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Newton Daily News

2018 Year in Review Featuring:

• Month-by-month recaps • Top 5 stories of the year

12 months • 252 newspapers • 1,016 front page stories

Newton Daily News • 2018 Year in Review – Page 2

January

close friends surrounded Corporal Arthur Sunday night at the Jasper County Veterans Affairs office as U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst honored him.

15. The Newton High School Bowling teams rolled wins on their senior night competition.

Newton High girls’ varsity scored a 2,002-1,835 win over visiting Oskaloosa.

The Cardinal boys won the varsity dual with Oskaloosa, 2,588-2,388.

17. A 34-year-old Newton woman with two young children died due to complications of the flu.

Nikki Burtlow died Jan. 12 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines after being transferred from Skiff Medical Center in Newton on Jan. 11.

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File Photo Nick Easley walked on as a receiver for the 2017 Iowa Hawkeye football team. The Newton native received with the offensive Team Hustle Award, two game offensive MVP awards and a scholarship for his senior season — 2018.

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3. Newton City Councilman Jeremy Biondi announced his resignation as the Ward 1 representative at the Jan. 2 meeting.

Biondi served in the position for two years since being elected in 2015.

Biondi said he wants to focus on family, faith and business.

4. Newton native Nick Easley was awarded the offensive Team Hustle Award, two game offensive MVP awards and a scholarship for his senior season in 2018. The wide receiver walked on the 2017 Iowa Hawkeye football team.

11. Newton High School opened its own food pantry thanks to the

support of the community.

12. Newton City Council adopted an amendment to the ordinance redefining breed standards and examination requirements for miniature pigs and the maximum number of both miniature pigs and dogs at a residence.

The changes came after Dawn Bleeker, owner of Capitol II Theatre and its mascot Joy the miniature pig, made a presentation to the council in November regarding updating the city’s regulation on miniature pigs.

15. After more than 70 years of waiting, Newton native Kenneth Arthur, 92, received six medals for his service during World War II. Family and

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Newton Daily News • 2018 Year in Review – Page 3

22. NCMP won six of the 11 swimming events to capture the first-ever LHC boys’ swim meet championship at the Indianola YMCA pool. It scored points placings second through 10th in other events to edge Indianola, 370-366.5. Grinnell was third with 256.5 points and Oskaloosa was fourth at 204.

24. Even with an option for early retirement, the Newton Community School District was still considering the possibility of staffing cuts to get the district’s budget back in the black, administrators said during a special work session held Jan. 22. Board members and administrators targeted a proposed budget reduction of $740,000, an amount board president then Travis Padget said is the equivalent of eight teacher’s salaries in the district.

26. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds made a stop in Newton on her “Unleashing Opportunity” tour. She told the crowd that Iowa’s success is easy to see if you look at the metrics. “The condition of our state is strong,” Reynolds said.

29.

Newton was named an overnight host city for the RAGBRAI 2018. According to city officials, this was the first time the town of about 15,000 was chosen to host the statewide trek since 2006.

29. Newton High senior point guard Garrett Sturtz broke the school’s career scoring record during the Cardinals contest with Grinnell.

He scored a career-high

47 points on the night, also breaking the single-game scoring record in the process. Newton defeated the Tigers 69-63 at home.

February 5. Mingo native Tim Gannon, a Democrat, announced his intentions to run for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. Gannon farms 900 acres on his family’s Century Farm in Jasper County. The former USDA official said as secretary of agriculture, he would strengthen support for the pillars of Iowa agriculture and will fight to expand the market so producers of all types and sizes can thrive.

5. NCMP’s Cardinals qualified for the 2018 Iowa High School Athletic Association Boys’ State Swim Meet in five events at the district championship meet held in Ankeny. NCMP had Caleb Gaylor in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly and junior Carter Briggs in the 100 breaststroke.

The NCMP 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay finished fourth in the district race, but their season-best times pushed them into the state meet.

The medley relay team is senior Jacob Knoll, Briggs, Gaylor and junior Mason Lee. Knoll, Lee and Gaylor are joined by sophomore Jacob Nedder.

6. Mark Hallam was selected by the Newton City Council to fill the open Ward 1 seat on Monday. Hallam received the required four votes on the first ballot

File Photo Swimming in the 100-yard butterfly race at the 2018 state swim meet is NCMP senior Caleb Gaylor, who finished ninth. He also swam the butterfly leg of the NCMP’s 200 medley relay at the state meet.

during the appointment process at the start of the meeting. Hallam is replacing Jeremy Biondi, who was elected to the position in 2015 before stepping down on Jan. 1.

6.

Newton High School athletics and activities director Scott Garvis announced he was stepping down from his post at the end of the school year. He had accepted another position in the Ankeny Centennial school district. Garvis had been the NHS athletic director since August 2013.

9. NASCAR officials announced Jimmy Small would be leaving at Iowa Speedway president, a role he had held since December 2013 when NASCAR purchased the Newton race track. David Hyatt, a long-time broadcast and motorsports industry executive, has been named the new Iowa Speedway President.

12. Newton High School wrestlers Blayden Rhone, Jaise Gulling and Gage Linahon all qualified for the state meet at the Class 3A Dis-

trict 7 wrestling tournament hosted by West Des Moines Valley High School. Rhone, a senior at 182 pounds, Gulling, a junior at 195 pounds, and Linahon, a sophomore at 220 pounds, notched wins in the quarterfinals and the semifinals. They were in their respective weight classes’ championship matches, but lost to their opponents.

13. Dustin W. Cooper, 39, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Jasper County District Court after pleading guilty to five counts of second-degree sex abuse. Cooper pleaded guilty in November and was sentenced after his brother, Shawn D. Cooper, 42, was deemed incompetent to stand trial last month. The Newton brothers were accused of sexually abusing the same 10-year-old girl over the course of four months.

20. PCM’s Lucas Roland captures the school’s first individual state wrestling championship Feb. 17 at Wells Fargo Arena.

The Mustang junior put together his best performance of the weekend

on the mat against topranked Kolton Bartow of Dubuque Wahlert, and it resulted in a dominating 5-1 victory in front of a sold-out championship night crowd.

21. Jeff L. Altmayer, 58, was found guilty of first-degree kidnapping, second-degree sexual abuse and two counts of enticing a minor. The jury deliberated for only 45 minutes before reaching their verdict. He was sentenced to life in prison in Jasper County District Court Feb. 19 for charges stemming from a kidnapping and sex abuse incident in Colfax.

26. Newton firefighters responded to a bus fire Feb. 27 at Newton Community School District’s bus garage at 1320 First Ave. W. According to Newton Fire Department Shift Captain Steve Ashing, crews responded to the blaze at after a passerby called 911 to report smoke was coming from the area. Ashing said the fire was contained in eight minutes with nine firefighters onscene.

28. Newton Police

arrested 48-year-old Yan Shulan and discovered only one valid state massage license at Sakura Massage on Feb. 26 during a site visit. Following the arrest, the business doors were locked and the massage therapy business was closed during normal business hours.

