THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2025 • VOLUME N0. 124 • ISSUE NO. 25 • 1 SECTION • 8 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
Colfax-Mingo school nurse working to make growing up a little easier Lindsay Cummins created ‘packs’ for students to help as they mature Submitted Photo Starting in fourth grade, kids can receive packs to help them as they mature. Girls receive items: a makeup bag, deodorant, chapstick, a Hershey’s kiss and a pad. Boys receive deodorant and chapstick.
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune The bridge on East Street is due to be replaced. Although the county owns the bridge, the City of Mingo is chipping in to help with the project.
East Street bridge near Mingo to be replaced for $806K County engineer says it is a simple project with a late start date of June 9
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune Maturing can be an awkward time for kids. A lot of new things are happening not only socially but to their bodies. Lindsay Cummins, nurse for the Colfax-Mingo School District, has found a way to help students out along the way with her “packs.” “When I was going through middle school my mom came up with the idea,” Cummins said. “She helped me make my own pack that I kept in my bag
throughout high school and college.” The packs, which are made up of a makeup bag, deodorant, Hershey’s kiss and a pad, are available to female students starting in fourth grade when they have the puberty discussion. They are also available upon request, if needed. “The project evolved over time,” Cummins said. “It started out where I would apply for a grant through P&G yearly. When their supplies became less and less the idea for the packs came to fruition.”
Cummins asked for donations from staff members and was overwhelmed by the response from not only staff but school board members and their families. She also received grant funds from the Colfax-Mingo Education Foundation to purchase supplies for the packs. “Spring City Pharmacy has been gracious in donating deodorant for both boys and girls for this yearly conversation,” Cummins said. “The pack also PACKS | 3
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Jasper County has hired a contractor to replace the bridge it shares with the City of Mingo. The county board of supervisors voted 3-0 this past week to award the contract toPeterson Contractors, Inc. for more than $806,000. The week before the county formed an agreement with Mingo to share responsibilities for the project. County Engineer Michael Frietsch presented the bids to supervisors during their March 4 meeting. Bridge F04 is locat-
ed along East Street near Mingo, and it crosses a small nature stream. The west right-of-way is under the City of Mingo’s jurisdiction and the remainder is in Jasper County territory. “The current bridge is one of those monolithic, poured concrete type structures,” Frietsch said. “Its life estimate was about six years in 2023. The City of Mingo went and put in for City Bridge Funds and was granted $1.5 million in City Bridge Funding for this. We just did the 28E agreement BRIDGE | 3
A ‘souper’ good supper The station was once again packed for the Colfax Fire Department’s Annual Soup Supper
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune The classic firehouse chili and famous Ron’s potato soup are served up along with tasty vegetables and a variety of delicious desserts March 8 at the Colfax Fire Department’s Annual Soup Supper.
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune It can be a challenge to find an open seat during the annual soup supper at the Colfax Fire Station.
Jasper County could hire retired Marshalltown officer as new VA director
top recommendation from the board in a unanimous vote. sioners with the exception of Katherine Marine veteran still needs the group was a Marine veteran and reIn addition to being a 24-year Ma- Thompson, whose spouse had also apapproval from supervisors tired police officer from Marshalltown. rine veteran, his unit during the last plied for the position. Commissioners The committee recommended him to years of his service worked as a transi- provided Simon with their top candithe commission. tion unit for Marines separating after dates. before he can be hired By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Jasper County Veterans Affairs may have found its next director. Of the seven applicants who were interviewed by a selection committee this past month,
Ramon Maxey was accepted to be the next director of the department by the Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission at a special meeting on March 5, but the final approval will have to come from the board of supervisors at an upcoming meeting. The commission recommended him to
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their enlistment was completed. Maxey “I went through the list of names Shaw is not a veterans service office,Media but he and anyone who appeared on two or has a good understanding of the sys- more lists got slotted for an interview,” tems within veterans affairs. Simon said. “…I think we had some Dennis Simon, director of human very good candidates. We definitely resources for Jasper County, said he learned a lot of individuals, interesting received 19 qualified applications. He DIRECTOR | 3 distributed copies to all of the commisest. 1851
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