PCM-05-02-2024

Explorer PCM

Weekend storm damage

Severe weather rolled through the evening of April 26, causing significant damage to areas east of Monroe

By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer

Destroyed barns and garages, holes in roofs and uprooted trees are just a few of the many damages reported from an evening storm when it hit during the late evening hours of April 26 in southeastern Jasper County. According to the National Weather Service, at 9:42 p.m. an EF-1 tornado hit the area east of Monroe. It traveled 2.23 miles with wind gusts peaking at 105 mph.

WHAT’S THE WORD OF THE

DAY?

Monroe woman keeps her community engaged with daily word or phrase posted outside her home

By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer

What started as a fun way for 73-year-old Natalie Pendroy to brighten the spirits of Monroe residents who needed a breath of

fresh air from being cooped up inside their homes during the pandemic has since blossomed into something community members would be figuratively and literally lost without.

For the past few years, Pendroy

PCM Serves

has posted a word of the day near the east side of her home, which is located at the end West Washington Street. Locals have taken a liking to the benevolent act during their walks or when driving by the property. Pendroy said people even use it as a landmark when giving directions.

“Everybody was shut in but people were walking, so I thought, ‘Well, I can put up a word of the day.’ I didn’t know if I was going to put it on the fence or what I was going to do,” Pendroy said of the crafty home decoration. “…For a lot of people it’s how they know who we are. It’s because of the ‘word-of-the-day house.’”

Using some dollar-store door mats as her backboards (cardboard proved to be too flimsy and would disintegrate during rainfalls), Pendroy paints select words or phrases she has written down in a journal to share each day. Oftentimes, Monroe residents will contact her for specific requests, and she obliges.

“I had a lady whose dad always said ‘carpe diem,’ which means ‘seize the day.’ Her dad always said that to her on her birthday,” Pendroy said. “But he has since

WORDS | 3

Growing the sport

PCM Youth Track and Field Club expanding to countywide opportunity

By

The PCM Youth Track and Field Club is expanding. The newly named Jasper County Youth Track and Field will give even more kids an opportunity to learn the sport of track and potentially find an activity that can be with them for the rest of their lives.

Coaching the club is founder Bridget Martin along with Eric Osterhaus, Rachel Tomas and Zach Tomas.

“I have always had a passion for track,” Martin said. “When I was younger I ran track but I did it all on my own. I feel like the way I got started with track on my own helped me develop my love for track and field. I feel like there were others who could have had that but they didn’t have the opportunity.”

Martin took her love of track and field to placing in the top three at state competition in high school and earning national champion status while on the Wartburg Track and Field Team. She

now hopes any kids who have an interest can have the same chances she did growing up.

“It is a sport that people just don’t know a ton about and then they show up in seventh grade and it is completely foreign to them,” Martin said. “I just really more than anything want to expose kids to the sport of track and field.”

In her first year, Martin had more than 100 kids show up the first day of practice, about double what she anticipated. This year, practices are from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday and 5 to 6 p.m. every Sunday at the PCM High School Track and Colfax-Mingo High School Track.

Any current first graders through 12th graders can join, with the older kids starting after the completion of their school track season. To start there is a registration fee of $60 which includes a team shirt, uniform and entry fee into three track meets.

The coaches suggest running shoes for practice

| 3

The annual PCM High School Service Day takes on extra importance as students help to clean up from the damage caused by the April 26 tornado that went through just east of Monroe

Submitted Photo

Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer

Kids get stretched during a PCM Youth Track and Field Club practice in 2023. The club is expanding to Jasper County for the 2024 season.

Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer

Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer

Natalie Pendroy of Monroe introduced a word of the day near her home sometime during the pandemic, and ever since then it has become a community staple that people look forward to.

CLUB

Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer

Explorer PCM

Worth Mentioning

Send your event to news@pcmexplorer.com

PCM Food Pantry

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

Saturday activities at NSNWR

Second Saturday Stewardship

Volunteer for Second Saturday Stewardship at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, May 11, from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. The task will trail maintenance.

Free Nature Tots Program - Peeking at Wildflowers

Children ages 3-5, accompanied by an adult, are welcome to attend a free, fun, and educational program about spring wildflowers at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, May 4 from 10:30 am – 11:30 am!

Free Spring Photography Walk

Join photographer Mike Cox as he leads a walk along a refuge trail at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, May 4 at 8:00 am. Enjoy observing the spring changes taking place. Learn tips for taking excellent outdoor photographs while observing the spring wildflowers, migrating birds and more. All types of cameras can be used during this program.

For additional information and to register for any of these programs, contact nancy_corona@fws.gov or call 515-994-3400.

