Thursday, July 11, 2024
Vol. 5, No. 47
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
Creative fundraiser leads to neighbors helping neighbors
PCM After Prom Committee holding shoe and gear donation drive with sale Aug. 3 in Monroe By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer The PCM After Prom Committee was looking for a creative way to raise money and came upon an idea that will also help the community. An athletic shoe and PCM gear donation drive has been set up to gather items that are no longer of use by the owners in hopes of making them more affordable to the next ones. “We were thinking of ways that could help the community and raise money at the same time,” PCM After Prom Committee Member Kim Wilson said. “Many parents donate their items at thrift stores so we want to make it easy and local to donate.” To participate, people can donate their pre-owned sports or dance shoes, cleats, clothing, equipment and PCM gear. Donation boxes are set up in the entryway of the high school, which is open during office hours and at 103 Ashtyn Ln. in Prairie City. All sizes and styles are accepted. “As parents of seniors we know that ev-
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer Shoes, clothes, gear and more are welcome for the PCM After Prom Committee fundraiser repurposing items and giving them a second life.
ery year we were purchasing new sports/ dance shoes and equipment for our own
Jasper County to pursue a bond vote for multiple projects this November Funds would pay for secondary roads, conservation, sheriff’s office projects
kids and we wished we had something like this for our kids when they were
younger. We also know that it’s expensive to purchase these for our kids and we wanted to help parents save money,” Wilson said. “We hope this can become an annual event for our community and something to look forward to.” A sale of the items will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 3 on the Monroe square. Funds raised will be used for the After Prom bash on prizes, entertainment and food and drinks. An additional fundraiser of cans and bottles for redemption is set up at the Monroe Redemption Center and behind Salon Essence in Monroe and at the former Effective Wellness building parking lot in Prairie City. “We have noticed that we have many local groups fundraising and asking businesses for money so we are trying to be creative and help out our community and in return we are raising money for After Prom expenses,” Wilson said. Any questions can be directed to pcmafterprom@gmail.com. Ideas for future fundraisers are also welcome.
Work underway Construction on new Prairie City Fire and EMS building getting started
Christopher Braunschweig/ PCM Explorer The Jasper County Board of Supervisors is going to pursue a bond vote for multiple projects for secondary roads, conservation and the sheriff’s office.
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer To pay for the second phase of the Liberty Avenue Yard, shop buildings in two Jasper County parks, outfitted classrooms in the nature center and extra
facilities for the sheriff ’s office, the supervisors are expected to pursue a bond vote this coming November and they claim they can do so without raising taxes. Supervisor Brandon Talsma BOND | 3
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer Located across the street to the east of the current building, the new, larger Prairie City Fire and EMS location has started construction with dirt being moved in preparation to start building.
NEWTON RADIO STATIONS LOSE LOCAL VOICES Syndicated satellite programming replaces on-air personalities at KCOB and Energy 106.7, leaving the community furious and at a loss without familiar figureheads By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer
Editor’s note: This is part two of a two-part series. THE VOICES WE LOST: JOE SWANSON Joe Swanson spends the first half of his days with his kids, but by early afternoon he leaves the house to find a quiet corner in the Newton Public Library to apply for jobs. At the radio stations, he was primarily the commercial production director, but he worked in many other on-air capacities during his 15-year stay. He had only stepped away from radio for about a month many years ago when he worked at a local credit union. It wasn’t a
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total loss. If anything, the change in job only reinforced his love of radio. Swanson started out as an intern in 2008. He soon transitioned the gig to a full-time job. It was exactly what he wanted. At the time of his termination, Swanson had two, fourhour shows each weekday on KCOB and Energy 106.7. He worries these programs might be the last time he is ever on air. His radio career may be over. Unlike Grout, who has worked at several different stations over the years, Swanson stayed put. But he hasn’t given up looking for radio jobs. He’s applied to a few already. RADIO | 8
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer From left: Joe Swanson, commercial production director, has been spending a great deal of his time at the library to apply for jobs after Alpha Media USA decided to terminate local on-air personalities for Newton’s radio stations; Jamie Grout, content manager, is spending more time at his part-time job in Hy-Vee after he was fired from what he has described in the past as his dream job; and Randy Van Roekel, news director, sits on the porch of his home in Newton, the market he was expecting to finish his radio career on his own terms.
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