Brad Magg to run for Iowa House District 38 again in 2026
Democratic candidate announces campaign at annual soup supper fundraiser
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer
Brad Magg is making another run for Iowa House District 38. His decision to run is so fresh he hasn’t even gotten the chance to tell his mother. She will no doubt have some choice words to say to her son, but she will also support him every step of the way. Just like before. Democrats in Jasper County feel the same way.
The city councilman and local business owner made the announcement during the annual Jasper County Democrats Soup Supper, a pivotal fundraiser for the local party. He was met with a standing ovation from fellow Democrats, and an encouraging hug from Iowa House Rep. Ross Wilburn of Story County.
“You’ll be the first to hear
it: I am going to run again,” Magg said. “So, giddy-up, we’re going to do it again!” Bryan Friedman, chair of the Jasper County Democratic Party, said Magg ran an “excellent campaign” for Iowa House last year. Magg said he managed to raise $40,000 for his campaign. Dunwell raised more than twice that amount in 2024. Still, just before Election Day 2024 Magg felt confident in his campaign.
“I had amazing volunteers,” Magg said at the soup supper. “You guys showed up in full force. And I was ready. We didn’t do it, but, hey, stuff happens and we learn. Despite losing by 10 points, we were still one of the most overperforming House candidates in the state.”
It was also a presidential
Trunk or Treat PCM Elem e ntary PTO
Community Health Needs
Assessment identified housing as a top concern in Jasper County
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
In an effort to address housing needs in Jasper County, the county health department shared a draft of its housing referral flow sheet during last month’s Board of Health meeting. Results from the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) conducted last year identified housing as a major concern in the county.
Of the residents surveyed by the CHNA, almost half said they experienced problems with their current living arrangement. Housing damage was identified as the top issue for almost half of respondents with lack of affordable housing impacting just a little more than 20 percent of the residents.
Creating a referral form was one of the ways the health department plans to address the housing issues in the county. By identifying the issues, the department can more successfully refer people to resources specific to their needs.
“The goal of the program is to offer resources to help people be self-sufficient,” the referral said. “We will not enable people.”
The form starts with an intake portion to learn about the person’s name, date of birth, contact information, address, employment status and current living situation. It also looks to assess what resources are available to the person, including support from family, friends, neighbors, school, church or other sources.
It then addresses what the current housing issue is for the person. It looks to find out if they are homeless or unable to pay rent or the mortgage. It also digs into other sources that may be a struggle, such as maintaining the residence, paying utilities, making repairs or needing items such as a ramp or furniture.
For home owners or renters that have issues, the top response in the CHNA was lack of complete plumbing facilities followed by lack of complete kitchen facilities, one or more occupants per room and monthly housing costs, both renting and owning, greater than 30 percent.
In the county, 23.58 percent of households have housing costs exceeding 30 percent of their total household income. The rate is slightly higher than the state average of 23.04 percent.
When it comes to accomplishing tasks for a residence, the form asks if there are any barriers to
Iowa Democrat Josh Turek wants to live up to the legacy of Tom Harkin
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer
Josh Turek knows the kind of impact a good senator from Iowa can have on Americans. Had it not been for the work of former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin to create the Americans with Disabilities Act, Turek might not be where he is today: a state lawmaker, a Paralympian, a Democratic candidate running for Harkin’s old seat.
“The ADA and Senator Harkin’s work literally provided me an onramp onto society to be suc-
cessful,” Turek said. “We here in Iowa deserve to once again have a senator that is going to fight for the people, fight for the working class, that is going to fight for our farmers, that is going to fight for small business.”
For Turek, it is important for Iowa to have a representative in the U.S. Senate who will also fight for social safety nets like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. It is these social safety nets, Turek added, that have allowed him to be successful after being diagnosed with spina bifida at birth.
As the first permanently disabled member of the Iowa Legislature, Turek carries that title like a badge of honor. It is also a main reason why he decided to run for office in the first place back in 2022. Turek told Jasper County Democrats last week that he is giving a voice to the one in five Iowans with a disability.
“We have representatives like Ashley Hinson up there who does not care about the plights of the most vulnerable, does not care about people’s
HOUSING | 3
Former U.S. senator’s work on ADA provided candidate ‘an onramp onto society’
Brad Magg for Iowa
Brad Magg, a Democrat, has announced his campaign for Iowa House in the 2026 election cycle.
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer Iowa House Rep. Josh Turek, who is running for U.S. Senate, speaks to local party members during the Jasper County Democrats Soup Supper on Oct. 5 at the
Beard Administration Center in Newton.
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.
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.
Church of the Brethren to dedicate new fellowship hall
After years of prayerful planning and months of construction, the Prairie City Church of the Brethren at 12015 Hwy. S6G south of Prairie City, will dedicate its new fellowship hall. The dedication service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19 and all are invited to attend. Following the service, guests are invited to tour the new addition and enjoy an old-fashioned ice cream social, featuring homemade ice cream, cookies, bars and pies.
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.
Pancake Breakfast Oct. 25
The Prairie City Lions will host tits monthly pancake breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Prairie City Community Building. The menu includes pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, and drink. A freewill donation is accepted.
100 years ago
• The Pittsburgh Pirates win the World Series on October 15. The Pirates defeat the Washington Senators 9-7 in the decisive seventh game of the series. The Senators had opened the series winning three of the first four games.
• John William Carson is born in Corning, Iowa, on October 23. Carson would grow up and host “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” for three decades, ultimately earning the nickname “The King of Late Night.
• American inventor Fred Waller receives a patent for the water ski on October 27.
• An armored truck is hijacked and robbed of $93,000 in cash in Buffalo, New York, on October 29. The money is never recovered and Richard Reese Whitemore, who was indicted for the holdup, was never convicted of the crime after a jury could not agree that he was guilty.
Explorer PCM
Prairie Meadows donates to Short Years Partnership
Betterment grant will help fund Short Years Diaper Bank expanding access initiative
Prairie Meadows recently awarded Short Years Partnership a Community Betterment grant totaling $3,400. The grant will help fund the Diaper Bank program’s Expanding Access Initiative, which aims to increase access to supplemental diapers for families across Marion, Warren, Madison, Jasper and Dallas counties.
Short Years Partnership is dedicated to supporting families with young children by providing supplemental diapers, reducing financial strain, and ensuring children’s basic needs are met. The Expanding Access Initiative will allow the Diaper Bank to:
• Add well-placed all-weather donation receptacles and portable bins for pop-up diaper drives to increase community engagement.
• Improve storage and distribution efficiency by provid -
ing necessary materials such as wrapping supplies, labels, and printer ink.
• Support program expansion into additional counties while ensuring sustainability of operations.
