HAPPY PCM HOMECOMING 2024
The Mustangs celebrate homecoming weeks with dress-up days, a parade, crowning King Kaden Clark and Queen Addison Shannon and an overwhelming victory on the football field
Republicans lose the bells and whistles and get serious at trapshoot
Fundraiser emphasizes the tight races between Dunwell, Trump, Miller-Meeks
Democrats feel re-energized and rally with Iowa House candidate
Soup supper fundraiser draws enthusiastic support for Magg, Harris, Bohannan
The Jasper County GOP Trapshoot was uncharacteristically restrained this year apart from the fiery speeches from guests like U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who fought back against new ads from her opponent, and former acting U.S. Attorney General Matt Whittaker, who lobbied for another Trump presidency.
Sure, folks fired off rounds of trap and skeet, and many seemed to be having a good time doing it in between chats with candidates or their representatives. But the energy was surprisingly low for an event that has attracted nearly every major Republican candidate and helped ramp up enthusiasm amongst the ranks. In the past, guests like a “fired up” Gary Leffler took an extreme approach. Leffler, who ran an unsuccessful primary for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District seat two years
ago but is most famously known for his American Flag-decorated tractor, featured signs and enlarged dollar bills demonizing Democrats.
The trapshoot has hosted Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and former Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, numerous statehouse legislators and council members and supervisors, presidential candidates and even a former contestant on “The Apprentice.”
Still, even without special guests the trapshoot has always managed to gather Republicans in one space for an exciting start to the day.
Perhaps it was the change in weather that caused this anomaly. Usually, the trapshoot is mired by extreme forecasts. It’s either really windy, really muggy, really rainy or really bright. But for the first hour or so the weather was damn near perfect. Then the wind picked up. Then
GOP | 3A
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer
Oftentimes the Jasper County Democratic Party Soup Supper is a low key affair barely running off the fumes of a handful of ticked off candidates, and while its atmosphere this year was certainly relaxed, the event was teeming with eager party members who haven’t looked this motivated in some time. For what seems like an eternity — especially for Republicans — Jasper County has remained a Democratic stronghold. It was blue through and through. Unions and the presence of Maytag most surely supplied the votes
come Election Day. But, obviously, times have changed. Now, there are only a few blue offices left.
In 2018, Chaz Allen resigned from his seat on the Iowa Senate. That same year Jasper County welcomed a fully Republican board of supervisors with newly elected Brandon Talsma and re-elected Denny Carpenter serving alongside Doug Cupples.
In 2021, Wes Breckenridge resigned from the Iowa House.
Today, only four Democrats hold major offices in Jasper County: Denise Allan in the recorder’s office, Doug Bishop in the treasurer’s office, John Halferty in the sheriff’s office
and Scott Nicholson in the attorney’s office. However, upon Halferty’s retirement this year, that total will reduce to three. Following a string of defeats, the Jasper County Democratic Party has struggled to find its footing. That is until Brad Magg announced he was running for Iowa House District 38 against incumbent Rep. Jon Dunwell. The response from the community certainly gave the party a boost of confidence in their candidate. Coupled with the announcement that President Joe Biden would be dropping out of the race
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer
Iowa House Rep. Jon Dunwell speaks during the Jasper County GOP Trapshoot fundraiser on Sept. 21 in Newton. Dunwell is running for re-election to the Iowa House District 38 seat.
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer
Brad Magg, the Democratic candidate running for Iowa House District 38, speaks to a crowd of supporters during the annual Jasper County Democrats Soup Supper on Sept. 22 in Newton. Magg is a member of the Colfax City Council and owner of Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Prairie City.
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer
Worth Mentioning
Send your event to news@pcmexplorer.com
Events at The Gathering Place
Saturday, Oct. 5
• 6:30pm Twice Blessed - Make Door Mat
Monday, Oct. 7
• 8am Coffee & Prayer with Pastor Ann
• 10am Video Exercise Class
Wednesday, Oct. 9
• 1pm “Get Fit, Move More!” with Amy S.
Thursday, Oct. 10
• 10am Patty Richards Music Show
Quilt of Valor presentation Oct. 6
Monroe Honor Guild will recognize 25 veterans from the Monroe and Reasnor areas with a Quilt of Valor presentation Sunday, Oct. 6 in Town Square Park. The event will begin with an 11 a.m. church service. A family lunch will the be held at 12:15 p.m. at the American Legion followed by the 1:15 p.m. quilt presentation. All are invited.
In the event of rain, the church service will be at the Monroe United Methodist Church and lunch and presentation will be at the Monroe American Legion
Good News Club returns
Good News Club for K-5th grade, begins after school Monday, Oct. 7 and is the first and third Monday through December at the Monroe Elementary Art Room and Prairie City Elementary Gym. Activities include games, songs, bible lessons and snacks. For more information contact Sheryl Plate at 641521-3120 or Jane McConeghey at 641-891-2733.
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.
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.
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.
GriefShare at FRC
First Reformed Church in Prairie City will host GriefShare each Wednesday for those who have experienced the death of a loved one and are looking for support, healing and hope. For more information contact Mary Lemmert, 515-205-0835 or at hope2you@aol.com.
Explorer PCM
Laura Angela Wiggins
Sept. 26, 2024
Obituaries
St, Colfax, IA 50054.”
