Join the PCM Marching Band for a day
New event gives community members a chance to see what being a Marching Mustang means
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
For the first time, the public can join the PCM Marching Mustangs for a day. From 11 a.m. to noon, July 19 at the high school football field, the public is invited to join
the high school marching band to learn about what it takes to put on the half-time performances at each home football game and compete in marching competitions across the state.
“On behalf of the PCM Marching Mustangs, I would like to cordial-
ly invite you to ‘Join the Marching Mustangs for A Day,’” PCM Band Director Timarie LaFoy said. “(Come) learn the ins and outs of all things Marching Band.” Held on the final day of the high
Jasper County says alleged embezzled money was collected from permit fees
Newton woman is accused of writing herself checks over the course of 11 months
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer
Jasper County officials say the money allegedly misused by a former community development employee — who has been arrested and charged with theft and 11 counts of forgery — was not county property tax dollars. The employee has been accused of misusing more than $17,000 collected from permit fees.
In a notice posted by the county on its Facebook page on July 10, the day 31-year-old Shelby Hobbs was taken into custody, it was stated human resources, the county attorney and the sheriff’s office were immediately notified of the alleged misuse, which would be considered embezzlement.
“The board of supervisors, county auditor and county treasurer immediately looked into how this situation could have happened and immediately changed Jasper County’s policies and procedures to help ensure it does not happen again,” the county stated in its social media post
Work to start on potential changes to Monroe City Hall
A remodel of the current building or a complete rebuild are options on the table
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
The Monroe City Council is moving forward with a proposal to begin work on changes to city hall. The council approved a $8,000 contract with Veenstra & Kimm, Inc. for professional architectural design services associated with a proposed addition and remodel of the current city hall building.
“I think there is a need for it,” council member Andrea Steenhoek said. “I’d like to see it happen while I’m on council.”
The scope of the design includes updating the existing building facade, roof, entry and floor plan usage. A preliminary concept will have offices for city hall staff, a protected reception/ clerk office, a kitchenette and council chambers to accommodate five council members and 30 citizens. The de -
sign would have the police department moving to the building, adding three offices for the MPD, an interview room, evidence room, kitchenette/ break room, an entry vestibule, shared restrooms and a three-car garage with storage. The police department section will also have a separate entrance to operate outside of city hall hours.
“A lot of people haven’t been in the police station. I would like the public to see what Nick deals with. There isn’t
much room,” Steenhoek said. Phase one of the proposal would be to complete an inventory site visit, programming for needs an space utilization, providing preliminary site layout, floor plans, exterior elevations views, rendering and estimated costs for construction and a meeting with city staff and council. In phase two, after a final design is selected the firm will work to
Jasper County Fair awarded $700K grant for youth learning center
Geisler-Penquite Foundation gives fair a space to hold more educational opportunities and events
By Christopher Braunschweig
Explorer
Jasper County Fairgrounds has been awarded a generous $700,000 grant from the Geisler-Penquite Foundation to go towards the construction of a new youth learning center, which will host fair projects and other educational opportunities and events throughout the year when fully completed.
According to the press release announcing the grant acquisition, the funds are the result of a partnership between the Geisler-Penquite Foundation and the Jasper County Agricultural Society, which is the entity that owns
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Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
The community has a chance to be a part of the PCM High School Band at the Join the Marching Mustangs for A Day from 11 a.m. to noon July 19 at the high school football field.
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer Jasper County Fair was awarded a $700,000 grant from the Geisler-Penquite Foundation, which will go towards the construction of a new youth learning center.
Explorer PCM
Worth Mentioning
Send your event to news@pcmexplorer.com
Paint the Park concert 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 beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 18 at the NSNWR.
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.
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.
Events at The Gathering Place
Thursday, July 18
• 9am Crafts with Jamee ($4 for craft)
• 10am Focus Group meeting
• 12:15pm Matter of Balance
Friday, July 19
• 7pm Patty Richards Country Show
Monday, July 22
• 8am Coffee & Prayer with Pastor Ann
• 10am Video Exercise Class
Tuesday, July 23
• 9am Crafts with Jamee ($4 for craft)
• 6pm BINGO
Wednesday, July 24
• 1pm “Get Fit, Move More” with Amy S.
• 4:30pm Garden Produce Safety
Thursday, July 25
• 9am Crafts with Jamee ($4 for craft)
• 12:15pm Matter of Balance
• 5pm Acoustic JAMM session, bring finger food
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.
Special service at Pleasant Hill Country Church
The Loynachans will be singing and sharing their ministry at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, July 21 at the Pleasant Hill Country Church south of Prairie City. All are welcome.
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.
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.
Cicada Quest video documents the type of cicadas emerging in Iowa
Learn about the 17-year cicada by watching Cicada Quest: A Symphony of Nature
Are you curious about the cicadas that are emerging in eastern Iowa? Maybe you’ve noticed the notorious buzzing sound they make, or maybe you’ve encountered a swarm of cicadas on your property or local park.