Events at The Gathering Place

Monday, May 6

• 8am Coffee & Devotions with Pastor Ann

• 10am Video Exercise Class with Sandy

• 12:15pm Gardening to Grow your Wallet Wednesday, May 8

• “Get Fit, Move More!” with Amy S. Thursday, May 9

• 10 a.m. Patty Richards Music Show Friday, May 10

• 2pm Piano with Jacque Robinson

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@lighthouserecoveryia.com with questions.

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.

GriefShare at PC FRC

First Reformed Church in Prairie City hosts GriefShare from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday through June 12. For more information, contact Mary Lemmertat 515-205-0835 or at hope2you@aol.com.

Blood Drive May 18

Prairie City and Monroe Community Blood Drive will be from 7:15 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 18 at the Monroe United Methodist Church, 407 N. Monroe St. Call for appointment at 800-287-4903.

Monroe announces spraying dates

The City of Monroe will be spraying for mosquitoes May 23, June 27, July 25 and Aug. 29.

Garnet Ann Van Winkle

April 22, 2024

Garnet Ann Van Winkle, age 81 of Monroe, passed away on Monday, April 22, 2024 at Newton Health care Cen ter. Me morial services will be held on Friday, April 26, 2024 at 11:00 am at the Prairie City Church of The Brethren. Visitation will

Dub StJohn

April 21, 2024

Dub StJohn, age 69, passed away peacefully Sunday April 21, 2024.

Obituaries

take place on Thursday, April 25, 2024 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at the Prairie City Church of the Brethren. Memorials may be directed to the Prairie City Church of the Brethren or the PCM Food Pantry and condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com

The daughter of Raymond Paul and Esther Virginia (Hoover) Stoner, Garnet was born on January 28, 1943 in Marshalltown, Iowa. She graduated from LDF Community School in 1961 and went on to receive her Junior Accounting degree from AIB in 1962. On Sep -

Player of the Year his senior year.

tember 1, 1972, she was united in marriage to Larry Lee Van Winkle at the First Friends Church in Des Moines. Garnet worked for Ruan Companies, Craven Transport and the Boy Scouts. As a faithful member of the Prairie City Church of the Brethren, she taught Sunday School Classes, young adult to adult; served on various committees; was moderator and volunteered in the Women’s Fellowship. She received A Full Measure award at the Boy Scout Meaningful Life Events.

Those left to honor her memory include her

children, Kevin (Kristine) Van Winkle, Lonny (Julie) Van Winkle and Amber (Dan) Nickelson; grandchildren, Jacob Van Winkle, Trent Nickelson and Kate Nickelson; four step grandchildren and 13 step great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a sister, Elaine Hand; brothers, Howard (Margaret) Stoner and Alan Stoner; Sisters-in-law, Janet Stoner and Janeene Stoner; an aunt and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband in 2022; a brother, Donald and a brother-inlaw, Bill Hand.

Dub was born on July 23rd, 1954, in Unionville, Missouri, the son of William E. StJohn and Georgia G. Bates. Although born in Missouri, he lived 67 years in and around Prairie City. He graduated from PCHS in 1972 and was a football jock earning Defensive

Dub worked many construction positions. He was meticulous, thorough, and very skilled at many things. Dub was united in marriage to Pam (Kroeger) Kuecker March 2, 1992. Together they have worked on restoring their home.

He was the epitome of ornery and always the life of the party. A grandson best described Dub as a lover of “shenanigans”. He loved fireworks, cards, fishing, fishing stories and Crown Royal. But most of all he loved his grandkids, frequently giving out “grandpa treats.”

Dub is survived by his wife Pam; his children

Christina (Donny Butterfield) Kuecker of Prairie City, Matt (Betsy) Kuecker of Eldora, Brandon (Haley) StJohn of Oskaloosa and Andy (Whitney) Kuecker of Collins; his step-mother Sherry StJohn of Monroe; sister Glenda Turner of Prairie City; brothers Brett StJohn of Prairie City and Jamie (Lisa) StJohn of Newton: grandchildren Aiden Kuecker, John Kuecker, Corbin StJohn, Sage Kuecker, Brooklyne Kuecker, Ella StJohn, Jude Kuecker, and Hayes Kuecker.

Dub was preceded in death by his mother in 2023, father in 2020, brother-in-law Darrell Turner in 2014 and

Club News

The Grinnell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently elected new officers for 2024-2026. Iowa Society DAR State Regent Edee Brunia attended the meeting and installed the officers. New officers are Linda Hatch, Regent; Barbara Jones, Vice Regent; Maureen Wilkins, Chaplain; Rita Mertens, Secretary; Jessica Meyer, Treasurer; Nancy Bender, Registrar; Lynne Petty, Historian; and Martha Voyles, Librarian. Hatch, Mertens, Bender and Voyles are residents of Grinnell; Jones, Wilkins, and Meyer live in Newton, and Petty lives in Kellogg.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible to join.

step-father Ron Felder in 1999. A visitation will be Thursday, April 25 from 4-5:30pm at Coburn Funeral Home in Prairie City. There will be a short service at 5:30. Following the service there will be Dub’s idea of a wake at Wilkie’s Bar from 6-8 with pizza and libations. Please no suits, ties, or dresses. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Church of the Brethren. Online condolences may be left at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com. If you are unable to attend and would like to send a card, please direct it to Coburn Funeral Homes, 24 W Howard St, Colfax, IA 50054.

