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Newton couple plans community wide open house When Linda Heimbuck and her husband James moved into Newton’s historic Hunter Mansion a year ago they were in free fall. Her youngest son and her sister had both passed away, and Heimbuck was left to care for her son’s three children. In Newton they found a community that embraced them with open arms, and a year later they’re giving back; by hosting a community wide open house at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Hunter Mansion, at 223 W. Fourth St. S. in Newton. “Losing our youngest son and my sister has been devastating,
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News Fountain Hills is growing again as Venture Homes is poised to add another house to the housing development on the west side of Newton.
Venture Homes is once again adding to its footprint at Fountain Hills Estates. The Newton City Council approved the sale of lot 16 for construction of a similar style and quality house, continuing the city’s efforts to bring new housing to the community. In 2014, the city and Venture Homes entered into an agreement to construct high-quality single-family homes. The agreement gave the West Des Moines company exclusive rights to acquire any additional lots in Fountain Hills for $1 a piece through the end of 2016. In
through the tax sale process from Jasper County. “Fountain Hills is a good example of the City of Newton stepping in and taking something that has been a problem and unproductive for years and making it a useful and attractive,” Newton Housing Development Corporation executive director Bruce Showalter said. “It’s starting to look like a very nice neighborhood. More houses will just make Fountain Hills better and a more desirable place to live.” This will be the sixth home constructed by Venture Homes in Fountain Hills.
165,000 square feet available
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Kayla Singletary/Daily News Pat Bazal, of Newton, leads a tour at the Meisner Center Wednesday morning during an open house. The Meisner Center offers 165,000 total square feet of space was recently renovated and is now for lease.
of 2016 when sisters Pat Bazal and Janet Onnen wanted to update their father’s former electrical business space that once was Meisner Electrical. With help
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David Dolmage/Daily News Linda Heimbuck stands by the fireplace in her home, Newton’s historic Hunter Mansion. After losing her youngest son and sister a year ago, Heimbuck said she’s rebounded with help from the community, and is throwing an community wide open house on Saturday to thank her friends and neighbors.
By David Dolmage Newton Daily News
from their husbands, Rick Bazal and Tim Onnen, the project was finished this past summer. MEISNER | 3A
When Steven P. Ray decided to run for the governor’s office this summer his first job was to convince his toughest critic; his wife. After a 30 year career working in public safety Ray, 47, said his wife was the “last holdout” when he announced plans to quit his job with the Iowa State Patrol and seek the
s t a t e’s highest office. T h e Boone c i t y councilman may have a slim reRay sume, but he’s got big plans for the state of Iowa. In a statement
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we don’t know how we would’ve made it without the people of Newton,” Heimbuck said. Moving to Newton wasn’t just chance for the Heimbucks, Linda said she feels like it was divine intervention. As she and her husband walked along the river in Waterloo last year, they stopped and prayed for a change. The next day, her husband got a job offer at a scrap metal recycling center in Kellogg, and it wasn’t long before they were packing their bags for Newton. Across Newton, members of the community stepped up to help the family in their time of need. James Heimbuck is a Mason and members of the local Masonic lodge were waiting at the house when the family arrived, ready to help them unload their belongings and move into their new house. When the Heimbucks stopped at The Salvation Army in a search
Boone leader promises new ideas for Iowa
By Kayla Singletary Newton Daily News
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HOMES | 3A
Meisner Center brought back to life, for lease
The Meisner Center has seen its fair share of companies inside its facility, and the building’s owners hope a recent renovation has increased the potential of a business to take interest. The community was invited to check out the space during an open house event Wednesday morning. Three manufacturing bay spaces and an office space offer 165,000 total square feet. The building is located at 200 N. Eighth Ave. E. and was made available for lease within the last three months. A renovation began in May
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By David Dolmage Newton Daily News
December, council extended the rights to the lots by one year. A change to the agreement came in March with terms revised to charge $10,000 for the lots in order for future home buyers to be eligible for the $10,000 buyer incentive from the city. Past homebuyers in the subdivision were confused about eligibility for the promotion due to the prior agreement between the city and developer. Fountain Hills had previously sat dormant for nearly 20 years before the city held a public hearing on the 18 lots in the subdivision. Prior to the public hearing, the city acquired the land
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Giving Thanks
Venture Homes adding housing at Fountain Hills
By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News
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Volume No. 116 No. 138 2 sections 16 pages
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