Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025
Vol. 6, No. 6
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
Ballots set for local elections By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
The ballot is set for the Nov. 4 election. Candidates for Monroe, Prairie City and Reasnor governments and the PCM School Board have submitted their papers for consideration to serve for the next few years in their communities. PCM School Board A few familiar names will be on the ballot for the PCM School Board along with a new candidate challenging a long held seat. For District 1, current board member Lori Jungling is looking to continue her time on the board. In District 2, longtime board member Greg Ingle is once again running but this year he will have a challenger in Cole Van Ryswyk. Ryan Van Der Kamp, current board president, is the sole candidate for the District 6 seat.
City of Monroe Current Monroe Mayor Doug Duinink will once again look to continue his time leading the city as the only candidate for mayor. With three seats available, two current city council members, Jennifer St. Peter and Andrea Steenhoek, along with newcomer Hayden Buck Johnston, fill out the open slots. The City of Monroe is also looking to pass a general obligation bond in an amount not to exceed $1.45 million. The funds will be used for the construction, furnishing and equipping of a new or remodeled combined city hall and police department facility, including site improvements and related infrastructure. The city also has the 1 percent Local Option Sales Tax on the ballot. Every 10 years the city is required to vote on LOST funding, which is forecasted to
Candidates for mayor, city councils and school board in Monroe, Prairie City and Reasnor finalized for Nov. 4 election
be used for street improvements, water and sewer improvement and property tax relief. LOST is set to sunset July 1, 2026 and benefits the city by shifting some of the tax burden to those who are visiting Monroe and using the same services as the citizens of the community. City of Prairie City Prairie City has its work cut out for them with only one candidate submitting paperwork for the three open city council seats. Current council member Beth James is the lone candidate for the three openings to help lead the city government. Phil Holland, who is currently on the city council, has decided to move into the mayor’s seat. He is the only candidate for the position. City of Reasnor No candidates for the mayor or the three city council seats submitted paperwork for Reasnor.
File Photo Candidates for the Nov. 4 election are set and ballots are ready to be printed for open city council, mayor and school board seats.
PCM Homecoming 2025 Dress-Up Days HIGH SCHOOL Monday Pajama Day Tuesday Adam Sandler Day Wednesday Black Out Day Thursday USA ‘merica Day Friday Spirit Day
Monroe, Sept. 29 through Friday, Oct. 3 MIDDLE SCHOOL PRAIRIE CITY ELEMENTARY
Monday Class Color Day 6th: Blue, 7th: Black, 8th: Pink Tuesday Super Fan Day: Show Your Love for Whatever You’re a Fan of-A Team? A Celebrity? A Game? Wednesday Cops & Robbers Day Thursday Holiday Day: Dress Up as Your Favorite Holiday Friday: Spirit Day
Monday Pajama Day Tuesday Team Day: Wear Any Team Wednesday Wacky Wednesday Thursday Hat Day Friday Spirit Day
Miller-Meeks calls for more free speech, condemns celebrating political violence Congresswoman addresses Oskaloosa teacher incident at Jasper County fundraiser By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks this past weekend called for more discourse and free speech in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination while also condemning an Oskaloosa teacher who exercised his free speech by celebrating the conservative activist’s death in an inflammatory post on social media. “We need more debate. We need more discourse. We need more free speech,” she said. “But we also have to hold people accountable.” The congresswoman’s conflicting message was given during the Jasper County Republican Party Trapshoot fundraiser on Sept. 13 in Newton. Miller-Meeks prefaced her remarks by saying there is a lot of extremism in politics now and that
A publication of est. 1851
elected officials should be counted on to “bring down the temperature.” Miller-Meeks also told fellow party members that there is no place for political violence in the United States and that Republicans have to make that known. She also mentioned that she condemned the assassination of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband back in June. Miller-Meeks claimed Kirk’s main goals in life were to have more debate and more discourse and to support free speech. However, she also said people have to be held accountable for their speech, particularly when it comes to celebrating political violence. She specifically Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer mentioned the incident in OskalooU.S. Rep. Mariannette Millsa. er-Meeks speaks during the Jasper According to local media reports, County Republican Party TrapFREE SPEECH | 3
shoot fundraiser on Sept. 13 in Newton.
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MONROE ELEMENTARY Monday Pajama Day Tuesday Color Day Preschool: Yellow, Kindergarten: Red, 1st: Blue, 2nd: Green Wednesday Career Day Thursday Neon Day Friday Spirit Day
Iowa governor candidates shoot their shot at Jasper County trapshoot Republicans have a large pool of hopefuls to choose from come primary season By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Four candidates running for governor of Iowa made appearances to the Jasper County Republican Party Trapshoot fundraiser this past weekend. U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, Iowa House Rep. Eddie Andrews, former Iowa House Rep. Brad Sherman and former Iowa Department of Administrative Services Director Adam Steen were the “celebrity guests” of the trapshoot on Sept. 13 at the Jasper County Gun Club in Newton. Some even participated in the shoot. Prior to the celebrity trapshoot portion of the fundraiser, each Republican candidate was given a few minutes to speak for their campaign. Feenstra made a brief appearance but left early due to a prior commitment, so he was unable to speak. They were all introduced by party chair Jim Farland. Andrews was upfront with party members: He was TRAPSHOOT | 3
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