May 07, 2026
Local NewsState & NationalPublic Notices

Remember when...

By Mandy McDowell
On May 7, Creston High School presented the Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year award to three females. It was the first time the award was given to a trio since the award began in 1972. A trio on the boys side was awarded once. That was in 2005-06 to Trevor Conner, G.G. Harris and Dane Wardenburg. From front left, are 2009 Outstanding Athletes Aubrey Pendegraft, Nicole Hunter and Morgan Evans.

On May 7, Creston High School presented the Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year award to three females. It was the first time the award was given to a trio since the award began in 1972. A trio on the boys side was awarded once. That was in 2005-06 to Trevor Conner, G.G. Harris and Dane Wardenburg. From front left, are 2009 Outstanding Athletes Aubrey Pendegraft, Nicole Hunter and Morgan Evans. (CNA 2009 Archived photo)

Maybe you were there when it happened or read about it the first time around, but some things are just worth repeating.

Today is Thursday, May 7. There are 238 days remaining in 2026. Here’s what the CNA reported on this week in history. Do you remember?

22 years ago (2004)

There was one car in Creston Tuesday which did not need $1.89-a-gallon-gasoline to run. In fact, its energy source was free of charge. The Iowa State University solar car team made a pit stop at Creston High School. Students learned about the mechanics of the sun-powered car, named Prisum, and how the group competes in solar car racing events. One of the team members is 2001 Creston graduate Ryan Emerson.

With only three golfers playing in the Hawkeye 10 Conference tournament -- you need four to qualify as a team -- the Creston Panthers were playing strictly for individual places Monday. Freshman Katie McKim finished 14th for the Panthers, carding an 18-hole 95 to lead the way. Bailey Miller shot a 117 and Lindsay Grose shot a 132.

The Creston Elks Farmers’ Market is scheduled to begin June 5. The market will include local vendors selling produce, baked goods, home-raised meats, craft items and other handmade and homemade products. The market, held in the 400 block of West Montgomery Street - next to the Elks Lodge - is open 8 a.m. until noon, unless vendors sell out early. It will be held every Saturday through Balloon Days weekend -- weather permitting.

17 years ago (2009)

Creston’s Outstanding Athletes of the Year for 2009, including Nicole Hunter, Morgan Evans and Aubrey Pendegraft, made history following the awards banquet May 7. They became the first trio of female athletes since the award was first presented to Jan Lesan in 1972. “It was tied after voting and the coaches decided to give it to all three. It would have being very difficult to pick just one,” Creston athletic director Jeff Bevins said.

After being named one of Iowa’s top FFA chapters during last fall’s national conference, the Creston FFA chapter’s tradition of excellence continued when they were named one of Iowa’s top 10 programs during conference proceedings April 16 and 17 at Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The 106-member chapter was named a gold emblem chapter in the state’s national chapter award competition and will advance to national competition this fall.

Todd Ramaeker received the Bernie Saggau Award and Megan Birchard and Dana Miller tied for the Kim Bishop Award during the athletics portion of the Creston High School awards ceremony May 7.

Cyle Taylor took on No. 2 singles action for the Panthers at the Hawkeye 10 conference meet Monday and went 3-1 to place fifth overall. The senior was the only place winner for Creston at the meet. Starting for Creston in No. 1 singles was Brian Katzer. Katzer went 0-2 on the day against Justin Buzzard of Shenandoah and Andrew Hrabik of Denison.

12 years ago (2014)

Creston’s Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates program recently won top honors at the Career Development Conference held here May 1. Students in the program include Tiffany Scott, Taquisha Williams, Kimba Shaw, Paige O’Neall, Toni VanScoy and Samantha Reed. This group competed against 40 other programs across the state in job preparedness, customer service, community service awareness, decision making, critical thinking, employee preparedness, public speaking and banner presentation.

The KSIB Radio news team was honored at the Iowa Broadcast News Association annual convention. News Reporter Terri Queck-Matzie took home three awards in the IBNA News Excellence Awards contest. She garnered first place recognition in the features category for “Call Denny – Creston Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Denny Abel,” and second place in farm and agribusiness for “Trichomoniasis Threat.” Queck-Matzie also received second place honors in the series category for her three-part series on the 2013 “Creston Hall of Fame.”

The Creston/O-M boys scored 10 points to finish seventh in the Hawkeye 10 tennis tournament Tuesday, as the host Kuemper Catholic Knights edged Lewis Central for first place, 26-23. The Creston/O-M girls, meanwhile, defeated the hometown team of assistant coach Amanda Plymale, 6-3, at Boone on Tuesday. Garret Taylor took third place in No. 1 singles for the Panther boys, finishing behind Lewis Central standout Caleb Shudak and Shenandoah’s Philip Meier, who has split previous matches with Taylor this season.

Creston