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DAILY NEWS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2015 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Newton native off to an experience of a lifetime By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News An adventure of a lifetime awaits Newton native Tim Stammeyer as he takes a year off of college to serve on NET Ministries, an organization that conducts thousands of retreats through
out the country. The decision to serve as a full-time volunteer missionary came after a long journey of faith, starting at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton, he said. “I will be taking a STAMMEYER | 3A
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News On a hill top in rural Jasper County sits Sams Cemetery, the topic of discussion at the Jasper County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday because of perceived lack of care by the Poweshiek Township Trustees.
Concerns about rural cemetery brought to county supervisors By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News Sams Cemetery, which sits between Colfax and Mingo, has picturesque views on a hilltop where you can see the iconic Principal Building in the distance. It also has long grass, poisonous weeds and is falling further into disrepair, according to Janine Johnson of San Diego, Calif. and local resident Robert Gannon. The two brought concerns about the rural Jasper County cemetery, located in Poweshiek Township, before the Jasper County Board of Supervisors Tuesday. Previously, the pair said they have been trying to work with the Poweshiek Township Trustees for several years. “What I would like to see is the cemetery get mowed on a regular schedule. The township turned over their budget and they carry a $20,000 surplus every year, so mowing the lawn I don’t think is a big (money) issue,” Johnson said.
Johnson said she researched the cemetery and found that of the approximately 225 people buried there, you can find veterans from the Civil War, World War I and World War II. Additionally, Henderson Johnson, a cousin of President Andrew Johnson, is buried there, she said. On a recent visit, Johnson said she saw trash in the area, dead trees and only two thirds of the ground had been mowed. Gannon was concerned about the property because he could possibly be the owner of the cemetery. To get to the land, you have to travel on a narrow pathway between two fields on two different properties, one of which belongs to Gannon. He said that if it is under his ownership he would possibly like to care for it, since he has family members buried there. Barbara Hug, chairman of the Jasper County Cemetery Commission, said some work has been done at the cemetery after she made a call to the township. “I can see where he (Gannon)
Colfax man arrested drunk on motorcycle with loaded gun By Abigail Pelzer Newton Daily News A 43-year-old Colfax man faces five charges after a sheriff ’s deputy allegedly found him passed out drunk on his motorcycle with a loaded gun in the middle of a rural road. Chad A. Vos was charged with carrying weapons, public intoxication, open container, no proof of insurance and failure to maintain control after the deputy discovered him at about 10:15 p.m. Monday on South 44th Avenue West in Newton. According to court records, Vos Vos was on his motorcycle with a partially full can of beer and smelled strongly of alcohol, had slurred slow speech, bloodshot, watery eyes and admitted to drinking. Vos failed a field sobriety tests and consented to a blood alcohol content test which indicated a BAC of .14. When he was searched, a loaded 40-caliber pistol was found concealed in his boot. Vos was being held Tuesday at the Jasper County Jail on a $3,200 bond. Contact Abigail Pelzer at 641-792-3121 ext. 6530 or apelzer@newtondailynews.com
is frustrated. He has been asking them about the dead tree for three years and I make a call on a Wednesday and it is down by Sunday,” Hug said. Jasper County Attorney Mike Jacobsen said the cemetery is not under the board’s supervision until sometime in the year 2016 when it will be classified as a pioneer cemetery. The state of Iowa defines a pioneer cemetery as a cemetery in which 12 or fewer burials have taken place in the past 50 years, which will happen with three burials falling in the year of 1966. Until that time, the board has no jurisdiction over the cemetery, but Board Chair Denny Carpenter said the board would begin looking into who actual owns the property. In other business: • The board approved DOT funding for a new bridge in Kellogg. Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com
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‘Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ tickets on sale Newton Daily News The Newton Community Theatre presents “Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, at 3 p.m. Sunday and at 7:30 p.m. June 19, 20. The Biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes to vibrant life in this delightful musical parable. Joseph, his father’s
favorite son, is a boy blessed with prophetic dreams. When he is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt, Joseph endures a series of adventures in which his spirit and humanity are continually challenged. He is purchased by Potiphar where thwarting advances from Potiphar’s wife lands him in jail. JOSEPH | 8A
H.A. Lynn Field press box project on schedule By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News There is no perfect time to renovate many types of sports facilities. However, high school football stadiums have their shining moments on Friday nights in the fall, and some adjustments needed to be made in order to complete the H.A. Lynn Field press box project by opening night. Contracted workers are tearing down and rebuilding the Lynn Field’s Frank Gilson Pressbox, and are building a smaller press box on the visitors side. The $191,800 project is on schedule, Maintenance Supervisor Jack Suttek said, partly because construction got under way before soccer season
Jason W. Brooks/Daily News Progress has been made in replacing the Frank Gilson Pressbox at H.A. Lynn Field in Newton. The project is on schedule, and construction of the new visitors side press box is set to begin next week.
ended. “People might say, ‘What’s taking so long?’ but they’re on schedule,” Suttek said in a short report he gave to the
Newton Community School District board at Monday’s regular meeting. “Demolition will be done this week, and steel studs will go
up next week, and the concrete (bases) for the visitors side will be done next week as well.” STADIUM | 3A
FEATURE
WHERE IT’S AT Astrograph......................5B Calendar..........................5A Classifieds......................4B
Submitted Photo Newton graduate Tim Stammeyer is set to take a year off from school and travel parts of the country serving with NET Ministries, conducting thousands of retreats for youth.
Comics & Puzzles...........6A Dear Abby........................6A Local News......................2A
Obituaries.......................5A Opinion............................4A State News......................7A
Local churches to host VBS
Many options available for area youth / 2A
Volume No. 114 No. 16 2 sections 14 pages
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