Newton
Serving Newton & Jasper County Since 1902
Daily News
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Friday, December 27, 2013
www.newtondailynews.com
Newton, Iowa
Getting fit with TRX, Fitness Director at YMCA introducing TRX for 2014
OBITUARIES H. Leroy Davis, 81 Hazel R. Meyer, 81 Juanita Shoemake, 95 INSIDE TODAY
TRX classes to begin Jan. 6 By Zach Johnson Daily News Staff Writer
Local
Floor Store donates for lights Page 2A
Zach Johnson/Daily News Chef Alex Lopez brings an order to the serving window. Lopez has become the secret ingredient for El Sombrero in the kitchen and behind the bar.
El Sombrero spicing it up for new year with an authentic experience By Zach Johnson Daily News Staff Writer
Sports
JV wrestlers win championships
El Sombrero is spicing things up for the coming year. The restaurant is in the midst of freshening up the restaurant, with one more adjustment to be made after the first of the year. “The dartboard is heading out the door,” m a n a g e r / p a r t - ow n e r
Page 7A
Education
Fun at Woodrow Wilson Elementary Page 12A
Weather
LaRae Romo said. The restaurant has introduced a new pool table and foosball table to the back of the restaurant. They have gotten rid of the buffet so they can have more room to host parties. “We have also upped our service and made adjustments where our food is just hands-down better,” LaRae said.
John Wayne Constant, a 40-yearold Newton man, is accused of aggravated domestic assault after Newton police arrested him at his residence at 210 E. 28th St. N. Apt 206. Authorities say Constant assaulted his live-in girlfriend by attempting to cause serious injury with a knife.
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EL SOMBRERO See Page 5A
Newton man arrested after allegedly attempting to stab girlfriend By Daily News Staff
Saturday
LaRae and her husband, Mario, have owned the restaurant for just over a year. LaRae spent most of her time at home with the kids for the past five years. For the past month, she has been in the restaurant on a regular basis, which has brought new life to her.
On Dec. 21, NPD officers were dispatched to the residence, where they were advised Constant had attempted to stab the victim. When they arrived and made contact with Constant, they located a small silver pocket knife with a two-inch long blade in his pocket. CONSTANT See Page 5A
The Newton YMCA has made an investment in a recent fitness trend called TRX Suspension Training for 2014. TRX is a high-intensity training allowing Y patrons to challenge themselves at a level in coordination with their own personal levels of fitness. “TRX adheres to most strength and condi tioning coaches’ philosophy on training to keep your feet on the ground in three dimensions using multiple joint movements with an emphasis of working on and strengthening the core to maximize core function,” Fitness Director Jarred Lackey. “It will be great for all ages in developmental or strength stability gaining in different programs, such as speed and agility work for young teenagers or even potential for young high school kids who aren’t quite ready for weight training.” The YMCA will be offering multiple levels and intensities of classes for individuals who are interested. Two basic classes will be offered with the United Way of Jasper County Fit for Life with TRX, which will have TRX training with an added cardiovascular training supplement. The other basic class will be a TRX Suspension Training, which has three six-week sessions starting Jan. 7 at three different intensities — maximum, me dium and low. “It’s a good way to get an introduction to TRX with having a chance to breakdown the individual exercises or motions,” Lackey said. The YMCA will offer a boot camp style of training with TRX called “Destruction by TRX,” which will be for an hour Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with each session lasting for a month. Sessions will be offered in January through April. The cost of the classes range from $25 to $50 for YMCA members and $40-$75 for non-members. For more information on the classes, contact Jared Lackey at (641) 792-4006. Staff writer Zach Johnson may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 425, or at zjohnson@newtondailynews.com.
Former Cardinal standout left a legacy in WWII By Ty Rushing Daily News Staff Writer
Sunday
High 13 Low -5 Weather Almanac
Thurs., Dec. 26 High 36 Low 19 No Precipitation Also: Astrograph Page 11A Classifieds Page 8A Comics & Puzzles Page 6A Dear Abby Page 6A Opinion Page 4A Obituaries Page 3A Police Page 2A, 3A Our 112th Year No. 155
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When Merlin Lanphier graduated from Newton Senior High School in 1943, he was already considered something of a local legend, two years later, he would be immortalized as a national hero. Merlin left for the Army Air Corps (Air Force), one month after graduating from NHS and was well known for his athletic prowess. His athleticism most likely helped him ascend the ranks quickly, because by the time he was 20, Merlin was a second Lieutenant. As a member of the Army Air Corps, Merlin was involved in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II and served as a pilot on a North American B-25 Mitchell, which is a medium sized bomber and considered a highly equipped armory on wings. B-25s were the primary plane of choice for the “Rough Raiders” of the 500th Bomb Squadron, a division of 345th Bombardment Wing. Merlin belonged to this group of aerial war-
riors and according to a website dedicated to all things 500th, the squadron dispersed 12,586,000 rounds of ammunition, dropped 6,430 tons of bombs put in a little less than 60,000 hours of flight. This squad was as an essential unit in the war efforts in Southeast Asia in WWII and sacrificed 588 personnel to ensure America’s success in the war. Merlin was one of the men who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, and a report from the Air Corps details the moment. “On August 6, 1945, five men were killed in action due to (their) airplane being by hit by (anti-aircraft fire) from an enemy gunboat, causing the plane to cartwheel in the air and explode as it hit the water alongside the gunboat, near Fusan
Harbor, Korea. No possible survivors.” Merlin’s unit was there was a part of an overall mission to find and engage a reported convoy of 25 enemy vessels. Another report from the Air Corps detailed this operation. “The first flight of six B-25J’s sighted an estimated 20 vessels in the Fusan area of southeast Korea. Because of the position of this squadron in the group, it was in the best position to make an attack on the gunboat. Taking four passes at this vessel, the squadron scored at least two direct hits and the ship was seen to roll over and disappear.” “The second flight of 5-25J’s did not attack the convoy, but made its search east of Fusan, where the vessels had found refuge in the harbors. (Two armed Japanese merchant ships) were sighted and sunk. Eight bombs were also dropped on the southern tip of Orono Snina starting many small fires.” Officials declared the bombing raids, for the most part, a success and said all targets were “strafed with accuracy” as was a 35 foot long
Submitted Photos Pictured is Merlin Lanphier, a former Newton Senior High School graduate, and his gravestone. Lanphier made the ultimate sacrifice as a pilot in World War II.
enemy ship that was anchored close to the east coast of Crono Shinia. However, one portion of the mission didn’t go as well. “One plane and crew were lost over the target,” read the last portion of the report. Merlin’s quick ascension and honorable death resulted in him being posthumously being awarded the Purple Heart, Air, World War
II Victory and AsiaticPacific Campaign medals as well as an Honorable Service in WWII pin. At the time of his death, he left behind both of his parents, three brothers and one sister and was labeled a “wellknown Newton Athletic Star” in a 1945 edition of the Daily News. LANPHIER See Page 5A