Colfax-Mingo celebrates a homecoming win under the disco ball
Democrats feel re-energized and rally with Iowa House candidate
Soup supper fundraiser draws enthusiastic support for Magg, Harris, Bohannan
By Christopher Braunschweig
Oftentimes the Jasper County Democratic Party Soup Supper is a low key affair barely running off the fumes of a handful of ticked off candidates, and while its atmosphere this year was certainly relaxed, the event was teeming with eager party members who haven’t looked this motivated in some time.
For what seems like an eternity — especially for Republicans — Jasper County has remained a Democratic stronghold. It was blue through and
through. Unions and the presence of Maytag most surely supplied the votes come Election Day. But, obviously, times have changed. Now, there are only a few blue offices left. In 2018, Chaz Allen resigned from his seat on the Iowa Senate. That same year Jasper County welcomed a fully Republican board of supervisors with newly elected Brandon Talsma and re-elected Denny Carpenter serving alongside Doug Cupples. In 2021, Wes Breckenridge resigned from the Iowa House. Today, only four Demo-
crats hold major offices in Jasper County: Denise Allan in the recorder’s office, Doug Bishop in the treasurer’s office, John Halferty in the sheriff’s office and Scott Nicholson in the attorney’s office. However, upon Halferty’s retirement this year, that total will reduce to three.
Following a string of defeats, the Jasper County Democratic Party has struggled to find its footing. That is until Brad Magg announced he was running for Iowa House District 38 against
Baxter follows the yellow brick road to a fun homecoming celebration
Republicans lose the bells and whistles and get serious at trapshoot
Fundraiser emphasizes the tight races between Dunwell, Trump, Miller-Meeks
The Jasper County GOP Trapshoot was uncharacteristically restrained this year apart from the fiery speeches from guests like U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who fought back against new ads from her opponent, and former acting U.S. Attorney General Matt Whittaker, who lobbied for another Trump presidency.
Sure, folks fired off rounds of trap and skeet, and many seemed to be having a good time doing it in between chats with candidates or their representatives. But the energy was surprisingly low for an event that has attracted nearly every major Republican candidate and helped ramp up enthusiasm amongst the ranks.
In the past, guests like a “fired up” Gary Leffler took an extreme approach. Leffler, who ran an unsuccessful primary for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District seat two years ago but is most famously known for his American Flag-decorated tractor, featured signs and enlarged dollar bills demonizing Democrats.
The trapshoot has hosted Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and former Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, numerous statehouse legislators and council members and supervisors, presidential candidates and even a former contestant on “The Apprentice.” Still, even without special guests the trapshoot has always managed to
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune
Brad Magg, the Democratic candidate running for Iowa House District 38, speaks to a crowd of supporters during the annual Jasper County Democrats Soup Supper on Sept. 22 in Newton. Magg is a member of the Colfax City Council and owner of Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Prairie City.
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune Iowa House Rep. Jon Dunwell listens to a guest speaker during the Jasper County GOP Trapshoot fundraiser on Sept. 21 in Newton. Dunwell is running for re-election to the Iowa House District 38 seat.
Photos by Andrea Berg
Courtesy of Colfax-Mingo Community School District
Jasper County Tribune
By Christopher Braunschweig
County Tribune
Deborah Sue Lindsay
Sept. 23, 2024
Obituaries
and toe at one point and possibly a broken rib!
Deborah Sue Lindsay (Rourke), age 75, of Colfax, Iowa, passed away on September 23, 2024, in DesMoines, Iowa. Debbie’s family will greet friends for a visitation on Thursday, September 26, 2024, from 3:00 – 6:00 PM at Coburn Funeral Home in Prairie City, Iowa. If you wish to send a memorial in lieu of flowers, please make the check out to her husband, Darrell Lindsay, and a donation will be made in her name later. If you are unable to attend visitation and wish to send a card, please address it to, “Attn: Debbie Lindsay, Coburn Funeral Home, 24 W Howard St, Colfax, Iowa.” Online condolences may be left at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com
The daughter of Donna (Mumm) Rourke and James Rourke, Debbie was born on September 16, 1949, in Iowa City, Iowa. Debbie’s world was FAMILY is first. She was a wife, mother, grandma, sister, daughter, aunt,
coaches’ wife and Athletic director wife. As the backbone of the Lindsay home, a delicious supper was always on the table, laundry was done, kids bathed and in bed on time and everyone knew they were loved. She supported Darrell in his coaching and Athletic Directors years and was Jeff and Jeni’s biggest fan. Regardless of the outcome of the games, she always found the positive in the situation. Her nephews waited with anticipation every year to see what birthday card their Aunt Debbie would send them. It was never boring.
Growing up in the ‘Burg, she was a gym rat. Always getting out of class to go to the gym when she could, to become a great trampolinist. Her siblings and her would go swimming at Sports Hill Country Club and ice skating at the west end pond. Her pet was a horse named Buster. Gwobbs was the name her grandkids knew her by, and her nickname of Rose came along later. “Oh Rose” would become a common phrase! Their house was always fun- a bucket of balls and a bat, swimming pools -sometimes multiple in a year, hide and seek, and WWE. She had a broken finger
Thanksgiving was always a feast with a grandkid helping with homemade stuffing and fighting over the wishbone. She took great pride in selecting each of their stockings for Christmas. Her fondest family memory was playing the card game “31″ for 65 Christmas Eves. She was given a seat at the table at age 10. Her grandkids sat on her lap and “helped” her play until they were old enough to have their own seat.
With the gift to gab, Deb graduated from beauty school and began cutting hair. She continued to cut Darrell’s hair every month for the past 55 years. After a little while, she decided this was not for her and became a waitress. The patrons loved to gab with her at Pat and Mel’s, Kopper Kettle, Poppy’s, Cardinal Cafe, Radisson Inn and ending her career at Goldies. For a number of years, she was a teachers aid at Colfax school and Colfax Mingo Schools and a security officer at Prairie Meadows.
