Local People. Local Stories.
Explorer PCM
Creative fundraiser leads to neighbors helping neighbors
PCM After Prom Committee holding shoe and gear donation drive with sale Aug. 3 in Monroe
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
The PCM After Prom Committee was looking for a creative way to raise money and came upon an idea that will also help the community. An athletic shoe and PCM gear donation drive has been set up to gather items that are no longer of use by the owners in hopes of making them more affordable to the next ones.
“We were thinking of ways that could help the community and raise money at the same time,” PCM After Prom Committee Member Kim Wilson said. “Many parents donate their items at thrift stores so we want to make it easy and local to donate.”
To participate, people can donate their pre-owned sports or dance shoes, cleats, clothing, equipment and PCM gear. Donation boxes are set up in the entryway of the high school, which is open during office hours and at 103 Ashtyn Ln. in Prairie City. All sizes and styles are accepted.
“As parents of seniors we know that ev-
we were purchasing new sports/ dance shoes and equipment for our own kids and we wished we had something like this for our
By Christopher Braunschweig
Explorer
younger. We also know that it’s expensive to purchase these for our kids and we wanted to help parents save money,” Wilson said. “We hope this can become an annual event for our community and something to look forward to.”
A sale of the items will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 3 on the Monroe square.
Funds raised will be used for the After Prom bash on prizes, entertainment and food and drinks. An additional fundraiser of cans and bottles for redemption is set up at the Monroe Redemption Center and behind Salon Essence in Monroe and at the former Effective Wellness building parking lot in Prairie City.
“We have noticed that we have many local groups fundraising and asking businesses for money so we are trying to be creative and help out our community and in return we are raising money for After Prom expenses,” Wilson said. Any questions can be directed to pcmafterprom@gmail.com. Ideas for future fundraisers are also welcome.
Work underway
Construction on new Prairie City Fire and EMS building getting started
NEWTON RADIO STATIONS LOSE LOCAL VOICES
Christopher Braunschweig
Editor’snote:Thisisparttwo ofatwo-partseries.
THE VOICES WE LOST:
JOE SWANSON
Joe Swanson spends the first half of his days with his kids, but by early afternoon he leaves the house to find a quiet corner in the Newton Public Library to apply for jobs. At the radio stations, he was primarily the commercial production director, but he worked in many other on-air capacities during his 15-year stay. He had only stepped away from radio for about a month many years ago when he worked at a local credit union. It wasn’t a
total loss. If anything, the change in job only reinforced his love of radio. Swanson started out as an intern in 2008. He soon transitioned the gig to a full-time job. It was exactly what he wanted. At the time of his termination, Swanson had two, fourhour shows each weekday on KCOB and Energy 106.7. He worries these programs might be the last time he is ever on air. His radio career may be over. Unlike Grout, who has worked at several different stations over the years, Swanson stayed put. But he hasn’t given up looking for radio jobs. He’s applied to a few already.
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer
From left: Joe Swanson, commercial production director, has been spending a great deal of his time at the library to apply for jobs after Alpha Media USA decided to terminate local on-air personalities for Newton’s radio stations; Jamie Grout, content manager, is spending more time at his part-time job in Hy-Vee after he was fired
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
Shoes, clothes, gear and more are welcome for the PCM After Prom Committee fundraiser repurposing items and giving them a second life.
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
Located across the street to the east of the current building, the new, larger Prairie City Fire and EMS location has started construction with dirt being moved in preparation to start building.
Explorer PCM
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Events at The Gathering Place
Thursday, July 11
• 9am Crafts with Jamee ($4 for craft)
• 10am Patty Richards Music Show
Friday, July 12
• 2pm Piano with Jacque Robinson
Monday, July 15
• 8am Coffee & Prayer with Pastor Ann
• 10am Video Exercise Class
• 12:15pm Fresh Conversations – Thriving in Place
Tuesday, July 16
• 9am Crafts with Jamee ($4 for craft)
Wednesday, July 17
• 1pm “Get Fit, Move More” with Amy S. Thursday, July 18
• 9am Crafts with Jamee ($4 for craft)
• 10am Focus Group meeting
• 12:15pm Matter of Balance
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@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.
American Legion Auxiliary meets
The Monroe American Legion Auxiliary meet at 6:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at the Legion.
Alzheimers and Dementia Support Group
The Prairie City First Reformed Church hosts an Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group that meets at 3 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at the Prairie City First Reformed Church. This support group is for family members and caregivers of those living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Community Meal Wednesday
A Community Meal will be served beginning at 5 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month at the Monroe United Methodist Church. All are invited to share our free meal and fellowship.
Prairie City-Monroe Blood Drive
The upcoming blood drive will be from 7:15 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 20 at First Reformed Church, 300 E. Fifth St., Prairie City. Call 800-2874903 to schedule an appointment.
5-Day Club
Kids, come to a 5 day Club from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, July 22-26 in Tool’s Point Park in Monroe. Club includes fun games, snacks, memory verses, games and bible lessons. Parents are welcome. Contact Jane McConeghey at 641-8912733 with any questions. Sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship.
Marvin Lee Pulver
July 2, 2024
Obituaries
from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Grace Alive. Memorials may be directed to Grace Alive and condolences at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com
Give us a call at 641-792-3121 ext. 560.
