Attending: Ben Bollman, Doug Weddell, Ron Heltsley, Tom Brown, Larry Brooks, Scott Bierman,
Amber Volk, Marlene Harris, Mindy Hartke, Diane Scott, Jason Warfel, Mike Hall, Mark Bolander,
Louis Ochs, Dustine Smithenry.
1. Call to order, Chairman Scott Bierman.
2. Motion to approve previous meeting minutes made by Marlene Harris, second by Larry
Brooks, motion passed.
3. New Jedi Member: Jasper County Daily News – Mindy Hartke
a. Prior a reporter with Gatehouse Media.
b. Began the Jasper County Daily News starting with a Facebook page. Within the first
24 hours there were 600 people who liked the page and 613 following it. Currently at
1,498 likes and 1,533 followers. We predict growth will pickup once school starts as
the site attracts other parents and students.
c. Website publishing began June 12 th . A total of 9,818 visits in two weeks.
d. News items are published daily on the website. Obituaries will be posted on both the
site and Facebook. Submissions can be done through Facebook, website, or by drop
box at our home.
e. No subscription and is free to be accessed by anyone. Will begin to add advertisers to
the site over the next month.
f. “I believe journalism, in general, has the power to bring people together. The written
word can be powerful enough to shape the future and connect communities. To do this,
the information has to be accurate, timely and as unbiased as possible. For a small-
town paper to succeed there has to be a level of ownership by the community, just as
the Marching Eagles are our band and the Eagles are our team, I hope this becomes
something people refer to as “our paper”.”-Mindy Hartke
www.jcdailynews.com jcdailynews@gmail.com Jasper County Daily News/FB
4. Monthly Updates
a. Amber Volk, Executive Director
i. SCIRPDC New Hire: Derek Sherman has accepted the position and will start Aug.
1 st .
ii. Jasper County Hazard Mitigation Plan Grant.
1. We have received the grant. Due to a clerical error, everyone who applied
for the grant was accepted. We will receive the money from the grant.
iii. Still waiting to hear from the Yager’s if Newton will be the site of the
Corvette Funrun. Since the meeting, we have received word Newton will be the
site for the Corvette Funrun in September.
b. Mark Bolander, Mayor of Newton
i. The North Arrow Senior Apartment Complex will be a $4 million project.
ii. The fair was excellent except for one rainy night.
iii. Saturday Elite Fitness had an event on the square.
iv. All proceeds from Peterson Park on June 29 th went to the river walk. Around
$1,500 was earned.
v. After working 57 years at Louis Ochs (also before it was Louis Ochs) Louis
has sold.
c. Ron Heltsley, Jasper County Board Chairman
i. Thank you, Louis, for all of your years.
ii. The Electronics Drive was way down compared to previous times. Only 1
semi load. There are currently 2 more events scheduled.
iii. Next county board meeting is July 11 th at 7pm.
5. Comments from those attending the meeting.
a. Jason Warfel: The Elite Fitness Competition: Patriot Games 2019 was held on June 29 th
on the North Side of the Square. 18 teams competed. Hopefully this will become an
annual event.
b. Doug Weddell: Jeep Run is July 27 th . 10am registration and leave at noon to tour
around Jasper County. Cruise Night is August 2 nd .
i. Sarah Kinkade is the new Chamber Director. She will be in the office Tuesdays
and Thursdays from 10am-3pn and some Wednesdays.
ii. The Johnny & June’s Ned Ledoux Concert went well. 500 tickets sold.
c. Mike Hall: Currently not many Federal Grants but will start up in the fall.
i. Delta Workforce Grant Program.
ii. New Capital Bill based on gas tax. The Highway fund will be spent in our
area.
iii. We are currently fully staffed and I am now the Outreach Coordinator.
iv. During the August break, we will be in district for a month.
6. Motion to close meeting made by Ron Heltsley, second by Marlene Harris , and
motion passed.
