NEWTON
PAST ROUND ONE
Duncan Lee wins big in first match at state / 1B
DAILY NEWS newtondailynews.com
FRIDAY, FEB. 20, 2015 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW
Copper Dollar Ranch
Dennis Magee/Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier Prosecutor Michael Jacobsen concluded his case against Theresa “Terri” Supino on Thursday, in Waterloo. Attorneys have delivered closing arguments and jurors have entered deliberation in the trial of the former Newton woman accused of killing her husband and his girlfriend nearly 32 years ago.
Jury begins deliberations in Supino case
WATERLOO — The double murder trial of Theresa “Terri” Supino entered its first full day of deliberations Friday at the Black Hawk County Courthouse, following final arguments from county prosecutors and defense attorneys Thursday. The 54-yearSupino old is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the March 3, 1983 killings of her estranged husband Steven Fisher, 20, and his girlfriend Melisa Gregory, 17, at
the former Copper Dollar Ranch northwest of Newton. The 12-member panel will weigh 10 days of testimony from nearly 40 state and five defense witnesses detailing evidence of alleged confessions from Supino, tales of aggression toward Fisher and Gregory and a possible drug-related connection to the murders — a line of testimony which the defense hopes staves off a conviction. Without physical evidence tying Supino to the crime scene, jurors will have to decide if the circumstantial case is damning enough to convict the defendant of the nearly 32-year-old murders. Jurors also have the option to convict Supino of seconddegree murder if they feel the evidence is not strong enough to
First Veteran-Civilian Dialogue planned for Tuesday By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News Newton is set to host its first Veteran-Civilian Dialogue and Service Project event facilitated by New York City-based Intersections International. The dialogue will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday with the service project at 9:30 a.m. the following Saturday, both at the Centre for Arts and Artists, 501 W. Third St. N. “We are looking forward to the upcoming Newton Veteran Civilian Dialogue and Service Project. No doubt important stories will be told and heard,” said Craig Light, executive director of the Newton
Chamber of Commerce. The dialogue through Intersections International is partnering with the Centre for Arts and Artists, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Newton Chamber of Commerce and Central College to have a time for veterans and civilians bridge the gap by helping service personnel transition back to civilian life and by providing a place for civilians to step forward in new and responsible engagement with veterans. Previously, Central College hosted a dialogue exceeding expectations in attendance as well as creating great conversations between veterans and civilians. VETERANS | 3A
support murder in the first degree. If found guilty, Supino could face life in prison without the possibility of parole. During his closing arguments, First Assistant Jasper County Attorney Scott Nicholson returned jurors to the “puzzle of guilt” the state has been trying to assemble, arguing no one had “better opportunity” and motive than Supino to kill Fisher and Gregory. Members of both Fisher and Gregory’s families were in the courtroom Thursday. Supino’s son Rocky Supino, brother Tim Supino, and her mother Beverly Supino sat directly behind the defendant as attorneys delivered their final comments in the case. For two hours, Nicholson walked jurors back through two SUPINO | 10A
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Legal counsel for a Prairie City woman charged with child endangerment in the 2013 dog-mauling death of 4-year-old girl is pushing for another continuance of a jury trial. Jena M. Wright, 26, is accused of leaving Jordyn Arndt unattended with an American Staffordshire terrier at a Prairie City home nearly two years
ago. According to the initial police report, Wr ight w a s babysitWright ting the 4-yearold girl at the time of the animal attack, April 22, 2013, which caused injuries ultimately resulting in the child’s death. Wright pleaded not guilty to the charge. Last month, Wright’s legal counsel requested its 12th continuance of a jury trial, which determined the WRIGHT | 3A
Full slate for Newton school board Monday By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News There are no items regarding building reconfiguration on the agenda for Monday’s Newton Community School District board meeting. However, with many items on the agenda, which was released Thursday, it’s possible it could take a great deal of time to get through all of the details. The board will meet at Aurora Heights Elementary School gymnasium at 6:30 p.m. Mon-
day. One of the items on the agenda as discussiononly is the consideration of scheduling a community forum, which could lead to talk about upcoming events to discuss reconfiguration. The agenda does have three action items that could be affected by future reconfiguration. These items are related to the sale of bonds to cover the cost of constructing a new building on the Berg Complex. SCHOOL | 3A
Fireworks bills bring up revenue, safety discussions By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News Two bills currently pending in the Iowa State Legislature would change the way the state does firework business. However, for many firefighting agencies and at least one Newton resident, a firework is not simply the subject of a catchy Katy Perry song. It’s the potential source of serious injury and property damage. House bill HF 61 has a description that calls it “an act excluding certain poppers and snappers from the definition
of fireworks whose sale or use is generally prohibited.” A Senate bill, SF 226, would allow for the “legal sale and use of novelties and consumer fireworks within the state.” That bill, introduced in January, was sent to the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday. Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls, said the bill was “flooreligible for debate” as of Thursday morning. Rep. Rob Bacon, RStory County, authored HF 61, which was introduced on Feb. 18. However, that bill has yet to be assigned to a committee or subcom-
File Photo This is the image that sometimes comes to mind when the word “fireworks” is mentioned, but permits for these types of displays can already be readily obtained in most situations. Two bills pending in the Iowa State Legislature would allow for more personal, or “consumer” fireworks sales to happen in the state.
mittee. Bacon said one of his associates told him Iowa could be losing $300,000 to $500,000
per year in revenue from poppers and snappers, which are illegal under FIREWORKS | 3A
FEATURE
WHERE IT’S AT Astrograph......................5B Calendar..........................5A Classifieds......................4B
LOW
Counsel in dog mauling case pushes for continuance — again
By Abigail Pelzer Newton Daily News
By Mike Mendenhall Newton Daily News
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Wright charged with child endangerment causing death
Parties complete closing arguments
HIGH
Comics & Puzzles...........6A Dear Abby........................6A Local News......................2A
Obituaries.......................5A Opinion............................4A State News......................7A
Recycling milk cartons
Woodrow Wilson students learn benefits / 2A
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