LIBRARY PROGRAMMING Gibson Memorial Library Director David Hargrove discusses upcoming programs being offered by the library during the month of May in his latest column. For more information, see OPINION, page 4A. >>
REGIONAL MEDALIST Kirkwood’s Carson Whittington wins medalist honors as the Southwestern men finished sixth at the Region XI Championships. For more on the tournament, see SPORTS, page 6A. >>
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Coming full circle Murray’s new track provides athletic, educational experiences ■
By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
MURRAY — The new track at Murray School District is going to mean many things to a lot of people, but first, it will show students can take something from the classroom and apply it to real-world knowledge. “As a teacher, I often hear the question, ‘When will we ever actually use this stuff?’ And, it was great to have an opportunity to do just that,” said Mindy Oswald, Murray High School math teacher.
Finding formulas First, the land for the track was donated by the Hamer family. It is located north of the football field. Then, students worked on a layout for the track based on internet research and information shared with them by Superintendent Alan Miller. In the college algebra and calculus classes, students used the formula for circum-
ference of a circle to come up with three possible plans for a 300-meter track of various lengths that they submitted to Miller. The next week, both classes went to the track location and tried to utilize their plans. They found the proposed 300-meter track would not fit in the area available, so they worked together to create a track that would fit. “I hope they learned a valuable application of what we have learned, as well as how to adjust plans when things don’t always go exactly as expected,” Oswald said.
Results Finally, the plan was to have a 252-meter track with a straightaway on the south end. This will allow for hurdlers and sprinters to practice at the same time. In preparation for the construction of the track, Bud Jones cleared out trees and did grading and fencing. A storage building, longjump pit, high-jump and shot put areas were installed. Miller said the intention of the track was never to be for competition. “You don’t make money off the track meets. It’s so expensive,” he said. “We’re
Contributed photo
Murray students apply their math and engineering skills to designing a new track for the school district.
TRACK | 2A
Hartley trial scheduled Obama allies use for August Trump to press By BAILEY POOLMAN during his February arraign- attorney. “Because she’s still CNA staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com
The trial for Jennifer Jean Hartley, 43, of Thayer is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 1 at Union County Courthouse in the first-degree murder of Loretta Lynn Dillinger. Hartley’s pretrial conference is scheduled 11 a.m. July 1 at the courthouse. Hartley was originally charged March 22 in addition to the guilty pleas given by the late Jerry Ray Dillinger
ment. Her charge came with violation of several sections of Iowa code, including aiding and abetting and joint criminal conduct. Hartley was being held on a modified bond of $500,000 in Union County Jail. She was originally being held in Ringgold County Jail for Union County on $1 million bond. “The judge did review her bond, and he did make some modifications,” said Tim Kenyon, Union County
in jail, those (trial dates) are more firm than usual.”
Connections According to a Union County Sheriff report, as a result of investigatory interviews, officers learned that in August 2015, a plan was created to set fire to a residence in Greenfield and one in Thayer. As part of the plan, Loretta would be involved in setting the fires and would be blamed for the fires. TRIAL | 2A
CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN
Planting season: Little green sprouts of corn pop up in curving rows Friday in a field south
of Orient. The field belongs to Ron Gordon of Creston. Iowa has been the leading producer of corn for 20 years thanks to a warm growing season and soil rich in nutrients. Locally, the planting season began in April and still continues. After the growing season, farmers will harvest their crop as early as September.
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2016
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GOP on Supreme Court nominee DES MOINES (AP) — Proponents of President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee believe they have a new winning argument to get the Republican-led Senate to act — the prospect of Donald Trump choosing someone to fill the vacancy. Hardly, says Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, the Iowa GOP senator who steadfastly opposes any confirmation hearings or votes on Judge Merrick Garland until Americans elect the next president. “There’s no problem with Trump appointing people to the Supreme Court,” said Grassley, who pointed to Trump’s February GOP presidential debate promise that he’d nominate conservative judges and specifically his mention of William Pryor. President George W. Bush appointed Pryor, Alabama’s former attorney general, to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Pryor has angered those on the right and left, backing the ousting of Chief Justice Roy Moore over his failure to remove a
Ten Commandments monument and calling the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion “the worst abomination in the history of constitutional law.” “If he’s going to appoint people like that I don’t have any doubt,” Grassley said after a weeklong recess week b a c k home in which liberal activist groups Grassley were relentless in pressuring the senator to hold hearings on Garland. Grassley, who is seeking a seventh term, faced billboards and demonstrations as he met constituents at town halls around the state. Obama nominated Garland on March 16 to fill the vacancy created by the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia in February. While some Senate Republicans have held courtesy visits with Garland, they refuse to hold hearings or vote on his nomination. Outside the Iowa Judi-
cial Branch building in Des Moines a former Grassley supporter said the longtime senator has lost his vote. Ken Blackledge, 66, a produce farmer from Nevada in central Iowa and registered independent voter, said he has known Grassley for decades and voted for him because of the independent-minded Midwestern values he shared. “I’m not voting for him anymore because he’s not the Chuck that he was,” Blackledge said. “He’s more of a Washington Beltway-type person now which isn’t the person I know.” Democrats and outside groups targeted Grassley because of his chairmanship of the Judiciary panel. Obama administration allies also have focused on vulnerable Republican senators in states such as Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin that Obama won twice. Grassley said the strategy isn’t working and he’s doesn’t feel any more threatened in this race than previous ones. COURT | 2A
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