Newton
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Friday, Aug. 22, 2014
www.newtondailynews.com
Newton students excel on ACT test
OBITUARIES Paul Egenes, 88 Blanche (Smith) Fifer, 78 Forrest (Junior) Matherly, Jr., 91 Harold “Dean” Meeks, 73
By Daily News Staff
INSIDE TODAY
Ty Rushing/Daily News The “Ol’ Lonely” sculpture at Maytag Park is one of the more than 90 pieces of public art on display in the city. The people behind the Iowa Sculpture Festival are looking to add to that collection by receiving a grant from Wellmark to get decorated bike racks for city parks. You can vote for the “Art Bike Racks” project on Wellmark’s website.
Local
Former mayor holds fundraiser
Iowa Sculpture Festival needs votes to win grant
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By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer
Education
Schuster teaches students about life Page 8A
Sports
Final part of the Newton A’s series
The annual Iowa Sculpture Festival is held in Newton, and now the organization is trying to win funds to help support the city’s parks and biking trail by acquiring new bike racks. ISF is attempting to win the funds via the Wellmark 75 online voting project. Wellmark will award the top 10 voted on projects with $7,500 in funds to support each sponsoring organizations project. ISF’s project is called “Art Bike Racks” and the organization feels this project will serve two purposes. One, the uniquely designed bike racks would add to New-
TO VOTE:
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ton’s public art collection, which currently has more than 90 pieces in a variety of formats. The second reason is it will fill the need for more bike racks in Newton’s public parks, where many of the public art pieces reside. In its submission application to Wellmark, ISF stated: “With the individually designed ‘Art Bike Racks,’ not only would the design qualify them as additions to the art/ sculpture tour map, but become a part of the art exploration. Each bike rack would provide the option for respite at sites with multiple sculptures or murals so engaging that they may require a long look.” The committee also
expressed why it felt Newton deserved to win the funds to support this new project: “Many Newton residents still feel the stress of economic changes due to job or life events in past years. Our citizens look to be engaged in free or inexpensive activities that are family friendly. When the mind can be stimulated along with physical exercise, everyone wins. “... Now all we need are ‘Art Bike Racks’ to continue the essence of our efforts, both in functionality and aesthetic appeal in areas of physical activities.” Contact Senior Staff Writer Ty Rushing at (641) 7923121 ext. 6532 or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.
Click on the link on the Get to Know Newton or Newton Parks and Recreation Facebook page, or wellmark.upickem.net/engine/Votes.aspx?PageTyp e=VOTING&contestid=134845#.
NFD hosting ‘Fill the Boot’ campaign Saturday
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By Daily News Staff The Newton Fire Department will be participating in the “Fill the Boot” campaign from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of West Fourth Street and First Avenue West. During this event
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firefighters hit the streets where they ask pedestrians, motorists and other passers-by to contribute — money in the boot — for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Throughout 2014, MDA and the International Association of Fire Fighters are cel-
ebrating 60 years of a partnership committed to saving lives. As the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s largest national sponsor, the IAFF helps fuel MDA’s mission to improve and save the lives of more than one million Americans affected by muscle disease.
Newton Senior High School students again excelled on the ACT Test, the nation’s most common college admissions test. Newton’s graduating seniors in the Class of 2014 scored above the national and state averages on the test. Newton’s students averaged 23.5 on the test as compared to an average of 22.0 by state of Iowa students. It is the fifth consecutive year that Newton students have outpaced the students statewide. Newton student achievement is made more impressive by Iowa’s regular placement in the top three nationally on the test. The national average ACT score for 2014 graduating seniors was 21.0. The ACT test measures achievement in English, Reading, Science and Math. Newton seniors scored well above the state average in each area. English scores and reading scores surpassed the state average by nearly two full points each.
District to hold public hearing on greenhouse Monday By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer Taxpayers will get their say during a public hearing at Monday’s Newton Community School District Board of Education meeting on whether or not the district should purchase a new greenhouse. The new greenhouse would go in the upper parking lot south of Newton Senior High School and be used by NHS agriculture students. James Horn, the program’s advisor, commented at the last board meeting that the program has grown by 300 percent since 2008 and it needs more space . At that same meeting, Superintendent Bob Callaghan roughly estimated the total cost for the new greenhouse could be as much as $100,000, however, the district hadn’t received any bids from vendors when he gave that figure. Many board members seemed to favor the proposal at the last meeting, and board member Bill Perrenoud said he’d like to see it investigated further. The public hearing will begin at 6:45 p.m. in the conference room at the Emerson Hough building. In other business, NCSD Technology Supervisor Chris Beighler will publicly unveil the district’s new anonymous tip line. According to the district, the tip line can be used by parents, students and staff to report anything that may pose a safety threat. The district opted to implement this new feature when it began developing its new website last year. People can leave tips via email, phone call or text messages. Once a message has been submitted, it will be forwarded to a designated school official. GREENHOUSE See Page 5A
ALSO:
A familiar face takes over Iowa History Journal
Comics & Puzzles Page 6A Opinion Page 4A
By Jamee A. Pierson Daily News Staff Writer
Obituaries Page 3A
Starting as a reporter and working his way to editor with some freelancing thrown in, Michael Swanger has been working for central Iowa newspapers and magazines for 21 years. That’s why when founder Mike Chapman asked Swanger if he was interested in owning the Iowa History Journal, it fell right into step with where his career was going. “I was at a point in my career after having worked for central Iowa newspapers and magazines for 21 years as a reporter, editor
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and freelance writer that I was ready to take the next step in my career to become a publisher,” Swanger said. Taking the reigns on Jan. 1, the transition has been picture perfect. “In short, the stars were aligned and the transition of ownership has been seamless and smooth. My wife, Rebecca, and I owe Mike and Bev a debt of gratitude not only for the heavy lifting that they did to launch Iowa History Journal, but for their ongoing mentorJOURNAL See Page 5A
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News Michael Swanger (right) at the Iowa History Journal’s booth in the Agricultural Building at the 2014 Iowa State Fair.