Local People. Local Stories.
Explorer PCM
Beloved comic strip characters coming to life for PCM High School musical
Drama department to perform a four-show run of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” Nov. 14 to 16
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
In her first year at PCM, high school musical director Michelle Grob wanted to do something she was familiar with when working with a new group of students. Because of that, crowds will get to be wowed by “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” during its four-show run Nov. 14 to 16 in the auditorium at the PCM Middle School.
“It has been wonderful working with kids again,” Grob said. “My co-directors Leah Sangl and Thomas Riordan have been great to work with.
Capturing a moment in time
Pendroys create a time capsule during annual Halloween haunted house
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
For more than a decade, Jim and Natalie Pendroy, of Monroe, have invited the community into their almost 150-year-old house for a spooky Halloween adventure. This year, they added an special touch while the exterior of the house is getting an upgrade.
“We are getting new windows, siding, decking and more on the house and it wasn’t going to be finished before Beggar’s Night this
year,” Natalie Pendroy said. “With the siding still missing on the east side of the house where kids enter, I thought it would be fun to create a time capsule of everyone who stopped by this year.”
Equipped with a tote of Sharpies, Pendroy had both kids and adults sign the white house wrap before they walked in during Beggar’s Night in Monroe Oct. 30. Some signed as a family, others noted their costumes along with their names and a few pictures also created throughout the evening.
The project resulted in almost 500 signatures on the house.
“My husband Jim kept track of how many people came through that night and we had about 497 visitors,” Pendroy said. “We went through a lot of candy and heard a lot of screams.”
A staple for trick-or-treaters for years, the Pendroy house is decked out every year for the holiday. With inflatable Halloween characters throughout the yard, themed rooms including an alien encounter and haunted dinner with creatures likely to pop out for a surprise and a fully decorated garage, the haunted house at the end of Washington Street is a favorite.
“I had a little less time to prepare this year because of the construction,” Pendroy said. “I’m always looking for new and fun things to add to the displays.”
With the final pieces of the project ready to be put into place, the signatures will be sided over and hidden away for decades to come. It won’t be until the next time the owner looks to replace the siding that the time capsule will be revealed to the world.
“We have another time capsule with our family and signatures all around the house from the crews that have been working on it, too,” Pendroy said. “It is just a fun way to record history for the future generations to find.”
OORAH! 250 YEARS OF MARINES
Jasper County veterans are celebrating the semiquincentennial of the U.S. Marine Corps on Nov. 10 at American Legion Post 111 in Newton
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
How do you spot a Marine?
Well, if you’re a civilian in Jasper County, you may have to rely on them wearing their signature red T-shirts sporting the corps insignia, or work up the courage to shout “oorah!” in a crowded room, hoping the battle cry is returned. And it almost always is.
For the retired Marines in Jasper County, they can take one look at someone and usually tell if they had served in the U.S. Marine Corps. They tell me there is just something about them that makes them stand out from other people. That sense of familiarity was developed from their rigorous training and it hasn’t gone away. Marines can pick each other out from crowds by the way they sit or act or how they carry themselves. It is like an aura only they can detect, and it derives from a shared experience of combat, ba-
sic training or the memorization
It is definitely a team effort.” The character-driven musical based on Charles M. Schulz’s well-known “Peanuts” comic strip, it follows the everyday life of the ever-hopeful but often discouraged Charlie Brown as he navigates school, baseball and friendships. The show features six main parts: Charlie Brown, bossy Lucy, piano-playing Schroeder, blanket-toting Linus, dramatic Sally and the imaginative beagle Snoopy. Because of the limited roles, the directors decided to incorporate two casts to involve more students.
Ashley Hinson
does not support ‘nuclear option’ to end government shutdown
Congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate suggests bypassing filibuster would backfire
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Hinson told reporters last week she does not support the “nuclear option” of removing the filibuster in order to
reopen the federal government, saying that doing so could allow Democrats to “pack the courts” and take more seats when the pendulum swings the other way. Des Moines Register’s Stephen Gruber-Miller recently reported that Hinson’s primary opponent for U.S. Senator of Iowa, Jim Carlin, said he would support the nuclear option to bypass the Senate filibuster and pass a government funding bill
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer
From left: Duane Wacha, Art Heikkila, Wesley Justus, Charlotte Ross, Mady McKim and Leo Yokiel showcase a table featuring the U.S. Marine Corps insignia at the American Legion Post 111 in Newton.
Hinson
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
The PCM High School’s production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” runs from Nov. 14 to 16 at the auditorium at the PCM Middle School in Prairie City.
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer Almost 500 signature make a time capsule on the Pendroy’s house in Monroe, showing who stopped by during Halloween 2025.
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.
Indoor Walking resumes
The Family Life Center (old elementary gym) is now open for walking from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Children will be present from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. playing while their mothers/caretakers are walking. If you wish to walk when children are not present, please take note of the time schedule.
The FLC will not be open for walking Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. If you have any questions call First Reformed Church at 515-994-2250.
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.
Blood Drive set for Nov. 15 in
Prairie City
Prairie City & Monroe Community Blood Drive will be from 7:15 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 at 300 E. Fifth St. in Prairie City. Schedule your lifesaving appointment by visiting lifeservebloodcenter.org or by calling 800-287-4903.
Jerry Dean Briles Oct. 28, 2025
Jerry Dean Briles, age 77, passed away on October 28, 2025.
Jerry Dean Briles was born on October 23, 1948, the second of three boys to Herschel “Pete” and Wilma (Telfer) Briles. He married Sharon Kay Bell on August 31, 1968. They have 2 sons, Brian Dean (the late Stacey) and Kurt Alan (Alicia), and four grandchildren, Joslin, Brooke, Brody, and Kinsley Briles.