Her long natural fingernails were something she was always so proud of. She would save her tip money to have them manicured and freshly
painted fancy colors. In her later years, she loved spending time in her Great-Gwobbs She Shed, playing the slots, making people laugh at her Debbie-isms and was always driving her family crazy for sending her food back to the kitchen at a restaurant because it was not HOT enough. Oh Rose!!
Debbie never knew a stranger. Attending all of Darrell, Jeff, Jeni, and her grandchildren, Trey, Kaleigh, Cade, Tiernan, and Tori’s events. She always found a friend in the crowd. Her lawn chair was always empty because she was off making friends, laughing it up, and enjoying life.
Those left to honor her memory include her husband of 55 years; Darrell Lindsay, her children; Jeff (Christy) Lindsay and Jeni Pearson, her grandchildren; Trey (Emily Fudge) Lindsay, Cade Lindsay, Tori Lindsay, Kaleigh Pearson, and Tiernan Pearson, a great granddaughter; Wren Lindsay, her siblings; Dan(Pat) Rourke, Dede (Mark) Doschadis, and Don Rourke, as well as 3 nephews, 3 great nephews, and 4great nieces.
Preceding Debbie in death were her parents; James and Donna Rourke, her son-inlaw; Mike Pearson, and Grandma Chris.
The Colfax P.E.O Chapter’s largest annual fundraiser is quickly approaching.
P.E.O. is a philanthropic organization whose mission is to help women around the world advance thorough education. Five different grant, scholarship and loan opportunities are available and membership is not required to apply.
Don’t miss out on this fundraising event to benefit women.
The Annual Fashion Show will be Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Colfax Historical Building.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Spring City Pharmacy or by calling Dawn Gibson at 515-238-6358.
Local P.E.O. members will also have tick-
ets for sale.
The gift and boutique shop Fine Things from Newton will have clothes, home decor and holiday decorations available for purchase at the event.
Doors open at 9:30 a.m. so people can shop. Silent auction baskets and other items will also be on display. At 10:30 a.m. a buffet-style breakfast will be served. Scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage, bacon, pastries from Pella, orange juice, coffee and ice tea will be on the menu.
After breakfast clothes from Fine Things will be modeled which is always a popular part of the event. In addition the Colfax Museum will be open to tour.
Towns selected for 2025 Community Visioning Program
Seven Iowa communities have been selected to participate in the Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program in 2025.
This award-winning program integrates technical landscape planning and design techniques with sustainable community action to assist community leaders and volunteers in making sound and meaningful decisions about the local landscape.
The 2025 visioning communities are Baxter, Columbus Junction, Cumming, Denver, Emerson, Greenfield and Tipton. Four of the communities had participated in the program previously: Columbus Junction (1997-98), Denver (200203), Greenfield (1997-98) and Tipton (2006-07). The program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Transportation in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development, and Trees Forever, an Iowa-based nonprofit environmental advocacy
organization.
“To qualify for the visioning program, a community must have a population of fewer than 10,000 residents, existing transportation-related issues and a committee of volunteers willing to dedicate their time and talent to the visioning process,” Sandra Oberbroeckling, Community Visioning project manager and ISU Extension and Outreach program specialist, said.
The Community Visioning Program empowers local leaders through a planning process that results in a transportation enhancement plan reflecting the values and identity of the community.
A committee of local residents participates in a series of steps toward creating a conceptual design plan, including:
• Identifying issues
• Investigating the physical and cultural dimensions of landscape issues
• Setting goals for change
• Developing strate-
gies to meet those goals
• Creating an implementation plan
Throughout the process, the committee receives support from the technical experts at Trees Forever, a professional landscape architecture firm and the ISU Department of Landscape Architecture.
On Nov. 7, representatives from each 2025 visioning community kick off the visioning process in Ames at the Iowa’s Living Roadways Annual Celebration, where
they will network with program sponsors, representatives from past visioning communities, and experts on community engagement and placemaking.
The sustainability and success of the program is evident by the number of communities with which it has collaborated. Since Iowa’s Living Roadways was created in 1996, 266 communities have participated in Community Visioning, 40 of which have gone through the process more than once.
gather Republicans in one space for an exciting start to the day. Perhaps it was the change in weather that caused this anomaly. Usually, the trapshoot is mired by extreme forecasts. It’s either really windy, really muggy, really rainy or really bright. But for the first hour or so the weather was damn near perfect. Then the wind picked up. Then again from a different direction. It became too much for Miller-Meeks, whose hair kept getting in her eyes during her turn at trap. Historically, she is one of the better shooters, but the wind no doubt caused a few shots to miss their target. During her speech, she found a new target: opponent Christina Bohannan.
“I know if you’ve watched TV at all then you know I had to take a break from being on the yacht and drinking champagne,” Miller-Meeks said sarcastically. “I had to change the champagne to beers to be here in Iowa. If you’ve seen the ad, you’ll know what I’m talking about.”
Miller-Meeks may be referring to Bohannan’s “Up There” ad, which depicts Miller-Meeks with a crowd of people clinking glasses of champagne. The ad claims Miller-Meeks’ campaign took over $1 million from special interests groups. Other Bohannan For Congress ads feature the same scene.
It is not the first time Bohannan’s ads have caused a stir. Several TV news outlets, including KCCI, have run a fact check segment on the Bohannan campaign’s ad that claims Iowa has one of the strictest abortion bans in the country and that it’s because of Miller-Meeks. KCCI reported the claims untrue.
Miller-Meeks told the Jasper County crowd: “Christina Bohannan is trying to lie and buy her way into Congress. And we are not going to let her do that.”
As with any election season, Miller-Meeks said there is a lot on the line for this congressional district
election. If the Electoral College has a tie, she said, the U.S. House of Representatives decides the tie-breaker. Miller-Meeks said Donald Trump would want a Republican-led House on that situation.
