Tuesday, from 5:007:00 pm at the Powell Funeral Home in Sigourney. Memorials may be given to the Sigourney United Methodist Church, Iowa State University foundation, or Baxter Community School Scholarships. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Free program at NSNWR

Free Bird Watching and Bagels Program

Enjoy an introduction to the world of bird watching at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 20 at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. The naturalist-guided program will start with a quick lesson on binocular usage and bird-watching tipsand-tricks, followed by a walk along one of the

trails. This is a great time to get outside to see the spring bird migration. Free loaner binoculars will be available for check-out and free bagels and coffee will warm participants up after the walk. This event is geared for bird watchers of all skill levels, ages 8 and older. Meet at the visitor center lobby at 8 a.m.

100+ People Who Care to meet April 23

The regular quarterly meeting of 100+ People Who Care – Grinnell will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23 in the parish center at St. Mary Church, 1002 Broad St., in Grinnell, and is scheduled to last no more than an hour. In addition to hearing nominating presentations for three charities and then moving through the voting and funding procedures, members of 100+ People Who Care – Grinnell will hear a stewardship report regarding the last quarter’s funding of the Shoes for the Soul Fund.

There are now 135 memberships in 10 + People Who Care – Grinnell. These people have discovered the ef-

fectiveness of pooled philanthropy, where, by joining with their neighbors and friends, a membership donation of $100 can be boosted to an impact of $13,500 to a beneficiary organization. Each member pledges to contribute $100 to the organization receiving the plurality of votes at the membership meeting, after presentations of need are made by the members. At the conclusion of the one-hour meeting, each member writes a check for $100 to the selected organization, with 100 % of the funds thus being made available to meet the presented need. This will be the 27th funding meeting of 100+ People Who Care – Grinnell, with

Annual state auction is live online until April 24

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources annual spring auction is being held online until April 24. To view the firearms for sale and to register to bid, go to https://auctionsolutionsinc.com/ auctions.

Items up for auction include firearms, bows, gun cases and scopes. The items are sold “as is” with no guarantee or warranty. The list of items for sale and the terms of service is available at https:// www.proxibid.com/Auction-Solutions-Inc/Iowa-State-Firearm-Auction-2024/event-catalog/259840.

Iowans who are winning bidders are required to pick up their firearms from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 27 at the northwest corner parking lot/loading dock of the Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. Ninth S., in Des Moines.

The Iowa DNR reserves the right to reject any bids and withdraw any item from the sale at any time.

$354,985 being awarded to non-profits.

The concept of giving for 100+ People Who Care – Grinnell grows from the experience of Karen Dunigan, of Jackson, Michigan, who, in 2006, was seeking to purchase pediatric hospital beds for her local hospital. Rather than inviting 10 of her friends to give $ 1,000 each to the cause, she determined that she knew 100 people who might each give $100, resulting in the same amount of money raised, but with a broader base of understanding and support for the worthy project. The success of the idea quickly caught others’ attention and the funding con-

cept has expanded to more than 700 “chapters” of 100+ People Who Care throughout the upper Midwest, Canada, and to several other countries. The Grinnell area unit formed in January 2017. Membership remains open to all. For further information regarding 100+ People Who Care – Grinnell, contact any of the current board members: Marta Miller (mjo_miller@yahoo.com), John McCleery (mccleery_ john@yahoo.com), Lance and Megan Veldboom (veldboom@iowatelecom. net), Katie Lanius (katielanius@yahoo.com), and Tim Hammond (timothyandrewhammond@gmail.com).

Homeowners may notice spring frost damage as trees start to bud

Iowa’s early spring warm up followed by the return of below freezing evening temperatures were a shock to many trees. Some trees experienced frost damage to their newly emerging blooms or shoots.

Homeowners may see evidence of frost damage on trees that have started to bloom or leaf out. The damage will likely not be severe

and injuries won’t be lasting. Look for leaves or petals that are wilted, shriveling and crispy, often with brown or black blotches around the edges. Some leaves may turn completely brown. Damaged growth usually becomes limp. New growth will push out the dead, damaged leaves and they will fall off naturally.

“Frost damage affects all trees in some way,” Tivon Fee -

ley, DNR forest health forester, said. “It’s only a small setback for most trees. Healthy trees will recover on their own and sprout again later in the season.”

Good care during the remainder of the year, such as watering during dry periods, should aid the recovery of freezed damaged trees. Mulch around trees to help maintain moisture.

Iowa joins nationwide network of EV charging stations

By Mark Moran Iowa News Service

Iowa is accepting bids from people who want an EV charging station on their land. It’s part of a nationwide network of infrastructure designed to meet the needs of electric vehicle owners.

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, or NEVI, will provide funding to build charging stations every 50 miles along U.S. interstate highways - from coast to coast.

In Iowa, that includes I-80, 380, 29 and 35.

The Iowa Environmental Council’s Energy Policy Counsel Steve Geyer said businesses, electric utilities, nonprofits, towns - and even private landown-

ers, such as farmers - can apply, as long as their land is within a mile of the freeway and meets other criteria.

“Suppose you are that farmer and you are at one of those locations,” said Geyer. “Sure. If you have the

availability to raise the capital, that’s one of the criteria. You have to be able to demonstrate that you either have ownership of the land or you have the rights to the land.”

The deadline to apply for the grants is April 19. Each location will have four rapid-charging ports, but Geyer said they won’t just be bare-bones places to power up the EV.

“Every location has to have some form of not only restroom facilities,” said Geyer, “but also - be it a convenience store or vending machines, et cetera - recognizing that it will take some time to charge your car so you need, presumably, something to do during that time.”

Applications go through the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Adobe Stock

Shaw News File Photo

paramedic level, providing advanced life support (ALS) care to all citizens, regardless of their location or the availability of volunteer responders,” he said.

Robinson added the primary goal of the advisory group is to generate actionable strategies and recommendations that will lead to tangible improvements in EMS services, such as increased availability to trained personnel and medical resources, improved

provider coordination and enhanced response times. Ultimately, Robinson is hoping for better patient outcomes. Which is difficult to achieve with the current challenges faced by EMS providers, such as resource limitations, disparities in service delivery and the need for improved coordination and communication.

“The advisory group will address these concerns by fostering collaboration, identifying priority areas for improvement, and developing strategic action plans to address gaps in service delivery, resource allocation, and emergency prepared-

pipe. Plus, there are not existing inlets in them so they are a lot more straightforward than the other two.

“These two are going to take a little bit,” Frietsch said.

The county received a $60,390 bid from Subsurface, Inc. Supervisors would go on to approve the bid in a 3-0 vote. Frietsch told them prior to the vote that secondary roads reached out to a few other companies but did not receive a response from them. Subsurface, Inc. has done similar work throughout Iowa.

