January 25, 2025

Throwback Thursday – Dec. 12, 2024

By Mandy McDowell
Bryant Eaton, 6, of Creston, ponders gifts for sale at a “Christmas Store for Kids” Saturday at Gibson Memorial Library. It was an opportunity for children under age 12 to do some Christmas shopping of their own. All items for sale were priced under $2.50.

Bryant Eaton, 6, of Creston, ponders gifts for sale at a “Christmas Store for Kids” Saturday at Gibson Memorial Library. It was an opportunity for children under age 12 to do some Christmas shopping of their own. All items for sale were priced under $2.50. (CNA 1995 archived photo )

Today is Thursday, Dec. 12, the 347th day of the year. There are 19 days remaining in 2024. Below is a collection of news items found in the Creston News Advertiser for this week in history.

9 years ago (2015)

Iowa State Parks will sponsor free, guided hikes in 18 state parks on New Year’s Day as part of America’s State Parks First Day Hikes initiative in all 50 states. The Green Valley State Park First Day hike will begin at 10 a.m. and will consist of the newly paved 3.3 mile trail on the eastern edge of Green Valley Lake.

Northwest Missouri State University senior offensive lineman Shane Smith and junior safety Kevin Berg were each named to the 2015 D2CCA Football All-America First Team in a release by the organization on Tuesday. Junior defensive lineman Collin Bevins of Creston was named to the CCA’s second team.

Tuesday’s Hawkeye 10 Conference double dual had the makings of a heavyweight prize fight, with second-ranked Creston/O-M and 10th-ranked Glenwood headlining the card. The main event lost some of its luster with Glenwood having two wrestlers out of the lineup, but for Creston/O-M head coach Darrell Frain, a win is a win. Glenwood opened the night with a 62-13 rout of Denison-Schleswig, before Creston/O-M shut out the Monarchs 73-0. Creston/O-M then rolled to a 48-19 victory over Glenwood, giving the Panthers their 27th straight Hawkeye 10 Conference dual win.

19 years ago (2005)

The 13th-rated Murray Lady Mustangs held Lenox to single digits in each of the four quarters, as they claimed an 83-14 win. Lenox was outscored 39-8 in the first half and 44-6 in the second half. ”We had very balanced scoring tonight, as the reserves saw a lot of action. I thought that our defensive intensity was very good,” said Murray coach Jerry Shields.

The Creston/Orient-Macksburg wrestling team’s weekend at the Lee’s Summit Christmas Invitational, aka “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” wasn’t so terrifying. Granted, the effort wasn’t all gum drops and lollipops. Still, the Panthers, rated No. 4 in The Predicament’s Class 2A poll, hung with some of the Midwest’s stiffest competition and nearly pulled out a top-five finish. Creston/O-M claimed sixth place at the 24-team tournament. Eight Panther wrestlers advanced out of the pool rounds and seven competed in the finals. Most notably, the Panthers finished ahead of Centerville, a team rated No. 3 in Class 2A.

29 years ago (1995)

About 150 job seekers took part in an employment roundup at Southwestern Community College Tuesday, meeting with potential employers and training coordinators. Representatives from 10 Southwest Iowa companies accepted applications from unemployed and soon-to-be laid off workers, including employees from Burcliff Industries of Corning, Bunn-O-Matic Corp. of Creston and Iowa Assemblies Inc.

The Creston wrestling team picked up its first dual victory of the season in a Hawkeye 10 Conference double dual in Denison. The Panthers, now 1-4, all against conference opponents, defeated Denison-Schleswig 51-21 and lost to Glenwood, 50-15.

Bill Heatherington will be Creston’s next police chief. Larry Wynn, incoming mayor, confirmed late Wednesday afternoon he had selected Heatherington as the department’s next chief. He will be sworn in at the Jan. 2 city council meeting. Heatherington, 43, is a captain in the police force and has been serving as acting chief since Robert Kessler announced his retirement earlier this fall. Heatherington joined the department in 1974.

39 years ago (1985)

Army Reserve members of 312th General Supply, Det. 2 of Creston received promotions announced at a recent drill and annual Christmas party for families and children. Those local members promoted and their new ranks are: PV2 David Chumbley of Creston, Sp4 James Creighton of Macksburg and PFC Andrew White of Creston.

Benjamin Reeves, son of Janet Reeves of Creston, has been honored for his performance in The Southwestern Company’s nationally known summer marketing program. While in competition with thousands of students from all over the United States, Reeves earned the company’s coveted Top Sales award for ranking in the top percentage of student dealers in personal sales.

Dean Johnston, chairman of the Creston Community School District Board of Education, set Monday, Jan. 6 as the date for a public hearing on closing the Cromwell school and other alternatives. Currently, the Cromwell building houses sixth grade students in the school district. The board members will not reach a decision on the matter until after the hearing, considering the superintendent’s recommendations and investigating alternatives, board members indicated.

Creston