The Integrated Pest Management team with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach produced a short video entitled: ‘Cicada Quest: A Symphony of Nature’ to help answer questions and share interesting information about periodical cicadas. This vision was brought to life by Brandon Kleinke, media production specialist for the team, whose goal was to share the team’s field trip over to eastern Iowa.
In the United States, there are seven species of
periodical cicadas, three of which the Integrated Pest Management team found on their adventure. The loud noises heard by many from the cicadas are the males singing in order to attract females for mating. After mating the eggs that are laid will result in the hatch of a new brood, that will live underground for 17 years before emerging and repeating the process all over again.
“Viewers can gain an appreciation for how cool the periodical cicada is and how it is a very interesting phenomena to get to witness,” said Laura Iles, director of the North Central Integrated Pest Management Center. “The next time to see periodical cicadas in Iowa will be in 2031 when Brood III emerges in central Iowa.”
Each year, annual ci-
cadas emerge, but the periodical cicadas are a different genus and only emerge every 13 or 17 years. The periodical cicadas can be loud, but they only last a few weeks as the adults seek out mates and lay eggs.
Don’t be worried about the health of your trees where the cicadas have laid eggs. In areas where
the cicadas emerged, egg laying causes some branch tip dieback, but it is not harmful to the tree’s overall health. Learn more about the Integrated Pest Management team by following the updates to the team website, including additional educational videos about insects found in Iowa.
Cattle producers should be alert over HPAI, not alarmed
Announcements of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza should not cause alarm among cattlemen, although this should alert producers to examine their current biosecurity plan, according to a beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Denise Schwab said the announcements are reminders of how any disease can spread to cattle.
“Basic biosecurity practices are essential daily steps for the prevention of all diseases, and cattlemen should always be alert to the potential of disease spread,” she said. “Diseases can be spread by aerosol, direct animal-to-animal contact, oral (through feed or water), reproduction, vector-born (biting or sucking insects), or by vehicles and fomites (shoes, clothes, contaminated feed, needles). Everything we do to prevent this spread reduces the risk of diseases.”
Direct animal-to-animal contact is the most significant risk for disease spread. Here are some management practices to minimize this risk:
• Isolate any incoming animals such as new bulls, purchased replacement heifers, purchased feeder calves, or animals returning home from exhibitions for 30 days.
• Maintain good perimeter fences to prevent neighboring bulls from breeding your cows and keep them in their pasture.
• Prevent nose-to-nose contact between your cow herd and newly purchased cattle.
• Minimize contact with wildlife when possible, and especially control rodents.
• Obtain the health history of purchased cattle.
• Limit who can access pens, feed storage, mixing areas, feed bunks and treatment areas.
• Clean and disinfect all equipment before using it around healthy cattle.
• Keep a record of all visitors to the operation.
Humans also are disease vectors, Schwab said.
“We control many management practices that can reduce disease spread,” she said. “Our shoes/boots and clothing can move bacteria and viruses, so having separate shoes/ boots for the farm, changing after attending public livestock events such as fairs, auctions and field days before doing your chores, and preventing access to livestock areas by outside vehicles can help mitigate risk.”
It’s impossible to prevent all disease spread risks, but producers can minimize the impact by having and using sound management practices within their control. See information on biosecurity practices in the BQA Field Guide or work with your local veterinarian to identify disease risks in your area and mitigation practices to use. Contact Schwab for more information at dschwab@iastate.edu or call 319-721-9624.
Is it heat stroke or heat exhaustion?
Heatstroke symptoms
• Elevated body temperature, typically 103 F or 104 F or higher
Particularly warm days, which can arise as spring gives way to the dog days of summer, can be both uncomfortable and unhealthy. Such days also can prove deadly. Despite that threat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that heat-related illnesses are preventable. Harmful outcomes also are preventable when people learn to distinguish between heat-related illnesses. Heatstroke and heat exhaustion are easily confused, but the two conditions produce noticeably different symptoms. Recognition of that can help anyone stay healthy or help someone in need as the mercury rises this summer.
• Hot, red, dry, or damp skin
• Fast, strong pulse
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness
Heat exhaustion symptoms
• Heavy sweating
• Cold, pale and clammy skin
• Fast, weak pulse
• Nausea or vomiting
• Muscle cramps
• Feelings of tiredness or weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Fainting
Anyone experiencing these or other abnormal symptoms on hot days is urged to immediately move to a cool place and seek medical help. The CDC notes that heatstroke is a medical emergency, so individuals who
suspect they or someone in their presence is experiencing heatstroke should call 911 immediately. If heat exhaustion is suspected, seek immediate medical help if a person is vomiting, experiencing symptoms that are worsening or sticking around for one hour or longer. More information about heat-related illnesses is available at cdc.gov. TF247136
— Metro Creative
Iowa State University Cicada on a tree branch.
Iowa State University
It’s impossible to prevent all disease spread risks, but producers can minimize the impact by having and using sound management practices within their control.
Learn to Hunt registration for beginner fur harvesters
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a program to teach skills needed to trap furbearers to people with little to no trapping experience.
