April 19, 2024

Throwback Thursday

Breezi Mayne of Afton pumped up the crowd during her performance at the Iowa Idol semifinals in August 2006. She was selected as one of six finalists set to perform in the Susan Knapp Amphitheater at the Iowa State Fair. The winner was to receive an automatic audition for the American Idol program. (CNA file)

Today is Aug. 18, the 231st day of the year. It’s a leap year. So, there are 135 days left in 2016. Below are news items from the Creston News Advertiser for this week (Aug. 15-21) in history:

10 years ago

Highway 34 between Creston and Thayer became a safer route for motorists with a new surface plus rumble strips in the center and on both shoulders. The half-inch deep grooves were 18 inches wide by seven inches long and spaced less than a foot apart continuously from Creston to Thayer. Iowa’s Department of Transportation said putting the strips in the center line was a new safety concept in Iowa.

Several area youth were in the talent sprouts division of the Bill Riley Iowa State Fair Talent Search contest in Des Moines. Hannah and Abbey Murphy of Macksburg performed a tap duet, Kelsey Roberts of Corning and Madison Geary and Alan Smith, both of Creston, performed a clogging trio, Abbey Bakerink and Cayden Shiltz, both of Creston, performed a clog duet, Jessica Tamerius and Jacob Rutledge, both of Creston, performed a clog duet and Kimleigh Quam and Breanna Wallace, both of Creston, also performed a clog duet.

20 years ago

Creston VFW Post 1797 sponsored a banquet to honor 50-year members at the Berning Motor Inn. Members received a certificate, patches and pins. They included Harvey O’Riley, Donald Stalker, Almand Miller, Marshel Fredrickson, Leroy Kerrigan, Robert Clem, Lewis Utterback, Millard Anderson, Audry McKinney, Donald Rasmussen, Gerald Johnston, Joe Kessler, Robert Custer, Alvin Bensen, VFW Commander William Burgduff Sr., Vice Commander Henry Tucholsky, Edward Pesik, Walton Swanson, Robert Deacon, Quartermaster Gene Blazek, Fred Thompson, Clifford Phillips, Leo Schrodt, William Weber and Wayne Gidley.

A new scoreboard at the Townline football field was erected by Tim Hunter of Afton and workers from the Iowa Direct Equipment Co. of Cedar Falls. According to CHS Activities Director Curt Olson, the total costs were estimated at $12,000 to $13,000 paid for with a combination of local fundraising efforts and an anonymous donation.

50 years ago

Kermit Johnson of Creston, junior at Iowa State University who was spending the summer with the National Forest Service in Colorado, was one of two men who found a missing three-year-old Colorado girl in the rugged Rocky Mountains northwest of Denver. The girl had been missing overnight for about 25 hours. Mike Edrington, also of Creston and with the forest service, had assisted with the search, too.

Three helium balloons released in Creston by David Swanson, 15, after attending the county fair in Afton, were found unbroken on a farm near Breda a week later. David had tied the balloons together with a note attached containing his address and asking the finder to notify him. A truck driver wrote and told him while driving two miles west of Breda he saw them caught on a corn stalk in a field.

An ad for “Our Explorer Heritage - Iowa State Fair” held Aug. 19-28 was featuring the biggest, most exciting show of the year – Lawrence Welk in person and the entire “Lawrence Welk Show,” including the Lennon sisters, would be performing every night Aug. 23-27 and the afternoon of Aug. 26.