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DAILY NEWS MONDAY, OCT. 5, 2015 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Rematch set for Newton vs. Newton By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News
File photo Naturalist Katie Cantu works with young students in this 2014 photo. Cantu and fellow Jasper County Conservation naturalist Greg Oldsen made a thorough presentation at last week’s Newton Community School District board of education meeting about JCC’s extensive work with schools in the county.
Naturalists engage county students in many topics By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News If young students enjoy a display set up by Jasper County Conservation, such as the new butterfly garden at the Mariposa Recreation Area, they might be able to thank the naturalists and volunteers responsible for it. If those students are learning about JCC projects while in school, they can usually thank the naturalists themselves. Jasper County Conservation Naturalists Katie Cantu and Greg Oldsen work with young students all over the county as part of special presentations and field trips. Last week, Cantu and Oldsen were able to give the Newton Community School District board of education an update on numbers and other aspects of their work with the district’s students within the past year. Cantu said they limit each class to five interactions during the school year. “Some would rather have us more often,” Cantu said. “But we have to cap it somewhere.” She said each school district in
the county, plus Newton Christian School, contributes to the JCC services with a small funding payment each year. In return, the naturalists are able to help educate students in hands-on ways about everything from why bears hibernate to how pollination is done. Cantu said the JCC programs made a total of 7,486 student contacts in Jasper County in 2014-15. Newton Community School District students make up the largest group JCC sees, as 256 of their 427 presentations targeting Newton Schools students. She said for about the past 10 years, there has been a much greater focus on aligning JCC lesson plans and field trips with each classroom’s curriculum. JCC’s outreach even includes NCSD’s preschool. At one of last year’s presentations, Oldsen showed preschoolers how a turtle retreats into, and emerges from its shell, and how a bear creates and inhabits a den to conserve energy during the winter. Oldsen talked about his year’s projects, which have already include Monarch butterfly tagging,
nature journaling and digital photography of nature. “The fall is really a busy time, in terms of field trips,” he said. The warmer-weather months are hardly the only times when JCC works with students, however. On one January weekday last winter, Oldsen patiently worked with hundreds of Berg Middle School students, teaching the basics of cross-country skiing. Board member Robyn Friedman praised not only the field trips to JCC facilities and other destinations, but also the use of some of NCSD’s extended on-campus green space. Cantu’s husband, Josh, was recently elected to the school board, along with Ann Leonard. Cantu said JCC hopes to continue its long legacy of helping Jasper County students learn about the environment. “We have a really good partnership with the schools,” Cantu said. “And we’re really proud of that.” Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com
Empower Tanzania guests
Jason W. Brooks/Daily News Three members of a delegation from Tanzania visited Newton on Friday, and spent much of the day at Newton High School, which has an “Empower Tanzania Club.” The trio participated in school activities and toured the school and other parts of Newton, and attended a pep assembly. From the left are Eli Kisimbo, Chedi Mimbaga, Joseph Kimbwereza and NHS science teacher Jodi Morgan-Peters.
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Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com
Healthiest State Walk set for Wednesday By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News “Walk at the Whistle” is the theme of the fifth annual Healthiest State Walk that will take place Wednesday in communities throughout Jasper County. Sponsored by Delta Dental and as a part of the Healthiest State Initiative, the walk brings together groups at businesses, schools and various organizations to help make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation. This year, there are walks taking place all throughout the day in Newton. The first starts at 11 a.m. at HyVee, with those at Skiff heading out at noon and DMACC taking off at 12:15 p.m. and Optimae beginning at 1 p.m. The BMS fall fitness walk starts at 2:15 p.m. at 1900 N. Fifth Ave. E. and those participating in the Loving Hands and Friends walk in Lambs Grove set out at 4 p.m. Hy-Vee will also have an evening wellness walk starting at
5:30 p.m. “At Skiff, employees are encouraged to walk on their lunch or anytime that day. Walkers will be provided a free lunch and employees are allowed to wear their healthiest State T-shirt and jeans to work,” Dietitian Jenny Thompson said. The Baxter CMB Raiders walk will kick off at 8 a.m. at 202 E. State St. in Baxter. The Tallgrass Trail Walk through the Wildflowers is slated for noon at 9981 Pacific Street in Prairie City and those at Colfax Dental will head out at 12:15 p.m. from their 475 N. Walnut St. location. HEALTHY | 3A
FEATURE
WHERE IT’S AT Astrograph......................5B Calendar..........................5A Classifieds......................4B
Back for a second year, the Newton vs. Newton challenge will once again pit Newton, Iowa against Newton, Kan. in a series of competitions to prove once again who reigns supreme. The second annual competition begins Oct. 12 and runs through Oct. 23. The list of challenges will be announced on Monday at 8 a.m. on gettoknownewton.com as well as through the city’s social media sites. Last year, Newton, Iowa was victorious, winning four of the five challenges. For the most popular Newton, Iowa gained 601 new likes on Facebook while Kansas added 448. Iowa was also victorious in the cutest pet contest. It had 289 photos sub-
mitted to Kansas’ 167 during the challenge. Kansas took the prize for the Newton with the most school pride, showcasing 284 people wearing the “Black and Gold” for Railer Pride while 167 Iowans proudly displayed their “Red Pride.” Iowa was back on top for the fittest Newton with 112 people participating in the one mile community walk to Kansas’s 80 people. Like Newton, Iowa, Newton, Kan. is located near the center of the state, near metropolitan area Wichita, similar to Newton, Iowa’s location near Des Moines. Newton, Kan. does have the numbers advantage with a population of 19,000 compared to Newton, Iowa’s 15,000.
Comics & Puzzles...........6A Dear Abby........................6A Local News......................2A
Obituaries.......................5A Opinion............................4A State News......................7A
West Gate Skate returns
Indoor skating rink open for the season / 2A
Volume No. 114 No. 99 2 sections 14 pages
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