JCT-10-30-2025

A Wonderful Halloween Walk

Hundreds of trick-or-treaters walked downtown Colfax gathering candy and goodies during the annual Halloween Walk Oct. 21.

ELECTION EDUCATION

County auditor reminds voters they can — and should — participate in upcoming school elections even if they live outside city limits

By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune

Historically, the city and school elections in Jasper County have considerably lower turnouts than state or federal elections, but the folks at the county auditor’s office hope their educational presentations with high schoolers and some of the older populations will result in a positive change in the coming years.

School district boundaries extend far beyond that of their respective city’s limits; Newton alone extends into portions of twelve townships. Every single household in Jasper County is part of a school district, and those votes are extremely important in determining who gets to serve on those school boards.

In 2024, the Jasper County Auditor’s Office reported a 75 percent voter turnout. It was a highstakes presidential election that drew more than 20,000 people to the polls

County Auditor Jenna Jennings agreed some of the lower turnout is attributed to voters not knowing they can actually participate in these local elections, which happen every two years. For instance, some rural voters may dismiss an election because they live outside city limits. However, city limits are not school limits.

or submit absentee ballots in Jasper County. Jennings and her staff would probably fall out of their seats if a local election garnered that much attention.

So far, Jennings said more than 100 people have participated in early voting for the 2025 election. If that is any indication, the local turnout will be low again.

In 2023, the last city and school election, the turnout was roughly 22 percent. It is relatively low, but it is a common figure for local elections.

Jennings said 600 people submitted absentee ballots that year, and 5,333 people showed up on Election

ELECTION 2025

City of Baxter Mayoral Candidates

Dan Kunkel

Tell us a little bit about yourself: I’ve lived in our community my entire life and have always believed in the power of small towns where neighbors look out for one another and local involvement really matters. My wife and I raised our family here, and I’ve spent my career working hard, serving others and giving back to the place we call home. Whether it’s volunteering, helping a neighbor or supporting local projects, I’ve always had a heart for this community and its people. What are you running for?

I’m running for mayor because I care deeply about the future of our town and believe strong, steady leadership can help us continue to grow while preserving the values that make this a great place to live. Why are you running for city government? After serving on city council, I’ve

Stephen Smith

Tell us a little bit about yourself: My name is Stephen Smith. I have lived in Baxter since 1977. I met a wonderful lady from Baxter in 1974 and married her in 1975. I have two sons, four grand children and one great grandson. Both of my sons live in Baxter and are raising their families here. I have a great hobby of restoring antique furniture that keeps me very busy at times. I also work for the Baxter community school as a grounds person.

What are you running for?

Mayor of Baxter Why are you running for city government?

I have served in city government in many different positions over 30 years. I am very proud of this community and its people. I have seen good times and bad times, but the community always comes together in the end. I enjoy representing and

Fun ways to celebrate Iowa forests this fall

Iowa’s forests are unique, hidden gems in a land of farm fields and grasslands. Some of the most beautiful forests in the Midwest are found in Iowa.

Healthy, growing forests clean our air and water, conserve our soil and energy resources, provide critical wildlife habitat, and make our communities a more pleasant place to live and work.

Here’s some fun options for you and your family to celebrate Iowa forests this fall.

Explore a State Forest

Get your fall color fix - check the DNR fall colors weekly report for details on where to see the best fall color in Iowa. Fall color will be at or near its peak across Iowa this weekend.

Check out our Forestry Landowner Assistance webpage for information and resources on how to make sustainable management decisions on your forested land.

Tackle Your Invasives

Late autumn and even early winter are great times to identify and treat invasive species that shade out desirable native plants.

Leaves of invasives remain green and attached often through Thanksgiving, making it easy to identify bush honeysuckles and buckthorn thickets in woodlots, edges and other areas when other plants are bare. Herbicides work well in autumn as sap moves to the roots. Here’s how:

• Bush honeysuckle is a deciduous shrub with seed-loaded berries ranging from red, orange or black. Several species of invasive honeysuckle range in height from 7 feet to 15 feet high. It is easy to identify invasive versus native honeysuckle. Native honeysuckle plants don’t hold leaves late fall. Break o ff an older stem—invasives have hollow, brown centers. Native honeysuckle stems are solid.

• Glossy buckthorn is either a small tree or tall shrub with brown-gray bark with light colored lenticels or pores. Its sapwood is yellow with pink to orange heartwood. Terminal buds are shaped like a deer hoof, in pairs with a thorn in between. Seeds remain viable up to 3 years.

Management Techniques: Apply a 25 percent triclopyr solution plus a penetrant once to the lower 12–18 inches of plant stems until wet (but avoid runo ff ) between May and November. Follow labels for dosage and surfactant options. Learn more about forest invasive species on theDNR’s Invasive Plants web page. Leave the leaves in your yard this fall Our yards can make us proud and provide many

hours of joy during the warmer months. Try to resist the urge to clean up all the dead growth that has built up over the warmer months and embrace the mess.

Instead of piling and burning or bagging and sending your yard waste to a landfill, maintain strategic piles of organic matter on the edges of your yard for wildlife. If you can live with a little mess, wildlife will respond.

