PCM-07-03-2025 by Shaw Media

Explorer PCM

Updates tighten open campus policy at PCM

Student behavior and work-based learning options further defined as school enters second year of program

By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer

Updates to the PCM open campus policy adds requirements for students to be able to use the privileges. The PCM School Board approved the updated documents unanimously during its June 16 meeting.

“Last year was our first year with open campus, and, like anything, it was trial and error in some cases,” PCM High School Principal Kristen Souza said. “I’ve made some changes to the policy where I saw some gaps.”

To be considered for the open campus program, students must now be enrolled in

Democrats are starting early in the campaign for Congress

Potluck picnic lets constituents and party members get acquainted with Bohannan, Terrell

Congressional District seat, speak during a potluck picnic hosted by the Jasper County Democratic Party on June 28 at Maytag Park in Newton.

a study hall period and have appropriate behavior in class. That adds to the already established points of having a passing status in all enrolled courses, having no missing work, no excessive tardies and have an attendance rate of 95 percent or higher, regardless of excuse.

There were also additions made to the work-based learning portion of the policy. It states: To participate using work-based learning, qualified students must have an authorization form completed and signed by a parent. Once signed, qualified students are enrolled in a school-approved work-based learning place -

ment course, an online course through DMACC or another postsecondary enrollment options course, are in a study hall or have a paid job that does not interfere with other coursework. Students not enrolled in a WBL course who have a free period may not use work status as a reason to not have open campus privileges removed.

“We had to put in some language about how students have to be enrolled in a school-approved work-based learning program,” Souza said. “We had a lot of students saying they had to work and therefore they were put on the open campus list and be allowed to leave. If they weren’t involved in work-

based learning, it was hard for us to verify.”

Overall, the school has seen open campus as a positive for the district. When established, it was a part of the mission and strategic plan to help prepare students for college, career and life. Open campus is one way the district found to recognize the hard work of our students, while providing real-world opportunities for career-based learning.

“It was a very good incentive,” Souza said. “Students get their work in and it is a good incentive for behavior, as well. It teaches them a lot of responsibility and time management.”

20 YEARS OF LITERATURE

Prairie City Library Director Sue Ponder celebrates 20 years of hard work getting the library to where

is today

Supervisors want to draft contract with conservation over nature center duties

Idea met with skepticism, board wants to ensure it doesn’t fall back on taxpayers

By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer

To better establish the responsibilities in operating the future nature center, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors wants its legal counsel to work on a 28E agreement with the conservation department, whose director and board were apprehensive of the idea and question the motivations behind the contract.

Supervisor Brandon Talsma said in order to create the agreement the board had to approve an engagement letter with

Ahlers & Cooney since it is “beyond the normal scope they would provide” to the county. He stressed the document provided to the board and included in the agenda was not the 28E agreement.

“This is an engagement letter saying we would like to engage Ahlers & Cooney’s services to help us draft this agreement is all it is,” Talsma said.

Skepticism about the agreement began at the board table.

It seemed to Supervisor Doug Cupples that it could be something the county could work out

FIGHTING FOOD INSECURITY

Area agencies and organizations are making sure no kid goes hungry this summer

By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer

Between the Salvation Army preparing food boxes for families who enroll in the Healthy Kids Iowa program, are school participating in the Summer

Groceries program and the Newton Public Library offering free snacks for kids and teens throughout the week, no kid should go hungry this summer. Ed Poe, the food pantry coordinator for the Salvation Army in Newton, said about 380

families have received Healthy Kids Iowa food boxes this past month. The boxes are packed full of nutritional foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins, and they are available

without paying a lawyer, but Talsma countered that he would like it in writing. Cupples even suggested the matter be held off until a later date, and he wanted the county to avoid paying exorbitant lawyer fees.

“We just spent, like, $100,000 for the rail park,” Talsma said. “Two thousand dollars in attorney fees really isn’t that much. So what are you proposing?”

Cupples proposed the county try to work things out with conservation before going down this route. Talsma argued

whatever they work out will still have to be put into writing, which would require the county to still pay an attorney to draft a 28E agreement. Talsma felt an agreement was needed for the nature center.

“That way going forward — and even with subsequent boards of supervisors — it says this is the county’s responsibility, this is what we will do, this is what we won’t do, this is what we’re expecting conservation to do,” Talsma said. “And it’s all CONTRACT | 3

PCM Community School District

Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer Prairie City Library Director Sue Ponder celebrates 20 years serving readers in the new library building during an open house June 28.

Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer

Travis Terrell, top, a Democratic candidate vying for

Iowa’s 1st Congressional District seat, and Christina Bohannan, bottom, a Democratic candidate seeking her third bid for Iowa’s 1st

Christopher Braunschweig/ PCM Explorer Ed Poe, food pantry coordinator for the Salvation Army in Newton, searched through some of the food options available in the Healthy Kids Iowa boxes distributed at the facility.

Worth Mentioning

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.

PCM Clothing Closet

The PCM Clothing Closet, 100 W. Jefferson St. in Prairie City, is open from 9 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. every Thursday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Bread and baked goods are available every other week.

Upcoming events at The Gathering Place in Monroe

Movement with Sean Friday, July 11

• 2pm Piano with Jacque Robinson

TOPS

TOPS 1025 meets at 5:30 p.m. every Monday at the First Reformed Church in Prairie City for weigh-in, with meeting to follow. Go to the north side parking lot at the church and enter in the north door. Call 515-994-2200 for information.

