Newton News
2020 Year in Review Featuring:
• Month-by-month recaps • Top 5 stories of the year
Newton News • 2020 Year in Review – Page 2
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Jimmy John’s in downtown Newton announced in a notice taped to the door of the 117 W. Second St. N. establishment that they “made the very difficult decision to close,” effective this past Wednesday. 27. Employees of the Newton Public Library and its respective governing board of trustees are expecting considerable cuts following the completion of the fiscal year 2021 City of Newton budget.
February Jamee A. Pierson/Newton News A firefighter from the Newton Fire Department works to put out the flames Saturday after a fire broke out at Burger King just after 6 a.m.
at this time. Some of the 147 employees at the bus plant may retain new jobs within
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the company by the time operations cease. 24. Staff members at the
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3. Staff at WEST Academy received a delivery of more than 1,144 pounds of food from Food Bank of Iowa. WEST Academy Principal Tara Zehr awaited the hefty order late Thursday morning and, with the help of some students, stocked the alternative campus’ newly created food pantry. 6. The Newton Fire Department worked to battle a blaze at Burger King throughout the morning and into the afternoon Saturday. Crews received the call at about 6:15 a.m. alerting them to the fire which started at the rear of the building at 705 First Ave. E. 9. At the Newton City Council meeting Monday night, Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess said the de-
partment noted an “uptick” in fireworks-related calls. In total, the police department received about 15 complaints from citizens. City ordinance does not allow the use of fireworks on Dec. 31 anymore. Prior to the change, citizens could discharge fireworks from 9 a.m. Dec. 31 to 12:30 a.m. Jan. 16. Jasper County and its sister regions in Boone, Marion and Warren Counties were awarded $285,548 by Iowa Finance Authority to use for their Local Housing Trust Fund, which was formed last year to reinforce affordable housing needs. 24. TPI Composites will close its electric bus body manufacturing plant in Newton. TPI said the plant, effective Feb. 29, will consolidate operations into its Rhode Island transportation facility
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6. On a number of occasions, elected officials used the word “draconian” to describe the budget cuts proposed for the Newton Public Library. One particular member of the city council admitted he did not know the actual definition
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Newton News • 2020 Year in Review – Page 3
of the word but liked it and decided to use it anyway. Based on the comments from the Newton Public Library Board of Trustees and councilperson Mark Hallam,~draconian~may be the perfect word to express how they feel about the proposed $216,388 in general fund reductions to the library from fiscal year 2020 to fiscal year 2021. 7. Two suspects have been arrested following an armed robbery in Newton. An 18 year old and a 16 year old juvenile from Des Moines were brought into custody after the Newton Police responded to an armed robbery at approximately 11:57 p.m. Thursday at Git-N-Go. Officers said two males entered the convenience store with handguns. The clerk on duty gave a description of the suspects vehicle and after searching the area for about 30 minutes, officers a vehicle matching the description was located. At that time, the vehicle fled with officered in pursuit before it wrecked at the intersection of North Fourth Avenue East and East 31st Street North. 10. A dormitory-style pod installed less than a year ago in the Jasper County Jail has been a welcomed addition, especially with the increased inmate volumes from other regions. Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty said the pod has been performing well and generating revenue. Since its opening, it has allowed the jail to move inmates around more freely and segregate inmates if need be. It also allows for more space to hold inmates from other counties. In 2019, on average, the jail held 30 to 40 additional inmates from Warren County. Meanwhile, Jasper County typically averages about 71 inmates per day. 13. Assets from the Di-
Submitted Photo from Sen. Mark Lofgren The first home assembled by inmates of the Newton Correctional Facility was shipped away from its build site last week. These homes – built as part of the Homes For Iowa program – are addressing affordable needs in the state.
recTech, LLC,-owned Hanson Directory Service in Newton were purchased Tuesday by Pinnacle Marketing Group. The Newton office’s 68 directories published for local, independent phone companies in 15 states will be absorbed by Pinnacle Marketing Group, which is based out of Bemidji, Minn., creates 242 publications for local independent phone companies in 36 states. 18. Two last-second type takedowns in an epic No. 4 versus No. 1 battle on the Class 3A District 8 wrestling mat Saturday earned Newton High senior Gage Linahon a victory and more important a Class 3A District championship at 220 pounds. Linahon also earned his fourth straight trip to the Iowa Class 3A state wrestling tournament. He will be joined by Cardinal teammates senior Destin Schroder at 182 and junior Anthony Bestell at 113. Schroder, a 182-pound district champion a year ago, and Bestell had to work a little overtime also in winning wrestle back matches
for second place. 24. Tom Messinger is the newest superintendent for the Newton Community School District. Newton administrators announced Messinger, the superintendent of Red Oak Community School District for the past five years, has been offered the position for the 2020-21 school year. He will be replacing the current superintendent, Bob Callaghan, who will be resigning June 30.
March 3. The first house assembled by inmates of Newton Correctional Facility as part of a rehabilitation program working in tandem to address the state’s affordable housing needs was finally shipped last week. Trailer trucks hauled the hulking handmade home on wheels to its new foundation in Jefferson. Homes For Iowa is a project which had officially launched last summer. Inmates of the Newton Correctional Facility are
tasked with building homes for Iowans valued between $100,000 to $120,000, and in the process are offered skillsets to be used outside of prison and hopefully reduce recidivism. 9. With new cases of the coronavirus announced daily, the doctors and nurses of MercyOne Newton Medical Center are taking the proper precautions for the local area. The goal of the hospital is to be prepared if — or when — patients contract coronavirus, which is also known as COVID-19. Staff cannot live or work as if the virus will not occur, certified infection preventionist Chris Larson said. MercyOne Newton Medical Center has a strong plan in place. 11. Sudden changes to transportation services by the financially struggling Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA) prevented dependent adults living in Jasper County from receiving rides on Monday to Willowbrook Adult Day Center in Newton,
partly because providers and families were not properly notified of these adjustments. Staff at Willowbrook — which work with Park Centre, an abutting retirement community — abruptly learned HIRTA’s transportation services for at least four out-of-town individuals had been cut off. Shannon Minshall, executive director of Park Centre, told the Jasper County Board of Supervisors at its meeting Tuesday morning the way the situation was handled “created a hardship.” 12. A majority of face-toface classes at Des Moines Area Commuity College (DMACC) campuses will transition to online courses near the end of the month until further notice. This is a likely response to the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19 by medical professionals. Several Iowa colleges — like University of Iowa and Drake University — announced similar plans in order to limit the amount of contact and spreading of the virus. 13. There may be as much creative freedom in beer making as there is crafting a multicourse food menu to pair alongside those very same sudsy beverages. Iowa Culinary Institute Chef Katie Van Dyke will know soon enough by the time she finishes creating her customized, fourcourse meal to be served side by side with four craft beers from Gezellig Brewing Co. during the “Dinner & Drafts” pairing experience. Organized by the Iowa Culinary Institute at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), the sold-out dinner will be held inside the Newton-based brewery at Legacy Plaza. The meal is designed to highlight the unique notes and flavors of Gezellig’s award-winning beers.
