RUNNER-UP FINISH
FIRE SAFETY
Creston cross country teams place runner-up at Nodaway Valley Invitational Monday evening. Nodaway Valley’s “Black Plague” picks up another team title. Read more in SPORTS, page 9A. >>
This is Fire Prevention Week. See page 6A and 7A for a salute to the Creston Fire Department and upcoming fire safety activities.
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014
Saying farewell: Harkin makes two stops during Creston visit By JAKE WADDINGHAM
CNA associate editor jwaddingham@crestonnews.com
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, made a visit to Creston Monday morning. He stopped at Adams Street Espresso & Soda Shoppe to visit friends and supporters before heading to Southwestern Community College to discuss the opportunities created by the $1,000,000 share of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant from the Department of Labor. “I have a lot of nostalgia when I come to Creston and Union County,” Sen. HarCNA photos by JAKE WADDINGHAM kin said. “You were always Giving thanks: The Weisshaar family smiles for a picture with Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, while one of my key counties and Creston Mayor Warren Woods snaps a photo on his smart phone at Adams Street Espresso & Soda I want to thank you for all Shoppe Monday morning. of your support over the years. I have always been resentatives for 10 years being in a tightly contest- good health and loved his honored and privileged to before moving to the U.S. ed race between Democrat time serving Iowa, but feels Bruce Braley and Republi- it is time for a younger perrepresent you for 40 years.” Senate. Sen. Harkin is not seeking can Joni Ernst. son to bring fresh energy to He represented Creston He added that he is in the senate seat. in the U.S. House of Rep- reelection. The open seat is
Blunders renew questions about Biden’s discipline WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden’s supporters often brush off his slips of the tongue as byproducts of the speak-your-mind politics many Americans crave. But this time, Biden’s verbal blunders are causing more than just a few rough headlines and a momentary nuisance for the White House. Twice in two days, Biden had to apologize to key U.S. allies in the fight against Is-
lamic State militants after accusing the allies of arming and funding al-Qaida-linked groups in Syria. Not only did his comments threaten to jeopardize President Barack Obama’s fragile coalition, they also put the White House on the defensive, forced to clean up for Biden without specifically rebutting what he said. As Biden seeks to fashion himself as a credible alternative to Hillary Rodham Clin-
ton in the 2016 presidential race, his latest missteps have rekindled lingering questions about his ability to serve as commander in chief. After all, voters who affectionately overlook a bit of misplaced candor may be less thrilled by the prospect of a president who has trouble differentiating between what he says in public and in private. “When he makes missteps, he becomes a character,”
Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf said. “Although he may be successful in lining up some of the Democratic leadership, he will be less likely to get the Democratic nomination if he looks foolish.” In this case, Biden’s mistake wasn’t in saying something that wasn’t true. In fact, what Biden said at Harvard Please see BIDEN, Page 2
QUICK NEWS Freedom rock painting in Creston
Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II will be in Creston within the next week to start painting the Union County Freedom Rock. Sorensen is currently working to bring a Freedom Rock to all 99 counties in Iowa. He was inspired by the tour Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and journalist Kyle Munson. Denny Abel, quartermaster for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post Abel 1797, is asking for help to get the names of all Union County prisoners of war (POWs). The current list includes Malcolm Amos, Scott Duckworth, Marshall Johnson and Roy Kralik. If you have any further information, contact Abel at 641-782-8348.
Pancake dinner
Creston Fire Department will host a pancake dinner 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Creston Fire Station as part of Fire Prevention Week. Fire Chief Todd Jackson said the fire trucks will be on display for visitors and the firefighters will have activities for children present. There will also be fire prevention information available to take home. The cost for the event is a Jackson free will donation.
Bright Eyes and Trick-or-Treat
CARE’s Bright Eyes in the Park event is slated for 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in McKinley Park. Creston’s citywide trick or treat night will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Halloween this year (Oct. 31).
Railroad vote totals
International Association of Sheet, Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) General Chairperson Randall Knutson released the vote totals from the proposed agreement for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) to cut down to one-man crews. “While we are deeply disappointed in the outcome of this ratification effort, the members of this committee have voiced their opinion and it is final,” Knutson said in a press release. The proposed agreement was defeated nearly nine to one by conductors with 1,934 against and 314 for. Trainmen voted 210 against and 43 in favor. Yardmen were 912 opposed and 266 for. All three sections had to vote a majority against to prevent one-man crews. The vote had about a 69 percent turnout. “The message sent by this vote and the corresponding outcry from the public opposing one-person operations will set the tone and direction on this issue going forward,” Jim Garrett, a BNSF engineer from Creston, said.
On a roll:
Diagonal’s Kasydi Klommhaus celebrates with teammate and sister Kaitlyn Klommhaus (1) after the Maroonettes defeated OrientMacksburg Monday, 3-0, for the team’s second victory in a week and second triumph since the 2011 season. For more on the match, see page 9A.
CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN
CROP walk: The Rev. Karen Norton of Assembly of God Church in Creston
gives a prayer with bowed head and clasped hands during the gathering before Union County Ministerial Alliance’s annual CROP Hunger Walk Sunday, while the Rev. Brian Jack prays alongside. There were approximately 55 people present for the walk from 11 area churches. Volunteers collected nearly $5,000 for international relief and development, which 25 percent will go back to Union County residents, and two pickup truck loads of food were delivered to MATURA food pantry after the walk.
CNA photo by LARRY PETERSON
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Volume 131 No. 90
2014
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