Newton Independent

Sully residents alerted that water service may be cut due to hydrant project

Newton Independent

Sully residents are being notified through the Code Red emergency notification system today that water service may be lost for a period of time this week as city workers complete a fire hydrant replacement project.

The alert says that service interruptions should only last a short period of time and will mainly affect the areas on Fifth Street and First Avenue.

Those with more questions are asked to contact the Sully Public Works office at 594-3734.

Baxter Fun Days set to roll; annual street dance features the Blue Band

Newton Independent

Baxter Fun Days kicks off Friday with a full day of events beginning with the Flower Show at the school,
Lynette and Chad Richey cancer fundraiser bicycle ride for Mercy Cancer Clinic at 3 p.m., the Bethany Church Supper from 5 to 7 p.m. at the school cafeteria, baby contest beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the school gym, horse shoe competition at 6:30 p.m. at City Park, fire works at dusk at the sports complext and Wikid Likir performing at Cadillac Jacks at 9 p.m.

Another full day of events are planned for Saturday, including:

• 5K Run/Walk at the sports complex. Registration begins at 7 a.m. with walkers heading out at 7:30 a.m. and runners at 8 a.m.
• Bake off from 9 a.m. to noon in the West Commons area at the school.
• Parade at 10:30 a.m. featuring the Issiserettes. Lineup begins at 9:30 a.m. at the sports complex. The Issiserettes will peform at the park on the south side of the school following the parade.
• Bingo follows the parade at the school until 3 p.m.
• Craft show runs from noon to 3 p.m. in the west gym at the school.
• UCC Church lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Pedal pull on the west side of the school beginning at 1 p.m.
• Kids water fights on the south side of the school beginning at 1 p.m.
• Truck/tractor pull beginning at 1 p.m. $10 per person with children under 12 free.

Saturday's activities will conclude with the Baxter Fun Days' annual street dance featuring Iowa music icon Bob Dorr and the Blue Band. Gates open at 7 p.m. with the Blue Band playing from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Cost is $5 per person with proceeds going to the Baxter Fun Days.

The activities continue on Sunday with a community church service at 9 a.m. at Baxter Health Care, sand volleyball tournament beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the sports complex, a corn hole tournament at 2 p.m at Cadillac Jacks, and a kickball tournment beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the sports complex.

A Carnival will be held each day at city park.

US Marshals auctioning art work by Picasso, Matisse and other old masters

Newton Independent

The U.S. Marshals Service is conducting online auctions to sell 245 works of art by Chagall, Matisse, Picasso (pictured above), Toulouse-Lautrec and other old masters and more recent famous artists until July 2.

The pieces of art were seized from several federal court cases and are now forfeited to the government. Three of the cases involved Marc Dreier out of the Southern District of New York, Justin French out of the Eastern District of Virginia and Shawn Merriman out of the District of Colorado. Proceeds generated from the auctions will be used to compensate the victims of the cases.

Dreier, 62, of New York was convicted in 2009 for fraud and money laundering $400 million and is serving time in a Minnesota federal prison with a release date of 20206. French, 41, of Richmond, Va., was convicted in 2011 for stealing millions from federal and state tax credit programs intended to rehabilitate historic buildings. He is incarcerated in West Virginia with a scheduled release date of 2025. Merriman, 49, of Aurora, Colo., was convicted in 2010 for a mail fraud Ponzi scheme that defrauded 67 investors of millions of dollars. He is serving time in South Dakota with a scheduled release date of 2020.

The pieces of art that formerly belonged to Merriman, which include many Rembrandts, can be bid on here. The artwork owned by Dreier, including Picassos, can be bid on here and French's art pieces can be bid on here.

Additional details on Saturday's Veterans parade announced

Newton Independent

Additional details have been released regarding this Saturday's "A Salute to Our Veterans and Service Members Parade" in Des Moines.

This year's celebration is a salute to all veterans and service members and correlates with the official United States Department of Defense commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.

