Jon Dunwell maintains hold of Iowa House District 38 seat
Preliminary results
show Republican incumbent
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Jon Dunwell has presumably been re-elected to the Iowa Legislature and will continue to be the representative of House District 38, according to the preliminary results released on Election Night by the Jasper County Auditor’s Office. The Republican incumbent received 9,035 votes, or 55.75 percent.
Which means Democratic challenger Brad Magg received 7,163 votes, or 44.20 percent. More than 16,000 votes were cast in the House District 38 race. Dunwell has served as Jasper Coun-
received 55% of the vote
ty’s representative in the Iowa Legislature for the past three years. He was first elected into the position via special election in October 2021, following the resignation of former Rep. Wes Breckenridge, who bested Dunwell in the 2020 election. Dunwell has run for the seat four times.
Upon his re-election in 2022, Dunwell was named an assistant majority leader. Outside his legislative duties, Dunwell works as a pastor
Doug Cupples keeps his seat on board of supervisors by huge margin
Unofficial results show Republican incumbent received 72% of the vote
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Doug Cupples has secured yet another term on the Jasper County Board of Supervisors, according to preliminary results released on Election Night by the auditor’s office. The Republican received 13,471 votes, or 72.14 percent, while opponent Jerry Chandler, Jr. received 5,018 votes, or 26.87 percent.
Cupples, 53, of Newton, works auto sales at Lauterbach Buick GMC and has served two terms as a county su-
pervisor. In his Q&A with Newton News, he said he is deeply concerned about issues like taxes, roads and law enforcement, and he wants to help find solutions that benefit the community.
As a county supervisor, Cupples said it is his goal to serve and improve the quality of life for everyone in Jasper County.
Chandler, 60, of Newton, owns Jerry Lee Plumbing and Heating and Chandler Construction. The lifelong Newton resident
Thad Nearmyer gets 2-year seat
on board of supervisors
Unofficial results show former Republican Party chair received 66% of the vote
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Thad Nearmyer spent years getting Republicans elected into office, but now the shoe is on the other foot. Unofficial results released on Election Night by the auditor’s office show Nearmyer, a Republican, has been elected to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors with 12,125 votes, or 66.81 percent.
Which means candidate Randy Ray, who did not run under a specific party, received 5,864 votes, or 32.31 percent. The seat was previously won by Denny Carpenter in 2022, but the late super-
visor died a month after the election. The board appointed Denny Stevenson until the next countywide election.
Nearmyer, 56, of Monroe, is a farmer and the former chairperson of the Jasper County Republican Party. For the past eight years, he has led the party to what he describes as “unprecedented success” in election of
at Gateway Church Monroe and is director of outreach and engagement at The Family Leader, which is one of the most influential conservative groups in the state.
Magg is owner of Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Prairie City and Spring City Pharmacy in Colfax. He has also served on the Colfax City Council for the past 15 years. The 38-year-old is a lifelong resident and entrepreneur of Jasper County.
At age 14, he founded Magg Family Catering, which still operates today.
Enthusiasm from the local Democratic Party and for their candidate ensured this would be a close race. Ultimately, it was decided by 10 points; Dunwell told Newton News the morning after his win that says, to some degree, that voters believe the direction the state is heading is a good direction.
“It doesn’t mean they agree with
When Magg first announced his campaign in March, he said it was the actions of lawmakers like Dunwell that inspired him to run for office. He wholeheartedly disagreed with the direction the Republican majorities were taking public education, health care and economic policies in small communities.
Jasper County’s $6.4M bond issue falls short
Public measure for secondary roads project will require supervisors to review their options
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Despite supervisors saying the $6.4 million bond issue would not raise taxes, the citizens of Jasper County voted down the public measure on Election Night. In order to pass, the bond issue needed at least 60 percent of the votes in favor. Unofficial results show the bond issue only received 58.75 percent of the votes.
According to the Liberty Avenue Campus Bond Project page on the county’s website, the bond specifically authorized Jasper County to borrow $6.4 million for the purpose of designing, constructing, equipping, furnishing and making land site improvements for a secondary roads maintenance building.
However, the passing of the bond issue would have also kickstarted a
number of other county projects for the sheriff’s office and county conservation.
So in addition to the new and upgraded facility for the engineer’s office staff, the county will gain a new training center for law enforcement, a base for the advanced life support program, outfitted classrooms for nature center and two maintenance replacement sheds in county parks.
Supervisor Brandon Talsma was disappointed with the results of the election, and he said the board of supervisors is now going to have to discuss options moving forward. They need to decide whether they want to try again for the November 2025 election or find another way to finance the secondary roads project. Following the failure of the bond issue, the supervisors may also have
MORE VOTERS ARE VOTING
Jasper County Auditor’s Office reports a 75% voter turnout, more people are registering to vote more than ever
By Christopher Braunschweig Newton News
More than 20,000 Jasper County voters participated in the 2024 general election, resulting in a 75.27 percent voter turnout. According to data from the Jasper County Audi -
tor’s Office, this most recent election actually drew the most voters, by number, than the past presidential elections in 2020 and 2016. In total, 20,305 out of 26,975 registered voters in Jasper County cast their ballots in the 2024 election. In 2020, 20,289 out of 25,656 registered voters participated in the election, a turnout of 79.07 percent; in 2016, 19,221 out of 24,601 registered voters participated in the election, a turnout of 78.13 percent. Although the overall turnout this year is lower than
in years past, there are more registered voters in Jasper County, and more of them are getting out to vote. Jasper County Auditor Jenna Jennings said the increase in voter participation was noticeable early on in this election cycle. Early voting start-
ed on Oct. 16, and that first day drew 630 voters to the auditor’s office. The next day resulted in 569 voters. The auditor’s office averaged 320 early voters per day. “Then the very last day,
VOTING | 3A
Dunwell
Provided by Jasper County
The $6.4 million bond issue failed to meet the 60 percent threshold it needed to pass, leaving the Jasper County Board of Supervisors to decide what to do next.