“Do you think Christina Bohannan will vote to impeach President Trump? Yes. Do you think I will vote to impeach President Trump? No way! No how! Never!”
Miller-Meeks said. “… There is one thing I agree with Kamala Harris on: Let’s turn the page on the Biden/Harris Administration and get his country back on track!”
Whittaker has made a number of appearances in Jasper County, but it was his first outing to the trapshoot. He spoke about national security being a key issue on the ballot, claiming the United States is weaker than it has ever been since the “outbreak of World War II.” The world is on fire, Whittaker said.
“We have Hezbollah/ Hamas causing chaos and war in the Middle East, we have Russia invading Ukraine and we have an ever-ascending China that is currently not being checked by the United States of America and our allies,” he said. “…We all know Donald Trump is much stronger than a weak Kamala Harris.”
The southern border, he added, is out of control. Whittaker lobbied that a Trump White House means a more secure border and an immigration system that works for the American people, serves the interests of the United States and brings “the best and the brightest” from around the world.
“I mean, we can’t bring everybody and we can’t have a system that’s unorganized,” he said before pinning the issue on Democrats. “…You cannot cause the problem and then suggest somehow you’re going to fix it. That’s like somebody breaks into a house and suggests they’re going to offer you security.”
Earlier this year the U.S. Senate failed to advance a border security bill after all Republicans but one voted against it. Many lawmakers say Trump put pressure on
lawmakers to block the deal. Whittaker went on to say Democrats are suggesting there is not a crime problem in America.
“Immigrant crime has skyrocketed because of this illegal border invasion,” he said. “We have to get back to a law and order system. We have to get to a place that no matter where you live every child is safe to play in their front yard, and everyone is secure in their own homes with their personal effects.”
Donald Trump will do that, he added, because he has seen him do it before. Trump issued an executive order to the U.S. Department of Justice in 2017 to support law enforcement and reduce crime in America. Whittaker said the United States needs to get back to measures like these.
“Instead of weaponizing the Department of Justice against political enemies like we’ve seen under (U.S. Attorney General) Merrick Garland,” he said.
The economy, he concluded, is also an issue Americans need to consider when going to the polls. Inflation has been out of control, and Whittaker said Americans have lost their savings because they have to spend more than what they are making. Whittaker said Trump will bring down inflation and bring back prosperity.
Of course, there was another reason Whittaker said Republicans should vote and encourage oth-
ers to vote for Donald Trump that has nothing to do with issues.
“In 2026, we’re going to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America,” Whittaker said. “And my question to my good friends here in Jasper County is: Who do you want in charge of that birthday celebration and that fireworks show on July 4, 2026. I think the answer is pretty clear.”
Providing most of the hoots and cheers and early applauses was Dunwell, who was noticeably tired this time around. Dunwell has campaigned for this seat four times since 2020. He campaigned and lost to Wes Breckenridge in 2020. He won the seat in a special election the following year when Breckenridge resigned.
In 2022, he won the seat against Democratic opponent Erick Zehr and Libertarian challenger Michael Wood. Now, he’s back at it again.
Dunwell, too, stressed the importance of this election. He recalled a conversation he had with a Democratic lawmaker blaming Republican policies for the increased lines at the food pantries. Dunwell said he stopped her and told her to think about a few things.
“We have a 2.8 percent unemployment rate in Iowa and we have a growing economy. The reason people are suffering and the reason the lines are so long is because of the Biden tax inflation,” Dunwell said. “It has driven prices for
groceries through the roof and we’ve had high energy costs across the board.”
Fiscal responsibility is of the utmost importance for Dunwell. He said Republicans have lowered the state’s income tax for all Iowans. He touted the Republican’s controls on property tax, noting there is still work to be done. However, House File 718 has been heavily criticized by local taxing entities.
“We put in some checks and some balances saying how high they can raise that levy, what they have to do with all of that assessment growth, saying in most cases some of that assessment growth must be used to lower the levy — what you pay per $1,000 on your home,” Dunwell said.
The Republican lawmaker went on to celebrate the party’s legislative wins this past year, including the decision on a law that supporters say protects girls sports but others say bans transgender students. Dunwell also praised the state’s sixweek abortion ban, but he said more needs to be done on that issue.
“We’re about providing resources for moms and dads who are going through the birth of a baby and need our help and need our support,” he said.
Dunwell went on to say one of the best things Jasper County has going for is its support from the governor, and his relationship with the governor.
“When we needed help with our redevelopment
zone at Legacy Plaza, the governor stepped in,” he said. “When we needed help with the racetrack, the governor stepped in. When our conservation was looking for grants, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and the federal government stepped in and the governor stepped in.”
Dunwell added Jasper County can pick up the phone and talk about opportunities to make sure it stays in the forefront of the her mind outside the urban area.
“I need your support,” Dunwell said. “We need to get Donald Trump elected president, amen? We need to get Mariannette Miller-Meeks continue to represent us in the U.S. House. We need to elect Doug Cupples as a Jasper County supervisor and we need to elect Thad Nearmyer for that two-year seat.”
Nearmyer, a candidate for county supervisor and the former chair of the Jasper County Republican Party, spoke briefly about the importance of voting early — which is also an uncharacteristic trait of Republicans — and in his speech he revealed what could be the reason for the event’s tonal shift.
“President Trump, Congresswoman Miller-Meeks and Representative Dunwell are all in super tight races and they need every vote they can get,” he said. “(Dunwell’s) opponent is the real deal. We should not overlook this. We have to work our tails off and make sure our entire slate gets elected.”
Baxter Homecoming 2024 C-M Homecoming 2024
incumbent Rep. Jon Dunwell. The response from the community certainly gave the party a boost of confidence in their candidate.
