NDN-10-29-2015

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NEWTON

CLAIMING VICTORY

Colfax-Mingo defeat Earlam Wednesday / 1B

DAILY NEWS THURSDAY, OCT. 29, 2015 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW

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Four vehicles stolen overnight Tuesday in Monroe One vehicle recovered in northern Marion County

BREAKING NEWS This story first appeared online at www. newtondailynews.com

By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News

Jason W. Brooks/Daily News Newton Community School District Maintenance Supervisor Jack Suttek, left, recently presented a proposed timeline of campus reconfiguration tasks for the summer of 2016, when the district will be switching to four K-4 campuses and move grades 5 and 6 to the Berg Complex. He is pictured with Director of Business Services/Board of Education Secretary Gayle Isaac.

Summer of reconfiguration could be chance to make interior upgrades Suttek outlined proposed timeline to Oct. 19 work session By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News There will be tons of supplies and equipment moved between schools when the Newton Community School District reconfigures its elementary schools. Even though some recent NCSD board of education discussions have called into question whether the district has done enough in preparation for the transition to take place next summer, or if it should be postponed, one thing remains certain: creating environments for four K-4 schools and a grades 5-6 “Berg Intermediate School” is a complex, large-scale project. That’s why the district’s maintenance supervisor, Jack Suttek, came up with a proposed timeline of events that need to take place over a summer in order to get the district’s furniture, books, electronics and many other items into the proper buildings in a timely manner. Suttek presented the proposal in an Oct. 19 NCSD board work session. While the board hasn’t voted on the plan, it was the first

time it had publicly heard a list of the thousands of preparations and procedures needed to move everyone and everything around. “I want to be prepared ahead of time so that we don’t get to May, and say, for example, ‘Oh, we have to rent some trucks, and no one has any,’” Suttek said. Suttek was at the session to unveil a proposed timeline of renconfiguration facilities-related tasks that must be completed, such as moving furniture, teaching and student supplies, painting and much more. One of Suttek’s many enormous tasks will be to get each teacher’s supplies shrinkwrapped and moved on pallets. Suttek’s lengthy description of that task alone let the board know there will be a ton of moving going on next summer — in many directions. Board member Donna Cook said she’d like to see an itemized cost estimate — by building — of what it will take to move everyone around. Suttek said he can do that, although some general costs will not really be building specific.

Cook also said she might be able to help Suttek get in touch with the proper personnel at the Newton Correctional Facility, regarding using offenders as labor to help with the move. That will cut the cost of labor during the move; Suttek mentioned the temporary labor agency Manpower would be the “back-up plan.” Some of the costs that occur during reconfiguration will be incidental, and not much different from some of the shuffling and repairs that take place in any given summer. Suttek sees the opportunity to paint some rooms that will be empty during the move — perhaps painting in age-group-targeted color schemes. “Some of those rooms haven’t been painted since I, or even my predecessor, came on board,” Suttek said. Suttek’s proposed timeline calls for moving supplies to be delivered to schools in May before classes end, for teachers and other staff to moved out of schools in early June prior to cleaning, painting and moving in to be completed by about July 15. All buildings would be ready for school by Aug. 1. RECONFIGURATION | 3A

MONROE — Four vehicles were reported stolen Tuesday night in Monroe, according to Monroe Police Chief Nick Chambers. One of the vehicles, a dark blue 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck, was recovered in northern Marion County, Chambers said. The three remaining vehicles remaining at large include a black 2011 Cadillac with personalized Iowa Hawkeye plates reading “TPM,” a red 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo with the Iowa plate “115 RXP” and a blue 2008 GMC Acadia. Chambers did not immediately return phone calls for an update on the investigation before presstime Thursday.

Two of the vehicles were reported stolen from the same residence while sitting in a driveway, the third was parked in the driveway and the final vehicle was in a garage. All four vehicles had keys in them and were in neighborhoods scattered throughout Monroe. There were eight other reports of items stolen out of other vehicles overnight, while another person reported an air compressor stolen from a vehicle in Prairie City. If you have any information about the stolen vehicles or items, contact the Monroe Police Department at 641-259-2311 or the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office at 641-7925912. Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com

Deadline for absentee balloting approaching By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News With Election Day on Tuesday, the last day to request an absentee ballot is quickly approachi n g . Friday has been set as the final day to request an Parrott absentee ballot to be mailed prior to the city election, Jasper County Auditor Dennis Parrott said. Those voting by absentee ballot need to have the ballot returned

in the mail no later than Monday. It must be received by the auditor’s office before the election canvass. If the ballot is not mailed by Monday, it may be hand delivered to the auditor’s office before the polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday. The office is located on the second floor of the Jasper County Courthouse, 101 First St. N., Room 201, in Newton. For more information or if any question arise, contact the auditor’s office at 641-7927016. Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com

Newton man pleads not guilty to sex abuse charges By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News A Newton man pleaded not guilty to charges including second-degree sexual abuse and providing false information as a sex offender. Berlou J. Barnard, 46, is also charged with possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after an investigation by the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office into reports of repeat-

Barnard

Wortman

ed sexual abuse of a child resulted in his arrest earlier this month.

Also arrested was Michelle Wortman, 38, who was charged with child endangerment for allegedly knowing of the sexual abuse and not reporting it. Wortman waived her preliminary hearing and her arraignment is set for Monday. The couple was charged after the mother of the victim reported to the sheriff ’s offices that her daughter had been sexually abused by Barnard, who is a registered sex

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which were found during a search of the property. Also found during the search was a baggie of marijuana and two pipes. It was also discovered that Barnard had Facebook and Twitter accounts he didn’t report to authorities, as required by law for registered sex offenders. Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com

FEATURE

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

offender. The child had visits with Barnard under the stipulation that Wortman, his live-in girlfriend, was present for supervision. The victim reported four incidents in which she was sexually abused by Barnard. According to court documents, Wortman walked in on at least two of these incidents, but did not tell the child’s parents about it. The victim described several items involved in the sexual abuse,

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

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

Frozen food is nutrient rich

Breaking the stereotype for frozen goods / 2A

Volume No. 114 No. 117 2 sections 16 pages

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


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