JCT-11-20-2025

HONORING OUR VETERANS

Colfax-Mingo celebrates those who served during a Veterans Day program Nov. 11

County attorney urges families to monitor their children’s online activities

By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper

When local law enforcement and prosecutors from the county attorney’s office met in late March for a training course to catch child predators, they didn’t expect to use their newfound skills so quickly. By the second day of training, officers found a man trying to solicit sex from what he believed to be a minor.

Ever since then it seems like these types of crimes continue trending upwards. Jasper County Attorney Scott Nicholson said every individual charged has been using the internet to target children. He is urging

families to take notice and monitor their kids’ use of online platforms, particularly social media. “Adults have figured out they can get into these games and have contact with these children inside the games that leads to outside meetings,” Nicholson said before speaking to parents and predators directly. “Parents, you need to be hyper aware of your children’s online access. Predators, we’re going to catch you.”

Assistant County Attorney Nicholas Pietrack said adults are attempting to groom and/or sexually exploit children through social media and even online games like Roblox, which is currently embroiled in

lawsuits from families saying sex offenders and sexual predators used its platform to communicate with their kids.

“Kids have cellphones nowadays at younger and younger ages,” Pietrack said in an interview with Newton News. “So they have more access to being plugged into the whole world, and there are dangers out there that we are just now fully understanding. And it’s always changing.”

Nicholson said the county attorney’s office and local law enforcement are both very confident in their technical capabilities to investigate these types of crimes. From what he has gathered, many parents are

not aware of these types of dangers. But he said it is very important to be mindful of online activity.

Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess agrees. He told Newton News that keeping children safe is one of the police department’s top priorities. Officers are committed to tracking down and stopping those who try

Prosecutors note rise in adults using social media to try to groom, sexually exploit kids

to target children online, he said, but police cannot do it alone. Parents play a huge role, too.

“Know who your kids are talking to, set limits on screen time and, most importantly, keep those conversations open about what they’re doing online,” Burdess said. “The more involved you are, the safer your kids will be. Together, we can stop predators before they have a chance to hurt anyone.”

Offenders of these types of sex crimes are getting heavy sentences in some cases. In March, Francis Heim, 58, of Newton, was sentenced to 30 years. He pled guilty to

PREDATORS | 3

Jasper County calls off letters on cost-share interest on feasibility study

By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune

Supervisors received negative feedback from neighbors living on Iowa Street regarding their proposal to enter into a cost-share agreement for a feasibility study on the closed bridge over the North Skunk River. Letters were intended to be sent last week to gauge interest, but now it seems like that idea is scrapped.

Newton News reported on the board of supervisors considering the study last week before officials ever drafted the letter. Residents attended

Feedback from residents on Iowa Street showed the idea is out of the question STUDY | 3

the Oct. 28 board meeting and told supervisors they were offended the county would even consider asking them to pay for the approximately $15,000 study.

Others were disappointed to learn about the idea from a newspaper article rather than the supervisors themselves. The idea was brought up during the Oct. 21 work session, and the subsequent story caused a mild uproar online. Supervisors said they were just trying to do everything they could for the neighbors.

Jasper County Master Gardeners host beekeeping basics class

The Jasper County Master Gardeners invite community members to attend a free beekeeping basics class from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3 at the Jasper County Extension Office classroom, 550 N. Second Ave. W. in Newton.

Led by local beekeeper Catherine Schut, this introductory session is designed for new and aspiring beekeepers. Participants will explore essential topics including hive structure, bee behavior,

seasonal care, equipment needs and pollinator health. The class will also highlight how beekeeping supports home gardens and strengthens local ecosystems. Thanks to sponsorship by the Jasper County Master Gardeners, there is no cost to attend. However, pre-registration is required. To register, call 641-792-6433 or email campc@iastate.edu.

Iowa Wildlife Federation supports effort to improve gray fox conservation

Once common across Iowa’s forests and farmsteads, the gray fox has become one of the state’s rarest mammals. Through the ongoing Iowa Gray Fox Project, conservation partners are working to learn more about this elusive species and the challenges it faces in Iowa’s changing landscape.

