JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HOCUS POCUS
The PCM Elementary PTO’s Trunk or Treat featured creative stops for candy and a unique swing attraction created by using a piece of construction machinery
ELECTION 2024
Jasper County Supervisor Candidate Q&As
Name: Doug Cupples
Age: 53
Residence: Newton
Occupation: County supervisor and auto sales at Lauterbach Buick GMC Office seeking: Jasper County Supervisor
1. Introduce/Reintroduce yourself to voters and explain why you are running.
Cupples: I have lived in Newton since 1979. I am passionate about my faith in Christ. I have an amazing wife and three grown kids who I love dearly. I genuinely care about people and making a positive impact in their lives. I’m deeply concerned about issues like taxes, roads and law enforcement, and I want to help find solutions that benefit our community. My goal is to serve and improve the quality of life for everyone.
2. Secondary roads maintenance is always on the minds of residents who drive on gravel roads. How do you feel about what the county has done for gravel roads? Are there any solutions or strategies you would propose?
Cupples: When I started with the county, they were only adding rock to 25 percent of the gravel roads each year. The citizens of rural Jasper County were clear that we needed more rock. So I worked hard to increase that to 50 percent of Jasper County roads per year, and we’ve continued improving ever since. Roads are our largest concern, and our team works tirelessly to improve them every day. One of my concerns is how we currently conserve rock along the road edges. While it saves rock, it often forms a curb that channels water down the road, especially on hills, creating ruts and puddles. The key to maintaining good
Name: Thad Nearmyer
Age: 56
Residence: Monroe
Occupation: Farming
Office seeking: Jasper County Supervisor
1. Introduce/Reintroduce yourself to voters and explain why you are running.
Nearmyer: My name is Thad Nearmyer and I’m running for Jasper County Supervisor. I’m running for the seat that was originally Denny Carpenter’s and is currently held by Denny Stevenson. My wife Jodi and I live two miles north of Monroe where we feed hogs and have a cow-calf herd with my brother Todd. I have been chair of the Jasper County Republican Party for over eight years where we have seen unprecedented success in electing Republican
candidates. Republican voter registration numbers have dramatically increased during my tenure as county chair. I’ve served on the Jasper County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for 25 years. During this time I’ve held leadership positions including treasurer, vice-president and president. Currently, I’m serving as voting delegate. From 2002 to 2010, I worked at Principal Financial Group in individual annuities where I oversaw a team of folks processing annuity applications. At PFG I was given opportunities to sharpen my leadership skills. I’m running for a seat on the board of supervisors because I can bring my record of teambuilding and collaboration to Jasper County.
2. Secondary roads maintenance is always on the minds of residents who drive on gravel roads. How do you feel about what the county has done for gravel roads? Are there any solutions or CUPPLES | 3 NEARMYER | 3
Cupples Nearmyer
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
Worth Mentioning
Send your event to news@pcmexplorer.com
Events at The Gathering Place
Monday, Nov. 4
• 8am Coffee & Prayer with Pastor Ann
• 10am Video Exercise Class
• Free Parenting Class, Understanding Temperament (register at https://go.iastate.edu/SYYALD or call 641-792-6433)
Wednesday, Oct. 30
• 1pm “Get Fit, Move More!” with Amy S.
Tuesday, Nov. 5
• 1pm Game Time
Wednesday, Nov. 6
• 1pm Get Fit, Move More with Amy S.
• 6pm BINGO
Thursday, Nov. 7
• 3pm Navigating Taxes in Retirement
Good News Club Monday
Good News Club for K-5th grade meets after school Monday 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 641-5213120 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.
Turkey dinner Nov. 10
Monroe Presbyterian Church is hosting its annual turkey dinner beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 10 as a drive-thru pick up. The meal is a free will donation. Call Dorothy Rexroat at 641-275-5803 to arrange for delivery.
Blood drive Nov.
16
The Prairie City and Monroe Communities Blood Drive will be from 7:15 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Prairie City Methodist Church, 706 W. McMurray St. Appointments are encouraged by calling 800-287-4903 or visit lifeservebloodcenter.org.
Explorer PCM
Obituaries
Marilyn Grace Osborn
Oct. 19, 2024
Marilyn Grace Osborn, age 93 of Prairie CIty, passed away on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Comfort House in Pella. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 10:30 am at the Prairie City Christian
Church. Burial will take place at Waveland Cemetery. The family will greet friends on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at the church. Memorials may be directed to the PCM Elementary Schools to help with students’ breakfast and lunch debts. Checks may be made payable to PCM Elementary School. Condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com
The daughter of Melvin Loren and Helen Grace (Zachary) Moomaw, Marilyn was born on October 18, 1931, in Prairie City,
Iowa. She graduated from Prairie City High School in 1949. On March 18, 1950, she was united in marriage to Donald E. “Bubby” Osborn. They belonged to a potluck club in the area for many years. Marilyn was a member of the Prairie City Christian Church her entire life. She played the piano and organ at church for over 45 years. She was also a member of Rebekah’s in Prairie CIty. She enjoyed flowers and gardening, playing Bridge but most of all the time spent with her grandchildren. Those left to honor
her memory include her daughters, Sherry (John) Trunnel, Patti (Bruce) DeRaad, and Vicky Osborn; grandchildren, Jason Trunnel, Aaron (Deanna) Trunnel, Bret (Erin) Shultz, Lori (Adam) Mickle, Tony (Morgan) DeRaad, Josh (Nicole) Fraker, and Angie (Michael) Graham; 20 great-grandchildren and a great great granddaughter; a sister, Joyce Wiggins-Walker and a sister-in-law, Betty Umble. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband in 2017 and two brothers, Loren and Dale Moomaw.
Monroe Honor Guild recognizes 23 area veterans
The Monroe Honor Guild presented 23 Quilts of Valor to veterans Oct. 6 at the Monroe Town Square Park. Also, present that day were members of the American Legion Honor Guard, the American Legion Riders, Sons of the American Legion, and the American Legion Auxiliary and the local Boy Scout troop. The Monroe Honor Guild was
formed in January 2020 and is made up of approximately 15 women who make the quilts for veterans. As of October 2024, the guild has awarded 170 quilts to servicemen from the Monroe and Reasnor area. If you are an active or retired veteran and from the Monroe and Reasnor area, contact one of the guild members (Ada Beth Hume at 641-259-2555).
You may qualify for assistance for your energy bill
Need help with your energy bills? You may be eligible for assistance.
IMPACT Community Action Partnership will hold a “pop up” event from 11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 at The Gathering Place, 113 S. Monroe St. in Monroe to discuss your options. Receive help before you get behind. Bring a friend! Bring the following:
• Social security card for all household members.
