PCM-06-26-2025 by Shaw Media

Explorer PCM

Nothing compares to the delight of a bike ride

Corn Spokes Bike Co., now open in Monroe, features bicycle rentals, sales and service

By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer

Are you wanting to hop on a bicycle and take a ride down the Red Rock Prairie Trail, but need a little help?

Look no further than Corn Spokes Bike Co. in Monroe. Located on the corner of Taylor and Commerce Streets, the bike shop features rentals, sales and service for all things cycling.

“We have new and used kids bikes, traditional bikes and electric bikes,” owner Jenny Van Gelder said. “We have a couple of e-bikes for rentals and we also service bikes and have accessories.”

Jenny Van Gelder, along with her husband Matt and son Elliot, have owned

the building that formerly housed the Munson Sinclair service station for a little while. After the previous tenant left, they brainstormed what they could do with the commercial space on the square. Matt had a friend that got him into riding a few years ago and it sparked an idea for the available building.

“I became more passionate about it,” Matt said. “I tried to share it with my family, do family rides on all of the paved trails around and find some place fun to eat, which helps motivate.”

Since setting up shop, the family has been busier than they anticipated with the community coming out in force to

BIKE SHOP | 2

Jasper and Marion counties to share costs of bridge replacement

Engineer estimates counties will pay $100K each for bridge on County Line Road

By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer

Jasper County formed an agreement with Marion County for the replacement of a bridge along the County Line Road, or South 128th Avenue, over a branch of the South Skunk River. A memorandum of understanding was approved this past week by the supervisors, which splits the costs of the bridge 50-50.

County Engineer Michael Frietsch said the bridge — classified as Bridge S33 — is located south of Galesburg and east of East 84th Street South. The single-span steel beam bridge will span 50 feet and 24.5 feet wide. The bridge will also have a reinforced poured concrete deck set over steel backwall abutments.

“A 50-footer should be adequate for that particular location,” Frietsch said. “So we’re looking at about $100,000 our share and Marion County $100,000 their share. So it’s going to be about a $200,000 total project. We have

that currently scheduled to try to get up this fall. I’ll probably put out the steel package in July.” Marion County already paid for and authorized the geotechnical

investigations and soil samplings for the bridge, which is a practice nearly every bridge project has SHARE | 3

Bohannan makes third run for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District

Democratic candidate announces her campaign for the 2026 election cycle

By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer

History shows that just because a candidate makes multiple attempts to win an election doesn’t mean they can’t eventually pull through.

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks lost a number of times to Dave Loebsack before winning Iowa’s 1st Congressional District seat in a close 2020 election. Now her past Democratic challenger, Christina Bohannan, is attempting the same thing for the 2026 election cycle, provided she is the favorite in the primary.

BOHANNAN | 3

Signed, sealed and delivered,

Gov. Kim Reynolds signs pharmacy benefit manager reform to the delight of local pharmacies across the state and closer to home at Spring City Pharmacy

By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer

After weeks of waiting, community pharmacists across the state rejoiced as Gov. Kim Reynolds finally signed legislation reforming practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Senate File 383 introduces comprehensive oversight of PBMs, ensuring greater transparency, accountability and fairness in a system that has operated without adequate regulation and to the detriment of those trying to serve the community: pharmacists.

“The passage of SF 383 is truly a lifeline for Spring City Pharmacy and for the patients we serve,” Spring City Pharmacy owner Brad Magg said. “As

the only pharmacy in Colfax — and the only locally owned pharmacy left in Jasper County — this new law helps level the playing field with the monopoly of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) who have made it nearly impossible for pharmacies to survive.”

With the passage of this legislation, the pharmacy will no longer be reimbursed less than the cost of the drug. They will also be paid a $10.68 dispensing fee for each prescription, which is the state average of what the overhead costs to fill a prescription.

“In simple terms, it gives us a fighting chance to keep our doors open, continue caring for our neighbors and

Submitted Photo Community members from Colfax rally at the State Capitol in Des Moines in fa-

of Senate File 383, legislation reforming pharmacy benefits management for local pharmacies. Gov. Kim Reynolds recently signed the bill putting the legislation into action.

Bohannan

Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer Jasper County Engineer Michael Frietsch speaks with the board of supervisors at a past meeting. Jasper County and Marion County are going to share costs for a bridge replacement project.

Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer

Members of the Monroe City Council stand with Corn Spokes Bike Co. owners Jenny, Elliot and Matt Van Gelder, center, during a ribbon cutting ceremony June 16.

Explorer PCM

Worth Mentioning

Send your event to news@pcmexplorer.com

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 Thursdays and 9 a.m. to noon and 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays.

Mosquito spraying June 26 in Monroe

The City of Monroe reminds residents mosquito spraying dates are scheduled for June 26, July 24 and Aug. 28.

Friday, June 27

• 2pm Piano with Jacque Robinson

• 7pm Patty Richards Country Show

Monday, June 30

• 10am Video Exercise Class

Tuesday, July 1

• 8-11am Playgroup

• 8am Coffee and Prayer

• 1pm Game Time

Wednesday, July 2

• 10am Navigating Dementia

Thursday, July 3

• 8-11am Playgroup

• 1pm Movement with Sean

TOPS Upcoming events at The Gathering Place in Monroe

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.