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.

Silent City Cemetery decorative items need removed

The deadline for items on graves at Silent City Cemetery to be removed or be at risk of being mowed was July 1. Please remove items as soon as possible.

Blood drive July 19 in Prairie City

The Prairie City Lions Club is sponsoring the Prairie City and Monroe Communities Blood Drive from 7:15 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 19 at the First Reformed Church, 300 E. Fifth St. in Prairie City.

To schedule an appointment call 800-287-2904 or visit lifeservebloodcenter.org.

Walk-ins are welcome.

Mosquito spraying July 24 in Monroe

The City of Monroe reminds residents mosquito

dates are scheduled for July 24 and Aug. 28.

Explorer PCM

GTSB reminds everyone to celebrate the Fourth responsibly

For many, the Fourth of July is synonymous with fireworks, cookouts, and pool parties. Nationwide, traffic fatalities are also becoming synonymous with the Fourth of July. To help prevent these tragedies previously seen around the holiday, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is partnering with local law enforcement for a high-visibility enforcement campaign July 3-7.

Iowa had nine traffic fatalities over the Fourth of July holiday weekend last year, making it the deadliest Fourth of July weekend in more than a decade. No matter how you choose to celebrate, be sure you’re staying safe, and never drive impaired.

“We want people to enjoy the holiday and to

celebrate responsibly,”

GTSB Bureau Chief Brett Tjepkes said. “Impaired driving endangers everyone, and our law enforcement partners know how to spot an impaired driver and will not hesitate to pull them over. If you’re going to drink, plan for a sober ride ahead of time.”

Need help finding a ride? Designate a sober driver, schedule a taxi or rideshare, or use your community’s sober ride program.

Through its Decide to Ride program, Doll Distributing is offering a $10 Uber voucher to encourage Iowans to plan ahead and make safe choices.

GTSB is supporting the effort by helping raise awareness. Below is a link to the Fourth of July voucher to share with your community. It’s val-

id statewide beginning at 2 p.m. and ending at 5 p.m. July 7. Decide to Ride Voucher

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau works with city, county, state, and local organizations

to develop and implement strategies to reduce deaths and injuries on Iowa’s roadways using federally funded grants.

Source: IDOT *Preliminary Holiday Traffic Fatality Data

Quiet Moments, Big Memories: Sensory-Friendly Morning returns to the Iowa State Fair

The Iowa State Fair is proud to partner with presenting sponsor ChildServe, along with programming sponsors Drake University and IAble, to host Sensory-Friendly Morning from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Aug. 13.

Now in its fourth year, Sensory-Friendly Morning continues to grow, offering a welcoming and accessible Fair experience for individuals and families. Thoughtful adjustments will be made across the Fairgrounds to reduce sensory overload, including lower sound levels, limited flashing lights, clearly marked directional signage, designated educational areas and trained volunteers throughout the morning. For the morning, two air-conditioned calming rooms will also be available for anyone needing a break. “Calm Your Body” Room –A quiet, relaxing space with fidgets, dimmable lighting, soothing music, coloring sheets and soft seating will be in the Robert G. Horner and Sheri Avis Horner Service Center. “Move Your Body” Room – An active area

featuring stretching, jumping, therapy balls and a small obstacle course will be in the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center classrooms. Both rooms will be staffed by ChildServe Occupational Therapists from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, August 13.

New this year:

• A welcome tent, sponsored by Drake University at Gate 15: Stop by the new welcome tent inside Gate 15, where families can get all their questions answered and get a jump-start on their adventure.

• Variety Star Playground near Hy-Vee Fun Forest: The new inclusive playground features agriculture-themed equipment with accessible ramps and easy-to-navigate surfaces where children of all abilities can play!

• Stage Programming at the MidAmerican Energy and Susan Knapp Amphitheater stages: Stop by the Susan Knapp Amphitheater or MidAmerican Energy stage for special programming on mobility, sensory adventures and make-and-take activities.

We are still working on all the awesome activities that morning. A full schedule of Sensory-Friendly Morning fun will be posted in mid-July at www.iowastatefair.org.

Can’t make it that morning? The Fair offers sensory-friendly features every day. Visit the website for daily recommendations and activities designed for individuals with sensory processing needs. The Service Center’s calming room will also be open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

spraying

laid out for future conservation boards and with future boards of supervisors.”

Jasper County Conservation Director Keri Van Zante asked if creating a 28E agreement ties future boards’ hands in doing what they want to do with the nature center. Talsma said not 100 percent. Nothing the board can do can tie a future board’s hands; a 28E agreement can be changed by a future board.

“Is this something the county is going to do for all new projects, new buildings? Or is it just conservation?” Van Zante asked.

Talsma said, “It’s just conservation because you guys are the only ones that are building a standalone building for your department. Everybody else is housed in a county facility.”

Van Zante argued the nature center will become a county

building housing county employees. Talsma agreed but said for the past 15 years it has been clearly communicated that the upkeep and maintenance of the nature center will not fall back to the responsibility of taxpayers.

Van Zante said, “It just seems strange when millions of dollars have come from the community. It’s hard for me to explain to people why the board doesn’t want to put any future–“

Talsma interjected, “Oh no, Keri, it’s not just this board. For 15 years this has been what has been communicated, including with Denny Stevenson who was on the board when this whole thing first started.”

