Meet the newest Bolts
Name: Mr. Nick Noring Position at Baxter: High School Business & Technology Teacher Education: Graduate of Grand View University and Iowa State University. Mr. Noring holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Promotions with Wellness Management and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Current State of Iowa professional licenses Mr. Noring currently holds are; Activities Administration License, Evaluator License, Secondary Teaching License and Coaching License.
Work history: I began my teaching career at Baxter CSD as the High School Business & Technology Teacher, where I also continued my coaching career at Colfax-Mingo CSD as the Head Boys Basketball Coach, Head Boys & Girls Golf Coach, and Assistant Baseball
Coach at Baxter CSD. For the past six years, I have been the Head Boys Basketball Coach, Head Boys Golf Coach, 11-12 iJAG Teacher and Assistant Community Education Director at Saydel CSD. Now, I am the Head Boys Basketball Coach at Saydel CSD and returning as the new Baxter CSD High School Business & Technology Teacher. What attracted you to Baxter to teach? Baxter is a first-class school district and community. There is nothing better in this world than capturing kids hearts, while being an educator/leader to all of them. Baxter has some of the greatest upcoming youth in the country, and to be a part of that empowering culture again was a no-brainer for me.
What is your favorite teaching method, how do you like to interact with the
Baxter welcomes new teachers for the 2024-25 school year
kids? PBL (Project Based Learning), as this gives my students the full effect of the real world and helps them learn/adapt/prepare for any future employment opportunity they seek in life
What is a valuable lesson you have learned about teaching? It takes less
There is no place like Homecoming
Baxter to celebrate ‘Wizard of Oz’-themed homecoming
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune
Baxter students are set to “follow the yellow brick road” to victory during the 2024 homecoming celebration. With a Wizard of Oz “There is no place like Homecoming” themed week, the bolts are ready to find their inner good witch or all powerful wizard as they take a journey all the way to the Friday, Sept. 27 football game.
For middle schoolers and high schoolers, the week kicks off with “Which Witch is Which,” also known as twin day on Monday. On “Twister Tuesday” students can dress like they’ve been through a twister. “Lion and Tigers and Bears-Oh My!” has kids dressing like their favorite animal on Wednesday. The students will take a visit to Munchkinland for “Class Color Thursday.” Freshmen are in pink, sophomores in yellow, juniors in blue and seniors will be wearing orange. In preparation for
than 30 seconds to make an impact in someone’s life, so smile and enjoy the ride while being the best teacher you can be. What are you most excited for this school year? Being a Baxter Bolt.
Name: Danyelle Myers
Position at Baxter: 6-8
Reading Teacher
Education: Associate of Liberal Arts Degree from Iowa Central Community College, Elementary Education with endorsements in ELA, Reading and TAG.
Work history: I was a substitute teacher for the past year within five local districts.
What attracted you to Baxter to teach? I was attracted to Baxter because of the size of the district, the testimonies from the staff, students and parents, and the community involvement. As someone who comes from a smaller rural
TEACHERS | 3
Bogie down for Colfax-Mingo Homecoming 2024
Dress-up days announced for Disco Nights themed homecoming week
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune
Homecoming is just around the corner and Colfax-Mingo Community School District announced dress up days for the Disco Nights themed events for each school. Events will kick off Sept. 23 and run through the week until the homecoming dance Sept. 28.
At C-M Elementary, the week kicks off with “Neon/ Tie Dye Day” Monday, “Disco/’70s Day” Tuesday, “Team Shirt Day” where students and staff can grab a buddy — or two or three — and wear the same shirts, “Pajama Day” Thursday and “Spirit
Veterans affairs commission considers creating new rules for meetings
Contentious dialogue these past few months highlights need for order, respect
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
In response to meetings this past year becoming more contentious and unruly, the Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission may establish some ground rules for participants or recite core values similar to the way Newton school board does before each meeting in an effort to preserve order and respect.
Commissioner Fred Chabot provided veter-
ans affairs administrator Alyssa Wilson a sample of potential ground rules for meetings. The date at the bottom of the document — Oct. 20, 1997 — coincides with the first meeting Chabot participated in after being elected to the Newton school board.
“These ground rules governed our behavior as a school board throughout my nine years of service,” Chabot said. “…The Newton school board still utilizes values instead of
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune
Fred Chabot, right, explains his idea of adding ground rules to the Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission meetings, due in large part to the contentious comments from commissioners and attendees this past year.
ground rules and, to the best of my knowledge, at each school board meeting the president of the school board refreshes everyone’s memory.”
Specifically, Chabot referred to the mission, vision, goals, commitments and core values
Day” to celebrate the homecoming football game and Tigerhawk Pride Friday.
At the Jr./Sr. High School, Monday and Tuesday coordinate with the elementary school of neon/tie dye and disco/’70s respectively. Students can “Dress Their Best Wednesday” and show class spirit Thursday with “Class Color Day.” Each class is assigned colors with seventh grade green, eighth grade pink, ninth grade purple, 10th grade orange, 11th grade white, 12th grade black and staff blue. The high school will also dress in their favorite orange and blue garb for “Spirit Day Friday.”
The district is also look-
ing for parade floats participants for the event at 6 p.m. Sept. 26. Local businesses and organizations are invited to bring the Disco Nights theme to life with shining disco balls, bell bottoms and groovy decorations. For more information, contact Jennifer Holtan at jholtan@colfaxmingo.org.
Following the parade, coronation will take place in the north gym. Sept. 27 all students K-12 will gather again in the north gym for a schoolwide assembly revving up for the big football game that night versus Cardinal.
Jasper County creates communications center director position
New civilian role would acquire Brad Shutts’ duties as he transitions to sheriff
In preparation for Lt. Brad Shutts’ successful and uncontested election for county sheriff this coming November, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 on Sept. 10 to create a permanent full-time position for a communications center director, which would be a civilian position for the sheriff’s office.
Shutts
“So this would take my position and be able to cover some of those shifts and fulfill the day-to-day
Dennis Simon, director of human resources for Jasper County, said Shutts handles most of the communications duties, and with his new role as sheriff he will have additional responsibilities. Shutts said the communications center director would fulfill his current duties as he makes his transition to sheriff.
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune
Baxter’s newest teachers for the 2024-25 school year are excited to get to know the community and be Baxter Bolts.
Mary Lee Craig
Sept. 10, 2024
Mary Lee (Sparks) Craig was called to be with the Lord on September 10, 2024.
Mary was born to Russell and Pauline Sparks, of Farrar, on May 9, 1940. Mary was raised on a dairy farm near Farrar where she was active in basketball, 4-H, and attended the Farrar Methodist Church, where she was baptized. Mary was a part of the last graduating class of Farrar Community School in 1958. In 1956, her sister Beverly introduced her to the neighbor boy, Edward Craig. They were married on September 5, 1959, at the Farrar Methodist Church and were mar-
Daryl Lee Grimm
Sept. 11, 2024
Daryl Lee Grimm, 73, of Altoona, passed away Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at home. Per his wishes, there will be no services at this time.