Online condolences may be left at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com
Laura Angela Wiggins of Prairie City, age 63, died on Thursday, September 26th, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. A memorial service will be held at 5pm on Tuesday, October 1st in Prairie City at the Prairie City Christian Church.
Deborah
Sue Lindsay
Sept. 23, 2024
Her family will greet friends for visitation at the Christian Church from 2-4pm. Burial will take place at Waveland Cemetery in Prairie City following the memorial service. A time for coffee and cookies will take place at the church following the burial, all are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers please make checks payable to Mark Wiggins and donations will be made in Laura’s name at a later date. If you wish to send a card but cannot attend, please address it to, “Attn: Laura Wiggins, Coburn Funeral Home, 24 W Howard
and Athletic director wife.
Laura was born on December 25th, 1960, to Larry and Peggy Lewis of Fontanelle, IA. She was a graduate of the Iowa Methodist Nursing School. On July 16th, 1983, she married Mark Wiggins, her husband of 41 years. Laura enjoyed sewing, gardening, singing, and attending her sons’ activities. She was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a registered nurse for 42 years and greatly impacted the lives of many
toe at one point and possibly a broken rib!
patients and coworkers with compassionate care and selflessness. Laura gave in death as she gave in life by being an organ and tissue donor. Those left to honor her memory include her husband Mark, her sons Aaron (Michelle), Kevin, Joel (Kara), and grandson Levi Wiggins; parents Larry and Peggy Lewis; and sister Wanda (Paul) Schlaack; brother-in-law Brad Wiggins, Eric (Cheryl) Wiggins; mother-inlaw Joyce Walker. In addition to several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Deborah Sue Lindsay (Rourke), age 75, of Colfax, Iowa, passed away on September 23, 2024, in DesMoines, Iowa. Debbie’s family will greet friends for a visitation on Thursday, September 26, 2024, from 3:00 – 6:00 PM at Coburn Funeral Home in Prairie City, Iowa. If you wish to send a memorial in lieu of flowers, please make the check out to her husband, Darrell Lindsay, and a donation will be made in her name later. If you are unable to attend visitation and wish to send a card, please address it to, “Attn: Debbie Lindsay, Coburn Funeral Home, 24 W Howard St, Colfax, Iowa.” Online condolences may be left at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com
The daughter of Donna (Mumm) Rourke and James Rourke, Debbie was born on September 16, 1949, in Iowa City, Iowa. Debbie’s world was FAMILY is first. She was a wife, mother, grandma, sister, daughter, aunt, coaches’ wife
As the backbone of the Lindsay home, a delicious supper was always on the table, laundry was done, kids bathed and in bed on time and everyone knew they were loved. She supported Darrell in his coaching and Athletic Directors years and was Jeff and Jeni’s biggest fan. Regardless of the outcome of the games, she always found the positive in the situation. Her nephews waited with anticipation every year to see what birthday card their Aunt Debbie would send them. It was never boring.
Growing up in the ‘Burg, she was a gym rat. Always getting out of class to go to the gym when she could, to become a great trampolinist. Her siblings and her would go swimming at Sports Hill Country Club and ice skating at the west end pond. Her pet was a horse named Buster.
Gwobbs was the name her grandkids knew her by, and her nickname of Rose came along later. “Oh Rose” would become a common phrase! Their house was always fun- a bucket of balls and a bat, swimming pools -sometimes multiple in a year, hide and seek, and WWE. She had a broken finger and
Thanksgiving was always a feast with a grandkid helping with homemade stuffing and fighting over the wishbone. She took great pride in selecting each of their stockings for Christmas. Her fondest family memory was playing the card game “31″ for 65 Christmas Eves. She was given a seat at the table at age 10. Her grandkids sat on her lap and “helped” her play until they were old enough to have their own seat.
With the gift to gab, Deb graduated from beauty school and began cutting hair. She continued to cut Darrell’s hair every month for the past 55 years. After a little while, she decided this was not for her and became a waitress. The patrons loved to gab with her at Pat and Mel’s, Kopper Kettle, Poppy’s, Cardinal Cafe, Radisson Inn and ending her career at Goldies. For a number of years, she was a teachers aid at Colfax school and Colfax Mingo Schools and a security officer at Prairie Meadows.
Her long natural fingernails were something she was always so proud of. She would save her tip money to have them manicured and freshly painted fancy colors.
In her later years, she loved spending time in her Great-Gwobbs She Shed, playing the slots, making people laugh at her Debbie-isms and was always driving her family crazy for sending her food back to the kitchen at a restaurant because it was not HOT enough. Oh Rose!! Debbie never knew a stranger. Attending all of Darrell, Jeff, Jeni, and her grandchildren, Trey, Kaleigh, Cade, Tiernan, and Tori’s events. She always found a friend in the crowd. Her lawn chair was always empty because she was off making friends, laughing it up, and enjoying life.
