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September 10, 2013
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SPORTS, page 9A
Bird pleads guilty, could serve 30 years By KYLE WILSON
CNA assistant managing editor kwilson@crestonnews.com
William “Billy” Bird — who stabbed a Creston woman in the chest with a knife earlier this year — pleaded guilty to four felony charges Friday. Those charges include willful injury, domestic abuse/assault by strangulation and two counts of burglary. Bird will be sentenced 9:30 a.m. Nov. 1 at the Union County Courthouse. “He is facing a minimum of 10 years and maximum of 30 years
Billy Bird, who stabbed a woman in the chest with a kitchen knife in January, will be sentenced Nov. 1
(in prison),” said Union County Attorney Tim Kenyon. “That decision is now in the hands of the judge. He will have the option of sentenc- Bird ing him to 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years.”
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That night
Court documents state on Jan. 22, Bird went to 705 W. Montgomery St. at about 9:30 p.m. An argument broke out between Bird and a female victim who is the mother
of his child. Bird struck the female in the face and attempted to strangle her. At 2:15 a.m., Bird returned to the residence and forced his way inside where he threatened and struck the female victim. The female victim attempted to go to a neighbor’s house about 2:30 a.m. Bird chased the victim, eventually catching her and stabbing
her in the chest with a knife. She was transported to Greater Regional Medical Center and survived her injury. Bird was initially charged with first-degree burglary, domestic abuse/assault by strangulation and attempted murder. Bird’s attempted murder charge — which carries a minimum sentence of 25 years — was amended
to a willful injury charge Friday. “Part of the reason a lesser included offense was submitted to the jury,” Kenyon said, “was because the circumstances of her injury were not as severe as originally believed. Don’t get me wrong, anytime you are stabbed in the chest it is a serious injury. But again, it wasn’t as severe as originally thought. Was it attempted murder? That’s what a jury would have had to decide (if Bird didn’t plea.)”
Please see BIRD, Page 2
it’s election day
School board, SWCC tax levy on ballot By JAKE WADDINGHAM
CNA staff reporter jwasddingham@crestonnews.com
who13 rvtv sweeps through creston Friends Steve Wilson, left, and Denny Abel of Creston put rivalry aside for a few minutes during the RVTV event Monday.
Polls open today from noon to 8 p.m. for Creston School Board elections and the Southwestern Community College levy. Voters in Creston vote at SWCC or Crest Baptist Church. Afton residences vote at the Methodist church. The polling place in Arispe is at the Methodist church, as well. Voters in Lorimor go to the community center to vote. Union County will also be using new voting equipment. Voters have the option to check in using their driver’s license or voter registration card. Galen Zumbach, Tom Eagan, Rich Flynn and Sharon Snodgrass are running for the three spots on the Creston school board. The Southwestern levy is a continuation that has been in place since 1966. Voters have approved all previous facilities levies for SWCC.
QUICK NEWS Afton house fire
AFTON —Local firefighters were dispatched to a house fire 12:47 p.m. Monday at 201 Webster St., Afton. The house is owned by Wayne Moore and rented by Hannah Clear. No one was in the house at the time of the fire. No damage report is available at this time. For more details, as well as photos of the fire, see page PAGE 2A.
Above, Keith Murphy of WHO-TV, right, prepares for a live interview of Creston Mayor Warren Woods during the station’s 5 p.m. newscast Monday. Left, Lane Parrish, 3, of Diagonal hangs out with Cy the Cyclone. CNA photos by KYLE WILSON/LARRY PETERSON
Left, WHO-TV sportscaster Michael Admire (wearing apron) takes a turn grilling steaks at Fareway Food Store’s concession stand after being interviewed by WHO’s Andy Fales, right, during the station’s 5 p.m. newscast.
more photos
from the RVTV event are on page 6A in today’s paper
Walleye release
High Lakes Outdoor Alliance is preparing a walleye release in October to restock Green Valley Lake after the water temperature cools. U n i o n County Conservation Director Doug Jones said High Lakes Outdoor Alliance budgeted $4,000 for about 2,667 walleyes — fingerlings six to eight inches in length. The fish will be released at the main boat ramp at Green Valley. This is the third time in four years High Lakes has contributed to restocking the lake with walleyes. Please see QUICK NEWS, Page 2
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Volume 130 No. 64 Copyright 2013
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Contents
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Deaths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Heloise Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Wednesday weather High 85 Low 61 Full weather report, 3A