Lighthouse Recovery meetings

Lighthouse Recovery Ministries host a Men’s and Ladies 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.

Bike Shop

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get their bikes in shape and ready to ride. The response has been encouraging to the Van Gelders and they hope to keep building on the momentum.

“There were a lot of people in the community that seemed excited that we were here,” Matt said. “They brought their bikes in. I don’t think had been riding recently, but they were looking to ride again. To me, it is exciting because I like to see more people on bikes. I had no idea there was such a demand for people to get their bikes serviced and get back out there”

Having the Red Rock Prairie Trail nearby also helps the new business. Although the trail isn’t much older than Corn Spokes Bike Co., it has a growing following.

“It is exciting to hear people talk about the trail,” Jenny said. “A lot of people don’t know it is there, so it is fun to talk to them about. It is a really nice trail.”

The shop has even set up social rides each week to help people meet fellow cyclists and take a ride on the trail. The group heads to Prairie City each Thursday to check out the farmers market and provide a social setting for area cyclists to meet up.

Pool safety strategies to keep in mind this summer

Pools are great spots to beat the heat and enjoy some exercise. They’re also ideal spots for children to socialize with their friends away from screens.

As inviting as pools can be, it is important that swimmers recognize that safety is paramount, particularly for those who have the benefit of backyard pools. The organization Stop Drowning Now indicates that an average of 3,500 to 4,000 people drown each year in the United States, with 10 drownings occurring each day. In addition, 6,500 non-fatal injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments each year, with a significant percentage of these incidents involving children under the age of 15 injured in residential pools.

Pools are fun spaces that should not elicit fear. These swimming pool safety tips can help safeguard swimmers of all ages.

Install barriers

Barriers like tall, self-latching fences and gates (with vertical panels not easily scaled) can deter unmonitored entry into a pool area. Such safety precautions

Corn Spokes Bike Co. is also accomodating electric bike users. E-bikes have become more popular for allowing cyclists – both young and old – to travel extra long distances by transferring much of the strenuous work to the bike, rather than the person operating it.

“Two to three years ago, you could ride all day and only see a few e-bikes,” Matt said. “Now it is the opposite.”

Along with being available for purchase, Corn Spokes Bike Co. also rents e-bikes for three-hour spans. At a cost of just $25, Jenny said it is the perfect amount of time to ride to Prairie City, grab a bite to eat and make it back comfortably.

“It’s very doable in three hours,” Jenny said.

The bike shop is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. The shop is closed Tuesdays and Sundays. If someone is looking to rent an e-bike outside of those hours, they are encouraged to email the shop to see if they can make it work.

As their journey begins, the Van Gelders are excited by the initial response and encouraged by the passion in community for what is ahead.

“We’ve got a lot of support in the community,” Matt said. “Everybody is excited.”

are mandatory in many towns and cities, even if there is a separate fence around the perimeter of the yard. Additional safety precautions can include special ladders that roll down or lock for above-ground pools, and alarms that sound if someone opens a pool gate without homeowners’ knowledge.

Close supervision

Lifeguards are stationed at public pools to keep careful watch of swimmers. The role of lifeguard at pools on private properties must be filled by responsible adults. Children should never be allowed to swim without someone monitoring the water at all times. Swimmers should be asked to exit the pool in the event the adult monitoring the pool needs to head indoors for a minute or if the adult’s attention is pulled elsewhere while outside. When hosting a pool party, hosts can consider hiring a lifeguard to watch the pool so they can handle hosting duties elsewhere.

Learn to swim

Although it’s possible to drown in mere inches of water, the likelihood of drowning is lower for

experienced and skilled swimmers. Enroll children in swim lessons so they can learn the proper techniques. Until kids’ swimming skills are strong, it may be advisable for them to wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket when in the water. Inflatable water wings and other devices are not guaranteed lifesaving devices.

Keep the pool clean

A pool should be properly maintained and sanitized to remain a safe space. The primary pool sanitizers include chlorine and bromine, which help prevent algae and bacterial growth. Maintaining a proper pH in the water increases swimmer comfort and helps the sanitizer work optimally.

Dive carefully

Swimmers should always enter the pool feet-first, unless there is a diving board and a safe diving depth. The American National Standards Institute says the minimum depth of a diving board in a swimming pool is 7.5 feet, but some municipalities have their own recommendations. A depth of nine feet often is recommended for safer diving. Walk, don’t run It’s tempting to run around the perimeter of an inground pool, especially when kids are having fun. But wet surfaces become slippery, and it’s easy to slip and fall, risking injury or falling into the pool water.

Swimming pool safety is vital to keep everyone out of harm’s way.

— Metro Creative

Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer

Corn Spokes Bike Co. is located at 205 N. Commerce St. in downtown Monroe.

needed before a contract is even awarded or put out for bid. The board of supervisors voted 3-0 to pass the memorandum of understanding with Marion.

