Newton
Serving Newton & Jasper County Since 1902
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Thursday, October 31, 2013
www.newtondailynews.com
Friday is deadline for absentee ballots
OBITUARIES Alice Brodersen , 97, Charlotte Ibbotson, 84 Harriett Selby, 89 Maxine Swanger, 86
By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor
INSIDE TODAY
Local
Seniors honored at H.A. Lynn Field Page 7A
Submitted Photo Sarah Hesson stands with her family, including Don Cole and kids (from left to right): Grant, Adrianna, Brandon and Courtney. Last October, Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer. After going through chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, she has now been cleared of her cancer.
Hesson overcomes breast cancer with support of her loved ones By Kate Malott Daily News Staff Writer
Sports
Running game gives Hawks win
Last October, Sarah Hesson was enjoying an ordinary fall when, in no time, her world changed. Sarah found a lump in her breast but casually ignored its significance. Like many, she thought it was nothing, hoped it was nothing. While it grew and became more painful, a few close friends encouraged her to have it examined by her doctor. First there was an
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ultra sound, a mammogram and then a biopsy. On Oct. 16, 2012, Sarah was diagnosed with lobular cancer. “I remember I was going to pick my kids up from tutoring that day, and I was driving to there. It was the radiologist from my biopsy on the phone, and he talked really fast. I remember him saying, ‘You have lubular cancer,’” Sarah said. Treatment started with eight rounds of chemotherapy — four hour-and-a-half long
sessions in Newton and four four-hour sessions at John Staddard Cancer Center in Des Moines under the watch of a doctor. In Newton, Dr. Tom Buroker provided Sarah with care, assistance and reassurance. “He was the best,” she said. “He always kept your spirits up and never let you believe that anything was going to go bad.” HESSON See Page 5A
Boomerang’s one step closer to $5,000 Dream Big Grow Here grant
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Winning project will be eligible for additional $10,000 EntreFest grant By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor
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Dana Simbro’s dream for a family entertainment center in Newton took another big step forward this week. Boomerang’s was the “wild card” selection for a $5,000 grant from The
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Innovation Gateway and the University of Northern Iowa. “My dream is to open a new business that will include inflatables, bumper cars, laser tag, laser maze, and an arcade,” she said in her pitch for the grant program. “The business would have a party room (one of only a few in the area) to accommodate our community.” GRANT See Page 7A
Wed., Oct. 30 High 61 Low 45 .39 inch of rain
Marsh, Mercer to consolidate operations By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor
Also: Astrograph Page 5B
One of the world’s leaders in risk management and consulting, insurance broking, alternative risk financing and insurance program management will be re-
Calendar Page 4B Classifieds Page 4B Comics & Puzzles Page 6A Dear Abby Page 6A
By Ty Rushing Daily News Staff Writer
Opinion Page 4A
Iowa College Foundation President Jack Jones presented Thombert Inc. CEO Walt Smith a 40-year plaque to honor Thombert Inc.’s contributions to ICF. Vernon Company also received a 50-year plaque for their contributions. ICF is now in its 62nd year of existence and is made up of 23 independent colleges and universities, which account for more than 44,000 students in Iowa. Thanks to do donations
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Our 112th Year No. 116
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locating its Newton office, along with approximately 50 jobs, in the first quarter of 2014. Marsh, a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, announced Wednesday it will be consolidating its opera-
tions with Mercer, another MMC subsidiary. All of the Newton jobs will transfer to a Mercer facility in Urbandale. The Newton office’s final day of operation MERGER See Page 7A
ICF honors donors Thombert Inc., Vernon Company
Obituaries Page 3A
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Newton, Iowa
Ty Rushing/Daily News
from Thombert and Vernon Company and other like-minded companies, ICF raised close
to $1.5 million last year and distributed most of those funds for student scholarships.
This week, Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz reminded eligible Iowa voters Friday is the deadline to request an absentee ballot for the upcoming city election on Tuesday. “I hope all eligible Iowans take full advantage of their right to vote in the upcoming city elections,” Schultz said. “The deadline for local county auditors to receive requested absentee ballots by mail is Friday, Nov. 1.” In order to have time to process absentee ballot requests, the Jasper County Auditor’s Office must receive completed request forms by 5 p.m. Friday. Voters may also vote in person at the auditor’s office during normal office hours between now and Monday. County Auditor Dennis Parrott, who serves as Commissioner of Elections, said polls will be open at 7 a.m. in Baxter, Colfax, Monroe, Newton and Prairie City. They will open at noon in Kellogg, Lambs Grove, Lynnville, Mingo, Oakland Acres, Reasnor, Sully and Valeria. In each of those communities, the polls will close at 8 p.m. Voters in Newton, regardless of where they live, will cast their ballots at either the Jasper County Community Center at 2407 First Ave. E., or the Union Hall at 1813 N. First St. All Lambs Grove voters will vote at the Union Hall. Valeria residents will vote in Mingo. Oakland Acres residents will vote in Kellogg. VOTING See Page 5A
Braley to visit TPI today By Daily News Staff U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, the only announced Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, will be visiting TPI Composites in Newton this afternoon. Braley will visit Vermeer Manufacturing in Pella, as well, as part of a campaign tour of manufacturing facilities across Iowa. He will discuss his Rebuild American Manufacturing Act legislation that would require the President to create a comprehensive national manufacturing strategy to draw good-paying manufacturing jobs to the United States and grow the economy. Tomorrow, Braley will continue his manufacturing tour with stops in Waterloo and Dubuque.
Des Moines man charged in Newton burglary By Daily News Staff A Des Moines man has been charged with first-degree burglary in connection with an April burglary of a southwest Newton home. The Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office issued a warrant Sept. 9 for the arrest of 57-yearold Steven A. Voshell. Pleasant Hill police located Voshell on Tuesday and took him into custody on a charge of first-degree burglary, a Class B felony. Voshell Voshell was transferred to the Jasper County Jail. On April 13, at 10:47 a.m., two local Newton residents returned to their home in southwest of Newton. The residents interrupted a subject who was committing a burglary on their property. One of the residents confronted the male subject inside the home, and a struggle ensued. The subject was able to escape prior to law enforcement arrival. Due to the efforts and information provided by the residents, including collection of DNA evidence, a suspect, Voshell, was developed in the case. Voshell was contacted and was uncooperative in the investigation, according to a news release from the sheriff ’s office. Voshell is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. Nov. 4. The U.S. Marshall’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation also assisted with the case investigation.