Today is Oct. 29, the 302nd day of the year. There are 63 days left in 2015. Below are news items from the Creston News Advertiser for this week (Oct. 26-Nov. 1) in history:
5 years ago
Members of the Creston community dedicated a new welcome sign west of Crestmoor Golf Club on Highway 25. Mayor Warren Woods, Creston City Council member Marsha Wilson, First National Bank President Randy Huewe, Creston Walmart Supercenter Manager Amy Hook, Linda Kilgore of Kilgore’s Enterprises, Nate Berning, Creston Chamber of Commerce President Ed Ritter, Linda Carroll of Carroll Family Chiropractic and Creston Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ellen Gerharz were on hand for the dedication. According to Woods, the $2,500 sign was made by Nate Berning and funded by First National Bank and the city of Creston. The sign was to eventually move to Cherry Street in a minimum of two years when more funding was available for a permanent sign along Highway 25.
After a long, highly contested battle for Union County Board of Supervisors, it was almost time for the election. Voters were to vote for or against reducing the number of county supervisors from five to three. Republican Lois Monday was up against Independent Mike King and Democrat Tom Woodin for District 2. Ron Riley (R) and the only incumbent was up against Duane “Shorty” Adamson (D) for District 1. Leslie Wurster (R) faced independent Dennis Brown in District 5.
10 years ago
After more than 60 years, a landmark business in Afton was closing. Rusk Food and Fuel, a third-generation, family-owned company, was to be no more. Owner Di Boone announced the store would close Nov. 1. Casey’s General Stores, Inc. of Ankeny had purchased the land adjacent to Rusk and was in the final stages to purchase the entire assets of Rusk. The plan was to clear the property and begin construction on a new Casey’s convenience store.
Hubble Space telescope images suggested Pluto has three moons, not one. Pluto was discovered as the ninth planet in 1930, and its moon Charon was spotted in 1978. The two “new” moons were spotted in May and are more than twice as far away as Charon and very faint.
Jacque Greene of Afton purchased Kelly’s Flower Shop. Greene planned on keeping the well-known name for the business but was going to make a lot of changes in the appearance and what would be offered. The shop was purchased from Linda Wilson who had bought it from Jim and Ann Bryant in 1994. The Bryants had purchased it in 1981 from original owner Foreman Kelley, who began the business in the early 1960’s.
20 years ago
Creston Hy-Vee Manager Rick Fyock greeted customers at 6 a.m. when the store opened the doors of its new store. The new Hy-Vee is in the former Sernett building next door to the long-time Hy-Vee site. The new site has more than double the square feet of area, twice the amount of items, four times the deli space, three times the produce and dairy space, a floral section, fresh seafood, a U.S. Postal Service and UPS area and dry cleaning.
Mark Huff, Creston Park and Recreation director, announced the McKinley Park swimming pool would be closed for the entire season in 1996. The work to convert the pool into a “leisure pool” would be started this fall and would be completely finished and ready to go at the start of the 1977 summer season.