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Maybe you were there when it happened or just read about it the first time around, but some things are just worth repeating.
Today is Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. Here’s what the CNA reported on this week in history. Do you remember?
Four years ago (2021)
Class of 2018 Creston High School graduate Trevor Downing is officially an Iowa State graduate with a degree in criminal justice as of Saturday. Downing, who won a letter from Iowa State in 2019, suffered a season-ending injury against the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns in Iowa State’s season opener in 2020. During the 2021 season, Downing has started all 12 regular season games on the offensive line.
Lineup takes a new definition at Creston Middle School. The Creston Community School District’s board unanimously approved the motion to add middle school baseball and softball programs during the Nov. 15 meeting. Board member Amanda Mohr motioned and Don Gee seconded the motion. Per the agenda of the meeting, the estimated financial impact of having these programs will be $10,000 to the general fund.
The more reasons to celebrate, the better. Creston’s Charles Hance would agree. For yet another year, Hance, 80, has placed Christmas lights and decorations at the front of his home at 910 N. Oak St. Hance installs the decor despite relying on a wheelchair for about the past 15 years since having weak knees and suffering a stroke. A lengthy stick with a hook on the end helps him hang lights along railings and places out of normal reach. The decoration displays are the results of years of shopping specifically for Christmas lights and decorations at second-hand stores and yard sales.
In the spirit of the season of gift giving, Union County Board of Supervisors were making their list and checking it twice in regard to the requests on how to spend the $2.3 million in American Rescue Plan funds. On Friday, supervisors approved a list that was about $21,000 short of the $1.18 million already provided to the county from the federal program. It is unknown when the remaining $1.12 million balance will be received.
Eight years ago (2017)
Panther wrestling competed during the week after the Kansas City for the first time in coach Darrell Frain’s tenure on Tuesday at the North Polk Dual. Creston/Orient-Macksburg once more faced the problem of not quite being able to get over the hump in several weight classes while at the same time competing well and fell 40-34 to South Tama, Class 2A’s fourth-ranked team according to the Predicament. “We didn’t come out real strong in that one,” Frain said. “Everyone was a little sluggish and we fought through it.”
With more than 500 survey responses tabulated, Creston Community School District’s major construction projects survey has given the CCSD Board of Directors its first look at the public’s preferences on future building projects. The survey asked the public to prioritize their interest in seeing the completion of a number of different building projects. Standing out as ranking highest or high in priority for almost half of those who took the survey were two particular projects: “ECC Bus Pick-up and Drop-off,” and “EMS Additional Parking.”
Creston/O-M senior Ashton Carter has taken the initiative to end her college search early and stay close to home at Southwestern, where she will immediately become a focal point of the incoming 2018-2019 SWCC golf team. That, of course, comes after she returns for one last year on the links for a Panther golf team that stands to be better than last year’s team that qualified for state. Carter had the second-best scoring average in the Hawkeye 10 a season ago and the fourth best in Class 4A.
16 years ago (2009)
Junior Matt Sobotka grabbed an offensive rebound and hit the game-winning shot with 2.3 seconds remaining in overtime to push the Raiders to a 70-69 victory over East Union Tuesday.
Starting with this year’s freshman class, science requirements for graduation will change at Creston High School. The Creston School Board Monday approved a recommendation from the district’s science committee to change the graduation requirements to be in line with Iowa Department of Education core curriculum requirements to be enforced beginning in 2012.
Lincoln School has sat idle since December 2004, after more than 70 years serving as an elementary school facility. Now it may be of educational value again, but as a private residence. The Creston School Board Monday set a public hearing 7 p.m. Jan. 18 on an offer to purchase the former school building property at 1001 W. Jefferson St. by Bob and Carol Shively of rural Osceola. They have offered a bid of $10,000 to use it as their residence. “If there are no objections on that date, then we’ll accept your offer,” said Rich Flynn, board president.