Jerry graduated from Colfax High School in 1966, and then he attended Northeast Missouri State in Kirksville,
Missouri, for one year.
Obituaries
Jerry was a hard worker and a good provider for his family. He worked at the Colfax Livestock Sales Company for over 54 years, the Monroe Company for 1 ½ years, mowed many yards for 15 years, Wilson Auction Service in Colo, and worked in various positions and departments at Maytag for 31.3 years before retiring in June of 2000.
Jerry liked playing cribbage and pitch. He
also enjoyed attending both household and livestock auctions. He loved watching old game shows and westerns - he has seen every John Wayne movie many times over.
After retirement, he enjoyed reading a good mystery or suspenseful novel, working on word searches for hours at a time, and going on road trips around central Iowa.
Those left to honor Jerry’s memory include his loving wife of 57 years, Sharon, his two sons and daughter-inlaw, his four grandchildren, his two brothers Jim (Judy) and Randy (Polly), many friends, his extended salebarn and
Maytag families, and his “adopted son and daughter” Eric and Jenny Anderson.
A visitation at the Coburn Funeral Home in Colfax, Iowa, will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 1-4 PM with family present. No funeral will be held per his request, but a private family burial will be held in Waveland Cemetery in Prairie City. In lieu of flowers, donations on Jerry’s behalf can be made to the PCM Food Pantry. Preceding Jerry in death were his parents, Pete and Wilma, his daughter-in-law Stacey, and many extended family members and friends.
St. Nick’s Christmas Club applications available
Jasper County residents needing assistance this holiday season can pick up an application for St. Nick’s Christmas Club beginning at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3, at the Newton YMCA, 1701 S. Eighth Ave. W. Applicants must meet eligibility guidelines including children 18 and younger must be Jasper County residents, served by only one program for holiday help, and the custodial guardian must apply. All eligibility guidelines are included in the application packet and are posted on the Club facebook page. Application packets are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis. Only one application will be given per person. Completed applications must be turned in to the YMCA by 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, or completed online using
the special QR code by 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9. Club volunteers will review all applications and partner with other non-profits offering holiday assistance to ensure eligibility. Those applying for multiple programs will not be eligible for St. Nick’s Christmas Club assistance. This is to ensure the Club can assist the most children in need. If accepted into the program,
children will receive new pants, shirt, socks, underwear (or diaper), and an item from their wish list. Families will also receive a food-only gift card purchased by the Club from local grocery stores.
St. Nick’s Christmas Club was founded in 1988 by a group of friends seeing a need in Newton.
The organization has grown to serve all of Jasper County communities with an all-volunteer group. The Club is a non-profit under the Jasper Community Foundation. Donations may be made by mailing c/o St. Nick’s Christmas Club, P.O. 162, Newton, Iowa 50208. For those wanting to adopt a family the annual adoption book will be released in late November. For more information, email newtonchristmasclub@ gmail.com.
Jasper County EMA Director named 2025 Iowa Hazmat Technician of the Year
Jasper County Emergency Management Director Jamey A. Robinson has been named the Hazmat Technician of the Year by the Iowa Hazmat Task Force, a statewide honor recognizing individuals for outstanding leadership and contributions to hazardous materials response.
Robinson received the award for his work in developing and securing Propane Flare and Response Kits for hazmat teams across Iowa. What began as a local effort to equip his own team with specialized propane response tools evolved into a state -
wide initiative, ensuring every Iowa Hazmat Team now receives a kit at no cost, thanks to a partnership with the Iowa Propane Gas Association.
This effort has even begun to attract national attention, with discussions underway to expand the program so responders across the country can receive similar equipment and training to handle propane emergencies safely.
With more than 15 years of experience as a Hazmat Technician, Robinson previously built a county hazmat response team in another jurisdiction before taking on his current role in Jasper County. Today, he continues to work closely with the Newton Fire Department, which provides hazmat services for the county, focusing on training, readiness, and equipment to ensure responders are prepared when needed.
YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE
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“The Propane Response Kits fill a critical gap that our teams have faced for years,” Robinson said. “To see it come full circle — from an idea at the local level to something benefiting every hazmat team in Iowa — is truly humbling. I’m honored to receive this recognition, but the real success is what it means for responder safety and statewide preparedness.”
The propane response training, held in conjunction with the Iowa Hazmat Task Force Symposium last week in Newton, brought together hazmat professionals from across the state to enhance skills and share best practices in propane emergency response.
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Des Moines
Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
PHC University Medical Clinic
1200 University Avenue, #120 Des Moines, IA
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2nd Wednesday of the month 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
PHC Medical Dental Clinic
3510 W. Lincoln Way Ames, IA
Marshalltown
1st Monday of the month 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Robinson
Explorer PCM
“We chose to double cast because there are only six speaking parts and we wanted to provide more opportunities for the students we had,” Grob said. “Our nine ensemble kids will perform all four nights.”
Starting in September, the 21 actors, four stage crew members and four light and sound crew members worked to make Charlie Brown come to life. Hours have been spent rehearsing lines, songs, blocking and much more to make the final product the best it can be come opening night.
“Rehearsals are going
Hinson
continued from page 1
with a simple majority of 51 votes rather than a super majority of 60 votes.
“So what I’m focused on is making sure we do get the government back open,” Hinson said to Newton News on Oct. 24 during a stop in Jasper County. “And we have had bipartisan support to do that, so I think we will get there. I think the Democrats are definitely playing politics with this shutdown.”