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16. Jasper County Republicans finalized their party’s updated platform and also created a list of delegates to send to the upcoming district and state conventions. Elected officials vying to maintain a seat — and a candidate with ambitions to dethrone a Democratic incumbent — had a chance to promote their campaigns. 17. Newton Community School District will close its campuses until April 13, following recommendations from elected officials and evidence from public health professionals about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). As more news and official recommendations surrounding COVID-19 surfaces, the Newton school district says reducing the potential spread of the illness to students and staff is its “highest priority.” All spring, school-related activities and athletics are cancelled, too. Every school facility excluding the H.A. Lynn Stadium track will be inaccessible to the public until further notice.
23. Emergency meals will be distributed to children under the age of 18 by the Newton Community School District. Upon the recommendation of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, all of Newton’s campuses have closed for four weeks in order to reduce community spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. However, removing class time may also have deprived some students of a steady meal. School administrators have since implemented an emergency food program to allow for curbside lunch and breakfast pick-ups available 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Newton High School and Berg Middle School. 24. Jasper County had its first reported case of novel coronavirus confirmed Monday, according to Jasper County Health Department Administrator Becky Pryor. The Iowa Department of Public Health said the individual is self-isolating at home. “While this is Jasper County’s first case, it may not be the
last, and that’s why we encourage all residents to continue to make prevention a priority,” Pryor said. 25. All county buildings — including the courthouse — will remain closed until further notice. This action is in direct response to growing COVID-19 concerns. As a result, the board of supervisors declared a state of emergency exists in Jasper County, authorized under Iowa Law. This proclamation was officially approved by supervisors Tuesday morning during its regularly scheduled meeting. 27. The spread of the coronavirus has had a tremendous impact on numerous local businesses, including Shaw Media. As businesses have been forced to close or curtail services, they have reduced promotional efforts. Shaw Media has recently experienced a significant drop in advertising volume. Our company has been forced to implement cost-reduction measures to ensure our viability. As part of the effort to reduce costs, we will be changing our print
publication schedule: The Newton Daily News will move to two publications a week with newspapers delivered on Tuesdays and Fridays. The changes are effective Monday, March 30. Any questions can be directed to the newspaper at 641-792-5320. 27. A caravan of cars filled with teachers paraded their way through Newton neighborhoods Thursday morning to wave at and send happy tidings to students who have been stuck at home after local schools locked their doors last week. Kiddos waited on porches and front lawns until the mass of cars drove past their street. Led by a school resource officer patrol vehicle, the teachers rolled down their windows and called out to students by name, greeting them with smiles. 31. Senior Blake Sevenbergen was sitting in his basement watching a movie when his mother Ange asked him to come upstairs. Shortly thereafter, Sevenbergen learned that Newton Senior High School’s 2020 Prom had been canceled. “You know when you get told something and you don’t have a reaction right away? That’s kind of how it was. I didn’t know how to react,” Sevenbergen said. “I was kind of in shock. I still can’t believe we aren’t getting a senior prom. It’s so crazy what we are all dealing with right now.”
April
Christopher Braunschweig/Newton News Teachers of Woodrow Wilson Elementary School pose for a photo Thursday morning in the school parking lot before taking part in a “teacher parade.”
10. The woman identified as killed in a hit-and-run crash Sunday morning in the Beaverdale neighborhood of Des Moines had a local connection to Newton. The victim, identified Monday as Lauren Rice by the Des Moines Police Department, taught English and literature at DMACC
Newton Campus for the past 10 years. 14. Two associates at TPI Composites, the largest employer in Jasper County with more than 1,000 people employed in the Newton plant, have tested positive for COVID-19. Officials at the wind turbine blade manufacturing facility learned Thursday of their fellow employees’ diagnoses. Josh Syhlman, general manager of TPI Iowa, said both workers have been required to self-quarantine at home for about 14 days. Staff also traced the 48 hours prior to those two associates becoming symptomatic and notified workers who meet the guidelines beset by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for close contact. 17. Another community event has been canceled due to COVID-19. Organizers of the Newton High School Alumni Weekend announced Tuesday the annual celebration planned for June 12 and 13 has been cancelled. Public health concerns surrounding COVID-19, as well as travel restrictions, impacted the Newton High School Alumni Association’s final decision. 21. Schools will not reopen in time to finish the spring semester. Early on, deadlines were optimistic. Officials said schools might be able to reopen by April 13, about four weeks after the first announcement. Then the date was extended to April 30. Maybe there would be a chance senior graduation ceremonies could take place, or prom night to be rescheduled. On Friday, during one of her regularly scheduled press conferences, Gov. Reynolds ordered all school districts and nonpublic schools to close for the remainder of the school year.
Newton News • 2020 Year in Review – Page 5
May 1. The Newton Fire Department recently pinned three new firefighters who recently completed their probationary periods. The newest additions also have a range of experience between them to bring to the department. 8. Newton Inn will be reduced to rubble, despite some skepticism. Because the city council turned down a previous $495,000 bid to purchase and demolish the Newton Inn, which was the same price the city paid to acquire the property, councilman Mark Hallam had some reservations about a new, more expensive offer presented during Monday night’s meeting. Regardless, Newton City Council voted unanimously in favor of the $690,000 bid from the Bondurant-based excavating contractor, J. Pettiecord, Inc. This means the city has now spent more than $1.18 million on Newton Inn. 12. The Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce announced the Fourth of July parade is canceled this year, according to a press release Friday. The chamber feels there is still a large degree of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 virus and anticipates social distancing measures will still be encouraged at that time. Given the nature of the event, the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed if the event were to proceed. 19. The only good thing some Jasper County farmers can say about the season so far is the planting phase has been a “night-and-day difference” compared to the sopping wet conditions of 2019. In fact, Baxter farmer Brock Hansen said the environment was “almost perfect” for planting this
year. Other than that, things are looking fairly bleak for Iowa farmers. In April, Associated Press’ David Pitt cited a report by economists from Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development saying the COVID-19 pandemic would heavily damage Iowa’s livestock and crop industries. 26. Northern Lights Pizza is coming Newton. A sign on the property of FNNB Bank, 1821 First Ave. E., says the Midwest-based pizzeria is opening soon and is now accepting applications for employees. Kerry Petersen, founder of Northern Lights Pizza, told Newton News the eatery is expected to tentatively open this summer. 29. The county annex building has a buyer. On Tuesday, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors accepted a $15,000 bid from a private development group to buy the property. Paramount Development proposed to transform the historical structure into downtown housing units. Only one bid was submitted to the county.