“We are so grateful to Prairie Meadows for supporting our Diaper Bank’s initiative. This funding allows us to better provide an essential basic need to families across our five-county service area and relieve financial pressure for parents. With this support, we can expand donation points and strengthen our program so that more families receive the dignity and relief they need to thrive,” said Erin Paugh, Program Manager at Short Years Partnership.
“As a nonprofit organization, Prairie Meadows is proud to support initiatives that strengthen our community through investments in arts and culture, edu -
cation, economic development, and human services. By funding meaningful projects, we help create lasting impact across Central Iowa. We look forward to continuing this important work with our partners,” said Julie Stewart, Chief Operating Officer at Prairie Meadows.
The Expanding Access Initiative is expected to be completed by summer 2026 and will impact an estimated 625 families in the five-county service area. By addressing diaper need, the program helps reduce health risks, alleviate financial stress, and remove barriers to childcare, giving families stability and peace of mind.
For more information about Short Years Partnership and the Diaper Bank, visit shortyears. org. To learn more about Prairie Meadows and their community initiatives, visit prairiemeadows. com/community.
Iowa State University advances efforts to improve nutrition and physical activity
Iowa State University has begun Year 3 of “Leveraging Activities and Partnerships to Address Obesity in Iowa.” ISU Extension and Outreach leads the initiative, known asIowa LEAP, which aims to promote healthy eating and active living in six counties with an adult obesity prevalence of 40 percent or more.
In the third year of this five-year program, Iowa State will receive $510,000 to help implement targeted activities to improve nutrition and increase physical activity. The funding also will provide ongoing support for county extension staff and partnership coordination in Cedar, Clinton, Crawford, Franklin, Muscatine and West Pottawattamie counties.
Addressing a significant public health issue
Obesity is a significant public health issue affecting more than 100 million adults and 14 million children in the United States, according to the CDC.
In Iowa, 37.8 percent of adults are currently affected by obesity, measured as a body mass index of 30 or higher, noted Lyndi Bucking-
ham-Schutt, assistant professor and extension specialist. CDC population data from 2023 show that in 23 states, including Iowa, more than one in three adults has obesity.
“That’s approximately 35 percent. Before 2013, no state had an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35 percent. Currently, at least one in five adults – about 20 percent – in each U.S. state is living with obesity,” Buckingham-Schutt said.
“Obesity is a complex and costly chronic disease influenced by many factors. It is associated with increased healthcare costs of approximately $173 billion annually, along with poorer mental health outcomes, stigmatization, reduced quality of life and a higher risk of developing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and various cancers,” Buckingham-Schutt said.
Building on a strong foundation Iowa State University’s Iowa LEAP initiative is building on a strong foundation of community engagement.
“In Years 1 and 2, the team conducted com-
prehensive community assessments, engaged local coalitions, gathered meaningful community input and implemented evidence-based strategies. These efforts were focused on improving access to healthy food and providing safe, accessible opportunities to engage in physical activity,” Buckingham-Schutt said. “In Year 3, ISU Extension and Outreach staff in the six counties will continue leading and coordinating efforts with county partners and organizations to advance this collective work and deepen its impact across communities.”
LEAP counties and their community partners are committed to
community health. They have helped expand access to safe and inclusive physical activity for 85,187 individuals by supporting policies and systems changes across participating counties. In addition, the LEAP team partnered with 17 local organizations to strengthen food service guidelines, resulting in increased access to healthy food for 8,144 people.
“These efforts were further amplified by successfully leveraging over $250,000 in funding through grants, strategic partnerships and contributions from local, state and federal sources — demonstrating the power of collaboration for advancing collective health impact,” Buckingham-Schutt said.
Iowa LEAP is fostering a healthier Iowa by addressing the root causes of obesity and empowering communities to make lasting improvements in health and wellness.
“We are excited to continue our work with the CDC’s High Obesity Program,” said Buckingham-Schutt. “By leveraging local partnerships and community insights, we aim to create sustainable changes that will lead to healthier lifestyles for residents of participating counties. Collaboration is key to the current and future success of this work. Our team values the work of those partnering with us to have a collective impact on creating healthier communities.”
Iowa State University Iowa LEAP is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s High Obesity Program.
Explorer PCM
Magg
Continued from page 1
election year, and the county overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump over Kamala Harris. Still, Magg recalled the strides his campaign made. Voters had Magg signs posted next to Trump signs in the same yard, and he spoke highly of his interactions with
MAGA hat-wearing residents.
“Something was just in the air that day that didn’t go in our favor,” Magg said.
Dunwell ultimately received 9,035 votes, or 55.75 percent. Magg received 7,163 votes, or 44.20 percent. Dunwell remained the incumbent since October 2021. House District 38 largely represents Jasper County in the Iowa Legislature. Some southern areas, like Monroe, are outside his
Housing
Continued from page 1
stable housing. It looks to identify if the person has a criminal record, pets, identification, a deposit needed for occupancy, a job or if lack of planning has played into where the person currently finds themselves.
The county also wants to know what the person has already tried when looking to solve their housing issue. Have they sought out help from other resources or agencies? If so, who?
Finally, are the people filling out the form willing to accept help. While filling out the form is a big first step, actually following through and getting help can be a barrier some people find extremely difficult to overcome.
Beyond the initial applicant, the county looks in to the populations in the family, including any seniors age 62 and older, veterans, children, individuals with disabilities or mental health behaviors and persons struggling with substance abuse. Specific guidance is available for each of those categories with resources available in the county.
The form then gets into more of the immediate needs for housing, like if the individual is currently experiencing homelessness and whether they want help out of their situation. While people experiencing homelessless may be identified, their willingness to accept assistance is not guaranteed.
For those needing assistance with their current housing situation, the county can provide information on resources in areas for utilities and rent assistance, mortgage help, poor living conditions, repairs and homeownership and mental health and substance use. The county can also give information to those who are disabled, for those in need of employment, refugees, violence and domestic violence, legal, jail or probation needs, furniture, clothing and household needs and disaster relief.
The Jasper County Resource Guide is also recommended to always be provided to anyone seeking assistance.
Turek
Continued from page 1
healthcare,” Turek said of the Iowa congresswoman, who also announced her run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Joni Ernst. Turek condemned the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the significant cuts it makes to programs like Medicaid and SNAP benefits, which he said strips 110,000 Iowans from basic healthcare and thousands of poor children from
legislative jurisdiction.
When Magg first announced his campaign for Iowa House in spring 2024, he expressed frustration over Dunwell’s decision making at the Capitol, particularly when it came to property tax reform and public education bills. Magg also ran to improve healthcare issues, particularly in the more rural areas of the state.
Before ending his speech with party members this past
Sunday, Magg stressed the need for a more united front internally. He encouraged fellow Democrats to support their candidates even if there are some disputes over issues. He pleaded with them to not throw away their votes over these disagreements.
“Don’t drag our candidates through the mud because you don’t agree with them 100 percent,” Magg said. “They’re still far better than what we
have representing us now … Please make sure we’re supporting our candidates so that we can all win come next year.”
