April 18, 2024

Throwback Thursday

While many spent the weekend digging out of the new eight-inch snow Jan. 21, 2007, some took the opportunity to have a little fun. Young and old alike enjoyed the tradition of sledding near Burton R. Jones Complex on "bus barn hill." (CNA file)

Today is Jan. 19, the 19th day of the year. So, there are 346 days left in 2017. Below are news items from the Creston News Advertiser for this week (Jan. 16-22) in history:

10 years ago

Erin Pettit, student at East Union High School, joined 15 other students to serve as Iowa Senate pages. Pettit had been encouraged by her history teacher, James Hardy, to apply. After a rigorous application process and lengthy interview, she was chosen.

SmartMusic was a cutting-edge technology used for teaching instrumental and vocal music at Creston schools. SmartMusic provided individualized instruction for students. Creston Middle School band teacher Jane McKinney said it helped full the gap as teachers didn’t have enough one-on-one time with students. High school instructors Mike Peters and Deb Fischer both agreed it was great preparing the students for solo contests. They would practice with the SmartMusic background, which made it a better transition working with live accompanists.

Creston/O-M defended its team championship at the John J. Harris Invitational in Corning by a six-point margin over Hawkeye 10 Conference rival Clarinda with 194.5 points. Team members included Caleb Brus, Jesse Harris, Andrew Long, Bret Kautz, Trent Tucker, Quin Leith, Zac Leith, Tyler Harris, Kalab Evans, Casey Tanner, Kaleb Livingston and Jared Bevins.

20 years ago

The former Farmers and Merchants State Bank building on First Street, a fixture in Orient since 1894, may become a museum, thanks to a local committee headed by Marilyn Geidel. Geidel, a retired Orient-Macksburg school board secretary, was active in Adair County Tourism and Iowa Mormon Trail Association projects, and had proposed the vacant building be used for a museum.

Southwest Iowa Honor Concert Band gave a concert in Red Oak. Creston High School band members selected to perform were Jen Fiala, Amanda Fiala, Brian Teutch, Nathan Williams, Ryan Riley, Andrew Boysen, Sara Duree, Beau Kenyon, Bill Neve, Brian Chandler, Aaron Brunell, Cory Gerleman, Kate Dostart, Shantrey Cochran, Michal McFarland and Theresa Rooney.

Randy Roghair, 46, of Creston prepared to give a gift of life to a total stranger, a two-year-old boy suffering from acute leukemia who needed a bone marrow transplant and had no immediate family members that matched. Roghair and his wife Carla traveled to Iowa City Hospitals for the “harvesting” of his bone marrow, and shared their tale of hope, faith and love with Creston News Advertiser.

50 years ago

Mrs. Sally O’Riley, social worker in the Union County department of social welfare, prepared the food stamps which were to be distributed in Creston to persons on welfare rolls and low income families. Distribution of the stamps started at the welfare office Jan. 17 and were in books of $2, $3, $10 and $20 denominations. The $2 and $3 books contained stamps of 50 cent value while the $10 and $20 books contained stamps of $2 value. The stamps, which were purchased by persons eligible to participate in the program, were used to purchase food. In addition, the purchasers received bonus stamps amounting to about one-third to one-half of their purchase.

Attendance at the Corn and Bean Clinic overflowed the Strand theater and some 150 farm guests were moved over to the basement of Berning Cafe for their sessions. The Strand filled up rapidly and by mid-morning every seat in the theater, including the balcony, was filled. Upward of 900 farmers from the eight-county Midcrest area attended to hear first hand reports on the latest developments in corn and soybean production.