The Iowa Wildlife Federation supports this effort through outreach and education that connect Iowans to native wildlife and conservation science. To date, three gray foxes have been successfully collared as part of the study, providing critical data about habitat use, movement, and survival.

To raise awareness and support for this important work, the Iowa Wildlife Federation has partnered with Raygun on a limited-edition Gray Fox T-shirt, available through November.

A portion of proceeds supports statewide conservation education programs that highlight Iowa’s native wildlife, including the Certified Wildlife Habitat initiative, School of the Wild, and species-focused outreach like the gray fox.

The Iowa Wildlife Federation is committed to promoting sound science, field research, and community involvement to protect

The organization is a proud state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation, working together to inspire the next generation of conservationists and protect wildlife across the country. For more information or to get involved, visit iawildlife.org or purchase the shirt at https://www.raygunsite.com/products/grayfox-heavyweight.

Alzheimer’s Association honors Iowa caregivers with

new dementia care resources to support local

During National Family Caregivers and National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month in November, the Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter is joining communities across the country in honoring the nearly 12 million Americans who provide unpaid care for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

Lori Phillips of Madrid knows firsthand how challenging it is to care for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. She moved her mother back to Iowa from Arizona and into a local memory care facility over two years ago after her father passed away. Phillips visits her mother several times every week to spend time with her and help with her care, including showering, dressing and eating. She learned helpful tips from the Alzheimer’s Association to help her interact and care for her mother, and now she helps other caregivers as an Alzheimer’s Association support group facilitator.

Phillips’ monthly virtual support group is just one of over 60 support groups across the state of Iowa that pro -

vide resources and support to spouses, children, friends and family of loved ones living with dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter also hosts education programs in person and virtually across the state to help families affected by the disease understand more about Alzheimer’s, how to care for someone with the disease and care for themselves as a caregiver.

This year, the Alzheimer’s Association has launched several new and expanded resources to help families navigate the challenges of dementia at every stage.

• Transitions in Care, a new online education program that helps families navigate the decision to transition a person living with dementia into long-term care.

• The Empowered Caregiver, an evidenced-based education program designed for middle- and late-stage caregivers to build skills, manage stress and find community.

• My ALZ Journey, a free, personalized digital tool that helps people newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other dementias — and their care partners

— access tailored information and local support.

Currently, there are 80,000 caregivers in Iowa providing care to over 62,000 individuals over the age of 65 living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Association provides

local support and programs to families facing this devastating disease, including a 24-7 Helpline staffed by master’s level clinicians and specialists who are available 365 days a year and can help families navigate a variety of disease-related issues. Call 800-272-3900.

Fall composting tips for gardeners from ISU

Gardeners are encouraged to compost leaves this fall to improve soil health. With plenty of leaves, grass clippings and garden debris available, residents can create compost piles that benefit the environment, recycle yard waste and nourish their gardens.

“Composting is a natural process that turns organic material into a dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling material called humus,” said Aaron Steil, consumer horticulture specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “It is an excellent soil amendment that improves soil structure, increases water-holding capacity and provides nutrients.” Building and maintaining

a compost pile

Effective composting requires a balance of carbon-rich “browns” (such as dried leaves and straw) and nitrogen-rich “greens” (like vegetable scraps and fresh grass clippings). The ideal carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is about 30:1. Steil recommends piles be at least three feet tall and wide to retain heat and should be turned regularly to maintain airflow and moisture.

“A three-bin system can work well with one bin used to stockpile materials until there is enough material to begin a composting batch,” said Steil. “The second bin is used for active composting and the third is used for the finished material

to be stored until it can be used.”

