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Vehicular homicide trial continued to next year
Preserve Iowa Summit eyes Newton for 2019 conference
Newton Daily News
By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News
The trial date in a vehicular homicide case has been scheduled for next year following a c ont i nu e d pre-trial conference in Jasper C o u n ty District Court Monday. Alex M. Spangenburg Spangenburg, 23, was arrested in connection to a fatal motorcycle crash on Oct. 22, 2016 in Newton. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for Jan. 29, and a trial date was scheduled for Feb. 14. Spangenburg is charged with the death of Bret Rice, 26, of Des Moines. Spangenburg is accused of being the driver of a motorcycle which struck a curb and a utility pole at West Fourth Street South and South 15th Avenue West near Maytag Park. Newton police said Spangenburg’s BAC was more than .163 at the time of the crash. Spangenburg turned himself in Feb. 20, 2016 following a warrant for his arrest. Spangenburg, formerly of Newton, is the same man charged with a Monroe burglary and assault on July 27. Spangenburg allegedly followed a vehicle and punched the driver twice in the face in an attempt to force his way in. The incident occurred while the vehicle sat idled at a stop sign at the intersection of Mills and Marion streets in Monroe. TRIAL | 3A
a Statement of Confidentiality, an Iowa Criminal History Record Check and provide a copy of their photo ID. Newton High School Principal Bill Peters said determining the level of access a volunteer or a visitor has to students was how his staff has made the determination of whether or not they would require parents to complete the volunteer application. “If a teacher will be there all the time, there’s no need for a lengthy background check,” Peters said. During Monday night’s meeting, Callaghan stressed it is important for staff in the district to make a clear distinction between a volunteer and a visitor. “A volunteer is someone who has access to individual students without staff supervision,” Callaghan said. “In the classroom cutting cake, that’s not a chaperone, that’s volunteering yes, but they don’t have access to students.”
An effort to host an event which could bring more than 200 people to Newton is underway. City council gave approval for Newton to serve as the 2019 Preserve Iowa Summit host and to the Newton Historic Preservation Commission to apply for a Certified Local Government grant to help fund the event. “The Preserve Iowa Summit is the annual conference for historic preservation professionals in the state of Iowa,” director of planning and zoning Erin Chambers said. “Every year, many professional entities have an annual conference for learning opportunities, so the Preserve Iowa Summit is that opportunity.” Newton’s Historic Preservation Commission has gained the reputation as a preservation leader within the state and in June was named the 2017 Preservationist of the Year. After receiving the recognition, the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office asked if Newton would consider hosting the summit in 2019. “During the past 10 years, the Newton Historic Preservation Commission has made quite a name for themselves in terms of all of the efforts they have done for historical preservation,” Chambers said. “It is the foundation work that they did, beginning in 2008, that made projects like Hotel Maytag possible and that made it possible for Newton to become a Main Street community.” The commission expressed excitement about the opportunity to host the summit, Chambers said. Bringing a weekend long event to Newton also aligns with the goals created by the Newton Community Marketing Board, who at its August meeting gave support to the event. The summit would take place June 6, 7 and 8, 2019. “It is a great time to showcase our community,” Chambers said. “We
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SUMMIT | 3A
David Dolmage/Daily News Newton High School Principal Bill Peters speaks to board members regarding the district’s visitor policy during Monday’s school board meeting.
Board revisits school district’s visitor policy Background checks only required when volunteers are present without staff By David Dolmage Newton Daily News School board members and staff at Newton schools reviewed the district’s visitor policy during lMonday’s meeting of the Newton School Board. Superintendent Bob Callaghan said the discussion was intended to make sure staff and board members understood the policy and how it will be implemented during the 2017-2018 school year. In the past, board members have heard complaints from parents over the need to complete a background check in order to volunteer at the school. There are no changes to the existing policy, but Callaghan said by clarifying the policy he hoped parents and staff members would have a better understanding of the district’s policy.
“We want people to understand what requires a background check and what does not,” Callaghan said. Board member Shari Benson said she’s heard concerns from parents in the past about whether or not a background check was required in order for parents to visit their children during the school day. Benson told the board she had received a call from a grandparent who wanted to attend a class party and was told they’d need to complete the volunteer application process in order to attend the event at the school. On average, it takes two weeks for the district to process a volunteer application. Interested parties are required to complete a volunteer information form, Child Abuse Registry Clearance, Sex Offender Registry Law Compliance,
Newton native experiences Governor Charity Steer Show By Kayla Langmaid Newton Daily News An experience at the Iowa State Fair is still on the mind of a Newton native who participated in the 2017 Governor Charity Steer Show this month. Jacob Smith, Newton FFA and his steer, El Macho, represented the Iowa Hereford Breeder’s Association Aug. 12. It goes without saying that El Macho is a pretty big steer. Since his freshman year of high school, Smith said he typically showed heifers at the fair and showing a steer
was a different experience. “My family has around 60 heifers on a farm west of Newton,” Smith said. “El Macho was his registered name, but around home we called him Fred.” El Macho weighed in at 1,375 pounds and was easy to work with, according to Smith. “It just seems like they (steers) are smarter, and they have a calmer temperament,” Smith said. Smith, a sophomore at Northwest Missouri State, was selected to participate in the show, and in return, he donat-
ed the money that was raised to the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa. The 2016 NHS graduate said he really enjoyed meeting and making connections with several policymakers throughout the three days. It was U.S. Senator Joni Ernst who sold El Macho for $12,650. “I met her and her husband and I found out more about her background and why she does what she does,” Smith said. Smith said he also met Gov. Kim Reynolds during a luncheon. SMITH | 3A
Submitted Photos Jacob Smith, a Newton native, participated in the 2017 Governor Charity Steer Show with his steer, El Macho at the Iowa State Fair. U.S. Senator Joni Ernst sold El Macho for $12,650.
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Jasper County physician honored / 8A
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