Newton
Serving Newton & Jasper County Since 1902
Daily News
Wednesday, January 15, 2014 OBITUARIES Alan Carpenter, 74 Margaret Finn, 90 Addie A. Kaisand, 82 Rosemary Krueger, 84 Kathleen Lukavsky, 45 Christy Stafford, 49 Christina Verburg, 86 INSIDE TODAY
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Students participate in honor band
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Newton, Iowa
Newton resident to appear on Season 13 of American Idol Heikkila’s tryout in Omaha to air later in a few weeks By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor Season 13 of arguably one of the most successful reality television singing contests debuts tonight with a two-hour special. But those hoping to see Newton’s own Dani Heikkila perform on “American Idol” may have to wait awhile to see her audition. The two-hour season premiere of AI airs tonight beginning at 7 p.m. Dani, 16, auditioned last fall in Omaha, which will air on the Thursday,
Jan. 30, episode. The show airs each Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. on KDSM-TV Channel 17.1, the Des Moines FOX affiliate. The Newton native can’t talk about how the audition went — spoilers — but some AI bloggers are suggesting she did quite well. Dani has performed as part of the Worship Team at The Newton Church of the Way. According to her Facebook page, she said she was mentored by “an amazing team of leadership within the church.” IDOL See Page 5A
Submitted Photo Newton resident Dani Heikkila will be featured on Season 13 of American Idol.
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2014 legislative session well underway at Iowa Statehouse Branstad gives Condition of the State address to General Assembly
Sports
By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor
Newton boys beat Oskaloosa Page 1B
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Submitted Photo Joni Timm and her husband, Luke, had three children and had been married for 12 years when they decided they wanted to grow their family through embryo adoption. Malachi, Ezekiel and Evangeline were born last month at a Des Moines hospital.
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A real message of hope Embryo adoption specialist to speak at Community Heights Alliance Church
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By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor A Bellevue, Wash., woman is coming to Newton later this week with “a real message of hope” for families dealing with infertility issues. She will use her own personal story to illustrate how the ministry she now runs can be a benefit to others. Maria Lancaster, co-founder and director of the Embryo Adoption Services of Cedar Park, will speak Saturday evening at the home of Jon and Christie Dunwell at 912 S. 11th Ave. W. in Newton. The dessert gathering is intended for community leaders and begins at 6 p.m. For more information, or to RSVP, community leaders may contact the Dunwells at (515) 528-1711. “This is all about the mystery of life,” Jon Dunwell said. “It’s about understanding what has been revealed about life.”
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Tues., Jan. 14 High 38 Low 9 No Precipitation Also: Astrograph Page 5B Classifieds Page 4B
Who: Those interested in embryo adoption What: Maria Lancaster, Executive Director, Embryo Adoption Services of Cedar Park speaking When: 6 p.m. Saturday; 8:15, 9:30, 10:30 a.m. Sunday Where: Jon and Christie Dunwell home, 912 S. 11th Ave. W. in Newton; Community Heights Alliance in Newton Embryo Adoption — How It Works The following is the process for donating and adopting families who participate with Embryo Adoption Services of Cedar Park. PROCESS See Page 5A
Supervisors select county newspapers By Ty Rushing Daily News Staff Writer After delaying its vote for nearly two weeks, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors selected the three newspapers that will serve as the official county newspapers for 2014. “It looks like the Newton Daily News, the Hometown Press in Sully and the Jasper County Tribune out in Colfax have the leading circulation,” board chair Joe Brock said. “I make a motion that we designate the official newspapers for 2014 as the Newton Daily News, Hometown Press and Jasper County Tribune.” During the Jan. 2 meeting, the board specified the manner in which they were to receive circulations numbers from the four
Opinion Page 4A Obituaries Page 3A
By Zach Johnson Daily News Staff Writer
Police Page 3A
The Newton Planning and Zoning Commission met Tuesday night for a special meeting regarding the annexation of Raceway Acres and Modlin property. After a unanimous vote by the commission, the proposal of making the annexation official will be brought before Newton City Council. “It’s required by zoning codes that a plan of zoning must be forwarded to the city council,” Newton Planning
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SUPERVISORS See Page 5A
Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously pass plan of zoning
Dear Abby Page 6A
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LEGISLATURE See Page 5A
At A Glance
ADOPTION See Page 5A
Comics & Puzzles Page 6A
Tuesday, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad delivered his 2014 Condition of the State Address to the 150 members of the General Assembly. The title of the address was “Iowa is Working.” During the speech, Branstad focused on a 2104 legislative agenda that included: • the Home Base Iowa veterans jobs plan; • increasing broadband Internet access for all Iowans; • freezing tuition at Regent institutions as a means to combat college student debt; • expanded anti-bullying legislation to protect children; and • increased access to apprenticeships and job training for students and workers.
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Zach Johnson/Daily News Erin Chambers, director of the Newton Planning and Zoning Commission, speaks during Tuesday night’s meeting.
and Zoning Commission Director Erin Chamber said. “The annexation will make the Raceway Acres LLC and Rader Lakeview Estates Lot No. 2 apart of the city commercial district.” The staff is recommending the proposed annexation of the land with a zoning designation of C-T: Tourist Oriented Commercial District. “The C-T designation will make the new land commercially driven, but developers will have the option of creating second level residential if they choose to do so,” Chambers said.