April 26, 2024

Throwback Thursday

These 6-, 7- and 8-year-olds quickly run to find candy, toys and trinkets hidden in the grass during the Creston volunteer firefighter's annual Easter egg hunt March 22, 2008, at McKinley Park. More than 200 children participated in the annual event. (CNA file)

Today is March 22, the 81st day of the year. So, there are 284 days left in 2018. Below are news items from the Creston News Advertiser for this week (March 19-25) in history:

10 years ago

Creston City Council approved the purchase of a $575,000 ladder truck for the Creston Fire Department after being awarded an assistance to firefighters grant for $475,000 in January. Delivery was expected the following year.

Prairie View Assisted Living was planning to open it’s doors to senior citizens leading independent lives, who were in need of a little assistance. A few tenants had their belongings moved in ready for the opening and 28 of the complex’s 32 apartments were spoken for. Staff would assist with dressing, bathing, helping with mobility and medication, only if they were needed. Three meals a day would be provided as well as housekeeping and laundry.

20 years ago

A grand opening for the department store Stage was held March 19, 1998, at 602 Sheldon Ave. in Creston.

Officials of Green Valley Chemical hoped to continue using the former Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Railroad line connected to the main line in Creston. However, the new owner of the track, Track Tech Inc. of Omaha, had filed for abandonment of the 20-mile line between Creston and Greenfield with the Surface Transportation Board in Washington, D.C. Crestland Cooperative had purchased a segment of the line from its plant north to Townline Road near Bunn-O-Matic for use to load rail grain cars. Green Valley Chemical was negotiating to purchase four miles of the line from Townline Road north to northwest of the company along Cherry Street Road.

Union County Genealogical Society President Lynne Schlaht accepted a $1,000 check from Dwight Conover, president of First National Bank of Creston, for the society’s fundraising project to purchase a new micro-film reader at Gibson Memorial Library.

50 years ago

The soil conservation service wastershed planning party requested a meeting to discuss the location of a dam which would create a 500-acre lake east of Creston as part of the Twelve-Mile Creek watershed improvement project.

The annual pre-Easter style show sponsored by the retail bureau of Creston Chamber of Commerce was planned to be held at Strand Theater. Men’s, women’s and children’s garments – all examples of the new spring styles – were to be modeled in the show. All of Creston’s clothing and department stores were expected to be represented. Mrs. Bill Strauss was the general chairman of the show.

Directors of CIPCO announced they had approved a merger with Southwestern Federated (SWF) Power Cooperative in Creston. The merger would be the first merger of two power supply cooperatives in the nation, but was subject to the approval by SWF.

Union County National Farmers Organization named their new dairy board which included Robert Cooper of Creston as chairman, Tony Driskill and Dave Briley of Shannon City, Albert Weis of Afton and Marvin Dunfee of Thayer.

Creston Motor Co. advertised 100 gallons of gas for free with any new car purchase in stock in celebration of its 10 year anniversary. There were 34 models to choose from including Falcons, Fairlanes, Ford and Mercurys.

Due to an acute shortage of bottles because of a 45-day-old strike of the Glass Bottle Blowers Association, Creston Bottling Co. was advertising “We Need your Bottles,” and letting the area know to return bottles to the place they ordinarily purchased soft drinks in order to keep favorite soft drinks available. The company bottled Coco-Cola, Seven-Up, Dr. Pepper, Squirt, Frostie, Fresca, Like, Tab and Tyler Flavors.