"It is important to honor our heroes here at home," said Gov. Terry Branstad. "As a former member of the Army, and now Commander in Chief of the Iowa National Guard, I am proud of the men and women who represent our state on the battlefields across the world and when disaster strikes here on the home front."

The parade will kick off from the State Capitol and travel down Grand Avenue to the Veteran's Auditorium Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center. Saturday's parade will begin at 10 a.m. with a fly-over by the 132nd Fighter Wing down Grand Avenue. City of Des Moines police vehicles and official colors will start the parade on the ground.

There is no grand marshal for the event, but rather a riderless horse will lead the parade participants. A riderless horse is a traditional entry to represent fallen soldiers. The governor will walk in the parade wearing his military uniform.

Specatators can expect to see a variety of parade entries, including:

• Veterans and service members
• Various military groups, battalions, bands and vehicles,
• Budweiser Clydesdales
• The Iowa Veterans Home Eagle bus
• American Red Cross
• VFW Posts

The parade developed off a similar event that Gov. Branstad held in 1991 to welcome home soldiers from the first Iraq war.

Newton's hotel/motel tax collections jump in first quarter

Newton Independent

The City of Newton's hotel/motel tax collections increased 63 percent in the first three months of 2012 compared to collections from the same time the year before.

Earlier this month, the Iowa Department of Revenue issued the city a warrant for $49,400.05 to cover the taxes collected through lodging nights in Newton from January through March.

That compares to $30,276.05 for the first three months of 2011, the low point for taxes collected through the 7 percent surcharge the past seven years.

Previous year's first quarter payments are as follows:

2010 - $40,867.75
2009 - $36,698.34
2008 - $39,478.88
2007 - $37,006.13
2006 - $36,710.31

The first three month period of the year is typically the lowest quarterly disbursement period. Newton has been collecting the hotel/motel tax since 1987.

The tax money paid by local lodgers is used by the City of Newton to help finance such operations as the Newton Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Newton Development Corporation.

 

Jasper County GOP to reconvene convention to put Hoffman on ballot; looking for auditor candidate

Newton Independent

The Jasper County Republican Party will reconvene its convention on Saturday morning in order to elect candidates to vacancies on the November ballot.

Specifically, the local GOP will nominate Steve Hoffman, a long-time Marshall County Sheriff's Office deputy with local roots, to run on the Republican ballot for the Jasper County Sheriff seat.

Earlier this month, Hoffman announced his intention to seek the office now held by Mike Balmer, who is retiring at the end of the year.

Hoffman will face Jasper County Chief Deputy Sheriff John Halferty in the November election. Halferty announced his intention to seek the seat late last year, just days after Balmer announced his intention to retire at the end of his term following a 38-year career with the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.

Local Republicans are also looking for an individual to run against Jasper County Auditor Dennis Parrott, who is currently running unopposed.

Jasper County Supervisor Denny Stevenson will face GOP challenger Doug Cupples for the open four-year seat on the Board.

Registration for the reconvened county Republican Party convention begins at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Garden Room at Park Centre in Newton.

Bankruptcy judge allows termination of former Midwest Manufacturing workers' pension plan

By PETER HUSSMANN

A federal bankruptcy judge in Minnesota on Monday approved the termination of the pension plans for former Smith Jones workers, including those at the former Midwest Manufacturing operation in Kellogg.

The trustee of the Smith Jones Chapter 7 bankruptcy estate will be allowed to enter into five separate agreements with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) that appoints the federal agency as the trustee of the pension plans. The order further terminates each of the pension plans for workers at the former Smith Jones plants effective Dec. 31, 2011.

"The trustee believes entering into the agreements is in the best interest of the bankruptcy estate as such agreements will permit the estate to avoid the additional administrative costs and burdens of final administration and termination of the respective retirement plans," the court filing requesting that the pension plans be terminated states. "Moreover, such agreements will avoid the necessity for litigation with the PBGC which has advised the trustee that absent such agreements, the PBGC will initiate litigation seeking termination of the plans and appointment of itself as trustee."