March 2.

Newton High School Principal Bill Peters was honored as Iowa High School Athletic Association Principal of the year. Scott Garvis, the high school’s athletic director, was the one who nominated Peters for the award.

8. Rep. Greg Heartsill, R-Columbia, announced March 7 he would not seek re-election, for his Iowa’s House of Representatives District 28 seat. He was serving in his third term when he made his announcement.

In a statement released to the press, Heartsill cited a desire to spend more time with his family. Heartsill and his wife Angie have nine children.

Newton Daily News • 2018 Year in Review – Page 4

File Photo Newton High senior Ali Bestell unleashes a throw in the discus competition at the 2018 NHS Cardinal Invitational. She won the event with a throw of 111 feet.

9. Newton High School seniors Rachel Berkland, Liz McVey and Morgann Eide combined with junior Abbie Barr to capture the shuttle hurdle relay conference indoor title.

The foursome ran the relay in a winning time of 40.43 seconds, which was less than a second off of the meet record for 39.87 set by Pella in 2016.

13. In 4-3 vote, members of the Newton Community School Board voted not to extend Superintendent Bob Callaghan’s contract at March 12’s board meeting. Callaghan still has two years remaining on his contract, which runs until the end of the 2020-21 school year. Board members Ann Leonard, Donna Cook, Graham Sullivan and Robyn Friedman voted against renewing the contract with Travis Padget, Josh Cantu and

Cody Muhs voting to extend.

16. Demolition work got underway at Hotel Maytag, the first step in a larger rehabilitation project to bring the historic building back to its former glory. Crews have started tearing out carpet, gutting the apartments and offices and preserving some of the salvageable historic aspects to the building during the first phase of demolition.

26. Newton police investigated a death at a home in the 300 block of East 20th Street South near Aurora Heights School after officers responded to a report of a deceased male March 24.

It was later reveled that the victim was Logan A. Gamez, 24, of Newton.

The cause of death was a gunshot wound.

29. Discover Hope finds a new home. Bob Hawkins, owner of Bob Hawkins Photography

Studio, sold Discover Hope co-founder Robbie Robinson his former studio, 733 First Ave. E. Plans for the new, 8,000-square-foot space includes creating an area for childcare, a conference room, offices, a computer lab and a bathroom.

April 6. Local middle school students took a milestone field trip to the East Coast over spring break.

Berg Middle School sent a total of 103 people, 80 of those students, to Washington, D.C. and New York City to see history come alive and walk the same paths of celebrated Americans.

The trip takes place every two years and visits places which are part of the school curriculum, said Tyler Stewart, an organizer of the trip and eighth-grade history teacher.

6. Newton High’s Cardinal No. 9 girls soccer team won its season opener 4-1 against the visiting Ballard Bombers.

Sophomore Kameron Nehring scored the first goal of the season within the first five minutes of play and the Cardinals never looked back.

10. The city’s RAGBRAI committee unveiled the theme, “Aloha Mahalo — Newton 2018,” and logo for the overnight stop on July 25 during a town hall meeting on April 9 at DMACC. The theme was chosen to give a festive summer feel, welcoming the cyclist and visitors to the community and conveying an atmosphere of fun in Newton.

20. Newton High Cardinals track and field hosted its home invitational meet. Jace Lukefahr had the meet winning throw in discus with a toss of 142 feet, 8 inches. Seniors Jack Callaghan and Matthew Yeager combined with sophomores Camden Winther and Jeremiah Johnson to win true 4x400-meter relay in 3 minutes, 31.22 seconds.

On the girls side, Newton senior Ali Bestell claimed the gold medal in the discus with a throw of 111 feet. Seniors Liz McVey, Rachel Berkland and Morgann Eide were joined by freshman Kate Callaghan to run the shuttle hurdle relay for Newton. The foursome won the race in 1 minute, 9.42 seconds.

23. The Newton Christian School announced it will raise $3.5M for a facility expansion. Thanks

to alumni and other donors, the school was able to purchase the new building without borrowing money. On April 20, the school unveiled its “Dream Big” capital campaign. At their annual fundraising dinner last Friday Newton Christian School administrators unveiled a plan that would link the two buildings into a single structure, increasing the size of the school to 38,000 square feet.

24. Berlou Barnard, 49, was sentenced to mandatory life sentences without parole in Jasper County Court for the repeated sexual abuse of an 8-year-old girl in his care in October 2015. He was charged with four counts of second-degree sex abuse. A jury found Barnard guilty of the sex abuse crimes in February.

24. Newton High’s Cardinal boys won their second straight tennis dual on April 23 in non-conference home meet with Des Moines North. Newton swept the seven contested matches on the courts at Aurora Heights Park for an 11-0 victory.

26. Mike Mendenhall was named the editor of the Newton Daily News. For the last four years, Mendenhall has been news editor for the company’s three weekly newspapers — the Jasper County Tribune, Prairie City News and Monroe Legacy. Editor Abigail Pelzer announced her departure to take on the position of publisher for the Marshalltown Times-Republican.

May 2. Newton High’s boys prevailed against Indianola in a tightly contested 800-meter sprint medley relay on the Indians’ home track on May 1. It came down to a fraction of a second with the Cardinals running the race in 1 minute, 37.07 seconds and the Indians crossing the line in 1:37.41. Sophomore Jeremiah Johnson led the race off for the Cardinals, handing the baton to senior Josh Miravalles. Running the final two legs of the race were seniors Jack Callaghan and Matthew Yeager, who anchored the Cardinals to a LHC championship in the event.

3. The Newton Police Department will soon be equipped with body cameras. City council recently approved the nearly $80,000 purchase of 12 body cameras, seven in-car dash cameras, software, cloud storage, training and accessories from Axon Enterprises Inc. The operating system uses cloud storage, which eliminates the need for any onsite servers to store digital evidence.

4. Michael D. Phillips, 22, was arrested by the Newton Police Department May 3 behind the Manhattan bar in downtown Newton. Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess confirmed he has been charged with first-degree robbery. Phillips is suspected of robbing the Great Western Bank, 511 First Ave. E. ​ Bank employees reported Phillips handed a teller a note reading he had a bomb and was demanding money.

Newton Daily News • 2018 Year in Review – Page 5

9. The Jasper County Supervisors agreed to have Shive-Hattery, the county’s engineering firm, return to the Jasper County Annex Building and view the open area to gain further insight in the basement of the annex building to determine the extent of the work needed to repair the building’s foundation. County maintenance director Adam Sparks said with the previous investigation completed, Shive-Hattery only assessed the exterior of the building and made educated assumptions on the condition of the interior of the walls.

14. There are 84 athletes, including the relay alternates,\ from Newton, Colfax-Mingo, Prairie City-Monroe, Lynnville-Sully and Baxter, who are training this week for the state track meet. Area athletes are scheduled to compete in 47 events in the all-class, three-day state track meet at Drake University’s stadium in Des Moines.