• Household income in-
formation or proof of your most recent income from the last 30 days, or your annual completed tax return forms. (Zero income is okay.)
• List of all household member’s demographic information.
• Utility account information and a copy of bill if possible.
Contact Jessi Balk, IMPACT Community Outreach Specialist at jbalk@ impactcap.org or call 515236-9021.
The Quilt of Valor Foundation was established in 2003 and has awarded more than 397,000 quilts nationwide. The quilts have a three-part message: Honoring veterans for their willingness to lay down their lives for their country and for their service and sacrifice and the foundation hopes the quilt provides healing, peace and comfort.
Submitted Photo
Back row: Michael Conejo, Jason Stock, Jeff Stock, Darrin Dixon, Doug Duinink, Jason Birkenholtz, and Jeff McDermott. Middle Row: James VanMaaren, John Carter, Ronald Johnson, Duane VanVeen, Joel Timmins, Chad Phifer, John Timmins, and Brian VanGenderen. Front Row: Glen Robinson, Lee Eskelson, Teresa Brown, Laura Timmins, Jason Timmins, Matt Timmins, John Duncan, and Stephanie Stock
Explorer PCM
Cupples
roads is to keep water off them, and we are actively working on better solutions. Everyone in the county wants to see these roads improve, and we are committed to that.
3. For the past few months, the county has been holding town hall meetings about the proposed $6.4 million bond vote featured on the ballot this coming November. What are your thoughts on the bond and project? Are you in favor of it or not?
Cupples: As part of Jasper County’s long-term planning and fiscally conservative principles, we are seeking voter consideration for a bond issuance. This bond will fund projects for the sheriff’s office, county engineer, and county conservation departments. The completion of these projects will provide a unique training facility for law enforcement, housing for the county ALS program, upgraded facilities for road maintenance, outfitting classrooms for the conservation department and replacing two maintenance sheds in county parks. These projects can be completed without raising taxes due to the county’s low debt and strong fiscal management. Our current debt service levy will decrease as sheriff department debt is paid off very soon and the new administration building paid off within two years, ensuring the debt service levy will not increase. I encourage residents to visit www. jasperia.org to learn more about the Liberty Bond project.
4. Paramedic-certified staff at the sheriff’s office have responded to emergency calls throughout the county and assisted smaller EMS providers. How do you feel about the advanced life support program? What should its role be?
Cupples: This is a truly wonderful program that saves lives. It puts more trained people at the scene and gives a sense of security knowing help is on the way. I love that various agencies are working together to make this happen. I’m a big fan of the program!
5. Property taxes and growing assessments continue to be an issue for residents. How should the county re -
spond to these concerns? What would you like to see done to help residents better understand property taxes?
Cupples: When I became county supervisor, Jasper County taxes were about 19 percent of city taxes; now, they are around 16.5 percent in cities. For rural Jasper County, it was 40 percent and is now approximately 36 percent. That’s a $2+ reduction in the levy for both city and rural taxes. City taxes are divided primarily among the county, school and city, while rural taxes focus on schools and counties. To make significant cuts to county taxes, we would need to reduce personnel, which would affect services. Property assessments are required to align with state guidelines, and the county assessor is obligated to follow those rules. We don’t automatically take in more funds when property valuations increase. Instead, we budget based on what is necessary and practice fiscally conservative principles.
6. What are some things the county is good at and should continue doing? What are things you think the county can improve upon?
Cupples: We have amazing employees and department heads who make everything we accomplish possible. In terms of improvements, we can always work on better communication, keeping taxes low and improving our listening skills. We should always strive to do better.
7. Despite Jasper County’s proximity to Polk County, it remains a relatively rural region. How do you feel the county should respond to future developments? Are there rural characteristics you feel the county should preserve?
Cupples: When we completed our comprehensive plan for the county, preserving farmland was a priority, but so was development. We are working on attracting more businesses to Jasper County, which will bring more residents. Our conservation department has done an excellent job enhancing the beauty and recreational opportunities in the county, which we continue supporting.
8. Any final comments you’d like to make to voters?
Cupples: I will continue to serve the people of Jasper County to the best of my ability. Thank you for your support in the past and in the future.
birth announcements to: news@pcmexplorer.com
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Nearmyer
strategies you would propose?
Nearmyer: I live on a gravel road, and the concerns rural folks have about their roads are very important to me. I understand that modern farm machinery has increased in size. There are more semi-trucks on the gravel roads than ever before. Each road has its own characteristics. Some drain water better than others. That being said, I believe the county has made great strides in the past several years. Since 2019, the county recognized there was a serious problem with the gravel roads and made them a priority and is working to continually improve the situation. Gravel roads will never be perfect nor will everyone always be happy with their road. I want rural residents to know that I will strive to continue to make improvements to the county’s roads.
3. For the past few months the county has been holding town hall meetings about the proposed $6.4 million bond vote featured on the ballot this coming November. What are your thoughts on the bond and project? Are you in favor of it or not?
Nearmyer: Usually I cringe whenever I hear that a government body wants to bond for any given project. I encourage everyone to do their own research regarding the Liberty Avenue Bond Project. This bond will include a training facility for the sheriff’s department and housing for the ALS program, replacing the county road department maintenance building and new classrooms and maintenance buildings for the conservation department. I’ve toured the county maintenance facility in Newton. The building was built in the 1930s for equipment of that time. It’s no longer a sufficient facility for modern day equipment. The concrete is crumbling into the area where the county employees eat their lunch. I believe now is the time to complete these long-term projects.
4. Paramedic-certified staff at the sheriff’s office have responded to emergency calls throughout the county and assisting smaller EMS providers. How do you feel about the advanced life support program? What should its role be?
Nearmyer: I was on the ARPA committee that voted to utilize these funds for the ALS program. It’s increasingly difficult for smaller departments to have qualified personnel on staff around the clock. The ALS ambulance crew is dispatched to calls to most areas of Jasper County outside of Newton. I’m fully supportive of this program. With this program, we can support the smaller town departments to enhance the level of care to those in their time of need. This is a program Jasper County residents can be proud of.
5. Property taxes and growing assess -
ments continue to be an issue for residents. How should the county respond to these concerns? What would you like to see be done to help residents better understand property taxes?
Nearmyer: Farmland owners understand very well the burden of increased property taxes. Property taxes are my most despised form of taxation. You may pay off a piece of property, but you’re never done paying for it because property taxes continue forever. Regardless of how much I dislike them, property taxes fund our roads, schools and emergency services and other services. Unless there is a seismic legislative shift in how government is funded, we will continue to fund it with property taxes. People should investigate where their tax dollars go. Cities and school districts also utilize a portion of your property tax dollars.
6. What sort of things is the county is good at and should continue doing? What are things you think the county can improve upon?
