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Today is Thursday, March 7, the 67th day of the year. There are 299 days remaining in 2024. Below are news items found in the Creston News Advertiser for this week in history.
10 years ago (2014)
Longtime Nodaway Valley coach and medical trainer volunteer Ray Stewart has been selected by the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association (IHSADA) to receive its “Outstanding Sports Medicine Award.”The presentation is scheduled March 30 in Coralville.
Spartan Court has risen. Southwestern Community College’s new residence hall Spartan Court is now a three-story building. The second floor was started Feb. 19, and the third floor was started Feb. 27. The project, which may cost less than the estimated $6.2 million, will house 92 students.
In December, a house was donated to Creston Library Board to be used toward raising funds for their Lincoln-to-Library project. The house was donated by Edwin and the late Virginia (Stamper) Van Surksum and is located in West Omaha. The ranch home with a one-car garage was recently listed with a real estate agent for $120,000. This house is the second large donation from the Van Surksum family.
After spending the previous two winters sitting on the bench as Creston assistant boys basketball coach, Kristopher “Kritter” Hayes spent the majority of this winter traveling to different Pheasant Hunters Unlimited hunting competitions. In the circuit-style competition, Hayes entered last weekend’s national event in Hamilton, Illinois, with a chance to win the PHU National Championship for High Point Dog with his Brittany, Rizzo. Hayes and Rizzo ended up finishing second in the season-long High Point Dog competition.
Sophomore post player Jenna Taylor and junior forward Natlie Mostek both received honorable mention on the Hawkeye 10 All-Conference honors released this week. Taylor became the team’s leading scorer, finishing with a 14.2 average while setting program records for free throw percentage (85.4) and field goal percentage (55.7). Taylor was also the team’s second-leading rebounder with 152 in 22 games as the Panthers finished 9-13, including 5-6 in the final 11 games, and had 17 steals and team-high 20 blocked shots. Mostek got off to a slow start after suffering a concussion in a preseason scrimmage. Mostek finished as the team leader with 163 rebounds while averaging a second-best 10.5 points per game. The versatile junior also compiled 29 assists and 28 steals. She shot 70% at the free throw line.
20 years ago (2004)
Funding for various Union County departments and organizations was reduced for fiscal year 2005. Those cuts were approved when the Union County Board of Supervisors approved the budget Friday. During this fiscal year departments had a 5% cut across the board. The 2005 budget also reflects reduction in various events and organizations the county has donated to in the past.
Two-time cross country state champion Megan Winkelmann of Nodaway Valley will be honored in the Parade of Champions at Veterans Memorial Auditorium at approximately 7 p.m. Saturday, between the Class 3A and 4A girls championship basketball games.
Finally, a sign the economy is perking up in Southwest Iowa. The Southwestern Community College Board of Directors Tuesday approved a series of New Jobs training agreements totaling $2.99 million for 504 jobs with an annual payroll of $12.5 million in SWCC’s merged area, which includes all of eight counties and portions of five others.
Creston/Orient-Macksburg bowling coach Ron Pendegraft said the Panther boys, in their third state finals in as many seasons of existence, exceeded his hopes and expectations when they finished third Saturday at Plaza Lanes.
40 years ago (1984)
Another candidate has expressed interest in running for Union County Auditor and incumbent sheriff Don Loy returned papers to qualify to seek reelection today. Angela Pullen, now first deputy to the Union County Assessor, took out papers Tuesday to run for the auditor’s post. Current auditor Jeannette Quick has also filed proper papers to qualify to run.
A Creston youth was one of the placers in the second place win by Simpson College’s forensic team at the Iowa Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Tournament Feb. 24 and 25 at Iowa State University in Ames. Jeff Gater, a junior from Creston, placed third in the extemporaneous speaking contest. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Gater of Creston.
Americans are living longer according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Iowa authorities say the same trend is occurring here. Nationwide, the life expectancy is 74.5 years, with women averaging 76.5 years and men averaging 70.8 years. In Iowa, life expectancy for women is 76.5 years and 68.83 years for men.
The 12th annual Dance Marathon to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association will be at Iowa State University in Ames on April 6 and 7. Ed Szynalski of Creston will join the 30-hour event along with 1600 other dancers.
High-technology gadgets are getting so common in this country that even a Creston eighth grader has built a robot arm. Steve Lorimor, son of H.K. and Shirley Lorimor of Creston, won the 8th and 9th grade division of the annual Creston Junior High School Science Fair with his robotics demonstration.