March 28, 2024

Club news

Creston Lions

Creston Lions met Feb. 7 at the Pizza Ranch. The meeting was opened by Mike Duckworth who led in the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was given by Delmer Brown.

Ron Dunphy introduced two guest speakers from The Learning Center of Southwest Iowa. It is located at 1715 W. Prairie St., Suite A in the lower level of Crest Ridge. The speakers presented information about the history and purpose of the center. The purpose is to provide students who learn differently with the supplemental, research-based intervention and support needed to achieve academic success. It is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. The goal for students receiving services at TLC is to bridge the gap and perform at grade level in reading and math. Kathy Ralston is the family enrichment chairperson. There are various ways that the community can be of help to TLC with financial assistance and other volunteer efforts. Anyone interested or for more information, call the center at 641-782-3849.

The business meeting included the reading of several thank-you letters. A request to help a person with new lenses for eyeglasses was approved. It was decided to make a donation to The Learning Center. The meeting adjourned.

The Creston Lions met Tuesday, March 7, at the Pizza Ranch. Duckworth opened the meeting and led in the Pledge of Allegiance. Stew Stewart gave the invocation. Following the meal, Stewart introduced four students from FFA at Creston Community High School. They were Tristan Travis, Paige Parsons, Devon Buls and Kayla Luther. They each told of their activities and contests which they participate in locally, district and state wide. These activities give the students practical experience in many subjects including agriculture, business, leadership, public speaking and more. There are a number of events they work on in their efforts to earn an Iowa Degree. A new event they are planning will be an FFA prom to be held April 1 at the school house at Prescott. Other FFA chapters are being invited.

For the Lions business meeting, the secretary’s minutes and treasurer’s report were given and approved. A storage shed has been acquired for storage of Lions’ items. Memorial money and individual donations have made this possible. The ‘Spud Supper’ was very successful and the support of the community is greatly appreciated. A nominating committee for officers for 2017-18 was named. A request for financial help to buy eyeglasses for a child was approved. Delmer and Alice Brown reported on the candy route. Volunteer members continue to assist an adult with a visual handicap with transportation to work.

The drawing was won by Delmer Brown. The next meeting will be April 4.

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Kiwanis

The weekly Kiwanis meeting was held 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, at the Windrow meeting room with 24 members and two guests. President Chris Eaton presided, Ed Ritter gave the prayer and Joe Powers was the finemaster.

The program was given by Jessie Carter and Melissa Heatherington, coaches with the new Creston Archery Team. They discussed the formation of the new team, plans for practice and 2-D and 3-D tournaments for middle and high school kids that are attending now, and the hope for fourth and fifth grade students to be able to join soon. The team is open to all kids that want to participate. Kiwanis donated $550 to the CAT team.

The annual pancake day for Kiwanis will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 14, at Creston First United Methodist Church, on the corner of Elm and Howard streets. The club members have tickets now which are $6 for adults. Tickets purchased at the door are $7. Club members will do all the cooking of both regular and blueberry pancakes once again.

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DWF Executive Committee

The DWF Executive Committee met Thursday, March 2, at First Christian Church Disciples of Christ with nine members attending. The meeting opened with everyone reciting the DWF prayer. Secretary Twila Brant read the minutes and they were approved. Treasurer’s report was given by Barb Jennings and approved.

In old business, there isn’t a high school senior for the scholarship. A motion was made to table the review of the rules on the scholarships until a later date. DWF will have a pie sale March 19 to replenish the scholarship fund. The pie sale will be going on at coffee fellowship.

Rebecca Circle served 55 people pancakes, sausage and applesauce before the Ash Wednesday service.

For new business, the committee will need to go to the board about hiring someone to wash the windows in the church and about who is going to serve the Lenten supper. ASP will have their potluck Sunday, March 12, at the church. There will be a ministerial cluster meeting Monday, March 13, at the church, and coffee and doughnuts will be furnished by Mary Circle.