Those left to honor her memory include her husband of 55 years; Darrell Lindsay, her children; Jeff (Christy) Lindsay and Jeni Pearson, her grandchildren; Trey (Emily Fudge) Lindsay, Cade Lindsay, ToriLindsay, Kaleigh Pearson, and Tiernan Pearson, a great granddaughter; Wren Lindsay, her siblings; Dan(Pat) Rourke, Dede (Mark) Doschadis, and Don Rourke, as well as 3 nephews, 3 great nephews, and 4great nieces. Preceding Debbie in death were her parents; James and Donna Rourke, her son-inlaw; Mike Pearson, and Grandma Chris.
with newly elected Brandon Talsma and re-elected Denny Carpenter serving alongside Doug Cupples. In 2021, Wes Breckenridge resigned from the Iowa House.
Today, only four Democrats hold major offices in Jasper County: Denise Allan in the recorder’s office, Doug Bishop in the treasurer’s office, John Halferty in the sheriff’s office and Scott Nicholson in the attorney’s office. However, upon Halferty’s retirement this year, that total will reduce to three.
Following a string of defeats, the Jasper County Democratic Party has struggled to find its footing. That is until Brad Magg announced he was running for Iowa House District 38 against incumbent Rep. Jon Dunwell. The response from the community certainly gave the party a boost of confidence in their candidate.
Coupled with the announcement that President Joe Biden would be dropping out of the race in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris and Midwestern running mate Tim Walz, the Jasper County Democratic Party has been given the swift kick in the butt it needed to get back on a somewhat even playing field.
Republicans still outnumber registered Democrats in Jasper County. That is a fact. There are one-and-a-half times more Republicans than there are Democrats in the county. Until just a few years ago it was neck and neck. While it is unlikely the pendulum will swing back in a year, Democrats are acting like it has.
This year the soup supper was held at Legacy Pla-
za, a short jaunt from both the brewery and the pub. As far as fundraisers go, the soup supper feels more like a potluck than anything else. In fact if it weren’t for the speeches and political signs, one could mistake the event for an old class reunion or family gathering. Of course the political entourages would also be a dead giveaway. This year the party welcomed Christina Bohannan who is running for Congress against U.S. House Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Former Congressman Dave Loebsack also showed up to support Bohannan and the Harris/Walz campaign.
Even former lawmaker Dennis Black, who’s served the Iowa Senate for 10 years, made a surprise appearance to the soup supper.
However, it was Loebsack who would engage the crowd first by sharing his support of Bohannan and recalling the 2020 election in which Rita Hart and Miller-Meeks competed for this vacant congressional district seat. Loebsack asked the crowd how many votes Hart lost by. As if they forgot.
“Six!” they shouted back to him.
Loebsack said he wants to make sure Miller-Meeks doesn’t get back into Congress. He also wants to see Harris back in the White House as president.
Both Loebsack and Walz joined the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007 after successful bids in the 2006 election. He said the “Class of 2006” was to meet for an online fundraiser the day after the soup supper. Loebsack said the class is going to raise a “ton of money” for the Harris-Walz campaign.
Looking back at his early days of campaigning, he recalled that no one that he had “a shot in hell” to
Explorer PCM
beat Jim Leach. Even his wife didn’t think he could beat the then-Republican incumbent. Loebsack said the brother of Gil Gutknecht told him the same thing when he ran into him in Cedar Falls back in 2006.
Gutknecht happened to be a Republican member of the U.S. House, and his opponent just happened to be Walz. Loebsack recalled the brother was confident Gutknecht would win. It was a story similar to Loebsack. No shot in hell. Loebsack pushed back, confident Walz could win.
“Sure enough, Tim won,” Loebsack said. “Five days later we’re at orientation and Walz finds me and I find him and we’re soul mates because he actually hard about that story … We became good friends. He really had a tough district in southern Minnesota. He became a Blue Dog like Leonard Boswell.”
Fast-forward a few years, Walz becomes governor of Minnesota and gets a Democratic legislature to pass a law to give free school lunches for kids.
“I like Tim’s response to somebody calling him a socialist or a communist. He’s like, ‘Oh yeah I’m a real monster I want kids to have school lunches for free,’” Loebsack said. “… (Harris) was a fantastic senator and she’s a fantastic campaigner. She’s done so many great things with her life.”
Results from a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll show Harris has resonated with Iowa voters far more than Biden did. Trump leads Harris by only four points. Loebsack said this is an “amazing” achievement and a huge turnaround in the race. He cautioned it is still going to be a tough race.
held by Miller-Meeks. Bohannan recalled the values her father instilled in her at a young age, particularly that of right and wrong. Values like these are why she is running Congress in the first place.
“Politicians, including Mariannette Miller-Meeks, are so obsessed with the left and the right that they have forgotten about right and wrong,” Bohannan said. “Our Washington, D.C. politics are broken. We live in a time now when politicians won’t do anything good for their own people if it means giving a win to the other side.”
Bohannan claimed Miller-Meeks puts corporate PACs and special interest campaign contributions above the people she is supposed to represent. She further hammered in the point by saying Miller-Meeks has taken in one-quarter of a million dollars from big pharmaceutical companies.
“And then voted against letting Medicare negotiate for lower drug prices for people like my dad,” Bohannan said. “She even took campaign contributions from a group of insulin manufacturers on the exact same day she voted against capping the price of insulin.”
Iowa Starting Line’s Nickel Hytrek reported this story back in August. Hytrek’s report references records from the Federal Election Commission which show Miller-Meeks received $1,000 from Eli Lilly and Company PAC on Aug. 12, 2022, the day the Inflation Reduction Act was voted on in the U.S. House.
women’s health and Iowa’s anti-abortion law, which she said is one of the strictest in the country.