Since knowing is so important, we joined other newspapers in Iowa and publish our public notices online.
AT www.iowanotices.org
Marvin Lee Pulver passed away on July 2, 2024, at Park Centre in Newton. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, July 7, 2024, at 2:00 pm at Grace Alive in Prairie CIty. Burial will follow at Vandalia Cemetery. The family will greet friends on Saturday, July 6, 2024
Marvin was born to Francis Pulver and Dessie (Gulling) Pulver on November 20, 1927 on a farm 1 mile east of the town of Vandalia, Iowa. Marvin attended country school Des Moines Township #4 (Flemming) and then Prairie City High School where he graduated in 1947. Marvin worked on the farm with his father after high school.
Marvin joined the air force reserves at Offutt Air
Force Base and was called to active duty in March of 1951 (Korean War). He served for 21 months stateside flying training and recovery missions in the Great Lakes region of the USA. Marvin worked construction after his return from service and was a heavy equipment operator (IUOE Local 234) and a parts runner until 2008. Marvin traveled after his retirement, visiting much of the US, Canada, Switzerland, and other European countries. Marvin received Jesus Christ as savior in 1963 and served faithfully the rest of his life. He was a char-
ter member and deacon at the Faith Bap8st Church and Grace Alive Church of Prairie City, Iowa. Mavin is survived by his son Daniel, son James, Daughter Nancy (Halferty), son in law Carlos Gauna, granddaughters Rosie Sharp and Halla Pulver, and great grandchildren Asaseya, Ivy, and Ashyer. He is also survived by his sisters Mildred Gilbert and Norma Smith. Marvin was preceded in death by his daughter Leann Goffard Engelhardt, parents Francis and Dessie, brothers Carol, Dean, and Verlin, and sister Audrey.
Iowa artist Chad Elliott to ‘Paint the Park’ and perform live music at NSNWR
The Friends of Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge will host Iowa artist and Americana songwriter Chad Elliott as part of his ‘Paint the Park’ series July 18. Elliott has invited parks across Iowa to host a live painting and live music event in their natural spaces. He will paint a piece inspired by the unique landscape of the prairie restoration at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge and perform a concert
behind the Refuge’s Visitor Center. The public is invited to stop by during the day to see him working, take a walk, admire blooming wildflowers and look for bison and elk. Concert attendees are welcome to bring their own chairs or blankets for seating beginning at 5 p.m. with music starting at 6 p.m. Outside food and non-alcoholic beverages may be brought to the event. The Prairie Point Nature Store will be open.
Geisler-Penquite Foundation funds conservation project
The Giesler-Penquite Foundation has partnered with Jasper Conservation Connection, a friends Group for Jasper County Conservation, to fully fund a $700,000 Geisler-Penquite Land Stewardship Lab as the 2nd phase of its Environmental Education Center project. The Geisler-Penquite Foundation gift will create an Outdoor Recreation Center and Prairie Production Lab that includes a greenhouse, prairie production and seed cleaning area, classroom, indoor archery range, public restrooms, and a public use area for canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, cross-country
skis, and snowshoes.
“It is so exciting to be a part of this important community project,” Dan Skokan, president of the Geisler-Penquite Foundation Board said.
“It perfectly embodies the Geisler and Penquite families’ hopes and dreams for Jasper County.”
Established in 2009, the Geisler-Penquite Foundation’s roots trace back to 1969 when the Geisler Penquite Charitable Corporation was created with $7,000 investment by the Jasper County farm family of John E. and Gertrude Setzer Geisler and their children, Cecil Geisler
Penquite and her husband Loren, and Harold Geisler and his wife Mavis. Since then, distribution of the family’s farm holdings and investments have resulted in grants totaling nearly $9 million to Central College and 16 Jasper County non-profit organizations whose missions align closely with the family’s deeply held values of hard work, diligence, a love for learning and strong adherence to Christian principles.
Jasper County Conservation staff and volunteers share a commitment to the Geisler and Penquite family values and believe teaching about our local natural
surroundings, and seeing others develop that same love of land is the greatest complement to the organization and the conservation mission.
“The vision for the Geisler-Penquite Land Stewardship Lab is to create a place for people of all ages to learn about and enjoy nature and agriculture in Jasper County. It will be a great asset in our efforts to recognize the natural history of the area and to teach ways to be sustainable in the future,” Keri Van Zante, Jasper County Conservation Director, said. “The generosity and support of the Geisler-Penquite Foundation is overwhelming, and we feel so very special to be a part of the Geisler and Penquite family legacy.”
The Geisler-Penquite Foundation and Jasper Conservation Connection challenge conservation supporters to match this generosity to help make the third and final phase of this project, an open-air classroom valued at $500,000, a reality. Those interested in becoming involved with this exciting project can contact Keri Van Zante, Jasper County Conservation Director, at 641792-9780, or by email at kvanzante@jasperia.org.
Photo by Roger D. Feldhans
Iowa artist Chad Elliott to perform at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge July 18.
Submitted by Jasper County Conservation
The Giesler-Penquite Foundation has partnered with Jasper Conservation Connection, a friends Group for Jasper County Conservation, to fully fund an Outdoor Recreation Center and Prairie Production Lab.