There were no committee reports to discuss.

A motion was made by Rhonda Vogel to adjourn, seconded by Irene Francis and approved. The next meeting will be 10 a.m. Thursday, April 6, at the church. The meeting closed with everyone reciting the DWF benediction.

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Catholic Daughters

Court Joan of Arc No. 428 met in the church hall following Mass. Dinner was served by the committee of Janet Brown, chairman, and Pat Wagner, Barb Thomsen, Barb Thompson and Linda Linch. The meeting was called to order by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer. The treasurer’s report and minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

Betty reported she sent five cards last month. We received a thank-you from Mark O’Riley for the donation to the Creston Area Food Pantry. No entries were received for the education contest. Pat Pokorny reported the LC Clinic is doing very well and their clients have increased. They will have a fundraiser in May.

Members were encouraged to attend the state convention to be held May 5-7 in Ames. Betty made a motion that our court make a contribution for gifts for the State Regent and State Chaplain. Marsha seconded it and the motion carried. The state is requesting a raffle item from each court. We are giving a Bible.

A sign-up sheet was passed around for those wishing to bring soup for the first soup supper in Lent. Circle of Love reports were turned in. Retta is working on plans for the next bake sale at Bunn-O-Matic with March 17 as a possible date. Teresa Pudenz won the door prize. The group recited the membership prayer to close the meeting. Teresa Pudenz made the motion to adjourn. Mary McElroy seconded it and the meeting was adjourned.

The rest of the evening was spent assembling cookie plates to be delivered to shut-ins and public servants.

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VFW Post 1797

VFW Post 1797 met Feb. 14 at the Elks Lodge in Creston. Twenty-three members and guests were present for dinner.

Commander Gary O’Daniels called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. with 15 members present.

The post draped the charter for veterans Edwin Van Surksum, Ron Levine, Michael McCarthy, Oscar Lovell and Martin Shawler.

Minutes and QM reports were read and approved. Service officers reported four hours for community service, 37 hours for hospital, 47 hours for honor guard, one hour for Christmas basket and 1 hour for cemetery, with a total of 90 hours. The post also traveled 316 miles for veterans.

In old business, the post had an update on Union County Honor Flight, and also reviewed some legislative initiatives for Iowa Veterans in the current legislative session.

In new business, the post will send a thank you to the Elks for sponsoring a soup supper to raise money for the Honor Flight project. They contributed more than $1,500 to the funds. Contributions from the Creston FBLA event, Elks supper and other community donations have pushed the fund total to more than $13,000. A motion was made and approved to donate $75 to Creston First United Methodist Church for their soup supper. There was also a first call for new officers for 2017-18.

The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m. The next meeting will be Tuesday, March14, at the Elks Lodge with dinner at 6 p.m. and meeting to follow at 7 p.m. All veterans are encouraged to attend.

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CARSPA

Creston Area Retired School Personnel Association (CARSPA) held its meeting Feb. 14 in the Del Richardson conference room at Greater Regional Medical Center.

Following breakfast, 14 members enjoyed a presentation on "Lavender Garden Products" by Kim Lauffer. She and her husband, Blake, grow lavender, process it and use it to produce natural soaps and lotions. Their website is www.berlyblake.com. Their goal is to grow the lavender needed to handcraft their own products and keep them as all-natural as possible. The ingredients they can't grow themselves or get locally are purchased only from reputable fair trade companies. They market their products at area farmer's markets.

A business meeting followed. Members’ monetary contribution of $25 was collected and donated to Orient-Macksburg Elementary School in Orient to be used by the school nurse in assisting a family or families to meet the personal needs of their children. The next meeting will be March 14 at Crest Ridge Estates.

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Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary

Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary met March 8.

Canasta winners were Wanda Nash, first; Gwen Sandeman, second; and Linda Clark, third.

Joy Seeley won the door prize.

Seeley will host cards and chatter Wednesday, March 15.