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Monday, June 9, 2014 OBITUARIES Richard E. ‘Dick’ Clark, 90 Marjorie Ellen (Davis) Huck, 86 Gladys F. (Schulz) Lear, 90
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INSIDE TODAY
Newton, Iowa
Fire department, city ‘moving forward’ after no-confidence vote in fire chief By Daily News Staff
Local
Davis retires after 15 years at Casey’s Page 5A
Kate Malott/Daily News Members of the Newton Senior High School Class of 1964 pose for a picture at the annual all-class brunch held on Saturday morning at Newton Senior High School. The class celebrates its 50th reunion this year. Along with bunch, organizers established the first annual hall of fame ceremony which honored 17 distinguished alumni and contributors. See more photos on page 7A.
Class of ’44 gathers for 70th reunion By Ty Rushing Daily News Staff Writer
Sports
Cards beat Eagles in doubleheader Page 1B
Weather
Tuesday
High 72 Low 58
While some of Newton’s all-time greats were being honored at Newton Senior High School’s first annual NHS Hall of Fame Ceremony across town on Saturday, 22 members of the Greatest Generation were getting reacquainted as they celebrated their 70th class reunion. “This year, being our 70th, I’m very, very pleased at how many of you made the effort to be here because I know it isn’t always easy,” reunion organizer Roberta Jones told her classmates and their families. Some had traveled from various parts of Iowa, and Jim Van
Drimmelen came from Washington and said this was the first reunion he had attended since the 40th class reunion in 1984. All of members of the Class of ’44 who attended were well into their late 80s. The members of this class have seen 14 sitting U.S. Presidents, survived the 1929 Stock Market Crash and Great Depression, and seen every American conflict from World War II to the what’s taking place currently in Afghanistan and Iraq. When Roberta later asked her classmates to stand up if they served in World War II, eight of her classmates stood to indicate they served the county during that
time and others indicated they served in other periods as well. The Class of ’44 also showed they still had school spirit as they collectively sang the NHS loyalty song. Roberta acknowledged they have lost a number of classmates over the years; however, without missing a beat, she also made light of their age. “I remember when we used to use the term, ‘She’s almost 90.’ I don’t say that anymore,” Roberta said to a round of laughs. Senior staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 426, or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.
The City of Newton and the Newton Association of Professional Firefighters Local 1457 have reached an “amicable understanding” on the “Vote of No Confidence” filed by Local 1457 regarding Newton Fire Chief Jarrod Wellik. According to a release issued Friday by Newton City Administrator Robert Knabel, IAFF 1457 President Tom Richmond and Wellik, Local 1457 and the city have reached a decision regarding the union’s no-confidence vote and have agreed to work collaboratively to move forward to meet the Values and Mission Statement of the City of Newton. “Through collaboration and teamwork and with participation and cooperation in future meetings and committees we will be able to assure that the values and goals of the union are met and kept: 1) A safe fire department for its members and its citizens; 2) A fire department that communicates, collaborates, that supports and has compassion for its members; and 3) A fire department that creates a good work environment,” Richmond stated. “Local 1457 and City of Newton staff will be collaborating and working together for a plan so that the fire department will move forward in a positive direction.” In the joint statement, Wellik stated he “supports the goals of Local 1457 and believes they can be best accomplished through a cooperative and collaborative environment, emphasizing positive communication, accountability and teamwork.” Knabel noted that there were many frustrations that were the result of a lack of information, miscommunication or inappropriate communication. The recent discussions between the groups focused on how these concerns can be better addressed. VOTE See Page 5A
Weather Almanac
Newton man charged with second-degree sexual abuse
Friday, June 6
By Daily News Staff
Wednesday
High 76 Low 60
High 85 Low 59 No Precipitation
Sat., June 7
High 70 Low 61 .17 inch of rain
Sun., June 8
High 72 Low 57 No Precipitation
Ty Rushing/Daily News Pictured in no particular order are NHS Class of ’44 members Roy Eilert, Don Hummel, Myrt Schwarz, Don Lane, Alan Lothe, Dorothy Hallam, Lois Grosvenor, Betty Debban, Angie Hindman, Burt Snook, Dorothy Spain, Norma Grouch, Jack Streeter, Verle Summers, Alice Beatty, Roberta Jones, Jim Van Drimmelen, Virginia Williams, Ernie Goddard, Ford Thompson and Eula Deiterich. Bill Cox attended but was not in the picture.
Also: Astrograph Page 5B Calendar Page 3A
Jasper County, Reasnor looking to resolve tax issue
Classifieds Page 4B Comics & Puzzles Page 6A Dear Abby Page 6A
Reasnor Mayor Cliff Vos is hoping his city and the county can come to some sort of agreement on the city’s back taxes at Tuesday’s Jasper County Board of Supervisors meeting. Vos was at last week’s meetings and explained to the board why he felt the city shouldn’t have to pay the $1,498 in taxes that it owes the county for three parcels of land. He said one of the parcels should be exempt from the back taxes due to the property being under restrictions from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after
Obituaries Page 3A Police Page 3A Our 113th Year No. 15
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Iowa Sculpture Festival
By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer
Opinion Page 4A
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Stephen E. Palmer, 46, of Newton was charged last week with second-degree sexual abuse. On May 20, a 14-year-old female reported Palmer had sexual contact with her more than once when she was 8 to 11 or 12 years old. During an interview on Wednesday, Palmer confessed to authorities he had sexual contact with the girl approximately five times and that the sexual contact ended approximately three years ago. He was transported to the Jasper County Jail. A protective order has been issued between Palmer and the victim, and a preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. June 16.
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SUPERVISORS See Page 5A
Kate Malott/Daily News Artist Al Amon of Colorado Springs, Colo., shows Warren and Linda Erickson detail of a bird sculpture at the 12th Annual Iowa Sculpture Festival on Sunday at the DMACC Newton Campus. Nearly 30 artists and exhibitors from Iowa, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin and Nebraska participated in the annual weekend event, including Newton artists Tony Curiel, Herman Deaton, Jared Kingery, Jan Wormley, Jaden King, Rick Stewart, Jaci Thomassen and Kevin Korte. See more photos on page 7A.