Magg is about a year out from Election Day. Plus, there is a primary to consider. Still, the candidate feels way more prepared this time around.
“I have a better idea of what’s going on, and we’re getting a good head start.”
A GUIDE FOR ASSISTANCE
Seniors 62 years old and older
If low income, Aging Resources of Central Iowa / USDA grant and loan. Veterans
Jasper County Veterans Affairs
Children
Refer to school district homeless liaison (McKinney-Vento funds), ff pregnant: Pregnancy Center of Central Iowa, children removed from the home — Open Arms Foundation of Jasper County, IHHS, Parent Partners, Four Oaks, if justice is involved: Capstone Behavioral Health Disabled
DAP Polk County, Progress Industries for housing, Aging Resources of Central Iowa Mental Health
Call 988 or https://988lifeline.org or Your Life Iowa Showers
Discover Hope, Newton YMCA Laundry
Neighbor Helping Neighbors working with Capstone Behavioral Health, Connection Center to set up a process
Homeless
Tom Troxell, Homeless Ministry Outreach Shelter
If willing and transportation available — CISS : 24/7 Emergency Shelter in Des Moines, Access Care Center Rapid Rehousing of Marshalltown/Ames/Boone, YSS for youth, PHC
basic food assistance “just to give tax breaks to billionaires.”
If elected to the U.S. Senate, Turek pledges to raise the minimum wage and eliminate subminimum wages allowed by 14(c) certificates, fight for affordable and accessible healthcare and women’s reproductive freedoms, advocate for affordable pharmaceuticals and have a 100 percent labor voting record.
Turek also wants to address the rising cancer rates in Iowa. The very same day he announced his run for U.S.
Senate he learned his sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, but because it was only Stage 2 insurance companies told her they would not pay for a PET scan to see if the cancer had spread.
“Healthcare is a human right,” Turek said, noting his sister would have to pay $30,000 out of pocket for the scan. “…You should not have to win the lottery, you should not have to divorce your spouse and declare bankruptcy just to have access to basic healthcare in the richest country on earth.”
Iowa Shelter in DSM, Garden Gate Ranch for sexually exploited women
Utilities/Rent Assistance
IMPACT Community Action, Salvation Army, Churches and Ministerial Alliance
Rent reimbursement program, Capstone Behavioral Service, Progress Industries, The Well, Kid Assist Income/Employment Iowa Workforce Development
Refugees
Iowa Health and Human Services Refugee Services
Violence/Domestic Violence
Family Crisis Center, CIS Legal/Jail/Probation
Capstone Behavior Health
Furniture/Clothing/Household
Friends in Hope, The Well, Salvation Army, Goodwill, Open Arms, Pregnancy Center Disaster Relief
FEMA, Jasper County EMA, Red Cross
Turek also pledged to give Iowans access to clean water. While some may argue that to be a state issue, Turek believes it is a federal issue that needs to be addressed at the Environmental Protection Agency level. He also advocated for public education, infrastructure and farmers.
“We are moving into an absolute ‘farmageddon’ is what I’m calling it. It’s a return to the 1980s farm crisis,” Turek said. “We’ve got foreclosures that are going up. We’ve got suicides that are going up. The commodities prices are
upside. This is due specifically to the tariffs.”
Turek wants his campaign to be about hope and inspiration and positivity, because people “have not felt it in so long.” He rejected the idea that Iowa is a red state. It is a common sense state, he said, and it is seeing higher Democratic turnouts than it has in the past decade or so. “I’m a common sense prairie populist,” Turek said. “The district I represent right now is actually more red than the rest of the state as a whole is. We can win.”
Opinion
OPINION
You may or may not recall that a couple of months ago I came out in a big way in support of Medicare Advantage Plans. And, considering my health condition of recovering from cancer treatment, with huge medical bills, my Medicare Advantage Plan took great care of me. I have no complaint about the coverage.
However, I have recently been informed that my Medicare Advantage Plan, which is United Health Care AARP, is discontinuing coverage for a big chunk of Iowa, effective January 1, 2026. It’s called a Service Area Reduction or SAR (not to be confused with the SARS virus, although perhaps as repulsive). This SAR is aimed at plans with a zero monthly premium. Plans with a monthly premium, for the most part, will not be affected.
OPINION
Not only is United Health Care AARP discontinuing service in select counties of the state, but several other Medicare Advantage Plans are as well. It’s mainly due, I’m told, to government cutbacks.
If it’s any consolation, people who are having their coverage discontinued will be given what’s called a Guaranteed Issue (GI) option, which will allow them to select any other plan available in their county, with no medical questions.
So, what my wife and I are looking at, for we are United Health Care (UHC) members, as well as my client base, for I am a UHC Agent, is switching to another Medicare Advantage Plan, or to a Medicare Supplement. I am in the process of certifying with a couple of other Medicare Advantage Plans. A good question to ask is, “Will these other Medicare Advantage Plans go through a similar
Serving Iowans during the Schumer Shutdown
From Washington, DC
The same Washington politicians who were whining about DOGE laying off unnecessary bureaucrats just a few months ago are now exposing who is and isn’t an essential employee by shutting down the government.
The Schumer Shutdown has sent home 750,000 federal employees deemed non-essential, but the kicker is that despite being on their couch, in a bubble bath, or wherever else, they will still collect a paycheck paid for by your tax dollars.
In fact, every day the shutdown goes on, taxpayers will be on the hook for $400 million in salary for these bureaucrats who are not working. With Democrats continuing to block the bill to reopen the government, there has already been $1.2 billion in costs racked up.
This is an absolute waste of your hard-earned tax dollars.
Of course, our brave men and women in uniform are continuing to answer the call to duty without pay, as are other essential employees.
But you know who still gets paid?
The politicians who failed to do their jobs and caused the shutdown, namely Senator Schumer and the Democrats in Congress.
Keep in mind, the bill they are blocking would keep the government funded at Biden’s budget levels while we continue working out our differences.
Senator Schumer himself stated earlier this year, “No reasonable member on either side – Democrat or Republican – wants a government shutdown. Both sides recognize that a government shutdown would mean crushing delays to veterans’ programs, nutrition programs for women, infants, and children, delayed benefits for our military, and so much more.”
Senator Schumer went on to say that only extremists who can’t win an argument are willing to shut down the government to bully everyone else into submission.
And folks, that’s exactly
what is happening now.
But, ironically, it is Senator Schumer who is being bullied by the extremists within his own party.
These are the radical socialists demanding we defund the police and ICE to allow our streets and borders to once again be overrun by chaos and lawlessness.
Folks, no one wins when Democrats shut down the government.
It is obvious the Democratic leader is shutting down the government for one simple reason—to protect his own job.
From the far left to the right, there is widespread disappointment with Senator Schumer’s inability to perform his basic duties, like doing his part to make sure our military gets paid on time and the government stays open.