Earlier this month, the Smith Jones bankruptcy trustee proposed that the court allow the sale of the Midwest Manufacturing properties in and around Kellogg to a Waterloo scrap metal recycling company, A-Line Iron & Metals.

Under the terms of the proposed sale, $2,000 of the purchase price will be retained by the bankruptcy trustee and $8,000 will go to the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., which has agreed to the payment in partial satisfaction of its secured claim against Smith Jones and for a release of its lien against the property.

"The Chapter 11 scheduled value of this property is $363,520; however upon information and belief, the property is in a severe state of disrepair and has environmental problems of which Buyer is aware," the notice of sale filed May 23 states. "Based on the condition of the property, the trustee believes there is no equity in the property over and above the liens of Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., and Jasper County for property taxes. Since this is the highest offer received for the purchase of this real property and represents a fair offer based on the condition of the real property, the trustee believes the foregoing sale to be in the best interests of the bankruptcy estate."

A formal order approving the sale has yet to be filed by the court.

Midwest Manufacturing, an automotive parts producer, abruptly shut down in late 2009.

New owner for Speedway Gas

Newton Independent

An Illinois company has purchased and reopened the former Speedway Gas convenience store facility near the Iowa Speedway.

Earlier this month, New Midwest Iowa, LLC., of Wheeling, Ill., paid $540,000 to California-based Granite Bay, LLC., for the former Prairie Gas opertion adjacent to the stalled hotel project at the Interstate 168 exit.

Last July, the Newton council worked with Jalal Naderi, who operates two 7-Eleven stores near Sacramento, and his Granite Bay corporation to modify the terms of the previous development agreement that allowed him to purchase and reopen the store located at the city's east Interstate 80 interchange.

The Prairie Gas convenience store abruptly closed just before Christmas 2009 when owner Dave Fisher said he planned to sell the property and focus his efforts on the development of the adjacent Prairie Suites motel project.

In early 2010, Great Southern Bank foreclosed on the convenience store with approximately $780,000 owed on the nearly $1 million loan. In July 2010, the property was sold to Great Southern at Sheriff Sale at a price of $599,300.

In June 2011, Naderi's Granite Bay limited liability corporation purchased the property from Great Southern Bank at a price of $420,000, Jasper County Assessor records indicate.

In early October 2011, Naderi listed the Newton property for sale at a price of $699,000. He abruptly closed the operation later that month.

Clement family asks court to dismiss Manaco counterclaim over sale of Iowa Speedway

By PETER HUSSMANN

Attorneys for the Clement family have filed a motion to dismiss the counterclaim lawsuit brought by Manaco Corp., against the new owners of the Iowa Speedway.

Friday's filing in Jasper County District Court is the latest in the string of legal maneveuers involving the $19.2 million sale of the Newton racetrack by Manaco Corp., the Brooklyn-based road building company that built and sold the Iowa Speedway to Conrad, Stan, Tracy and Eric Clement in June 2011.

In late May, Manaco filed a counterclaim against the Clements stating that the roughly $6 million still owed on the track is due and that the corporation is owed nearly $160,000 in overfunded operational cash left behind as part of the sale agreement.

In January, the Clement family filed suit against Manaco Corp., and Manatt's, Inc., claiming that outstanding debts remained following closure of the sale. The family attempted to offset what it felt it was owed by making a $152,000 payment on the $2 million note due Manaco at the first of the year.

Further, the Clements also allege that Manatt's was able to continue "its use and enjoyment" of a sponsorship agreement between the Iowa Speedway and the road construction firm throughout the 2011 race season even though no payment had been made.

In Friday's motion to dismiss the Manaco counterclaim, lawyers for the Clements argue that there has been no event of default on the promissory notes. They argue the Clements used their indemnification and set off rights, filed suit before the 15-day payment period had been reached and asked to deposit to the court the $2 million payment due Manaco in January.