When $400,000 in ARPA funds was awarded to conservation, Talsma said it was communicated once again that the costs of the nature center would not fall back to the taxpayers. Talsma added that fundraising for the initial construction is all fine and dandy, but then years down the road it could require tax to maintain.

Explorer PCM

Accompanying Van Zante at the June 24 supervisors meeting was conservation board member Andrew Stone. He felt like the supervisors were picking on one department. Talsma argued conservation is the only department building its own facility, noting

anytime June, July and August.

Families do not have to pre-register before arriving at a distribution site for the Healthy Kids Iowa program. Salvation Army staff said individuals do have to fill out a brief form to disclose their income and how many people reside in their household. When the form is completed, they can receive a box immediately.

“We put the food boxes together for them,” Poe said in an interview with Newton News. “…I’m not surprised we saw 380 people sign up, but I thought we would have more. The first Friday we did it we had 127 people. We’ve had some off and on since then, but then last Friday we did 141.”

In order to be eligible for Healthy Kids

Iowa, households must be at 185 percent or below the Federal Poverty Level, have children ages 4 to 18 or have already self-attested to eligibility for The Emergency Food Assistance Program with children aged 4 to 18. The food boxes are no cost to families.

Outside of the Healthy Kids Iowa distributions, Poe said the Salvation Army is seeing a lot of activity. The amount of regular food boxes he hands out have increased, signifying to him that there is food insecurity in the community and a need for families to reach out to places even outside of the Salvation Army.

Jasper County school districts all face some level of food insecurity.

In Newton, about 50.48 percent of students in the 2024-2025 school year were eligible for free-and-reduced lunch. Meanwhile, about 39.55 percent of students are eligible in Colfax-Mingo, 32.66 are eligible in Baxter, 25.35 are eligible in

the county engineer cannot fundraise for a new facility.

Supervisor Thad Nearmyer said he didn’t feel like the board was picking on one department, and he felt an agreement would give both parties clear direction for the nature center. Van Zante

Lynnville-Sully and 24.09 are eligible in PCM, according to state data.

PCM is also participating in the Healthy Kids of Iowa Summer Groceries program. Qualifying families will receive $40 worth of groceries through one a month through August for each child ages 4 to 18 in the household. The meals may have items including ground beef, eggs, protein shakes, shredded cheese and spaghetti with sauce.

To apply for the Summer Groceries program families can email Monroe Elementary Principal Mandy Shannon at mshannon@pcmschools.org or Monroe Elementary Secretary at lthomas@pcmschools.org.

Newton Public Library offers free snacks for kids and teenagers up to age 18 at 1-2 p.m. any weekday the facility is open until July 31. Kids have to be present to receive their snack. Library

mentioned that one idea for a funding stream for the nature center would be to rent out the facility, but Talsma didn’t like the idea.

“Could that be re-talked about when we’re talking about this too?” she asked.

Talsma said, “I think all of that can be included in this 28E agreement.”

Still, Talsma also noted the board does not want to “get in the business of being in direct competition with private venues that operate in Jasper County.” Stone questioned where the board draws the line on competition for event venues and that he doesn’t foresee it to be a big problem.

“There is enough for everyone to be involved,” Stone said Talsma said, “OK, well I don’t. And what I hear back from the private venue holders is they are concerned about us trying to set up a public venue that will run in competition with them.” Regardless, Nearmyer said it should be part of the discussion.

Director Nicole Terry said this is the first summer the library has worked with the school district to provide a snack to kids.

“While the library has and will continue to do a great job in meeting the educational and entertaining quality-of-life needs for children in the community, we saw a gap in the nutritional, hunger needs that we were unable to fill,” Terry told Newton News.

The library partnered with the school district and purposefully chose an afternoon time slot so children had ample opportunity to pick up their snack.

“So far, 593 children have received snacks, and we look forward to serving more in July,” Terry said. “This is a program that we will bring back next summer with hopes that the use continues to grow. We love seeing happy smiles from our old and new friends picking up snacks.”

America is back and so is manufacturing

Made in America is more than a slogan. It is a promise of self-reliance, national security, and economic strength. And under President Trump’s leadership, that promise is being restored.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is the boldest pro-manufacturing legislation in modern history. It puts American workers first by strengthening domestic supply chains, cutting bureaucratic red tape, and ensuring federal projects are built with American steel, American labor, and American innovation. For Iowa

and our entire nation, this bill brings new meaning to “Made in the USA.”

In Southeast Iowa, we know what it means to build, to work, and to contribute. But for too long, Washington sacrificed American manufacturing on

Trump’s cuts to Job Corps will hurt all of us

By Paul Epstein

On a bitterly cold morning this January, Brendan and Amare hopped into my Ford Explorer and we drove 30 miles to Grafton, Massachusetts.

Our destination: the Grafton Job Corps campus, one of 125 similar sites in all 50 states. These campuses provide housing, education, and vocational training to tens of thousands of young people aged 16-24 in need of support, guidance, and direction in their lives.

The program grew out of President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty and Great Society initiatives over 60 years ago — back when our federal government sought innovative solutions to problems plaguing our country.

Brendan is an optimistic New Hampshire native who pours all of himself into his career as a transition specialist, where he expertly helps young adults with disabilities forge a path after high school.

