Newton
Serving Newton & Jasper County Since 1902
Daily News
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 OBITUARIES Buddy G. Bills, 59 Richard Boettcher, 83 Chris Jones, 44 Ben J. Warrick, 69 Sharon West, 61 INSIDE TODAY
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Olea guilty of child endangerment in son’s death, acquitted of murder Newton man faces 50-year prison sentence for death of 6-month-old son By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor After nearly four hours of deliberations Tuesday, jurors in the trial of Joseph Olea reached a guilty verdict on the charge of child endangerment causing death. They acquitted the 26-year-old Newton man of first-degree murder in the January 2012 death of his 6-month-old son, Kaiden.
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At public defender Steve Addington’s request, the jury was poled and unanimously confirmed the verdict. District Court Judge Randy Hefner then overruled an earlier defense motion for a directed verdict of acquittal on the child endangerment causing death charge. Child endangerment causing death is Class B felony and carries a mandatory maximum sentence of 50 years under Iowa law, however, there is no minimum time served provision. Olea TRIAL See Page 5A
Bob Eschliman/Daily News Jasper County Attorney Mike Jacobsen discusses the state’s case against Joseph Olea during closing arguments Tuesday in Jasper County District Court. Olea, 26, was found guilty of child endangerment causing death, a Class B felony, by a jury later in the day. He now faces a mandatory maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.
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Supervisors accept Jasper County assessor’s tax credit recommendations
Religion
Faith through learning
By Ty Rushing Daily News Staff Writer
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Sports
NHS Cards sweep PC Eagles Page 1B
Ty Rushing/Daily News “Queen Fairy Godmother” Sarah Curry (center) founded the nonprofit organization Fairy Godmothers of Newton to help little girls feel like princesses. Pictured here are her fellow Fairy Godmothers (not in order) Linda Schafer, Jenny Nunnikhoven, Mary Partlin, Sam Jutting, Angie Mowbray and Emily Gates Hearl.
‘Making magic’
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Newton’s Fairy Godmothers helping little girls feel special By Ty Rushing Daily News Staff Writer
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While they may not sing “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo,” the Fairy Godmothers of Newton want to make sure as many little girls as possible are treated like princesses at least once in their lives. Founded three years ago by “Queen Fairy Godmother” Sarah Curry, the nonprofit group provides an annual workshop during which they style pre-kindergarten through sixth-grade girls’ hair and make-up and provide them dresses, shoes and accessories for the “Princess and Papas Ball” hosted by Newton Senior High School. “Originally, this started because I was working with the Sunbeams at the Salvation Army, and it’s a little girls group, kind of like the Girl Scouts, and a lot of the girls didn’t have dads or money to go to the dance,” Sarah said. “They were all upset because they couldn’t go,” she continued. “I thought, ‘There has got to be some way to get them ready, get them dresses, help them come up with chaperones or some way to get them to the dance.’ So, I asked my friends, and a whole bunch of them
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Tues., Jan. 28 High 14 Low 2 No Precipitation Also: Astrograph Page 5B Classifieds Page 4B Comics & Puzzles Page 6A Dear Abby Page 6A
Jasper Community Foundation grant applications available
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By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor
Obituaries Page 3A
The Jasper Community Foundation will begin receiving grant requests Saturday, when applications will become available to local non-profits. The foundation recently received its 2014 award allocation for endowment building and grant making throughout Jasper County. Last year, it provided $87,759 in funding to 21 charitable, non-profit organizations for educational, civic and public purposes in the county.
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GRANTS See Page 5A
stepped up.” Although it was a very last-minute effort, Sarah estimated they helped 18 to 20 little girls become princesses for a night. The group managed to get a few donations, and another Fairy Godmother, Sabrina Hoffert-Smead, pointed out Sarah’s extra effort to make that first event happen. “Sarah won’t say it, because she’s being too modest, but she was taking her own money to go buy girls shoes and go buy girls tights to make sure that everybody had what they needed,” Sabrina said. “She was taking that on herself, and we said, ‘You can’t go buy all that stuff. We can figure out how to make this easier.’” Since the first “Princess Workshop,” the number of girls undergoing the Cinderella treatment has grown tremendously. This year, the workshop will be from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Newton American Legion Post 111. Sign-up will be limited to around 45 girls. However, these Fairy Godmothers don’t have magic wands and require help to make MAGIC See Page 5A
Jasper County Assessor John Deegan gave his recommendations to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors as to which applicants were and weren’t eligible to receive the Business Property Tax Credit. According to the Iowa Department of Revenue, the Business Property Tax Credit is part of the overall 2013 property tax reform bill enacted by the Iowa General Assembly and signed by Gov. Terry Branstad. The credit is applied toward property tax due on the 2013 property assessment and is payable in the fall of 2014 and the spring of 2015. Deegan explained those who were ineligible for the credit were already receiving another tax credit and legally couldn’t be allowed to “double-dip.” He said letters had been sent to those who weren’t qualified for the tax credit. The supervisors accepted his recommendations. Board member Dennis Stevenson read the resolution on the matter to ensure clarity. “Whereas the Jasper County Assessor notified the supervisors of the applications that qualify for the Business Property Tax Credit and those that do not qualify for the (credit) for the assessment year 2013, be it resolved that the Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved all filed (credit) applications for the 2013 assessment year except those specifically called out in the resolution for disallowance,” he read. Staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 426, or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.
‘Zero Time’
Submitted Photo Berg Elementary School celebrated the 100th day of the school year Tuesday by having special guest “Zero the Hero” appear and meet with kindergarten students. Zero was a big hit with the children, and other schools in the district also found unique ways to celebrate this milestone for the school year.