So, on behalf of all Americans, the recipient of the non-essential government employee of the year for 2025 is Senator Chuck Schumer for his rudderless leadership, his petty partisanship, and his silly shutdown shenanigans.
While do-nothing bureaucrats are doing anything but working during the Schumer Shutdown, I am still serving Iowans.
My offices will remain open and, if you need help with a federal agency, my team is available to help.
My work for Iowans continues all gas no brakes, and this week I led the Consistent Egg Labels Act to ensure that deceptive imitation products aren’t mislabeled as real, healthy eggs produced by Iowa farmers. In the age-old debate between the chicken or the egg, one thing is certain: eggs don’t come from plants.
I will continue working to get my Democrat colleagues to end this political charade and stop wasting tax dollars, ensure that our servicemembers are paid, and guarantee the American people can access vital services from the federal government.
Joni Ernst, a native of Red Oak and a combat veteran, represents Iowa in the United States Senate.
Service Area Reduction in the near future?” We’re stuck between a rock-and-ahard-place.
I’m busy certifying and answering panicky client questions. All this is taking place amidst a government shutdown, which makes people even more nervous. It reminds me of Charles Dickens’ saying in A Tale of Two Cities: “It was best of times, it was the worst of times.” In other words: chaos.
It could be worse. We could have no options. We could be living in the Philippines and struggling for survival after a devastating earthquake, and looking for our loved ones under the rubble, wondering if they’re alive or how bad they’re hurt.
I have egg on my face, I know. Go ahead and say it. I don’t like eating crow—they’re tough and sorta fowl (get it?) tasting. But if the shoe fits, wear it. I bragged about how good my Medicare Advantage Plan is, and now the Plan is ditching me, us, and my clients. Health care costs are rising, insurance companies are struggling, and medical centers
are shutting down. AI generated news flashes are scaring people. No one knows what to believe, including me.
My wife and I, and my clients, will survive. We’ll figure something out. Putin bombs Ukraine, Ukraine bombs Moscow. Netanyahu bombs Gaza. Many UN countries recognize Palestine as a state while it’s being bombed to obliteration and its people are starving. Republicans blame Democrats and Democrats blame Republicans. Even the Pope weighs in.
I avoid the 24-hour news broadcasts. Ginnie doesn’t, but I limit the viewing to the bedroom. The only news I watch is the Nightly News. It’s one-half hour of straight news, no opinions. It leaves me feeling unfulfilled, but not angry.
I’ll admit I’m attracted to news flashes on my smart phone. “Travis Kelce reveals Taylor Swift’s darkest secret.” Oh, what a waste of time!
There’s only one thing I know for sure: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
Contact Curt Swarm at curtswarm@yahoo.com
OPINION
The health care emergency behind the government shutdown
By Karen Dolan
Health care access in this country is in grave danger — and your wallet could be, too. Those facts are key to understanding the latest government shutdown.
“My kids have health care through Medicaid — which is especially important for my daughter with autism,” Alexis Cortes, a mom of four, told me. But “the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ calls for massive cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and early childhood education programs,” she warns.
Also at issue are the24 million Americans who benefit from the soon-to-expire tax credits that help them afford their health coverage on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. When Republicans passed their tax cuts for billionaires and corporations in this summer’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill, they intentionally left out renewing this credit that helps regular people afford health care.
As a result, according to KFF Health, not only could the 24 million ACA users see a doubling of their premium costs, but most Americans could see their premiums riseif this tax credit isn’t renewed.
Coupled with the over $1 trillion that the GOP bill gutted from Medicaid in order to fund those massive tax giveaways to billionaires, Americans are about to experience significant reductions in their access to health coverage, long-term care, nursing home care, and hospital care,especially in rural areas.
This is what’s at stake with
the current government shutdown on Capitol Hill.
The Republican majority is trying to pass a stop-gap spending measure that sustains President Trump’s mass firings of public servants, maintains his freeze on nearly half a trillion dollars meant for our communities, and keeps their cuts to everything from education to health care, food assistance, student loans, and even cancer research.
Some lawmakers want to stop this calamity from happening. The Democrats have a counterproposal to fund the government that restores this health care funding, keeps costs under control for families already grappling with high costs of living, and prohibits illegally freezing appropriated funds. But with Republican majorities in the House and Senate, the Democrats’ proposal hasn’t been able to pass.
Nearly80 percent of Americans— including most Trump supporters — agree with Alexis, telling pollsters they want lawmakers to restore those expiring ACA credits.
Unfortunately, President Trump is disingenuously claiming that Democrats aren’t agreeing to the massive health care cuts because they want to spend taxpayer dollars on undocumented immigrants instead.
This is untrue. Undocumented immigrants pay taxes but aren’t allowed to get government health care benefits. Period. The president and his allies are telling this lie in an effort to gut your health care.
Trump is alsovowingto use the government shutdown as an opportunity to enact mass federal worker firings and to deny funds to states that voted against him. That means “blue states” — including plenty of red and purple communities inside them — are being denied funds for projects like building roads and bridges as a form of punishment.
Trump also instructed that the email signatures of government employees blame Democrats for the government shutdown. The administration has posted similar false and partisan messages on some executive branch agency websites.
Together, these measures may violate at least four federal laws against misappropriating or freezing federal funds, or spending them on partisan activity — including the Anti-Deficiency Act,the Hatch Act, theAnti-Lobbying Act, and theImpoundment Control Act. Meanwhile, families like Alexis’s are scared and struggling, wondering how they will be able to care for their families when their health coverage vanishes or becomes unaffordable.
The 80 percent of us who object to defunding our families and communities just so the rich can get richer need to make our voices heard. The sooner we do, the sooner the government can reopen and our families can receive the care and services we need.
Karen Dolan directs the Criminalization of Race and Poverty Project at the Institute forPolicyStudies.
Curt Swarm Empty Nest
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst
Key Club Kicks Off First Volunteer Event
Of The 2025-2026 School Year
This Friday, on October 10, PCM’s very own Key Club volunteered at Meals from the Heartland, proving that even small hands can make a big difference in our community. Meals from the Heartland is a nonprofit organization based in West Des Moines that packages and distributes nutritious meals to malnourished people around the world. Over the course of a two-hour shift, members packaged hundreds of meals that will feed families in need across the globe and in local communities. At the event, volunteers formed assembly lines, measuring ingredients like soy, rice, seasonings, and more into meal bags. So, what even is Key Club? President Abi Teeter explains in an interview exactly what Key Club is. “Key Club is basically just a group that wants to make the world a better place,” Teeter says. “We volunteer, we lead, and we just try to make this world better.” Teeter was then asked why she wanted to bring Key Club back to PCM, and she responded with “I wanted to bring Key Club back because I think it’s an organization that is needed, especially in the world right now,” Teeter said. “And it’s fun, it’s interactive, and a lot of people can be a part of it; you don’t have to be a specific type of person to be in it, and it’s just good for the community.” Vice President Cara Burkett was asked about some things that Key Club has done, and she said, “We have done fundraisers at First Ave and Mustang Nutrition, we’ve done bake sales, and we’ve made May Day baskets and brought them to the nursing homes, and we’ve also done Meals from the Heartland. She was then asked a final question on why people should join Key Club, and she responded with, “You should join Key Club because it’s a great group of kids, and we help our community and communities around us, and we have fun!”
