Newton
Serving Newton & Jasper County Since 1902
Daily News
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Monday, June 2, 2014
www.newtondailynews.com
Newton, Iowa
Council to authorize new playground equipment for Maytag Park
OBITUARIES Geraldine Allison, 80 William Basinger, 86 Zelma L. Harl, 87 Henrietta N. Wahl, 90 INSIDE TODAY
By Zach Johnson Daily News Staff Writer The Newton City Council will vote tonight on whether or not to authorize the purchase of new playground equipment for Maytag Park. The playground was last renovated in 1987, with minor improvements done over the course of the last 10 years. The
council has allotted $100,00 for playground enhancements funded by May 2014 bond sales. The city staff is recommending a design by Boland Recreation of Marshalltown. The project’s $92,000 price tag will include two large structures and many small features with equipment delivery, surfacing and installation supervision. Other items on the agenda
include: • a public hearing on a resolution awarding the 2014 Street Improvements Projects to Manatts Inc. of Newton. • third consideration of an ordinance that will add a collection fee to delinquent ambulance fees. • first consideration of an ordinance that will add multiple stop signs in the Belmont Park
Subdivision. • a resolution ordering bids for the East-Mart TIF District sanitary sewer extension project plans. • a resolution authorizing the agreement of garbage and recycle collection with Dodd’s Trash Hauling and Recycling Inc. • two discussions on Goal C and Get To Know Newton.
Polls open until 9 p.m. Tuesday for Primary
Local
Froah receives AmericInn award
By Daily News Staff
Page 9A
Sports
NHS girls win 2A regional opener Page 1B
Weather
Zach Johnson/Daily News Thomas Jefferson Elementary School Principal Lisa Sharp, Stephanie Critchfield, Whitney Critchfield, Jane Hadley Critchfield and Marshall Critchfield pose with the portrait of Thomas Jefferson that was donated by the Critchfield family.
Tuesday
Critchfield family donates portrait to TJ
High 82 Low 63
By Zach Johnson Daily News Staff Writer
Wednesday
High 73 Low 58 Weather Almanac
Friday, May 30 High 86 Low 67 .03 inch of rain
Sat., May 31 High 84 Low 68 .2 inch of rain
Sun., June 1
By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer
Also: Comics & Puzzles Page 6A Opinion Page 4A Obituaries Page 3A Police Page 3A Our 113th Year No. 10
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Reasnor Mayor Cliff Vos will try to resolve a tax delinquency issue between his city and the county at Tuesday’s meeting of the Jasper County Board of Supervisors. Jasper County Treasurer Doug Bishop sent the city, and its legal representative Randal Caldwell, several notices about delinquent taxes on several parcels within Reasnor. The total amount of delinquent taxes is $1,498. According to the delinquency notices, “unless paid, said taxes may
be sold at a tax sale held by the Jasper County Treasurer on June 16, 2014 commencing at 1 (p.m.) If your parcel is involved with a tax sale from prior year delinquent taxes, on May 15th the tax sale certificate holder becomes eligible to pay your taxes.” The notice goes on to say that the purchaser of the taxes would be eligible to receive a tax deed for the parcel of land tied to the delinquent taxes. On March 4, Jasper County Community Services Director Jody Eaton informed the board the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services had re-
PRIMARY See Page 5A
Former Newton doctor sentenced to five years in prison Special to the Daily News
quested changes be made to the 28E agreement the county signed when it become a member of the Central Iowa Community Services Region. Jasper County originally signed the 28E on June 25, 2013, and regions were created to ensure that all Iowans have adequate mental health services and coverage. Other members of CICSR include Boone, Franklin, Hamilton, Hardin, Madison, Marshall, Poweshiek, Story and Warren counties. In other business, Jasper County IT Director
DES MOINES — Dr. Lafayette James Twyner, 65, of Newton was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose on charges relating to his alleged unlawful dissemination of controlled substances to patients, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. “Neither state nor federal authorities in Southern Iowa will turn a blind eye to health care professionals who criminally abuse their authority to prescribe controlled substances and bill insurance companies,” Klinefeldt said. “The safety of the community is our top priority.” Twyner had previously pleaded guilty on Feb. 21 to federal charges of illegally dispensing hydrocodone resulting in death and health care fraud. Over the course of several years, Twyner prescribed various controlled substances, mostly pain medications, to patients who had no legitimate need for them and to some who were admittedly addicted to them. He then billed the patients — and their insurance companies — for the office visits when they sought drugs from him.
SUPERVISORS See Page 5A
TWYNER See Page 5A
City of Reasnor behind on county taxes
High 85 Low 69 No Precipitation
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History is an important part of what our country is built on, and now the students of Thomas Jefferson Elementary School will be able to enjoy a piece of history thanks to the donation of a portrait of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. The portrait was donated by Jasper County Iowa Republican Party Chairman Marshall Critchfield, his wife, Stephanie, and their two daughters, Whitney and Jane Hadley. “Mrs. Lisa Sharp was helping me get ready for the January caucus and I asked if there was a portrait of Jefferson anywhere in the building,” Marshall said. “She said there wasn’t. So I asked her if I get you a portrait, will you display it?
She said, ‘Absolutely.’” “We’re delighted to give back to the school that has given us so much over these past four years,” Stephanie said. The artist of the portrait is a U.S. Marine Veteran named Chris Hestor. Hestor served with Critchfield’s brother. “I asked him (Hestor) if he could paint Jefferson for my girls’ elementary school and he jumped at the opportunity,” Critchfield said. Whitney and Jane are both students at TJ. Next year, Jane Hadley will continue on at TJ, and Whitney will be headed to Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. “If Woodrow Wilson needs a portrait of the 28th president, we would discuss it with the school administration and be more than willing to make that happen,” Critchfield said.
Tuesday starts election season in Jasper County and across the state. The Primary Election will take place, narrowing down the poll of candidates before the General Election in November. Below is a list of polling locations in Newton and a list of candidates on each ballot. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information on county polling locations or other information, visit www.co.jasper.ia.us. Jasper County Primary Election Voting Locations Newton City Ward 1 Precinct 1 and Lambs Grove: Union Hall, 1813 First St. N. Newton City Ward 1 Precinct 2: Park Centre, 500 First St. N. Newton City Ward 2 Precinct 2: St. Luke United Methodist Church, 501 E. 19th St. N. Newton City Ward 3 Precinct 1: McCann Center, 1115 S. Eighth Ave. E. Newton City Ward 3 Precinct 2: Jasper County Community Center, 2401 First Ave. E. Newton City Ward 4 Precinct 1: Jasper County Historical Museum, 1700 S. 15th Ave. E. Democratic State Representative District 29 State Senator 15 Ballot U.S. Senator: Bruce Braley U.S. Representative District 2: Dave Loebsack
Skiff s ER is awesome and treated ´ “ me immediately” My name is Ty Rushing and I choose Skiff. Read my story on page 3.