Nearmyer: Jasper County has done a great job of keeping the levy rate low. I want to work with the current board to keep the levy as low as possible. While running for this office I’ve met with each of the elected officials and department heads. I believe Jasper County has a great team of leaders heading up their respective departments. These people have a vast amount of knowledge and experience. Meeting with them has certainly been a worthwhile exercise. I have learned a lot of valuable information. As previously stated, gravel roads will always be a work in progress. We will always be looking for ways to improve upon our roads and bridges.
7. Despite Jasper County’s adjacency to Polk County, it is still a relatively rural region. How do you feel the county should respond to future developments? Are there rural characteristics you feel the county should preserve?
Nearmyer: As a rural resident involved in agriculture, it’s important to me that we understand the importance of raising crops and livestock in Jasper County and the impact agriculture has on our local economy. We also must work to find ways to bring business and industry to the county to provide jobs and grow the tax base. I’d like to see future housing developments directed towards existing communities. Each of Jasper County’s communities have something to offer. I want to see them grow and prosper.
8. Any final comments you’d like to make to voters?
Nearmyer: I want to keep property taxes low, continue to improve roads and make sure emergency services are properly funded. I will collaborate with city councils across the county to find projects that will benefit all involved. I’ll bring the work ethic I learned on the farm to the courthouse and I promise I’ll always do my best for all Jasper County residents. I’m asking for your vote on Nov. 5!
I want Jasper County folks to prosper. That is why I’m running for Jasper County Supervisor. On the board of supervisors, I will work to keep the county’s levy rate low, continue to improve rural roads, see that emergency services are fully funded, build relationships with our communities, and improve the quality of life for our residents.
• Improve rural roads: Work with the county engineer to
• Responsible
Republicans confirm Trump’s 2020 election was ‘lost, not stolen’
By Steve Corbin Professor Emeritus of Marketing, University of Northern Iowa
Numerous Republican-led audits, indepth investigations and testimonies have proven that no voter fraud or machine rigging occurred in the 2020 presidential election. Even former president Donald Trump admitted — in 2020 and 2024 — he lost the election.
Trusting the 2024 election process is vitally important. Knowing the reality of the 2020 election, truth telling by Trump and GOP-spearheaded fact-finding should erase voters’ concern about the integrity of the upcoming election.
First, recall Cassidy Hutchinson (GOP assistant to Mark Meadows, Trump’s chief of staff) testified before the Jan. 6 House Select Committee that Trump told Meadows and other White House staff that he lost the 2020 election (The Hill, Sept. 12, 2023). Hutchinson’s testimony has never been refuted.
Proud Iowan
I have just finished with an article regarding banned books here in the United States. The article indicates that Florida and Iowa are responsible for most of them; as many as 10,000 nationwide. The article appears in what is apparently an online publication called “19th.”
I can not verify the numbers of banned books nor the statement that Iowa and Florida lead the country in the banning of books, but the simple allegation is enough to make any Iowan proud. Hey, we’re leading the country in ignorance and intolerance. Way to go Iowa! Let’s keep up the good work; there is always more to do in the fight against knowledge and tolerance and we shouldn’t be satisfied with what has already been accomplished. As remarked previously, banning and burning books has a long and illustrious history. Throughout medieval Europe whenever a book came along to contest the local beliefs, to the flames it went and sometimes the author along with it. Standard practice folks so what we need to understand is that what Iowa and Florida are doing has a pedigree; an
Second, on Aug. 4, Trump — in an interview with Lex Fridman (podcast #442) — admitted he lost the 2020 election (The Economic Times, Sept. 6). Trump also said he “lost the 2020 election” on two other occasions: Aug. 23, at an event near the Southern border, and on Aug. 30, at the Moms for Liberty summit (USA Today, Sept. 8).
Third, the 2020 election deniers, Trump and J.D. Vance may purposely be ignoring that eight prominent, life-long Republicans, all attorneys, published a 72page research-based document (Lost, Not Stolen) concluding that Joe Biden won the election fair and square. All voters should read, at a bare minimum, the introduction (pp. 1-2) and executive summary (pp. 3-4) of Lost, Not Stolen, accessible at https:// lostnotstolen.org.
Fourth, Ken Block, a data analytics expert and Trump campaign consultant, was hired by Trump to find voter fraud in the 2020 election. In a deposition taken by the Jan. 6 committee, he stated there were no voter irregularities anywhere in America (USA Today, Jan. 2).
Fifth, when white nationalist, supremacist and antisemetic Nick Fuentes — Trump’s guest at a Nov. 22, 2022 Mara-Lago dinner — learned that Trump admitted he lost in 2020, he blasted Trump on his Sept. 6 podcast requesting voters to not back Trump. An infuriated Fuentes stated “So, why did we do Stop the Steal?” (USA Today, Sept. 5 & 8).
Sixth, Trump’s chief pollster Tony Fab-
established practice of centuries. We have here the traditional demise of unwanted literature and unwanted ideas and practices. One set of people decide what other sets of people will have access to and what they will not have access to. Very simple really. Whoever is in charge gets to choose our reading material; what could be fairer than that?
Democracy at work, right?
Now, as you have probably guessed, I’m not in favor of burning books or authors nor of banning them. Many people have made and continue to make a conscious effort to know as little about the world they live in and the people who accompany them here on planet earth. I have never thought this a reasonable or responsible view, but who am I? If a person doesn’t want to read a book, they are free not to read it. If the person who has not read the book doesn’t want to hear about it, they don’t have to hear about it. No one is forcing other people to be ignorant; that is a choice each of us has to make for ourselves.
Just as I will not force someone not to read a book, I request that others not resist my efforts to read a book or my child’s efforts. Seems only fair. Richard E. H. Phelps II Mingo
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.
Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the PCM Explorer as an institution. Signed columns as well as letters to the editor and editorial cartoons represent the personal opinion of the writer or artist.
Submit letters to news@pcmexplorer.com or Newton News, P.O. Box 967, Newton, Iowa 50208.
rizio presented a 27-page election defeat autopsy report in Dec. of 2020 to Trump and his advisors saying Trump saw “the greatest erosion with white voters, particularly white men” plus his honesty and trustworthiness were a problem (Politico, Feb. 2, 2021).
Lost, Not Stolen
Eight die-hard Republican attorneys conducted a legal review of all 64 court cases filed by Trump and his supporters to contest the 2020 results. The final report, with 280 reference citations and published in July 2021, provided unequivocal evidence that Trump lost. They found there was “no credible evidence that fraud changed the outcome even in a single precinct, let alone in any state” (Cato Institute, July 21, 2022).