At the time, Amare was a 19-year-old “super-senior” taking a second crack at 12th grade, hoping to complete his graduation requirements and launch himself into early adulthood.

As Amare polished off a breakfast sandwich and a frozen peanut butter smoothie concoction as only teenagers can do, we talked about his hopes and dreams. Amare understood that for a variety of reasons, college wasn’t the best fit for him. But he yearned to experience some of the elements of independent living and socializing that a campus environment could provide.

As we toured the Grafton Job Corps site, it was like all of Amare’s boxes were being checked. Dormitory style living with all meals and living essentials provided free of charge. Vocational training at least on par with any reputable trade school. Caring staff who understand the lived experiences, insecurities, and unbridled potential of the population they are there to serve.

Across the country, Job Corps campuses provide all that for just 0.15 percent of the $1 trillion President Trump wants to spend on the Pentagon. Talk about a good investment!

This spring, Amare finally walked across a stage in cap and gown and received his diploma with a proud smile. Amare defied the odds and overcame many challenges that must have at times seemed insurmountable. For me, it’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the social worker for this dignified, resilient, and soulful young man.

This should be a time of celebration and affirmation for Amare. Instead, the three of us are shocked and brokenhearted, left trying to pick up the pieces after yet another irrational, short-sighted, and downright cruel edict from the White House.

President Trump is on a mission to strip Job Corps funding in his latest budget — and without even passing that budget, his administration has ordered much of the program to shut down.

This will almost certainly result in the closure of the Grafton site where Amare planned to enroll after graduation.

Job Corps “has been ordered to shut down campuses, terminate staff and, most troublingly, remove the tens of thousands of 16 to 24-year-olds who reside on those campuses,” the National Jobs Corps Association reported on May 29. “More than 4,500 of those students were homeless before joining the Job Corps and potentially face a perilous future.”

As we drove home from Grafton months ago, I remember it felt like a door had opened. But Trump and the GOP have slammed it shut for Amare and tens of thousands of kids like him.

Rest assured, Amare’s story doesn’t end here. Brendan and I, along with other people in Amare’s village, will support him in developing a backup plan. He has a bright future and we’re going to help him find it. But shame on the politicians who are making it more difficult for Amare and young Americans like him. We should be expanding programs like the Job Corps, not shutting them down.

Paul Epstein is a social worker at Brookline High schoolinBrookline,Massachusetts.

the altar of globalization. Critical jobs vanished overseas. Our supply chains became dependent on Communist China. And our rural communities paid the price. That ends now.

As a former small business owner and 24-year Army veteran, I have made it my mission to restore American strength. My ONSHORE Act, now law, removes hurdles to get factories back on American soil. My legislation to expand diagnostics production ensures we never again rely on adversaries for life-saving supplies. And my employer-driven workforce training bill helps Iowans gain the skills they need for jobs that exist today, not bureaucratic fantasies.

The One Big Beautiful Bill builds on that work. It requires domestic sourcing for critical infrastructure, incentivizes U.S. production, and prioritizes American-made goods at every level of government procurement. That means more jobs, higher wages, and fewer vulnerabilities.

I am proud to have voted for this legislation because I believe in Iowa. I believe in our people, our businesses, and our capacity to lead.

American manufacturing is back. And with President Trump leading the charge and the One Big Beautiful Bill advancing in Congress, we are making “Made in America” a reality again, right here in Iowa.

By Jim Hightower

The federal budget is not only about money, but fundamentally about our country’s morality — our commitment to fairness, equality, and unity.

Which brings me to, of all things, our nation’s Farm Bill. This sprawling piece of legislation, updated every five years, is intended to combine the interests of farmers with consumers, production with conservation, grassroots cultures with corporate systems, etc. It’s not easy. In fact, downright messy.

But now, with plutocratic ideologues and culture warriors dominating their caucus, Republican lawmakers have not even been able to produce an agree -

Should America’s Farm Bill serve need or greed? It’s the best cure

Some people make a great impression on your life. When I was just a kid, I would stop by the John Deere dealership in town on my way home from kindergarten. One of the owners was a dear friend of our parents. He was a very busy man but no matter what he was in the middle of, he would stop and buy me a Mountain Dew and we would visit for a few minutes before I finished my walk home.

Being “raised” in the Newton American Legion, I saw him regularly and our friendship stayed firm and grew even stronger as I got older. His love of tractors (John Deere of course!) is well known and he has friends and contacts nationwide that he has built and restored tractors for. Perfection is the standard, and his work is renowned through -

ment among themselves, so the comprehensive farm bill America needs is a year overdue and no longer being pursued by the party in charge. Instead, the GOP’s Agriculture Committee chairman, Rep. Glenn Thompson, is jerry-rigging a stripped-down sham of a bill limited to the two spending priorities of MAGA Republicans:

First, hand out many billions more of our taxpayers’ dollars to subsidize agribusiness giants and rich speculators who own the biggest farms.

Second, whack America’s poorest families. Thompson is banking on extremist Republicans to oppose the Ag Department’s hunger programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assis -

out the national John Deere community. He is a Korean War vet and I have had the privilege to escort him twice to Washington DC on veterans’ trips. Each time created more stories and memories of not only his time in service but those he knew and loved as well.