The motion to dismiss also argues that Manaco is not entitled to the overpayment funds because the Purchase Agreement does not justify a refund.

"Manaco's litigation strategy has needlessly multiplied the proceedings in this matter by attempting to assert claims that fail on their face and including parties who do not belong in this lawsuit," the filing states.

The motion to dismiss Manaco's counterclaim should be supported by the court, the filing states, because "doing so will narrow the scope of this lawsuit and allow the expeditious and efficient resolution of the proper claims brought by the appropriate parties."

Local Democrats to meet

Newton Independent

The Jasper County Democratic Party Central Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Garden Room at Park Centre in Newton.

Plans for the Party's activities this summer will be discussed.

Hamilton to present his final JEDCO annual report to Jasper County Supervisors Tuesday

Newton Independent

Craig Hamilton will present the Jasper County Economic Development Corporation's annual report to the Board of Supervisors at its meeting on Tuesday, one of his final actions before he steps away from the organization he had led for the last nine years.

In his report to the board, Hamilton will outline how the 2011-2012 fiscal year "showed continued but slow economic improvement" in the county over the previous year.

Highlights include how the Board of Supervisors worked with wind blade manufacturer TPI to restructure their redevelopment agreement which freed up working capital that allowed the Arizona-based company to retool their manufacturing operations to build larger wind blades. That effort resulted in the company expanding its workforce beyond its previous high mark of 700 employees.

Hamilton notes that Trinity Structural Towers and Caleris both added jobs over the course of the year, while Walter G. Anderson opened a folding carton manufacturing plant in a former Maytag warehouse that created 25 new jobs in Newton.

Year-over-year unemployment rates also declined in the county, Hamilton reports. In May 2011, the rate stood at 7.6 percent while last month the level stood at 6.7 percent, though it did spike to 8.9 percent in February of this year.

Hamilton says JEDCO is also currently working with two businesses looking to purchase vacant properties in Newton and Kellogg, potential opportunities where as many as 50 new jobs could be created.

In additon, through JEDCO's association with the Greater Des Moines Partnership and its national marketing efforts, JEDCO averaged one new business prospect lead per week during the last fiscal year.

"We did have several site visits and while Jasper County did not make the short list for many of these prospects, there are several that are considered ongoing," Hamilton's report to the Supervisors notes.

JEDCO continued its involvement with all active local development groups in Jasper County. In Baxter, JEDCO facilitated a goal-setting session and has been working with the local development group on several projects, including a commercial flex-space building on Main Street.

In Colfax, JEDCO has been working the the Council and Colfax Main Street on the feasibility of establishing a tax increment financing district in the downtown area. In Prairie City, JEDCO has assisted with the community's focus on local senior housing. In Sully, the Van Wijk winery is soon to officially open, as well as tow new business locations that add 6 to 10 jobs. In Monroe, JEDCO has been assisting with its development group's efforts to examine its mission and goals.

Other highlights in JEDCO's annual report include:

• Representing Jasper County and served as president of the Board of Mid-Iowa Development Fund.
• Working to present a community resilience seminar to local government and development leaders
• Involvement with the Jasper County Lunch Club and Jasper County Leadership Program.
• Participation with the Iowa Innovation Gateway in both an export conference wither Prism Projections was recognized as Exporter of the Year, implementation of the National Career Readiness Certification program and its Dream Big Grow Here contest to assist in local business growth.

Hamilton also notes the changes coming to JEDCO with his departure and the appointment of Newton Mayor Chaz Allen as the new executive director.

"The Jasper County Supervisors and local community leaders continue to provide strong financial support and leadership to JEDCO which will allow Chaz to keep JEDCO as a strong and committed partner to economic development efforts by Jasper County and its communities," Hamilton reports.

With his pending departure, Hamilton thanks the Supervisors for the opportunity to serve and also notes the resiliency the county and its communities have shown in the face of Maytag's closure.