21. PCM senior Noah Anderson capped an impressive Mustang career with a state championship gold medal in the 200 meter dash. Anderson won the 200 in 21.79 seconds. He tied his own school record with a 21.66 in the prelims.

22. The Newton High School softball team played its first home game on its brand new softball complex. The Cardinals opened the 2018 season with dedication of the new field then went to work. They made quick work of vis-

iting Knoxville, winning 13-0 in four innings.

22. Alayna Reynolds qualified for the Iowa Class 4A State Girls Golf Tournament. She claimed the eighth-place medal at the Class 4A Region 3 tournament.

Reynolds had even rounds of 45 and 45 to record her 18-hole score of 90.

25. Tim Bloom was named the replacement for Gayle Isaac, the outgoing director of business services, by the Newton Community School District Board of Education. Isaac announced his retirement earlier this year.

29. On May 27, the Newton Community School District celebrated its 187 set of new graduates during Newton High School’s 143 annual commencement in the high school gymnasium. With hundreds of cheering loved ones in the attendance, the class of 2018 featured eight valedictorians and 90 students finishing with a grade point average 3.0 or above.

29. The Newton High School boys soccer team punched their ticket to the Iowa State Class 2A tournament.

The Cardinals earned the programs’ second state tournament berth with a 6-1 win over the Bondurant-Farrar Bluejays to capture the Class 2A Substate 7 championship. Seniors Zach Combs and Matthew Yeager each rang up a hat trick for Newton.

30. The Jasper County Board of Supervisors has decided to move

forward on repairs to a leaky foundation at the Jasper County Annex Building. The board gave Chris Bauer, a civil engineer with Shive-Hattery, the go-ahead to specifically look at removing the south dock and east staircase, blocking in the window wells in the basement and excavating and waterproofing the entire exterior foundation.

June 1. A large crowd gathered for the opening ceremony for The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The wall arrived in Newton May 31 by special escort of the Legion Riders.

The names on the wall represent the 58,318 American servicemen and women who were killed during the Vietnam War. Etched onto black granite that’s been polished, architect Maya Lin said she wanted the wall to feel like a wound that hasn’t fully healed.

4. Newton Fire officials released the identity of the man found dead May 28 at Meadowbrook Apartments, as the complex was evacuated due to a possible gas leak and high carbon monoxide levels. According to a statement issued by Newton Fire Chief Jarrod Wellik, first responders found 30-year-old Melvin Boyd unresponsive around 10:30 a.m. inside his apartment at 1024 E. 12th St. N. 5. Councilwoman Mi-

File Photo Open around the clock until Sunday, the wall is lit to allow visitors to read the names inscribed on the wall no matter when they visit.

randa Kulis announced her resignation from the Newton City Council on June 4. Kulis has served in an at-large seat since being elected in 2015.

She told the council she accepted a new job in the Cedar Rapids area and will be moving from Newton.

5. Newton High’s Cardinal girls rolled into an opportunity to earn a third straight trip to the Class 2A state girls’ soccer tournament. They had won seven straight games to reach Monday night’s Class 2A Region 4 championship game.

Standing in the 15thranked Cardinals’ way were the fifth-ranked Norwalk Warriors — two of the four ranked teams out of the Little Hawkeye Conference vying for state tournament berths. After a 1-1 first half, the Warriors found the net four times in the second half to win 5-1.

6. Democrats Mike Hansen and Pam Olson and Republicans Brandon Talsma and incumbent Denny Carpenter were selected from a field of nine candidates during Tuesday’s primary election to represent their respective parties on the ballot in November for the Jasper County Supervisors race.

11. TPI Composites, a wind turbine blades manufacturer in Newton, was fined nearly $155,000 for multiple workplace safety violations. The Des Moines Register reports Iowa’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration levied the fines against TPI for violations at its Newton plant. The violations included fire hazards, airborne contaminants, faulty record keeping, fall hazards and a lack of employee training.

11. Three days of events, activities and

attractions made the third annual Newton Fest the biggest and best yet. Highlighted by new events including Duck Races and Fun with Chemistry to go along with favorites like Joe’s Old Fashioned Fun Carnival, Johnson Aviation plane rides and the main stage musical acts, the weekend was one the community will not soon forget.

18. Brett Moffitt, the Iowa native, scored his second career win at Iowa Speedway when he drove his No. 16 Destiny Homes Toyota to victory in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series M&M’s 200 Presented by Casey’s General Store. Justin Allgaier celebrated a special Father’s Day. The 32-year-old Illinois native drove to the victory in the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series Iowa 250. It was his first win at Iowa Speedway.

Newton Daily News • 2018 Year in Review – Page 6

2007

expand the center from the original 36 acres offered by Jasper County — located on the site of the former Jasper County Home — to 70 acres.

July 6. Ryan Rump took the reins as Newton High School’s new athletic and activities director. He began July 2 after wrapping up a four-year stint as the Knoxville High School athletic and activities director. Rump has been an athletic director for 17 years, starting at Burlington Notre Dame for 10 years then to Keokuk for three and Knoxville.

JULY | 12

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File Photo Jasper County Fair Queen Elizabeth Horn enjoys a hug from last year’s fair queen, Jaclyn Michener at the fairgrounds in Colfax. The 19-year-old was one of 11 candidates who participated in Saturday’s JCF Queen Pageant.

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Newton, Prairie City, Reasnor and Runnells — three more compared to last year, Horn, 19, said she and her family were pleasantly surprised when she heard her name called on stage.

27. Officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation presented an updated proposal to bring Traffic Incident Management Training Center to Jasper County.

Dubbed the TIM Training Center, the $11.78 million facility would allow local and regional law enforcement access to advanced traffic enforcement and secondary road hazard training with contained simulated roadways and classrooms. The new would

110 N. 5th Ave. W. Newton, IA 50208 641-792-0115

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19. The Cellar Peanut Pub has announced it will be opening a Newton location at DMACC Legacy Plaza in the former Maytag facility in the coming months. The Cellar Peanut Pub was started by craft beef enthusiast Marty Duffy V in 2002. It moved to a neighborhood pub in Oskaloosa in 2012 and three years later added its downtown Pella location in 2015.

25, Elizabeth Horn of Newton was crowned Jasper County Fair Queen during the 2018 pageant at the Jasper County Fair Roundup (the rodeo portion of the event was postponed due to wet weather). With 11 candidates from Colfax,

May you have the gift of Faith, the blessing of Hope, and the peace of His Love during the holidays and always.

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Newton Daily News • 2018 Year in Review – Page 7

RAGBRAI showcased a ‘new Newton’ Cycling event attracted 20,000-plus to city in overnight stop

File Photo Now that he’s reached his destination, a RAGBRAI cyclist relaxes his stride and waves to citizens and volunteers welcoming him and his fellow participants to Newton on July 25.

By Christopher Braunschweig Newton Daily News One particular summer day, tens of thousands of cyclists pedaled their way through the streets of Newton, basking in the town’s scenery and “Aloha” hospitality from locals, many of which sat in lawn chairs fixed along a 1,500-foot stretch of pavement for several hours and greeted incoming riders into the community.

