Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024
Vol. 6, No. 1
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
Addressing a need
PCM teachers working to provide STEM programming to students added by $25K grant from Prairie Meadows
Rate increases set for Monroe sanitation services
Newton Sanitary Landfill’s rate hike makes for domino effect in Monroe By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer Teachers at PCM Elementary and Middle Schools recently received a $25,000 grant from Prairie Meadows to use for STEM programming at the district.
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer With budgets tightening each year at public schools, teachers at PCM got creative when looking to address computer science programing for elementary and middle school students in the district. The teachers were rewarded for their hard work with a $25,000 Community Betterment Grant from Prairie Meadows.
“As a nonprofit organization, Prairie Meadows fulfills its purpose by giving back to organiza-
tions that support arts and culture, education, economic development and human services,” Julie Stewart, Prairie Meadows vice president of community relations, said. “We are excited to see the impact K-8 computer science and STEM projects will have on our Central Iowa community.” The need to have this programming was first brought to the attention of the teachers when they visited Osage Community Schools in fall 2023. “We were blown away by what we saw,” kindergarten teacher Stacy Fridley said. “It was very clear that PCM was behind with computer science programming. A group of teachers got together to determine how we could move forward and we started looking for grants. The Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant was a pretty big one so we decided
to go for it.” A group of four educators — Fridley, Aliyah Creger, former teacher Nathan Ferrell and former superintendent Michelle Havenstrite — worked on the application. They divided the work up into sections, and through early morning meetings got the application prepared to send. The group already had in mind what they wanted to use any funding on after their experience at Osage. “We knew we wanted to improve our computer science program at PCM. We wanted PCM students and teachers to have similar experiences that we observed in Osage,” Creger said. “We wanted to get a variety of robots and other tech-related materials for students in kindergarten through GRANT | 2
‘It’s such an honor’ By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer 4-H has been a part of Larry Opfer’s life for almost as long as he can remember. From his time as a Hamilton Hot Shot in Decatur County, to serving as a horse superintendent at the Jasper County Fair, he has stayed busy and helped a lot of 4-H’ers on their journeys through the organization. Opfer was honored as a 4-H Hall of Fame member during a ceremony Aug. 18 at the 4-H Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer Building during the Iowa State Jasper County’s Larry Opfer with his 4-H Hall of Fame induction Fair. certificate during the ceremony Aug. 18 at the Iowa State Fair. “When I got the letter, I couldn’t speak for about five honor, such an honor.” while growing up in south cenminutes,” Opfer said. “It’s an Opfer started his 4-H career tral Iowa. His leadership abil-
Sanitation rates are set to increase in Monroe. The Monroe City Council approved an amended rate increase of $.084 to $20.60 per year per residential unit, including an additional $.025 to help cover additional costs and extra requests the city may have in the coming months. “This is completely not out of line,” Monroe Mayor Doug Duinink said. “There’s a lot of expenses when it comes to sanitation between the truck, the driver and landfill fees. I am not questioning it one bit.” Currently, the agreement with Kal Services has city-wide trash each Wednesday and city-wide recycling every other Wednesday. Kal Services does provide collection of waste from city buildings at no cost to the city. “I can control a lot of things but there is one thing that I cannot control and that is the rates of the Newton Sanitary Landfill,” the Kal Services representative said. “They are choosing to go up.” The new contact will run from Aug. 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
The original five-year contact that was signed in April 2023 had increases each year through 2028. In 2025 it is set to increase $.082, in 2026 $.084 and in 2027 $.089. From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, the services run on the fiscal year from the beginning of July through the end of June in consecutive years. The Kal Services representative also warned the council he doesn’t believe the landfill is done increasing fee. “I don’t have that crystal ball and I don’t have a lot of say, but I don’t think they are done increasing,” he said.
Jamee A. Pierson/ PCM Explorer Due to increases at the Newton Sanitary Landfill, sanitation rates will increase in Monroe starting in August.
Larry Opfer inducted as member of 4-H Hall of Fame ities showed early and during his eight years with the Hamilton Hot Shots he served in each leadership office at least once. He learned a lot of those skills close to home. “As a kid in the fair, my mother was my leader,” Opfer said. “She was the first woman to be a leader of a men’s club in the State of Iowa.” He continued down the path participating in educational presentations at both the county and state fair level, receiving an excellence rating and serving on county and area 4-H councils. Opfer also worked to encourage and assist younger 4-H members by conducting a county-wide swine fitting and show-
manship workshop. He was also a member of the livestock judging team. Leadership and delegate roles brought Opfer to the Iowa 4-H Conference, the American Royal Livestock Show, the National 4-H Conference and the Citizenship Trip to Washington D.C. His hard work was rewarded with a 4-H achievement scholarship that he used at Iowa State University to study agriculture business and finance. Following graduation, Opfer started a career in banking initially helping those farmers impacted by the farm crisis of the early 1980s. He worked as HALL OF FAME | 2
Miller-Meeks boasts conservative approach to climate change at Newton biorefinery Congresswoman says Iowa is a model for other states when it comes to renewable energy By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks last week visited the Chevron Renewable Energy Group biorefinery in Newton
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alongside fellow Republican members of the Conservative Climate Caucus, whose mission is to find “practical and exportable answers” to reducing emissions and making energy more af-
fordable. For the past three months, Miller-Meeks has served as chair of the Republican-led caucus, which was founded in June 2021 by U.S. Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah.
Miller-Meeks told reporters outside Chevron REG that in order to meet the goals of the caucus, the United States needs abundant and reliable energy. “Energy demand is going up and will require all of the above energy BIOREFINERY | 2
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Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks speaks with reporters on Aug. 15 outside Chevron Renewable Enegy Group in Newton. As chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus, Miller-Meeks spoke about climate change and the need for an “all of the above” approach to renewable energies.
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