October Students of the Month
Parents: Shaun & Andrea Hudnut
Employer: Jersey Freeze Future Plans: Attend the University of Iowa & major in Communications
3 Words that describe her: Kind, Smart, & Compassionate Favorite Classes: Yearbook & Spanish Advice for Underclassman: “Be kind to people” Best High School Memory: “Playing softball with my friends and my dad” Dream Job: “Social Media manager at a company I love!”
ADDISON HUDNUT
Parents: Brett & Amy Dudley
Future Plans: Attend an undecided college to double major in theater and something else
Extracurricular Activities: Fall Play/ Musical, Speech, Band, Choir, FFA, 4-H, & Key Club 3 Words that describe him: Creative, Ambitious, & Hard-Working Favorite Classes: English & AG Advice for underclassmen: “Don’t be nervous and get involved”
Best High School memory: “Having fun with my friends at FFA convention” Dream Job: Actor
CARTER DUDLEY
Mustangs Go The Distance: PCM Cross Country Covers 41 Miles To Monroe
At dawn Tuesday, October 2, 2025, the PCM High School cross country team set off to Albia for a test of both stamina and spirit. The team ran a relay-style race back to Monroe. The Mustang runners traded off legs of two to three miles, as teammates cheered each other on. Coaches and parents followed behind in a school suburban and school bus, ready to help the runners in any way they can, also for the safety of the team. As each runner finished their portion and moved onto the next leg, the collective goal remained: stay steady, stay focused, and have fun. By 2:30 p.m., the finish line was in sight, and in strides, the team ran together as a whole from Subway to the high school. Though the runners were tired from the long day, the shared determination kept them going. As the team was running their last stretch, staff and students gathered out front to support this newfoundhomecoming tradition at PCM. Paiten Rumbaugh is one of the girl cross-country runners. Rumbaugh has been a part of the team for three years and is thinking about continuing after high school. “I enjoyed the run; it was a great bonding activity as well as a training opportunity. Running it as a relay made it easier for us, which I really enjoyed,” shared Rumbaugh. When both teams arrived at the school, the seniors gathered to the front of the group with the game football. The seniors approached coach Greg Bonnett and had the honor of handing him the football. This homecoming tradition was introduced this year as the athletes from both teams came up with the idea from other high schools in the area. As the day ended, the runners were sweaty and tired, but triumphant. For these Mustangs, the Albia to Monroe run was a reminder: much of cross country isn’t just about how fast you go, but how far you can push together.
REMINDER:
No School Friday, Oct. 17 & Monday, Oct. 20!
Last week was PCM’s Homecoming week! Students’ most exciting week of the year. Here’s what you missed if you couldn’t attend any of the festivities last week. The football games, the dressups, the homecoming dance, and more. Everything was so exciting last week. Here are last week’s dress-up days for PCM High School. Monday was pajama day. Tuesday was Adam Sandler day. Dress baggy like Adam Sandler. Wednesday was blackout day. Thursday was U.S.A. Day. Finally Friday was Spirit Day. Bring your spirit to school, either if it’s your clothes or cheering. Thursday night we had the parade, Spirit Night, and Powder Puff games! Hope you were there! For Powder Puff, freshmen and juniors played against each other. Sophomores and seniors play against each other. When freshmen and seniors played each other, seniors won! The final score was 14-0. When juniors and sophomores played each other, sophomores won! The final score was 6-0. Then the final championship is seniors vs. sophomores. You know it—sophomores won the powderpuff championship of 2025! We had the Homecoming football game last Friday against Albia. The score was 54-0; the Mustangs won. Now PCM has a record of 5-1. The excitement, the energy, and just the atmosphere of it were unbelievable! I hope you were there because it was a thrill. Watch out, football boys, for T.P.! The homecoming dance was last Saturday. In the past not a lot of students have attended the Homecoming dance. We’re hoping that this year it will all change and more students will attend. The theme was Glow! So we’re all white with neon markers provided. It was lots of fun! That is it for PCM Homecoming week! We had a fun, exciting, thrilling week! I hope you had fun because PCM had fun! Looking ahead to next year, there may be some new and exciting changes happening with Homecoming. The high school student council works hard to come up with fresh ideas each year. If you have any ideas for the future planning of Homecoming, please share them with the student council sponsor, Kim Pettyjohn.
Ella Greaves Staff Writer
Rylee Parsons
Zach Richards Staff Writer
All Meals from the Heartland members after complet- ing two-hours of service!
Mustangs continue district dominance
BLOOMFIELD — The PCM football team showed it can score in a multitude of ways offensively on Oct. 10.
The Class 2A No. 5 Mustangs scored a trio of touchdowns from inside the 3-yard line but also used three explosive plays of at least 47 yards during their 42-8 road win over Davis County.
PCM stayed unbeaten inside 2A District 7 play. It has outscored district foes 195-42 this fall and dominated the three most recent games, 137-15.
The defense, led by Keegan Fenton, also was dominant. PCM held Davis County to 105 total yards. The host Mustangs rushed for only 78 yards on 33 carries. It was 21-0 after one quarter and 42-0 at halftime. Davis County scored its only touchdown with 2:23 to go in the game.
Chase Wagaman opened the game with a pair of first-quarter touchdown passes to Gavin Steenhoek. The first one covered 47 yards and the second one went for 71.
Steenhoek finished with three catches for a career-best 124 yards and two scores, and Wagaman was 7-of-11 through the air for 165 yards and three TDs.
PCM boys claim first-ever HOIAC title
Scott Spurgeon/Bloomfield Democrat
PCM sophomore Mason Hjortshoj (37) tackles Davis County’s Svend Skaggs during the visiting Mustangs’ 42-8 win on Oct. 10.
Photos by Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
The PCM boys cross country team won the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference championship at Gateway Recreation Golf Course on Oct. 13. The Class 2A No. 11
PCM volleyball sweeps home triangular, pushes 3A No. 12 R-S to five sets
By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer
MONROE — Taking down state-ranked teams is not something the PCM volleyball team does on a regular basis.
The Mustangs had 3A No. 12 Roland-Story on the ropes on Oct. 6 before the Lady Norse rallied to win the match in five sets.
PCM gained a bunch of confidence despite the loss though and used its momentum against 2A No. 14 Woodward-Granger three days later.