The largest town in Jasper County served as an overnight destination for the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) on July 25, attracting an estimated 18,000 registered riders and support vehicles and thousands of unregistered visitors.

It had been 12 years since Newton was included in the largest bike-touring event in world, which spans the entire state of Iowa. The

local RAGBRAI committee, made up of volunteers and community leaders, was determined to make the most out of Newton’s inclusion in the bicycle ride.

Newton RAGBRAI Executive Committee Chair Danielle Rogers saw the ride as an opportunity to showcase not only the town of roughly 15,000 people, but the welcoming community — “the people who live here.” A sentiment riders repeatedly claimed made Newton stand out from the other destinations up until that time. Well, that and the many decorations strewn about the town.

Transformed into an island oasis thanks in part to its tropical “aloha” theme, Newton was adorned with colorful inner tubes and inflatable beach balls. Riders were surrounded by vendors and food trucks and unique Newton activities (did anyone see Joy the MiniPig perform tricks near the Capitol II Theatre?) as they walked along the town square.

Outside the boundaries of the downtown district, riders traveled to Newton’s nearby parks, the Iowa Speedway and Maytag Dairy Farms, among other locations, for even more cycling festivities, while live music in the town square sustained the positive vibrations of

File Photo Beach balls and inner tubes were fashioned into runway light-esque towers to introduce RAGBRAI participants to Newton’s tropical theme on July 25.

the event well into the afternoon and evening.

However, there was trouble in paradise.

Although most of the RAGBRAI festivities went off without a hitch, a wave of thunderstorms abruptly interrupted the fun and put an end to the headlining Jimmy Buffet tribute band A1A. Guests and cyclists were transported to temporary shelters until the storm subsided.

Months after cyclists hopped aboard their rides and left town toward their next sets of Iowa destinations, Rogers had a meeting with RAGBRAI staff members, including director T.J. Juskiewicz and assistant director Scott Garner, to exchange feedback and discuss the challenges and successes surrounding the

annual summer event.

In late November, the local RAGBRAI executive committee announced it would disperse the $35,000 accumulated during the July cycling event to the participating nonprofit vendors, as well as community events, organizations and projects.

The topic generated concerns before RAGBRAI even began, with many citizens believing the money would be pocketed by city or organizing officials. Volunteers and committee members stressed this was not the case and vowed to give back any profits.

Rogers said watching the community come together and “seeing how much fun people had and how involved people got that day and

seeing people smile and getting excited” is one of those memories that will stick around with her for a long time — or at least until RAGBRAI returns to Newton. After watching the event unfold, Rogers is confident the town can host these types of events in the future.

RAGBRAI was a chance to showcase a growing Newton, a still-evolving Newton, a new Newton; a town often mired in the tragic aftermath of its historical and flagship industry; a town whose legacy is rightfully honored but can sometimes stymie its own progression; a town that is beginning to move on, really move on.

That was the town RAGBRAI riders saw this summer.

Newton Daily News • 2018 Year in Review – Page 8

Could 2018 be tipping point for Republicans in Jasper County?

GOP takes Iowa Senate 15

By Mike Mendenhall Newton Daily News The 2018 midterm elections gave Jasper County voters a roller coaster Iowa Senate race in District 15, with a revolving door of candidates and results that sent the seat into the Republican column for the first time in more than two decades.

Allen Ultimately, it was 39-yearold, two-term State Rep. Zach Nunn of Bondurant, who defeated small business owner and DMACC adjunct instructor Dan Nieland, D-rural Altoona, 56.83 percent to 43.02 percent.

But both men were not even eyeing the seat just three months earlier. The tumultuous fight for Iowa Senate District 15 began with the unexpected retirement of first-term incumbent State Sen. Chaz Allen, D-Newton.

The former Newton mayor and Jasper County Economic Development Corp. director announced in July, after receiving his party’s nomination, that he was withdrawing from the race to focus on another “business opportunity,” although he never clearly defined what his next project would be other than JEDCO. District 15 has been held by the Democrats for more than two decades, including by former Sen. Dennis Black of Lynnville, but in 2018 Jasper and

File Photo Republican Zach Nunn of Bondurant, hugs his daughter as he learns that he will be the next State Senator for District 15.

File Photo Senate District 15 candidate Dan Nieland answers questions from voters during an emergency meeting of the Jasper County Democratic Party in September.

eastern Polk Counties Democrats had an uphill climb in this race.

After Allen’s departure, the race for SD15 was rocked by constant shake-ups. Jasper and Polk County Democrats passed on Southeast Polk Board of Education member Lori Slings twice, first nominating former 26-year-old Jasper County Democratic Party Chair and Iowa Sen. Matt McCoy campaign staffer Taylor Van De Krol in August. He exited the race just eight days later, citing personal reasons, and the Democrats quickly moved to nominate Nieland on Aug. 22.

But the Altoona horse rancher’s campaign also became swept up in its own turmoil, after it was announced Nieland’s wife, Leesa Marie Parkhill-Nieland, was under federal indictment for alleged Social Security fraud.

She was set to begin her trial just days before the 2018 midterms, but after a request for a continuance by her attorney, Parkhill-Nieland is now set to stand trial in May 2019.

After the news about the Nieland family’s potential po-

ton, Colfax, Baxter, Mingo and Prairie City. It also represents Mitchellville and the increasingly suburban areas of Altoona, Bondurant and Runnells.

During the 2014 midterms, SD 15 had 13,936 active Democrats and 12,736 Republicans, according to data from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office. By Election Night, both numbers grew, but Republicans closed the gap by 603 registered voters — 14,632 Democrats to 14,026 GOP voters.

But the largest voting block in the district, non-party voters, continues to grow. There were 15,507 active registered non-party voters by Nov. 6 in SD 15. That is a more than 11 percent jump from the 13,795 active in 2014.

Nunn said he plans to immediately start working with local leaders in both Jasper and Polk Counties, including JEDCO Director Allen. Nunn said he spoke with Allen on Election night and has discussed “continuing to work together on projects important to Jasper County ... and bring new ideas to the table as well.”

Nunn told the Newton Daily

litical liability surfaced, the Jasper County Democratic Central Committee voted to allow their candidate to keep $11,500 in financial support from the party — a decision not every member of the central committee was happy with at the time.

To take advantage of the lack of a strong incumbent, Republicans replaced their nominee, political newcomer Tim Shay of Newton, with Nunn. The former Iowa House GOP majority whip and Iowa Republican Party rising star was able to raise more than $100,000 to win the seat.

That, combined with active voter registration numbers in the district favoring Democrats by only 597, was just too high a mountain to climb for Democrats on Nov. 6.

New voter demographics District 15 was a seat Allen won in 2014 by just over five percentage points against Baxter Republican Crystal Bruntz.

One of the key differences in 2018 were changes in local voter demographics. Senate District 15 encompasses western Jasper County, including New-

News on Nov. 6t he was excited about the success of local Republicans in Jasper County, specifically Jasper County Board of Supervisors candidate Brandon Talsma with whom Nunn campaigned.