• A layer of leaves is vital insulation from the cold for the many animals that hide within and are beneficial insulation for tree roots as well.

• Leaves improve micro-organisms that are the life of soil that provide needed food and nutrients to plants and trees. Leaves can also be useful in areas that have

compacted soil as they help to reduce runoff, keeping soil on site.

• If you use leaves for compost, consider creating a leaf pile and allowing it to break down naturally if space allows. Mulch and leaf piles break down into nice loam which can then be used to supplement planters or other flower beds.

• Providing an unmowed area on the edge of your yard is a great way to provide a place for piled organic matter like leaves, branches, and stems. Keeping piles away from the house will reduce the chance of unwanted visitors inside.

• Designate some areas in your yard where you can leave leaves whole. Shredded leaves may destroy eggs, caterpillars and cocoons.

Iowa Songbird Art Contest

Iowa youth artists are encouraged to celebrate the beauty and wonder of Iowa songbirds. Students (grades K-12) select one bird from the featured list, research its habitat and conservation needs, and create an original, hand-drawn artwork. Students in grades 4 and up are also required to submit a short creative writing piece to accompany their art.Deadline for entries is November 30, 2025.

Find complete rules and guidelines on theIowa Songbird Art Contest Entry Form.

With a donation of $5.00 or more YOU could be the one to “Turn on the Lights”! Fill out this coupon and send with your donation to: “Turn on the Lights”, P.O. Box 944, Newton, IA 50208 PLEASE PRINT

Name Address Phone Number We will draw the name on November 26th and the person will be notified by phone.

Church Schedules

Deer movements increase as peak of breeding season nears

Drivers take note, it’s mid-October and deer are on the move.

While deer vehicle collisions occur throughout the year, deer movement increases during the breeding season, peaking around the first week of November. Combined with the crops coming out and shorter daylight hours, that adds up to more deer vehicle collisions.

“Deer like to travel at dawn and dusk, and with the shortening daylight hours, that puts a lot of commuters on the road when deer could be on the move,” said Jim Coffey, forest wildlife research biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “As we enter the prime breeding time, deer move more all hours of the day. This time of year, we encourage drivers to reduce their speeds, give additional space between vehicles, which will give drivers more time to react, and slow down in order to avoid a crash.”

Deer tend to travel in groups during the rut, Coffey said, and drivers should try to avoid focusing in on the first deer they see because there may be another one coming behind it.

“Drivers who encounter a deer on the road, and a collision is inevitable, are encouraged to stay in their lane, break and try to control the impact,” he said. “While hitting a deer can be a tragic event, much more harm may occur by swerving to avoid the collision than by simply hitting the deer.”

Iowa’s deer population isn’t distributed equally across the state, but more often associated with timber habitat and river corridors. When passing through these areas, drivers should be aware of the surroundings, slow their speed and watch from fencerow to fencerow for deer on the move.

State law allows people who hit a deer to take the meat under a salvage tag. Contact the local sheriff’s office to get a tag. The caveat is the whole animal must be taken – it is illegal to just take the antlers.

HOWARD ST. CHRISTIAN CHURCH

(Disciples of Christ) Pastor Josh Burns 101 N. Locust St., Colfax Cell - 515-779-3148

SUNDAY - 10 a.m. Fellowship;10:30 a.m. Worship, in person or online via YouTube

MONDAY - Pastor Josh day off TUESDAY - 9:30 a.m. Coffee Time; 2:30 p.m. Chair Yoga

WEDNESDAY - 3:30 p.m. After school elementary youth; 6:15 ChiRho and CYF youth supper; 7:30 p.m. Youth Group

THIRD SUNDAY - 8 p.m. Elders meeting, Board meeting after church; Collect for Food Pantry

FOURTH SUNDAY - Potluck Dinner

FIFTH SUNDAY - Potluck Breakfast FIRST MONDAY - WIC appointments

FOURTH & FIFTH TUESDAY3 p.m. Table of Grace

IRA UNITED CHURCH

Pastors Doug Cupples and Phil Butler

SUNDAY - 9:30 a.m. Church

service; 10:30 a.m. Sunday school Communion first Sunday METZ COMMUNITY CHURCH 3253 W. 62nd St. S., Newton Pastor David Rex 641-521-4354

SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10:10 a.m. Worship Last Saturday of month - 8 a.m. Men’s Breakfast

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, Colfax Minister, Pastor Cody Dyer Church Office 674-4165

SATURDAY, Sept. 27 - 8 a.m. Church Work Day

SUNDAY, Sept. 28 - 9 a.m. Fellowship; 9:15 a.m. Bible Education Classes; 10:25 a.m. Message by Pastor Cody Dyer; 5 p.m. “The Well” Youth Group

TUESDAY, Sept. 30 - 3:30 p.m. Women’s Prayer & Coffee; 6:30 p.m. Gospel of John Bible Study; 7 p.m. Trustee meeting

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1 - 9 a.m. Busy Bee Quilters and Fresh Encounter Prayer; 5:45 p.m. AWANA Family Meal; 6:25 p.m. AWANA Clubs

THURSDAY, Oct. 2 - 6:30 p.m.