Several TV news stations have aired fact check segments on these claims from Bohannan, saying that Miller-Meeks — whom she pinned it on — was not involved in the vote and that other states have stricter bans by outright banning the practice. Iowa allows abortions up to six weeks of pregnancy.
However, many have argued pregnancies are difficult to detect in that sixweek period, and thus put the mother in a situation where the mother has run out of time and is forced to go the full term. Bohannan said Miller-Meeks’ record is clear “and it’s extreme and it’s terrible for Iowa women.”
Magg closed out the evening of speeches. He took aim at this opponent, saying Dunwell has not represented his district well the past two terms.
“They’ve lost touch with us,” Magg said. “They don’t understand who we are and what we take pride in. They’ve talked about children and saving the children but Jon voted against federal funding that was going to feed 240,000 children. How do you vote against free money to free starving children? Heartless.”
“total BS.” He recalled a story while campaigning with his door knockers in which he approached easily discernible Republican household.
Three guys were on the property talking amongst themselves. They wanted nothing to do with Magg and they pointed to their large Trump signs.
“We’re voting for him!” they said.
Magg said, “Well, I’m not running for president!”
Then they told him they wish he would. Magg went about with his door knocking but eventually made his way back. He called back out to the three men, who were still enjoying their beers, and asked if he had brought them a beer would they have talked to him then.
“They were like, ‘Oh! Would you like a beer? And they had beer for me faster than I could no.’ I told ‘em no, no, no I gotta keep knocking doors and I’ll lose my motivation if I do that,” Magg said. “But I stood there talking to them for a second.”
Soon they conversed about the school district and developed some common ground. Magg said he has no idea whether they will vote or even vote for him, but the experience was humbling. And it reinforced the idea that it is important to be friendly and have calm conversations with people that think differently.
“But the fact of the matter is: the closer she gets the better it’s going to be for everybody else running down the ballot,” Loebsack said.
Especially for Bohannan, who is taking another swing at the seat currently
“There is a word for that. That word is ‘corruption,’” Bohannan said. “Let me tell you that’s not about left and right. That is just wrong.”
Bohannan also criticized Miller-Meek’s views on education and her support of vouchers, or education savings accounts, for students to attend private schools. She also condemned the representative’s views on
From the moment Magg announced his campaign, there was excitement from community members who know him as a council member for the City of Colfax and as owner Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Prairie City and numerous concession stands at the Iowa State Fair. It was a recognizable name.
As a candidate, Magg postured himself as someone who knows his communities and is frustrated by what lawmakers are trying to turn them into. Early on he expressed frustration over Dunwell’s decision making, saying his actions do not represent the values the constituents and the district have.
Since then he has been door knocking and leading a huge campaign. From what he has gathered, people are sick of the fighting and the politics and the
“Lending out a hand and being polite can go a long way,” Magg said. Magg is also finding out that even Republicans are resonating with his message, his stance on issues or just him as a candidate.
“We haven’t ran the numbers yet, but I’m pretty sure we have more Republican donors than Jon Dunwell has himself,” Magg said. “So even their own people are sick of their stuff and sick of him. We can do this. We can get this brought back.”
Magg told Democrats he wants to send a message to the governor and the Republican Party.
“We’re sick of their BS and this is not Iowa, and they better straighten up because we’re coming for them.”
PCM HOMECOMING 2024
Continuedfrompage1A
in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris and Midwestern running mate Tim Walz, the Jasper County Democratic Party has been given the swift kick in the butt it needed to get back on a somewhat even playing field.
Republicans still outnumber registered Democrats in Jasper County. That is a fact. There are one-and-a-half times more Republicans than there are Democrats in the county. Until just a few years ago it was neck and neck. While it is unlikely the pendulum will swing back in a year, Democrats are acting like it has.
This year the soup supper was held at Legacy Plaza, a short jaunt from both the brewery and the pub. As far as fundraisers go, the soup supper feels more like a potluck than anything else. In fact if it weren’t for the speeches and political signs, one could mistake the event for an old class reunion or family gathering.
Of course the political entourages would also be a dead giveaway. This year the party welcomed Christina Bohannan who is running for Congress against U.S. House Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Former Congressman Dave Loebsack also showed up to support Bohannan and the Harris/Walz campaign.
Even former lawmaker Dennis Black, who’s served the Iowa Senate for 10 years, made a surprise appearance to the soup supper.
However, it was Loebsack who would engage the crowd first by sharing his support of Bohannan and recalling the 2020 election in which Rita Hart and Miller-Meeks competed for this vacant congressional district seat. Loebsack asked the crowd how many votes Hart lost by. As if they forgot.
“Six!” they shouted back to him.
Loebsack said he wants to make sure Miller-Meeks doesn’t get back into Congress. He also wants to see Harris back in the White House as president.
Both Loebsack and Walz joined the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007 after successful bids in the 2006 election. He said the “Class of 2006” was to meet for an online fundraiser the day after the soup supper. Loebsack said the class is going to raise a “ton of money” for the Harris-Walz campaign.
