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REG plant manager testifies for biofuels Abels one of more than 200 to go before EPA By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News Not everyone gets to testify on behalf of their industry before a group of major government decision makers. That’s what Newton REG plant manager Phil Abels was permitted to do Thursday when he was in Kansas City, Kan., testifying in an EPA hearing on Renewable Fuel Standard proposals. “I was a little nervous,” Abels said by phone Thursday. “But
for the importance of what I had to say, it was worth a little nervousness.” More than 200 people are scheduled to testify in the hearing, and even more promised to show up to a related rally in support of renewable fuels. The EPA delayed its most recent announcement about renewable standards and target numbers more than once before recently announcing standards that didn’t please many who support biofuels. The overall Advanced
Biofuel standard would rise to 3.4 billion ethanol equivalent gallons in 2016. REG was represented by Abels and REG cooperate Vice President of Sales and Marketing Gary Haer, along with a long list of biofuel supports that included representatives of the National Corn Growers Association and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad. The transcript of Abels’ comments to the EPA show the support ABELS | 3A
Photo by Iowa Biodiesel Board Phil Abels, plant manager of REG’s Newton facility, testified in favor of higher renewable fuel standards before the EPA in a large hearing in Kansas City on Thursday.
Little Free Library coming to Maytag Park By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News
“We try to vary the types of courses, but it’s sort of limited by the availability of instructors,” said Terry Norton, the academy’s director. “We have to cap them (the CSI class was the largest this year, with 20 students), because we don’t want the instructors to be spread too thin. But we’ve always gotten quick sign-ups and a lot of turnout.” In the “Things That Fly” camp, young people were able to learn about carpentry, aerodynamics and more. Plus, as Norton
A new library is planned for Newton to be located in Maytag Park, a Little Free Library. After presenting to the Parks Board, Public Services Librarian Nicole Lindstrom got the OK to begin work to place the mini-sized library within the boundaries of Maytag Park. “We tried to mimick the older structures that are already in Maytag Park,” Lindstrom said. The 3-foot by 3-foot structure will sit on a post and is By Nicole able to hold around 30 books, Lindstrom Lindstrom said. There will be a variety of books in the little Newton Public library for children and adults Library Public to enjoy in the take one, leave Services Librarian one system. The Friends of the Newton Library will supply the books and the library will look after its smaller counterpart to make sure it stays filled with a variety appropriate reading material. There will also be a signed placed explaining the concept of the free library. Lindstrom suggested Maytag Park because of its location as well as the high amount of traffic it receives. It was suggested to locate it near the playground to be visible and in a highly used area, along with a smaller chance of it getting vandalized. Along with providing free reading material, the library is hoping to use it for cross publicity was the main library. In the books that are initially provided additional material about the public library will be given away to get people informed on what it has to offer. Newton would be one of a few communities with a Little Free Library, Lindstrom said, and that feedback on social media has been positive for the idea. “The nearest ones are three in Pella and one in Gilman and then Des Moines and Iowa City, so there is really not any around here,” Lindstrom said.
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Submitted Photo Eleven-year-old Hannah Schwickerath, of Newton, proudly displays her hydration-powered rocket she made at the Des Moines Area Community College Career Academy’s “Things That Fly” camp, held earlier this month. At this event, the campers made hydration-powered rockets, painted birdhouses and made paper airplanes. On the last day of camp, the children got to watch their bottle rockets soar far above their heads.
Young people learn about ‘things that fly’
DMACC programs engage youth for various skills By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News Not everyone thinks bottle rockets are safe. However, the type of bottle rockets some young people were allowed to launch at a recent day camp with a Des Moines Area Community College program were hardly the type sometimes seen on the Fourth of July. In fact, the rockets were made of actual two-liter pop bottles. This is the fourth year the DMACC’s Jasper County Career Academy has offered the Kids
College — a series of short workshop-type day camps at the academy that teach incoming sixththrough eighth-graders a rare set of skills. The rockets and birdhouses were made as a part of a “Things That Fly” two-day camp that taught young people about all things airborne. Other camps, held within the past couple of weeks, included crime scene investigation, body works/first aid and a kitchen camp devoted to cooking. The camps were only $25 each this year, and many participants took more than one.
Newton man charged with sexual abuse, endangerment By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News A Newton man was charged with second-degree sexual abuse and child endangerment June 16 after being accused of punching a 2-year-old child in the genitals, hitting a 4-year-old child in the mouth as well as
sexual abusing a 11-yearold child. Christopher L. Riggs, 26, denied touching any of the children during his arrest. According
Riggs
to police reports, the child’s mother said Riggs punched the 2-year-old in the genitals, causing a bruise. When officers spoke to the 11-year-old victim, she said that Riggs hit the 4-yearold in the mouth, causing a swollen, split lip and loose tooth. When asked by officers if
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is being held on a $35,000 bond. He was arrested in March after an incident where he was charged with consumption of alcohol in public place and interference with official acts. Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com
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he had ever done anything to her, she said that three to four weeks ago when they were sitting on a sofa, he put his hand down her pants and assaulted her. He told her that she could not tell anyone because “I could go to jail for a long time.” Riggs was taken to the Jasper County Jail, where he
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Local students make list
Universities, colleges academic honors / 2A
Volume No. 114 No. 28 2 sections 16 pages
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