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Explorer PCM

Letter to VA commission condemns past comments

Procedural

issues cleared up but veterans demand apologies for Wilson

By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer

Jasper County veterans showed up in tow once again to support veterans affairs administrator Alyssa Wilson but also condemn the commissioner who not only told her to think about veteran suicide rates the next time she decides to not answer a phone call in her office but also threatened to fire another employee.

For the second time this year, the Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission meeting — which is usually void of guests — was standing room only. It was no

secret why they were there. They wanted nothing more than to confront commissioner Ed Spangenburg for what he said to Wil-

son the month before.

Despite having an agenda item

PRIORITIES SET

PCM School Board selects legislative priorities for next school year

By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer

The PCM School Board has selected its legislative priorities for the upcoming school year. Teacher workforce, student and staff mental health needs, supplemental state aid and priority and liability insurance for districts are the focus of the school board at the statehouse for 2024-25.

“This is an annual thing, the IASB (Iowa Association of School Boards) asks the field to set the priorities,” inter-

im superintendent Art Sathoff said. “As we wrote up the recommendation we looked at the past few years with last year’s selections preschool, state aid and mental health as priorities. Those are probably going to be common sense things for districts.”

The IASB provided eight priorities for the district to review including student literacy, expanded opportunities through public school, school boards, working with parents, communities and

SCHOOL BOARD | 3

Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer

Alyssa Wilson, administrator of Jasper County Veterans Affairs, works in her office inside the county administration building. A letter in support of Wilson was given to the veterans affairs commission, condemning past comments about her and her work.

Photos by Jamee A. Pierson and Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer

Events at The Gathering Place

Thursday, Aug. 8

• 10am Patty Richards Music Show

Friday, Aug. 9

• 2pm Piano with Jacque Robinson

Monday, Aug. 12

• 8am Coffee & Prayer with Pastor Ann

• 10am Video Exercise Class

• 12:15pm A Journey through Parkinson’s Disease

Wednesday, Aug. 14

• 12:15pm Fresh Conversations

• 1pm “Get Fit, Move More” with Amy S.

Thursday, Aug. 15

• 10am Focus Group Meeting

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. Message volunteers through the PCM Clothing Closet Facebook page to schedule a time for donations.

American Legion Auxiliary meets

The Monroe American Legion Auxiliary meet at 6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Legion.

OWLS program on Newton Main Street

Jasper County Conservation Board will host an Older, Wiser, Livelier Seniors (OWLS) program on Wednesday, Aug. 14 at the Jasper County Armory/Annex Building in Newton. The public is invited to come for 10 a.m. coffee and a program given by Erin Yeager, director of Newton Main Street.

Yeager will talk about the many projects that have happened through this program to preserve Newton’s downtown history and invest in Newton’s future.

The OWLS is a conservation program that encourages seniors to stay active and learn new things about the natural world. Contact the Jasper County Conservation Board office at 641-7929780 for more information.

Janice Eileen Bruxvoort

July 30, 2024

Janice “Jan” Eileen Bruxvoort (Vos), age 84, of Mitchellville, IA, passed away on July 30, 2024, at Prairie Vista Village in Altoona, Iowa. Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 2, 2024, at the First Reformed Church in Prairie City at 11:00 AM. Directly following the funeral, a time of food and

fellowship will be held at the church and Jan’s family will greet friends during this time, and all are welcome to attend. If you are unable to attend the service and wish to send a card, please address it to, “Attn: Jan Bruxvoort, Coburn Funeral Home, 24 W Howard St, Colfax, IA 50054.” Memorials may be made out to the First Reformed Church of Prairie City or to Jan’s family (Dave Bruxvoort or Patty DeVries) for a donation given to Prairie Vista Village. Online condolences may be left at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com.

The daughter of Lewis and Grace Vos, Jan was born on February 27,

1940, southwest of Prairie City, Iowa. She graduated from Pella High School in 1958 and was united in marriage to Bob Bruxvoort on June 6, 1958. Jan loved flowers, farming, and visiting her sisters and friends. She was known as a joy to everyone. While helping her husband, Bob, she became the combine driver, a job she truly loved to do. In her free time, she found joy in vacationing to Colorado and taking in the sights of the mountains.