Looking back at his early days of campaigning, he recalled that no one that he had “a shot in hell” to beat Jim Leach. Even his wife didn’t think he could beat the then-Republican incumbent. Loeb -
sack said the brother of Gil Gutknecht told him the same thing when he ran into him in Cedar Falls back in 2006.
Gutknecht happened to be a Republican member of the U.S. House, and his opponent just happened to be Walz. Loebsack recalled the brother was confident Gutknecht would win. It was a story similar to Loebsack. No shot in hell. Loebsack pushed back, confident Walz could win.
“Sure enough, Tim won,” Loebsack said. “Five days later we’re at orientation and Walz finds me and I find him and we’re soul mates because he actually hard about that story … We became good friends. He really had a tough district in southern Minnesota. He became a Blue Dog like Leonard Boswell.”
Fast-forward a few years, Walz becomes governor of Minnesota and gets a Democratic legislature to pass a law to give free school lunches for kids.
“I like Tim’s response to somebody calling him a socialist or a communist. He’s like, ‘Oh yeah I’m a real monster I want kids to have school lunches for free,’” Loebsack said. “…(Harris) was a fantastic senator and she’s a fantastic campaigner. She’s done so many great things with her life.”
Results from a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll show Harris has resonated with Iowa voters far more than Biden did. Trump leads Harris by only four points. Loebsack said this is an “amazing” achievement and a huge turnaround in the race. He cautioned it is still going to be a tough race.
“But the fact of the matter is: the closer she gets the better it’s going to be for everybody else running down the ballot,” Loebsack said.
Especially for Bohannan, who is taking another swing at the seat currently held by Miller-Meeks. Bohannan recalled the values her father instilled in her at a young age, particularly that of right and wrong. Values like these are why she is running Congress in the first place.
“Politicians, including Mariannette Miller-Meeks, are so obsessed with the left and the right that they have forgotten about right and wrong,” Bohannan said. “Our Washington, D.C. politics are broken. We live in a time now when politicians won’t do anything good for their own people if it means giving a win to the other side.”
Bohannan claimed Miller-Meeks puts corporate PACs and special interest campaign contributions above the people she is supposed to represent. She further hammered in the point by saying Mill-
er-Meeks has taken in one-quarter of a million dollars from big pharmaceutical companies.
“And then voted against letting Medicare negotiate for lower drug prices for people like my dad,” Bohannan said. “She even took campaign contributions from a group of insulin manufacturers on the exact same day she voted against capping the price of insulin.”
Iowa Starting Line’s Nickel Hytrek reported this story back in August. Hytrek’s report references records from the Federal Election Commission which show Miller-Meeks received $1,000 from Eli Lilly and Company PAC on Aug. 12, 2022, the day the Inflation Reduction Act was voted on in the U.S. House.
“There is a word for that. That word is ‘corruption,’” Bohannan said. “Let me tell you that’s not about left and right. That is just wrong.”
Bohannan also criticized Miller-Meek’s views on education and her support of vouchers, or education savings accounts, for students to attend private schools. She also condemned the representative’s views on women’s health and Iowa’s anti-abortion law, which she said is one of the strictest in the country.
Several TV news stations have aired fact check segments on these claims from Bohannan, saying that Miller-Meeks — whom she pinned it on — was not involved in the vote and that other states have stricter bans by outright banning the practice. Iowa allows abortions up to six weeks of pregnancy.
However, many have argued pregnancies are difficult to detect in that sixweek period, and thus put the mother in a situation where the mother has run out of time and is forced to go the full term. Bohannan said Miller-Meeks’ record is clear “and it’s extreme and it’s terrible for Iowa women.”
Magg closed out the evening of speeches. He took aim at this opponent, saying Dunwell has not represented his district well the past two terms.
“They’ve lost touch with us,” Magg said. “They don’t understand who we are and what we take pride in. They’ve talked about children and saving the children but Jon voted against federal funding that was going to feed 240,000 children. How do you vote against free money to free starving children? Heartless.”
From the moment Magg announced his campaign, there was excitement from community members who know him as a council member for the City of Colfax and as owner Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Prairie City and numerous
concession stands at the Iowa State Fair. It was a recognizable name. As a candidate, Magg postured himself as someone who knows his communities and is frustrated by what lawmakers are trying to turn them into. Early on he expressed frustration over Dunwell’s decision making, saying his actions do not represent the values the constituents and the district have.
Since then he has been door knocking and leading a huge campaign. From what he has gathered, people are sick of the fighting and the politics and the “total BS.” He recalled a story while campaigning with his door knockers in which he approached easily discernible Republican household.
Three guys were on the property talking amongst themselves. They wanted nothing to do with Magg and they pointed to their large Trump signs.
“We’re voting for him!” they said.
Magg said, “Well, I’m not running for president!”
Then they told him they wish he would. Magg went about with his door knocking but eventually made his way back. He called back out to the three men, who were still enjoying their beers, and asked if he had brought them a beer would they have talked to him then.
“They were like, ‘Oh! Would you like a beer? And they had beer for me faster than I could no.’ I told ‘em no, no, no I gotta keep knocking doors and I’ll lose my motivation if I do that,” Magg said. “But I stood there talking to them for a second.”
Soon they conversed about the school district and developed some common ground. Magg said he has no idea whether they will vote or even vote for him, but the experience was humbling. And it reinforced the idea that it is important to be friendly and have calm conversations with people that think differently.
