Local

Escorted from the Iowa Speedway by dozens of motorcyclists, veterans who will be participating in Tuesday's Jasper County Freedom Flight to Washington, D.C., entered Newton Senior High School around 1 p.m. this afternoon for a send-off ceremony. Dozens of area residents applauded and waved flags as the veterans entered the building. See Monday's print and online versions of the Newton Daily News for more photos of the event.

When Levi Pence purchased the original Wallace Funeral Family Home in 1984, he inherited something else along with the business: Andy Emmert. Pence and Emmert formed a bond over the years, and together will they travel on the final Jasper County Freedom Flight.

A week after an onsalught of motorcycles rolled into Newton for the first Thunder Nites event of the summer, the economic impact to both Newton and those close to the Thunder Nites organization is clear.

Reducing track’s tax burden offset by ticket surcharge

Parks and preservations programs will headline Monday’s regular meeting of the Newton City Council, as discussion regarding updates and future projects in both Newton’s greenspaces and downtown areas take up the majority of the agenda. 

Attorneys met today to determine if rebuttal witness may be used

The Newton YMCA’s Splash program returns May 28-31 for youth ages 6 to 12.

Addressing the problem of pet overpopulation throughout Iowa and specifically in Jasper County means taking action, and a mobile clinic later this month will offer low-cost spaying and neutering services for residents who have outside (barn or alley) or free-roaming feral cats.

Local PEO groups will meet on Tuesday.

The Newton YMCA will unveil and dedicate a statue titled “The Reading Lesson” created by local artist Nick Klepinger during a ceremony at noon Thursday at the YMCA.

An old-fashioned “barn” dance will be from 7 to 10 p.m. tonight at the Pella Memorial Building, 829 Broadway St. in Pella.

The Newton Rotary Club welcomed back all of its Students of the Month during a meeting on May 7. Each student spoke briefly of their future plans and most memorable school moments. Pictured above (from left) are Sid Trotter, Austin Shores, Ryan Jolivette; Back Row:  L-R:  Alex Osborn, Eli Lockwood, Matt Rewis and Jesse Bates. Below: Kaylie Rhoads, Tara Soule, Amanda Richtsmeier, Katelyn Camp, Jenna Conn and Rotary’s in-bound exchange student Nuria Cuando Gutierrez.

The Jasper County Senior Citizens Center, 702 E. Third St. S., will host its monthly bluegrass music jam session and potluck on Saturday. All bluegrass music fans are invited.

Aurora Heights Elementary School looked more like the Blank Park Zoo on Wednesday as fourth grade students presented their research on vertebrate groups of animals, such as reptiles, birds, fish, mammals and amphibians.

It has been said that the Internet is making the world a smaller place and a more interwoven community. This couldn’t be more true for Jasper County artists and craft-makers, now outfitted with a convenient tool to market their goods not only around the country but around the world.

Ella Daft is a root beer aficionado, greets strangers with hugs, is intelligent and articulate, and could very well become the face of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgendered rights movement in Iowa — and she hasn’t even graduated high school.

A 1943 cutline from the Newton Daily News reads “Jesse Beard, a farmer living near Colfax, is shown bidding goodbye to his 18-year-old son, Robert — the fifth to enter the armed services.”

Parents eagerly anticipate the moment when their child first begins to talk. But for some parents, it is a time of anxiety because their child struggles to get words out. As many as 5 percent of preschool children nationwide have repetitions and prolongations of sounds severe enough to be of concern to their parents.

The alleged victim and her father testified Wednesday afternoon in the criminal court trial of a Lynnville man accused of entering a home without permission and making sexual contact with one of the female residents.

In a hastily convened meeting tonight, the Newton City Council will discuss and consider passing a proposal that would reduce the Iowa Speedway’s tax burden, as well as create a ticket surcharge to aid the city in paying down bonds used to assist in funding improvements in and around the speedway.

The Newton Police Department will have a silent auction of approximately 32 bicycles, a ring with a black stone, a watch and miscellaneous jewelry, Power Pro Quantium lawn mower, camera, stroller and IBM laptop Thinkpad from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the back lot of the police department, 101 W. Fourth St. S.

NAMI of Jasper County will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Skiff Medical Center south board room inside the south entrance.

A reception for Newton Community School District Superindendent Steve McDermott is set for 3:45 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30, in the Emerson Hough multi-purpose room.

The Jasper County Historical Museum will host a  coffeetime from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday inside the museum, and visitors should enter through the south door.

In conjunction with National Historic Preservation Month, Larry Hurto will give an audiovisual presentation at 7 p.m. tonight at Bridgehouse Coffee Co. titled “An 1884 Retrospective on Downtown Newton” using photographs taken by Fred Clifford.

The Alzheimer’s Disease Support Group will meet at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Newton Village.

The Survivors of Suicide Support Group will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in the library.

The public is invited to attend a retirement reception from 3:45 to 5 p.m. Monday at the Berg Middle School LMC for Mark Pollastrini and Diana Swihart to honor them for their years of service in the Newton Community School District.

Ashton Chapel Church and Cemetery, located in the northwest corner of Jasper County just north of Mingo at 8887 W. 122nd St. N., will celebrate freedom and honor veterans during a Memorial Day service beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27.

The Jasper County Conservation Board has hired a construction firm to fix damaged areas along the Chichaqua Valley Trail between Ira and Mingo sometime before Memorial Day.