CUPPLES
NEARMYER
Obituaries
Timothy Russell Edwards
Nov. 5, 2024
Timothy “Tim” Russell Edwards, 69, of Newton died on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. No services are scheduled at this time. Memorials to Happy Tales Ranch and Rescue in Col-
Daughters of the American Revolution
Grinnell Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution welcomed a new member on Saturday, Oct. 12. Tammy See Kriegel of Grinnell is a descendant of John See, who was a private in the Revolutionary War.
John See of Greenbrier County, Virginia, enlisted in the Continental Army in 1776 to defend the western frontier of Virginia from incursions of hostile Indians. He was discharged after serving 12 months, but then re-enlisted for three years in Botetourt County, Virginia, in the 12th Virginia Regiment. See was with
fax may be left at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Tim, the son of Russell and Margaret (Hummel) Edwards, was born on August 14, 1955, in Newton. He grew up in Colfax and graduated from Colfax High School in 1973. Right after high school, Tim served his country in the U.S. Army. Tim lived in Des Moines for a short time before moving back to Colfax and later to Newton. He worked at Diamond Crystal, Delong Sportswear, and then at
Fareway. In 1992, Tim met Lillian Pierson and they would share their lives together for the next 32 years. He enjoyed camping, feeding the birds, rabbits, and squirrels in his yard, and mushroom hunting. He was also a talented fisherman and shot a great game of pool. Tim was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Green Bay Packers.
Tim is survived by his significant other, Lillian Pierson of Newton; step-children, Larry (Eva) Pierson of Arizona and
Christine Buffington of Ottumwa; his grandchildren, Julia (Nate) Williamson and Payton Buffington; his siblings, Tom (Melissa) Edwards of Batavia, Ty (Trinity) Edwards of Newton, Toby Edwards of Marshalltown, Terry Edwards of Clive, and Tony (Shelly) Edwards of Newton; several nieces and nephews; and his beloved fur babies, Buddy, Dane, and Sonshine. He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell Edwards and Margaret Pender and sister-in-law, Joann Edwards.
Salvation Army to host Thanksgiving meal
Celebrate Thanksgiving by attending a Community Thanksgiving meal with your family from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 28 at the Salvation Army, 301 N. Second Ave. E.
in Newton. Enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal or you can also take your meal home. RSVP before Nov. 22 at 641-7926131 or call for more information.
Affordable health screenings coming to Newton Club News
George Washington in winter quarters at Valley Forge. He fought at the Battle of Monmouth under Washington, the Battle of Stony Point under General Anthony Wayne and the Battle of Germantown under Washington. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Its members are descended from patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic back-
ground, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible to join. The Grinnell Chapter is named after Josiah
Help the DNR track hemorrhagic disease
Hemorrhagic disease, commonly referred to as EHD or Bluetongue, has been impacting deer in Iowa for more than a decade, with severe outbreaks occurring in 2012, 2013, 2019 and 2023. As a way to better understand disease impacts, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has created an online tool where hunters and landowners can report dead deer resulting from hemorrhagic disease outbreaks.
The new reporting tool, plus an annual dashboard, is linked off the Deer Hunting and Deer Health Webpage (www.iowadnr.gov/deer). Hemorrhagic disease has previously gone underreported and this new tool will help to simplify the process, as well as improve the accuracy of the number of deer and local areas impacted. Submitting these reports assists the DNR in understanding and managing Iowa’s deer populations.
Characteristics of hemorrhagic disease are
• Mortalities generally occurring between July and September, occasionally later during unseasonably warm weather
• Finding more than one deer carcass
• Discovering carcasses near a water source
Outbreak severity has varied from year to year and there is no effective treatment or known prevention for wild deer. Hemorrhagic disease typically doesn’t impact county deer populations uniformly, meaning that deer on one property may experience a severe outbreak while deer on a neighboring property do not.
Generally, deer populations in areas where outbreaks occurred have recovered to near normal levels within 2-3 years with no additional management actions. However, counties with low or declining deer populations that experience an outbreak may need additional help to facilitate recovery.
the founder of the city of Grinnell. Members come from Grinnell, Newton, Montezuma and surrounding communities.
Residents living in and around the Newton area can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and other chronic, serious conditions with affordable screenings by life Line Screening.
Immanuel Baptist Church will host this community event Dec. 3 at 1300 N. Fourth Ave. E. in Newton. Screenings can check for:
• The level of plaque buildup in your arteries, related to risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and over -
all vascular health.
• HDL and LDL
Cholesterol levels
• Diabetes risk
• Kidney and thyroid function and more
Screenings are affordable and convenient.
Special package pricing starts at $159, but consultants will work with you to create a package that is right for you, based on your age and risk factors.
Call 1-877-2371287 or visit www. lifelinescreening.com. Pre-registration is required.
Jasper County Elderly Nutrition receives support
Sue Nolin, retail manager and Jamie Bennett, financial service representative from First Interstate Bank presented Kelli Van Manen, program director for Jasper County Elderly (Senior) Nutrition, a $1,000 check in support of the congregate and home delivered meal program. In addition to the generous donation, employees of FIB donate their time to deliver meals on Tuesdays in Newton.
In FY 2024, the Elderly (Senior) Nutrition program provided 80,138 meals to Jasper County older adults. From July –September 2024, 21,083 meals have been provided.
