Week in Review Jan. 12, 2017

Colfax resident George Dickerson revealed as $1M Powerball winner

The Iowa Lottery announced Friday Colfax resident and business owner George Dickerson is the winner of Saturday’s $1 million Powerball jackpot. Dickerson purchased the ticket at the Kum & Go at 1200 N. Walnut St. in Colfax.

Dickerson appeared live Friday in front of reporters at the Iowa Lottery’s headquarters in Clive. Dickerson co-owns the Colfax heating and cooling business Dickerson Mechanical with his wife Kathy.

He told reporters Friday he and his family held onto the ticket for several days while they met with an their accountant to formulate a plan for the winnings. Dickerson purchases all the fuel for his business at the Kum & Go off Interstate 80, where he purchased the winning numbers.

ESL program
continues to grow at DMACC

In its second year the English as a Second Language, or ESL program, at Newton’s DMACC campus is expanding due to increased demand administrators at DMACC said.

This spring DMACC will add a second section of night classes to serve more students and will also launch a program in Knoxville to serve the population there. With students from a variety of countries and vastly different experience levels, starting the program has been challenging, but Jennie Doke-Kerns, DMACC Newton Campus Associate English Professor and Academic Achievement Center Group Leader said the results have been outstanding.

The classes are free, although students in Newton are required to purchase a $38 textbook, and every student receives a DMACC student ID number and has access to DMACC services. Doke-Kerns said the goal is to give students a pathway to pursue their educational goals after the ESL class is completed.

Police arrest
suspects in
Tuesday's shooting

The Newton Police Department has arrested two suspects in Tuesday morning’s shooting.

Nineteen-year-old Adam J. Halterman Jr. and 17-year-old Jordan M. Corvino, both of Newton, are accused of shooting and injuring a man at a residence in northwest Newton. The incident is under investigation.

Corvino turned himself in at 4:07 p.m. at the Newton Police Department. Halterman was arrested without incident at 4:29 p.m. from a vehicle in the parking lot of Git-N-Go, 801 First Ave. W. in Newton.

The shooting happened at 2:59 a.m. following an altercation at a residence on North Second Avenue West.

Newton High School adds food pantry

Through the community’s support, Newton High School has launched a permanent food pantry for students in need.

When owners of Clemon Maki Insurance were brainstorming ideas for a community outreach project, the high school and its students came to mind. Insurance agents Jeff Maki, Alex Modlin and Darin Eide are all NHS alumni and Newton natives.

“The three of us just sat down and thought of something we could do in the community that we live in,” Modlin said. “We brainstormed some ideas, and we knew that other schools in the district had food pantries.”

They presented the idea of establishing a food pantry to Abby Lamont who currently runs the school’s clothing closet, and two months later the idea transformed into a community-wide effort.

Lamont said she is overwhelmed by the response from the community.

School counselor Shelly Fitzgerald and Lamont coordinate times with students for them to receive items from the pantry. The pantry officially opened right before Christmas break and it became a great resource for students.

“We set them up with at least one or two meals, and they can come back if they need other resources,” Lamont said. “They are always welcome, whether it’s a snack or a meal they need to take home.”