The workshop will feature knowledge and skill building sessions with instructors that will teach the basics of trapping in Iowa.
“For those interested in the tradition of trapping as a means of sourcing fur, this program provides the opportunity to gain the skills and the knowledge it takes to do it all yourself,” said Jamie Cook, program coordinator with the Iowa DNR.
Participants will learn basic strategies for trapping such as proper equipment, trap placement, trapping regulations and steps for preparing hides for trade. Participants are expected to dress appropriately for the weather as a significant portion of the class will be held outdoors.
The workshops will take place on various dates and locations across the state. The course is designed for participants of all ages. Space is limited so be sure to register right away.
For more information, visit the link and search by Trapper Education Class event type: https://license. gooutdoorsiowa.com/Event/EventsHome.aspx
Explorer PCM
Grant
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the fairgrounds. The fair itself is managed by the nonprofit Jasper County Fair Board.
“It is deeply gratifying to help breathe life into this important fairgrounds revitalization project,”
Dan Skokan, president of Geisler-Penquite Foundation Board, said. “This project is in perfect alignment with the Geisler and Penquite families’ educational desires and dreams for the Jasper County community.”
Geisler-Penquite Foundation established in 2009 but its roots date to 1969 when the Geisler Penquite Charitable Corporation was created 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 the distribution of the family’s farm holdings and investments have resulted in grants totaling nearly $9 million to Central College and 16 Jasper County nonprofits whose missions align close with the family’s values of hard work, diligence, a love for learning and strong adherence to Christian principles.
Jasper County Fair Board’s mission of providing resources, engagement opportunities and support to promote the growth and development of all Jasper County residents — especially youth — and the preservation of the area’s agricultural heritage certainly aligned with Geisler-Penquite Foundation’s values.
Roger Zaabel, president of the Jasper County Fair Board, said there is a lot of pride taken in fairgrounds facilities, but the board is often limited on funds.
“So to have the Geisler-Penquite Foundation see the value in our efforts and generously award us a grant of this magnitude is hum-
bling,” Zaabel said. “This investment will help us transform the physical layout of the fairgrounds and, more importantly, show our youth that we are investing in them.”
Currently, the plan is to have the Geisler-Penquite Youth Learning Center built and ready by the 2025 Jasper County Fair.
Geisler-Penquite Foundation recently made headlines for partnering with Jasper Conservation Connection — the friends group for Jasper County Conservation —to fully fund a $700,000 Geisler-Penquite Land Stewardship Lab for the second phase of the upcoming environmental education center project. Funds will go towards the creation of an outdoor recreation center and prairie production lab, which will include a greenhouse, a prairie production and seed cleaning area, a classroom, an indoor archery range, public restrooms and a public use area for canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, skis and snowshoes.
98-year-old Vern Dorothy of Mt. Pleasant throws out first pitch
On June 20, 98-year-old Vern Dorothy of Mt. Pleasant, a World War II Navy veteran, threw out the first pitch at a Burlington Bees baseball game. The crowd, with more than polite applause, cheered wildly as the stadium sound system struck up “Anchors Aweigh.” It’s the third year in a row for Vern throwing out the first pitch at a Bees game.
It all started four years ago when Mark Kimzey, of Kimzey Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant, decided he’d rather do something different for his staff instead of the traditional Christmas party. A long-time Bees fan, he thought, “Why not reserve the Hall-ofFame Suite at the stadium and bring my staff over for a Bees game? It beats the heck out of a Christmas party any day.”
After a year or so of doing this, Bees’ management asked Mark if he’d
like to throw out the first pitch. Mark declined but said that he knew someone who would be better suited for the honor. He suggested Vern Dorothy.
Vern and his wife, Carolyn, were longtime, part-time staff at Kimzey Funeral Home. Carolyn helped out at funerals as a visitation hostess, and Vern performed maintenance work. In fact, Mark Kimzey credits Vern as the reason the funeral home is still standing. Vern can repair anything.
Vern comes by his maintenance abilities naturally. In addition to working at the Dexter Company in Fairfield
Complaining
By Bryan Golden
Is complaining an effective strategy for solving problems? Will complaining improve your situation? Do others enjoy listening to you complain? The answer to all three questions is no. Then why do people complain?
There are a number of reasons a person complains. He or she may be looking for sympathy, assistance, support, or just letting off steam. There are also people who are habitual whiners who are never satisfied or content.
In the case of sympathy, there is an erroneous assumption that if enough other people feel sorry for them, it will somehow improve the complainer’s situation. All that will be accomplished is that others will grow tired of their moaning and give them a wide berth. Everyone has their own problems and very few people want to spend their discretionary time listening to the tales of woe of others.
Sympathy seekers tend to dwell on their problems rather than seeking solutions. When potential solutions are presented, they invariably find fault with and summarily dismiss them. These complainers seek attention and monopolize conversations. They look for opportunities to show how their plight is worse than everyone else’s.
