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DAILY NEWS TUESDAY, FEB. 3, 2015 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Copper Dollar Ranch
Jury selection under way in Supino murder trial Snedeker’s credibility could be called into question on witness stand By Mike Mendenhall Newton Daily News WATERLOO — Defense attorneys in the double first-degree murder trial of Theresa “Terri” Supino will be allowed to present some information regarding drug activity at the Copper Dollar Ranch in 1983, to jurors. During an 11th hour pretrial hearing Monday at the
Black Hawk County Courthouse, Iowa Fifth District Court Terry Rickers reversed a portion of a ruling filed in January now allowing the jury to hear testimony alleging Hal Snedeker had 20-yearold Steven Fisher transport $36,000 in cash to Florida as part of a drug trafficking operation. Snedeker was the owner of the former Copper Dollar Ranch during the
March 3, 1983 murders of 17-year-old Melisa Gregory and Fisher. The defense will also present Snedeker’s belief that Fisher had beSupino come a drug informant for local law enforcement. Snedeker is not on trial, but counsel for Supino aim to make a potential drug hit against Fisher and his girl-
friend Gregory on March 3, 1983, seem plausible. Supino is accused of killing Fisher — her estranged husband — and Gregory at a camper trailer in which Fisher was residing on the ranch northwest of Newton. The defense argued in its original motion the alleged drug activity could provide proof that Fisher and Gregorys’ deaths were possibly the result of a retaliation against Snedeker for a drug deal gone bad. “Combined with the fact
that Mr. Snedeker believed that Mr. Fisher became a police informant, (this information) becomes a relevant and admissible issue,” Rickers said. “Although, I know Mr. Snedeker vehemently denies any involvement in the murders. That is an issue of credibility the parties are going to have to vet out during Mr. Snedeker’s direct examination and cross examination.” Supino’s co-counsel Steve Addington told Rickers in SUPINO | 3A
Allen made three stops at Newton schools
Aurora Heights student government among those to meet senator By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News City Administrator Bob Knabel led budget discussions at the Newton City Council meeting Monday.
Budget talks continue for city council By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News Budget talks continued for the Newton City Council at its Monday meeting. On the recommendation of City Administrator Bob Knabel after a week of discussions, the council revised the initial plans for Westwood Golf Course. The council allotted $380,000 for the irrigation system for the back nine holes and putting $20,000 to go toward concepts and designs of a potential club house. Originally, $510,000 was proposed for the entire course irrigation system. “That would give us an idea of what our costs would be (for the
clubhouse); what we could anticipate. We would have some options as to the type of building we want — the size and all of those amenities that are appealing to both the golfers and the community — as we might look to make this more of a community wide facility,” Knabel said. Also in the budget, the council discussed a proposed project assistant position, and the tasks that would be assigned to the position. Currently Knabel said the assistant would work on record retention and keeping the website up to date. Council had concerns about what the assistant would do when the projects that were assigned were complete. The position is projected
to be part-time, and at 25 hours a week. The projected bond issue, which was discussed at the initial budget meeting, will help pay for designated projects would be in the area of $3 million with the final number still unknown because of additional changes that were made and could still be made to the budget. A revised budget will be brought to the council at the March 2 meeting. The council approved and adopted an ordinance change establishing a downtown square area and restricting the conversion of first floor storefronts into residential use. The change was suggested by BUDGET | 3A
There were many issues discussed Friday when State Sen. Chaz Allen dropped by Newton’s Aurora Heights Elementary School. Nearly all of the issues had something to do with state funding. Allen, who also visited the Berg elementary and middle school Friday, listened to the concerns of several Au-
rora Heights faculty, many of whom discussed how funding issues impact daily life in a classroom. Before getting into more serious discussions, Allen chatted briefly with two Aurora Heights sixth-graders — council representative James Mulling and president Jaden Hunter. Allen asked what platform or issues the students focused on during their student government campaigns. Hunter said she wanted to “reduce the drama” at her school. Allen smiled, and before anyone could make too much light of drama at ALLEN | 3A
Submitted Photo State Sen. Chaz Allen dropped by a third-grade classroom at Newton’s Berg Elementary School on Friday, where he watched students make butter as part of a pioneering lesson. Allen also visited Berg Middle School and Aurora Heights Elementary School on Friday.
Open house to showcase Skiff alternative birth suite Newton Daily News Skiff Medical Center will host an open house on Saturday to allow members of the community to visit the new alternative birth suite in the obstetrics department on the second floor of the hospital. From 9 a.m. to noon, the public is invited to tour the suite, which features a nontraditional queen-sized bed. This private, comfortable setting allows women to
have a home-like environment for their birth, while having the reassurance of being in a hospital, with immediate proximity to the full scope of medical interventions. In addition, the room features a large, brand-new, free-standing water tub that allows women the choice of laboring in warm water prior to delivery. The new suite comes on the heels of the September arrival of Newton Clinic
midwife Lacy Lundgren, CNM, ARNP, who already has about 40 deliveries scheduled for the spring and summer. “I am so excited about this new option at Skiff,” Lundgren said. “As more women are aiming for natural births, it’s important that we give them a setting in which they can feel comfortable, while still ensuring the safety of themselves and their babies. This room lets them relax
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Andrew Cope, Pat Edwards, Leighton Frost and Steve Hill, this impending influx of babies will likely make 2015 one of the largest years for births that the hospital has had in years. With the addition of the alternative birth suite, large non-hospital bed and water labor tub, expectations are that those projected numbers will grow even larger. SKIFF | 3A
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WHERE IT’S AT Astrograph......................5B Calendar..........................5A Classifieds......................4B
and feel at home, while also giving them the benefit of instant access to professional nursing care and, if needed, experienced physicians and surgical staff.” Many of Lundgren’s patients, some of whom are traveling from outside of the hospital’s typical market area, are new to Newton Clinic. Added to the patient population of the clinic’s other five obstetrical providers, Drs. Stephanie Bantell,
Comics & Puzzles...........6A Dear Abby........................6A Local News......................2A
Obituaries.......................5A Opinion............................4A State News......................7A
Corn strategy explained
A look at Nutrient Reduction strategy / 2A
Volume No. 113 No. 181 2 sections 14 pages
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