Decomposition will still occur when the ratio of carbon to nitrogen is not perfect, but at a slower rate. “Compost created from fall materials, like fallen leaves and dead plant debris, is high in carbon and low in nitrogen. This means that special attention needs to be given to provide more of those green materials to create compost efficiently,” Steil noted. To accelerate the decomposition rate, gardeners can shred materials to increase the surface area for microorganisms to feed upon. Adding a small amount of nitrogen-rich fertilizer can also help. Regularly turning the compost helps

introduces oxygen, keeping microbes healthy and growing. If the pile is dry, Steil advises adding water until it feels like a “wrungout sponge.”

Steil recommends avoiding the use of meat, dairy products, pet waste, weed seeds and diseased plants in compost to prevent pests, pathogens and weeds. While heat is generated during the composting process, temperatures need to reach 150 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit to kill most pathogens and weed seeds, and most home compost piles do

not reach this high a temperature.

“If a gardener does a great job of balancing the right ratio of browns and greens and provides the right amount of moisture while turning frequently, the pile will be warmer,” Steil said. “But even with the best of conditions, the pile may not be hot enough for long enough, so it’s best to avoid seeds and diseased plants.”

Using finished compost

After several months, compost should resemble rich, dark soil with an earthy aroma. This fin-

ished product can be used to top-dress lawns, mulch around trees or improve garden beds for spring planting. While compost can introduce some fertility to soil, its real benefit is introducing organic matter. Compost’s ability to improve soil structure and water-holding capacity improves aeration, supports the beneficial soil microbe population and helps the soil better hold and release essential plant nutrients. “This is why we sometimes call compost black gold!” Steil mentioned.

How I’m doing

Last week I wrote about it being my 36-year anniversary for being clean and sober. And on that day, which was Monday, Nov. 3, I was also having a brain MRI and full-body CT scan at Iowa City. As you know, I’m recovering from cancer. Well, the response I received from well wishers, both known and unknown, was just overwhelming. I’m humbled, and so impressed by the number of people who are willing to reach out with prayers and well wishes. There’s nothing wrong with this world when we are willing to help, encourage and pray for each other.

Here’s the results of that MRI and CT scan—I’M CANCER FREE! YIPPEE! Just hearing the good news made me feel better. It was such good news to receive on my 36-year sobriety anniversary! Everything is going to be just fine.

This was on Monday. On Tuesday, I went to work as usual. I’m an insurance agent and this is the Annual Enrollment

Period (AEP). At a client’s house I was bitten on my left hand by the client’s dog. I didn’t think too much of it, and the client was awfully sorry and embarrassed about her dog’s behavior.

The next day my hand swelled up like a cow’s udder, so I was forced to go to Quick Care. Of course the dog bite had to be reported to make sure the dog’s vaccinations were up to date. I felt worse for the client than I did about my hand. I was given an antibiotic and ointment that seems to be taking the swelling down.

But the fireworks weren’t over. I’ve talked about our dog, Buddy’s Cone of Shame before. He licks his paws to the point where they bleed so we have to keep the Cone of Shame on him. Poor

Buddy. He can’t even scratch his ears. Well, anyway, I turned Buddy loose in his pen the other night to do his duty before bedtime. There happened to be a rabbit in his pen, and Buddy, with cone on, took after it like a rocket. It looked so funny that cone bouncing across the yard. But, he caught the rabbit! I couldn’t believe it. With cone on!

I let Buddy have his reward for awhile, before I took the rabbit away. Buddy was so excited and proud of himself. He now sits at the kitchen door begging to be let out. Imagine that.

To combat the disruption to my digestive system caused by the cancer immunotherapy (it gave me colitis), I’ve taken to drinking mint tea for breakfast along with dry toast. For lunch, I discovered Arby’s Steak Nuggets. They’re great— cubes of lean meat that are so satisfying. I don’t use any of the sauces offered, and just enjoy the smoked meat flavor. For supper I’m free to enjoy Ginnie’s home cook’n. This change to my diet—mint tea

with plain toast for breakfast, and Steak Nuggets for lunch, has mellowed out my digestive system and given me increased energy. It’s also freed Ginnie up in the morning. Since she doesn’t have to fix me breakfast, she can get her steps in on the treadmill.