The eight GOP attorneys-at-law “also examined, point by point, every fraud accusation made in social media and in the public forum by those who claimed the election was stolen.” They found no improper vote counts, no voting machine rigging, no absentee ballot fraud, no voter identification fraud and no blocking of observers during the vote count (Trib Total Media, July 16, 2022).
Lost, Not Stolen’s authors, who remain Republicans, include three prominent retired federal judges (Thomas Griffith, Michael McConnell and J. Michael Luttig), former solicitor general Theodore Olson, election lawyer Benjamin Ginsberg, longtime congressional staff chief David D. Hoppe and former senators John Dan-
forth (1976-1995, Mo.) and Gordon Smith (1997-2009, Ore.).
The eight GOP lawyers went on in their 72-page definitive report to “urge fellow conservatives to cease obsessing over the results of the 2020 election.”
It’s interesting that 81 percent of adults surveyed in an ABC News/Ispos poll will accept the results of our upcoming Nov. 5 election. This means 19 percent of Americans—the ill-informed and gullible—have accepted Trump and GOP officials’ Stop the Steal pretense. Furthermore, 67 percent of Americans feel Trump isn’t prepared to accept the outcome unless he wins (Aug. 30).
Patriotic Americans feel sad for the 2020 election deniers, who have been duped, hoodwinked, led down a dark rabbit hole and given disinformation, misinformation and blatant propaganda. Trump’s 2020 stolen election conspiracy theory — one of 51 attributed to Trump and touted 526 times on his Truth Social media platform — has been proven, beyond a shadow of doubt, to be fallacious (CREW, June 27).
You should feel confident and comfortable voting on Nov. 5. Why? Close and contested elections are a part of American history. All states have voting security upgrade processes in place—robust and resilient—to handle just such situations. Trusted elections are the foundation of our democracy. On Nov. 5, don’t fret. Vote! Contact Steve Corbin at Steven.B.Corbin@gmail.com
YOUR VIEW
Cast your vote for the right reasons
Here we are about a week or so away from the election and if you haven’t already voted, you surely know who you are voting for, so attempting to change voters’ minds at this point is most likely a waste of time and money.
It’s become obvious that the driving issue for too many voters is not the economy or immigration, or women’s health rights, it is personality and hate for anyone who doesn’t fall in line with one
Character counts
Trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship: these are the six pillars of character, prominently displayed at our schools. They represent the things we value as a community; that we want our children to have. These are the most crucial things to consider when selecting someone to hire or elect to public office. Character is more important than party platforms or what candidates
SHARE YOUR VIEW Congress shall make no
SPEAK OUT
Brandon Talsma, chair
4309 W Fourth St. S. Newton, IA 50208
641-526-3142
btalsma@co.jasper.ia.us
respecting
party’s ideology.
We’ve been living for decades now in a bubble of social media, reality TV shows, and non-stop cable news networks that fill our minds all day long with angry, combative, and sometimes hate-filled rants about how evil certain people are or how dangerous any given political party is. And since we are creatures who love to be entertained, we seem to be drawn to the most outrageous, norm-busting characters we can find. Of course, no one will admit this, maybe they don’t even realize it themselves, so they use the old “I like (or don’t like) their policies, that’s why I’m sticking with this candidate no matter what” excuse to justify their sup -
say they will do if elected. In office, they will be faced with situations and events that weren’t part of the discussion during campaigns. Unexpected events like the Iranian revolution, the 9/11 attack, and the Covid pandemic often define and sometimes derail a president’s legacy. Unexpected events such as extreme weather, the loss of a major employer, the arrival of new business, and global events challenge state and local officeholders. At every level, when the unexpected
port for their candidate. It seems people have been conditioned by the media and the wasteland that is the internet to believe, true or not, whatever those folks want them to believe about these candidates. Some voters base their opinions on the actual words and actions of the candidates. Others get all their information from thirdhand sources and never bother to check whether any of what they have learned is or isn’t true. So vote if you haven’t already. But please make sure your vote is cast for the correct reasons and not because someone you don’t even know told you how to vote. John Moore Newton
happens, decisions are driven by character.
Think about the attributes of each candidate as you decide upon your vote. Consider first and foremost if they demonstrate trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. More than anything you see and hear during a campaign, those attributes will tell you how they will govern.
Tim Blount Newton
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
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The PCM
Planning Halloween costumes to wear and never getting them to look how you want, then laughing at how bad it is.
- Kiley Clark 11
I love how Halloween is a celebration of the dead and mortality. I think our over-confident culture could use a bit more this. Although much of what we do on Halloween nowadays has been largely stripped of its deeper significance, the holiday’s preoccupations with all things horrific, morbid and supernatural still shine some much needed light on less pleasant aspects of the human condition - Evan Leonhard
12
- Jiovannie Colton
Dressing up or watching scary movies/ going to haunted houses
- Camden Webb 9
Vote Time: Which Freshmen has the Best Pumpkin?
Peyton Lathrum Staff Writer
SCAN
How has Halloween Evolved?
Halloween was first started by the Ancient Celts over 2,000 years ago. They celebrated Samhain, a harvest celebration that honored the dead. The Celts dressed up as monsters and animals during the celebration. The holiday evolved in the 17th century with the Catholic holiday, All Saints Day. This was a day created to honor the saints of the church. As Christianity spread, it reached the Celtic lands, and the two holidays started to merge. All Saints Day was also known as All-Hallows Day, and Samhain was then starting to be called All Hallows Eve. These days eventually merged into one day: Halloween. During these days, the poor would go to wealthier families houses and collect food, money, or ale. In exchange, they would promise to pray for the family’s dead relatives. This was known as souling, and the children made it popular. Carving into vegetables was created in Scotland and Ireland during the 1800s. This stemmed from a myth about a man who tricked the devil and had to roam the earth with only a burning coal and a turnip to light his way. Children and adults tried to recreate his lanterns by carving into... To Continue Reading, go to PCMOUTLOOK.COM.
My favorite thing about Halloween has to be going to Adventureland for the Phantom Fall Fest they have every fall.
- Gavin VanDonselaar 10
My favorite thing about Halloween is obviously going out and trick-ortreating, watching scary movies, and just the holiday itself because you can also scare little kids.
- Landon Untener 11
Meet a Mustang
Keira Stone 11
Parents: Nicole & Mike Stone
Employer: Monroe Foods
Extracurricular Activities: Choir, Fall Play, & Speech
3 Words to Describe Yourself: Nice, Caring, & Friendly Favorite Class: Choir
A Piece of Advice you wish to give your younger self: “Don’t worry about what others think of you!”