Coupled with the announcement that President Joe Biden would be dropping out of the race in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris and Midwestern running mate Tim Walz, the Jasper County Democratic Party has been given the swift kick in the butt it needed to get back on a somewhat even playing field.
Republicans still outnumber registered Democrats in Jasper County. That is a fact. There are one-and-a-half times more Republicans than there are Democrats in the county. Until just a few years ago it was neck and neck. While it is unlikely the pendulum will swing back in a year, Democrats are acting like it has.
This year the soup supper was held at Legacy Plaza, a short jaunt from both the brewery and the pub. As far as fundraisers go, the soup supper feels more like a potluck than anything else. In fact if it weren’t for the speeches and political signs, one could mistake the event for an old class reunion or family gathering.
Of course the political entourages would also be a dead giveaway. This year the party welcomed Christina Bohannan who is running for Congress against U.S. House Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Former Congressman Dave Loebsack also showed up to support Bohannan and the Harris/Walz campaign.
Even former lawmaker Dennis Black, who’s served the Iowa Senate for 10 years, made a surprise appearance to the soup supper. However, it was Loebsack who would engage the crowd first by sharing his support of Bohannan and recalling the 2020 election in which Rita Hart and Miller-Meeks competed for this vacant congressional district seat. Loebsack asked the crowd how many votes Hart lost by. As if they forgot.
“Six!” they shouted back to him.
Loebsack said he wants to make sure Miller-Meeks doesn’t get back into Congress. He also wants to see Harris back in the White House as president.
Both Loebsack and Walz joined the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007 after successful bids in the 2006 election. He said the “Class of 2006” was to meet for an online fundraiser the day after the soup supper. Loebsack said the class is going to raise a “ton of money” for the Harris-Walz campaign.
Looking back at his early days of campaigning, he recalled that no one that he had “a shot in hell” to beat Jim Leach. Even his wife didn’t think he could beat the then-Republican incumbent. Loebsack said the brother of Gil Gutknecht told him the same thing when he ran into him in Cedar Falls back in 2006.
Gutknecht happened to be a Republican member of the U.S. House, and his opponent just happened to be Walz. Loebsack recalled the brother was confident Gutknecht would win. It was a story similar to Loebsack. No shot in hell. Loebsack pushed back, confident Walz could win.
“Sure enough, Tim won,” Loebsack said. “Five days later we’re at orientation and Walz finds me and I find him and we’re soul mates because he actually hard about that story … We became good friends. He really had a tough district in southern Minnesota. He became a Blue Dog like Leonard Boswell.”
Fast-forward a few years, Walz becomes governor of Minnesota and gets a Democratic legislature to pass a law to give free school lunches for kids.
“I like Tim’s response to somebody calling him a socialist or a communist. He’s like, ‘Oh yeah I’m a real monster I want kids to have school lunches for free,’” Loebsack said. “…(Harris) was a fantastic senator and she’s a fantastic campaigner. She’s done so many great things with her life.”
Results from a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll show Harris has resonated with Iowa voters far more than Biden did. Trump leads Harris by only four points. Loebsack said this is an “amazing” achievement and a huge turnaround in the race. He cautioned it is still going to be a tough race.
“But the fact of the matter is: the closer she gets the better it’s going to be for everybody else running down the ballot,” Loebsack said.
Especially for Bohannan, who is taking another swing at the seat currently held by Miller-Meeks. Bohannan recalled the values her father instilled in her at a young age, particularly that of right and wrong. Values like these are why she is running Congress in the first place.
“Politicians, including Mariannette Miller-Meeks, are so obsessed with the left and the right that they have forgotten about right and wrong,” Bohannan said. “Our Washington, D.C. politics are broken. We live in a time now when politicians won’t do anything good for their own people if it means giving a win to the other side.”
Bohannan claimed Miller-Meeks puts corporate PACs and special interest cam-
paign contributions above the people she is supposed to represent. She further hammered in the point by saying Miller-Meeks has taken in one-quarter of a million dollars from big pharmaceutical companies.
“And then voted against letting Medicare negotiate for lower drug prices for people like my dad,” Bohannan said. “She even took campaign contributions from a group of insulin manufacturers on the exact same day she voted against capping the price of insulin.”
Iowa Starting Line’s Nickel Hytrek reported this story back in August. Hytrek’s report references records from the Federal Election Commission which show Miller-Meeks received $1,000 from Eli Lilly and Company PAC on Aug. 12, 2022, the day the Inflation Reduction Act was voted on in the U.S. House.
“There is a word for that. That word is ‘corruption,’” Bohannan said. “Let me tell you that’s not about left and right. That is just wrong.”
Bohannan also criticized Miller-Meek’s views on education and her support of vouchers, or education savings accounts, for students to attend private schools. She also condemned the representative’s views on women’s health and Iowa’s anti-abortion law, which she said is one of the strictest in the country.
Several TV news stations have aired fact check segments on these claims from Bohannan, saying that Miller-Meeks — whom she pinned it on — was not involved in the vote and that other states have stricter bans by outright banning the practice. Iowa allows abortions up to six weeks of pregnancy.
However, many have argued pregnancies are difficult to detect in that sixweek period, and thus put the mother in a situation where the mother has run out of time and is forced to go the full term. Bohannan said Miller-Meeks’ record is clear “and it’s extreme and it’s terrible for Iowa women.”
Magg closed out the evening of speeches. He took aim at this opponent, saying Dunwell has not represented his district well the past two terms.
“They’ve lost touch with us,” Magg said. “They don’t understand who we are and what we take pride in. They’ve talked about children and saving the children but Jon voted against federal funding that was going to feed 240,000 children. How do you vote against free money to free starving children? Heartless.”
From the moment Magg announced his campaign, there was excitement from community members who know him as a council member for the City of Colfax and as owner Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe
in Prairie City and numerous concession stands at the Iowa State Fair. It was a recognizable name.