The congresswoman also pointed to recent comments made by House Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, who said government shutdowns are terrible and negatively affect families and that Democrats take the responsibility of a shutdown very seriously, but it is “one of the few leverage times we have.”
Currently, Republicans hold a trifecta in the federal government with President Donald Trump in the White House and majorities in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. However, a lack of a supermajority allows the minority party in the Senate to force a filibuster.
Health care and the extension of expiring health insurance subsidies have been the primary focus for Democrats opposing the government spending bill. Hinson called Clark’s comments “absolutely disgusting” but added Democrats need to come to the table and they can reach agreement after the government is open.
“House Republicans and Republicans across the board care about the cost of healthcare,” Hinson said. “We want to make sure that it comes down. We want to make it affordable and accessible. And we can have that conversation if we get the government back open. And I think we can do that in a bipartisan way.”
well. During the first month, both casts had to be there each night. That way when one cast was on stage, the other cast was singing along and making notes about blocking and choreography,” Grob said. “The last two weeks Cast A comes one night and then Cast B the next. We added all our tech this week and that went smoothly. Both
casts and the ensemble are in a great place and will be ready to perform.”
The musical is made up of a series of vignettes, rather than the traditional program long plot. The whimsical scene work to highlight the quirks and heartfelt moments each character brings to the show.
“My favorite part of this musical are the final
Marines
continued from page 1
of the core values. It is with them forever, even after they have been discharged.
Leo Yokiel joined the U.S Marine Corps in 1961 and was discharged three years later. He recalled an experience from a month or so ago at the local Culver’s where a young man held the door open for him. When Yokiel thanked him, the man told him he would do that “for any of my brothers.”
To him, that shows just how connect Marines are to one another.
“Whether you know them or not, if they know that you are one, you’re a brother,” Yokiel said. “And you’re a brother forever.”
“Once a Marine, always a Marine,” said Wesley Justus, a Marine with more than 20 years experience in the corps and its reserve program.
By Nov. 10, it is going to be real easy to find our local Marines, because it will mark the U.S. Marine Corps’s 250th birthday. Jasper County Marines are preparing a birthday bash, of sorts, starting at 5 p.m. at the American Legion
two scenes,” Grob said. “They are quieter than the rest of the show and more serious. The audience is able to see how the peanut kids have grown.”
Shows are scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 14 with Cast B, 7 p.m. Nov. 15 with Cast A, 2 p.m. Nov. 16 with Cast B and 7 p.m. Nov. 16 with Cast A. Tickets are $8 for stu-
Post 111 in Newton. All local Marines are invited to attend the celebration.
They’ll be enticed with cake and camaraderie and the pride of recognizing the longstanding traditions of the U.S. Marine Corps, which was formed Nov. 10, 1775 by Second Continental Congress. These events also allow Marines to pay tribute to their fallen brothers and sisters.
Mady McKim, who has spent a dozen years in the corps and its reserves, said the U.S. Marine Corps is all about traditions. Recruits are taught the history of the corps, and they’re expected to know it and remember it. The training taught them discipline, which inevitably carried over to their civilian lives in different ways.
Charlotte Ross, who first joined the Army Reserves before enlisting in the Marine Corps, said the Marines have the best training. They have to, she said, because Marines are “the tip of the spear.” Justus pointed out it is clear that Marines, even after they are discharged, are a very proud people.
“We’re a very close group,” Yokiel said. “I was never in a combat situation, but people who have been protect the person on either side. They take care of one another. It’s always been that way … I
Jamee A.
dents and $10 for adults and can be purchased at www.gobound.com/ ia/schools/pcmmonroe/ tickets.
“This is my 33rd year of acting/directing shows,” Grob said. “(A) highlight for me is getting to know this new group of young performers and helping them to develop their talents as actors, dancers and sing-
think it’s something you keep forever. It’s part of you. I got out in 1964, but I still consider myself a Marine.”
Justus and Keith Thorpe helped kickstart the birthday celebrations at the American Legion. McKim said these events happen all over the country. Now entering its eighth or ninth year, the local celebration keeps veterans engaged with other veterans. Thankfully, Marines have a lot to relate with other Marines.
Ross said, “It all starts from bootcamp. Everybody goes in and everyone is from everywhere. You don’t know the person next to you, but by the end of training not only do I know you and you and you — whether I know you or not — we all went through the same thing. We all came out of it. It builds you up inside.”
Justus is looking forward to another night of camaraderie this year.
“We stand beside each other and with each other and respect each other,” he said. “If somebody’s not respecting one of us, they’re not respecting all of us. The nucleus that we’ve got, we’ve gained and we’re looking forward to that camaraderie. If somebody needs help, what can we do to figure it out.
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SNAP funding is running out
The Democrat Government Shutdown has been going on for nearly a month and continues to negatively affect Iowans and the entire country. Families are struggling to pay their bills, small businesses are losing critical revenue, and federal employees who work hard for our community are working without pay or are furloughed. Now with the continued shutdown, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is at risk of having a lack of funding. 267,000 Iowans, including over 100,000 children could lose SNAP because Democrats refuse to reopen the government. While the program’s ben-
Our District
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks
efits for October are being paid out, federal officials and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have said there will be no federal funding for SNAP in November if the shutdown does not end. This means many children could go without quality food because Democrats are willing to let American families suffer to gain political leverage.
Food banks and pantries across Iowa are already experiencing increased demand and they will not be able to meet the needs since more people are requiring assistance because of the shutdown. If SNAP funding runs out, food banks will be too overrun and unable to fill this gap
leaving countless Iowans hungry. This is unacceptable that Democrats are okay with their citizens suffering if it means they can get leverage in political games.