Above all things, Jan valued her faith and deeply loved her family.

Those left to honor her memory include her children; Patty (Mike)

DeVries of Prairie City and Dave (Karen) Bruxvoort of Mitchellville, six grandchildren; Mindy (Brian) Gelder, Jay (Julianna) DeVries, Steven (Rachel) Bruxvoort, Scott Bruxvoort, Dillon Bruxvoort, and Mark (Abbi) Bruxvoort, ten great grandchildren; Jaylyn, Jessalyn, and Jayannalyn, Elia and Grayson, Reed, Lydia, and Brynlee, Cooper, and Brody, as well as a brother; Larry (Susie) Vos. Preceding Jan in death are her parents; Lewis and Grace (Sterk) Vos, her husband; Bob in 2015, and siblings; Wilbur Vos, Bernie Vos, Marjorie Van Haaften, Beverly Nugteren, and Nancy Van Zante.

Quilts of Valor presented during Prairie Days

were

rie City. Quiltmakers and presenters were Deb Elrod, Marilyn Samson, Judy Sohn and Marcia Grimm. We

thank these, and all our brave service members and veterans, for their sacrifice and valor in serving our country.

Affordable health screenings in Newton

Residents living in and around the Newton area can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and other chronic, serious conditions with affordable screenings by Life Line Screening. Immanuel Baptist Church,

1300 N. Fourth Ave. E. in Newton, will host this event Aug. 20. Screenings can check for:

• The level of plaque buildup in your arteries, related to risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and overall vascular

• HDL and LDL Cholesterol levels

• Diabetes risk

• Kidney and thyroid function, and more Screenings are affordable and convenient. Free parking is also available.

Special package pricing starts at $159, but consultants will work with you to create a package that is right for you based on your age and risk factors. Call 1-877237-1287 or visit our website at www.lifelinescreening.com. Pre-registration is required.

Twenty military veterans

honored Saturday, July 27 during the Prairie Days Celebration in Prai-

Submitted Photo

Nineteen Quilts of Valor recipients include: standing from left, Scott Gilje, Doug Wilson, Bill Rice, Raymond Stecker, David Dominy, Greg Townley, William Kollasch, Janet Townley, Jonathan Buys, Kurt Kollasch and Norman Stoll; seated from left: David Annis, Harold Hill, John Duden, John Borts, Melissa Gilje, Bill Pion, James Clingman, David Wadsworth. Not pictured Ezra Rice (in-home individual award).

health.

reserved for a veteran’s update from the May meeting, which was when retired service members first filled the conference room of the county administration building, it would be a long time before veterans would get any answers from their commissioners.

Included in the veteran’s update was a letter, which was drafted and delivered to the chair of the commission. While not attached to the packet, it responded to Spangenburg’s comments, saying the suggestion that Wilson be blamed “should anything horrible happen to a veteran whose call is not answered is ludicrous.”

Lisa Van Ryswyk, daughter of a Vietnam veteran, is who wrote the letter, a copy of which was sent to Newton News. Van Ryswyk was in the news this past spring when her father, Kenneth Van Veen, was denied disability claims by the federal government, who also told him and his family there was no record of his service.

Her father died on March 9 without being formally recognized by the government for his military service during the Vietnam War. Van Ryswyk said in her letter that Wilson had been working with her dad for months, helping to navigate through the federal bureaucracy of the disability claim process.

“From August (2023) to February (2024), I know Dad met with Alyssa in person no less than four times for the appeal paperwork required for each erroneous claim denial, and I’m sure he called a minimum of once per month to check on the status of the claim,” Van Ryswyk said in the letter.

She also learned Van Even had stooped in the office every Friday to see if there were any updates on his claim. Wilson attempted to get his claim expedited due to his terminal illness. Van Ryswyk eventually took over and called or emailed no less than six times in a two-week period.

