THURSDAY, SEPT. 11, 2025 • VOLUME N0. 124 • ISSUE NO. 51 • 1 SECTION • 8 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
Paddle Skedaddle back Sept. 14 at Quarry Springs Park Category featuring your favorite four-legged dog friend new for 2025
File Photo Kayakers make their way to the finish line for the paddle during the 2024 Paddle Skedaddle.
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune The Paddle Skedaddle at Quarry Springs Park is back with new added fun. The race kicks off at 8:15
a.m. Sept. 14 at Quarry Springs Park in Colfax. Featuring a two-mile kayak course and a threeand-a-half-mile trial run, competitors can do both sports or focus on one
and add a partner to make it a relay. Run or walk, anyone can participate. New this year, bring KAYAKING | 3
Celebrate Geise Park Join Baxter Hometown Pride at a celebration event for the new Geise Park Shelter House Sept. 13 By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune The Baxter community is invited to celebrate the grand opening of the Geise Park Shelter House. An event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sept. 13 at the park will be a time to explore the space, grab some lunch and have a great time with family and friends. “Baxter Hometown Pride is proud to announce the official opening of the newly developed Geise Park Shelter House a beautiful new space for our community to gather, celebrate and create lasting memories,” Baxter Hometown Pride member Natalie Moorman said. Event highlights include a free hot dog lunch, bounce house for the kids, a fun balloon backdrop to take pictures and a celebration of all those people who helped make this project a reality. “We will be celebrating our shelter house and primitive campsites. (Also,) thanking the Deutsch family for donating the shelter house and the Jasper County Foundation for grant that helped us pay for the campsites,” Moorman said. “Bring your family, friends, and neighbors and help us celebrate this exciting
Submitted Photo A grand opening celebration for the Geise Park Shelter House is planned for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 13 at the park.
new chapter for Geise Park. Let’s come together and enjoy the space that will serve Baxter for generations to come.” Along with the park shelter house, GRAND OPENING | 3
Conservation board and county supervisors at odds over filling naturalist/office manager position Jasper County Conservation staff have ally some good information and good to devote her time being a stay-at-home Jasper County releases been partnering with local school dis- experience our kids can get but we’re mom. to provide educational program- unable to provide on our own. With that “The challenge we’re facing right a number of statements tricts ming for many years, but the depart- said, I invited Katie here this evening to now — just so you guys are aware — the worries whether programming talk with us again.” county board of supervisors does not to address community ment will diminish if it can’t replace an emKatie Cantu, a naturalist for Jasper want our conservation board to replace ployee position that was pivotal to those County, has provided educational pro- her,” Cantu said. “So we’re kind of limpuproar By Christopher Brunschweig Jasper County Tribune Supervisors have issued a number of responses to community backlash regarding the conservation department’s pleas to fill a vacant position, which, if left unfilled, could mean fewer educational programs for students in Jasper County. But elected officials say there is another side to the story.
programs. The position is a naturalist/ office manager. Newton Superintendent Tom Messinger said the school district is fortunate to have the opportunity to partner with Jasper County. He noted that the agenda included program documents for every grade level. Programs either happen on-site in the classroom or on field trips to the many county parks. “They’re very engaging,” Messinger said. “I don’t care how old you are there are things you can learn from it. It’s re-
grams to area students for the past 25 years. Cantu estimated the department regularly hosts programming for about 16,000 people each year, with many of that population consisting of kids and teenagers from local school districts. Currently, there are eight staff members in Jasper County Conservation, broken down to four mainly office workers and four field staff. One of the naturalists was also the office manager who handled a variety of work in and out of the office. But the employee has decided
ing along a little short-staffed here into a really busy season. I don’t know. There’s a lot happening.” Cantu encouraged the school board, teachers and anyone who utilizes the programs to reach out to supervisors and voice their support for conservation. “Let ‘em know that this is important,” Cantu said. “…We would normally offer five opportunities per class, and she’s kind of behind all of our big fundraising.” NATURALIST | 2
Supervisors appoint one of their own to conservation board after recent backlash Longtime board member replaced by supervisor is disappointed and frustrated by decision Sept. 2 board of supervisors meeting. The action passed in a 2-0 vote with Nearmyer Supervisors have ap- abstaining from the vote. pointed one of their own to “In light of recent events, the Jasper County Conser- I think it would behoove us vation Board in response to appoint Thad Nearmyer to the recent “breakdown of to the conservation board,” communication” with the Talsma said, referencing county department, which recent controversy about led to community outrage. the future of a conservaThe longtime board mem- tion position. “I’m going to ber who was replaced by a make that motion. I think supervisor is disappointed there’s been a continual and frustrated by the deci- breakdown of conversation sion. between the two boards.” Appointing Thad Ne- Shaw Abby Media Lamont, of Newarmyer to the conservation ton, spoke out against the board in place of the cur- appointment during the rent board member, Robyn public comment portion of Friedman, was proposed the meeting, suggesting it by Supervisors Chairman is a conflict of interest to Brandon Talsma during the have a supervisor on their By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
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Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune Thad Nearmyer at his cow pasture in Monroe. The county supervisor was recently appointed to the Jasper County Conservation Board after considerable controversy between the board and the supervisors. Nearmyer said it is imperative that the conservation board and the board of supervisors have a good understanding of each other’s goals.
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conservation board. Talsma told Lamont county supervisors can, indeed, serve on other county boards and commissions. Iowa Code 331.216 states unless otherwise provided by state law, a supervisor may serve as a member of any appointive board, commission or committee of this state, a political subdivision of this state or a nonprofit corporation or agency receiving county funds. The code seems to uphold Talsma’s arguments. Still, Lamont argued Friedman had been waiting to be reappointed to the board for nine months. APPOINTMENT | 3
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