Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024
Vol. 6, No. 13
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
‘SNAP, SNAP’
PCM High School debuting ‘The Addams Family’ musical Nov. 15, 16 and 17 at the middle school auditorium
Jasper County’s $6.4M bond issue falls short
Public measure for secondary roads project will require supervisors to review their options By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer Gomez Addams raises his hands to welcome the communities to see the PCM High School’s production of “The Addams Family.” The musical will take the stage at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16 and 2 p.m. Nov. 17 at the PCM Middle School Auditorium.
Despite supervisors saying the $6.4 million bond issue would not raise taxes, the citizens of Jasper County voted down the public measure on Election Night. In order to pass, the bond issue needed at least 60 percent of the votes in favor. Unofficial results show the bond issue only received 58.75 percent of the votes.
According to the Liberty Avenue Campus Bond Project page on the county’s website, the bond specifically authorized Jasper County to borrow $6.4 million for the purpose of designing, constructing, equipping, furnishing and making land site improvements for a secondary roads maintenance building. However, the passing of the bond issue would have also kickstarted a number of other county projects for the sheriff ’s office and county conservation. So in addition to the new and upgraded facility for the engineer’s office staff, the county will gain a new training center for law enforcement, a base for the advanced life support program, BOND | 3
Student section takes fandom to the next level
Weekly themes for the PCM student section make games even more fun and help bring the students together By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer “It takes a village” is an often used trope when describing how to care for children and family. The same can be said about the “village” behind the PCM football team, and more specifically the student section that gives their all every game. “I think it’s important not only for the players to see all of their supporters but also for the students to have the opportunity to support their peers in something they aren’t involved in,” senior Addi Steenhoek said.
The students not only stand together cheering in the bleachers, they come dressed in a theme each week. Depending on the game, fans might have seen monkeys, tigers and safari guides for the jungle theme, minions and bananas for “Despicable Me” or a throwback to when they were little for pajama party. The students go all out both with their themes and showing their school spirit during the games. “The senior girls have a general idea of what we want the themes to be but if we can’t decide we post on StangzStandz which
is where everything PCM student section is posted,” Steenhoek said. “We have different chants we do, depending on the things that happen during the game. We also sing the school song when the band is gone and cheer with our cheerleaders!” Football games aren’t the only athletic event students dress up for. Home volleyball games also saw a variety of outfits from bright neon glowing on the sidelines to stands full of superheroes in their capes and masks. The tradition not only brings the students together but gives everyone
Thad Nearmyer gets 2-year seat on board of supervisors Unofficial results show former Republican Party chair received 66% of the vote By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Thad Nearmyer spent years getting Republicans elected into office, but now the shoe is on the other foot. Unofficial results released on Election Night by the audi- Nearmyer tor’s office show Nearmyer, a Republican, has been elected to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors with 12,125 votes, or 66.81 percent. Which means candidate Randy Ray, who did not run under a specific party, received 5,864 votes, or 32.31 percent. The seat was previously won by Denny Carpenter in 2022, but the late supervisor died a month after the election. The board appointed Den-
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ny Stevenson until the next countywide election. Nearmyer, 56, of Monroe, is a farmer and the former chairperson of the Jasper County Republican Party. For the past eight years, he has led the party to what he describes as “unprecedented success” in election of Republican candidates. By 2018, for instance, the entire board of supervisors had turned red. His presumed win alongside incumbent Doug Cupples maintains that Republican stronghold at the courthouse. During his tenure as GOP chair, Nearmyer also helped get Republicans elected to Senate and House seats in the Iowa Legislature. He officially stepped down as chair this year. Ray, 67, of Newton, is a farmer and entrepreneur. As a lifelong resident of Newton, Ray said in his Q&A for Newton News that
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer The PCM student section cheers on the football game during the Pink Out week supporting Breast Cancer Awareness.
a chance to participate, even if they aren’t in the event. “My favorite part of
this tradition is being with my friends and supporting our boys. We love it and we hope they do
too,” Steenhoek said. “It’s also great for the whole student body to support something together!”
Doug Cupples keeps his seat on board of supervisors by huge margin Unofficial results show Republican incumbent received 72% of the vote By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Doug Cupples has secured yet another term on the Jasper
County Board of Supervisors, according to preliminary results released on Election Night by the auditor’s office. The Republican received 13,471 votes, or 72.14 percent, while Cupples opponent Jerry Chandler, Jr. received 5,018
votes, or 26.87 percent. Cupples, 53, of Newton, works auto sales at Lauterbach Buick GMC and has served two terms as a county supervisor. In his Q&A with Newton News, he said he is deeply concerned about issues like taxes, roads and law enforcement, and he wants to help find solutions that benefit the community. CUPPLES | 3
Honoring those who served PCM Middle School holds annual Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 8 Jamee A. Pierson/ PCM Explorer Veterans Chad Alleger, Stacie Alleger, Justin Hoffman, Janet Townley and Lewis Daye talk about their experiences in the military during the Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 8 at PCM Middle School.
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