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Thursday, October 10, 2013
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Newton, Iowa
Missing teen returns home
INSIDE TODAY
By Dave Hon Daily News Staff Writer
Local
Theisen’s donates to Alzheimer’s Assn. Page 2A
Submitted Photos Above: Shelly Fitzgerald in her newly-acquired ’94 Ford Mustang, which was originally owned by her mother, who is pictured below. Shelly’s mother passed away almost three years ago, and she found her mom’s car as a way to retain the connection.
‘Mustang Shelly’ A tale of how one woman found a car with special meaning
Business
By Ty Rushing Daily News Staff Writer
Page 7A
“MNT2B,” or meant to be. If all goes according to plan, Shelly Fitzgerald’s vanity plates for her newly acquired teal-colored ’94 Ford Mustang convertible will read those words, which in this case, it’s hard to argue against that being true. “My mom always wanted a Mustang and in ’94, that was the year of the newer body styles, Dad talked her into ordering one,” Shelly said. “So she actually ordered it from Axtell’s exactly the way she wanted it. She wanted teal (paint), she got it exactly like she wanted it — this was her dream car.” Shelly said her mother, Karen, was a very selfless person and rarely would want to treat herself, but this Mustang became one of the few exceptions. Karen kept the car for a number of years, had vanity plates that read “Pony 94” and even had a denim driving jacket with a mustang on the back. Karen loved the car, but after becoming a grandmother and coupled with higher insurance rates, she decided it was time to part with her dream car, Shelly said. “She was getting grandchildren and car seats don’t really fit in the car, so she
ISU Extension joins Newton Chamber
Sports
Pre-game outlook for NHS Page 1B
Weather
Friday
High 79 Low 53
Saturday
High 70 Low 43 Weather Almanac
Wed., Oct. 9 High 75 Low 50 No Precipitation Also:
Still Water to perform tonight at Cowboy Church
Astrograph Page 5B Calendar Page 3A
MUSTANG See Page 5A
Staff writer Dave Hon may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 425, or at dhon@newtondailynews.com.
‘Raise the Roof’
At 7 p.m. tonight, a familiar name will be performing at The Bar None Cowboy Church in Newton. Founded in 1994, the Western Kentucky-based Still Water has been a frequent visitor to Cowboy Church since its early days at Camp Wesley Woods. The men who comprise the traditional southern gospel music ministry bring with them more than 90 years of musical experience. Cowboy Church services are every Thursday at its location just south of Culver’s. Services are “non-traditional, non-denominational and come-as-you-are.”
Comics & Puzzles Page 6A Dear Abby Page 6A Opinion Page 4A Obituaries Page 3A Police Page 3A Sports Page 1B
Our 112th Year No. 101
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in Ankeny. So we called the Ankeny one, and my husband said, ‘Maybe it’s actually hers, you know there aren’t that many around.’” While trying not to get her hopes up too much of it being the same car, Shelly called the seller in Ankeny. Unfortunately, he told her that the original owners of the car were from Webster City and not Newton. “That kind of crushed our hopes of it possibly being hers,” Shelly said. They arranged for a meeting with the seller and were blown away by how well the car was kept up. Despite being nearly 20 years old, the car only had 77,000 miles on it and was kept in pristine condition. It even had the same features as her mother’s car. Although they had been told the car came from Webster City, Don still asked the owner if they could see the title.
By Daily News Staff
Classifieds Page 4B
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sold it,” Shelly said. Karen passed away unexpectedly close to three years ago. Shelly said they were extremely close and she wanted to find a way to retain their bond and pay tribute to her, which led her on a mission to find a car like her mother’s. “Every fall, I get to thinking about her and want something to connect with her with,” Shelly said. “This fall, I told my husband, ‘I think I want to get a convertible like she had. That was like her car, I just want to connect with her and I think that would be cool.’” “People tell me all the time I look just like her, so I think, ‘How fun would it be to have a car just like hers?’” she continued. With her mind made up, Shelly and her husband, Don, began scouring CraigsList, trying to find a car that matched the specs of her mother’s. “There aren’t many teal ones,” she said. “There were a couple in Florida, one in Chicago, and one
Jourdan Flake, a 16 year-old runaway, returned home Wednesday afternoon. Jourdan had not been seen by her parents since Friday morning. Jennifer Flake, Jourdan’s mother, said she had contact with her for a few days via Facebook, but recently that contact had stopped. After returning, Jennifer said Jourdan felt like a criminal. “I don’t want any runaway, because there’s currently one more that’s running, I don’t want them to think they’re criminals, unless they’re doing criminal activity,” Jennifer said. “Jourdan, I think, just got caught up in the chase.” Prior to Jourdan’s return, Jennifer said she believed Jourdan had been coerced into leaving by a friend, Latasha R. Harris-Pearson, 19, of Newton. Jennifer said Harris-Pearson had a no-contact order preventing her from contacting Jourdan. This order, Jennifer said, stemmed from a Sept. 2 incident that resulted in Harris-Pearson being charged with serious assault, fifth-degree criminal mischief, fourthdegree criminal mischief, interference with official acts and underage possession of alcohol by a minor. Jennifer requested the no-contact order because of Harris-Pearson’s “violent and destructive behavior.” “She came over to our house and assaulted our daughter,” Jennifer said. Jennifer said Jourdan’s departure was very uncharacteristic of her since she is close to her family, especially her sister and nephew. “She’s not a menace to society,” Jennifer said. “It’s who has her. That’s the menace to society.” Since Jourdan is 16, Jennifer said there was no action the school district could take to get her back into school. “The school’s pretty much washed their hands of Jourdan,” Jennifer said. “Sixteen years old isn’t old enough to make life-changing decisions.” Newton Senior High School Principal Bill Peters did not immediately return phone calls Wednesday. Wednesday afternoon, Jennifer hadn’t seen her daughter yet but knew she was safe. “I am elated and happy that she is home and safe,” Jennifer said.
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Ty Rushing/Daily News Sugar Grove Vineyard and Gathering Place has taken the first steps toward completing its new barn, which will serve as banquet hall as well as numerous other functions. Owner Colette Hill said she expects the barn to be complete by Thanksgiving, and on April 1 for the facility to be fully functioning. She said this process has been ongoing for about the last nine months and also expressed that she would like the facility to be available to nonprofits for free. The barn also will host its first wedding on May 3. “I think it’s going to be something exciting to offer to the county,” Hill said.