The church schedule is brought to you by Coburn FUNERAL HOMES Colfax-Prairie City-Monroe 515-674-3155 www.coburnfuneralhomes.com

Men’s Group

SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH

Newton, Iowa

SATURDAY - 4 p.m. Mass

SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Mass

COLFAX FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

S. Locust & W. Division St. Office - 674-3782 Rev. Phil Dicks pastor

SUNDAY - 10:30 a.m. Sunday School; Family Worship

HOPE ASSEMBLY OF GOD

126 E. Howard

Rev. Paul Avery, pastor Church: 674-3700 hopeassemblyofgod@yahoo.com

SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10 a.m. Worship; Today is Food Pantry Sunday

IMMACULATE

CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH

302 E. Howard St., Colfax Fr. Marty Goetz

515-674-3711

SUNDAY - 11 a.m. Mass

MINGO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Rev. Phil Dicks

515-689-4926

SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Worship service (Sunday school not meeting at this time)

ASHTON CHAPEL

8887 W. 122nd St. N., Mingo

Pastors: Larry Craig & Mark Eddy

SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10 a.m. Worship

BETHANY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 5627 N. 95th Ave. W., Baxter 641-227-3402

Pastor Chris Hayward

SUNDAY - 9:30 a.m. Sunday School (Sunday after Labor Day to second Sunday in May); 10:30 a.m. Sunday Worship. First Sunday communion. All are welcome. baxterbethanyucc.org

EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH BAXTER Mike Mclintock, Pastor SUNDAY - 9:15 a.m. Sunday School; 10 a.m. Worship; 6 p.m. Awanas

WEDNESDAYS - 1st & 3rd6:30 p.m. Mens Bible Study 2nd & 4th - 6:30 p.m. Men’s and Womens Bible Study

THURSDAYS 10 a.m. - Womens Bible Study

BAXTER

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

218 S. Main, Baxter Pastor Ben Spera Church: 641-227-3382

SUNDAY - 10 a.m. Worship

WEDNESDAY - 6 p.m. Bible Study

THIRD THURSDAY of month

- 6:30 p.m. Theology on Tap at Bea’s Place on Main Street Check us out on Facebook and baxtercongregational.com

CORNERSTONE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP

1000 E. 12th St., Newton Rev. Josh Farver, pastor Phone 641-792-4650

SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10:15 a.m. Worship

WEDNESDAY - 6:30 p.m. Prayer Meeting and Bible Study; Youth Group

HERITAGE WORD OF LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD 102 Second St. NW, Mitchellville Pastor Dave Adams 515-967-3330 SUNDAY - 9 a.m. Bible classes; 10 a.m. Worship service; 6 p.m. Evening service WEDNESDAY - 7 p.m. Evening activities

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF HOPE Capitol II Theatre in Newton SUNDAY - 9:30 a.m. Livestream Worship Service MITCHELLVILLE CHRISTIAN DISCIPLES OF CHRIST 210 Third St. NW, Mitchellville Text/Voicemail 515-519-0206 SUNDAY - 10 a.m. Coffee Time; 10:30

2. Fiscal responsibility — Careful, transparent use of taxpayer dollars.

the total for city council to 14 years.

seen firsthand that real progress happens when people work together. Our town thrives when residents, local businesses and community leaders pull in the same direction sharing ideas and building something better side by side.

Baxter’s greatest strength has always been its teamwork and sense of community. When we come together, great things happen and that’s exactly the spirit I want to lead with as mayor.

Why do you think public service is important?

Public service is about giving your time and talents to something bigger than yourself. It’s about leading with integrity, listening with respect and working toward positive results for the people you serve.

What issues in the city are most important to you?

1. Infrastructure — Well-maintained roads, sidewalks and utilities for residents and future growth.

3. Community development — Support for local businesses and housing that meet community needs.

4. Public safety — Resources for fire, police, and emergency services.

5. Quality of life — Parks, events, and amenities that make our town a great place to raise a family.

Where is the city succeeding?

Our town shines with community pride and connection. Residents care deeply about where they live, volunteer their time, and support one another. That sense of smalltown togetherness is one of our greatest strengths.

Where We Can ImproveWhere does it need improvements?

We can strengthen communication between city leadership and residents so everyone feels informed and heard. And we must continue long-term planning to ensure our infrastructure and growth are ready for the future while maintaining the charm that makes our town special.

they can vote,” Jennings said.

“We’ve heard from a number of people already that said, ‘I can’t vote in this election because I live in the country.’

Day. So a little less than 6,000 people voted in the last local election.

“I think people don’t realize

working for all the people of our community. I hope i can add some very positive things for Baxter.

Being part of our community has been a huge part of my life. Over the years I have volunteered for many organizations: Jasper County E 911 board (31 years as chair), County Emergency Management board (31 years), Baxter Mens Club (10 years), Baxter Flag Football (3 years), Baxter Rescue (18 years), Baxter Fire Dept (19 Years — chief last 5 years), Baxter Disaster Services (12 years) and Baxter Fun Days (10 years)

I have also served in paid positions as mayor (10 years previously) and as city council (12 years previous) and currently still serving as city council member which will bring

Well, even though you live in the country you still have a say in your school boards. I think that’s a perception the older generation has.”

Why do you think public service is important?

