PCM-03-07-2024

Explorer PCM

With pasta, anything is possible

Monroe Old Settlers’ annual pasta dinner fundraiser makes the end-of-summer community event possible

Wide open — campus — spaces

PCM adding

By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer

PCM juniors and seniors will have a little more freedom next school year. The PCM School Board approved a trial open campus lunch program along with allowing an open campus to allow students to, among other things, take online courses at home during the school day.

“In order to best serve our juniors and seniors academically and to increase career readiness activities, we would like to allow them more flexibility in their day to come and go,” high school principal Kristen Souza said. “This privilege will allow students doing online courses, Career Academy and work-based

learning to have more flexible learning opportunities.”

For open campus, students must be passing all enrolled courses, have no missing work, no excessive tardies and have an attendance rate of 95 percent or higher, regardless of excuse. To participate, qualified students must also have an authorization form completed and signed by a parent.

Once students have qualified, they must be enrolled in a WorkBased Learning Placement, an online course through DMACC or another Postsecondary Enrollment Option course, are in a study hall or have a paid job that does not interfere with other coursework. If a student has received a Code of Conduct or other disciplinary action

Under the sea

Dads and their little ladies danced the (early) night away at the Mustang Scholars Preschool annual event

during the semester, they will not qualify for the privilege of leaving the school to do outside work.

“It allows our students who have work-based learning some flexibility,” Souza said. “It gives them that choice of how and where they do their learning.”

Students must have their student ID to sign in or out of the building. They are expected to leave the school grounds immediately after the ID is scanned. Loitering in the building, on the grounds or campus in areas other than those designated is not permitted.

Eligibility for open campus will be reviewed weekly.

“We’re preparing our students

Prepping for preschool

PCM Preschool meeting planned for March 19 at Monroe Elementary Library

By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer

The newest Mustangs are prepping for their first year at school and September can’t get here soon enough.

A preschool parent meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 19 at the Monroe Elementary Library with any incoming parents of students who will turn four on or before Sept. 15, 2024 invited to attend.

PCM currently offers full and half-day options for preschool all housed at Monroe Elementary. PCM Elementary Assistant Principal Mandy Shannon is excited for the upcoming year and ready to share all that is in store for the littlest mustangs.

“Our first year of having preschool all in one building was a success,” Shannon said. “I look forward to continuing this next year. It has allowed our students to interact with one another and build more friendships early on.”

At the meeting, Shannon will talk about the programs that are offered, what a typical preschool day looks like, tuition options for students and how to register a child for school. PCM works on a play-based learning system and also has monthly field experiences for the kids, getting them out of the class-

room and learning out in the world.

With the preschools consolidated in Monroe, Shannon has been happy and encouraged by the work the teachers have been able to do together all under one roof. It has been great for not only the students but the staff, as well.

“It has been great for teachers,” Shannon said. “The additional collaboration and sharing of resources has been so positive.” She also addressed a concern that she has heard about little kids riding the bus each day. At the meeting, the plan put in place for the preschoolers will be explained along with any additional questions answered.

“I know some parents have worried about their preschooler on the bus, but they have really enjoyed it,” Shannon said. “Our school counselor or student advocate has been able to ride along with them to help assist with any of their needs.” Starting growth through play, gaining independence and learning safely are all parts of learning in preschool. The future class of 2038 is ready to get started and PCM wants to be the school where the journey begins.

“We are looking forward to another great year,” Shannon said.

Nifty Fifties’

Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer

Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer

Music at The Gathering Place

Every Monday at 8 a.m. The Gathering Place will host Coffee & Devotions with Pastor Ann. The Gathering Place will host Piano with Jacque Robinson at 2 p.m. Friday,March 8. Join Jacque Phillips for a Singalong or Walk at 2 p.m. Monday, March 11 at TGP. Wednesday, March 13 you can “Get Fit, Move More!” with Amy S. from 2-3 at The Gathering Place. The Patty Richards Music Show is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, March 14 at TGP.

Rabbit and Cavy Workshop Saturday

The 4H and FFA rabbit and cavy workshop about raising rabbits and cavies will be from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Jasper County Fairgrounds in Colfax.

PCM Food Pantry

The PCM Food Pantry at the Monroe Presbyterian Church, 113 S. Main St. in Monroe, is open 9 a.m. to noon and 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m. to noon Thursdays.

TOPS

TOPS 1025 meets at 5:30 p.m. every Monday at the First Reformed Church in Prairie City for weigh-in, with meeting to follow. Go to the north side parking lot at the church and enter in the north door. Call 515-994-2200 for information.

Men’s Recovery meeting

Lighthouse Recovery Ministries hosts a Men’s Recovery meeting at 6:30 p.m. each Monday at Grace Alive Church, 703 W. Second St. in Prairie City. Contact Barb at b.miller@lighthouserecovery-

PCM Clothing Closet

The PCM Clothing Closet, on the second floor of the Family Life Center at 105 S. Sherman St. in Prairie City, will be open from 3:30 to 7 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday and 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Womens Recovery meeting

Lighthouse Recovery Ministries has a Women’s Recovery meeting at 6 p.m. each Wednesday at the Grace Alive Powerhouse, 701 W. Second St. in Prairie City. Contact Barb at b.miller@lighthouserecoveryia.com with questions.

Congregate Meals returns to Monroe

Jasper County Congregate meals is now delivering Congregate Meals at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday to The Gathering Place in Monroe. Call 641-792-7102 to be added to receive meals.

Blood drive in Prairie City

A Prairie City and Monroe Community Blood Drive, sponsored by the Prairie City Lions Club, will be from 7:15 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16 at the First Reformed Church - Fellowship Hall, 300 E Fifth St. in Prairie City. Call: 800-287-4903 or visit lifeservebloodcenter.org. Appointments are encouraged.