Daryl was born April 10,
Obituaries
ried for 65 blessed years. She worked at Iowa Power (now Mid-American) in the office until Wally came along in 1961, where she became a stay at home farm wife. Six years later, along came TJ. The couple started farming two miles north of Mitchellville when moved to a farm four and a half miles west of Farrar for seven years. In 1975, they moved back to the Mitchellville Farm for the rest of their farming career. The couple enjoyed square dancing with the Russlin’ Raiders where they met several friends. Mary was an excellent seamstress, she made most of their square dancing outfits and was an active member in The Brother’s Keepers Quilting Group, where they made quilts and pillows for the homeless. Mary was known for her smile. She loved kids and kids loved her, she helped with the Sunday School Program. Mary was very
1951 to Cecil and Loretta (Kiracofe) Grimm in Marengo, Iowa. He farmed with his family near Millersburg. Daryl graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago in 1972. He started his career as a funeral director at Powell Funeral Home in North English and then to Geyer Funeral Home in Albia and continued and ended his career at Coburn Funeral Home in Colfax in 2001. While in Colfax, Dar-
active in raising her boys, while helping on the farm operation. She ran most pieces of equipment on the farm.
Two granddaughters came along, Nicole and Sami. She enjoyed all of their extracurriculars, especially ball games from youth sports through college. Mary loved taking her grandkids to the Iowa State Fair every year. Being a part of the girls’ growing up, she said, “It’s much easier to raise boys.” She stuck by the phrase as Mathew came along. Mathew was always willing to help where needed and loved baking alongside her. Mary’s goodbye to not only her grandkids, but to any visitors leaving was always, “Call me when you get home.”
Mary was preceded in death by parents, Russell and Pauline Sparks; father-in-law, Ed and mother-in-law, Alyce; siblings, Beverly, Marilyn, Delmar,
yl met the love of his life, Suzie, where they dated for 18 years and married on November 22, 2009.
Daryl was active in Kiwanis and was on the Board of Trustees for the Colfax Public Library for 23 years. He loved reading, especially about history, listening to loud music, spending time with his family and traveling with Suzie. Every Spring and Fall, Daryl returned to the family farm to help his family plant and harvest. He will forever be
and LeRoy; and her son, Wallace. She is survived by her husband, Edward Craig; son, TJ (Cindy) of Bondurant; sister, Patty Valline of Huxley; grandchildren, Nicole, Sami, and Mathew; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends of the family.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 20, 2024, at the Mitchellville Community Center, 120 2nd St NE, Mitchellville, IA 50169.
Funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Mitchellville First Congregational Church, 211 Park Ave NE, Mitchellville, IA 50169.
There will be a luncheon following the service at the Mitchellville Community Center.
Services will conclude with burial at Mitchellville Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
missed by his wife, Suzie; children, Valerie (David) Sanchez of Perry, Steven Conley of Ankeny and Bobby Conley of Ocean Springs, MS; grandchildren, Paige, Jaxson, Makenzie, Sydney and Harrison and one great-granddaughter, Violet.
To leave condolences, please visit www.simplifyiowa.com.
Simplify Cremations & Funerals has been entrusted to care for Daryl’s family.
Unlocking Brain Fitness course can reduce risk of dementia by up to 70%
Poweshiek County Public Health (PCPH) is hosting Unlocking Brain Fitness: Keys to Dementia Prevention (KEYS) program for interested individuals age 55 and older. KEYS is a 10week course with each week addressing a modifiable risk factor in a safe and supportive environment for learning and interaction. Topics will be presented by health and wellness experts including a dietitian, pharmacist and fitness professional – all of whom will offer individual, confidential sessions at the end of weekly courses.
“The KEYS program guides participants through evidence-based lifestyle changes that can drastically reduce their risk of
cognitive decline, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease,” Sadie Hegel, RN, public health nurse, said. “Our team is excited to host this program again, this time in Montezuma. We hope to continue offering this program throughout the year, so if you can’t sign up for this session, we encourage you to register for the next.”
PCPH is offering this program FREE of charge. Participants can reserve their spot in the KEYS course by calling 641-236-2385, option 2. Course size is limited to 15 participants per session.
Schedule for Unlocking Brain Fitness: Keys to Dementia Prevention with Poweshiek County
Public Health:
• 9 to 11 a.m. Mondays, beginning Sept. 23 for 10 weeks at Community Hope Church, 501 N. Front St., Montezuma.
The program’s ten KEY topics include eat well, get moving, be social, hear well, stay sharp, sleep enough, control chronic disease, build stress resilience, use right medications and promote health.
For more information or to take the Save Your Brain quiz, visit www.unlockingbrainfitness.org.
To reserve your spot in Unlocking Brain Fitness: Keys to Dementia Prevention with Poweshiek County Public Health, call 641-2362385, option 2, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Iowa releases real-time online child care finder
Iowa has released an interactive website to help parents find real-time child care options for their kids.
Iowa Child Care Connect, which the state has nicknamed “C3,” uses crowdsourcing technology, helping people use up-tothe-minute data to find child care where and when they need it.
Sheila Hansen, senior policy advocate for the nonprofit Common Good Iowa, said C3 is a vast improvement over what the state had before.
“It was kind of clunky and it wasn’t really very fast,” Hansen recounted.
“Hopefully this will be a vast improvement upon that and families will be able to just go in there and immediately find openings in their area.” The site also offers in-
Winter is a great
to layaway your bike for next year.
• One
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Jasper County Democrats to host annual soup supper Sunday
Jasper County Democrats annual soup supper will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22 in Building 20, Legacy Plaza. Admission is $15 (children 12 & under free). Guest speakers will be Christina Bohannan, U.S. Congressional District 1 candidate, Dave Loebsack, former U.S. Congressman and Brad Magg, Iowa House District 38 candidate. Bring an apptizer and enter the Appetizer/Dip Contest.
ICAN to host
college fair in Altoona Sept. 22
The largest college fair in the state of Iowa, the Golden Circle College Fair, will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22 at the Prairie Meadows Conference Center in Altoona, bringing together more than 80 colleges, universities and career and student service resources. This highly anticipated event offers high school students and families a unique opportunity to connect with college representatives and explore a wide variety of education and training options.
Hosteby by the education nonprofit ICAN, the fair is designed to help students and their families navigate the planning process for life after high school, providing them with direct access to information about career planning, academic programs, admission requirements, campus life, financial aid, scholarship opportunities, and career training and student support services.
and working conditions for child care workers.
She acknowledged while the technology is a step forward, Common Good Iowa and other advocates said the state does not need more brick-andmortar child care centers. It needs more staff, which has been the real challenge.
“That’s because they’re just unable to find the people who want to work in child care because the pay is so low or the benefits aren’t there,” Hansen explained.
formation on subsidies the providers accept along with current real-time openings and quality ratings. Hansen argued the state should focus on improving pay
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services requires child care providers to complete various training requirements and update their certification every two years.
Key Highlights:
• Meet representatives for more than 80 organizations and institutions, including public and private universities, community colleges, and technical programs.
• Learn about scholarships, grants and other financial aid options
to support higher education.
• Explore various programs, from liberal arts to STEM, CTE and more.
• Engage with career and college advising experts on career exploration, work-based learning, and student success.