June 2. Besides selling her fresh grown produce and microgreens to customers of the Newton Farmers’ Market, newcomer Lois Steinberger is offering something that would have seemed a bit of out of the ordinary last year — or the years before that — but seems all the more appropriate now: homemade face masks. “I don’t know how many people will be doing that, but I do have several made up,” Steinberger said, noting she crafted masks into three different sizes. As the operator of Steinberger’s Garden Oasis, a new vendor in the Jasper County-based farmers’
Christopher Braunschweig/Newton News Newton City Council approved a $690,000 contract from the Bondurant-based excavating contractor J. Pettiecord, Inc. to demolish the Newton Inn. In addition to the $495,000 the city used to buy the non-operational property, City of Newton has spent more than $1.18 million on the Newton Inn.
market, she will be required to wear one of those masks from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, while working her stand near North Second Avenue, just north of the Newton town square. 5. Despite reservations from city staff and the limited ways in which swimming pools in the state can currently operate, Maytag Pool will open its doors for the 2020 season. This was the result of a motion during Monday’s city council meeting, which allowed Newton Mayor Mike Hansen to vote. Since the city council could not reach majority vote about whether to open or close Maytag Pool for the 2020 season last week, Hansen was able to submit the deciding, tie-breaking vote on Monday when the request was brought up again by staff. According to Iowa Code, Hansen is within his right to do so. 12. No sand volleyball tournament. No home run derby. No parade. Just fireworks. The City of Newton announced it will move forward with its an-
nual Fourth of July fireworks display at Agnes Patterson Park; however, after careful consideration, all other festivities have been canceled, the city said in a press release Tuesday. Residents are asked to cooperate with the guidelines set by both Iowa Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This includes social distancing. Citizens are encouraged to remain in or near their cars to watch the display, or keep six feet of distance between groups if watching from seating in the park 16. Unforeseen mechanical issues have postponed the opening of Maytag Pool. When filling the facility with water for the 2020 season, public works staff discovered “a very substantial leak” in the pool itself, community services manager Brian Laube said. Workers noticed the pool depth would not rise any further after it met a certain height threshold. “Normally,
the pool takes ‘X’ amount of days to fill, and it was reaching a point where we weren’t gaining any more ground on filling it,” Laube told Newton News on Friday afternoon. “We detected some water coming out of a drain tile aways from the pool.” 23. On June 16, board members of the Jasper County Historical Museum voted to not reopen the Newton-based facility for tours or visitors this year, because of concerns surrounding COVID-19. Because of their age, much of the museum staff, board members and volunteers are considered to be at a higher risk of severe illness stemming from the novel coronavirus. Despite lifted restrictions in Iowa, the pandemic is still ongoing. Ken Barthelman, executive director of the museum, told Newton News that the decision to close was discussed very seriously amongst board members. He did not see how museum staff could keep volunteers and the public safe.
Newton News • 2020 Year in Review – Page 6
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have guessed to hear about the drama surrounding the closing of Jasper County Animal Rescue League, the grand opening of the local Republican Party’s new headquarters was not one of them. Yet, Jasper County Supervisor Doug Cupples made a point to mention it during his speech. If anything, it was a clear indication that JCARL had been on locals’ minds. It’s also a “touchy” subject, he said, before pointing out JCARL is not owned nor operated by Jasper County, the governing body. And this is true. JCARL is — or, rather, was — an independent, non-profit organization. Regardless, it hasn’t stopped residents from contacting the supervisors demanding action.
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Christopher Braunschweig/Newton News A spectator watches cars drive around the track during practice laps during the 2020 IndyCar races at Iowa Speedway.
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County Fair will be operating in a more scaled back manner this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In order to follow all relevant guidelines, the Jasper County Fair Board has announced the fair will be a 4-H/FFA show only. This includes livestock shows, static exhibits, auction and supreme showmanship. “It will be open for the public to come and look if they like,” Jasper County Fair Board president Jerry Elscott said. That also means many of the usual events of the fair will not be happening this year. The entertainment, parade, barbecue contest, free supper, Mutton Bustin and tractor pull have all been canceled. Also all open class shows and the open class building have been canceled for this year only. 30. Of all the places I would
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23. Fans will be in the stands at Iowa Speedway when the NTT IndyCar Series comes racing July 17-18 at the Newton racetrack. IndyCar announced it and Iowa Speedway will observe safe social distancing and provide enhanced hygiene and safety precautions for all fans in attendance at the event. They will be following the guidance of public health officials, medical experts and local, state and federal authorities. Only a limited number of tickets will be available for the upcoming race weekend with each group of fans in attendance separated by at least six feet of distancing at Iowa Speedway, in order to align with Iowa state COVID-19 guidelines. 26. After some deliberation, the Jasper County Fair Board has decided that the Jasper
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Newton News • 2020 Year in Review – Page 7
The year of COVID By Jamee A. Pierson Newton News
COVID-19. Coronavirus. Pandemic. Quarantine. Positivity Rates. Social Distancing. Zoom.
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hen the ball dropped at midnight and the calendar officially turned to 2020, there wasn’t a single person who knew what was in store for the county, state, country and world. Terms that have become regular vernacular were foreign. People could meet, touch and gather in groups without the need for face coverings or six feet of space. Now, in a pandemic world, nothing is the same a year later. Jasper County’s first reported case of COVID-19 came March 23, about two months after the country first confirmed the coronavirus in the United States. At the time, it was not known how easily or quickly the virus would spread but warnings were given by public health officials. “While this is Jasper County’s first case, it may not be the last, and that’s why we encourage all residents to continue to make prevention a priority,” Jasper County Health Administrator Becky Pryor said. Steps for prevention given by Pryor at the time included washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds each time, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow/upper
Christopher Braunschweig/Daily News Emma McCoy, a certified nursing assistant, adjusts her personal protective equipment outside the Newton Clinic’s pop-up clinic. The temporary facility was set up in the adjacent parking lot to treat people with a fever or have flu-like or respiratory symptoms in March. The clinic can also test for COVID-19 if patients meet a certain criteria laid out by public health and lab officials.