Even after he dad’s death she continues to meet with, call or email Wilson at least once per week to continue the process with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Van Ryswyk highlighted this process to illustrate that the 86 missed calls that Spangenburg accosted Wilson for are not 86 individual vets.

“…The VA denied my dad’s disability claim four times, and it was only through Alyssa’s help and diligence that the appeals were even filed,” Van Ryswyk said. “Dad very likely would have given up after the first denial, but Alyssa pushed him to appeal because Dad deserved to receive those benefits.”

LETTER SAYS PROBLEM ISN’T LOCAL VA OFFICE

Van Ryswyk went on to defend Wilson, saying she

School Board

educators are in the best position to determine the needs of their communities and students, schools being open and welcoming to all students and accountability and transparency with taxpayer dollars and safe and secure environments, along with the selections of the PCM School Board.

When reviewing what was provided by the IASB, Sathoff thought it was important for the district to address the current teacher workforce climate when selecting priorities.

“I did review their platform and the one change or thing I might recommend to the board is teacher workforce. Just a recognition of what the job market is like and the teacher shortages we have,” Sathoff said. “There are things within that IASB can try to lobby and influence such as alternative licensure or reciprocity between states.”

A breakdown from the IASB on what each priorities entails in more detail shows how the body will work for Iowa’s schools during the legislative season.

TEACHER WORKFORCE

Teacher recruitment and licensure

A highly skilled teacher workforce is essential to student achievement and can be supported by state policies that:

• Ensure high-quality teacher preparation programs, including alternative licenser programs that include in-classroom experiences, pedagogy training, content knowledge in curricular area and mentoring for individuals with non-traditional or international education back-

Explorer PCM

cares about the veterans she serves in Jasper County and that she needs further assistance.

“She knows their names, their stories. And she cares about each one of them,” Van Ryswk said. “To suggest that she would be to blame should anything horrible happen to a veteran whose call is not answered is ludicrous! Alyssa needs more help in that office. She needs support from the commission.”

The letter ends with a call to action. Van Ryswk said what Wilson and all the veterans need most is a federal veterans affairs department that properly funds and resources the programs they put in place. She recalled how frustrating it felt to have her father’s claims denied again and again.

Even more so when the feds could not confirm Van Even was even in Vietnam, despite his certificate of discharge including a notation that he was awarded a service medal. Following her dad’s death, Van Ryswyk and her siblings were told the decision to deny the claims was “clearly and unmistakably erroneous.”

“Just think, if the VA had properly approved Dad’s very first claim, that would have eliminated hours of work filing appeals, at least 20 less phone calls and emails and eight less in-person meetings for one veteran,” she said. “We are still fighting to get the VA to pay Dad’s claim.”

The issue isn’t Wilson, she added, or shared benefits coordinator Josh Price

grounds.

or even the Jasper County office.

“The issue is the VA,” Van Ryswyk said. “And to suggest that the office would run more efficiently if they would just answer all those calls is ridiculous.”

VETERANS DEMAND COMMISSION ISSUE APOLOGY

Although a number of local veterans were ready to speak up to the commission during public comment, the person they wanted to talk to most had to leave after the meeting ran too long. Spangenburg said he had to attend an honor walk and could not stay for the remainder of the meeting, so he excused himself.

But it still did not stop veterans from confronting the commission with their complaints, even outside of the public comment section. Some demanded Spangenberg issue Wilson a sincere, public apology after telling her to think about veteran suicide rates when deciding not to answer calls.

Other guests at the meeting thought it was also wrong of Spangenburg to say he will make a motion in one year to fire Price for not being enrolled in trainings. At the June meeting, Spangenburg frequently cited Iowa Code that states Price could be terminated if he is not certified within 12 months of employment.

Jerry Nelson, chair of the Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission, later said Spangenburg

• Encourage initiatives and programs that diversify Iowa’s teaching profession to better match our student demographic makeup.

• Expand programs such as Teach Iowa Scholar, Teacher Intern Program and others as approved by the Board of Educational Examiners.

• Create programs for student teaching grants and stipends and expand teacher apprenticeship programs to make education careers a more attractive and affordable option.