"It has been a pleasure and a privilege to serve as the Executive Director of JEDCO," Hamilton states in his annual report. "While the loss of Maytag provided many daunting barriers to the County's economic well being, we have had our successes, and recent trends indicate that we shall be able to continue to build upon those successes. I wish nothing but the best for Chaze, JEDCO and the citizens of Jasper County."

Letter: Mad, madder, maddest

To the Newton Independent:

Mad is such a little word, but it has more meanings than most of the words in the dictionary. Mad can say I love you or mad can say I'm angry at you. If you watcch the entertainment news people you will hear the word often. People are mad they say.

And that is true as it concerns our president. Some Mexican Americans are mad because they say Mr. Obama hasn't done enough for them and some black Americans are mad because they say Mr. Obama hasn't done enough for them. And then some white Americans are mad because a few years ago they woke up on a cold November day and found that a black man had been elected as our president. And they are madder than the other mad people.

I'm mad too, but my mad is not the same as their mad. My mad is way down on the list of mad's meanings in the dictionary. A fondness and infatuation describes my mad.

Then there is the maddest of all; those stark raving mad people who think Romney would be a good president.

A little three letter word, M-A-D, could be the key to who will lead this nation. And you thought the Mad Hatter was just part of a children's tale.

Olen W. Lambert
Newton

Iowa's 'move over' law gets tougher beginning Sunday

Newton Independent

Beginning Sunday, motorists in Iowa who are ticketed and convicted for a violation of Iowa's "move over" law will face increased penalties.

A measure signed into law earlier this year includes a provision requiring mandatory suspension of a person's driver's license or operating privileges if convicted of a violation of the "move over" law that results in property damage, injury or death.

The original "move over" law, enacted in 2009, prescribes rules when it comes to driving on an Iowa roadway where there is a stationary, authorized emergency, tow or maintenance vehicle displayin flashing lights.

Drivers are required to change lanes or slow down when approacching these vehicles and yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights by moving to the right, stopping and waiting until the vehicle has passed before proceeding.

Under the expanded provisions, an individual who is convicted of a "move over" violation that resulted in a crash causing damage to property, bodily injury or death will have their driving privileges suspended, upon 30 days notice and without preliminary hearing, as follows:

• For a violation causing damage to the property of another person, but not resulting in bodily injury or death, driving privileges will be suspended for 90 days.
• For a violation causing bodily injury to another person, driving privileges will be suspended for 180 days.
• For a violation causing death, driving privileges will suspended for one year.

In addition, an individual convicted of a violation that resulted in a crash causing bodily injury or death amay also be subject to an additional fine beyond the scheduled fine. For a violation causing bodily injury the additional fine is $500. For a violation that resulted in a death, the additional fine is $1,000.

Keeping in Touch: Without change, this divided house is destined to fall

By SEN. DENNIS BLACK
Democrat, Newton

I'm confident this column will be concerting for some. So be it! However, I assume readers desire a stable and responsible government, and yet with politics what it is today, obstructionism and gridlock tend to be the trend of the times, which in itself has caused the demise of "statesmanship." Few politicians remain who look to the future welfare of our citizens, versus those who subconsciously strive only for success in their next election.

Two weeks ago former Iowa Senate President and later Ambassador to Barbados in the Bush Administration, Mary Kramer of Des Moines, had a letter to the editor of the Des Moines Register. A strong Republican, I cheer her assessment of what is occurring within her party. Senator Kramer recognized that pragmatism is the key attribute for those in public service. Yet, her astute vision that her party was on a dangerous ideological course is right on target.

To this day I admire the political demeanor of the likes of Gov. Bob Ray, Lt. Gov. Art Neu, Republican activist Mary Louise Smith, the late stateswoman Republican Senator Julia Gentleman, Republican House Leader Cal Hultman, Ray administration strategist David Oman and a plethora of others who understood that greater public good could be accomplished at the statehouse with congeniality, dialogue, friendships, interaction with all one's colleagues, and in the end ... compromise on the issues, where compromise could be attained.