Explorer PCM
7 tips for planning for student loans
By Jim Schipper
Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation Board
Member
Many families turn to federal and private student loans, like those offered by ISL Education Lending, to cover remaining college costs after savings, earnings and other financial aid. But the options for college financing can be confusing. Here are seven tips for finding the right loans for your family.
1. Understand the difference between federal and private loans. Federal student loans are provided by the federal government and are offered based on the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid filed by college students. Private student loans, on the other hand, are offered by private lenders.
Federal student loans have an annual limit based on year of college and may have interest subsidized, or paid, by the government while the student is in school. Generally, private student loan amounts are limited to the amount required to cover the remaining cost of attendance as certified by the school. While they may qualify on their own for federal student loans, traditional-age college students often need creditworthy cosigners for a private loan.
The U.S. Department of Education also offers federal loans for parents—the federal PLUS Loan. Many private lenders offer an alternative with family and parent loans for those who want to borrow in their own names to assist a student. Interest accrues daily on all education loans from the date they are disbursed to the school.
2. Think about the total cost of repayment before applying for or accepting a student loan. The time to understand the total debt of principal, fees and potential interest is before accepting a federal loan or applying for a private one. Generally, to help ensure that student loans can be successfully repaid, ISL Education Lending advises that total college debt for all years of college be no more than a realistic starting salary for the student’s desired career.
3. Choose federal student loans first. ISL Education Lending recommends
Bond
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said due to changes in state law the bond issuances can only be held on the November ballots, which gives the county four months to communicate its plan to taxpayers. So when it comes time to choose a president, citizens will also be voting yes or no for the individual projects.
Although it is estimat-
that students accept subsidized and unsubsidized federal Direct Loan Program student loans before considering private student loan options. Federal student loans typically have better rates, repayment assistance and protections than other loans, including other types of federal loans.
4. Research private student loan options. When federal student loans are not enough to cover the full cost of attendance, students may turn to private loan options, such as those offered by ISL Education Lending. Because the offerings by multiple lenders have different features, and some specific details may be difficult to find, it can be difficult to compare them to each other. In general, students and families should consider:
Interest rates. Keep in mind that few applicants qualify for a lender’s best advertised rate.
Length of repayment. Stretching loan payments out over more years may result in lower monthly payments, but it may also cost more in the end due to daily interest accrual.
Fees, such as origination fees, prepayment penalties or late payment fees.
Repayment options and assistance. Compare the options for making payments during college to keep overall repayment lower, opportunities to delay payments in times of financial hardship, and loan forgiveness or cosigner release options, among other features.
5. Compare loans for parents carefully. Financial aid notifications often include federal parent PLUS loans. If parents or other adults are considering taking on debt to help a student with college costs, the features of the federal parent PLUS loan should be compared to those of private loans for parents. Because these loans generally cannot be transferred to the student later, borrowers should be aware of their repayment obligations as well as the features listed above for private student loan comparisons.The same care should be used when calculating the total cost of repayment for parent loans as when considering student loans.
For example, for the 2024–25 academic year, the interest rate for federal PLUS Loans is 9.08 percent, which is
ed the combined total of the bond referendums to be about $7.5 million, the prices sought for each project have not been set at this point. Talsma said the reason the county can afford a bond issue while still not raising taxes is due to the upcoming drop in the debt service levy.
“Same thing we had with the administration building. We have an opportunity to bond for some long-term projects instead of seeing a spike
in our capital projects levy to continue to maintain facilities,” Talsma said. “…We got debt coming off the books. We’re at a point in time we can tackle another large capital project.”
The bond issues were discussed during the work session following the regularly scheduled board of supervisors meeting on July 2. But with consensus from the supervisors, it is likely the request will appear on a future agenda so
and the people. Thank you!” - Dan B.
higher than the rates on federal loans for students. While the U.S. Department of Education does not provide an APR for the Federal Direct Loan PLUS Program, the interest rate combined with the upfront fee of 4.228 percent on a $10,000 loan translates to a 10.10 percent APR.
The ISL Education Lending College Family Loan offers fixed interest rates of 3.95 percent APR to 8.01 percent APR with no upfront or origination fees. The highest rate for a College Family Loan that enters repayment immediately is 7.85 percent APR. On a $10,000 loan with a 10-year term, this difference in APR means that a borrower who makes monthly payments on time will save approximately more than $1,500 over the life of a 7.85 percent APR College Family Loan compared to a federal PLUS Loan.
6. Complete application, disclosure and certification forms promptly. The student should follow instructions from the college to accept any federal student loans.If a private loan is necessary, the Social Security number of both the applicant and the student will be needed.
The lender will also require names and contact information of references to contact in the future if the borrower is unreachable. Traditional college-age students may also need to have the names and contact information of one or two cosigners, who will complete an
that the county can begin planning outreach events and a communications plan.
Included in the second phase of the Liberty Avenue Yard is the construction of the new secondary roads offices and shop building, which would relocate staff from the current engineer’s office. Equipment has outgrown the current facility, and work has already been completed at the new site next to the sheriff’s office.
Conservation is in need of a shop building at Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve and another at Mariposa Park. Talsma also proposed a portion of the bond could pay for the outfitting of the classrooms in the upcoming state-of-the-art nature center, which staff say is projected to
application after the student submits the initial application.
Be prepared for the lender to request a credit report for the applicant and cosigners. You may also be asked to provide paystubs or tax returns for underwriting purposes, and the college will likely need to certify the loan amount.