“So we know this a tried-and-true method here,” Frietsch said. “This is not something novel at all.” Frietsch said hiring a contractor was the best idea for the county, especially considering it is taking place during an active reconstruction of F-48.

ness,” Robinson said. Jasper County EMA highlights its commitment to building on “the exemplary work” initiated by supervisors, sheriff John Halferty and Jasper County Sheriff’s Office with the county’s ALS response cars. This past work will go a long way in establishing the EMS system Robinson wants to see.

“By leveraging this foundation, we endeavor to establish a seamlessly integrated EMS network that optimizes resources, bolsters response times and elevates patient outcomes across the entire county,” Robinson said.

soil loss. Roorda said it is important for farmers to take care of Iowa’s soil, which historically has great productive capabilities. Whether immediately or slowly over time, washing the soil away also washes away its productivity. News reports over the past few years point to continued loss of Iowa topsoil. Roorda knows these reports well. Some have even graced his kitchen table a time or two. He’s paying attention.

“You hear numbers that we’ve lost half of our soil in a lot of the state. It all depends on typography and the way its been treated and multiple other things. But by not tilling you can retain that soil better than you can by stirring it up and loosening it every year,” Roorda said, estimating a good share of farmers he knows in Jasper County at least try to reduce any negative impact to Iowa soil.

While there is some data that shows farmers who till have a higher crop overall production, Roorda was hesitant to say for certain. To him, no-till farming is just a different management style, and any style of farming could produce lousy yields; even for those who till their fields, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture says is generally done to prepare soil for planting, better incorporate fertilizers, mix crop residue into the soil and control weeds, among other things. Roorda said tilling does make it easier

Transportation project, will put an overlay will be put on the existing pavement to hopefully improve the roadway. According to the county, the IDOT hopes to keep the F-62 intersection passable during the construction, but all other intersections with Highway 14 will be closed.

A detour route will be marked using Highway 163, Highway 117 and Interstate 80. IDOT said changes can be made to the detour routes during construction and to visit 511ia.org to find the most upto-date detour route information.

to plant seeds. No-till farming can prove challenging.

“I’ve got last year’s soybean stubble to deal with when I’m planting corn, or I’ve got all the residue left from the corn plant for my soybeans,” he said. “I’ve got husks and cobs and stalks laying every which way, and I’ve got the stumps of the corn plant to interfere with the planter a little bit. So you kind of have to figure how to make it work and to deal with all of that.”

Are there benefits to no-till farming? Sure. Conceivably, there may be fewer expenses since there would be less machinery involved, but then again there will always been some level of uncontrollable overhead costs for farmers. And there’s nothing “cheap” when it comes to farming. Even if there was a great deal of cost savings, it would not be the reason Roorda is a notill farmer. To him, it all comes down to soil conservation. Preserving Io -

“Pay attention to detour signing and message boards while driving,” IDOT said in a news release. “Help keep everyone on the road safer. Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles and wear seat belts.”

Once the first portion of the project in complete, the next piece from South 60th Avenue to the City of Newton will be closed for resurfacing. Additional information will be shared by the IDOT when available as the project moves forward.

wa’s “black gold” means more years of fertility for himself and the next generations of farmers.

Farmers leave behind a legacy through their fields. Roorda said farmers do not want a reputation of not taking care of their land. For those with a good conscience, the dreaded fear of a rundown farming operation hangs over their heads like a dark storm cloud before a fall harvest. It makes Roorda sick to think someone might one day say about him, “Man, that fool ruined this farm!” No one wants to hear that. Farmers want the best for their farm, and they hope folks will say, “Boy, this farm really meant something to them. They really took care of it.”

Roorda’s legacy is buried beneath a layer of ragged soybean stubble and old corn cobs. It is decades worth of work, but he feels good that his farming practices are fairly consistent and are not going out of their

way to harm the state’s greatest asset. He hopes his efforts in preserving the soil have made it fertile enough for the next farmer who would take over the fields. And he hopes they will lead by his example. Perhaps they, too, will see the benefits of covering a kitchen table with a bunch of magazines.

“Whether it’s a family member or not, somebody is going to be farming that land. When I quit, that farm is not going to sit idle. Somebody’s going to farm, and at least I can know that I’ve done the best that I could to preserve the soil and take care of it and its productive capability,” Roorda said. “Am I leaving it better than I got it? That’s kind of hard to say. But you hope. You hope you’re leaving it as good as you got it. This is what we make our living from. You don’t want to do anything, consciously, to interfere with future use and future productivity.”

Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune Jasper County Engineer Michael Frietsch speaks with the board of supervisors during its April 9 meet inside the county courthouse.

Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune

Idiopathic idiot

The neurologist gave me the diagnosis I didn’t want to hear: “Severe Idiopathic Neuropathy.” I pretended to know what he meant. Ginnie, the lab-tech, told me later that “idiopathic” simply means the condition arises spontaneously, cause unknown. Great. Neuropathy is a pain or tingling in the feet or hands and can be accompanied with balance issues. I didn’t have pain or tingling, but my legs did feel like stumps at times, and I was definitely having balance issues. There is no cure for Neuropathy, the condition worsens over time, and it may be hereditary. I was advised to start using a cane (yeah, right), and that I should notify my kids of the condition.

I had been through every test, poke, prod and thump imaginable: EKG, ultrasound (heart and carotids), echocardiogram, CT scan, MRI (brain), blood work, pin poke (actual and electronic),

YOUR VIEW

and reflex-hammer bump. When my pulse was determined to be too low, a pacemaker was implanted in my chest. I thought that would cure the vertigo, but noooo. The pacemaker did stop my near-fainting episodes when I stood up too fast, but not the vertigo. Neuropathy seemed to be the evil culprit. I ‘spose I should be thankful that I don’t have Parkinson’s Disease, dementia, or something worse. After all, I am going on 76. Being a former marathoner and triathlete, I’m not accustomed nor did I expect to ever be using a cane. Geesh. I did go so far as to dig Ginnie’s two canes out of the attic. (She’d had a hip replacement.) The canes are hanging by their hooks in the kitchen, in case I decide to use them. I practiced walking with one of those canes. It does feel good. But for now, the canes are hanging silently, waiting knowingly for the inevitable.

Consumers didn’t have say

Families and businesses living in rural and other smaller communities across Jasper, Marshall, Story, Grundy, Black Hawk, Buchanan and 12 other counties in central Iowa might be surprised to learn that their water rates will soon increase by up to 800 percent.

