Thursday, June 6, 2024
Vol. 5, No. 42
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
PARTY ON, PARROT HEADS
Annual Uri Sellers Memorial Golf Tournament June 8
Art Sathoff to fill in as interim superintendent at PCM; Jenni McCrory picked to lead at Prairie City Elementary
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer Get ready to “Party with a Purpose” at the Uri Sellers Memorial Golf Tournament. Teeing off at 11 a.m. June 8, the annual fundraiser is going full Margaritaville to have fun in paradise. “Please come out to Gateway to support the memorial foundation as they continue to award scholarships to PCM students and give back to the local communities,” organizer and Uri’s brother Caleb Sellers said. The four-person best shot golf outing has two flights, first at 11 a.m. and a second at 3 p.m. There
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
will be a free-will lunch served along with a silent auction, raffle and T-shirt sale. The evening will
kick off with a live performance TOURNAMENT | 3
The quest to be queen 6 local 4-H and FFA girls up for Jasper County Fair Queen title By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer Six candidates will try for the title of Jasper County Fair Queen 2024. The queen contest will take place at 3 p.m. June 15 at the Newton Community Theater, located in the Newton YMCA. The Jasper County Fair kicks off July 19 in Colfax. Libbie Keith — Newton Libbie Keith is a 2024 Graduate of Newton High School. She is the daughter of Craig and Angel Keith. During high school, Libbie was on the bowling team, both football and winter varsity cheer teams, played the flute Keith and piccolo in concert and marching band, and was involved in FFA and National Hon-
Administrators selected to fill open positions
ors Society. Outside of school, she danced in InMotion and is involved in Sherman Sunbeams 4-H Club. Some of her achievements include graduating with highest honors, valedictorian, 4.0 GPA, All-American Cheer and being the first fourtime state bowling qualifier in her school’s history. The reasons that she would be honored and would enjoy representing Jasper County would be because the fair is her most favorite time of year. Some of her best memories and friends have come out of being a part of the Jasper County Fair and camping on the grounds. She also enjoys being a role model to the younger kids and influencing them to want to stay active in FFA and 4-H.
Chapter. She is a student at Newton Senior High School. She is a dancer at InMotion Dance Studio. Trinity-Ann would like to represent the Jasper County Fair as Hanson queen or princess because the county fair is all about the fun memories and being a role model for everyone. Looking up to the older kids when she was younger has shaped her into who she is now at the county fair. She would love to be a good example and show everyone that you can do anything.
Trinity-Ann Hanson — Newton Trinity-Ann Hanson is the daughter of Lance and Tracy Hanson. She is an active member of the Sherman Sunbeam’s 4-H Club and the Newton FFA
Meredith Chipps — Monroe Meredith Chipps is the daughter of Mitchell and Melissa Chipps. She is currently about to go into her FAIR QUEEN | 3
The PCM School Board has approved two administration hires of a new interim superintendent and elementary principal. Art Sathoff will serve as interim superintendent for the 2024-25 school year while Jenni McCrory will fill the open PCM Elementary Principal position in Prairie City. “I am excited to have the opporSathoff tunity to serve and lead the PCM School District during this time of transition,” Sathoff said. “The combination of high expectations and small, supportive communities is truly powerful, and I look forward to working with the board, administration and staff in support of students and families.” Sathoff comes to PCM after serving as interim superintendent of the Cedar Rapids Community School District and superintendent of InMcCrory dianola Community School District. He also served as a principal for Pekin and Fairfield Schools. He has been a member of the Urban Education Network of Iowa’s steering committee since November 2022. His education includes a specialist degree from Drake University and a master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa. Sathoff currently resides in Pella. McCrory comes to PCM after serving as the grades 3-5 principal at Sergeant Bluff-Luton Elementary in Sergeant Bluff. She is a graduate of the University of South Dakota, has served as band director at West Sioux Middle School in Hawarden and as PK-4 principal at East Elementary in Sheldon. “I love working with third, fourth and fifth grade students which makes me very excited to come to PCM and lead the 3-5 building in Prairie City,” McCrory said. “I am looking forward to working with a new staff and learning about all the great things PCM offers to students and their families. I believe growth happens when change occurs so I hope to continue growing as an administrator while leading PCM Elementary School in Prairie City.”
CONGRATS, GRADS
PCM celebrates graduations for preschool students moving on to kindergarten, fifth graders heading to middle school and eighth graders moving up to high school Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
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