I said all that to say this: I’m cancer free, was bit by a dog, Buddy caught a rabbit with his Cone of Shame on, and I’ve changed my diet. If you can make any sense out of all that, you’re doing better than me. It’s a crazy, mixed up world, like confetti falling from skyscrapers on a New Year’s Day Parade. We have to go with the flow and put everything in God’s hands. Good things are all around us. We need to look at the bright side.

As the title of a book by Richard Carlson says, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff... and it’s all small stuff.”

The best days are ahead for Ginnie and me.

Contact Curt Swarm at curtswarm@yahoo.com

Our covetous wouldbe-king desires to live in a 16th-century palace, which explains why his unnecessary dance hall/ballroom so resembles the St. Petersburg Palace’s Throne Room.

His adoration of gaudy kitsch, of ‘gold’ bric-a-brac, ‘gold’-sprayed frames, ostentatious ormolu, have made the Oval Office and Reception room pretentious and tastelessly ornate. Only he would pave over the Rose Garden, thinking a cement lot with tables & “gold” umbrellas is an improvement. Unfortunately, the would-be-king is delusional and oblivious to how his lack of taste is seen by a world of cultured people.

We cannot forget the cost of demolishing the classic East Wing and its venerable trees. Is that included in the rapidly-increasingly $300 million price tag of the grandiose, baroque, ostentatious palace dance-hall -built for the occasional wealthy donors’ dinner? Its 90000 sq ft. is more than 5 times larger than the ballroom at Mar-a-Lago. We-The-People definitely do not want or need it, and we won’t be invited there! We also know the would-be-king is a pathological liar, so don’t believe him when he tells us that we taxpayers won’t eventually foot-the-bill for this.

The would-be-king rails about waste, fraud and abuse, yet the would-be-king promises $40 billion to bail-out Argentina. And he extends tax breaks to America’s ultra-wealthy totaling $4 trillion. Neither should we forget that we taxpayers are also forking over nearly $1 billion to refurbish his Flying Bordello plane from Qatar. Have we come to this? “Il Duce ha sempre ragione:” “The Leader is always right.” (Mussolini, fascist)

Susie Petra Ames

SHARE YOUR VIEW

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

As a follow-up on our household debt discussion, it would be worthwhile to take a look at SNAP officially known as “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.” The article to which I refer indicates that 42,000,000 Americans use SNAP to provide food for themselves and their families and is now unfunded due to the government shutdown.

The same article refers to the United States as the richest of nations. There seems to be a disconnect here somewhere. If household debt is 18,400,000,000,000 and 42,000,000 Americans are relying on government assistance for food, how does it translate into being rich? Just saying!

We are told we are rich; we are the greatest, wealthiest, most prosperous nation ever seen. We all believe this because the statements confirming this are

OPINION

Did you vote?

Well, another local city and school board election has come and gone and the results are in. Congratulations to all those who were elected, but since they all ran unopposed, it would have been really something had any of them actually not “won” their race.

A fun fact for me is that turnout for this election was a measly 13.4 percent, or just 3376 ballots cast out of 25,193 registered voters. Now, I know that the folks who run these things will tell you that these types of elections generally have low turnout, but is that something we should just accept with a yawn and shrug of the shoulders? I guess

continuous and have been given us our entire lives. At the same time we spend almost a trillion borrowed dollars in the defense budget — you know, building another aircraft carrier that can get blown out of the water by any sort of missile at any time. We have to be rich, don’t we, if we are the greatest and have the most aircraft carriers? But what about food? Now don’t call me unduly pessimistic or of simply trying to ruin your day, but once in a while we ought to look around and make an effort to comprehend our world and what it means for us and our descendents. It just might be that things are not what others say they are and the people in charge are not who we think they are.

Maybe we should pay attention once in a while! Maybe we should ask a question once in a while! I do pose one possibility, and it does often seem more than a possibility, that our elected representatives really don’t represent the people who elect them, they represent the people who give them money. This seems to be the case here in Iowa: our

we have to.