Best High School Memory: Car rides to speech competitions Dream Job: Speech Pathologist
Emma Holt 9
Parents: Laci & Andrew Holt
Extracurricular Activities: Band, Choir, Marching Band, Musical, Cheer, Speech, FFA, 4H, & Student Government
3 Words to Describe Yourself: Determined, Hard Working, & Friendly Favorite Class: Pottery
A Piece of Advice you wish to give your younger self: “You don’t have to put in so much work to be successful and happy” Best High School Memory: State Marching Band Dream Job: Undecided
I love Halloween; there are so many different festivities and activities to do. One of my family’s favorite activities is visiting my grandmother, where we dress up, play games, and indulge in a variety of Halloween-themed foods and treats. We always spend time bonding while making my favorite treat with witches fingers. Witches fingers are pretzels covered in chocolate with an almond representing the pointed witch nail. Some of my favorite Halloween costumes when I was a kid were dressing up as a witch, with my face painted green, a zombie with dark blue under eyes, and a banana. That is my favorite costume to date. Me and my friend went as bananas, and my other friend went as a monkey. It was my favorite costume because my childhood nickname was Banannie. As I’m growing and getting older, Halloween has changed a lot. From going from trick-or-treating with my brother to going with my friends. Now I hang out with friends, eating candy and watching movies. One thing that has never changed about Halloween is the night before me and my dad always have to watch a scary movie. It’s a tradition from when I was young. This year was my third year ever carving a pumpkin, and let’s just say it was eventful and kind of looked like a two-year-old did it. Let’s just say it’s not my strong suit during the spooky season. Another thing I love about Halloween and fall in general is all of the yummy smells in the air, whether it’s from a pumpkin candle or a Starbucks pumpkin spiced chai latte. Even the smell of the crisp, cold air in the morning makes me love to fall a little more. Wearing sweaters and sweatpants is so cozy and makes me so happy. I hate being sweaty other than when I’m working out or doing a sport. I feel like in fall I can also be more creative with the way I express my feelings through my outfits. This year the weather is perfect; in my opinion, I love the mid-60s, especially running, which has been amazing. At our last two cross-country meets at Nevada and Centerville,o Red Oak was so pretty with all forest,lorful leaves and the slight wind blowing the leaves around the whole time I looked out the window relaxing and getting ready for my race. we ran around lakes through the forest and the leaves were so pretty. The drive to Red Oak was so pretty with all the colorful leaves and the slight wind blowing the leotheraround the whole time I looked out the window relaxing and getting ready for my race. I am looking forward to going to state cross country and seeing all the fall trees and othee fall scenery.
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Sacn here to learn more about Freshmen Annie Ford!
PCM girls clinch spot in state meet
By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer
RED OAK — After coming up just one point short of a state berth last season, the PCM girls cross country team would not be denied this fall. And the Class 2A No. 11 Mustangs made sure it wasn’t close, too.
All five scoring runners finished in the top 15, two were in the top 10 and PCM finished second in the team standings with 52 points on Oct. 24. The Mustangs also were 11 points better than sixth-ranked Albia, who qualified for state in the third spot with 63 points.
“Coming up short last year sucked so it’s good we got it done,” junior Abi Teeter said. “My eighth grade year we had four girls out. Now we have 12.”
The top three teams and 15 individuals qualify for the state meet in 2A. But 12 of the 15 spots were taken by runners from the three qualifying teams so an extra three berths were handed out.
It was the second-ever state berth for the PCM girls and the first since 2017 when the Mustangs placed third in Pella.
While the PCM girls qualified as a team, the boys came up short facing a stacked field. But Coby DeRaad heads back to state after placing 13th in the boys’ 5K race.
Class 2A No. 1 Van Meter won the girls’ team championship and clinched its sixth straight state berth after scoring 30 points. The Bulldogs placed four in the top seven, including race winner and second-ranked Laura Streck.
It’s virtually impossible to
not qualify for state as a team if the five scoring runners are in the top 15, but the Mustangs would have had five individual qualifiers had they not qualified as a team.
Lila Milani led the team in fifth. She posted a time of 21 minutes, 7.1 seconds. It was her second straight state berth.
“I got out too fast on accident. I was just hoping to be consistent with each mile, but the hills didn’t allow that to happen,” Milani said. “The hills were horrible.”
Darbey DeRaad made her state qualifying debut and placed eighth with a time of 21:46.23. Teeter clinched her
second state berth in 12th with a time of 22:12.4.
The final scoring runners were Annie Ford (22:15.18) and Bailey Wheeler (22:25.18) in 12th and 13th, respectively.
Raegan Vannoy (23:42.42) and Ali Hilsabeck (24:27.29) were non-scoring runners in 26th and 31st, respectively.
There were five ranked females in the field and the final qualifying time was 22:59.83.
“It was hard and very hilly. We had to compete. We earned it for sure,” Ford said. “I was trying to not run the hills too hard. I wanted to conserve some energy so I could be faster on the third mile.”
The Mustangs were one of the favorites to advance to state this year. But on the course, they simply tried to stay in front of or pass anyone in blue.
After Van Meter, PCM and Albia at the top, Interstate 35 finished fourth with 108 points. Three of those four teams wear blue.
“We were always looking for blue in front of us,” Ford said. “The second we saw them, we just tried to catch them and go get them. We knew they would be a key to the day.”
The rest of the nine-team field featured Clarinda (143), Shenandoah (155), Okoboji (173), Greene County (235) and
Chariton (244). There were four incomplete teams, including host Red Oak.
Streck won the girls’ race in 19:17.51. Class 2A No. 6 McKenna Montgomery of Albia was the runner-up in 19:45.79.
The Blue Demons had three runners in the top 15. The other individual qualifiers came from Clarke (2), Interstate 35, Clarinda and Shenandoah.
Teeter battled through a lot of adversity this season. Aside from competing with Cystic Fibrosis her entire career, she also started the season with blisters and was diagnosed with pneumonia during the season.
“I didn’t know how to feel yesterday. I got sick and was diagnosed with pneumonia and was out for a few weeks,” Teeter said. “I had really bad blisters to start the year and a new coach, too. There was a lot of adversity this year.
“Having my teammates is what got me through it. I leaned on them. They were a big part of our success and my success.”
Coby DeRaad said he entered the state qualifying meet seeded outside the top 15. But found a way to get back to Fort Dodge as he finished 13th in 18:12.72.
The Mustangs were sixth as a team, but there were five ranked teams.
Class 2A No. 6 Chariton won the meet with 44 points. Fifthranked Okoboji (81) and 16thranked Sheldon (110) were the other two team qualifiers. No. 19 Van Meter (125) and No. 20 Red Oak (128) completed the top five but did not advance to state.
No. 2 Mustangs advance past rival Lions
MONROE — Alex Wendt has played two offensive snaps this season for the PCM football team.