The Relay for Life of Jasper County will host a special cancer lap, a moving experience honoring those who have defeated cancer. Join other survivors in the inspirational lap at 6 p.m. June 7 at H.A. Lynn Stadium in Newton.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Less than two weeks ago, it snowed in some parts of Iowa and Nebraska.

The Journey Bound Quartet, a southern Gospel quartet from the central Iowa area, will perform at 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, at the Prairie City Christian Reformed Church at 608 E. Sixth St. in Prairie City.

Kellogg United Methodist Church will host a fish fry at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 18.

Join the Congregational United Church of Christ at 308 E. Second St. N. for a showing of the movie “Bully” on Wednesday, May 22 at 6 p.m.

During both services on May 19, memorials and gifts received this past year will be dedicated and the Memorial Roll, which will include all members and friends of First church who have passed away this year, will be read and a candle lit in memory of each one.  Curing both services on May 26, the church will honor its 11 graduating high school seniors at the worship services and will host a reception for them in the dining room after the 8:30 a.m. service.

The sendoff for the final Jasper County Freedom Flight will be at 12:30 p.m. Sunday beginning at the Iowa Speedway.

Jury selection was set to begin this morning in the trial of a Lynnville man charged with breaking into a Lynnville home and sexually assaulting a sleeping 17-year-old girl inside.

Dan Livengood of Newton Manufacturing recently presented a check for $512 to Brenda Smith, director of Skiff Home Care. The proceeds came from advertising sales for the Jasper County Empowerment Baby Calendar.

Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting featured the first formal introduction of Popeye, the newest deputy in the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. The board approved the purchase order for the new K-9 narcotic detection dog on March 12.

Quilting and card-making groups benefit members as well as community

The Newton Noon Kiwanis met May 1 and welcomed back all of their Students of the Month. The students gave a program on their future plans and memorable moments at Newton Senior High School. Pictured (first row, from left) are Kora Scotton, Stevi Eggers, Kristin Samson, Katelyn McCarey, Anna Latcham, Anna Lothe, Britney Sameulson and Samantha Schwarz. Back row: Spencer Hook, Tim Stammeyer, Jacob Hill, Ryan Hitchler, Brad Jansma, Leif Williams and Aksel Joy.

Rep. Steve King speaks at the Jasper County Republicans meeting at the Cardinal Hills clubhouse on Monday evening. King spoke on topics of immigration, abortion, budget and Benghazi before meeting with those in attendance.

The Newton Senior High School 2013 Senior Awards Assembly took place on Friday in the Center for Performance with more than 70 presenters appearing on stage to recognize the efforts and achievements of the NHS Class of 2013.

Becoming a Skilled Iowa community is a great way for a city to attract new business to the area, offer valid proof of a qualified workforce and showcase economic growth opportunities.

“I thought I had all my ducks in a row,” Board Secretary/Director Business Affairs Gayle Isaac said. “I continued watching the expenses roll in, and I got nervous.”

Charlie Hunnam’s day job will prevent him from spending a couple of days in Newton later this month.

The Newton Noon Kiwanis will meet from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 223 E. Fourth St. N. in Newton, for lunch and a program by Jeff Wisnieski titled “Home Instead Senior Care.”

The UAW Local 997 Retiree Council will hold a potluck dinner and meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Local 997 Union Hall.

The Piecemaker’s Quilt Guild will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Luke United Methodist Church, 501 E. 19th St. N., for a program and trunk show given by Laura Jochems from Crazy Red Head Quilt Shop in Newton.

Karen Dalke will present a program on “Anabaptist History and Thought” at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Congregational United Church of Christ, 308 E. Second St. N. in Newton.

Barrett Homemakers

A program that began with just five pieces of specialty mobility equipment in 1997 will mark its 16th anniversary of serving those within Jasper County with an open house this week.

According to pageant organizers, a Monroe teen will represent Iowa later this year in the 2013 Miss American Teen Pageant.

Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty will be present at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting and will be seeking board approval of a Community Oriented Policing Services grant for a school resource officer.

Jasper County Veterans Affairs Director Chris Chartier announced late last week that interest in bringing the Vet Center services to Newton is strong enough to warrant serious consideration.

Newton is well known for its linebacker — of the football sort. Next month, it will welcome a host of Linebackers of a different sort.

Thursday afternoon Gov. Terry Branstad signed into law House File 495, otherwise known as the “Landlord-Tenant Bill,” which updates legal protections for both landlords and tenants. HF 495 passed the House and the Senate unanimously. Rep. Greg Heartsill, who brought the bill out of committee and managed it on the House floor, attended the bill signing ceremony. Heartsill commented, “A lot of work went into this bill behind the scenes to get the various groups on board with it and to muster strong bi-partisan support. The governor handed me the first pen that signed the bill into law to recognize my efforts in passing this legislation. That was quite an honor.”

The Vietnam Era Veterans group will meet at 6 p.m. Friday at the Midtown Café. Following the events surrounding The Wall That Heals event, a number of new veterans have been identified. Anyone who served is encouraged to attend.

Rep. Greg Heartsill hosted Lynnville-Sully students and Dutch exchange students from the Netherlands at the Iowa Statehouse last week. Heartsill commented, “I always enjoy meeting with students and helping them to better understand the workings of our system of government.”

From the files of the Newton Daily News

Jasper Conservation Connection and the Jasper County Conservation Board will be partnering again to host the sixth annual “Hook, Line & Sinker” family fishing derby at 9 a.m. June 8 at Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve.

When Hawkeye Stages owners Steve and Kari Tjossem purchased a vacant car dealership they brought another new business to the increasingly diverse economic landscape that currently makes up Newton.