I have visited many food banks in Iowa and this past March I stopped by a local food pantry and the Iowa Food Bank Association where I saw firsthand the hard work that is put in and the amount of people they help. These food banks benefit so many families and make sure they have access to good, healthy food. Their work fighting hunger across our state is making a real impact, and it’s an honor to support their efforts.
WIC the supplemental program for Women, Infants, and Children may also lose funding if the Democrat Government Shutdown continues. This program provides food, nutrition education, and healthcare referrals for children up to age 5. These funds are
incredibly important to new mothers to be able to get formula, diapers, and food for their children. Democrats are putting these children’s lives at risk and are not caring about their quality of nutrition. I will continue to stand up for the funding of WIC and SNAP.
I voted to pass the Clean CR through the House of Representatives and have supported opening the government and continuing funding for these essential programs. I also introduced the Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025 to ensure full funding for the SNAP Program during the government shutdown. This bill will let Congress appropriate funding to the SNAP program to resume their services, ensuring uninterrupted assistance.
The Senate Democrats must stop playing games and reopen the government so that we can ensure no child goes hungry and no parent worries about feeding their child.
As you know, me being a criminal defense lawyer, I’m always looking for ways to make my particular profession more profitable. This being the major reason why I’m always rooting for our state legislature to make more crimes and more severe punishments every time they are in session. Usually, they are quite active in doing so and I am thankful for that.
What we now have is a great example of another method of increasing our business, hence the earning power of the criminal defense bar. President Trump is leading the way and must be given credit for this new effort — prosecuting our political rivals or people who displease us. Comey and Bolton are great examples. This effort must be studied and emulated by our own governor, Reynolds, and our own attorney general, Brenna Bird.
When you think about it, it will be a whole new era in America — prosecuting political opponents and people who don’t please. We have the framework now of a police state that will be able to assist in this effort. We’ve always had secret police, but now they are even more secret — wearing masks and such. I can only applaud the efforts that are being made to increase the business of people in my particular profession, the criminal defense bar.
I know that I am in the minority here in that most of my colleagues think this effort to prosecute political rivals and people who don’t please as unamerican and fascist. But what the Hey! It’s good for business: I’m all for it. We’ve got thousands of crimes on the books both federal, state, county, city, etc. We should be using them to good purpose by putting more people in jail and otherwise making their lives miserable. They will need my services. I can see my business mushrooming. Congress and our state legislatures have been making more crimes every session for several centuries now. It’s time we begin using them.
You ask, how is this possible? It’s easy. Trump has shown the way. You call up your attorney general or local county attorney and say “Hey Ms. Attorney General, so-and-so said nasty things about me and I want him prosecuted. Find some crime you can charge him with and do so promptly.” As I said, with all the crimes that are on the books, it should be easy to find something to charge him with.
In Iowa, you don’t even need a grand jury to indict, you merely need to file a trial information and you can do this without having to convince a group of citizens to be accomplices in your efforts to use the criminal law for your own benefit. It is even easier than in the federal system where you need a grand jury, so let’s get with it shall we. Inflation is with us, it costs more money than ever to survive in a decent manner, and the more money we have, the better it is. I know this is a little self-serving, but oh well.
Richard E. H. Phelps II Mingo
Trump’s rural recession: Trade wars and health cuts effect
By Steve Corbin
The phrase “You gotta dance with the one who brought you to the party” is an early 20th century Southern dance etiquette saying. It is an idiom that means you should have gratitude to the people or things that helped you succeed.
Sixty-three percent of America’s 3,144 counties are predominantly rural and Donald Trump won 93 percent of those counties in 2024. Analyses show that rural counties have become increasingly solid Republican and Trump’s margin of victory within rural America reached a new high in the 2024 election.
We are at the 260th day of Trump’s 2.0 presidency. Polling by ActiVote reveals that Mr. Trump’s approval rating is rapidly declining with rural Americans (Newsweek, Sept. 5).
Let’s explore why rural-based Americans who danced with Trump in the 2024 election are not happy with his actions.
America’s agriculture market
Historians note Presidents’ Franklin D. Roosevelt (Dem.) and Richard Nixon (Rep.) were the backbone to make USA the global agriculture market leader. Evidence is replete America’s worldwide agribusiness sector prowess has been evaporating at a quick pace since Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration (Brennan Center for Justice, Aug. 3).
Economic harm
The trade wars initiated by Mr. Trump have devastated export markets for American products like soybeans, corn, wheat, sorghum, cotton, pork, dairy and beef. For example, China retaliated against Trump by shifting its purchasing of soybeans from USA to Brazil and Argentina.
Five countries (China, Canada, Mexico, Turkey and Russia) and the 27-member European Union have imposed their own levies against America, causing higher prices on equipment, steel and fertilizer needed by farmers (Tax Foundation, Sept. 26). The trade retaliation will continue to harm small and medi-
um-sized family farms and is trickling down to all of America.
Trump’s heightened immigration enforcement has led to raids on farms and processing plants, causing severe labor shortages in the ag labor sector. It’s sad that the Trump administration is not aware that of the 2.4 million farm workers, about 1.2 million are undocumented, who help plant, tend, harvest, pack, sort and prepare food-related products Americans depend upon (CBS News and https://farmonaut.com).
USDA’s faux pas
Withholding USDA funding has created severe financial, operational and rural community impacts, forcing many farmers into economic distress, threatening farm viability and damaging rural economies (NRDC, Sept. 10).
USDA payment freezes and staffing cuts have stalled irrigation and rural housing projects, which has extended hardship beyond the farm into rural-based communities.
