THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024 • VOLUME N0. 129 • ISSUE NO. 25 • 1 SECTION • 8 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
Student A soup-erb supper representation
Colfax Fire Department once again sees lines out of the door for annual soup supper fundraiser
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune
Colfax-Mingo to add student school board representative for district meetings By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune Colfax-Mingo is adding a new representative to the school board. The first reading of an ordinance adding a student school board representative was approved by the board at its February meeting. “The board of education believes it is important to seek out and consider student ideas, viewpoints and opinions regarding the district’s educational program,” board documents said. “To provide student input, the board shall include a non-voting representative
from the student body.” The student will serve one term, must be either a junior or a senior and be a full-time high school student in the district. They will participate in an orientation of board responsibilities and procedures as determined by the superintendent and will have the ability to attend the IASB conference. At meetings, the student representative can participate in discussion but cannot vote. They are also responsible for communicating board decisions with the student body. C-M REPS | 3
Their time to shine
Colfax-Mingo Dance Team hosts annual showcase featuring state routines, solos and future Tigerhawk dancers
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune
about wage Discussion between Jasper County Conversations adjustments started but supervisors and union gets heated only after disagreements By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Efforts to kickstart wage conversations between the American Federation of State, County and Municipal (AFSCME) Local 2840 union representatives and the Jasper County Board of Supervisors this week were ultimately successful, but at the cost of back-and-forth arguments over past supposals. According to a letter drafted by the AFSCME, the union requested a meeting with the board of supervisors to discuss wage issues. Despite being in the middle of a
long-term collective bargaining agreement with Jasper County, the union stated there are uncontrollable circumstances causes wages to fall behind. “This has caused not only hardship to the employees but also the county when it comes to retaining and recruiting new employees,” the union said in the letter. “Jasper County has a long history of positive and open labor relations,” the union added, “and we wish to continue this tradition by having an open and honest dialogue to resolve the issues of recruitment, retention and to have wages more commensurate with the current climate both in and CONTACT US
outside of the county.” AFSCME claimed to have made concessions when contacted by the county in the past, and now the union members are asking for the same consideration. The union submitted a supposal — not a formal proposal — to try to engage Jasper County in the conversation but claimed it did not receive an official response. “It has not been uncommon in Shaw Media the past two years for an employer or an employee organization to request a supplemental wage package due to the unprecedented rise Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune in costs of living as well as the very AFSCME Local 2840 President Craig Keith, left, and AFSCME Union est. 1851
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Representative Adam Swihart speak to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors during its meeting Feb. 27 at the Jasper County Courthouse.
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