What might be even more surprising is how this increase came about in the first place. Recently, the Newton City Council approved the rate increase and even went so far as to waive the standard second and third readings, which prevents anyone from providing additional feedback According to the Newton Daily News, the Newton City Council defended the motion to waive the readings because “it (the rate increase) doesn’t affect Newton citizens as much.” I suppose those facing this rate increase who are neighbors of Newton and would undoubtedly want an opportunity to participate in this process are simply out of luck. For me personally, access to reliable and affordable water is absolutely vital to my cattle and hog operation and an 800 percent rate increase will have a devastating impact not only on me but other local farmers across the region.

In short, the customers who will now be forced to pay significantly higher rates for water services 1) did not have an opportunity to participate in the elections of the council men and women who made this decision; 2) were denied the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposal to increase rates; 3) were not given an opportunity to review the studies the city commissioned on this topic; and 4) the rate increase disproportionately impacts Iowans across 18 other counties. That’s wrong on all counts.

Moreover, there are other options available to the community. Recently, Iowa lawmakers updated the process where a municipality like Newton can sell their water and / or wastewater infrastructure to a regulated company. In this case, Newton

We

could sell their water system and use the funds for other community priorities such as the local police and fire departments, investments in streets and local infrastructure, or tax relief for Newton residents.

Maybe more importantly, this type of move would provide a number of other benefits. First, if a regulated company purchased the local water system, rates can only be adjusted if the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) approves it after a lengthy regulatory process where they evaluate testimony and feedback from consumers, stakeholders the Office of Consumer Advocate, and more. Within this process, there are multiple opportunities for people to express their opinion, including customer comment meetings and submitting comments into the IUB docket. This type of process provides full transparency to all the facts and information related to a proposed rate increase.

Second, when evaluating a request to increase rates, the IUB looks at whether the proposed increase is reasonable. It is hard to imagine any regulatory body concluding that the 800 percent increase the Newton City Council just approved is in any way reasonable.

Third, regulated companies generally have access to far more capital than a typical government run utility. That means these types of companies have a greater ability to make the type of investments that are critical to our water and wastewater systems, particularly those necessary to ensure long-term water quality.

For the people and businesses facing this unprecedented 800 percent increase in their water rates, I suggest visiting www.NewtonGov. org/95/Mayor-City-Council and contacting Newton’s mayor and the members of the Newton City Council to encourage them to reconsider this unfortunate decision. Thad Nearmyer Monroe

need a draft

So just some thoughts, folks, on how to solve one more crisis. We need a state draft to shore up the southern border with real troops. It shouldn’t be that hard to do with a legislature that will do whatever the governor wants them to do. We can always find the money to fix any crisis we come up with, such as shortening once again the time available for unemployment benefits, getting rid of the last remaining unions, especially teacher’s unions. There are all sorts of ways we can find the money to support a draft. Who needs a state auditor when we have a crisis: not necessary and besides he’s a democrat. Get rid of the position entirely. Clearly, we need something more

Then I came home to a computer hack. Ginnie and I were watching one of the late evening NCAA Basketball Tournament games. I received a Facebook Messenger message from a distant friend, asking for my phone number. I figured he wanted to call me. So, with one eye on the game, I gave him my phone number. Then he (or she) asked for something strange, like a code number from Facebook. Like an idiot, still trying to watch the game, I gave him this code. Kerblewy! Facebook crashed and so did my world. A notice went out to all 2,500 of my Facebook “friends” that my father had passed away, (my father died 30 years ago) and that I was selling a whole bunch of his possessions, cheap. I tried to take the notice down but was locked out of my account. I started getting calls like, “Hey Curt, I’m coming to pick up your dad’s car I just bought through PayPal.” My daughter even had someone come to her door looking for the trailer he bought. Good grief. I notified the sheriff’s department and Facebook. There didn’t seem to be much they could do. I changed passwords and got

my account back up and running. I apologized profusely to all of my “friends.” Then the advertisements for my late dad’s possessions reappeared. I could see on Facebook Messenger where the hacker, disguised as me, had been communicating with my Facebook friends. I reported the problem to Facebook. They suspended my account.

Feeling dirty and violated, I appealed the suspension. I had to take a selfie video of myself proving who I was. I looked at the image of myself in the phone and wondered if I really wanted to get back on Facebook. My image argued back, “You post your ‘Empty Nest’ column on Facebook, and that’s where a lot of people read it.”

As of right now, thanks to the help of a computer “guru,” my Facebook page is up and running again with new passwords, and is locked down tight (I hope). If you get a “friend” request from me, you might wonder if it’s really me, or some hacker. Between my neuropathy and gullibility, just call me the idiopathic idiot.

ContactCurtSwarmatcurtswarm@ yahoo.com

This week, the Iowa House passed with overwhelming bipartisan support HF 2681: Regulation of Traffic Cameras. Over the last few years, we’ve heard Iowan’s frustration with the increasing number of speed cameras popping up around Iowa.

Cities and counties argue speed cameras are necessary to increase public safety. And in some cases that may be true. However, it’s clear some municipalities abuse these systems by using them merely to raise revenue. Regulation on speed cameras is long overdue.

Here’s what the bill stipulates:

1. Cities or counties must prove a legitimate safety concern and receive a permit from the Department of Transportation to install a traffic camera. Existing systems will be allowed to continue while under review. New cameras would fall underneath a 2026 moratorium to provide adequate time for existing DOT reviews.

2. Traffic cameras can only be used to issue tickets 10 miles over the speed limit.

3. Images taken by the traffic camera must be deleted within 30 days unless they are a part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

4. Signs must be placed between 500 and 1,000 feet in advance of any traffic camera.

5. Local governments can only use the money generated by traffic cameras for transportation infrastructure improvement or for their police and fire departments.

Last week the House moved

than just sending a few highway patrolmen and national guardsmen to the border with Mexico to solve this crisis of refugees who hope to come to the United States, the land of the free and the brave, so they can actually get a job and earn some money. We simply have to do something with a real edge to it. As I said, what I suggest is we institute a state draft. Drafting people into the military has a long and illustrious history. Clearly it is something that would be acceptable to anyone not drafted, i.e. a majority of the people of the State of Iowa.

It would be good to know that we have a crisis on our hands and it’s being dealt with. I personally wasn’t aware of it nor affected by it, but if our governor says there’s a crisis, there must be one

Week 14

the Health and Human Services budget through subcommittee. It appropriates $2.217 billion from the general fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services for Fiscal Year 2025, a $92.5 million increase compared to FY2024. In total with federal matching funds, it appropriates over $6 billion towards Medicaid, child care, child welfare, public health, aging, and veteran services in Iowa.

Highlights from the House HHS budget include:

Mental Health Care: The Iowa House has made increasing access to mental health care for Iowans a priority. This budget provides $2.25 million in increased state funding towards mental health Medicaid rates, building on last year’s $13 million increase. It also provides for an enhanced rate to Psychiatric Medical Institutes for Children that care for children with the most complex conditions.