Blood drive in Prairie City

First Reformed Church in Prairie City will begin a new session of GriefShare from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 20. If you have experienced the death of a loved one and are looking for support, healing and hope, you are welcome to attend. The 13-week program consists of discussion; informative videos presented by Christian counselors, authors, pastors and others who share their stories and found hope through faith. In addition, each participant will receive a workbook containing five daily exercises each week as well as other resources. There is a $15 registration fee (scholarships available). Whether your grief journey has just begun or you’ve been walking this path for a long time, GriefShare can help, For more information or to register, contact Mary Lemmertat 515-205-0835 or at hope2you@ aol.com. Begin your journey from Mourning to Joy with GriefShare.

Explorer PCM

Van Der Kamp named 2023 Community Operator of the Year

The Iowa Rural Water Association is pleased to announce that Carl Van Der Kamp with the City of Prairie City has been named the 2023 Community Operator of the Year. Van Der Kamp’s award was announced during the Iowa Rural Water Association’s 49th Annual Conference at the Veteran’s Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in February.

Van Der Kamp was a water treatment and distribution grade 2 operator responsible for a nitrate removal water treatment plant in Prairie City. He was also a grade 3 Wastewater operator responsible for a SBR Wastewater Treatment Plant. He has worked in Prairie City for 23 years and just recently retired. During his tenure he trained multiple city clerks, administrators, and operators.

When the city went from an aerated lagoon facility to a grade 3 mechanical plant, Van Der Kamp accelerated his accumulation of

CEUs to prepare him for the grade 3 Wastewater exam to ensure the City had a properly certified oper-

trailer

AKC Reunite, the largest non-profit pet identification and recovery service provider in the United States, is pleased to announce the donation of its 110th AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailer to Newton for Poweshiek County and Jasper County, the first donated trailer for the state of Iowa. This life-saving equipment will be available to dispatch to any local disaster scene that needs assistance sheltering pets. This trailer was delivered on February 27th and will assist Poweshiek County Emergency Management & Jasper County Emergency Management in helping community pets that may become displaced in an emergency.

“We are very happy to donate this trailer in Iowa,” Tom Sharp, President & CEO of AKC Reunite, said. “Just last year the area experienced such severe weather, the Governor declared a disaster. Now the local emergency management will have the materials they need when disaster strikes.”

AKC Pet Disaster Relief is a nationwide program sponsored by AKC Reunite, the country’s largest non-profit microchip identification and recovery service. AKC Reunite partners with AKC® Dog Clubs and pet lovers across the country to make these donations a reality. The Poweshiek & Jasper County trailer was made possible by the Central Iowa Kennel Club, Poweshiek County Alliance and Grinnell

College.

“The Central Iowa Kennel Club is proud to partner with AKC Reunite, Poweshiek and Jasper County Emergency Management Agencies, and Grinnell College to bring to Iowa our first AKC Reunite Pet Disaster Relief Trailer,” Kristina DeLisi, President of the Central Iowa Kennel Club, said. “Iowa regularly experiences tornados and other severe weather that can devastate whole communities. This trailer will be a resource for all 99 counties to keep pets safe during these emergencies, as well as reuniting them with their owners. We would like to sincerely thank AKC Reunite and all of our partners for making this possible.”

The equipment in the AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailers helps to create a safe, temporary homebase for at least 65 pets during the first 72 hours after a disaster is declared. The trailers house

and deliver essential animal care items including crates and carriers, AKC Reunite microchips and an AKC Reunite universal microchip scanner, bowls, collars and leashes as well as fans, lighting and a generator, cleaning supplies and maintenance items. These supplies can be used as co-location shelters, where people can evacuate with their pets, as well as emergency animal shelters for displaced animals.

“This new trailer fills a resource gap that we have known existed for some time, and we are excited that this is the first trailer of its kind in Iowa,” Brian Paul, Coordinator at Poweshiek County Emergency Management, said.

“It will undoubtedly be a valuable resource to our two counties and we look forward to the partnerships and increased resiliency it creates.”

“This thoughtful contribution will undoubt-

edly enhance our community’s capacity to care for beloved animal companions during emergencies,” Jamey Robinson, EMA Director at Jasper County Emergency Management, said. “As we prioritize the safety and well-being of all residents, including our four-legged friends, this trailer is a valuable asset that aligns perfectly with our commitment to comprehensive disaster preparedness. The American Kennel Club’s support is a shining example of collaboration between organizations dedicated to the welfare of both humans and their cherished pets. Together, we are building a resilient community that extends its protective embrace to every member, ensuring that no pet is left behind in times of crisis.” Learn more about how to get involved in AKC Pet Disaster Relief at www.akcreunite.org/relief.

Submitted Photo

Pet Disaster Relief trailer donated to Poweshiek and Jasper Counties is the first of its kind donated in Iowa.

ator for the new SBR. He also became the operator in charge of the water treatment plant.

Submitted Photo

Pictured is Zeb Mc Farland, Iowa Rural Water Association Circuit Rider and award recipient Carl Van Der Kamp.

Conversations about wage adjustments started but only after disagreements

By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer

Efforts to kickstart wage conversations between the American Federation of State, County and Municipal (AFSCME) Local 2840 union representatives and the Jasper County Board of Supervisors this week were ultimately successful, but at the cost of back-andforth arguments over past supposals.

According to a letter drafted by the AFSCME, the union requested a meeting with the board of supervisors to discuss wage issues. Despite being in the middle of a long-term collective bargaining agreement with Jasper County, the union stated there are uncontrollable circumstances causes wages to fall behind.

