THURSDAY, NOV. 13, 2025 • VOLUME N0. 124 • ISSUE NO. 8 • 1 SECTION • 8 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
State audit finds former Baxter officials misused $90K of public funds
Penalties still pending for Baxter officials accused of improperly disbursing funds
Special investigation report shows more than $75K was improperly disbursed
State auditor suggests actions affect public trust and reputation of city officials
special investigation, which was requested by city officials as a result of concerns regarding certain financial transactions processed by former employees William Daggett, the former police chief; Katie Wilson, the former city clerk; and Randi Gliem, the
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune The State Auditor’s Office found more than $90,000 was misused by former City of Baxter employees, all of which resigned from their posts back in early 2024. Released today was a report of the
Editor’s note: The following is one of a series of updates regarding the findings of an investigation into misused fundings by former City of Baxter officials. Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand said
FUNDS | 3
Election 2025 By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune Unofficial results from the 2025 Baxter city government election have Daniel Kunkel taking the mayoral race over fellow candidate Stephen C. Smith. Lindsay Bethards, Joel Schabilion and Michael Churchill were the topthree candidates for the three open Baxter City Council seats in the Nov. 4 election. The mayoral race was decided by only six votes, with Kunkel receiving 160 and Smith 154 votes. There were also nine write-in votes. For Baxter City Council, Bethards
it will be up to other entities — most likely the sheriff ’s office and county attorney’s office — to decide whether penalties will be imposed on the three former City of Baxter officials accused of misusing more than $90,000 in public funds, about $75,000 of which
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
received the most votes with 238 votes, followed by Schabilion with 193 votes and Churchhill with 155 votes. Candidates Tootie Samson received 148 votes while Brad Hier tallied 121 votes. There were 12 write-in votes. In Colfax, Brad Magg and Karla Jones retained their city council seats, both having run unopposed. Robert Perry will serve as the mayor of Mingo while Melanie-Goaley-Pleggenkuhle was the sole city council candidate for the three open seats. There were 83 write in votes for the open city council seats, as well. For school board, Cory Robinson and Zach Morphew-Rapp were elect-
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City and school board election results in for Colfax, Mingo and Baxter ed in Baxter after running uncontested. Four seats that were on the ballot in Colfax-Mingo School Board will be filled by Chet Williams, Kendra Perry, Patrick Utz and Caitlin Otto who all ran unopposed. The PPEL, or a physical plant and equipment levy tax, passed for the Baxter School District with 73.59 percent approval. PPEL is not to exceed 67 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation of the taxable property within the Baxter School District and can be used to purchase and improving grounds, constructing schoolhouses or buildings and opening roads to schoolhouses or buildings, purchase buildings,
purchase, lease or lease-purchase of technology and equipment, pay debts contracted for the erection or construction of schoolhouses or buildings, not including interest on bonds, procure or acquisition of libraries, repairing, remodeling, reconstructing, improving or expanding the schoolhouses or buildings and additions to existing schoolhouses, expenditures for energy conservation, renting facilities under Iowa Code Chapter 28E, purchasing transportation equipment for transporting students, lease purchase option agreements for school buildings or equipment, or purchasing equipment authorized by law.
Rob Sand discusses rural healthcare issues, OBGYN challenges at roundtable Gubernatorial candidate met with providers affected by Newton pausing its labor and delivery services By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, speaks with participants in a roundtable on Nov. 5 at the E.J.H. Beard Administration Center in Newton.
Shaw Media sells Newton News properties to J. Louie Mullen of Eastern Iowa Publications
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand learned something trouble from healthcare providers at a recent roundtable. He learned there is only one hospital delivering babies in the area between Waterloo and Pella and between Des Moines and Iowa City. Up until a
year ago there were two. Newton Clinic and MercyOne Newton Medical Center paused all labor and delivery services in October 2024, leaving many Iowans in the Jasper County area and beyond to turn to UnityPoint Health Grinnell Regional Medical Center. Sand also learned there are only three doctors delivering babies in Grin-
The Newton News has been purchased by a Wyoming publisher who owns more than 40 weekly newspapers across the country, including a few in Iowa. Shaw Media, a publisher with news products in Iowa and Illinois, had owned Newton News since 1944. The sale was finalized on Nov. 4, and it includes the products made by Newton News, PCM Explorer, Jasper County Tribune and the Jasper County Advertiser. All staff
members were able to maintain employment. J. Louie Mullen, owner of Blackbird, LLC and Eastern Iowa Publications, has been reported to have a “hands-off ” style to ownership, telling the Editor & Publisher in November 2022 that he is there more for support, does not micromanage staff and gives management an incredible amount of leeway. Mullen was introduced to the newspaper industry at a young age. His parents had him and his
CONTACT US
SAND | 3
ANNIE SHINES AT C-M
Crowds were treated to outstanding performances of “Annie Jr.” Nov. 7 and 8 at Colfax-Mingo Jr./Sr. High
Local newspaper maintains all jobs and services under new ownership By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
nell. Dr. Abby Flannagan of Grinnell Regional Medical Center told Sand her hospital is feeling the effects of the Newton’s loss of services. When Flannagan was first hired about three years ago, doctors had delivered more than 100 babies every year; now, they are
Jamee A. Pierson/ Jasper County Tribune The cast of “Annie Jr.” along with a four-legged friend, light up the stage with show-stopping performances Nov. 7 and 8.
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OWNERSHIP | 3
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