After a private loan is approved, the applicant will need to accept the loan and review final disclosure documents and a self-certification form. Completing all these steps promptly will ensure the loan funds are sent to the college in a timely manner.
7. Know when to refuse or cancel a loan offer. If a student is offered more in federal student loans than is truly needed, or federal parent loans that are unwanted, some or all of the funds may be declined. The student should follow instructions in the offer notification or financial aid portal to decline a full or partial offer; the college financial aid office can also assist.
A private loan offer can be refused after approval if the interest rate offered isn’t suitable. If circumstances change after a loan has been accepted but before the funds have been sent to the college, the loan amount may often be canceled or reduced without consequences.
Learn more about the private education loans ISL Education Lending offers at www.IowaStudentLoan.org.
break ground this year.
The former Jasper County Animal Rescue League building is being transformed into a local training facility for law enforcement, and it is proposed the bond issue help pay for the remodel and a location for the advanced life support (ALS) program, a small break room, an office and ambulance storage.
“Instead of phasing those projects in to the tune of $250,000 or $300,000 a year over the next couple fiscal years, we could could lump them in with this bond issuance and get them all knocked out at the same time as well,” Talsma said. “We would be looking at about 3.8 percent on the high side of interest.”
Still, Talsma was adamant the county can take
on the bonds without increasing the debt service levy or taxes. Talsma said if every project passes on the bond issue, it will be paid off entirely in 10 years. Supervisor Denny Stevenson was in support of the idea, particularly the new yard site for secondary roads.
“This has been a long time coming,” Stevenson said. “I was glad to see you guys get that started. I think it absolutely needed to be done. Because of the way we’ve done it around here, we’ll get these projects done without costing the taxpayers tons and tons and tons of money. I mean, they’re paying for it.” Supervisor Doug Cupples agreed.
“I think we need to put it on the agenda,” Cupples said. “Let’s get it going.”
Metro Photo
Celebrating 248 years of the Red, White and Blue
As we come together this July 4th to honor the enduring spirit of America, a nation forged in the fires of revolution and fortified through generations of perseverance and patriotism, let us take a moment to acknowledge how far we have come as a nation.
In 1776, our Founding Fathers de -
Our District
U.S.
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks
clared independence from oppression, laying the grounds for a country where individual freedom comes above all else. Since that historic day, America has made remarkable strides. We’ve weathered wars that tested our resolve and emerged stronger. From the battlefields of Gettysburg to the shores of Normandy, American courage has secured a lasting freedom.
From the Industrial Revolution to the Digital Age, American innovation
Election 2024: Did the first presidential debate tell us anything we didn’t already know?
By Thomas L. Knapp
Joe Biden and Donald Trump are both old men. We already knew that. Neither’s brain can be honestly characterized as hitting on all the key cognitive cylinders. We already knew that. They’re both compulsive liars. We already knew that.
Did listening to the two geezers argue about their golf handicaps in CNN’s June 27 “presidential debate” tell us anything we didn’t already know about them? Nah.
On the particular night in question, Biden came off as more dazed/ confused and Trump as more fever-dreamy/hallucinatory but in any given week we can expect each of them to display characteristics of both mental status sets.
They’re both decrepit. They’re both deranged. They’re both demented. They’re both dishonest. Neither adds up (or seems to have ever previously added up) to much beyond the sum of those characteristics.
Even if someone, anyone, could plausibly be “qualified” to “serve” as president of the United States, neither of these two would come close to making the list. If sanity, competence, and morals were the criteria, we’d be safer picking a random name from the Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane’s patient roster than choosing between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how one looks at it, we don’t have to worry
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about “qualifications” -because it’s impossible for anyone to be “qualified.”
If you don’t believe me, maybe you’ll believe Abraham Lincoln: “No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.”
In 2020, only about 47 percent of Americans voted for president of the United States. About 90 million weren’t allowed to vote. How can they have been said to have “consented” to be ruled by the winner?
Another 82 million chose not to vote. How can they be said to have “consented” to be ruled by the winner? As for the 158.5 million Americans who DID vote, they hardly displayed unanimity. Can those who voted for Donald Trump, Jo Jorgensen, Howie Hawkins, et al. really be said to have “consented” to be ruled by Joe Biden?
Biden only knocked down 51.31 percent of votes actually cast ... and because so many Americans chose not to vote or were forbidden to vote, fewer than one in four Americans could plausibly be said to have “consented” to his rule. This time around, instead of arguing over which incompetent liar should rule us, let’s start thinking about how to do away with a system that allows anyone to rule us at all.
Thomas L. Knapp is director and senior news analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism
Letters to the PCM Explorer will be edited for libel, grammar and length and should not exceed 400 words. We reserve the right to shorten letters and reject those deemed libelous, in poor taste or of a personal nature. Include your full name, address and a daytime phone number for verification.
Signed columns as well as letters to the editor and editorial cartoons represent the personal opinion of the writer or artist.
Submit letters to news@pcmexplorer.com or Newton News, P.O. Box 967, Newton, Iowa 50208
has led to breakthroughs that have improved lives and allowed us to become the world’s largest economy.