Care for older Iowans: This budget provides a $3 million increase to home health rates to help keep Iowans in their homes longer and to ensure access to care in rural Iowa.

Protecting local pharmacies: We want to protect rural Iowans’ access to local pharmacies. This budget builds on the bills we’ve

somewhere. After all, by simply saying there is a crisis there is obviously a crisis. I can’t believe our governor would just make something up like that.

So since we have declared a crisis, we must find a method by which to deal with it. Sending highway patrolmen and national guard personnel to the border is one way of helping but clearly insufficient. Since I am personally unaffected by the crisis — after all I don’t know any refugees, nor what they do when they get here, nor where they live when they get here — I will take the governor’s word for it: THAT WE ARE IN A CRISIS!

Personal experience does have some weight. I was drafted — way back in the Vietnam conflict. We are disposed to call it a conflict rather than a war these days since we don’t

passed this session by increasing the Medicaid pharmacy dispensing fee by $2 million.

Quality care for disabled Iowans: We want to ensure disabled Iowans get the care and help they need. This budget increases home and community-based services rates to care for disabled Iowans in their communities with a $14.6 million investment. It also provides $5 million to increase access to enhanced case management for Iowans using long-term services and supports and provides $1.78 million to increase the eligibility for the Medicaid for Employed people with disabilities program. Taking Care of Our Veterans: This budget funds the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Cemetery, and the Iowa Veterans Home at the Governor’s recommended level.

Child Welfare: This session, we set out to pass policies to ensure all children, especially those born into difficult situations, have the support they need. Regarding child welfare, this budget:

• Increases the stipend for those in the child welfare system utilizing the preparation for adult living program.

• Increases foster care rates and adoption subsidy rates.

• Pays for home studies for those Iowans that are hoping to adopt a child in need.

• Funds House File 2134 to expand subsidized apartment living. Our week we will continue to be focused on budgets and taxes. Let’s keep the conversation

want to admit we got our butts kicked. Personally, I spent three and a half wonderful years on board a ship sitting in the harbor at Norfolk. It was a tender and for part of those three and a half years the ship was the U.S. Vulcan, the oldest, active ship in the U.S. Navy (at the time) which was eventually sold to Iran. It’s probably still floating around in the Persian Gulf full of Iranis who don’t like Americans even though they are in, afterall, an American-made ship. So, I’m in favor of a draft to solve this proclaimed crisis. We need troops for this. As usual, we just need some critical thinking, some innovation. These are things we are good at, right? So, let’s do it. Richard E. H. Phelps II Mingo

Curt Swarm Empty Nest

State Rep. Jon Dunwell

State House

LOOMS OF LOVE

By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune

Plastic grocery bags either end up in a landfill or crumpled into balls and put into an even larger bag hanging on the inside handle of a hallway closet; worst case scenario they find their way outdoors and entangled in some tree or floating in a pond with other trash. But some local churchgoers found another use for them.

Every Monday for the past four months, volunteers have been hand-weaving sleeping mats made from plastic grocery bags. Ina Heidemann, a retired science teacher from Newton schools, got the idea from Midwest Mission, a nonprofit organization that has sent mats for disaster relief and for homeless populations.

Several other churchgoers from St. Luke United Methodist Church learned how to make the mats from the Jefferson, Iowa-based chapter of Midwest Mission. Plastic bags are collected, cut into strips and then tied together in a certain way before being woven on a wooden loom and tightened into large, rollable mats.

Heidemann and her dedicated crew of grocery bag weavers meet regularly at First Christian Church. Sometimes they are even joined by volunteers from Progress Industries to help cut and tie the bags. Depending on the type of bag, it takes anywhere from 750 to 900 grocery bags to make one mat.

It can take at least 12 hours to complete one mat. So far, the group — which has been dubbed “Looms of Love” by the Mission Coalition — has fully completed one mat and is almost finished with another. The bags were collected from community members who no doubt had an abundance of them.

For Heidemann, working on the mats and collecting plastic grocery bags has

Newton community members create sleeping mats out of plastic grocery bags

opened her eyes to the amount of trash there and around the state.

“Once you start thinking about it and you drive around and start focusing on those plastic bags in the environment — oh my gosh they’re everywhere!” she said. “You think to yourself, ‘If we just went out on a cruise and picked up plastic bags it would clean the environment up.’ Most of it is plastic bags.”

The sleeping mats will be on display during the Newton Arboretum & Botanical Gardens’ Earth Day: Planet Vs. Plastic collection and drop-off. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 22, residents are encouraged to bring their empty detergent bottles and lids, plastic bags and plastic bottles to the Arboretum.

While there have been many people asking to purchase a mat, the group making them is adamant that they be donated to people that need them once they build up enough of a supply. It will take time to accrue enough mats. But for

retirees like Jan Lewis, who goes to St. Luke United Methodist, it’s a good use of time.

“It’s a fun way of recycling grocery bags,” Lewis said. “There was one out on my front yard just today. I live on First Avenue and get a lot of trash.”

Even though there are pieces of the plastic bags that do not get used for the mats, the group is determined to make sure nothing goes to waste. Deb Van Brogen, who regularly participates in Looms of Love, said the tops and bottoms of the bags are put in bags and returned to Hy-Vee.

“It’s all recycled,” Van Brogen said. Joyce Stonehocker, who also goes to St. Luke United Methodist, added, “No matter what color it is, they’ll take them all back to make new bags.”

Looms of Love may be a relatively new venture for these ladies, but it is an activity they take very seriously. Van Brogen is often cutting bags when sit-

ting at home in her recliner; Stonehocker feels like she is always at the dining room table preparing the next ball of “plarn,” or plastic yarn.

Obtaining plastic bags is the easy part, and the group is still accepting any and all bags so long as they do not have any holes. Heidemann is trying to get a number of churches involved in the group to help collect bags. For now, residents can bring them to First Christian Church or St. Luke United Methodist.

Other churches involved with the Mission Coalition may accept the bags as well. Kyle Abel, a trustee of the First Christian Church, asked that the bags not be left hanging on the doorknob of a church. Abel is just impressed by the amount of people who show up to weave the bags on a weekly basis.

“We have a half-dozen ladies always here at one time,” he said. “Then there are usually four or five others here at one time and come back in a couple weeks.”

Any Hy-Vee, Walmart, Target, Dollar General and Fareway grocery bags will do. The group isn’t picky.

“The consensus of the group that gets together is that we’ll take any bags that we’re taking out of the environment,” Heidemann said.

The group enjoys being able to help the environment by finding new uses for one of the peskiest pieces of trash you can find in the environment today. But they also like the idea of the mats one day helping people in need. Van Lewis said

“Mat Mondays” has become a social event, too.

“It’s just fun,” Lewis said.

