Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024
Vol. 6, No. 3
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
THE ‘ART’ OF EDUCATION
New PCM interim superintendent looks to bridge the gap, in more than one way, while at the district By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer Working as an interim superintendent isn’t new for Art Sathoff. PCM’s new interim superintendent recently filled the role in Cedar Rapids. He also has experience at each level of education and looks to help the district bridge the gap for the upcoming school year. “I never really set out to do this but it appeals to me because it is a chance to come in during transition time or a little unsettled and just be a help and serve. I can help districts get through, sometimes, a rough time,” Sathoff said. “Here, I told the school board, ‘Just give the district time for a whole search for the new superintendent.’” With more than 34 years of public education experience, Sathoff did about everything. From teaching English to coaching, driving the bus and becoming activities director, he knows the ins and outs of school. Later in his career he took on the role of principal at Pekin and Fairfield schools and eventually superintenJamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer dent in the Indianola School District. PCM Interim Superintendent Art Sathoff has more than 34 years of exSATHOFF | 3A
Maintenance approved for Hwys F-34 and F-70
County engineer says $105K and $263K projects could be finished in September By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Two contracts for secondary roads repairs along Highway F-34 and Highway F-70 were approved on Aug. 27 by the Jasper County Board of Supervisors. The work for both projects will be completed by Denco Highway Construction Corporation for more than $105,000 and more than $263,000. Jasper County Engineer Michael Frietsch said both highways are paved routes and they are in need of some attention. The repairs for Highway F-34 extend from the Polk County line to Valeria, Frietsch said, and the repairs for Highway F-70 extend from Highway S6G to Monroe city limits. “What we’re looking at doing for both of these roads is basically filling in the larger cracks and then using slurry to level out the bumps and dips, and then we’re going to seal coat them with scrub seal,” he said. “The idea behind this is we can use farm-to-market money for this and we let it through the DOT.” Frietsch described it as a “glorified maintenance project.” But doing it this way allows the
perience in public education from teaching English to leading the Indianola School District as superintendent.
Let’s Paddle Skedaddle By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer The fourth annual Paddle Skedaddle is set at Quarry Springs Park in Colfax. Whether paddling around in a kayak or taking a trail run through the park, this event is a fun, unique experience. “It was a wonderful event,” Quarry Springs Park Board Vice President Kim Seebeck said. The race pushes off at 8:15 a.m. Sept. 8 at Quarry Springs Park. It has a twomile kayak course to “paddle” and a three-and-half-mile trail run to “skedaddle.” New for 2024, there is a dog walkers category for the walk/run only option. Dogs should remain leashed, and bags will be included at registration. “We want to encourage anyone with well-behaved dogs who love to walk or
run to join us,” Seebeck said. Chip timing will also be provided this year by B&W Racing Services to give racers their exact finishing time. Racers need to provide their own kayak, and life jackets are a must. Quarry Springs Outfitters will have a limited number of kayaks available to rent for $10 each. To participate, it is $45 solo or $35 as a team member. Runners only pay $30. Packet pickup runs from 7 to 7:30 a.m. at the park office with a racer meeting to follow at 8 a.m. Organizers anticipate participants should be able to finish the race in about two hours and 15 minutes if going at a walk and easy paddle pace. Awards will begin at 10:30 a.m. and be presented to the top male/female in the following age categories: 17 and PADDLE | 3A
MAINTENANCE | 3A
Fourth annual kayak and run/walk race set for Sept. 8 at Quarry Springs Park
Photo by Mary Dell Flattery The fourth annual Paddle Skedaddle is set for Sept. 8 at Quarry Springs Park in Colfax.
Newton Clinic and MercyOne to pause all labor, delivery services Years of recruitment challenges, OB-GYN shortages force rural medical centers to stop services after Oct. 15 By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Newton Clinic and MercyOne Newton Medical Center are going to pause all labor and delivery services indefinitely, citing a decade of “significant recruitment and physician workforce challenges” that have forced the care centers to now investigate other options to provide these types of services to rural areas. In a joint statement released on Friday, Aug. 30, by Newton Clinic Administrator Mark Thayer and MercyOne Newton Chief Operating Officer Chad Kelley, the clinic announced it will cease its search for physicians dedicated to obstetrics. The hospital, in turn, must stop all newborn deliveries after Oct. 15. All mothers expected to deliver after Oct. 15 are encouraged to continue their prenatal care appointments with their obstetrical physician in Newton Clinic to discuss their care and options for trans-
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fer and delivery. Mothers scheduled to deliver prior to that date will continue to receive care and can deliver in Newton. “As difficult as this decision is, patient safety is of utmost importance to both organizations,” the statement said. “Both the Newton Clinic and MercyOne Newton Medical Center will continue to commit to the high standards of prescribed and emergency care followed by every care center in Iowa.” Furthermore, hospital policies and procedures — along with interfaculty arrangements — are in place to safely care for and triage all patients. Nurses employed in the labor and delivery department at MercyOne Newton Medical Center will be offered continued employment in other positions and departments. Thayer told Newton News in a follow-up interview there is nothing he worked harder on in the past five years than recruiting obstetrics providers. “We’ve had success bringing in
providers and then all of a sudden the door just shut on us in the past 12 months,” Thayer said in a recent phone interview. “We’re losing Dr. (Sarah) Florence, and we can’t do it with one doctor. Dr. (Tara) Gravenstine has announced no plans to leave.” Newton Clinic is actively looking for options for Gravenstine to deliver her patient’s babies at other hospitals or at least provide prenatal care. Thayer said the clinic historically has exclusively provided obstetrics services at the adjoining hospital; it was the only hospital that providers were able to deliver at. “That has worked for probably the last 100 years,” Thayer said. “At one point almost every one of our doctors did OB. I’ve been at the Newton Clinic now for 28 years and I think at one time I had six providers that were all doing OB. Part of the problem is as providers get older they sometimes pull back on services.” Other factors are at play, too. Thayer
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said some doctors are lacking cesarian section, or C-section, experience when they compete their residency. To establish that competency, he said it takes a minimum of 25 to 50 completed C-sections. There was a time when Newton could train those services locally. “But they don’t allow that anymore,” Thayer said. “We’re also finding a lot of new doctors just want to have an outpatient practice and don’t want take on OB or really even step foot in a hospital. Really, they just want to have a clinic practice. Which is understandable. We’re kind of faced with two storms simultaneously.” Health experts have been warning about the shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists for years. Thayer said it has been challenging trying to find that skillset for Newton Clinic. It is also cost-prohibitive for the clinic to have OB | 3A
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