arm and staying home when ill. It was suggested to stay home and isolate from other in the house until no fever has been recorded for at least 72 hours (three full days of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fevers), other symptoms have improved such as a cough or shortness of breath improving and at least seven days have passed since the symptoms first appeared. Should health care be needed, citizens were asked to call their provider first. Pryor said the provider could assess whether a visit to the office was necessary or if home recovery was recommended. By that time, noticeable changes were being made to everyday life. Schools were closed, businesses restricting occupancy and services were being reduced to help slow the
spread. In Jasper County, all county buildings were closed in a direct response to COVID-19 concerns. Local city governments also started closing city buildings and moving meetings to a virtual setting. “The novel coronavirus ‘has the potential to present very serious health issues’ to residents of Jasper County, causing major disruption in people’s daily lives and adversely affecting the local economy and the county government’s operations,” the county said. As numbers started to grow in very populous areas of the country, the need for personal protective equipment including face masks and medical gloves, started to increase. The county emergency management agency sent out a call to individuals and businesses with unopened personal protective equipment to donate
the items to EMA to help with shortages in medical facilities and first responders. The ability to test for the coronavirus also started, although testing was very limited because materials were in short supply. Pop-up tents were erected at the Newton Clinic for patients with a fever, flu-like or respiratory symptoms at the temporary clinic. “Our providers are testing people that meet criteria and have active symptoms,” Newton Clinic Administrator Mark Thayer said. “We’re constantly re-evaluating. We had a busy day Monday and Tuesday.” By mid-spring, COVID-19 started wreaking havoc in long-term care facilities affecting both residents and staff. Dozens of those most vulnerable were being diagnosed, causing facilities to
lock down, allowing no outside visitors for weeks at a time. As spring turned to summer, it was clear COVID-19 was not going away. The world was in the midst of a pandemic, an event it had not seen for more than a century. Reaction to the virus varied from state to state, county to county and city to city. In Iowa, bars and restaurants, salons, small businesses and many other establishments were forced to close to prohibit close interactions. Long-standing events including the Iowa State Fair and locally Newton Fest, were canceled. The Jasper County Health Department went into overdrive keeping track of positive cases and contact tracing to follow where the virus could potentially go. While emergency training attempted to prepare the nurses and staff for disastrous events, no one could have predicted the skills needed to deal with a pandemic. “A number of years ago, I worked during H1N1 but it was nothing compared to COVID-19,” Pryor said. “We have a wealth of experience and knowledge, along with compassion, to make great things happen in Jasper County. We have been working seven days a week since March.” In what seemed like the end of the first wave, with numbers declining and “slowing the spread” working, restriction began to lighten in the state. Businesses could reopen with new guidelines, sports were played and a “new normal” started. COVID | 12
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COVID-101: Schools struggle to keep coronavirus out of classrooms Education takes a massive hit during pandemic By Christopher Braunschweig Newton News Two months before graduation, Newton High’s class of 2020 abruptly ended their school year after Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds shut down all districts in the state. Even though the seniors were given a once-in-alifetime graduation ceremony at Iowa Speedway, they missed out on end-of-year activities and athletics. The coronavirus pandemic was not the finale seniors wanted or deserved. And the health crisis was only going to get worse. Despite all the safety recommendations and the warnings from national health officials to not open up too early, Iowa’s case numbers began to skyrocket. As of mid-December, more than 3,000 Iowans have died from COVID-19. Before the 2020-2021 school year even began, districts were under pressure to deliver their Return-ToLearn Plans to the state without much clear direction. By the time administrators began assembling teams to start the preliminary work on their Return-To-Learn Plan, Newton had to bid farewell to former superintendent Bob Callaghan and welcome incoming superintendent Tom Messinger, who had to manage a district stricken with concerns about COVID-19 and, later, storm damage from a powerful derecho. Messinger frequently held virtual town halls and answered
questions at school board meetings to keep families informed. Teachers and faculty tried to make the best of their new normal. Shortly after schools closed, teachers from Newton Community School District campuses organized parades through their quarantined students’ neighborhoods. Several teachers were met with kids holding hand-drawn signs exclaiming how much they missed them. The feeling was mutual for Newton’s educators. Students involved in athletics were disappointed when sporting associations announced all spring activities, competitions and post season events — boys’ and girls’ golf, soccer, tennis and track and field — would be canceled. Officials said these cancellations derived “out of an abundance of caution for the well-being of all.” It wasn’t worth the risk. Schools eventually would reopen, but it was a far different experience than what most students were used to. Teachers adapted to online education on-the-fly and instituted hy-
brid learning models. Students had to learn from home on a part-time basis. A number of parents decided their children would learn from home fulltime, too. All the while, students and faculty sported face coverings, which had already been a highly contested topic amongst political figures ever since states declared pandemic status. Masks weren’t just recommended — they were required. Students, teachers, administrators and guests all wore masks when they were inside buildings. Mask breaks were common. Of course, these stories extend beyond Newton. Jasper County has five school districts: Baxter, Colfax-Mingo, Lynnville-Sully, Newton and PCM Each school district felt similar struggles, too. They had all established COVID-19 reopening plans and were working closely with Jasper County Health Department to notify officials of confirmed positive cases. Schools often communicated their positive cases to
Christopher Braunschweig/Newton News With arms full of school supplies, students returned to school in September after months away from the classroom.
families. However, restrictions would not allow districts to identify or give strong hints as to who exactly tested positive. Oftentimes when one student tested positive, the school and health department used contact tracing techniques to find and notify other students or faculty who may have tested positive. Newton created an online tool for the community and families to monitor isolated or quarantined students and staff. But, again, the data was intentionally vague — the district omitted the building and grade level — to avoid FERPA violations. The dashboard has since been updated several times. Newton created an entire COVID-19 web page for families with questions about the district’s new rules. Exposure at smaller, more confined schools was inevitable. Lynnville-Sully Community School District was barely a month into classes when it decided to switch to virtual learning for its high school students. By late October and early
November, Jasper County was surpassing the 15 percent positivity rate per 14-day threshold. Later, it increased beyond 20 percent. This prompted a number of school districts to shift from hybrid model instruction to fully remote learning, or, as the state calls it, “temporary continuous/remote learning.” Students were asked to work entirely from home throughout most of November. After Thanksgiving break, Newton students returned to their classrooms. As did other school districts. By the start of the second semester, students will be back in classrooms full-time. Discussions amongst school administrators suggest the best place for students to learn is in classrooms, but the emphasis on safety — especially when Iowa’s positivity rate was climbing at an alarming rate — was more important. Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com
Newton News • 2020 Year in Review – Page 9
Christopher Braunschweig/Newton News Historic Maytag buildings sustained heavy damages Aug. 10 after strong winds ripped through Jasper County and other communities in Central Iowa.
