Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024
Vol. 6, No. 16
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
Celebrating the state champions PCM to honor the 2004 championship boys basketball team on Dec. 6 By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
It has been 20 years since the PCM boys basketball team brought home the first team championship in school history. The district is holding a celebration for the team between the games Dec. 6 at PCM High School. “A special ceremony to recognize the players and coaches from the team championship team will be held at approximately 7:10 p.m.,” the district said. “This is a great night to show your Mustang pride.” The undefeated team was coached by now-retired head coach Fred Lorensen and assistant coach Joel Grier. It featured future Iowa Hawkeye and NFL
tight end Brandon Myers who left PCM as the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder. “Everyone on the team had a role and we knew our roles. We really gelled that season,” Myers said in 2020 when he was selected for induction into the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Along with Myers, seniors Trent Kain, Jerry West, Brook Maher and sophomore Grant Burns started for the Mustangs during the state championship run. Trent Van Genderen, Gavin Wilson, Keaton Van Ryswyk, Justin DeGraff, Drew Weyers, Joey Terpstra, Adam Streeter, Matthew Dop, Corey Snyder and Jeremy Terpstra rounded out the roster. While playing in “The Barn”
Miller-Meeks reelected to third term in Congress following recount
formerly known as Veterans Memorial Auditorium, PCM started its championship run with a quarterfinal matchup against Aplington-Parkersburg. The Mustangs glided through with a 62-54 win with the semifinal game next. The team got a six-point win over Sioux Center to put them in the championship game for the first time where they would meet St. Edmond of Fort Dodge. It was a hard fought double overtime game but the Mustangs came out on top 58-57 to claim the trophy and live forever in Iowa boys basketball history. It was a moment many will never forget. Now, the communiTroy Hyde/PCM Explorer ties can once again celebrate the Former PCM basketball coaches Fred Lorensen and Joel historic accomplishment at a Fri- Grier pose with the state championship trophy, center, day night ball game in the gym. along with additional state basektball trophies.
Volunteers go out of their way to make this Christmas event ‘tree-mendous’ Museum to host its fourth holiday-inspired tour that features more than 200 trees
Bohannan-initiated recount shows race was decided by only 798 votes By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Results from the districtwide recount of Iowa’s 1st Congressional District race confirm that Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is, indeed, the victor over Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan, who has contested the twoterm seat a second consecutive time. The Miller-Meeks race was decided by 798 votes. In a notice published by the Jasper County Auditor’s
Office, it stated the results of the recount did not change and therefore there would not be another canvass. Miller-Meeks issued a press release after being declared the winner, calling her near-800 vote gap an “insurmountable lead” and describing Bohannan a “failed congressional candidate” whose recount would cost Iowa taxpayers almost $20,000. This effectively amounts to a fraction of a penny per person in the district. The recount certainly won’t break the bank for Iowans. But nevertheless it puts an end to one of the most contested races in the state and throughout the MILLER-MEEKS | 3
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer Dave Rorabaugh, chair of the Christmas committee for the Jasper County Historical Museum Board of Directors, said volunteers go out of their way to ensure the Tree-mendous Christmas Experience feels like an entirely new experience every year.
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Volunteers have spent a combined 1,200 hours trans-
IT’S ALL ABOUT GIVING
forming the Jasper County Historical Museum into a winter wonderland better known as the Tree-mendous Christmas Experience, which is entering its fourth year after a
A publication of est. 1851
Jamee A. Pierson/ PCM Explorer The annual Jasper County 4-H Festival of Trees is now set up at the courthouse in Newton. The trees have a variety of themes with an overall theme of “giving.”
decorated with a variety of ornaments, both traditional and out-of-the-box. 4-H kids from across the county gathered to
MUSEUM | 3
Jasper County 4-H Festival of Trees highlights community-centered giving theme for local clubs
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer Back for another beautiful year is the Jasper County 4-H Festival of Trees. Housed at the Jasper County Courthouse, trees surround the centerpiece two-story tree in the rotunda on both the first and second floor. “Clubs pick a charity or non-profit to support then pick items to either put on the tree to decorate with,” Iowa State University Extension and Outreach County Youth Coordinator Stacey Wilson said. Overnight at the start of Thanksgiving week trees popped up in the courthouse
very successful season in 2023 that managed to draw 1,300 visitors. Barb Carroll, treasurer of the
make their club’s own unique tree. “It is a really fun night,” Wilson said. “No matter what
kind of day you are having, you see all of the kids, some who haven’t seen each other since the fair, it is exciting and
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warms your heart.” Many organizations benefit from the tree’s themes including Quilts of Valor, the PCM Food Pantry, local animal organizations and a variety of nonprofits throughout the county. The festival not only brings eye candy to the courthouse, it also works to help those in need where they live. “When we had the Animal Rescue League they would use dog or cat toys,” Wilson said. “They are all so unique. There is one club that makes their tree out of packages of toilet paper that they then donate to the PCM Food Pantry. Then, FESTIVAL | 3
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