DOG WASH EVENT
ATHLETE OF YEAR
The first Dog Gone Rescue “Doggie Wash” was held at McKinley Park over the weekend. The event raised more than $300. See photos on page 10A. >>
Hallie Linhart of Central Decatur and Joe Ricker of Mount Ayr announced as South Central Athlete of the Year finalists. See more in SPORTS, page 5A. >>
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MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2015
Williamson twister
update
Sharon Walter and eight children survived violent tornado that swept through her farmstead in Adams County Sunday evening. See video of the tornado online at www.crestonnews.com or CNA Facebook page.
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By KYLE WILSON
CNA managing editor
kwilson@crestonnews.com
WILLIAMSON — A violent tornado tossed her 30,000-pound New Holland combine through the air 1/8 of a mile Sunday. It pummeled four concrete silos leaving rubble everywhere on Sharon Walter’s farmstead in Williamson, located in Adams County about 16 miles northwest of Creston. Two machine sheds, numerous vehicles/machinery and a large shop on the property were also flattened by the twister around 6:30 p.m. Walter Sunday. Walter spoke to the New Advertiser this morning while waiting for an insurance adjuster to arrive. “We’re just thankful everyone’s alive today,” Walter said. Walter, 74, had eight children — ages 12 to 22 — on the property when the tornado approached around 6:15 p.m. Sunday evening. Some of the boys were in the garage cleaning a piece of machinery while others were sitting around talking when Sharon got a visual of the tornado from her front porch. “The tornado was about a mile away and was white as snow. It seemed two semis wide. I couldn’t see the tail because of the cornfield, but it was twirling the debris up pretty good,” Walters said. Walter, her pets, the grandchildren and their friends ran inside to the basement and crammed together into a crawl space beneath the staircase. Walter said the wreckage only lasted a couple minutes, but it’s a sound she’ll not soon forget. “What a horrible noise,” Walter said. “It’s just like everyone says — like a train roaring through. The kids were holding their ears. The dogs refused to go back upstairs after it passed through. The noise was so loud.” Walter said — to her surprise — when she emerged from the basement her house was still standing and she only had one major hole in the ceiling. A lawn mower tire could be seen in the kitchen and insulation was strewn throughout. Outside her house,
Huntsman sentencing moved to Aug. 12 The sentencing date has been changed for Lyndsay Jo Huntsman, 44, of Creston, who pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree theft on May 29. The hearing, formerly scheduled for July 31, will now be 9:30 a.m. Aug. 12 at Union County Courthouse. Huntsman was originally charged Jan. 26 with ongoing criminal conduct and five counts of first-degree theft. The charges stemmed from an investigation by Creston Police Department and Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI). According to a DCI report, Huntsman misappropriated more than $500,000 from Creston Automotive business accounts. Huntman According to a Creston Police report, between Jan. 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2014, Huntsman committed multiple thefts for financial gain on a continual basis, and knowingly acquired or maintained, directly or indirectly, interest in or control of real property through specified unlawful activity, theft or embezzlement of funds. Each count of first-degree theft is a class C felony and carries a fine between $1,000 and $10,000, as well as a maximum of 10 years in prison. The original charge of ongoing criminal conduct could possibly be dismissed after the sentencing hearing.
A violet tornado swirls debris near the Sharon Walter’s farmstead in Williamson Sunday evening. (CNA photo by TRESA ANDREASEN)
“What a horrible noise. It’s just like everyone says — like a train roaring through. The kids were holding their ears. The dogs refused to go back upstairs after it passed through. The noise was so loud.” — Sharon Walter
Williamson
CNA photo by CRAIG MITTAG
Machinery sheds and four concrete sheds were flattened by a tornado at Sharon Walter’s farm Sunday.
Library’s design charrette starts Tuesday The Creston library will be hosting two events this week. The first starts Tuesday and your input is needed as Creston Library Board is hosting a design charrette with architectural firm FEH Associates of Des Moines at Gibson Memorial Library. ■ Tickets still The goal of the charrette is for architects to gather input available for from the community for the Friends of design of a new addition and the Libary renovations to the current city library. The charette tea with feais slated 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. tured speaker Tuesday and Wednesday Joy Millard in the library’s genealogy Johnson room. Architects will be sitting at tables over the two days drawing freehand on paper and responding to what community members are telling them they want and don’t want in the library addition. Architects will then post the drawings on the wall in chronological order. “The community can come and go as they please Please see LIBRARY, Page 2
Please see TORNADO, Page 2
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