Supervisors approve pet costume contest on courthouse lawn

While it hasn’t taken place for awhile, Pet Kingdom’s pet costume contest will be making a return this year.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors gave the pet grooming services owner, Sharon Wallway, approval to hold the contest at 5 p.m., Oct. 30 on the west side of the courthouse lawn.

“The last time we did it … it was close to 100 people and that was awhile ago,” Wallway said.

Wallway said the event would coincide with Newton’s Beggars Night and that Craig Light, executive director of the Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce, reached out to her to bring back the contest.

Pets Kingdom will provide pet owners with the necessary supplies to clean up after their animals, Wallway said. As more details about the contest are developed, they will be released according to a post on the business’ Facebook page.

The board also approved use of the courthouse rotunda for 4-H Festival of Trees.

The Festival of Trees has become an annual tradition for Jasper County 4-H clubs. Every year, the group decorates Christmas trees in the courthouse rotunda as a way to raise funds for local charitable organizations.

The tees will be setup on Nov. 24 and be on display in the rotunda until Dec. 29.

In other business, Sheriff John Haflerty’s quarterly report — which encompassed the months of July, August and September — was approved.

His office collected $152,228.39 in receipts and dispersed $161,946.05 for the quarter. As of Sept. 30, the office has a fund balance of $11,623.69 and it began the quarter with its balance at $21,341.25.

Contact Senior Staff Writer Ty Rushing at (641) 792-3121 Ext. 6532 or trushing@newtondailynews.com