Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024
Vol. 6, No. 5
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
Here we go, Mustangs
Submitted Photo The City of Monroe is featured on the cover of “Cityscape,” a publication by the Iowa League of Cities, for being named an All-Star Community for The Monroe Senior and Community Center — The Gathering Place.
File Photos PCM Mustang fans are invited to cheer on student athletes starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 during a parade starting near the high school and continuing down Highway 14, then to Commerce Street and back south.
Homecoming week to kick off Sept. 24 By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer Homecoming is less than a week a way and
PCM is gearing up to celebrate with dress-up days. Even with no school Monday, Sept. 23, the week is packed with activities
leading up to the football game Friday night against Union. For the elementary schools, Tuesday is “Pajama Day,” Wednesday is “Sports/Hat Day,” Thursday is “Pattern Day” and Friday is “Spirit Day.” At
the middle school, the week kicks off with “Fake Injury Day” Monday, “Wild West Wednesday,” “Hero or Villain Day” Thursday and “Spirit Day” Friday. High schoolers HOMECOMING | 3
Jasper County creates communications center director position bilities. Shutts said the communications center director would fulfill his current duties as he makes his transition to sheriff. “So this would take my posi-
New civilian role would acquire Brad Shutts’ duties as he transitions to sheriff
tion and be able to cover some of those shifts and fulfill the dayto-day duties that I do now to DIRECTOR | 3
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer In preparation for Lt. Brad Shutts’ successful and uncontested election for county sheriff this coming November, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 on Sept. 10 to create a permanent full-time position for a communications center director, which would be a civilian position for the sheriff ’s office. Dennis Simon, director of human resources for Jasper County, said Shutts handles most of the communications duties, and with his new role as sheriff he will have additional responsi-
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer The Jasper County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 on Sept. 10 to create a communications center director position, which would assume the responsibilities of Lt. Brad Shutts when he transitions to sheriff at the start of the year.
An ‘AllStar’ comMonroe received recognition for The Monroe Senior and Community Center — The Gathering Place from the Iowa League of Cities By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer Each year, the Iowa League of Cities designates All-Star Community Awards to several communities throughout the state and for 2024 the City of Monroe received the honor for the work of The Monroe Senior and Community Center — The Gathering Place. Representatives from the city will be on hand for an awards ceremony during the league’s annual conference and exhibit held from Sept. 18 to 20 in Sioux City. “The Iowa League of Cities applauds the great work done by the City of Monroe and its partners in creating a fantastic space to gather and commune,” Iowa League of Cities Communications Coordinator Mike Armstrong said. Opened in 2023, The
Gathering Place is in the former Barber Lumber building. With extensive renovations, the building now features large, accessible spaces in both the main floor and basement along with a kitchen that are used frequently for activities and gatherings. The project was made possible with the help of the Alfred B. and Vera Clement Charitable Trust, the City of Monroe, Jasper County and hundreds of volunteer hours from those with a vision to make the space a safe and encouraging environment for anyone who visits. The Gathering Place currently houses Monroe’s Elderly Nutrition meals site each weekday, many activities such as yoga and kids crafts, programs including informational meetings on different health topics and meet RECOGNITION | 3
Veterans affairs commission considers creating new rules for meetings Contentious dialogue these past few months highlights need for order, respect By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer In response to meetings this past year becoming more contentious and unruly, the Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission may establish some ground rules for participants or recite core values similar to the way Newton school board does before each meeting in an effort to preserve order and respect. Commissioner Fred Chabot provided veterans affairs administrator Alyssa Wilson a sample of potential ground rules for meetings. The date
A publication of est. 1851
at the bottom of the document — Oct. 20, 1997 — coincides with the first meeting Chabot participated in after being elected to the Newton school board. “These ground rules governed our behavior as a school board throughout my nine years of service,” Chabot said. “…The Newton school board still utilizes values instead of ground rules and, to the best of my knowledge, at each school board meeting the president of the school board refreshes everyone’s memory.” Specifically, Chabot referred to the mission, vision,
goals, commitments and core values that school board members recite aloud before entering into any type of business at public meetings. These purpose statements reinforce who board members are working for and how best to conduct themselves at meetings. “I think ground rules are a good guide for this group to have in terms of how we behave, how our staff behaves at these meetings and I think it would be appropriate to add a bullet point or two in regard to what our expectations are VETERANS | 3
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer Fred Chabot, right, explains his idea of adding ground rules to the Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission meetings, due in large part to the contentious comments from commissioners and attendees this past year.
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