Yes, there are some social issues where compromise is impossible, for the basic issue is ingrained in one's being. However, these named Republican leaders, along with the Democratic colleagues, understood well the fact that neither party had all the answers. From a diverse state of Iowa came a varied group of elected Representatives and Senators. Thus, it was understood and prudent that public policy would be developed that best represented that diversity, and the only way to do so was through serious dialogue and conscientious compromise.

The quest for majority power during the past couple of decades has resulted in a government, whether in Des Moines, Washington, or virtually any state, which has become out-of-touch with the electorate and especially those who expect "give and take" as the means to progressive public policy. Far be it from that today! Today's far right fanatics believe they have a lock on perceived human values, principles and religious understanding!

Definitely not the case and these self-anointed purveyors of "the truth" are often sanctimoniously hypocritical and judgmental of those who cast "wrong" votes on issues they view to be contrary to God's word. These zealots then demean, defame, and attempt to force their views on others, Christians and non-Christians alike, and frequently do so in a hateful manner, with name-calling, threats and absolute lies. That is what it has become, and those who sew these seeds of disrespect and hate towards others will surely be judged accordingly.

The political nature  of this nation has got to change, for Lincoln's famous words "that the government of the people, by the people and for the people" has drifted so far from the intent in his final line of the Gettysburg Address that we now are beginning to see a hateful division that reminds me of yet another Lincoln quote, "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

Next week: Those specific, no-social issues where the House leadership dropped the ball by failing in their responsibility and opportunity to compromise.

Questions or comments? Please email me at dblack(at sign)black4senate.com. Or write me at Box 1271, Newton, 50208.

Sebring's lover can't remain annonymous

Newton Independent

Newton attorney Machelle Crum's efforts to block the release of the name of the man having an affair with former Des Moines School District Superintendent Dr. Nancy Sebring was denied today.

KCCI is reporting this afternoon that the Polk County judge had denied the man's request to remain annonymous.

Last week, Crum argued at a court hearing to block the release of his name in public records being sought by the Des Moines Register. She argued no public purpose would be served by naming him and that the release of his name would damage his career and reputation.

 

Legal fight over 'official newspaper' designation remains unresolved

By PETER HUSSMANN

Being named an "official county newspaper" is a lucrative designation that means a steady stream of taxpayer paid income to the print business publishing the county's legal notices. That is, unless the matter gets tied up in court.

Such is the case for the Hometown Press in Sully.

At one of the Jasper County Board of Supervisors' first meetings of the year, the Hometown Press broke into the ranks of  "official county newspapers" for the first time after submitting circulation numbers that were high enough to push the Jasper County Tribune off the designation list for the coming year. The use of the certified in-county circulation lists were needed to be used to determine the "officials newspapers" after four newspapers sought the three available slots.

At that January meeting, the Newton Daily News submitted circulation figures of 2,840, the Hometown Press at 723, Prairie City News at 523 and Jasper County Tribune at 464.

In late January, however, the Jasper County Tribune filed an appeal against the Jasper County Board of Supervisors' decision to name the Hometown Press as an "official newspaper." In late February, the attorney for the Colfax-based newspaper filed a motion with the court claiming the Hometown Press submitted a fraudulent circulation list to the Board of Supervisors in order to gain the "official newspaper" status.

And that's where the case remains.

Under state law governing the designation of "official newspaper" status, Iowa Code Section 349, when an "official newspaper" designation is appealed, payments by the county to the publisher of the contested paper are not paid until the matter is resolved.

To date, that figure stands at more than $5,000, Jasper County Auditor Dennis Parrott said.

County candidates to hold 'meet and greet'

City Administrator Report released today

Newton Independent

Newton City Administrator Bob Knabel released his regular report on happenings around the city late this morning that includes discussion on his efforts at moving the City of Newton organization forward and lauds the efforts of the Newton Fire Department in battling a major house fire in the early morning hours on Thursday.

