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The Newton Christian School Band received high ratings on Thursday, Feb. 9, when it participated in the Elementary/Junior High Solo and Ensemble Band Contest sponsored by the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association.

Gov. Terry Branstad has put extra pressure on Senate Democrats in recent days to pass his plan lowering state commercial property tax rates, and at a town hall-style meeting Tuesday night in Newton the Republican governor upped the ante. Branstad announced a potential compromise with the plan’s opponents that would put an increase in Iowa’s earned income tax credit back on the table.

In a meeting noteworthy for its brevity Tuesday, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved salary pay plans for next fiscal year prepared by Human Resources Director Dennis Simon.

The Newton Daily News has started an interactive contest called Iowa Speedway Auto Racing Challenge, which kicks off this weekend with the Daytona 500. Each week, participants pick the top 10 finishers in order. Each person is then awarded points for placing the drivers in the correct order.

The Red Rock Lake Association is continuing to develop a pilot education program through its Gladys Black Nest Cam website that debuted earlier this winter.

A second continuance has been granted in the case against a Newton man accused of contributing to the November death of a 19-year-old Mingo girl.

The City of Newton was tossed a bit of a curveball Thursday when Jasper County posted new valuation numbers that lowered the general taxable value by more than $13 million.

On Wednesday, Rep. Dan Kelley visited with members of the League of Woman Voters of Jasper County. Pictured (from left) are Marge Graves, Linda Wormley, Joan Tyler, Linda Kirchhoff, Bonnie Pitz, Ruth Barnett, Jamie Sawin and Linda Bryant with Kelley at the Iowa State Capitol.

Air Force Airman Jessica J. Rozinek graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

ANKENY — The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is looking for qualified candidates to apply for its agriculture scholarships and will award up to $15,000 this year through the ISA Ag Scholarship Program in as many as 10 scholarships for $1,500 to capable high school seniors pursuing a degree in agriculture or an agriculture-related field.

The Salvation Army Bread Line is offered from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays in the fellowship hall.

A former TPI employee was sentenced to two years probation last Wednesday after stealing $5,054.23 worth of equipment from the wind blade manufacturer.

Steve Van Dyke, P.E. and principal with FOX Engineering Associates, Inc. in Ames has been granted certification in the specialty of Water Supply and Wastewater and inducted into the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE). The Academy’s Board of Trustees has conferred the distinction of Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE).

The Newton Noon Kiwanis will meet from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 223 E. Fourth St. N. in Newton, for lunch and a program by Majors Bob and Margaret Miles titled “The Salvation Army.”

The Salvation Army has announced new hours for its food pantry, which will be 10 to 11:45 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

When Noble Ford came to Newton in 2002, the car dealership started with eight employees. A lot has happened since then.

Regina Sarmento started her new store, Traditions, in the Town Square Mall, then moved to Market Place on Second on the west side of the Newton square, and is now comfortably settled into her new location at 210 First Ave W.

A pair of Newton businesses played a role this week in the visit of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping to Iowa.

The third concert in the sixth annual Blues Under the Blue Roof series will bring Kevin “BF” Burt to the Newton Public Library at 6:30 p.m. Monday. His soul-inspired brand of blues is compared to artists such as Bill Withers and B.B. King. Burt is a self-taught musician, and his combination of serious music and infectious humor appeals to audiences of all ages.

Six small topic team discussions for the Newton’s comprehensive plan update are scheduled in the next few weeks.

Looking for some food and music to spice up a February night? Head over to Cadillac Jack’s in downtown Baxter this Saturday. The Bob Pace Blues Band will appear with a show starting at 9 p.m. There is no cover charge.

The Iowa Individual State Wrestling Tournament runs through Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, with five Jasper County athletes still in the competition as of this morning. PCM seniors Dalton Kingery and Jake Tool wrestled in the championship quarterfinals in today’s morning session, while Mustang senior Zach Findlow and Lynnville-Sully sophomore Caden Doll and senior Kyle Terlouw try to work their way through the consolation bracket.

In the Bible there is a wonderful story about Jesus teaching a large group of people. After he was done teaching it was dinner time and the disciples wanted to send the people away so they could find something to eat. Jesus said, “No, you find food to feed all the people.” At first they thought it was too large a task, but with the blessing of the Lord they were able to feed everyone with food left over. In the same spirit, many local churches are working together every Wednesday evening to provide a meal at the First United Methodist Church in Newton for anyone who would like to attend. Churches take a turn in preparing and serving the meal, and an average of 75 to 100 persons attend each week. The meal is served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., an

All Jasper County offices located in the courthouse and annex building will be closed Monday in observance of President’s Day.

The Howard Street Christian Church in Colfax is hosting Lenten services every Sunday from Feb. 26 to April 1.

The First United Methodist Church, 210 N. Second. Ave. E., will have an Ash Wednesday Service at 7 p.m. Wednesday. 

A Shrove Tuesday pancake supper is planned for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the First Lutheran Church, 309 E. Third St. N. in Newton.

The Kellogg United Methodist Church will host a free Open Hand Valentine Supper at 6 p.m. Saturday in the church dining room.

Several local students have been named to the president’s (3.75 GPA or higher) and dean’s (3.5 to 3.749 GPA) list for the fall 2011 semester at Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines.

Three Newton Senior High School students are set to compete at the All-State Speech Festival this weekend.

An extension of the Wind Production Tax Credit (PTC), a federal incentive allowing for the wind energy industry to remain competitive with traditional forms of energy production, has been left out of a payroll tax cut extension currently making its way through the U.S. House of Representatives.

When South Skunk Blues Society President Craig Peterson assumed his current role with the group, he talked about his desire to educate community members — particularly children — about blues music.

The housing market in Newton saw a slight uptick in both the number of homes sold and the average sales price in 2011, although both those figures remained down from 2009.

PEO Chapter HS will meet on Tuesday at Park Centre. Refreshments will be served at 12:45 p.m. Games will be played following the program.

Kiwanis President Carol Jones congratulates Newton Noon Kiwanis January Students of the Month Gunnar Shipley and Makayla Burton. The book they are holding will be donated to a Newton preschool in their names.

The 10th Annual Arts & Crafts Show in Des Moines is set for Feb. 24 to 26 at the Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack (left) speaks at a roundtable discussion with Iowa agriculture and business leaders, including Des Moines Area Community College President Rob Denson, during an event on Friday at DMACC’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing. Vilsack led a discussion on President Barack Obama’s blueprint for economic revitalization and job creation in Iowa. Vilsack spoke on numerous ag-related topics, including a new farm bill, biomass and the importance of attracting younger people to farming and a farm safety net, as well as other topics, such as a need for more science and math instructors, reforming the K-12 school system, the president’s goal of making college more affordable and a need to continue investing in Am

Iowa Hospice is looking for caring, supportive and energetic individuals to become volunteers by donating their time, effort and talent to hospice patients and families.

R&J’s Bar and Grill in Kellogg is hosting a soup supper from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday to help raise funds for the Newton Firefighter Tribute, a sculpture that will depict two firefighters rescuing a toddler from a burning building.

Hertiage Manor residents Howard Schrader and Claudia Stevens were crowned Valentine’s Day King and Queen on Tuesday afternoon. Residents at Heritage Manor celebrated the day with a party that kicked off with the crowning of the “royalty.”