“Choosing the right post-high school path for education or training can be a daunting process, but events like this make it easier for students and their families to find the best fit for their educational and carer goals,” Brittania Morey, Vice President Marketing and Communications for ICAN said. “We’re excited to provide a platform where students can get their questions answered and start envisioning their future.” The event is free and open to the public and no pre-registration is required. High school students, their parents and educators are all encouraged to attend. Attendees are also encouraged to set up a StriveScan barcode (www.strivefair.com) to ease the sharing of information with colleges. Students are also welcome to bring copies of their transcripts and resumes to discuss with admission representatives.
Mark Moran Iowa News Service
Teachers
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district, I saw and felt the community empowerment within the school. I wanted to experience that as an educator.
What is your favorite teaching method, how do you like to interact with the kids? I prefer to have small and large group discussions. Interacting with students through conversations and connections through text and real life helps everyone learn.
What is a valuable lesson you have learned about teaching? Things will not go as planned and you will make mistakes. Learning from them and starting fresh the next period or day is always best.
What are you most excited for this school year? I am most excited about getting to know the students and community. Also watching my first eight-man football game!
Name: Kayla Mason
Position: Middle School Science and Biology 2
Education: Masters of Arts in Teaching Drake University, Bachelors from Iowa State University.
Work history: I have been teaching and in education for over a decade working in schools in the Des Moines area.
What attracted you to Baxter to teach? We were attracted to the area because of the school district. My daughter attends Baxter, and I am happy to join her in such a special place!
What is your favorite teaching method, how do you like to interact with the kids? I love to use inquiry based labs and learning experiences. What is a valuable lesson you have learned about teaching? Everyday will be different...welcome the change!
What are you most excited for this school year? Being able to get back into the science classroom... I love science!
Name: Nolan Krueger
Position at Baxter: JH Social Studies Teacher
Education: High School- Benton Community College- Univer-
Bolts
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sity of Iowa/Mount Mercy University
Work history: Previously taught one year at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont High School
What attracted you to Baxter to teach? I moved to Ankeny and enjoy teaching in small rural schools. After talking with Mr. Harrold I was hooked on joining the Baxter community
What is your favorite teaching method, how do you like to interact with the kids? I love hands-on approach with students. Allowing students to learn historical events through various hands-on activities.
What is a valuable lesson you have learned about teaching? It is all about relationships.
What are you most excited for this school year? I am looking forward to seeing the community and being involved throughout the community. Getting to know the students and families!
Name: Bill Funnemark Position at Baxter: High school science
Education: Iowa State University: B.S in Agronomy; M.S. in Plant Breeding; Cytogenetics
Work history: Four years as missile electronic equipment specialist, U.S. Air Force; 20 years as commercial corn breeder; 20 years as adjunct professor at Iowa Lakes Community College; 17 years as science teacher, Corwith-Wesley-LuVerne H.S, grades 8-12; one year as Agriculture teacher, Baxter CSD; Many years as substitute teacher and bus driver for Baxter CSD and other districts.
What attracted you to Baxter to teach? After filling in for a year as the Baxter Ag teacher, I stayed busy as a substitute teacher. When no one applied for the vacant high school science position, I was asked if I would consider unretiring again. I agreed to fill the position for this year.
What is your favorite teaching method, how do you like to interact with the kids? I’m old school! I learned from listening to lectures by many professors. I find myself teaching that way, but I like to do a lot of problem solving. I’ve also been known to tell a few stories,
football Friday night, “There’s a Storm a Comin’” with students wearing their best Bolts gear to cheer on the team.
Baxter Elementary starts off the same as the older students with “Which Witch is Which” as known as twin day on Monday. Tuesday the kids will “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” and show what they want to be when they grow up. “Oz the Great and Powerful” will be celebrated Wednesday by wearing green and bling. A “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” will be seen throughout the hallways with each grade wearing a class color. Colors are: Pre-K in white, kindergarten in red, first grade in orange, second grade in yellow, third grade in green, fourth grade in blue, fifth grade in purple and staff in black. Friday the kids will be in purple to celebrate “There’s a Storm Comin’” for school spirit day.
too, that sometimes even relate to the subject matter.
What is a valuable lesson you have learned about teaching? Learning the subject matter is important, but teaching young people about life and making relationships is as important, if not more.
What are you most excited for this school year? The last day of school, so I can retire for the third time! It’s been a few years since I taught science and I’m excited to get back into the classroom and share my knowledge and experiences with a new group of students.
Name: Jen Clausen
Position at Baxter: First Grade
Teacher
Education: Upper Iowa University Major: Birth-Grade 3: Inclusive Setting Endorsements: K-8 Instructional Strategist 1, K-8 Reading
Work history: I have worked in early childhood education over the past nine years, including childcare provider, substitute teacher and preschool teacher at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.
What attracted you to Baxter to teach? Baxter residents support their community, families, and the school.
What is your favorite teaching method, how do you like to interact with the kids? Collaborative learning or teamwork. Students learn if they can do it together; they will have the confidence, techniques and perspectives to succeed independently. I will use explicit teaching and modeling, but provide encouragement and excitement to engage students in the learning. I will make learning relatable.
What is a valuable lesson you have learned about teaching? Every day is a new day to learn and grow, but practicing self-compassion is just as important.
What are you most excited about this school year? To work in my home community. I am excited to be a part of the Baxter Community School.
Name: Emily Chhouy
Position at Baxter: High School English, Competitive Speech and Yearbook
Education: Post-baccalaure-
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that school board members recite aloud before entering into any type of business at public meetings. These purpose statements reinforce who board members are working for and how best to conduct themselves at meetings.
“I think ground rules are a good guide for this group to have in terms of how we behave, how our staff behaves at these meetings and I think it would be appropriate to add a bullet point or two in regard to what our expectations are of attendees from the general public,” Chabot said.
If the county veterans affairs commission were to adopt ground rules, then Chabot suggested they be reminded to everyone attending or conducting the meeting. He proposed the commission review
ate from Buena Vista University in teaching Secondary English; Bachelors in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University.
Work history: Middle school ELA and then Family Consumer Science at Berg Middle School in Newton.
What attracted you to Baxter to teach? Baxter is close to Newton so I hear great things about their school all of the time! I’m excited to be part of a school with small class sizes and such a great reputation.
What is your favorite teaching method, how do you like to interact with the kids? My favorite method in teaching is simple: I like to get to know the kids and build strong relationships with them. A student won’t learn until they feel safe and comfortable, so it’s my job to ensure that happens.
What is a valuable lesson you have learned about teaching? A valuable lesson I have learned through teaching is that change is inevitable. Every year brings change so it’s important to just embrace it and not fight it.
What are you most excited about this school year? I’m most excited to get to know the students and be part of a great community!
Name: Amanda Repp
Position at Baxter: 6-12 Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher & FCCLA Advisor
Education: Masters of Education in Career and Technical Education from Concordia University - Portland Bachelors of Sciences in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and Studies with an emphasis in Teacher Licensure
Work history: This is my 14th year teaching Family and Consumer Sciences. I have taught in Eastern and Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska
What attracted you to Baxter to teach? I wanted to get a job closer to home so both my fiance’ and I can be close to home.
