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The Newton YMCA will once again be hosting the second annual Turkey Day Workout on Thanksgiving Day.

The Newton Senior High School guidance office has invited a representative from the Iowa Student Loan College Access Network (ICAN) to provide a free financial aid presentation at 7 PM on Monday, Nov. 30, in room 11 at the high school.

The Second Annual Night of Song, Praise and Fellowship is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church in Newton.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church will host a service of prayer and patriotic music beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in honor of Veterans Day.

Applications for families wishing to participate in St. Nick’s Christmas Club are available at the local Department of Human Services office, 115 N. Second Ave. E.

Newton Community School District Board of Education

A geocaching program is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Lake Red Rock.

First term report cards were issued to Newton Senior High School students on Thursday.

The Newton Fire Department is reminding local residents that leaf burning is not allowed in the city limits of Newton.

Bill and May-May Ng were the recipients of the Exporter Excellence Award presented by the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Business Record and RSM McGladrey of Des Moines.

In addition to celebrating two years of successful business in Prairie City this month, sisters Jorene and Rae Ann King recently opened Nellie’s Nook, a gift shop featuring items from Iowa businesses and artists.

World War II veteran Lawrence Halter of Newton pauses for reflection in front of the World War II Memorial during the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. on Wednesday. The trip, which allowed another 14 veterans from Jasper County to visit the monuments in our nation’s capital, was sponsored by Hy-Vee. Doug Bishop, adjutant at the American Legion post in Newton, said fund-raising efforts are under way for another Honor Flight in the spring.

An H1N1 vaccination clinic will be offered at Newton Senior High School on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon or until the supply of vaccine is gone.

Clemons Inc. of Newton will be shuttering its doors soon.

Paige Kruse as Ginette and Keegan Lockhart as Pete rehearse their roles in the Newton Senior High School’s production of “Almost, Maine,” on stage at the NHS Center for Performance Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. Admission is $3 with a student activity ticket and $5 for the general public. Friday also will feature a fundraiser auction following the performance.

The Kellogg Lions Club will host a pancake breakfast with sausages, scrambled eggs, juice, milk and coffee at the Cabin in Holmdahl Park at Kellogg from 7 to 9 a.m. on Saturday. The public is invited.

Tickets for “House of Iowa: Real Iowa Ghost Encounters Brought Back To Life,” an all-new original dinner event, are available for Saturday’s performance at the Sugar Grove Gatheringplace, which begins at 6:30 p.m.

Each month the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge hosts the Second Saturday Stewardship day from 9 a.m. to noon at the Prairie Learning Center to provide those who are curious about the wildlife and native prairie plants an opportunity to participate in stewardship activities that allow them to learn about the different aspects of the refuge.

The Cedar Valley Fighting Association returns with another edition of “Friday Night Fights” on Friday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m. at the VFW in Newton. 

First Newton National Bank employees are asking for donations of food or cash to help them with a project to benefit the Salvation Army Food Pantry. Food items may be dropped off at the main bank location or at the Colonial Bank office during reular banking hours from now until Nov. 13. Suggested items are canned food, crackers and soup, shampoo, soap and laundry soap. Pictured with employees of First Newton National Bank are assistant vice-president Rob Kahn presenting a check for $1,000 to Newton Salvation Army Capt. Ron Cook.

The Jasper County Office of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa will receive a portion of all sales on each Monday in November from Domino’s Pizza in Newton.

Rep. Paul Bell, who required a trip home from Turkey due to internal bleeding from a stomach tumor, has received good news concerning his condition.

Seventeen Jasper County Career Advantage High School students competed in the 18th annual Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Automotive Skills Contest recently at the DMACC Ankeny Campus.

The Newton Christian School will host its annual benefit dinner on Friday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at Community Heights Alliance Church Worship Center, which is located at 2500 S. 13th Ave. E. in Newton.

Paige Kruse as Ginette and Keegan Lockhart as Pete rehearse their roles in the Newton Senior High School’s production of “Almost, Maine,” on stage at the NHS Center for Performance Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. Admission is $3 with a student activity ticket and $5 for the general public. Friday also will feature a fundraiser auction following the performance.

Newton Cardinal Regiment’s drumline took part in the Ankeny Drumline Clinic on Oct. 27. The group participated in the clinic where they learned additional skills to further their development.

Newton will once again be in the spotlight for its green economic revival during a conference in Chicago.

The Salvation Army is accepting registrations for Thanksgiving food boxes and Christmas food boxes and toys.

Rep. Paul Bell of Newton remains in Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, following doctors’ discovery of a tumor in his stomach.

Lois Vogel and Gary Richardson will join the Skiff Medical Center Board of Trustees after receiving the most votes in the city election on Tuesday.

A book signing with international paranormal investigator Terry Fisk of Eau Claire, Wis., is scheduled for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Sugar Grove Vineyards & Gatheringplace, located at 6602 Ginger Ave. just outside of Newton.

The Sacred Grounds Coffee House is now open in Kellogg.