Spending time with sympathy seekers can be draining. They are consumed with their own situation and show little or no interest in other people. Regardless of how good you may feel, a gripe session with a sympathy seeker will depress your mood. Some complainers are looking for assistance in solving a problem. In this case they are interested in advice that will lead to a solution. The danger here is that they will indiscriminately seek guidance from anyone. In their attempt to overcome an obstacle, they will try virtually any remedy offered without considering the qualifications of the source.
Following bad advice can exacerbate a problem. Advice seekers that jump from one bad suggestion to another will become frustrated as they fail to solve their problem. The result is the erroneous conclusion that their situation has no solution.
Complainers in search of advice must be very selective in whom they approach. Only those who have successfully solved similar problems or who have appropriate expertise should be sought out. When the right person is identified, they should be asked for advice directly rather than complaining to them.
Perhaps a complainer is looking for support. They may be overwhelmed by unexpected events or overloaded with responsibilities. This type of complainer is likely looking for help rather than advice. If you are so inclined, offer to lend a hand.
Even when they are helped out, some complainers always wind up in another crisis situation. Helping them out again will only improve their situation temporarily. Without a change in strategy, they will soon become immersed in another crisis.
Complainers who are incessant whiners find fault with virtually everything. They complain about their lives, other people’s lives, the weather, politics, religion, society, etc. Everything they comment on is flawed. All of life is tainted. Their glass is always half empty and probably leaking. These people are not happy unless they are unhappy.
Whiners will never be satisfied. They don’t want sympathy, solutions, or help. They just want to complain. These people will never change and their minds are closed to new ideas. Your only option is to limit exposure to their griping.
Complaining is unproductive and destructive. If you have problems, find solutions. If you need help, ask. Occasional complaining to seek understanding or let off steam is ok. But don’t make it a way of life or a topic of every conversation.
Contact Bryan Golden at Bryan@columnist. com
for 45 years, he and his wife Carolyn farmed for 48. Farmers of that ilk were part mechanic, carpenter and general handyman. Growing up on the farm, Vern went to live with his father when he was 12. He attended Taylor #2 Country School until the eighth grade, then transferred to Stockport for high school.
Vern walked to the country school, as did the teacher. She lived close to the school so that she could walk. There were no snow days in those days.
Upon graduation from high school, Uncle Sam was waiting. The Navy took Vern, and he was off to boot training in Idaho. After boot camp, he was assigned to the USS Marshall, a Fletcher Class Destroyer based out of San Diego. However, the war was winding down, and the Marshall sailed to New Orleans and Vern went to Guam. After a leave for his grandmother’s funeral, it was back to California and then Olathe, Kansas where he was discharged. Vern and a friend hitchhiked across Missouri dragging their sea bags. He eventually made his way to Fairfield.
Vern knew a young lady in Birmingham. He asked her for a date. She said she already had one, but would tell the
guy she was sick. They went to a movie in Fairfield, and the first person they ran into was the other guy.
Vern and Carolyn bought a farm, were married 74 years, and had two children, Joy and RV (Robert Vern). Joy actually attended the same country school, Taylor No. 2, as did Vern. Vern, and Carolyn’s brother built a house for Vern and Carolyn at 300 N. Jackson St. in Mt. Pleasant, where they lived until moving into Arbor Court Retirement Home.
Carolyn recently passed away on March 10. In June they would have been married 75 years. The staff at Arbor Court were going to have a ceremony where Carolyn and Vern renewed their wedding vows. Vern was going to wear a tux. Carolyn would have liked that.
Vern’s dad lived to be 101, and Carolyn’s dad also lived to 101. Vern’s goal is to catch’m and maybe surpass’m. At the Bees’ game, the players formed a tunnel with their arms, and Vern passed through it. He thinks he’d like to throw out the first pitch at least one more year.
Contact Curt Swarm at curtswarm@yahoo.com
Corporate America’s new euphemisms for gouging
We should pay attention to corporate America’s fluctuating wordplay, for their frequent contortions of language disguise ploys to dupe, confuse, and rip off us hoi polloi — i.e., their customers.
For example, here’s a mouthful that’s been gaining popularity among manufacturers of food products: price pack architecture.
It’s a bit of gobbledygook meant to obscure the profiteering practice of ever so quietly shrinking the size and contents of their packages — without lowering prices. Economists dubbed this “shrinkflation,” but that too clearly implied gouging. Thus, corporate image-makers invented the incomprehensible nonsense phrase of PPA to cloak their anti-consumer trickery.
This convoluted codeword also allows the tricksters to brag openly about their cleverness to their Wall Street investors. Here’s Coca-Cola’s CEO, for example, doing corporate-speak to bankers in February: “We are leveraging our revenue growth management capabilities to tailor our offerings and price pack architecture to meet consumers’ evolving needs.”
English translation: Consumers will need to pay us more for less Coke. You could almost hear the
Guns, guns, guns
Clearly, the lucidity of our congresswoman, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, is unparalleled. She has once again uncovered and enunciated the evils of “not having a gun.” Guns are important. Protection is important. Self-defense is important. One would almost think we were all living under an interstate overpass at the mercy of illegal truckers and other sorts of riff-raff from overseas here on work visas and such.
