March 28, 2024

Throwback Thursday

Today is Jan. 29, the 29th day of the year. There are 336 days left in 2015. Below are news items from the Creston News Advertiser for this week (Jan. 26-Feb. 1) in history.

5 years ago

An accumulation of snow days caused area school districts to schedule make-up days into June. Area school districts missed between five and eight days as of Jan. 28. To meet the state requirement of 180 days of school, some schools used previously-scheduled professional development days, a portion of spring breaks, or even considered Saturdays. But, most of the extra days were added to the end of the school year. Creston schools had closed seven days.

Creston Medical Clinic (CMC) was about a month into the transition as an (outpatient) department at Greater Regional Medical Center (GRMC). One of the goals of the integration was to recruit physicians and keep current physicians’ work competitive with Medicare and Medicaid. Another reason for the integration was GRMC started to be reimbursed 15 percent more than the clinic would receive for the many costs related to Medicare and Medicaid patients. This reimbursement is because the federal government recognizes a critical access medical center like GRMC will incur higher operating costs. One main change at the clinic was the use of Greater Regional’s computerized patient scheduling and registration system.

10 years ago

A U.S. military transport helicopter crashed in bad weather conditions in Iraq’s western desert Jan. 26 killing 31 people, all believed to be Marines. Insurgents killed five other American troops that day, making it the deadliest day for U.S. forces since the Iraq war began.

Lenox City Council members were considering installing surveillance cameras in several areas of the city. The consideration was the result of the retirement of Police Chief Dan Griffith and the decision not to replace him. The city had two full-time officers and help from Taylor County Sheriff’s Department but Mayor Stan Curtis believed more surveillance was still needed.

Staff members at Creston Super 8 Motel were recipients of the Golden Pineapple award – an award available to Super 8 Motel employees worldwide. It is given to staff members who have shown superior customer or community service. Only a dozen of the awards were given away at International Convention, where General Manager Annette Fehrle accepted the award on behalf of her staff.

20 years ago

Union County Law Enforcement made 66 drunk driving arrests in 1994. Iowa Legislature was considering a proposal to drop blood alcohol content (BAC) level to .08 as the standard for driving while impaired. The standard was .10. Sponsored by the Iowa Department of Public Safety proposal also called for new penalties for persons younger than age 21 with a BAC of .02 or higher and for 30-day suspension of driving privileges without possibility of a temporary permit for all convictions. According to the Department of Public Safety, 27 states lowered the OWI standard to .08 and saw a 10 percent reduction in alcohol-related fatalities.

In the datebook, on Jan. 30, 1969, The Beatles performed as a group for the last time on the roof of a London building.

O.J. Simpson’s book, “I Want to Tell You,” was released. Simpson was charged with killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.