Derecho rocked Central Iowa in August
Recovery efforts well underway after the storm By Pam Pratt Newton News A new word was added to many Iowans vocabulary as many of the central counties were hit by a derecho that left a path of destruction in its wake for much of the Central Iowa, Jasper County included. On Aug. 10, areas of the county were picking up debris from fallen, splintered trees. Some residents were dealing with damage to homes and other property. Downed power lines and damaged power poles left thousands without electricity, some for nearly a week following the storm. This type of damage was caused by a derecho, which the National Severe Storm Laboratory defines as: “A widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. A typical dere-
cho consists of numerous microbursts, downbursts and downburst clusters.” NSSL notes derecho wind speeds usually exceed 58 mph. In cities as close as Marshalltown, a wind speeds of 99 miles per hour. In Jasper County, Newton received some of the strongest gusts from the straight line winds. And unfortunately, the damage in its wake showed. “The August 2020 Derecho Storm was one of the most significant and widespread natural disasters in Newton’s history. Every single Newton resident was impacted by the storm,” Newton Mayor Mike Hansen said. Property owners and businesses had to endure significant damage and some residents were displaced from their homes. Hansen said the damages will continue to have a
“ripple effect” in the community for years to come. The loss of mature trees changes the character of the community and that is something that cannot be replaced quickly. “It will take decades for the tree canopy to return to its pre-storm state,” Hansen said. Possibly one of the most prominent groups of buildings in Newton, Maytag Plant 1, now part of Newton DMACC’s Legacy Plaza, was severely damaged in the storm. The historic buildings looked as though it would crumble as much of the north and west walls and roof of building 2 was in ruin. Housed in building 2 was The Cellar Peanut Pub who’s owner Marty Duffy was already dealing with a trying year with shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. To be dealt another blow in
2020 was a tough one to take. “It’s going to be hard to recover from this,” Duffy said. “I’ve never dealt with anything like this.” Despite the extensive damage, DMACC announced soon after the storm their intention to rebuild. Kim Didier, executive director of DMACC Business Resources, said the historic integrity of the buildings will be maintained in the process. Many of the fallen bricks were saved to be reused in the restoration process. “The buildings are of such significance to the history of Newton that there was no question that they would be repaired and the legacy preserved,” Didier said. Now four months later, progress is slow but the rebuilding process is well underway. “Given the extensive
damage to building 2, repairs to date have been focused on the rebuilding of the west and north walls of building 2,” Didier said. Crews are working on removing bricks from the walls to correct a bulge in the building alignment. Once that is taken care of, the process of replacing the bricks can begin. The outside temperature is one of the biggest hurdles in the process at this point. Didier said the mortar for the bricks has to be kept at temp greater than 40 degrees. So a scaffolding around the building had to be enclosed to pump heat into the area. Dider expected work on the roof to begin in December. Since the buildings have a historic significance, great care has been placed on the rebuilding process. Dider said steps are being taken to replicate the original brick and other el-
ements to make the building look as it once did. City of Newton parks also felt the effects of the storm as some still remain closed as city crews work to remove dangerous hanging limbs to make the parks a safe place for residents to visit once more. Hansen said picking up the pieces takes time, but as he looks around the city he sees private property being repaired and debris fully cleared, well on the road to a full recovery. “While it was certainly an unwelcome event, the Derecho storm revealed just how resilient Newton is,” Hansen said. “I saw citizens helping other citizens following the storm, and that sense of community made me proud to call Newton home.” Contact Pam Pratt at 641-792-3121 ext. 6530 or pampratt@newtondailynews.com
Newton News • 2020 Year in Review – Page 10
Election error: Jasper County’s clerical data entry mistake almost swayed the IA02 race By Christopher Braunschweig Newton News Election results took longer than usual this past year. Between the Iowa caucuses and the 2020 general election, voters were left on the edge of their seats wondering if their candidate made the cut. Iowa Democrats were let down by tech troubles, which delayed results for about a week. Meanwhile, a number of Democratic presidential candidates declared themselves the victor. Then there was the Iowa Second Congressional District race. Three days after election night, Jasper County Auditor Dennis Parrott and Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate had an announcement to make: election results had been overreported in one Jasper County precinct due to clerical data entry error. After the auditor’s office corrected its mistake, they realized the extremely close race between Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democrat Rita Hart had been affected. Miller-Meeks was leading Hart by about 282 votes by the time results were posted online on Election Day. When the discrepancy was found and corrected in the Clear Creek/Poweshiek precinct in Mingo,
Hart gained 34 votes. Miller-Meeks lost 373 votes — and her lead. Pate ordered an immediate, hand-count audit of the affected precinct, as well as a county-wide recount. “Transparency is the key component of free and fair elections, and both the audit and the recount will be open to the public,” Pate told reporters during a press conference at the Jasper County Courthouse, reminding them the board of supervisors still have to canvass the ballots. “As I’ve said many times before, election night results are always unofficial.” The discrepancy was detected by the Jasper County Auditor’s Office at approximately 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5. Staff reported their findings to Pate’s office, which investigated the situation. Parrott said it would be a crime not to correct the mistake and that the state’s voting system allows auditors to find issues and errors that need to be cleared up before a canvass. “We want to be correct,” Parrott said, adding it’s “of no fault” to the secretary of state’s office and that his office is a neutral party in election cycles. “Originally, we thought it might be a technical issue. I want to state perfectly clear
here: It’s not a technical issue. That opens up a big can of worms, which we don’t need to open up because it actually was human error.” When asked by a reporter if the error was intentional, Parrott was visibly offended by the remark and remained silent for some time. The longtime auditor scorned any insinuations that the error could be intentional. Any questions of impropriety is “way out of base,” Parrott said. He continued to stand up for his staff, saying they followed everything “by the book.” Press flooded the courthouse and the county armory building for several days, inspecting the process in real-time. Newton News and several other outlets noted the corrected results matched the numbers of each subsequent recount and audit. Shortly after, it was announced Lucas County had also made an error, leaving out an entire precinct from its final count. Miller-Meeks, who was behind in the race and was initially critical of Jasper County’s response to the error, was back in the lead. This led to a district-wide recount. The state canvass board has since declared Miller-Meeks the winner of Iowa’s Second Con-
Christopher Braunschweig/Newton News Jasper County Auditor Dennis Parrott surveys the room filled with press and election officials Saturday morning at the Jasper County Armory Building.
Christopher Braunschweig/Newton News Jasper County Auditor Dennis Parrott and Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced the county would be recounting all of its ballots due to a clerical error during a press conference at the courthouse.
gressional District, a seat she had campaigned for three times prior. Miller-Meeks beat Hart by six votes. Controversially, Hart filed to petition the vote to the U.S. House Committee on House Administration, much to the dismay of Republicans who decried the candidate for not seeking to settle the matter
in court. Congresswoman-elect Miller-Meeks said the process has felt “like a never-ending campaign.” She also maintains all legal votes were counted, but Hart says otherwise. In addition to the waves of recounts, Jasper County had a separate
— and admittedly minor — election night error that had affected the speed in which results were released to the public. Members of the bipartisan absentee ballot board noticed they were 10 absentee ballots short. Parrott requested an administrative recount of the less than 11,000 absentee ballots. The county’s tabulator was already giving the auditor’s office troubles and had broken down on election night. A technician was onsite to assist the ballot jam, but the machine could not be fixed at that time. Luckily, auditors had saved the results compiled from the first run-through, allowing them to be posted on their elections webpage — albeit much later than they were initially expecting.
Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com
Newton News • 2020 Year in Review – Page 11
Newton’s Linahon finishes second at state wrestling tournament
Troy Hyde/Newton News Newton High School senior Gage Linahon stands on the podium after finishing second in the Class 3A 220-pound championship, losing to top ranking Brayden Wolf of Waverly-Shell Rock, 8-6.
By Troy Hyde Newton News DES MOINES — Newton senior Gage Linahon knows he had a successful season on the wrestling mat. But losing a state championship match hurts. And Linahon
walked out of Wells Fargo Arena on Feb. 22 with a lot of disappointment. His only two losses of the season came to topranked Brayden Wolf of Waverly-Shell Rock, and the latest was an 8-6 decision in the Class 3A 220-pound state championship match at the Iowa
High School State Wrestling Championships. “It will take awhile to get over this one. This was my last match in a Cardinal singlet so that sucks,” Linahon said. “There’s definitely positives. I placed high, but I know there was more I could have done.
