THURSDAY, DEC. 5, 2024 • VOLUME N0. 124 • ISSUE NO. 12 • 1 SECTION • 8PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
Christmas event kicking off in Baxter
It’s the most wonderful time of the year Colfax Country Christmas bringing the holiday spirit Dec. 6 and 7 By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune
Submitted Photo The free horse and carriage rides will be back for the 2024 Colfax Country Christmas celebration from 4:15 to 7 p.m. Dec. 7. Downtown shopping, a soup supper and story time at the library are just a few of the activities planned for the annual nholiday event.
The calendar has turned which means it is time to celebrate the Christmas holiday season. Colfax is kicking off activities Dec. 6 with the Colfax Holiday Tour of Homes followed by a variety of events for Colfax Country Christmas Dec. 7. “Come visit downtown Colfax for free horse-drawn carriage rides, children’s activities hosted by local businesses and organizations, holiday shopping, a vendor market, caroling, Santa Claus and more,” Colfax Main Street Director Stuart Patterson said. Activities start Dec. 6 with community members getting the opportunity to tour four area homes decorated from floor to ceiling for the holiday season. The homes will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6. Tickets for the Colfax Tour of Homes are $25 and available at Spring City
Pharmacy, Colfax City Hall, Bank Iowa or at www.colfaxmainstreet.com. Events kick off Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. with Santa Claus arriving and the annual tree lighting at 1 W. Howard St. behind Weathervane Vintage. After the lights are aglow, from 4:15 to 7 p.m. businesses will open their doors to visitors, free horse- drawn carriage rides will take people around
downtown, caroling will be heard throughout the streets of Colfax and family-friendly activities will be available throughout area shops. Santa Claus will also relocate following the street lighting to greet children young and old in the toasty warm Bank Iowa building at 100 N. Walnut St. For those looking for a homemade bite to eat, a soup supper will also run from 4:15 to 7 p.m. at the
Colfax Senior Center, 1 E. Howard St. For those looking to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the downtown activities, the Colfax Public Library will be having a holiday story time from 5 to 6 p.m. Colfax Country Christmas is a wonderful event showcasing the best of the community and bringing everyone together to celebrate the season.
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By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Volunteers have spent a combined 1,200 hours transforming the Jasper County Historical Museum into a winter wonderland better known as the Tree-mendous Christmas Experience, which is entering its fourth year after a very successful season in 2023 that managed to draw 1,300 visitors. Barb Carroll, treasurer of the museum’s board of directors, said every year the organizers and decorating teams work tirelessly to not only make every event bigger and better, they
over Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan, who has contested the two-term seat a second consecutive time. The race was decided by 798 votes. In a notice published by the Jasper County Auditor’s Office, it stated the results of the recount did not change and therefore there would not be another canvass. Miller-Meeks issued a press release after being declared the winner, calling MILLER-MEEKS | 3
IT’S ALL ABOUT GIVING
Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune Dave Rorabaugh, chair of the Christmas committee for the Jasper County Historical Museum Board of Directors, said volunteers go out of their way to ensure the Tree-mendous Christmas Experience feels like an entirely new experience every year.
go out of their way to ensure no trees are the same, no decorations the same. They want each visit to feel like a new experience. “We always knew we wanted
Jamee A. Pierson/ Jasper County Tribune The annual Jasper County 4-H Festival of Trees is now set up at the courthouse in Newton. The trees have a variety of themes with an overall theme of “giving.”
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ornaments, both traditional and out-of-the-box. 4-H kids from across the county gathered to make their club’s own CONTACT US
to make it different every year,” she said. “Last year I thought to myself, ‘How are we ever going to top this?’ Now this year is even MUSEUM | 3
Jasper County 4-H Festival of Trees highlights community-centered giving theme for local clubs
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune Back for another beautiful year is the Jasper County 4-H Festival of Trees. Housed at the Jasper County Courthouse, trees surround the centerpiece two-story tree in the rotunda on both the first and second floor. “Clubs pick a charity or non-profit to support then pick items to either put on the tree to decorate with,” Iowa State University Extension and Outreach County Youth Coordinator Stacey Wilson said. Overnight at the start of Thanksgiving week trees popped up in the courthouse decorated with a variety of
It’s beginning to feel like Christmas in Baxter with the start of the community’s holiday events. The city will have two weekends full of activities that are sure to make any Grinch’s heart grow three sizes. Starting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6, the season will get underway with the lighted Christmas parade down Main Street. Those interested in participating can line up at 6:15 p.m. at the sports complex. Following the parade, the annual tree lighting ceremony will take place behind the caboose. Music will be provided by Rob Yeltman with treats available from the Congregational Church. For those looking to continue celebrating, an ugly sweater part will be held from 7 p.m. to midnight at Benolas. Grab your best, or worst, sweater
Museum to host its fourth holiday-inspired tour that features more than 200 trees
Bohannan-initiated recount shows race was decided by only 798 votes
Results from the districtwide recount of Iowa’s 1st Congressional District race confirm that Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is, indeed, the victor Miller-Meeks
By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune
Volunteers go out of their way to make this Christmas event ‘tree-mendous’
Miller-Meeks reelected to third term in Congress following recount By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune
Parade, tree lighting, concert and tour of homes Dec. 6 and 7
unique tree. “It is a really fun night,” Wilson said. “No matter what kind of day you are having,
you see all of the kids, some who haven’t seen each other since the fair, it is exciting and warms your heart.” est. 1851
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Many organizations benefit from the tree’s themes including Quilts of Valor, the PCM Food Pantry, local animal organizations and a variety of nonprofits throughout the county. The festival not only brings eye candy to the courthouse, it also works to help those in need where they live. “When we had the Animal Rescue League they would use dog or cat toys,” Wilson said. “They are all so unique. There is one club that makes their tree out of packages of toilet paper that they then donate to the PCM Food Pantry. Then, they wrap garland around it.” First hosted by the Jasper County Fair Board in FESTIVAL | 2
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