THURSDAY, AUG. 1, 2024 • VOLUME N0. 123 • ISSUE NO. 46 • 1 SECTION • 8 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
Help wanted for Baxter RVTV Baxter RVTV committee looking for donations to make the event unforgettable By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune WHO 13’s RVTV is headed to Baxter and the community is coming together to put on a great event. Committee members organizing the event are looking for a little help to make it the best stop the RVTV crew has seen. “Donations are needed to get both essential items and wish list items to make this event happen,” committee member Amanda Moorman said. “We welcome donations towards our want/need list or to our familyfriendly event in general.” Some of the items included on the lists are kybos, tents, trash services, inflatable rides, entertainment and
more. The committee is also looking for business sponsors and participants to help fill out the event and show what they have to offer.” “We would love to have the businesses join us on Main Street,” Moorman said. “Bring a pop-up tent, host your favorite game day activity/game and bring your own setup all while promoting your business.” RVTV, a traveling event held during the week leading up to the Iowa vs Iowa State football game, will be in Baxter on Sept. 5. Events are planned for 3:30 to 10:30 p.m. that day. “WHO Channel 13 chose to stop in Baxter this year for the first time in history,” Moorman said. “They RVTV | 3
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune WHO 13 Chief Meteorologist Ed Wilson talks with some students at the RVTV stop in Monroe in 2022. RVTV will be in Baxter on Sept. 5 for the 2024 CyHawk game.
Jasper County extends temporary law enforcement services for Baxter Town of almost 1,000 people has been without a police chief since February By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune It has been five months since the City of Baxter’s police chief resigned, which prompted city leaders to request temporary law enforcement services from the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office. During the July 23 county board of supervisors meeting, those services were extended until the end of the year. Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty presented the updated contract to the board of su-
pervisors. According to a draft of the contract included in the supervisors agenda, the sheriff ’s office agreed to provide law enforcement services for $3,000 per month. Halferty said the contract was agreeable to both parties. “However, because of my staffing levels, I cannot put a full-time deputy up there right now until we get additional staff hired,” Halferty said. “I talked with the mayor, Doug Bishop, and we verbally agreed through the month of July to continue the original
service contract.” Services will continue on with the updated contract on Aug. 1 and persist until Dec. 31. It is noted in the contract that services will not automatically renew, meaning that if the board wants to continue providing law enforcement services to Baxter it will need to be voted on in a public meeting. Either the City of Baxter or the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office can terminate the contract earlier by providing written notice prior to the first day
Reserve deputies to be compensated more for special events
of the month. The contract will then terminate at the end of the month following the notice. Halferty also requested one change be made to the contract. It was stated that the law enforcement coverage contract is a short-term solution with the City of Baxter until it could hire a new police chief within the next four months of the contract being signed. Halferty said by removing this clause it does not mean the city cannot change its mind and hire someone to fill that position.
Providing a full-time staff member from the county sheriff ’s office to cover all law enforcement services in Baxter is a possibility, but it is a costly solution. For instance, if someone were to cover the city for 40 hours a week, Halferty estimated it would cost about $150,000 per year. As stated in the contract, the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office would respond to and handle emergency and non-emergency calls for service, invesLAW ENFORCEMENT | 3
PATRIOTIC PARADE! Jasper County Fair celebrates parade in red, white and blue fashion in downtown Colfax
Supervisors increase minimum hourly rate from $25 per hour to $35 per hour By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune In order to keep pay for reserve deputies at the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office in line with other agencies, the board of supervisors on July 23 agreed to increase the minimum hourly rate for the primarily volunteer positions during
events. Sheriff John Halferty said the office has lost a number of its reserves but it is working to recruit more. “We’re going to add additional reserves and have them start going through the training process,” Halferty said to supervisors, noting it would likely RESERVES | 3 Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune Local law enforcement host a ceremony for National Police Week on May 16 outside the Jasper County Courthouse. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office requested the board of supervisors to increase the rate for reserve deputies during special events.
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Wait, is that a second Independence Day parade? Nope! It’s the Jasper County Fair Parade celebrating this year’s theme of Stars, Stripes and e s t . 22 1 8 5 1in downtown Colfax. Several floats feaCounty Fair Nights on July tured a red, white and blue color scheme, as well as other patriotic iconography. Paradegoers had reserved their seats in front of stores and homes hours beforehand to get a good spot to wave at passersby and catch some flying candy.
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