“Brandon (Talsma) is a hard worker and a good man. He has the kind of young, refreshing bipartisan outlook Jasper County needs,” Nunn said.

Talsma’s win, combined with incumbent Supervisor Denny Carpenter, solidified the Republican’s hold on the board.

The loss of SD15 makes it even harder for Iowa Democrats who hope to one day retake the majority in the Iowa Senate. Nunn’s victory will give the GOP a 32-18 majority in the chamber, with one independent member.

In Jasper County, Nunn received 7,065 or 54.43 percent of the vote. Nieland logged 5,888 votes or 45.37 percent on Election Night in Jasper County, according to unofficial results from the county auditor’s office. In Polk County, where both candidates reside, the split was 58.74 for Nunn to 41.15 for Nieland.

Newton Daily News • 2018 Year in Review – Page 9

File Photo The new Berg Middle School students commons looking southward has a modern, industrial look with an open metal staircase and polished concrete floor. After more than two years of planning and construction, the Newton Community School District opened the building to the public in December for the first time. Students will finally occupy the space in January 2019.

File Photo The newly designed family and consumer science room at the new Berg Middle School has several full kitchens, including a demonstration table at the front of the classroom.

Berg opens to students in January 2019.

Berg Middle School completes two-year rebuild

By Orrin Shawl Newton Daily News 2018 saw the completion of a newly-two year process in the construction a new, modernized Berg Middle School and when Newton Community School District’s fifth-eight graders return to classes after the winter break, they will finally get to call the new building home.

The new building replaced an aging structure that was starting to show its age. It’s the first new school building constructed by the Newton Community School district in the last 50 years.

The cost of the new facility came in at nearly $33 million.

The project was made possible of a $26.9 million bond approved in 2016 with 66 percent of voters supporting the referendum.

The Preserve the

File Photo Newton Community School board members go on a tour of the new Berg Middle School in February.

Pride bond committee persuaded enough voters to approve the bond issue over the course of a year. Almost 2,900 votes were cast.

Superintendent Bob Callaghan said the move represents a huge step forward for the district.

“I think this is one of the biggest projects Newton schools have

completed since the construction of the original Berg in the 1960s,” Callaghan said. “We needed a big picture vision of how to serve the students now and in the future.”

The building, designed by FRK Architects and Engineers, began construction following a groundbreaking ceremony held in June 2017.

The Hansen Company was awarded the construction contract, with a $27.25 million bid. The new building was divided into four “pods” with window light to give the building an open, airy feel.

Before deciding to move forward with the bond issue, board members previously looked

into renovating the school, at a cost of a minimum of $17.6 million dollars but ultimately decided a new facility represented the best option for students and teachers at the middle school.

The average classroom size at the former Berg campus was 820 square feet. Widening the hallways to make the building ADA compliant would have reduced that size to 630 square feet. Callaghan said most modern buildings feature classroom sizes that average 1,000 square feet.

With exterior walls completed in May, the facility work shifted to finishing the interior of the building. Board members got their first look at the new classrooms at that time, which are larger than existing classrooms at the former middle school.

Then-board president

Travis Padget said he was pleased to see the work is moving forward.

“I think it bodes well for the administration, being able to pass the bond issue was critical,” Padget said. “Had the bond not passed the first time I think we would have been delayed at least a year.”

In July, the district’s board of education approved the sale of the remaining $5.96 million in bonds money, which was used for the new Berg Middle School in the fall.

Construction continued through the fall and winter months, with low voltage networking, furniture installation and polish for the concrete floors coming to completion near mid-December.

The building was celebrated Dec. 16 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for the public.

Newton Daily News • 2018 Year in Review – Page 10

Perfect Mustangs capture first state championship

By Troy Hyde Newton Daily News Prairie City-Monroe’s football team left no doubt who the best team in Class 2A was this past season.

The top-ranked Mustangs wrapped up a perfect 13-0 season and claimed the program’s first state championship with a 28-7 victory over second-ranked Boyden-Hull/ Rock Valley on Nov. 16 at the UNI-Dome.

PCM’s top-ranked defense intercepted BHRV quarterback JT Van’t Hul four times, forced five turnovers and recorded four sacks in another dominating effort.

The Mustangs were 13-0 for the first time in school history. No team came within 20 points of PCM this season.

Bonnett pleaded to his team after the win to be the first person to touch the state championship trophy.

It meant just as much to him as it did to his players.

“It absolutely means a lot to me, too,” said Bonnett, who is a PCM alum.

“I had won a national championship as a player and a state championship as an assistant coach before, but I had never won one as a head coach. It’s one of those times in life when you have to just enjoy the moment.”

It was a record-setting season for the Mustangs.

Senior Wes Cummings began the all-time lead-

File Photo PCM football coach Greg Bonnett shares a moment with his team after the Mustangs captured their first state title back on Nov. 16 at the UNI-Dome. The Mustangs finished 13-0 for the first time in school history.

File Photo PCM seniors Brayton Van Dyke (6) and Reed Worth (8) celebrate a first-half touchdown in the state semifinals against West Liberty.

ing rusher and single-season rushing leader at the school. He scored more touchdowns in his career than any other Mustang, and his 24 rushing TDs in 2018 tied the school record.

Senior Reed Worth threw more TD passes than any other Mustang in program history. Senior Nick Dredge also set a new school record for most career interceptions.

“The records are cool, but holding up that trophy is the coolest thing I

will ever do in my entire life,” Cummings said. “The line made it possible. The blockers on the outside, too. Those guys work their tails off. They are my best friends, and I love them to death.”

The Mustangs finished the season as the top offensive and top defensive team in 2A. The offense led 2A with 3,324 rushing yards, 50 touchdowns and 602 points. The defense allowed 8.3 points per game and led 2A with 23 interceptions.

File Photos Left: PCM senior Wes Cummings runs into the end zone during the state championship game against Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley on Nov. 16 at the UNI-Dome. Right: PCM senior Reed Worth gets help from junior lineman Jace Smith (72) during the semifinals against West Liberty.

We put in the work, and this is what happens. We worked hard for this. We played our best game at the right time,” senior linebacker Brycen Rogers said.

“We work together, we know our jobs and it just all came together for us.”

The closest margin of victory for the Mustangs this past season was 21 points. That came in the state quarterfinals to Williamsburg and in the state championship game

against BHRV. The defense pitched five shutouts and allowed single-digit points in eight of the 13 games, including both games inside the UNI-Dome.

Nine PCM players earned all-state football honors, including Worth at quarterback, Cummings at running back, junior Jace Smith and sophomore Greyson Strum on the offensive line, junior Seth Greiner and senior Brayton Van Dyke on the

defensive line, Rogers and senior Jarron Trausch at linebacker and senior Nick Dredge in the secondary.

Twenty Mustangs were all-district football selections as PCM went undefeated and claimed the district title for the third straight season.

