Wednesday June 11, 2014
Go to www.crestonnews.com for Breaking News as it happens
Creston City Wide Garage Sales
Panther duo sixth at co-ed state golf
This Weekend - Fri., June 13 & Sat., June 14
SPORTS, page 7A
Pick up your copy of sales in Thurs., June 12 and Fri., June 13 of the Creston News Advertiser editions. There is still time to advertise your sale, call for more info! 641-782-2141 ext. 239
Ringgold County under disaster emergency
cicada invasion
Periodical cicadas, that emerge every 17 years, are creating a buzz across SW Iowa. You’ll see and hear this harmless insect from now until mid-July ■
Buzz creators
By JAKE WADDINGHAM
CNA associate editor jwaddingham@crestonnews.com
MOUNT AYR — Ringgold County has been included in a proclamation of disaster emergency along with three other Iowa counties for a severe system of storms that caused damage June 3. Gov. Terry Branstad activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Program in a news release Friday. The other counties included Cass, Harrison and Montgomery. “If people have damages, they need to go to Mount Ayr to the MATURA office,” said Teresa Jackson, Ringgold County Emergency Management coordinator. “They need to bring a photo ID for all adults, proof of income, proof of residence, show they Jackson have no insurance or the insurance does not cover the damage claim, social security numbers for everyone in the house and an estimate of damage.” Pottawattamie County was declared under a disaster emergency Tuesday. Households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal pov- Branstad erty level or a maximum annual ■ Ringgold income of $39,580 for a family of County three is eligible for a grant up to received up to six inches $5,000. of rain and The funds can be used for home baseballor car repairs, to replace clothing, sized hail buy food or pay for temporary June 3. shelter. If repairs have already been made, the original receipts are required for reimbursements. Anyone with questions can contact Blake FrySchnormeier, 641-464-2401. The MATURA office is located on the corner of Adams and Taylor streets in Mount Ayr. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Jackson encouraged anyone that meets the criteria to apply. There is a chance Ringgold County could receive federal money in addition to the funds provided by the Iowa Individual Assistance Program. Jackson said the storm dumped up to six inches
By KYLE WILSON
CNA managing editor kwilson@crestonnews.com
T
heir crunchy, brown shells can be seen at the base of deciduous trees all over Creston and southwest Iowa. Periodical cicadas are back. The beady-eyed insects first emerged from the ground in Creston about 10 days ago, shedding their exoskeletons and creating a buzz of discussion among locals. John Henry — longtime owner of Henry’s Skateland in Creston — first noticed periodical cicadas last week. They were crawling on his roma tomato and bell pepper plants near his back deck on New York Avenue. “I knew exactly what they were,” Henry said. “You live 85 years like me and you will see a few things. They aren’t hard to distinguish. You see them once and you tend to remember their eyes and brown shell.” Until now, these periodical cicadas have lived below the feet of Henry and other Crestonians for the past 17 years, burrowed 18-24 inches under-
ISU Extenstion photos
Above left is a winged adult periodical cicada that will fly clumsily around southwest Iowa until mid-July. Right is a cicada nymph which lives underground for 17 years feeding on tree sap.
ground as nymphs feeding on the sap from tree roots. Now that they’re emerging, though, cicadas will not only be seen in Union County, but in 45 other counties across Iowa this spring and summer. (See map on page 2A) So, how did these insects know 17 years had elapsed and it was time to surface? “Well, they don’t have calendars down Holscher there,” said Ken Holscher, associate professor at Department of Entomology at Iowa State University, laughing. “We do think their emergence is predicated on hormone levels.
They seem to know when it’s their time to mature, become an adult and carry on with the next part of the life cycle.” Holscher did say, though, there have been reports in previous years of these cicadas surfacing a year early.
Sound off This year’s brood of cicadas will stick around until mid-July, flying clumsily through residential areas and woodlands. If you haven’t seen one yet, don’t worry. You will likely hear them. Holscher said the male cicada “sings” from about 10 a.m. to mid-afternoon. “They make a fluctuating, high-pitch buzzing sound,” Holscher said. “The sound is Please see CICADAS, Page 2
‘
(Cicadas) make a fluctuating, high-pitch buzzing sound. The sound is like nails on a
chalkboard for some people. Others like the melody at least for few days, but then would rather they be quiet. My advice: Get out and enjoy the sound. They won’t be back for another 17 years.” — Ken Holscher, associate professor at Department of Entomology at ISU
Please see DISASTER, Page 2
UCDA will not build on vacant Afton lot By SARAH BROWN
■
AFTON — After meeting with Union County Development Association, Afton City Councilwoman Sherry Parrott said building a home on an empty lot at 409 Filmore St. “isn’t going to happen.” So, the council voted unanimously to sell the lot with a stipulation — the new owner must build a house within two years of purchase. Parrott said UCDA is considering looking into rehabilitating
the former home of convicted methamphetamine manufacturer Adam Roan, 411 W. Kansas St. Despite a fire, which occured at the Roan’s former house on February 27, council members described the house as structurally sound with a “good” foundation. Additionally, it was mentioned no toxins have been discovered in the house. In other Afton city council news:
CNA staff reporter sbrown@crestonnews.com
Afton City Council requests that Union County Development Association (UCDA) rehab house on West Kansas Street in Afton Splash pad: Afton City Council Clerk Toni Landers said the city is in a 30-day waiting period, where community members can comment on aspects of the splash pad plan pertaining to water entering the storm drain. “Once the 30 days is up, we can move forward with permitting,” Landers said. The city is still determining the
exact placement of the splash pad. Depending on the location within Afton’s town square, either concrete will need to be removed or additional water pipes may be needed. The city is currently investigating both options and obtaining current bids for the project. Landers said the city needs about $5,000 more toward their $107,000 goal to complete the project. Speed changes: Afton City Council approved the first reading to ammend provisions to speed regulations (Ordinance
214), which will reduce the speed limit on W. Jefferson St. in Afton from 45 to 35 mph from N. Dodge Street to the city corporate line. According to Afton Police Chief John Coulter, the Iowa Department of Transportation is conducting a traffic speed study, which will take approximately 90 days to complete. Coulter previously approached Union County Board of Supervisors, who approved to lower speed limits on Old Highway 34 to 35 mph from the town line to west of Afton Lake dam and 45 mph out to Highway 34.
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Volume 131 No. 8 Copyright 2014
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Contents
Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Deaths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Farm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Thursday weather High 72 Low 48 Full weather report, 3A