And after falling to the Hawks in the opening set, the Mustangs rallied for a 17-21, 2114, 15-8 victory during a home triangular on Oct. 9 that also featured Cardinal.
“We started slow tonight, but once we got that confidence back and played like we played on (Oct. 6), things got better,” PCM senior setter Tori Lindsay said. “We just needed to play our game and when we play as one, that’s when we play phenomenal.”
PCM opened its night with a 21-15, 21-16 win over Cardinal.
The Mustangs led the opening set 19-9 and trailed the second set 13-11 before rallying for the sweep.
Lindsay led the Mustangs with 12 assists, five digs and three aces. Libby Winters posted seven kills and two aces, Peyton Lathrum totaled three kills and four digs and Addyson Pederson contributed four digs and two aces.
Jorja Teeter chipped in three kills and two digs and Addi Hudnut collected five digs.
Winters had a kill efficiency of .538 and she made zero hitting errors in 13 attempts at the net.
The Mustangs (21-5) were 36-of-41 in serves with seven aces. They had a kill efficiency of .196. Lindsay was 15-of-16 in serves.
Cardinal (7-20) was led by Maelin Hickenbottom, who finished with three kills, five assists and three digs. Brayleigh Sparks posted six digs.
“When we go against teams we don’t think are going to challenge us, we don’t challenge ourselves,” PCM head volleyball coach Sarah De Vries said. “We
Pella Christian edges short-handed Mustangs at Chariton
CHARITON — While not at full strength, the PCM girls cross country team faced a fully loaded Pella Christian squad for the first time and the two state-ranked teams were separated by only three points at the Chariton Cross Country Invitational on Oct. 7.
The Class 2A No. 8 Eagles placed six runners in the first 11 positions and won the girls’ meet title with 34 points.
Class 2A No. 3 PCM was better at the front of its lineup but scored 37 points without top-five runner Paiten Rumbaugh, who missed the meet due to an illness.
Abi Teeter, who is ranked 18th in 2A, led the Mustangs with a runner-up finish in the 5K race.
Teeter secured the silver medal with a time of 20 minutes, 2.17 seconds.
That was about 12 seconds behind race winner Tierney Carter of 3A Oskaloosa. Carter won the race in 19:49.62.
Pella Christian’s Keilah Schiebout finished third in 20:28.19. The next three runners were separated by .44 seconds.
PCM’s Lila Milani (20:33.42) and 2A No. 28 Ali Hilsabeck (20:33.86) were fourth and sixth, respectively, while Pella Christian’s Bailey Vos was fifth in 20:33.74. Vos is currently ranked 15th in 2A.
Bailey Wheeler (21:29.01) and Annie Ford (21:30.5) were the final scoring runners for PCM. They placed 12th and 13th, respectively, while Jodi Jungling (21:57.93) finished 15th.
Raegan Vannoy (23:40.01) and Lexi Fagg (23:46.32) were non-scoring runners in 37th and 38th, respectively.
Rumbaugh should return to the lineup soon. Darbey DeRaad, who has been out since early September, is not expected to be back this season due to an injury.
knew W-G was going to be good so we ramped it up.”
After falling in the first set to the state-ranked Hawks (15-9), PCM jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second set and extended it to 9-2 before cruising from there.
The Mustangs led 5-1, 8-3 and 10-4 in the third set before closing out a win against a ranked team.
Lindsay finished with 20 assists, six digs and six aces to lead the Mustangs, while Winters totaled seven kills, three blocks and four digs.
Pederson put down seven kills and tallied three digs, Teeter added three kills and three digs and Lathrum posted three kills and three blocks.
Hudnut registered six digs and DeVore finished with three digs. The Mustangs were 44-of53 in serves with 10 aces, and they had a kill efficiency of .127. Lindsay served 18-of-19 and Pederson was 8-of-9.
“We work on serving every day,” Lindsay said. “That’s when I can dial into one thing and not worry about anything else. I have control of what’s going to happen with it. That’s my focus point.”
Pederson’s kill efficiency was .667. She had just one error in nine attempts, while Winters’ kill efficiency was .235.
PCM used a strong serve from Lindsay to close the gap in the first set against Woodward-Granger. That allowed the Mustangs to grab a little momentum, and it carried into the final two sets.
The aggressive serving also gave the Hawks trouble.
“We came from behind and
got a little momentum at the end of the first game,” De Vries said. “We got into their heads on (Lindsay’s) serve. They were subbing players in and out during one of her serving runs.”
Woodward-Granger looked significantly different than the team PCM played during a camp in the offseason.
The Hawks’ roster features five sophomores who see significant varsity playing time. The top three kill producers are in that class, too.
“I was kind of shocked because we played them last year and they were scrappy but very short,” De Vries said. “They are a very strong team. We knew we had to turn it up and flip that switch.
“We didn’t play scared today. We know they are going to have a big block. But you can’t be scared and timid. We swung hard, got some deflections off some of their blocks and pushed through some other blocks. They just have to go all in.”
Roland-Story 3, PCM 2 MONROE — Senior libero Addi Hudnut didn’t have an expectation to win against 3A No. 12 Roland-Story on Oct. 6.
Lindsay simply thought all the pressure was on the Lady Norse, and her squad just needed to play their game.
While the Mustangs couldn’t hold a lead and came up just short in the fifth and final set, nobody on the PCM bench walked away from the loss feeling down or sad.
In fact, the Mustangs gained valuable confidence and it carried over into their home triangular a few days later.
“In no world did we think we would win that match coming in,” Hudnut said. “But then we won the second game and kept winning, that gave us a ton of confidence. We ended up losing, but we didn’t walk away sad. We walked away with more confidence.”
Roland-Story opened the night with a fairly easy win but had to rally past PCM for a 2520, 17-25, 29-31, 25-19, 15-13 win in Heart of Iowa Activities Conference action. The hosts fell behind 3-0 in the final set but used a Pederson block and back-to-back aces by Lindsay to pull back even. The set also was tied at 4, 5, 8, 12 and 13 before Roland-Story scored the final two points to seal the win.
The Mustangs (4-2 in the conference) led 5-4 before a service error gave the ball back to the Lady Norse. PCM missed four serves total in the final frame, including ones that gave the visitors leads of 11-9, 12-10 and 14-13.
“I want the girls to serve aggressively,” De Vries said. “We aren’t going for the ace every time, we’re serving to spots — long, short and to the seams. We’re trying to mix it up.
“In a game to 15, you just need to put the ball in. We shouldn’t be serving it out of bounds.”
PCM also fell behind in the opening set 3-1. Kills by Winters, Teeter and Pederson helped close the gap to one three different times, but Roland-Story scored four straight to go up 10-6.
Newly-ranked PCM boys finish fourth at Chariton Invitational
CHARITON — The PCM boys cross country team got a good look at a trio of ranked teams in Class 2A which it may see later in the season at its state qualifying meet.
