THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2024 • VOLUME N0. 123 • ISSUE NO. 44 • 1 SECTION • 8 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
RED, WHITE AND A BLAST IN BAXTER Annual Baxter Fun Days brings crowds out to celebrate the community
Jasper County says alleged embezzled money was collected from permit fees Newton woman is accused of writing herself checks over the course of 11 months By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Jasper County officials say the money allegedly misused by a former community development employee — who has been arrested and charged with theft and 11 counts of forgery — was not county property tax dollars. The employee has been accused of misusing more than $17,000 collected from permit fees. In a notice posted by the county on its Facebook page on July 10, the day 31-year-old Shelby Hobbs was taken into custody, it was stated human resources, the county attorney and the sheriff ’s office were immediately notified of the alleged misuse, which would be considered embezzlement. “The board of supervisors, county auditor and county treasurer immediately looked into how this situation could have happened and immediately changed Jasper County’s policies and procedures to help ensure it does not happen EMBEZZLEMENT | 3
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune
Special election results in for Baxter City Council seats Council composition to change following election results By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune With a 30 percent voter turnout, the citizens of Baxter have seemingly elected two city council members. Dalton Kinzel and Joel Schabilion earned the most votes in the special election held July 9.
According to unofficial results from the Jasper County Auditor’s Office, out of the 229 ballots cast with each voter selecting two of the candidates, Kinzel was the top vote at 188 votes or 43.42 percent. Schabilion came in next at 154 votes or 35.57 percent. The third candidate, Michael Churchill,
received 87 votes or 20.09 percent. Kinzel will remain in the seat he has filled since being appointed in January. Schabilion will take over the council seat from Churchill who was appointed in May. The seat was vacated at that time SPECIAL ELECTION | 3
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune Following a special election July 9, Dalton Kinzel and Joel Schabiliion will fill available city council seats for the City of Baxter.
Jasper County Fair awarded $700K grant for youth learning center Geisler-Penquite Foundation gives fair a space to hold more educational opportunities and events By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Jasper County Fairgrounds has been awarded a generous $700,000 grant from the Geisler-Penquite Foundation to go towards the construction of a new youth learning center, which will host fair projects and other educational opportunities and events throughout the year when fully completed. According to the press release announcing the grant acquisition, the funds are the result of a partnership between the Geisler-Penquite Foundation and the Jasper County Agricultural Society, which is the entity that owns GRANT | 3
Shaw Media est. 1851
est. 1851
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune Jasper County Fair was awarded a $700,000 grant from the Geisler-Penquite Foundation, which will go towards the construction of a new youth learning center.
CONTACT US
Newsroom: 641-792-3121, ext. 7 • Advertising: 641-792-3121, ext. 2 Subscriptions/Delivery: 641-792-5320 • Billing: 641-792-3121, ext. 6
est. 1851