THURSDAY, SEPT. 4, 2025 • VOLUME N0. 124 • ISSUE NO. 50 • 1 SECTION • 8 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
Dollar General making moves in Baxter The discount retailer to go before the planning and zoning commission for an East Avenue and Hwy F-17 West site location
Jasper County funeral assistance now only covers cremations Supervisors change policy to be more in line with current trends, other counties By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
munity. “The city is not funding or initiating this project,” city staff said.
Jasper County is now only allowing cremation services for indigent burials. The board of supervisors approved the policy changes for Jasper County General Assistance in a 3-0 vote this past week after discussing the matter briefly during a work session the week before. Connie McQuiston, director of general assistance, said indigent burial services had previously funded traditional burials or cremations. However, the new policy now only allows cremations to be covered by the county. McQuiston said the vast majority of the requests have been for cremation services. “I see that trend continuing,” she said. “Along with that I would ask that we raise the maximum allowed for that service. Currently, it’s at $800, and I would like to raise that to $1,200. The guidelines pertaining to that category have not been updated for six years. So this will bring us more in line with other counties.” Indigent burials are offered to individuals whose next of kin lack the financial means to pay for funerals.
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Submitted Photo Rendurings for a potential new Dollar General in Baxter were shared by the city ahead of a planning and zoning commission meeting.
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune Dollar General is looking to expand to the City of Baxter. The
city has received a rezoning and lot split request to develop the business at the intersection of East Avenue and Hwy F-17 West on the southeast side of the com-
Local elections take the spotlight in 2025 Seats for local city councils and the school board available in the Nov. 4 election By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune Several seats are up for grabs in the Nov. 4 election for Baxter City Council, Colfax City Council, Mingo City Council, Baxter School Board and Col-
fax-Mingo School Board. The filing period recently opened for interested parties to turn in nomination papers by the Sept. 18 deadline. City of Baxter Offices on the ballot for Baxter is the mayoral seat and three at-large
city council seats. Serving as mayor is a 2-year term while city council members serve for four years. Nomination papers and candidates affidavits can be picked up at Baxter City Hall or at https://www.baxter-iowa.com/.../affidavit-of-candidacy.pdf
WELCOME NEW TEACHERS
and https://www.baxter-iowa.com/.../ nomination-petition.pdf. Ten signatures from citizens are required on the nomination papers and candidates must be at least 18 years old at the time SEATS | 3
Baxter and Colfax-Mingo new teachers ready for their first year
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune New teachers for Baxter, left, and Colfax-Mingo, right, kicked off the school year Aug. 25. Baxter also welcomed a new furry friend in John, or “Johnny Bolt,” a Crisis Canine in training.
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune Name: Madison Omtvedt Position at Baxter: High School English Teacher Education: B.A. in English and Secondary Education from Iowa State University Work history: This will be my first year teaching! I graduated from ISU in December after completing my student teaching in the Ankeny Community
School District, then spent the remainder of last school year gaining experience as both a general district substitute and later as a building substitute in Ankeny. What attracted you to Baxter to teach? I’ve called Ames home for the past five years, and while Baxter was new to me when applying, I’m always eager to try something new and step outside my comfort zone. Coming from a larger CONTACT US
high school in MN and doing my student teaching in Ankeny, I wanted to experience the connections and sense of community in a smaller district. From my very first phone interview with Mr. Harrold, every interaction with Baxter’s administration, staff, students, and families has been wonderful, and I’m truly looking forward to joining the community this school year. What is your favorite teach-
ing method, how do you like to interact with the kids? I love weaving creativity into my teaching and letting student ideas guide us forward. I’m a passionate believer in the power of independent reading and Shaw Media daily writing or journaling as a way of connecting with material and building communication and relational skills. I like to think teaching should be more of a conversation rather than a speech — every student est. 1851
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brings experiences and ideas that can make lessons far more meaningful than any lecture I could give. What is a valuable lesson you have learned about teaching? Listen more than you speak, question more than you tell, and always point out the good in every student, every moment, and every day. What are you most excited for TEACHERS | 3
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