I suppose the good news is that such a low voter turnout must mean Newton is pretty much as darn near close to perfect as a city can possibly get. It must mean that Newton parents for the most part have no issues with our schools and are completely satisfied with the curriculum, the teachers, the staff, and their kids’ school experiences in general. Why bother to vote if you have no issues with our schools?

13.4 percent turnout also assumes most folks here have no real issues with our city leaders and that they are doing their jobs exactly as we expect. It assumes our taxes are just right and most folks here don’t mind at all the taxes they are paying and what they are used for. It assumes folks here are content with our infrastructure

national representatives appear to represent Trump, not us, and our state representatives appear to represent Reynolds, not us. When our elected representatives come back home for the purpose of justifying what they have done rather than asking us what they can do to make our lives a little better, it should be clear who they are actually representing — not us.

I’m not saying that this matter of representation is the reason that we have $18,400,000,000,000 in household debt and 42,000,000 receiving food stamps, but it is certainly something that should be considered and be given some thought to. It wouldn’t seem to me that we, as a nation, are particularly rich. There are certainly many people here that are rich and there are many who have an income that qualifies them in the minds of many as being rich, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we are a rich nation. The facts seem to be contrary.

Richard

E. H. Phelps II Mingo

like roads and sewers. It assumes that business here is booming, that folks are getting by just fine, we are very safe here with no crime to speak of, that folks here are as content as they can be with the way things are run. That’s great news! I mean, that’s the goal, isn’t it?

Bottom line is, 86.6 percent of those who live here and are registered to vote just didn’t have many real worries or complaints about anything to do with our city government or our schools, and have no real problems going on in their lives that need to be addressed, so they decided they might as well sit this one out. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Right?

Tips to catch up on retirement savings

Financial firms and other organizations routinely conduct surveys in the hopes of gaining insight into adults’ habits regarding retirement savings. Such surveys rarely paint a rosy picture and typically indicate many working adults are concerned that they aren’t saving nearly enough to retire comfortably, if at all.

A recent survey from AARP is among the latest examples to indicate the fear some have regarding a potential savings shortfall during retirement. That survey, released in April 2024, found that 20 percent of adults age 50 and over have no retirement savings, while roughly three in five fear they will not have enough money to keep them afloat once they call it a career.

Saving for retirement is vital to long-term financial health and can ensure retired adults have enough money to meet both their needs and wants. Insufficient retirement savings can compromise retirees’ ability to pay medical expenses and make it hard for them to realize dreams often associated with retirement, such as travel and additional leisure activities. The good news about saving for retirement is there are many ways for those who have fallen behind to catch up.

• Find ways to cut back on spending. One of the more direct yet still challenging ways to begin catching up on retirement savings is to cut back on spending in other areas so funds can be redirected to retirement accounts and additional investments. Start by documenting daily, weekly and monthly expenses in a spending journal. After enough data on spending has been documented, examine your spending habits to identify areas where cutbacks can be made so funds can be redirected to retirement contributions. Dining out, entertainment, streaming subscriptions, and travel expenditures may stand out as superfluous

luxuries that can be trimmed in the hopes of saving more for retirement.

• Take advantage of alternative income streams. Another direct way to begin saving more for retirement is to begin earning more. That’s easier said than done, but it’s not necessarily impossible to find a side hustle to generate sufficient funds for retirement. Earnings from a second job like a freelancing gig can be set aside exclusively for retirement contributions.

• Contribute the maximum to retirement investment vehicles. Retirement investment vehicles like an individual retirement account (IRA) have annual contribution limits, and those trying to catch up on retirement savings are urged to contribute the maximum allowable amount under the law. Certified financial planners can help adults navigate these waters, as some people may be eligible to contribute an extra $1,000 per year. Adults also can increase their contributions to employer-sponsored retirement

plans like a 401(k). One of the notable benefits to increasing 401(k) contributions is the funds are withdrawn prior to taxes, meaning a 2 to 3 percent contribution increase won’t have a dramatic effect on workers’ take-home pay.