So, whether it’s flying the first plane, landing a man on the moon, or inventing the internet, which has connected the entire world together, America continues to set the standard for achievement by pushing boundaries and surpassing milestones nobody thought could be achieved.
In Iowa, we live by the values that define us as a nation. From sunrise to sunset, Iowa’s farmers are hard at work to feed, fuel, and clothe the nation. Their toughness and dedication to helping others mirrors the spirit of all Americans who love their country, embrace opportunity and overcome all obstacles
to build a better future.
As we celebrate our achievements, we must also defend the principles that have made America exceptional. We face challenges both at home and abroad that threaten our freedoms and way of life. It is through vigilance, unity, and a commitment to our founding principles that we will preserve the American Dream for future generations.
This 4th of July, let us also remember to honor our veterans, first responders, and all who selflessly serve our country and communities.
Let us stand together as proud Americans, united in our love for country and vow to continue upholding the values that have made America what it is today.
The Supreme Court’s immunity ruling gives Trump King George III’s power
By Mitchell Zimmerman
If you hadn’t read the news in four years — or just arrived from another galaxy — the Supreme Court’s de facto grant of immunity to Donald Trump for his alleged federal crimes might sound almost reasonable.
There are “unique risks,” six right-wing justices warned, that if a president were required to answer criminal charges, his energies would be “diverted.” He might become “unduly cautious,” less willing to take “bold and unhesitating action.”
But if you’ve followed even a shred of news, you know this reasoning is utterly unhinged — and dangerous. The risk the right-wing majority refuses to consider is that a president might “boldly” and “unhesitatingly” try to overturn our constitutional democracy.
The real danger isn’t that an “unduly cautious” president will worry too much about being charged with crimes. The danger is that a faithless president can use the enormous powers of the presidency to overturn an election he lost. That’s what nearly happened after the 2020 election — a matter the majority says not one word about.
Nonetheless, the six hold that when a president is performing “core constitutional powers” — engaging in actions which the Constitution says he can do — he is totally immune to criminal prosecution.
In the oral argument of the case, Trump’s attorneys were
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4309 W Fourth St. S. Newton, IA 50208
641-526-3142
btalsma@co.jasper.ia.us
asked about the seemingly absurd notion that a president would be immune to prosecution if he officially ordered the assassination of a political rival. They didn’t dispute it. And now the Supreme Court just adopted that absurd theory.
Similarly, a president would now enjoy “absolute immunity” from prosecution if he told the attorney general, “Forge evidence that my opponent sold secrets to China and arrest him for treason.” He could freely sell national secrets to Russia. Auction pardons. Or assassinate unfriendly judges.
Where does this outrageous theory come from? Not the Constitution.
The six right-wingers’ ruling has no basis in law or logic — and turns the lessons of our history upside down. The Constitution includes no language granting the president immunity from criminal charges, and the Founding Fathers were dead set against an all-powerful executive.
The Founders considered it a feature, not a fault, that under the proposed Constitution the president would be restrained. They maintained the president wouldn’t pose a threat to liberty because he wouldn’t be above the law, unlike the King of England.
As Alexander Hamilton wrote, former presidents who’d committed crimes during their presidency would thereafter be “liable to prosecution and punishment in the ordinary course of law.”
The conservative majority of the Supreme Court acknowledged, in theory, that a president is not 100 percent above the law. Even Trump’s own lawyers conceded the point. Nonetheless, the six ignored Trump’s concessions and will now require his federal criminal trial to go through a time-consuming process to assess the immunity claims. That will delay the trial until after the election — which could give Trump the power to fire all of the prosecutors and dismiss the charges against himself if he wins.
Why would the conservative justices do all this to protect Trump? So they can continue to impose their extremist views on America.
The extremists currently enjoy a six-three Supreme Court majority. But Justice Thomas is 76 and Justice Alito is 74. Their seats could become vacant in the next four years and potentially flip. By protecting Donald Trump from prosecution, they’re trying to secure the succession at the Supreme Court — to make sure the right wing maintains its power.
The upcoming election could determine whether the far-right majority is flipped on its head — or paves the way for a deeper assault from extreme judges and politicians.
Mitchell Zimmerman is an attorney, longtime social activist, and author of the anti-racism thriller Mississippi Reckoning.
How to contact your elected officials Jasper County Supervisors
Doug Cupples, vice chair
1205 S. 20th Ave. W. Newton, IA 50208
641-521-8725
dcupples@co.jasper.ia.us
Denny Stevenson 110 Railroad Street Kellogg, IA 50135
641-521-8553
dstevenson@co.jasper.ia.us
Pella Regional staff celebrates years of service
Submitted Photo
Pella Regional Health Center recognized employees who have reached milestone anniversaries in May and June of 2024. Employees who have reached three or more years of service were treated with a recognition breakfast June 11. Those that were recognized include (listed by years of service): 25 years: Michelle Vandevoort, Shalene Zylstra; 20 years: Amy Herdegen; 15 years: Jeannie Bachman, Sheryl Duryee, Kory Fischer, Linda Franje, Sarah Hite, Michelle Hunsinger, Karen Jimenez, Kari Rooda, Laura Willemsen, Nicole Yoder; 10 years: Lorry Adkins, Dr. Charles Canedy, Cathy Deutsch, Dr. Gerard Matysik, Nathalie McCollam, Bridget Woodworth; 5 years: Dawn Crozier, Tina Failor, Nick Fank, Kathy Gordon, Elizabeth Rasmusson, Kylea Ruiz, Susan Shaffer, Rachel Vermeer, Christian Vos, Christi Walkup, Kelsi Williams; 3 years: Dr. Russell Bandstra, Chelsey Barrick, Kaitlyn Boucher, Brieannah Dejong, Julia French, Megan Grooms, Christian James, Tammy Kendall, Jill Moore, Amanda Murphy, Lacey Poe, Baylee Pritchard, Cayla Pushor, Jennifer Quinn, Amy Robinson, Amara Sowers, Baylie Thornbrugh, Trystan Vanstryland, Brooke Wade, Amanda Wyatt
Farmland Leasing and Management workshops to address setting fair cash rents
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is conducting twelve in-person farmland lease meetings in Central Iowa in early August. Meeting sites include Adel, Altoona, Ames, Boone, Grinnell, Grundy Center, Indianola, Knoxville, Newton, Marshalltown, Oskaloosa and Toledo. Participants will also receive a 100-page Farmland Leasing Arrangements booklet.
