Newton
Serving Newton & Jasper County Since 1902
Daily News
75 cents
Tuesday, February 11, 2014 OBITUARIES Willadene Johnson, 86 Steven D. Petro, 38 Bradford M. Smith, 76 INSIDE TODAY
Local
DECA students attend conference Page 2A
www.newtondailynews.com
Newton, Iowa
Miller confronts Olea over death of son By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor While it’s entirely uncertain how long Joseph Olea will serve in prison after a Jasper County jury convicted him last month of child endangerment resulting in death, one thing was absolutely clear after Monday’s sentencing hearing. It won’t be long enough to Chelsea Miller. The mother of Olea’s 6-month-old son Kaiden, who died in January of 2012 from injuries jurors said were inflicted by Olea. She expressed her feelings through a victim impact statement read to the court prior to sentencing Monday. Olea eventually received a mandatory-
maximum prison sentence not to exceed 50 years. District Court Judge Randy Hefner said Olea would be eligible for earnedtime and work and program credits that can reduce his prison sentence. Olea was further ordered to submit a DNA sample for profiling. While he will not have to pay for the state’s expense in his defense, he was ordered to repay the state’s expert witness fees — roughly $8,500 — and restitution to Jasper County in the amount of nearly $3,700, as well as $150,000 to Miller. Olea was transported to Oakdale Medical & Classification Center. From there, he will be placed in the general prison population at a facility deemed appropriate by the Iowa Department of
Corrections. Miller didn’t hold back during her statement to the court prior to sentencing. “I trusted you, Joey,” she said. “You were Kaiden’s father. You weren’t perfect, but I really thought you would always put Kaiden’s needs before your own. I never thought you could hurt him, let alone cause his death.” Miller talked about her initial trust in Olea, a trust she said was shattered when she read Kaiden’s autopsy report. She said, after reading the report, she knew Olea hadn’t been honest with her about the events leading up to the child’s death. OLEA See Page 5A
Kelley announces re-election bid By Daily News Staff
Sports
Area wrestlers earn sectional titles Page 1B
Jocelyn Sheets/Daily News Sports Editor Jocelyn Sheets received a third-place award in sports action photography for the photo she snapped of a seventh-grade Berg Middle School football player running down the sideline for an eventual touchdown. Judges said they were struck by the reactions of the players on the sideline in the photo.
Daily News wins 2 APME awards Sports
Boys qualify for seven state events Page 1B
By Daily News Staff
Weather
Wednesday
High 25 Low 13
Thursday
High 35 Low 13 Weather Almanac
Mon., Feb. 10 High 5 Low -13 No Precipitation Also:
man received a secondplace award in the editorial writing category for a series of Daily News editorials he authored during 2013. The same editorials won second place in the Iowa Newspaper Foundation’s Better Newspaper Contest, as well. The APME is a professional network and resource for helping editors and broadcasters improve their news coverage and newsroom
By Ty Rushing Daily News Staff Writer
Classifieds Page 3B
For the second consecutive meeting, AT&T requested the Newton Community School District Board of Education delay its vote on constructing a new cell phone tower on district land. At the January meeting, the district obliged with the request, but not without visible frustration from some of its members. This time, however, the district chose a different path.
Comics & Puzzles Page 6A Dear Abby Page 6A Opinion Page 4A Obituaries Page 3A
operations. Each year, the Iowa APME holds a news writing contest for its print-newspaper members to promote further staff development. Other newspapers in the Daily News’ competition class included the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, the Burlington Hawkeye, the Sioux City Journal and Iowa City PressCitizen.
By Ty Rushing Daily News Staff Writer
Our 112th Year No. 186
4
Prevention and not entrapment was the message preached at Monday’s Newton Community School Board of Education meeting.
By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor
would be in the schools. Deputy Jeremy Burdt had, Nuke, the county’s drug dog and his fellow deputy, find a towel — scented to simulate marijuana’s odor — he DOGS See Page 5A
OWI See Page 3A
“I don’t know how the board feels, but I’ll be honest with you— I know its $12,000— but it seems like every time we turn around we’re being asked by the originators of this contract for something else,” Superintendent Bob Callaghan said. “As an old sage of mine used to say, ‘They are asking for a lot of sugar for a dime.’” Callaghan said.
School Resource Officer Brian Foster and representatives from the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office — including Sheriff John Halfery himself — gave the board an example of how effective and useful a drug detection dog
Oskaloosa woman arrested after driving into cornfield
An Oskaloosa woman who drove herself into a cornfield north of Monroe Thursday, Feb. 6, was arrested and charged with driving while barred and numerous drug-related violations. Traci Lynn Braden, 44, was arrested and charged with OWI, possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while barred as a habitual offender. Following an initial appearance with Braden Jasper County Magistrate Jonathan Noble, she was released Monday on $1,000 bond. According to a criminal complaint filed by the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office, Braden called 911 to report she was “lost in a cornfield and ran out of gas.” Deputy Tony Ong responded to the field adjacent to the 11000 block of Iowa Highway 14 South, and noticed the driver’s appearance. “I observed her watery eyes, jerky body language and her sunk-in facial structure,” he
BOARD See Page 5A
District considering use of drug dogs in schools
Police Page 3A
98213 00008
During the 2014 Iowa Newspaper Association Convention, the Iowa Associated Press Media Editors presented its annual news writing contest awards. Among the honorees were two members of the staff of the Newton Daily News. Sports Editor Jocelyn Sheets received a thirdplace award in sports action photography for the photo she snapped of a seventh-grade Berg Middle School football player running down the sideline for an eventual touchdown. Judges said they were struck by the reactions of the players on the sideline in the photo. Editor Bob Eschli-
School district ends all talks with AT&T
Astrograph Page 5B
7
Sheets, Eschliman honored for photography, editorial writing
State Rep. Dan Kelley (D-Newton) announced Monday he will seek re-election to Iowa House District 29, which includes most of Jasper County. “We have made progress building Iowa’s skilled workforce, expanding access to affordable health care, and lowering property taxes for our local businesses,” he said. “We can take pride in the work that is being done in Jasper County Kelley with the development of biodiesel and wind energy. I look forward to working with industries to expand and create additional local jobs.” Kelley is currently serving his second term in the Iowa House and is ranking member of the Administration and Regulation Budget Committee. He also serves on the Agriculture, Environment Protection, State Government, International Relations and Ways and Means committees. Additionally, he serves on the Iowa Park Foundation Trust Board and the Iowa Capitol Planning Commission. “It is a great honor serving the people of Jasper County in the Iowa House and I look forward to another productive year,” he said. “My top priority is growing Iowa’s middle class and guaranteeing that every child gets a quality education and graduates with the skills necessary to land a good-paying job.” Kelley is a small business owner and realtor in Newton and a graduate of Newton Senior High School and the University of Iowa. He and his family are longtime Newton residents.