CNA- 8-14-2017

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LICENSE PLATES

BEST SHOT CHAMPS

The choices for the new Iowa license plates have received harsh criticism. To find out what the designer of the plates has to say about the criticisms, see page 8A. >>

TJ Redding and Chad Dryden bested the field this weekend at the 49th annual Phil Tyler Best Shot Invitational. For more on the tournament, see SPORTS, page 5A. >>

creston

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SHAW MEDIA GROUP SERVING SW IOWA SINCE 1879 BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE AT WWW.CRESTONNEWS.COM

MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 2017

UNDERWATER IN THE Shaw Media purchases MIDWEST

ACFP and FO

CNA photo by ALEX FELKER

A group of divers led by JGP Dive Adventures LLC owner and scuba instructor Grant Plowman enter the water in early August at Mermet Springs near Metropolis, Illinois. Mermet Springs is one of the most popular dive facilities in the Midwest, and famously features the submerged body of the Boeing 727 airplane destroyed in the 1998 action movie “U.S. Marshalls.” Local scuba instructor Grant Plowman uses the facilities to NAUI open-water certify beginner scuba divers.

Local scuba instructors provide unique Midwestern diving experience ■

By ALEX FELKER

CNA staff reporter afelker@crestonnews.com

Scuba diving allows participants to explore the depths of the earth in an unparelleled way. And, the basics of the scuba diving can be learned right here in Iowa. JGP Dive Adventures LLC, of Creston, offers private and group scuba instruction to students ages 10 and over right here in the local area. Grant Plowman, JGP Dive Adventures LLC owner and National Asso-

ciation of Underwater Instructors (NAUI)-certified scuba instructor, has been around diving since his early childhood. “It started back in the ‘70s,” said Plowman, “when my dad used to dive for Union County as a rescue diver. And I always thought it’d be cool. Back then, you had to be 18 years old to do it so I was too young, but I had a close friend and we got certified to be skin divers through a YMCA camp back in Okoboji. “So we hung with it for a while,” said Plowman, “and then we got older and then, you know, things happen and all of a sudden in 2004 there was a scuba diving class in Creston. So I took it and started helping out my instructor. I kind of worked my way up through the chain, and eventually spent five years student-teach-

ing before becoming an instructor and doing the instruction end of my business.” JGP Dive Adventures LLC was started in 2008 as a travel planning agency. After receiving his NAUI scuba instruction certification, Plowman decided to add full service dive training to his business’ offerings.

The student’s experience Beginner scuba divers can expect a flexible lesson plan to meet the student’s needs. A combination of studying from a textbook, enclosed water (swimming pool) training time, a final test and opportunity to earn an open-waters diving certification are included in the first-time diver’s instruction.

CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER

Park maintenance: Jacob Goodson of Creston, a 2017 Creston Community High School

graduate, clips growths off a tree Monday morning in McKinley Park. Goodson is working for the Creston Parks and Recreation Department during the summer.

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“A student gets a better understanding of problem solving,” said Plowman. “You grow up being able to problem solve on land without a problem. But now you’re doing it in an environment that’s unnatural to us — which is underwater. “And I’ve worked with kids,” said Plowman, “where they come in and they hated each other as the worst of enemies. And you pair them up, and by the end of their training they’re the best of friends. Because they’ve had this sense of camaraderie, and they’ve had to rely on each other. So you develop a brotherhood. I may not dive with you all the time, but we’re a big family. It’s just something you experience.” Plowman teaches and certifies his students with the help of assistant instructor SCUBA | 2A

Shaw Media, owner of the Creston News Advertiser, has purchased the Adair County Free Press and Fontanelle Observer from Carroll-based Herald Publishing, both parties announced today. The sale will be effective immediately. Prior to Herald Publishing owning the Adair County Free Press, the Sidey family had a long-storied tradition of covering Adair County. The Creston News Advertiser printed the Adair County Free Press and Fontanelle Observer for many years at its print plant. The CNA has also continued to cover the area in news and sports for several years, and now will do it locally. CNA Publisher Rich Paulsen will also serve as publisher of the Adair

County Free Press and Fontanelle Observer. “We are looking forward to serving the Greenfield and Fontanelle communities,” Paulsen said. “It will be a pleasure to work with the folks in Adair County. We look to continue the outstanding tradition of journal- Paulsen ism in the newspaper.” “Geographically, and based on current trade and shopping and economic patterns, it is clear Creston is the commercial center for this region, so it makes sense SHAW | 2A

Powerball jackpot expected to be $430 million on Wednesday DES MOINES (AP) — The Powerball jackpot will continue to grow above $400 million this week because no one matched all the numbers in Saturday’s drawing. Lottery officials estimate that the jackpot for the next Powerball drawing on Wednesday will be $430 million.

The Powerball prize will be the only big lottery jackpot this week because someone who bought a ticket in Palos Heights, Illinois, won Saturday’s $393 million Mega Millions jackpot. But remember that the odds of winning Powerball remain long at one in 292.2 million.

CNA photo by CARTER ECKL

Swap meet: Sue Puszkiewicz of Monticello, Ill. stands behind her booth at the Peanut Pals 30th annual Midwest Convention Saturday morning. Puszkiewicz was selling some of her Mr. Peanut and Planters Peanut collection. The 2018 Midwest Convention will be held in Monticello, Ill.

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