And Biden is responsible — we know this for certain. He has in his employ “unelected bureaucrats” who are determined to take our guns. Not only that, but they, the “unelected bureaucrats,” want to make gun owners criminals, especially disabled veterans. All this has presumably been ferreted out from the leakage of secret bureaucratic memos and other arcane sources.
Apparently the new issue is the stabilizing brace which can be attached to “legally-purchased firearms.” Being none too familiar with this particular device, I had to google it. The stabilizing brace is now considered by the ATF to be an SBR. Once again, I was required to google the terminology. An SBR is a short-barreled rifle which apparently has historically caused some concern with the folks at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
bankers weep for joy over Coke’s sneaky scheme to stiff its customers. Perhaps you’ve wondered what big-time corporate CEOs actually do to rake in their exorbitant salaries, now averaging more than $8,000 an hour! Well, there it is:
The CEO’s main job is to keep workers’ pay low, monopolize markets, and constantly invent slick ways to squeeze another dime from each consumer’s pocket.
It’s not honest work, but it does pay well. Coca-Cola’s CEO James Quincey, for example, hauled in $25 million in pay last year. That’s 1,800 times more than the annual income of the typical Coca-Cola worker, who will now pay more for a sip of Coke, thanks to Quincey’s “price pack architecture.”
This new interpretation by the ATF, according to our representative, will create millions of new criminals — formerly law-abiding gun owners. As I have stated previously, I am always in favor of more criminals being a criminal defense attorney so I will have to come down on the side of the ATF on this one. After all, business is business. So I say to Rep. Miller-Meeks, let it go will you; let the government turn these disabled veterans into criminals needing representation.
The representative references Final Rule 2021R-o8F effective Jan. 31, 2023. Apparently, the significance of this rule has just become apparent to Ms. Miller-Meeks. Better late than never. So if I’m not mistaken, all these disabled veterans Ms. Miller-Meeks referenced have been criminals since Jan. 31, 2023. I must have missed it. Either that or they all get charged in federal court which I try to avoid; but you think you would hear about it someplace. Surely all these disabled veterans getting charged criminally for having an SBR would hit the news somehow.
In conclusion, once again thanks are owed to our elected officials for keeping on top of these issues and informing the public of the insidious efforts of these “unelected bureaucrats” to not only take our firearms, but to make more criminals.
Richard
E. H. Phelps II Mingo
Curt Swarm Empty Nest
Jim Hightower
Another View
SOFTBALL
Pitching, defense guide PCM to regional win over Clarke
By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer
MONROE — On a night when hits were hard to come by, Tori Lindsay knew getting to third base with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning could decide the game. And it was her heads up play on a routine sacrifice bunt that propelled the PCM softball team to a 1-0 triumph over Clarke on July 13.
The Class 3A No. 8 Mustangs were limited to three hits, but Rylee Parsons and Camden Webb made sure that’s all they needed to advance during a 3A Region 2 semifinal contest.
“We didn’t have the greatest offensive night. We weren’t hitting the ball too hard,” PCM head softball coach Shaun Hudnut said. “The pitching and defense has really been our bread and butter.
“Rylee (Parsons) and Cam (Webb) executed the gameplan of how we wanted to attack hitters and their slappers beautifully. They’ve done a fantastic job for us all year. It all starts in the circle and then we know at some point we won’t be able to strike out 10 so the defense will have to make plays, too. And kids made plays all over the field today.”
The win advanced the Mustangs to the regional final where they hosted No. 9 Clarinda (337) on July 16.
A trip to the state tournament is on the line. PCM has never qualified for the state softball tournament.
“We know we have to take care of business (July 16), but we’ve given ourselves the opportunity,” Hudnut said.
“And that’s all we want. We have the chance to be the first PCM softball team to make the state tournament and it’s a wonderful feeling.”
Clarke (7-18) pushed stateranked PCM to the brink but ended its season with losses in seven of its final eight games. The Indians also were shut out four times during that span.
Neither team managed a lot at the plate. But Lindsay led off the seventh with a hard single to left field.
Libby Winters immediately laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Lindsay to get all the way the third.
The Mustang sophomore
BASEBALL
took advantage of Clarke not covering the bag at third.
“He called the bunt and as a shortstop I know to cover third in that situation,” Lindsay said. “When I rounded second I saw no one was there so I knew I had to go at that point. I saw the left fielder coming in, and I knew this was it. I had to get to third.”
Lillian Humpal followed Winters’ sacrifice bunt with a bunt single that landed just in front of the plate.
With runners at first and third, Humpal took off for second on the next pitch.
Lindsay scored the winning run seconds later after Clarke threw down to second base. No one was covering the bag and the ball went into center field.
“We talk about it a lot and work on it,” Hudnut said about Lindsay taking two bases on the sacrifice bunt. “She read it right away. It’s not something we are going to scream because it brings too much attention to it, but it was an awesome play on her part.”