I think when you serve people they want you to have an open mind and look at all aspects of issues that may affect them. People want to use you as their voice and make the best decision for them and not for you. Integrity and good ethics are very important when you represent them. Transparency and truth need to work together. You cannot do one without the other. You must be open and able to allow all that you represent to have a say about business and issues in the community. Honesty must ALWAYS be number one. ALWAYS. What issues in the city are most important to you?

We need to concentrate on first-time home buyers with young families and we need to be able to give affordable housing to

Over the past month or so, the county auditor’s office has visited two different school districts — Baxter and Lynnville-Sully — and spoke with students in government classes about voting, elections and how to register to vote. Jennings and her staff also plan to visit congregate meals for a similar presentation.

bring families with children into our community so we can continue to grow. Our school is not only our largest employer in town, it is very important to all of the people, because of the bonding projects have always overwhelming passed each time. We have a great school system. Where is the city succeeding?

We have succeeded in keeping our town vibrant by supporting the school and working closely with them. If not for the school, “small-town Iowa” goes away. We have done multiple projects with them with great success. Where does it need improvements?

We as a small Iowa town keep working on infrastructure issues. Having accomplished a lot but have a lot yet to go. We still have a lot left to go. Funding today is a lot tougher than it was in the past.

Jennings said the auditor’s office tries to find as many opportunities to be transparent about elections, inform the public about the process and stress the importance of local elections and engaging in local government. City councils and school boards have a much more direct impact on voters and their lives.

“Those are the people making those decisions that are also affecting your taxes,” Jennings said. “So that’s how you have a say in some of this.”

I call Richard Russo the male version of Elizabeth Strout. He writes with sensitivity, brashness and feeling, deals in family/human issues, and writes a complicated plot, like life itself.

I just finished his latest book, “Somebody’s Fool.” It’s his third book of a trilogy: “Nobody’s Fool” and “Everybody’s Fool,” which I have also read. The trilogy follows the life, and after life, of Sully, a man’s man, womanizer, and caustic wit: hard on the outside, soft as a pussycat on the inside—construction worker, philosopher and caretaker of friends and relatives. His name, “Sully” is on a bar stool at the White Horse Tavern in North Bath, Maine.

I visualize Sully as a Humphrey Bogart type of guy: cigarette dangling out the side of his mouth, a pack of Luckies rolled up in his shirt sleeve, and a John

Deere belt buckle pulled to the side of his waist: tough guy in appearance only.

When I mention his after life, I’m not talking about a paranormal ghost appearance, I’m talking about the influence Sully has on people that lingers on, long after his death. As his death becomes imminent, Sully asks his estranged son to look after a certain number of people: an old friend and co-worker who can’t seem to survive without Sully telling him what to do; a couple of old lovers who miss him terribly; a distant grandson looking for retribution. It seems that Sully was a better grandfather than father.

Sully’s epic advice: “When you don’t know what to do, try something, and if that doesn’t work, try something else.”

It’s an extension of the old saw: “Do something, even if it’s wrong,” which my father used to say, and now I say.

“TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A.,” US president Donald Trump whined in an October 23 Truth Social post (all-caps treatment, of course, his). “Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”

The egregious behavior in question? Telling the truth about tariffs in a $75 million ad campaign. Or, rather, having the late US president Ronald Reagan do so, in his own words:

“Over the long run, such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer .... markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down, and millions of people lose their jobs.”

Letting Ronald Reagan talk to Americans about tariffs, Trump raged the next day, constitutes “trying to illegally influence the United States Supreme Court” on the non-question of whether Trump enjoys personal legal authority to impose massive tax hikes on American consumers whenever the urge strikes.

Spoiler alert: He enjoys no such authority (the Constitution assigns taxing authority to Congress, not the president).

Nor is it illegal for Canadian politicians, Ronald Reagan, or anyone else to let Americans know that, in addition to themselves being illegal, his tariff policies are stupid, evil, and economically ruinous.

The US government’s tariff revenues jumped to a record $29.6 billion in July, and may end up hitting $350 billion per year.

Trump would like you to believe that those revenues are magic free money, paid by unspecified philanthropists from other countries and somehow accruing to your benefit when the US Treasury collects them.

In fact, tariffs come out of YOUR pocket in the form of higher prices if you can get the goods you want, less consumer choice because you often can’t, and fewer opportunities for you or your employer to sell in foreign markets as other governments “retaliate” with tariffs, or even embargoes, of their own.

Estimates vary -- in large part because Trump’s tariffs rates seem to change by the minute on the basis of his whims and tantrums -- but over the last few months he’s hiked your household’s annual tax bill by at least $2,500, and probably closer to $5,000. That’s a lot of money to spend humoring one guy’s “throw myself on the floor and hold my breath ‘til I turn blue” approach to trade/tax policy.

Ontario premier Doug Ford, the politician behind the ad campaign, says he’ll end it after Major League Baseball’s World Series. But now you know the truth. Don’t forget it. Thomas L. Knapp is director and senior newsanalystattheWilliamLloydGarrison CenterforLibertarianAdvocacyJournalism

That’s one of my attractions to Russo’s writing: it reminds me of my family, my hometown, my feelings, the sights, sounds, and smells of small town living.