“No matter how well we played, I felt like we had to prove ourselves every week,” Worth said. “We just stayed the course, and now we’re state champs.”

Newton Daily News • 2018 Year in Review – Page 11

National Register of Historic Places adds downtown Colfax

By P.M. Brannock Newton Daily News “Colfax was not the only city to find mineral water in Iowa, but Colfax was the only one to find it and really transform it into something much greater than just a single well pumping out water,” architectural historian Jennifer James said.

Her comments came at the May 2018 Colfax Main Street meeting, announcing the city’s application to place the Colfax commercial district to the National Register of Historic Places.

The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 created the National Register of Historic Places — the nation’s official list of historically and architecturally significant buildings and districts — under the National Park Service.

Buildings and sites listed on the register must have a connection to a significant historical event, figure or era or possess unique architectural or structural features and retain their integrity of design.

James worked with Main Street President Cindy Van Dusseldorp and other volunteers to highlight Colfax’s spring water industry — from spa hotels to bottling companies — and some of Colfax’s unique architectural features, which include Italianate detailing, elements of prairie school design and rare castiron storefronts.

In 2014, James led a yearlong study of 100 properties — including those whose structures time had long since absorbed — in the six-block downtown district. Colfax Main Street was unable to locate original architectural drawings, so James and Main

P.M. Brannock/Daily News Italianate cornices on the second- and third-story windows of the Gem of Colfax are some of the district’s unique architectural details.

Street volunteers pieced together the past with the help of photographs in the Colfax Historical Society, itemized lists of building repairs and narratives from property owners.

The State Historical Society of Iowa awarded Colfax Main Street a $6,460 grant that enabled James to prepare the district’s application to the National Register. Before final review by the National Park Service, all applications undergo a screening process. First, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) reviews the application and suggests edits.

After the applicant amends the application, it must go before the State Nominations Review Committee (SNRC).

James presented Colfax’s case to SNRC in June, where she received additional feedback.

Finally, applications return to SHPO, which will send them to the National Park Service.

The day after Veterans’ Day,

Van Dusseldorp received the phone call that Colfax’s application had been accepted, and the district is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Districts can include contributing and non-contributing buildings; contributing buildings possess historically or architecturally significant characteristics. Colfax’s historic district — located between Front and Division Streets on the north and south and Elm and Locust Streets on the west and east — includes 27 contributing buildings. When James studied the area, she noticed that several buildings, including Benzer Pharmacy, Poppy’s Family Restaurant and Guard Woodworking, might easily become contributing buildings if they removed false façades covering original architectural detailing.

“A historic district is really all carrot, no stick,” James re-

P.M. Brannock/Daily News Arched windows in the former church, now a private residence, on Walnut Street exhibit Gothic Revival elements.

P.M. Brannock/Daily News Proudfoot, Bird and Rawson, one of Iowa’s premiere 20th-century architectural firms, designed the Colfax Public Library.

minded Colfax residents at the May meeting.

Areas with sites listed on the National Register typically experience economic growth, job creation and an increased number of federal and state tax

incentives for restoration and rehabilitation projects. They also attract, Millennials, a generation now in its 20s and 30s, who are spurring cookie-cutter suburban lifestyles in favor of authentic communities.

Newton Daily News • 2018 Year in Review – Page 12

Serving You Since

9. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, attended the IndyCar race July 8 as a guest of the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

Reynolds said teaming up with IndyCar gives Iowa farmers a great way to market their products. Iowa farmers and representatives from the Iowa Corn Growers Association are banking on the publicity generated by both racing series will boost interest in ethanol-based fuels.

9. Sheldon Creed showed he had the fastest car on the track and his experience did the rest

2008

2017 to 142 in 2018.

The number of citations increased from zero in 2017 to at least 6, following a city ordinance passed this spring which instilled stricter punishments on those who were using fireworks illegally.

17. The Newton City Council appointed former member Lin Chapé to fill the vacant at-large seat once occupied by Miranda Kulis, who resigned her position in June. Chapé was sworn in by Mayor Mike Hansen immediately following the appointment.

23. Iowa Sen. Chaz Allen, D-Newton, unexpectedly announced July 20 he was dropping out of his 2018 re-election bid for the Iowa Senate.

BY WYNDHAM 4401 South 22nd Ave. E. Newton, IA 50208 Ph: 641-791-1160 newton.ia@americinn.com

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In a letter sent out to Jasper County Democrats

Friday morning., Allen said he was leaving the

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File Photo Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, greet fans prior to the start of the Iowa Corn 300 July 8 at Iowa Speedway in Newton.

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as he coasted to his third ARCA Racing Series win of the season at Iowa Speedway July 7. James Hinchcliffe claimed the Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300 July 7 at Iowa Speedway.

11. Newton High School softball defeated Fairfield in the Class 4A Region 5 championship to move on to the state tournament in Fort Dodge. The Cardinals scored a 4-1 win.

12. Calls and complaints surrounding the usage of fireworks within city limits in 2018 decreased compared to 2017 reports, according to the Newton Police Department, the number of fireworks calls from June 1 to July 9 decreased from 189 in

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Newton Daily News • 2018 Year in Review – Page 13

23. Newton High School Cardinals capped off a softball historic season, finishing in third place at the Iowa Class 4-A tournament.

The team closed its 2018 historic run with a 7-6 walk-off win in eight innings on Harlan Rogers Park Diamond No. 2. Senior Audrey Lucas scored the winning run off a RBI-bunt single from senior Mackenize Johnson.

26. RAGBRAI riders descended on Newton July 25 for its overnight stay of the annual bike ride across Iowa. As cyclists neared the end of their 59.1-mile trek from Ames to Newton, there was a nearly 1,500foot stretch of pavement adorned with inflatable beach balls and colorful inner tubes aligned like runway lights to direct RAGBRAI participants to their next overnight town. The event brought thousands of riders and support personnel to town.

27. Iowa Senate District 15 Republican challenger Tim Shay announced he will also be dropping out of the 2018 race. The announcement comes just days after the sudden departure of Democrat incumbent Chaz Allen. Shay’s exit leaves both major parties without a candidate for the November General Election.

30. NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Division points leader, rookie, Tyler Ankrum, won the Casey’s General Stores 150 at Iowa Speedway July 27. Rookie Chris-

topher Bell took the checkered flag in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in the 10th annual U.S. Cellular 250 July 28 at Iowa Speedway.

August 3. Former Jasper County Party Chairperson Taylor Van De Krol was named the winner of a special nominating convention to replace Sen. Chaz Allen of Newton, as the Democratic Party’s nominee for Iowa Senate District 15.

Precinct chairs and party leaders from western Jasper and eastern Polk Counties voted at Colfax-Mingo High School in Colfax, selecting the 26-year-old to lead Democrats into November 3. Re-Wire Yoga Studio opened its doors in Newton. Rachel Braafhart is the owner and lead instructor of the business. Located in a suite inside an old storage space in Maytag Building 2 along West Fourth Street North, the yoga studio has ample space for courses led

by Braafhart and yoga instructor Savannah Wood.