None of that would have been possible though if Parsons and Webb didn’t combine to pitch a shutout for PCM in the circle.
Parsons started the game and went four innings. She allowed no runs and one hit and struck out one but got the no decision. Parsons delivered a 1-2-3 frame in the first, second and third.
Webb (7-1) earned the win after tossing three innings and surrendering no runs and three hits. She struck out four.
“They did phenomenal. They stayed locked in with so much pressure there,” Lindsay said. “No score and to be able to do that, that was great.”
The Mustangs (23-4) were no hit until Webb singled in the fifth.
The only other base runner to that point was Hadley Millang, who walked in the third.
PCM went down in order in the first, second, fourth and sixth.
“We’ve struggled with slower pitchers throughout the year. We were out in front and pulled a lot of foul balls,” Hudnut said. “We struggled with the timing of her pitches. She had a change up, too, which added another wrinkle to it. We have to do a better job adjusting to that, but part of it is just getting big hits
when you need big hits.”
Maisy McCoy led Clarke with two hits. Abbi Nash (610) allowed no earned runs on three hits and one walk and she struck out four in 6 1/3 innings.
Notes: Humpal and Peyton Lathrum both added stolen bases for the Mustangs. ... Lindsay now leads PCM with 30 runs and 50 total bases. She gave credit to Nash but also thought her and her teammates were just antsy in a big playoff game. “She was a good pitcher. She moved the ball around,” Lindsay said. “It’s an honor to be in this spot. I’m so confident in this team. We’ve improved so much this year and I believe we can do this.” ... Clarke’s biggest scoring threat came in the sixth. But an attempted bunt by Macy Jacobson hit her foot outside the batter’s box as she was running to first base. The Indians would have had runners on first and third base with one out but instead a second out was called and the other Clarke runner was forced back to first base.
PCM 8, Greene County 2 MONROE — PCM scored
all the runs it needed to win in the first inning during its 3A Region 2 quarterfinal matchup with Greene County on July 11.
The 3A No. 8 Mustangs led 3-0 after one inning and coasted to a 10-2 home win over the Rams.
PCM led 5-1 after two and added three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth.
PCM out-hit Greene County 7-5, but three of those seven hits were doubles and the Mustangs drew six walks and were hit by three pitches.
The Mustangs outscored the Rams 34-3 in their three meetings this season.
Greene County (4-20) scored one run in the second and added another in the third.
Addison Steenhoek and Winters had two hits each, Lindsay and Holly Wood both reached base three times and Webb got the win after tossing four innings of relief in the circle.
Winters doubled, scored two runs, had one RBI and stole one base to lead the offense. She leads the Mustangs with a .381 batting average and has a teambest 29 RBIs.
Mustangs suffer season-ending loss to Des Moines Christian
URBANDALE — The PCM baseball team scored first, but the single run it scored in the first inning was the lone run of the game for the Mustangs during an 11-1 season-ending loss to Class 2A No. 2 Des Moines Christian on July 9.
PCM trailed 7-1 after one and never recovered in the 2A District 11 semifinal matchup.
The Lions had a 10-1 advantage in hits, and the Mustangs committed two errors.
Des Moines Christian (31-4) defeated Pella Christian, 2-0, in the district championship game on July 13. The Lions have eliminated the Mustangs in two of the past three seasons.
Coby DeRaad had PCM’s only hit and stole one base. Kaleb DeVries walked once, scored one run and stole one base and Gabe Hobbs drew one walk. DeVries ends the season with a team-best 25 runs and 10 steals.
Trenner Van Dyke started on the mound for PCM (10-13) and took the loss after allowing seven earned runs on six hits, one walk and one hit batter in 2/3 of an inning. He struck out one and ended his junior
season at 4-3. Jacob Wendt tossed 2 1/3 innings and surrendered two earned runs on three hits and three walks. He struck out two. Nick Farver pitched one inning and allowed two earned runs on one hit and one walk. Ty Swaim and Jett Each had two
out 11 batters in four innings and now has 84 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched.
Steenhoek doubled and added two RBIs, Lindsay doubled, walked twice and scored two runs and Wood finished with one hit, one walk, one run and three steals and she was hit by one pitch. Lindsay now leads the Mustangs with an on-base percentage of .463.
She’s also collected a teambest eight doubles.
Addi Hudnut tallied one hit, one run, one RBI and one steal, Humpal walked once, was hit by one pitch and scored one run and Ryan DeVore scored one run and stole one base. Humpal leads the Mustangs with 12 steals.
Lark Drake and Webb both walked once, Lathrum and Carly Wilkerson each scored one run and Ila Keuning was hit by a pitch. Webb earned the win in the circle after allowing no earned runs on two hits and one walk. She struck out four in four innings. Parsons started and tossed the first three innings. She surrendered one earned run on three hits and struck out two.
PCM senior Gabe Hobbs ended his final prep baseball season with the Mustangs top batting average at .407. He also had a team-best on-base percentage of .543 and finished with 27 total bases, 22 hits, 15 runs, 14 RBIs, 12 walks and nine steals and he was hit by four pitches.