“This has caused not only hardship to the employees but also the county when it comes to retaining and recruiting new employees,” the union said in the letter.

“Jasper County has a long history of positive and open labor relations,” the union added, “and we wish to continue this tradition by having an open and honest dialogue to resolve the issues of recruitment, retention and to have wages more commensurate with the current climate both in and outside of the county.”

AFSCME claimed to have made concessions when contacted by the county in the past, and now the union members are asking for the same consideration. The union submitted a supposal — not a formal proposal — to try to engage Jasper County in the conversation but claimed it did not receive an official response.

“It has not been uncommon in the past two years for an employer or an employee organization to request a supplemental wage package due to the unprecedented rise in costs of living as well as the very real issue

of recruitment and retention of employees within the workforce,” the union said.

If nothing is done at this time, the union fears Jasper County will fall even further behind in wage comparisons and compensation in the future.

AFSCME Local 2840 President Craig Keith and AFSCME Union Representative Adam Swihart met with supervisors in-person on Feb. 27 to begin conversations, not to formally request to reopen contracts. Swihart said the pandemic, changes in workforce and unprecedented inflation have put the county behind.

“We’ve had several people that we have contracts with come to us and say, ‘Hey, we’d like to reopen just for this’ or ‘We don’t have to reopen the contract we want to do an MOU (memorandum of understanding) to do a market adjustment on wages,’” Swihart said. “Because everyone is having problems with recruitment and retention.”

Ultimately, the union is hoping for a supplemental wage package to get workers through the end of their contracts. Alluding to what was stated in the letter, Swihart said the union wanted to have this conversation earlier with Jasper County, but representatives were unsuccessful.

“The employees just wanted their voices heard, hoping the county was receptive to either doing something supplemental or with the contract as a whole,” he said.

However, supervisors and the county’s human resources director, Dennis Simon, were under the impression they did reach out.

Supervisor Brandon Talsma asked Keith if he was aware the board instructed Simon to contact the union about the county’s offer for a 2 to 2.5 percent supplemental MOU. Keith said he was not aware. Talsma asked Swihart if he thinks the county’s human resources director is lying to the board.

“I don’t know if you want to take that kind of tone with me. I’m not trying to be argumentative, but, no, I don’t recall a 2.5 supplemental wage increase for the county being proposed,” Swihart said.

Simon said to Swihart, “We had a meeting and discussed it. Talked about being reasonable. You asked me to present your in-

Open Campus

formation. I did and responded with a no.”

Talsma added, “I believe we approached you wanting to do a 2 to 2.5 percent.”

“No,” Swihart said.

“And what we got back from our human resources director was that you said no but that you would consider a 7 percent,” Talsma said.

“That’s not accurate.”

Swihart alleged he gave Simon a supposal for the board, but supervisors were not impressed and wished they had heard something sooner. He also denied any knowledge of the county’s supplemental MOU. Simon said he didn’t provide a supplemental and it was a verbal conversation.

“After the supposal that was received, there was nothing sent back other than a no response,” Simon said.

Both Swihart and Talsma went back and forth over who contacted who first. Eventually, Talsma started scrutinizing the claims made in the letter. The union mentioned opportunities when the county reached out to the union for concessions, but Talsma wanted specific instances where that was true.

Neither the union nor the county could recall recent instances, but Swihart said he would provide that information; he and Talsma argued over what would be considered a concession and the differences between mid-contract concessions and concessions made in open contract negotiations.

Supervisor Denny Stevenson shared his concerns about the county allowing a wage adjustment and where that might fit in to negotiations for the next contract.

“In other words, if we were to do something now — no matter what settlement trends tend to be a year from now — will the union take all of that into consideration?” Stevenson asked.

Swihart said, “Absolutely. That’s the purpose of bargaining.”

Again, Swihart emphasized the meeting between the union and supervisors was a way to start the dialogue, because there are obviously differences of opinion between how the situation was handled. Talsma emphasized that the last contract negotiation

will be a great incentive. We have some chronic absenteeism.”

Phone and Internet Discounts

The Iowa Utilities Board designated CenturyLink as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier within its service area for universal service purposes. CenturyLink’s basic local service rates for residential voice lines are $32.50 per month and business services are $49.50 per month. Specific rates will be provided upon request.

CenturyLink participates in the Lifeline program, which makes residential telephone or qualifying broadband service more affordable to eligible low-income individuals and families. Eligible customers may qualify for Lifeline discounts of $5.25/month for voice or bundled voice service or $9.25/month for qualifying broadband or broadband bundles. Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may qualify for additional Tribal benefits if they participate in certain additional federal eligibility programs. The Lifeline discount is available for only one telephone or qualifying broadband service per household, which can be either a wireline or wireless service. Broadband speeds must be at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to qualify.

A household is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. Services are not transferable, and only eligible consumers may enroll in these programs. Consumers who willfully make false statements to obtain these discounts can be punished by fine or imprisonment and can be barred from these programs.

If you live in a CenturyLink service area, visit https:// .centurylink.com/aboutus/com munity/community-development/lifeline.ht ml for additional information about applying for these programs or call 1-800-201-4099 with questions.

for life, career and we want our students to take control of their learning,” Souza said. “We want to give them as many ‘real world’ experiences as we can.”

Similar to general open campus, the lunch open campus also has guidelines. Students must be passing all enrolled courses, having no missing work, maintain an attendance rate of 95 percent or high, regardless of excuse and have no excessive tardiness. A signed form must also be received from a parent.

“They have to have an attendance rate (of 95 percent),” Souza said. “This

Like general open campus, eligibility will be reviewed weekly and ID cards will be used to exit and enter the building. The trial run of the program will run through the first semester of next school year and be reviewed by the board to see whether it is recommended to continue or not.