You can read the report by downloading it below.

Download Administrator's Report 06-22-12.

 

Newton grad brings his show home as he looks to break in to stand-up comedy

Newton Independent

Ben Gran is a Newton High School graduate (class of 1997) who is an up-and-coming comedian from Des Moines. He'll be performing a stand-up comedy show in Newton on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the First Avenue Speakeasy in downtown Newton. Fellow Newton native comedian Chuck Utech will be performing as the featured opening act. Tickets are $10 at the door.

The Newton Independent got Ben to answer a few questions about his new comedy career and his Newton performance:

How did you get started doing stand-up?

I'm very, very new to this but it's going well so far. My first show was March 9 at the Des Moines Social Club. I recklessly, foolishly decided that I wanted to do comedy and so I booked a venue and started promoting the show on Facebook. I never did any open mic nights or dress rehearsals or anything. I just went out there and talked for over an hour. And you know what? The show was a huge success. Not to brag or anything, but it really was one of the best nights of my life. We had almost 150 people in the audience, standing room only.

What influences and informs your comedic sensibility?

My family, mainly. I'm by far the least funny person in my family. My brothers and my sister and my mom and dad are all hilarious in their own varied ways. I'm also the shortest, portliest person in my family - and I'm 6'3" and 180 pounds. My brothers and sisters all look like statuesque Scandinavian models.

What did you do before you started doing comedy?

I've been running my own business for the past two years as a freelance writer. I used to work in a corporate cubicle job as a financial services regulatory compliance technical writer. I never want to do anything like that ever again. I'm also a former speechwriter for Governor Vilsack. Now that I'm doing comedy I can probably kiss my political career goodbye, but I'm fine with that. My first job was delivering papers for the Newton Daily News. Some readers of the Independent might remember the columns I used to write for Pete Hussmann at the Daily News when I lived in Japan, teaching English after college. Out of all the jobs I've had, teaching English in Japan is the one I would most heartily recommend to others - that was an amazing adventure that I still think about a lot.

What do you talk about in your comedy act?

I bill myself as "The angriest dad in show business" and so I talk a lot about the challenges and frustrations of parenting. I talk about a lot of frank adult topics, but without being raunchy - I'm always trying be clever, humble and with an underlying sweetness, even if I'm talking about sex, drugs and off-color subjects. I basically just go out and try to talk to the audience in a very enthusiastic way that is true to who I am and focused in on what I'm thinking about and wondering about. I do a lot of clever workdplay, dark sarcasm and earnest explorations of very bad ideas. But I always want to be likeable, accessible and very human. Even if you disagree with what I say, I want you to think I'm a nice guy.

What comedians do you admire most?

I'm actually kind of ignorant about comedy. I don't follow a lot of stand-up comics, and most of my favorites are dead, unfortunately. I've always admired George Carlin - I used to memorize his routines back when I was in high school. I also like Bill Hicks, Mitch Hedberg and Partice O'Neal. As far as comedians who are still alive: Louis C.K. and Rob Delaney.

How are you trying to make comedy into a career?

I'm trying to do as much comedy as I can without having to move to New York or L.A., because I'm 32 years old and I'm married and we have two kids and I don't want to move to New York or L.A. I love Iowa a lot and I don't want to leave. So my plan is, do a lot of shows in small towns in Iowa. Build my own comedy tour. Create my own opportunities. Build a following on Facebook. Network with other people who do comedy for a living. I know a few full-time pro comedians in Des Moines like Willie Farrell and John Bush and I'm reaching out to them for advice and mentoring - and they've both been very helpful and are great guys.

You can follow Ben Gran on Facebook at BenGranComedy here or visit his web site here.

Flooring Gallery closes

Newton Independent

The Flooring Gallery store in Newton, along with the other store locations across the state, abruptly closed this week.

News reports out of Des Moines indicate customers have been filing complaints about the chain's sudden closure with the state's consumer protection office.

The report also says employee checks have recently bounced.