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DAILY NEWS FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Roads, traffic signals, trash hauling and more to go before council By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News A full agenda will go before the Newton City Council during its regular meeting on Monday. Items including pavement rehabilitation, a design upgrade for downtown
traffic lights, an agreement with Dodd’s Trash and Hauling services and a new vault restroom for Agnes Patterson Park are on the agenda to be addressed. The city had found the condition and ride of East 17th Street South in the 200 through
700 blocks and South 11th Avenue West in the 400 through 800 block has declined and is in need of rehabilitation or repairs. The plan before the council is to perform a diamond grinding to the streets which eliminates mismatched or faults pavement panels and
joints, leaves a uniform textures surface and improves the ride for motorists. Also on the agenda, the existing traffic signals along First Avenue in the downtown from West Fourth Street to East Fourth Street are 34-years-old and in need of replacement
Newton housing projects denied IFA tax credits
since repair parts are difficult to obtain. Due to the age of the electronics and controllers, the signal timing is often inconsistent resulting in motorist stopping several times along First Avenue. COUNCIL | 3A
Cancer benefit brings local businesses, community together Newton man fighting stage four cancer By Kayla Langmaid Newton Daily News A benefit for a Newton man diagnosed with stage four lung cancer is slated for Saturday to raise money for treatment expenses. Terry Cooper Jr. is a Newton native, husband, father and grandfather, and was given 10 months to live when he was diagnosed in December. From 3 to 10 p.m. at Fore Seasons Golf, the community
will have the opportunity to show their support for the well-known Newtonian. Cooper’s cousin, Mike Butler, of Newton, initiated and began planning the benefit nearly eight weeks ago. Butler said the community has truly rallied together to donate items for the benefit. “His mother, my aunt, called me distraught, and I ended up saying I would run this benefit,” Butler said. After his diagnosis in December, Cooper has received three rounds of chemo. Butler said BENEFIT | 3A
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News A complete renovation of McCann Village was one of three projects in Newton not selected to receive any funding from the Iowa Finance Authority tax credit program. Eleven rental projects totaling more than $73.6 million in eight counties were selected out of 25 applicants to receive the awards.
By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News Three Newton housing projects that applied for tax credits from the Iowa Finance Authority did not receive funding, IFA announced Thursday. The IFA Board of Directors awarded federal housing tax credits to 11 rental projects totaling more than $73.6 million in equity to build and preserve 513 housing units in Boone, Bremer, Clay, Dubuque, Linn, Polk, Wapello and Woodbury counties.
Developers interested in building in Newton included Miller-Valentine and Cohen-Esrey, which proposed building separate 48-unit and 38-unit apartments in downtown Newton. The third project was a $4 million renovation of McCann Village by Wishrock Housing Partners. “It is disappointing because we really wanted to make an effort to have more high-quality rentals that were affordable for the citizens and the workforce here,” city director of finance and de-
velopment Bryan Friedman said. “From preliminary conversations with some of the applicants, they are ready to try again and willing to make another effort at this whether through a different program or through next year’s round. There is still strong interest in the Newton market from these developers to meet the need that they know is there for the demand of new, high-quality apartments or renovated ones in the case of the McCann project.” CREDITS | 3A
‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ opens Friday at Newton Community Theatre Special to the Newton Daily News Newton Community Theatre amateur production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” dramatizes Christ’s final days through the eyes of his betrayer, Judas Iscariot. It is all about the stirring score, sometimes rocking majestic and dramatic, sometimes satirical and tender, and this production under the direction of Sue Beukema and the musical direction of Cathy Wickett makes the most of every note. In his role as Jesus, Will Edgar is able to showcase not only his tremendous voice but his ability to portray both the gentle loving side of Jesus as well as the angry, disillusioned
Jesus that appears towards the last days. Conor Fudge, with his powerful voice, has an energy and strength that makes Judas seem recognizably human. Softness and sensitivity are provided by the subtle introspection and pure clear voices of Adrianne Fazel as Mary Magdalene and Peter, played by Steve Barnett. Other standouts in the supporting cast are Kelly Peavey and Mike Wignall, both convincingly conniving and diabolical as Caiaphas and Annas, and effectively delivering the required contrast of deep bass and high tenor in “This Jesus Must Die.” SUPERSTAR | 3A
St. Stephen’s donates $2,000 to NHS food service
Kayla Langmaid/Daily News The St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Newton donated $2,000 to the food service department at Newton High School Thursday afternoon. Cristy Croson, food service supervisor, said the money will be used for the remainder of the school year to help cover the cost of school lunches for students in need. Pictured here, from left, Roxanne VanErsvelde, Jim Tracy, Cristy Croson, the Rev. Karen Crawford and Kathy Trotter.
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WHERE IT’S AT Astrograph......................5B Calendar..........................5A Classifieds......................4B
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Submitted Photo Pictured is Terry Cooper’s wife, Jerica Cooper, left, and Terry Cooper Jr., right, of Newton, Terry was diagnosed with stage four non-small cell lung cancer in December and given 10 months to live. The community will rally together Friday to raise money for Cooper’s treatment expenses from 3 to 10 p.m. at Fore Seasons Golf Practice.
Comics & Puzzles...........6A Dear Abby........................6A Local News......................2A
Obituaries.......................5A Opinion............................4A State News......................7A
NHS state qualifiers honored
Several high school teams excelled / 2A
Volume No. 115 No. 220 2 sections 18 pages
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