The second one came on a play that was drawn up at halftime and it resulted in a 74-yard touchdown.
It was just one of many bigplay scores the Class 2A No. 2 Mustangs produced during a 41-19 win over Des Moines Christian in the postseason opener on Oct. 25.
“Coach Woods saw something in the way they were lining up,” PCM head football coach Greg Bonnett said. “We did something similar against Nevada last year. It’s real deep in the playbook but drawn up on the fly.”
It was the first catch and first touchdown of Wendt’s varsity career, and it was the second of three one-play scoring drives in the win.
Adrien Robbins scored on a 58-yard TD run in the second quarter and then put the game away with a 67-yard run late in the third.
Robbins also caught two TD passes in the second, including a 53-yarder that capped a seven-play, 79-yard drive.
Robbins had a big night for the Mustangs. He finished with 233 rushing yards and two scores on 29 carries and caught four passes for 68 yards and two more TDs.
He also had eight tackles and one interception on defense.
“The momentum kept shifting back and forth,” Robbins said. “The score wasn’t as close as what it felt like. Those big plays mean a lot. It gets everyone on their feet and gets momentum shifted.”
The win pushes PCM into the second round where it hosts Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference rival Greene County (5-4) at 7 p.m. on Nov. 1 in Monroe.
The Rams are currently on a three-game win streak. They
defeated Des Moines Christian, 14-13, in the regular-season finale.
The other two teams in the Mustangs’ 2A playoff pod are Mediapolis (5-4) and Mid-Prairie (6-3).
The Mustangs (9-0) led 14-0 after one quarter. Riley Graber finalized a four play, 48-yard opening drive with a 36-yard touchdown catch.
It was Gavin Van Gorp’s first pass of the game. He threw it up for grabs in one-on-one cover-
age and Graber out-jumped the defender and then got by him for the TD.
“We weren’t really sure how they’d line up defensively, but they pressed us at the line and put everyone in the box,” said Graber, who finished with two catches for 36 yards and one TD.
“The coaches trust us to be able to beat our guys, and Gavin put it on the money.”
Robbins scored the next three touchdowns for PCM and
the Mustangs led 26-10 at halftime. It wasn’t all great for the Mustangs though as Van Gorp threw his first interception of the season in the red zone on PCM’s third possession.
The defense forced a punt, but Gavin Steenhoek lost the ball inside the 15-yard line. He was hit as the ball arrived after not calling for the fair catch.
Des Moines Christian (4-5) converted the turnover into a touchdown. The Lions drove 15
yards in four plays to trim the margin to 14-7.
PCM answered back though with a seven play, 79-yard drive that ended on a screen pass from Van Gorp to Robbins that went for 53 yards and a TD. Steenhoek also caught a 12yard pass on third and eight and Harlan Shannon’s 10-yard catch came on third and five. Steenhoek finished with 24 yards on two catches.
The Lions made it 20-10 with a 26-yard field goal from Grant Dunn. That drive covered 43 yards in seven plays but gave the hosts plenty of time to score again.
PCM marched 80 yards in six plays to extend its lead. Robbins gained 17 yards on four plays but Van Gorp’s 54-yard run around the right side of his offensive line got the Mustangs into the red zone. Van Gorp was pressured on third down and goal but completed a swing pass to Robbins that resulted in a 9-yard touchdown.
“Our offensive line opened up a lot of stuff for us,” Bonnett said. “They were a really good defense. They stacked the box well, brought some pressure and then played us in man. Once we saw what they were giving us, we had to make those big plays because grinding it out was going to be tough.”
The first play of the second half was Wendt’s 74-yard touchdown. He caught the ball about 20 yards downfield, sprinted the rest of the way and dove into the end zone for his first career points.
“I was trying to run as fast as I could, and I didn’t want to fumble the ball,” Wendt said. “The big plays are really important. Our coaches were telling us this week that we average a touchdown every five plays. Our offensive line opens so many things up for (Robbins), (Graber) and whoever else gets the ball.”
Submitted Photo
The PCM girls cross country team qualified for the state meet in Class 2A after placing second in Red Oak on Oct. 24.
By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM senior Riley Graber (6) wins a battle for the ball down field in the first quarter of the Mustangs’ 41-19 playoff win over Des Moines Christian on Oct. 25. Graber reached paydirt on the play to get PCM on the scoreboard.
Explorer PCM
PCM volleyball downs Clarke, eliminated by No. 1 Mount Vernon
MONROE — Five players put down at least three kills, four posted at least five digs and the PCM volleyball team served up 15 aces during a 25-7, 25-7, 25-8 home win over Clarke in Class 3A Region 1 action on Oct. 22.
The Mustangs advanced in the postseason thanks to a kill efficiency of .247. They also missed only five serves.
PCM faced off against 3A No. 1 Mount Vernon in the next round. Clarke retired at 9-21.
The other Mustangs advanced after sweeping West Marshall in their quarterfinal matchup.
Tori Lindsay led PCM (16-11) with 19 assists, four kills, nine digs and four aces.
Libby Winters registered six kills, two blocks, eight digs and five aces, Rebecca
De Vries had seven kills, two blocks and five digs and Addison Steenhoek contributed 14 digs, three assists and three aces.
Addyson Pederson put down four kills, Peyton Lathrum tallied three kills and two digs, Addi Hudnut chipped in two digs and three aces and Lillian Humpal finished with two digs.
The Mustangs were 66-of-71 in serves with 25 aces. Lindsay finished 20-of-21 from behind the service line, while Winters was 16-of-16, Steenhoek served 14of-15 and Hudnut ended up 10-of-11.
Lindsay’s kill efficiency was .800,
Coby DeRaad
PCM junior Coby DeRaad qualified for the state cross country meet for the second time in his prep career on October 24. DeRaad finished 13th at the state qualifying meet at Red Oak and will run in the Class 2A boys’ state race at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge on November 2.
Winters posted a kill efficiency of .500 and De Vries finished at .350.
The 16 wins for PCM are the second most since 2008. The Mustangs won 18 matches last season but had a better winning percentage this fall.
Mount Vernon 3, PCM 0
MOUNT VERNON — The Mustangs battled, but top-ranked Mount Vernon ended their season following a 25-14, 2515, 25-14 loss on Oct. 24.
Mount Vernon finished with a 48-22 advantage in kills and a 7-1 surplus in aces.
Winters finished with seven kills and two digs, De Vries had five kills and three digs and Lindsay tallied 17 assists, two kills and two digs to lead PCM.
Steenhoek finished with nine digs and two kills, Pederson contributed three
kills and two blocks and Humpal collected three assists and two kills.
The visiting Mustangs were 38-of-44 in serves with Stella Stravers going 6-of6. Steenhoek was 7-of-8 and De Vries served 6-of-7.
