THURSDAY, SEPT. 12, 2024 • VOLUME N0. 123 • ISSUE NO. 52 • 1 SECTION • 8 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
RVTV continues to be all about people of small-town Iowa By Troy Hyde Jasper County Tribune RVTV started as a three-person excursion that took place outside of Cyclones Stadium in Ames back in 1995. It has evolved into a mass television production and the street party of the year in small towns all across Central Iowa. “There was no buzz or enthusiasm at that time,” WHO-TV 13 Sports Director Keith Murphy said about the start of RVTV. “Iowa fans knew they were going to win and Iowa State fans tried to be excited but knew what was coming. “I came up with the idea because the Cyclones had started to win and the game became a bigger deal in the state. I decided to camp out at the stadium. It was called Cyclone Stadium at the time.” Murphy worked for WOI Channel 5 in 1995. His first experience staying inside Cyclones Stadium was in an RV similar to what Cousin Eddie drove in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Murphy recalls parking the RV right by the field and being the only one of his three-person crew who actually stayed in the RV. When Murphy made the switch to WHO-TV 13, they began rotating between stadiums in Ames and Iowa City. There was even a point during the early stages of the week-long event where Murphy thought it was time to jump the shark. “We were repeating the same stories and I felt like it was the same attempt at humor,” Murphy said. “The station knew it was a pretty good brand. So they asked us to keep doing it. That’s when I thought of having the tour on the way to the game. That kind of rejuvenated it.” The RVTV brand has expanded into a week-long journey that takes the WHOTV 13 “Soundoff ” crew into small towns across Central Iowa who are excited to
host the year’s best street party. This year, the team chose four new sites, including a pair of Jasper County towns. They drove into Baxter on Thursday and ended their week Friday in Newton. According to Murphy, it was the crew’s first time in both places. RVTV did make a stop at Iowa Speedway several years ago though. “I go all the way back to the beginning. I think that was 2001,” WHO-TV 13 news anchor Andy Fales said. “It’s about making new connections in the towns. I end up getting feature story ideas that I can come back to. I meet a bunch of people who I never would have met otherwise. We are here for one purpose, and we just meet so many people.” Murphy said choosing the route each year is a team effort, but WHO-TV 13 sports reporter John Sears is largely involved in the process. Sears said around 50 towns apply for consideration each year. But only about 20 of those are real options. Amanda Moorman, the Baxter Chamber of Commerce Treasurer, said a restaurant in town called Benolas asked her team to apply for consideration. The town of Baxter currently has 970 citizens, making it the second-smallest town to ever be featured for RVTV. “It’s incredible. We are a really small community,” Moorman said. “It’s been really cool to see this all come together. There were people out here at 9:30 in the morning getting things set up.” Baxter’s street party officially started at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. Main Street was packed before the 4 p.m. newscast that featured Murphy’s interview with Baxter head football coach Rob Luther. The RVTV crew also made its way out to the football stadium for a promo video that might have been used to motivate RVTV | 3
Popular annual event invades two Jasper County towns
Troy Hyde/Jasper County Trbune WHO13 Sports Director Keith Murphy interviewed Baxter head football coach Rob Luther during the 4 p.m. newscast at the RVTV stop Sept. 5 in Baxter.
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Trbune Baxter Cheerleaders perform on the downtown football field during WHO13 RVTV Sept. 5 in Baxter.
It’s Paddle Skedaddle time! More than 40 participants tested their skills at Quarry Springs Park for the fourth annual Paddle Skedaddle
Supervisors appoint Katherine Thompson to VA commission Officials move forward with commissioners’ recommendation to fill vacant seat By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Following through with the Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission’s top recommendation for its new member, the board of supervisors on Sept. 3 voted 3-0 to appoint Katherine Thompson to the vacant seat. The decision comes one week after supervisors wanted extra time to vet the candidates themselves. Supervisor Brandon Talsma said he reached out to the top three applicants: Thompson, William Cobbs and James Pfleger. After speaking with them all individually, Talsma said he would be OK with appointing Thompson to the veterans affairs commission. Thompson was every member’s top choice. Newton News previously reported the veterans affairs comShaw Media mission had been searching for months to find someone to fill a seat left vacant after the death of commissioner Sue Springer in June. Commissioners received a total of seven applications, and from those forms narrowed est. 1851
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Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune Paddle boarders, kayakers, runners and walks took to the Paddle Skedaddle course Sept. 8 at Quarry Springs Park in Colfax.
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down their search. When commissioners Jerry Nelson and Marta Ford presented the applications to the board of supervisors, they included all seven for their review. However, the veterans affairs commissioners were in agreement that Thompson in particular was the best candidate for the job, and they recommended she be appointed. Applications were posted on the Jasper County website. In addition to providing their contact information, they must indicate if they are a veteran and explain why they are interested in serving the commission, what contributions they can make to the commission and how much time they can devote to the position. The veterans affairs commissioners are now as follows: Fred Chabot, Marta Ford, Jerry Nelson, Ed Spangenburg and Katherine Thompson. The commission oversees the veterans affairs administrator and the shared benefits coordinator positions. The commission meets every second Wednesday of the month.
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