Elderly (Senior) Nutrition is a Jasper County-funded program and also receives financial support from Aging Resources of Central Iowa, donations from meal participants and family, Medicaid, memorials, dona-
tions from organizations and fundraisers. Funds have also been received from EFSP (Emergency Food and Shelter Program) through United Way in recent years.
To find out how you can attend a congregate site, receive home-delivered meals, donate financially or volunteer to deliver meals, contact Jasper County Elderly (Senior) Nutrition at 641-7927102.
B. Grinnell,
Submitted Photo
From left: Nancy Bender, Registrar; Tammy Kriegel; Linda Hatch, Regent
Submitted Photo
Left, Kelli Van Manen, Jasper County Elderly Nutrition Program Director, accepts a check from First Interstate Bank representatives Sue Nolin and Jamie Bennett.
Dunwell
Continuedfrompage1
him that people realize there is a teamwork that needs to happen with government entities, which Dunwell said he is involved with behind the scenes.
Cupples
Continuedfrompage1
Nearmyer
Continuedfrompage1 every aspect of it,” he said. “There is an uncomfortableness when you address school issues and budget issues and AEA issues. But they recognize there has to be some fiscal responsibility because when you have that you create opportunity.”
To Dunwell, the ideas of cutting taxes, fiscal responsibility and protecting freedoms are things that resonate with Jasper County voters. He also felt the results told
Bond
“I spent a lot of time engaging with people in conversations,” he said. “We’re going to continue that process. I’ve got right now some constituent bills … And I’ll be meeting with our schools, meeting with our city councils and meeting with our supervisors over the next couple months.” Dunwell calls it a “continuation of busyness.”
Continuedfrompage1
to reevaluate how the county will pay for the other projects that would have come online if the bond had passed. Talsma said it may have to require supervisors to shift capital projects around, use property tax dollars or bond for them.
“But bonding for anything less than $1 million when you’re an entity of Jasper County’s size doesn’t really make fiscal sense,” he said. “It’s going to cost us more money to do the bonding than what we’d be bonding for. So it doesn’t necessary take the projects off the table. But it changes the conversation.”
Voting
Continuedfrompage1
which was Monday of this week (Nov. 4), we did 660 people that day,” Jennings said. “So that was our highest … We’ve never seen lines as long as they were in the courthouse. On the last day at 4 o’clock, they went out the door, down the steps and they were through the first floor waiting.”
As the commissioner of elections in Jasper County, it is exciting for Jennings to see so many people participate. Every auditor wants to get as close to 100 percent participation as they can.
City of Colfax Colfax residents are reminded the City’s snow ordinance is in effect November 1 through March 31.
has run for elected offices in the past. In 2018, he unsuccessfully ran for county supervisor, only earning 1,080 votes among the four other candidates who received between 8,241 and 5,213 votes.
Just this past year Chandler ran for the at-large seat on the Newton City Council. He received 517 votes, about 200 or so votes behind the winner Joel Mills. He is also a repeat visitor at city council meetings and frequently voices his opinions on city matters.
Prior to Election Day, and perhaps even up to it, Talsma had received comments from citizens saying they had no idea the $6.4 bond issue was on the ballot. For the past few months, Jasper County has held numerous in-person and virtual town hall meetings to help spread the word and answer any questions.
Attendance at these town hall meetings was “abysmal,” Talsma said. The highest turnout he could recall was one of the first meetings at Prairie City in which five or six people showed up. The Jasper County website had a bright red banner across the masthead for many months. Pages of details were published. Still, it seems it was not enough. Talsma said the county decided against
It is a lot of work for the auditor’s office staff, and they like to see their efforts rewarded with high numbers.
For Jennings, this was her presidential election as county auditor. Compared to her first local election as county auditor last year, the main difference is the amount of people. Typically, local elections have much lower turnouts, but yet there seems to be a lot more work that goes into those types of elections.
“You’re dealing with all the cities and all the schools and crossing districts. It just seems like there is a lot more preparation that goes into that and getting your ballots ready and making sure you’re not missing somebody,” Jennings said. “This year, it’s still a lot of work, but it’s more the people you’re seeing.”
To see more people are voting in Jasper County is gratifying for Jennings. It is important for people to vote, she said. Her staff met with people in their 60s who said this was their first time voting.
Republican candidates. By 2018, for instance, the entire board of supervisors had turned red.
His presume win alongside incumbent Doug Cupples maintains that Republican stronghold at the courthouse. During his tenure as GOP chair, Nearmyer also helped get Republicans elected to Senate and House seats in the Iowa Legislature. He officially stepped down as chair this year.
Ray, 67, of Newton, is a farmer and entrepreneur. As a lifelong resident of Newton, Ray said in his Q&A for Newton News that he ran for supervisor because he believed every resident’s voice
sending out any mailers this time due to the issues that occurred from the bond issue for the administration building. Many residents complained they received the flyers late, causing Talsma to publicly apologize for the mistake.
Jasper County even held an open house of the Liberty Avenue Yard.
“We weren’t trying to be secretive about it,” Talsma said. “We believed in these projects. I believed in these projects. As a mater of fact, I felt like the more we could get our message out there the better it would be for us … I don’t know what we could have done different. I’m all ears if anyone has any ideas.”
Talsma said the county did not want to put the bond issue on a ballot that
matters. He said it was crucial for the county to prioritize essential services and minimize wasteful spending.
Following Nearmyer’s win, the presumed supervisor-elect said he was feeling good but it was not a huge shock to him. He has seen how organized Republicans can be in Jasper County elections. But it was still a different dynamic to be waiting for the results to see if he had won.
