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School board: Out with the old, in with the new By BAILEY POOLMAN
CNA staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com
The old is out, and the new is in. At Creston School Board’s regularly-scheduled meeting Monday, former board member Rich Flynn left, and new board member Tom Eagan was sworn in. Creston Superintendent Steve McDermott presented Flynn with a plaque for his service. “I want to thank everybody in the Creston area for giving me the privilege to serve on the board, and I hope everything works out fine,” said Flynn. Board members and adminis-
of the board. “I would like to use as much parliament procedure as possible,” Zumbach said. “That means that everyone has a right to discuss. Discussion is not ended unless there is a motion to end it, twothirds vote or the board decides to set a standard. That means when you have the floor, you have the floor. And, if there is disagreement, or someone has another opinion, your voice will be heard, just please wait your turn.” Board member Ron Dunphy
tration alike stood up and shook Flynn’s hand before he left the meeting with his wife. After the presentation, the meeting was ad- Flynn journed, and the 2013-14 board meeting began. Roy Stroud, Creston School District business manager, swore Eagan in during the new board meeting. Members then voted on the organization of the board. Board member Galen Zumbach was unanimously voted in as president
CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN
Please see SCHOOLS, Page 2
New Creston School Board member Tom Eagan waits to be sworn in by business manager Roy Stroud during Monday’s regularlyscheduled board meeting.
Creston man charged with sexual assault of a minor
ONE YEAR LATER GRMC staff and surgeons Damian Mizera and William Ralston complete more than 325 orthopedic surgical procedures in first year at new surgery center ■
CNA photo by KYLE WILSON
Leone Purdum of Creston, right, recently had surgery on her right hip. The surgery was done by GRMC orthopedic surgeon William Ralston. Purdum is pictured here doing exercise with GRMC Rehabilitation Services Director Mike Bargstadt.
The first total joint replacement surgery was done in the new GRMC surgery center on July 30, 2012. ■
By KYLE WILSON
CNA assistant managing editor kwilson@crestonnews.com
L
et’s reflect. In January 2012, Greater Regional Medical Center had nearly completed a $5 million surgery center on the northwest side of the hospital. It was built to accommodate two, new full-time orthopedic surgeons — Dr. Damian Mizera and Dr. William Ralston — and veteran general surgeon Dr. Robert Kuhl. “It was a facility we were all very Snodgrass proud of,” said LouAnn Snodgrass, GRMC executive director, continuum of care. Enthusiasm grew in February 2012 when the hospital hosted a private viewing open house at the new
surgery center for GRMC staff and board members. But then, April 14 came. An EF2 tornado ravaged the GRMC campus on April 14, 2012, including damage to the new 20,000-square-foot surgery center. “It was heartbreaking when the tornado hit because we were just getting ready to move into the new surgery area,” said Jackie Whitson, GRMC director of surgical services. “Excitement was building and then we had to take one giant step backward.” However, staff persevered and repairs were made promptly to the surgery center. The first surgery ever done in the new surgery center was about two weeks after the tornado struck. It was a hernia surgery done by Kuhl. “It was remarkable the way our staff worked through such a difficult situation,” Whitson said.
Orthopedic team A lot of the excitement building before the new surgery center opened was based on GRMC adding surgeons Ralston and Mizera, and being able to offer full-time orthopedic services. The first major orthopedic surgery — a total joint replacement — was done by Mizera in the new
surgery center on July 30, 2012. Now, just more than one year later, Ralston and Mizera have teamed up to complete more than 325 orthopedic surgical procedures in the Ralston new surgery center, including 22 total joint operations. A total joint replacement is done when an arthritic or damaged joint — most commonly in a knee or hip — is Mizera surgically replaced with an artificial joint.
Trenton Tyler Smith, 38, 217 S. Chestnut St., was charged 2:30 p.m. Monday at Fansteel Wellman Dynamics on a Union County warrant for second-degree sexual abuse. According to a Creston Police report, in May, law enforcement officers were advised a minor reported she had been sexually assaulted in September 2010. Officers were assisted in their investigation by Department of Human Services (DHS) personnel. Officers and DHS investigators met with the child. The child reported inappropriate physical contact with Smith. The incident took place after school while the mother of the child was at work. Smith and the child engaged in oral-genital contact. Officers conducted digitally recorded interviews and obtained statements, which corroborate the report by the minor. Officers confirmed the child was under the age of 12 at the time of the incident. Smith was being held in the Union County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
13 dead in D.C. Navy Yard shooting rampage WASHINGTON (MCT) — A mass shooting Monday morning at the Washington Navy Yard left at least 13 people dead, including a suspected gunman, who police late Monday night said was a contractor with valid military identification who apparently drove onto the base. It was perhaps the most devastating shooting attack in the heavily guarded nation’s capital in decades and sparked new concerns about security at U.S. military facilities. District of Columbia Police Chief Cathy Lanier identified the gunman as a civilian Navy contractor, Aaron Alexis, 34, of Fort Worth, Texas, who was identified by fingerprints. An employee of a HewlettPackard subcontractor, Alexis was a
Patient review One of those 22 total joint replacement operations was on 74-year-old Betty Wallace of Creston. A couple falls, arthritis and years of use had caused significant pain in Wallace’s left knee. There was very little cartilage left in her knee joint. “It was basically bone on bone,” Wallace said. Please see GRMC, Page 2
Please see SHOOTING, Page 2
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Contents
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Deaths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Heloise Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
Wednesday weather High 87 Low 69 Full weather report, 3A