LADY RELAYS
GRANDSTAND ACT
Castillo and Panther freshmen shine as Creston wins home Lady Panther Relays. More in SPORTS, page 6A. >>
Another musical act has been announced for the 2016 Iowa State Fair Grandstand Concert Series, and tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Saturday. Who is the newest act added? More on page 2A of today’s paper. >>
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Gas tax brings in money for GRMC adds culverts, road plan drafted full-time adult psychiatrist Mark Preston Due to the gas tax increase, which took effect in March 2015 and increased gas 10 cents per gallon, more money has come into Union County and will be used to fix roads. ■
CNA file photo
This bridge on Iris Avenue southeast of Creston went from a six-ton weight limit to a three-ton weight limit after Union County Board of Supervisors received the deficient bridge notification for Union County this year. Bridges are on the list of projects the board plans to complete for the five-year secondary roads program.
By BAILEY POOLMAN consumption is higher, more CNA staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com
Thanks to the gas tax increase, which took effect March 1, 2015, and increased gas 10 cents per gallon, more money has come in to Union County, and it’s being used to fix secondary roads throughout the county. So far, about $335,000 more than expected has come in for fiscal year 2016 (FY2016), when the projected amount from the increased gas tax was about $244,000. However, that amount can change based on things such as fuel consumption and changing prices. “They’re saying the fuel
people are buying more fuel,” said Steve A k e s , U n i o n County engineer. “It’s kind of hard to tell because I had Akes to base it on what we got last year, and assume that’s kind of normal, but we might have been on the low side last year.” Other things also go into the gas tax money, such as registration fees from vehicle purchases. Ron Riley, Union County Supervisors chairperson, ROADS | 2A
Roads on the 5-year plan Here is a list of roads on the Union County secondary roads five-year construction plan. The roads are listed from highest priority to lowest. • Old Highway 34 overlay, on Old Highway 34, FY2017, cost $380,000 • Creamery Road, from REA Road to Highway 34, FY2017, cost $1,586,000 • Dogwood Avenue rehabilitation, from 170th Street to Highway 25, FY2018, cost $90,000 • 170th Street rehabilitation, phase one, from Dogwood to Cottonwood avenues, FY2018, cost $140,000
• REA Road, from Redwood Avenue to the city of Lorimor, FY2019, cost $1,300,000 • Dogwood Avenue rehabilitation, phase two, from 170th Street to Highway 25, FY2019, cost $634,000 • 170th Street rehabilitation, phase two, from Dogwood to Cottonwood avenues, FY2019, cost $582,000 • REA Road reconstruction, from Redwood Avenue to the city of Lorimor, FY2021, cost $3,215,000 • REA Road whitetopping, from Creamery Road to Redwood Avenue, FY2021, cost $1,190,000
Greater Regional Medical Center announced Mark A. Preston, MD, board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, recently joined the Greater Regional medical staff in April. Preston specializes in adult psychiatry. “I want to emphasize and devote the majority of my time in an outpatient behavioral health practice. I chose to come to Greater Regional because of Preston the ability to develop close communication and coordination of care in a smaller organization,” said Preston. “I am familiar with the Creston area as I spent summers here as a child and I continue to have family residing locally.” Preston most recently practiced at Unity Point Health Psychiatry in Des Moines and was also in private practice in Des Moines. He attended Iowa State University where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, graduated from medical school at University of Iowa – College of Medicine and completed his psychiatry residency and fellowship program at University of Iowa. “Local and timely access to needed behavioral health services has been a significant challenge for several years in Creston and the surrounding region,” said Monte Neitzel, CEO. “Our providers and
medical community identified a need to bring a greater presence for psychiatry and we’ve been working to recruit a provider for several years. We are very pleased to announce full-time psychiatry services are now available at Greater Regional.” “Our family and internal medicine physicians are especially pleased to have Preston working with them in the clinic. Preston has a highly regarded reputation in his field of medicine and will complement the high quality, comprehensive services Greater Regional Medical Clinic offers,” said Gwen Buck, chief clinical officer. “Convenience and access to behavioral health care and treatment are two important factors to ensuring high quality care and service for our patients.” Preston will lead the effort to create an outpatient adult psychiatry service line at Greater Regional which will provide local residents with improved access to psychiatry services locally. Individuals, age 18 and older, who are struggling with depression, anxiety, psychoses or addiction may call the clinic to schedule an appointment. Greater Regional will not be offering inpatient services. Preston will be co-located with Greater Regional Medical Clinics in Suite 200 and will be accepting new patients. His office can be reached at 641-782-2131. A public open house to welcome Preston will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14, in the Medical Arts Plaza.
Grassley has breakfast with Iowa passes federal judge Merrick Garland bill to fund water quality initiatives WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley had breakfast Tuesday with the man whose elevation to the Supreme Court he has vowed to block and told him the Senate won’t advance his nomination “during this hyper-partisan election year,” the lawmaker’s office said. Grassley’s meeting with federal judge Merrick Garland was “cordial and pleasant” and lasted about 70 minutes, according to a written statement released by the Iowa Republican’s aides. Grassley has been a favorite target of Democrats criticizing Republicans for their refusal to consider President Barack Obama’s
nomination this year. GOP opposition has been led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., with Grassley refusing to allow his committee to hold even the usual hearings for the nominee. Grassley evaded reporters waiting for him outside the Senate Dining Room in the Capitol, where he met with Garland. He had said in advance that he would recite to the judge the Republican position that the Senate won’t consider a nominee until the new president elected this November makes a selection. “As he indicated last week, Grassley explained why the Senate won’t be moving forward during this hyper-partisan election
year,” Grassley’s five-sentence statement said. “Grassley thanked Judge Garland for his service.” Garland as usual said nothing to reporters. For weeks, Democrats have been criticizing Grassley almost daily on the Senate floor. With Grassley seeking a seventh Senate term in this November’s voting, they have said they believe the pressure is beginning to show. “These are not the actions of a senator who is confident in his decision to block a Supreme Court nominee,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Tuesday on the Senate floor, citing the private breakfast and accusing him of stifling committee busi-
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ness. “This is the behavior of a senator who knows he’s on the wrong side of the Constitution and the wrong side of history.” Told of Grassley’s meeting with Garland as he entered the Capitol Tuesday near the dining room, Reid said, “I’m glad he’s doing something.” Conservative groups issued statements supporting Grassley after the breakfast. “The American people are grateful that Senator Grassley is standing up to President Obama’s cynical attempt to force the Senate to confirm Merrick Garland, another liberal judge who will ensure the left dominates the Supreme Court for GRASSLEY | 2A
DES MOINES (AP) — The Republican-controlled House has passed a bill that would fund water quality initiatives in Iowa, though it’s unclear if the Democratic-majority Senate will support it. The House voted 65-33 Monday night in support of the legislation. Democrats in the chamber attempted several changes to the measure but failed. The GOP proposal would use money from a special infrastructure fund and a tax on water use, which typically goes to the general fund and a separate fund for education
infrastructure. Democrats say those sources of funding should be left alone. Gov. Terry Branstad has said he supports the House legislation, though it drastically shifted away from his own water quality plan. The bill now heads to the Senate, where legis- Branstad lative leaders plan to introduce their own water quality proposal soon.
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