Gabe Hobbs
hits apiece to lead the Lions. Each scored two runs, Owen Gilbert scored three runs, had two RBIs and stole two bases and Des Moines Christian finished with seven steals. Brady Andrews improved to 7-0 on the mound after allowing no earned runs on one hit and two walks. He struck
PCM Explorer
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM sophomore Coby DeRaad had the team’s only hit in its 11-1 season-ending loss to Class 2A No. 2 Des Moines Christian on July 9.
Troy Hyde/ PCM Explorer
PCM sophomore Tori Lindsay and Mustang head softball coach Shaun Hudnut celebrate the team’s dramatic 1-0 win over Clarke on July 13. Lindsay scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to push PCM to the regional final.
Explorer PCM
SOFTBALL
Eighth-ranked Mustangs down 4A Cardinals
MONROE — After not playing a game in 10 days, it would have been understandable if the PCM softball team came out a little slow during its non-conference game against Newton on July 8.
But a fast start was just what the Mustangs needed and a three-run second frame pushed the hosts to a 5-1 home win over the Cardinals.
Lark Drake hit her second homer of the season, Addi Hudnut led the offense with two hits and two runs and the Mustang pitchers continued to shine in the circle as PCM won for the 21st time this summer.
“It was good to see a tougher team before regionals. Scoring first helped us a lot,” Hudnut said. “The energy was great tonight. We all were antsy to play again. This was a good start to the week.”
The 21 wins are the most for PCM since the program won 23 times in 2015. That ended a stretch of four straight 20-win seasons.
Newton’s lone run came in the sixth inning. The Cardinals were out-hit 8-5 and couldn’t take much advantage of PCM’s four errors.
The message after the game from Newton head softball coach Kory Leiker was mostly about moving on to their postseason game against Ballard.
“This one doesn’t mean anything right now. We are 0-0 just like Ballard is 0-0,” Leiker said. “This was one game, but we came out flat. We weren’t ready. We watched pitches we should have hit and swung at pitches that were balls.”
Drake was hit by a pitch to open the game. Addison Steenhoek moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt. An RBI single by Libby Winters put PCM on the board. Winters leads the Mustangs with 29 RBIs.
Camden Webb opened the second with a single and Hudnut’s RBI double pushed the margin to 2-0. A throwing error allowed Hudnut to get to third base and she eventually scored on an RBI sacrifice fly to center by Ila Keuning.
With two outs, Drake swung at the first pitch she saw and sent it over the fence in left-center field.
“We thought the at-bats were great all night long,” PCM head softball coach Shaun Hudnut said.
Newton’s starting pitcher, Hailey Sumpter, got out of trouble in the third but couldn’t escape more damage in the fourth.
Addi Hudnut led off the frame with a single and Holly Wood’s sacrifice bunt moved her to second base. Steenhoek’s RBI
single pushed the lead to 5-0.
The Mustangs (22-4) went down in order in the fifth and sixth.
Newton’s only 1-2-3 frame was the seventh. Rylee Parsons and Webb battled in the circle all night for PCM.
A lead-off double for Mack Sims against Parsons in the first went for naught after Parsons retired the next three batters.
Parsons got the first two Cardinals in the second, but Sloan Brodersen reached on an error and Haylie Ryan walked to put two on base. A fielder’s choice out at third ended the threat though.
Kadance Ahn reached on another two-out error in the third
and Ava Williams’ single again put two runners on.
Parsons got out of the inning with a ground ball to second base.
“They both battled through tonight. We didn’t get a game in last week so maybe a little rust,” Coach Hudnut said. “We went a full scrimmage last week, but that’s not quite the same.
“Give credit to Newton. They’re a good hitting team that sees good pitching. We knew we probably weren’t going to strike out 10 batters tonight. We had to make pitches, hit spots and play defense behind them.”
Parsons gave up an infield single to Brodersen in her final inning, but back-to-back outs
kept Newton off the board. Parsons allowed no runs, three hits and one walk. She struck out one and got the pitching win.
Webb tossed the final three innings. Sims reached on an error in the fifth, but Chloe Swank was stranded on second base after reaching on a fielder’s choice. Newton (15-17) got on the board in the sixth against Webb. Benson led off the frame with a walk and then Sumpter singled. A fielder’s choice RBI by Brodersen scored Benson, and Newton loaded the bases when Peyton Durr and Sims singled.
Webb got out of the jam though when she got Swank to ground out to second. She retired Newton in order in the seventh.
Webb earned her state-leading 11th save of the season after surrendering one earned run on two hits and two walks. She struck out two in three innings.
“It helps build confidence when you can get out of trouble,” Coach Hudnut said. “You want clean innings and don’t want runners on base, but if you can execute pitches and get outs, that helps the confidence a lot.”
Addi Hudnut finished with two hits, one double, two runs and one RBI to lead PCM, while Drake homered, was hit by a pitch, scored two runs and had one RBI.