What is your favorite teaching method, how do you like to interact with the kids? My favorite teaching method is to be as hands on as possible. I want my students to learn from doing and not just
and discuss the matter over the next two months before making a final decision.
“With the way our meetings have gone since April of this year, I think it would be appropriate to have ground rules governing our meetings,” Chabot said.
Some of the meetings over the past few months have seen high attendance numbers. Veterans had come to the defense of Wilson back in May, who they believed was being mistreated by commissioners. The issue only exacerbated when a commissioner accosted Wilson for not returning enough phone calls.
Commissioner Ed Spangenburg placed responsibility on Wilson if veterans decide to kill themselves after having no one at the office answer the phone.
“So 10 out of 22 a day. Remember that. Twenty-two a day,” Spangenburg said to Wilson back in June, referencing the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s estimate that 22 veterans may die by suicide each day. “You might be that phone
learn from listening or reading a book.
What is a valuable lesson you have learned about teaching? The most valuable lesson I have learned about teaching is to be as flexible as possible.
What are you most excited for this school year? I am most excited about meeting my new students and the teachers that I will be working with. I am excited to see what Baxter has to offer.
Name: Robyn Winter
Position at Baxter: ELA Writing teacher
Education: Upper Iowa University - BA Elementary Education K-5 and Reading and ELA endorsement K-8 Gustavus Adolphus College - BA Art History
Work history: I worked as a paraeducator in the Johnston Community School District for the past seven years. I recently graduated from Upper Iowa University with my teaching degree. What attracted you to Baxter to teach? I grew up in a community similar to Baxter in Minnesota. I pursued my reading practicum hours in a 5th grade classroom in Baxter this past school year and loved feeling at home when in the school. The students and staff were very welcoming and focused on learning.
What is your favorite teaching method, how do you like to interact with the kids? My teaching method is giving the students the experiences in writing. I feel that students learn best by doing. I like to interact with my students as their guide in their learning. I want to help them see the connections that writing has in their daily lives, not just academically but in real-world applications. What is a valuable lesson you have learned about teaching? A valuable lesson I have learned about teaching is that no learners are the same so I am always learning with the students, as well. What are you most excited for this school year? I am excited to meet new students, families and staff in Baxter. I love that the class sizes are smaller so that I can focus my teaching to meet the needs of all students.
call that they need to talk to. Twenty-two a day.”
By the July commissioners meeting, veterans filled the conference room once again. Many were angry with Spangenburg and his comments, causing them to speak out of order and for prolonged periods of time. Chabot said the ground rules could specify that attendees are limited to three minutes.
“I think we ought to add something to that in light of public comments in the past,” Chabot said.
Wilson recalled another county’s veterans affairs commission meeting got so heated that it needed law enforcement intervention. Jasper County’s veterans are passionate, but Wilson doubted conflicts would ever escalate to where someone would get violent and act out inappropriately.
“I don’t think we would necessarily get to that point, but at the same time it would be good to have that reminder,” she said.
can stop HIV, Iowa— by staying up-to-date on recommended screenings!
Health screenings help to identify diseases and chronic conditions before symptoms occur. The CDC recommends:
Scan here to learn more about hepatitis
Talk to your healthcare provider about getting screened! Forgot if you’ve had a screening? Ask them to check your records!
Scan here to learn more about hepatitis B screening recommendations— Or visit https://cdc.gov/hepatitis-b/testing/
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Jamee A. Pierson
Are aronia berries a cure-all?
All I know is my own story, and the stories of others whom I believe. I had an ugly skin cancer on my forehead called a neuroendocrine carcinoma. Yes, in all likelihood it was caused by sun. For you naysayers out there, who won’t wear a hat, or use sun block, I’m here to tell you it’s not worth the risk. As a teenager, I detassled, rogued, walked beans and all that other farm stuff, and never wore a hat. Hats were for sissies. My face would get so sunburned, my nose and cheekbones would blister, peel, and regrow new skin. It was a badge of courage. We wouldn’t wear shorts either, but took our shirts off. White legs, blistered head and shoulders, equals cool. No, fool. Like a waterfall, the neuroendocrine carcinoma went down into the lymph nodes of my neck — stage 3 or 4 cancer. Uh, oh. But Ginnie and I started praying and drinking aronia berry juice that a farmer buddy gave us. Lo-and-behold,
the neuroendocrine carcinoma on my forehead disappeared, and the swelling in my lymph nodes shrunk without any other medication. What are aronia berries? Good question. They are a berry that is popular in Europe, especially Poland. The aronia berry is very high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients. Here on the Empty Nest Farm we have a row of aronia berry bushes growing alongside our driveway as a wind break. If you eat the berries raw, they make you pucker. They’re astringent. But the juice from these aronia berries is more tasty. It takes seven pounds of berries to make half-agallon of juice.
So, where can you get aronia juice or powder? Here in SE Iowa there is a group of three families who are growing aronia berries and making aronia powder and juice. Their website is linngrovearonia. com. You can purchase the powder and they will ship it to you. They also make juice, but because it’s in a glass bottle, it’s
Election 2024: Finally weird enough?
By Thomas L. Knapp
“It never got weird enough for me,” says Hunter S. Thompson — or, rather, Bill Murray as Hunter S. Thompson in 1980s kinda sorta Thompson biopic, Where the Buffalo Roam. “I moved to the country when the boat got too crowded. Then I learned that President Nixon had been eaten by white cannibals on an island near Tijuana for no good reason at all.”
Thompson died by his own hand in 2005, no longer at the top of his gonzo game but still the reigning champion of American non-fiction (very loosely construed) and psychoactive substance ingestion (perhaps not quite as loosely construed).
I woke up this morning thinking about Thompson, wondering if Election 2024 might just possibly have changed his mind on how weird it can get.
More than 50 years ago, Thompson manufactured, and managed with some success to sell, a rumor that Democratic presidential contender Ed Muskie’s erratic public behavior stemmed from a crippling addiction to a psychedelic, ibogaine.
Muskie’s public meltdowns — and, for that matter, the candidacy-ending revelation of 1972 Democratic vice-presidential nominee Thomas Eagleton’s history of shock treatment — seem downright tame by today’s standards, and today’s politicians and celebrities don’t need Thompson’s assistance on the weirdness front.
On September 10, former and possibly future president Donald Trump indignantly informed the American public, on live television, that Haitian immigrants in Ohio are “eating the dogs. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there” (actual body count so far, one goose ... maybe).
Then Taylor Swift, just maybe the most popular person in the world, en-
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dorsed Trump’s opponent, vice-president Kamala Harris, dubbing herself (in response to previous weirdness from Trump’s running mate, faux-hillbilly venture capitalist and U.S. Senator JD Vance) a “childless cat lady.”
But wait! There’s more! The richest man in the world (Trump-supporting Elon Musk) then publicly offered to help Swift ditch the “childless” part. You can fill in the details as to how that might happen yourself, but you might not want to on a full stomach.
The “political junkie” side of me kind of wants to see “serious” policy discussions and debates on “the issues,” not a never-ending episode of The Jerry Springer Show with the Kardashian family and Ed Muskie’s ibogaine stash as the guests.