“They can’t just hang out in their car, they have to leave school property,” Souza said. “Also they can’t eat outside at the school they have to leave school property.”

While there are not a lot of sit down and eat lunch options in and around Monroe, Souza said students can also use the time to have a mental break. It will be a time to get off cam-

the county gave the union everything it asked for.

“You guys requested a five-year contract, not the county. You guys requested the pay raises that were in that contract, not the county. We gave you everything that you asked for in the last contract negotiation,” Talsma said.

Swihart interjected. “I wouldn’t agree to that totality of a statement.”

“We approved what was presented to us from you guys. We made no changes, with the exception of one policy regarding a tool allowance for one employee.”

Returning back to the main topic, Swihart said what the union is requesting is not out of line and did not fall out of the sky as some weird idea they had. Talsma agreed, but he was unhappy because the board of supervisors tried initiating the conversation several months ago and was stalemated. Swihart didn’t recall that.

“I’m a little bit agitated because I feel like the county tried initiating this conversation, but the union wants credit for it,” Talsma said.

Swihart and Keith disagreed. But what the union and the county could agree on was that both were willing to have a conversation.

“And I’m not asking for a full pie,” Keith said.

“I’m not even asking for half a pie,” Swihart added.

“I’m asking just for a part of the pie.”

Before concluding their meeting, Keith said he wanted to keep the good employees as much as possible. Talsma agreed. Swihart suggested it is harder to retain employees these days, saying it is a competitive business right now. Talsma cautioned Swihart from starting down that path.

“I’ve been arguing for years because the labor pool is not going to grow it’s only going to continue to decline, so I always err on the side of caution of (saying), ‘Well, Mahaska County gave 7 percent so now Jasper County needs to give 7 percent,’” Talsma said. “At the end of the day, we’re all chasing after the same limited labor pool, regardless of county, regardless of public employees, regardless of private employees.

“And it’s only going to get worse.”

pus and regroup mid-day.

After learning that the typical high school lunch break lasts 25 minutes, board member Greg Ingle said he is curious what students are going to do with just 25 minutes.

“I just have trouble visualizing what they are going to do in 25 minutes and get back,” Ingle said.

Superintendent Michelle Havenstrite also mentioned students can preorder meals from Subway or Casey’s to have it ready when lunch begins.

“I had a couple of girls say they plan on having their lunch prepared ahead of time and going home and just eating the lunch they have waiting for them,” Souza said.

Student School Board

Representative Faith Defenbaugh said she would enjoy having the mental break throughout the day.

“Even (to deal with) stupid friend drama where I don’t want to go sit at lunch and I just need a break or

I’d just use it to go pet my cat for five minutes,” Defenbaugh said. “We also have a lot of students who like to listen to music and said they would just drive off campus to listen to music.”

Along with all of the guidelines, Souza wanted to note parents do have the final say on if their student is allowed to use open campus.

“Parents can also say ‘no,’ I don’t want my child to participate” Souza said. “That is an important piece. We’re not just going to say ‘yes’ to everyone. Parents reserve the right to say ‘no.’” Board member asked about having only juniors and seniors eligible for the program. Souza said outside of large metro areas she hasn’t heard of the programs extended beyond the two grades and isn’t very comfortable doing that at PCM.

“I do think this is a way to incentivize our younger students,” Souza said.

Ending taxpayer-funded terrorism

Imagine paying for a security system that enables, rather than deters, home intruders.

Well folks, that’s what’s happening.

The U.S. contributes more than $18 billion in taxpayer dollars to the United Nations (UN) a year. That’s about a third of the agency’s entire budget and more than any other nation.

The UN exists to help “maintain international peace and security.” Yet, the international bureaucracy has been caught undermining international peace as well as the security along our own border.

At least a dozen staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) helped Hamas plan and carry out the October 7th terrorist attacks against Israel

that killed hundreds of people, including 32 American citizens.

The UNRWA staff also assisted with Hamas’ hostage-taking. Hundreds of innocent civilians were kidnapped and carried off by the terrorists, including the six Americans who are still being held hostage.

A Hamas military command and control center found beneath the UNRWA headquarters building in Gaza appears to have run on electricity from the U.N. facility. Weapons and textbooks promoting hatred of Jews have been found in schools operated by UNRWA.

UNRWA has long been suspected of aiding Hamas and may be infiltrated by hundreds with ties to terrorist and militant groups. The Biden Administration, which had been paying UNRWA nearly $350 million a year before suspending the

When time is money, “Dynamic Pricing” makes everything cheaper

By Thomas L. Knapp

Wendy’s ran into a wall of popular resistance with the mid-February release of its “earnings call” transcript for the fourth quarter of 2023. The transcript mentioned an intention to test “dynamic pricing” starting next year.

The knee-jerk panic reaction was understandable. Nobody looks forward to the prospect of sitting in a drive-thru line for 20 minutes before reaching the menu, only to learn that a Baconator combo is going for $50. Wendy’s quickly backed down on the plan and tried to explain that its focus is on “dynamic pricing” ideas other than mere “surge pricing” (i.e. higher prices at times of highest demand).

But “dynamic pricing,” including “surge pricing,” is a great idea — for Wendy’s and for its customers. Dynamic pricing goes in both directions, and it’s good all around. To see why, let’s look at that Baconator combo. I just priced one for pickup at my local Wendy’s: $12.29.

Now, suppose a nearby factory’s daytime shift is getting off work, or a local sporting event has just ended, and a bunch of hungry people are heading for Wendy’s. The drive-thru line extends into the street. The workers are running around like chickens with their heads cut off. People are waiting ten minutes instead of two minutes for their food.