“Throughout the campaign it’s been different because I felt like I was having a hard time adjusting to being a candidate and balance campaigning versus working,” Nearmyer said. “That was a challenge for me … But I’m ready for the challenge of being a county supervisor. I look forward to working for the people.”
would have a low turnout election, such as a school/city election cycle. The county wanted to have a higher turnout election cycle. Jasper County saw a more than 75 percent turnout this year.
“So I think the next phase of the conversation is, with less than two percent is this something we want to make a run at again next year? Or mid-term elections two years from now? Or are the needs of the current facility that dire that we just say, ‘OK it didn’t pass. Let’s use reserve account funds,’” Talsma said.
The chair of the board of supervisors felt Jasper County went above and beyond to try and get its message across.
“We felt like we had a good message,” Talsma said. “Voters didn’t agree. It is what it is.”
Jennings said the county auditor’s office also had numerous people register to vote. At last count, it was 240 people.
“I don’t know exactly how many people registered the day of — we’re still putting that information in — but we picked up a lot of voters in this county in just that three weeks,” Jennings said. “I think people are watching the news. This was a hype election. I expect it to always be crazy on a presidential election.”
The volume of voters in a general election is vastly different than local elections. Ideally, Jennings would like to see
much more participation in those city and school board races, which are just as important if not more important than the presidential election. So what can done?
Education would be a great start. Jennings said a lot of people who live in the country think that just because they live outside city limits they do not have a say in the school board races. Which just isn’t true. School district limits are much larger and very much include voters in more rural areas.
“I try to push that you should vote. Even though you live in the country, you are in a school district of some sort,” Jennings said. “People who live in the country should get out and vote more because they are in a school district and their vote should be heard. Your tax dollars go to the schools as much as it comes to us.”
Jennings said the more people get involved in their local elections, the more informed they will be. The auditor’s office had the assistance of
145 volunteers this past election. She strongly encouraged people to volunteer to learn what happens behind the scenes and how the voting process works.
“I had a gal come in last week and she asked if there was anywhere I could use her because she wanted to be part of the process and see how it works,” she said. “I told her, ‘How about joining the absentee team?’ She said sure. She came in and worked on Tuesday and she was like, ‘This is an eye-opener.’”
Christopher Braunschweig/ Newton News Voters fill out their ballots during Election Day on Nov. 5 inside a precinct at the American Legion Post 111 in Newton.
The Jasper County Auditor’s Office reported a 75 percent voter turnout this year.
PCM football back in familiar place
The PCM football team is doing it again. The Class 2A No. 2 Mustangs have made it back to the state semifinals and will put their undefeated record on the line inside the UNI-Dome on Nov. 16. But just how good has PCM been this year?
The Mustangs are 11-0 for only the third time since 2007 and are in the state semifinals for the third time since 2018, the season they went 13-0 and won the 2A championship.
“It feels great. You always dream about doing this as a kid and we finally get to do it,” said junior Shay Burns, who rushed for a career-high 209 yards in the team’s quarterfinal win.
Burns will play in the state semifinals. Just like his older brother Sage did back in 2018 and 2020.
There also was a Van Dyke on the 2018 and 2020 squads. Senior Trenner Van Dyke enters the state semifinals with a 2A-best 24 tackles for loss. He also ranks second in the class with 13 sacks.
Van Dyke collected four sacks in the quarterfinal shutout against Mid-Prairie and was part of an offensive line unit which helped the Mustangs rush for 361 yards. “It feels really good. There was a lot of motivation from last year,” Van Dyke said. “We were so close. It feels good to win this one.”
PCM was eliminated by Van Meter
Aid restrictions hold Americans back
By Brazil Jefferson
I loved my childhood. My dad worked hard and had two jobs while my mom stayed home with my sister and me. We had a nice house and a middle-class lifestyle. I never even thought about poverty and struggle.
But when my parents divorced, I suddenly had a very intimate relationship with poverty. My mom hadn’t been to college and couldn’t replace my dad’s wages. Meanwhile, I began to struggle in high school and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. We got by because we had Medicaid, housing vouchers, and food stamps. And with my diagnosis, I’ve been able to receive Social Security Disability Insurance. But now that I’m an adult, I want to live independently, and SSDI isn’t anywhere near enough.
Eventually, I was able to earn my bachelor’s degree. But due to the serious nature of my disability, my employment options are limited. And complicating matters, if I start to earn “too much” — even if it’s not actually enough to make ends meet — I’ll lose my benefits and end up poorer than I was before.
No matter what I do, it seems I’m stuck — since my parents’ divorce when I was a child, I’ve been in “the system.” As much of a blessing as the aid is, it can depend a lot on the whims of whoever’s in power to make decisions about funding and eligibility for life-saving assistance.
Right now, for example, Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) — chair of the House Agriculture Committee, which has jurisdiction over food programs — has a plan to cut $30 billion from SNAP.
When I hear plans like this to defund assistance programs even more, I feel hopeless. I wish these lawmakers understood how hard people like me work to do the right thing, to get ahead, to give back — and how many obstacles their decisions put in our way.
The social safety net needs to be more, not less, responsive to our situations. The more our leaders restrict and defund programs, the more we are stigmatized, stymied, and made hungry, homeless, and sick. More restrictions keep us in precarious situations and keep us from thriving.
I’ve had more obstacles to overcome than many. Now I want to be able to help others, to be married and have children, to give back as a social worker. But that path seems unreachable as long as my financial situation — and the threat of losing the other support I need if I earn just a little money — makes my independence impossible.
So, I volunteer. I tell my story so lawmakers and community members can hear and understand.