The “voracious reader of history” in me recalls a presidential election in which dueling polemicists described John Adams’s “hideous hermaphroditical character, which has neither the force and firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman,” and called Thomas Jefferson “a mean-spirited, low-lived fellow, the son of a halfbreed Indian squaw, sired by a Virginia mulatto father.” Perhaps the venom, and the weirdness, aren’t nearly so new as they feel.
My internal “Hunter S. Thompson fan” voice says “hey, bring on the ibogaine and let’s see what happens.”
Thompson possessed strongly held convictions and tried his hardest to call forth “the better angels of our nature.” He didn’t ACTUALLY consider elections inherently devoid of practical value outside their entertainment potential. But 2024 just might have convinced him.
ThomasL.Knappisdirector and senior news analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism.
not economical to ship. They are also in the process of making their aronia products available in local supermarkets. Explore their website. If you pay them a visit, they may bequeath you a jug of their frozen, pasteurized juice.
Stories and personal testimonies abound as to the health benefits of aronia berries. (I know. Health food vs modern medicine — the old rivalry, the odd opponents.) One lady had an autoimmune disease, interstitial cystitis, and gout. Because of the illness she was denied nursing home insurance. The medication she took was as hard or harder on her than the disease. Once she started eating aronia berries her bladder spasms stopped. She hasn’t had to take medication in five years.
Another person with sciatic nerve pain cured it with aronia juice. After a nuclear accident in Japan, Poland sent aronia products to the Japanese to combat effects of radiation. Don’t take my word for it. Look up American Aronia Association and read about studies that have been done on the super food. The potential preventative and therapeutic effect for metabolic disorder, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, kidney and liver diseases are staggering.
Why haven’t aronia berries caught
on in the United States like they have in Europe? Studies need to be done where thousands and thousands of people are treated with aronia berries as compared to a placebo and/or the more accepted medications. With Iowa having the second highest cancer rate of any state in the Union, Iowa should be fertile ground for such a study.
BTW: Nationwide, men have a 50 percent chance of coming down with cancer, women 30 percent. In Iowa, it’s higher. Cancer insurance might be a well-worth investment, along with prayer and aronia berries. Just saying. Where does that leave me, with my diagnosis of neuroendocrine carcinoma? A recent PET scan indicates that I am cancer free. That’s as a result of prayer and aronia juice, and no medication. I’m in somewhat of a quandary because the oncologists, and they are super smart doctors, want me to start a regimen of immunotherapy infusions with a new cancer drug, Keytruda, that can have rough side effects. Hmm. Do I need this treatment or not? I trust God will lead me and the doctors in the right direction. Your continued prayers for Ginnie and I are much appreciated. Contact Curt Swarm at curtswarm@ yahoo.com
Project
2025 policies are on the Nov. 5 ballot
By Steve Corbin Professor Emeritus of Marketing, University
of Northern Iowa
It’s becoming crystal clear the closer we get to the Nov. 5 presidential election, voters need to seriously check out the radical government reformation policies contained within Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. Here’s why.
The right-wing think tank Heritage Foundation has written not one, not two, but nine `Mandate for Leadership’ documents for Republican presidential candidates with their first playbook published in 1981. The Heritage Foundation spent $22 million — serious money — to create Project 2025 for Donald Trump to implement.
Trump’s claim he knows nothing about Project 2025 is dubious.
The Heritage Foundation’s web site notes Donald Trump “fully embraced” 64 percent of their 321 policy reform recommendations during his 2017-2021 presidency.
The Heritage Foundation compiled a database of Republicans the 2016-elected Trump could hire of which 66 served in his presidential administration. Five key Trump acolytes from that database included: Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education; Scott Pruitt, Environmental Protection Agency; Mick Mulvaney, White House Chief of Staff; Rick Perry, Secretary of Energy; and Jeff Sessions, Attorney General (New York Times, June 20, 2018).
Trump asked the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society to compile a list of 21 potential Supreme Court nominees. John Malcolm prepared the list for the Heritage Foundation and when Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to SCOTUS, Politico referred to Malcolm as “the man who picked the next Supreme Court justice” (Jan. 30, 2017).
In Heather Cox Richardson’s Sept. 7 blog, the Boston College History Professor revealed that on Sept. 5, Trump — at an event with Sean Hannity of Fox News — “embraced the key element of Project 2025 that calls for a dictatorial leader to take over the U.S. That document maintains that `personnel is policy’ and that the way to achieve all that the Christian nationalists want is to fire the nonpartisan civil servants currently in place and put their own people into office.”
Twenty-three videos have been prepared to coach future Trump administration appointees on how to implement Project 2025. Twenty-nine of the 36 video speakers worked for Trump or Vance (ProPublica, Aug. 10).
At least 140 people who worked in Trump’s 2017-2021 administration were involved in writing Project 2025 (CNN, July 11).
CBS News identified 270 of Project 2025′s policy proposals that matched Trump’s past political and current campaign rhetoric.
Heather Cox Richardson’s blog noted that on Sept. 7, Trump held a rally in Mosinee, Wisconsin, where he publicly embraced Project 2025′s promise to eliminate the Department of Education.
Evidence is replete the Heritage Foundation and the Trump-Vance GOP ticket are joined at the hip and, therefore, Project 2025′s extremist policies are implicitly on the Nov. 5 ballot.
Two-thirds (67.8 percent) of Americans are opposed to Project 2025′s extremist policy proposals (Newsweek, July 9). Likewise, none of former GOP presidents or vice-presidents has endorsed Trump.
Voters need to find out — on their own accord — what outlandish policies the Heritage Foundation
wants Trump-Vance to implement. One highly credible and factual reporting news agency, The Fulcrum, has published over 30 op-eds devoted to analyzing Project 2025′s content; accessible — free — at: https:// thefulcrum.us/tag/project-2025. The Fulcrum op-ed writers who delve into the nitty-gritty details of Project 2025 policies are cross-partisan and are not associated with the Harris-Walz campaign.
Here’s a partial list of Project 2025 policy topics that have been thoroughly examined, individually, in The Fulcrum: Department of Education, Christian nationalism, Department of Defense, Federal Reserve, Department of Energy, Parents Bill of Rights, Department of Veteran Affairs, Education Savings Accounts, Department of Homeland Security, Voting Rights Act, Department of Labor, Christo-fascist manifesto, Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of State, Federal Communications Commission, Department of Justice and Schedule F (firing civil servants) threat to democracy.
Since Trump implemented 64 percent of Heritage Foundation’s 2017-2021 manifesto and knowing he’s not a policy wonk, odds are great — if elected to office — he will embrace Project 2025 — lock, stock and barrel. Remember, past actions are the best predictor of future behavior.
Let’s agree that the soul of America is democracy. On Nov. 5, will you embrace Project 2025′s extremist-oriented policies that threaten our form of government or support well-reasoned policies that protect and preserve our Constitutional rights?
Contact Steve Corbin at Steven.B.Corbin@gmail.com
8 sights to see at fall harvest festivals
Just as summertime is synonymous with concerts and carnivals, fall is a prime time for its own opportunities for seasonal entertainment, such as harvest festivals. Certain features overlap between summer carnivals and fall festivals, but the latter offers some unique offerings as well. The following are some things to expect when fall festival season hits full swing.