Collaborating with other counties for nearby projects is nothing new for Jasper County. Earlier this year, Jasper County had acquired materials for the bridge — known as Bridge C05 — that crosses Snipe Creek on North 115th Avenue West about 1.1 miles west of East 12th Street North.

Bridge C05 was constructed in 1921 and is currently a riveted pony truss style bridge. It is estimated to have less than six years of life left. It will be replaced with an 80-foot, single-span steel beam bridge with a reinforced poured concrete deck set over steel backwall abutments.

Marshall County will assume half of the costs for the Bridge C05 project.

Bohannan

On June 17, Bohannan announced her campaign to take on Miller-Meeks once again. In a press release, her campaign said Bohannan nearly defeated Miller-Meeks in 2024 — less than 800 votes decided the election — and that the Democrat “outworked, outraised and outmatched her.”

Bohannan said, “Mariannette Miller-Meeks has had three terms in Congress – three chances to do right by the people of Iowa. Instead, she has taken over $4 million from corporate special interests and done nothing but vote their way. And she has put partisan politics over Iowans again and again.

From cutting billions of dollars from Medicaid in the Trump Administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill, to siding with DOGE’s cuts to

Social Security and enabling unelected, unaccountable billionaires like Elon Musk, Bohannan said the Republican congresswoman has forgotten about her constituents.

“It’s time someone put Iowa first,” Bohannan said.

Bohannan went on to say Miller-Meeks needs to explain “why she keeps putting Washington special interests first.” The Democratic challenger claimed Miller-Meeks supported Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, repeatedly voted for cost-increasing tariffs and is a member of the DOGE Caucus.

Bohannan previously worked as an engineer and taught at the University of Iowa College of Law for 20 years. She also worked as an elected legislator for the Iowa House, defeating a 20-year incumbent in District 85. Bohannan is running for Congress because she believes in a government that works for the people.

In May, another Democrat announced he would be running for

Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. Bob Krause, a former legislator who also tried running for U.S. Senate, announced his campaign with the slogan “Flip The House With Krause.” Krause said Miller-Meeks votes “like Trump’s rubber stamp.”

Travis Terrell, a Democrat from Johnson County, also announced his bid for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District race. His campaign page on Facebook notes he is a working-class, New Deal Democrat fighting for healthcare, fair wages and a government that serves other working-class people and not billionaires.

In addition to Miller-Meeks likely running for the seat, fellow Republican and former primary challenger David Pautsch announced in February that he would also be running for the seat. Pautsch touts himself as a MAGA Republican. He has been critical of Miller-Meeks, saying she is not conservative enough.

keep local healthcare local,” Magg said.

While some opponents claim it will put too much money in pharmacy pockets, feedback from those entities showed without the reform many could be closing their businesses within the next year.

“To be clear, this new legislation only provides enough to break even by covering the cost of the goods sold, plus labor and expenses to fill that prescription,” Magg said. “We’re ec -

static about it and very appreciative, but we’re still going to have to work our butts off slinging ice cream, greetings cards, band-aids, etc to help pay off the almost $1 million in debt we’ve accumulated since we started in 2022.”

In signing the bill, Reynolds said she consulted with employers and stakeholders on all sides of the complex issue and decided that SF 383 in an effort to continue improving the state’s healthcare system.

“PBMS play a central role in the pharmaceutical supply chain, negotiating drug prices and access for millions

of Americans,” Reynolds said. “Over time, consolidation has led to three major PBMs controlling 80 percent of the market and a close affiliation with both insurers and pharmacies. This vertical integration gives them outsized power over which medication patients receive and what they pay — often resulting in unaffordable drug costs, difficult choices for families and reimbursement below pharmacy acquisition cost.”

It took until two days before the bill expired for Reynolds to put pen to paper leaving everyone on edge about if it would actually happen.

Magg said the Colfax community and beyond have been extremely supportive of the pharmacy’s efforts to see this legislation go through.

“This community has been nothing short of amazing. Folks in Colfax and beyond spoke up, signed petitions, called our lawmakers and almost 30 community members traveled to Des Moines for a rally at the State Capitol to stand beside us,” Magg said. “Several new patients made an extra effort to transfer their prescriptions to our local pharmacy to help keep it viable.” From community members overhearing

the need for a new air fryer for the staff and gifting a brand-new appliance to the pharmacy to others who brought sweet treats as soon as they heard the bill was signed to celebrate, people came together to fight for the pharmacy and entire shop that means so much to the downtown.

ly made a difference in getting this legislation across the finish line.”

While Magg is still waiting on clarification on the exact parameters and doesn’t expect to see the full effect of the new law until January, he thinks this will be the first time in a very long time the pharmacy in downtown Colfax will again be able to fill the prescriptions of every single person who walks in the door.