Linahon (33-2) trailed Wolf in the championship match 2-1 after the first period. He led briefly in the second but fell behind 5-4 after two. Wolf (39-1) closed out his first state championship with a takedown with 36 seconds to go in the bout. Wolf scored the first takedown in the match about midway through the first period. Linahon got an escape before the end of the first two minutes to make it 2-1 after one. “He felt him out in the first period. He started to get on his offense after that, but it’s really hard to prep for this environment,” Newton coach Andy Swedenhjelm said. In the second, Linahon got an escape and a takedown in the first minute to go up 4-2, but Wolf answered with an escape 20 seconds later and scored a takedown with 3 seconds left in the period. The only points Linahon could muster in the third was an escape and penalty point. Wolf ’s final takedown extended the Go-Hawk senior’s lead to 8-5 late in the bout. Linahon was attempting to be the Cardinals’ ninth state champion. He was the school’s first finalist since Bryce Skaggs lost a 160-pound championship match in 2008. “You can’t ask for a better kid. He works his butt off,” Swedenhjelm said. “He’s a 4.0 student and an Eagle scout. It’s been a great journey for him. He’s a great role
model for our kids.” Linahon pinned No. 10 Gavin Bascom (31-6) of Cedar Rapids Kennedy in the second period to advance to the semifinals. “He started out strong but his conditioning wasn’t there,” Linahon said. “Once I had a couple takedowns on him, I rode him hard and broke him down and I could feel him slowing down. I knew I could work for wrists from that point.” The Cardinal senior went the distance for the first time in the semifinals, but a dominant 15-3 victory over fifthranked C.J. Stillman of West Des Moines Valley pushed him into the 3A championship match. Linahon dominated Stillman (37-7) from the opening whistle. He got three takedowns in the first period, a takedown and an escape in the second and two takedowns
and two nearfall points in the third. “He had only the one move and was being pretty defensive,” Linahon said. “He can’t do much once I get to his leg. That’s what my goal was and that’s what I was able to do.” The Cardinal senior made sure he was on his offense early and often during a first-round match on Feb. 20 and a first-period pin pushed him to the 3A quarterfinals. Linahon lost his first match last season before going all the way through the back side and finishing third. He had his eyes set on the top prize this season. He needed only 58 seconds to pin LeMars’ Brenick Hoppe in the first round. Contact Troy Hyde at 641-792-3121 ext. 6536 or thyde@newtondailynews.com
Troy Hyde/Newton News Newton wrestling coach Andy Swedenhjelm, right, consoles Cardinal senior Gage Linahon after the Class 3A 220-pound championship at Wells Fargo Arena.
Newton News • 2020 Year in Review – Page 12
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Face masks became a regular sight but gave businesses the ability to operate without strict social distancing mandates. Gatherings started again and school was underway for the year. While numbers once again started to rise throughout the country, it wasn’t until around Halloween the county positivity rate surpassed the 15 percent threshold. On Oct. 31, the county clocked in at 16.5 percent but by Nov. 2, two days later it had increase almost 2 percent to 18.1 percent. Just days later, the county reached and
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Christopher Braunschweig/Newton News A registered nurse from MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center prepares a nasopharyngeal swab for a TPI Composites worker from their vehicle during a mass COVID-19 testing at Iowa Speedway in Newton.
ty Health Department clarified it is not saying people should live in fear. Rather its information is to help residents “make good decisions” during the pandemic. “Even if you are
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passed 20 percent, triggering several school districts to convert to hybrid then complete virtual learning. Government offices once again closed to the public and citizens were put on high alert of a surge in cases. Daily updates were given by the county health department and fears of even higher numbers after the Thanksgiving holiday began to spread. “We are fearful of the numbers after Halloween, then the holidays,” Jasper County Health Department said. “Do your part, stay apart.” Urging citizens to wear masks and to stay at home if they are feeling sick or have been exposed to others who had tested positive, the Jasper Coun-
that have been very sick and many have died from COVID-19.” At that time, according to the state, Jasper County has had 1,304 positive cases of COVID-19. Of those that had tested positive in the region, 34 had died. The county did have positive news as the positivity rate did not have the increase anticipated after Thanksgiving. Also, by mid-December, the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be in Jasper County for distribution in a phased approach. Health care personnel and long-term care facility residents will be the first to receive the vaccine followed by essential working including educators, police, firefighters
and those in food and agriculture, utilities and transportation. The last part of the first phase has adults with high-risk medical conditions and those older than 65 eligible for the vaccine. COVID-19 has changed the country in many ways, has shown the best and worst in people and will be a part of history, told and retold to generations to come. While the pandemic is not over and may not be for some time, work to care for those affected and to keep people safe will continue as long as needed by those putting others before themselves. Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com
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Newton News • 2020 Year in Review – Page 13
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10. After a year of collaboration and planning between multiple organizations throughout Newton, the Storywalk is installed and will have people walking through Agnes Patterson Park while reading a book along the way. The Storywalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vt. and was developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. The Newton Public Library Youth Services Librarian Phyllis Peter started work about a year ago to try and get a Storywalk in Newton. “We knew that doing the Storywalk would be something that families would enjoy. I was able to get the idea going about a year ago,” Peter said. 17. When the Jasper County Fair kicks off Friday
things will feel a little different. However, the pandemic won’t stop local youth in 4-H and FFA from a chance at showcasing their hard work. While animals will be shown and other 4-H and FFA related events will take place this year, they will operate differently than they have in the past. “Instead of having the conference judging where they are sitting down and talking to the judges about their project they are just going to drop them off,” Jasper County Youth Coordinator with Iowa State Extension Stacey Wilson said. 24. To help reduce the illegal use of fireworks outside of the authorized time period, city staff proposed an amendment to its ordinance which would allow officers to administer a harsher fine for violators. Citizens of Newton can only discharge fireworks from 8
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to 11 p.m. July 4. The current fine for those who violate the ordinance is $250, so long as police have a witness and have evidence, such as fireworks debris, on the property. The city wants to increase the fine to $350. 24. By the time classes start this fall, a sheriff ’s deputy will be on-site to protect and serve the students and faculty of the Lynnville-Sully Community School District. On Tuesday, July 21, the board of supervisors approved a 28E Agreement between the county and the rural school district to utilize a school resource officer (SRO) from the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office until 2024. The district and county agree an SRO can “maintain a healthy and safe school environment.” This partnership was the result of a Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant
the sheriff ’s office and Lynnville-Sully applied for in March. Three months later, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded a $299,522 federal grant to the sheriff ’s office to go toward some of the costs to hire an SRO. 31. Seven residents from Newton Health Care Center have died after testing positive for COVID-19, information from the company’s website show. Staff and administrators are mourning the loss of these residents, whose names cannot be released due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, less than two weeks after the long-term care facility at 200 S. Eighth Ave. E. announced 53 people — 43 residents and 10 employees — tested positive. Since then, the number of residents who have contracted COVID-19 has increased to 52, about 31 of which have recovered in care
units. Likewise, 12 employees have tested positive, while six have recovered from the virus. In total, 64 people in Newton Health Care Center had or have COVID-19. 31. School board members have accepted the “Return to Learn” plan created by administrators of the Newton Community School District and their subcommittees who fleshed out some of the finer details. However, there was one board member who didn’t feel comfortable voting for the plan, leading to a 6-1 outcome. Donna Cook — the longest serving member of the current NCSD Board of Education roster — still wanted to voice her concerns about schools reopening during a pandemic, especially when case numbers in Iowa continue to trend upward. She also commended the district’s work for creating a plan.