Heidemann keeps thinking back to the plastic bags she has seen scattered all across Iowa and the greater Midwest. The mats find a new use for those bags.

“The environmental part is what got me right away, because right away I was thinking, ‘Oh my gosh! That’s cool.’ Because I just hate that plastic out there.”

Summer hours for secondary roads union employees revert to 5-day work week

Engineer sees no ‘big huge benefit’

By Christopher Braunschweig Newton News

Summer hours for Jasper County’s secondary roads employees who are also members of the Public Professional and Maintenance Local 2003 union are going to be a little different this year. The board of supervisors on April 9 voted 3-0 to maintain a five-day work week schedule rather than a four-day work week.

Jasper County Engineer Michael Frietsch said union employees had been working four, 10-hour days a week — colloquially called a 4/10 work schedule — rather than five, eight-hour days a week. From what Frietsch can gather, it is a 5050 split over whether employees want it or not. He sees no difference.

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 monthMarathon 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

to 4-day work week, supervisors agree

“We polled people this last fall. About 50 percent want it. About 50 percent want to continue working 5/8s. I can’t say I’ve seen a whole lot of difference,” Frietsch said. “…I mean really honestly this year what was really striking to me was when we had the shooting range for the training facility for the sheriff’s department.”

Secondary roads workers helped with the range while also moving dirt at the Liberty Avenue Yard site in December 2023. Frietsch said a lot was done using a 5/8 work schedule during that time; he did not see any difference from what the county got done using 5/8s versus the summer hours at 4/10s.

“After a couple of years, I’m not really seeing a whole lot,” Frietsch said. “You might be able to get another load of rock

in 4/10s or maybe you get a little more road done. But you have to think, too, the other problem we’ve got is we’re the only ones working 4/10s … It’s not really a big huge benefit in my opinion.”

Frietsch is not sold on the idea of utilizing a 4/10 work schedule this summer. But he left it up to the board of supervisors to decide and make the decision.

“In my opinion, I think we just work 5/8s this summer,” he said.

Supervisor Brandon Talsma appreciated Frietsch’s input but the chairman did not comment much on the idea, noting his opinions on the practice are well documented. Newton News reported in 2021 that Talsma worried a 4/10 work week could be more susceptible to weather issues and productivity problems.

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

SATURDAY, April 20 - 9 a.m. Church Work Day SUNDAY, April 21 - 9 a.m. Fellowship; 9:15 a.m. Bible Education Classes; 10:25 a.m. Message by Pastor Cody Dye; 11:30 a.m. Potluck Dinner; 12:45 p.m. Quarterly Business meeting

TUESDAY, April 23 - 3 p.m. Women’s Prayer and coffee

WEDNESDAY, April 24 - 9 a.m. Busy Bee Quilters and Fresh Encounter Prayer

The church schedule is brought to you by

Colfax-Prairie City-Monroe 515-674-3155 www.coburnfuneralhomes.com

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

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

In particular, Talsma at that time recalled the spring 2019 thaw which devastated the county’s gravel roads. Talsma claimed the four-day work week was detrimental during that rainy season, so much so that he felt the county was only getting a day or a day-and-a-half to blade the roads.

Supervisor Doug Cupples understands why some employees would want 4/10s but he worried about the impact of people taking time off, which seems like a much bigger loss. Supervisor Denny Stevenson did not feel too strongly against or in favor of it either way.

Talsma noted that if union workers wanted to appeal the decision they still have time to come forward and are more than welcome to make arguments for it.

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 Church: 641-227-3382

MONDAY, April 22 - 5 p.m. Pancake & Sausage Supper, free will offering at the door.

SUNDAY - 10 a.m. Worship

WEDNESDAY - 6 p.m. Bible Study

THIRD THURSDAY of month - 6:30 p.m. Theology on Tap at Bea’s Place on Main Street Check us out on Facebook and baxtercongregational.com

CORNERSTONE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP

1000 E. 12th St., Newton

Rev. Josh Farver, pastor Phone 641-792-4650

SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10:15 a.m. Worship

WEDNESDAY - 6:30 p.m. Prayer Meeting and Bible Study; Youth Group

HERITAGE WORD OF LIFE

ASSEMBLY OF GOD 102 Second St. NW, Mitchellville Pastor Dave Adams 515-967-3330

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

WEDNESDAY - 7 p.m. Evening activities

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF HOPE Capitol II Theatre in Newton SUNDAY - 9:30 a.m. Livestream Worship Service

Christopher Braunschweig/Newton News

From left: Deb Van Brogen, Jan Lewis, Joyce Stonehocker, Ina Heidemann and Kyle Abel show off a completed sleeping mat made out of plastic grocery bags.

Baxter boys edge L-S, win Dave Robinson Relays

NEVADA — Four individual wins and three relay victories helped the Baxter boys track and field team win its third championship of the season on April 11.

The Bolts also finished second and third three times to edge Lynnville-Sully in the final standings.

Baxter scored 144 points as Matt Richardson won twice, while the Hawks piled up a handful of seconds and thirds on their way to 135 points in second.

Colfax-Mingo also attend the annual Dave Robinson Relays and finished eighth with 58 points.

Collins-Maxwell (89), Coon Rapids-Bayard (85) and BGM (72) completed the top five, while the rest of the nine-team field featured GMG (70), Colo-NESCO (62) and Meskwaki Settlement School (8).

The meet was hosted by Colo-NESCO at Nevada High School. Richardson’s wins came in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. He won the 1,600 in a career-best 4 minutes, 44.66 seconds.

The Bolts doubled up in several events.

Richardson (10:15.7) and Max Handorf (10:35.48) started the night with a 1-2 finish in the 3,200.

Handorf also won the 800 in a career-best 2:11.42 and Cody Samson was fourth in 2:19.4.

The final individual win came from Carter Smith in the discus. He won the event with a toss of 127 feet, 3 inches. Grant Anderegg took third with a heave of 108-3.

Cainan Travis and Logan Jones doubled up in the 400 as Travis (55.45) was second and Jones (58.12) finished fifth.

Treyton Travis ended up third in a pair of events. He grabbed the bronze in the 200 with a time 24.61 and placed third in the high jump with a leap of 5-10.

Logan Rainsbarger (career-best 1911) finished second in the long jump, Smith (38-7 3/4) placed fourth in the shot put and Jones (1:03.53) took fifth

in the 400 hurdles.

The Bolts won the 4x400, 4x800 and distance medley relays.

The 4x400 relay team of Jones, Samson, Cainan Travis and Rainsbarger won the race in a season-best 3:46.42.