• Downsize and redirect funds into retirement investment vehicles. Downsizing a home can be a great way for empty nesters to save money, but there are additional ways to downsize. Adults paying for more streaming subscriptions than they can name can trim the fat by canceling little-used services and redirecting monthly fees into retirement investment vehicles. Adults can downsize their social lives, resolving to dine in more often and even host less frequently or shift toward styles of hosting like potluck affairs that encourage hosts and guests to share the costs of throwing a get-together.

These are just some of the unique ways working adults can catch up with their retirement savings.

— Metro Creative

Mastering Black Friday shopping

Black Friday is one of the busiest and most profitable shopping days of the entire year. According to DemandSage and National Public Radio, American consumers spent a record $10.8 billion on online Black Friday shopping in 2024. Around $61 billion in total sales (both online and in-person) were made over the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend. Consumers can land great deals on the day after Thanksgiving, which means individuals who hone their Black Friday shopping skills can reap considerable rewards. The following tips can help shoppers master Black Friday.

• Set a budget. Even though Black Friday may feature some hard-to-beat deals, it’s wise to determine how much you can afford to spend before you begin shopping. Shopping beyond your means, even if the prices are low, can exact a financial toll.

• Make a list of recipients. Make a list of the people for whom you will be shopping and some ideas of what to give each individual. This will enable you to look out for particular deals on these items.

• Compare prices ahead of time. It’s important to know how much items cost across different retailers before Black Friday arrives to understand their true value. This will enable you to determine if a Black Friday sale really is a bargain or if it’s possible to get a better price at a different time. Smartphone apps like BuyVia, Shopkick and Shopular let you scan barcodes to compare prices and more.

• Shop online early. NPR says there has been a shift from traditional in-store shopping to online platforms for Black Friday. Many deals now begin on Thanksgiving or even earlier and fall under the Black Friday promotion. Start shopping at home to avoid large crowds and secure limited time deals. In recent years, many retailers have offered more of the same promotions online as they do in stores.

• Be wary of sneaky sales tactics. Some stores will offer “doorbuster” exclusions that highlight slashed prices and utilize marketing tactics like countdown timers to encourage shoppers to purchase items without doing their research. This is when knowing the true value of items can help you spot a deal or inflated prices that were then marked down.

• Limit your stores. If you choose to shop in person on Black Friday, start early in the day and don’t run yourself ragged. If you’re tired, you may not make the best decisions and could end up spending more than your budget allows.

Shopping smart on Black Friday comes down to employing some savvy financial strategies.

Iowa Learning Farms virtual field day scheduled for Dec. 4

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, will host a virtual field day at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4. The event, which is available at no cost, will feature a live discussion with Mike Castellano, William T. Frankenberger Professor of soil science at Iowa State University.

Growing evidence indicates that the amount of both corn and soybean residue affects the optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate for the following corn crop. Higher levels of residue lead to higher optimum nitrogen fertilizer rates; however, recommended nitrogen fertilizer rates do not consider the amount of residue from the previous crop. The virtual field day will highlight this innovative research

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

project, which examines adjusting optimum nitrogen fertilizer rates based on the amount of corn and soybean residue produced in the previous year’s crop to improve water quality outcomes.

“The current solution for crop residue management is often intensive tillage in the fall or even in the spring. We believe an alternative to tillage for crop residue management can be partial residue harvest,” said Castellano. “Pairing residue harvest with no-tillage or cover crops would benefit soil health. One of the things that we’re interested in testing at this field is whether and how partial residue harvest improves water quality outcomes.”

Any person interested in crop residue

management is welcome to attend the virtual field day. Participants are also encouraged to bring any questions they would like to ask.

To participate in the live virtual field day, visit Iowa Learning Farms Field Days - Exploring the Impacts of Residue Management on Crop Yield and Fertilizer Inputs or join from a dial-in phone line (Dial 646-876-9923 or 646-9313860; meeting ID 914 1198 4892). The field day will be recorded and archived on the ILF Virtual Field Day Archive for future viewing.

