THROWBACK NEWS SOFTBALL STARTS Ten years ago, Kate Coenen was named valedictorian at Creston High School. What else was happening 10 years ago? Read more Throwback news on page 2A. >>
A deep Creston Panther softball team looks to defend its Hawkeye 10 crown. Their season starts Monday in Corning. More in SPORTS, page 8A. >>
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THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015
‘Cowboys, just like the word says’ Grand opening of the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset slated for May 22-25. ■
By JAKE WADDINGHAM
CNA associate editor
jwaddingham@crestonnews.com
W
I N T E R SET — John Wayne is one of America’s most iconic western figures for his big presence on the screen and for his big focus on American values. Now, Wayne is immortalized as a big, bronze statue in the new John Wayne Birthplace Museum plaza, keeping a watchful eye over guests who come to visit his birthplace. Born May 26, 1907 in Winterset, Marion Robert Morrison worked as an extra and prop man before landing his first lead role with “The Big Trail” in 1930. He struggled with several B-level movies for different studios before his next big break with “Stagecoach” in 1939. The grand opening of the John Wayne Birthplace Museum is slated for May 22-25. The event coinCNA file photo by JAKE WADDINGHAM cides with the annual John Steve Andrews of Colorado Springs, Colo., gets his first glimpse of the bronze John Wayne Birthday celebra- Wayne statue at the ground breaking ceremony for the John Wayne Birthplace Museum. The grand opening for the museum is May 22-25 in Winterset. tion in Winterset. “It’s a reflection of John Wayne’s fan base,” said alias,” Andrews said. “I Brian Downes, executive picked Pat Duncan, but director of the John Wayne they said, ‘No, that isn’t Birthplace Museum. “Ev- going to fly. ‘You are “The Duke.’” erybody loves him.” Andrews, like many othA full weekend of activers, donated money to have ities are scheduled around his name placed on a brick Winterset. Ranch Rodeo at the museum. He said is at the Madison Counhe has always been a John ty Fairgrounds Friday at Wayne fan and was excited 6:30 p.m. Saturday kicks off with a 5K at the John to see the start of the museWayne Birthplace Museum um expansion project. Also present for the and a breakfast at the Wingroundbreaking ceremony terset fire station. was Wayne’s daughter AisThe ribbon cutting cersa Wayne and fellow movemony starts at noon followed by a benefit dinner ie star Maureen O’Hara. Wayne and O’Hara were at 5:30 p.m. love interests in several Breaking ground films. Construction on the $2.5 “She is a legend, it is million, 5,000-square-foot almost as if John Wayne John Wayne Birthplace came to town,” Downes Museum started in April said of O’Hara. “They were 2013. the best of friends. She The entrance showcases still gets pretty emotional new streetscaping provid- when you talk about John ed by the City of Winterset Wayne. She always played and the $175,000 bronze John Wayne’s love interest statue of “The Duke” do- and they always did battle nated by Wayne’s family and they always made up at welcomes guests in the mu- the end of the movie.” CNA file photo by JAKE WADDINGHAM seum’s plaza. From left, Aissa Wayne, Maureen O’Hara and her grandFunding the project Steve Andrews of Coloson, Conor FitzSimons officially break ground on the John Two-thirds of the fund- Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset in May 2013. rado Springs, Colo., attended the ground breaking ing came from individual ceremony in full costume donors and fans who sent way we are growing as a Wayne Birthplace Museum. donations from $5 to $500 city.” as John Wayne. Downes said Winter“The town square looks from around the globe. “I found a few clothes, set’s atmosphere adds to “We are growing in leaps put them on and the re-enPlease see actment group I was with and bounds,” Downes said. the experience for visitors JOHN WAYNE, Page 2A said you have to have an “It is unprecedented, the who come to visit the John FRIDAY WEATHER
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Iowa lawmakers spar over education funding DES MOINES (AP) — As lawmakers struggle to resolve the state budget, a new conflict has sprung up about how much new money to give schools in the 2016-2017 school year. The Appropriations Committee in the Republican-led House on Wednesday approved a plan that would provide about $125 million in new dollars in that year, with some of the money going to a teacher leadership program. But Democrats say the funding level is inadequate. Republicans had previously supported spending more money, but Rep. Chuck Soderberg, a Republican from Le Mars, said they didn’t want to “overcommit and under-deliver.” The Republican-controlled House and Democratic-majority Senate are still at odds over how much new money to provide in the upcoming school year, with Democrats wanting to offer more than Republicans.
Gallons of oil sopped up from California coast GOLETA, Calif. (AP) — More than 6,000 gallons of oil has been raked, skimmed and vacuumed from a spill that stretched across 9 miles of California coast, just a fraction of the sticky, stinking goo that escaped from a broken pipeline, officials said. Up to 105,000 gallons may have leaked from the ruptured pipeline Tuesday, and up to 21,000 gallons reached the sea off the Santa Barbara coast, according to estimates. The environmental impact still is being assessed, but so far there is no evidence ■ Up to of widespread harm to birds 21,000 gallons and sea life. Federal regulators in- reached the vestigated as workers in sea off the protective suits shoveled the black sludge off beach- Santa Barbara es and boats towed booms coast. The into place to corral the two environmenslicks. The chief executive of tal impact Plains All American Pipe- is still being line LP, which runs the assessed. pipeline, visited the spill site Wednesday and apologized. “We deeply, deeply regret that this incident has occurred at all,” Chairman and CEO Greg L. Armstrong said at a news conference. “We apologize for the damage that it’s done to the wildlife and to the environment.” Armstrong said the company received permission to continue cleanup operations around the clock and vowed that they “will remain here until everything has been restored to normal.” Crude was flowing through the pipe at 54,600 gallons an hour during the leak, the company said. Please see OIL SPILL, Page 2A
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