THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025 • VOLUME N0. 124 • ISSUE NO. 38 • 1 SECTION • 8 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
Reel good fishing
Fish weren’t flying out of the water, but kids still caught their fill at the annual Quarry Springs Park Fishing Derby
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune Big or small, kids were excited to reel in any fish during the annual Quarry Springs Park Fishing Derby throughout the morning on June 7 in Colfax.
Jasper County once again dealing with potential health risks from Canadian wildfires smoke By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune For several years, the State of Iowa has occasionally been blanketed by smoke from Canadian wildfires increasing health risks for residents. Jasper County has not been left out, with hazy skies becoming the norm from dawn until dusk. In recent days, the Iowa Department
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of Natural Resources issued a statewide Air Quality Alert. It was found that the Air Quality Index could reach the red or unhealthy category. During that time, the DNR recommended people avoid long or intense outdoor activities and take frequent breaks until the air quality improves. Sensitive groups including people with respiratory illness or heart disease, children, teenagers, the elderly and outdoor workers were advised to take extra precautions. According to the American Lung Association (ALA), Canada and the United States have experienced an increase in the frequency and intensity of wildfires, along with a greater risk for health effects from smoke. Even though the
Jasper County acquires concrete for bridge replacement along N. 107th Ave. W. Supervisors approved the less than $15K bid, keeping bid under day labor limits By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune The Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved less than $15,000 worth of concrete that will be poured onto a new bridge deck along North 107th Avenue West over Clear Creek. County Engineer Michael Frietsch said the bridge — classified as Bridge D05 — will be about 120 feet long when fully completed. Purchasing the concrete was an attempt to stay below the day labor limit of less than $15,000, Frietsch said. Only one bidder submitted an estimate for the structural concrete. The board of supervisors awarded the contract to Manatt’s Inc. for $14,800.50, giving the county about 90 cubic yards of poured concrete. “Our estimate, the engineer’s estimate, was $15,750, so they were underneath our estimate a little bit,” Frietsch said. “Overall, that’s pretty good and that will put them under contract and not count against our
day labor limit so we can avoid getting hand slapped by the (Iowa Department of Transportation).” Progress of the bridge work is coming along. “Should be setting the beams here on it pretty quick here actually, so we’re getting real close to pouring the deck probably next month,” Frietsch said. Newton News previously reported about Bridge D05 in August 2024 and March 2025. Last year, the county paid for geotechnical services on the bridge to determine the underlying soil conditions. Allender Butzke Engineers conducted the geotechnical services to Bridge D05 for $6,000. Earlier this year, the county had to acquire permanent easements in order to move forward with the bridge replacement. Since the steel beam, single-span bridge will be raised about two feet higher, Frietsch decided to try and get a 30-foot strip of additional right-of-way on both sides of the bridge.
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fires are thousands of miles away, the smoke can travel and remain potent, causing health issues for youth through senior citizens. “Catastrophic wildfires are impacting the lung health of people in all parts of the U.S. and Canada,” President and CEO of the American Lung Association Harold Wimmer said. “We are not only seeing an increase in the frequency and devastating impact of fires, but they are also dispersing dangerous smoke and particle pollution across a larger area.” In 2023, Canada faced its worst wildfire year ever with large fires affecting all 13 provinces and territories. Although there were fewer fires in 2024, it still ranked among the top six wildfire seasons in the past 50 years. The U.S.
also experienced a rise in wildfires, with 64,897 in 2024, up from 56,580 the previous year. Of note, wildfires have increased in Hawaii and areas of the Midwest and East Coast where they are not typically found. In 2025, Canada began its wildfire season with fewer fires; however, the U.S. has already experienced devastating fires in Southern California, including the state’s second and third most destructive fires, as well as significant blazes in Texas, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Florida and South Carolina, the ALA said. While certain populations have a harder time with the smoke, it poses serious health hazards for anyone who SMOKE | 3
Jasper County secures bond sales for rail park and other projects $4.33M for economic development, $800K for conservation and sheriff’s office
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune Jasper County recently secured a 4.86 percent interest rate for a $4.33 million bond sale, which will help finance the rail park located just northeast of Newton.
break up the monotony of the Tuesday morning Shaw Media board of supervisors meetWhile it certainly wasn’t ing, even more so when as flashy or energetic as both sets of bids for the a livestock auction, the true interest costs came in county’s live bond sales under estimate. for the rail park and other Two bond sales were miscellaneous projects did up for bid: $4.33 milBy Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
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lion for the rail park, and $800,000 for conservation and sheriff ’s office projects. Jon Burmeister of PFM Financial Advisors walked county officials through the bidding BOND SALES | 3
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