Newton
Serving Newton & Jasper County Since 1902
Daily News
75 cents
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 OBITUARIES Laura Anderson, 21 William Gosselink, 96 Richard Holmes, 62 Gail J. Teed, 81 Donald V. Tratchel, 99 INSIDE TODAY
Local
DECA students attend conference Page 2A
www.newtondailynews.com
Sarmento talks Main Street with county supervisors By Ty Rushing Daily News Staff Writer Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Darrell Sarmento updated the Jasper County Board of Supervisors on Newton’s progress in garnering a Main Street designation and received approval for several requests. Sarmento informed the board that on Nov. 7 at noon and at 5:30 p.m., rallies will be held at the Capitol II Theater to spur interest in the Main Street project. He said each rally would last about 30 minutes and he encouraged the board
and all county employees to attend. “They are just kind of an upbeat informational meeting related to Newton applying to be a Main Street community,” Sarmento told the board. Sarmento also spoke on how, if Newton were to get the designation, the courthouse would partner with the city to improve the downtown street scape, benches, lighting and other visual aspects. “Whatever we need to do to make our downtown a little bit more charming and a nice destination,” he said. Sarmento’s requests for permission to use
Darrell Sarmento the courthouse lawn for several fall events was approved. The approved events, include the Downtown Newton Trick or Treat on Oct. 31, Downtown Newton Christmas Open House on Nov. 9 and 10, and
Religion Page 8A
and festive and has the same look.” Jasper County Human Resources Director Dennis Simon proposed 2014 holiday schedule for county employees was approved. County employees will have 10 days off next year, and Simon said the only discretion was the County Attorney’s office doesn’t get President’s Day off, but instead has Martin Luther King Jr. Day off. The board also granted the Jasper County 4-H programs permission to use the courthouse for “Festival of Trees.” The festival is away for the clubs to raise money for various local charities.
By Dave Hon Daily News Staff Writer
Sports
Season ends for Cards at tourney Page 1B
Submitted Photo The Newton Lions Club recently presented the Warren Coleman Honorary Award to the Jasper County Senior Citizens Center. Pictured (from left) are Ron Kollmann, vice president of the center; Jack Ayres, president of the Lions Club; Louie Modlin, president of the center; and Terri Ayres, member the Lions Club.
Weather
Newton Lions Club gives top award to senior center
Thursday
High 76 Low 53
By Daily News Staff
Friday
High 76 Low 55 Weather Almanac
Tuesday, Oct. 8 High 76 Low 48 No Precipitation
The Newton Lions Club recently presented the Jasper County Senior Citizens Center with a Warren Coleman Honorary Award — the highest honor conferred by the Iowa Lions Foundation. The award is presented to individuals or organizations that make a substantial financial and service commitment to Lions Clubs of Iowa. The senior center was selected to receive
the honor for allowing the Newton Lions Club to utilize its facility, kitchen, furnishings and equipment for meetings, training sessions, pancake breakfasts, soup suppers and many other activities for no charge. This allows the Newton Lions Club to use funds raised to support and assist Newton residents in need of the club’s services. The Lions Club also presented the center with a check to assist in building costs.
MINE Task Force makes drug arrest in Prairie City
Also: Astrograph Page 5B Classifieds Page 4B
By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor
Comics & Puzzles Page 6A
A Prairie City woman was arrested and charged with a number of drug infractions following the execution of a search warrant Tuesday by the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Task Force. According to Lt. Brad Shutts, MINE-East Task Force Supervisor, the warrant was executed at approximately 8:45 a.m. at 600 E. Fifth St. in Prairie City. Inside, officers discovered Latisha Mayse, 31, as well as illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia. Mayse was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to
Dear Abby Page 6A Opinion Page 4A Obituaries Page 3A Police Page 3A Our 112th Year No. 100
98213 00008
the Chamber’s Lighted Christmas Parade on Nov. 29. When speaking about the Christmas Parade, which also includes the courthouse lighting ceremony, Sarmento said he and Christmas Courthouse Lighting Committee member Steve Knight plan on seeking ways to convert to LED lights next year. “We obviously want to keep the same charm, brightness and magic that it has right now,” he said. “We don’t want to lose anything with the LED lights, but the LED light technology has actually come a long way and it’s very bright
Committee sends proposed new position to council
Jazz band plays at Bridgehouse
7
Newton, Iowa
4
Latisha Mayse deliver, a Class C felony. If convicted, that charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison. She was also charged with possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance without a prescription, a serious misdemeanor, and possession of drug para-
phernalia, a simple misdemeanor. She faces up to one year and 30 days in the county jail, respectively, if convicted on those charges. According to online court records, Mayse was convicted in midOctober of 2012 on a charge of unlawful possession of a prescription drug, a serious misdemeanor, stemming from a July arrest in Polk County. For that offense, she received a deferred judgment and was given one year probation. Daily News Editor Bob Eschliman may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 423, or at beschliman@newtondailynews.com.
Newton City Council members serving on the Employee Relations Committee sent a proposal for a new position in the city’s administration department to the council for discussion. The proposed position has an estimated cost of $83,260 based on a midpoint salary. The position would have a wide range of duties one of them serving as director of the Newton Housing Development Corporation. Additionally, Knabel the development specialist would also implement the proposed housing initiative and the implementation of the Buxton report. Newton City Administrator Bob Knabel estimated that thirty hours of the individual’s time would be dedicated to the housing initiative. “I hope, in fact, we can limit it to that,” Knabel said. Discussion in the committee centered on the value of spending almost $100,000, including support costs, on a new position. “How do we get the most effective use of that money and having that staff member here and be able to respond to our needs… would be an advantage of having that person close by,” Knabel said. Council Member Noreen Otto expressed reservations about adding another salaried person to the city’s budget. “I’m always hesitant to add a new salary and benefits to the payroll, so to speak,” Otto said. “So I’m kind of weighing that against the desire to use in house and maximize that position.” Despite these reservations, Otto believed the hiring of a development specialist had greater benefit than using an outside contractor to perform some of the positions duties. Otto also expressed that having an in-house employee would facilitate communications and that there was an added benefit to having one person work on both retail and housing initiatives. “This position kind of kills two birds with one stone,” Otto said. Council member Jeff Price, on the other hand, expressed concerns about having a single person take on so many duties. Knabel expressed that many current city employees would take supporting roles in helping. “It really will need to be a team effort for the housing because you’ll have Brian (Friedman) involved with the oversight, and you’re going to have questions with planning and zoning,” Knabel said. “So there will need to be some coordination at staff level for this.” Prior to the vote, Mayor Mike Hansen said that he gave significant consideration with how to move forward with the housing initiative. He said there were two options available, the city could contract the work out or hire a team member. COUNCIL See Page 7A