1. Seasonal fare
Many fall harvest festivals are built on the foods harvested in the fall for that region. In Wisconsin, that may be cranberries, while in Massachusetts it could be oysters. Apples also turn up in many areas starting in September. For those who can’t wait to bite into food picked at the peak of its season, a fall harvest festival can’t be beat.
2. Wagon rides Farms and the tools of the farming trade are part of harvest festivals. Wagons transporting crops are a classic sight, even if they’re no longer heavily relied upon on the farm. Rather than a cargo bed full of corn or apples, harvest festivals tote families around on wagon rides or on hay bale beds towed by tractors.
3. Apples galore
Candied and caramel apples and many other apple products feature prominently at many harvest festivals. Apple fritters, apple turnovers, apple pies, fried apples, and others are bound to be sold by vendors, along with traditional fair foods, like funnel cakes.
4. Cider stations
Lemonade stands that are staples of summer give way to hot or cold cider offerings come the fall. Cold ciders are perfect for an unseasonably warm fall day while warm varieties are tailor-made for days when there’s a chill in the air.
5. Pumpkin patches
Fall harvest organizers pick and display pumpkins in fields to make it easier for youngsters to find the perfect pumpkin for Halloween carvings. It’s a sea of orange this time of year, and things may get more colorful with non-edible gourds in shades of white or yellow.
6. Leaf-peeping opportunities
Some festivals are geared around chances to view the fall foliage that abounds in primarily rural areas. A mountain or forest backdrop adds vibrant color to any event. Coastal areas may set up fall foliage cruises that let guests see the leaves from a
new perspective.
7. Corn mazes
Fall festivals set up adjacent to or on farms may have corn mazes for the kids. These mazes may be kept up throughout October and repurposed into haunted mazes for older kids looking to get a scare for Halloween.
8. Wine tastings
Many grape varieties are harvested in the fall, so fall harvest festivals may capitalize on that and invite local vineyards to set up tables providing tastings of their vintages. Vineyards also may host their own fall festivals, featuring sips and snacks with live music.
Fall offers a host of entertaining festivals geared around the harvest season. These festivals are ideal ways for people to see the sights and nibble on seasonal delights along the way.
— Metro Creative
Community Calendar
Send items to news@jaspercountytribune.com
THURSDAY
• Mingo Men’s Club meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of month at the Mingo Community Center
MONDAY
• Colfax Historical Society meets at 7 p.m. the third Monday of month at the museum
THURSDAY
• AMVETS meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Thursday of month at the Colfax Fire Station. • Mingo Park & Recreation regular meeting meets at 6:30 p.m. the last Thursday of month at City Hall
Director
Continuedfrompage1
duties that I do now to an extent,” Shutts said.
Jasper County Communications Division serves as the communications hub for the county’s law enforcement agencies. The division operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. According to the county’s website, the division provides 911 and emergency dispatching services
for 17 agencies within the county. It also has access to the National Criminal Justice Information System and the National Crime Information Center. But perhaps what it is best known for is being the primary dispatch point for all county law enforcement, fire, medical and emergency management services.
In 2022, the communications division dispatch assigned 38,318 calls for services.
Habitat variety attracts birds and birders to Iowa River Bird Conservation Area
Driving slowly along the two-track, generously labeled “340th Street” by Google Maps, Anna Buckardt Thomas has her windows down and is identifying each bird by its call. “House wren, red-winged blackbird, killdeer, goldfinch, catbird, flicker, cardinal, Eurasian tree sparrow, common yellowthroat,” the state avian ecologist said.
This stretch of the Otter Creek Wildlife Area, in Tama County, is an eBird hotspot; a popular birding website and app that logs bird sightings for users and adds each individual’s bird records to the global data set.
Birds are attracted to the mix of grasslands, marsh and shrubs in the middle of Otter Creek. Sora and Virginia rails nest here, and yellow rails will show up occasionally in the fall. A warbling vireo is singing. So is an indigo bunting. Dead trees are allowed to remain standing, providing snags for woodpeckers and bluebirds.
The area also supports other wildlife including ornate box turtles, regal fritillaries, and the most impressive annual tiger salamander migration in the state – prompting the closure of County Road
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 service; 10:15 a.m. Sunday
E66, while the amphibians cross the asphalt, heading towards the marsh.
Otter Creek is part of the Iowa River Bird Conservation Area (BCA), a designation covering a mix of public and private lands that stretches roughly 45 miles along the Iowa River from Iowa County to Tama County. The Bird Conservation Area program emphasizes habitat conservation at a large, landscape level to establish stable or growing bird populations. Each BCA includes a combination of public and private lands, well-managed for wildlife conservation. The program is non-regulatory, and private landowners participate only if they wish. It’s part of a larger national and international all-bird conservation effort dedicated to the conservation of game and non-game birds alike and is guided under the umbrella of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative.
Today, the Iowa River BCA is a mix of floodplain forest, wetlands, prairie savanna and river oxbows. Dedicated in 2004, it was the first BCA to be centered on a river. The patchwork of habitat, crop fields and rolling hills extends through
four counties.
For those new to birding or new to Otter Creek, there is a viewing platform just off U.S. Highway 30, that has accessible parking, a ramp to the main viewing area and a spotting scope trained towards the prairie and marsh. It also has information panels on the history of the area.
“There’s so much variety in this BCA, which means it can support large, diverse numbers of birds and other wildlife,” Buckardt Thomas said. More than 230 different species have been documented here, many of which are breeding species. The BCA supports large amounts of waterfowl, shorebirds and grassland birds, including species in greatest conservation need – both migratory and breeding.
Barn owls, northern harriers, short eared owls, have been known to nest in the corridor. Grasshopper sparrow, bobolinks and black-crowned night herons are here too. Peering through a pair of binoculars, the marsh water levels appear to be more conducive to attracting ducks and herons, than shorebirds, she said. It’s actively used all year long, but has the most visitors during migration.
“Having native shrubs, like these dog-
Church Schedules
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, Sept. 22 - 9 a.m. Fellowship; 9:15 a.m. Bible Education Classes; 10:25 a.m. Message by Pastor Cody Dyer; 5 p.m. “The Well” Youth Group
TUESDAY, Sept. 24 - 3:30 p.m. Women’s Prayer and Coffee; 6:30 p.m. Music/Worship Team Meeting
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 25 - 9 a.m. Busy Bee Quilters and Fresh Encounter Prayer; 5:45 p.m. AWANA Family Meal; 6:25 p.m. AWANA Clubs
The church schedule is brought to you by
FRIDAY, Sept. 27 - “The Cellar” following the C-M Homecoming football game
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
woods, is really important for migratory habitat because they produce all kinds of berries in early September, and migrating birds will gobble them up for energy,” she said.
Diving down a two-track, she brings the truck to a stop, bringing the binoculars up to see what’s dancing up ahead - a brown thrasher, another species in greatest conservation need, and three catbirds.
Six pelicans soar effortlessly over the boat ramp and parking lot on the deeper basin, looking for a meal. Yellow-headed blackbirds nest here. Marsh wrens, sedge wrens and common gallinules can be heard.
“The best way to explore Otter Creek is by walking the dikes, because it offers the most opportunity to see birds and other wildlife,” she said. Dikes are mowed to maintain their integrity, providing relatively easy hiking conditions and viewing of the wetlands.