The Grinnell Chapter is named after Josiah B. Grinnell, the founder of the city of Grinnell. Members come from Grinnell, Newton, Montezuma, and surrounding communities. Chapter meetings are the second Saturday of the month March through July and September through December. Recent service projects have included glazing bowls for the Empty Bowls project, assembling “Pick-me-up” jars for veterans, and providing seed packets for the Hindman Settlement School in Kentucky. For information about membership in DAR, contact Nancy Bender, registrar, 641-2367065. Members are available to help prove your lineage to a Revolutionary War patriot.

Submitted Photo

Front row: Linda Hatch, Regent; Barbara Jones, Vice Regent; Martha Voyles, Librarian; and Edee Brunia, Iowa State Regent; back row: Rita Mertens, Secretary; Jessica Meyer, Treasurer; Nancy Bender, Registrar; Lynne Petty, Historian; and Maurine Wilkins, Chaplain

Explorer PCM

Weekend storm

Martin said. “I wanted to take the approach of being pretty low-key.”

but not basketball shoes, slip-on shoes or sandals. Racing spikes are not mandatory but can be used during competitions.

The kids need to bring a water bottle to each practice marked with their name. The practices are not mandatory and the coaches do not need to be informed if a child will not be in attendance.

“We are trying to provide opportunities for parents to know more and be able to take the reigns a little bit. We are going to help when we can but we can’t commit to going to meets every weekend, all summer,”

The coaches have a list of meets available but they will not be in attendance at all of them. Kids can attend whichever ones and however many they would like. The coaches will give information on how to sign up and also which meets they will be attending to parents and guardians.

Through the process, the coaches just hope to meet their mission of providing a positive environment for student athletes to gain track and field experience, build self-confidence, make new friends and develop a lifelong enjoyment of the sport.

“I think a big thing for me is to see the future of track and

Words

Continuedfrompage1

passed. She came to me and asked if I would put that (phrase) up there on her birthday. So I did, and that held a lot of meaning for her.”

There is a grandmother who walks by the house every day to take pictures of the word of the day and send it to her grandchildren, who remember seeing it when they stayed with her. Pendroy has even seen high schoolers coming from Highway F-70 slow down to see what the word of the day is.

Delivery truck drivers who know the area frequently pass by the Pendroy house, too. Churchgoers never miss a chance to catch the word of the day before participating in the Sunday services. The little gesture has only been around for a few years but it is already a community staple. And there is no sign of letting up.

When pandemic restrictions were lifted, she found herself still putting up new words-of-the-day, much to the delight of the community.

field be successful,” Martin said. “It is exciting to send sixth graders into seventh grade knowing a little bit about track if they chose to be a part of the club.”

List of meets available to attend (three included in the entry fee):

Three included in the entry fee —

• May 4: Knoxville Little Panther Relays Randy Wilson Track (Knoxville)

• May 19: IRUN/Indianola Booster Club — Indianola Middle School

• June 8: Pella Track Club/ Jasper County YTF meet — PCM High School

Jasper County YTF: Additional Local Meets —

• May 4: Knoxville Little Panther Relays — Randy Wil-

“They wouldn’t let me stop,” Pendroy said. “They tell me, ‘We go by every day to come and see the word of the day.’ If they miss the word of the day they want to know what was the word of the day. It’s something that is just a daily thing for lots and lots of people to come and see it.”

For the folks that do know Pendroy’s family, they are probably not surprised something like this would be posted outside their home. Every month Pendroy furnishes the interior and exterior of her home with seasonal decorations. By Christmastime, the lights and other ornaments will all be on display.

Of course there is still Halloween to get through,

son Track (Knoxville)

• May 5: Valley Youth Running Club — Valley High School

• May 5: Live Healthy Iowa — Bondurant High School

• May 11: Excalibur Meet — Waukee High School

• May, 19: IRUN/Indianola Booster Club — Indianola Middle School

• May 23: Johnston Track Club/Ankeny Track Club Meet — Johnston High School

• May 29: IRUN Field Event Meet — Indianola Middle School

• June 1: Live Healthy Iowa State Championship — Marshalltown

• June 2: Johnston Youth Meet — Johnston High School

• June 8: Pella Track Club/ Jasper County YTF — PCM

too. Pendroy often transforms the many-century-old home into a haunted house for trick-or-treaters. The master crafter and decorator does this for the same reason she posts new words of the day — out of sheer kindness for her community.

“It just brings joy to people,” she said. “Some words I put out there are to make people think about who we are, what we are and how we should be.”

