SUCCESSFUL YEAR
Hawkeye 10 champion Creston Panther softball team celebrates successful season at their end-of-the-year banquet. Read more in SPORTS, page 8A.
creston
News Advertiser
SHAW MEDIA GROUP SERVING SW IOWA SINCE 1879 BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE AT WWW.CRESTONNEWS.COM
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2014
Drowning victim identified as CHS teacher By KYLE WILSON
CNA managing editor kwilson@crestonnews.com
AFTON — The name of the Creston man who drowned Monday evening in Twelve Mile Lake was released Tuesday. The body of Rich Gander, 45, of Creston was recovered by divers about 9:15 a.m. Tuesday on the southwest side of the lake below about 15 feet of water. Gander was reported missing 6:15 p.m. Monday when a fellow fisherman found an empty boat on the lake. Authorities searched the water
for Gander until sundown Monday. The search continued 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning with assistance from Department of Natural Re- Gander sources and Midwest Regional Dive team. They found his body at about 9:15 a.m. Tuesday about 30 feet from the shore. “This was a fast recovery,” said Mark Sedlmayr with the Department of Natural Resources, “which is great because in these
Rich Gander, 45, of Creston was a math teacher at Creston High School last year. Gander drowned Monday evening in Twelve Mile Lake near Afton. It was the first drowning at a major lake in Union County since 1999. ■
situations it’s all about bringing closure to family. This recovery was a cooperative effort from the divers and several state and local entities.” Gander was a mathematics teacher at Creston High School last school year and coached the Creston freshman softball team this summer. He also ran the game
clock for all home basketball games last winter. He was about to start his second year with the Creston school system. Bill Messerole, principal at Creston High School, worked with Gander for a total of 10 years in the Centerville and Creston school districts. He recruited Gander to come to Creston last year when a
SCHOOL SUPPLY
costs increase nationally, locally Iowa sales tax holiday set for Friday, Saturday
By BAILEY POOLMAN CNA staff reporter
bpoolman@crestonnews.com
The end of summer vacations loom as the first day of school draws closer. And, with the first day of school comes shopping for clothes, shoes and supplies. However, according to Huntington National Bank’s statistics, the average annual cost of school supplies has increased more than 20 percent in all grade levels since 2010, and the cost has risen more than 7 percent since 2013. Costs include things such as calculators, notebooks, athletic and music fees, college preparatory material and backpacks. While some stores have not seen an increase, several local teachers who buy school supplies for students have. “Cost has gone way up,” said Bailey Fry-Schnormeier, Creston High School art teacher. “I budget carefully, look for good deals and scavenge for anything I think I can repurpose for my students.” Fry-Schnormeier said during the spring 2014 semester, her 3-D design students used mostly recycled materials from the community for
Please see DROWNING, Page 2
Bill Krejci leaving SWCC in August
ating high school, but she said it hasn’t affected her as much. “I don’t know if I’ve noticed a lot of it (price increase),” Mayer said.
With school just around the corner, some parents can be found in the clothing and shoe aisles at local stores, looking for that one bargain for their child’s first day outfit. One such sale is Iowa’s sales tax holiday, an annual two-day event the first weekend in August when certain types of clothing and footwear can be purchased without paying sales tax or local option sales tax. From midnight Aug. 1 to midnight Aug. 3, no sales tax will be on clothes and shoes. “Any business who sells items of clothing or shoes will have to participate,” said Ellen Gerharz, executive director of Creston Chamber of Commerce. “The state
After 36 years in the athletic department at Southwestern Community College (SWCC), Bill Krejci will be stepping down from his position as director of athletics and athletic fundraising as of August 29, 2014. Krejci, originally from Chicago, will be moving to Des Moines with his wife, Teresa, also an employee at SWCC, who recently accepted a position at Drake University. Krejci said the move is not an easy one for him. “I am headed to Des Moines with my wife,” Krejci said. “For years, she has supported me in my career and I really appreciate that. Now it’s my turn to support her.” Krejci’s name has been syn- Krejci onymous with SWCC baseball since 1978 when he started at the college as assistant director of student activities, physical education instructor, and head baseball coach. He came to SWCC from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Mo., where he played for the Bearcats from 1971-73. Krejci served as an assistant for the Bearcats baseball team while he completed his graduate studies, earning his master’s degree in education in 1976. Throughout his 22 years of coaching, Krejci put SWCC baseball on the map, earning the respect of players and coaches nationwide. He oftentimes
Please see SUPPLIES, Page 2
Please see HOLIDAY, Page 2
Please see KREJCI, Page 12
CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN
Markers, Post-It notes and crayons are on display at Creston Hy-Vee for the new school year starting in August. Travis Messerly, manager at Creston Hy-Vee, said the stores hasn’t seen an increase in school supply costs.
every project. One example includes recycled newspaper from Creston News Advertiser students made into woven baskets. Creston Elementary School first-grade instructor Alison Mayer has noticed a price increase since gradu-
math position became available. “He had a knack for taking a room of students — some of which do not like math or even school — and getting them to learn,” Messerole said. “That’s why I recruited him. He could control a classroom and do it with dignity and respect for the students. He will be missed.” Mike McCabe, head softball coach at Creston, said Gander did an excellent job with the young Panther softball players. “He would do anything for you
4-H, FFA end projects at county’s fair sale By JAKE WADDINGHAM
CNA associate editor jwaddingham@crestonnews.com
AFTON — Union County Fair ended Thursday with the conclusion of 4-H and FFA beef, sheep, goat, swine and poultry projects being sold at the fair’s sale. Most market animals that are not going on to the Iowa State Fair (Aug. 7-17) or to another featured show and have reached proper market rate are sold at the sale. “This was our first year for boiler poultry,” said Kim Baker, who served as the clerk for the Union County Fair sale.
Chad Rieck, station manager for KSIB and Union County Cattlemen member, said the Union County Fair sale puts a lot of emphasis on making it a positve experience for the 4-H and FFA kids. “I don’t know any other sale like it,” Rieck said. “The whole thing that makes the sale so good is the volunteers that go out and help get dollars from area businesses. They
know it is going to the youth.” Baker said about 200 business and countless volunteers work together to help 4-H and FFA families complete the full process of raising the project, showing it and selling it. Each species has a floor price
PICTURED: Tyler Waddingham shakes the judge’s hand after his steer was named the reserve grand champion market animal at the Union County Fair beef show. The grand champion market steer, exhibited by Bryce Briley, did not participate in the Union County Fair sale. Waddingham’s steer went to Hy-Vee.
THURSDAY WEATHER
CONNECT WITH US
COMPLETE WEATHER 3A
crestonnews.com | online 641-782-2141 | phone 641-782-6628 | fax Follow us on Facebook
81 58 PRICE 75¢
Creston News Advertiser 503 W. Adams Street | Box 126 Creston, IA 50801-0126
Copyright 2014
Please see SALE, Page 2
Volume 131 No. 42
2014
If you do not receive your CNA by 5 p.m. call 641-782-2141, ext. 6450. Papers will be redelivered in Creston until 6:30 p.m. Phones will be answered until 7 p.m.
Become a Fan of the
on Facebook