“It was truly the support like this that has kept us all going over the last few months, from things like being on credit hold with our supplier while we continued to take on more debt, to the roller coaster that is the bureaucracy of trying to get legislation passed,” Magg said. “It’s humbling and powerful to see our community come together not just to protect access to hometown pharmacy care, but also to show their appreciation for all of the work and money we’ve invested to make sure that Colfax continues to have a pharmacy. It tru

“No longer will patients be required to go use specific pharmacies and mail-order services, while also knowing that they will pay the same price, regardless if they fill at a chain big box store or at an independent like us,” Magg said. “The PBMs will no longer be able to offer incentives to fill at one pharmacy over another, so patients will be able to support local and know that they’re getting the best price without having to drive out of town.”

Cancer anniversary

Like a lot of people, I’d had some squamous cell carcinomas removed from my scalp. But in June, 2024, a red splotch, about the size of my fist, appeared on my forehead. It looked like a birthmark. I went to dermatology. After a biopsy they told me the red splotch was a neuroendocrine carcinoma, and referred me to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

About this time a farmer buddy gave me some aronia berry juice and told me to drink it daily. I did. It’s high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. By the time we arrived at the U of I, the red splotch, they called it a lesion, had all but disappeared. The docs were sort of flabbergasted.

But they did some biopsies and changed the diagnosis to Merkel Cell Carcinoma, caused by exposure to UV sunlight. The cancer had spread to

Curt Swarm Empty Nest

lymph nodes in my neck, like water flowing downhill. Let this be a lesson in the need for sunscreen and wearing a hat.

The treatment seemed simple, too simple. Instead of chemotherapy, I was to get infusions of an immunotherapy drug, Keytruda. Immunotherapy boosts the body’s immune system to fight the cancer cells and is supposed to be easier on the patient than chemotherapy. In rare cases immunosuppressants can also attack body organs. Ginnie and I thought Keytruda would be the ticket.

Early on, I noticed I was feeling sick with nausea and diarrhea. Thinking the aronia juice might be interacting with the immunotherapy, I stopped drinking the aronia juice.

I also had the foresight to ask the doctors for an antidepressant, and I’m glad I did. I have never used an antidepressant, but sensed this immuniza-

No war with Iran!

By Phyllis Bennis, Khury Petersen-Smith

Israel’s attack on Iran opens a huge danger of escalation in the Middle East.

Israel has a long history of attacking Iran — including bombing Iranian facilities, assassinating Iranian leaders and scientists, launching cyberattacks, and more. Iran has on occasion struck back, including launching strikes on Tel Aviv in this latest back and forth.

But this latest assault is more dangerous than previous rounds of violence. It holds the prospect of full-scale war between the two strongest military forces in the region — and potentially the United States too.

For decades, Congress and multiple administrations have guaranteed billions of dollars in military aid to Israel every year — an amount that’s skyrocketed since Israel’s attack on Gaza, which the International Court of Justice and other authorities have called a genocide. In 2024 alone, for example, U.S. taxpayers paid 40 percent of Israel’s entire military spending.

So while it’s not yet clear how much the U.S. knew or approved of Israel’s attack on Iran, there’s no question that Washington’s longstanding military and economic support made it possible. That alone is enough to make the U.S. complicit in Israel’s illegal war — and worryingly, a target of Iranian retaliation, especially with so many U.S. military facilities nearby.

There are about 40,000 U.S. troops stationed across the Middle East, and now the U.S. is sending two additional destroyers to the coast of Israel. Iran has already retaliated against Israel. If Tehran also makes good on a threat to attack U.S. targets in the region, or if the U.S. decides to help Israel escalate its attacks, there’s a real risk the U.S. could become directly involved — perhaps including airstrikes or troops on the ground.

Because the U.S. government has long supported Israel, there’s a lot about Israel you simply don’t hear very often in the United States. For one thing, there is only one nuclear weapons state in the Middle East — and that’s Israel, not Iran.

Israel reportedly maintains at least 90 nuclear weapons, but it’s the only nuclear power in the world that refuses to confirm or deny its arsenal. While Iran has enriched uranium, it has no nuclear weapons and — despite Israeli claims — does not have a program to create one.

In the U.S., we hear a lot of negative messaging about Iran. And like any government, Iran’s has policies and practices that can be legitimately criticized.

But we should be clear that, when it comes to life and politics in the Middle East, it’s Israel that remains the main destabilizing force. Just in the last two years, Israel has attacked and occupied new swathes of territory in Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and is carrying out a genocide in Gaza. It has also bombed Iraq and Yemen.

Now Israel’s government is raising the level of instability to a new level, directly confronting Iran.

U.S. support for these policies has led to enormous suffering across the Middle East. And now it may be directly endangering Americans as well, something the American people seem to understand. In one recent poll, 60 percent of Americans — including over half of Trump voters — oppose the U.S. getting more involved in the fighting between Iran and Israel.

As in Gaza, Americans bear a particular responsibility to try to stop this fighting, for the simple reason that our government is supplying Israel’s weapons and preventing any accountability for how they’re used.

Our message needs to be clear: No war with Iran! Middle East experts Phyllis Bennis and Khury Petersen-Smith co-direct the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies.

Congress

tion treatment was going to be a long slog, like hiking the Appalachian Trail. I would need something to help me get through the depression that comes from a long-term illness.