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Newton News • 2020 Year in Review – Page 14
August 4. Some voters in Jasper County have supposedly been contacted by callers making what Rep. Wes Breckenridge, D-Newton, says are “untrue and misleading statements” about him, particularly regarding his views on law enforcement. Breckenridge believes these calls are the result of a “push poll” designed to manipulate voters. In a July 28 Facebook post, Breckenridge, who is running for re-election to maintain his Iowa House District 29 seat, expressed his disappointment in the “campaign tactic” he alleged was used by Republican opponent Jon Dunwell, who has subsequently denied this claim. 11. Signs posted on the doors of the Jasper County Courthouse prohibiting firearms or other weapons in the building have been removed following updated laws from the Iowa Legislature. Even though citizens with concealed carry permits can now enter armed, they aren’t allowed to bring weapons to the third floor courtrooms. This rule is made apparent in Jasper County via new signs posted on the entrances of the courthouse, where the old signs once stayed. Similar signage has been placed indoors, too, and on all county buildings. Because the courts have their own jurisdictions, the third floor is unaffected by the updated laws. On July 7, Republican candidate Jon Dunwell, who is running for the Iowa House District 29 seat, posted a video on Facebook of Jasper County Supervisor Brandon Talsma removing the “no firearms or weapons” sticker from the west entrance of the courthouse as a result of the statehouse action. “What are you going to
do with it?” someone asked in the video footage. Talsma replied, “Probably throw it in the trash where it belongs.” 11. Emotions were high during a special Jasper County Board of Health meeting Thursday where a public forum was held to give a voice to those hoping to share opinions of the recent termination of the county’s Home Care program. County employees and family members of those served by the program spoke to the board, many of whom had been with the county for more than 20 years, asked questions about the timeliness of the move and specifics about the financials involved. Board chair Margot Voshell opened the meeting by reading a statement of how it would proceed. She gave each participant three minutes to present information or concerns to the board, many of whom were present or attending via Zoom. 25. Some employees of the Newton Community School District can be furloughed during remote learning days this year. On Monday, Aug. 17, school board members granted the superintendent authority to do this; however, one board member argued educational associated be removed from the resolution. According to the resolution, which was approved in a 5-1 vote, the superintendent is now authorized to furlough bus drivers, crossing guards, educational associates, food service employees and parttime secretaries, as needed, due to the revised calendar and COVID-19 pandemic. NCSD Superintendent Tom Messinger said furloughed staff would still maintain existing health and dental insurance benefits at their current level.
25. Nearly two weeks after the derecho storm blew through Jasper County leaving destruction in its wake, and people were still cleaning up the debris. There were some in Jasper County who needed more help than others. Jasper County Emergency Management reached out to the United Way of Jasper County to help coordinate volunteer efforts to help elderly and disabled residents cleanup storm damage they were unable to do for themselves. A cellphone number was dedicated to take assistance requests. 28. To ensure the Newton Public Library meets its fiscal requirements for 2022, and to possibly avoid another back-and-forth quarrel with its board of trustees like last year, the city council formally approved annual budget targets for the library’s general fund and local option sales tax expenditures. By the next budgeting cycle, the library board will have to create a fi-
nancial plan using $669,306 for operations, as well as a secondary budget using only $635,841 in case the reductions in revenues — caused by the COVID-19 pandemic — are greater than currently estimated. On Monday, Aug. 24, Newton City Administrator Matt Muckler said the library’s operations budget target for FY22 is an effective 3.6 percent reduction compared to FY21.
September 11. The Newton Community School District was back in the classroom for the first time since March with students returning for their first day of school Sept. 10. Derecho cleanup caused the start date to be delayed, but faculty, staff and students were eager and nervous to return to the classroom despite the unknowns surrounding the pandemic. Plenty of measures were put into place to prevent the spread of germs and signs
Christopher Braunschweig/Newton News A student of Woodrow Wilson Elementary School steadies himself as he exits a vehicle Tuesday morning, Sept. 8, for the first day of school at Newton Community School District.
were posted to remind students to do their part to help slow the spread. 11. The Newton City Council passed an ordinance 5-1 to establish a stormwater utility. The measure would increase would add $3 to residents utility bills beginning Jan. 1. The amount will increase to $4 July 1, 2022 and would then increase to $5, $7 and $9 each subsequent year until 2025. The money will be collected to use to fix stormwater management issues. The one dissenting vote on the council was Mark Hallam who questioned the need for the automatic increase and wanted to instead seek council approval for future increases. Newton Public Works Director Jody Rhone said if this were to happen, the city would then potentially have to borrow money against the new system and would delay the implementation of the new stormwater system. 15. The Jasper County Board of Health addressed its decision to dissolve the home care program at its July meeting. The board had been charged by the Jasper County Supervisors to look at its financials and make adjustments. The board also held a meeting in August to gain public feedback. Many attended the meeting via Zoom and raised questions about adjusting the program instead of eliminating it and asked where the $450,000 would be used if not for home care. The board gave no director answers on where the funds would go but reaffirmed the supervisors had asked the department to look at cost-saving measures. The board decided to defer to vote to a special meeting held in a week’s time for the board to gain additional information for its decision to eliminate the program.