Steenhoek posted a school-record 719 digs in her career. De Vries capped her career with 394 kills and Lindsay goes into her final season with 134 aces.
Mount Vernon (41-4) was led by Chloe Meester’s 12 kills, seven digs and three aces. Sydney Maue added 13 kills and three blocks.
Mount Vernon advanced to host Nevada in the regional championship match on Oct. 29.
The Mustangs’ four losses came against 2A No. 4 Dike-New Hartford, 5A No. 1 Pleasant Valley and two schools from Omaha, Nebraska.
“We got put in a tough district. It is what it is,” Coby DeRaad said. “I didn’t have anyone picked out. I had to run with a certain group of people and then it comes down to who has the most guts. I just went in determined that I was going to be that person.”
DeRaad, who said he was in about 25th after the first mile, felt like his experience running in a state qualifier helped him. It was the first state qualifying meet for teammates Kash Fischer and Owen Osterhaus. Fischer placed 19th in 18:28.13 and Osterhaus took 24th in 18:48.49.
The 15th and final qualifying runner finished the race in 18:17.56. The boys’ field included six ranked runners.
“I’ve had training partners and buddies I’ve gotten closer with who have pushed me more than I have ever been pushed before,” Coby DeRaad said about his teammates.
“It’s helped me get over the top. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am.”
The final two scoring runners for PCM were Joe Shaver (20:16.42) in 48th and Rylan Edgington (20:16.47) in 49th. Kolby Clark (20:34.37) and Charlie Ford (20:38.80) were non-scoring runners in 52nd and 55th, respectively.
Class 2A No. 5 Kyle Wagoner won the boys’ race in 16:48.89 and 2A No. 13 Evan Osler of Okoboji was the runner-up in 17:26.99.
Coby DeRaad is looking forward to getting a bit of redemption at state this time around. He was 101st in 2A last season. He will start the state course in Box 16.
“It’s an honor to be back. It’s something you dream of,” Coby DeRaad said. “I had a bad experience last year. I’m looking to prove to myself almost that I can run well there. That one race isn’t going to define me. I want to be top 50. I want to compete better than last year.”
The PCM girls will be in Box 18 for the girls’ state race. The Mustangs will be close to Albia and Van Meter, who will start in Boxes 17 and 19, respectively.
“I think we’re a top-eight team,” Teeter said. “Our goal has always been to beat Albia and get PRs. We just want to run our best race and get after it. I know the freshmen are nervous, but that’s normal. Nerves are good.”
Ford and Darbey DeRaad both admitted to feeling nervous for the state meet. Without any seniors on this year’s varsity roster, the Mustangs can use the experience to prepare them for next season, too.
“I think it’s going to be great. Our team works well together, and I’m excited that we all get to keep running,” Darbey DeRaad said. “It’s a very different atmosphere. I need to be ready for anything to happen. I just want to do my best.”
Milani didn’t have any goals for the state meet last year as she was new to the sport and just qualifying was a great cap to the season. She placed 79th in the girls’ race as a freshman.
“Last year I was alone so I’m excited to be able to experience this with my teammates,” Milani said. “I didn’t have any goals last year really, but it’s different this year. We are going up there to compete. It’s not just another race.”
The girls’ state field includes No. 1 Van Meter, No. 2 Mid-Prairie, No. 3 Forest City, No. 4 Unity Christian and No. 5 Tipton. Others in the 15-team field include No. 6 Albia, No. 7 Pella Christian and No. 15 Roland-Story.
PCM Explorer
Lindsay
Submitted Photo
PCM junior Coby DeRaad qualified for his second state cross country meet on Oct. 24. He finished 13th in the Class 2A state qualifying meet in Red Oak.
Des Moines Christian accounted for more than 300 yards of offense in the game.
The Lions drove 42 yards in seven plays on their first possession of the second half but turned the ball over on downs after being stopped at the 1-yard line.
PCM kept the momentum only for a few minutes though. It was forced to punt on its next possession but a high snap went over Van Gorp’s head and he kicked the ball out of the end zone to avoid further damage.
The Lions added to their momentum with their best drive of the game. They needed just one play to go 52 yards as Jake Kistenmacher hauled in the pass from Jett Each.
PCM scored touchdowns on four of its six drives in the first half but struggled in the second two quarters.
The Mustangs were forced to punt again and a blocked punt by the Lions gave them another short field.
This time, the drive ended with a Carson Hansen interception.
And like he’s done all season, Robbins put the game away with a big run on the first play from scrimmage.
“He’s a game breaker. I told him when he made that run that that’s what he was going to have to do,” Bonnett said. “We are dinged up a bit, and we needed him to take the game over. And he was able to break off another long run.”
It was the final score of the game as the PCM defense ended the contest with four straight turnovers.
Robbins picked off Each on the Lions’ first possession of the game, but DMC also lost a fumble and turned it over four times in the second half.
The Lions’ final two possessions ended in interceptions. The first one was snagged by Finn Wilson in the red zone. Then, Shay Burns picked off Each on the first play of the Lions’ next drive to finalize the postseason victory.
“As a defense, we haven’t been tested like this yet,” said Graber, who also picked off a pass that was wiped away because of a penalty. “Most teams would rather take sacks than throw the ball it seems. We knew we’d get tested tonight. They aren’t afraid to throw it, and we need to fix the ones we
Explorer PCM
got beat on. But we also made some plays, too. The linebackers made some nice picks.”
Aside from a few big plays given up by the PCM defense, the only other issues for the Mustangs came on special teams.
Those units were responsible for a muffed punt, multiple bad snaps and both a blocked punt and a blocked extra point.
“It’s something we have to work on,” Bonnett said.
“(Burns) is our long snapper. He knew he was having an off night but stuff like that is going to happen. Just like (Steenhoek) muffing the punt. Stuff like that happens. We’ll have to clean up special teams though because a lot of it wasn’t good.”
Des Moines Christian, which came into the game on a threegame losing streak, has three return touchdowns this season.
The Lions often were given short fields as the Mustangs
opted for squib kicks on kickoffs.
Graber said the team doesn’t practice squib kicking a lot. He also has experience with long snapping.
“(Burns) has been money on our snaps all year. That stuff happens,” Graber said. “I have snapped before. It’s not easy to be consistent with those. We were backed up too much, too.
“We had some issues in the past with some kickoff returns
when we don’t get the ball to the end zone. So that’s something we need to clean up. I’m sure we’ll do some reps with that.” Van Gorp came into the game with zero thrown interceptions. He finished 10-of-15 through the air for 212 yards, four touchdowns and two picks. He also rushed for 60 yards on eight carries.