Then I got really sick, with constant diarrhea, nausea, dizziness and shortness of breath. The Keytruda had attacked my colon, giving me colitis. Ugh. I was cancer free, but sicker than a dog eat’n grass.

In one bad bout, I was so short of breath, I called my oncologist and was told to get to the ER. I did. The ER did a CT scan and found one tiny blood clot, a pulmonary embolism, in one lung. It was so tiny that there was debate as to whether it was a clot or an “artifact.” Such strange lingo in the halls of medicine. The docs decided it wasn’t worth prescribing a blood thinner as they normally would have done.

The diarrhea, nausea, shortness of breath and dizziness continued, in fact it got really bad. Once again, I was very short of breath and sent to the ER. Another CT scan, with imaging, was done. This time a whole bunch of small blood

clots, or pulmonary embolisms, were found in both lungs. Uh, oh. A blood clot passing to the heart can be fatal. Passing to the brain can cause a stroke. That’s where I am today, one year from the first diagnosis of cancer. I’m taking Eliquis to thin my blood and deal with the blood clots. Hopefully, this will solve the shortness of breath. However, I still have colitis and nausea. Doctors are working on a solution and I have confidence it will be resolved. A valid conclusion is that the cancer treatment was harder on me than the cancer, or the cure is worse than the cause. I try not to think in this manner because I have no idea how bad the cancer could have gotten without treatment. The cancer could have spread through my entire body. I also don’t know if aronia berry juice may have been more effective, with less side effects, than the immunotherapy. These are thoughts looking back, which is pain. Vision is looking forward. I have my books, poetry and God to protect me. Contact Curt Swarm at curtswarm@ yahoo.com

At this point, a nuclear Iran is probably the least bad option

By Thomas L. Knapp

As I write this, US president Donald Trump seems deep in his usual dither. Trump, according to the Wall Street Journal, “told senior aides late Tuesday [June 17] that he approved of attack plans for Iran, but was holding off to see if Tehran would abandon its nuclear program.”

So, OK, we’re used to that: Tariffs! Wait, no tariffs! Wait, reduced tariffs! Mass deportations! Wait, not farm workers, maids, and waiters! Wait, them too!

War on Iran, though, isn’t so much a matter of changing his mind as whether he’s out of his mind. It’s an evil and risky proposition with no moral or practical up side, and a trigger far more difficult to un-pull than tariffs or deportations. That he’s even considering it makes a strong case for his removal from office via the 25th Amendment.

If there’s any lesson to learn from two decades of US and Israeli pressure on Iran to shut down a non-existent “nuclear weapons program,” starting with economic sanctions and leading inevitably to Israeli airstrikes and open war on

the apt date of Friday the 13th, it’s that an Iran with nuclear weapons just might be the best option if the goal is to calm down the Middle East.

Iraq’s Saddam Hussein gave up his nuclear ambitions, after which the US invaded and occupied his country and killed him.

Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi gave up his nuclear ambitions, after which NATO invaded and occupied his country and killed him.

North Korea’s Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un saw their nuclear ambitions through to downsidestesting and fielding a nuclear arsenal, after which those who might have otherwise supported invading and occupying North Korea and killing its ruler cooled their jets. Not really “peace,” but clearly a better option than open war.

On the subject of nuclear weapons, the Iranian regime has proven itself not just compliant, but obsequiously so, through decades of broken promises and renewed lies about its ambitions, only throwing up its hands and saying “fine, we’ll enrich uranium to weapons grade purity” after multiple broken promises by, among others, Donald Trump, and only to get

its opponents to start holding up THEIR end of the 2015 “Iran nuclear deal.”

The Iranian regime, a theocracy, even observes a religious proscription on building nukes per a fatwa from its “Supreme Leader.”

In return, the Iranian regime got a narrow range of responses, from economic isolation to open war.

Fatwas are merely legal rulings on points of Islamic law. Their authors might reverse themselves. Ali Khamenei should.

If the Pakistani regime announced a gift of three nuclear-armed Shaheen III missiles to the Iranian regime, with one put immediately under Iranian operational control until the others can be moved to and sited in Iran, the war would likely come to a screeching halt.

Mutual Assured Destruction has its downsides reset, but at this point it seems like the best option for cooling down US/Israeli war fever and seeking a re-set based on honest dealing instead of threats.

Thomas L. Knapp is director and senior news analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for LibertarianAdvocacyJournalism

harder to access.

Growing up in a farming community, I learned the value of hard work, helping neighbors, and doing what’s right — even when no one’s watching. Those values are what inspired me to join Save the Children Action Network. I believe in protecting children, whether they live down the road or across the globe.

Helping kids around the world isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s also the smart thing. The U.S. for-

eign aid budget supports families in need overseas by purchasing food grown right here at home. These investments create a ripple effect that supports American farmers, strengthens rural economies, and boosts our agricultural exports.