If you haven’t heard of Richard Russo, or think he may be a second rate writer that

Curt is bragging up because it reminds him of his drinking days, well, think again. Richard Russo won the Pulitzer Prize in 2002 for “Empire Falls,” about small town in Maine. In “Empire Falls,” Russo explores themes of love, loss, and class dynamics. Russo has written a slew of books, all of them excellent. I have read most of them. But not all, a deficiency I intend to correct.

If I have one criticism of “Somebody’s Fool,” it’s that, for me, there are too many characters, too many moving parts to the story (stories), and too many sub plots. But that’s classic Russo and classic life: too much confusion to make much sense of anything. But if it works, don’t fix it.

Here’s a sample of Russo’s writing: “People who have problems never have just one.” “...how things work with ob -

sessive-compulsives. When there was nothing to worry about, they would invent things to stress over.” “...scary beginnings needn’t always lead to dismal outcomes.” “His mind was still buffering.” “J.J. had yet to meet a pot he didn’t want to stir.” “His small eyes had gotten even darker, a place where light went to die.” “Occams’s razor.... The simplest explanation is probably right.”

If you haven’t read the previous books of Russo’s trilogy, like Elizabeth Strout’s books, you can jump in anywhere, not be lost, and enjoy the book. “Somebody’s Fool” is over 600 pages in length, so hunker down with a lap cat or dog and enjoy some “I’m not happy until you’re not happy” winter reading. I’m already reading it again, my highest rating for a book and its author. One last compliment, and I’ll let you alone for a warm winter’s nap. Richard Russo’s “Somebody’s Fool” left me feeling fulfilled.

Ahhh. Goodnight. Haveagoodstory?CallortextCurt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-2170526 or email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com

Our country’s magnificent National Park System has been called “America’s greatest idea.”

These 433 treasures — along with our rich diversity of national museums and historical sites — each have their own stories to tell. But the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, for together they express America’s egalitarian spirit and “little-d” democratic possibilities, urging us to keep pushing for economic fairness and social justice for all.

And that’s exactly why Trump and his cabal of moneyed elites and right-wing extremists are out to purge, erase, and officially censor the parks’ historical presenta-

tions. After all, it’s hard to impose plutocratic autocracy if such tangible examples of historic truth and democratic rebellion are openly displayed!

Thus, as dictated by the GOP’s secretive anti-democracy clique, Project 2025, Trump’s ideological Thought Police have set themselves up as an Orwellian “Ministry of Truth” to sanitize and Disney-fy the telling of our people’s real history.

For example, Trump complains that parks and museums hurt America’s self-image by telling “how bad slavery was.”

Donald, that’s not an image — its reality. It’s as central to our national character as our historic

commitment to equality. And the explosive conflict between ugly repression and flowering egalitarianism is ever present today.

Consider the push by Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and others in the GOP’s Christian Nationalist movement to deny the unifying principle that “all men are created equal.”

There’s not enough whitewash in the world to cover up the deep ugliness of slavery, and it’s self-destructive for the government to try. The fundamental purpose of recording our shared history is to learn from it.

Jim Hightower is a radio commentator,writer,andpublicspeaker.

Jasper County Supervisors

Brandon Talsma, chair 4309 W Fourth St. S. Newton, IA 50208

641-526-3142 btalsma@jasperia.org

YOUR VIEW

Doug Cupples, vice chair 1205 S. 20th Ave. W. Newton, IA 50208

641-521-8725 dcupples@jasperia.org

Thad Nearmyer

4360 S. 96th Ave. W. Monroe, IA 50170

641-891-8863

tnearmyer@jasperia.org

Letters to the Jasper County Tribune will be edited for libel, grammar and length and should not exceed 400 words. We reserve the right to shorten letters and reject those deemed libelous, in poor taste or of a personal nature. Include your full name, address and a daytime phone number for verification. Signed columns as well as letters to the editor and editorial cartoons represent the personal opinion of the writer or artist. Submit letters to news@jaspercountytribune.com or Newton News, P.O. Box 967, Newton, Iowa 50208

Lynnville-Sully eliminates Baxter volleyball in regional opener,

By Troy Hyde

SULLY — With the third set tied at 8-all and the match even at one set apiece, Lynnville-Sully needed a spark to regain momentum in the match.

That’s when Brilynn Tice served 10 consecutive points, pushed the Hawks back in front for good and helped the Lynnville-Sully volleyball team advance in the postseason with a 25-18, 17-25, 25-11, 25-20 home win over Baxter during the Class 1A Region 8 opening-round match on Oct. 20.

The victory was the Hawks’ fourth straight over Baxter. It was the first four-set match in the series since 2022 and the first four-set win by Lynnville-Sully since 2020.

“I think the way they played tonight was phenomenal,” Baxter head volleyball coach Jordynn Wesselink said. “We hit a low part of our season there late in the year but taking that week of practice to work on things we were struggling with was beneficial. They were hustling, they were moving and everything seemed to come together.

“To see it end the way it did was disappointing. They deserved to win that match but sadly someone has to lose.”

Most of the sets were competitive early. The opening frame was tied at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 11 before the Hawks scored five straight to take control.