“Lending out a hand and being polite can go a long way,” Magg said.
Magg is also finding out that even Republicans are resonating with his message, his stance on issues or just him as a candidate.
“We haven’t ran the numbers yet, but I’m pretty sure we have more Republican donors than Jon Dunwell has himself,” Magg said. “So even their own people are sick of their stuff and sick of him. We can do this. We can get this brought back.” Magg told Democrats he wants to send a message to the governor and the Republican Party.
“We’re sick of their BS and this is not Iowa, and they better straighten up because we’re coming for them.”
Addison Shannon & Kaden Clark Crowned PCM Royalty
Meet the 2024 PCM Homecoming Court
Adrien is the son of Bryan and Brittney Bielfelt and Emanuel VanDyke. His activities include football, being a state champ in track, baseball, basketball and Restorative Justice. His favorite part of homecoming is winning the game for the crowd. Adrien’s future plans are to attend an undecided 4 year university, majoring in finance with a minor in business sales marketing and to play football.
Addison is the daughter of Kevin & Tammy Steenhoek. Her activities include softball, basketball, volleyball, track, Big Student Little Student, she’s an FCA leader, a member of NHS and Key Club and the current student body president with Student Government. Her favorite part of homecoming is TP-ing with all of my friends and the football game. Her future plans are to attend an undecided college with a major in management information systems with a minor in marketing.
Jake is the son of Sally Winters and Nick Winters. His activities include basketball, track, volleyball, jazz choir, jazz band, marching band and is the current drum major, drama club, he’s the current president of NHS, the current student body vice-president with Student Government, the current secretary with Key Club, an FCA Leader, is a member of Restorative Justice, Big Student Little Student and is in the fall play. His favorite part about homecoming is tp-ing with friends all night. Jake’s future plans are to attend an undecided college to major in computer science and play men’s volleyball. Maddie is the daughter of Jeff Burkett & Stephanie Burkett. Her activities include being the Key Club Treasurer, an NHS member, Big Student Little Student, a Silver Cord recipient, an ELP student and volleyball manager. Her favorite homecoming memory is pulling an all nighter after powder puff to TP with friends and destroying the boy’s houses. Maddie’s future plans are to attend Iowa State with a pre-med Kinesiology major.
Tate is the son of Jesse & Cate Birkenholtz. His activities include Football, wrestling, track and FCA. His favorite part of homecoming is playing in the game. His favorite quote is Tate’s future plans are to attend the University of Iowa for exercise science
Stella is the daughter of Sam & Missy Stravers. Her activities include volleyball, track, Big Student Little Student, Key Club, she’s a Silver Cord recipient and Vice President of NHS. Her favorite part of homecoming is tp-ing and pulling an all nighter, then sleeping all day Friday. Stella’s future plans are to attend Grandview with a major in nursing.
Kaden is the son of Jacob & Angie Clark. His activities include football, wrestling, soccer, track, marching band, concert band, FCA, FFA, 4-H and Boy Scouts. His favorite part about homecoming is waking up Friday morning to see what kind of shenanigans the TPers have left. Kaden’s future plans are to major in exercise science/kinesiology and play football at an undecided college.
Addison is the daughter of Jodi & Seth Shannon. Her activities include the dance team, volleyball, track, ELP and she’s a member of NHS. Her favorite homecoming memory is tp-ing. Addi’s future plans are to go to school for dental assisting and dental hygiene.
Ivan is the son of Jodie & Seth Shannon. His activities include football, baseball, track and FCA. His favorite part about homecoming is playing in and watching the game. His favorite quote is “The only thing that is stopping you from where you are to where you want to go, is your comfort zone.” - Dhaval Gajera
Ali is the daughter of Travis & Kristen Hilsabeck. Her activities include cross country and track. Her favorite homecoming memory is TP-ing. Her favorite quote is “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” - Theodore Rooseve
Riley is the son of Darin & Emily Graber. His activities include Football, Track, FCA, Baseball and Recharge. His favorite homecoming memory is going to Cane’s after the game. His future plans are to play football at an undecided college with an undecided major.
Becca is the daughter of Dan & Sarah DeVries. Her activities include Volleyball, Basketball, Big Student Little Student, she’s the current President of the FFA, an FCA leader, a member of NHS, Key Club and Student Government. Her favorite part about homecoming is staying up all night tp-ing with friends. Her future plans are to attend Iowa State with a major in Ag Business and a minor in Marketing.
Charlie is the son of Tami and Tony Ford. His activities include golf, cross country, basketball and Recharge. His favorite part of homecoming is Spirit Night because it’s fun riding in the parade. His favorite quote is “Not every day is good, but there is something good in every day.” - Alice Morse Earle
Seriah is the daughter of Cassia and James Nolin. Her activities include the PCM Dance Team, volleyball, golf, FFA and FCA. Her favorite part of homecoming is watching the game with everyone on Friday and tp-ing with the girls. Her favorite quote is “When you focus on the good, the good gets better.” - Abraham Hicks
Evan is the son of Kyle & Alison Wendt. His activities include cross country, basketball, track and FCA. His favorite part of homecoming is watching the football game Friday night. His favorite quote is “If it is endurable, then endure it.”- Marcus Aurelius Libby is the daughter of Sally Winters and Nick Winters. Libby’s activities include softball, volleyball, basketball, track, FCA, Key Club and Student Government. Her favorite parts of homecoming are the dress up days and hanging out with friends. Her favorite quote is, “Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved.” - Winnie the Pooh
by R. Parsons
Senior Addison Shannon was crowned this years homecoming queen by this years king, Kaden Clark. She stands next to other queen candidates Stella Stravers, Addison Steenhoek, Rebecca DeVries, and Madeline Burkett.
