Newton
Serving Newton & Jasper County Since 1902
Daily News
Friday, February 28, 2014
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‘A Night of Jazz’
OBITUARIES Stephanie (White) Visser, 48
INSIDE TODAY
Newton, Iowa
Autopsy results in; cause of Frazier’s death ‘blunt force trauma, stab wounds’ By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor
who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country,” he added. Jasper County Treasurer Doug Bishop, who formerly led the Jasper County Freedom Flight efforts, has been leading the fundraising effort for the memorial, which will be constructed without the use of public funds. Every Jasper County resident who has been killed in action will be memorialized at no charge. Bishop will be in attendance at the event, along with members of the Jasper County Veterans Committee.
An autopsy conducted Thursday on the body of a Colorado man found dead in Newton earlier this week determined the manner of his death to be homicide. The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office determined Grant Frazier’s cause of death to be blunt force trauma and multiple stab wounds. Investigators, however, are still trying to piece together how he and the Iowa woman now charged with his Frazier murder became connected. Frazier, 61, was last seen Sunday, Feb. 16, in Colorado Springs with 21-year-old Bionca Rogers. His body was discovered early Tuesday morning in the trunk of his car, which had been parked at the Courtyard Apartments since Thursday, Feb. 20, according to the complex’s manager. Rogers turned herself into authorities in Cedar Rapids Wednesday. Prosecutors in Colorado have charged her with first-degree murder, which can be a capital offense in that state. Online court records indicate she has not been charged with a crime in Iowa. It still remains unclear how Frazier and Rogers knew each other. Although Frazier’s brother, Guy, has told Iowa media outlets they did not know each other, court records in Colorado indicate family members told police investigators Rogers “appeared to be running from something.”
AFSCME See Page 5A
HOMICIDE See Page 5A
Local
NHS Speech Team Page 2A
Ty Rushing/Daily News Tonight at the Newton Senior High School Centre for Performance, the jazz band will be hosting “A Night of Jazz.” The band will be performing various songs and styles of jazz and doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $5.
Sports
AFSCME Local 0451 to donate to Jasper County Veterans Memorial project
Cards head to semifinal tonight Page 7A
By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor
Progress
See the final sections of 2014 Progress Edition Page 1C, 1D
Weather
Wednesday, March 5, the Jasper County Veterans Memorial project on the courthouse grounds will receive a $2,500 shot in the arm. Officials with AFSCME Local 0451 will make a donation to the project during a special ceremony that day, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Local 0451 President Jerry Jones said it is “important to honor our fallen veterans.” “This monument will help ensure that future generations of Jasper County residents never forget those
Main Street community meeting set for March 12
Saturday
By Daily News Staff
High 9 Low -2
Sunday
High 5 Low -7 Weather Almanac
Thurs., Feb. 27 High 3 Low -3 No Precipitation Also: Astrograph Page 11A
The Newton Main Street Organization will host a community meeting from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at the DMACC Conference Center. “The meeting will give more information on the Main Street program as well as facilitate the process of community members, business owners and building owners to help create a vision for a thriving downtown district,” Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Darrell Sarmento said. The Main Street Organization is also assembling its Board of Directors and associated committees. The board will meet monthly and give overall direction and governance to the program, as defined by Main Street Iowa leadership. The four Main Street committees are: Design, Organization, Promotion, and Economic Restructuring. Those interested in serving on the Board of Directors must call (641) 792-5545 no later than Friday, March 7.
By Zach Johnson Daily News Staff Writer
Comics & Puzzles Page 6A Dear Abby Page 6A Opinion Page 4A Obituaries Page 3A Police Page 3A Our 112th Year No. 199
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Ty Rushing/Daily News Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who is seeking the Republican nomination in Iowa’s Second Congressional District, hosted a bevy of Jasper County citizens at her “listening session” on Thursday at Uncle Nancy’s Coffeehouse.
U.S. Navy Vet Walaska to be promoted next month
Classifieds Page 8A
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Coffee and a Candidate
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Submitted Photo U.S. Navy Lt. Brock Walaska served 10 years of active duty service and is now part of the reserves.
U.S. Navy Lt. Brock Walaska and his wife Rae moved into town on Veterans Day. They moved from San Diego, Calif., but were both raised in Iowa. The two ventured to Hy-Vee for the Veterans Day breakfast. “Everyone was very thankful for my service. It was just great to be a part of the community of vets in Newton,” Brock said. “I could tell the town has a real pride in their veterans. I wanted to be closer to family, and the quality of life in Iowa is superb.” Brock, a supply offi-
cer and business manager, will be promoted to lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve next month. “It was a surprise to me because I wasn’t expecting the promotion for another six months,” Brock said. Brock served 10 years
of active duty service and joined the reserves in November. He had four deployments on a sub, a deployment to Iraq and a deployment to Japan and South Korea. Brock was a member of the USS Maine SSBN741 Gold Crew. Brock was inspired to join the Navy during the turn of the economy after the tragedies of 9/11. Brock is a second-generation veteran, his grandfather having served during World War II. “I was working on my masters’ at UNI when WALASKA See Page 5A