Of course, most of those customers are ordering via phone app these days. They know the cost before they even join that drive-thru line. And if the cost is $15.29 instead of $12.29, many of them will decide to eat at home. The people who are willing and able to pay the extra three bucks will get their food more quickly; those who can’t or won’t will eat elsewhere; and the staff will not be overworked and exhausted.

That’s “surge pricing.” But let’s look at the other side. Think of it as “slow business” pricing. There’s one person in the dining area and two cars in the drive-thru. The workers are standing around and one could safely be sent home. The basket of fries that just came out of the oil will end up in the trash if not sold ASAP. The manager presses a button and everyone with the Wendy’s app gets a promo message — Baconator combo for $9.99 if you order in the next 30 minutes! People who happen to feel a little peckish get a deal. Food doesn’t go in the garbage. A worker keeps getting paid instead of going home. Instead of losing money during that hour due to wasted food and wasted time, Wendy’s makes money.

Everything else being equal, nobody wants to pay more for food than necessary. But everything else is never equal. For some people, saving time is worth a little extra money; for others, saving money is worth a little extra time. For businesses, keeping demand more steady is profitable.

“Dynamic pricing” — prices rising and falling — has always been the rule, not the exception. It’s just getting compressed into shorter time frames. That’s a feature, not a bug, and the sooner we see it at the drive-thru the better.

Thomas L. Knapp is director and senior news analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism

SHARE YOUR VIEW

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Submit letters to news@pcmexplorer.com or Newton Daily News, P.O. Box 967, Newton, Iowa 50208

funding last month, acknowledges these claims are “highly, highly credible.”

Any of the UN employees who were aware of the plot could have prevented the attacks. Instead, they helped ignite the ongoing war that is claiming the lives of thousands of civilians and threatening to spread across the Middle East.

Despite these recent atrocities and decades of previous terrorist attacks, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator stated just last week that “Hamas is not a terrorist group for us.”

Closer to home, the UN is contributing to the humanitarian and national security crisis at our southern border by distributing millions of dollars in financial assistance to help support migrants headed north who are crossing into our country illegally in record numbers.

A 2024 UN migrant plan says handing out “multipurpose cash has taken on increased importance” because the money provides migrants “the flexibility to cover their expenses” during their travels. The document includes a map with a red line through one of the most perilous walks on

Earth, where migrants must pay the drug cartel for permission to pass, leading right to the U.S. border.

So why are U.S. taxpayers giving billions of dollars to an international organization facilitating the crisis at our southern border and whose own staff helped harm and take hostage American citizens?

We could make the world a safer place by putting those tax dollars to better use, securing our own border, helping our friend Israel eliminate the threat of Hamas, and providing humanitarian assistance to refugees who seek a better life while respecting our laws instead of facilitating illegal immigration.

That is why I gave my February 2024 Squeal Award to the United Nations and am supporting legislation to permanently end U.S. taxpayer funding to UNRWA. This effort would redirect the unspent money intended for that UN agency towards the construction of a wall along America’s southern border to maintain our own security.

Keeping Americans safe must be our top priority.

YOUR VIEW

Some changes are hard on small to mid-sized independent family farms and communities

This past week, I passed the onemonth mark since becoming the new executive director for the Iowa Farmers Union, and WOW … what a great organization to be associated with!

The Iowa Farmers Union is involved in all kinds of things, like discussing state and federal policy with IFU members and lobbyists at the Statehouse, working for and supporting local foods, fighting against corporate monopolies, and working hard to improve the financial well-being of independent family farmers (sometimes considered to be a dying breed). The organization’s views and philosophy align quite nicely with my own, and it is great to be associated with an organization that has such an impact on where our farms and our families live and do business.

That said, it has been a learning experience that will continue for many months, if not years, to come. Without going off on a tangent, I am not happy with the direction agriculture in Iowa has gone. Many years ago, back in the 1970s and 1980s, farms were much more diverse in size, grain crops grown, and livestock

A theme song

After much reflection and anguish, I am suggesting a theme song for our legislature, the Iowa legislature in its current manifestation. The idea of a theme song with which our legislators can identify should have been accomplished several years ago, but either a lack of imagination or inertia has caused the delay in finding such a symbol for such a distinguished group of individuals engaged in the public business.

As I said, after much reflection and anguish, I am introducing a suggested theme song: Jerry Jeff Walker’s “Pissin’ in the Wind.” To me, it captures the essence of our current legislature and I am putting this idea forward for further comment. One should always be willing to debate any suggestion of a theme song, even those to whom it is not directed should be able to comment on the appropriateness of a par-

species common to most farmers.

Another sign of the times is the transition to larger farms, larger cooperatives, larger banks, etc. The changes are hard on small to midsized independent family farms and hard on communities. The Iowa Farmers Union’s focus is on helping those smaller farms find a way to make a decent living for their families. When that happens, it not only helps farm families but also keeps schools, hospitals, and grocery stores thriving in local communities throughout the state.

After farming for many years, I had the opportunity to move overseas and manage a couple of international agricultural projects: one large grain project in Romania and a large swine project in the Philippines. People used to ask what it was like living “over there.” Often, I would say it was like stepping back in time to the period my grandparents lived through.

In the evenings after dinner, if you lived in a town or a small village, you didn’t turn on the TV or the computer. Instead, you went out for a stroll. A person or family would take an hour or more just to walk around

ticular tune to reflect such an august body of Iowans. Now for those not familiar with either Jerry Jeff Walker or “Pissin’ in the Wind”, one can find most of his songs on YouTube which I direct anyone interested to for edification. Jeffy Jeff popularized ‘London Homesick Blues’ and produced ‘Redneck Mother” which made an immediate impact on the vocabulary of America. Having a song by Jerry Jeff as a symbol of our legislative body would do credit to both our legislators and Jerry Jeff.