The 5-0 run included blocks by Kate Harthoorn and Tatum Huyser and a strong serve from Tice.

The Bolts (7-20) closed their deficit to 16-14, but a Huyser kill helped extend the lead back to two, and the Hawks never led by fewer than two the rest of the way.

Tigerhawk duo, Baxter’s Tuhn qualify for state XC meet

JEWELL — State-ranked Ashlynn Hosbond appears to be peaking at the right time.

The Tigerhawk sophomore locked up her second state cross country berth with a top-five finish at the Class 1A state qualifying meet hosted by South Hamilton on Oct. 23.

The only other individuals from the area who qualified for the state meet were Colfax-Mingo senior Sullivan Wilkins and sophomore Maddux Tuhn, who both were in the top 10 of the boys’ 5K race.

“(Maddux Tuhn) ran a great race. I think he even went out a little conservative, and he really worked the last mile of the race,” Baxter head cross country coach Ian Thomson said. “There are not many runners who don’t run in middle school, then don’t run in ninth grade, then go out their sophomore year and qualify for state individually. He has grown a ton throughout the season and that is credited to his competitive nature. To go from running in the 19:00s to running many races down the stretch in the 17:00s is very impressive.”

The season is over for the rest of the Bolts and Tigerhawks though as the Baxter boys finished seventh and the C-M boys were 12th in the 13-team field, while the Tigerhawk girls squad placed sixth in their eight-team field.

Hosbond’s fourth-place finish headlined the area harriers. The 29th-ranked Tigerhawk finished in 20 minutes, 8.8 seconds.

That was 2.2 seconds back of third-place finisher Elizabeth Erickson of Colo-NESCO. Erickson, who is ranked 22nd, finished in 20:06.6.

The Tigerhawks were sixth in the final team standings with 135 points. They were three points better than East Marshall (138) and also finished in front of South Hamilton (162).

“I’m super proud of both of them,” Colfax-Mingo head cross country coach Michaela Graffunder said about Wilkins and Hosbond. “They definitely earned it.”

Class 1A No. 3 Madrid won the girls’ regional title with 40 points. The Tigers went 1-2-5 as No. 24 Katelyn Brandhorst won the race in 19:17.7 and No. 6 Madelyn Grothus was the runner-up in 19:53.4.

Class 1A No. 17 Alta-Aurelia grabbed the second state berth with 85 points. That was nine better than No. 19 Fort Dodge St. Edmond (94) and 16 in front of No.

Tigerhawk volleyball downs Madrid, falls to No. 4 Spartans in regional tournament

COLFAX — Five players put down at least four kills and the Colfax-Mingo volleyball team registered a season-best 13 blocks during its Class 2A Region 4 victory on Oct. 20.

The Tigerhawks posted their first regional win since 2022 after downing Madrid 25-21, 25-20, 25-10 on their home floor.

The victory bettered Colfax-Mingo’s win total from last season, and the Tigerhawks have won four of the past five against the Tigers.

They advanced to play 2A No. 4 Grundy Center (33-9) in the regional quarterfinals, and the Spartans eliminated the Tigerhawks in straight sets.

Katelyn Steenhoek led the Tigerhawks (12-16) with a double-double. She finished with 16 assists, 11 digs and four kills.

Hope Allen totaled 16 assists and six digs, Britney Keeney contributed nine kills and a career-best six blocks, Dakota Allen posted seven kills and a career-high five blocks and Isabelle Utz chipped in six kills and five digs.

Grace Hunsberger tallied four kills and six digs, Mickey Bucklin added four kills and two digs, Grace Allen registered eight digs and three aces and Meadow Lane and Macie Porter each totaled seven digs.

Colfax-Mingo was 69-of-73 in serves with five aces. Steenhoek served 17-of17, Hunsberger was 8-of-8, Utz finished 14-of-15, Hope Allen was 10-of-11, Keeney served 9-of-10 and Grace Allen was 11-of-12.

The Tigerhawks had a kill efficiency of .186. Utz posted a .429, Dakota Allen and Hunsberger each finished at .333 and Keeney ended up at .250.

Samantha Springer led Madrid (7-28) with eight kills and Paige Richards and Iyla Fine each posted seven digs. The Tigers were 52-of-53 in serves with two aces.

Grundy Center 3, Colfax-Mingo 0

GRUNDY CENTER — Fourthranked Grundy Center was too much for the

during their 2A Region 8 quarterfinal matchup on Oct. 22.

16 Panorama (101). Manson-NW Webster (106) completed the top five.

Ivy Anderson (career-best 22:52.7) was the second finisher for the C-M girls in 21st. The other three scoring runners were Lilyan Hadsall (24:54.4), Jessica Gibson (25:32.1) and Sahara Buenrostro (25:45.2) in 44th, 49th and 51st, respectively.

The Tigerhawks did not have the services of Mallory Sipma due to an illness.

Wilkins headlined the area boys in seventh. He posted a time of 17:23.6 and Tuhn (17:36.7) also qualified for the state meet after a 10th-place finish.

The top 10 individuals and top two teams in each 1A state qualifier advance to the state meet.

The 1A No. 15 Bolts were without top runner Max Handorf, who finished the season ranked No. 4, due to an injury.