When the USDA reneged on signed contracts, most farmers lost their trust in USDA partnerships and government commitments (ibid).
Rural health and safety
The Trump 2.0 administration’s cut to rural health and telehealth programs have put healthcare access at risk for the 64 million people who live in USA’s rural areas.
Trump’s effort to repeal or weaken the Affordable Care Act will disproportionately cause rural Americans -- who rely heavily on Medicaid or individual markets -- to lose insurance.
Budget reductions of opioid and substance abuse response programs -- an acute problem in rural America – will have a devastating impact.
Erosion of community infrastructure
Mr. Trump’s reduced support for clean water infrastructure will directly affect rural public health. Similarly, reducing investments in rural broadband will put rural America further behind their urban and suburban peers.
Trump has imposed less funding for
rural roads, bridges and transit, which will impede economic growth and public safety.
Rural households -- who spend around 40 percent more on utilities as a share of their income -- will face greater hardship as a result of the Trump administration eliminating not only the low-income home energy assistance program but by reducing the weatherization assistance program.
Social safety nets
President Trump’s cuts to the SNAP program will dramatically make it worse for 9.8 million rural-based school children as their food insecurity rates are the highest in America (Feeding America, May 14). It appears Trump would rather bail out farmers ($46 billion during first presidency) than assist in feeding children (Forbes).
These examples collectively illustrate how Trump’s 2.0 actions – in only 260 days -- have directly worsened living conditions in rural America by reducing access to essential services, increasing financial insecurity, declining healthcare, eroding community infrastructure and increasing food insecurity for 9.8 million school children.
Trump’s actions are a slap-in-theface to about two-thirds of Americans who reside in a rural county, whereby 93 percent of them danced with him in the 2024 election. More broadly, Trump’s actions affect all Americans as everyone depends on ag products to exist.
This begs the question: when will our 535 Congressional delegates – regardless of their political persuasion –wake up to the economic mess Donald Trump and his cabinet acolytes have created and take action to save America from further domestic and international ruin? Without Congressional intervention, the next 1,200 days of Trump 2.0 is going to be quite cloudy and murky.
Steve Corbin is Professor Emeritus of Marketing,UniversityofNorthernIowa and a non-paid freelance opinion editor andguestcolumnist
The PCM
Thursday, November 6,
PCM Cheer Flies High at State
On Saturday, November 1, the PCM High School Cheer team performed at the state competition held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Before the competition, two of the upperclassmen cheerleaders shared some more about cheer and what they were feeling before the competition. Cheer competitions are very high-energy events and filled with students showing their school pride. Cheer teams normally have somewhere from five to thirty-five people on a team. These competitions are where teams get to show off their 2.5 minute long routines. The judging at these competitions is pretty strict. They are judged on the difficulty of their routines as well as how they execute. They also judge based on the choreography and how smooth their transitions are. As well as their stumbling skills and jumps.
Senior Kylie Tuller. Tuller shares her experience thus far.
“I am excited to perform with my team one last time, as well as for the awards, and watching other teams perform their routines.”
She also expressed her concerns for the day which included the long day ahead of them. They were first to perform and the awards ceremony was held later that night and that the experience will be a little different from past years. However, she believes her team is an amazing group of people and that they will make the best of the long day.
Freshmen, Ellie Ekiss and Stanton Niswander, said that they were excited to perform but also extremely nervous due to going up against bigger schools with amazing talent. Niswander is a base and tumbler for the team. A base is someone who supports and helps stabilize the flyer for the stunt. A tumbler is a cheerleader who performs stunts like twists, flips, rolls, and much more.
Overall the day went really well for PCM Cheer. The co-ed cheer/dance recieved 6 place out of 8 which were against 4A schools, gametime spirit received 13 out of 20, and the stunt group received and overall first place, pictured above.
Cross Country Takes Girls and Boys to State
As varsity runners, Rylan Edgington and Ali Hilsabeck take off to Fort Dodge for state cross country; they share their tips and tricks to prepare for such a big event. The teams have been practicing since mid-summer and since school has started every weekday.
During their final practices, Hilsabeck has been “taking nutrition seriously, hitting workouts hard but then taking recovery really easy, and trying to take sleep seriously.” When times get tough, what motivates her to keep pushing is thinking back on “all the hard work we put in and sometimes music,” Hilsabeck continued, “or just talking to my teammates.” She also hopes to place within the top 25 runners during the race. Some personal goals for both runners are to hopefully set a new personal record and help their teams place within the top three to five teams.
Varsity member, Edgington, states what helps him stay in the right mindset is, “Asking myself why I run is a big thing that I go over a lot, because I enjoy running, and when I don’t, it’s really, really hard for me.” Edgington’s first couple races were difficult, but that drove him to push even harder to meet his expectations of himself. Making sure the team are all on the same page and working towards the same goals is very important to scoring high. Edgington stated the team has to “just understand that we are a team and each one of us has a part to play even if it doesn’t feel like it.” Every runner makes an impact, and this really drives everyone to try their hardest. The teams have both put in months of practice leading up to state. Be sure to congratulate our girls’ and boys’ cross-country runners for making it to state.
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High School.
I am passionate about the arts and engage in several activities, including band, choir, theater, journalism, wrestling, and track and field.
