THURSDAY, AUG. 8, 2024 • VOLUME N0. 123 • ISSUE NO. 47 • 1 SECTION • 8 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
Closing the book By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune For almost 16 years, or 15.75 years to be exact, director Marie Van Beek has been working to make the Baxter Library its best. She is now getting ready her next adventure: retirement. With the library being one of the community-school partnerships, Van Beek has seen hundreds of kids come through her room and enjoyed each minute of it. “I think (my best memories are) mostly the kids. We did a lot of children’s programing and that was always really fun. I did story time for a long time and it was so exciting everywhere you went ‘Miss
Marie, Miss Marie!’ The little kids are so fun,” Van Beek said. “That has probably been one of the most fun things.” A fourth generation Baxter native, Van Beek graduated from Baxter High School before attending Iowa State University. She was a florist in town for 28 years working with her mother at Karen’s Plant Shop on Main Street. She had been on the library board for many years and served as a volunteer before taking over the head spot in 2008. While it was hard to narrow down the many projects and activities that took place at the library, Van Beek knew one that she was especially proud of.
“Another thing, when they put new carpet in we redesigned the library. We put it into children’s areas and made it more for coming to the library and staying,” Van Beek said. “It has worked really well, it’s really been successful. That was one of my favorite, biggest projects.” After a cancer scare in the last year, Van Beek decided it was time to take a step back from the library and start the next phase of her life. While she will miss the kids and another favorite activity — unpacking new books — she also exciting to have free time to come as go as she pleases. “I thought, it’s time,” Van Beek said. “My husband is retired and we
Baxter Librarian Marie Van Beek retiring after almost 16 years
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune Baxter Librarian Marie Van Beek enjoys her retirement party held Aug. 4 at Giese Park.
want to do some traveling. We’ve been doing more the past few years.”
Adding to downtown Colfax Colfax Main Street receives grant to place bike racks throughout downtown By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune Colfax Main Street is continuing its work to make downtown Colfax both functional and beautiful with new bike racks. The organization recently received a $4,000 grant from the Jasper Community Foundation to wrap up fundraising for
the project. “Earlier in the year, we fundraised $1,125 through Colfax Bingo and generous donations from community members to apply towards this project,” Colfax Main Street Director Stuart Patterson said. “This grant and previously raised funds will BIKE RACKS | 3
“Miss Marie” will be missed by young and old who have grown up at the
Baxter Library but she has left it a better place and ready for whatever is next.
Letter to VA commission condemns past comments Procedural issues cleared up but veterans demand apologies for Wilson
Submitted Photo Colfax Main Street members stand with the $4,000 check presented by Jasper Community Foundation to be used for the bike rack project.
Jasper County Courthouse to be reappraised Supervisors want to make sure the structure is properly insured in case of damage
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Jasper County veterans showed up in tow once again to support veterans affairs administrator Alyssa Wilson but also condemn the commissioner who not only told her to think about veteran suicide rates the next time she decides to not answer a phone call in her office but also threatened to fire another employee. For the second time this year, the Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission meeting — which is usually void of guests — was standing room only. It was no secret why they were there. They wanted nothing more than to confront commissioner Ed Spangenburg for what he said to Wilson the month before. Despite having an agenda item reserved for a veteran’s update from
the May meeting, which was when retired service members first filled the conference room of the county administration building, it would be a long time before veterans would get any answers from their commissioners. Included in the veteran’s update was a letter, which was drafted and delivered to the chair of the commission. While not attached to the packet, it responded to Spangenburg’s comments, saying the suggestion that Wilson be blamed “should anything horrible happen to a veteran whose call is not answered is ludicrous.” Lisa Van Ryswyk, daughter of a Vietnam veteran, is who wrote the letter, a copy of which was sent to Newton News. Van Ryswyk was in LETTER | 5
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune The Jasper County Board of Supervisors agreed to have the courthouse reappraised to make sure it is properly insured.
By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Appraisal services for the Jasper County Courthouse and possibly other county buildings were
approved last week by the board of supervisors to make sure the structure is properly insured in case of severe damage. Supervisors frequently referenced the Marshall County Courthouse CONTACT US
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damages from the 2018 tornado. Dennis Simon, human resources director, said it was likely that supervisor Denny Stevenson was COURTHOUSE | 3
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Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune est. 1851 Alyssa Wilson, administrator of Jasper County Veterans Affairs, works in her office inside the county administration building. A letter in support of Wilson was given to the veterans affairs commission, condemning past comments about her and her work.
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