THROWBACK NEWS
Fifty years ago, new Creston Chamber of Commerce officers were elected with Ronald Longstaff named president and Deane Smith as first vice president. More Throwback on 2A.
STARK HONORED Mount Ayr’s defensive tackle Logan Stark was named the District 8 Defensive Player of the Year earlier this week. See other all-district honors on page 9A. >>
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Off to Disneyland
update
Silva pretrial conference scheduled for Jan. 15
CNA photo by IAN RICHARDSON
Creston fourth-graders wave goodbye to Eva Sorensen and her mom, Kaitlin, via Skype during an assembly Friday at Creston Elementary/Middle School.
Creston fourth graders commission painting from 3-year-old Utah artist Eva Sorensen, who has secured enough money now to pay for a trip to Disneyland. Painting to be hung in elementary art room. ■
By IAN RICHARDSON CNA staff reporter
irichardson@crestonnews.com
O
ver the past few weeks, the Creston fourthgrade art class has been studying a rather unlikely artist. Since September, Eva Sorensen, a 3-year-old Utah girl with a love for Disney princesses, has been painting abstract art and selling the originals and prints with hopes to raise enough money to help fund her own trip to Disneyland. Last week, the Creston fourth-graders met Eva over Skype to talk with her and her mother, Kaitlin, about her work. The class has commissioned Eva to paint a black, red and gold painting that will soon hang in the elementary art room. Shari Walters, Creston’s pre-kindergarten through fourth-grade art teacher, said she first heard about
Eva has sold 63 paintings through Etsy and Facebook, and she has five more commissioned. Proceeds have gone toward the trip and more supplies, which Eva has been purchasing using her own debit card. Kaitlin has been her “assistant” through the process. “As her mom, I never wanted Eva to feel stressed,” Kaitlin said. “I Contributed photo had to keep track of the shipping, This commissioned painting, titled “Snow Queen,” was commissions, added to Eva’s print site Tuesday. It is one of 63 paint- photograph the paintings ings Eva has painted in her abstract style, which incorpo- for the prints, and keep it rates drizzle, string and stamping techniques. all fun for Eva.” Eva’s Facebook page, E v a ’ s story and just decided “Art by 3valynn,” has garproject we’d make a lesson out of nered nearly 1,400 likes, it.” on the and her efforts have gained evening Eva’s parents had come the attention of national n e w s up with the idea of an art media. Kaitlin said Eva about a business after Eva kept ask- raised enough money just month ing them to go to the theme before Halloween, and the park, a trip they kept tell- family is scheduled to make ago. “I de- Walters ing her was too expensive. the long-awaited trip to cided I When they asked her how Disneyland in January. really wanted one of her she could help them pay for Walters shared Eva’s paintings because they’re the trip, she answered she background with her beautiful,” Walters said. could make pictures. “I thought it was a cool In the past two months, EVA | 2A
The pretrial conference for Manuel Allen Silva Jr. has been set for 9:30 a.m. Jan. 15, and the trial has been tentatively set for 9:30 a.m. Feb. 22. In August, Silva, 44, 1951 Beechwood Ave., was charged on a Union County warrant for two counts of third-degree sexual abuse at Union County Law Enforcement Center. According to a Creston Police report, during an evening in May, a female victim was at Silva’s residence. He gave the victim a beverage which he observed her consume. After consuming the beverage, the victim became “groggy” and fell asleep on Silva’s couch. She described feeling tired, unsteady and in a dream-like state. Silva engaged in a sex act with the
female without her consent and against her will. Several days later, the Silva events were reported to law enforcement, and blood and urine samples were taken from the female victim as part of a medical examination. Urinalysis resulted in the discovery of a benzodiazepine further identified as Temazepam. The victim was not on any prescription medication at the time of the alleged assault, nor did she otherwise take any such medication with her SILVA | 2A
Iowa board dissolves Farragut Schools FARRAGUT (AP) — A southwest Iowa school district has been dissolved after officials say it has run with a negative balance and sub-minimal educational standards. The Des Moines Register reports that the Iowa Board of Education voted to close the Farragut School District Wednesday. State officials say the district had a five-year period of deficit spending that was approaching $1 million. The Green Hills Area
Education Agency will take over day-to-day operations so students can finish the school year. The Iowa Department of Education will redraw boundaries, and the students will have options on which nearby schools to attend. The department will also divide the district’s assets. This is the third time the state has closed a school district, which is seen as a last resort when programming or financial issues are too difficult to solve.
Former Casey clerk indicted on fraud, arson DES MOINES — Acting United States Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel announced the return of an indictment stemming from an investigation into the misappropriation of city funds and burning of a community building in Casey. The indictment charges Dorothy L. Dillinger, the former Casey city clerk, with five counts of mail fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud by using the city’s credit card to purchase items for personal use. The indictment also
The community building in Casey was set on fire in August 2014, the night before auditors were to arrive to conduct a city audit. ■
charges Dillinger with one count of malicious use of fire for the fire that destroyed the Casey Community Building, which housed the City Clerk’s office. The community building fire was set just prior to midnight of Aug. 19, 2014. Personnel from
the state auditor’s office were scheduled to arrive at the clerk’s office on the morning of Aug. 20, 2014, to conduct an audit of the city’s records following a successful petition drive by citizens of Casey seeking an audit. The joint investigation was
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conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; State Fire Marshal Division of the Iowa Department of Public Safety; Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office; Guthrie County Attorney’s Office; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa. An initial appearance and arraignment have been scheduled for 2 p.m. Nov. 30 at the United States Courthouse in Des
Moines. In accordance with the Iowa Rules of Professional Conduct, the public is reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation, and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Additionally, because this matter is pending in the United States District Court, the United States Attorney’s Office does not anticipate making any further comment or statement at this time.
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