• Create a program to provide beginning teacher incentives and recruitment incentives to attract high-quality teachers.

• Create reciprocity agreements with other states that have high-quality teacher preparation programs to increase diversity among certified teachers and administrators.

Teacher professional development and retention

• Developing effective teachers and keeping them in every Iowa school district is crucial to student success and can be supported through state policies that:

• Provide teacher leadership and quality professional development programs.

• Provide beginning teacher mentoring programs.

• Maintain Iowa’s teacher leadership and compensation program

• Create a program to fund retention incentives to maintain a high-quality teacher workforce.

• Allow flexibility and resources to pay school staff market competitive wages.

STUDENT AND STAFF MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS

School boards strive to provide every student with the services they need to remain in school, progress and grad-

apologized to Price for that comment. But he has not apologized to Wilson.

Nelson explained that Spangenburg’s intention was to emphasize the need to get Price certified within the right time. Wilson’s mother, who attended the meeting, called Spangenburg a bully. Nelson defended him, saying that he is a passionate person who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Sometimes he reacts a little differently than some of us,” Nelson said.

INPUT FROM THIRD PARTY PUTS SOME CONCERNS TO REST

Input from guest Patty Hamann, who is president of the Iowa Association of County Commission Veteran Service Officers, about the shared benefits coordinator position and other procedural solutions helped quell some veterans concerns. It certainly gave commissioners a little hope.

Commissioner Fred Chabot appreciated her “bringing an end to the bickering that has gone on over past months.” Hamann was eventually brought up to speed about the past few meetings, and while she was dismayed to hear about the comments she wanted to give Spangenburg the benefit of the doubt.

“I know where you’re taking it from because you’re all very defensive of Alyssa, and I’ve very happy for that,” Hamann said. “But I also want you to know that did it drive the

point across? Did it get his point across for ho important it is to have the office staff and people in place that can do things? It did.”

Supervisor Doug Cupples attended the July meeting, and what he saw was passion from both sides. He suggested the commission and veterans are vying for the same purpose: to do what’s right for veterans. Cupples, too, said Hamann cleared up so much for everybody.

Dennis Simon, human resources director for Jasper County, said as an outsider the efforts to improve transparency and communications with the board of supervisors is going to solve a lot of issues.

Newton News previously reported that the board of supervisors adjusted the budget to show the salary and benefits of the shared benefits coordinator position is getting 50 percent of its funding through veterans affairs. Hamann recommended this, saying it would allow the position to better help veterans.

Specifically, it would allow the shared benefits coordinator to access trainings and further expand upon what he would be allowed to do in the office.

Commissioner Marta Ford has been on the veterans affairs commission for a long time, and she said the governing body is invested in veterans.

“We’ve been on vacation and called into a meeting,” she said. “I was in the hospital and I called in from my hospital bed. This group is invested.”

uate to become productive citizens. We support state policies to:

• Include dropout prevention and funding for at-risk students in the foundation formula and the socio-economic status as a factor in determining a student’s at-risk status.

• Equalize the ability of all districts to generate dropout prevention funds.

• Increase district participation in statewide programs that serve at-risk students.

Mental Health

Mental health issues are increasing and impacting student achievement. To address these concerns, we support state policies that would establish comprehensive school and community mental health systems to offer preventative and treatment services to:

• Increase access to mental health professionals via inschool, in-person, or telehealth visits.

• Expand the capacity for therapeutic classrooms to provide short-term solutions to behavioral issues.

• Improve awareness and understanding of child emotional and mental health needs through ongoing teacher, administrator, and support staff training.

• Integrate suicide prevention and coping skills into existing curriculum.

• Support the mental health needs of educators and staff.

• Provide a comprehensive mental health resources clearinghouse for schools and community providers.

• Expand training that includes a referral plan for continuing action provided by mental health professionals outside of the school district.

• Designate a categorical funding stream for mental health professionals serving students and ongoing teacher, administrator, and support staff mental health training.

• Support development of a mental health workforce to provide services to children.