Here’s what I want our leaders to know: We live and die by the mistakes they make. Please prioritize the health and well-being of our nation’s families who just want to have the same opportunities to thrive as those who’ve been fortunate enough to escape many of the challenges that life has hurled at us.
Don’t require us to be destitute without hope before we can access the assistance we need. Help us to get to the point where we can be truly independent — then we can help others get there too.
At some time or another, most of us in life need some help. When lawmakers realize that, the nation will be stronger.
BrazilJeffersonis a dedicated, passionate anti-poverty advocate and volunteer with RESULTS from Victorville, Calif.
in last year’s quarterfinal. The Bulldogs defeated the Mustangs, 31-21, before going on to win the 2A title.
“The game against Van Meter showed me last year with everyone we had coming back that we could be this good,” PCM head football coach Greg Bonnett said.
The other three teams in the 2A state semifinals are top-ranked West Lyon, third-ranked Spirit Lake and fourthranked Van Meter.
The Mustangs open with Spirit Lake at 10 a.m. on Nov. 16 inside the UNIDome in Cedar Falls. The Indians’ only loss came against 3A quarterfinalist Algona by two points.
West Lyon (11-0) is the other undefeated team in 2A and it gets Van Meter, whose only loss came against 3A state semifinalist Humboldt by seven points.
PCM also played against a tough 3A team in the non-district season. Nevada spent most of the season ranked in the top 10. The Mustangs won that game by 23 points.
“I don’t think last year was on our minds that much,” said Van Gorp about losing in last year’s quarterfinals. “We kept our one-game mentality. We knew we had a strong chance to make it, but we had to stay positive.
“The Nevada game kind of showed us and everyone else who we were.”
Van Gorp leads 2A with 42 total touchdowns this season. He ranks second in the class with 27 passing touchdowns and has thrown only two picks.
The Mustangs lead 2A with 77 touchdowns and they have compiled 4,664 offensive yards and 5,596 all-purpose yards.
The defense ranks ninth in 2A with 68 tackles for loss, 11th with 21 sacks and tied for fourth with 13 picks.
Senior Finn Wilson leads PCM with 57 tackles this fall. He could see this run coming over the summer.
“I loved what we were doing in the offseason and the summer workouts went great,” Wilson said. “The Nevada win though set the mood on everything.”
YOUR VIEW
Consider registering as an organ donor
November is Eye Donation Month, and I encourage all Iowans to register as organ donors. You can do this when you get your driver’s license, your hunting, fishing, or trapping license, or by clicking register now at iowalionseyebank.org/
Anyone can be an eye donor: your blood type does not have to match. It does not matter how old you are, and all major religions encourage donation. The cornea
Voters need educated to make their decisions
The election is over and whether you agree with the results or not, we live in a democracy and voters did what they were supposed to do. They made their voices heard. So how about we all stop fighting each other and actually start listening to each other and get some things done.
I was not surprised the Jasper County bond issue failed, however. I voted in favor of this bond since I’m of the belief if we need to make improvements to our infrastructure, then that’s what needs to be done.
is the only part of the eye that can be transplanted, so many eye conditions such as near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and previous cataract or Lasik surgery do not prevent an individual from becoming a donor.
Donated eye tissue, whether healthy or impaired, also is needed to continue research of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, numerous inherited eye diseases, and retinal disorders.
Cornea blindness affects nearly 12 million people worldwide. Transplants are 95 percent effective, and there is no waiting list for a transplant in the United States, thanks to a robust eye banking net-
There are a couple reasons I think this measure failed.
One, voter apathy. Talsma said the turnout for the public meetings about this bond was “abysmal.” Which seems to be par for the course around here.
Residents just don’t care enough about city and county leadership to take part in public meetings, to ask questions and voice their opinions. And no, ranting on social media does not count as civic engagement. Voters were voting on something they really didn’t know much about.
So when you add voters’ apathy to the board deciding to not even make the effort through flyers to educate residents about this bill, this is what you get. And it doesn’t even matter that taxes would not be raised with this bond. Most voters believed their taxes would go up
work that includes Iowa Lions Eye Bank.
Iowa Lions Eye Bank recovers, evaluates, processes, and distributes ocular tissue from all 99 counties in the state to researchers, surgeons, and other professionals across the United States. In 2025, Iowa Lions Eye Bank will mark 70 years of preserving and restoring sight.
This Eye Donation Month, please sign up as a donor, and tell your loved ones of your wishes. For more information, visit iowalionseyebank.org
Esther Baker, Executive Director Iowa Lions Eye Bank Coralville
and no serious effort was made to make them believe otherwise.
Two, haven’t Republicans for the past few years been harping on the fact that prices are too high, that people are struggling to make ends meet, having to choose between gas for their cars and food for their kids?
So our Republican board of supervisors shouldn’t be too surprised that voters saw a bond issue they believed, rightly or wrongly, would raise their taxes and said, “No thanks.” You reap what you sow. Maybe next time our elected officials could do a better job of educating voters and stop making them angry and afraid of every hiccup in the economy.
John Moore Newton
SHARE YOUR VIEW
Letters to the Jasper County Tribune 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. Submit letters to news@jaspercountytribune. com or Newton
P.O. Box 967, Newton, Iowa 50208
Troy Hyde This & That
NSNWR Visitor Center expected to be closed for an extended time
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge keeps the safety of visitors and staff as a top priority at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As a result of severe storm damage in late July 2024, the NSNWR Visitor Center, also known as the Prairie Learning Center, will continue to be closed to the public out of concern for safety. This closure is in place until further notice while our staff develop a mitigation plan.
Staff is relieved to report that no injuries were caused by the storm. However, the visitor center was greatly damaged by hail, which com-
promised the roof and caused extensive flooding throughout the building. As a result, the center will remain closed until further notice while our staff develops a mitigation plan.