Samson, Handorf, Jones and Richardson won the 4x800 relay in 9:01.91 and the Bolts won the distance medley in 3:53.4 with Rainsbarger, Treyton Travis, Samson and Richardson. Xavier Woods claimed both of Colfax-Mingo’s wins. He won the 110 high hurdles in 16.43 seconds and placed first in the

high jump with a leap of 6-0.

Sullivan Wilkins had the lone runner-up finish for the Tigerhawks. He finished second in the 800 with a career-best time of 2:12.58.

Woods grabbed a third-place finish in the 400 hurdles with a career-best time of 59.91.

Fisher Grove ended up sixth in the 400 in a career-best 58.25.

Owen Ament, Wilkins, Wyatt Thornton and Grove finished third in the 4x800 relay with a time of 9:43.02.

Colfax-Mingo’s 4x400 relay team of Thornton, Izaiah Lewis, Wilkins and Woods placed fourth in a season-best 3:53.73.

The distance medley relay foursome of Isaiah Baucom, Cody Heisler, Ament and Kyle Wood placed fifth in 4:21.53.

Tigerhawks finish third, Bolts fourth at Dave Robinson Relays

NEVADA — Tatum Huyser registered the only individual win for the Lynnville-Sully girls track and field team on April 11.

But she was part of two relay wins and the Hawks claimed 14 top-three finishes and wound up second in the team standings at the Dave Robinson Relays.

The Hawks came up 15 points shy of meet champion Collins-Maxwell (163) with 149 points, while Colfax-Mingo (100) was third and Baxter (73) edged Coon Rapids-Bayard (72) for fourth.

GMG (53), Colo-NESCO (49), BGM (45) and Meskwaki Settlement School (9) completed the nine-team field.

The Hawks won five times, finished second three times and piled up six third-place finishes. Colfax-Mingo and Baxter both posted one victory.

Trinity Smith claimed Colfax-Mingo’s lone win. She won the long jump with a career-best leap of 15 feet, 6 3/4 inches and Olivia Rausch was fourth with a jump of 14-0.

The Tigerhawks placed second in the shuttle hurdle relay. The foursome of Lily Webster, Cadence Linn, Smith and Arlo Steck finished in 1 minute, 17:79 seconds.

Colfax-Mingo’s three third-place finishes came in relays.

Mallory Sipma, Rachael Uecker, Shae Wilkins and Addie Schroeder finished third in the 4x800 relay in 12:12.47.

Rausch, Linn, Charlotte Donahue and Uecker placed third in the 4x100 in a season-best 57.72 seconds and the 4x400 relay team placed third in 5:00.7 with Smith, Claire Hunsberger, Sipma and Steck.

The Tigerhawks were fourth in the sprint medley, distance medley and 4x200 relays.

In the distance medley relay, Katelyn Steenhoek, Hunsberger, Steck and Sipma finished in 5:20.26.

The sprint medley relay team of Webster, Donahue, Victoria Woods and Hunsberger posted a time of 2:12.33.

Smith, Donahue, Dakota Allen and Woods were fourth in the 4x200 in 2:06.92.

The other fourth-place finishes came from Rausch (14.31) in the 100, Webster (career-best 18.55) in the 100 hurdles and Steenhoek (career-best 4-10) in the high jump.

Grace Hunsberger also went a career-best 4-10 in the high jump in fifth and Schroeder placed fifth in the 1,500 and 3,000 with times of 5:55.42 and 13:13.99, respectively.

Evalyn Anderson (1:31.63) finished sixth in the 400 hurdles and Emma Cook finished sixth in the shot put with a career-best toss of 28-5 1/2.

Baxter’s lone win came from Camryn Russell in the 100 hurdles. She won the race in a career-best 16.12 seconds.

Avery Wonders registered three top-three finishes. She was second in the 400 in a career-best 1:09.52, placed second in the high jump with a career-best leap of 5-0 and finished third in the 200 in a career-best 29.12. Russell (career-best 1:16.01) was third in the 400 hurdles, Kendall Brummel (career-best 2:45.8) finished

Baxter girls win golf season opener at IF-A

IOWA FALLS — Karlee Koehler turned in a career-best score, Abbie Meyer joined her in the top three and the Baxter girls golf team scored a win in its season opener on April 12.

Koehler’s career day helped the Bolts win the road triangular at the par 36 Meadow Hills Golf Course.

The Bolts shot 226 at the top of the standings, while host Iowa Falls-Alden finished second with a 236. Colo-NESCO did not have enough golfers for a team score.

Koehler finished as the runner-up medalist with a career-best 49 and Meyer was third with a 51. Koehler’s round included one par, while Meyer turned in three pars. Maddie Reimers, Rilynn Titus and Klaire Shanks all made their varsity debuts. Reimers finished sixth with a 61. Her round featured one par and a birdie on the par 3 No. 8.

The final scoring golfer was Hannah Huffaker, who finished seventh with a 63. Titus and Shanks had non-counting scores of 69 and 77, respectively.

Iowa Falls-Alden’s Olivia French was the medalist with a 41.

C-M girls win pair of SICL golf matchups

SIGOURNEY — Led by a career-best round from Charlotte Donahue, the Colfax-Mingo girls golf team edged Sigourney by one stroke during a road quadrangular on April 11.

The Tigerhawks won the South Iowa Cedar League meet with a 221 and host Sigourney shot a 222 at Sigourney Golf Club.

HLV (226) was five shots back of the Tigerhawks in third and Keota did not have enough golfers for a team score.

fourth in the 800 and Jo Harder (76-5) took fourth in the discus.

Alyvia Burdess ran the 100 in a career-best 15.13 seconds to place sixth.

The Bolts’ 4x800 relay team finished second in 11:43.05 with Regan Russell, Brummel, Caydence Sulzle and Morgan Ratliff.

Grace Anderegg, Rossi Swihart, Brummel and Camryn Russell finished third in the shuttle hurdle relay in 1:19.88.

The 4x200 relay team posted a season-best time of 2:08.39 in fifth with Anderegg, Burdess, Camden Moffit and Sulzle.

Donahue turned in a career-best 47 to win medalist honors.

Lily Brenner’s 53 was good enough for fifth, while the other two counting scores came from Chloe Clements (56) and Emily Dyer (career-best 65).

Clements tied for eighth in the final standings and Lillie Jones had a non-counting score of 69.

Sigourney’s Emma Hammes shot a 48 as the runner-up medalist and Mckenzie Kempf carded a 49 in third.

Tigerhawks win road SICL triangular

MONTEZUMA — Donahue won medalist honors, Brenner and Lillie Jones also finished in the top six and the Tigerhawks won a road SICL triangular on April 8.

Colfax-Mingo shot a 232 for the win, while host Montezuma carded a 242 at the Montezuma Country Club. Iowa Valley did not have enough golfers for a team score.

Donahue shot a 50 at the top of the leaderboard, while Brenner (59) and Jones (61) were next in fourth and sixth, respectively.