Participants may be eligible for a Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit. Information about how to apply for and receive the CEU will be provided at the end of the event.

Church Schedules

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

SUNDAY, Nov. 23 - 9 a.m. Fellowship; 9:15 a.m. Bible Education Classes; 10:25 a.m. Communion Sunday - Message by Pastor Cody Dyer; 5 p.m. “The Well” Youth Group

MONDAY, Nov. 24 - 6:30 p.m. Men’s Group

TUESDAY, Nov. 25 - 9:30 a.m.

Women’s Prayers & Coffee; 6:30 p.m. Gospel of John Bible Study

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26 - 9 a.m. Busy Bee Quilters and Fresh Encounter Prayer; NO. AWANA, Thanksgiving break

FRIDAY, Nov. 21 - 7 p.m. Life

The church schedule is brought to you by Coburn FUNERAL HOMES

Colfax-Prairie City-Monroe 515-674-3155 www.coburnfuneralhomes.com

Recovery Meeting

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 Rev. William Reynolds

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

WORD

Pair of 50s lead Baxter’s Russell to second consecutive state diving championship

By

IOWA CITY — For the second straight season, Baxter senior Camryn Russell needed a big score to secure a state championship.

The Northern Iowa commit who dives for Grinnell/BGM/Baxter used one of her toughest dives to grab an early lead, and then put her second consecutive 1-meter diving state title on ice with her best score of the night on her most challenging dive during the Iowa High School State Diving Championships on Nov. 13.

“Those two dives were important for me to do well,” Russell said. “My inward 1 1/2 was rough during warm-ups, but I knew I needed to do it well if I wanted to get ahead early because the other girls had good dives the first two rounds.”

Russell scored 465.5 points to win the state title at the University of Iowa Recreation and Wellness Center. She was 16.75 points clear of Southeast Polk’s Holli Hetzer and 18 points in front of Southeast Polk’s Emory Braunschweig.

Russell was in third place after the first round of dives for the second straight season but took over the lead with a 50.4 on her second attempt.

She led the entire way from there and secured the championship with a 52 on a forward 1 1/2 somersault 2 twist free dive that had a 2.6 difficulty score.

“My last dive scoring high was important because I knew if I could get around 45 points I would win so it was nice to get over 50 and not have to stress the last round,” Russell said. “I had some dives I know I could have done better than I did, but I knew if I could at least do all of my dives pretty well I could still win.”

The 50.4 came on an inward 1 1/2 somersault pike that had a 2.4 difficulty score.

Her next best diving scores were 47.3, 46.8 and 46.25 that she posted in succession right before the first cutoff to 20 divers. All three of those dives had a difficulty score of at least 2.2.

Russell is the third diver in four seasons to win a state title from the Grinnell/BGM/Baxter program.

All three championship runs came under the direction of diving coach Deidre Freeman Huff, a Grinnell alum who dove collegiately at Iowa and was part of the U.S. National team from 2012-15.

“Camryn’s first 50-point dive put her well in the lead after round two,” Freeman Huff said. “She really needed that because she wasn’t as sharp as she normally is through some of her other dives. I think she was nervous. There’s a lot of pressure to defend a state title, especially after having two seasons where she also went undefeated.

Russell led the Southeast Polk duo by more than 20 points after the first cutoff.

The advantage dropped to fewer than 16 over Hetzer at the second cutoff to 16 divers. She held at least a 10-point lead after her second dive.

Freeman Huff and Russell both said the diving list did not change during Russell’s two-year championship and undefeated run.

She made a slight change to her second dive — upgraded from a tuck to a pike — to improve the difficulty score, but the order is mostly what the Baxter senior is comfortable with.

“Some divers want to make the second cut so their last three dives are not as strong as those in the beginning of their list,” Freeman Huff said. “(Russell) was never in

that position because her dives are strong throughout her list.”

