Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024
Vol. 6, No. 19
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
SHUT DOWN By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
An often controversial piece of equipment in Prairie City are no longer allowed to be used. In a letter from the Iowa Department of Transportation on Sept. 30, the city’s permit application to continue using speed cameras was denied after speed camera use was legislated in House File 2681 earlier this year. “We are disappointed by the DOT’s decision,” Prairie City Mayor Chad Alleger said. “From our understanding of how the bill was written, we should have been approved”. In the denial letter, systems operations division director Dave Lorenzen said the three fixed cameras located on Highway 163 and South State Street across from Prairie City Elementary were deemed “not necessary.” The city was instructed to “cease using all systems at those locations until the city obtains a permit to operate” them from the IDOT. “The city may choose to reapply
Speed cameras use denied in Prairie City by IDOT
for a permit at a later date,” Lorenzen said. “However, since the city is not being issued a permit at this time, the earlier the IDOT could issue a permit for any new location or for previously denied location is July 1, 2026.” According to House Fire 2681 section 321P the IDOT may approve or disapprove the application for a permit based on the department’s determination that a system is appropriate and necessary and the least restrictive means to address the critical traffic safety issues at a location. For existing systems, an application had to be submitted with a list of system locations, justification for placement of the systems and use of the systems. That is the application that was denied by the IDOT causing the city to cease using the speed cameras as of Oct. 1. “The use of this system had greatly reduced the number of speeding vehicles coming through the area by the school and on the highway which has made the CAMERAS | 2
Decision made PCM School Board approves upper and lower elementary building split By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer The three stationary speed cameras located in Prairie City were denied a permit for use following state legislation limiting speed cameras use earlier this year.
In a unanimous decision, the PCM School Board approved moving to preschool through second grade at Monroe Elementary, and third through fifth grade at Prairie City Elementary for elementary education. The decision was made for the 202425 school year during the April 15 board meeting. In a statement, the board shared why it came to this decision: “This was a tough decision to make, and it was not taken lightly as a lot of time was put into it. We believe, at this time, this is the best decision for PCM School District, both educationally and financially. We would like to thank all parents,
staff and community members who have reached out and helped make this decision.” Discussions on the topic started in February when the proposal of aligning third grade in Prairie City was brought before the board. At that time, PCM Elementary Principal Donita Geetings said with a retirement of a third grade teacher there would be three classes in Prairie City and one in Monroe, making it an ideal time to combine the students. The board tabled the topic after wanting to explore more options. If all of third grade were to move to Prairie City, Monroe would be left with one class in kindergarten through second ELEMENTARIES | 2
THE GRANDEST OF OPENINGS
After more than 13 years of work, the new Prairie City Library, located in downtown west of city hall, opened with fanfare and a large crowd excited to see the renovated space
PCM Middle School blazing a new trail The 3DS — 3 Durable Skills — system is in place to address and track student effort, respect and peer interaction behaviors while at school By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer Since the start of the school year, students at PCM Middle School have been graded not only on their academic work but their soft skills, as well. The school introduced 3DS — 3 Durable Skills — as a way to address the students effort, respect and peer interaction behaviors while in the building. “When I think about students, I’m not only thinking about their academic side but they have the other side the coin, their personal growth. In school, we are
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ultra focused on their academics, but in my mind important things are the ability to communicate, work together and give effort,” PCM Middle School Principal Sam Brown said. When you do interview of business and as “what do you want” when hiring, no local businesses are saying we need someone to run the Pythagorean Theorem like a son-of-agun, they want people that are creative thinkers, works well with others, shows up to work — soft skills. Those were things we didn’t have any way to report on and most schools don’t.” Brown has found when
parents ask him about how their student is doing they often want to know not only where they are academically but also socially and emotionally. By adding 3DS into the mix, parents can see weekly how their student in doing through the district’s Infinite Campus system. “They want to know if their student is listening, being respectful, helping others, etc.,” Brown said. “The goal of this 3DS System is to fill that communication gap. We strongly believe that this is information that all families should have access to in 3DS | 3
IT’S THE ‘TEA’ BOMB Mustang Nutrition opens in downtown Monroe, serving area favorites like shakes and mega tea bombs By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer Monroe community members don’t have to travel far to get their fill of mega tea bombs and shakes anymore. Mustang Nutrition, located at 102 N. Commerce St. on the square, has a wide variety of drinks from refreshers and coffees to wildly popular teas and shakes in so many flavors it will be hard to pick a favorite. “For shakes the salted cara- mel crunch cone is my favor- ite. It is absolutely amazing; the best ever,” owner Kenzie Cordes said. “For teas, I can’t decide sometimes. I like sweet, sometimes I like sour. I can’t tell you one.” Cordes opened the doors of Mus-
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Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer Colorful mega tea bombs, delicious shakes and many more tasty treats are available at Mustang Nutrition on the west side of the square in Monroe.
tang Nutrition in ear- ly 2024, her third nutrition club. She started in West Des Moines after owners of an al- ready opened club were look- ing for move on and branched out to neighboring Pleasantville last year. “My first one was in West Des NUTRITION | 3
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