REGIONAL LOSS
DR. OZ COLUMN
There are 3,000 unexpected infant deaths each year. What’s the number one cause for these deaths? Find out in the Dr. Mehmet Oz column in HEALTH, page 6A.
The Lewis Central Titans volleyball team dashed the Panthers’ dream during a regional semifinal match Thursday in Council Bluffs. More in SPORTS, page 8A. >>
creston
News Advertiser WEEKEND EDITION
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014
DCI investigating at Creston Automotive By SARAH BROWN
Court documents show alleged embezzlement at the dealership over the past eight years and Lyndsay Huntsman, 44, of Creston is the source of this investigation. ■
CNA staff reporter sbrown@crestonnews.com
An investigation into alleged embezzlement at Creston Automotive is underway. And, court documents show Lyndsay Huntsman, 44, of Creston is the source of this investigation by Creston Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigation agents. Huntsman has been office manager at the dealership since 2006. However, she was let go from her position this week after discrepan-
cies were found within the companies financial records.
Discovery
On Oct. 17, an employee at Creston Automotive questioned another employee as to why a cash drawer was left out the previous business day, court documents show.
The employee was informed Huntsman had taken $500 in cash to deposit into the company’s business account on the way out of town. It was assumed she left the drawer out. However, it was later determined the $500 was not deposited, court documents show. On Oct. 23, Creston police
were notified by Creston Automotive of suspicious and fraudulent activity pertaining to their business account. Huntsman Court records state the company’s business bank account was opened in 2006 and had daily deposits of cash Monday through Friday, except on rare occasions. The pattern continued through July 2008. After July 2008, the bank re-
ported the cash deposits started to reduce drastically. Despite being trained and instructed to make daily bank deposits, court documents state less than 50 cash deposits were made per year, each year, from 2010 to 2014. Court records show Huntsman had sole control of the company’s financial account and was responsible for their financial books, reports and making daily bank deposits from 2006 through mid-October 2014. Please see INVESTIGATION, Page 2
QUICK NEWS Daylight Saving Time ends
CNA photo by JAKE WADDINGHAM
Trail update: This panoramic view shows dirt work and construction equipment working on the base of the trail extension around Green Valley Lake Wednesday. The crew is working on the east side of the dam parallel with Green Valley Road. They are pulling material out of the parking lot to the north of the dam. Alan Carr, park ranger at Green Valley State Park, said the crew is working to get the base work done on the trail and hopefully start pouring concrete this fall.
2 plead guilty in northwest Missouri bank robbery KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Two more Iowa men pleaded guilty to robbing a small northwest Missouri bank after which the money was left in a tree. The St. Joseph News-Press reports 28-year-old Travis Davis, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, pleaded guilty Thursday to bank robbery for his role in the March 21 theft at Citizens Bank & Trust in Burlington Junction. Court records show 27-year-old Donald Kestner
Don’t forget to turn the clocks back this weekend. Daylight Saving Time officially ends 2 a.m. Sunday. The main purpose of Daylight Saving Time is to make better use of daylight during the summer. It was first conceived by Benjamin Franklin during his time in Paris as an American delegate. The plan for Daylight Saving Time was not formally adopted in the United States until 1918. Some states and territories do not observe Daylight Saving Time. They are Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and Arizona.
Iowa officials hope new overpass reduces crashes SIOUX CITY (AP) — Officials are hoping that work to raise overpasses on Interstate 29 will reduce frequent crashes by vehicles hauling tall loads. On Tuesday, a sand silo being carried on a tractor-trailer struck the bottom of an overpass with a 15-foot clearance near Salix, the Sioux City Journal reported. The silo landed in the interstate’s median, hitting two parked vehicles. The semitrailer struck a construction crane in a ditch. The driver was taken to and
Jr., also of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, pleaded guilty Tuesday to bank robbery and using a firearm during a crime. In October, 27-year-old Torrence O’Neill, also of Mount Pleasant, pleaded guilty to bank robbery. A witness saw the men leave the bank and followed them until authorities arrested them. A few days later, more than $12,000 taken from the bank was found in a tree in southern Iowa.
later released from a Sioux City hospital after the accident. The interstate’s southbound lanes were shut down for several hours while crews cleared the road of the wreckage and transportation department inspectors examined the overpass to ensure no loose concrete would fall onto the highway. Dakin Schultz of the state’s transportation department Please see CRASHES, Page 2
Flamingo flock returns Monday
The Creston High School Junior Class fundraiser called “Flamingo Flocking” has raised more than $265 toward prom and will be returning to area yards Monday for a couple weeks in November before the ground freezes. It is still a $10 donation to convince the flamingos to fly to another yard — of your choice — in Creston. There will be six separate flocks flying in November. For payment or questions about the fundraiser, contact Virginia Harlan at 782-2116.
Christmas basket nominations being accepted The 2014 Union County Christmas Basket fund campaign is underway. This year’s goal is $19,000 and organizers are gearing up for another successful campaign. Last year, 222 baskets serving 860 people and 125 nursing home baskets were distributed. Residents of
care centers in Creston and Afton received fruit and Kleenex. Nominations for Union County residents will be taken until Nov. 25. Baskets include meat, canned goods donated through efforts of Boy Scouts and school and community projects and certificates redeemable at local supermarkets for perishable foods.
Each child 18 and younger will also receive a gift certicate for clothing items. The Christmas Basket Fund board is assisted in packing and distributing baskets by local service club volunteers and FFA students from Creston Schools. Present board officers are Pres-
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Volume 131 No. 108
2014
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ident Bob Jungst, Vice President Ellen Gerharz, Treasurer Steve Crittenden and Secretary Rose Henry. Additional board members are: Dean and Twila Brant, Todd Nielsen, Rich Paulsen, Brad Baker, Chuck Spindler, Don Damewood, Margaret Wilkins and Troy Peterson.
Contributions may be sent to: Christmas Basket Fund, P.O. Box 126, Creston, IA 50801; or dropped off at the Creston News Advertiser, 503 W. Adams St. All contributions will be published in the Creston News Advertiser weekly progress report listed by name or “friend,” as desired.
Write in Rowdy Bolinger O.I.F Marine Corps Veteran for Hospital Board Vote November 4th