If ever the day comes where Pendroy calls it quits, the community will know and it will likely be spelled out in front of her home. What will that word be? Well, you’ll have to do what everyone else does: See it for yourself.

High School • June 9: IRUN — Indianola Middle School • June 15—16: USATF State Meet — Iowa State University

• July 20: Iowa Games — Ames High School Age Groups: Listed in Age Division, Year of Birth, Number of Events Allowed

• 8 and Under — Sub Bantam (SA), 2015+, 3

• 9-10 — Bantam (A, 2013— 2014, 3

• 11-12 — Midget (B, 2011— 2012, 3

• 13-14 — Youth (C), 2009— 2010, 4

• 15-16 — Intermediate (D), 2007—2008, 4

• 17-18 — Young Women/ Men# (E), 2005—2006, 4

Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer

Natalie Pendroy of Monroe showcases the many words of the day she has posted over the years. Several people drive by her home every day just to look at the new word of the day.

Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer

Kim Reynolds is hurting real people by dismantling

Iowa’s AEAs

By Rita Hart

At a recent event in Marshalltown, a woman who wanted to tell me her story about why AEAs were so important to her approached me. She was so upset that she told me she couldn’t talk at the event because she didn’t want to cry in public. Even though I didn’t get to hear her full story, her sadness spoke volumes about the profound connection and support AEAs provide to our communities.

Another person whose story particularly impacted me is a woman I serve alongside on a local community committee. This woman worked as a school librarian before she went to work for the AEA. In April she was selected to be a member of a task force that would work to help ensure that the AEA legislation brought forward this session would be as helpful as it can be for Iowans – and

Independent

physician practices are disappearing

By Dr. Paul Berggreen

most of all, to fight the efforts to dismantle them altogether.Soon after the task force was established, she and the other members of the task force got to work putting together materials that they hoped would influence the legislation being considered by legislators.

They put together information on the benefits AEAs provide. They gathered stories. They hired a lobbyist, they made phone calls, and they took every opportunity to speak to legislators themselves at the state capitol building in support of Iowa’s AEAs.

Yet, despite the task force’s tireless efforts to emphasize the massive benefits provided by AEAs, Republicans gave in to the governor and passed the bill anyway – even after the task force provided the statistics to prove AEA’s importance, and even after the Des Moines Register / Mediacom Iowa Poll showed that the

Corporate juggernauts are coming to dominate the U.S. healthcare system.

UnitedHealth now employs 10 percent of all physicians in the United States. Hospitals signed up more than 58,000 new physician employees and acquired nearly 5,000 private practices between 2019 and the end of 2021. Amazon and CVS are investing heavily in adding doctors to their payrolls.

The gradual disappearance of independent physician practices is not in patients’ interests. Policymakers must ensure that our healthcare system does not discriminate against independent practices — and unwittingly put them out of business.

The healthcare market has been consolidating for decades. As of 2021, more than half of doctors worked for hospitals or health systems, according to research conducted by Avalere Health for the Physicians Advocacy Institute.

Forty years ago, by contrast, roughly three-quarters of physicians worked in their own medical practices.

For doctors leaving private practice, employment can mean steadier pay, a larger corporate infrastructure to offer administrative support, and a source of new patient referrals.

But independent practice offers patients and the healthcare system many benefits.

Research shows that independent physician practices have more success getting patients to follow a prescribed treatment plan and post significantly lower rates of preventable hospital admissions and readmissions. Their patients also report higher levels of satisfaction.

One study from researchers at Harvard found that the differences in performance between health system-affiliated and non-system physicians were small. But health systems charged much higher prices for physician services — in some cases over 25 percent more.

Administrators of healthcare behemoths claim that consolidation allows for more efficient and cost-effective treatment for patients. But by buying up their competitors, hospitals and health systems have gained the market power to command higher prices.

There are several ways policymakers can ensure the viability of independent physician practices — and bring about a competitive marketplace that works to the advantage of patients.

First, Congress can fix the formula Medicare uses to pay doctors. When adjusted for inflation, Medicare reimbursement for physicians has sunk 30 percent since 2001. Independent physicians’ costs haven’t decreased during that period. The cost of running a practice is up nearly 50 percent. For comparison, Medicare reimbursement for hospitals has increased in line with inflation since 2001.

The combination of pay cuts, increased costs, and Medicare’s structural bias in favor of hospitals makes it harder for independent physicians to compete against hospital-owned facilities. Independent doctors deserve a level playing field.

Earlier this year, six senators — three Republicans and three Democrats — announced that they’d work on legislation that would “make changes to the current Medicare physician payment system to ensure financial stability for providers, improve patient outcomes, promote access to quality care, and incentivize the utilization of emerging health care technology.”

In the House, a bipartisan group of 82 members of Congress has endorsed a measure that would index physician pay under Medicare to inflation.

