OFFENSE STALLS
HOLIDAY CONCERT
The Southwestern Community College Chamber singers will hold a concert 7:30 p.m. Sunday at SWCC’s performing arts center. More info about this concert on page 2A. >>
The Panther offense struggled in a 43-31 home loss to Shenandoah Tuesday. It was Creston’s first loss in four games. More from the matchup in SPORTS, page 8A. >>
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015
Santa’s Silverado Sleigh
election results
Moore wins special election for District 21 vacancy By IAN RICHARDSON CNA staff reporter
irichardson@crestonnews.com
CNA file photo
Employees at Stalker Chevrolet, 601 S. Sumner Ave., present Santa’s Silverado sleigh full of toys at the dealership Dec. 18, 2014. The toys were donated to MATURA the next morning. Pictured, from left, are Rhonda Ringsdorf, Trisha McDonald, Nathan Dudenhoeffer, Ron Higgins, Garrick Looney and Cazlyn White.
By KELSEY HAUGEN CNA staff reporter
khaugen@crestonnews.com
E
very year, Creston families in need during the holidays put in requests to MATURA Action Corporation for items such as clothing or winter gear. With the help of MATURA and donations from the community, many families receive requested necessities. While children in these families need clothing, staff of Stalker Chevrolet in Creston decided they should also receive something fun for Christmas: toys. This year, Stalker Chevrolet hosts the fourth annual Santa’s Silverado Sleigh, a program in which people in the community begin donating new, unopened toys the day after Thanksgiving to be stored in the bed of a Silverado until Dec. 18. Then, the toys are donated to MATURA and distributed to families in need. “It’s to help brighten a child’s Christmas morning,” said Nick Jannings, sales consultant at Stalker Chev-
Stalker Chevrolet hosts annual toy program, in which a Silverado is filled with new toys to donate to MATURA for families in need this month. ■
rolet. “The big thing is to do something local; all the toys are staying here.” The goal is to completely fill up the bed of the pickup truck. You can watch the weekly progress on Stalker Chevrolet’s Facebook page. “ I n p a s t years, filling the Silverado Jannings has never been a problem,” Jannings said. “We’ve always had a good turnout, and we’re off to a pretty good start this year.” So far, a few of the items in the truck include Barbie dolls, baby dolls and stuffed animals. “We also take money donations, which helps us even out the toys as far as boy and girl toys,” Jannings said.
In the past, a few local companies donated toys, including Creston Wal-Mart and Farm & Home Supply. But most donations come from individuals in the community, Jannings said. In helping local families during the holidays, MATURA also works with the Creston Chamber of Commerce. In the Chamber building is a Christmas tree with ornaments, and on each ornament, there is a list of needs of a particular family. Usually, these needs are articles of clothing. A member of the community may choose to meet the requests of a family on an ornament. While this program provides necessities for families, the Silverado toy program allows these families to also receive toys they otherwise couldn’t afford. Once the toys are donated to MATURA, they are assigned to families based
on the number of, age and gender of their children. MATURA staff tries to provide each child at least one toy. “It’s a tremendous program, and I know in the past, quite a few children wouldn’t have gotten a toy for Christmas if it weren’t for Stalker Chevrolet,” said Ron L u d w i g , Ludwig executive director of MATURA in Creston. While some families in need have lived in poverty for awhile, others simply have one rough year due to temporary financial strains, such as a job layoff or illness. “It helps families that, because of their current income status, may not be able to enjoy Christmas this year as others do,” Ludwig said. If you’d like to make a toy or monetary donation, visit Stalker Chevrolet, 601 S. Sumner Ave.
Tom Moore, R-Griswold, will be the new representative for Iowa House District 21. Moore received 62 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s special election, defeating Democratic candidate Tim Ennis of Corning to win the seat. “It’s just really humbling, and I’m honored to have that kind of support,” Moore said. “Going into the legislative session, I see that as a real trust that the people have put in me to fill the seat and to repr e s e n t Moore them.” Moore, 63, is a retired teacher and coach and former assistant manager for Southwest Iowa Ag in Massena. Throughout his campaign, Moore has emphasized putting “people over politics” and touted small government and a balanced budget. He will fill the seat formerly held by fellow Griswold Republican Jack Drake, who died in October. Drake had served since 1992 and was the longest-serving Republican in the Iowa House.
“It’s just really humbling, and I’m honored to have that kind of support.” — Tom Moore
New representative for Iowa House District 21
Moore said even though the legislative session doesn’t convene until January, the work has already begun. He will attend a meeting of Republicans next week to set an agenda for the course of January’s legislative session. “From here it’s just me getting on board and participating in this sharp learning curve that’s going to take place, and just becoming comfortable with the surroundings and jumping in,” Moore said. More than 2,200 people voted across District 21, which covers all of Adams and Union counties and portions of Pottawattomie and Cass counties. Both candidates won in their home counties Tuesday. Moore took 68.9 percent of 1,059 votes in Cass County, and Ennis took 57 percent of 445 votes in Adams County. In Union County, Moore received 61 percent of 668 votes. Moore also won ELECTION | 2A
Retirement party:
Ellen Gerharz, left, talks to Southern Prairie YMCA Executive Director Jacki Steffen during her retirement party at the YMCA this morning. Steffen’s last day is Dec. 23, and Joyce Baker, office manager, will be interim executive director until the position is filled. Steffen has worked for the YMCA for 30 years. She started in Des Moines, then Indianapolis, then Milwaukee, and finally Creston, where she has served as the executive director for 9 years. Steffen’s main goal from this point forward is to improve her health. Candidates for the executive director position will be interviewed by phone on Friday and face-to-face Dec. 22.
CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN
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Gary Riley files his ballot Tuesday afternoon at Southwestern Community College. Riley was one of 668 voters from Union County to vote in the special election, a turnout rate of just over 8 percent.
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