Tori Lindsay and Lillian Humpal both singled in the third and Keuning’s RBI was her second of the season.
“I love this team. Everyone has a super close bond with each other and if you make a mistake, it’s no big deal,” Addi Hudnut said. “We move on and pick each other up.”
Sumpter (11-13) took the loss in the circle after allowing five earned runs on eight hits and one hit batter.
Gilbert 8, PCM 1 A tough night at the park for the Mustangs resulted in an 8-1 non-conference home loss to 4A Gilbert on July 9. PCM fell behind early and never recovered in its regular-season finale.
The Tigers led 1-0 after one, 4-0 after two and 5-0 after three. They out-hit the Mustangs 13-4. Neither team had an error. Lindsay led the Mustangs with two doubles and one run, Webb tallied one hit and one RBI and Humpal had the other hit. Drake was hit by a pitch. Parsons (14-2) started in the circle and took the loss after allowing five earned runs on seven hits and one walk in two innings.
Webb tossed five innings and surrendered three earned runs on seven hits and two walks. She fanned two.
Emma Latterell homered for Gilbert (17-16) and Zoey Jones and Taylor Puck each had three hits.
Jones tallied two RBIs, Puck scored two runs and Clara Newton needed just 70 pitches to get through seven innings in the circle.
By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
The PCM softball team celebrates a home run by Lark Drake (1) at the plate during the Mustangs’ 5-1 win over Newton on July 8. It was Drake’s second career varsity homer.
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM eighth-grader Holly Wood tosses the ball to first base for the out against Newton on July 8. The Mustangs won the non-conference home game 5-1.
Explorer PCM
school marching bands summer camp, the students will be ready to show what they know to all who attend. From how to
hold instruments to learning the perfect marching fundamentals, reading and learning sets of drills and experiencing the fun of a competitive high school marching band, the event will be filled with information and fun for everyone. The band asks those look-
Embezzlement
on Facebook.
According to the criminal complaints obtained by Newton News, Hobbs allegedly wrote 42 checks to herself over the span of 11 months. The checks were either cashed or deposited into her personal checking account. Authorities say banking records of the county zoning department and Hobbs were compared to confirm.
Hobbs made admissions to engaging in this conduct, authorities say.
Other criminal complaints against Hobbs say she utilized the Jasper County Community Development checkbook and signed the checks in the name of her supervisor — com-
ing to attend to fill out a google document form to better prepare for the event. The form can be found at https:// docs.google.com/forms/d/e/ 1FAIpQLScpnHtjqR8mORN8_j4d75h8R3U8jJyrytYeZ003hhM_ikRaLQ/ viewform?usp=sf_link.
munity development director Kevin Luetters — without his knowledge and without his permission.
Affidavits from Jasper County law enforcement allege Hobbs wrote checks for herself two to six times a month from August 2023 until June 2024. Individual checks ranged from as low as $95.42 to as high as $820. In a single month, the checks totaled between $680 to upwards of $2,417.
Jasper County Sheriff’s Office stated in a July 10 press release that the county attorney’s office requested law enforcement on June 26 to conduct a criminal investigation on a county employee who was suspected of misusing county funds. Investigators found $17,458.41 was utilized for unauthorized expenses.
Hobbs was arrested following the investigation and charged with first-degree theft (Class C felony) and 11 counts of forgery (Class D felony).
Along with basic information, those attending will be able to select which section they would like to be a member of for the day, including drum major, flutes, clarinets, alto/tenor saxophones, trumpets, mellophones, trombones, sousaphones, percussion and color guard.
“If the excitement of marching band doesn’t entice you enough, there will be a potluck lunch to follow, courtesy of the band and the PCM Fine Arts Boosters,” LaFoy said. “Come immerse yourselves in the world of marching band the Mustang way!”
City Hall
Continuedfrompage1
develop documents with sufficient details for bidding and construction, along with reviewing estimated projected construction costs. Phase three would have the project go out to bid, and the final phase would be the construction of the structure. The project has an estimated start date of 2025.
“A concern was if you start ripping out the ceiling and the walls, what you would find. We don’t know for sure if there is mold or old utilities. Then, it could cost just as much for a remodel than a new build,” Veenstra & Kimm Engineer Jordan Kappos said. “Not only that but you’d have to work out
of here while the work is going on.”
Estimated costs for the project sit at $100 per square foot for the remodel and $250 per square foot for a new build. With the unknown of what lies in the current building, Kappos thinks it could be much closer to the new build price for either option.
“If there was no other additional work, it would be about a $800,000 difference, but we think it might be a lot closer than that,” Kappos said.
The firm will work on two options: remodeling the current building or rebuilding the structure from the ground up. The council anticipates putting the decision in the hands of the voters at the November 2024 election.
“We should let the people decide,” council member Butch Umble said.
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Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer
Jasper County said in a Facebook post that the alleged embezzled money was collected from permit fees.
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer Monroe City Council wants to make changes to Monroe City Hall either with a remodel of the current building or a completely new build.