Newton
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Thursday, November 21, 2013 OBITUARIES Crystal D. Danley, 33 Dr. Ruth N. Spierenburg, 68
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Keeping the lights on
INSIDE TODAY
Newton, Iowa
Berm, radial pumps to be built at Newton Water Treatment Facility By Zach Johnson Daily News Staff Writer
Local
Officers, deputy receive award Page 2A
Ty Rushing/Daily News First Newton National Bank President Rob Kahn presented Courthouse Lighting Committee Member Steve Knight with a check for $500 on Wednesday to help keep the lights on. Knight commented that First Newton has been a staunch supporter of keeping the courthouse lit for a number of years. The flipping of the switch to turn on the lights will take place Nov. 29.
Sports
Jackson to join track hall of fame Page 7A
Newton Park Board approves changes to fees and hours By Kate Malott Daily News Staff Writer The Newton Park Board met Wednesday to discuss and approve business on its agenda. The board approved a delay of the opening time of Maytag Pool during the week from noon to 1 p.m. The later start will help the pool staff move back morning pool parties, swim lessons and lap swim time, and the idea for the time change also was supported due to low pool attendance from noon to 1 p.m. Another motion that was proposed and approved by the park board involves fees at Westwood Golf Course. The staff is adding a Young Professional Member Fee to the 2014 year. A new membership fee will be available for individuals age 22 to 35, both solo and couple. The idea for a young professionals membership is to serve a group that is working to become established financially and to attract young golfers who have low memberships numbers. Also approved, a membership drive will take place from Jan. 1 to March 31 and golfers who purchase a membership during this time will receive a 10 percent discount for their early commitment.
Sports
Florke finds coaching niche Page 7A
Weather
Friday
High 34 Low 19
Saturday
High 24 Low 8 Weather Almanac
Wed., Nov. 20 High 42 Low 36 .18 inch of rain Also:
By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor
Classifieds Page 4B
Tuesday afternoon, in an interview with the Daily News, State Rep. Dan Kelley of Newton distanced himself from an online Credo Mobilize petition he said was posted in his name. “I agreed to have them put my name on it, but I didn’t know what it said,” he said. “After I saw what the petition said, I asked them to take it down.” The petition, which was still active as of this morning, is one of several on the Credo website, calling on major daily newspapers across the United States to stop publishing letters to the editor from “climate change deniers,” or those who do not sup-
Dear Abby Page 6A Opinion Page 4A Obituaries Page 3A Police Page 3A Our 112th Year No. 131
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Kelley distances self from online petition submitted in his name
Astrograph Page 5B
Comics & Puzzles Page 6A
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These approvals will be taken to the Newton City Council meeting on Dec. 2 for final approval. Other items discussed at the Newton Park Board meeting: • A potential future Rotary event that could take place next holiday season was discussed. A holiday light show, similar to Jolly Holiday Lights in Des Moines, is in the initial planning stages at this time to take place at Maytag Park. The event will be planned by the Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce and Newton Rotary. • The park board voted and approved to support the formation of a nonprofit for the parks organization. This group would be similar to the Jasper County Conservation Connection in connection with the county parks. “The goal for this group would be to help in additional fundraising for park projects and it gives citizens an opportunity to volunteer in city park projects,” Newton Parks Department Administrative Superintendent Nathan Unsworth said. • Agnes Patterson will be the home to next summer’s Fourth of July fireworks show. The park board would like to add more events in the area that evening prior to the fireworks event.
Rep. Dan Kelley port the notion that humanity is responsible for climate change. The call to action on the petition reads: It is the job of newspapers to inform viewers of factual information, not promote lies about climate change. Implement a formal policy of refusing to publish any letters to the editor or other content
that denies climate change. Credo members were alerted to the petition via email Monday. Like the notices for petitions to other newspapers across the United States, it notes a recent announcement from the Los Angeles Times that it would no longer publish letters that “deny climate change.” The email included several quotations attributed to Kelley. Based on those quotations, it appears the petition was launched by Kelley himself, although he denies drafting the text. “As a state legislator, I’m proud to represent constituents who work at two major manufacturers of wind turbine KELLEY See Page 5A
The state of Iowa has seen its fair share of floods with record depths in 1993, 2008 and 2010. The flood damage that has occurred in recent years has made the community eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency funds to build a berm to protect against any flooding that could possibly occur in the future. A berm is a level space, shelf or raised barrier separating two areas. It can serve as a border barrier. The berm will be created by dirt and concrete from the Newton Landfill, which will be purchased by the Water Treatment facility for $20,000. The contract for the project has not been signed as of yet, as it’s still in the bidding stage. The amount of dirt will consist of 1,500 full-size dump truck loads. The total cost — L.D. Palmer, Newton of the project WaterWorks manager is estimated at $865,000. FEMA will fund 75 percent of the project, which totals $648,750. Iowa Homeland Security will fund 10 percent of the project, which totals $86,500. The remaining 15 percent will be from the local treatment budget, totaling $129,750. At this point, it has yet to be determined if customers will see an increase in water bills. “It’s one of those big-money projects that will save us money in the long run,” manager of Newton Water Works L.D. Palmer said. The water treatment board is also doing a study on replacing the vertical pumps in the well field, as the wells date back to ’50s and ’60s. The pumps may be replaced by a radial collector well that could pump 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of water a minute. The vertical pumps currently are operational at a rate of 300 to 1,000 gallons per minute. The well replacement project is still in the study stage and is being conducted by Layne, is a global water management, construction and drilling company providing solutions for water, mineral and energy resources.. “The replacement will assure a plentiful water supply to the communities that we serve,” Palmer said.
“The replacement will assure a plentiful water supply to the communities that we serve.”
Staff writer Zach Johnson may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 425, or at zjohnson@newtondailynews.com.
Patriotic Salute
Ty Rushing/Daily News Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented the staff of H&R Block with a certificate to thank the business for allowing them to post a display in its window for Constitution Week. Constitution Week took place Sept. 17 to 23 this year. Pictured (from left) are Nancy Brown, Bobbie Collins, Darlene Leib, Ione Vasquez and Suzanne Van Zandt.