A symbol is a shortcut — a shortcut to the nub of an idea, a method of understanding by osmosis; it doesn’t require thought which as we all know is in short supply. And as a shortcut, it can be very usefully utilized by almost anyone. “Hey, the ‘Pissin’ in the Wind’” guys are at it again! What more does one need to understand the activities of the group so symbol-

the neighborhood, stopping to chew the fat with their neighbors while the kids played. When you needed groceries, you went to the butcher shop for meat, the dairy for milk, the open market stalls for your vegetables, and the bakery for bread. I know we can never go back, and perhaps it is just as well because life was a lot harder back then, but it also had its positives.

I think you can be very proud of this organization called the Iowa Farmers Union. As I move forward and, with your help, define what the Executive Director position becomes, I will need your guidance and your advice. We need to work together to improve the economics for the independent family farmer in Iowa. Together, we can accomplish a lot. Thank you in advance, and let’s all work hard to make some progress in the years ahead and just as hard to get to know each other better and have some fun along the way. Please feel free to reach out to me, by email or phone, or just stop by the office.

Dave Andrews Executive Director of Iowa Farmers Union

ized? None, it says it all in one phrase. I realize that there may be dissenting voices and I’m more than willing to discuss the issue if discussion is suggested by anyone dissenting. But, I would suggest in advance that they have any arguments against “Pissin’ in the Wind” as a theme song for our Iowa legislature thought out before the discussion commences. Simply saying you don’t like the idea isn’t going to get it. What we will need are specifics, such as how the song “Pissin’ in the Wind” does not precisely fit; or, what alternative might you suggest, if any. I am fairly confident that I have found the perfect symbol for our legislature. The suggestions for new laws and the enactment of them reinforce the idea daily. I can just see them now standing on the statehouse steps facing the gale.

Richard E. H. Phelps II Mingo

The PCM

Starting for the 2024-25 school year, PCM will be implementing a new study hall and lunch policy for their junior and senior students. This decision was made at a school board meeting held earlier in the year voting on whether this would be a good change for the upper students in the high school. High school principal Kristen Souza was interviewed about how this change will look in the high school. “We actually have two open-campus policies for next year. The first one is the lunch open-campus. That is a trial for one semester and what we’re going to do is open it up to juniors and seniors to potentially leave for lunch. There are going to be a lot of restrictions around that. You have to be passing your classes, you have to be in good academic standing, you have to have a 95% attendance rate regardless of excuse, you can’t have excessive tardies, there’s lots of things that go into that, but we are going to give that open campus lunch a try. We are also doing open-campus for study halls and everybody that is enrolled in a DMACC class, just for juniors and seniors. The same rules apply. When somebody leaves, they have to leave campus. They can’t hang around in the parking lot, things like that. That one (study halls) is not a trial, we are going to stick with because we want people to understand time management. There is no reason to fill our study halls with lots of kids who are doing online classes, some of them may have jobs, things like that, that are more real world,” Souza states. “Everybody (including freshmen and sophomores) is going to get a digital ID badge, and we’re going to have scanners for people to scan in and out, so you don’t have to fill up the office. We will be able to put restrictions on people’s passes who don’t qualify for open lunch and freshmen and sophomores, so they don’t try to leave during that time.” Souza then goes on to state why they changed this for the upcoming school year despite students not being able to leave during lunch or study hall, despite senior students in an 8 period study hall. “We are trying to install time management, real world experiences. We want more people to do work based learning, where you sign up to work with Mr. (Colton) Warrick, and he’ll find you a placement. We want more people taking online classes and DMACC classes. We want a more real life experience and be able to come and go as needed. It’s also a really good incentive to get people here and to get grades up.” More information about this new policy will be released as we get closer to the new school year. Overall, this is a great new addition for PCM High School to trial out!

Moving onto State

Jeter Hartson Staff Writer

On Saturday, February 24, 2024, PCM students that are involved in Individual Speech competed at South Tama High School for a chance to make it to the state competition. Out of the 13 students that competed in this competition, 8 students made it to state level. The categories that the PCM students participated in were Musical Theater, Acting, Storytelling, Prose, Poetry, Literary Program, and After Dinner Speaking. The students that are continuing on to state are Sophomores, Grace Taylor, Keira Stone, Carter Dudley, and Piper Clark. Adding on to those 4 junior, Max Kimball, and senior, Jordan VanderWerf also made it to the stage. Each individual is given a rating of either one, two, three, or four based on how the judge scores them on their performance, with one being the best score, and automatically moving you onto State. They also received constructive feedback on what was liked and improvements to make for any future performances. Not only can students strengthen bonds with their friends that they already have, but it can also create an inviting space for them to build new friendships with others who share the same interests. When asked what sophmore, Grace Taylor enjoys the most about speech, she said When asked what she most enjoys about speech, sophomore Grace Taylor said, “I like hanging out with my friends, and my coaches, and how supportive the coaches are.” Her favorite memory from speech so far was “the large group.” The large group is when a group of multiple people get together, and act all at once. The students that are moving onto state will participate at Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, March 9.

