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Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014
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Newton, Iowa
New ‘guest speaker’ policies approved for Newton schools By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer
in conjunction with the city down there,” Brock said. “That’s fine, I just don’t want to wait until the first snow hits and …,” Rabourn began. “Max, I’m going to tell you right now. I think you better plan on salt being back down there this fall,” Stevenson interrupted. “Then you better plan on being sued,” Rabourn said. Stevenson told Rabourn he is free to do what he feels is necessary, but that they have roads to take care of and that 27 people can’t dictate what should be best for the more than 36,000 people that populate Jasper County. Brock chimed in and said that outside of Rabourn, no one has ever called to complain about using salt on the roads and that in fact, he had gotten more calls from citizens wanting more salt on their road, a point which Stevenson backed. In response, Rabourn said he has been driving the roads in Jasper
The second reading of three board policies became official at Monday’s Newton Community School District Board of Education meeting. With the modifications made during the reading of the policies, the board altered two policies that hadn’t been reviewed since 2007 and one that hadn’t been touched since 2011. Board Policy 603.7 is about the use of outside resources, such as guest speakers, in the classroom and says that teachers have to notify building principals well in advance if they plan on using an outside resource in their classroom and the principal has the right to deny this request. This policy also indicates that some potential outside resources may have to undergo a criminal history background check. A policy within this policy, 603.5, states that teachers have to notify parents of the context of the outside resources visit by either a note sent home, campus or teacher newsletter or the school’s webpage or Facebook page. Other changes to the policy say that parents would need to opt-out for non-controversial matters and opt-in for controversial speakers. Whether or not a subject is determined to be controversial is based on the judgment of the classroom teacher and the building principal. Superintendent Bob Callaghan said Newton Senior High School is the only campus within the district he could see having an outside resource person that would be considered controversial. Bill Peters, principal of NHS, said the only things his teachers have lined up that could be considered controversial occur in the health classes. He said the three teachers within that department use between 15 to 20 guest speakers, and that one of the teachers meets with each of those speakers to ensure their message aligns with the school’s curriculum. In past meetings while discussing this particular policy, several board members have asked what would happen if the scheduled speaker wasn’t able to make it and sent an alternate instead. “Whenever a presenter changes, and it does, it does throw a bit of a wild card in there.
RABOURN See Page 5A
POLICY See Page 5A
Ty Rushing/Daily News Max Rabourn has been publicly campaigning the elimination of salt on county roads and on Tuesday, the Newton resident made a surprise return visit to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors.
Newton man threatens to sue county over salt on roads By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer Max Rabourn’s effort to get the City of Newton and Jasper County to stop using salt on the roads in his neighborhood resulted in him making an unannounced and testy visit to Tuesday’s Jasper County Board of Supervisors meeting. “Well I’m here for one thing, as you know — have you had a chance to honor our petition?” Rabourn asked the board. Rabourn had previously presented the board and the Newton City Council with a petition signed by he and 27 of his neighbors to stop using salt from North Fourth Avenue East to East 31st Street North to Highway T12 and Halter Avenue. This stretch of road is shared by both the county and the City of Newton. “Max, I’m going to tell you, if a petition comes in here — we don’t govern by petition,” said Joe Brock, board chairman. Brock said that he and the other board members had been
in contact with County Engineer Russ Stutt, who was present at the meeting, about the matter. He also explained that the process isn’t so simple due to the fact the street is shared by two governing bodies. Despite Brock’s reassurances, the fired up 84-year-old Newton man felt that enough time had passed since his last appearance that an alternative solution should’ve been found. “I’ve had to hire a man to come in and redo my grass. We’ve replaced concrete and you can’t believe what’s going on out there. Russ doesn’t pay one bit of attention. Halter Avenue has been tore up for two months because he doesn’t know how to fix the edge of the road,” Rabourn said. Both Brock and board vicechairman Dennis Stevenson repeatedly tried to reason with Rabourn on the salt situation, and Stutt said he and Newton Public Works Director Keith Laube were working on scheduling a meeting together. “We are going to have to work
High speed chase exceeds 75 mph Man injured after eluding deputies By Jamee A. Pierson Daily News Staff Writer Jasper County Sheriff ’s deputies took part in a high speed chase Tuesday that stretched from Interstate 80 to West 140th Street North before the driver lost control and rolled his vehicle. Demond Alfred, 37, of Dubuque, who originally pulled over to assist a vehicle on the shoulder, was injured when he was ejected from the vehicle. At approximate-
ly 5:13 p.m., Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office dispatchers received a report by the Iowa State Patrol dispatch that an off duty trooper needed assistance at the 179 mile marker on Interstate 80 westbound. The trooper had stopped to assist a vehicle on the shoulder. A second vehicle, driven by Alfred, pulled over to help and the trooper identified the person as possibly intoxicated. The trooper held Alfred until other CHASE See Page 5A
Farmers Market wraps up with bountiful selection Last market of season to be held Tuesday By Jamee A. Pierson Daily News Staff Writer The Newton Farmers Market season will come to a close next Tuesday. The market, which runs from the first Tuesday in June until the last Tuesday in September, had good and mixed reviews from vendors and patrons. “When it was hot not so good but on the cold days it’s been really nice,” Nancy Woody of Nancy’s Jellies said. Woody has attended all of the
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News Vendors line the parking lot south of the Centre for Arts and Artists for the second to last Farmers Market Tuesday.
markets this year and said attendance can be hit or miss. “It really kind of varies, I would really like to see more,” Woody said. The mar-
ket is located in the parking lot south of the Centre for Art and Artists, 501 W. Third St. N., but used to be held closer to the square.
Woody said it is a nice, little market that has a little bit of everything and that she MARKET See Page 5A
Fall classes to being at the Hephzibah House
Coen, Thomas lead team at Cardinal Invitational
The Hephzibah House in Newton is getting ready to start its fall class schedule in October. Classes are for women who both live in the house and the community. | 7A
Running the hills and the bridges of Westwood Golf Course, Newton’s cross country runners competed in the 38th NHS Cardinal Invitational cross country meet. | 1B
INDEX Local News • 2A 7
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Today
High 71 Low 58
Calendar • 3A Obituaries • 3A
Police Blotter • 2A Opinion • 4A
Comics & Puzzles • 6A Dear Abby • 6A
Classifieds • 4B Astrograph • 5B
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Volume No. 113 No. 90 2 sections, 16 pages