Hetzer, who finished third last year, was the runner-up to Russell with 448.75 points. Braunschweig placed third with 447.5, Bailey Mahoney of Waukee took fourth with 427.95 and Grinnell/BGM/Baxter’s Norah Nicol came in fifth with 413.3.

Waukee went 4-7-8-11 in the final standings. Russell needed a 488.25 to win last year’s state title.

Russell admitted to being more nervous than last year at the start of the meet. But it didn’t take long for her to get comfortable. And a lot of that starts and ends with Freeman Huff.

“(Freeman Huff) has been super important for me in diving because she knows so much about diving and how to prepare for big meets like state,” Russell said. “The whole week leading up to it we did a lot of preparation for competing under pressure, which I think helped me a lot when I had scarier dives.

“When I felt stressed or had mental blocks in the weeks leading up to state, she helped me work through them and gave me a lot of confidence in myself that I don’t think I would’ve had without her.”

Russell will join former Grinnell/ BGM/Baxter diver and former state champion Trista Thompson at UNI.

The next challenge for Russell will come on a 3-meter diving board.

“(Russell) has been one of the easiest divers to coach because she’s so coachable and has a lot of innate skill and talent,” Freeman Huff said. “She has a gymnastics background so a lot of her skills transferred easily to diving.

“When she began diving, I was amazed at how easily a lot of the skills and new dives came to her. It also helped that she had (Thompson) as her teammate her first year. It’s exciting to see her moving on to dive in college. I think she’s going to improve even more, and I’m excited to see what she can do on 3-meter.”

Helpful Thanksgiving weekend travel tips

These

tips can make Thanksgiving travel go more smoothly

Thanksgiving is consistently one of the busiest travel holidays of the year. In fact, AAA indicates that, in the United States, it may be the most traveled of all the holidays, with record numbers of both drivers and air travelers. In 2024, nearly 80 million Americans were expected to travel over Thanksgiving weekend. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is a particularly busy day on the roads, but high volumes continue throughout the weekend.

A high demand for travel during this time of year means individuals wanting to see friends or family for Thanksgiving should plan accordingly. These tips, courtesy of AAA and the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), can make Thanksgiving travel go more smoothly.

• Book flights early. If you are able, secure flights early in the day and use personal time off from work to fly in to a destination at the beginning of the week. The propensity for flights to be delayed or canceled increases as the day and week goes on. An early departure may increase the chances of a flight leaving on time. Also, the TSA reports that the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, as well as the Sunday after, are the busiest days for Thanksgiving air travel. Choosing an alternative day to fly may mean smaller crowds and less stress.

• Consider TSA PreCheck®. TSA PreCheck is a paid program that enables you to get through security lines faster. Interested parties must verify their identities through a third-party service that handles PreCheck applications, and await confirmation of approval. A TSA PreCheck membership lasts for five years. This membership offers consistent time savings at the airport with dedicated PreCheck lanes, and the benefit of keeping items like laptops and liquids in your bag.

• Consider traveling by train. If Amtrak services your destination, taking the train may be the least stressful way to travel over Thanksgiving. In addition to not having to navigate roadways or sit in traffic, you won’t face security screening like you will at the airport. Once on the train, there is Wi-Fi, nice views and efficient travel. Trips booked in advance are more affordable than book-

ing closer to the holiday.

• Pack light. Avoiding the baggage carousel can shave much time off of travel. Plus, there’s no risk of luggage getting diverted or not making it to your final destination. A carry-on bag is the way to go for ease, particularly if you must get on a different flight if the original one is delayed or canceled.

• Service your car. If road travel is planned for Thanksgiving, make sure your car is in good condition for a road trip. Be up-to-date on oil changes, make sure the tires are properly inflated and double-check your emergency preparedness kit prior to leaving. It also may be a good idea to invest in AAA benefits, which afford extra peace of mind in the event of a breakdown as well as savings on travel-related expenses, such as lodging.

• Pack your patience. In addition to your holiday essentials, it is wise to also pack some patience this Thanksgiving travel season. Leave extra time so you’re not racing to your destination and can calmly contend with peo -