April 19, 2024

Throwback Thursday

Creston native John Robinson drums with guest musicians at a concert in the Roof Garden Ballroom at Lake Okoboji in August 2005 after Robinson was inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame. (CNA file)

Today is Sept. 3, the 246th day of the year. There are 119 days left in 2015. Below are news items from the Creston News Advertiser for this week (Aug. 31-Sept. 6) in history.

5 years ago

Mary Cusack, the oldest living person in Union County, celebrated her 108th birthday at Creston Nursing and Rehab Center. “I don’t think about it,” Cusack said. “Would you?”

Cusack was born Sept. 2, 1902, in Creston, and spent all her life in the Creston area. After graduating from high school, she worked for First National Bank for five years. In 1927, she married Jim Cusack, and they had four children. Cusack said she didn’t have a secret to living so long, she just lived life.

Dane Wardenburg, a 2006 graduate of Creston High School, Billy Baudler of Nodaway Valley and 18 other seniors had something special in mind for their final season at Northwest Missouri State. The Bearcats had the chance to become the first NCAA football program to make six consecutive championship games.

Baudler rotated in with the first unit at outside linebacker and was a force on special teams. Nick Neitzel of Creston was a true freshman walk-on member of the team as a defensive tackle. Northwest Missouri’s roster also included sophomore defensive end Gary Ewart of Bedford.

Other former Creston/O-M players on collegiate teams included Roger Powell at Graceland University, Casey Tanner at Central College, Kaleb Livingston and Jared Bevins at Simpson College and Ryan Maitlen at Iowa Central Community College.

10 years ago

The Creston High School marching band prepared for its debut at halftime of the home football game against Dallas Center/Grimes. Michael Krejci was the drum major, and Mike and Lisa Peters directed the band and colorguard. The show featured music from Cirque du Soleil’s “La Nouba.”

The Creston News Advertiser was to be a drop-off site for Katrina hurricane relief. Katrina was still moving further inland after ripping apart thousands of lives and leaving many homeless in the South. Even after the storm passed, danger of flooded roads, downed power lines and debris were still going to be major hazards. The Red Cross was asking the entire nation for support with donations of money, help or supplies.

High gas prices were hitting the county, schools and city hard. All were looking at cost-saving measures as budgets for fuel were almost double from the previous year. Don Krings, Creston School District business manager, was looking at limiting the number of field trips, limiting the number of buses used on trips and using vans instead of buses when possible. Rick Piel, Union County sheriff, was looking at either admending his budget or asking his deputies to drive less by parking 15 minutes out of every hour.

20 years ago

Creston cross country coach Pat Schlapia was not sure which runners were ready for their first meet. Unseasonably hot temperatures had forced the team to cut back on preseason workouts and even use simulated workouts by running in McKinley Park pool. Schlapia was counting on senior Jennifer Schaefer for the girls and senior Jason Shallenberger to carry the lead on the boys team.

Creston School District, like many other districts throughout the nation, changed its traditional half-day kindergarten schedule to a full day. With 107 students, the change meant adjustments to both curriculum and facilities. Marjorie Scott, a kindergarten teacher with the district since 1966, liked the new full-day schedule. Scott felt the day was more relaxed with time to explore, more one-to-one time with students and a more efficient use of classroom time.