This year, I’ve taken on a more rigorous course load to challenge myself academically, but I must admit that I am finding it increasingly difficult to balance all my commitments. Balancing school, extracurriculars, and personal time has been quite a challenge. To manage my workload effectively, I’ve had to make some tough decisions. For instance, I chose not to participate in football this season, and unfortunately, I missed the opportunity to audition for the All-State ensemble. These choices were not made lightly, but I recognized that streamlining my activities was essential for a smoother and more fulfilling senior year ahead. Looking toward the future, I aspire to pursue a career as a music therapist, where I can combine my love for music with helping others. I plan to attend the University of Northern Iowa to earn a bachelor’s degree in music, complemented by a minor in psychology. This educational foundation will equip me with the skills needed for my career path.
Subsequently, I intend to join the Navy, which will not only allow me to serve my country but also provide financial support for my master’s degree in music and my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Iowa State University. I am excited about the journey ahead and the potential impact I can have in the field of music therapy. I have a long road ahead of me, so I must keep moving forward through every hardship and good time. I know that it will all be worth it in the end. Even though I sometimes have thoughts telling me to give up and stop everything, I know I can’t look back and let my memories hold me back. These thoughts are difficult to ignore, but I don’t want to worry anyone. Despite being extremely stressed, I feel happy and proud of how far I’ve come. Since I’ve already made it this far, I have to keep pushing forward. I don’t have time to procrastinate, but I’m scared that if I make a mistake, something terrible could happen, leading to a domino effect. However, I won’t let that happen, and I’ve got this!
Kadence Kain
MaKenna VanHaaften Staff Writer
PCM’s historic season ends with fifth-place finish at state meet
It was the program’s best individual
28
Teeter finalizes career with school’s best individual placing in 28 years
By
FORT DODGE — When Abi Teeter joined the PCM girls cross country team four years ago, her biggest goal was to leave the program in a better place than she found it.
And considering the Mustangs finished seventh in an 11-team field at the state qualifying meet in 2022, there’s no doubt the program is currently in a better place.
Teeter led the Class 2A No. 8 Mustangs to their best team finish ever at the Iowa High School State Cross County Championships on Oct. 31, and she brought home the best individual placing at PCM in 28 seasons.
“I think we wanted this season to be historic and we wanted to leave a legacy,” Teeter said. “We have a gutsy team. If I was going to battle, I’d want every single one of these girls behind me.”
Teeter’s 19th-place finish in the 2A girls’ race at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course inside Kennedy Park was the best finish at PCM since Kendra Versendaal placed second in 1997.
It also helped the Mustangs finish fifth as a team with 162 points. They were 11 points back of topranked West Marshall.
Among the teams PCM was better than were No. 4 Van Meter, No. 5 Pella Christian and No. 2 Mid-Prairie, who ended up sixth, seventh and ninth, respectively.
“I’m really happy with how they performed,” PCM head cross country coach Eric Osterhaus said. “The girls all ran like they should have ran. The goal was to podium. When you come up short of the goal, it stinks. But they performed well.”
The top 15 individual finishers earn a place on the all-state deck, and the top three teams are recognized with trophies after the race.
Teeter’s time in 19th place was clocked in 20 minutes, 13.4 seconds. The three-time individual state qualifier was 13.4 seconds back of the 15th and final medal position.
That went to Grand View Christian’s Lydia Parlee (20:00). Teeter placed 70th in last year’s state race. There were 136 runners in the 2A girls field and seven seniors finished in the top 15.
“I feel like the third mile was the
most mentally challenging mile I’ve ran,” Teeter said. “I think my mind was able to come back and tell myself I can do this and that’s what made it the best race of the year.”
Class 2A No. 3 Treynor won the state championship with 121 points. Seventh-ranked Waukon (136) edged sixth-ranked Unity Christian (138) for second, and No. 1 West Marshall (151) was fourth.
“They showed up and did what they needed to do,” Osterhaus said. “And the team who came in ranked first finished fourth. You just never know. That’s the beauty of it.”
After PCM was No. 4 Van Meter (168), No. 5 Pella Christian (175), No. 9 Forest City (201), No. 2 Mid-Prairie (203), No. 11 DikeNew Hartford (210), No. 12 Jesup (247), No. 10 Albia (248), No. 14 Crestwood (278), No. 13 Grundy Center (285) and No. 15 MFL-Mar Mac (309).
“Fifth is a good accomplishment, and it should push us for next year,” junior Lila Milani said. “We’re losing two seniors from the varsity, but if we have the right mindset we can still push and do well.”
Milani, who also is a three-time state qualifier, finished 29th indi-
vidually with a season-best time of 20:30.1. Junior Ali Hilsabeck also was in the top 50 as she placed 41st in 20:52.2. Milani said she ran her best race of the season despite battling through an illness a few days before the state meet. She was 43rd in last year’s race.
“I pushed my hardest. This was my best race of the season,” Milani said. “I was there both mentally and physically.
“At the beginning of the week I didn’t know if I was going to be able to run. My head hurt so bad. My mom put me on medicine and I’m better now. I did the best I could.”
Hilsabeck, who qualified individually for the first time last week, was seventh on the team at last year’s state qualifying meet. She was 60 places better this year at state than the 101st she finished in last fall.
She didn’t appreciate having to run in the coldest weather of the season but was proud of her team for finding a way into the top five. Temperatures on the first day of the state meet reportedly dipped below 30 at one point.
PCM football advances to 2A quarterfinals after win over rival Eagles
MONROE — The PCM football team had a much easier time against Pella Christian during their first meeting back on Sept. 19.
But in the playoffs, all bets are off and anything can happen. The Eagles, after all, were coming off an upset win over district champion Clarinda and state-ranked Okoboji, Centerville and Bellevue all lost in the first round, too.
In their latest meeting in the second round of the playoffs, the Eagles matched the Class 2A No. 2 Mustangs point for point in three of the four quarters, but a big third frame propelled PCM to a 45-31 home win on Oct. 31.
