March 29, 2024

Throwback Thursday

Today is April 20, the 110th day of the year. So, there are 255 days left in 2017. Below are news items from the Creston News Advertiser for this week (April 17-23) in history:

10 years ago

Union County Conservation made plans to level the house at 318 N. Pine St. that had been used as its office. The house, built in 1913, had multiple issues with the foundation, floors and roof. The Union County Board of Supervisors had bonded $6,500 to demolish the house and another $50,000 for a new building.

The city of Afton passed a vicious dog subsection to its dangerous animals ordinance after a third reading. Afton City Clerk Toni Landers said the subsection was included because of local concern over a pitbull running lose, even though the city didn’t have a big problem.

Cubmaster Rick Foster of Pack 129 presented trophies to Tiger Cub Riley Lumbard, first, and Webelos Andy Gordon, second, and Tanner Mullen, third, at the annual Pinewood Derby at First United Methodist Church.

20 years ago

Senior patrolman Pat Henry, who directed the department’s crime prevention unit, was busy meeting with Neighborhood Watch block captains promoting the idea for reflective house numbers. The 4-inch numbers were to be placed within 2 to 3 feet of the doorway. Henry felt the easily located addresses would complement E911 service and help fire and ambulance personnel as well as policemen.

Levi Buxton, Nathan Byerly and Nathan Studer from Creston FFA donated stuffed animals to local police and sheriff’s departments to be given to children in crisis with the assistance of Project C.O.P.E. Police Chief Bill Heatherington and Union County Sheriff John Coulter, along with Melisa Crook and Angie Brokaw of Project C.O.P.E., accepted the donation.

Three Mile Reservoir Agency board of directors approved dissolution of the group, which was organized in 1955, as business was complete. The 880-acre Three Mile Lake was constructed as a regional water source and recreation area and all that was left to do was the marketing phase with brochures and signs to spread the word about the new area.

Mike Mansour won three events and took second in another at the Panther Relays. Creston’s junior standout dominated the running events, winning the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes and nearly claimed the long-jump title.

50 years ago

The Post Office Department was considering a plan to shift the state’s mail transportation from railroads to airlines and trucks and the Iowa Commerce Commission was concerned most of Iowa’s remaining passenger train service would end. The commission sent a letter to Postmaster General Lawrence F. O’Brien asking for an explanation of the financial study used to justify the proposed shift. Six Burlington Railroad passenger trains operating between Chicago and Omaha through Creston were among ones which would be affected. Burlington officials said loss of mail revenue on these trains would make continuation of the trains difficult.

A bill requiring driver licenses to carry a color picture of the licensee was first voted down in the Iowa House with concerns of increasing the fee by 50 cents for the photo, the possible displeasure of women drivers over the “mug shot” type photo likely to result from a quick camera snap operated by little skilled technicians, lighting in bars and the ease with which people may change their appearance. It passed later in the week by dropping the increased fee and was sent on to the governor.

Creston Bottling Company was ready to bottle and market Fresca, the newest soft drink product from the Coca-Cola Company. It was described as a citrus-based, sugar-free soft drink having only 1 calorie per 4 ounces, but a great refreshment for the whole family, not just the diet conscious.