His dedication to his fellow veterans continues to this day. He still places veterans’ markers and flags on graves on a regular basis. He still stops regularly at the Legion to visit with his fellow vets and supports every endeavor the Legion participates in.

He is soon to be 99 years old. He has faced some health issues lately and his walk is a bit slower than normal but he still holds an upbeat attitude on life. We should all mirror his positive spirit. He stopped by my office today to visit. We discussed life, health, the future, and our mutual belief in the afterlife. I reiterated what a tremendous mentor and friend he had been my

tance Program (SNAP). Those programs help 40 million poverty-stricken Americans (including 1 in 5 children) afford the groceries they need.

So, there we have the GOP’s farm bill ethics — cut the poor to give more to the rich in order to buy votes for more of the same.

The word for this is “corrupt.” Also, “cruel.”

Indeed, it takes an exceptional level of political shamelessness to steal food from the hungry in order to fatten some of the richest people in our country. To fight their depravity, go to ruralorganizing.org.

Columnist Jim Hightower is a former Texas Agriculture Commissioner and a radio commentator, writer, and public speaker.

entire life and that many others felt the same. In his humble way he chuckled and said, “well, not EVERYONE feels that way!” We shared a laugh and he then stated that he hopes to be strong enough to drive his tractor one more time with the vets in the upcoming fourth of July parade. I told him I had full faith that he would be there and I look forward to shaking his hand once again as the parade starts and we make our way down First Avenue. I’ve always been a believer that people wait to long to let someone know how they truly feel about them.

As I stated, he has a birthday coming up in August. But, it’s never too early to send a card. If you know this fine gentleman and feel as I do I would ask that you take a minute to jot down your thoughts and send them his way. There is no better cure for what ails us than love. It’s the greatest healer.

Doug Bishop Baxter

PCM softball wins HOIAC championship

PERRY — Four players had two hits, Libby Winters earned her first pitching win of the season and the PCM softball team wrapped up the Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference title following a 12-0 win over Perry on June 25.

The Class 3A No. 4 Mustangs and Jayettes completed a suspended game from earlier this season. PCM led 8-0 when the game was stopped on June 16. The visitors added four runs in the top of the fifth to end the game early.

PCM has won seven straight games against Perry. It swept the season series with wins of 11-1 and 12-0.

Addi Hudnut led the offense with two hits, one double, two runs and four RBIs and she was hit by one pitch.

Tori Lindsay, Camden Webb and Kyra Naeve also had two hits each. Lindsay added one run, one RBI and one steal, Webb doubled, scored two runs and totaled two RBIs and Naeve scored two runs and tallied one RBI. Naeve is batting .500 this summer.

Peyton Lathrum finished with one hit, one run and two RBIs in her first career start in the outfield. Addison Steenhoek contributed one hit and two RBIs, Lillian Humpal totaled one hit and one run and Hadley Millang doubled and was hit by a pitch.

Holly Wood scored two runs, Jorja Teeter scored one run and stole one base and Winters stole her team-leading 19th base. Winters (1-0) spun all five innings and allowed no earned runs on two hits and fanned eight in the circle. The Mustangs (19-3, 14-0 in the conference) out-hit Perry (4-8, 4-7) 12-2, and PCM committed zero errors.

PCM 11, South Hamilton 1

JEWELL — The Mustangs completed June 25 by taking down South Hamilton, 11-1, during a HOIAC road contest.

CHAMPS | 7

Kyra Naeve doubled in a run during the Mustangs’ seven-run second inning against Lynnville-Sully on June 24. The Hawks won the game 11-0 and Naeve is batting a team-best .500.

State-ranked Mustangs down visiting Lynnville-Sully

By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer

MONROE — The PCM softball team has the best fielding percentage in Class 3A and its earned run average ranks second in the class.

Both of those statistics were on full display on June 24 during the Mustangs’ non-conference home game against Lynnville-Sully.

PCM scored 11 runs on only seven hits, but the defense committed zero errors and Rylee Parsons allowed only one hit in the circle during an 11-0 triumph.

“It’s very assuring as a coach that when the ball gets put in play, we can expect a play to be made,” PCM head softball coach Shaun Hudnut said. “They put a lot of time in on fielding.”

The 3A No. 4 Mustangs have only 13 errors in their 22 games. Their .975 fielding percentage leads 3A.

Parsons walked the third batter she faced and took a no-hitter into the fourth inning. Her 1.65 ERA ranks ninth in 3A.

The Mustangs scored twice in the first inning against the Hawks. Tori Lindsay was hit by a pitch and Addison Steenhoek reached base after an attempted bunt.

With runners on the corners, courtesy runner Peyton Lathrum stole second and Lindsay sprinted home after a throw down to second base.

Libby Winters walked and Hadley Millang was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly by Camden Webb made it 2-0. PCM (19-3) added seven runs

in the second. The Mustangs sent 11 batters to the plate, and Addi Hudnut started the frame with an infield single.

Lindsay was hit by another pitch after Holly Wood’s sacrifice bunt and then Steenhoek laced an RBI double to push the lead to 3-0.

The Mustangs’ lone senior leads PCM with 10 doubles this summer.

With first base open, Lynnville-Sully head softball coach Jordan Ely intentionally walked Winters, but Lillian Humpal delivered an RBI single and then Millang drew an RBI bases-loaded walk.

