Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024
Vol. 6, No. 17
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
STATE CHAMPIONS
PCM Dance Team brings home first place in hip hop, third in pom from state competition
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer The PCM Dance Team performs its first place hip hop dance at the Iowa State Dance Team Association State Championship Competition Dec. 6 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The dancers earned top prize out of 11 teams in the division. The team also brought home a third place trophy for its pom routine in the 12-team Class VIII category. Both dances earned Division I ratings for the performances.
‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas’ Holiday events take over Prairie City and Monroe Dec. 13 - 15 By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer Holiday event in Monroe and Prairie City will feature a change to meet Santa Claus. In Monroe, Santa will be at the fire station from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 14. In Prairie City, the head elf will stop by the Holiday Shindig from 5 to 7 p.m. at Sacred Willow Farms.
The holiday spirit is in the air and Monroe and Prairie City are ready to celebrate the season. From Santa Claus to shopping, Dec. 13 and 14 are full of fun activities throughout the communities. Santa Claus will be at the Monroe Fire Department from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 14 to hear all of the kid’s Christmas
wishes. The annual event features a photo opportunity, popcorn, music and treats. The City of Monroe is looking to see whose lights shine brightest with a holiday lights contest. To enter, stop by Monroe City Hall and register the home address for the display. Judges will take a look Dec. 24 to 26 and give out a first place award of HOLIDAY | 3
County VA administrator on paid leave pending investigation Commission will likely determine any action at upcoming meeting next week By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer The administrator of Jasper County Veterans Affairs has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an
investigation, but the alleged misconduct has not been made public. It is likely the veterans affairs commission will hold a closed session after its regularly scheduled meeting this week to discuss the matter. If any action is to be taken to discipline or terminate administrator Alyssa Wilson, then the commission will have to do so when it returns to open meeting following the closed session discussion. Until then, the veterans affairs department is still operational with the shared benefits coordinator,
Josh Price, helming the office. Dennis Simon, director of human resources for Jasper County, declined to give a comment on Wilson’s administrative leave, saying he cannot speak on employee issues that are under internal investigation. However, Simon explained that in the administrator’s absence veterans are still about to receive assistance. “Josh has completed all his documents and they’ve been sent to national, and we’re waiting on them to sign off,” Simon said. “He’ll get is PIV (Per-
sonal Identity Verification) card and he’ll be able to process the claims inhouse. He’ll be able to do everything that the administrator was doing.” Newton News has learned that Price’s accreditation was approved. When his PIV card is finished, he will be able to process claims without the need of another county veteran service officer (VSO). Until then, veterans will work with another county VSO to get everything processed in the system. LEAVE | 3
SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL PARTY PLANNING Supervisors to form celebration committee for U.S.’s 250th birthday in 2026 By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Jasper County wants to throw a party. But not just any kind of run-of-the-mill celebration will do. No, no. Supervisors want to make sure the United States of America’s 250th birthday is a real treat for Jasper County citizens, which is why they reached consensus about creating a steering committee for the 2026 Fourth of July festivities.
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Within the next week or so, the board of supervisors will vote on the creation of this celebration committee to solicit donations and fundraise for the big event. Volunteers in subcommittees will also be needed to develop the idea itself as well as activities for an Independence Day that is only just two years away. Supervisor Brandon Talsma discussed the idea during a Dec. 3 work session. To his knowledge the county did a lot of decorating and
other activities in celebration of America’s bicentennial in 1976. Talsma thought it would be fun if the county took the initiative to form a committee of county officials for the park. For instance, Talsma said maintenance director Adam Sparks — who regularly prepares the courthouse for holiday celebrations — showed interest in being part of the committee, Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer as did county conservation The Jasper County Board of Supervisors is expected to create a celebraPARTY | 3
tion committee for the 250-year anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.
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