SWCC VOLLEYBALL
TONIC SOL-FA
The Southwestern Community College volleyball team is loading up on southwest Iowa talent. For more on the Spartans, see SPORTS, page 7A. >>
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2017
CRESTON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
Board approves sharing agreement with Murray By SCOTT VICKER
CNA managing editor svicker@crestonnews.com
CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER
Strategy: Creston Firefighter Lee Freeman, left, goes over the plan of attack with Firefighter Casey Carpenter Tuesday morning as volunteer firefighter Mark Huff and part-time firefighter Tony Henry, right, gear up with their air packs while responding to a structure fire at Dunning Repair, located at 509 S. Chestnut St. in Creston. More information will be published when it becomes available.
Ueligger pleads guilty to homicide by vehicle By TAMMY PEARSON passenger in the car, Mari- consecutively or concur- He said that he was drivAdair County Free Press news editor tpearson@shawmedia.com
GREENFIELD – Derek Eugene Ueligger, 32, entered guilty pleas Monday to two counts of homicide by vehicle in connection with the Nov. 2, 2016, deaths of Dawn Christensen, 88, of Adair, and Norma Caltrider, 85, of Adair. At a change of plea hearing in the Adair County Courthouse, Ueligger admitted to being under the influence of several drugs when he crossed the center line of Iowa Highway 25 south of Orient, hitting head-on a car driven by Betty Schultz of Greenfield. Schultz and another
lyn Ehrsam of Greenfield, were seriously injured. Victims and family had submitted victim impact statements to the court prior to the hearing and some in attendance thought that sentencing would occur at the hearing. “I know some of you came with some anticipation that there would be more proceedings than there will be,” said District Court Judge Martha Merts. The plea agreement dictates that Ueligger will be sentenced to no more than 25 years for each of the two counts. The agreement does not address whether or not the sentences will be served
rently. If the sentence is for Ueligger to serve the terms consecutively, then he can face up to 50 years in prison. Ueligger was also ordered to pay restitution to the families of Christensen and Caltrider in the statute-determined amount of $150,000 each. If Ueligger does not appeal his sentence, then two counts of serious injury by vehicle will be dismissed. He still must pay restitution to Schultz and Ehrsam. As the judge read the facts of the case, several people in attendance wiped away tears. Ueligger had to testify to the circumstances that led up to the collision.
CNA photo by CARTER ECKL
Blood drive: Red Cross Nurse Jennifer Reid prepares Michael Waddingham of Macksburg
Monday afternoon before he gets his blood drawn at the Blood drive. The blood drive was held Monday afternoon at Trinity Lutheran Church. In total, 102 donors were present donating 93 total units of blood.
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ing under the influence of drugs when he crossed the center line and struck the oncoming vehicle, “which resulted in the death of two women and the injury of two others,” he said. County Attorney Clint Hight asked that Ueligger also testify as to the drugs he had in his system, which included amphetamines, benzodiazepine, opioids and tricyclics. After the judge accepted Ueligger’s change of plea, she revoked his bond and he was taken into custody. After tearful goodbyes with family and friends, he was taken to the Adair County Jail until sentencing. Sentencing was set for 9:30 a.m. October 16.
A librarian position will be shared between Creston Community School District and Murray Community School District after the CCSD Board of Directors unanimously approved a sharing agreement between the two districts during Monday’s regular meeting. According to the contract for the agreement, Murray Community School District will pay CCSD 20 percent of Tiffany Cooper’s salary and benefits costs for the shared position, while also reimbursing CCSD 20 percent of all state Cooper monies received for the sharing position. Both districts will equally share the reimbursable transportation costs for travel between the districts. “Murray’s been a good partner in the past to share with,” CCSD Superintendent Steve McDermott said via video conference Monday while he recovers from surgery. “They had a need in this area. First and foremost, McDermott it’s to meet a requirement they
have over there. But, also, to add some support they don’t have otherwise.” McDermott said with sharing agreements in the past, the smaller district often held the contract since it was less expensive for both districts by doing that. But since Cooper has been with CCSD for 23 years, he felt it was important for CCSD to hold the contract. “In this case, this is a longterm person here with us who has experience here, so it wouldn’t be fair to ask her to change contracts, and I wouldn’t,” McDermott said. “So, we’re offering a piece of what our contract is and then Murray will pay us accordingly.” Before the board voted on the agreement, Board Member Sharon Snodgrass asked what the sharing agreement would do to the schedule at Creston Community Elementary School. Creston Community Elementary School Principal Scott Driskell said the schedule will become tighter, but everything should work. “As Tiffany has visited with them, we thought it would surround ordering books, organizing the library, s o m e things like that,” Driskell said. “We feel like they’re in good s h a p e Driskell SCHOOLS | 2A
CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN
Hand crafted: Merri Sorden of Creston breathes in the fresh lavender smell of Berly and
Blake Lavender Company’s chamomile soap during the Creston Farmers Market held Monday at McKinley Park. Berly and Blake now offers emolient oil, two new face wash options and raw honey for purchase. The farmers market runs from 4 to 6:30 p.m. every Monday until Sept. 25.
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