The discussion will focus on various methods to determine a fair 2025 cash rental rate and the importance of good landlord/ tenant communications.
According to the May 2024 Annual Cash Rental Rates for Iowa Survey, File C2— 10, the cash rental rates for Iowa farmland, rates remained the same as the 2023 statewide average at $279 per acre.
The Newton in-person meeting will begin at 6:30
Photo by Michael Krabbenhoeft
p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8 at the Newton DMACC Campus, 600 N. Second Ave. W. Patrick Hatting, farm management specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will facilitate the two-hour meeting. Participants of the in-person meetings will receive a 100page Farmland Leasing Arrangements booklet and meeting handouts designed to assist landowners, tenants and other agri-business professionals with issues related to farmland ownership, management and leasing arrangements. Early registration is required at least two days before the in-person meeting. Contact the ISU Jasper County Extension at 641792-6433 to pre-register on or before Monday, Aug. 5 before noon. The $20 per individual fee with one book is payable at the door. For a list of meetings statewide, check the ISU Extension calendar for a meeting time for the county you want to attend at www.extension.iastate.edu/ agdm/info/meetings.html.
Top of lineup powers PCM past EBF in district opener
Mustangs claim third straight first-round win
By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer
PRAIRIE CITY — Another big night at the plate by the top four batters in the lineup lifted the PCM baseball team to a postseason win over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont on July 6.
Easton Webb clubbed his third homer of the season, Kaleb DeVries doubled and tripled, Nick Farver scored four runs and Gabe Hobbs tallied two RBIs during the Mustangs’ 7-1 home win over the Rockets in Class 2A District 11 quarterfinals.
was pulled after 45 pitches. He allowed one unearned run, one hit and two walks and struck out one.
Farver pitched the seventh and allowed one hit while striking out three.
All three pitchers were available for the Mustangs’ district game against 2A No. 2 Des Moines Christian on July 9.
“They are the heart of the lineup. They really hold true to that. They do their job,” PCM head baseball coach Lewis Daye said.
It was the third straight opening-round postseason win for the Mustangs. EBF ends its season with three straight losses.
PCM plated one run in the first. Farver reached on an error, DeVries doubled and Webb loaded the bases with an infield single.
The Mustangs went up 1-0 following a Rocket error.
PCM’s first at-bat ended in a double play, the Mustangs stranded a runner in scoring position in the second and left the bases loaded in the third.
The Mustangs did score twice in the third. Another Rocket error made it 2-0 and Trigg Steenhoek’s RBI single pushed the margin to 3-0.
DeVries’ RBI triple in the fourth scored Farver, who walked. DeVries hit his double and triple to almost the exact same spot in the gap in right-center field.
“I just tried to work the count,” DeVries said. “He kept pitching me inside and then left some mistakes that I was able to turn on and put in the gap.”
Webb’s bomb came in the sixth and his three-run shot to left field capped PCM’s scoring.
EBF (8-22) plated its run in the top of the sixth against Jacob Wendt. Trenner Van Dyke (4-2) started on the mound and got the win. He was pulled after four innings and 65 pitches after surrendering no runs, no hits and two walks. He struck out four.
Wendt tossed two innings and
“I want to have the whole staff available for the playoffs, and we don’t want them to be rusty since we haven’t played in a while,” Daye said. “I knew Trenner would get us a good start. I can pretty much run the staff like a major league rotation with a starter, setup guy and closer.”
The top four batters in PCM’s lineup accounted for six of the team’s nine hits, six of the seven runs and RBIs and all seven strikeouts came from the bottom of the order.
DeVries doubled, tripled and had one RBI and he was hit by one pitch. Webb homered, scored two runs and had three RBIs and Farver tallied one hit, four runs, two walks and one steal.
DeVries leads the Mustangs with two triples, Farver has a team-best 29 hits and 24 runs and Webb has accounted for a team-most three homers, 22 RBIs and 36 total bases.
Hobbs’ one hit lowered his teambest batting average to .415 and he has a team-high .544 on-base percentage.
“Nick and I do our jobs to get on base and Ethan has brought us home a lot this year,” DeVries said. “He sent another one out tonight. Gabe always does his job, too. The top of the order has done well all season.”