Webb pushed across two more runs with a two-run single and Kyra Naeve blasted an RBI double in front of a Hudnut RBI sacrifice fly.

The Mustangs ended the game early after scoring twice in the third. Lindsay was hit by a third pitch to open the frame then Winters singled with one out. Humpal’s RBI double made it 10-0 and Lillian Knapp capped the scoring with a pinch-hit RBI sacrifice fly to left field.

Parsons walked Peyton Sharp with two outs in the top of the first and Alaina Roberts broke up the no-hit bid with a lead-off single in the fourth.

Sharp reached on a fielder’s choice in the fourth but was thrown out by Steenhoek trying to steal second.

It was the seventh caught stealing this year for Steenhoek, which ranks tied for eighth in 3A. She has thrown out a school-record 51 attempted base stealers in her fiveyear career.

Her night began with a scare af-

PCM baseball claims season sweep over South Hamilton

JEWELL — Alex Wendt reached base four times and the PCM baseball team used a three-run fifth inning to pull away from South Hamilton during a 6-2 win in Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference action on June 25.

The Mustangs and Hawks were tied at 1-all after one and both teams scored once in the fourth. PCM took the lead for good with a run in the second and then pulled away with the threerun fifth.

PCM won the game despite being out-hit 8-4 and committing two errors.

Wendt had two hits, one double, one run, one RBI, one walk and was hit by one pitch to lead the offense.

Jaden Houser added one hit, one run, one RBI, one walk and two steals. He leads the Mustangs with 22 total bases.

Carson Hansen had the other hit and scored one run, Kaleb DeVries walked once, scored one run, stole one base and was hit by one pitch and Shay Burns walked once and had one RBI.

Konnor Bell drew one walk and scored one run and Izaac Bagby was hit by a pitch and scored one run. Bagby leads the Mustangs with six hit by pitches.

DeVries leads the Mustangs (710, 6-8 in the conference) with 16 runs and 17 walks. He also earned the win on the mound against South Hamilton.

DeVries (1-2) allowed one run — none earned — on three hits and one walk and fanned six over five innings. It was his second career pitching win and his first since the 2023 season.

South Hamilton (3-12, 3-9) got three hits from Landon Sogard and Brayden Moore collected two hits and two steals. It was the Hawks’ eighth straight loss.

PCM’s non-conference home game against Pella Christian scheduled for June 26 was canceled due to heavy rain and storms. The Mustangs’ road conference game against Nevada was started on June 23 but not completed.

Roland-Story 6, PCM 3

STORY CITY — Trenner Van Dyke hit a three-run homer to give the Mustangs a lead in the second inning, but Roland-Story rallied for a 6-3 home win on June 27.

The Norse won the HOIAC game after scoring three times in the second and once in the sixth.

ter she collided with Lynnville-Sully first baseman Emma Johnson trying to beat out a bunt in the first inning.

Steenhoek stayed in the game and finished with one double, one run and one RBI on her Senior Night.

“She made us nervous there at first,” Coach Hudnut said. “It wasn’t an injury. The collision scared her and scared us. She’s caught over 120 games in her high school career. Her experience, leadership and the energy and passion she plays with are catalysts for our team.

“We don’t want her Senior Night to be any kind of last. We want her last games to be at state. Replacing her is going to be tough though.”

Lindsay was hit by three pitches and scored three runs, Winters tallied one hit, two walks and two runs and Millang walked twice, scored one run and totaled one RBI.

Winters leads PCM with 27 runs and 44 total bases this summer. She doesn’t stroll to the plate hoping to draw a walk, but she also doesn’t want to swing at pitches outside the zone.

“I got a pitch to hit in that final at-bat, and I just really wanted to get a hit,” Winters said. “It’s been a great season. The offense can be better, but we’ve gotten hits when we’ve needed them.”

Humpal finished with two hits, one double, one run and two RBIs. She has a team-best 20 RBIs this summer.

Roland-Story improved to 25-9 against PCM since 2009, and the Norse swept the season series this summer. PCM out-hit Roland-Story 5-4, and the Norse committed two of the game’s three errors, but the hosts walked four times and were hit by four pitches.

DeVries had two hits to lead the Mustangs, but Van Dyke’s first career homer produced all three PCM runs. Van Dyke leads the Mustangs with 14 RBIs. Bagby finished with one hit, one walk and one run, Coby DeRaad walked and was hit by a pitch in his return from injury and Wendt was hit by a pitch and scored one run.

Trigg Steenhoek doubled and Jaden Houser walked to complete the offense. Steenhoek is tied for the team lead with four doubles.

Hansen (1-3) tossed the first 4 1/3 innings and allowed five runs — four earned — on two hits, three walks and three hit by pitches. He fanned four and took the loss.

Van Dyke surrendered one earned run on one hit, one walk and one hit batter and struck out two in 1 2/3 innings.

Cooper Triggs led Roland-Story with one hit and two runs. The Norse (17-7, 8-5) stole 10 bases.

West Marshall 12, PCM 0 STATE CENTER — The Mustangs had more errors (3) than hits (2) during their HOIAC road game against West Marshall on June 24.

The Trojans scored four runs in the first and ended their night early with a six-run fourth during a 12-0 victory.

DeVries doubled and walked once, Bagby had one hit and one walk and Houser stole one base. DeVries leads PCM with an on-base percentage of .516.