And after placing four runners in the top 15, the 2A No. 17 Mustangs finished fourth in the 11-team field at the Chariton Cross Country Invitational on Oct. 7. PCM scored 70 points in fourth. That was one point back of 2A No. 6 Red Oak. Class 2A No. 2 Chariton won the boys’ meet title with 51 points, and 2A No. 8 Pella Christian was second with 56.
The rest of the field included Oskaloosa (133), Davis County (168), Cardinal (225), Clarke (243), Wayne Community (261), Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (273) and Southeast Warren (304).
Kash Fischer led the Mustangs with a sixth-place finish in the boys’ 5K race. He was clocked in 16 minutes, 45.72 seconds.
Coby DeRaad (17:15.45), Brenden Lahart (17:18.17) and Owen Osterhaus (17:25.97) also were in the top 15 in 12th, 13th and 15th, respectively.
Chariton won its home meet after placing four scoring runners in the top 10. Class 2A No. 10 Lucas Anderson won the race in 15:52.98.
Pella Christian, which hosts a 2A state qualifying meet later this month, put two runners in the top 10 and four in the first 14 positions.
Class 2A No. 6 Emmanuel Gross of Red Oak finished second in 15:56.8.
The Mustangs’ final scoring runner was Henry Omondi, who placed 25th in 18:16.41.
Camden Lahart (18:28.22), Rylan Edgington
and
(18:33.61)
Cademon Burkett (18:42.26) were non-scoring runners in 27th, 30th and 34th, respectively.
PCM Explorer
PCM Explorer
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM junior Bailey Wheeler competes in the team’s annual home meet earlier this season. The state-ranked Mustangs were edged by Pella Christian during a meet at Chariton on Oct. 7.
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM junior Kash Fischer (480) and senior Coby DeRaad (478) run side-by-side and junior Brenden Lahart (482) is not far behind during the team’s home meet earlier this season.
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM senior Addi Hudnut receives a serve against Cardinal during a home triangular on Oct. 9. Hudnut finished with 11 digs in the two non-conference wins.
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM’s volleyball team celebrates a set win during a match last week. The Mustangs defeated Class 2A No. 14 Woodward-Granger during a home triangular on Oct. 9 and pushed 3A No. 12 Roland-Story to five sets on Oct. 6.
Explorer PCM
Sports
PCM rallied to get within one multiple times before the Lady Norse rolled off another four straight to take control for good.
The only set the Mustangs didn’t fall behind in was the fourth. They trailed 3-1 again in the second set, but used a 7-0 run that included kills and blocks by Teeter and Winters to move in front.
Another Teeter block swelled the margin to 10-5, and the Mustangs’ lead grew to as many as eight before the Lady Norse melted their margin to four multiple times.
Roland-Story’s 3-0 run later closed its gap to 19-17, but PCM scored the next six to close out the set. That run featured two kills by Teeter and an ace by Hudnut.
“Going into that match, we knew we had nothing to lose,” Lindsay said. “The ranked team always has more to lose so we just figured we’d go out and play our hardest and see what happens.”
The marathon third set didn’t start well for PCM. Roland-Story led 4-1, but the Mustangs scored six straight to take a 7-4 lead. That stretch included two kills and a block by Lathrum.
PCM forced a Roland-Story timeout at 14-8 after a pair of aces from Hudnut.
The Mustangs extended their advantage to seven three different times and then a tip kill by Lindsay pushed the lead to 1810.
Lathrum put down two more kills later to keep the deficit at seven, and another timeout was called the Lady Norse after Winters pushed the ball to the back corner for a 23-15 lead.
But a 6-0 by R-S trimmed the margin to 23-21. PCM called a timeout during that stretch.
The visitors eventually tied the set at 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 before a service error and a Teeter kill after a hard serve by Hudnut closed out the game and gave PCM a lead in the match.
Roland-Story began its comeback in the fourth set despite falling behind 8-4.
Three straight aces by Hudnut — two of which clipped the net and found a hole — put the Mustangs in front by four, the Lady Norse closed to within 10-9 and 11-10 before another
small run by PCM extended the margin to 14-11.
That forced a Roland-Story timeout, and the visitors responded with a 3-0 run that brought it back to even.
There also were ties at 15 and 16 before a 5-0 run by the Lady Norse put them in front for good.
“They were dumping and tipping a lot,” De Vries said about the Lady Norse’s comeback. “They’re a killing team. They have strong hitters, but we started blocking at the net, and then they shifted to more of surprising us with tips and dumps.
“We’re still a young team I feel like in some ways, and it’s just about learning how to pick up those tips and dumps. It can throw you off a little bit.”
It was Roland-Story’s 21st straight win over PCM. The Lady Norse (22-7, 7-0 in the HOIAC) are 21-3 against the Mustangs since 2007.
It was the first five-set match
Kash Fischer
PCM junior Kash Fischer led the state-ranked Mustangs with a sixth-place finish at the Chariton Invitational on Oct. 7. He was clocked in 16 minutes, 45.72 seconds and then moved into the Class 2A rankings at No. 26 on Oct. 13. He also placed sixth at the team’s recent conference meet.
and Claire Van Wyk totaled two kills.
The Mustangs were 91-of-108 in serves with 12 aces. They had a kill efficiency of .179 and finished with 12 blocks.
in the series since 2015 though.
“I told them this is what a winning team feels like,” De Vries said. “I feel like we haven’t had that in a while.
“The teams who have the tradition of winning can come back after losing a set because they have the mindset of ‘we’re winners, we don’t lose.’ We have to believe that about ourselves. We haven’t had that in the past. This showed the girls we have the ability to fight with those top teams.”
Lindsay finished with 33 assists, two kills, two blocks, five digs and four aces and she was 19-of-19 in serves in the loss.
Winters added 16 kills, three blocks and seven digs, Lathrum posted nine kills, three blocks and five digs and Teeter added seven kills, three blocks and nine digs.
Hudnut tallied 13 digs and six assists, Pederson put down five kills and had two digs, Ryan DeVore contributed four digs
“We don’t have a huge number of blocks mostly because we haven’t played many teams like this,” De Vries said. “
Miley Geise led Roland-Story with 42 assists, seven kills and three aces.
Caitlyn Flattebo had 15 kills and three aces, Brooklyn Jondle contributed 13 kills and 15 digs and Maddi Lucas registered 13 kills and five blocks.
The Lady Norse were 95-of111 in serves with 10 aces. They had a kill efficiency of .143.
“We went in pretty confident, tried to be us and we obviously gave it to them,” Lindsay said.
“We came up a little short. They weren’t expecting that, even their coaches said as much. It gave us a lot of confidence.”
Mustangs open regionals on the road
Not even a 16-3 record could get PCM a home regional game this season.