Trigg Steenhoek tallied one hit and one RBI, Coby DeRaad registered one hit and one run and Jack Jungling collected one hit.
Jackson Tuller led the Rockets with one hit, one run and two walks and Blake Jager walked twice.
Wyatt Sandeen (4-4) struck out seven batters over 5 2/3 innings and took the pitching loss.
PCM (10-12) hadn’t played a game since June 26. Its games against Sigourney (June 28), Cardinal (July 1) and Knoxville (July 2) all were canceled due to weather.
The Mustangs faced the second-ranked Lions (29-4) on July 9.
“We’ll need good team baseball, good defense and a good approach at the plate,” Daye said. “We can’t try to do too much.”
Tori Lindsay
PCM sophomore Tori Lindsay leads the softball team with 26 runs, four homers and 44 total bases. She’s also been hit by a team-most eight pitches and has collected five doubles and 12 RBIs. Lindsay is batting .352, has an on-base percentage of .447 and a fielding percentage of .946.
Troy Hyde/ PCM Explorer
PCM senior Jacob Wendt pitches against EBF on July 6. Wendt tossed two innings in the team’s 7-1 district victory over the Rockets.
Troy Hyde/ PCM Explorer
PCM sophomore Rylee Parsons got the pitching win against Class 4A Newton on July 8. The Mustangs downed the Cardinals, 5-1. Complete coverage from this game will appear in the July 18 edition of the PCM Explorer.
Troy Hyde/ PCM Explorer
PCM junior Kaleb DeVries celebrates his RBI triple in the fourth inning of the Mustangs’ postseason victory over EBF on July 6. DeVries doubled and tripled in the win.
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happen going forward,” Swanson told Newton News in a phone interview. “There’s also a part of me that thinks: ‘Well, maybe another job like that won’t happen.’ And that will have been it. So I guess I was fortunate to have been able to do that for about 15 years.”
Swanson recalled a liner played on air — “Maybe it’s still playing, I don’t know” — that referred to KCOB as the hometown station. It was something staff took a lot of pride it. As did listeners, as it turns out. Swanson felt like the radio stations were an integral part of the Newton and Jasper County communities.
“We had the football games and the basketball games, and our news director/play-by-play guy, Randy, did the first game here at the new baseball diamond,” he said. “We had wrestling reports, state track, community events — all that stuff. And we had the weekly ‘Proud to Know Newton’ show.”
For as much as the radio station reported on hard news and local government action, it always went out of its way to support and promote positivity within the community. Unsure of what the radio stations will do going forward, Swanson is doubtful that local content will return, especially with no on-air staff.
Local content extended far beyond news reports, play-by-plays and commentary. Swanson often worked oneon-one with businesses for radio ads, and it is those interactions he may miss the most. It was a way for him to get to know the people of his community as they learned the ropes of a commercial production.
“Somebody from the business would come in and I’d help them out,” Swanson said. “I would record them and produce their ads. So I got a chance to work with a lot of people and getting to know people a little bit. I had a good working relationship going with a bunch of them. But I also enjoyed being on the air.”
Although Swanson has worked in radio less than Grout and Van Roekel, he knows all too well how quickly and how suddenly they can be taken off the air. Layoffs were always something Swanson worried about. But no matter how prepared he may have felt, the news was always going to come as a shock.
“It’s like when’s the other shoe going to drop? You hear about it and you hope it’s not going to happen and you start to think, ‘Oh, maybe we’re doing OK. It’s not going to happen for us any time soon. Maybe they won’t get rid of everybody when it finally does happen,’” he said. “It was always in the back of my mind.”
THE VOICES WE LOST: RANDY VAN ROEKEL
Randy Van Roekel works harder than any newsman in Jasper County. In addition to reporting on every single city council, school board and supervisors meeting, he provided play-by-play commentary for sports in the Newton Com-
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munity School District. When he wasn’t on air, he was working other part-time jobs. For almost three decades Van Roekel reported local news at KCOB. His official title was news director, but he wore many hats at the station. Van Roekel had been in radio almost as long Grout. His first radio gig was in 1984 in Macon, Mo. He then worked as the news director at an Illinois radio station in 1985. By 1996, he was back home in Iowa and doing what he does best for the Newton radio stations. He has worked a total of 40 years in radio.
“It’s the only thing I’ve ever done,” Van Roekel said. “I was an only child, so I kind of entertained myself and talked to myself and stuff. I was always good at writing. Growing up when we had writing assignments the teacher would pick out my writing and read it to the class and embarrass the heck out of me.”
When Van Roekel enrolled in broadcasting school, he had every intention of being a radio DJ. But his instructors insisted he had a natural delivery for a news voice. They also told him it pays more. Well, that sealed the deal. News it is. And as news director he was his own boss a lot of the times, which he liked.
Van Roekel got to do what he does well naturally for so long. In the community, he has an impeccable reputation for his news abilities. He tells it like it is, they say. He gets right down to business, they say. He’s accurate and unbiased, they say. He’s a true professional, they say.
Without him on the air, listeners feel disconnected and less informed.
So many people depended on him, and they never once expected he would pack up and leave, let alone removed entirely by the claws of corporate overheads. Van Roekel was never going to leave a small market like Newton unless he was made to. The small market is where he thought he would thrive and be safe.
