THURSDAY, DEC. 4, 2025 • VOLUME N0. 124 • ISSUE NO. 11 • 1 SECTION • 8 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
It’s the most wonderful time of the year Colfax Country Christmas heading to downtown Dec. 6
Baxter and Colfax-Mingo dance teams head to state competition Dec. 4 in Des Moines
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune
Submitted Photo Colfax Country Christmas starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 in downtown Colfax and features the tree lighting, Santa Claus and lots of fun activities for the whole family.
Grab a stocking cap, pull on a warm coat and head downtown for Colfax Country Christmas. Starting at 9 a.m. and running throughout the evening Saturday, Dec. 6, the best of the season will be on display for everyone to enjoy. “Businesses will be hosting open houses, there’ll be free horse drawn carriage rides, some businesses and organizations will be hosting family friendly activities and some will be open for holiday shopping and dining,” Colfax Main Street Director Stuart Patterson said. The day kicks off with the Jasper County Christmas Crawl. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. stop into the shops along downtown and see how they are decked out for the holidays. Take time to look at the unique CHRISTMAS | 3
Remodeled historic homes featured in Colfax Tour of Homes Visit the beautifully decorated homes Dec. 12 and 13 in Colfax
Submitted Photo Rebecca and Travis Pease’s house is one of four homes on the Colfax Holiday Tour of Homes Dec. 12 and 13 in Colfax.
By Stuart Patterson Special to the Jasper County Tribune A handful of Colfax area residents will be showing off their beautifully decorated homes for the Colfax Holiday Tour of Homes on Dec. 12 and 13. This year’s Tour of Homes features four recently remodeled historic homes in the Colfax area. The Colfax Holiday Tour of Homes is a fundraiser for the Colfax Main Street program and their volunteer revitalization efforts in historic Downtown Colfax. Three houses will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec.12 and
all four homes will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Visitors can travel through the homes in any order and carpooling is encouraged. Barry Brauch Open Saturday only 13792 Hwy F-48 W. Mitchellville This is a remodeled late-Victorian farmhouse built in 1901 on the outskirts of Colfax and Mitchellville which features a large barn built in the early 1900s. The owner, Barry Brauch, lavishly decorates his home with 33 Christmas trees, 16 wreaths, 16 nativities and around 1,000 Santas! It takes
him from September until Thanksgiving to decorate the whole house. Barry hosts fantastic private ticket dinners throughout the holiday season to showcase the wonderful decorations in his house. This house is open Saturday only and is a must see. Karla and Todd Jones 724 E. Division St. Colfax This Craftsman Style home was built by the Van Dusseldorp family in 1920. One hundred years later this home was reimagined by the Jones family and commissioned architects. The home was gutted and totally TOUR | 3
Leave it all on the floor
Submitted Photo The Baxter Dance Team will compete at the Iowa State Dance Team Association Championships Dec. 4 in Des Moines.
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune It’s time to shine for the Baxter and Colfax-Mingo dance teams. The Iowa State Dance Championship, which is celebrating 50 years of high school dance, kicks off Dec. 4 with the local teams hitting the floor through the day at the Casey’s Center and EMC Expo Center in Des Moines. The day starts with two soloists, one from each team, competing in the junior ballroom at the EMC Expo Center. Sydney Hibbs from Baxter will compete at 8:30 a.m. as a Class I solo finalist. Selma Metz from Colfax-Mingo will compete at 8:33 a.m. as a Class II solo finalist. Both dancers previously competed at State Solo Qualifying Oct. 24 and placed in the top 10 to move on to state finals. The Baxter Dance Team will take the floor first with their hip hop routine at 9:44 a.m. in the
Casey’s Center facing east. They move to the EMC Expo Center at 11:23 a.m. for pom and finish the night back in they Casey’s Center facing west at 7:33 p.m. for their contemporary routine. Colfax-Mingo first takes the floor at 10:25 a.m. for pom in the Casey’s Center facing west, returning to the same floor at 2:38 p.m. for The M.I.X. and finish the day competing lyrical at 4:30 p.m. at the EMC Expo Center. After every team has taken the floor, awards will take place letting the teams know how they stacked up. The Iowa State Dance Team Association, which was founded by Monroe native Kathy Enyart, is celebrating 50 years in 2026. From big poms and bigger hair to now more than 300 schools and more than 5,000 dancers, the organization has seen unprecedented growth and recognition as one of the preeminent competitions in the nation.
Submitted Photo The Colfax-Mingo Dance Team will compete with three dances at the ISDTA Championship along with Selma Metz competing as a soloist.
HOLIDAY WEEKEND SNOWSTORM
Jasper County and the rest of Iowa gets snowed in after an all-day winter storm By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune All of Iowa was affected by heavy snowstorms last weekend, including Newton and Jasper County. The snow started light on Friday evening, providing holiday events with a festive backdrop. But Saturday and Sunday snowfalls cloaked the region with its first real bout of winter weather, critically impacting travel.
National Weather Service forecasted heavy snowfall, with some areas of the state accumulating more than a foot. Travel would be difficult to impossible, they said, throughout the day and into the night. Wind gusts increased around the evening, which would only exacerbate and prolong travel impacts into Sunday. By around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jasper County Emergency Management Agency warned that CONTACT US
road conditions were continuing to deteriorate and would only get worse as the day went on. Towing was not recommended at that time. Travel was not advised. Jasper County EMA said it was best to stay home and stay safe. Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office initiated a tow ban later that evening, reminding people to pack an emergency travel kit if STORM | 3
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune Kolten Slycord and Devin St. John sled down a hill at Sunset Park on Sunday, Nov. 30 in Newton.
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