6. Jason Carter was named the new head girls basketball coach for Newton High School.

Carter will enter into his fourth year of teaching in the Newton school district and moves from his position as an assistant coach for the NHS boys’ basketball team for past three years.

10. Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Bondurant, announced Aug. 9 he was

File Photo Newton High’s Cardinals softball team hoists its 2018 Class 4A third-place trophy after dramatically winning 7-6 in eight innings on July 22 at Fort Dodge.

dropping his re-election bid in the Iowa House to make a run at the Senate. A two-term member of the Iowa House, the Altoona native is a combat veteran with more than 700 hours of flight time. Nunn and his wife Kelly, reside in Bondurant with their three children. (Nunn was confirmed as the candidate in a special election on Aug. 16.)

16. Taylor Van De Krol, the Democratic candidate for Iowa Senate District 15, announced his withdrawal from the race. Citing “personal issues,” Van De Krol left the race less

than two weeks after being named the nominee.

The departure left the Democratic party without a candidate again after incumbent Chaz Allen annouced his decision to leave the race in July.

17. Kyle Peta was named the new head boys basketball coach for Newton High School.

Peta joins the school district as a third grade teacher at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.

He comes to Newton from Central Decatur High School where he was the assistant varsity boys’ basketball coach for the past three years.

22. Brian Friedman and Natalie Umsted, co-owners of Goldfinch Growth, a local real estate development company, approached the Jasper County Board of Supervisors with a proposal to purchase county property and transform it into a vibrant food or drink service establishment. The building is more than 100 years old and its original purpose has long since been abandoned by the county.

23. Dan Nieland wins the Democratic special election to become the party’s third candidate for Iowa Senate District 15 in 2018. Nieland beat out longtime Southeast Polk school board member Lori Slings, capturing 61.7 percent of the ballot to Sling’s 38.3 percent Aug. 22 night at the Jasper County Democratic Party headquarters in downtown Newton.

28. Iowa Corn has opted out of its sponsorship of its IndyCar race at Iowa Speedway.

Iowa Corn dissolved the partnership in an Aug. 20 news release. It said it would not renew its title sponsorships of the Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa 300 race at Iowa Speedway beginning in 2019, citing the organization would be focusing on new corn demand opportunities.

31. Jurors unanimously found 44-yearold Mariana Lesnic guilty of first-degree murder for shooting Monroe trucker Ernest Kummer, 60, while he

was sleeping in his semitruck at an Interstate 80 rest stop near Victor in September of 2017.

September 6. Two people have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 35-yearold Jeremy McDowell, who was found dead in the back of a vehicle in 1200 block of West 18th Street South in Newton on June 22. Fifty-yearold Jeffrey Stendrup of Clive, and Jaycie Sheeder, 24, were both arrested Sept. 5, charged and are being held at the Jasper County Jail pending a bond hearing.

10. The Newton High School football team notched its first win of the season, a 35-14 victory over the Ottumwa Bulldogs. The game made its mark in Newton’s record books as the Cardinals played the 1,000th football game of the program’s history.

17. A federal grand jury charged 47-year-old Altoona woman Leesa Marie Parkhill-Nieland, wife of Democratic candidate for Iowa Senate District 15 candidate Dan Nieland, with Social Security fraud. The charges were issued Aug. 28 and announced Sept. 14 in a press release from United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Parkhill-Nieland is charged with theft of government funds, Social Security fraud and making a false statement to the Social Security Administration.

Newton Daily News • 2018 Year in Review – Page 14

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ing Perry 74-20 in varsity action. Lindsey Blommers made a statement on her final competitive swim at home for NCMP. She swam the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:15.78, breaking her own team mark of 1:16.25, which was set in 2016.

October 3. Former Jasper County Attorney Mike Jacobsen was sworn in as the district court judge in Iowa’s Judicial District 5A. Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed him in June.

Jacobsen will be hearing cases in Marion, Warren, Madison, Dallas, Guthrie and Polk Counties.

3. Newton High School honored its 1988

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4A state runner-up team. The football team went 9-0 in regular season and was 12-0 heading into the Class 4A state championship game against Bettendorf (12-0). Bettendorf beat Newton 28-12 for the state title. The Cardinals were the Central Iowa Conference undefeated champions at 6-0.

4. The Cellar Peanut Pub opened its doors in Newton. The highly-anticipated pub was filled to the brim with customers to check out Newton’s newest establishment. Specializing in craft beer, owner Marty Duffy is even more determined to change Newton’s beer culture.

5. Farver Real Estate,

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in a coronation ceremony held Nov. 20. Tremel, the son of Kelly and Curt Tremel, is a varsity letter winner on the Cardinals tennis team, a drum major in the marching band, and member of the high school’s jazz and concert bands.

Wyre, the daughter of Stacy Raines, Bill Wyre and Jeff Raines is also a member of the Cardinal band, as well as a member of the Creative Writing Club, Teens Against Human Trafficking, Thespians and the National Honor Society.

26. The NCMP Aquagirls dominated in their home pool Sept. 25 for NCMP Senior Night.

NCMP beat visiting Oskaloosa 78-15 and visit-

LLC purchased the former Hy-Vee drug store building located at 1207 First Ave. E. for $400,000.

Now owned by Scot and Fran Farver of Farver Real Estate, LLC — who possess other properties across town, including Farver True Value — the former drug store was left untouched for more than nine years, partly because the building’s previous owner prohibited development opportunities.

12. Lion Development Group plans to break ground before the end of the year for its 38-unit apartment complex built on the former Seed Store lot. Originally planned as a $4.5 million, 42-unit mar-

1999

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20. Newton Quick Care Clinic announced it would to fill a vacant space in the Newton Hy-Vee. In partnership with Newton Clinic PC and Mercy the Quick Care Clinic stationed in the local supermarket at 1501 First Ave. E. will operate in a similar fashion to an urgent care clinic. For patients who are dealing with very uncomfortable but non-life-t hre atening problems and illnesses, a Quick Care Clinic could address or ease their discomforts in a timely manner.

21. Newton High School Nicholas Tremel and Laura Wyre were named the 2018 Homecoming King and Queen

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ket-rate apartment complex, Lion Development Group owner Brandon Pratt said changes had to be made recently.

While developing the site, which had been purchased from the city for $350,000, engineers realized the initial building plan was too wide, prompting tweaks from Lion Development Group’s architects.

15. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds was in Newton Oct. 13 for the Jasper County Republican annual trap shoot. Jasper County Republican Party Chairperson Thad Nearmyer said the trap shoot is one of the most successful and fastest growing fundraising events for the local GOP.

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Newton Daily News • 2018 Year in Review – Page 15

16. Newton High School Freshman Rylee Heryford, 14, claimed Iowa Junior PGA player of year award, for the second year in a row. In 2017, she was the Iowa Junior PGA 13-and-under girls’ player of the year. The 2018 awards were announced recently, Heryford is the 2018 Iowa Junior PGA 14-15 girls’ player of the year.