Public trails and the fivemile Prairie Wildlife Drive that enters the bison enclosure, remain open from sunrise to sunset. Restrooms are located at the visitor center and Oak Savanna Trail parking lots.
While staff is saddened by the closure of the visitor center, they are focusing on the positive and will continue to engage with the community.
Alzheimer’s
They will adapt programming and volunteer opportunities to reflect this change. Together, refuge staff, volunteers, partners and community members have nurtured a thriving prairie and vital habitat for native wildlife.
The commitment to this
Association offers free resources to families caring for loved ones
November is National Family Caregivers and National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
During National Family Caregivers and National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month in November, and all year round, the Alzheimer’s Association offers free resources to families caring for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Caring for those living with this disease poses special challenges for family caregivers, and no caregiver should face this disease alone.
Currently, there are nearly 100,000 caregivers in Iowa providing care to more than 62,000 people living with Alzheimer’s.
The Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter offers many free resources for families facing this disease including:
• 50 local caregiver support groups in communities across the state and a virtual group for young-adult caregivers on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
• In-person and virtual education programs, including a 7-part series to help empower caregivers throughout the holiday season on each Thursday at 11 a.m. via Zoom from Nov. 7 – Dec. 26.
• 24/7 Helpline – 800272-3900 – staffed by master’s level trained clinicians available 24/7, 365 days of the year to answer any question about the disease.
Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s takes longer, lasts longer, is more person-
al and extensive than most other diseases, and takes a heavy toll on the health of the caregivers themselves. As a result, many dementia caregivers neglect their own health needs and that can lead to a crisis. The Alzheimer’s Association is here to make sure dementia caregivers have all the tools and support they need to care for not only their loved one living with the disease, but themselves as well. Visit alz. org/iowa for a full list of local care and support resources.
Alzheimer’s Caregiving: By the Numbers
• More than 11 million people in the U.S. are providing unpaid care to a person living with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
• In 2023, these caregivers provided an estimated 18.4 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $346.6 billion.
• 83 percent of the help provided to older adults in the U.S. comes from family members, friends or other unpaid caregivers.
HOWARD ST. CHRISTIAN CHURCH
(Disciples of Christ)
Pastor Tom Burns
Howard & Locust St., Colfax Office - 674-3746 Church Cell - 971-0569
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Adult & Wired
Word Adult Sunday school classes; 10 a.m. Fellowship Time;10:30 a.m. Worship, in person or online via YouTube
WEDNESDAY - 3:30 p.m. After school elementary youth; 6:10 ChiRho and CYF youth supper/ youth group
THIRD SUNDAY of month - Marathon Sunday includes elders, board, potluck and food pantry
FIRST MONDAY of month - WIC appointments
IRA UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Michael Omundson
SUNDAY - 9:30 a.m. Church
Alzheimer’s Association
• Nearly half of all caregivers (48 percent) who provide help to older adults do so for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
• Among primary caregivers of people with dementia, over half take care of their parents.
• Approximately twothirds of caregivers are women, and one-third of dementia caregivers are daughters.
• Approximately one-quarter of dementia caregivers are “sandwich generation” caregivers, meaning they care not only for an aging parent, but also for children under age 18.
• The total lifetime cost of care for a person living with dementia is estimated at almost $400,000 ($394,683) with 70 percent of these costs borne by family caregivers in the forms of unpaid caregiving and out-of-pocket expenses.
• 41 percent of caregivers have a household income of $50,000 or less.
work will continue, allowing visitors to connect with, enjoy, and learn about the endangered tallgrass prairie.
The community will be updated as more information is available. You can refer to the refuge website for the latest information.
Community Calendar
Send items to news@jaspercountytribune.com
THURSDAY
• Baxter Garden Club meets at 7 p.m. second Thursday of month, March to December, at the Baxter Community Building
MONDAY
• Colfax Historical Society meets at 7 p.m. the third Monday of month at the museum
THURSDAY
• Mingo Men’s Club meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of month at the Mingo Community Center
Zebra mussels found in Saylorville Lake
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has recently confirmed zebra mussels in Saylorville Lake, after concerned boat owners contacted the DNR while removing their boats from Saylorville for the winter.
Staff with the Iowa DNR confirmed the presence of zebra mussels on multiple boats in the Saylorville Marina area and will conduct additional monitoring around Saylorville Lake next summer to determine the abundance and distribution of zebra mussels.
“The zebra mussels probably arrived on or in a boat that had picked up them up from an infested water body,” said Kim Bogenschutz, the DNR’s Aquatic Invasive Species Program coordinator.
This discovery also serves as a reminder for all boat and lake property owners to check their boats, docks, and lifts for zebra mussels before storing for the winter. To date, zebra mussels have been found in 18 Iowa lakes and nine rivers, mostly downstream of infested lakes, including the Mississippi, Missouri, and Big Sioux rivers.
Zebra mussels look like small, D-shaped clams that have alternating light and dark bands. Most are less than one inch long. They are filter feeders that can form dense clusters as they attach to hard underwater surfaces. In the case of large infestations, they may interfere with aquatic food chains, kill native mussels, clog water intakes, increase algae blooms, and cover beaches with dead shells. Currently there is no effective treatment to control zebra mussels once they have infested a lake.
