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Today is Nov. 2, the 306th day of the year. So, there are 59 days left in 2017. Below are news items from the Creston News Advertiser for this week (Oct. 30-Nov. 5) in history:
10 years ago
Paul Ramsey, a California real estate and business development guru, was prompted to start a foundation for the restoration of Ramsey Farms, east of Mount Ayr, from fond memories of time spent on the farm with his aunt and uncle. Buildings on the farm and in the village were moved in and restored so visitors could get a taste of life from the past. Proceeds were to go to Mount Ayr Community Schools.
Creston High School students were busy preparing to present “Beauty and the Beast.” Sierra White was Belle, Archie Smith - the Beast, Chris Helm - Lumiere, Payne Horning - Cogsworth, Meghin Krambeck - Mrs. Potts and Laura Walter - Chip.
20 years ago
China made its biggest purchase of airplanes in history - 50 Boeing jetliners for $3 billion according to President Bill Clinton. The contract supported tens of thousands of American jobs and provided China with a modern fleet of passenger planes.
Health officials were prepared to beat the odds as an expectant mother awaited the birth of seven babies. There were no known surviving sets of septuplets in the world, and Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey had a well-kept secret in hometown of Carlisle, but the news became international this week in history. There hadn't been such a pregnancy in the U.S. since 1985 and was very rare with serious complications common. The couple expected four boys and three girls which were in their 28th week of development, in good condition and all over two pounds.
Afton Postmaster Judy Hopkins was busy moving into the new Afton Post Office. It had been located on the corner of the town’s square for more than 100 years and was moving to a new building one block west. The change was needed due to space and safety concerns.
Four of eight cabins under construction at Three Mile Lake were ready for occupancy in early November. The other four were to be finished by Thanksgiving. The 14X18-foot log units were equipped for year-around use and included basic furnishings.
Marion James and more than 40 business people in Creston’s downtown area presented a petition to the city council asking for Elm Street to be converted back to two-way traffic between Adams and Howard streets.
50 years ago
Candidates for mayor and councilman on the Unity and Citizens tickets for Creston municipal election were introduced. Running for mayor were Frank Boortz and Paul Myers; councilmen-at-large were Glenn Schardein, Lester Draper, Edward Coen, Arnold Cook and Keith Hemphill; first ward councilmen were Ray Solomon and Earl Lewis; second ward were Percy Carney and Paul Breakenridge; third ward were Carl Adams and Nile Cornelison; fourth ward were Phillip Kenealy and Everett Willets; and fifth ward were Dennis Bailey and Billy Mercer.
Six massive Clydesdale horses, hitched to an orange wagon, came to Creston Hy-Vee. The international championship six-horse hitch was owned by Wilson and Co. and was one of the few six-horse hitches remaining in the U.S. The horses, which averaged more than 2,000 pounds each, were perfectly matched, and pulled a meat delivery wagon that weighed more than 4,400 pounds which was symbolic of how Wilson meats were delivered before the motor truck came into general use. Each horseshoe weighed about 3 1/2 pounds and each horse carried about 110 pounds of harness. They had won a total of 27 international championships with nine consecutive wins in the past 10 years.