HOLIDAY to HOLIDAY
The Creston News Advertiser will host its Holiday to Holiday Extravaganza event Monday at Southwestern Community College. More information on page 12A of today’s paper.
SENIOR NIGHT LOSS
The Creston Panthers volleyball team tumbled to seventh in the Hawkeye 10 standings with a senior night loss to Red Oak Tuesday. More on the game in SPORTS, page 7A. >
creston
News Advertiser
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015
city council quiet zone project
Date scheduled for ceasing of train whistles By KYLE WILSON
A Quiet Zone is a system, where strict safety standards are met, so that train engineers don’t have to sound their whistle upon entering a city or traveling over a railroad crossing. ■
CNA managing editor kwilson@crestonnews.com
There’s one more hoop to jump through. But, a quiet zone has officially been established in uptown Creston and, more importantly, a date has been set for the ceasing of train whistles being sounded at the Elm Street and New York Avenue crossings. That date is Nov. 16. “If everything goes well, at 10 a.m. that day, the (train) horns won’t be heard routinely anymore uptown,” said Kevin Kruse, public works director in Creston.
That last hoop is an inspection with officials from Federal Railroad Administration and Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Kruse said he Kruse expects the inspection to be complete sometime
in the next 20 days. “The inspector will be observing the median extensions to make sure they are compliant and checking the overall safety at the crossings,” Kruse said. The city started this quiet zone project in spring 2007 after uptown business owners voiced concerns that the whistles were too loud and they were having trouble commu-
nicating with customers in person and on the phone. This quiet zone is also expected to add another layer of safety at the crossings. The project has hit several snags in the past 8 1/2 years. In other city council news Tuesday: • The council had a discussion with Wayne Pantini, executive director at Union County Development Association, about the possibility of a feasibility study to see if Creston could handle additional hotel rooms. The feasibility study would cost about $6,000. The council decided to table this until budget discussions begin in early 2016.
• The council talked about acquiring a nuisance property at 701 W. Adams St. and having Creston Fire Department burn the house down. Todd Jackson, fire chief in Creston, said this burn can probably be done, but there are several challenges with this property, including the size of the house estimated at 3,700-square-feet for each floor. The council voted unanimously to move forward with trying to acquire the property through the courts. • Creston’s Lighted Christmas Parade will be held 7 p.m. Dec. 3. As usual, a fireworks display by Creston Shooters will follow the parade that night.
Bright Eyes event set for Saturday
day in the life paul baker
A record 584 children attended the event last year. Cost this year will again be $5. ■
CNA photos by KELSEY HAUGEN
Paul Baker watches a veterinarian from Southern Hills Veterinary Services administer shots to 77 steers he purchased from Montana Thursday morning.
Paul Baker and his brother John farm together near Creston with no hired help By KELSEY HAUGEN CNA staff reporter
khaugen@crestonnews.com
P
John Baker drives a combine, co-owned by Paul, through a soybean field off Pole Road in Creston. The brothers are currently focused on harvesting their soybeans and usually complete the job within two weeks, weather permitting.
gotta have my cattle.” In 1979, Paul began row crop farming and raising livestock full time. He graduated from Southwestern Community College with a degree in agricultural business. Paul and John have always farmed together. In 1992, they took over their father Joseph’s farm in Creston when he passed away. Together, the broth-
ers now farm hundreds of acres of land, both owned and rented, in Creston. They do all the work themselves without any hired help. Separately, they also raise their own cattle. It was Thursday when Paul had his new group of feeders – 77 steers from Montana – vaccinated. Later that day, Paul and John began harvesting soybeans. In the weeks before, their
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supervisors
Security update planned at county courthouse
■
aul Baker leans on a metal gate, watching intently – almost sternly – as three of his calves move through the shoot to receive their first vaccines. His tanned, weathered skin speaks of the decades he’s spent farming alongside family. “Come on, come on. Everybody’s gotta go,” he says to a stubborn steer. Paul heads back into the barn, rounds up more cattle and guides them toward his brother John, who helps restrain them for the veterinarian. “If you get to do what you want to every day of your life, that’s what matters,” Paul says. “People talk about retiring, but I don’t think I ever will. I
The 16th annual Bright Eyes in the Park event is slated for 5 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at McKinley Park. This safe trick-or-treating event is hosted by Creston Animal Rescue Effort (CARE). Cost for the event is $5 per child. Last year, a record 584 children attended Bright Eyes in the Park.
Mycale Downey, director of Creston Animal Rescue Effort, said about 30 businesses from the community will be at this year’s event handing out Halloween treats to attendees. For businesses still wanting to participate this year, call Downey at 641-782-2330 and leave a message. Money raised at Bright Eyes Saturday is used primarily for veterinarian work for animals at the city pound, advertising and adoption costs. Meanwhile, Creston’s citywide trick-or-treat night is 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
Volume 132 No. 102
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.
crop of focus was corn. “You never run out of things to do,” said Paul, 59. They grow corn, soybeans, hay and sometimes wheat and rye. During planting season, Paul typically runs the seed drill, and John does the spraying. At harvest time, John tends to run the combine, while Please see BAKER, Page 2
By BAILEY POOLMAN
CNA staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com
In March 2014, Cory Lee Daugherty pulled a handgun in the Madison County courtroom after being sentenced to 10 years in prison for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to deliver. This is one of many reasons Union County Board of Supervisors members voted to pass a motion to update the security in Union County Courthouse. “This is really just an
ongoing process,” s a i d Union County Attorney Tim Kenyon. “ T h a t Kenyon (security) committee has been in place for a number of years, and I guess the committee has had a number of goals for some time.” The committee brought the security upgrade to the Please see SUPERVISORS, Page 2
SAVE THE DATE the 6th Annual
EXTRAVAGANZA holiday to holiday
Thanksgiving | Christmas | New Years
Monday, October 26, 2015