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Rhone named new public works director By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News Jody Rhone has been named the new public works director for the City of Newton. Mayor Mike Hansen made the announcement during the city council meeting on Monday.
Rhone
“I am very excited. I know it is going to be a challenge, but I am excited,” Rhone said. “I worked my up here.” The possibility of
becoming the director was something Rhone had thought about, but it wasn’t until the city removed the engineering requirement he knew he would qualify to lead the department. Rhone has been with the city for almost 25 years having started in 1993. He has worked
in many different capacities including as the streets superintendent, the operations superintendent and, most recently, co-interim director. “We are excited to find someone with his experience and qualifications,” city administrator Matt Muckler said. “I think he is going
‘We’re like two peas in a pod’
to make an excellent public works director for the City of Newton.” Rhone takes over for former director Keith Laube who left the position in July. Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com
Hotel Maytag poised for ‘speedy’ redevelopment after sale Renovation expected to begin early 2018 By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News
David Dolmage/Daily News Tom McKinney, left, listens during the dinner presentation at the monthly meeting of the Vietnam Veterans Alliance on Friday night in Newton. Steve Bookout, right, applauds during the meeting. The two men served in Vietnam together and later worked at Maytag together, but never spoke of the war until after they retired.
Vietnamese and American Veterans reconnect By David Dolmage Newton Daily News Steve Bookout and Tom McKinney worked side by side at Maytag for more than 25 years without realizing it wasn’t the first time they’d worked together. After graduating from Newton High School in 1966, both men served in Vietnam, with Bookout flying Huey helicopters for the Army, and McKinney patrolling the rivers with the Navy. They learned early on when they got back to Newton not to talk about the war, and both men never mentioned it until running into each other at a retirement party. “We were two peas in a pod, but you just didn’t acknowledge that you were a Vietnam vet back
David Dolmage/Daily News Vinh Nguyen, President of the Vietnamese American Community in Iowa, accepts the gift of an ARVN Ranger’s helmet during the monthly meeting of the Vietnam Veterans Alliance Friday night in Newton.
then,” Bookout said. “In 25 years we’d never talked about it.” On Friday at the monthly meeting of the Jasper County Vietnam Veterans Alliance, Bookout and McKinney had a chance to connect with some other Vietnam veterans from the Army of the Vietnam Republic. These men, part of a community of Vietnamese expats living in the Des Moines area had reached out to Bookout, and it wasn’t long before they discovered they had a common bond. “They’re vets just like us, and they live in Iowa now just like we do,” Bookout said. “Even though we don’t speak each other’s language there’s a common bond there.” VIETNAM | 3A
A year after the city of Newton approved the purchase of the former Hotel Maytag to stabilize the building and begin work on finding a redeveloper, it has a new owner. Hotel Maytag Investors, LLC, headed by Hatch Development Group, was approved to purchase the building at 105 N. Second Ave. E. for $400,000 at Monday’s city council meeting. “We’re pretty thrilled with the work that the city has done and the architects. Now we’re just going to get the final loans from a variety of sources, and we’re actually going to be choosing
our contractor Tuesday,” Jack Hatch said. “We’re moving ahead in a pretty speedy way, and we hope to be in there by the first of January or February at the latest.” Hatch was selected from a group of bidders during they city’s search for a redevelopment partner earlier this year. The group proposed a complete renovation with 22 market-rate apartments, 23 units designated as affordable for households at or below 60 percent of the median income for Jasper County, a variety of commercial spaces and the restoration of the ballroom on the second floor. “I am just really pleased to be here in Newton,” Hatch said. “This has a history of COUNCIL | 3A
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News From left, Hotel Maytag Investor group members Tim Ng, Jack Hatch and May-May Ng stand with Newton Mayor Mike Hansen Monday following the approval of the sale of the former Hotel Maytag.
Newton Christian celebrates 60th anniversary For Slings, event is a homecoming By David Dolmage Newton Daily News Life has a way of coming full circle at times, and when the Rev. Larry Slings steps up to the pulpit at Newton Christian School on Sunday morning he’ll be right back where he started. Slings, a resident of Hudsonville, Mich., is a graduate of the first eighth grade class at Newton Christian, and as the school celebrates its 60th anni-
versary this week he’ll be back in town. Founded in 1957, the Newton Christian School was created when residents saw an opportunity for faith based education in the Newton area. Jasper County residents formed a committee, and after becoming licensed by the state of Iowa, opened for business in 1957. Starting off with just 11 students and a single teacher, the school now has 77 full-
Submitted Photo The exterior of the Newton Christian School. The school, which has been at its current location since 2011 is celebrating its 60th anniversary this week.
time students enrolled this year. To celebrate the school’s 60th anniversary staff members have planned a number of events. During the week,
students will celebrate by dressing up in 1950s attire, Wednesday they’ll create a time capsule to be opened at the 100th anniversary, Thursday
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“Even though we had two teachers that second year, we were still helping out,” Slings said. “I got to help teach my younger sister how to read, eight years younger, I could sit next to her and help her with reading.” Helping his sister learn to read was a spark that would light the way for the rest of Slings’ life. He was part of the first graduating class at Newton Christian, one of four students to matriculate. He went onto seminary school, and by 1971 he was the Rev. Larry Slings.
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will feature a ribbon cutting ceremony with chamber of commerce officials at 11:15 a.m., with events culminating with at open house Saturday morning, followed by the school’s annual carnival. On Sunday morning, there will be a service at the school, led by Slings. For Slings, who’d been attending a one room schoolhouse outside of Newton, having grades kindergarten through eighth together just enhanced the experience. By 1958, enrollment had risen to the point where the school was able to hire a second teacher.
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Volume No. 116 No. 86 2 sections 14 pages
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