“Young zebra mussels are microscopic and can be unintentionally transported with water in live wells,
Church Schedules
service; 10:15 a.m. Sunday school (communion first Sunday)
METZ COMMUNITY CHURCH 3253 W. 62nd St. S., Newton Pastor David Rex 641-521-4354
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10:10 a.m. Worship Last Saturday of month - 8 a.m. Men’s Breakfast
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Colfax Minister, Pastor Cody Dyer Church Office 674-4165
SUNDAY, Nov. 17 - 9 a.m. Fellowship; 9:15 a.m. Bible Education Classes; 10:25 a.m. Message by Pastor Danny DuRocher, Director, Spring Valley Bible Camp; 5 p.m. Free Community Thanksgiving Supper at First Baptist Church, 24 S. Walnut in Colfax. RSVP to 515-674-4165 if you plan to attend
TUESDAY, Nov. 19 - 3:30 p.m. Women’s Prayer and Coffee
Busy Bee Quilters and Fresh Encounter Prayer; 5:45 p.m. AWANA Family Meal; 6:25 p.m. AWANA Clubs
SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH Newton, Iowa
SATURDAY - 4 p.m. Mass
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Mass
COLFAX FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
S. Locust & W. Division St. Office - 674-3782
Rev. Phil Dicks pastor
SUNDAY - 10:30 a.m. Sunday School, Family Worship - Today is Coat Sunday
HOPE ASSEMBLY OF GOD
126 E. Howard Rev. Paul Avery, pastor Church: 674-3700 hopeassemblyofgod@yahoo.com
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10 a.m. Worship
WEDNESDAY - 7 p.m. Evening Service
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
CATHOLIC CHURCH
302 E. Howard St., Colfax Fr. Ron Hodges 515-674-3711
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Mass
DAILY MASS - 8 a.m.
MINGO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Rev. Phil Dicks 515-689-4926
bilges, ballast or bait buckets,” she said.
“That’s why draining all water is a critical step in preventing the spread of zebra mussels.”
Adult zebra mussels can attach to boats, trailers and aquatic vegetation. Boaters and anglers can help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species to new water bodies by cleaning, draining and drying their boats and equipment after each time on the water.
• CLEAN any plants, animals, or mud from your boat and equipment before you leave a waterbody.
• DRAIN water from all equipment (motor, live well, bilge, transom well, bait bucket) before you leave a waterbody.
• DRY anything that comes into contact with water (boats, trailers, equipment, boots, clothing, dogs). Before you move to another waterbody either: Spray your boat and trailer with hot or high-pressure water; or Dry your boat and equipment for at least five days.
• Never release plants, fish or animals into a water body unless they came out of that waterbody and always empty unwanted bait in the trash.
It is illegal to possess or transport aquatic invasive species or to transport any aquatic plants on water-related equipment in Iowa. Iowa law also requires boaters to drain all water from boats and equipment before they leave a water access and to keep drain plugs removed or opened during transport. It is also illegal to introduce any live fish or plants, except for hooked bait, into public waters.
Learn more about aquatic invasive species, including a list of infested waters in the current Iowa Fishing Regulations or at www.iowadnr.gov/ais.
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Worship service (Sunday school not meeting at this time)
ASHTON CHAPEL 8887 W. 122nd St. N., Mingo
Pastors: Larry Craig & Mark Eddy
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10 a.m. Worship
BETHANY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 5627 N. 95th Ave. W., Baxter 641-227-3402
Pastor Chris Hayward
SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday School
(Sunday after Labor Day to second Sunday in May); 10 a.m. Sunday Worship. First Sunday communion. All are welcome. baxterbethanyucc.org
EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH BAXTER Mike Mclintock, Pastor
SUNDAY - 9:15 a.m. Sunday School; 10 a.m. Worship; 6 p.m. Awanas WEDNESDAYS - 1st & 3rd - 6:30 p.m. Mens Bible Study 2nd & 4th - 6:30 p.m. Men’s and Womens Bible Study
THURSDAYS 10 a.m. - Womens Bible Study
BAXTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
218 S. Main, Baxter Pastor Ben Spera Church: 641-227-3382
SUNDAY - 10 a.m. Worship WEDNESDAY - 6 p.m. Bible Study THIRD THURSDAY of month6:30 p.m. Theology on Tap at Bea’s Place on Main Street Check us out on Facebook and baxtercongregational.com
CORNERSTONE BIBLE
Baxter’s Russell punches ticket to state diving meet
Camryn Russell
Baxter junior Camryn Russell qualified for the state diving meet for the third time in her prep career on Oct. 7. Russell won the regional championship with 430.6 points. That was the fifth-best state-qualifying score.
Hostetter, Sykes lead Colfax-Mingo football on all-district squad
The Colfax-Mingo passing game was the best in Class 1A District 6 this past season.
And the efforts from the Tigerhawk football team’s passing attack netted them a trio of first- and second-team selections to the all-district squad.
Seniors Shane Hostetter and Caden Sykes led C-M with first-team recognition, while freshmen Chase Trotter and Camden Cunningham and senior Xavier Woods were second-team picks.
The honorable mention choices were seniors Isaiah Baucom and Brock Nichol and junior Cason Fitch.
All-district recognition is based on statistics inside district play only. Colfax-Mingo finished 1-4 in those games.
Hostetter earned first-team all-district at quarterback after leading the district with 937 passing yards and 56 completions. He also ranked tied for fourth with 10 total touchdowns, finished third with eight passing TDs and was eighth with 233 rushing yards.
Hostetter added one rushing touchdown and six interceptions.
Sykes and Trotter were 1-2 in both catches and receiving yards.
Sykes earned first-team honors as a wide receiver after grabbing a district-best 19 passes for a league-high 381 receiving yards. He tied for second with four receiving TDs, ranked third with 586 all-purpose yards and finished ninth with 484 offensive yards.
Sykes rushed for 103 yards and one TD on 14 carries.
Trotter earned second-team honors as a wide receiver after ranking second in the district with 18 catches and 315 yards. His three receiving TDs were seventh.