Approaches like these would help ensure that independent physician practices can continue to provide the high-quality, cost-efficient care patients are looking for — and push back against the broader consolidation trend that has taken hold in the healthcare market.

Dr. Paul Berggreen is Board Chair and President of the AmericanIndependentMedicalPracticeAssociation.

majority of Iowans across party lines support Iowa’s AEAs.

After the bill was passed, the task force found themselves grappling with a sense of despair after witnessing the legislature’s disregard for their hard work. She asked me what went wrong, and what she could have done differently to prevent this outcome.

So, I told her the truth: this legislation transcends facts and logic. It has nothing to do with the quality of the information they provided, the people they hired, or the things they said. It was purely about politics.

Iowans across the political spectrum recognize the invaluable role AEAs play in supporting our students, educators, and communities. Yet, despite our collective efforts to protect them, the Republican-controlled legislature has chosen to prioritize politics over the needs of our children.

Since Kim Reynolds announced at her Condition of the State address earlier this year that one of her priorities was to divert funding away from AEAs, nearly 350 employees have left Iowa’s nine AEAs.

Those folks make sure all students

have an equal opportunity to receive quality education through the services they offer, which range from emergency counseling to helping students with special needs, such as speech delays.

Schools are already tightening their budgets because the amount of money they are allocated from the state hasn’t matched the cost of inflation in several years. We cannot allow partisan interests to undermine the foundation of our educational system.

This session, we’ve seen that one side of the aisle has stood with their constituents and one has stood bowing their head to the governor. The choice is clear: people or politics.

If like me, you’re tired of politics coming before public service, I encourage you to head to iowademocrats.org/ take-action and support an Iowa Democratic candidate near you.

I urge every Iowan to join me in helping to elect the many Democratic candidates who are running up and down the ballot this November and help bring public service back to our public offices.

Rita Hart is Chair of the Iowa DemocraticParty

YOUR VIEW

What is going on?

It is all clear as day. Where is “law an order?”

Where are parents? Where was discipline?

We need to take lessons from our grandparents and bring back the “woodshed’ we need to bring back paying attention to our children’s homework and visit school rooms and schools.

Kids need to learn something besides hate and others can be right

Encouraging you to cast your vote for Shutts

I am writing this letter in full support of electing Lt. Brad Shutts as the next sheriff of Jasper County. As a former Jasper County Deputy, I had the privilege and opportunity to be field-trained by (then) Deputy Shutts, and to serve with and work under now Lt. Shutts. I was privileged to see firsthand the leadership and integrity of Lt.

Donations are for the dogs

Animal lovers in Iowa might be barking up the wrong tree when donating to their favorite cause.

Polling shows most people wrongly believe that America’s biggest national animal charities — the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)—are umbrella

even if we don’t agree. Pledge of allegiance needs to be part of school and our God needs a seat also. When are we “offended” everyday I can find offense.

You know what? That is part of “learning.”

We can’t get along unless we all take offense and that some of simple parts like this make “America.”

Having these wonderful laws keep us safe and we have this all as a learning price.

Having legal privileges gives us freedoms we have as America.

Not one person is right or wrong but somewhere in-between.

Shutts, which is above reproach.

The duties and responsibilities of the sheriff are incredibly difficult and challenging. The sheriff must be more than just a law enforcement professional. They must be a manager, financial officer and steward, a warden, a legal scholar, and a servant of the people. They must do all this with character and an appreciation for the enormous responsibility that the position carries.

Jasper County needs an experienced, well-trained person to hold the office of sheriff; someone with unshakeable integrity and proven leadership. Lt. Brad Shutts is

groups for local shelters. But that is far from the truth. HSUS and the ASPCA only give 1 percent and 2 percent of their respective budgets to local pet shelters. Unfortunately, widespread name confusion is hurting local operations like ours. At the Humane Society of Northwest Iowa, we often hear from supporters who are surprised—and disappointed—to learn that their donation to a national group isn’t funding our lifesaving work here in Iowa.

This makes us all who we are.

Our forefathers worked weeks on our Constitution and Bill of Rights. It was not meant to destroy and ignored but as a right.

Teachers need a class on this subject alone.

Learn to respect ourselves and others. Learn to look at each other without looking and color or background. Learn the value of life and liberty. Most of all learn to love each other.

The value of the smallest job to running a company and education.

Sherryl Pherigo Newton

that person. He meets and clearly exceeds all these requirements. Additionally, Lt. Shutts has served and been mentored by the two previous Jasper County Sheriffs, John Halferty and Mike Balmer, who are both the epitome of what a public servant and sheriff should be.

I no longer live in Jasper County, but if I did, I would not hesitate for an instant in casting my vote at the ballot box for Brad Shutts. I encourage all of Jasper County voters to do the same.

Former Jasper County Deputy and citizen, Brady Lewis Portland, Or.

