Newton
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Tuesday, July 22, 2014
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Newton, Iowa
Newton City Council receives gender equality certificate
OBITUARIES John M. Kaput, 96 Jeff McGinley, 52 INSIDE TODAY
By Jamee A. Pierson Daily News Staff Writer
house,” Rena said. In 2011, she lost four relatives — including her mother and daughter — and the house held photos of them and items that had belonged to them, most of which were lost during the fire. Luckily, her mother’s ashes were recovered. During her five decades of owning the home, she said this was the only time it had ever caught on fire or sustained significant damage.
The City of Newton was recognized with a Certificate of Gender Equality at Monday’s city council meeting. Florine Swanson of Galt a Vision 2020 delegate, presented the certificate to the Newton City Council for having achieved a gender balance in accordance with a January 2012 State of Iowa Code. There are currently three men and three women on the council. Vision 2020 is a national initiative developed at Drexel University in Pennsylvania, to make equality a national priority through shared leadership among women and men. The year 2020 is significant as it will make the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote. “Your commitment to shared leadership is truly advancing the future of gender equality,” Swanson said. Newton is one of 16 cities in Iowa that have been identified as having gender equality. In other business, the council discussed and approved lowering the interest rate from 3.88 to 1 percent for the property owner at 817 N. Third Ave. E. after his willingness to come forward and work with the city to pay off the debt of the demolition of the property. A resolution was approved after a public discussion, of an agreement with Shive-Hattery Inc. to repaint the First Avenue West railroad overpass. Dixie Cassidy, a Newton resident, had concerns about the payment coming completely from the city and none from the Iowa Interstate Railroad, which owns the structure. Erin Chambers, director of Planning and Zoning, explained why Iowa Interstate Railroad would not put any money toward the project. “(Iowa Interstate Railroad) is not concerned with the aesthetic appearance of their bridges. They primarily have a safety and structural concern,” Chambers said. A citizen-led group has reviewed a list of what it felt would help Newton
FIRE See Page 5A
COUNCIL See Page 5A
Local
Schaeffer, Beukema of NCT receive awards Page 2A
Above: Ty Rushing/Daily News. Below: Submitted Photo After a fire last year, Rena Miller (seated) and her partner, Linda Roovart, lost nearly everything including most of their home. Now, almost one year later, they have rebuilt and are enjoying their “new” home.
Sports
Newton couple happy to rebuild after fire
Jaennette wins in Marshalltown
By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer
Page 7A
Last year, Rena Miller and her partner, Linda Roovart, faced every homeowners biggest nightmare when they lost everything in a fire at the home they shared on 217 E. 10th St. S. in Newton. The fire started after a newly restored ’89 Ford Mustang had an electrical short, which set the carport adjacent to the house ablaze. The car had just been shown at the “Cool Cars ‘Round the Square” car show on July 27. That car show was the first and last time the Mustang was ever shown publicly. Linda said the fire began at 9:45 p.m., was full blaze by 10:15 p.m. and by 4 a.m. they were in a motel. “(We arrived) with the clothes on our back and barefooted,” Rena said. Rena was devastated by the fire. She originally purchased the home in March of 1963, and for
Agriculture Conference focuses on women in ag Page 12A
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the last 50 plus years prior to the incident, it had served as the gathering spot for nearly every family occasion. In the time since her initial purchase, Rena estimated she’s invested around $250,000 in maintenance, expansions, remodels and upkeep for the home. Linda said after the fire, it took Rena two and a half months to even come and look at the house. Rena said it was just too much to bear to see the house in that condition. “I couldn’t do it. It was my baby — it was my
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Volunteers needed for park renovation
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Special to the Daily News
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New playground equipment at Maytag Park will be installed Wednesday through Saturday. Park staff is asking businesses, organizations and citizens to volunteer their time and help with the project, which will include the installation of two large play structures, climbing walls, swings and other equipment. “One of the major goals of this project was to allow the community to get involved,” Newton Administrative Parks Superintendent Nathan Unsworth said. “We want to give people an opportunity to make a difference and be able give back to the park system. This is not a small project — it is going to take four long days to complete. However, we know this community will rally around this exciting improvement to Maytag Park.” Park staff has set up three different volunteer shifts for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon, 12:30 to 5 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. Park staff would like eight to 10 volunteers for each time period and request volunteers be 16 years of age or older. On Saturday, work will begin at 8 a.m., and park staff is looking for up to 50 volunteers to help with installing landscaping fabric, shoveling gravel and spreading wood chips. Volunteers under the age of 16 are encouraged to participate on Saturday.
Also: Astrograph Page 5B Classifieds Page 4B Comics & Puzzles Page 6A Dear Abby Page 6A Opinion Page 4A Obituaries Page 3A Police Page 3A Our 113th Year No. 45
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Celebrating ‘Country Pride’
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PARK See Page 5A
Mike Mendenhall/Daily News The Jasper County Fair Parade brought hundreds of county residents to the streets of Colfax on Monday night as the 45-minute show celebrated this year’s fair theme “Country Pride County Wide.” Above: Shelby Deaton of Baxter greets parade-goers as the newly-coronated Jasper County Fair Queen. Left: Members of the Poweshiek Partners 4-H group wave to spectators while relaxing around the campfire. The fair continues with concerts, exhibits and 4-H/ FFA agricultural shows through Thursday.