Clements turned in a 67 as the final counting score and Dyer had a non-counting 69.

Montezuma’s Izzy Roorda shot a 54 as the runner-up medalist.

Colfax-Mingo finishes fourth at Nevada

NEVADA — Donahue finished inside the top six positions overall during a road quadrangular at Indian Creek Golf Club on April 9.

Host Nevada ran away with the win, shooting a 192. PCM was the runner-up with a 232, while Saydel (237) and Colfax-Mingo (257) completed the field.

Donahue led all area golfers on the par 35 course. She shot a 52 to lead the Tigerhawks and placed fourth individually.

After Donahue was Brenner, who shot a 58. Dyer (73) and Clements (74) were the other two scoring golfers.

Nevada’s Olivia Axmear was the medalist with a 45 and Mya Spykerman also shot a 45 as the runner-up.

Jasper County Tribune

Koehler

Jasper County Tribune

Donahue

Jasper County Tribune

Jasper County Tribune

Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune Colfax-Mingo freshman Claire Hunsberger runs in a relay during a meet earlier this season.

Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune

Baxter junior Logan Rainsbarger, left, and Colfax-Mingo junior Xavier Woods compete in the 110-meter high hurdles at a meet earlier this season.

Smith

Russell

Fast start propels Central Iowa United boys past Mustangs

By

STATE CENTER — Central Iowa United’s soccer programs are made up of six different school districts. So team chemistry is definitely challenging during the early portion of the season.

Now that the boys’ squad has played a handful of matches, the chemistry is beginning to develop and the wins are following.

Central Iowa United recorded its second straight win on April 11 after using a fast start to down PCM, 4-1, during Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference action.

“I think our hardest game of the season was our first game,” Colfax-Mingo senior Austin Lane said. “We hadn’t played with each other the entire fall and winter. We had no chemistry at all.

“The first four games of ours were against some good teams. We could have won those games, but we weren’t playing as a team yet.”

CIU looked like a team which had some chemistry against the Mustangs. The hosts scored twice during the span of 9 seconds nearly three minutes into the contest and used that momentum to clinch their first HOIAC victory of the season.

Aiden Downs opened the scoring with a goal in the 3rd minute off a nifty crosser from the left side of the field from Baxter senior Ben Richardson.

Central Iowa United quickly went in front 2-0 after Andrew Tollefson of West Marshall scored off a PCM turnover after the restart.

“We’ve had trouble starting games and putting two halves together,” PCM head soccer coach Darrin Telfer said. “It takes us a while to get going. We react way more than we should. We need to

be the aggressor. The second half was 1-1. We played much better that half. We just didn’t show up to play at the start.”

Central Iowa United got a third goal in the first half when Downs scored again in the 31st minute. That came off an assist from Lane.

Richardson, who led CIU in goals last year, got on the board this season nearly 10 minutes into the second half to put the home team in front 4-0. Tollefson had the assist on that one.

“We were still feeling good after the nine-goal match the game before and the start today certainly helped us,” Richardson said. “We really tried to apply some early pressure to get out to a good start. We wanted to strike first and that last game did give us some confidence.”

PCM’s Justin Johnston scored his fourth goal of the season in the 62nd minute, but it was too little too late for the Mustangs, who couldn’t take advantage of a strong wind in the second half.

Central Iowa United (2-5, 1-2 in the HOIAC) had the wind advantage in the first half and totaled a 13-5 surplus in shots. PCM narrowed the gap to 19-16 for the match but couldn’t muster up more than the one goal.

The Mustangs had a 12-10 deficit in shots on goal but held a 7-4 advantage in the second half.

Terrell Wood unoffcially made eight saves for the Mustangs (2-5, 0-3), while CIU goalie Lucas Barnes had 10 saves.

Lane thinks some of CIU’s recent success is due to a change in how they attack on offense.

“We are playing through the middle,” Lane said. “We used to just boom it up field like a lot of other high school teams. But we are playing through our midfielders and that has helped us score more goals recently.”

Central Iowa United 9, South Tama County 1

Tollefson scored four goals, Richardson dished out a career-best five assists and Lane tallied a pair of goals as Central Iowa United picked up its first win of the season on April 9.

CIU led 5-0 at halftime and went on to down South Tama County, 9-1, during a non-conference home match.

Downs and Jack Seyller added goals and Colfax-Mingo’s Gage Byal chipped in an assist. Barnes registered one goal and one assist and made four saves.

South Tama (0-4) has been outscored 26-1 this season.

Tigerhawks finish third at home quadrangular, place fourth at Keota

COLFAX — Cael

Bracewell turned in a career-best score, but the Colfax-Mingo boys golf team couldn’t keep up with a pair of South Iowa Cedar League squads on April 11.

The Tigerhawks played on their home course for the first time this season and finished third in the quadrangular.

BGM won the meet with a 169, while Montezuma shot a 181 in second. C-M turned in a 202 in third and Iowa Valley did not have enough golfers for a team score.

Bracewell’s career-best score was a 46 and he finished seventh overall. Luke Allen also matched a career-best with a 51, Luke Padgett posted a 52 and Shane Hostetter turned in a 53 as the final counting scorers.

Baxter’s Finch scores four times in Central Iowa United’s win over South Tama

Jasper County Tribune

TAMA — Baxter’s Ashlyn Finch scored a career-best four goals and the Central Iowa United girls soccer team needed just 47 minutes to dispatch South Tama County on April 11.

Central Iowa United scored a season-high 10 goals and downed the host Trojans 10-0 in a non-conference road match.

Finch’s four goals pushes her total to a team-best five for the season.

Colfax-Mingo’s Bianca Lane tallied one goal and two assists for CIU, while C-M’s Brooklyn Yanske and Lilyan Hadsall chipped in one goal and one assist each.

Hadsall now has a team-best three assists and she scored her third goal of the season.

Sophie Comegys added two assists and Mailey Short and Kaylie Andrews each scored one goal.

Colfax-Mingo’s Cassidy Smith made two saves in her 47 minutes in goal. She now has 68 saves this season, which ranks fourth in Class 2A.

Central Iowa United (2-4) had 25 shots and put 15 of them on goal. Its two wins bettered its win total from all of last year.

South Tama County (0-5) has been outscored 47-2 this season.

Hudson 10, Central Iowa United 0 HUDSON — The Pirates led 4-0 at halftime and scored six goals in the second half to end the game early on April 9.

Central Iowa United suffered its third 10-0 loss this season. Smith made 21 saves in 71 minutes. Hudson improved to 5-0 and is outscoring its opponents 24-1 this season.

