KING of the HILL
Woodbine native Jon Plowman wins King of the Hill at Adams County Speedway Saturday evening. This is Plowmans ninth feature win trophy. Read more on this story in SPORTS, page 9A.
STEPPING DOWN
One of the strongest athletic leaders in the nation, Rick Wulkow — executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association — is stepping down after 35 years of service. Read more in SPORTS, page 7A.
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Creston woman to be honored at Iowa State Fair For nearly 60 years, camping at the Iowa State Fair and watching her children and now grandchildren show their animals has been a time-honored tradition for 84-yearold Creston resident Verna Bailey and her family. This year is extra special, as she has will be inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame along with her late husband on the last day of the fair for their dedication to the program. However, her declining health nearly halted her plans to attend this year until her HCI Hospice Care Services nurse stepped in. “Verna had mentioned to me how she’d like to go to the state fair, and I knew how much it would mean to her and her family to be there,” said Natalie Cook, HCI Hospice Care Services nurse.
Induction ceremony Verna Bailey, 84, of Creston will be inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame on the last day of the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 17. “She often shares stories about fair memories. Getting Verna to the Iowa State Fair is something we can do to enhance her quality of life.” Cook rented a motorized scooter for Verna to use at both the Iowa State and Union County Fairs and arranged for one of HCI Hospice Care Services’ nurses in Des Moines to check in on Verna while she is staying at the fairgrounds. Verna jokes that she’s not the best driver but that the scooter gets
her where she’d like to go, including to deliver the peach pie she baked with her daughter that earned $135 for Union County Friends of 4-H. HCI Care Services is dedicated to treating the whole individual. That approach goes far beyond treating pain and the other physical symptoms faced by seriously ill individuals. It means identifying the things Contributed photo that add quality to life and bring Pictured from left to right surrounding Creston resident Verna Bailey are joy to patients and those who love HCI Hospice Care Services nurse Brittany Riley, Chris Bailey, Jodi Larson, them. Carolyn Skarda, Linda Moore and Marilyn Adams.
Wait and see
Omaha development company offers $10K for Lincoln School with plans of constructing 16 rental units in the building. Creston City Council to vote for or against selling to the company Aug. 19. ■
By KYLE WILSON
CNA managing editor kwilson@crestonnews.com
It’s on the table. Last week, Seldin Company of Omaha, Neb., made an offer to purchase Lincoln School for $10,000 with plans to refurbish the old school into senior housing — similar to housing that exists currently at the Iowana Hotel in uptown Creston. Their site plan — provided to the city — shows a total of 16 rental units in the school building with adequate commons and fitness areas. These 16 units would be a combination of one and two bedroom apartments. One bedroom rentals would have between 600 and 700 square feet while two bedrooms would have 1,000 to 1,200 square feet.
“What we are hoping to do is take a blighted structure (Lincoln School) and turn into something the community will be proud of,” said Michael Fallesen, vice president of Affordable Housing Development with Seldin Company. “We like developing old schools because their layout is often a natural progression to housing.” Additionally, Fallesen said his company has plans of building 13 townhomes on the greenspace between the school and Adams Street. These would be two-story rentals with three bedrooms and about 1,200 square feet. (See site map, below). Mike Taylor, city administrator, said about 75 percent of the townhomes and rental units inside Lincoln will be low-to-moderate income housing while 25 percent will be market value priced.
Tax revenue This proposed $4.3 million housing project from Seldin Company would generate an estimated $65,000 in tax revenue each year. That annual revenue would be split between all taxing entities in Taylor the county, including the city of Creston. This project is eligible for a 5-year tax abatement. It’s unknown at this point, though, if Seldin Company will apply for that abatement. Library on standby Of course, this possible purchase is Please see LINCOLN, Page 2
Gubernatorial challenger Jack Hatch’s father died Sunday CEDAR RAPIDS (MCT) — The father of Iowa Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jack Hatch has died. “This is a sad t i m e for my family,” Hatch, a state s e n a - Hatch tor from Des Moines, said Monday. His father, Frank, 95, died of natural causes Sunday at Stockbridge, Mass. Hatch said he had last seen his father in June and knew at that time he was not in good health.
Frank Hatch was a World War II Army veteran, a captain in the 87th Airborne Division. He retired from the Reserve in 1954. Hatch’s father was preceded in death by his mother, Joanne Fitzpatrick Hatch. Funeral arrangements are pending at National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Gov. Terry Branstad offered his condolences Monday. “My thoughts and prayers are with Senator Hatch and his family at this time,” Branstad said. —————— MCT Information Services
$380M hydroelectric project planned for Lake Red Rock (MCT) — A $380 million effort to retrofit the Lake Red Rock Dam to produce hydroelectric energy for up to 61 communities across four states will get underway Wednesday with a groundbreaking. The project is overseen by Sioux Falls, S.D. based company Missouri River Energy Services (MRES), which is projecting the plant will product 36.4 megawatts of power. It claims the dam is capable of powering 18,000 homes during peak water levels. The project, expected to be completed in 2018, will be the second largest hydroelectric facility in Iowa. Since Aug. 4, the North Tailwater area near the
Contributed map
This proposed site map from Seldin Company of Omaha, Neb., shows their tentative plans for a $4.3 million housing project on the Lincoln School property in Creston.
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Volume 131 No. 51
2014
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Red Rock Dam, as well as a portion of a trail and several picnic areas, has been closed to the public. “We understand that these closures will be an inconvenience to some people,” said MRES Member and Public Relations Director Bill Radio. “But they are necessary for our contractors to build the hydropower project.” Iowa Rep. Dan Kelley, D-Newton, is a known proponent of alternative energies and expressed strong support for House File 630 during the 2013 legislative session, which allows this project to receive the same Please see RED ROCK, Page 2
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