NEWTON
TOUGHEST OPPONENT
No. 15 Newton plays No. 4 Oskaloosa on senior night / 1B
DAILY NEWS TUESDAY, JUNE 28 2016 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW
newtondailynews.com
HIGH
78 56 LOW
Facebook.com/newtondailynews
@newtondnews
Woman in adult abuse case gets probation, suspended sentence
A humble servant
Restitution exceeds $46K By Abigail Pelzer Newton Daily News
Kate Malott/Newton Daily News Junior Banks, 88, of Newton, enjoys a summer afternoon on his patio last week. Banks was selected as the Fourth of July parade grand marshal and will ride in the parade Monday morning at 9:30 a.m.
A life of service earns Banks grand marshal recognition
A
By Kate Malott Newton Daily News
nyone who has met Junior Banks knows firsthand the impact a generous smile and greeting can make on a person. Junior lives a life of love with a purpose to help and encourage others. He has made a lasting impression on Newton residents for the past 80 years with his sense of humor and goodwill. “No matter where you are there’s always some negativity, but if you hear it, just turn it into a smile, even if it hurts. You’ll be the winner, “ Junior said. Junior, 88, has been selected as the Newton 2016 Fourth of July parade grand marshal for his years of demonstrated service and character. Childhood Junior was born in Colfax on April 6, 1928 to Ruth Viola and George Lewis Banks. He is the sixth of seven children and the last living member of his family. The Banks’ moved to Newton
when Junior was 4 years old. His father was a janitor, and later a chef, at Hotel Maytag while his mother stayed at home with the children. “I think I had a wonderful childhood. I can’t complain,” he said. Junior attended school at Washington and Emerson Hough, and when he was about 12 years old, he got his first job at the Newton Country Club as a caddie. It paid 25 cents for nine holes, but it had other perks. “Every Tuesday was Caddie’s Day, so I’d go around with my driver so I could tee off, then I’d have my nine iron if I had to go in the sand trap, and I’d have my putter. I used three clubs. Why should I have a bag with 12 clubs in it when I can use three?” he said. In high school, Junior participated in track and football. Newton High School won the Central Iowa Conference track meet for the first time in 1944, and Banks was the anchor of the 440-yard relay. “I wasn’t spectacular in sports,
but track was my baby,” he said. “I loved to run.” Junior was the third in his family to graduate from high school. Following his brother George Jr. and sister Kathryn, he graduated from Newton Senior High School in the Class of 1946. Junior was the only African American student in the school, but he said in his heart he felt no prejudice. “This is the best city in the whole world. Everybody’s been good to me. I was the only black student in my class from kindergarten to 12th grade, and I didn’t know I was this color,” he said. “I felt no prejudice. I had no reason to. My parents didn’t discuss that — we were just mom, dad and children. Color? We didn’t know what that was, and if my older brother and sister knew, they never mentioned it.” Military Service After high school, he went to work for at the Schlodfelt dealership, and a few years later enlisted BANKS | 10A
A woman accused of misspending more than $23,000 as the caretaker of a 77-year-old Newton victim received probation and a suspended prison sentence on Monday. Renee S. Goeldner, of Beaver Dam, Wis. pleaded guilty to first-degree theft and dependent adult abuse. According to police, the 48-year-old woman made unauthorized purchases for personal gain from the victim’s bank account between Jan. 13, 2014 and April 6, 2015. District Court Judge Terry RickGoeldner ers issued a suspended 15-year prison sentence and five years of probation. According to court documents, Goeldner owes more than $46,979 in restitution. Rickers ordered her to “promptly pay in full all restitution and all fees and costs associated with her probation.” She is also ordered to pay $1,750 in court fines, among other fees and surcharges. Goeldner was initially charged in August 2015 with first-degree theft and dependent adult abuse-financial exploitation following an investigation by the Newton Police Department. Court records say police began investigating the former caretaker and conservator after being alerted to possible abuse. Contact Abigail Pelzer at 641-792-3121 ext. 6530 or apelzer@newtondailynews.com
Newton prison inmate apprehended after escape Newton Daily News An inmate walked away from the Newton Correctional Facility on Monday evening, according to the Iowa Department of Corrections, but was later apprehended. Timothy Joseph Formaro, Jr., an inmate housed at Newton’s minimum-security Correctional Release Center, was not present during routine count at 9:20 p.m. Monday. After further search by security, staff it has been determined that Formaro escaped from the facility. The Iowa State Patrol, Jasper and Polk sheriff ’s departments and Fifth Judicial District Warrant Team were notified and assisted in the public search of Formaro. He was apprehended early Tuesday morning. Fomaro is serving a 25-year sentence from Clarke County for prohibited acts and domestic abuse assault.
Board discussion focuses on communication Bond formalities completed in first meeting at Beard center By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News After the Newton Community School District’s Board of Education handled all of its action items at Monday’s regular meeting, the board had one final issue to tackle. Board member Robyn Friedman pointed out the small yellow cards that were mailed out to give parents transportation details related the upcoming school year were subpar. The cards were blank on one side and had no
type of district logo or insignia, and the board was not involved in either the appearance or content of the notices. “I feel we could have done a much better job in how these went out, and we could have collaborated better,” Friedman said. “I’m speaking in frustration as a board member — not even as a parent — so I would hope when we produce other things that are talking about reconfiguration, from this point forward, there be a collaboration so that the board can speak to
that, and be informed. It’s frustrating the only way I knew about this was because it was in my mailbox.” Board member Josh Cantu echoed the frustration, as told to him by other parents. Superintendent Bob Callaghan said the district office received several phone calls Monday about the cards, and the lack of communication with the board will be addressed. Callaghan said more transportation information will be a part of the registration packets for the 2016-17 school year. He said even though he has three children, he only received a card for
Jason W. Brooks/Daily News Newton Community School District Board of Education member Robyn Friedman speaks at Monday’s meeting. The board handled a number of routine votes at the meeting, which was its first meeting in the newly remodeled E. J. H. Beard Administration Center.
one of those students in the mail. “It doesn’t seem very well-coordinated when it comes out in this way,” Friedman said. “We
75 CENTS
7
98213 00008
4
The other main item handled Monday night took place at a board learning workshop held NCSD | 3A
FEATURE
WHERE IT’S AT Astrograph......................5B Calendar..........................5A Classifieds......................4B
could challenge ourselves to do better.” No one from the transportation department was at Monday’s meeting.
Comics & Puzzles...........6A Dear Abby........................6A Local News......................2A
Obituaries.......................5A Opinion............................4A State News......................7A
Focusing on small grains
Field day discusses benefits of the crop / 2A
Volume No. 115 No. 28 2 sections 16 pages
Thank you Brenda Schaper of Newton for subscribing to the Newton Daily News. To subscribe, call 641-792-5320 or visit newtondailynews.com.