Cunningham was a second-team linebacker, while Woods earned his all-district second team honor as a defensive back.
Cunningham ranked fourth in the league with 32.5 tackles and his 7.5 tackles for loss led the district.
Woods finished with 14.5 tackles.
Baucom rushed for 135 yards and one TD on 28 carries, Fitch finished with 19.5 tackles and Nichol posted 16.5 tackles.
Baxter junior Camryn Russell punched her ticket to the state diving meet as part of the Grinnell/BGM/Baxter swimming and diving team. Russell won the regional meet on Nov. 7 and looks to finish in the top 10 at state for the third straight season.
Jasper County Tribune
Hostetter
Cunningham Sykes
Trotter Woods
Nichol
Baucom
Supervisors would like to have them
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Hand-drawn blueprints of the Jasper County Courthouse will be preserved for a price much cheaper than initially anticipated.
During the Nov. 5 board of supervisors meeting, maintenance director Adam Sparks said the blueprints are more than 100 years old and are not replaceable. The prints themselves are very delicate and are barely held together with tape. Sparks showed them to supervisors back in August 2023.
Jasper County has two options to preserve the blueprints: 1) Keep the blueprints preserved in a box that would be put away from public view, or 2) Preserve them in a booklet that would then be viewable from somewhere in the
courthouse. Sparks said there are about 50 to 75 sheets of blueprints that need preserved.
“People could come in and actually see all the prints that are left,” Sparks said. “So it’s kind of doing the same thing to them it’s just at the end what we’re going to do with them. Put them in a box for people not to see down the road? Or put them in this book that people can view and flip through?”
To prepare for the preservation of the blueprints, Sparks set aside about $20,000 not knowing what it would really cost. But the quotes he received came back between $1,500 to $3,000.
Supervisors thought it was well worth it to preserve them and to present them in a way that residents can look at them.
The board of supervisors voted 3-0 to approve the $3,000 preservation of the courthouse blueprints.
Learn possible signs of radon exposure
Some potential symptoms of radon exposure that should be brought to the attention of a physician
Exposure to radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer among people who never smoked cigarettes or other tobacco products. The Environmental Protection Agency says radon accounts for about 21,000 deaths from lung cancer each year.
The EPA notes that radon is a naturally occurring gas that is present in outdoor environments in small amounts. It results from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. Radon can prove dangerous when it is concentrated. Radon may enter homes and other buildings built on soil with natural uranium deposits through cracks in floors or walls, or through gaps in foundations and around pipes where radon becomes trapped and concentrated.
According to the American Cancer Society, when radon is inhaled, it exposes the lungs to
small amounts of radiation that may damage the cells in the lining of the lungs. Over time, this may progress into lung cancer. That is why it is essential to confirm that a home is safe from radon and be aware of any possible symptoms that may indicate its presence. Unfortunately, there are no immediate signs or symptoms to indicate radon exposure. Also, radon itself is colorless and odorless. However, the following are some potential symptoms of radon exposure that should be brought to the attention of a physician.
• Breathing issues: Respiratory problems may form from radon exposure. Frequent bouts of bronchitis or pneumonia should be questioned.
• Raspy voice: Repeated exposure to radon may cause the voice to sound hoarse or raspy. Non-smokers should be particularly concerned if their voices
change.
• Muscle loss: Radon exposure may result in a reduction in overall muscle mass. If tasks suddenly seem harder or nor-
mal activities cause excessive fatigue, radon may be to blame.
• Chest pain: Radon exposure is one of many potential causes of chest pain, which should be
addressed by a doctor.
National Radon Defense says radon-related symptoms typically do not turn up until a person has cancer or is on the cusp of developing the disease. That is why it is essential to test for radon so that these health issues do not develop. Homeowners can purchase radon tests and do them on their own.
A radon contractor also can determine what level of radon is present in a home and suggest a radon mitigation system if high levels are detected.
The ACS says no widely available medical tests measure exposure to radon, but people should speak with a doctor if they suspect they’ve been exposed to radon.
Radon is dangerous in high amounts, but people can test for radon levels in their homes and schedule annual health checkups to keep them safer.
— Metro Creative
Metro Creative
Radon may enter homes and other buildings built on soil with natural uranium deposits through cracks in floors or walls
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune Jasper County Supervisor Brandon Talsma looks through old blueprints of the courthouse during a past work session.
The Jasper County Board of Adjustment will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, November 20th of 2024 at 4 P.M. at the Jasper County Administration Building located at 315 W 3rd St N, Newton, Iowa 50208. The purpose of this hearing is to review and act upon a Variance Request (V-2024-009) by Denise Ellenwood to allow a lot size of less than 10 acres in the Agricultural district which is defined in the Jasper County Zoning Ordinance #04F Section 5.8 Area, Height and Yard Requirements This request pertains to the following parcel 10.32.400.004. Please call our office with any questions at 641-792-3084 Kevin Luetters Director of Community Development `November 14
at the Jasper County Courthouse between 8:00am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday November 14
Mechanic, Small engine mechanic needed for growing outdoor power equipment business.
Work is mostly on mowing equipment ranging from commercial zero-turns, lawn tractors, push mowers, and handheld equipment.
Position is full-time year round. Experience with hydraulic drive systems and electrical is a plus. We stock a large inventory of parts and order daily so you can get the job done.
We have the best lifts and service tools in the industry to help you do your job safely and efficiently.
We offer training for the engines and equipment that we sell. Training is offered onsite via computer resources as well as hands on work.
We also pay our technicians to attend local factory training when and where available to keep up on the latest technology and certifications.
We are a family owned business that has always had a
