SANTA VISIT AT DEPOT
500TH VICTORY
Reminder: Santa will return to the restored Creston Depot 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. This children’s event is sponsored by Creston Animal Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.).
Nodaway Valley boys basketball coach Darrell Burmeister collects 500th career victory Tuesday evening in a win over Lenox. For more on this game, see SPORTS, page 9A.
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014
Board members take stand in Green trial Editor’s note: If you’re not familiar with this case, it’s recommended reading the case’s background on page 14A prior to reading the following story.
“When you are salary, there are no stated hours. He had a job to do to the best of his ability in whatever time it may take.” — Bill Stuart Creston water board member
By JAKE WADDINGHAM
CNA associate editor jwaddingham@crestonnews.com
CORYDON — The second day of the civil trial Steve Green vs. City of Creston, Water Works Board of Trustees saw a majority of current and former water board members take the stand before 10 jury members at the Wayne County Courthouse Tuesday.
Lawyers battled to establish the meaning of specific words and phrases in Green’s contract while witnesses covered an array of topics ranging from typical board actions at monthly meetings to individual knowledge of former Draper, Snodgrass and Mikkelsen auditor Randy Cook’s 2012 audit and the inves-
tigation by the state auditor that followed because of Cook’s report. Working overtime Former Creston Water Works Office Manager Cheryl Eblen – she retired after 22 years of service — concluded her time on the witness stand Tuesday morning reviewing what she had discussed Monday
about petty cash reimbursements, signing checks and the information she had to provide for the yearly audit. Green’s wife Vickie took the stand second to explain to the jury how the Green family came to Creston and how her husband’s work schedule made it nearly impossible for him to use his vacation time. “He was very dedicated to working that job, putting in more hours than probably what he should have,” Vickie said. “He took a lot of pride in doing the job and doing it well.” Former Creston Water Works Chairman Dennis Bailey said
Green was “instrumental” in helping during two major projects including the Creston Water Plant expansion and Summit Lake project. Green received additional payment as a supervisor in both projects with the approval of Bailey and Ken Sharp’s signatures, but it was never discussed or approved by a majority of the board at a meeting. “When you are salary, there are no stated hours,” said Bill Stuart, current board member who will officially resign Dec. 31, 2014. “He had a job to do to the best of his Please see TRIAL, Page 14
Official: Knapp campaigning for Senate seat vacated by Ernst Iowans will use app to show license
By SARAH BROWN
state level. “I understand the struggles they go through,” Knapp said. “I want to see the area thrive, not just survive.” Knapp said improving the livelihood of Knapp all families is her priority, particularly in small towns. Her goal is to improve infrastructure, such as roads, and ensure all Iowans have access to education and jobs. “We have some declining school enrollment and economic devleopment,” Knapp said. Knapp considers herself an experienced advocate with a strong business sense. Knapp and her husband Steve own and operate a cattle operation with more than 200 head near their hometown. Additionally, Knapp has been serving Iowans as a fulltime counselor at Children and Families of Iowa, a non-profit human services agency headquartered in
CNA staff reporter sbrown@crestonnews.com
Iowa Republicans will select their candidate to fill a vacancy in the Iowa State Senate during a special nominating convention 7 p.m. Thursday at the Clarinda Lied Center, 1140 E. Main St. The candidate chosen Thursday will be placed on the ballot for the special election Dec. 30, which was set after U.S. Senator-elect Joni Ernst submitted her resignation from the Iowa state Senate in November. Ringgold County Auditor Amanda Waske said additional nominations can be brought to the floor the evening of the convention. Nominees Currently, there are seven Republican nominees vying for the position — Mark Costello of Imogene, Cara Morgan of Hamburg, Seth Watkins of Clarinda, Dave Sieck of Glenwood, Margaret Stoldorf and Charla Schmid of Red Oak, and Tracee Knapp of Redding. Knapp, who announced her candidacy for Iowa State Senate Dec. 1, said her goal is to be a voice for Iowans living in small towns at the
Please see KNAPP, Page 2
CNA photo by SARAH BROWN
Tracee Knapp of Redding shakes hands with Graphic Designer Brett Cannon at Podium Ink in Mount Ayr during her final day of campaigning for Iowa Senate Tuesday in southwest Iowa.
DES MOINES (AP) — Need to show your driver’s license? In Iowa, there will soon be an app for that. A smartphone app that’s under development will allow users to show the digital license to law enforcement officers during traffic stops and at security checkpoints at Iowa airports, according to Paul Trombino, director ■ The free app of the state Department of will be availTransportation. The free app will be available some- able in 2015. time in 2015. Iowa is one of “We are really moving 30 states that forward on this,” he said to Gov. Terry Branstad during allows drivers a state agency budget hear- to show proof ing Monday. “The way of insurance things are going, we may be with electronic the first in the nation.” Trombino said users will devices. use a pin number for verification, The Des Moines Register reported. “Having this really allows people to protect their identity,” he said, and suggested that the technology could be used for other state licenses. Residents will still be able to use a regular, plastic driver’s license. But for those who use the digital version, Trombino said it “is basically your license on your phone.” Iowa is one of more than 30 states that allow drivers to show their proof of insurance via an electronic device. Trombino said a mobile driver’s license is logical because of people’s reliance on the technology.
CHS drumline to host energetic performance By BAILEY POOLMAN
CNA staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com
Creston High School Drumline is blending science with music for their new show “Energy and Vibration,” a take on string theory. “It is a musical and visual representation of string theory and the energy that binds the universe together,” said Mike Peters, Creston High School band director. String theory is a physics theory based on the replacement of particles with
one-dimensional strings and explains fundamental forces in nature and forms of matter. Peters said the concept of the show has been in the works since spring. “It started when I saw a semi-trailer on the interstate that had a logo on it with a big ‘V,’ and the word voltage on it. There were lightning bolts all around the word. I thought it was a cool design,” Peters said. “Then, I found a piece of music called ‘Energy’ that fit my idea.” After that, Peters began looking up quotes from theo-
retical physicists Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking about energy and the universe. This led to him reading up on M-theory, another name for string theory, and how this kind of scientific thinking could be displayed musically and visually. “We have a relatively young group this year, but a very talented group. As they gain experience, they are getting better and better,” Peters said. “The biggest challenge is going to get the actors out of them so that they can convey a very mature and complex
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subject matter.” The drumline group consists of four seniors, five juniors, 10 sophomores and seven freshmen. The students are still working on the music, but, according to Peters, they are starting to enjoy what Peters has planned. The performance is expected to be a high-intensity feat of energy by connecting speed and motion through the music and movements of the students. The first show is Please see DRUMLINE, Page 2
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Dec. 18 — Winter concert, Creston HS Jan. 31 — Evaluation Clinic and Show, Elkhorn High School Feb. 7 —Papillion-La Vista High School Feb. 14 — Papillion-La Vista South HS Feb. 21 — Bellevue East High School Feb. 28 — Millard South High School March 9 — Spring concert, Creston HS March 14 — Burke High School March 28 — HWAA Championships, Bellevue West High School April 5 — Fine Arts Fest, Creston Middle School
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