When our shelter desperately needed financial assistance this spring to complete crucial building repairs, both groups turned down our request for financial aid. Our Iowa neighbors deserve to know all the facts about where their donations go. My advice? To help deserving pets in our state, forget the national charities and give to your local shelter instead.

Melanie Becker, Humane Society of Northwest Iowa Treasurer Milford

PCM faces stacked field at Knoxville Invitational

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

KNOXVILLE — The Newton boys golf team posted its second-best 18-hole score this spring and PCM finished 10 strokes under its season average, but a tough field pushed both programs to the bottom of a six-team field at the Knoxville Invitational on April 27.

Eighteen golfers posted scores of less than 80 at the par 70 Pine Knolls Golf Club. And host Knoxville was just too good for the rest of the field.

The Panthers, who have the fifth-best average in Class 3A, won their tournament with a 284.

Pella Christian finished second with a 306, while Pella (311), Albia (315), PCM (316) and Newton (330) finalized the tournament.

The Panthers posted a score 26 shots below their season average, while Pella and PCM both were 10 strokes under theirs.

Pella Christian came into the day with the third-best average in 2A, while Albia is in the top 20 of 3A.

Easton Van Veen finished ninth and led PCM with a 77. Nick Farver and Pete Kiernan turned in 79s and finished 15th and 18th, respectively.

The final counting score for the Mustangs came from Charlie Ford, who finished with an 81. Jeffrey McDanel (86) and Trent Nickelson (92) had non-counting scores.

Van Veen turned in a 37 on the back nine, while Farver had a 38 on the front and Kiernan

scored a 38 on the back.

Knoxville’s Evan Smith was the meet medalist with a 3-under-par 67 and his teammate Carson Uitermarkt was the runner-up medalist with a 2-under-par 68.

Mustangs finish third in home tournament

MONROE — Van Veen fired a 5-over-par 77 during very windy conditions at the PCM Invitational on April 22.

The Mustangs played 10 shots over their season average though and finished third in the eight-team field.

Pella Christian, which has the second-best average in 2A, also was well over its season average but still won the tournament with a 322. Des Moines Christian (330) was six strokes in front of PCM (336) in second.

Boone (346), Chariton (357), Bondurant-Farrar (359), Grand View Christian (373) and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (442) completed the field.

Van Veen’s 77 was good enough for runner-up medalist honors and was two strokes below his season average. He had splits of 37 and 40.

McDanel placed 13th overall with an 85, and the other two counting scores came from Kiernan (86), Farver (88) and Ford (88). Tate Tangeman (89) had a non-counting score.

Pella Christian’s Eliot Menninga won medalist honors with a 75. He holds the sixth-best average in 2A.

Karr moves up the standings at Drake Relays

DES MOINES — Morgan Karr

ran almost the exact same time in the 100-meter hurdles at the Drake Relays on April 26 that she posted during last year’s annual event.

But the weather this weekend was much worse, and despite starting the race in a puddle of water, Karr moved up in the standings significantly.

The Mustang sophomore posted a time of 15.72 seconds and wound up 13th in a field of 32 competitors.

“Those girls really pushed me to be my best, which I really needed,” Karr said. “It was not a PR, but the conditions were not good either.”

The annual Drake Relays saw inclement weather throughout on April 25 and at the end of the day on April 26, but Karr and the rest of the 100 hurdles field did not run in the rain during their preliminary race.

The top eight finishers in the prelims advanced to the final. The final qualifying time was 15.53, but Karr’s time was faster than three runners in the finals.

Karr also posted the third-best time among Class 2A athletes. In front of Karr were eight upperclassmen, three freshmen and one sophomore.

West Des Moines Valley’s Emma Havighurst had the fastest preliminary time and won the Drake Relays title, posting a time of 14.67 twice.

“It was nice to get back here for a second time, and I’m proud of myself for continuing to improve,” Karr said. “It

was awesome to see my teammates here to support me, too. That was really nice of them.

“There are things I need to work on, but I’m pushing myself harder and harder for state this year.”

Karr’s time of 15.76 placed her 20th last season. Her goal for the rest of the year is to simply get healthy and stay healthy.

“I have a lot of pain in my knee,” Karr said. “I need to get it strengthened for

state so that it doesn’t hurt every time my trail leg hits the ground.”

Six wins not enough for Mustangs at home

MONROE — Karr was part of two wins, Ila Keuning and Ayla Barrett each won a field event and PCM used six wins and 12 top-three finishes to take second as a team at the PCM Girls Invitational on April 22.

points.

The Mustangs also reached triple digits in second with 113.

The rest of the eight-team field featured Lynnville-Sully (83), West Marshall (79), Pleasantville (66), the Southeast Polk JV

Southeast Warren

and a partial squad from Pella (9).

