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DAILY NEWS WEDNESDAY,OCT. 19, 2016 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW

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County adds new positions to jail, health departments By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News

Jason W. Brooks/Daily News Traffic moves along Interstate 80 on Tuesday afternoon. A recently released study by The Reason Foundation shows Iowa is one of five states where about 54 percent of rural roads are in poor condition, and Iowa was 37th in rural interstate condition.

Several new county positions were approved on Tuesday by the Jasper County Board of Supervisors. The Jasper County Jail will have three new part-time positions while the Jasper County Health Department will have two new positions to help with extra needs in each department. “We have a lot of tenure and there are leave of absences, vacation, time

off,” human resources director Dennis Simon said. “It would be easier to manage the day-today operation with the three additional people.” The addition at the jail will help reduce overtime pay and give staffers time off. The part-time positions will start at $18.10 per hour, which saves the county $15 in overtime costs in the system that is currently being used. SUPERVISORS | 3A

Highway report shows decline Firm selected for city among Iowa highways, bridges administrator search

Allen says state must find creative ways to fund repairs By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News

Iowa is one of five states where about 54 percent of rural roads are in poor condition, according to a recently released study. The Reason Foundation’s 22nd Annual Highway Report Performance of State Highway Systems ranks Iowa 41st on an index called the Annual Highway Performance

and Cost-Effectiveness Overall Rankings, a drop of 22 spots in one year and 30 spots since 2011. Iowa is also 37th in percent of rural interstate highways in poor condition. The amount of poor mileage increased most significantly in three states — Wisconsin, Colorado and Iowa. Sen. Chaz Allen (D-Newton) said road and bridge work is crucial to both economic development and public safety. “Fixing roads and bridges requires money,” Allen said. “That’s why the state of Iowa has a dedicated Road Use Fund that is constitutionally protected; it can only be used for road and bridge work. The Road Use Fund is made up of a combination of gas taxes, vehicle

registration fees and federal funds. Decisions regarding construction, maintenance and repair are made by the organization that oversees particular roads.” Sen. Tod R. Bowman (D-Maquoketa), the chair of the Iowa Senate’s Transportation Committee said many of the funding distribution decisions for Iowa projects are typically decided without going through the legislative process. The Iowa Department of Transportation and the state Transportation Commission prioritize money for state roads. Likewise, cities and counties make decisions on how to spend the road funding allotted them. ROADS | 3A

By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News The search for a new city administrator took another step forward this week. Newton City Council unanimously approved GovHR USA as the search firm to assist the city in the next part of the hiring process. Councilwoman Evelyn George abstained from the vote due to a conflict of interest. The Northbrook, Ill. based company was selected from a pool

of three finalist interviewed by council prior to the meeting. It had the lowest bid among those interviewed with a total fee of $21,000. The cost of the contract would include recruitment fees of $14,000, expenses not to exceed $5,000 and advertising costs estimated at $2,000. Additional costs would include candidate travel and costs associated with holding an assessment center and are not budgeted. COUNCIL | 8A

Thalacker presents DMACC fire truck to public DMACC also received an ambulance By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News Tim Thalacker knows there are many components needed for quality firefighter training he’s receiving at DMACC’s Fire Science Academy is the best he can receive. He also knows some

equipment is tough to obtain. Thalacker spoke at a recent press conference where DMACC officials unveiled a fire truck, announcing the college had obtained the truck to use at the fire academy, with grant money, along with an ambulance. “Not many firefighter training centers can claim to have their very own fire trucks,” said Thalacker, who is a sec-

ond-year student in DMACC’s Fire Science Technology program and a volunteer firefighter with the Baxter Fire Department. “The fire truck will help the fire science program tremendously. In the fire industry, we can learn a lot in the classroom, but almost everything we learn has to be applied hands-on, at some point.” TRUCK | 3A

Courtesy of DMACC Tim Thalacker addresses a group about a fire engine at a recent DMACC event. Thalacker, a second-year student in DMACC’s Fire Science Technology program and a volunteer firefighter with the Baxter Fire Department, helped explained how Prairie Meadows Casino grants helped DMACC purchase a fire truck and ambulance to use for training.

Election Central: Q&A with U.S. Rep. District 2 candidates Editor’s Note: The following is part the Newton Daily News’ Election Central coverage ahead of the 2016 General Election. Today’s edition features the replies of U.S. Representatives District 2 candidates, Democratic incumbent Dave Loebsack and his Republican challenger Dr. Christopher Peters. Submissions were not edited for grammar, spelling or punctuation. What are the top two issues the federal government will face during your term and how will you address them? Christopher Peters In my opinion, the two most important issues are

Peters

Loebsack

interrelated, being the federal debt and federal spending. Addressing the federal debt requires a substantial decrease in federal spending and/or significant increase in federal revenue. The single largest, and fastest growing, segment of our federal spending is on health care. So, meaningful

health care reform would be my first priority as regards decreasing federal spending. As regards increasing federal revenue, I believe most Americans feel they are already taxed too much, and I’m also concerned that increasing taxation would further hinder our moribund economic recovery. Increasing federal revenue through reducing hurdles to economic recovery would be another high priority. To do this effectively would require multiple actions, to include reducing the regulatory burden, especially for small businesses. Dave Loebsack Washington’s priority must

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close the skills gap and create new jobs through a new grant program that connects community colleges and local businesses to close the skills gap. Jobs aren’t a partisan issue, and I’m committed to ensuring that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed in an economy that works for everyone. As a military parent, I am also committed to working to ensure that our veterans are served by their country with the same dedication and honor with which they have served our nation. As part of honoring our veterans’ service, sacrifice, and patriotism, we must do everything in our

DISTRICT 2 | 9A

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WHERE IT’S AT Astrograph......................5B Calendar..........................5A Classifieds......................4B

remain job creation and economic recovery. I grew up in poverty, and I know what it’s like to struggle to pay the bills each month. I’m home in Iowa every weekend talking to everyday folks who are hurting in this economy. I have also met numerous Iowa employers to hear directly from them what they need to start hiring again. In 2014, my SECTORS bill passed the House, which would close the gap between the kinds of skills that works have and skills that businesses need. I have also introduced legislation this Congress, the New Jobs Training Act, which was included in the House’s Make it in America agenda. This legislation would help to

Comics & Puzzles...........6A Dear Abby........................6A Local News......................2A

Obituaries.......................5A Opinion............................4A State News......................7A

New director at The Way

Cross to lead children’s ministry / 2A

Volume No. 115 No. 107 2 sections 20 pages

Thank you Ralph Buehler of Newton for subscribing to the Newton Daily News. To subscribe, call 641-792-5320 or visit newtondailynews.com.


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