The Mustangs advanced to the quarterfinal round for the third straight season. They registered their third consecutive victory over Pella Christian and averaged 54 points per contest in those wins.
PCM takes an eight-game win streak into the 2A quarterfinals. The Mustangs host Wilton at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7 in Monroe. Wilton (8-2) routed West Branch, 30-7, in its second-round matchup.
The Beavers have won six in a row since losing, 21-20, to No. 4 Mid-Prairie on Sept. 19.
The game between PCM and Pella Christian on Oct. 31 was tied at 7-all after the first quarter. Lewis Daye Jr. started things off with a 13-yard touchdown run with 8:02 left in the quarter.
Pella Christian (3-7) answered with a Brecken Ritzert 25-yard TD pass to Gilbert Flagel late in the frame.
Both teams scored 10 points in the second, but PCM led 17-7 until the final two minutes of the half.
Dominic Witt booted a 22-yard field goal with 7:22 to play to give PCM another lead, and Daye Jr. added a 3-yard TD run 3 minutes later to extend the home team’s margin.
Pella Christian got a 1-yard TD run from Landon Nunnikhoven with 1:55 on the clock and then Dallas Ford kicked a 27-yard field goal to tie the score as time expired.
The Mustangs (9-1) outscored the Eagles 21-7 in the third. Easton Morris scored from 6 yards out to push PCM back in front and then Chase Wagaman sprinted 47 yards for a TD midway through the third.
A Gavin Steenhoek 36-yard pick 6 made it 38-17 before another Nunnikhoven 1-yard TD run closed the Eagles’ gap.
Ritzert hit Flagel for a 13-yard TD pass with 4:35 to play in the game to melt the Mustangs’ lead to seven, but Morris put the finishing touches on the win with another 6-yard TD run with 1:06 to play.
Wagaman finished 5-of-7 through the air for 111 yards. He rushed for 61 yards and one TD on six carries.
His 28 total touchdowns this fall ranks tied for sixth in 2A, and his 183.9 rating is fifth.
Daye Jr. gained 127 yards and scored two TDs on 28 carries. He became the 12th player in 2A to go past 1,000 rushing yards for the season.
Morris added 54 yards and two scores on 13 carries, Steenhoek hauled in three passes for 75 yards and Alex Wendt caught two passes for 36 yards. Steenhoek’s 763 receiving yards rank fifth in 2A.
Evan Jones led the defense with 11 tackles. Braedyn Lester totaled 9.5 tackles, Harrison Brinegar, Ivan Shannon and Keegan Fenton all chipped in seven tackles and Mason Hjortshoj tallied six tackles and one forced fumble.
Steenhoek finished with four tackles, two interceptions and the pick 6. He moved into a tie with Wagaman for the 2A-lead with six interceptions and Steenhoek is one of three players with two pick 6s in the class.
Trent Nickelson contributed 5.5 tackles and one sack, Jax Strait registered five tackles, Jaden Houser posted four tackles, Shannon got one sack, Wagaman collected three tackles and Wendt totaled 2.5 tackles.
Witt booted five of his eight kickoffs for touchbacks and was 6-of-6 in PATs with the 22-yard field goal. He leads 2A with 62 touchbacks and is tied for second with four field goals this fall.
The Mustangs rushed for 235 yards in the win. They totaled 310 in the win back in September.
PCM ranks second in 2A with 2,514 rushing yards. The Mustangs also are tied for fourth with 15 picks and tied for first with four pick 6s.
Ritzert threw for 211 yards but it took 42 passing attempts. He tossed two touchdowns and two picks and rushed for 67 yards on 11 carries.
Nunnikhoven gained 117 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries, Flagel caught six passes for 76 yards and two scores and Anton Boender led the
defense with 13 tackles.
Eagles’
PCM Explorer
Daye Jr.
Steenhoek
Wagaman
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM senior Abi Teeter (83) finalized her cross country career with a 19th-place finish at the state meet on Oct. 31.
finish in
years.
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM juniors Lila Milani, left, and Ali Hilsabeck compete in the Class 2A
GIRLS XC | 7
Troy Hyde PCM Explorer
PCM boys finish 11th in first state appearance since 2008
By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer
FORT DODGE —
Coby DeRaad waited until after his post-race interview to get emotional.
Shorty after his final race at the Iowa High School State Cross Country Championships, several Mustangs consoled the team’s only senior following the first top-11 finish for the PCM boys cross country team since 2008.
“The start is something I don’t think I’ll ever forget,” DeRaad said. “We always have a little talk before and there was something different about telling everyone that it was one last ride today. It took me a second to absorb that. It was our last time. But I felt like I left it all out there.”
DeRaad was the only Mustang who wasn’t making his first appearance at the state meet.
The three-time individual state qualifier knew the course and knew what to expect and tried to provide as much help to his
Troy
Hyde/ PCM Explorer
PCM sophomore Rylan Edgington (210) competes in the state cross country meet in Fort Dodge on Oct. 31. The Mustangs placed 11th as a team.
teammates as possible.
The Class 2A No. 9 Mustangs ended up 11th in the final standings. They scored 250 points, which was 13 back of sixth-ranked Pella Christian in ninth. They also trailed No. 11 Monticello by three points.
“We made it, and they showed up well,” PCM head cross country coach Eric Osterhaus said. “Do I think we could have done better? Yes. But I think that’s how it always will be.”
PCM junior Brenden Lahart led the Mustangs at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course inside Kennedy Park.
He placed 32nd in his first state-meet experience and was clocked in 17 minutes, 18.1 seconds.
