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Friday, April 25, 2014
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Newton, Iowa
Williams joins Iowa Speedway as communications director
OBITUARIES
By Daily News Staff
Ruby I. Schrader, 96 Jodon E. Woody, 41
Iowa Speedway today announced Edward Williams as its new director of integrated marketing communications. Williams brings more than eight years of motorsports experience to his new position, spending five years at HomesteadMiami Speedway where he was most recently manager of media relations. He has a diverse background in motorsports, as he previously served as a communications associate for the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. Williams is responsible for the manage-
INSIDE TODAY
ment of all communications and public relations functions related to Iowa Speedway. He will report to Iowa Speedway President Jimmy Small and also work closely with Iowa Speedway’s marketing staff. His new position is embedded with NASCAR’s IMC team, where he also will play a significant role as a liaison with additional track partners within the NASCAR industry, promoting the sport. “Edward brings a stout motorsports background to us here at Iowa Speedway, highlighted by proven skills in promoting NASCAR’s championship weekend in Miami,” Small said. “His fresh approach,
creativity and enthusiasm will fit perfectly with our team at a time when we are positioned for growth and as we get ready for our ‘Wide-Opening Weekend’ May 1718.” Williams is joined by two more new additions at the “Fastest Short Track on the Planet.” Adam Wilhelm solidifies the sales staff as corporate sales account executive while Drew Bentley shores up the track’s ticketing department as ticketing and group sales account executive. WILLIAMS See Page 3A
Entertainment
Go Guide, This Week at the Library Page 2A
Bob Eschliman/Daily News Iowa Speedway President Jimmy Small speaks during the speedway’s annual Sponsor Summit at MB2 Raceway in Grimes on Thursday.
New Veterans Memorial close to groundbreaking, still seeking funds By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer
Education
New website for Newton schools Page 7A
Iowa Speedway Sponsor Summit: ‘It’s a speedway thing’
Sports
By Zach Johnson Daily News Staff Writer
Coen post best time at Drake Page 1B
Weather
Saturday
High 71 Low 47
Sunday
High 69 Low 58 Weather Almanac
Thurs., April 24 High 54 Low 45 .51 inch of rain Also: Astrograph Page 5B
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. 239
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All of Us.” The opening commercial took place in a grocery store with a lady seeing an open checkout lane. “Everybody races at some point in their day, and we want to show that many more people are truly race fans,” Small said. After lunch, MB2 Raceway opened up the track for the first running of the Iowa Speedway Sponsor Summit 100. Four teams were assembled to break in the new track before the opening of MB2 Raceway for today. The staff at the speedway gave awards for the top three fastest teams, most cautious driver, craziest driver and fastest amateur time. Sam Hornish Jr. had the fastest time on the day with an 18.134 second lap time and SUMMIT See Page 3A
MEMORIAL See Page 5A
AT&T seeking to renew talks with district over cell phone tower By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer “No” doesn’t mean “no,” apparently. AT&T is asking the Newton Community School District’s Board of Education to once again consider a proposal to place a cell phone tower on district property near Newton Senior High School. At its Feb. 10 meeting, the board voted unanimously to end talks with AT&T after the company asked the board to delay its vote on the contract in back to back meetings. Under the original terms of the deal, AT&T would have paid the district $12,000 annually for a period of 25 years and if it rented out space to another provider, the district would BOARD See Page 5A
McNeer’s time in the service inspired his world travels
Classifieds Page 4B
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Iowa Speedway hosted its annual Sponsor Summit at MB2 Raceway in Grimes on Thursday. The sponsors got a first-hand look into the business side of auto racing from executives representing NASCAR and Iowa Speedway. The sponsors also had a chance to learn about the business from a driver’s perspective, as NASCAR and former IndyCar driver Sam Hornish Jr. told his story, from getting into racing with go-karts at age 11 and IndyCar and NASCAR. “It was an amazing summit. I have never seen a racetrack do an actual sponsor summit,” Hornish said. “It’s a very unique idea.” Iowa Speedway and NASCAR representatives gave an overview of the state of NASCAR.
Iowa Speedway President Jimmy Small gave an introduction on who he is and announcing the first weekend will be “Wide Opening Weekend.” “We will be making more announcements about the specifics of the first race weekend next week,” Small said. “It will truly be an exciting weekend.” Small gave a teaser indicating many things have been lining up for the 2015 season at the Iowa Speedway. “We have multiple music groups and festivals interested in coming to the Iowa Speedway next year,” he said. “We’re working through the specifics and will announce more information as it comes available.” Iowa Speedway presented the new marketing campaign for the 2014 season titled “There’s a Race Fan in
Doug Bishop, chairman of the Jasper County Veterans Memorial Committee, said no matter what, they will begin breaking ground on the county’s new veterans memorial on May 1. “We are planning on the last week of June for finishing up, so that by the Fourth of July, we can have the dedication ceremony. It’s going to be beautiful,” Bishop said. For the last several months, Bishop and the other volunteers that make up the committee have been doing their best to raise funds for Jasper County’s newest tribute to its veterans, which will sit on the Jasper County Courthouse lawn. To raise funds, the committee has had charity auctions, held various suppers, threw a “Second Chance” Prom and done everything they can do to ensure this project is completed without any taxpayer funding.
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Retired U.S. Army Military Police Sgt. John D. McNeer has lived a life filled with travels and service, not just for the community of Newton but for his country. Before being drafted into the service, McNeer was working his way up in Newton Manufacturing and had begun a life with his wife, Mary. “I remember getting my papers to begin basic training on Valentine’s Day 1956, and I had to leave for basic training on my wife’s birthday,” he said. McNeer began his basic training at Camp
Carson in Colorado and left when the camp turned into a fort. McNeer would become a member of the military police. After his training, McNeer got on a train with 20,000 troops heading to New York City. It was from New York City that McNeer
would begin his travels outside the country by taking the USS Buttner, an old World War I ship, across the Atlantic to Germany. “It was an eight-day journey across the ocean to ‘gyro’ with the ninth division,” McNeer said. “I knew it was going to go under at some point during the two storms that happened during our journey.” McNeer’s wife Mary, came over to live with John off-post in June 1956. They found a single room in a house in a village close to the Army post. MCNEER See Page 5A
Zach Johnson/Daily News Since moving to Newton, John D. McNeer has served his community and country. McNeer has traveled to 65 countries and four provinces. His family gave him a poster of the world, putting pins on each of the countries he has traveled to. McNeer turned 80 this year on Jan. 1. He plans on celebrating all year long.