The Newton Senior High School Class of 1950 will host a reunion committee planning session for its 60th reunion in 2010 at the Newton Public Library at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

The Newton Christian School will host its annual benefit dinner on Friday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at Community Heights Alliance Church Worship Center, which is located at 2500 S. 13th Ave. E. in Newton.

The Reynolds Family will be featured Thursday night at the Bar None Cowboy Church.

The Prairie City Church of the Brethren will host a soup supper Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. as a fundraiser for the youth attending the National Youth Conference in July 2010.

The SHARE (Self Help And Resource Exchange) order site will be open Thursday, Nov. 5, from 11 to 1 p.m. at the McCann Center in Newton.

With a census year coming up in 2010, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors has been asked to support efforts of the federal government in assuring that everyone in Jasper County will be accounted for.

Phyllis Schakel (left), member of the Skiff Medical Center Auxiliary, is shown holding one of the Christmas stockings that she makes for the Skiff Medical Center OB ward. The stockings are used at Christmas time to put the newborn babies in to present to the parents. Pictured with Schakel are Kinnick David Ensley and his parents, Jessica Richard and Matthew Ensley. Kinnick was born Saturday, weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces. He has a brother, Lucas, 4.

Newton’s Jennifer (Thompson) Springer has worked for the past four years as a special education teacher at Delaware Elementary School in the Southeast Polk School District. During her time as a teacher, Springer said she’s seen her students suffer from teasing, bullying and other cruel actions by fellow students.

DES MOINES — Nomination materials for the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame have been released by the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service. Nominations must be submitted online by January 8, 2010.

Lois Vogel and Gary Richardson will join the Skiff Medical Center board of trustees after receiving the most votes in the city election on Tuesday. 

The Newton Christian School will host its annual benefit dinner on Friday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at Community Heights Alliance Church Worship Center, which is located at 2500 S. 13th Ave. E. in Newton.

The Newton Senior High School will present its fall theater production, “Almost, Maine” by John Cariani, at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the NHS Center for Performance.

Current registrations on all recreational ATVs and snowmobiles expire Dec. 31.

The Kellogg Lions Club will host a pancake breakfast with sausages, scrambled eggs, juice, milk and coffee at the Cabin in Holmdahl Park at Kellogg from 7 to 9 a.m. on Saturday. The public is invited.

Dog and cat licenses for 2010 are now available for purchase.

Nearly 100 students from Newton, Pella, Oskaloosa and Ottumwa performed on Saturday at the Newton Senior High School Center for Performance. Eric McIntyre of the Fort Dodge Symphony, Central Iowa Symphony and Grinnell College was the guest conductor. Eighteen Berg Middle School students joined in the performance.

The 24th Annual Jasper County Pheasants Forever Banquet is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13, at the Iowa Speedway in Newton.

Poll workers Beverly Wesselink and Mary Ann Reisetter check in Don Pritchard to vote at the Newton school annex building this morning. Voters go to the polls throughout Jasper County today for city elections. Polls will remain open until 8 p.m. this evening. In Newton, four city council seats are up for re-election. Three incumbents are running unopposed on the ballot, including Mike Hansen in Ward 2, Dennis Julius for a four-year at-large term and Steve Mullan in Ward 4. Jeremy Heaberlin and Harold Martin will square off for the remaining two years on the other at-large seat. Also, six candidates are vying for two open seats on the Skiff Medical Center board of trustees. Candidates include: Lonnie White, Larry DeCook, Linda Ross, Lois Voge

A new supply of H1N1 influenza vaccine has arrived in Jasper County, and limited quantities of the vaccine are available at eight locations around the county.

Newton City Council agreed on the creation of a new five-member building trades board on Monday evening.

1.) Tell us a little bit about yourself.

State Rep. Paul Bell of Newton arrived in Des Moines by special air carrier early Sunday morning from Istanbul, Turkey. Accompanying Bell on the 20-hour flight was his wife, Niki.

Centre for Arts & Artists will offer two clay classes, taught by Beth Tepe of Newton, beginning in November.

Jasper County Board of Supervisors

New paintings by Mary Homeier will be on display during the month of November at the Newton Public Library.

Park Centre will host Sam Hall’s fiddle music beginning at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Park Centre Garden Room.

The Mid-Iowa Professionals, a local chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals, will present “An Evening with Lincoln Highway Band” from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Fisher Community Center Auditorium.

CJ Fox of The Lighting Store recently announced creation of the CJ Fox School for Karaoke and DJ.

GRINNELL — The St. Lawrence String Quartet will perform on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Herrick Chapel on the Grinnell College campus.

1.) Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Clayton Halberstadt meets with Santa Claus on Sunday afternoon at the Newton Christmas open house event. See more photos on page 12A.

Two-year-old Aeris Hinders appears to be enjoying the downtown trick or treating around the Newton square Saturday evening. Nearly 900 children, along with many parents, kicked off Halloween with a trip around the square. See page 12A for more photos from the trick or treating event.