But now, Congress is considering a rescissions package that would eliminate more than $8 billion in critical foreign aid — including food assistance and farming support that helps families feed themselves. These cuts won’t make America safer or stronger. In fact, they’ll do the opposite: making the world more unstable, disease outbreaks harder to contain, and markets for U.S. goods

Foreign aid is one of the most effective tools we have for building a safer, healthier world — for all children, including our own. These programs save lives, reduce poverty, and promote global security, all while benefiting our local communities. We can’t afford to turn our backs on children and families in need. I urge our Iowa Legislators to reject the proposed foreign aid rescissions. Let’s continue to lead with compassion, strength, and a commitment to doing what’s right — even when it’s not easy.

Jessi Balk,Bondurant Save The Children Action Network

of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of

peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

2025 Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference July 31

“Sowing Our Stories ... Beyond the Farm Gate” is the theme of the annual Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny on July 31.

The conference will explore the challenges of agriculture’s evolving financial and trade climate, including:

• Commodity market scenarios and advice

• Soil and water quality initiatives

• Lender’s outlook for 202526

• Prospects for a new farm bill, tariffs, and taxes

• Latest on land values and transition planning

• Ag community building/ storytelling

• Role of women in a dynamic ag industry

The Conference kicks off at 8:15 a.m., and concludes at 4:30 p.m.

Kick-off Keynote Panel: A savvy and energetic trio of ag legislative, commodity, and industry experts will kick off the conference with timely insights on Tariffs, Taxes, Farm Bills and Ag Forecasts: Katie Hall, Iowa

Soybean Association senior director of advocacy, Steph Carlson, National Pork Producer Council assistant vice president of state and national relations, and Kristin Stien, Ever.Ag grain market advisor, will anchor this panel.

Ruth McCabe, certified professional agronomist leads the Conservation Team at Heartland Co-op. A passionate advocate for sustainable farming practices in the Midwest, McCabe specializes in cover crop, prairie management, and edgeof-field structures. As a 2022 Nuffield Scholar, she traveled and studied global conservation practices in grain producing countries.

Kristin Stien, grain market advisor at Ever.Ag will share Smart Strategies for Mastering the Grain Market and Forging Farm Success. She developed a passion for agriculture and people in the ag industry while growing up on her family’s Iowa farm, and pursued a degree in agricultural business from Iowa State University.

During the luncheon, Iowa Women in Agriculture will

shine a spotlight on the recipients of the IWIA 2025 Lifetime Achievement in Agriculture and Winds of Change Up and Comer Awards.

The afternoon’s choice of breakout sessions will feature: Angie Treptow, senior vice president of retail operations & customer experience for Farm Credit Services of America, will focus on Lending and Leadership in a Time of Uncertainty.

Jennifer Harrington is an attorney at Buchanan, Bibler, Gabor & Meis in Algona where her practice focuses on estate, business, and agricultural law, with an emphasis on farm succession planning. She will discuss Farm Succession for Realists: Legal and Tax Tools to Make It Work.

Linda Shenk, Iowa State University associate professor and Tamara Deal, Guthrie County landowner, will team up to present Inviting Others to Join Your Ag Story, a community building/storytelling workshop with a focus on agriculture. “We want more people communicating about how we do agriculture in the Midwest and how these choices impact the environment

we all share,” Deal said. Natalie Kovarik will challenge and entertain in her capstone address, Fortune Favors the Brave: Harvesting Success in Agriculture Through Acts of Bravery. As co-host of the topranked podcast, Discover Ag, she shares ranch life from her home base at Kovarik Cattle Company in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills with her husband, Luke, and three sons.

A Welcome & Networking Reception is set for Wednesday, July 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Reclaimed Rails Brewing Company in Bondurant, with featured speaker Ashley Hunter from Purple Ribbon Beef, a multi-generational farm near Britt. Following the reception, participants are welcome to end their day with a stroll through the Bondurant Farmers Market. Participants also will have the opportunity on July 30 to attend an afternoon pre-conference tour featuring local food production and entrepreneurship, hosted in cooperation with the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Women in Agriculture Program.

The tour begins at The Holton Homestead in Elkhart, where the group will visit a bee yard, commercial honey kitchen, and farm store. The group also will travel to Pine Grove Family Farms in Bondurant where the Smith family works together to raise beef and pork for local direct markets and offers an onfarm store.

Early bird registration will be $75 until July 28, and $100 following that date and at the door. Registration will include the pre-conference tour, evening welcome reception, and continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks at the conference. Register online in advance on the IWIA website, by mail, or from 7:15 to 8 a.m. on the day of the conference. Room blocks for July 30 have been set up at the Courtyard at Marriott-Ankeny, 2405 SE Creekview Drive; and the Residence Inn, 1515 SW Main St., Ankeny. Register by June 30 for the Residence Inn and by July 7 for the conference rates.

Early bird registration is required for those attending the Pre-Conference Tour.

