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DAILY NEWS FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2017 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Chickens, youth flock to Newton Public Library Jasper County Farm Bureau hosts program By Kayla Langmaid Newton Daily News Local parents and children didn’t have to travel far Thursday afternoon to observe a little bit of the farm life. The Jasper County Farm Bureau held an event at the Newton Public Library called “Little Hands on the Farm.” A handful of children had the opportunity to observe several chickens up close and personal
File Photo Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty was given the go ahead to add two new sergeant positions at the sheriff’s office, replacing two deputy position and adding depth to management in the department.
Two sergeant positions added to sheriff’s office By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News Staffing changes moving forward at the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office will add depth to management positions. The Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved the addition of two sergeant positions for the office at its regular meeting on Tuesday. “I think this is essential. Working with them over the last nine years, I think it will benefit the organization on what we need,” Human Resource Director Dennis Simon said. “I think our lieutenants, as John (Halferty)
has changed some of the organization out there and added responsibilities to the lieutenants, this will benefit us to give more focus to the different departments whether it is jail, dispatch, narcotics enforcement or patrol. I think it is a good move and will be beneficial.” The positions will not be an addition to the staff already at the sheriff ’s office but two deputies would be promoted to the sergeant positions. The change will give more depth in management to control, direct the patrol staff and allow them to utilize lieutenants for other duties Si-
mon said. The office plans to fill one of the sergeant positions soon and see how it integrates into the organization. Then, after evaluating the change, it will look to potentially fill the second position in six months or at a later date. The sergeant position will be a paid salary position and earn a percentage of the sheriff ’s salary. Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty said he does not see a big impact on the budget due to the reduction of overtime pay from the hourly position.
Climbers ready to ‘hang out’ at Boulder Park
on the library’s lawn and they learned about the farm animals in the process. Jaci Reeves, a second-year intern at the farm bureau and a 2016 Newton High School graduate, lead the discussion with a white Silkie Bantam chicken in hand. This chicken, named Luna, was not in the right temperament to be shown off. Reeves said Luna was “broody,” which means the changes in behavior of a hen who is ready to brood eggs. Luna trotted away from the group and was CHICKENS | 3A
Kayla Langmaid/Daily News The Jasper County Farm Bureau hosted a program, “Little Hands on the Farm” Thursday afternoon at the Newton Public Library. Farm bureau intern Jaci Reeves holds a white Silkie chicken named Luna.
SHERIFF | 3A
Newton man sentenced to 16 years in kidnapping case Newton Daily News A Newton man was sentenced to 16 years in prison Tuesday on charges of kidnapping, solicitation of a felony and drug charges stemming from an incident in August in rural Jasper County. Cecil W. Williamson, 50, pleaded guilty in Jasper County District Court to
one count of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a class C felony, one count of soWilliamson licitation of a felony, a class D felony and one count
of false imprisonment, a serious misdemeanor. District court judge Terry Rickers sentenced Williamson to serve his sentences consecutively. Williamson was fined more than $2,000 and a five-year no contact order was put into place between Williamson and the victim. WILLIAMSON | 3A
City looking to fund several projects at meeting By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News Climber Reuben Layton tries his hand climbing the new boulders at Aurora Park. The first-of-its-kind in Iowa Boulder Park is ready for climbers to scale the cliffs edge on two gigantic rocks in the southeast corner of the park.
The City of Newton will look to enter into several General Obligation Loan Agreements at its regular city council meeting on Monday. The loans would be used to cover various utilities, improvements at the DMACC Newton campus and work at Hotel Maytag. The first loan, the “Es-
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partments, acquiring, demolishing and restoring dangerous and dilapidated properties and providing funding for the Newton Housing Initiative Program. The second loan, the “Urban Renewal Loan Agreement,” is not to exceed $550,000 and will be used to pay the costs of undertaking urban renewal COUNCIL | 3A
LOCAL
WHERE IT’S AT Astrograph......................5B Calendar..........................5A Classifieds......................4B
sential Purpose Loan Agreement,” is not to exceed $2.3 million and will be used to pay the costs of constructing streets, water systems, storm water drainage, sanitary sewer system and sidewalk improvements, installing public emergency sirens, acquiring public works equipment and vehicles, acquiring vehicles and equipment for the municipal police and fire de-
Comics & Puzzles...........6A Dear Abby........................6A Local Sports......................1B
Obituaries.......................5A Opinion............................4A State News......................7A
Autistic teen starts business
Colfax resident creates “Easy Spark” / 10A
Volume No. 116 No. 20 2 sections 16 pages
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