“Moving forward, building teams did take a look at some things we want to do as a district, but also at their own school. Really work on those unity of purpose routines with our non-teaching staff, continue to use our communication through “ParentSquare”, making adjustments to our professional development system to make sure we get teachers the learning they need to be successful.”

The action that’s being taken because of the 2026 Newton School District Culture Survey is based on the input the survey provided from administrators and principals, and on down to custodians and specialists.

This year’s recipients include:

Knoxville Hospital & Clinics Foundation – $25,000.00 for the South Central Iowa Radiation Center

Knoxville Preservation Foundation – $14,000.00 for their Multi Building Mural Project – “Art

Alley”

Knoxville Alumni Association – $10,000.00 for their Ken Locke Stadium Renovation

Stepping Stones Early Learning Center – $1,500.00 for their Emergency Gate for Playground

project.

The foundation is committed to enhancing the quality of life in Knoxville through brick-and-mortar projects that directly impact citizens and visitors. Dylan Morse who was the recipient of the grant for the Knoxville Preservation Foundation says donations like this help their vision come to life.

“It means everything. It’s going to make our idea of an art ally behind the properties we are restoring possible. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to do the things we want to do. I think it’s going to be a great addition to the community and hopefully a good test case for future projects around the square and around town.”

These grants are made possible through community donations and donations can be made to the Knoxville Community Foundation by following this link.

Jasper County Engineer Mike Frietsch says a recent 3rd party inspection of the North 95th Avenue West bridge over Indian Creek revealed a cracking and spalling deck with exposed reinforcement bar, timber pile decay and concrete abutment and pier deterioration, and truss corrosion. He estimates the cost to replace the bridge, at today’s standards, is $2.5 million. Since the bridge is so close to Polk County, Frietsch did reach out to see if there was any funding to help put in a new bridge.

“Polk County is basically not going to participate. It doesn’t have a high enough traffic count for them to be interested in assisting us with it.”

The County Engineer says the bridge will be removed this winter. Adjoining landowners had been notified of the closure and removal by certified letter. 

“I recently got certified in kids yoga. This story time is more of a class. I will have a story, and we’ll kind of go through the motions of a yoga class. I’m really excited to share that with everybody, so that will be a special Saturday. We have some stuff for after school on Mondays. Some of the after school programs include a snack and movies for all the friends and families, so you can come hangout, watch a movie and eat a snack and just enjoy time together. We also have for that elementary age we have after school bingo. I have prizes for everybody and of course we have snacks as well.”

The Indianola Public Library is located at 207 North B Street and is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and closed on Sundays.

Carolyn Robuck won the big prize playing the Iowa Lottery’s “$300,000 Jackpot” scratch game. She purchased her winning ticket at Kline’s Quick Time, 319 E. Main St. in Knoxville, and claimed her prize Wednesday at the lottery’s main office in Clive.

The $300,000 Jackpot game is a $30 scratch game that features prizes from $30 to $300,000 and overall odds of 1 in 2.29..

Newton Police say a camera placed in the dumpster area behind Walgreens shows Beintema and Darren Joseph Versendaal breaking off the compactor component from the dumpster shortly before 2 a.m. on June 19th of last year. The police report notes the two men also had to use a grinder to cut a thick chain, and break slats on a fence to get access to the dumpster. The replacement cost for the compactor and damage to the fence and chain was just over $4,200. When Beintema was booked into the Jasper County Jail, authorities say he was in possession of a baggie of methamphetamine. 

Versendaal was sentenced one year ago, to two years in prison on an aggravated misdemeanor charge of 3rd degree criminal mischief.

130th is closed between Hwy 14 and Quebec St. The closure is in short segments, but through traffic will have to detour around via 120th. The total length of the road project is 1.11 miles and is for regrading of the road. Updates on the closure or any other road projects in Marion County can be found here.