12 7 10am Video Exercise Class 11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 7pm PC Fire Dept, PC City Hall 8am Volleyball Camp 5:;30pm JV, G SB at Newton 7:30pm V, G SB at Newton 8 8am Prayer and Coffee at TGP 9:30am Supervisors, County Courthouse 11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 6:30pm Mon Legion Auxiliary 6:30pm Kiwanis, Mon City Hall 9am Craft Day at TGP 8am Volleyball Camp 9 Monroe Trash 11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 6:30pm PC City Council 6:30pm Monroe Fire Dept. Meeting 8am Volleyball Camp 10 10am Patty Richards Show at TGP 11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 9am Craft Day at TGP 1pm Movement with Sean at TGP 11 11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 2pm Piano with Jacque Robinson at TGP 19 14 10am Video Exercise Class f11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 5:30pm PC Park Board Monroe City Council 7pm PC Ambulance, PC City Hall 15 8am Prayer and Coffee at TGP 9:30am Supervisors, Jasper County Courthouse 11:30am Congregate Meals at TGP 1pm Game Time at TGP 6pm PC Planning and Zoning

DAY City Halls closed for holiday The Gathering Place closed No Congregate Meals

PCM baseball cruises past Perry

PERRY — Starting off the week on June 17, the PCM baseball team played a conference game against the host Bluejays and won 11-2.

The Mustangs improved to 2-0 against Perry this season.

Going into the fifth inning, PCM led 3-1. What followed was seven unanswered runs for the Mustangs, effectively ending the game.

“It was another solid win for us,” PCM head coach Brent Fridley said. “Right now, the top of our lineup is playing very well. And once we get runners on base, we are dangerous. We can run very well.”

Jaden Houser led the way offensively, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and a single. He also walked twice and stole two bases.

PCM totaled 10 hits to Perry’s six, and Perry batters walked three times to PCM’s eight.

Beyond Houser, Trigg Steenhoek had one RBI single, Kaleb DeVries had a single and a double, Trenner Van Dyke hit a single and Coby DeRaad, Konnor Bell and Izaac Bagby each hit singles.

The Mustangs had four stolen bases on five attempts, led by Steenhoek with two.

Van Dyke started the game on the mound for PCM, allowing four hits, one walk, and one run. He earned the win. Houser closed the game in the seventh, allowing one hit, one run and two walks.

“The win against Saydel got us back on track,” DeVries said. “Then against Perry, we were confident because the first time we played them, it was a run-rule in six innings. Sure enough, our pitching and hitting were both solid, and that got us the win.”

PCM 13, EBF 6

The Mustangs game scheduled for June 18 got rained out, but they were able to travel to play Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont on June 19.

The result was a 13-6 non-conference win where they outpaced the Rockets 13 hits to 10.

Houser led the way offensively with three hits and three RBIs. Bagby added two hits and four RBIs.

“All season, we have to con-

trol what we can control,” Fridley said. “Obviously, this season weather has been a factor in getting some of our games rained out or delayed. However, there’s nothing we can do about that.”

DeVries had one hit, Van Dyke had one hit for an RBI double and DeRaad had two singles to end the hitting efforts for the Mustangs.

However, PCM advanced on 10 walks and three batters were hit by pitches.

After three innings, the score was 5-4 in the Rockets’ favor. In the final four, PCM added nine runs.

The Rockets couldn’t hold the pace, only scoring one run in that time.

DeVries started the game on the mound, and got rattled. He gave up two hits, five earned runs and six walks.

DeVries only managed three strikeouts. After 2 2/3 innings, he was pulled in favor of Jensson Hood. He gave up seven hits and one run with a 1.31 earned run average and earned the win.

“It was rough for me, but I got through it,” DeVries said. “Our offense was alive so that helped. Jensson came in after me, and we pitched well, which ultimate-

ly led us to victory.”

Grand View Christian 15, PCM 2

Ending the week at home, PCM took on the 10-6 Grand View Christian Thunder in a Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference game on June 20.

And the end result was a 15-2 win for the Thunder. After three innings, PCM was down 7-0.

The Mustangs got on the board in the fourth, scoring two runs. In the final three, the Thunder tacked on eight runs for the final score of 15-2. Their offensive efforts were aided primarily by Andrew Shannon, who had two hits, three RBIs and one home run.

DeRaad left the game early with a concussion and did not return. He was relieved by Bell, who Fridley has confidence in as a catcher.

“We’ll miss him because his bat has come alive,” Fridley said about DeRaad.

“He’s hitting the ball well and he’s a dangerous base runner. However, Konnor can do well at catcher.”

PCM managed five hits. Steenhoek went 3-for-3 with three singles. Houser and Bagby each notched one hit.

On the mound, Carson Hansen started the game and took the loss. He gave up three hits, five walks and seven runs.

From there, Shay Burns came in, allowing six hits, three runs and one walk. Steenhoek and Houser also pitched, but they contributed all of 34 total throws.

One bright spot for PCM was its fielding, which was mostly clean. For the game, they posted a .926 fielding percentage with only two errors.

“In the outfield, I feel like we’re in a good place,” Fridley said. “Almost every time a ball is hit to the outfield, it’s an out, especially if it’s a fly ball. We are good from pole to pole.”

PCM (6-8, 5-6 in the conference) faces Pella Christian (5-17) at 7:30 p.m. on June 26 in Prairie City. It comes after road games against Nevada, West Marshall and South Hamilton. The Mustangs also travel to Roland-Story on June 27.

