The 2025 Certified Local Government Annual Report for the Newton Historic Preservation Commission will be presented to the Newton City Council Monday Night. 

The report focuses on four areas, most notably hosting of the traveling exhibit “Spark! Places of Innovation” from the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. The exhibit’s month-long stay in Newton early last year drew approximately 240 people. That number came from the City of Newton, who partnered with Grinnell College, the Jasper County Historical Society, and the Newton Historical Preservation Commission to bring it to town. The free exhibit recognized innovation in rural America. The Jasper County Historical Society worked with the Newton Historical Preservation Commission to bring artifacts and content related to Newton and Jasper County into the exhibit as well. The City said people from all of Jasper County’s largest towns visited the exhibit, along with residents of Des Moines, Knoxville, Pella, Oskaloosa, Ames, Shenandoah, and Wellsburg. 

The Newton Historic Preservation Commission’s Annual Report will also address the historical presentations and programs the organization provided in the community last year, as well as the published articles by Commission Chair Larry Hurto. It will also include data on the information the organization gave about historic properties in town to citizens.

Monday night’s Newton City Council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in City Hall.