Heryford has been playing golf since she was 5.

17. The NCMP Aquagirls claimed its third straight Little Hawkeye Conference championship. The Aquagirls won every swimming event — 11 — and the diving event in the varsity division. NCMP rolled up 488 points for its victory. Indianola was second with 384 points followed

by Grinnell with 225 and Oskaloosa with 161 points.

18. Vandalism at the middle concession building near the softball fields of Agnes Patterson Memorial Park “completely destroyed” the inside of the men’s restroom, Park Operations Superintendent Nick Cummins said during the monthly Newton Park Board meeting Oct. 17. Two toilets, two urinals and a sink were among the damaged fixtures.

19. Newton High sophomore Ashay Malow ran a personal best time during the 4A state cross country qualifying meet in Marshalltown.

Her effort earned her a place in the 2018 Iowa Class 4A State Cross Country Meet on Oct. 27 in Fort Dodge. Mar-

File Photo In the final swim of her high school career, NCMP senior Lindsey Blommers churns the water of the Marshalltown YMCA/YWCA pool in the 2018 Iowa Girls’ High School State Swimming and Diving Championships. Blommers captured the fifth-place medal in the 100-yard breaststroke, which was her second state medal in three years qualifying in the event.

low ran the 5K course on the Marshalltown Community College campus in 20 minutes, 30.7 seconds.

23. Mariana Lesnic, 44, was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In August, she was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Monroe truck driver Ernest Kummer in September of 2017 while he was sleeping in his semi-truck at an Interstate 80 rest stop near Victor.

29. NCMP Aquagirls qualified in six of 11 events out of the Grinnell regional on Oct. 27.

NCMP’s 200-yard medley, 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle relays did qualifying for the 2018 Iowa Girls High School State Swim Championships.

Senior Lindsey Blommers qualified for her third straight state swim meet in the 100-yard breaststroke. NCMP freshman Hannah Nedder swam a personal-best time of

59.75 seconds for third in the 100 butterfly. It put her in a position to qualify for state meet which is this Friday and Saturday in Marshalltown. Also swimming a possible state-qualifying time was NCMP senior Lakin Jenkins in the 100 backstroke. Jenkins finished sixth, earning a regional medal, in a personal-record time of 1:02.05.

November 1. Kwik Star opened for business in Newton.

The convenience store announced it was opening a Newton location in August 2017 and was to be built at the former Lauterbach Buick GMC dealership, which had moved down the street to 2900 First Avenue E. 5. NCMP senior Lindsey Blommers wrapped up her high school swimming career with a 1:05.47 to reach the state podium

in the 100 breaststroke.

She placed fifth which earned her second state medal of her career.

6. Newton High senior Rachel Rhoads competed in one last cross country meet Nov. 3 IATC Senior All-Star meet on the DMACC campus in Ankeny. Going out with her best-ever race, Rhoads set a new NHS girls’ record for the 5K with a time of 19 minutes, 23.8 seconds, finishing 15th and earning a medal.

7. Bondurant Republican Zach Nunn won the Iowa Senate in District 15. He defeated Democratic challenger Dan Nieland, of rural Altoona, 56.83 percent to 43.02 percent. He wins the seat for the GOP after incumbent Chaz Allen, D-Newton, abrupt left the race in July.

7. Republican newcomer Brandon Talsma and Republican incumbent Denny Carpenter

were voted on to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors. Talsma, R-Newton, received 8,241 votes (or 30 percent) and incumbent Carpenter, R-Reasnor, received 6,718 votes (or 25 percent).

9. Newton Main Street was awarded a $75,000 grant by the Iowa Economic Development Authority to help fund Goldfinch Growth, a local real estate development company’s project to transform a vacant county building into an upscale food or drink service establishment.

Newton was one of 13 Iowa communities to receive Main Street Challenge Grant funds.

9. Three Newton High Cardinal volleyball players earned Little Hawkeye Conference honors for the 2018 season. Sophomore setter Kate Callaghan garnered All-LHC second-team honors for the second straight season. Junior outside hitter Madi Amos and sophomore middle hitter Megan Callaghan received honorable mention honors.

14. Randy Linderman was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Jose Ramirez Berber in rural Newton in March 2017. The jury deliberated for an hour and half after a week-long trial to reach the verdict.

19. The PCM Mustangs football team completed their perfect season with a decisive win over Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley to capture the school first state championship title. Their 13-0 season ended at the UNI

Dome with 28-7 win.

PCM’s top-ranked defense intercepted BHRV quarterback JT Van’t Hul four times, forced five turnovers in all and recorded four sacks in another dominating effort.

December 5. Winning nine of 11 races, NCMP’s Cardinal boys pulled away from the visiting Des Moines East Scarlets for a decisive victory in their home swimming pool.

The Cardinals won the dual 118-52 on Dec. 4 at the Newton YMCA. NCMP evened its dual mark at 1-1 for the young season.

11. Renewable Energy Group, Inc. announced its board of directors has named Cynthia Warner as president and CEO. She will replace outgoing president and CEO Randy Howard who has served in that position since July 2017.

In a press release issued last week, the company said he will remain on the board to assist in the transition.

12. Baxter Community School District voters approved bond measure to provide funding to a $6 million school renovation project, allowing improvements in several areas of the building’s classrooms and parking lot. The vote passed 87.47 percent to 12.53 percent, according to unofficial results from the Jasper County Auditor’s Office.

Of the 415 votes cast, 363 voter’s said “yes” to the bond, and 52 “no” votes were cast.

Newton Daily News • 2018 Year in Review – Page 16

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12. Newton High’s Cardinal wrestling team rallied from behind to defeat Pella in a Little Hawkeye Conference dual. The Cardinals trailed the visiting Pella Little Dutch 13-0 after two matches. Newton wiped a 19-5 deficit to beat Pella 38-31 for a

conference victory.

17. An open house was held Dec. 16 at the new B.C. Berg Middle School building. Three ribbon cuttings marked the official dedication of the brand new, state-ofthe-art building. More than 150 people were on hand with many more

streaming in throughout the afternoon to view the modern construction that will soon welcome students into its halls.

18. In a 4-2 vote, Newton City Council voted against a proposed amendment to the city fireworks code that would have banned the File Photo Josh Cantu, Newton Community School District board member and a leader on the Preserve the Pride Committee, cuts the ceremonial ribbon during the new B.C. Berg Middle School dedication ceremony.

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use of consumer-grade pyrotechnics within city limits. The city’s fire and law enforcement officials argued the fireworks ban was necessary “in order to enhance the health and safety of residents, reduce incidents of property damage and

to mitigate noise issues.”

Outcry from citizens increased with each subsequent consideration of the proposed ordinance change which, ultimately, caused it to fail.

19. Joe Brock celebrated his last day as a member of the Jas-

per County Board of Supervisors during its weekly meeting Dec. 17.

The Democratic official chose not to run for reelection in November.

Brock will be replaced

by Republican newcomer, Brandon Talsma, in January.

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