Newton News • 2020 Year in Review – Page 15
18. A body was found in rural Kellogg Sept. 16 after the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office and the Kellogg Volunteer Fire Department responded to a report of a fire in a ditch. First responders discovered the body as they put to the flames. The victim was later identified as Michael Williams of Grinnell. 22. The Jasper County Board of Health again voted to eliminate the home care program and establish an assistance fund at a special meeting held Sept. 17 at the Jasper County Courthouse. The decision was made from four potential proposals. In a statement, board chair Margot Voshell said when reviewing the program’s original intentions “should not be used to replace other agencies, support systems such as family members, friends or providers for home care services” and currently consist of “homemaker services such as light housekeeping, laundry, some essential shopping and a few baths.” 25. Four Grinnell residents were arrested in relation to the death of Michael Williams, whose body was found burning in a ditch in rural Kellogg. Steven A. Vogel was charged first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse. Vogel was already in custody at the Marshall County Jail for an unrelated incident. Also arrested were Julia A. Cox, 55; Roy L. Garner, 57; and Cody J. Johnson, 29. Cox and Garner were charged with two counts of destruction of evidence, abuse of a corpse and accessory after the fact. Johnson was charged with one count of destruction of evidence and abuse of a corpse and accessory after the fact. Cox, Garner and Johnson are being held at Poweshiek County Jail. The criminal complaint indicated
that the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation determined Vogel had strangled Williams in his home and the other three involved helped him dispose of the body and evidence. 25. Newton Mayor Mike Hansen used his authority as mayor to veto the stormwater utility ordinance passed by city council members. Hansen said he supports the establishment of a stormwater utility but he “strongly” disagrees with the automatic annual increase of rates under the current ERU rate. He believes organizations like churches, nonprofits, government facilities and schools should not be included on the exemption list to stormwater service charges. These properties, he said, “should be required to comply” with stormwater management and drainage system requirements “without monthly fees charged by the ordinance.” 29. Newton High School seniors Zane Biondi and Meg Callaghan were named NHS homecoming king and queen of 2020. Homecoming festivities had to be altered because of the ongoing health crisis. Instead of separate coronation and parade activities, all of the festivities were held in a pep rally at H.A. Lynn Stadium. Activity groups walked together on the field to be showcased in place of the traditional parade. The king and queen were crowned on the track in front of fellow students and parents who were to adhere to social distancing guidelines and mask wearing while in the stands.
October 7. The stormwater utility veto was upheld after the Newton City Council failed to get a three-fourths major-
ity vote to override the veto. Randy Ervin was the deciding vote in the motion. While he previously voted in favor of the ordinance, he changed his vote for the veto. He was confused by the city public works director Jody Rhone’s lack of a clear plan for the funds that would have been obtained by the stormwater utility. With his dissent and the council at a 4-2 vote, the veto was upheld and the city staff will have to work on a new proposal to present to the council at the future meeting. 13. Jasper County Democrats altered its usual soup luncheon fundraiser to a more drive-thru type event because of concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. Party leaders donned masks and gloves and dished out cups of soup to give to supporters as the drove up at Agnes Patterson Park. All other snack items like fresh vegetables and cookies were prepackaged into Ziploc bags prior to the event. 18. Newton’s Rylee Heryford was named Iowa Girls’ Player of the Year. Had the spring season not been canceled, Heryford would have made a legitimate run at her first Class 3A state championship. She was able to play a full Iowa PGA schedule which is what lead to her being named player of the year. She compiled 1,820.5 points from the season. 23. Despite the Newton City Council voting to uphold mayor Mike Hansen’s veto of the ordinance, the council voted 5-1 in approval of the stormwater utility ordinance. The city staff presented to same plan to council members and, like it had originally, passed it. Mark Hallam was again the lone dissenting vote for the plan. The council then moved to waive the second and third readings which
passed again 5-1. With the new ordinance, residents will see an increase to utility bills beginning Jan. 1. 23. The Jasper County Supervisors entered into an agreement for Marshall County for engineer services while Jasper County Engineer Russ Stutt is absent. The absence wasn’t explained by the board, but they needed to fill the tasks while Stutt is out for an extended period of time. The purpose of the Jasper-Marshall County Engineer Agreement is “to establish a working mechanism between the two participating counties” so they may both use Marshall County Engineer Paul Geilenfeldt for specific tasks. 23. Newton juniors Jackson Mace-Maynard and Treycen Garton both claimed spots in the Class 3A state cross country meet with top-10 finishes at the state qualifier meet at Pella Sports Park. Mace-Maynard was third overall in the boys’ 5K race with a time of 16 minutes, 47.66 seconds. Garton finished ninth with a career best time of 16:57.39.
November 3. Jasper County exceeded a 15 percent COVID-19 positivity rate threshold that could allow schools to hold remote learning classes for up to two weeks. By the end of October, the Jasper County Health Department announced a 14-day positivity rate of 16.5 percent. By Monday, Nov. 2, that rate had increased to 18.1 percent. 3. Lynnville-Sully sophomore Greenlee Smock and Baxter junior Elie Tuhn both earned metals in the Class 1A girls’ 5K race at the Iowa High School State Cross Country Championships. Smock finished the race in 20 minutes, 14.2 seconds and collected
an 11th place finish. Thun finished 15th with a time of 20:17.2. 6. The Jasper County voters reelected Democrat Wes Breckenridge to Iowa House District 29 and Republican Doug Cupples to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors. Breckenridge defeated opponent Jon Dunwell and Cupple topped Michelle Smith. Also reelected were unopposed candidates Sen. Amy Sinclair, Rep. Jon Thorup, auditor Dennis Parrott and Sheriff John Halferty. Election night was not without glitches as election officials had to deal with a malfunction with one precinct which caused a delay in reporting results. 10. A election error was reported by the Jasper County Auditor which triggered a full recount from the Secretary of State’s office. Auditor Dennis Parrott and Sec. Paul Pate held a press conference Nov. 6 to announce the error. There was a problem with the machine in the Mingo precinct and then human error caused votes to be counted incorrectly and were overreported. The issues was found and corrected but a full recount is needed to verify the results. The error had a direct impact on the IA-02 race as the new numbers gave Democrat Rita Hart enough votes to take to lead from Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks. 10. The Newton Community School District filed a request with the state and moved to a full remote learning model Nov. 6. The school will not have students meet in the classroom for two weeks in hopes the positivity rate will go down. When the school made its decision, the positivity rate had surpassed the 20 percent mark, well above the 15 percent required to file for remote learning.
Newton News • 2020 Year in Review – Page 16
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20. The Rita Hart Campaign requested a full recount of all votes
cast in the IA-02 region. Jasper County was at the center of controver-
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December 8. A zoning dispute between Mingo neighbors Joseph Paul and Larry Ladd has escalated to involved the Jasper County Supervisors. The Paul family lives on a property that is zones
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Submitted Photo Newton City Council on Monday, Dec. 7, authorized an application to Iowa Economic Development Authority in order to establish a reinvestment district and receive tax-generated funds for transformative development projects, such as the Legacy Plaza project.
residential so the farm animals housed on the property are a violation of city code. However, Ladd has multiple conflicts of interests in the dispute as he is on the Jasper County zoning board and owns property around Pauls residence that is zone agriculture.
11. Newton couple Jason and Tammy Breckenridge were charged with multiple counts of animal neglect — death or serious injury. After abandoning a dozen cats at their previous home. Two of the cats died from malnutrition and post mortem cannibal-
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ism. 15. DMACC announces plan for Legacy Plaza Project. The Newton City Council authorized the application process to establish a reinvestment district and receive tax-generated funds for transformative development projects.
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sy as overreported results swayed the results in Hart’s favor. But the swing wasn’t over, an error was discovered in Lucas County where votes from an entire precinct were not included in the initial results. This gave Mariannette Miller-Meeks a winning margin again. Jasper County Supervisors authorized the auditor’s office to recount by request of the Hart campaign.
2008
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