Heading into far southwest Benton County and the eastern section of the BCA, south of the town of Belle Plaine on Highway 21, is the main Bird Conservation Area sign and information kiosk.
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 Church: 641-227-3382
SUNDAY - 10 a.m. Worship
WEDNESDAY - 6 p.m. Bible Study
THIRD THURSDAY of month - 6:30 p.m. Theology on Tap at Bea’s Place on Main Street Check us out on Facebook and baxtercongregational.com
CORNERSTONE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP
1000 E. 12th St., Newton Rev. Josh Farver, pastor Phone 641-792-4650
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10:15 a.m. Worship WEDNESDAY - 6:30 p.m. Prayer Meeting and Bible Study; Youth Group
HERITAGE WORD OF LIFE
ASSEMBLY OF GOD 102 Second St. NW, Mitchellville Pastor Dave Adams 515-967-3330
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
Short-handed Bolts finish second at Colfax-Mingo Tigerhawk Invitational
COLFAX — Matt Richardson and Max Handorf finished 1-2 in the Colfax-Mingo Tigerhawk Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 12, but not having their No. 3 runner was too much to overcome for the Class 1A No. 13 Bolts.
The top four scoring runners all received medals for their efforts in the boys’ 5K race, but the Baxter cross country team was second in the team standings.
The Bolts trailed Grand View Christian by five points, while Colfax-Mingo was fifth and the Newton junior varsity completed the 10-team field.
Richardson, who’s ranked No. 14 in 1A, won the boys’ race in 17 minutes, 48.8 seconds and No. 24 Handorf was the runner-up in 17:55.8.
The top 25 finishers in each high school race earn medals.
The Bolts also got a 14th place finish from Maddox Peters and a 23rd place tally from Dakota Parker.
Peters posted a career-best time of 19:25.9 and Parker’s time of 20:00 also was a career best.
Freshman Brecken Fisher missed the meet with a minor injury.
The final counting scorer for Baxter was Logan Rainsbarger, who was 47th in 21:51.5. Parker Bonney (25:37.37) was a non-scoring runner in 79th.
There were issues with the timing system. Some runners were not listed in the results. Others were placed in the wrong spots.
Grand View Christian won the meet with 75 points, while Baxter finished second with 80.
The rest of the top five were Woodward-Granger (91), Collins-Maxwell (118) and Colfax-Mingo (127).
Clarke (133), North Ma-
haska (136), Saydel (152), Woodward Academy (176) and the Newton JV (266) completed the field.
Three Tigerhawks earned medals in the race. Sullivan Wilkins led the way in sixth with a time of 18:21.8. Owen Ament (19:47.4) finished 20th, Mario Rodriguez (19:57.1) was 22nd and Josue Rodriguez (20:15.4) finished 28th.
Colfax-Mingo head cross country coach Zach Tomas said Harrison Rhone (unoffcially 20:06) came in before Josue Rodriguez, but his time wasn’t registered in the results.
Ryan Moore (23:59.6) was the final scoring runner in the results in 67th.
Neither Nate Endersbe (24:54.19) nor Asher Knutson (unofficially 30:24) were listed in the original results but both were non-scoring runners for Colfax-Mingo.
Tomas said his squad would have scored fewer than 100 points and might have finished third if the results were accurate.
Baxter volleyball gets first conference win, sweeps Valley Lutheran
CONRAD — The Baxter volleyball team tallied 24 aces and had a big advantage in kills during its best win of the season so far on Sept. 13.
Tigerhawk volleyball rallies past rival BGM
BROOKLYN — The Colfax-Mingo volleyball team served up 13 aces and a pair of Tigerhawks posted double-doubles during a four-set win over BGM on Sept. 9.
Colfax-Mingo rallied from an early hole to down the Bears 24-26, 25-22, 25-17, 26-24 in the South Iowa Cedar League opener for both teams.
The victory snapped the Tigerhawks’ three-match skid against BGM.
Colfax-Mingo is 3-3 in the last six matches in the series.
Trinity Smith put down 15 kills and added 25 digs and two blocks to lead the Tigerhawks, while Katelyn Steenhoek tallied 28 assists, 14 digs, two kills and three aces.
Britney Keeney finished with a career-high 10 kills and chipped in two blocks, three digs and five aces, Kaylee Collins registered 13 digs and two aces and Grace Hunsberger posted a career-best seven kills and two digs.
Isabelle Utz had four kills and five digs, Macie Porter tallied nine digs and two aces, Dakota Allen collected three digs and Victoria Woods added two blocks.
Colfax-Mingo finished 84-of95 in serves with 13 aces. Porter served 22-of-23, while Collins was 13-of-13.
Kylie Ament led BGM (3-6, 0-1) with 27 assists and 12 digs. Emersyn Minnaert tallied 10 kills and 28 digs, Ana Coleman put down 11 kills and Shaye Strong registered 40 digs.
Baxter’s True leads area harriers at Colfax-Mingo
Colo-NESCO, Clarke, BGM and the Newton junior varsity.
The Bolts had two players with more than five assists, five with more than two kills and three who had at least six aces during their win over Valley Lutheran.
The Bolts played in an Iowa Star Conference South Division road triangular and split its two matches against BCLUW and Valley Lutheran. Baxter downed the Crusaders 25-16, 25-9, 25-20 and lost to the Class 1A No. 8 Comets 25-6, 25-10, 25-12.
Abbie Meyer led the Bolts with eight kills, 11 digs and seven aces. Adison Bonney posted seven kills and three digs, Kendall Brummel chipped in two kills, three digs and six aces and Caydence Sulzle produced 21 digs and seven aces.
Karlee Koehler dished out 12 assists, Alyvia Burdess chipped in five assists and two digs, Danika Flora added six digs and Kaylyn Krampe collected three digs.
Lexi Dart and Kamdyn Krampe each put down two kills and Denver Sulzle collected two digs.
The Bolts (3-7, 1-1 in the conference) were 63-of-73 in serves with 24 aces. Brummel was 10-of-11 in serves, while Meyer and Bonney had kill efficiencies of .294 and .235, respectively.
Valley Lutheran (0-11, 0-3) had a 25-3 disadvantage in kills. Maggie Michler led the Crusaders with four aces. In the loss to state-ranked BCLUW, Meyer led the Bolts with three kills and eight digs. Caydence Sulzle had 13 digs, Burdess added five assists and two digs and Bonney produced four digs. Flora also had two digs and the Bolts were 23-of-31 in serves.
BCLUW (9-1, 3-0) was led by Grace Farnsworth’s nine kills. Cassie Nason added 20 assists and three aces.
COLFAX — Five area female runners earned medals at the Colfax-Mingo Tigerhawk Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 12.
But only the Tigerhawks had enough runners for a team score and Baxter’s Makayla True and Colfax-Mingo’s Ashlynn Hosband led the way in the top 15.
The top 25 finishers in each varsity 5K race earned medals. Class 1A No. 16 Grand View Christian won the team title with 43 points, while Collins-Maxwell (52), North Mahaska (72), Woodward-Granger (79) and Colfax-Mingo (90) completed the five-team field.
