May 30, 2025
Local NewsState & National

Throwback Thursday

By Mandy McDowell
The annual Creston Art in the Park was held Saturday with many people taking part. Area volunteers and craftsman were present to display their crafts along with providing booths for children to create crafts of their own. Stephanie Henry creates a weave basket of yarn at one of the approximately 15 stations.

The annual Creston Art in the Park was held Saturday with many people taking part. Area volunteers and craftsman were present to display their crafts along with providing booths for children to create crafts of their own. Stephanie Henry creates a weave basket of yarn at one of the approximately 15 stations. (CNA Archived Photo )

Today is Thursday, May 29, the 149th day of the year. There are 216 days remaining in 2025. Below is a collection of news items found in the Creston News Advertiser for this week in history.

5 years ago (2020)

Despite Deputy Brian Burkhalter’s lead in the Republican primary sheriff’s race, there remains to be a clear winner. Currently, Burkhalter leads with 29.71% of the Republican vote, but to receive the nomination, it would require Burkhalter to garner 35%. Because of the close race, Deputy Daniel McNeill – who received 21% of the Republican votes – made the decision to stay in the race as a write-in candidate.

Iowa’s 2020 Special Olympics were different from previous years due to COVID-19 but still happened on time. From May 21 through 23, Special Olympics Iowa hosted its “Virtual Summer Games” instead of having the multi-day event in Ames at Iowa State University. Participants sent in their times, scores and statistics from their events.

After Creston began to explore two new housing improvement programs this spring, nearly 100 pre-applications were turned in by residents wishing to be the recipients of the assistance. The programs in question are the Exterior Improvements Program and the Architectural Barriers Program.

After five years, Gibson Memorial Library Director David Hargrove announced his resignation to the board, which met Monday to approve his resignation. Hargrove, a Winterset resident, has accepted a position with the Winterset Public Library, of which the details of his position have not been finalized.

10 years ago (2015)

After taking a hard-luck loss in game one of Thursday’s varsity doubleheader in Harlan, the Creston Panthers rebounded to force a split with Harlan by winning game two, 9-3.

The Creston/O-M tennis team continues to make history at the state tournament. Last year, the team of Jenna Taylor and Audrey Fyock claimed the school’s first doubles victory in state competition prior to being eliminated short of the medal round. This year, the program will have a medal-winning doubles team. Two Panther doubles teams met each other in the day’s final elimination round, a repeat from the regional finals in Norwalk. And, just like that day, the doubles team of Taylor and Alli Thomsen defeated teammates Caitlin McIlravy and Sydney Dunphy, 6-2, 6-3.

A local church will be worshiping in uptown Creston after all. Last month, God’s Outreach Deliverance requested a conditional-use permit from the city that would allow them to hold church services at 124 N. Maple St. in commercially-zoned uptown Creston. That request was denied by Creston Planning and Zoning Commission May 12. It was denied because the commission wanted to keep all of uptown zoned C-1 for retail use. Tuesday, that decision was reversed by Creston City Council after the council received legal guidance from city attorney Skip Kenyon in closed session.

15 years ago (2010)

Luke Kordich scattered four hits and struck out 10 in shutting out Creston, 6-0, Thursday night at Panther Field. Both pitchers went the distance, as senior Travis Kipp took the loss for Creston, yielding eight hits. Kipp fanned two batters and walked three.

Four outgoing seniors were thanked for their contributions to a “building” program at the Creston boys track banquet Wednesday night in the Creston High School commons. Tyler Coenen, Ryan Helm, Ryan Maitlen and Brian Meyer were senior lettermen on the 2010 Panther track team.

The residences of Garry Bjustrom and Terry Weeda were damaged by an F2 tornado hitting six miles north of Mount Ayr on Highway 169 at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday evening.

20 years ago (2005)

Monday’s season opening doubleheader didn’t fulfill Creston softball coach Mike McCabe’s dream ... Thankfully. McCabe was awoken by a nightmare Sunday night. Among the things he saw, were his players out of position, offensive famine and the opposition’s pitcher hurling fireballs 6-feet from the batter’s box. The Panthers’ doubleheader opener yielded better results with a 3-2 win over Mount Ayr and a 16-1 trouncing of Orient-Macksburg.

The Creston Chamber of Commerce and Elks Lodge are sponsoring Uptown Friday Night at the Elks Lodge from 5-7 p.m. Everyone is invited to come down and enjoy the food and entertainment. The once-a-month event is set up to try and get people out and about!

Financial problems that plagued the Union County Habitat for Humanity program last fall have continued, but ground has finally been broken and the foundation poured for the second house built in three years.

Creston