SUPPLEMENTAL STATE AID

The school aid formula is the biggest driver in providing resources for a high-quality education that translates to a successful future for our students and economic growth in our state. A school’s general fund supports a high-quality teacher workforce, critical for student achievement. We support state policies on supplemental state aid rate that:

• Sufficiently supports the ability of local districts to meet parent and community expectations and provide a world-class education for all students.

• Provides the resources to recruit and retain a high-quality teacher and staff workforce.

• Incorporates inflation and cost-of-living increases to minimize the negative impact on a district’s general fund from these increased costs.

PROPERTY AND LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR DISTRICTS

Not on the list of the IASB’s priorities, board member Greg Ingle suggested adding insurance costs.

“That is a nationwide issues, too,” Sathoff said. “There are insurers getting completely out of states.”

Stand with Israel, bring American hostages home

Today, eight of our fellow citizens are still being held in Gaza by the ruthless terror regime that wants nothing more than the death and destruction of Israel and the United States.

I’ve met with the families of our American hostages numerous times – on the ground in Israel and in our nation’s capital. They long for the day when they can embrace their loved ones again, and say two simple, yet remarkably comforting words: welcome home.

In the days following Oct. 7, President Biden vowed that Israel would have the full support of the United States. He pledged that we would “not stand by and do nothing… Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.” In a message to the families of the hostages, he swore that the United States would pursue every option to bring them home. Has that been the case? Anyone looking at the situation today would say no.

When Prime Minister Netanyahu recently arrived on U.S. soil, not a single

From Washington, DC

Biden-Harris administration official was there. Instead, Israel’s own ambassador shook the prime minister’s hand. Furthermore, the current vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris, who serves as the president of the Senate, refused to preside over Netanyahu’s joint address to Congress, something he was invited to do by her fellow Democrat, Leader Chuck Schumer, and Speaker Mike Johnson.

The risk-averse and indecisive Biden-Harris administration has failed time and time again to stand solidly by our ally, Israel.

They’ve refused to place an emphasis on freeing our American hostages, and most certainly to demonstrate the

The first major presidential candidate to support marijuana

By Paul Armentano

Like most Americans, Vice President Kamala Harris has evolved on marijuana.

In 2010, when she was San Francisco’s district attorney, Harris urged voters to reject a proposed ballot initiative to legalize the adult-use marijuana market. At the time, Harris’ position aligned with that of most California voters, 54 percent of whom ultimately decided against the measure.

But not long after, Harris — and most Americans — changed their stance.

In 2016, Californians reversed course and passed Proposition 64 legalizing marijuana statewide. And in 2019, Harris — then California’s junior U.S. senator — sponsored legislation to end the federal prohibition of cannabis. That same year, Gallup pollsters reported that some two-thirds of Americans believed that “the use of marijuana should be legal” — up from 46 percent in 2010.

Today, public support for legalization stands at 70 percent.

As vice president, Harris has repeatedly stated that Americans should not be incarcerated for marijuana use. She’s championed the Biden administration’s efforts to pardon low-level marijuana offenders and to loosen certain federal cannabis restrictions.

And as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, she’s the first major party candidate to have ever called for the plant’s legalization and regulation.

Harris’ trajectory from marijuana legalization skeptic to proponent mirrors that of many Americans. Like most voters, her views on cannabis softened following the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. As district attorney of San Francisco, Harris pledged not to prosecute people who either used or sold medical cannabis.

“In my own life, I have had loved ones and close friends who relied on medical marijuana to relieve their suffering and even prolong their lives,” she acknowledged. Many Americans had similar experiences — which is why nearly 20 states approved medical cannabis access between 1996

and 2011, almost all by voter initiative.

But it wasn’t until 2012 that voters gave the green light to outright legalization. That year, voters in Colorado and Washington became the first to approve measures regulating the adult-use cannabis market. By 2016, the total number of legal states had risen to nine. Today, 24 states — home to more than half of the U.S. population — have legalized marijuana.

How has America reacted to this real-world experiment? For Harris, living in a legal state likely influenced her transition from a one-time critic into a staunch advocate. That’s been the case for many others too. In states like California and Colorado, a greater percentage of voters back legalization now than they did when the laws were initially enacted.