Distirct Individual Entries & Results: (In order of performance times)

Emilyn Davis - Musical Theatere - II

Jocelyn Burg - Acting - II

Grace Taylor - Storytelling - I

Keira Stone - Storytelling - I

Jordan VanderWerf - Prose - I

Carter Dudley - Poetry - I

Kylie Lewis - Lit Program - II

Max Kimball - Prose - I

Jocelyn Burg - Musical Theatre - II

Piper Clark - Musical Theatre - I

Kylie Lewis - After Dinner Speaking - II

Max Kimball - Poetry - I

Kiera Stone - After Dinner Speaking - I

March Students of the Month

Lillian Knapp Staff Writer

Nickname: Liv

Parents: Josh & Katie

Kinnamon

Employer: Georges Pizza

Future Plans: To Attend the University of Iowa and Major in Accounting or Marketing

Extracurricular Activities: Volleyball & Soccer Manager, Fall Play, Big Little, NHS, & Thunder TV Anchor Dream Job: Actress

Jacob Burns

Parents : Scott & Carrie Burns

Employer: Under Armor Future Plans: Attend Iowa State University with an Undecided Major Extracurricular Activities: Football, Track, and FCA Dream Job: Sports Announcer

All Iowa Honor Dance Team

Kayla VanderLinden Staff Writer

All Iowa is an honor dance team for girls from all over Iowa whose schools dance teams are a part of the ISDTA. They try out to perform at state basketball. There are 250 girls that get a spot on this team. Then, after tryouts, they are given either a kick or a pom. Then, from the end of February into March, they have practices at Grandview. This year the practices were on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Thursday, the girls had to leave school at 2 p.m. in order to be there for registration and then had prac- tice until 9:30 p.m. with no dinner break. Then on Friday, the girls had to get up to leave at 6:30 a.m. and be there until 3 p.m. with lunch thanks to one of the dance team moms. On Saturday, the girls went straight to Wells Fargo Arena and then there they got their jackets and tank tops for the performance and practiced until there was a basketball clinic. They also got to practice for PBS to get the correct camera angles for the halftime show. They had a while until they per- formed after practice, so they just sat around and watched girls basketball, and then performed around 2:30 p.m. At halftime of the 4A game, the pre-show group performed before the 4A game and the night before on Friday. There are two separate groups in all Iowa: the halftime and pre-show. In the pre-show there are only 50 girls, there are only 50 girls. There are different routines. This year, none of the girls were on pre-show at PCM. There were nine girls origi- nally chosen to go by their coach, but then ten later on, five of the ten, though originally tried out for the team. There were originally three alternates, chosen to go, but then they all three got put into the dance, as there were missing spots. Then another PCM girl was chosen to come, but she was not needed, but because of her hard work and dedication, she was put in a small part of the halftime performance. These girls overall had around 15 hours of dancing by the end of three days. They had early morn- ings and late nights, but it was worth it for the six-minute routine they got to perform. There were four different small routines in this one performance. The first one was a group performance, then it separated into pom, then to kick, then into one last performance with the whole group. In this routine, they got to do the All Iowa lean back and a pinwheel, which is where they all get into a pinwheel formation, and shoot their poms up to make very good visuals for the audience, because that is what they are all about in All Iowa is the visuals in the entertainment. The girls were told by the ladies in charge they were the best group they had seen in the long time they had been there. That the girls were supportive and fun to be around. This experience was long and took a lot of hard work, but in the end it was worth it for the new friends the girls made and the fun.

I’mexcitedaboutmy senioryearoffootball. Lastyearwasmyfirst yearreallyplayingalot, and it was the most fun I’veeverhadplaying football. I never wanted it to end. It didn’t matter if the practices were 10 degreesor110degrees, Ienjoyedeverysecond ofit.I’veneverplayed in environments like we playedinlastyear,the adrenaline rush is unlike anyother.Iwassadto seetheseniorsgo,and itwasreallyeye-openingtoseethemand knowinthebackofmy mindthatnextyearI would be in their shoes. I feel like the team as a wholecametogetherat therighttimeandeven thoughwedroppeda coupleofgamesearly on in the season, we still could’vegonebackto the dome. We were firingonallcylindersand Ireallythoughtthatwe were going to upset Van Meter.Wejustmissed aselectfewplaysand that’swhywelost.Itwas thetypeofgamewhere wehavetoplayperfect football,andweplayed 95% perfect football, andweendeduplosing byten. The offseason has been fun,butI’mreadyfor summer workouts and practices. I know we’re goingtomeshreally well,andwedefinitely havetheguystohavea reallygoodseason.It’s goingtobethebestyear yet,andIhopethere are a lot of people at the games.Also,acouple of our coaches don’t work at the school, so webarelyevergettosee them,soitwillbegreat to have them around duringsummerworkouts. Summer is also goodbecausewedon’t havetoworryabout school, all I do is lifeguardandplayfootball, and I like it. OnethingI’mnotvery excitedaboutinmy senioryearoffootballis seniornight.Iremember when our school had justgottenthenewturf field, and I was so excitedtoplayonit.That doesn’t seem like that longago,andnowIcan hardlyimaginewhatI’ll bethinking,knowingit’s thelasttimeIeverplay onthatfield.It’salways been a dream of mine to playthereandthepast threeyearsI’vegotten to live out that dream. ButknowingthatI’ll neverplaythereagainis goingtobeahardpillto swallow.

Olivia Kinnamon

Riley Graber Staff Writer

PCM SPORTS Mustangs

Three Mustangs earn all-conference recognition

By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer

PCM senior Jacob Wendt averaged a double-double in conference play for the second straight season this winter.

For his efforts on the hardwood, Wendt was one of seven players named to the Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference first team recently.

Wendt was joined on the all-conference squad by senior Jack Jungling and junior Gavin Van Gorp, who both were honorable mention selections.

All-conference recognition is based on statistics inside conference play only.

Wendt led the Mustangs and was first in the conference in rebounding at 10.4 per game. He ranked second on the team in scoring at 10.5 points per game, was second in assists at 2.7 per tilt and averaged slightly under one steal per game.

Wendt shot 42.3 percent from the floor and made 56 percent of his free throws. He started all 14 conference

GIRLS BASKETBALL

games, finishing with 147 points and 146 rebounds.

