May 05, 2025
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Throwback Thursday

Cool temperatures early morning May 3, 2008, were not a deterrent for these runners in the Southern Prairie YMCA 5K Fun Run as they took off from the starting line at the YMCA parking lot. (CNA file)

Today is May 3, the 123rd day of the year. So, there are 242 days left in 2018. Below are news items from the Creston News Advertiser for this week (April 30-May 6) in history:

10 years ago

The Social Security office in Creston was celebrating its 50th anniversary. The office originally opened its doors on May 5, 1958. At that time, it served 10 counties in southwest Iowa, but now served 11 counties, including Adair, Adams, Cass, Clarke, Decatur, Madison, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, Taylor and Union. The office was staffed by 12 employees with Peggy Rogers as manager.

The state of Iowa reached a settlement with an Omaha, Nebraska, company which manufactured TouchPlay machines that were banned in Iowa. The state was to pay International Gamco Inc. $250,000 and return two of the machines used by the Iowa lottery for testing.

Creston third-grader Taylor Oslakovic won the grand prize in a theater writing contest about respect. Old Creamery Theatre of Amana surprised her with the award by performing her skit at Creston Elementary School while she directed.

Creston Schools Board of Directors were honored at a reception. Members Randy Hughes, Bobbie McFee, Bob Deranleau, Barb Wilmeth and Stacy Wood had demonstrated a tremendous commitment to the students, staff and taxpayers with their service and leadership.

20 years ago

Marcella Howe of Creston provided statistics about one-room school houses of Union County for a book, “Iowa’s Country Schools Landmarks of Learning.” The book included photos of three of the 23 schools still standing in the county. Two were museums, 11 utilized as homes, six vacant, two used for storage and one as a church. The schools were originally placed two miles apart in the county and were named for the township they were in.

Crestland Co-op Manager Larry Crosser confirmed the plans to open a home center in the former K-Mart building. The goal was to have Crestland Do It Best Home Center open by August and move the co-op’s lumber division there.

Gov. Terry Branstad talked at the restored Creston Depot as part of his “thank you” tour throughout Iowa. Branstad was elected to his first term in 1982 at age 35, the youngest governor in Iowa history and was the senior governor in the U.S. After 16 years of service, he was saying thank you for the privilege of serving the state as he leaves office in 1999.

Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski was sentenced to four life sentences plus 30 years in prison, but his victims called him a coward for agreeing to a plea bargain rather than going ahead with a trial that could have ended with a death sentence, saying, “You’d rather save your life than risk your neck for the cause you say you believe in.”

50 years ago

The largest casting ever to be poured in the 97 year history of Hills-Mccanna was turned out at the Creston plant. One thousand pounds of aluminum was used for the casting that will be used in Navy submarine defense devices. The mold forming the casting contained five tons of sand.

Claude Sivadge, manager of Farmers Electric Cooperative of Greenfield, announced the winners of an essay contest. Receiving an all-expense trips to Washington, D.C., were Ann Wollenhaupt of Bridgewater and Gail Anderson of Casey. Alternates and winners of a clock radio, were Susan Sandholm of Greenfield and Edward Lents of Fontanelle.

Bill Riley, Des Moines television personality, appeared at Crest Bootery to greet youngsters coming to the store to see him. Riley was master of ceremonies for the Iowa Sate Fair Talent Search program and conducted the Talent Sprouts program.