Further, no state has ever repealed its marijuana legalization laws. That’s because these policies are working largely as voters and politicians intended — and because they’re preferable to cannabis criminalization.

State-level legalization has led to a drastic reduction in low-level marijuana arrests and prosecutions. It’s significantly disrupted the illicit marketplace, and it’s led to the creation of over 400,000 fulltime jobs. Taxes from regulated cannabis sales have generated over $20 billion in state revenue. And contrary to some critics’ fears, marijuana legalization and regulation has not led to any increase in cannabis use by young people.

But while Americans’ attitudes have shifted over the years, federal marijuana policies have largely remained static.

In Congress, far too many politicians remain wed to the sort of “Reefer Madness” view that most voters have long since abandoned. Like Harris did, they also need to evolve their views on cannabis to more closely align with current scientific and public consensus. Those who refuse to adapt do so at their own political peril.

Paul Armentano is the deputy director for NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

strong leadership necessary to do everything in their power to bring them home. Instead, the president and vice president have prioritized scoring cheap political points with their left flank over the lives of our fellow Americans and our allies.

Sending a signal to Hamas that America is not serious about securing the release of her people, the Biden-Harris White House has taken more and more options off the table –slow-rolling arms necessary for more precise terror targeting, withholding intelligence from our Israeli counterparts, and refusing to maintain all diplomatic and military options to bring our hostages home. Hamas leaders rightfully fear U.S. strength and leadership when it’s actually wielded.

Let’s not forget who we’re dealing with. Hamas is a brutal regime owned and operated by Tehran, which under this administration has profited greatly, to the tune of $80 billion in oil revenues. They can smell fear a mile away. And right now, the Biden-Harris administration reeks of it.

While Israel’s military rightly shoulders much of the burden of waging war against Hamas, the U.S. military and

intel operators can play a role in our efforts to save the American captives. This is, in fact, already the case—our drones fly over Gaza to collect intelligence on the location of the hostages, and our special forces provide technical support to Israeli hostage rescuers.

As things stand today, Iranian proxies know that even if the worst happens to the American hostages, the Biden-Harris administration is not prepared to hold them accountable for their crimes. But that must change.

With hostage negotiations at a critical phase, the administration must actually put all options (back) on the table to maximize pressure on Hamas. Now is the moment we redouble, not withdraw, our support for Israel and its military.

Families have been ripped apart. Mothers and fathers and sons and daughters are counting the days until their loved ones are freed. But for now, they’re left asking: when is enough, enough? What is the threshold for how long an American must be held hostage for the Biden-Harris White House to act?

JoniErnst,anativeofRedOakanda combat veteran, represents Iowa in the United States Senate.

Hoping to receive fair treatment and financial security in golden years

I am affected by both the GPO and WEP. After the Medicare deduction, I receive $107 per month due to this unfairness. I am 77 years old. Please change this before it’s too late for me.

I have dedicated over 36 years of my life as [public service career]. As I approach retirement, I had always hoped for a secure and comfortable future. However, the unfair impact of the Windfall Elimination Pro -

SPEAK OUT

Brandon Talsma, chair 4309 W Fourth St. S. Newton, IA 50208

641-526-3142

btalsma@co.jasper.ia.us

SHARE YOUR VIEW

vision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) has left me facing unexpected financial challenges during my retirement.

Having devoted my career to public service, I knew that my pension would be a vital component of my retirement income. Yet, the reduction in my Social Security benefits due to the WEP and GPO has taken a toll on my financial stability, leaving me with far less than what

I had anticipated. This unjust double-dipping penalty has left me questioning the recognition of the contributions made by public servants like myself.

The Social Security Fairness Act presents an opportunity to rectify these inequalities and provide hardworking public servants with the retirement benefits they rightfully deserve. It seeks to eliminate the WEP/ GPO, ensuring that individuals like me, who have paid into both Social Security and their pension systems, receive fair treatment and financial security in our golden years.

