VFW Post 1797
VFW Post 1797 met June 12 at the Elks Lodge in Creston, and 20 members and guests were present for dinner.
Commander Gary O’Daniels called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. with 18 members present.
The post draped the charter for veterans, Tom Hibbs, Veryl Brown and Kurt Kiburz. Minutes and QM reports were read and approved.
Service officers reported 33 hours for community service, 39 hours at the hospital and 49 hours for honor guard, for a total of 231 hours. Officers also traveled 472 miles tor veterans.
In old business, the post did Memorial Day services at Rainbow Park for DAR, Calvary Cemetery, Graceland Cemetery, Afton Greenlawn Cemetery and Prairie View Assisted Living.
A BBQ was held at McKinley Park on Armed Forces Day by Union County Veterans Affairs and VFW Post 1797.
In new business, Creston Elks are planning a Flag Day program on June 14, and a new flag will be raised and meal will follow.
Fourth of July parade will start 10 a.m. The post will have a jeep, and Dave Tripps deuce and a half. Any veteran that wants to ride should meet at old First Federal Building at 9:45 a.m.
The State VFW meeting was held June 8-10. Creston Post received Allstate award and many post activities awards. Thank you to all members for your participation.
Meeting adjourned at 8 p.m. The next meeting will be Tuesday, July 10 at the Elks with dinner at 6 p.m. and meeting to follow at 7 p.m. All war veterans are encouraged to attend.
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Kiwanis
The weekly Kiwanis meeting was held 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, at the Windrow meeting room with 18 members and one guest. President Korina Loudon presided, Dennis Carter gave the prayer and Zach Gunsolley was the finemaster.
The club is hosting Open Table June 26, and members signed up to serve. Members were also signing up with the Fourth of July activities the club helps with.
The program was given by Mike Bruce with Creston Public Works. He updated the club on nuisance properties, houses, garages and sheds, plus yards and abandoned vehicles. He told about the court time and effort it takes to get these properties fixed or torn down. Bruce also talked about the new construction and remodeling permits that are going on now, and some of the plans for the rest of the year.
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Friends of the Library
The Friends of the Library met June 18 with the following members present: Marisue Lewis, Bunny Norton, Kay Raymond, Julie Schieffer, Chelsea Sorensen, Ann Coulter and Caprial Norton.
The agenda was approved, the minutes were approved as corrected and the treasurer’s report was place on file for audit.
Caprial and Bunny are creating Snapchat and Facebook accounts for FOL.
David Hargrove reported the LED sign was ordered and should be installed this fall. The wine walk is scheduled for Aug. 3. The second annual cemetery walk will be Saturday, Sept. 22, at Calvary Cemetery. Hargrove thanked FOL for all of the help this fiscal year. Sue Teutsch, Aric Bishop, Tessa Hull, Hargrove and Raymond have formed a programming committee to come up with new events and activities for the library.
Coulter mentioned the wine walk glasses have been ordered and the library logo will be etched on one side of the glass. She will bring a sample of the wine walk map at the next meeting. FOL will be one of the map sponsors.
A thank you note was distributed from Karen Walter for a plant sent to her new home.
The Fourth of July Scholastic book fair sign up sheet was distributed. Set up will be 2 p.m. at the restored Creston Depot.
Membership drive begins Wednesday, Aug. 1.
The new slate of officers are president – Jessica Duncan, vice president – Schieffer and recording secretary – Raymond.
The next meeting will be 6 p.m. July 16 at the library.
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Corning American Legion
Members of Corning American Legion Post No. 117 were busy over Memorial Day weekend.
On Saturday morning, May 26, post members and volunteers put tags up in Central Park in Corning, Walnut Grove Cemetery and Oak Hill Cemetery.
Helping put up the flags were local 4-H members, Blake and Jasmine Wilbourne, Marnie and Tristan Cline, Molly and Susan Bagby, Vicente and Averyle Butcher, Simon, Doug and Sue Privett, Becky Synacek-Gee, Ryan and Melinda Jennings and Barb Fuller. Post members Don Gee and Ron Lyman also helped.
On Sunday, May 27, post members visited several local cemeteries, laying wreaths and giving a gun salute for all those servicemen lost. Visited were Central Park in Corning, Nodaway River Bridge on Loomis Avenue in Corning, Oak Hill Cemetery, Prairie Rose Cemetery, Brooks Cemetery, Quincy Cemetery, Mt. Etna Cemetery, Carl Cemetery and Walnut Grove Cemetery.
On Monday evening, May 28, flags were taken down by post members, Don Gee, Delmar Chafa and Ron Lyman and volunteers including Austin Johnson, Elsa Synacek, Beth Gee, Susan and Molly Bagby, Vicente and Averyle Butcher and Doug and Simon Privett.
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Alpha Sigma Master
Iowa Alpha Sigma Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met June 14 at the Afton home of president Loretta Kelly.
After opening ritual, members responded to roll call with plans for Independence Day. Minutes of the previous meeting and treasurer’s report were accepted. Social chairman Marilyn Larimore announced the next meeting will be at McKinley Park with Patricia Fils as hostess.
A note was read from Kelly thanking the chapter for the honor of “Woman of the Year.” She continued her sharing from the book, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff “ with thoughts of what is really important and choosing priorities. She also read from the Book of Beta Sigma Phi on how chapters are named.
Dorothy Eyberg gave the program about Flag Day and about the designer of the U.S. Flag. She reported the Continental Congress passed a resolution on June 14, 1777, describing a flag for the United States, consisting of stripes and stars. Historians credit Francis Hopkinson, a member of Congress and an artist, with the design of this flag. Prior to the 1777 date, Betsy Ross had designed and made one or more flags at the request of General George Washington for the use by his troops. The flag’s birthday was observed unofficially through the years by schools and historic organizations. Finally in 1949, President Truman signed National Flag Day into law.
The meeting concluded with a social time and refreshments.
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CARSPA
Creston Area Retired School Personnel Association (CARSPA) held its meeting Tuesday, June 12, in the Del Richardson conference room at Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston.
Following breakfast, 11 members enjoyed an informative presentation by Carly Raye Vannoy, Iowa’s 2017 Honey Queen. She focused on the structure of the honey bee and its role in the hive. Its importance in nature is obvious.
A business meeting followed. Diane Burgmaier and Peg Lewis reported on the District 4 meeting that they had attended May 15 in Council Bluffs. The District 4 meeting in 2019 will be hosted by CARSPA in Creston. The program schedule for the 2018-19 year has been determined. Michael Fitzgerald, Treasurer of the State of Iowa, will be the speaker at CARSPA’s Sept. 11 meeting. He will speak about IPERS and address any concerns or questions we might have. This meeting is open to any current or past area school personnel to attend.
On July 10, Connie Nielsen will present a program about quilting.
If anyone is interested in joining CARSPA, or if you have any questions, call Burgmaier at 641-337-5771 or Angie Ford at 641-337-5594 for additional information.
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Kent Dinner Club
Kent Dinner Club met June 14 at Pizza Ranch with nine attending.
The next meeting will be 5 p.m. July 12 at Pizza Ranch. All are welcome to attend.
The annual Kent picnic will be held at noon Saturday, July 21, at Salem Lutheran Church, 602 W. Townline St., in Creston. Anyone who has lived in or around Kent are welcome to come.
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Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary
Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary met June 20.
Canasta winners were Marilyn Larimore, first; Rose Blakesley, second; and Cheri Lilly, third.
Sharon Gile won the door prize.
Mary Kline will host cards and chatter Wednesday, June 27.