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DAILY NEWS MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2015 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Hitting the pavement Landowners share pipeline concerns with former Iowa lawmaker
MINGO — Kathy Holdefer knows how to host a community meeting — with homemade blueberry and pumpkin pie. Kathy and her husband Tom own a twostory farm house which sits on one acre of land in Mingo, and in the slated path of the proposed Dakota Access Bakken Oil Pipeline. They hosted Saturday’s public meeting at the Mingo Community Building to discuss potential impacts of the project. Holdefer coordinated the meeting with the arrival of Ed Fallon, the former Democratic state representative and radio host of “The Fallon Forum.” The now-political activist has been breaking in his new shoes, walking the length of proposed pipeline. Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners proposed the project in 2014 which would lay a 1,134-mile, 30-inch diameter oil pipeline connecting the North Dakota Bakken and Three Forks oil fields with refineries and pipeline hubs Patoka, Ill. Approximately 33.73 miles of the proposed 343.43 mile Iowa segment is planned through Jasper County. Fallon began his trip
at the southern most edge of the pipeline on March 2 in Lee County and has been making his way north, knocking on doors and holding public meetings on the potential safety, environmental and private property issues of the proposed project. Fallon said he has slowed his trip to make contact with more people along the route, and Saturday
made stops in Newton, Reasnor and Mingo. Holdefer said many of her neighbors have the impression that the pipeline is a “done deal.” At the community building she posted examples of letters in favor and against the project submitted to the Iowa Utilities Board — a three-member bipartisan panel appointed by the governor that
will decide the fate of the pipeline. Holdefer also pinned maps of the proposed pipeline route to encourage the 10 area residents and landowners in attendance to get involved. “I just want to encourage everybody to get people to learn about this and express their views which ever FALLON | 10A
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County program brings in seasoned veteran
By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News
Mike Mendenhall/Daily News Former state representative and central Iowa radio host Ed Fallon walks up to the Mingo Community Building Saturday with Rep. Dan Kelley (D-Newton). Fallon has been walking the proposed 343 mile route of the Dakota Access Bakken Oil Pipeline to raise support for the project’s opposition movement.
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Hometown Pride Program brings Iowa City official to Jasper County
By Mike Mendenhall Newton Daily News
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One of the new leaders of a civic improvement organization has a lot of experience in the field — and those involved in the hiring seem pretty excited. Jeff Davidson, who has worked for the Iowa City government for 34 years, was hired late last week to be Jasper County’s Keep Iowa Beautiful Community Coach. The position, which was advertised as paying $60,000 to $70,000 per year, depending on experience, calls for a wide range of talents and skills. Davidson is listed as the Economic Development Administrator on Iowa City’s website. With a population of about 71,000, Iowa City is the fifth-largest city in the state; Jasper County is at about 36,000. He will work with the Hometown Pride Program, which has been involved with several county projects, such as Newton’s way-finding signs, the First Avenue Sculpture of Art and the Get to Know Newton campaign. Doug Garrett, a Colfax resident, was on a
search committee that helped find the right individual for the c o m munity Davidson coach position, Keep Iowa Beautiful. He sent out an email describing how excited he was with getting someone of Davidson’s experience level to help lead a team that will take on several types of civic projects in the county. “Our committee thinks we have hit a home run on this hire. Jeff has an extensive background in economic development in Johnson County — in particular with Iowa City. We are very excited to have someone of his talents and abilities now available for the entire county to draw from.” Garrett also forwarded an email from Davidson himself, in which the Cedar Rapids native says he’s lived in Iowa City since 1975. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geography from the University of Iowa, and has two children in college. “I can’t wait to get started in Jasper County,” Davidson said in the email. Davidson said he has not only been a transportation planner, the Assistant Director of PRIDE | 3A
Newton Healthcare Des Moines man killed in Friday crash CNA charged with By Mike Mendenhall Newton Daily News adult abuse By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News A CNA at Newton Healthcare is charged with dependent adult abuse after a resident complained she was abused during the night. Jacki Owens, 33, is accused of shoving the victim into a bed rail, grabbing her arm and leg and shoving her. The victim sustained bruises to her right hand and the right inside forearm along with her left inside ankle on the evening of Aug. 27 and into Aug. 28., according to a police report. Newton Police began an investigation in February after being contacted by the Department of Inspections and Appeals about the case. The victim also complained she was propped up on her left side, which
is painful to her due to a history of fractures on her left side, and left her in that position. The victim said she did not say anything that night because she was afraid Owens would come back. Owens denied being rough or abusive toward the victim, but admitted she knew the victim didn’t like to be on her side, according to the report. Owens suggested the bruises may have come from when she was being repositioned or her arm may have got pinched between the bed and bed rail. The victim has no previous history of complaints about the staff. Owens was cited on Tuesday by police and released to appear. Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com
A Des Moines man was killed in a twovehicle crash Friday morning on Highway 330/65 near Mingo. The Iowa State Patrol said 62-year-old Robert D. Evans was not wearing a seatbelt when his Pontiac van broadsided a semi truck that was attempting to cross Highway 65. Heavy fog and zero visibility were cited as the cause of the crash. Evans was transported to a Des Moines hospital by ambulance, but the Iowa State Patrol did not specify when he died. First responders requested the dispatch of a medical helicopter, but the unit was grounded due to the foggy weather conditions. The driver of the semi, 37-year-old Jamie
Mike Mendenhall/Daily News The Pontiac minivan involved in a fatal accident Friday morning at the intersection of Highway 65 and Highway 117 north of Mingo waits for investigators halfway through the four-lane crossing. A Des Moines man was killed in the accident. The driver a semi truck hit by the van was uninjured.
J. West, of Lonetree, was uninjured. During an on scene interview West said, in his opinion, the driver of the van was traveling too fast for the foggy conditions.
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According to West, another driver flagged him to cross the intersection when he was struck by the van.
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“It was horrible all the way down here. I crept across that intersection with the semi and the traffic,” West said. “They saw me. They were slowing down.”
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The Gingerbread House
New child care facility now licensed / 2A
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