Kiwanis
The weekly Kiwanis meeting was held 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, Jan 29, at the Windrow meeting room with 27 members and one guest. President Terry Freeman presided, Kelly Richards gave the prayer and Chris Eaton was the finemaster.
Members that helped at the Creston Archery tournament were thanked for volunteering and helping the day of the event.
The club is planning the annual pancake day fundraiser in March, and will vote to finalize the date at next week’s meeting.
The program was given by Dr. Katie Davidson, dean of students at Southwestern Community College. She is a Creston native who moved away from the area for college and her career, but felt the job happened for a reason and brought her back to family and the Creston community. Some of her goals with her new job and responsibilities are to help SWCC’s enrollment grow by implementing and adding some recruitment changes, working with students to be more involved in the community to the betterment of the area and retaining them as employees once they graduate.
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Ladies Literary Circle
In spite of the frigid temperatures, 16 members of the Ladies Literary Circle gathered at Linda Hartsock’s home for the Jan. 25 meeting. Following the secretary’s and treasurer’s reports, President Stephani Finley announced Dottie Dunphy and Midge Scurlock now qualify as life members, having been LLC members for 20 years. In other new business, the program committee for the 2019-20 year consists of Dora Coen, Ann Driskell, Vera Fengler and Judy Woods. Members are encouraged to be thinking about dates they can host and the book they plan to review for the next year. Members are also encouraged to donate to the library building fund.
This meeting’s reviewer was Judy Gile. “The Children’s Blizzard” by David Laskin is the gripping story of a sudden blizzard on Jan. 12, 1888, that left more than 500 people dead, mostly immigrants and school children on the prairies of Nebraska, the Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa. One moment it was calm and unseasonable warm, and the next moment the air was a raging chaos of horizontal snow and hurricane force winds that reduced visibility to near zero. The temperature dropped 55 degrees in eight hours in Keokuk.
The book is written from the storm’s point of view on the impact it had on the land, the people, the government and the study of weather prediction. The author also delves into responsibilities for this event. This nonfiction book reads like a novel. It is intense and holds the reader’s attention as they come to know some of the people caught in this horrific blizzard. There were comments about how timely it was to have this book reviewed since it has been the coldest spell ever remembered by the members.
Driskell will host the Feb. 8 meeting with Hartsock as the reviewer.
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Union County Republican Central Committee
Union County Republican Central Committee met Jan. 17 at the Pizza Ranch to elect officers for the new year.
Joe Owens was thanked for serving as leader for the past several years. He requested retirement from being chair, and will continue to serve on the committee.
New officers elected are Mike Lang, chair; Laura Hartman, co-chair; Kevin Kruse, treasurer; and Vonnie Kinkade, secretary.
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GRMC Auxiliary Board
Lois, Joan, Nancy, Jordan, Tammy, Martha, Marcia and Rhonda were in attendance for the Jan. 14 meeting of the GRMC Auxiliary Board. The agenda, minutes and financial reports were approved.
Administrator Monte Neitzel reported a contract was offered to a recruit in internal medicine. A reply is expected forthwith. The goal is to add four care providers for internal medicine. Adrianne Shuey is slated to join the staff in the summer of 2020. An offer is also out for an additional OB-GYN. Kathleen Anderson is expected to start helping with business health and primary care in June. ENT Dr. Joseph Hart is to start Jan. 24. Dr. Thomas Harbert has joined Drs. Ralston and Kakade in orthopedics. Offers are also out to two other recruits to add to the medical staff.
The ribbon cutting and open house for the Mount Ayr Clinic is Jan. 18. Allie Whetzel is running the Corning Clinic, with Dr. Lonny Miiler making weekly visits.
The sound booth for audiologist Ryan Denney has been completed. Urologist Dr. Fiailcov is here every Wednesday plus two Thursdays per month. Rehab now hosts seven physical therapists including full-time speech and occupational therapists. GRMC also provides four athletic trainers in the area communities. A slight remodel for the installation of a new hood for mixing chemotherapy drugs will be coming soon to the pharmacy. Urgent Care will be moving to the top of the link by the end of the month.
There will be no bake sale in February. $1,000 will be given to the IHERF scholarship fund. 2019 annual health care scholarships information has been sent to area schools. Follow up information and discussion concerning the membership drive will be coming next month. Jordan reported that better illuminating and efficient lighting is being installed at Crest Ridge apartments.
Dates to remember include Feb. 4 – bloodmobile, Feb. 11 – next meeting, March 27 – collective goods sale, April 12 – $5 jewelry sale and May 8 – linen sale.
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GRMC Gift Shop
Joan, Lois, Nancy, Jordan and Rhonda were present for the Jan. 14 meeting of the GRMC Gift Shop buying committee. The agenda, minutes and financial report were all approved.
Other business included:
• Lyndsey will be the new contact person at Kelly’s Flowers and Gifts and there is no ice charge, if we order truffles this time of year.
• Decided to buy 20 more books of stamps to hedge against the Jan. 27 price increase.
Change bag is at $82.50. Nancy will check once a week for a while.
• Vending machine refunds will be handled at the switch board.
• IHA Gift Shop Conference and Market are March 28 at Prairie Meadows. We are interested in attending.
• Decided to order 20 stocking caps at the sale price from PB&J.
• Also need to order red and white tissue paper and medium sized bags. Chapstick will be purchased locally.
Dates to remember include 1:30 p.m. Jan. 17 – Quality Hill, 10:30 a.m. Jan. 30 – CBK (Anna), 9:30 a.m. Feb. 11 – next meeting, 1:30 p.m. March 5 – Bloomingville and Creative Co-op and 1 p.m. April 15 – K&K.
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Crest Area Theatre
Sixteen members of Crest Area Theatre (CAT) attended the group’s annual meeting 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the Pizza Ranch. Posters from previous shows and scrapbooks were displayed, and those attending enjoyed reminiscing about past performances and new members learned about the group’s 45-year history.
Linda Huffman presided over the business meeting. The following officers were elected for 2019: Huffman, president; Jerry Huffman, vice-president, Lynne Schlaht, secretary; Bill Mullin, treasurer; and John Calahan, Judy Gile, Pam Hoffman and Julia Weisshaar-Mullin, at large board members.
The 2018 CAT season was reviewed. The July production of “Mrs. California,” directed by John and Autumn Calahan, included a cast of eight which included two new CAT performers. The November/December production of “Ho Ho Ho! The Santa Claus Chronicles,” a six-scene play involving 16 actors included eight new CAT performers. It also included local talent involving 33 performers. Schlaht and Gile were the directors. Members thanked Bill Mullin for constructing storage for props in the group’s storage unit.
Sponsors for the 2018 season included the city of Creston, Dr. Dennis and Terri Hopkins, Iowa State Savings Bank, Jerry and Linda Huffman, Hy-Vee, Stalker Chevrolet, O.J. and Elaine Fargo and an anonymous donor.
The 2019 season was discussed. “Music Man – concert version” will be presented in the early evening Sunday, June 30, at the McKinley Park Band Shell, and will be directed by John Calahan. This will be a part of Creston’s 150th anniversary celebration. There are plans for another Christmas/talent show and perhaps a third production.
The group read predictions for 2018 that had been written at the previous annual meeting to see if any of them had come true and wrote new ones for 2019.
General membership meetings are held on the first Monday of each month. The next meeting will be 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, on the stage of the SWCC Performing Arts Center at the YMCA. Anyone who is interested in any aspect of community theater is invited to attend.