The Mustangs have lost 12 straight games against West Marshall. The Trojans (17-8, 11-3) out-hit PCM 10-2, and the Mustangs committed three errors.

Burns (2-1) took the pitching loss after allowing six runs — five earned — on seven hits, one walk and two hit batters in three innings.

Wendt surrendered two walks and struck out one in 2/3 of an inning and Jensson Hood got one out on the mound but not before allowing six runs — five earned — on three hits and two walks.

Dawson Bear and DJ Ridout each had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Trojans, while Noah Desotel allowed two hits over five innings on the mound.

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DeVries

Wendt

Van Dyke

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PCM MUSTANGS CALENDAR

Woodward-Granger accepted as 10th member of Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference

By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer

The Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference expanded to eight teams in 2022 and added a ninth school in 2025.

The conference is adding again. This time, the HOIAC welcomes back a familiar face to the league as Woodward-Granger’s request to join the league was approved by all current member schools recently.

“They’re a quality school district that will be a great addition to our conference,” PCM Activities Director Jeremy Swink said. “They are a growing school and currently in our conference’s footprint.”

The addition of Woodward-Granger brings the league to 10 teams, which is much better scheduling-wise, according to Swink.

The Hawks were part of the HOIAC back in the early 2000s when the league consisted of six small schools and seven large schools.

Back in 2008-09, Wood-

Softball

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Humpal grounded out to third in her first at-bat but made an adjustment in her final two tries. The double she hit in the third was her sixth of the season.

“You have to keep your weight back. It can be difficult to face a pitcher like her, but you just have to adjust,” Humpal said. “It’s so fun watching us do what we know how to do and celebrate every victory.”

Webb totaled one hit, one run and three RBIs, Naeve doubled and had one RBI and Addi Hudnut chipped in one hit, one run and one RBI. Naeve leads the Mustangs with a .500 batting average.

Lathrum scored one run and stole one base as a courtesy runner, Knapp delivered an RBI sacrifice fly and Ryan DeVore also hit a ball to deep center field in her pinch-hit at-bat in the third.

Parsons (11-1) earned the win in the circle after allowing one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in four innings. She helped the Mustangs lower their team ERA to 1.57, which ranks second in 3A.

Notes: Lindsay headlines the Mustangs’ strong defense. She ended the game with an impressive back-hand stab at shortstop and has zero errors in 64 chances. Lindsay also leads the Mustangs with an on-base percentage of .526. She’s been hit by a teammost 11 pitches, which is tied for fifth in 3A. “(Lindsay) has been phenomenal at shortstop all year long,” Coach Hudnut said. “Some of those back-handed plays she makes look amazing, but they are almost routine for her.”

ward-Granger was part of the small-school division with Ogden, Grandview Park Baptist, Colfax-Mingo, South Hamilton and Colo-NESCO.

PCM was one of the seven large-school teams along with Collins-Maxwell/Baxter, Gilbert, Bondurant-Farrar, Greene County, North Polk and Roland-Story.

Only PCM, South Hamilton, Greene County and Roland-Story remain in the league today.

Nevada joined the HOIAC in 2009-10 and was part of the large-school division.

The version of the HOIAC in 2011-12 consisted of one division and nine schools. CMB’s last year in the conference was 2016-17, the year before the schools split

into Baxter and Collins-Maxwell for athletics.

The eight schools in the HOIAC in 2020 were PCM, Gilbert, North Polk, Roland-Story, Saydel, South Hamilton, Nevada and Greene County.

Gilbert and North Polk have since left the league to join the Raccoon River Conference.

West Marshall’s addition in 2021 brought the league to seven schools, Perry made it eight when it joined in 2022 and Grand View Christian was placed in the league this past season to get the number to nine.

The HOIAC by-laws, according to Swink, state that 2/3 of member schools must approve an addition to the league.

“That since been accomplished,” Swink said after PCM’s Board of Education voted to approve Woodward-Granger in its most recent meeting. “They will be part of the conference starting in 2026-27.”

There’s no plan yet to expand the conference past 10 schools, but Swink said there have been formal discussions about shift-

ing back to divisions. That becomes more realistic if the league can get to 12 schools.

The 10-team conference starting in 2026-27 will feature PCM, Saydel, Roland-Story, West Marshall, Grand View Christian, Nevada, Perry, Greene County, South Hamilton and Woodward-Granger.

“At this point, I think one division with 10 teams is a good place to be in,” Swink said.

There also are not any current applications or invitations to the league pending at this time.

Woodward-Granger was not invited but instead reached out and applied for membership.

“The programs they offer, their location, their growing enrollment and their competitiveness were all reasons Woodward-Granger is a good fit in our league,” Greene County Activities Director Dave Wright said. “Bringing them into the league was an easy decision. We’ll now take it one step at a time and do what is best for the member schools of the HOIAC as opportunities present themselves.”

Mustangs to add girls wrestling this winter

By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer

Girls wrestling has been on a steep incline the past few seasons in the state of Iowa.

Colfax-Mingo was at the forefront of that growth, and wrestlers from PCM High School helped the Tigerhawks win three conference championships the past few seasons.

But on June 10, Colfax-Mingo announced it was breaking off from the sharing agreement.

That left PCM with a decision to make, and its school board voted recently to approve girls wrestling in the district, and the Mustangs will have their own team starting this winter.