“It was really fun. There was never a time where you didn’t want to run faster because someone is always making noise,” Lahart said. “It’s not just your teammates or friends. It’s everyone. There’s a lot of people
here. It helps you want to be faster and not slow down.”
The top 15 individual finishers in each state race earn a spot on the all-state deck. The top three teams also are recognized with trophies at the end of the race.
Brandon Leppert of Waukon grabbed the 15th and final medal in 16:44.6. There were 140 runners in the 2A boys’ race and only six seniors finished in the top 15.
“It feels amazing to be a part of this team and to have this experience,”
PCM sophomore Owen Osterhaus said. “And having my Dad here with me makes it even more special. It’s was special to see all of the people here. It’s much bigger than you expect.”
Owen Osterhaus was the second PCM runner to finish. He was 54th in his first state race. His time for the 5K was 17:38.
DeRaad finished 88th in 18:07.1. He was 81st last season and 101st as a sophomore.
making her first state meet appearance and finished 66th in 21:31.2.
The final scoring runner was sophomore Annie Ford (22:04.3) in 92nd.
“The best finish we’ve ever had sounds awesome,” Hilsabeck said.
“We all worked really hard to be where we’re at. We can’t be upset or mad. We’re starting a legacy, and I’m happy with how it went today.
“I don’t like the cold. I think the weather affected me. I didn’t run to my full potential, but I’m so proud about where I started and where I ended up.”
The Mustangs’ second graduating senior is Paiten Rumbaugh. She was
Junior Bailey Wheeler (22:05.3) and freshman Jodi Jungling (22:41.9) were non-scoring runners in 96th and 117th, respectively.
Wheeler was 112th in last year’s race. Jungling was making her state meet debut as the varsity team’s only freshman.
“It was amazing. I love the atmosphere and all the people along the course were great,” Rumbaugh said. “Running through every mile is a different experience. The first mile
Sophomores Rylan Edgington (18:16.1) and Camden Lahart (18:31.6) were the final scoring runners in 101st and 109th, respectively.
Juniors Kash Fischer (19:00) and Cade Burkett (19:07) were non-scoring runners in 119th and 125th, respectively.
“It doesn’t compare to anything you hear about,” Edgington said. “We were told it was awesome, but you don’t feel it until you get here. It blew my mind to see so many people.”
Fisher complained about a side stitch at the end of the race.
The team’s No. 1 runner at the state qualifying meet was a non-scoring runner for the first time this season.
The Mustangs were last at their state qualifying meet four seasons ago and they finished 11th in a 12-team field in 2022.
Before qualifying for the state meet this season, PCM placed sixth at last year’s state qualifying meet.
“It’s been a wild ride. There was no place I’d rather end than here with my team,” DeRaad said. “There’s something special about being here as a team.”
Class 2A No. 1 Chariton won the boys’ team title with 42 points. The Chargers, who return their top three runners next year, placed three in the top 12 and five in the first 21.
Class 2A No. 3 Forest City (110) was next and the rest of the top five included No. 4 Oelwein (130), No. 2 Denver (134) and No. 5 Unity Christian (167).
The rest of the 15-team field included No. 8 Waukon (179), No. 10 Red Oak (193), No. 7 Spirit Lake (195), No. 6 Pella Christian (237), No. 11 Monticello (247), No. 13 Tipton (266), No. 15 Mediapolis (291), No. 14 Van Meter
was incredible. There’s people left and right screaming so loud. It was amazing.
“I thought it would be stressful but during the race it felt perfect. It was my last one, and I needed to have fun and the nerves went away right when I started running.”
The Mustangs were making their second straight trip to the state meet as a team.
They placed seventh at last year’s meet and first qualified for state in 2017.
Second-ranked McKenna Montgomery of Albia won her first state championship with a time of 18:20.7. No. 4 Mary Grace Lyons of Monticello was the runner-up in 18:55.2.
Jungling admitted to being stressed out during her first state experience. The atmosphere was even bigger than she expected.
“I was hard on myself at the beginning,” Jungling said. “It got to me mentally because I’m not usually that far back. But it’s state and there are a lot of runners here. It’s pretty amazing to be a part of this team.”
While Teeter and Rumbaugh were running as Mustangs for the final time, Milani, Hilsabeck, Ford, Wheeler and Jungling are all eligible to return to next year.
PCM also gets sophomore Darbey DeRaad back from an injury, but Osterhaus’ No. 1 concern is depth.
“We need numbers,” Osterhaus said. “That concerns me. If we get girls out, they will work hard. I know that about this group.”
(293) and No. 12 Okoboji (319).
“We only lose one and only one from our topfour pack,” Brenden Lahart said. “We’ll keep getting better and hopefully push the younger guys to push up higher, too.” No. 1 Emerson Vokes of Grundy Center defended his title with a time of 15:42.
Second-ranked Jesse Gomez of Denver was the runner-up in 16:18.5.
DeRaad is the only exiting senior on the Mustangs’ squad, and Coach
Osterhaus expects a few incoming freshmen to help the roster next season.
“The future is bright. It’s a good foundation and we’re building a tradition of hard work on both sides,” Coach Osterhaus said. “The kids are expecting to win now. It’s a different culture. The seniors are showing the younger kids what it takes to get to the next level and the younger kids are buying in. They also have state meet experience now so that should help.”
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM senior Paiten Rumbaugh (82) finished 66th in her first and only state meet appearance. She was one of the five scoring runners for the Mustangs, and the team placed fifth in the final standings. That’s the best finish in school history.
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer
PCM junior Cade Burkett was back in the varsity lineup for the Mustangs’ first appearance at the state meet since 2008.
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