Senior Kaden Clark was crowned homecoming king during Spirit Night by last year’s king, Jacob Burns. Alongside other king candidates Jake Winters, Riley Graber, Adrien Robbins, and Tate Birkenholtz.
Annie Ford Staff Writer
Rylee Parsons Staff Writer
photos by P. Lathrum
Rebecca DeVries
photos by R. Parsons
photos
Short-handed Mustangs finish first, second at annual home meet
MONROE — The PCM girls cross country team competed without one its top runners during its home meet on Sept. 23.
That didn’t prevent the Mustangs from claiming another team title as the hosts scored 43 points to win the PCM Cross Country Invitational at Gateway Recreation Golf Course.
The Mustangs were No. 7 at the time of the meet but had no trouble defeating No. 13 Pella Christian without Abi Teeter, who missed the meet with an illness.
But after a convincing 23-point advantage in the meet, PCM fell four spots in the rankings one day later, while Pella Christian stayed where it was before the loss.
Class 2A No. 15 Pella Christian won the boys team title convincingly. PCM was without varsity regular Gabe Nessa, who missed the team’s home meet due to an injury.
Class 2A No. 11 PCM scored 43 points to win the girls team title.
The Mustangs placed three in the top 10 and all five scoring runners finished in the first 17 positions.
Class 2A No. 13 Pella Christian scored 66 points in second, while the rest of the top five featured Davis County (93), Urbandale (103) and Des Moines Hoover (157). Pleasantville (159), Woodward-Granger (164), Perry (166) and Des Moines East (248) completed the nine-team field.
Lila Milani, Darbey DeRaad and Annie Ford all finished in the top 10 to earn medals for the Mustangs. Milani was sixth in 21 minutes, 33.6 seconds and DeRaad came in seventh in 21:44.8. Ford (22:16.2) wound up ninth and the final two scoring runners were Bailey Wheeler (22:32.7) in 14th and Ali Hilsabeck (23:02.8) in 17th. Raegan Vannoy (23:41.8) and Paiten Rumbaugh (23:53.1) were non-scoring runners in 25th and 27th, respectively.
Sigourney edges PCM volleyball in non-conference affair
SIGOURNEY — Career nights from Libby Winters and Addyson Pederson and 16 aces were not enough for the PCM volleyball team on Sept. 24.
The Mustangs scored more points overall than Sigourney, but the Savages sent PCM home with a 26-24, 17-25, 26-24, 26-24 non-conference road loss.
The match was originally scheduled for Sept. 17. It was the third straight win for Sigourney in the series.
“We got off to a slow start in set one, but finished strong only to come up a few points short,” PCM head volleyball coach Sarah De Vries said.
“There were so many long rallies in the third and fourth sets. Kudos to Sigourney for being a very scrappy team — we just couldn’t find holes on their side of the net.”
De Vries said the two teams played the match in a gym that had no air conditioning.
“It was a battle and a hot one,” De Vries said. “It had to be 80 degrees in that gym.”
Tori Lindsay led the Mustangs (8-6) with 27 assists,
four kills, eight digs and five aces.
Winters finished with a career-high 11 kills and nine blocks and added nine digs and five aces. Pederson added a career-best nine kills and five blocks. Her kill efficiency was .368.
Rebecca De Vries registered four kills, four blocks and five digs, Lillian Humpal put down six kills and had two digs and Addison Steenhoek posted 28 digs.
Addi Hudnut tallied 19 digs and three aces and Claire Van Wyk put down three kills.
The Mustangs were 87of-95 in serves with 16 aces.
Humpal was a perfect 15-of15, while Hudnut served 19of-20, Lindsay was 17-of-18 and Rebecca De Vries was 13-of-14.
PCM lost the match despite posting 38 kills and 20 blocks.
“We put up a great block, but they started tipping and pushing the ball around and we weren’t covering as well,” Coach De Vries said. “It’s a tough loss when you push each set to the last two points and can’t find the win. There was some awesome plays, and I’m proud of our girls.”
narrow loss to Sigourney on Sept. 24.
Troy Hyde/
PCM Explorer
PCM freshman Libby Winters (2) finished with a career-high 11 kills and nine blocks and added nine digs and five aces in the Mustangs’
PCM Explorer
Troy Hyde/ PCM Explorer
PCM sophomores
Kash Fischer (857) and Bailey Wheeler (855) and freshman Owen Osterhaus (860) compete in the Mustangs’ home cross country meet at Gateway Recreation Golf Course on Oct. 23. The PCM girls won the meet, while the boys finished second.
CROSS COUNTRY | 7
Explorer PCM
Robbins runs into record books in PCM’s rout of Union
MONROE — Adrien Robbins moved into the record books with another big game on the ground, Riley Graber hauled in two more touchdown catches and the Class 2A No. 1 PCM football team dominated Union Community on Homecoming.
