FOOTBALL FEVER
ALL-DISTRICT
Want to win a $25 shopping spree? Compete against Creston Automotive’s Rick Benson in our Football Fever contest on page 11A of today’s paper. >>
Eight Creston/O-M football players earned all-district honors, including three unanimous selections. Who are they? Find out in SPORTS, page 8A. >>
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
Union County tax levy drops to No. 4 in Iowa By JAKE WADDINGHAM
CNA associate editor jwaddingham@crestonnews.com
The county’s tax levy dropped again for the 2014-15 fiscal year, ranking Union County fourth in the state of Iowa. This is the second drop since holding the highest county tax levy in the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year. Union County residents can expect to pay 13.71302 dollars per thousand, trailing Clarke, Lucas and Wayne counties. Clarke County surpassed Lucas and Wayne with their 2014-15 tax
levy of 15.41076 dollars per thousand. But remember, just because the county levy is down does not mean total taxes are lower for Hysell 2014-15. “You still have all those other taxing entities like the city, school, hospital and townships,” Union County Auditor Sandy Hysell said. “The county is just a piece of that pie.” An increase in land valuation
can also have an impact on total dollars spent on taxes. Union County Board of Supervisors Chairman Dennis Brown said it has been a conscious decision to be conservative with their spending. “We are trying to be proactive so we are not caught short on something that could cost us a lot more,” Brown said. “And we are continuing to pay down the debt, as we get those bonds paid off, there is less that we have to tax.”
Debt service One area of focus for the county is the debt service at 2.13958 dol-
fourth annual swcc week
lars per thousand. It ranks second highest in the state behind Taylor County. “If you look back over the years, it is steadily going down,” Hysell said. The total debt for the county is about $7,690,00 as of the end of the fiscal year 2013-14. The original debt total from bonding was about $12,740,000. Union County recently paid off the second of six different bonds and is on pace to cross off two more in the 2017 fiscal year. This includes paying off the largest bond of more than $5 million that
was used for the CHS bean mill plant. “We can’t take credit for all of that,” Brown said. “We have very good elected Brown officials and department heads that understand the situation and are going out of their way to be thrifty.” The two remaining bonds — Please see TAX LEVY, Page 2
Atlantic mother pleads guilty to cancer hoax ATLANTIC (AP) — A 30-year-old western Iowa mother has pleaded guilty to allegations that she devised an elaborate hoax about a diagnosis of cancer for her 5-year-old daughter. On Monday Leatha ■ Leatha Slauson pleaded guilty Slauson in Cass County District Court in Atlantic will be sento two counts of child tenced Dec. endangerment, one of 22. Children administering harmful substances, one of theft are staying and one of unlawful with their possession of a prescrip- father in tion drug. Prosecutors dropped other charges Atlantic. in exchange for her pleas. Her sentencing is set for Dec. 22. Prosecutors say Slauson said on a Facebook page that her daughter Riley was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2013. Donations soon began pouring in. An investigation later determined that Riley was not sick. Riley and her four siblings are staying with their father in Atlantic. Police say he’s not connected to the hoax.
Dodgeball tournament Above, Alexander Rios takes aim during the semifinal match of the Southwestern Community College dodgeball tournament. Rios’ team won the tournament. Right, Erik Freed of Mount Ayr fires a dodgeball at the opposing team during the first round of the Southwestern Community College dodgeball tournament. Freed’s team finished second overall. The games helped kick off the fourth annual SWCC Week, with several more events planned for students to help boost SWCC spirit. CNA photos by JAKE WADDINGHAM
Green Valley Park deer hunt successful Twenty-five hunters using muzzleloaders braved cold and snowy conditions at Green Valley State Park for the 11th annual deer hunt Saturday and Sunday. The hunters harvested 24 deer, which was more than 2013, but well under the 40 deer average that held steady the first nine years of the hunt. “The statistics for the hunt were similar to last year,” Park Ranger Alan Carr said. “It is beginning to look like the deer population in the park has been reduced. This would be consistent with the deer popu-
lation across the state that is showing reductions in many locations.” Of the deer harvested, 54 percent were does and 46 percent were fawn and spike bucks. Carr Park staff and wild- ■ This is life biologist will the 11th continue to mon- annual hunt at the itor the deer herd park. at the park and decide if the quota of 50 deer needs to be changed for future special hunts.
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draw equipment from the arm of Bob Fisher of Creston Monday during a blood drive at Trinity Lutheran Church. Fisher, who has donated more than 10 units of blood over the past 20 years, was first inspired to give during his tenure in the United States Airforce. See results from the blood drive on page 2A.
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Ten gallon club: Phlebotomist Maria Lopez of the American Red Cross prepares to remove blood
Volume 131 No. 120
2014
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