Throwback Thursday

Today is Dec. 17, the 352nd day of the year. There are 14 days left in 2020. Below are news items from the Creston News Advertiser for this week (Dec. 14-18) in history.

5 years ago

After four months as a one-way road, the portion of Academic Avenue connecting Creston Community High School to the Elementary/Middle School went back to a two-way traffic system. Then Creston Superintendent Steve McDermott said the switch to a one-way caused a bottleneck at the elementary/middle school in the afternoons, prompting the change. “We just hadn’t expected that to be as bad as it was,” McDermott said. “The only other alternative was just to go back to the two-way.”

An evening of 4-H recognition and carnival fun was held by the County Youth Council at the Creston Middle School commons which featured such events as a social with drinks, snacks and a photo booth, cotton candy, popcorn and snow cones as well as a meal provided by the Union County Cattlemen’s Association. The ceremony recognized club leaders, senior members, 4-H volunteer of the year, committee members, volunteers, the 2015-16 youth council and those receiving record book awards and others.

Salem Lutheran Church presented two performances of a live nativity, viewing Mary, Joseph and Emmanuel baby Jesus surrounded by shepherds, wise men and animals in a live nativity scene put on by the church and Sunday school children. A reading of the Christmas story and carols were sung by the choir and Joyful Noise. The nativity was performed inside the sanctuary.

In an AP story out of Cincinnati, Pete Rose’s application for reinstatement to baseball was rejected by Commissioner Rob Manfred, who concluded Rose continued to gamble even while trying to end his lifetime ban and would risk the sport’s integrity if allowed back in the game. Rose agreed to the ban in August 1989 after an investigation for Major League Baseball by lawyer John Dowd found Rose placed numerous bets on the Cincinnati Reds to win while playing for and managing the team from 1985-87. He admitted he was still legally betting on horse races and professional sports, including baseball. Manfred upheld the conclusions of the Dowd report, despite fans’ protestations and said MLB had obtained additional evidence not available to Dowd: a notebook of betting records from 1986 kept by Rose associate Michael Bertolini.

15 years ago

Under the direction of Judy Woods, Crest Area Theatre performed “A Little House Christmas,” based on a short story by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Pa and Ma Ingalls were played by Tim and Jane Youngdahl, Mary and Laura by Sarah and Hannah Finehout, Nellie Oelson by Kayla Angelo, Mrs. Oelson by Judith Wachter and also included Zach Henry, Payne Horning, Warren Woods and Jerry Huffman in the cast.

Newly-elected Afton Mayor Shelli Burger was sworn in by city clerk Kathy Flam, along with new council member Jeff Burger and re-elected council member Sherry Parrot.

Creston third-grader Tanner Webb was selected by the Make-a-Wish Foundation to meet his hero, NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. Tanner spent 25 minutes with Gordon, who gave him a signed hat and T-shirt, as well as a gold medallion with Gordon’s name inscribed on it. Tanner also had the opportunity to meet other NASCAR drivers and officials.

25 years ago

Incoming Mayor Larry Wynn confirmed he selected Bill Heatherington as Creston’s next police chief. Heatherington joined the department in 1974 and was the captain serving as acting chief. Then Mayor Terry Donahue relinquished the responsibility of appointing the chief as his term was to end Dec. 31.

The Creston Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors held a ribbon cutting at the new Social Security office located at 201 N. Elm St.

Time’s 1995 “Man of the Year” was House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who the magazine said changed the nation’s political center of gravity by leading the Republican effort to remake the federal government. “Because of Gingrich, the question is not whether a balanced-budget plan will come to pass, but when,” the article said.

“Bring ‘em on!” was Mike Tyson’s new motto saying he was tired of fighting patsies. Tyson had just knocked out Buster Mathis Jr. in his second fight since getting out of prison. His promoter, Don King, announced that Tyson was set to fight WBC champion Frank Bruno in March in Los Vegas.

55 years ago

The 1966 officers of Union County agricultural and home economics 4-H clubs conducted a training school for all 4-H club officers. The female officers were Carol Swan of Creston, president; Linda Winkler of Creston, vice president; Carol Sammons of Creston, secretary treasurer; Kathy Eklund of Shannon City, historian and Sue Gordon of Creston, recreation chairman. The male officers were Doug Rall of Creston, president; Steve McCann of Creston, vice president; Mark O’Riley of Creston, secretary treasurer; Roger Cheers of Arispe, historian; and Dennis Larimer of Afton, recreation chairman.

Montgomery Ward’s ad for a pre-Christmas tire sale featured Riverside sno-treads in any size, tubeless white or blackwall: 2 for $18.99. The Riverside super tread came with an 18 month guarantee: 2 for $18. The sale also included free mounting.

Nine members of Cub Pack 12 made and decorated with homemade ornaments to present to residents of the Crest Haven nursing home. Manager Orien Shearer accepted the tree from the members of the Cub Pack which were: Tony Cass, Kurt Klise, Ronald Martin, Scott Sandeman, Clark Zarifis, Kenneth White, Chris Bryan, Danny Tindle and Joel Steele.