April 19, 2024

Throwback Thursday

Liz Kenyon, left, and Kaylee Harris, right, prepare to greet movie-goers in July 2008 in the updated concession area at the Strand Theatre. While the lobby had received a facelift, the Strand continued to retain its nostalgic presence in its more than 100 years of existence. It currently held 300 people and an adult movie ticket ran $6. (CNA file)

Today is July 19, the 200th day of the year. So, there are 165 days left in 2018. Below are news items from the Creston News Advertiser for this week (July 16-22) in history:

10 years ago

Lenox baseball team advanced to its third straight state tournament after a 7-3 victory over county rival Bedford. Lenox would face Don Bosco at Principal Park in Des Moines.

Creston Area Theater’s production of “Bye, Bye Birdie” included live musicians playing from CHS’s orchestra pit along with the actors on stage. The pit hadn’t been used for a theatrical production in more than a decade.

Creston’s second-place tie in the Hawkeye 10 softball race allowed six nominations in the all-conference selections. The first team included eighth graders, Madison Frain and Katlin Briley. Junior Aubrey Pendegraft and Morgan Evans and sophomore Jill Johnson were on the second team. Junior Dana Howe received honorable mention.

20 years ago

The Creston school board took a step toward alleviating a parking crunch at CHS by planning a parking lot paving project at the athletic complex northeast of the school. Dennis Gourley, district business manager, said the proposed lot would create 120 hard surface parking spaces for about $125,000.

Another change made by Creston school board was for the booster club to take over the concessions operations in the 1998-99 school year. Previously, the schools activities department operated the concessions. The new plan would save $2,400 by not paying a stipend to Pete and Marge Repplinger to manage the concessions.

Creston City Council authorized paying up to $55,000 for its share of dirt work for the new James subdivision. UCDA would pay the remainder of the $127,860 total cost. The council felt it was a small investment to pay to increase Creston’s tax base.

Union County queen candidates were Trista Ide, Crystal Kneedler and Jennifer Ray, all of Creston; Randi Needham, Dennetta Ripperger, Jodi Nixon and Ronda Cheers, all of Afton; and Becca Brown of Thayer.

50 years ago

Percy Carney was sworn in as the new mayor of Creston after his selection by the council to fill the vacancy resulting from the death of Mayor Frank Boortz the previous week. The council appointed John (Jack) Nicholls to the second ward to replace Carney. Councilman Lester Draper was appointed by Carney as mayor pro-tem. Carney will serve as mayor until Jan. 2, 1970.

Bill Hays, who farmed 40 acres north of Murray, made a longtime dream come true. Hays, who was interested in horses all his life, had wanted to build an arena, hold horse shows and get a saddle club organized for the Murray community. After working hard all summer to prepare an arena, his first horse show was held July 7. There were 50 horses entered in the show plus 15 more not entered that came.

Construction started on the new building for the Creston High School vocational agriculture building at Swan and Pine streets. The new steel build was to be ready for use when school opened Aug. 26, 1968. The building was financed from the special tax levy voted several years before for school buildings.

A committee of Gene Cozad, Alan White, John Coen and Clair Boyd had coordinated one of the most popular of the retail promotion activities sponsored by the retail bureau of Creston Chamber of Commerce, Krazy Days. Merchandise was to be displayed in sidewalk bazaar booths in front of stores and also bargains in displays inside stores.