The Mustangs ran for 281 yards, scored three touchdowns in each of the first two quarters and downed the Knights 53-7 in 2A District 6 action on Sept. 27.
PCM led 19-0 after one and went up 41-0 at halftime. The varsity offense played one series in the second half, and the Mustangs stayed unbeaten on the season.
Robbins rushed for 242 yards and scored three touchdowns on 17 carries, completed his only pass for 32 yards and returned his only kickoff 37 yards.
He became the school’s alltime leading rusher during the game. Robbins now has 4,213 rushing yards. That passed Mustang standout Wes Cummings for the all-time lead. Cummings finished his career with 4,019 yards and was part of the 2018 state championship team.
That’s how Robbins and the Mustangs hope to end this season. So far, PCM (5-0, 2-0 in the district) is outscoring its opponents 251-42 this fall.
For the season, Robbins ranks fourth in 2A with 1,041 all-purpose yards, fifth with 827 rushing yards and sixth with 10 rushing TDs. His 10.2 yards per carry average leads the class and he’s only 18th in 2A with 81 carries.
Gavin Van Gorp was nearly perfect through the air, finishing 11-of-12 for 191 yards and four TDs. His 19 total touchdowns rank second in 2A, while his 11 passing TDs are tied for second and his 663 passing yards on only 39 completions sits 15th.
Graber hauled in four passes for 125 yards and two scores, Gavin Steenhoek grabbed six
Cross Country
CONTINUED FROM 6
The girls’ varsity 5K winner was 2A No. 11 Eva Fleshner of Woodward-Granger. She crossed the finish line in 20:25.5.
Class 2A No. 24 Bailey Vos of Pella Christian was the runner-up in 20:45.7.
Pella Christian’s Sawyer Meinders, who fell out of the 2A rankings last week, won the boys’ race in 17:39.7. Davis County’s Aaron Cook (17:47.4) was the runner-up.
Kash Fischer, Coby DeRaad and Owen Osterhaus all earned top-10 medals for the PCM boys.
Fischer was fourth in 18:19.6, Coby DeRaad placed fifth in 18:23.3 and Osterhaus finished sixth in 18:31.
The final two scoring runners were Rylan Edgington (20:04.4) and Joe Shaver (20:14.4) in 22nd and 25th, respectively.
Wyatt Vannoy (20:38.3) and Kolby Clark (20:42.5) were non-scoring runners in 30th and 33rd, respectively.
The state-ranked Eagles won the boys’ team title with 34 points. They placed all seven varsity runners in the top 13 spots and their final five runners finished in succession at 9-10-11-12-13.
PCM was next with 62 and the rest of the top five featured Davis County (101), Perry (118) and Woodward-Granger (138).
Saydel (143), Des Moines Hoover (196), Des Moines East (200) and Pleasantville (201) completed the nine-team lineup.
passes for 88 yards and one TD and Danson Drake caught two passes for 18 yards and one touchdown. Harlan Shannon also had one catch for 9 yards and one TD and Cutler VandeLune had a 15yard catch.
Shay Burns rushed for 17 yards on five carries and Chase Wagaman completed 3-of-3 through the air for 33 yards and one score. Graber’s six receiving TDs rank tied for second in 2A and his 373 receiving yards are seventh. He’s first in the class among players with at least 10 catches in yards per reception at 26.6.
Robbins reached paydirt on runs of 46, 47 and 68 in the first half, while Graber’s touchdowns went for 36 and 71 yards.
Steenhoek caught a 20-yard TD late in the first half, Shannon’s 9-yard touchdown came midway through the third and Drake grabbed a 6-yard TD from Wagaman in the fourth.
Union’s lone points came on a Caden Sorensen 2-yard run late in the third. Sorensen led the Knights (1-5, 0-2) with six catches for 124 yards. Andrew Sadler threw for 195 yards and two picks. Brevin DeRaad led the PCM defense with eight tackles. Evan Jones contributed four tackles, Finn Wilson, Gavin DeRaad and Wagaman all had three tackles and Trenner Van Dyke posted 2.5 tackles and one sack. Van Dyke leads 2A with nine sacks and 13 tackles for loss.
Tate Birkenholtz also recovered a fumble and Carson Hansen and Easton Van Veen each snagged their first career varsity interceptions.
Dominic Witt was 5-of-6 in PATs with the one getting blocked. He also booted five touchbacks on nine attempts and leads 2A with 31 touchbacks this season.
The Mustangs have scored at least 53 points in four of their five games.
Union came into the game averaging 1.3 yards per carry.
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM freshman Darbey DeRaad finished seventh at the Mustangs’ home meet on Sept. 23. Class 2A No. 11 PCM defeated state-ranked Pella Christian at the top of the standings for the second time this season.
PCM Explorer
Photo by Jamie Steenhoek
PCM senior Carson Hansen, left, returns an interception against Union Community on Sept. 27 during the Mustangs’ 53-7 victory on Homecoming.
Photo by Jamie Steenhoek
PCM freshman Danson Drake grabs a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of the Mustangs’ 53-7 victory over Union Community on Sept. 27. PCM is now 5-0 and it improved to 2-0 in district play.
Explorer PCM
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