The incomplete teams were Baxter,
There were several issues with the timing system. Some runners were not listed at all. Others were given times their teammates ran. It did not affect Colfax-Mingo’s finish in fifth. True led all area runners and the Bolts in 10th. She was clocked in 22 minutes, 31 seconds. Her lone teammate, Zoey Gliem, was 19th in 25:09. Colfax-Mingo’s Hosbond, Mallory Sipma and Shae Wilkins all earned medals. Hosbond was 13th in 23:02.7, Sipma placed 16th in 24:49 and Wilkins ended up 21st in 25:24.1.
GIRLS XC | 7
Smith
Jasper County Tribune
Keeney
Jasper County Tribune
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune Baxter sophomore Max Handorf, center, competes in the boys’ 5K race at Kelly Fields in Colfax on Sept. 12. Handorf was second in the race.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune Colfax-Mingo junior Sullivan Wilkins, left, finished sixth to lead the Tigerhawks at Kelly Fields on Sept. 12.
Jasper County Tribune
Jasper County Tribune
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune Baxter senior Karlee Koehler dished
12 assists in the Bolts’ three-set
over Valley Lutheran on Sept. 12. VOLLEYBALL | 7
Troy Hyde/ Jasper County Tribune
Baxter senior Makayla True led all area runners at Colfax-Mingo on Sept. 12. She was 10th in the girls’ 5K race.
C-M football can’t overcome turnovers in loss to Saydel
DES MOINES — For the second straight week, Colfax-Mingo’s football team held a lead during a non-district game.
But the Tigerhawks couldn’t stay in front and were plagued by four interceptions during a 30-18 road loss to Saydel on Sept. 13.
Colfax-Mingo led 6-0 after one quarter, but the Eagles outscored the Tigerhawks 14-0 in the second and 16-0 in the fourth. The Tigerhawks won the third 12-0.
Saydel defeated the Tigerhawks for the first time since at least 2008. Since that season, C-M leads the series 7-1.
The Tigerhawks (0-3) outgained Saydel 446-437 but the turnovers were too much to overcome.
Caden Sykes threw for 43 yards and one interception, rushed for a career-high 247 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries and caught two passes for 27 yards in the loss.
Isaiah Baucom gained 49 yards and scored one TD on seven carries, Wyatt Carpenter rushed for 24 yards on three carries and Wyatt Thornton caught a 29-yard pass. Chase Trotter caught one pass for 11 yards.
Shane Hostetter threw for 67 yards and three picks, rushed for 16 yards and caught one pass for 43 yards.
Camden Cunningham led the C-M defense with 7.5 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Cason Fitch tallied 7.5 tackles, Hostetter chipped in five tackles, Baucom tallied 4.5 tackles and two tackles for loss and Sykes posted four tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Alex Teed and Brock Nichol both registered four tackles and Trotter added three tackles. Sykes’ lone punt went for 44 yards.
Adam Ollin threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns to lead Saydel, which won for the first time this season on Homecoming. Ollin also rushed for 167 yards and one TD.
The Eagles (1-2) rushed for 203 yards and averaged 6.8 yards per carry in the win. The Tigerhawks ran for 336 yards and averaged 9.6 yards per carry.
Volleyball
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Baxter 3, Martensdale-St. Marys 0
BAXTER — The Bolts edged the Blue Devils in the first two sets and then pulled away with a convincing victory in the third during a 25-23, 26-24, 25-15 non-conference home win over Martensdale-St. Marys on Sept. 9.
Baxter improved to 6-1 against the Blue Devils since 2018. The Bolts won the match after serving eight aces.
Meyer led the Bolts with five kills, 11 digs and three aces, Bonney chipped in six kills and four digs and Caydence Sulzle registered 19 digs and two aces.
Brummel tallied three kills, nine digs and three aces, Burdess finished with seven assists and two digs and Koehler dished out nine assists. Denver Sulzle had two kills and two digs, Kamdyn Krampe put down two kills and Flora contributed two digs.
Abigail White led the Blue Devils (3-9) with eight kills, 14 digs and five aces and Kathryn Ballard dished out eight assists.
Slow start plagues Baxter football in loss to St. Edmond
BAXTER — Fort Dodge St. Edmond got an historic night from Grant Galles, and the Baxter football team couldn’t overcome a slow start during a 74-24 home loss on Sept. 13.
The Bolts fell behind the Class 8-man District 9 contest 36-8 after one quarter and never recovered.
Galles highlighted the Gaels’ win with three kickoff return touchdowns, one receiving touchdown and a defensive score.
Cade Robinson led the Bolts with 45 yards on 12 carries and six catches for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Baxter (1-2, 0-2 in district play) did not have starters Stadan Vansice or Cael Wishman for the game and Cainan Travis was limited.
Jack Anderson gained 71 yards and scored one TD on six carries, Perrin Sulzle rushed for 16 yards, caught seven passes for 50 yards and one TD and tossed an interception.
Eli Dee threw for 163 yards, two scores and three picks, Travis rushed five times for 51 yards and James Esqueda gained 11 yards on his only catch.
Colten Damman was 1-for-1 through the air for 11 yards in his prep debut. It was the first career varsity catch for Esqueda.
Girls XC
Anderson led Baxter’s defense with eight tackles, one sack and three tackles for loss. Nolan Hill contributed 3.5 tackles and Skyler Stoll produced three tackles and two tackles for loss.
Galles had three catches for 63 yards and one TD, averaged 60.7 yards per kickoff return and led the Gaels’ defense with six tackles and a pick six.
Ethan Swisher completed all five of his passes for 103 yards and three
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Lilyan Hadsall (27:33.66) placed 36th and foreign exhange student Laila Kwaskiewicz (28:43.22) finished 42nd as the final counting scorers.
Devan Chadwick (30:05.33) and Ava Van Maaren (30:54.22) were non-scoring runners in 44th and 46th, respectively.
Eva Flesher of Woodward-Granger won the girls’ race in 19:58.5 and 1A No. 20 Jayden Peters of Collins-Maxwell was the runner-up in 20:16.6.
TDs and Quintin Jaeschke and Adam Walker each had six tackles and four tackles for loss.
The visiting Gaels (2-1, 1-1) snagged four interception and registered 12 tackles for loss. Koleman Hanson booted nine touchbacks, kicked a 30-yard field goal and was 3-of-4 on his PATs.
Baxter was outscored 25-8 in the second and 13-0 in the third. The Bolts scored the only points of the fourth.
Trinity Smith
Colfax-Mingo senior Trinity Smith leads the Tigerhawk volleyball team with 43 kills and 49 digs and ranks second with 10 aces and six blocks. She had 15 kills, 25 digs and two blocks in the team’s four-set, come-from-behind win over BGM on Sept. 9.
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
Colfax-Mingo freshman Ashlynn Hosbond led the host Tigerhawks at their home meet on Sept. 12. Hosbond’s 13th-place finish helped C-M finish fifth as a team.
Jasper County Tribune
Sykes
Jasper County Tribune
Photo by Andrea Berg
Baxter senior Carter Smith (70) gets held by a Fort Dodge St. Edmond player during the Bolts’ 74-24 loss on Sept. 13.