PCM and Ballard competed at the top of the standings throughout the night, but the Bombers

By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer

DES MOINES — Griffin Olson ran in the 4x100-meter relay at the Drake Relays for the third time in his career on April 26. The Mustangs returned to the blue oval as one of the 96 qualifying teams in the event and exited Drake Stadium with a top-20 finish. Olson kicked off the relay and was joined by Gabe Hobbs, Jacob Wendt and Evan Jones and the Mustang foursome set a new school record with a time of 43.18 seconds. That was fast enough for a

19th-place finish. It also now puts them second in Class 2A but only .01 seconds behind class leader Shenandoah.

“The weather was awesome today. Our handoffs have been an issue, but they were good today,” Olson said when asked why the team was able to set a season-best time today.

PCM came into the annual meet on the blue oval in the bottom half of the qualifying teams. But with maybe the best weather day of the year so far and an impressive atmosphere around them, the Mustangs had a banner day.

BOYS TRACK • 7

PCM Explorer

Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer

PCM junior Jeffrey McDanel tees off on the No. 2 hole at Gateway Recreation Golf Course during the team’s home tournament on April 22.

pulled away with 139

(61),

(23)

By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer

Karr

Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer

PCM junior Addison Shannon, right, hands the baton to junior Stella Stravers during the 4x200 relay at the PCM Girls Invitational on April 22. The Mustangs scored 113 points and finished second in the team standings.

Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer

PCM’s boys 4x100-meter relay team placed 19th at the Drake Relays this past weekend. The foursome featured (from left) seniors Griffin Olson, Gabe Hobbs and Jacob Wendt and sophomore Evan Jones.

Explorer PCM

Boys Track

Hobbs joined Olson as part of last year’s 4x100 team which placed 64th at the Relays. That group posted a time of 44.79. The PCM foursome from 2022 finished 39th in 44.22.

“The weather was incredible, but you also want to give your best performance in front of fans from the entire state,” said Jones, who missed out on last year’s Relays because of an injury.

The top eight teams made the finals and the final qualifying time was 42.43.

ADM grabbed the Drake Relays title later with a time of 41.38 and Cedar Rapids Kennedy was second in 41.79.

“It was cool. The adrenaline rush is real,” said Wendt, who had not run on the blue oval before Saturday. “There’s a lot of hype leading up to it. This is the biggest crowd I’ve ran in front of, too. The weather was great. This was the best weather we’ve had all season.”

PCM could contend for a

state title in both the 4x100 and 4x200 relays later this season. The key to their success just might be their ability to stay healthy.

“We had more rest today so that helped us I think,” Hobbs said. “Our handoffs need cleaned up a bit, but I think being healthy is the most important thing for us.”

Jones powers PCM to home win MONROE — A huge night on the oval for Jones powered PCM to a team win at its home meet on April 25.

Jones moved into the 2A lead in the 200 and propelled into the top five in the 100 as his three wins led the Mustangs to

Abi Teeter

PCM sophomore Abi Teeter has the team’s top times in the 1,500 (5:15.11) and 3,000 (11:56.83) and also is part of the top times in both the 4x800 and distance medley relays. Her best time in the 1,500 ranks 30th in Class 2A and the team’s 4x800 time of 10:23.48 is currently 15th.

a victory at the PCM Boys Relays. The Mustangs scored 154 points in part because of seven victories and 14 top-three finishes.

Knoxville (118), Pleasantville (105.5), North Mahaska (104) and the Southeast Polk JV (88) completed the top five.

Jones won the 100 in a career-best time of 10.98 seconds, which ranks fifth in 2A.

Jones and Tad Wilson went 2-3 in the 200, too. Jones was second with a career-best 22.49 and Wilson finished third in a career-best 22.68. Those times rank tied for first and eighth in 2A, respectively.

Only two athletes from one team can score points in each individual event, but PCM finished 2-3-4 in the 110 high hurdles. Olson (15.19), Van Gorp (15.22) and Jake Winters (16.03) all posted career-best times.

The Mustangs also doubled up in the 400 and 400 hurdles. Riley Graber (54.01) was second in the 400 and Joey Ferneding (57.48) took fifth. Gavin Steen-

Girls Track

The Mustangs won three relays and finished third in another, while Karr won the 100, Keuning scored a victory in the discus and Barrett grabbed the gold medal in the high jump.

Karr (13.65) and Ryan Bennett (14.14) finished 1-2 in the 100, Jorja Teeter posted a career-best time of 1 minute, 6.38 seconds to finish second in the 400 and Abi Teeter was the runner-up in the 1,500 with a time of 5:17.78.

Keuning’s winning throw in the discus was marked at 83 feet, 4 inches, Barrett registered a career-best leap of 5-1 to win the high jump and Lexi Fagg (14-5 1/2) and Alyssa Buckingham (career-best 14-3 1/2) went 3-5 in the long jump.