Deborah Sevier Knoxville

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

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 newsroom@newtondailynews.com or Newton News, P.O. Box 967, Newton, Iowa 50208

YOUR VIEW

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst

Eight Mustangs grab all-conference softball honors

PCM’s run to a softball conference championship had a little bit of everything.

The Mustangs’ top two pitchers were 1-2 in the league in earned run average and six players had an on-base percentage of .400 or better.

Throw in the fact that all eight all-conference players had fielding percentages of .917 or higher, and the Mustangs won the Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference title with a 15-1 record.

Leading the way on the all-conference squad were senior Lark Drake, junior Addison Steenhoek, sophomore Rylee Parsons and eighth-graders Libby Winters and Camden Webb, who all were first-team selections.

Sophomore Tori Lindsay was a second-team all-conference pick and sophomores Lillian Humpal and Addi Hudnut grabbed honorable mention recognition.

All-conference honors are based on statistics inside conference play only.

Parsons was a first-team pitcher. She was 11-0 in her 13 starts and those 11 wins led the conference. So did her ERA of .73 and her .160 opponents batting average.

Parsons also ranked second with 77 strikeouts despite sitting seventh in innings pitched at 57 2/3. She also walked 18, tallied one save and had zero errors.

Steenhoek was a first-team catcher after throwing out five potential base stealers and walking 10 times at the plate, which both ranked tied for second in the league.

She batted .222 but had an on-base percentage of .417. She tied for third in the league with two homers, tied for eighth with two hit by pitches and ranked fourth with a fielding percentage of .992.

Steenhoek also tallied eight hits, four runs, six RBIs and 14 total bases.

Drake was a first-team infielder. She batted .300 and had an OBP of .429. Her 14 runs ranked tied for eighth, her seven

walks were tied for 10th and her two hit by pitches tied for eighth.

She added 12 hits, five RBIs, 13 total bases and two steals and her .990 fielding percentage ranked fifth in the HOIAC.

Winters earned her first-team nod as an outfielder. Her first varsity season produced a league-best 19 RBIs. She also ranked sixth in the league with a .457 batting average and had an OBP of .490.

Her 21 hits ranked tied for fourth in the conference, her 28 total bases were tied for eighth and her eight steals ranked tied for third. Winters added 10 runs, two doubles, three walks and her fielding percentage was .938.

Webb was a first-teamer as a utility player. She pitched in 11 games, made one start in the circle and led the league with seven saves.

She was 2-1 and ranked second behind Parsons with an ERA of 1.08. Her 32 1/3 innings pitched ranked ninth and her 35 strikeouts and two walks were eighth and first, respectively. Opponents batted

only .183 against her, which ranked third in the league.

At the plate, Webb batted .325 and had an OBP of .375. She finished with 13 hits, two runs, two doubles, 10 RBIs, three walks, three steals and 17 total bases and her fielding percentage was .917.

Lindsay was a second-team infielder after leading the league with six hit by pitches and zero errors. She also ranked second in the conference with three homers and tied for 10th with 26 total bases.

Lindsay batted .317 and had an OBP of .431. She ranked tied for sixth in the league with 15 runs and added 13 hits, two doubles, eight RBIs and three walks.

Humpal was an honorable mention selection despite ranking in the top 10 in the HOIAC in six different offensive categories. Her .429 batting average and .500 OBP both ranked eighth in the league and she tied for third with five doubles and three hit by pitches.

Her 18 hits and 26 total bases both tied for 10th and she added nine runs, 10 RBIs, four walks and six steals. She com-

Hunter Tenborg, sr., Saydel. Infielders — Tori Lindsay, so., PCM; Kate Berggren, jr., Roland-Story; Emmalee Bell, sr., Perry; Rachel Randall, so., West Marshall. Outfielders — Lily Zahnd, jr. West Marshall; Ashlyn Erickson, sr., South Hamilton; Cate Erickson, fr., Perry. Utility — Kailey Whelchel, fr., Perry; Makena Galetich, sr., South Hamilton. Honorable Mention Addison Hudnut, so., PCM; Lillian