Van Gorp led the Mustangs in scoring at 12.5 per game. He was second in steals at 1.0 per game, ranked tied for third in assists at 1.4 per tilt and averaged 2.6 rebounds per contest.

Van Gorp led the Mustangs and ranked third in the conference in free throw percentage at 84.8. He started 13 of the 14 conference games and made 28of-33 from the foul line.

Jungling ranked third on the team in

scoring at 7.7 points per game and ranked second in rebounding at 6.8 per contest. He also averaged 1.0 steals and 1.0 assists per game.

Jungling shot 63 percent from the floor, which ranked second in the conference. He started all 14 conference games, finishing with 108 points and 95 rebounds.

jr., Saydel; Hunter Reed, jr., Saydel; Ty Koehnk, sr., South Hamilton; Owen Renaud, sr., South Hamilton; Drake Levan, sr., Perry; Zander Mahler, sr., Perry; Owen Siegert, sr., West Marshall;

Steenhoek grabs more postseason honors

By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer

Lynnville-Sully senior Majesta Vos excelled on both the court and inside the classroom this season.

Vos highlighted the best Lynnville-Sully girls’ basketball season in several years by averaging a double-double on the floor.

And her efforts in the classroom didn’t go unnoticed either.

Vos was one of three area girls basket-

News

WASHINGTON — With millions of tax refunds going out each week, the Internal Revenue Service reminded taxpayers recent improvements to “Where’s My Refund?” on IRS.gov provide more information and remains the best way to check the status of a refund.

The “Where’s My Refund?” tool provides taxpayers with three key pieces of information: IRS confirmation of receiving a federal tax return, approval of the tax refund and issuing date of the approved tax refund. Information for returns from tax years 2023, 2022 and 2021 is available.

During this busy part of filing season, millions of taxpayers are anticipating refunds. In the second of the weekly Tax Time Guide series, the IRS highlights important details about “Where’s My Refund?” that can help taxpayers quickly get the information they need without calling the IRS.

The improvements to the heavily used tool follow Inflation Reduction Act funding, which is providing for a variety of IRS technological advances and upgrades designed to help taxpayers and transform agency operations.

“Where’s My Refund?” enhancements

In filing season 2024, taxpayers will benefit from important updates that reduce the need for many taxpayers to call the IRS and include:

• Messages with detailed refund status in plain language.

• Seamless access on mobile devices and with the IRS2Go app.

• Notifications indicating whether the IRS needs additional information.

How to use “Where’s My Refund?”

ball players to be named to both an all-district and an all-region team this season. She landed on the Class 1A Southeast District squad and was one of the top vote getters on the 1A Region 7 squad. PCM junior Addison Steenhoek

and Baxter junior Emie Tuhn also were recognized by both the the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association with all-district and all-region honors.

Steenhoek shot 35.8 percent from the floor, 31.6 percent from 3-point range and led the Mustangs with a free-throw percentage of 73.7. She started all 22 games and enters her final season with 797 career points.

Steenhoek was one six players on the 3A Region 8 team, while Tuhn was one of eight on the 1A Region 2 squad.

Vos earned academic all-state honors from both the IGCA and the IBCA, too. Joining Vos on the IGCA’s academic all-state squad were Newton seniors Haylie Ryan and Estella Allen and Lynnville-Sully senior teammates Elise Alberts and Morgan Jones. Steenhoek was one of 10 players on the 3A Southwest District squad. She averaged a team-best 14.4 points, 2.6 assists and 2.7 steals per game and also grabbed 3.8 boards per contest.

To use “Where’s My Refund?”, taxpayers must enter their Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification number, filing status and the exact whole dollar amount of their expected refund from the original tax return for the year they’re checking.

Once the IRS acknowledges receipt of a return, refund status information is typically available within:

• 24 hours after receipt of a taxpayer’s e-filed tax year 2023 return.

• Three to four days after receipt of an e-filed tax year 2022 or 2021 return.

• Four weeks after mailing a paper return.

Taxpayers should note that the IRS updates the tool once a day, usually

overnight, so there’s no need to check more often. The IRS reminds taxpayers that the fastest way to get a refund is by filing electronically and using direct deposit.

Refund delivery

Many different factors may affect the timing of refund delivery:

• The tax return has errors, requires additional review or is incomplete.

• The return needs a correction to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit.

• The time between the IRS issuing the refund and the bank posting it to an account may vary since processing times fluctuate.

The IRS will contact taxpayers by

mail if more information is needed to process a return. IRS phone and walkin representatives can only research the status of a refund if:

• 21 days or more have passed since a return was filed electronically.

• Six weeks or more have passed since a return was mailed.

• “Where’s My Refund?” tells the taxpayer to contact the IRS. If a taxpayer refund isn’t what is expected, it may be due to changes made by the IRS. These changes could include corrections to the Child Tax Credit or EITC amounts or an offset from all or part of the refund amount to pay past-due tax or debts. More information about reduced refunds is available on IRS.gov.

Filing season reminders

Taxpayers should make IRS.gov their first stop to get information on filing a tax return. There is information on Choosing a tax professional, IRS Free File, Answers to tax questions and Tips on filing a return.

Taxpayers who file electronically and choose direct deposit typically get their refund in less than 21 days. Taxpayers who don’t have a bank account can find out how to open a bank account at a FDIC-insured bank or the National Credit Union Locator Tool. Refund information for amended tax returns is not available on “Where’s My

Use “Where’s My Amended

to get the status of an amended return.

The deadline for most taxpayers to file a tax return, pay any tax due or request an extension to file is Monday, April 15.

Arts and Crafts Show this weekend in Des Moines

Wendt Jungling Van Gorp

Steenhoek

Jamee

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