As a candidate, Magg postured himself as someone who knows his communities and is frustrated by what lawmakers are trying to turn them into. Early on he expressed frustration over Dunwell’s decision making, saying his actions do not represent the values the constituents and the district have.
Since then he has been door knocking and leading a huge campaign. From what he has gathered, people are sick of the fighting and the politics and the “total BS.” He recalled a story while campaigning with his door knockers in which he approached easily discernible Republican household.
Three guys were on the property talking amongst themselves. They wanted nothing to do with Magg and they pointed to their large Trump signs.
“We’re voting for him!” they said. Magg said, “Well, I’m not running for president!”
Then they told him they wish he would. Magg went about with his door knocking but eventually made his way back. He called back out to the three men, who were still enjoying their beers, and asked if he had brought them a beer would they have talked to him then.
“They were like, ‘Oh! Would you like a beer? And they had beer for me faster than I could no.’ I told ‘em no, no, no I gotta keep knocking doors and I’ll lose my motivation if I do that,” Magg said. “But I stood there talking to them for a second.”
Soon they conversed about the school district and developed some common ground. Magg said he has no idea whether they will vote or even vote for him, but the experience was humbling. And it reinforced the idea that it is important to be friendly and have calm conversations with people that think differently.
“Lending out a hand and being polite can go a long way,” Magg said.
Magg is also finding out that even Republicans are resonating with his message, his stance on issues or just him as a candidate.
“We haven’t ran the numbers yet, but I’m pretty sure we have more Republican donors than Jon Dunwell has himself,” Magg said. “So even their own people are sick of their stuff and sick of him. We can do this. We can get this brought back.”
Magg told Democrats he wants to send a message to the governor and the Republican Party.
“We’re sick of their BS and this is not Iowa, and they better straighten up because we’re coming for them.”
Safe trick-or-treating tips
Halloween is enjoyed by people of all ages, but few get a bigger kick out of the holiday than children. There are costumes to be worn, time spent with friends and the opportunity to collect free candy and other treats.
Although Halloween can be a fun time, the Children’s Safety Network warns that it’s also a time when accidents can happen. According to the CSN, the most dangerous day for child pedestrians is Halloween, with two times as many child pedestrians dying on Halloween compared to other days. It is essential to prioritize safety on Halloween, and following these guidelines can help.
• Make sure costumes are short. Costumes that drag on the floor are tripping hazards, which can lead to injury. Be sure that costumes do not cover the feet or drag on the ground.
• Trick-or-treat in groups. Children are safer in numbers due to the increased visibility of a crowd and because, if something happens, others can call for help. Parents can use their discretion on what age they feel is mature enough to let children go out alone. Until then, children should be accompanied by adults.
• Improve visibility. It’s important to be seen while trick-or-treating, and that can be achieved by making sure costumes and trickor-treat bags feature reflective tape. Trick-or-treaters also can carry flashlights or glow sticks to improve visibility, and stick to ar-
Metro Creative
It is essential to prioritize safety on Halloween, and following these guidelines can help.
eas with streetlights if going out after dark.
• Stay on sidewalks. Whenever possible, trick-or-treaters should stick to the sidewalks and avoid walking on the roads. This may not always be possible in neighborhoods without sidewalks, where parents and youngsters must be especially careful.
• Eat before trick-or-treating.
A meal or snack before trick-ortreating can reduce the tendency to fill up on candy while out and about. All candy and other treats should be inspected by an adult before it is eaten.
• Keep pets locked away. Animals can become skittish when there are many people loitering outside of homes or ringing door-
bells. Keep pets in a quiet room away from the action to prevent them from getting loose, injured or scared enough to bite or scratch someone.
• Avoid masks that obstruct vision. It can be hard to see peripherally with a mask on, so avoid costumes with masks that compromise vision.
• Test out makeup beforehand. All makeup used for costumes should be tested for allergic reactions prior to use. Heed the warnings on packaging and avoid putting makeup too close to the eyes or lips.
These are some safety strategies designed to keep Halloween fun and incident-free this year. — Metro Creative
Community Calendar
Send items to news@jaspercountytribune.com
SATURDAY • Poweshiek Partners 4-H club meets at 9 a.m. the first Saturday of the month in the C-M Elementary lunchroom
MONDAY • BEDCO meets at 5:30 p.m. the first Monday of month
• Colfax Cub Scouts Pack 345 meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of month in the C-M High School Cafetorium • Colfax Planning & Zoning meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of month at the library
TUESDAY • Baxter Masonic Lodge meets at 7:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of month
• Baxter Chamber of Commerce meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of month at city hall • Colfax American Legion Post 175 meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of month at the Colfax Senior Citizens Center
WEDNESDAY
• C-M Athletic Booster Club meets at 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of month in the high school
THURSDAY
• Baxter Garden Club meets at 7 p.m. second Thursday of month, March to December, at the Baxter Community Building
Celebrate your new baby in the Jasper County Tribune!
Email birth announcements to: news@jaspercountytribune.com
Conservation On Tap in Des Moines Oct. 17
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Des Moines Water Works and Conservation Learning Group, will host the second of three “Conservation On Tap” events, Thursday, Oct. 17, from 5:30-7 p.m. at Lua Brewing in Des Moines.
The event will provide local farmers, landowners and urban residents with a chance to discuss and ask conservation questions. There will be an opportunity for networking following the event. To ensure adequate space and food, RSVP by Oct. 10 by calling 515-2945429 or email ilf@iastate.edu
“Our intent with this event is to help build community by encouraging farmers, landowners and urban residents to talk about topics important within the community, what keeps them up at night, what challenges they see with conservation practices and what they want to learn more about,” said Liz Ripley, Iowa Learning Farms conservation and cover crop outreach
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 school (communion first Sunday)
specialist. “There will be no formal presentations or agenda, just a chance to talk, ask questions, listen and learn while enjoying a beverage and provided food. We are looking forward to learning alongside everyone else who attends.”
