NDN-07-11-2017

Page 1

NEWTON

CARDS ON THE FLY

Newton takes on No. 9 Knoxville on the road / 1B

DAILY NEWS TUESDAY, JULY 11, 2017 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW

newtondailynews.com

HIGH

90 75 LOW

Facebook.com/newtondailynews

@newtondnews

Welcomed showers, thunderstorm also causes several power outages Newton Daily News

Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News Following the success of the Jewel Tea Court development, the city will release funds for infrastructure costs and a sidewalk project to the developer, the First Newton National Development Corporation, and its contractor, BTS Construction.

City releases funds for Jewel Tea Court development By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News

Incentive funds totaling almost $40,000 agreed upon for the Jewel Tea Court development have been released by the city. City council approved $15,000 for infrastructure costs and an estimated $24,646 for a sidewalk project to the developer, the First Newton National Development Corporation, and its contractor, BTS Construction. “It is so exciting to see. People are excited, I see citizens watching as they were building them,” councilwoman Miranda Kulis said. The Jewel Tea Court development, located on former D&D Program lots in the 300 block of East Fourth Street North, consists of eight townhome units. The city sold the lots to the First Newton National Development

Corporation in May 2016 for $8,000. One of the provisions for incentives of the sale was for the city to provide up to $15,000 “for infrastructure costs involved in utility connections and concrete work.” Following construction, FNNDC and BTS have provided the required documentation that more than twice the $15,000 amount has now been spent on the project infrastructure city administrator Matt Muckler said.. Also in the agreement, the city is responsible for the costs of installing “streetscape and sidewalks in the public right-of-way surrounding the entire site.” The developer has also provided documentation of the cost estimates and initial invoices associated with the sidewalk installation and has requested reimbursement of expenditures. The side-

walk project will, at most, cost $24,646 Muckler said. “It look really, really nice and it has been fun to drive by and see the progress and the change in the neighborhood,” councilwoman Evelyn George said. Throughout construction, the development has received a lot of interest from potential buyers, with one unit already sold and several others pending sale. “It just reaffirms the private, public partnership in order to reinvest in your community, with the private partnership having the most funds involved in this. Another shining example,” mayor Mike Hansen said. Funds from the incentive portion of the Newton Housing Initiative bond will be used to refund the costs. Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com

A much needed rain passed through Jasper County early Tuesday morning, bringing along a little thunder and lightening with it. The thunderstorm caused several power outages near Newton and Reasnor affecting a total of 11 customers according to Alliant Energy. The storm brought with it up to an inch in rain in some areas, quenching the crops,

flowers and lawns with a long overdue drink. No major damage was reported due to the storm and crews from Alliant were on the scene making repairs mid-morning on Tuesday. Although the sun may be hiding behind clouds the next couple of days, temperatures are expected to soar to the mid-90s Tuesday and Wednesday. Another round of storms is predicted for Thursday, which will also cool the temperature down to the low to mid-80s.

D&D Program sells additional lots for redevelopment By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News The Dangerous and Dilapidated Program is seeing results once again. D&D lots at 1400, 1404 and 1500 E. Sixth St. S. were approved for sale to RC Homes by city council to be redeveloped several new houses. “We received one offer for the properties,” Newton Planning and Zoning Director Erin Chambers said. “The offer is to purchase all

three properties for a total price of $25,000 with a commitment to build three single-family homes on that property.” The three lots, located in southeast Newton, consist of two regular size lots and one double lot. Renderings of potential homes to be built on the lots were submitted to council and garnered positive feedback for, in part, the exterior design aspects. D&D | 3A

Back Alley Beauty by Fine Things opens downtown By Kayla Langmaid Newton Daily News

O

ne of Newton’s favorite home decor stores has increased its clientele by opening a new beauty salon downtown. Back Alley Beauty by Fine Things opened its doors at 205 First Ave. W. last month and is located just behind Fine Things Reclaimed. Building owner and store owner Julia Prendergast opened the salon as an outlet for local hair stylists and shoppers to come and relax. “I own the building so it made sense when the space became available,” Prendergast said. “I talked with a local hair stylist, Monica Rae, and we discussed how there are a lot of hair stylists out there who want to do hair part-time.” Prendergast said there are a lot of local stylists who work fulltime along with doing hair. “It just takes a lot to survive these days, so I thought why don’t we

Kayla Langmaid/Daily News Back Alley Beauty by Fine Things is now open at 205 First Ave. W., just behind the Fine Things Reclaimed decor store.

Kayla Langmaid/Daily News Julia Prendergast, left, owner of Back Alley Beauty by Fine Things, and Monica Rae, manager, opened the salon last month and is located behind Fine Things Reclaimed at 205 First Ave. W.

make it a part of Fine Things and make the place look really cool,” Prendergast said. “We wanted to make a place that people would want to continue to come to.

We have the seats where you can put your feet up.” The idea to open the salon began in January and now there are three to four part-time stylists

who work at Back Alley Beauty. “We are all about helping people earn a living and having fun in a nice environment,” Prendergast said. Rae, the manager of the salon, said the name came naturally because of how much people use the back door versus the First Avenue entrance. “Everyone just parks out back and when we

$1.00

7

98213 00008

4

the hours of the parttime stylists. Walk-ins are welcome if there is someone in the salon. Prendergast said she hopes to bring a positive atmosphere to Newton. “I want people to say ‘if you haven’t been there yet, you have to go there’,” Prendergast said. Prendergast said business at Fine Things SALON | 3A

LOCAL

WHERE IT’S AT Astrograph......................5B Calendar..........................5A Classifieds......................4B

mentioned the name Back Alley, everyone was kind of like ‘I love it’,” Rae said. When Fine Things Reclaimed is open the salon sees a lot of customers bounce back and forth from getting their hair done to shopping, or vice versa. “We are a one-stop place,” Rae said. The full-service salon is open based on

Comics & Puzzles...........6A Dear Abby........................6A Local Sports......................1B

Obituaries.......................5A Opinion............................4A State News......................7A

Neal Smith NWR photo hike

Next event set for Sunday afternoon / 3A

Volume No. 116 No. 36 2 sections 14 pages

Thank you Tammy Jackson of Newton for subscribing to the Newton Daily News. To subscribe, call 641-792-5320 or visit newtondailynews.com.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
NDN-07-11-2017 by Shaw Media - Issuu