The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released the pairings for all classes on Oct. 8,
and the Mustangs will open on the road against Williamsburg at 7 p.m. on Oct. 21 in Williamsburg.
“It was super disappointing. I think they earned the chance to play a regional game at home,” De Vries said. They can go off strength of schedule, but I’m most bummed for the girls.
“Our goal is the same. We want to win that first-round matchup and go from there.”
The winner of that matchup gets 3A No. 12 Roland-Story in the semifinals at 7 p.m. on Oct. 23 in Story City.
The 3A Region 5 bracket also features top seed and No. 5 Humboldt.
PCM’s toughest matches are unfortunately at the end of the season after the brackets are already released.
However, sixth-seeded PCM defeated a South Tama County squad which No. 5 seed Iowa Falls-Alden (14-15) lost to twice.
“We were upset about it, especially since we are playing Williamsburg again,” Lindsay said. “I’m not sure what’s up with the Union with us playing them, but it’d be nice to play someone new. There’s nothing we can do about it except playing our game and seeing what happens.”
Fenton added a 1-yard TD run late in the first. Jaden Houser hauled in a 2-yard TD pass from Wagaman in the second, Easton Morris scored from 3 yards out 2 minutes and 30 seconds later and Lewis Daye Jr. got loose for a 67-yard TD with 2:31 to play in the half to cap the scoring.
are fourth. He also ranks sixth in 2A with 1,144 all-purpose yards.
Fenton led the defense with six tackles and two tackles for loss. Braedyn Lester tallied five tackles, Evan Jones totaled four tackles and Ivan Shannon, Alex Wendt and Hank Landwehr each chipped in three tackles. Wendt also contributed one sack.
Dominic Witt booted six touchbacks on his seven kickoffs and was 6-of-6 in PATs. His 43 touchbacks lead 2A and are the second-most in the state.
The Mustangs (6-1, 4-0 in the district) held a 14-5 advantage in first downs.
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It was Houser’s first career TD catch. He finished with three catches for 21 yards, Daye Jr. gained 140 yards on 11 carries and hauled in one pass for 20 yards and Morris ran for 51 yards on four carries.
Wagaman’s 22 total touchdowns rank tied for 3rd in 2A and his 188.4 rating is fourth.
Steenhoek’s 10 receiving touchdowns rank third and his 657 receiving yards
Davis County (0-7, 0-4) was led by Mason Simmons, who finished with 48 yards and one touchdown on seven carries.
PCM’s win sets up a matchup against No. 6 Centerville (7-0, 4-0) at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 in Monroe. The 2A District 7 championship is on the line.
Scott Spurgeon/Bloomfield Democrat
PCM senior Keegan Fenton, top, led the Mustang defense with six tackles and two tackles for loss against Davis County on Oct. 10. Fenton also scored a rushing touchdown in the team’s district win.
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM junior Addyson Pederson serves during a match against Roland-Story on Oct. 6. Pederson put down five kills in the five-set loss.
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM sophomore Libby Winters had 16 kills and seven digs in the Mustangs’ home loss to Class 3A No. 12 Roland-Story on Oct. 6.
Explorer PCM
Classifieds
The different types of mammograms
There are two main types of mammogram: screening and diagnostic
Mammograms remain the most effective method for diagnosing breast cancer and catching the disease in its earliest, most treatable stages. While various health organizations recommend different screening intervals, the American Cancer Society advises annual mammograms for women ages 40 to 54. Women age 55 and older who adhere to ACS recommendations can switch to a mammogram every two years if in good health.
Mammograms employ low-dose X-rays to map out breasts and detect unusual growths. There are two main types of mammogram: screening and diagnostic.
Screening mammogram
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation says a screening mammogram detects changes in breast tissue that could be indicative of breast cancer in women who exhibit no other symptoms of the disease. Mammograms sometimes can detect breast cancer up to three years before a person or doctors feel a lump. During the test, the breasts are flattened between two imaging plates from a few angles to get the X-rays.
Diagnostic mammogram
Should a screening mam-
mogram show something amiss or not easily visible the first time around, radiologists may ask the person to come back for additional image testing. This diagnostic mammogram includes additional views. The National Breast Cancer Foundation says diagnostic mammograms take
detailed X-rays of the breast using specialized techniques. They also may involve additional views or adjunct testing like ultrasound or MRI to provide a better overall picture of breast health. Diagnostic mammograms may be used to zero in on a specific area of the breast that needs
further clarification. Because a diagnostic mammogram requires taking a greater number of images, it will expose a patient to a higher dose of radiation. Still, health professionals feel the risk is worth it to help rule out cancer. Also, unlike a screening mammogram that
may take several days for a radiologist to read and identify results, a diagnostic mammogram can reveal important information immediately. Screening and diagnostic mammograms are important tools used to check for breast cancer.
How dense breasts can affect breast cancer diagnosis
Screening is widely recommended to adult women as a way to identify the presence of breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. But breast density might complicate the screening process for some women and even confuse those unfamiliar with dense breast tissue.
Explaining breast density
The American Cancer Society reports that breast density is a measure of how much fibroglandular tissue there is in a breast compared to fat tissue. Lobules, which are small glands that produce milk, and ducts, which are tiny tubes that carry the milk from the lobules to the nipple, are considered glandular tissue. Fibrous tissue and fat give breasts their shape and size while holding other structures in place.
Both fibrous and glandular tissue are difficult to see through on a breast cancer screening test known as a mammogram, which is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms are recommended to women beginning in young adulthood because they can detect the presence of tumors in some women that might otherwise be undetectable until they grow larger and produce noticeable physical symptoms. But some women have more fibrous and glandular tissue than others. In such instances, women may be told they have dense breast tissue.
How do doctors know if I have dense breast tissue?
The ACS notes that radiologists read mammograms and other imaging tests and are typically the ones who identify if a woman has dense breast tissue after examining the im-
ages produced by the tests. It’s now law in the United States to identify if a woman has “dense” or “not dense” in a mammogram report. Is dense breast tissue a risk factor for breast cancer?
Yes. The ACS notes doctors are still unsure why, but women who have dense breast tissue are at greater risk of breast cancer than women with less dense tissue.
Are mammograms still necessary if I’m identified as having dense breast tissue?
The ACS advises women to get a mammogram even if they have dense breast tissue. That’s because many breast cancers are still detectable even in women with dense breasts. Additional screenings for breast cancer, including 3D mammography and breast ultrasounds, remain a point of contention within the medical community in regard to screening for breast cancer in women with dense breasts. Women are urged to speak with their physicians about the need for additional screenings and their options.
Sharing your history It’s not uncommon for adults to change physicians. In such cases, it’s important that women share everything they know about their breast cancer risk, including information regarding their breast density, with any new doctor they visit.
Breast density can affect breast cancer diagnosis. But women identified as having dense breasts should still include traditional screenings like mammograms in their health care routines.
