THURSDAY, FEB. 22, 2024 • VOLUME N0. 129 • ISSUE NO. 23 • 1 SECTION • 10 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
SOUPS ON
Colfax Fire Department’s Annual Soup Supper March 2
Baxter’s police chief, city clerk and EMS director resign Small town loses half of its non-elected public employees in 2-week period By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune The Colfax Fire Department Annual Soup Supper starts at 5 p.m. March 2 at the fire station.
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune Some “pretty good soup” will once again be served at the 31st annual Colfax Fire Department Soup Supper.
The pots will be full of the crowd favorite during the fundraiser starting 5 p.m. March 2 at the fire department, 113 W. State St. “While we’ve never got a James Beard Award or been
on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, many people say it’s pretty good soup,” Dennis Lester with the CFD said. “In serving for 30 years, we’ve
Sgt. Tracy Cross announces campaign for Jasper County sheriff Sheriff’s race now has at least two confirmed candidates vying for top spot By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Sgt. Tracy Cross of the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office announced this past week on Facebook that he will be running for sheriff. Current sheriff John Halferty has indicated this will be his last year holding the elected office, and he is likely to retire from law enforcement. When Cross announced Cross his campaign, he said the sheriff ’s office has a long, rich history of strong leaders who have paved the way for those who are called into leadership.
If elected as the next sheriff, Cross said he will honor those who led before him by upholding the integrity, honor and service pillars through serving and protecting communities, while also investing in the people serving and volunteering beside him. Faith plays a large part in Cross’s life and he often devotes time and effort to this church. But Cross told Newton News in a phone interview that he felt led to do something more for his community. He enjoys his job at the sheriff ’s office and working with both paid and volunteer agencies. “I found that I like being out there in the community, and I CROSS | 3
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In the past two weeks, three city employees in Baxter submitted resignations, leaving the mayor and council to pick up the pieces and fill vacant positions. Baxter City Council held a special meeting Feb. 16 to approve the resignations of police chief Bill Daggett and city clerk Katie Wilson, who have both asked to be released from their 30-day clause. The EMS director, Randi Gliem, voluntarily resigned from her position on Feb. 5, according to minutes from past meetings.
Newton News contacted Baxter Mayor Doug Bishop and asked if these recent resignations had anything to do with House File 718, a property tax relief law that he said could have major ramifications to city budget this year and the years to come. Bishop lobbed criticisms directly to lawmakers in January. However, it does not seem as if the law is directly responsible for the resignations of Daggett and Wilson. Bishop said council has considered restructuring the benefit packages and issued a wage freeze BAXTER | 3
Jasper County GOP chair announces campaign for supervisor Thad Nearmyer wants to improve relationships between county and cities By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Thad Nearmyer has spent the past eight years helping Republican candidates get elected, but now the shoe is on the other foot, and he is running his own campaign for county supervisor. The chairman of the Jasper County Republican Party announced Feb. 12 he will be running for Denny Stevenson’s seat. Nearmyer said in a press release that, as a rural citizen of Jasper County, he is very familiar with the challenges of maintaining gravel roads. He said the cur-
rent board of supervisors has worked closely with the county engineer to devise a plan to upgrade the roads, and he believes they have done a good job. “It’s a work in progress and always will be. I will strive to see that Nearmyer this improvement continues,” he said, later noting he would prioritize roads and ensure public safety is properly funded. If elected county supervisor, Nearmyer said he will also work hard to keep property taxes in check. He complimented the current board’s efforts when it comes to lower property taxes these past few years. His goal is to continue that
work and make sure taxpayers are “getting the best bang for their buck.” Another goal Nearmyer has as supervisor is to improve Jasper County’s working relationship with city governments throughout the county to ensure future growth. “To be clear, I am not saying the county should open up the checkbook,” Nearmyer said. “I’m saying that we share similar goals to make our county a great place to live, raise families and retire in; a place to be proud of and where people want to come to live and work.” Nearmyer said he will bring the work ethic he learned on the farm to the courthouse, along with his interpersonal skills and collaborative abilities he cultivated while working seven NEARMYER | 3
County supervisors break tradition and approve an almost $5K raise for themselves Talsma reasoned the county needs to keep salary attractive enough for future candidates By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Over the years Jasper County supervisors have prided themselves for not taking a salary increase despite recommendations from the compensation board, but this past month elected officials broke tradition and not only approved a raise for themselves but also gave the chairman a $2,500 stipend. Jasper County Compensation Board recommended the supervisors receive a $7,980 raise, bumping their annual salaries from $42,020 to an even $50,000. In the past few years, the supervisors have not thought twice about rejecting the compensation board’s recommendation for their salaries.
However, supervisor Brandon Talsma reasoned that although he did not like the idea of a raise he also wanted to incentivize individuals to run for a seat on the board. To him, he always had a sense of pride saying the Jasper County Board of Supervisors hasn’t taken a raise in X-amount of years. “We’re nearing the point where if we don’t Talsma keep it at an attractive enough of a salary we’re going to have a harder and harder time finding quality individuals who are willing to take time out of their personal lives, their family lives,
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their hobbies to run for this job,” Tals- Still, Talsma agonized over the idea of ma said. giving supervisors a pay raise, but he Supervisor Denny Stevenson said felt it was worth it to have the converyears ago, when he was first on the sation now. board, the stipend was taken away “Denny, you’re on the (Kellogg) City for the chairman. Looking back, Ste- Council, how hard is it to find somevenson said that was a mistake and body who is wanting to sacrifice their he would like to see it come back. time to run for city council?” Talsma The board chair “does way more extra asked. work” than the $2,500 will cover, but Stevenson shook his head. “It’s terit will help, he said. rible,” he said. As the current board chair, Talsma While the supervisors would go on didn’t comment. Supervisor Doug Cup- to approve the salary increase, they Shaw Media ples agreed with Stevenson, leading to a did not fully commit to the compensa2-0 vote to reinstate the stipend. tion board’s recommendation. Instead, Talsma abstained from the vote. they took a $4,980 increase instead of When it comes to supervisor sala- the proposed $7,980 increase, bringries, Cupples and Talsma argued Jas- ing their annual salaries to $47,000. per County’s wages were below that of The board approved the raise in a 3-0 nearby Marion and Marshal Counties. vote. est. 1851
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