“We were informed a few weeks back that Colfax-Mingo would be terminating the sharing agreement with us, which prompted us to have conversations on what would

be next,” PCM Activities Director Jeremy Swink said. “We landed on starting our own program and giving our kids the same opportunity they’ve had the past few seasons at Colfax-Mingo.”

Girls wrestling currently has two classes, and part of Colfax-Mingo’s decision to end the sharing agreement was to make sure the Tigerhawks can remain in Class 1A.

According to a post on Facebook, PCM could have up to eight wrestlers who competed at Colfax-Mingo last season as well as at least one middle school wrestler joining the squad.

Allison Minteer, Hadley Millang and Alauna Wells all won individual conference titles last season. PCM wrestlers accounted for 147 wins the past three seasons.

Millang finished 41-16 as a freshman, while Jozlyn Wells was 21-11 and Minteer finished 18-14. Emma Beyer won 17 matches and Saman-

tha Wheeler was 11-10.

Swink said the girls and boys wrestling programs at PCM will have a different schedule and a different set of coaches.

The sharing agreement PCM had with Colfax-Mingo was always meant to be temporary, too.

“I love the girls we had,” Colfax-Mingo head girls wrestling coach Erin Hume said. “Getting to know them and teaching them to wrestle is one of the best coaching experiences I’ve had. Yes, I do believe wrestling in 1A suits us better but also sharing was never my longterm goal.

“If we continued to share, would there have ever been a good time for them to start their own team? They return a good core of wrestlers like Allie, Hadley and Emma who had been with us since seventh grade. Now as sophomores they get to experience wrestling with their school logo on their singlet.”

Troy Hyde/ PCM Explorer

PCM freshman Hadley Millang, left, won a conference title on Jan. 27 and won three times at the regional tournament this past season. She will headline PCM’s first girls wrestling team this upcoming season.

PCM led 4-0 after two and scored three in the third and three in the fourth to help end its night early. It was the Mustangs’ 10th straight win over South Hamilton, which dropped to 7-17 and 2-10 in the conference.

PCM, which out-hit the Hawks 14-1, swept the season series following an 11-0 win earlier this season.

Winters and Naeve finished with three hits to lead the offense, while Lindsay and Millang each posted two hits.

Naeve laced two doubles, scored one run, had three RBIs and stole two bases, Winters doubled, scored two runs and stole one base and Lindsay doubled, scored one run, totaled one RBI, stole one base and was hit by one pitch.

Winters leads the Mustangs with a team-best 27 runs and 44 total bases. Lindsay has been hit by a team-most 11 pitches.

Millang contributed one run and one RBI, Humpal doubled, scored two runs and had one RBI, Wood tallied one hit, one run, one RBI and one steal and Steenhoek collected one hit and one RBI. Humpal leads PCM with 20 RBIs. Webb collected one hit, Hudnut had one RBI and Lathrum, Ryan DeVore and

Explorer PCM

Carly Wilkerson all scored one run.

Webb (7-2) earned the win in the circle. She allowed no earned runs on one hit and two walks and fanned 10 in five innings.

Weather has affected several games the past few weeks. PCM’s June 23 game against Nevada was suspended in the

fourth with PCM up 8-0, but the Cubs have not expressed interest in making the game up and also have not yet forfeited the win to PCM.

The June 26 non-conference home contest against Pella Christian was canceled due to storms in the area.

The Mustangs won the conference championship by at least four games in the loss column.

PCM splits pair at Roland-Story tournament

ROLAND — A five-run fifth inning broke a tie game against 4A Glenwood on June 27, and the Mustangs went on to win the non-conference game 6-1 at the Roland-Story tournament.

Class 4A No. 12 Grinnell defeated PCM, 4-0, in the Mustangs’ other game. All three Mustang losses this season have come against 4A schools.

The Rams out-hit PCM, but they committed five errors in the loss.

The Mustangs scored first and led 1-0 until Glenwood tied the game in the fourth. PCM scored six runs on five hits.

Steenhoek finished with two hits and one double, Webb totaled two hits and one RBI and Humpal added one hit, two runs, one walk and one steal to lead the Mustangs. Steenhoek leads PCM with 10 doubles.

Lindsay walked twice, scored one run

and stole one base, Naeve walked once, had one RBI and stole one base and Winters, Lathrum and Wood all scored one run. Ryan DeVore and Wood also stole one base.

Parsons (11-1) earned the win in the circle after tossing five innings and allowing one earned run on two hits with five strikeouts. She lowered her earned run average to 1.65.

Webb tossed one inning and surrendered three hits and fanned two and Winters walked one and fanned two in her one inning.

Glenwood (11-17) got two hits each from Allison Koontz and Alyssa Liddick. Grinnell (24-4) scored all four of its runs in the fifth and out-hit PCM 6-3 in the other game. It was the Tigers’ sixth straight win over the Mustangs.

Naeve had two hits and one double and Steenhoek doubled for PCM’s hits. Lillian Knapp walked once and Lindsay and DeVore both were hit by pitches.

Webb started in the circle and took the loss. She surrendered four earned runs on six hits and two walks with one strikeout in 4 2/3 innings. Her 1.68 ERA ranks 10th in 3A.

Winters pitched the final 1 1/3 innings and gave up no hits, no runs and one walk and fanned three.

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