PANTHERS SWEEP
Despite defeating Atlantic 3-0, Creston head coach Polly Luther saw some areas to improve before their next match. Read the game summary in SPORTS, page 1S >>
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014
SWCC enrollment up, program updates given at board meeting SWCC has increased by 22 percent as a college in the past decade ■
By BAILEY POOLMAN
CNA staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com
Southwestern Community College held its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday. Focuses during the meeting were on preliminary fall enrollment, GAP and PACE funding and Workplace Learning Network. Enrollment Beth Kulow, SWCC dean of student services, presented SWCC Board of Directors with preliminary increased enrollment numbers.
“Right now, we have an enrollment increase from last year,” Kulow said, “and, speaking with my colleagues across the state, the ones who responded, we are a trendsetter.” Kulow said the college is above 1,600 students, a two and a-half percent headcount increase. She also said students are taking more than 16,000 credit hours, which is a four percent increase. “We are extremely delighted to bring those numbers to you,” Kulow said to the board. “I ran some numbers back 10 years ago, and we have increased as a college 22 percent.” Kulow also said Spartan Court is above 100 percent occupancy, but below fire regulations. Students are bunking in rooms, and those who do received discounted prices.
In a flash
“Right now, we have an enrollment increase from last year and, speaking with my colleagues across the state, the ones who responded, we are a trendsetter.” — Beth Kulow
SWCC Dean of Student Services
“The new students absolutely love Spartan Court. I can assure you that they utilize the community area,” Kulow said. “They are in there from the time it opened until the time we close it to utilize the pool table and the ping pong table.” Food service hours have also been extended because of the increased enrollment.
Four inches of rain fell in 45 minutes in parts of Union County Tuesday. Twoinch hail reported north of Lenox.
By KYLE WILSON | kwilson@crestonnews.com
CNA photo by JAKE WADDINGHAM
Water from Mitchell Marsh runs over 150th Street this morning after heavy rainfall from Tuesday’s storms. The National Weather Service shows totals ranging from 2 to more than 6 inches of rain across southwest Iowa.
A
storm system that dumped between 2 and 6 inches of rainfall across southwest Iowa Tuesday evening has moved out of the state this morning. Afton received the most rainfall in the Creston News Advertiser coverage area with reports of 5 to 6 inches of precipitation. Meanwhile, Arispe had about 4 inches. (See other rainfall totals, right) “It came down hard. We received four inches of rain in 45 minutes dur-
ing the 6 to 7 p.m. hour in parts of Union County,” said Jo Duckworth, emergency management coordinator in Union County. “The rain totals were more than expected. We had water over roadways in areas that rarely get flooded.” Duckworth said a total of 16 roadways were closed in Union County because of flash flooding Tuesday evening into this morning. Many have since reopened. However, roadways still closed as of presstime this morn-
ing are: • Pole Road south of 240th Street • 272nd Street near Kent where Platte River crosses Duckworth added that Grand River in Union County is expected to be out of its banks today and flooding is likely south of 170th Street. “Turn around if you see any flooded roadway,” Duckworth said. “Then, Please see FLASH, Page 10
“We’ve seen a lot of growth in students hanging out in the student center, and then also in the commons area at Spartan Suites,” Kulow said. “So, we’re very pleased with the number of students that we have on campus.” Please see ENROLLMENT, Page 2
PPEL vote approved despite low turnout Creston High School Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) passed with 73 in favor and 22 against from Tuesday’s election. Twenty-one of the votes cast were absentee. The school funding source was started in the mid-1990s and has passed every year. It was the only item on Tuesday’s election ballot. What is it for? The school board may annually certify a regular PPEL of up to 33 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property valuation. School district voters may authorize an additional P P E L amount up to McDermott $1.34. Creston Community Schools utilizes a PPEL of $1. Superintendent Steve McDermott said this helps keep the school tax levy rate level. PPEL can be used to improve school grounds and
buildings, purchase technology, secure transportation equipment and many other options. “It has been primarily used to keep our facilities maintained,” McDermott said. “We are looking toward expanding our digital learning.” It cannot be used for general fund expenses such as staff salaries or benefits. Next election Voters will return to the polls this fall for the general election. Absentee voting starts Sept. 25. Anyone who requested an absentee ballot be mailed to them, it will be be sent Sept. 25. Locally, Union County Attorney Tim Kenyon, Recorder Paula White and Treasurer Kelly Busch are running unopposed. Incumbent Ron Riley will be up against Paul Hayes for a Union County Board of Supervisor seat. The Union County Courthouse will be open two Saturdays to allow for additional time to absentee vote. On Oct. 25, the hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sheriff: Man fatally shot SWCC book sales down, many reasons why during public meeting By BAILEY POOLMAN Francis Glaser, 71, had become agitated about his property taxes going up
CNA staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com
As the saying goes, never judge a book by its cover. There have been changes in ways students study for classes, and one of the most notable is what kind of textbook — if any — they use. That change has been seen locally. Ann Schlapia, Southwestern Community College Bookstore manager, said since July 1, 2010, there has been a decrease in book sales at the store. July 2010 was the first month the re-authorization of Higher Education Act of 1965 was in effect, which said community colleges must be more transparent on their websites about cost of education. “We’ve probably seen a decrease in sales in the bookstore because students are utilizing that information and shopping elsewhere,” Schlapia said. “We’ve probably seen a 10 percent decrease in sales.” Schlapia also said there are more variables with the decrease, such as de-
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CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN
These medical terminology textbooks are one example of the many brandnew books for sale at SWCC Bookstore.
creased enrollment over the past four years. Bookstore SWCC Bookstore, located in the student center west of the administration building, serves approximately half of SWCC students when it comes to textbooks, excluding high school students attending college classes. Schlapia said it’s hard to decide what
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the cause of the decreased sales is because costs of textbooks have increased as well. Textbook costs have increased between five and seven percent since 2010. Publishing companies increase book prices in May and November. She also said teachers look at prices
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.
Please see BOOKS, Page 2
MAQUOKETA (AP) — An Iowa man angry about his property taxes was fatally shot during a public meeting Tuesday after he pulled a gun from a briefcase and pointed it at the county assessor, law enforcement officials said. Francis Glaser, a former Maquoketa city manager, had become agitated and vocal about his property taxes going up during a weekly meeting of Jackson County’s board of supervisors in Maquoketa, a town about 150 miles northeast of Des Moines. As the meeting ended in the local courthouse, Glaser, 71,
pulled a small gun and fired at County Assessor Deb Lane but missed, Jackson County Sheriff Russ Kettmann said. One of the county’s three supervisors, Larry Koos, was nearby and stepped in. He struggled with Glaser, and a second shot was fired. Glaser was hit and died at the scene, Kettmann said. “He still had the gun in his hand and the trigger finger in the trigger,” Maquoketa Police Chief Brad Koranda said. The sheriff said Koos “probably saved a life.” He was injured during the struggle, when his arm crashed through a glass door, and was sent to a local hospital for stitches. He was later released. Kettmann said if Koos and others hadn’t been there, “it Please see SHOOTING, Page 2
SAVE THE DATE the 5th Annual
EXTRAVAGANZA holiday to holiday
Thanksgiving | Christmas | New Years
Monday, October 27, 2014