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Democrats ponder wave of GOP victories at state level
Challenges could arise with shift of power
MORE INSIDE Get a breakdown on how Jasper County voted • See Page 3A
By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News With a heavy push toward early and absentee voting, some Democratic Party campaigns on local, state and national levels were successful in winning some of Tuesday’s general election. However, there were also some victories by Republican candidates that have created a shift in power for at least the next two years.
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In addition to the most high-profile outcomes from Tuesday — Republican Donald Trump winning the presidency and the GOP hanging on to both its House and Senate majorities in Congress — a shift to Republican power will
take place in the Iowa Legislature. The Iowa Senate not only will have a new speaker, as Democrat Michael Gronstal was unseated after more than 30 years in the Legislature, but Republicans gained a total of five seats for a 29-19 majority. There are two no-party senators. The Senate shift, along with the GOP holding its edge in the Iowa House in Tuesday’s elections, give the Republican Party control of both houses of the Legislature and the
governorship for the first time since 1998. Sen. Chaz Allen, (D-Newton) whose election to the Iowa Senate in 2014 helped give Democrats a 26-24 majority for the past two sessions, said there are many areas where the two parties must quickly find compromises and solutions. “The people of Iowa have spoken, and for the next two years, we no longer have a divided government,” Allen said. “I will continue to work with everyone at the Capitol — regardless of party — as I have always done, to accomplish great things for this sen-
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ate district and the state of Iowa. I wish Sen. (Bill) Dix and Speaker (Linda) Upmeyer and Gov. Branstad the best. We must continue to work together to move Iowa forward.” Iowa House Minority Leader Mark Smith (D-Marshalltown) said Gronstal’s loss was a surprise to some Democrats, but then again, surprises have been the theme of the entire 2016 election cycle. “It’s been a whole year of surprises, including Donald Trump winning the GOP nomination and the presidency,” Smith said. “Pollsters were GOP | 3A
Morris Motors seeks zoning change for auto sales By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News
Army’s Second Infantry Division. The coldest of Iowa winters helped prepare Swihart for the conditions in the hills of South Korea, but little, if anything, could prepare a person for combat conditions such as those troops faced in the 1950s.
To fill a longtime vacant building on West Fourth Street North, an ordinance change to allow auto sales in the area was presented to city council. Council held a public hearing and approved the first reading of the ordinance change following the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Morris Motors reChambers cently purchased the property at 1504 W. Fourth St. N., which is the home to a long vacant building that used to be known as the Motorcycle Barn. The business would like to use the property for auto sales, but first needs approval from council to re-zone the area. “The planning and zoning commission wanted to figure out a path forward to re-utilize a vacant property but still protect the neighborhood,” planning and zoning director Erin Chambers said. The C-N district, a neighborhood commercial district where the property is located, is a mixed use district that has residential and light commercial uses within it. Chambers said the commission sees the district functioning as a buffer between heavier commercial zoning into primarily residential neighborhoods. When reviewing the ordinance change, the commission recognized that auto sales may be a little more intense than some of the other uses
SWIHART | 9A
COUNCIL | 3A
Jason W. Brooks/Daily News Donnie Swihart looks over memories from his time with U.S. Army’s Second Infantry Division in the early 1950s during the Korean War. He said remaining active veterans service organizations is one of the sole essential social connections maintained by many veterans.
Donnie Swihart says service organizations essential to social connection By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News BAXTER — After he finished his tours of active duty in the U.S. Army’s 2nd Infantry Division in the early 1950s, Donnie Swihart didn’t become a member of the American Legion or the Veterans of Foreign Wars. His reason was simple.
“I didn’t have the money to join,” Swihart said. While much has changed for veterans through the years since Swihart returned home to his family home, located about halfway between Newton and Baxter, some parts of life remain constant. One of those constants, Swihart says, is how social connections are
made through veterans service organizations. “Those clubs are real helpful in getting guys to socialize,” Swihart said. Swihart, 88, was sworn into the U.S. Army 65 years ago this month at the age of 23, in the midst of the Korean War. He saw 11 months of combat with M Company of the 38th Regiment in the
Veteran honored for World War II efforts
Newton woman receives brother’s Bronze Star at Legion By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News One of Newton’s newest residents received one of the higher combat honors the U.S. military issues — more than 74 years after her brother’s heroic efforts took place. Geraldine Trier, of
Newton, grew up in Ottumwa as one of seven children. Her brother, William F. Schmitz, died while serving in the Army in World War II in the Philippines and she and other family members have put in great efforts to see if he would be awarded the Bronze Star
Medal. Those efforts finally resulted in a medal ceremony Wednesday. Gen. William DeHaes, the Assistant Adjutant General for the Iowa Air National Guard, was joined by American Legion Post 111 members and the Legion Riders in presenting the Bronze Star Medal to Trier and her family. STAR | 10A
Jason W. Brooks/Daily News Geraldine Trier, right, listens as 1st Sgt. William McClain of the Army National Guard explains how a Bronze Star is typically displayed after Wednesday’s ceremony at American Legion Post 111 in Newton. Trier and her family received the Bronze Star recently awarded to her late brother, William F. Schmitz, who died while serving in the Army in World War II.
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