“The good thing is that next week we have five games in five days,” Fridley said. “It will be a busy week, but we have to stay focused on the opportunities ahead.”

PCM softball moves closer to another conference title

MONROE — Grand View Christian scored first, but the Mustangs dominated once it took the lead in the bottom of the first inning during an 11-1 home win over the Thunder on June 20. The PCM softball team led 3-1 after one and ended the Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference game after four innings thanks in part to four runs in the third and three in the fourth.

Humpal homered, scored three runs, had two RBIs and stole one base, Millang laced two doubles, scored one run and had one RBI and Naeve tripled, scored one run, totaled three RBIs and was hit by one pitch.

The Mustangs improved to 12-0 in the conference. They have four HOIAC games remaining and lead Roland-Story by three games in the loss column.

Six Mustangs had at least one hit and Libby Winters led the way with three hits. Lillian Humpal, Hadley Millang and Kyra Naeve all had two hits.

Winters doubled, scored three runs and stole one base. She leads the Class 3A No. 3 Mustangs (15-2) with 24 runs, 41 total bases and 19 steals.

It was Humpal’s third homer of the season and Millang now leads the Mustangs with 20 RBIs.

Tori Lindsay doubled and had one RBI, Addi Hudnut posted one hit and one RBI, Camden Webb walked once and scored two runs, Addison Steenhoek was hit by a pitch and Peyton Lathrum scored one run.

Rylee Parsons (9-1) earned the win in the circle. She allowed one earned run on two hits and one walk. She fanned three in four innings and lowered her earned run average to 1.83.

The Mustangs out-hit Grand View Christian 11-2 and PCM committed one error.

PCM’s 12 errors in 17 games is the fewest in 3A. PCM is 6-1 against Grand View

Christian (14-5, 8-4 in the conference) since 2017 and has won four straight in the series.

PCM 8, Greene County 2

MONROE — The Mustangs faced another small deficit in the top of the second inning but a three-run third and a two-run fourth helped PCM rally for an 8-2 home win over Greene County on June 18.

The HOIAC game was moved up a few hours to beat inclement weather, and PCM scored its 11th straight win in the series. The Mustangs are now 21-12 against the Rams since 2009.

Millang had three hits, one double, one run and three RBIs, Steenhoek added two hits, one double, one run and one RBI and Winters posted two hits, two runs, two RBIs and two steals.

Steenhoek leads PCM with eight doubles and Winters is batting a team-best .536 with a .552 on-base percentage.

Naeve also finished with two hits and added one RBI, Lindsay doubled and scored two runs and Humpal and Holly Wood walked once and scored one run.

Webb walked once and drove in one run and Ryan DeVore stole one base.

PCM Explorer

Winters

By Gabe Graber PCM Explorer

Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer

PCM senior Kaleb DeVries had one hit and walked three times in the Mustangs’ road win over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont on June 19.

Softball

Webb (7-1) got the win in the circle after allowing two earned runs on five hits and one walk. She fanned 10 in seven innings.

Webb’s ERA is now 1.54 and she’s struck out 74 batters in 59 innings.

Makenna Ebersole led Greene County (8-9, 7-7) with a solo home run.

PCM 4, East Marshall 2

LE GRAND — A four-run sixth inning powered the Mustangs to a comefrom-behind win over 2A No. 15 East Marshall on June 17.

Both teams had six hits and one error, and the host Mustangs led 2-0 through five, but PCM rallied for a 4-2 non-con-

ference victory. Millang’s tworun homer in the four-run sixth gave PCM the lead for good. Lindsay and Winters both doubled in the frame to tie the game.

The Mustangs, who scored their fourth straight win over East Marshall, had more doubles (3) than singles (2) in the win.

Webb had two hits, including one double and Lindsay and Winters both doubled, had one RBI and scored one run in the sixth. Winters added a stolen base. Naeve contributed one hit and DeVore walked once and scored one run.

Parsons started but lasted just one inning after allowing one earned run on one hit and three walks.

Webb spun six innings of relief and got the win after surrendering one earned run on six hits, one walk and one hit batter and she fanned seven.

Parsons walked the first two batters she faced in the second and then was pulled for Webb, who hit the first batter she faced to load the bases with no outs.

Webb struck out the next three batters though to end the threat.

Peyton Grabenbauer had two hits and one RBI at the plate and spun seven innings in the circle to lead East Marshall (14-6).

Gilbert 4, PCM 1

GILBERT — The Mustangs dropped a non-conference game to Gilbert for

the second straight season after the host Tigers scored twice in the fifth to crack the scoreboard and then plated two more in the sixth to close out a 4-1 victory on June 19.

The Mustangs were out-hit 9-7 and Gilbert (11-7) committed two errors, but PCM stranded five girls on second and third base with less than two outs.

Winters led PCM with two hits and one double. Humpal doubled and had one RBI and the other hits were collected by Lindsay, Steenhoek, Naeve and Hudnut.

Parsons started in the circle and took the loss after allowing two earned runs on five hits with one strikeout in five innings. Webb surrendered two earned runs on four hits with one strikeout in one inning.