THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2025 • VOLUME N0. 124 • ISSUE NO. 34 • 1 SECTION • 8 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
A BIKE RIDE AND MORE The Tour de Colfax, sponsored by Colfax Main Street, is a great way to see the town and have a little fun
Jasper County considers reclassifying portion of N. 75th Ave. W. to Level B road S econdary roads continues its pursuits to recategorize specific county roadways By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Colfax,” Colfax Main Street Director Stuart Patterson said. Work on the event is ongoing but Patterson did hint that stops
Another small portion of a granular road in Jasper County may get reclassified from a Level A road to a Level B road, which will ultimately limit how often the street is maintained by engineer’s office crews and prohibit new rock from being added to the surface. But first the county has to get through its public hearings. Supervisors scheduled the public hearings for the reclassification of North 75th Avenue West between West 116th Street North and West 108th Street North at 9:30 a.m. on May 13, 20 and 27 at the courthouse. If there is no dissent, is it likely subsequent hearings will get waived by the county supervisors. County Engineer Michael Frietsch said in the middle of this stretch of road is a bridge over Clear Creek rated for five tons that needs to be removed. The first step, he added, is reclassifying the road to a Level B, and then the next step would be to vacate a section around the bridge to officially remove it.
TOUR | 3
ROADS | 3
Submitted Graphic The community is invited to cycle through fun stops in Colfax and then celebrate with friends at Tour de Colfax June 21.
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune Not quite ready for the Tour de France but want to get a fun ride in? Sign up for the Tour de Colfax
featuring a bike ride and scavenger hunts through the streets of the mineral springs city starting at 10 a.m. June 21. “It’s a leisurely 7.5-mile bike ride and scavenger hunt around
CONSERVATION’S DONATION DEADLINE Those who have donated more than $1,000 to nature center project before July 1 will be featured on donor wall art piece
HIRTA reduces transportation services in Jasper County due to funding shortfall Trips outside of Newton will now be limited to Mondays only starting June 30
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Even though Jasper County Conservation’s environmental education center has already begun to take shape, donations are still being accepted. But those who now offer — or have already offered — $1,000 or more to the project before the July 1 deadline will have their names featured on a donor wall art piece. Contributing donations to county conservation during this timeframe may also increase the donor levels of individuals who have already given to the project. Donor levels start from as low as $1,000 and gradually grow to as high as $300,000. Other sponsorship opportunities are still available as well. Jasper County Conservation Director Keri Van Zante said the donor wall will be located inside the nature center and will be visible to guests as soon as they enter the building. Final designs for the wall have not been decided just yet, but Van Zante expected it would have primarily wooden features with poured epoxy. “We’ll put it out there and announce it when we have the final mockup to show,” Van Zante said, acknowledging many donor walls have featured names on bricks or perhaps even names DONATIONS | 3
CONTACT US
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA) buses are parked in the lot south of the Jasper County Community Center. HIRTA is a nonprofit organization that provides transportation to citizens Jasper County.
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Public transportation services in Jasper County will be reduced starting June 30, and the Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency
(HIRTA) said it is largely due to a “lack ofShaw broader Media local support” creating a budget shortfall. In a press release, the organization said it cannot maintain existing service levels. Federals funds that HIRTA est. 1851
est. 1851
Newsroom: 641-792-3121, ext. 7 • Advertising: 641-792-3121, ext. 2 Subscriptions/Delivery: 641-792-5320 • Billing: 641-792-3121, ext. 6
receives require a 50 percent match from local sources, which means every federal dollar must be matched from contributions made by cities, counties or other HIRTA | 3
est. 1851