The final two individual top-four finishes for PCM came from Tori Lindsay (1:17.46) in the 400 hurdles and Bailey Wheeler (2:44.19) in the 800. Lindsay was third and Wheeler placed fourth.

PCM won the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x800 relays while also placing third in the 4x400.

Tiffani Koonce, Karr, Bennett and Jorja Teeter won the 4x100 in 52.74 sec-

hoek (1:01.16) and Justin Johnston (1:02.77) were 3-4 in the 400 hurdles.

Mark Bussan was the shot put winner with a toss of 43-6 and he also placed sixth in the discus with a career-best 113-8.

Van Gorp won the long jump with a leap of 20-10 1/4 and Chase Wagaman was fifth in the high jump with a mark of 5-6.

The 4x100, 4x200 and shuttle hurdle relays all won. The 4x100 relay team of Olson, Hobbs, Wendt and Jones won the race in 44.55 and the 4x200 relay team of Carter Burns, Wilson, Wendt and Hobbs had a winning time of 1:34.99.

Olson, Jaden Houser, Winters and Van Gorp posted a winning time of 1:03.41 in the shuttle hurdle relay.

The 4x400 and 4x800 relays both were third. Brevin DeRaad, Gavin DeRaad, Graber and Coby DeRaad placed third in the 4x400 with a time of 3:48.67.

Joe Shaver, Kolby Clark, Carson Hansen and Coby DeRaad completed the 4x800 relay in 9:05.13. Coby DeRaad also was fifth in the 800 in 2:13.82.

onds, which is the team’s second-best time of the season.

The 4x200 relay team featured Buckingham, Lindsay, Addison Shannon and Stella Stravers and they won the race in a season-best time of 1:59.

Abi Teeter, Wheeler, Koonce and Lila Milani posted a season-best time of 10:23.48 to win the 4x800 relay.

The 4x400 relay finished third and posted the team’s second-fastest time of the season with Milani, Fagg, Paiten Rumbaugh and Ali Hilsabeck. Their time was 4:29.63.

PCM scores 44 points at Tulip Time Relays

PELLA — Mack Sims and Macy Lampe finished 1-2 in the 100 hurdles, the Cardinals grabbed four third-place finishes and Newton was third at the Tulip Time Relays thanks to a boatload of top-five tallies.

Pella won the meet championship with 185 points.

Mount Pleasant (144.5) also reached triple-figures in second, but the Cardinals scored 92 points in third on April 25.

The seven-team field also featured Oskaloosa (90), Pella Christian (82.5), Ottumwa (54) and PCM (44).

PCM was led by Barrett, who tied for first in the high jump with a leap of 4-10.

Fagg tied for third in the long jump with a mark of 14-11 3/4 and Abi Teeter took third in the 1,500 in 5:22.65.

Addison Steenhoek finished fifth in the 800 with a time of 2:54.73 and Hilsabeck took sixth in the 400 in 1:13.88.

GIRLS

GOLF Mustangs

finish

fourth at home

MONROE — Two of the best teams in Class 3A were part of the Mustang Classic on April 25, but the PCM girls golf team still found its way into the upper half of the standings.

The Mustangs got career-best scores from Gretchen Uitermarkt, Meredith Chipps and Brelee Berger and PCM posted a season-best score in fourth place at the par 72 Gateway Recreation Golf Course.

The hosts shot a 442, which was two shots better than South Hamilton (444) and the Mustangs also defeated Albia (463), Bondurant-Farrar (470) and Winterset (473).

Gilbert, which has the top 18-hole average in 3A and the second-best in Iowa, shot a 332 at the top of the standings. The Tigers put six golfers in the top 12. Williamsburg, a 3A team with the fifth-best average in the class, was next with a 378. The Raiders placed four in the first 13. Des Moines Christian was third with a 412. Uitermarkt shot a career-best 101 to lead the Mustangs, while Chipps posted a career-best 107. The other two counting scores came from Berger (career-best 116) and Emilyn Davis (118).

Defending state champion Eden Lohrbach of Gilbert won medalist honors with a 75 and Gilbert’s Macy Underwood was the runner-up medalist with an 82.

Mustangs finish sixth at Charger Invitational CHARITON — Not even career-best scores at the time of the tournament from three of the Mustangs who played in the Charger Invitational on April 22 was enough to keep PCM on pace with a handful of teams from the South Central Conference.

The Mustangs shot a 445 and finished fifth in the six-team field. They were three shots better than Albia (448).

Led by meet medalist Faith Roozboom, Knoxville won the tourney with a 395. Roozboom was the medalist with an 86. Centerville (408), Clarke (409) and Chariton (444) completed the field.

Centerville’s Matty Kovacevich was the runner-up medalist with a 91. Uitermarkt led PCM with a 102, while Davis carded a career-best 109. The final two counting scores were 117s from Berger and Chipps.

Barrett

Bussan

Van Gorp

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