Volleyball

Ava Brummel put down back-toback kills to end the set and give her team a 1-0 lead in the match. Brummel finished with 11 kills in the win.

The Bolts came out firing in the second set. Denver Sulzle opened the frame with two kills and two blocks to give her team a 6-2 advantage.

A back-row kill by Caydence Sulzle kept the lead at four and L-S called timeout at 8-3.

Lynnville-Sully closed its margin to 8-7 following a 3-0 run that ended with a Tice tip. Baxter countered that spurt with a 5-0 run of its own as kills by Kaylyn Krampe and Olivia Parrie and an ace by Alyvia Burdess extended the margin to 13-7.

The deficit never got closer than two the rest of the way. Kills by Penelope Robinson melted the Hawks’ margin, but Denver Sulzle registered a trio of kills to extend the lead to 22-16 and two tip kills from Lillian Grunsted closed out the win later.

“When they have that energy they play so well together,” Wesselink said.

“Scoring points is great, but at the same time, cheering each other on and enjoy the successes of their teammates was important to how we played in the second set.”

The third set was tied at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 before Tice’s long service run put the Hawks in front for good.

Kills by Denver Sulzle kept the match tied on two different occasions and a Lexi Dart blast evened the set at 8-all.

Lynnville-Sully’s 10-0 run on Tice’s serve featured a pair of aces by Tice and two kills from Huyser.

Another back-row kill from Caydence Sulzle stopped the bleeding briefly, but two kills from Huyser pushed the margin back to 10.

The Hawks ended the set on a 7-0 run.

“We were passing the ball too high or not getting a good enough pass to our setter so they could get the ball to our pin hitters effectively for them to get a kill,” Wesselink said about the long service run.

Baxter got out fast in the fourth set, but the Hawks (8-13) rallied from a 7-2 deficit to tie the frame at 7-all.

Two kills from Huyser, Brummel and Denver Sulzle played a big fac-

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It just wasn’t in the cards for Baxter as it finished seventh in the final team standings.

“It did not go as we hoped,” Thomson said. “I truly believe even without (Handorf) we had the talent to still qualify as a team. However, we also knew all athletes would need to run very well to accomplish that. It just didn’t work out that way. About halfway through the race everyone was right where they needed to be to give ourselves a chance. Then we just fell apart a little bit in that second half.”

tor in keeping the frame tied.

It stayed tied at 10 and 11, but two kills from Kamdyn Krampe and a kill and an ace by Kaylyn Krampe gave the Bolts a 14-11 lead.

Tice then took over with smart play at the net.

Realizing what the Bolts were doing defensively for most of the match, Tice used a soft tip at the net to find the same open space near the out of bounds line on the right side of the floor.

Her first tip kill gave L-S an 1110 lead. She went back to the same spot to help close the gap and a late tip kill gave the Hawks the 20-19 advantage.

After Mallory Bottorff tied the game with a tip kill of her own, the Bolts were called for back-to-back net violations and then Tice extended the lead to 23-20 with one final kill.

The Hawks ended the set with five straight points as an Olivia Beyer ace and a kill by Robinson closed out the win.

“Sometimes silly mistakes happen,” Wesselink said. “Those are things we can usually control. Trying to block like that instead of doing the simple things is a learning experience. We need to learn to be smart hitters.

“That’s just a smart play by their hitter on those tips. We just needed to adjust to that sooner. It happened way too many times before

Class 1A No. 3 Ankeny Christian Academy won the meet with 31 points. Class 1A No. 17 North Butler also advanced to state as a team and finished second with 122 points.

Alta-Aurelia (130), Manson-NW Webster (133) and Fort Dodge St. Edmond (139) completed the top five. East Marshall (153) was five points in front of Baxter (158) for sixth and the rest of the 13-team field included Madrid (158), South Hamilton (215), Panorama (228), Woodward Academy (240), Colfax-Mingo (330) and Southeast Warren (350).

After Tuhn for Baxter was 1A No. 27 Brecken Fisher, who placed 27th in 18:57.5. Dakota Parker (19:43.9), Maddox Peters (19:51.2) and Lincoln Russell (20:06.6) were the fi-

we figured it out.”

Tice played maybe the best match of her prep career, finishing with a career-high 12 kills and adding four digs and five aces. She was 23-of-24 in serves and had a kill efficiency of .269.

The Hawks were 87-of-90 in serves with nine aces.

Statistics for Baxter were not available at press time.

Bolts down Riceville at ISC tournament

ROCKFORD — Baxter and Riceville were separated by a single point during the Iowa Star Conference tournament on Oct. 18.

The Bolts wound on the winning side of a three-set battle as they downed Riceville 21-19, 20-22, 1512. It was the lone win for the Bolts at the conference tournament as they lost in straight sets to host Rockford and Clarksville.

Riceville was led by Lillian Frazier’s four kills and 11 digs. The Wildcats (11-20) were 48-of-53 in serves with five aces.

Rockford (19-9) downed the Bolts 21-17, 21-18 and Hannah Hillman led the way with nine kills, four digs and three aces.

Clarksville (6-22) swept the Bolts 21-14, 21-11. Statistics for Baxter for all three matches were unavailable at press time.

nal scoring runners in 42nd, 43rd and 49th, respectively.