Hosts at the event will include Ted Corrigan, CEO and general manager of Des Moines Water Works, Matt Helmers, Iowa Nutrient Research Center director, and Mark Licht, Iowa State University extension cropping systems specialist. James Heckathorns, brewer at Lua Brewing, will also join in the conversation, as to why water quality matters for brewing.
“This is another opportunity for us to partner with like-minded organizations who truly want to see improvements in water quality in our watersheds and want to be part of the solution,” Corrigan said. “We look forward to this series of discussions and engaging with attendees about where
Iowa State University Prairie and cropland working together on the Iowa landscape.
their water comes from and the water quality challenges we face in our state. We need interested landowners and citizens involved in not only discussing these challenges, but being part of the solution for improved water quality.”
Save the date for the next Conserva-
Church Schedules
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, Oct. 6 - 9 a.m. Fellowship; 9:15 a.m. Bible Education Classes; 10:25 a.m. Communion Sunday, Message by Pastor Cody Dyer; 5 p.m. “The Well” Youth Group
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
tion On Tap event: Thursday, Dec. 5, 6-7 p.m. at Fenceline Beer Lab, Huxley.
Learn more about upcoming field days, virtual field days, webinars and other conservation events on the Iowa Learning Farms events page.
Rev. Phil Dicks
515-689-4926
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Worship service (Sunday school not meeting at this time)
ASHTON CHAPEL
8887 W. 122nd St. N., Mingo
Pastors: Larry Craig & Mark Eddy
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10 a.m. Worship
BETHANY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 5627 N. 95th Ave. W., Baxter 641-227-3402
Pastor Chris Hayward
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday School (Sunday after Labor Day to second Sunday in May); 10 a.m. Sunday Worship. First Sunday communion. All are welcome. baxterbethanyucc.org
EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH BAXTER
Mike Mclintock, Pastor SUNDAY - 9:15 a.m. Sunday School; 10 a.m. Worship; 6 p.m. Awanas WEDNESDAYS - 1st & 3rd6:30 p.m. Mens Bible Study 2nd & 4th - 6:30 p.m. Men’s and Womens Bible Study
THURSDAYS 10 a.m. - Womens Bible Study
BAXTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
218 S. Main, Baxter Pastor Ben Spera 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
Capitol II Theatre in Newton SUNDAY - 9:30 a.m. Livestream Worship Service
during the
C-M to add girls soccer in 2025
Jasper County Tribune
Colfax-Mingo’s time with the Central Iowa United girls soccer program has come to end.
Due to steady growth and a first-class facility, the school has elected to launch its own Tigerhawk girls soccer team starting in the spring of 2025.
“We have the numbers and the allocated resources to make it happen,” Colfax-Mingo Superintendent Tim Salmon said.
“The program is growing enough to have sustainability.”
Salmon added that boys soccer players from Colfax-Mingo will continue to play for Central Iowa United for now.
“One of my issues is travel,” Salmon said. “I don’t like our kids traveling 35 minutes to practice.”
A search for a head coach will begin immediately and the board’s vote was 7-0, according to Salmon.
The original Central Iowa United rosters were made up of players from Colfax-Mingo, Baxter, Collins-Maxwell, West Marshall and Colo-NESCO.
Baxter made a decision in the offseason to also break away from the sharing agreement. But Baxter Activities Director Dennis Vaughn has since stated the Bolts are considering all options.
Salmon said Baxter has reached out to them about playing at Colfax-Mingo, but no decision has been made.
C-M football dominates Cardinal on Homecoming
COLFAX — The Colfax-Mingo football team ran for more than 300 yards for the second time this season.
This time, the end result was a 39-0 win over Cardinal during Class 1A District 6 action on Sept. 27. The Tigerhawks snapped a 10game skid that dated back to last season after averaging 8.2 yards per carry on Homecoming.
Shane Hostetter ran for a career-best 147 yards on 16 carries, Isaiah Baucom posted the first 100-yard rushing game of his career and Caden Sykes scored three total touchdowns in the victory.
Colfax-Mingo improved to 2-1 over Cardinal since 2022. The Comets have been outscored 2916 this season.
Hostetter led the Tigerhawks (1-4, 1-1 in the district) with 134 passing yards and two scores and 147 rushing yards and one score and added a 35-yard pick 6 with 4.5 tackles on defense.
Hostetter’s 134 passing yards came on six completions. Sykes
Baxter boys edge L-S in battle of ranked teams at W. Marshall
STATE CENTER — The Baxter boys cross country team faced off against stateranked Lynnville-Sully and Ankeny Christian Academy for the second time this season on Sept. 24.
The Bolts came into the West Marshall Cross Country Invitational as the third-highest ranked team in the field but finished second at Lincoln Valley Golf Course.
Three Bolts and three Hawks finished in the top 10 of the boys’ 5K race, but Class 1A No. 17 Baxter edged 1A No. 11 Lynnville-Sully after a fourth Bolts runner ended up in the top 15.
Class 1A No. 7 Ankeny Christian won the meet title easily with 38 points, while Baxter (60) edged Lynnville-Sully (68) by eight points for second. Colfax-Mingo also was in the eight-team field and placed sixth.
Baxter’s Matt Richardson and Max Handorf went 1-2 in the boys’ race that also featured 1A No. 11 Alex Davis of ACA. Richardson, who is ranked 21st in 1A, won the race in 17 minutes, 38.12 seconds. Handorf was the runner-up in 17:40.75 and Davis took third in 17:54.23.
Baxter’s Brecken Fisher (18:46.74) gave the Bolts a third top-10 finisher in ninth. Sullivan Wilkins (19:24.16) led Colfax-Mingo in 16th.
Lynnville-Sully was led by Colton Alberts (18:12.03) and Hendrick Lowry (18:12.72), who were separated by .69 seconds in fourth and fifth, respectively.
