Thursday, March 14, 2024
Vol. 5, No. 30
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
Geetings leaving PCM The Science of Reading Elementary PCM Elementary holds event to stress the importance of early childhood reading
District looking for new administrator after three years Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer Donita Geetings, who has served as PCM Elementary Principal for three years, has announced she will be leaving at the end of the school year.
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer After three years at the district, elementary principal Donita Geetings is leaving PCM. Geetings said in an email she submitted her resignation as of March 6. “I want you to know this may be the most challenging letter I have ever written,” Geetings said. “I want to share with you that I will be sending my letter of resignation to the school board.” Coming from Ankeny where she served as an instructional coach for seven years, Geetings
has worked as principal of both elementary schools, striving to make a unified experience for children in Monroe and Prairie City. “I deeply care about every single student and I have been blessed to be their principal. There is no greater job in the world,” Geetings said. “Our students are simply amazing and they have bright futures ahead.” Geetings will continue at PCM through the remainder of the school year. The district will once again be looking for a new administrator to lead the elementary schools after hav-
ing the past two principals for three years each. “I assure you I will be 100 percent committed to your children for the remainder of the school year,” Geetings said. “Thank you for welcoming me into your community. You need to know you have the most committed teachers around. They will continue to forge ahead and provide nothing but the best for every student.” The PCM School Board will have to decide how to fill the position, which previously had been two separate principal roles for Monroe and Prairie City.
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
ELECTION 2024 Brad Magg to run for Iowa House District 38 Owner of Goldie’s, Colfax city council member says Iowa is ‘far better’ than what lawmakers are turning it into By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Brad Magg, a city council member in Colfax and the owner of Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Prairie City and a number of concession stands at the Iowa State Fair, is running for the Iowa House District 38 seat currently held by Republican Jon Dunwell. Magg told Newton News he will Magg be running as a Democrat. In addition to owning Goldie’s, which won best tenderloin by the Iowa Pork Producers Association in 2009, Magg is the founder of Magg Family Catering and co-owner of Spring City Pharmacy. He also helps manage The Bacon Box, The Snack Box and G-Pop’s Candy Box concession stands at the State Fair. As a lifelong Jasper County resident, Magg said that while his classmates in Colfax were eager to leave their hometown he saw the potential of his community and planted his roots, but not without trying to convince them to stay. Although they didn’t listen back then, he said many have reached out the past few years.
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“They want to move back to town,” Magg said. “I’m happy we’ve got our community to that point and help build it back up, but sadly now a lot of my friends are wanting to leave the state because they don’t think they’re welcome here or it doesn’t align with the way they want to raise their family.” Magg still believes in Iowa’s potential and that the state and Jasper County are “far better” than what lawmakers are trying to turn it into. Which is why Magg feels inspired to run for House District 38, which covers nearly all of Jasper County apart from Monroe and Prairie City. Magg told Newton News in a phone interview March 7 that lawmakers elected to the statehouse need to focus on Iowa issues and the issues that affect the state’s individual communities. Although Magg said he has had a decent rapport with Dunwell, he also expressed frustration over the lawmaker’s decision making. “What Mr. Dunwell is doing doesn’t quite represent the values that I think the constituents in the district have,” Magg said. “…I’ve had some great conversations with him over issues these past few years and it’s just become pretty apparent it falls on deaf ears.” Specifically, Magg said he shared with Dunwell his concerns over last MAGG | 3
Iowa House Reps. Kniff McCulla and Dunwell submit re-election papers Republicans want to continue their work for Districts 37 and 38 By Christopher Braunschweig Jasper County Tribune Both of the Republican lawmakers representing Jasper County in the Iowa House — Rep. Jon Dunwell of District 38 and Barb Kniff McCulla of District 37 — announced in press releases this past week that they have filed for re-election. Dunwell was first elected in 2021; Kniff McCulla joined the House in 2022. Dunwell In a March 8 press release, Dunwell said it has been a great honor to represent his constituents in Iowa House District 38, which covers most of the northern half of Jasper County, including Newton, Kniff McCulla Baxter, Colfax, Lynnville, Mingo and Sully. Dunwell is also assistant majority leader of the Iowa House. “Since I was first elected I have strived to be a representative that listens
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to the people of my district and acts as their voice in the statehouse,” Dunwell said. “I have had the honor of working on many important issues to move our state forward and I look forward to the opportunity to ask the voters for another term.” After winning a special election in 2021 to fill the seat of Rep. Wes Breckenridge, who resigned a year before his term ended, Dunwell reclaimed his spot in the statehouse in 2022. Prior to his work in the statehouse, Dunwell served as vice president of two financial services companies. Dunwell is also a licensed and ordained pastor with the Christian & Missionary Alliance, a certified speaker, trainer and coach. In the statehouse, Dunwell serves on the Local Government, State Government, Transportation, Judiciary, Environmental Protection and International Relations committees. Currently, Dunwell lives in Newton with his wife Christie; they have two sons, Addison and Bryce. Speaker of the Iowa House Pat Grassley said he appreciates Dunwell’s hard work to represent his district well. No one works harder, he said. “He is known for being extremely engaged with his community members, RE-ELECTION | 3
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