Newton
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Daily News
Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014
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Newton, Iowa
Man sentenced to 10 years in teen’s death By Abigail Pelzer Daily News Editor
Kate Malott/Daily News Above: U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst made a stop on North Second Street in Newton Monday night to talk to voters and encourage support. She spoke to a crowd outside the Jasper County Republican headquarters. This is the second of 99 stops before Election Day, Nov. 4. Left: Norm Rozendaal of Monroe speaks to Ernst about his financial and social concerns in the country. Ernst spoke to guests before and after her speech.
Ernst stumps in Newton on second stop of campaign tour By Kate Malott Daily News Staff Writer U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst made a stop in downtown Newton Monday night to tell Jasper County voters she’ll look out for the interest of all Iowans if elected. The event held outside of the Jasper County Republican headquarters was the second stop on her Iowa Knows Best tour, a 99 county checklist which started Sunday and will go on for the remaining 43 days until the day of election, Nov. 4. “I believe Iowans know what is best for Iowans not politicians in Washington D.C.,” Ernst said. “What we’re showing is that every Iowan matters, whether you’re a Republican, whether you’re an independent or whether you’re a Democrat.” Jasper County Republi-
can Party Chairman Marshall Critchfield hosted the event and introduced Ernst. He said he feels that Ernst’s personality will ultimately get her a seat on the Senate floor in Washington. A crowd of about 75 people attended the event, many of which were certain of their support for Ernst. “I think she seems like an honest, trustworthy individual who will stand up for what I believe in, the U.S. and Iowa and make good decisions,” said Mary Rethmeier, of Kellogg. Ernst spoke about her interest in Iowans, along with her party alliance. “One thing we’re demonstrating to our party and others outside of the party is that we are a cohesive unit and we are going to work together to take back this seat in the United States Senate — I believe Io-
wans know what’s best for Iowa not politicians,” Ernst said. Iowa Senate candidate Crystal Buntz, Iowa House candidate Pat Peyton and Jasper County Supervisor Denny Carpenter were among other candidates in attendance. “I feel a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm and my goodness we have a lot of interest in this race. We’ll see who really cares about Iowans,” Ernst said. Ernst is running against congressman U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, for Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, 30-year senate seat in Washington. “This southwest Iowa farm girl is still tied with that eightyear congressman in the polls,” she said. Contact Staff Writer Kate Malott at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6533 or at kmalott@newtondailynews.com.
A Newton man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday for vehicular homicide in the death of a local teenager. Daniel L. Edwards, 42, was charged in April 2013 after police determined Edwards was speeding and under the influence of synthetic drugs when he struck 14-year-old Brendan O’Brien with a Chevy Blazer, causing fatal injuries. Edwards is also ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to the family and $1,000 fine. Edwards O’Brien was hit at approximately 9 p.m. on a Sunday night as he was walking northbound in the 1100 block of East 19th Street North with a group of friends. Edwards, traveling at approximately 41 mph in a 35 mph zone, hit him with his vehicle as he was out delivering pizzas, according to court documents. After O’Brien was hit, he was thrown onto the hood of Edwards’ vehicle and carried for several feet before the Blazer came to a stop. O’Brien was unresponsive when police officers arrived on the scene. He was transferred to Skiff Medical Center and then airlifted to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines where he died two days later as a result of injuries sustained in the collision. Edwards consented to field sobriety tests and failed the walk and turn test. He also complied with providing a urine sample, which came back positive for the presence of synthetic cannabinoids, according to court documents. Police also recovered a pipe and more than 2 grams of synthetic cannabinoids, “Psycho” brand EDWARDS See Page 5A
Newton holds strategic planning meeting Sets ‘big, hairy, audacious goals’ By Jamee A. Pierson Daily News Staff Writer Action items and “big, hairy, audacious goals” were discussed at the strategic plan meeting for the Newton City Council and department directors Monday. The vision and mission statements were also confirmed with a slight change. The mission statement had no changes and will remain: The mission of the City of Newton is to be the best provider of excellent services through a professional, innovative team dedicated to high quality performance and fiscal responsibility. The vision statement had a slight change that was discussed at a previous regular meeting of the city COUNCIL See Page 5A
Newton school district could be debt free in 2 years By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer In two years the Newton Community School District could become free of any outstanding debt obligations, according to Superintendent Bob Callaghan. The district has been using funds from its local option/statewide sales and services tax fund to pay off its debt service fund instead of raising the property tax levy. Off the top of his head, Callaghan estimated the district had a little more than $2 million left on the balance for its debt. “We feel that our debt will be paid in full within two years,” he said.
Callaghan made this announcement as he was filling in for District Business Manager Gayle Isaac in delivering the district’s treasurer’s report at Monday’s board of education Callaghan meeting. The report covers the district’s expenditures and revenues for the 20132014 fiscal year, which ended on June 30. According the report, the district
begin the ‘14 fiscal year with a general fund balance of around $3.4 million and ended the year at a little more than $2.9 million. This was due to the district spending around $500,000 more on its expenses than it had in revenue, Callaghan said. “... We had to go into our savings accounts to pay for everything we spent last year,” Callaghan said. In total, the district had around $29.6 million in revenues and $30.1 million in expenditures for the ‘14 fiscal year. The report also indicates that the district finished with $412,379.50 in its student activity fund, $1,197,228.18 in its management levy fund, $830,433.55 in the
physical plant and equipment levy fund and $818,744.78 in the enterprise fund. “Budgetarily, there has been great efforts to try and bring everything so that we are in good stead financially throughout the board,” Callaghan said. Callaghan said this report is proof that the district’s efforts to conserve funds have been working after it froze budgets and cut costs in February after Isaac forecast the district was going to be in a $1.6 to $1.9 million deficit. NCSD See Page 5A
No decision from EPA on renewable fuel
NHS junior varsity volleyball team competes
Although most of the year has already passed, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency still hasn’t made a final decision on the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard.| 8A
Newton High’s junior varsity team and freshman volleyball team played in different locations Monday evening, beating Knoxville and PCM. | 1B
INDEX Local News • 2A 7
98213 00008
4
Calendar • 3A Obituaries • 3A
Today
High 69 Low 58
Police Blotter • 3A Opinion • 4A
Comics & Puzzles • 6A Dear Abby • 6A
Classifieds • 4B Astrograph • 5B
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Volume No. 113 No. 89 2 sections, 16 pages