Vansice leads Baxter boys in golf opener

Jasper County Tribune

IOWA FALLS — Stadan Vansice had a career-best nine-hole round on April 11, but the Baxter boys golf team couldn’t keep up with Iowa Falls-Alden or Colo-NESCO during a road triangular.

The Bolts shot a 249 in their season opener at Highland Golf Club.

Host Iowa Falls-Alden won the meet with a 180 and Colo-NESCO shot a 204 in second.

Vansice’s career-best 52 was good enough to tie for sixth. Hudson Bethards was 10th with a 58.

Baxter’s other two scores came from Perrin Sulzle and Nolan Hill. Sulzle and Hill made their varsity debuts and carded a 59 and 80, respectively.

Colo-NESCO’s Austin Hennick was a meet medalist with a 38, while Colton England carded a 42 as the runner-up medalist.

Cason Fitch (58) and Joe Earles (60) had non-counting scores. Three golfers shot a 41 at the top of the leaderboard. Montezuma’s Cruz DeJong was the medalist, while BGM’s Beckett Rhoads was the runner-up medalist. Montezuma’s Max Anderson also shot a 41.

Tigerhawks take fourth in season opener

KEOTA — The Tigerhawks opened their season with a fourth-place finish at a road quadrangular on April 8.

Sigourney won the meet with a 168 at Lagos Acres Golf Course. HLV (173), host Keota (177) and Colfax-Mingo (192) completed the field.

Fitch finished ninth in the individual standings with a 45, while Bracewell and Hostetter each shot 48s and Luke Allen carded a career-best 51 as the final counting scorer. Hostetter’s 48 also was a career best.

Luke Padgett (53) and Jared Lewis (54) each made their varsity debuts and turned in non-counting scores.

Sigourney’s Solon Yates was the medalist with a 37 and HLV’s Peyton Roth shot a 38 as the runner-up medalist.

Colfax-Mingo downs Saydel at W-G WOODWARD — Ca-

reer-best scores from Hostetter, Fitch and Allen led the Tigerhawks to a third-place finish at Woodward Golf Club on April 9.

Colfax-Mingo had a 403 in its first 18-hole round of the season. Host Woodward-Granger shot a 323 to win the meet, edging Earlham (325) by two strokes. Saydel was fourth with a 420.

Hostetter’s career-best 95 led the Tigerhawks, while Fitch turned in a career-best 96. Allen posted a career-best 100 and Lewis’ 18-hole debut was a 112 as the final counting score.

Earles also made his 18-hole debut and shot a non-counting 115.

Earlham’s Ryan Stiles was the medalist with a 77. Woodward-Granger’s Landon Chambers shot a 78 as the runner-up medalist.

Avery Wonders

Baxter freshman Avery Wonders was second in the high jump with a career-best leap of 5 feet, finished second in the 400-meter dash in a career-best 1:09.52 and took third in the 200 in a career-best 29.12 seconds at the Dave Robinson Relays.

Troy Hyde Sports Editor

Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune

Baxter senior Ben Richardson (9) celebrates a first-half goal with Aiden Downs (31) and Andrew Tollefson (10) during Central Iowa United’s 4-1 win over PCM on April 11.

Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune Colfax-Mingo senior Austin Lane delivered an assist during Central Iowa United’s 4-1 home win over PCM on April 11. It was CIU’s second straight victory.

Jasper County Tribune

Resolution 24-37 hiring Treasurer's Office Treasurer's Office (Motor Vehicle) Shauna Van Tomme, effective 04/10/24. This is a summary of Resolution 24-37. A full copy of the Resolution is available at the Jasper County Courthouse between 8:00am and 4:30pm

motioned and Milligan seconded to approve the agenda as presented. Ayes: 4. Nays: 0. Abasent:1 Motion carried. Administrator O'Donnell gave a report on his activities

beginning the position. Council Member Kinzel joined the meeting at 5:25 PM Mayor Bishop read a prepared statement in regards to recent employee changes Milligan motioned and Smith seconded to approve Resolution 37-24, a Resolution Approving Employment Contract with Kelly Groskurth for the position of Interim City Clerk. Ayes: 5. Nays: 0. Resolution 37-24 is hereby adopted. The following citizens addressed the Council during Public Comment: Katie Petermeier- BEDCO and moving Baxter forward. Nancy Foreman- City Clerk/Utility Clerk Positions Kenny Molnyeux- Support of the Mayor and City Council Theresa McCall- Asked about selection of interim positions Ted See - Asking for assistance Sally Seeley- EMS update. During Public Comments, Milligan addressed how the interim positions were recruited and filled. Administrator O'Donnell provided background on himself. Administrator O'Donnell reviewed the proposed re-estimates for the FY 23/24 annual budget Kunkel motioned and Meckley to adjourn the meeting. Ayes: 5. Nays: 0. Motion carried. Time was 6:59 PM Doug Bishop, Mayor Cole S. O'Donnell, Interim City Administrator April 18

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City of Baxter, IowaCity Council Special SessionProposed Ta x Levy Wednesday, March 20th, 2024 at 5:30pm City Hall Chambers 203 S. Main St., Baxter IA 50028 Mayor Bishop called the meeting to order at 5:30pm Present were Jamie Milligan Stephen Smith, Dan Kunkel Josh Meckley and Dalton Kinzel Others present were members of the public in person and on-line. Smith moved to approve the agenda. Kinzel seconded. Ayes: Milligan, Smith, Kunkel Meckley and Kinzel Motion carried. Meckley moved to open the Public Hearing - Proposed Property Tax Levy at 6:02pm Smith seconded. Ayes: Milligan, Smith, Kunkel, Meckley, and Kinzel Motion carried. Patty Tjelmeland - concerned with lack of not having Police Fire and EMS coverage Doug addressed all services are being covered. Sherrif dept covers the policing. Fire and EMS coverage has not changed. Milligan motioned to close the Public Hearing –Proposed Property Tax Levy at pm. Kunkel seconded. Ayes: Milligan, Smith, Kunkel Meckley, and Kinzel Motion carried. Milligan moved to adjourn at 5:56pm Seconded by Meckley. Ayes: Milligan, Smith, Kunkel, Meckley and Kinzel Motion carried. Meeting adjourned Jamie Milligan, City Council Member Doug Bishop, Mayor April 18

2, 2024 Tuesday April 2, 2024, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors met in special session at 8:00 a.m. with Supervisors Talsma and Stevenson present and accounted for; Board member Stevenson presiding. Motion by Talsma seconded by Stevenson to open a Public Hearing for the proposed property tax levy for FY2024/2025. YEA: STEVENSON

Auditor Denny Stevenson, Board

dedicating the May 3 editions of our newspaper to teachers as a “Thank You” for their selfless service and dedication to our children. The “Thank You, Teachers” contest asks current and former students of all ages for nominations of outstanding teachers in their local area. Once all nominations have