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balloon days in creston kicks off friday
City council highlights
Creston Fire Chief Todd Jackson reported Tuesday evening his department has not yet sold the 1988 Ford fire truck that went out of service last month. Jackson said the truck was advertised locally, but no bids were received. The scrap value of the fire truck is $3,000, but Jackson said, “It’s way more valuable than that.” Jackson suggested advertising the fire Jackson truck at a fixed price of $15,000. The council voted unanimously to allow Jackson $500 in advertising to get the best value for the old fire truck. In other city council news, this year’s trick-or-treat night will be Oct. 31.
Balloon Days Events A full weekend of events is slated for the 36th Annual Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days in Creston. The activities start with a pork chop dinner at McKinley Park 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $8 each for a dinner, drink and dessert. Below are some of the scheduled events. For a complete list, see the Balloon Days special section to be published in Thursday’s CNA. ■ FRIDAY FUN FLIGHT*: Some balloonists will take to the sky Friday night to set the tone for the weekend activities. Also Friday, Friends of the Library will have a collectors night 4 to 8 p.m. at Lincoln School for their used book sale. ■ BALLOON RACE* AND CHASE: The Creston Municipal Airport will host the first balloon race* scheduled 6 a.m. Saturday. The direction of the race is dependent on wind conditions. Also Saturday, at McKinley Park, Southern Prairie YMCA is sponsoring a 5K run. Participants need to be at the starting line by 8 a.m. ■ PARADE: Area marching bands, balloonists and many other participants will navigate the streets of uptown Creston for the Balloon Days parade 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
GEARING UP FOR LIFT OFF Creston prepares for the 36th annual Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days ■
By JAKE WADDINGHAM
CNA staff reporter jwaddingham@crestonnews.com
Balloonists and spectators hope to continue 2012’s streak of four perfect flight conditions at the 36th annual Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days in Creston this weekend. The main events of the upcoming weekend — a fun flight Friday night, two flights on Saturday and Sunday morning — are totally dependent on the area weather conditions. The National Weather Service forecast is predicting clear, sunny skies for the Creston area all weekend with temperatures in the low 70s. “Weather controls whether or not they are able to go up,” said Creston Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ellen Gerharz. Wind speed may be the biggest fac-
Fewest tornadoes record
Iowa is closing in on a record-low 15 tornadoes for 2013. The previous record was set in 2012 at 16. A cold, wet spring was not conducive for tornado activity, and recent drought conditions have limited thunderstorm activity capable of producing a tornado. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker said 19 of the past 34 years have had tornadoes after Sept. 1. The average for the state is 47 tornadoes each year. Hillaker “The main ingredient we need is warm and humid air, but it gets to be less and less frequent this late in the year,” Hillaker said. The first tornado of the season hit May 19 and the most recent one was June 26. The 38-day span would be the shortest season on record. Hillaker said Iowa has had tornadoes every month of the year, but it would be unusual to get a tornado this late. “It is hard to see that coming,” Hillaker said. “It depends so much on timing, you have to get everything just right.”
tor. Roger Lanning, Balloon Days event coordinator, said the forecast is encouraging for another successful year. He said the windspeed typically needs to be below 10 mph Lanning at ground level for the balloons to take off. Before each flight, the pilots meet to determine if conditions are safe to fly. Gerharz said 44 balloonists are scheduled to participate this year. About 40 of the pilots are planning on attending the fun flight on Friday evening to help kick off the event. “I look forward to seeing the people on the street on Friday night,” Gerharz said. “It really is a community event, that’s how it has lasted so many years.”
Other events The city of Creston has a list of activities to compliment the ballooning no matter what Mother Nature decides for the weekend. Please see BALLOONS, Page 2
Supervisor highlights
Union County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted yes on a contract with Cost Advisory Services (CAS) for Union County’s cost allocation plan. Each year, Union County indirectly funds state entities like the Department of Human Resources. CAS helps the county earn a partial refund from the state for those expenses. CAS representative Jeff Lorenz offered a one-year contract of $3,600 for its services. Union County was the 91st county to join CAS. Clarke County is also considering making the switch to CAS. Supervisors also unanimously voted to join Union County Public Health in a coalition to determine how to delegate grant money. Union County Supervisors join Greater Regional Medical Center, Union County Health, Union County Emergency Management, Union County Sheriff, city of Creston, city of Afton, Creston Fire, Creston Police, and city of Cromwell on the coalition. In the past, grant money has been spent on new equipment like a radio upgrade at Greater Regional Medical Center and to fund training exercises to prepare for emergencies that occur under the realm of public health.
■ AIRPORT
ACTIVITIES: Spectators have a full list of activities at the Creston Municipal Airport. The pet show at 2 p.m. is open to anyone through the age of 12, but animals must be on a leash or in a cage. The kid’s pedal pull is after at 2:30 p.m. Another balloon race* and a night glow* — balloonist light up their balloons to contrast the night sky — are slated for 4:30 p.m. and dusk, respectively.
balloon activities are dependent. The * Allweather current forecast from the
National Weather Service has mostly clear skies with highs in the mid 70s for the Creston area this weekend.
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Volume 130 No. 70 Copyright 2013
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Contents
Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Deaths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Farm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11
Thursday weather High 87 Low 69 Full weather report, 3A