2025 in review: Community

This is the second in a five-part series for the CNA’s year in review.

The Creston community stayed busy in 2025, bringing new projects to light and enjoying classic events.

Projects

In late February, the Gibson Memorial Library learned they were the recipient of a $10,000 grant from the American Library Association to support accessibility at the library. This grant money went toward a new program put together by Assistant Director Jordan Foote, providing library deliveries every month to homebound or disabled patrons.

After conducting various patron interviews and months of planning, the program is now available to the public. A person must be a Union County resident living with a disability that makes it difficult to leave their home in order to participate.

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Major community support resulted in the city and hospital contributing funds to keep Southern Prairie Family Fitness Center open for the next few years. The city of Creston and Greater Regional Health committed to $60,000 a year each for the next three years.

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After more than a year of work, Union County has officially joined millions of readers around the world in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This program works with counties worldwide to mail one free book a month to kids ages birth to five.

Families are now invited to sign their little ones up for this free program. A child must be under the age of five and reside within Union County to qualify. Registration forms can be found both at the library and online at the Imagination Library website.

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Creston’s Terri Stephens-Higgins released a children’s book, “Bella Bean on Blueberry Lane: The Puppy Wonder,” as a way to help make cancer easier to understand and talk about. The book came out in late summer and was immediately met with local support.

In November, her doctor, Dr. Karen Krogstad of Greater Regional Health, purchased enough copies of the book to donate one to every second grader in Creston, Diagonal and Mount Ayr.

Events

For the first time, local Uptown businesses hosted a Spring Shop Hop, encouraging residents to say goodbye to April showers and enjoy the incoming warm weather.

Shoppers were able to spend the day creating a vibrant bouquet, gathering a different flower from each of the 14 participating businesses.

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For the fifth year in a row as a kickoff to summer, Market on Maple returned to Creston on May 10 with bright and sunny weather.

Alongside more than 50 vendors and food trucks, Market on Maple attendees found entertainment via musical and dance performances by Creston students, a read-a-long at the bookstore, a visit from Isaac the Clown and more.

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Creston enjoyed a Fourth of July weekend packed with events of all sorts. The 77th 10,000 Crestonians event started off with the Greater 8 and 5K Run/Walk and Sand Volleyball Tournament the weekend before. Other events began Thursday, July 3, including the Big Barbeque Bash and a carnival.

The Fourth was the big day, with a parade, talent show and fireworks. The 19th Annual Party in the Park finished off the events on Saturday with performances by the Carl Worden Band and Elton Dan and the Rocket Band.

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Various Creston classics came back for December, including Merry Marketplace and the Annual Lighted Christmas Parade. Local shops also held a belated Small Business Saturday after the normal November event was snowed out.

Other holiday events in December included a tree lighting, meeting Santa Claus and the Crest Area Community Theatre’s production of “One Christmas Eve at Evergreen Mall.”

Awards

During October’s homecoming activities, two new inductees were brought into the Creston Hall of Fame. Both alumni, new members include Beth Litwak and Casey Bryant.

A 1998 graduate, Litwak displays theatrical prowess on both coasts, leading various theater programs on the East Coast and serving as an assistant professor in Jessup University’s theater department in California.

Bryant graduated from CHS in 1986 and continued on as the head coach for Western Dubuque, bringing his teams to win two state championships. He was also highly successful as a Panther, playing quarterback in Creston’s first playoff football team.

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The Creston Chamber of Commerce honored community members in November with the Citizen of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Youth of the Year awards.

Citizen of the Year went to Jamie Travis. Through serving in Kiwanis, including heading the Keep a Kid Warm coat drive, or helping organize the Union County Fair, Travis has become a leading member of Creston.

Trevor Paulus took the Volunteer of the Year award this year. In his volunteer work, Paulus is notable for often refusing personal payment and formal recognition for the work he does helping those around him. The head of Paulus Concrete, he’s found a way to always be a helping hand for community projects, local businesses or a neighbor.

CHS Junior Dylan Dornack received the Youth of the Year award. Dornack credits his time as a Boy Scout for his later leadership and volunteer work. He is the Future Business Leaders of America District 6 vice president and is actively working on his Eagle Scout project to receive the high honor.