The rest of the eight-team field after the top three included Collins-Maxwell (107), West Marshall (123), Colfax-Mingo (159), South Hamilton (168) and Meskwaki Settlement School (201).
Baxter’s final two scoring runners were Maddox Peters (19:17.85) and Dakota Parker (20:51.12) in 15th and 35th, respectively. The Bolts’ two non-scoring varsity runners were Logan Rainsbarger (22:32.59) and Parker Bonney (26:46.62) in 45th and 65th.
After Wilkins in 16th, Harrison Rhone (19:51.22) finished 24th for Colfax-Mingo. Owen Ament (20:59.02) was 36th, Josue Rodriguez (21:42.79) placed 40th and Ryan Moore (26:09.34) took 62nd as the Tigerhawks’ final scoring runners.
Nathan Endersbe (27:20.45) and Jeremiah Wright (29:39.43) were non-scoring runners in 68th and 71st.
had three catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 31 yards and one score on two carries.
Baucom, the Homecoming King, ran for a career-high 101 yards and one TD on 15 carries, Kyle Wood gained 23 yards on four carries and Chase Trotter caught two passes for 38 yards.
Cason Fitch grabbed one pass for 18 yards and had 4.5 tackles. Xavier Woods finished with six tackles, Camden Cunningham tallied three tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss and Baucom, Sykes, Wood and Alex Hartson all chipped in three tackles.
Trotter registered 2.5 tackles, Jeshawn Fleming secured 2.5 tackles and two tackles for loss and Fisher Grove recovered a fumble.
The Tigerhawks finished with 9.5 tackles for loss and posted their first shutout since beating GMG 47-0 on Oct. 6 of 2017. Cardinal (0-5, 0-2) was shut out for the fourth time this season.
The Comets came into the game with 53 rushing yards on 77 attempts in four games.
Baxter volleyball sweeps Warriors in ISC action
BAXTER — A big night from behind the service line powered the Baxter volleyball team past Meskwaki Settlement School on Sept. 24.
The Bolts served up 16 aces and missed just seven serves during a tight, competitive three-set victory over the Warriors.
Baxter improved to 2-1 in the Iowa Star Conference South Division following a 25-23, 25-21, 25-22 home victory.
The Bolts, who were 67-of-74 in serves, improved to 10-0 against Meskwaki Settlement since 2016. It was their sixth sweep during that stretch.
Abbie Meyer led Baxter (6-8) with five kills, 12 digs, nine aces and two assists and Adison Bonney added four kills, four digs and three assists.
Alyvia Burdess chipped in five assists and four digs, Karlee Koehler tallied five assists and three digs and Caydence Sulzle finished with 16 digs and two aces. Kendall Brummel tallied a career-best 13 digs, Kaylyn Krampe collected a career-high four kills and added two aces and Kamdyn Krampe totaled a career-best three kills and posted two digs. Danika Flora contributed four digs and Lexi Dart put down two kills.
Jasper County Tribune
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune
Colfax-Mingo senior Isaiah Baucom, left, rushed for a career-best 101 yards and scored one touchdown
Tigerhawks’ 39-0 win over Cardinal on Sept. 27.
Jasper County Tribune
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune Baxter junior Maddox Peters, left, finished 15th at West Marshall on Sept. 24. The stateranked Bolts finished second in the team race, while Colfax-Mingo placed sixth in the eight-team field.
Photo by Andrea Berg Baxter senior Abbie Meyer finished with five kills, 12 digs and nine aces to lead the Bolts to a three-set win over Meskwaki Settlement School on Sept. 24.
Jasper County Tribune
Sports calendar
October 3
Volleyball
Sigourney at Colfax-Mingo, 7 p.m.
October 4
Football
Colfax-Mingo at Pleasantville, 7 p.m.
Baxter at Collins-Maxwell, 7 p.m.
October 5
Volleyball
Colfax-Mingo at Pleasantville tournament, 8:30 a.m.
Cross Country
Baxter coed at South Hardin, 9:30 a.m.
October 7
Volleyball
Keota at Colfax-Mingo, 7 p.m.
Cross Country
Colfax-Mingo coed at North Polk, 5 p.m.
October 8
Volleyball
Baxter at North Tama, 7 p.m.
Cross Country Baxter coed at Dike-New Hartford, 5:30 p.m.
October 10
Volleyball
GMG at Baxter, 7 p.m.
Colfax-Mingo at English
Valleys, 7 p.m.
Cross Country
Colfax-Mingo at Montezuma, 4:30 p.m.
Girls Swimming NCMP at Des Moines Lincoln, 5:30 p.m.
October 11
Football
Sigourney/Keota at Colfax-Mingo, 7 p.m.
Baxter at Montezuma, 7 p.m.
October 12
Volleyball
Baxter at BCLUW tournament, 8:30 a.m.
Tigerhawk volleyball drops SICL match to Warhawks
COLFAX — Trinity
Slow start plagues Baxter football in loss to Colo-NESCO
BAXTER — The Baxter football team couldn’t overcome a slow start against Colo-NESCO on Sept. 27.
The Bolts piled up 580 total yards, but it wasn’t enough as the Royals won the Class 8-man District 9 contest 5048 to spoil Baxter’s Homecoming.
Robinson rushed for 60 yards on 11 carries and caught 10 passes for 85 yards and Stadan Vansice finished with nine catches for 110 yards and one score.
Robinson and Sulzle rank tied for seventh in 8-man this season with 24 receptions, while Vansice ranks tied for 10th with 23.
Baxter’s True, C-M’s Hosbond score top-15 finishes at West Marshall
STATE CENTER — On the day the Lynnville-Sully girls cross country team moved up to No. 3 in Class 1A, the Hawks claimed another meet championship on Sept. 24.
The Hawks’ five scoring runners all finished in the top 11 and L-S won the West Marshall Cross Country Invitational at Lincoln Valley Golf Course with 33 points.