Parker Bonney (21:19.5) and Sam Wilhelm (24:03.8) were non-scoring runners in 68th and 92nd, respectively.

Benjamin Faidley (22:30.9) was behind Wilkins for the Tigerhawks. He placed 86th, Ryan Moore (23:07.1) was 88th and Milo Knutson (28:26.9) and Asher Knutson (28:58.5) were 104th and 105th, respectively.

The Tigerhawks were without Willie Fitzgerald because of an injury and did not have Mario Rodriguez because of an illness.

Class 1A No. 5 Alex Davis of ACA won the boys’ race in 16:42.6 and 1A No. 16 Zachary Gardner of ACA was the runner-up in 17:01.9.

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The Spartans served up 10 aces, had a .429 kill efficiency and dropped Colfax-Mingo 25-12, 25-13, 25-6 at home.

Steenhoek led the Tigerhawks with six assists, three kills and four digs and Hunsberger posted four kills and six digs.

Hope Allen added five assists and two digs, Keeney chipped in two kills and two digs and Dakota Allen put down three kills in the loss. Grace Allen tallied eight digs, Porter totaled four digs and Utz registered two kills.

Colfax-Mingo was 30-of-33 in serves with two aces, and the Tigerhawks had a negative kill efficiency.

Grundy Center (33-9) got 18 kills from Ryanne Brubaker, 10 digs from Charlee Kirkpatrick, five aces from Jenna Blythe and 21 assists, three aces and six digs from Lauren Zajac.

The Spartans hosted Earlham (20-15) in the regional semifinals on Oct. 27 in Grundy Center.

Maddux Tuhn

Explaining metastatic breast cancer

While the vast majority of women with breast cancer are diagnosed when the disease is in its earliest and most treatable stages, some develop metastatic breast cancer, which is an advanced form of the disease

Breast cancer remains a formidable foe, but the tireless efforts of researchers and organizations that raise awareness of the disease have helped improve the prognosis for millions of women across the globe. Thanks to those efforts, the American Cancer Society can report the five-year survival rate for localized breast cancers is now greater than 99 percent.

While the vast majority of women with breast cancer are diagnosed when the disease is in its earliest and most treatable stages, some develop metastatic breast cancer, which is an advanced form of the disease.

What is metastatic breast cancer?

The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. notes that “metastatic” is a medical term used to define the process by which cancer cells spread to other parts of the body. Metastatic breast cancer occurs when breast cancer cells spread to other parts of the body beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes.

Which stage is metastatic breast cancer?

Metastatic breast cancer can indicate recurrence, and women confronting such situations may recall that staging is an important part of confronting the disease. The ACS notes that staging helps doctors identify if the cancer has spread and, if

so, how far. The earliest stage breast cancer is stage 0, and the most advanced stage is stage IV. Metastatic breast cancer is considered to be stage IV. Is there a cure for metastatic breast cancer?

The organization Susan G. Komen®, which advocates for women with breast cancer and supports research into the disease while aiming to raise awareness of it, notes that there currently is no cure for metastatic breast cancer. Treatment for metastatic breast cancer aims to extend life and help women to maintain their quality of life. And while there may

be no cure for metastatic breast cancer, Susan G. Komen® notes ongoing clinical trials may provide women with an opportunity to try new treatments. In addition, various studies are currently being conducted in the hopes of improving treatment.

What are the symptoms of metastatic breast cancer?

The NBCF notes that the symptoms of metastatic breast cancer can vary depending on how far the cancer has spread and where in the body it has progressed to. But the experts at Johns Hopkins note women who previously have been treat-

ed for breast cancer can keep an eye out for these symptoms that suggest the disease has spread.

• Unusual or persistent back or neck pain that cannot be explained by an injury or exercise

• Pain in the bones

• Unexplained shortness of breath

• Profound fatigue or malaise

• Headache

• Seizures

• Mood changes

• Difficulty with speech

• Changes with vision

What is life like after a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis?

No two women are the same, so each experience with met-

astatic breast cancer will be different. However, Susan G. Komen® notes that managing side effects, including controlling pain, is an area of focus when living with metastatic breast cancer. Supportive care aimed at improving quality of life, including tending to the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of a person diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, also is part of life after a diagnosis.

Knowledge of metastatic breast cancer can help women and their loved ones navigate the disease more effectively in the event of a diagnosis.

Did you know? Facts about Breast Cancer

A 2024 report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer indicated 71 percent of new cases of breast cancer across the globe were diagnosed in individuals age 50 and older. Though age is a known risk factor for various types of cancer, it’s important that wom-

en recognize a significant percentage of breast cancer diagnoses in many parts of the world are made in women younger than 50.

For example, nearly one in five of breast cancer diagnoses in both North America (18 percent) and Europe (19

percent) are made in women younger than 50, while almost half of all breast cancers in Africa (47 percent) are diagnosed in women who have not yet reached their fiftieth birthdays. Though such figures are affected by a number of variables, including the accessibility

of screening procedures like mammograms, they speak to the reality that breast cancer can affect women at any age, a notion that underscores the significance of screening and the need to support efforts to make it more accessible in every corner of the globe.