“It was a shock,” he said. “People always asked me, ‘Don’t you want to go to a bigger market?’ No! Because your future really isn’t in your hands … Our decision here came from somebody in Portland that’s never met me and has no idea what I do. It’s just strictly financial.”
It was the mom-and-pop stations that he was always interested in being a part of. But the industry shifted. Years back, before the COVID pandemic, all these little stations were being bought by large broadcasting groups. Ever the professional, Van Roekel doesn’t blame the small stations for accepting their offers.
“They were offered a lot of money, more so than what the station was actually worth,” Van Roekel said. “And that happened all across the nation. All these big stations and companies bought all these small people up. The same day we got canned, other stations in Iowa and Missouri closed, too.”
While the Newton stations are primarily powered by satellite content, they are still operational at the offices in the 1800 block of North 13th Avenue East, not too far from what the old Maytag factories are. Van Roekel found it ironic that his mom, who worked in those same
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buildings, was let go the same way he was.
Only they were about seven blocks and several years apart from each other.
“She worked there 37 years,” he said. “They just called her up and said, ‘Get your things. We got a guy who will come and walk you to the door.’ It was just like that. It was over. Here, we got called in and told the corporation was deciding to go a different way with the small markets and eliminating all local stuff.”
Van Roekel might still see the inside of a radio studio in the near future. At least, that’s what he wants. Working the Newton market was a privilege, he said, and it was his hope to finish his career here on his own terms. He is disappointed it did not get to work out that way. So now his plans have changed.
“It was a privilege to do what I did here in the community for so long,” Van Roekel said. “I said this on the radio all the time, I appreciate people for listening. They allowed me, by listening, to do what I like to do. I hate to think that what I’ve done for 40 years might be over.”
COMMUNITY DOES NOT UNDERSTAND OR AGREE WITH DECISION
Craig Armstrong, economic development specialist for the City of Newton, was hoping the city’s Proud to Know Newton radio show would reach its 500th episode. Following Alpha Media USA’s decision last month, that is no longer going to happen. Armstrong was on episode 477. Twenty-three shows to go.
The host of Proud to Know Newton would regularly bring special guests for a small segment to either promote that specific individual or the work that they do. Sometimes Armstrong brought on city staff, other times he spotlighted community members or organizations within the community.
“It was very positive, community-based programming that talked about hidden or not-as-apparent good things happening in the community,” Armstrong said. “Things that really deserved a little spotlight on their work via government via nonprofit or a business that is doing something remarkable.”
Armstrong learned of the radio station losing its on-air personalities through Grout’s Facebook post. Before he could even comprehend it, he received a call from the radio station’s general manager telling him the news. He was shocked and saddened at not only the loss of jobs but the loss of community radio.
“This is just a corporate, national radio station with a stick in Newton, Iowa,” he said. “It no longer is a community radio station. I feel really sorry for Ron McCarthy because he was unfortunately the unwilling executioner in this situation. He had to deliver the news to staff, who he had worked with for years.”
Armstrong suggested the loss of local radio staff is deeper than people realize. The radio station, he said, is no longer connected socially to the community.
“Whatever is on the satellite is what’s coming in and that’s what is going to be heard on all the stations that Alpha Media owns here in Newton and in Grinnell,” he
said. “The radio is our connection to each other when you think about it. It’s an identify for the community and enhances what the community is including.”
Newton Superintendent Tom Messinger said the district had a strong partnership with the radio station. Many people sought out the play-by-play commentary of school sports. Messinger said the district relies on local media sources to get information out to people and to highlight its accomplishments and struggles.
“It is a huge blow to lose the local programming through our radio station,” he said. “The people that work at that radio station are some of the finest I’ve worked with and they’ve never been anything but supportive of the school district. They look for ways to help the school district get information out.”
Never did the radio station ask for everything in return from the school district, Messinger added. While he acknowledges he may be a little biased, he does not understand Alpha Media’s decision. He does not understand how someone from so far away can think losing local programming can be good for the community.
“That shows me they’re not concerned about the community,” he said. “Our local radio station is concerned about the community and about the school district. And that is greatly going to be missed.”
Perhaps things could change. Armstrong said there are people inside and outside the community that are thinking through what can be done to preserve local radio or even create a new station. But he said those same people are aware there are a number of hoops to jump through. It won’t be easy.
“If a group of local investors, for instance, with a heart for local radio, could put together an investor group or an investor pool to purchase those stations from Alpha Media and get them back into local control, we would be back in business, so to speak,” Armstrong said.
PEOPLE WERE LISTENING TO LOCAL VOICES
There is an existential fear common among those working in radio. It is a dark, ruminating thought that often pervades their minds while they’re on the air. They do their best to ignore it, but when they’re all alone in that studio the fear rears its ugly head and whispers into their ear: Is anybody actually listening?
It’s a terrible thing for a being to question whether their time and effort has been truly wasted. Even more so when it is something they love to do. Passion is not a wild, undying fire. If left unattended — and it will at some point — the light will go out, and all that will be left is cold, dark silence.
To keep passion alight, it takes hard work and a great deal of courage. It is likely the Newton radio staff asked themselves that horrible question from time to time. If the community support and outcry of their termination is any indication, then they have their answer. And the answer is as gratifying as it is unfortunate.
Indeed, they were listening.
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