Colfax-Mingo’s Ashlynn Hosbond and Baxter’s Makayla True finished in the top 15 as the Tigerhawks were fifth in the team race. Baxter was an incomplete team.
Hosbond’s 12th-place finish was clocked in 22 minutes, 47.83 seconds.
Mallory Sipma (25:06.03) placed 18th, Shae Wilkins (25:17.5) was 19th and Lilyan Hadsall (27:40.89) took 35th.
Laila Kwaskiewicz (30:09.39) was the final scoring runner for the Tigerhawks in 44th.
True was 13th for Baxter in 22:54.13 and Zoey Gliem placed 21st in 25:25.7.
Lynnville-Sully was 24 points clear of runner-up and host West Marshall, which was second with 57 points. L-S went 5-6-8-10-11, while West Marshall ended up 3-4-17-22-26-27.
Collins-Maxwell (61), South Hamilton (88) and Colfax-Mingo (96) completed the five-team field.
Class 1A No. 5 Jayden Peters of Collins-Maxwell won the girls’ race in 20:24.42. Colo-NESCO’s Elizabeth Erickson was the runner-up in 20:53.38.
Smith put down eight kills, Kaylee Collins produced six digs and the Colfax-Mingo volleyball team served up six aces during a threeset loss to North Mahaska on Sept. 23.
The Tigerhawks missed nine serves and had a .028 kill efficiency during a 2513, 25-16, 25-19 loss to the Warhawks in South Iowa Cedar League play.
Smith added four digs, Katelyn Steenhoek chipped in 11 assists and five digs, Britney Keeney put down four kills and Cadence Linn had three digs and two aces.
Isabelle Utz had two kills, and the Tigerhawks (4-7, 1-3) were 41-of-50 in serves with six aces. Keeney was 13-of-13 in serves, Collins served 6-of-6, Smith was 6-of-7 and Linn finished 7-of-8.
The Warhawks improved to 13-1 and 4-0 in the conference.
The win snapped a three-game skid by Colo-NESCO. It also was the Royals’ second straight win over Baxter after the Bolts won the first five in the series since 2018.
Colo-NESCO led 16-6 after one quarter. Baxter (2-3, 1-3 in the district) trimmed its margin to two at halftime, but the two teams played even in the second half.
Perrin Sulzle led the Bolts with 266 passing yards, 209 rushing yards and six total touchdowns. He also had eight tackles on defense.
Eli Dee completed two passes for 36 yards and one score and hauled in 10 passes for 101 yards and two TDs, Cade
Maddux Tuhn scored the first varsity receiving touchdown of his career. It was a 2-yard TD catch.
Cael Wishman returned from an injury to produce six tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss, Cainan Travis registered seven tackles and Aiden Johnson had 4.5 tackles.
Jack Anderson tallied 3.5 tackles and Trevor Hamilton posted three tackles.
Mark Bower led Colo-NESCO (3-3, 1-3) with 100 rushing yards and three scores and 10 tackles.
Breckin Clatt finished with 66 rushing yards and one TD, 47 yards on three catches and 12.5 tackles. The Royals rushed for 209 yards and averaged 7.2 yards per carry.
Baxter’s Russell wins diving competition at WDM Valley
Meyer finished 20-of-21 in serves, while Sulzle was 14-of-15, Brummel served 11-of-12 and Bonney and Dart were 8-of-8 and 6-of6, respectively.
Baxter finishes third at BGM tournament BROOKLYN — Baxter overcame a slow start at the BGM tournament on Sept. 28.
The Bolts opened their day with a 25-5, 25-15 loss to the host Bears but rebounded to down conference rival Collins-Maxwell 25-18, 25-8 and handed Twin Cedars a 25-19,
18-25, 15-5 loss.
Baxter served up 13 aces in the win over the Spartans. Meyer led the Bolts with three kills, seven digs and two aces.
Dart tallied four kills, two digs and three aces, Burdess dished out eight assists and chipped in three digs and Sulzle registered five digs and six aces.
Koehler delivered six assists, Brummel put down four kills, Bonney added three kills and two digs and Kaylyn Krampe collected two kills. Flora posted two digs.
Baxter served 41-of-49 with Dart going 7-of-7 and Sulzle finishing 12of-13.
Collins-Maxwell (3-14) served 18-of-26 with Haylee Merryman delivering three aces. In the loss to BGM (5-10), Bon-
ney led the way with two kills, two blocks and three digs.
Sulzle collected 10 digs, Flora and Brummel each had five digs and Kamdyn Krampe and Kaylyn Krampe posted four and three digs, respectively.
Meyer finished with two kills and three digs and Burdess dished out two assists and tallied four digs.
Baxter served 20-of-21.
Kylie Arment led the Bears with 13 assists and nine aces, Ana Coleman contributed five kills and Shaye Strong registered 12 digs. BGM served up 13 aces.
Twin Cedars (6-14) was led by Alli Reed, who had 16 digs. Khloe French finished with three kills and six digs. Baxter’s statistics for this match were unavailable at press time.
Shane Hostetter
Colfax-Mingo senior Shane Hostetter rushed for a career-high 147 yards and one TD, threw for 134 yards and two scores and had a 35-yard pick 6 in the Tigerhawks’ 39-0 win over Cardinal on Sept. 27. He also posted 4.5 tackles.
Jasper County Tribune
Collins
Jasper County Tribune
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Tribune Colfax-Mingo senior Shae Wilkins (238) finished 19th in the girls’ 5K race at West Marshall on Sept. 24.
Photo by Andrea Berg
Baxter seniors Skyler Stoll (33), Aiden Johnson (81) and Cainan Travis (20) combine for a tackle against Colo-NESCO on Sept. 27. The Bolts fell behind by double digits early and never recovered during a 50-48 Homecoming loss.
