THURSDAY, AUG. 29, 2024 • VOLUME N0. 123 • ISSUE NO. 50 • 1 SECTION • 8 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
Welcome back, Bolts
The Tigerhawks are back
Baxter students kick off 2024-25 school year
The school year gets started at Colfax-Mingo
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune Teachers at Baxter Community School District and Colfax-Mingo Community School District welcome new and returning students back to class during open house events in each community.
Cheers to 15 years By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune It’s time to party! Colfax Main Street is turning 15 and is holding an anniversary celebration. Colfax Main Street is hosting the City Lights: 15Year Anniversary Celebration Fundraiser beginning at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 13 on West Howard Street. “We’re having a dinner in the street featuring a menu from local businesses; we will give a program about Downtown Colfax’s progress during the past 15 years, we will also
host a silent auction of gift baskets from regional businesses to raise money for our program’s projects and activities,” Colfax Main Street Director Stuart Patterson said. “Then at 8 p.m. the event will transition to a street dance featuring local DJ Jennifer Lamb. We’re going to set up a big long decorated table on the street for everyone to sit at and will be hanging up lights around the street to create a special atmosphere for the dinner as it gets dark.” The event is a culmination of 15 years of hard work by dozens
Colfax Main Street celebrates 15-year anniversary with celebration event Sept. 13
of people to make Colfax Main Street the great organization it has become. From five different leaders to countless volunteers, it has been a driving force to keep Colfax busy throughout the years. “It’s always great to gather volunteers, community members, city leaders and business owners to celebrate the progress that has been happening in downtown Colfax,” Stuart said. “This is the first year I’ve been pulled aside by several people who’ve commented that our downtown district has looked the best
it’s ever looked and I think that is something Colfax can be proud of.” Starting in 2009, Colfax Main Street worked to address community negativity about downtown Colfax and the deteriorating condition of many of the buildings, Stuart said. Since then the downtown has won several awards for historic preservation and business retention projects, giving Colfax residents a place to now be proud of. “I think that’s awesome and that’s due to a lot of hard work from the community,”
Stuart said. Leading the charge the past six years, Stuart has special memories of his time with Colfax Main Street. From revitalizing buildings to community events, he’s been a part of making downtown Colfax a thriving destination location. “My favorite thing is seeing properties that had been boarded up, sat empty and used as storage when I first started six years ago are now renovated into beautiful and MAIN STREET | 3
BOND ELECTION SCHEDULED Continuing a legacy Jasper County calls for a $6.4M bond election this November to pay for a new secondary roads maintenance shop By Christopher Braunschweig Supervisors have called for a special election this November in hopes Jasper County residents will agree to a $6.4 million bond to pay for the second phase of the new Liberty Avenue Yard project, which will become the new home for the engineer’s office and the secondary roads department. According to the resolution included in the board of supervisors agenda, general obligation bonds or capital loan notes would be used for the design, construction, equipment, furnishings and land site improvements for a secondary roads maintenance building. Voters will decide whether it passes on Election Day. So in addition to voting for the next president of the United States and which two candidates will be on the county board of supervisors for the next four years, Jasper County citizens will essentially vote “yes” or “no” to this proposed project and payment method. The project is currently estimated at
New Baxter High School principal ready to lead By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune
Submitted Photo The Jasper County Board of Supervisors is calling for a $6.4 million bond election for the second phase of the Liberty Avenue Yard project. The project will construct a new secondary roads maintenance shed. Submitted Photo By the time Election Day arrives on Nov. 5, voters will get to not only choose a new president and two new county supervisors but also whether or not a $6.4 million bond for the secondary roads maintenance shed will pass.
For the first time in more than 25 years, there is a new leader at Baxter High School. Clay Harrold is taking over as principal and he is excited to continue the rich legacy started by his predecessor Rob Luther. “I saw Baxter was open and was intrigued,” Harrold said. “I looked up Baxter’s scores and the conditions for learning scores were through the roof, some of the best in the state. That is measured by students, staff and families, and I was like, ‘Holy cow.’ The culture there was off the charts.” Originally from Jesup, Harrold has a degree in special education from the University of Dubuque and master’s in curriculum and educational leadership from Buena Vista. In his 21st year in education, he has served as a special education teacher, high school behavior Shaw Media interventionist, seven years as a principal and most recently as a special education consultant with Central Rivers Area Educational Agency. “I was working for the AEA est. 1851
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Jamee A. Pierson/ Jasper County Tribune New Baxter High School Principal Clay Harrold is excited to continue the great work being done in the district.
and that was fine, but there were some changes made at the state level leading me to look at other options for the next year,” Harrold said. “Even living a half hour away in Grinnell, Baxter has a great name. It has a very positive image and I’ve always heard great things about this school and the community.” PRINCIPAL | 3
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