NEWTON
DISTRICT HONORS
Cardinals football players recognized / B1
DAILY NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12, 2014 • SERVING NEWTON & JASPER COUNTY SINCE 1902
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Veterans honored at service
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Extended leave concern for district bus drivers By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News Several Newton Community School District bus drivers spoke about time off concerns at the Tuesday school board meeting. At the center of the discussion was extended time off a bus driver receives each winter. “I am the one that gets to go away for three months. Luckily, we’ve enjoyed doing this now for 14 years, I’ve driven for 16 years,” said Dick Mielke, a Newton bus driver. “The reason right now that we are going is because it has extended my wife’s life.” Mielke has taken three months off in the winter to go to Arizona and until this year been given back his route upon his return. He feels that his time off should
be grandfathered in because of this 16 years of service and asked the board to show compassion and allow him to maintain his route. “Our old boss, Chris Simbro, allowed me to go, didn’t ask me why I was going or anything about it, he just allowed me to go because he had a substitute that would take my route while I was gone,” Mielke said. Mielke, who is 81, said that changing routes would be very hard on him. Learning a new route along with new kids and families would be very tough because of the relationships he has formed through the years. John Beck, also a bus driver in the district, agreed with Mielke and addressed additional DRIVERS | 3A
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News Ron Husted plays bagpipes as he leads the colors into the auditorium for the Veterans Day service held by the Jasper County Veterans Council Tuesday.
By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News Veterans, family and community members attended the Veterans Day service hosted by Newton’s Veterans Council at DMACC Auditorium Tuesday. The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, World War I Veterans, Barracks 1503, World War II Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, Korean War Veterans, 40/8 and
Vietnam Veterans along with all service men and women were honored, remember and thanked for the work they have done and continue to do. Gary Pearson began with the call to order followed by members of the VFW Post 1655, American Legion Post III and Jasper County Vietnam Veterans presenting the colors led by bagpiper Ron Husted. The Rev. Eldon Pals led the invocation and Elizabeth Pearson sang the
National Anthem. Chaplain Lt. Col. Ken VanLoon addressed the crowd giving the history of Veterans Day, remembering and honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and addressing each conflict in which the United States took part in. He thanked all those who served along with their families, who also serve in their own way at home. VETERANS | 3A
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News Dick Mielke spoke to the Newton School Board about his medical leave from driving a bus and how it has altered with a change in leadership in the transportation department.
Tradition of excellence in music continues at NHS Newton Daily News Newton High School continues its strong tradition of excellence in music with the Newton High School Cardinal Regiment receiving a Division I rating at the State Marching Band Competition held in Waukee on Oct. 18 for the third consecutive year. The Cardinal Regiment also competed in the Waukee Invitational held later that same day. Newton placed fourth in Class 4A out of 13 bands competing. It was a fitting way to end a great marching band season, but let’s start at the beginning. The Cardinal Regiment kicked off the 2014-2015 school year by participating in several marching band competitions through-
Submitted Photo The Newton High School marching band has seen success this year receiving top marks and placing high in competitions. Now as marching season has come to a close, the bands will prepare its upcoming concert in December.
out Central Iowa. The first marching band competition of the season for the regiment was the 5th Annual Marching Dutch Invitational held Sept. 27
in Pella. The regiment placed fourth in Class 4A. Eighteen of the area’s best high school marching bands competed for top honors in four classes.
The band then traveled to the Urbandale Marching Invitational held Oct. 4 at the Urbandale High School stadium. The Cardinal Regiment again com-
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following the conclusion of the day show. Newton Drum Majors McKenna Heisdorffer, daughter of Rex and Michele Heisdorffer; Kate Wyre, daughter of Stacey Raines and Bill Wyre; and Evelyn Berryhill, daughter of Megan Berryhill, received the caption award for the “Class 4A Outstanding Drum Majors” for the third year in a row. They also were named “Outstanding Overall Drum Majors” for the second time in three years. The Cardinal Regiment drum majors have been selected for these prestigious awards since 2012 and the success continues. Katherine Thorpe, daughter of Jim and Joan Thorpe, was named as the band’s BAND | 3A
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WHERE IT’S AT Astrograph......................5B Calendar..........................5A Classifieds......................4B
peted in Class 4A along with Fort Dodge, Roosevelt, Indianola, Southeast Polk and Johnston. The marching band finished third in its class and Newton junior Carolyn Thurmond, daughter of Marvin and Cindy Thurmond, was named as Newton’s “Outstanding Marcher.” On Oct. 11, the band traveled to Valley Stadium to compete in the 35th Annual ValleyFest and Showdown in West Des Moines. Twentythree of the Midwest’s finest high school marching bands performed at this “invitation only” competition. Newton competed in Class 4A along with other bands from Central Iowa and finished 7th. The highlight of ValleyFest came during the awards presentation
Comics & Puzzles...........6A Dear Abby........................6A Local News......................2A
Obituaries.......................5A Opinion............................4A State News......................7A
Christian Mime Troupe in town
The Visual Truth Mime Troupe will perform in Newton at a two-day youth rally. / 2A
Volume No. 113 No. 125 2 sections 14 pages
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