NDN-10-17-2013

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Newton

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Thursday, October 17, 2013 OBITUARIES William H. Wagoner II Susan D. Stevens

INSIDE TODAY

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The King is coming to Newton — nearly Free Elvis Presley tribute show set for Saturday at Y Ty Rushing Daily News Staff Writer

Local

Domestic Violence Awareness Month Page 2A

Local

Students visit county museum Page 7A

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Newton heads to Saydel Page 1B

Weather

The King is back — but for one night only. Starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, the Newton YMCA will present “Nearly Elvis,” an Elvis Presley tribute show featuring Ron Semler as Elvis. It is an all-ages show and will have free admission. The first 50 guests will also receive a free pair of “The King’s Sunglasses.” Ron, who has been performing as Elvis since 1998, gave some background about he how became an Elvis tribute artist. “I became interested in doing shows after being more or less ‘forced’ into it by people that told me it was my ‘calling,’ he said. “They would not leave me alone and the concept just grew out of other people’s belief in me that I was meant to do this.” In addition to performing as The King, Ron is a fan.

“I became an Elvis fan after people told me I sounded like him when I sang in church,” Ron said. I started listening to his records and found out we sounded alike.” Anyone can claim to be an Elvis fan, but Ron passed one of the most important tests of Elvis fandom. “I do have a pair of Blue Suede Shoes, but I never wear them,” Ron said. Ron’s show this weekend will be his first visit to Newton. He said Marshalltown was previously the closest he had come to visiting, but promised to give Newtonians something to look forward to this Saturday. “Newton people can expect a lot of fun, a great show, a lot

of Elvis’ ‘moves’ and great entertainment,” Ron said. Ron, a native Iowan, is one of the most accomplished Elvis Tribute artists around. In 2011, KV and Associates voted him the number one Elvis entertainer. Ron talked about some of his most unforgettable moments while performing in this line of work. “My most memorable event was at Mt. Rushmore,” Ron said. “I have traveled quite a lot across the continental United States, typically performing at large world-class restaurants, country clubs and theatres in Branson, Chicago, Memphis and Las Vegas.” Ron said his favorite Elvis song is “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You,” and the ’70s/Vegas era is his favorite period of Elvis’ career. So, “Don’t be Cruel,” and check out this free show Saturday at the Newton YMCA located at 1701 S. 8th Ave E. Staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 426, or at trushing@newtondailynews. com.

Friday

High 56 Low 35

Saturday

High 55 Low 30 Weather Almanac

Wed., Oct. 16 High 50 Low 39 No Precipitation

Submitted Photo Ron Semler has been performing as an Elvis Tribute artist for 15 years and on Saturday he is bringing his show “Nearly Elvis” to the Newton YMCA.

Also:

‘Pink Out’

Astrograph Page 5B Classifieds Page 4B Comics & Puzzles Page 6A Dear Abby Page 6A Opinion Page 4A Obituaries Page 3A Police Page 3A Our 112th Year No. 106

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Newton, Iowa

Ty Rushing/Daily News DMACC’s Newton campus had plenty of students, employees and “Walkers” sporting pink on Wednesday as a part of its “Pink Out” to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. DMACC provided breast cancer related reading materials and bookmarks as well as pink pens and candy to help spread awareness. The campus is also hosting a Fall Festival supper today from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Submitted Photo Zoonie Robertson, dressed in traditional frontier garb, presented Ezra Meeker’s history to the audience at the Jasper County Museum.

Woman talks about relative who took the Oregon Trail Dave Hon Daily News Staff Writer Most people have heard of the Oregon Trail. Some even played the computer game in school. But Zoonie Robertson has a distant relative who actually traveled on the Trail. Sort of. Ezra Meeker, a distant uncle of Robertson’s didn’t live during the period of time the Oregon Trail was being traversed by the frontiersmen, but he took the trip. Meeker was a hops farmer. On Wednesday, Robertson told this story to an audience at the Jasper County Museum. “He’d take off with nothing except the clothes on his back and like a 40- to 50-pound backpack and he did that a couple times,” Robertson said. “He did okay. But then he really wanted to commemorate the pioneers and the battle they had going through the Oregon Trail.” Robertson said she had known of Meeker’s story for a long time, but her parents gave her some documents and photos. She finally presented it Wednesday and at Ridiculous Days. Aside from the Oregon Trail, Robertson also has relatives who fought in the Civil War and Revolutionary War. “It’s amazing how it all came together,” Robertson said. Later in life, Meeker visited New York City, where he met President Roosevelt. Robertson showed photos of Meekers wagon that he had taken to New York City. On Wall Street, Robertson said it was so crowded that Meeker had trouble getting out. “He said that was one of the most touching things because President Roosevelt understood all of the problems the pioneers had,” Robertson said. Robertson found the photos of Meeker in New York and one of President Roosevelt at Pappy’s. “The first time I saw them I thought, ‘I don’t need these,’ but then I thought, ‘Yeah, I do,” Robertson said. While in New York, Robertson’s wagon would be vandalized. People would carve into the wood. “It was a huge problem,” she said. Robertson said she believes she would be brave enough to traverse the Oregon Trail much like Meeker did. “I feel like a frontier woman,” Robertson said. “Just because I’ve been divorced, and I’m here by myself, and I have one son with Down Syndrome, and I’m doing it all by myself, and I’ve never done that before.” Robertson still said being a frontiersman or woman was no cake walk. Once out West, while most struggled, several frontiersman found their riches in harvesting hops. “They didn’t know what they were getting into,” Robertson said. “They thought it was an Eden out there and the government made it sounds like it was really productive.” Staff writer Dave Hon may be contacted at (641) 7923121, ext. 425, or at dhon@newtondailynews.com.


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