“The first interception he threw, he was probably trying to do too much,” Bonnett said. “He probably had the shorter route there. I don’t know any quarterback who goes an entire season without throwing a pick when you have over 100 attempts.” Wilson led the Mustangs with 10.5 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery. Burns finished with 7.5 tackles and one pick, Hansen had five tackles and one interception and Brevin DeRaad collected 6.5 tackles.
Tad Wilson contributed four tackles, Wendt chipped in 3.5 tackles and two tackles for loss, Trenner Van Dyke added three tackles and two tackles for loss and Kaden Clark registered three tackles.
Each threw for 202 yards, one TD and three picks and Fadden gained 60 yards on 15 carries.
The Lions came into the game averaging 7.7 yards per carry but were held to 106 yards on 31 carries.
“They were doing a lot of jet sweeps and stretch plays,” Wendt said. “It was important to read my guy, play the reach block and not get caught up in the other action.”
Notes: PCM was flagged for eight penalties for 80 yards. The Lions were called for two penalties. … Dominic Witt booted four touchbacks on his eight kickoffs. … The Mustangs are one of two undefeated teams left in 2A. The 22-point win over the Lions is the closest margin of victory this season. The previous closest was the 23-point win over 3A Nevada in Week 2. … Bonnett said the Lions’ offensive scheme reminded him of what Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley did against the Mustangs in the 2018 title game. “They came out with a really good scheme. They had a four receiver unbalanced look,” Bonnett said. “We went to a coverage we did against (Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley) in the 2018 championship game, but we haven’t repped it at all. There was an opportunity for us to get turnovers, and I was happy to see us take advantage of those.”
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Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM senior Finn Wilson, left, and junior Shay Burns deny Des Moines Christian’s John Doohen on fourth down during the Mustangs’ playoff win on Oct.25. Wilson and Burns were the top two tacklers for PCM in the game.
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM junior Braedyn Lester (65) tells the fans who recovered the fumble during the Mustangs’ playoff game against Des Moines Christian on Oct. 25. PCM advanced with a 41-19 win.
Breast
What young women should know about breast cancer A look at inherited breast cancer
A prevailing myth concerning breast cancer is that it only affects older women. Various medical organizations and institutions recommend women begin receiving mammograms starting at age 40, which may compel women younger than 40 to think that they are immune to breast cancer. Yale Medicine notes breast cancer in younger individuals is rare, but the organization reports it is the most common cancer among women between the ages of 15 and 39. In addition, a body of evidence points to a growing rate of breast cancer diagnoses in younger women.
The Cleveland Clinic says breast cancer in young women and people assigned female at birth is known as early-onset breast cancer. Even adolescents and young adults can get breast cancer. Although young people can get any form of breast cancer, invasive ductal carcinoma and triple-negative breast cancer are the most common forms of the disease among young women.
Diagnoses of breast cancer have steadily risen in women under age 50 over the last 20 years, says the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Researchers believe the surge is largely driven by increases in the number of women diagnosed with estrogen-receptor positive tumors, which are cancerous tumors fueled by estrogen. The researchers also found higher rates of breast cancer among Black women, particularly those between the ages of 20 and 29. Black women in this age group were found to have a 53 percent increased risk of breast cancer.
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation says that breast cancers in women under age 40 are more likely to have fea-
tures that contribute to poorer outcomes and prognoses. Larger tumor size, advanced tumor stage, negative hormone receptor status, and an over-expression of the HER2 protein are some such features. The BCRF also reports younger women are more likely to experience a recurrence at five and 10 years after therapy compared to older women.
It is essential for younger women to be in tune with their bodies and learn to recognize any signs that may be indicative of breast cancer. Since annual screenings are not often part of preventative health plans for women younger than 40, adolescents and young adults need to alert their doctors if they suspect anything is wrong. Unfortunately, by the time a tumor in the breast can be felt, it likely has been present for some time already. Symptoms of breast cancer may include:
• Inverted nipple
• Breast lump or a lump in armpit
• Breast pain
• Changes in the skin of the breast
• Nipple discharge with or without pain
• Swollen lymph nodes
Any of these signs should be discussed with a primary care physician or a gynecologist.
Younger patients also are more likely to have a genetic connection to breast cancer. Individuals with one or more family members who were diagnosed with breast cancer are at higher risk and may want to consider screening at earlier ages.
Breast cancer is not a disease that only affects women 40 and older. Younger people can get breast cancer, and it’s often a surprise and sometimes more aggressive.
— Metro Creative
Individuals can make various changes to their lifestyles to help reduce their chances of developing certain types of cancer, including breast cancer. One thing they cannot change is their genes, prompting curiosity about the role of family history in relation to breast cancer risk.
First-degree connection
Parents pass down many things to their children, including hair color, height, and various other traits. Parents also can pass on an increased risk for breast cancer. Cancer Research UK says some people have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than the general population simply because other members of their families have had cancer. The organization says having a mother, sister or daughter (also referred to as a first-degree relative) diagnosed with breast cancer approximately doubles a woman’s risk for breast cancer. This risk grows even higher when more close relatives have breast cancer, or if a relative developed breast cancer before reaching the age of 50.
Inherited damaged genes
Johns Hopkins Medicine says about 10 percent of breast cancers are relat-
ed to inheritance of damaged genes. Several genes are associated with elevated breast cancer risk, including BRCA1 and BRCA2. Additional genes associated with an increased risk for breast cancer include PALB2, ATM, CHEK2, CDH1, STK11, PTEN, TP53, and NF1. People who have inherited a damaged gene may have a particularly high risk of developing breast cancer or other cancers, depending on the specific gene and their family history.
Getting tested
Johns Hopkins says individuals can be tested for genes that put them at risk for cancer. That is a decision that merits ample consideration, and one that should be carefully discussed with a doctor and family members. Genetic counseling can look for inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, the two most notable for increasing breast cancer risk. A blood test is typically covered by insurance companies and analysis can take a couple of weeks. More can be learned about genetic counseling and testing at www.cancer.org.
Whether or not to get genetic testing is a personal decision. However, learning the
outcome may help protect future generations. Someone with a genetic mutation has about a 50 percent chance of passing that trait on to children.
Additional risk factors
Heredity is just one risk factor for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society says White women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than some other races and ethnicities. Studies have found that taller women have a higher risk of breast cancer than shorter women, although the reasons for that are not exactly clear. In addition, women with dense breast tissue have a higher risk of breast cancer than women with average breast density. Women who began menstruating early (especially before age 12) have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer. That risk can be attributed to a longer exposure to the hormones estrogen and progesterone. The same can be said for women who experienced menopause later (typically after age 55). Various factors can increase the risk of developing breast cancer, including genetic markers and family history of the disease. — Metro Creative
