Newton
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Monday, March 3, 2014
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Newton, Iowa
IDOT salt reserves over half full in Jasper County’s district
OBITUARIES Charles W. Crews, 87 David C. Finch, 74 Lena M. Lambert, 84 Marion Roozeboom, 94 INSIDE TODAY
Less than one-third capacity in Newton’s shop By Matthew Nosco Daily News Staff Writer The unseasonably long and fierce winter Iowa has experienced has put a damper on nationwide salt supplies, but the Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 1, which includes Jasper County, doesn’t face the same concerns. Lance Starbuck is the IDOT’s maintenance manager for the district, which stretches across Central Iowa and includes Ames and Des Moines. He said
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the department is keeping a close eye on its supplies but noted the sun is their most valuable ally at this point. “We’re in the negatives right now, and the snow is still melting out there,” Starbuck said. “The March sun is going to do as much as salt will now.” Jasper County, as well as the rest of the district, should still find itself well equipped in another ice storm scenario. As of Monday morning, district-wide salt reserves sat at 20,000 tons of rock salt, which is more than half of the area’s 34,000-ton capacity. Of that 20,000, the district’s maintenance shop in Newton held 1,062 tons of their 3,500 ton capacity.
Cardinals end season in Iowa City
That shop in Newton is responsible for all state roadways cutting through the county, and local manager Gary Pickett said he is confident the supply is still enough to hold out through any more storm events that might come this winter. According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, the state uses an average of 200,000 tons of rock salt each year as well as 12 million gallons of salt brine for the treatment of roads. That salt is largely sourced from underground mines in Kansas and Louisiana, and due to the high demand across the country, salt prices have tripled their usual rates during this winter.
Rogers fighting extradition to Colo. to face first-degree murder charges
Page 7A
By Daily News Staff
Business
Murder N’ Mystery at Capitol II Page 12A
Weather
Matthew Nosco/Daily News Monsanto representative Missy Merwald and local farmer Judy Sanders presented a $2,500 check to the Jasper County Fair Board on Saturday. The check will go toward a new playground installation on the grounds.
Tuesday
High 30 Low 15
Monsanto, farmer give $2,500 toward fairgrounds playground By Matthew Nosco Daily News Staff Writer
Wednesday
High 29 Low 16 Weather Almanac
Friday, Feb. 28 High 37 Low 0 No Precipitation
Sat., March 1 High 8 Low 6 2 inches of snow
Sun., March 2 High -3 Low -9 (Record Low) No Precipitation
Judy Sanders and her late husband, Vernon, were the recipients of this year’s local grant award from Monsanto’s America’s Farmers Grow Communities Program. When she was selected as a local recipient, Sanders knew the Jasper County Fairgrounds was raising funds for a new playground installation and she wanted to be able to help out. “We’re a farming and 4-H family,” Sanders said. “We’ve all done it … My kids did it and my grandkids too. So we just want to help out if we can.” The $2,500 award will bring the playground project much closer to its fundraising goals. Members of the Jasper County Fair Board have said they’ve been extremely successful in soliciting private
donations for the project throughout the off-season, and they’re confident it will be ready to go in time for this summer’s fair in late July. Doyle Ver Ploeg, who has headed up the cause for the new playground, explained the committee is close to reaching its targeted goal for the installation of a Rainbow playset, which will be placed on the north end of the fairgrounds, but that they will continue fundraising for the installation of benches and trees around the same area. Monstanto’s America’s Farmers campaign is an advocacy program celebrating U.S. farmers through communications, awards and special programs highlighting the importance of modern American agriculture. Launched in 2011, the program includes 1,289 eligible counties in 39 states.
Obituaries Page 3A
By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer
Police Page 3A
A number of items involving the county’s finances will be discussed and voted on during Tuesday’s Jasper County Board of Supervisors meeting. One financial metric up for vote is the recommended pay increase for the county’s elected officials.
Our 112th Year No. 200
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When the Jasper County Compensation Board met for its annual meeting on Jan. 22, the board suggested pay increases for the county’s elected officials. The board felt County Attorney Mike Jacobsen and Sheriff John Halferty each should receive a 4 percent pay increase. “Reading the paper, we’ve got more crime in
By Daily News Staff
Jasper County today than when I was growing up, and that was a long time ago,” long-time compensation board member Dean Ward said during that meeting. “We still want to maintain law and order.” The compensation board had suggested a 3 SUPERVISORS See Page 5A
CHASE See Page 5A
Supervisors to vote on pay increases for county employees
Opinion Page 4A
Newton man charged in high-speed chase A Newton man is facing multiple charges following a high-speed chase through Newton on Friday night. Jeffrey D. Quick, 41, has been charged with eluding, a Class D felony; possession of a controlled substance, a serious misdemeanor; and driving while license suspended, a serious misdemeanor. He also is facing several traffic citations — including no insurance, stop sign violation and failure to maintain control — in connection with the incident. At approximately 7:20 p.m. Friday, Newton police attempted to stop a silver Pontiac Grand Prix in the 1200 block of North Third Avenue East for speeding and failure to maintain control. When the officer turned on red and blue emergency lights and sirens, the driver, identified as Quick, failed to stop and sped up. The pursuit proceeded north to
Also: Comics & Puzzles Page 6A
The Iowa City woman charged with murdering a Colorado man whose body was found in a Newton apartment complex parking lot is resisting extradition efforts. Bionca Rogers, 21, refused to waive extradition proceedings Thursday during an initial appearance in Linn County District Court. Typically, extradition proceedings are waived, but occasionally they are resisted, requiring additional steps. Colorado Gov. John Hickenloper must now issue a governor’s warrant for Rogers’ arrest, a process that will take about 90 days to complete. In the meantime, Linn County authorities say she will remain in their custody, held without bond. Rogers is charged with the murder of Grant Frazier, 61, of Colorado Springs. Frazier was last seen driving his car Sunday, Feb. 16, with Rogers as a passenger. The car was located in the Courtyard Apartments parking lot Tuesday, Feb. 25, with Frazier’s body in the trunk. According to the complex manager, the car had been parked there since Thursday, Feb. 20. Law enforcement authorities in Colorado and Iowa are still investigating the case.
Broken bones didn' t st o p this man' s “determination ” My name is Brittany Rempp and I choose Skiff. Read my story on page 3.