Tuesday
February 25, 2014
Go to www.crestonnews.com for Breaking News as it happens
Become a Fan on
Free throws lift Trojans in district opener
Facebook!
SPORTS, page 7A
city council
DRUG PROBLEMS
Keep your sidewalk snow-free or face $175 charge By KYLE WILSON
CNA managing editor kwilson@crestonnews.com
Keep your sidewalks free of snow or you could be facing a $175 charge from the city of Creston. The current ordinance for sidewalk snow removal requires property owners in Creston to remove snow, ice and accumulations promptly from sidewalks within 24 hours after an accumulation event ends. If residents don’t, they can be fined by law enforcement. But last week, Creston City Council discussed adding a new subsection to that ordinance that would stiffen the penalty for those failing to keep their sidewalks clean. The subsection states if accumulations are not removed from sidewalks within 48 hours the city will remove the accumulations for you at a charge of $75 per hour, plus a surcharge of $100. Taylor “People are becoming lazy late in the winter season,” said Mike Taylor, city administrator. “This has become more of an issue, especially the past couple weeks.” Gary Lybarger, at-large city councilman, was concerned for elderly residents who may not be able to remove the accumulations within Lybarger the allotted 48 hours. Creston Police Chief Paul Ver Meer addressed ■ A public hearing on his concerns. this new “We’ll use common sense,” Ver ordinance Meer said. “If someone’s elderly or subsection unable, common sense would be — will be held let’s make arrangements for them, during the possibly talk to a neighbor and give March 4 city council them some extra time to get the meeting snow removed.” The new subsection has not been approved by Creston City Council yet. A public hearing regarding this subsection is slated for the March 4 city council meeting at the restored Creston Depot.
Contributed photo
This map shows the number of meth labs seized per county from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2013. Union County had three labs seized, all of which were shake and bake method, during the 2013 year. The numbers, reported Jan. 27, were compiled by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and can be seen on the website http://www.dps. state.ia.us/DNE/.
Meth use in Union County still prevalent ■
By BAILEY POOLMAN
CNA staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com
Several people were driving down Cromwell Road in 1999 making meth when there was an explosion. The people escaped the vehicle and attempted to dispose of the evidence by throwing it over the side of a concrete bridge. Three people were badly burned and transported to Iowa City for medical care. According to Creston Police Sergeant Eric Shawler and Afton Police Chief John Coulter,
this fire was an uncommon incident in Union County. But, the cause — methamphetamine — is a common problem. “It’s easy to make. Everything you need is right here,” Coulter said. “You can drive in towns and hit every small place and buy pseudo(ephedrine), ... come back and you have enough to make enough meth for yourself.” Coulter said methamphetamine is prevalent in Union County to a wide demographic.
Meth
Methamphetamine, a psychostimulant, is an illegal drug across the country. It is easy to manufacture because the ingredients are locally sold. “It’s very prevalent,” Coulter
said. “I think in the age group 30 to 70, that it’s very much the drug of choice.” In the past five years, the method Coulter of choice for methamphetamine manufacturers is the shake and bake method. This method is easier to produce than the standard Birch method because all ingredients are mixed in one small bottle and shaken. Afton man Adam Roan was charged with conspiracy to produce methamphetamine and Please see METH, Page 2
Tanning bill passes Senate committee DES MOINES (MCT) — A bill that was approved by a legislative committee that would prevent minors from using commercial tanning beds is being criticized by a supervisor at an Ames tanning salon. “I think it should just be a personal choice between parents and their children, not something that is regulated by a bill,” said Christina Jennings, a supervisor at Sizzlin’ Cabana, which caters to Iowa State University students and has locations in Campustown and west Ames. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, and approved by the Human Resources Committee on which he serves, passed Friday after representatives of the American
Cancer Society, families of skin cancer victims and others spoke in its favor earlier that day. The American Suntanning Association, an industry trade group that tends to be resistant to new tanning regulations, also accepted the legislation, which would prevent anyone under the age of 18 from using a commercial bed. “There’s a cancer risk from cigarettes, there’s a cancer risk from tanning,” Quirmbach said. “They’re obviously not the same thing, but in terms of picking an appropriate age, that seemed to be a reasonable age to choose.” The bill also clarifies that tanning bed warning signs must be displayed
“without obstruction” and that customers must be given a written warning of the dangers of tanning beds before their use. Quirmbach said he pursued the legislation after he was contacted last year by Leslie Christenson, a dermatologist at McFarland Clinic in Ames who warned him about increasing skin cancer rates. “It’s good to have restrictions, but there’s nothing good about exposure to a tanning bed,” said Christenson, who pushed for the legislation on behalf of the Iowa Dermatological Society.
CNA file photo
A.D. Paxton of Creston clears snow from his residence on North Lincoln with a John Deere snowblower in December. A new ordinance change would require all Creston residents to have snow removed from their sidewalks within 48 hours or the city will remove it, then charge you.
Please see TANNING, Page 2
Serving Southwest Iowa since 1879 Price 75¢
If you do not receive your CNA by 5 p.m. call 641-782-2141, ext. 221. Papers will be redelivered in Creston until 6:30 p.m. Phones will be answered until 7 p.m.
Volume 130 No. 181 Copyright 2014
Contact us 2014
In person: Mail: Phone: Fax: E-mail:
503 W. Adams Street Box 126, Creston, IA 50801-0126 641-782-2141 641-782-6628 news@crestonnews.com
Contents
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Deaths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Heloise Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10
Wednesday weather High 16 Low -2 Full weather report, 3A