THURSDAY, DEC. 12, 2024 • VOLUME N0. 124 • ISSUE NO. 13 • 1 SECTION • 8 PAGES
Serving Colfax • Mingo • Baxter • Western Jasper County
A perfect Colfax Country Christmas The community celebrates the holiday with the annual tree lighting, carriage rides and more
Submitted by Colfax Main Street
STATE CHAMPIONS
Baxter Dance Team brings home a first place trophy from state competition for its hip hop routine
Enjoy Christmas in Baxter
Holiday event continues with a visit from Santa Claus and community festivities By Jamee A. Pierson Jasper County Tribune
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune The Baxter Dance Team performs its pom routine at the Iowa State Dance Team Association State Competition Dec. 5. The team brought home three trophies: first place for hip hop, fourth place for pom and fifth place for kick. Sydney Hibbs also placed second in Class I solos.
County VA administrator on paid leave pending investigation
Get ready to walk through a winter wonderland at the Baxter Christmas Festival and Breakfast with Santa. The events kick off at 8 a.m. Dec. 14 at the school building. A holiday favorite, Santa Claus will stop by for a breakfast treat from 8 to 10 a.m. Kids can stop by to tell him all of their Christmas
Just dance
wishes and get a little candy, too. The Baxter Christmas Festival kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with a variety of activities available until 11:30 a.m. To start, those entering the gingerbread contest can drop off the entries from 8 to 9 a.m. in the west gym. The creations will be on display for voting from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. with the winner HOLIDAY | 3
Colfax Dance Team earns Division I ratings at state
Commission will likely determine any action at upcoming meeting next week By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune The administrator of Jasper County Veterans Affairs has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, but the alleged misconduct has not been made public. It is likely the veterans affairs commission will hold a closed session after its regularly scheduled meeting this week to discuss the matter. If any action is to be taken to discipline or terminate administrator Alyssa Wilson, then the commission will have to do so when it returns to
open meeting following the closed session discussion. Until then, the veterans affairs department is still operational with the shared benefits coordinator, Josh Price, helming the office. Dennis Simon, director of human resources for Jasper County, declined to give a comment on Wilson’s administrative leave, saying he cannot speak on employee issues that are under internal investigation. However, Simon explained that in the administrator’s absence veterans are LEAVE | 3
Jamee A. Pierson/Jasper County Tribune The Colfax Dance Team performs its jazz routine at the Iowa State Dance Team Association State Competition Dec. 5. The team brought home three Division I ratings for its jazz, lyrical and pom routines.
SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL PARTY PLANNING Supervisors to form celebration committee for U.S.’s 250th birthday in 2026 By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Jasper County wants to throw a party. But not just any kind of run-of-the-mill celebration will do. No, no. Supervisors want to make sure the
United States of America’s 250th birthday is a real treat for Jasper County citizens, which is why they reached consensus about creating a steering committee for the 2026 Fourth of July festivities. Within the next week or
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so, the board of supervisors will vote on the creation of this celebration committee to solicit donations and fundraise for the big event. Volunteers in subcommittees will also be needed to PARTY | 3
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Christopher Braunschweig/Jasper County Tribune The Jasper County Board of Supervisors is expected to create a celebration committee for the 250-year anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.
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