Issuu

Friday, March 31, 2017

‘ By KELSEY HAUGEN Special to the CNA

MOUNT AYR – On a late-November day, Tessa Kniep and fellow sixth-graders paused from their social studies lesson to look out the window and marvel at snow flurries falling.

INSIDE Jody Sheriff

Haylee Gardner

Tanner Webb

Connor Haggerty

12A

Chad Neeley

15A

‘

Remarkably Involved

puter program. Jillian, who stands more than a foot taller than Tessa, calls her sister an “electronic junkie.” Tessa’s favorite device is her Kindle; she adores reading.

Disability “As far as Down syndrome, we’ve never used those words with her,” Shaun said.

CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN

Sixth-grader Tessa Kniep, 12, center, works on a social studies activity alongside six-grader Zoey Larsen, left, and Barb Strange, substitute aide, during class Nov. 30 at Mount Ayr Community Elementary School.

A buzz of chatter filled the room before teacher Julie Shields redirected the students. Working in pairs to complete an activity, Tessa’s partner was Zoey Larsen. With Tessa’s chin pressed to her book as she read, her sharp concentration was intermixed with a few giggles and grins. After class, Tessa promptly packed her belongings and headed to Melissa Weber’s room, accompanied by Barb Strange, a substitute aide. “You did awesome today. Are you going to do awesome tomorrow?” Strange asked Tessa, while signing off on Tessa’s achievements of the day using stars. “I’m going to do awesome!” Tessa said, grinning. It was her last stop of the day visiting Weber, Mount Ayr Community Elementary School special education teacher. Tessa greeted her teacher with a hug. “You have no homework tonight! Are you so excited?” Weber asked Tessa. “Yes!” Tessa exclaimed. “And, it’s snowing!” After school, Tessa rode the bus to the middle/high school to meet up with her mother, Shaun Kniep, high school English teacher, and her fraternal twin sister, Jillian. While Jillian read from a chapter book, Tessa was engrossed in an educational com-

“She has no idea she has that kind of disability, and the reason we haven’t used those words with her is because we don’t want her to use it as a crutch, like, ‘Well, I have Down syndrome, so I can’t do that.’ She’s perfectly capable of doing everything

“SHE’S PERFECTLY CAPABLE of doing everything everybody else can do.”

SHAUN KNIEP Tessa’s mother

everybody else can do.” When Shaun and her husband, Clint, an engineer for BNSF Railway in Creston, had the twins, Tessa was born with Down syndrome and also a heart condition. “I mean, she’s a smart kid, and I think she knows she’s special,” said Shaun, tearing up. “But, she can do anything she wants.” Test results show Tessa’s capability. Last year, the twins took the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, and Tessa scored just two points from proficient. “She knows and understands a lot more than people give her credit for,” Shaun said. “And, she’s a really strong reader. She doesn’t think she’s as strong of a reader as she actually is.” “Yeah, she could handle this book if she tried,” Jillian said of the chapter book she was reading. At school, Tessa has most of her instruction one-on-one with Weber, who’s in her first year teaching at Mount Ayr. Together, they work on reading, writing and math. Then, Tessa goes to classrooms to learn alongside her peers for subjects like science and social studies. She also works with a speech pathologist. “We really target the skills that she needs and the gaps that she has,” Weber said. “She has really grown in her reading skills this year. She’s very fluent, but the comprehension is where we’ve really been targeting, and she has progressed in that.” Weber said Tessa’s classmates are “amazing with her.” “Tessa is very bubbly, energetic and she’s kind. She always thinks of the other students,” Weber said. “She’s a fun girl to work with.” TESSA | 2A

Contributed photo

Pictured is a Kniep family in fall 2016. Tessa Kniep, 12, is shown above and from left are Shaun, Tessa’s mother; Jillian, her twin sister; and Clint, her father.

Creston News Advertiser Friday, March 31, 2017

TESSA: CONT. FROM | 1A

Heart defect In addition to having Down syndrome, Tessa was born with atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), a heart defect. “You have four chambers to your heart. Well, right where those four chambers meet, the center of her heart was missing; it was just a big, gaping hole,” Shaun said. “And, where you’re supposed to have the two valves that connect those four chambers, she was only born with one.” At 4 months old in December 2004, Tessa needed surgery, but the cardiologist said she didn’t weigh enough. “So, they put her on a feeding tube and she slept, from December until about the end of February, in their baby swing,” Shaun said. “The feeding tube ran through the night – it ran constantly – so that she could get up to 10 pounds in order for them to do the surgery.” On Feb. 23, 2005, Tessa underwent open-heart surgery. “They grafted shut the center of her heart and cut her valve into two valves, but it didn’t separate equally, so they had to leave what they call a cleft around one of the valves, and that means she always has regurgitation around that valve,” Shaun said. “Our hearts have a moment

“OUR HEARTS have a moment of silence, but her heart is never silent. There’s always a swishing sound when you listen to her heart.”

SHAUN KNIEP Tessa’s mother

of silence, but her heart is never silent. There’s always a swishing sound when you listen to her heart.” Prior to Tessa’s surgery, the twins shared a crib in infancy. “You would go in and they would be curled up together, arms around each other,” Shaun said. But, the two had to be split up when sleeping following the surgery to ensure Tessa would be safe. “We put them in two cribs side by side,” Shaun said. “Well, we would go in and they would be holding hands through the bars of the cribs!” The Knieps were told by the time Tessa was 3 years old, she would need to have another surgery to either replace or fix her valves. Though Tessa is small for her age – about 4 feet, 6 inches tall – she has continued to grow every time she visits the cardiologist. Because she continues to grow, the doctors are waiting on the surgery. “(The cardiologist) tells us, which doesn’t make me

CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN

Sixth-grader Tessa Kniep, 12, works on an assignment during social studies class Nov. 30 at Mount Ayr Community Elementary School.

feel better, that when she goes into heart failure, then that’s when they’ll prepare for her next surgery,” Shaun said. “I was like, ‘Heart failure? What’s going to happen?’ He said she’ll start needing to sleep all the time and won’t have as much energy as she has on a daily basis, but that’s not happened yet.” Clint and Shaun have chosen not to worry excessively about Tessa. “It’s probably coming in the next few years, but we’ll just take it as it comes and have faith that God will get us through it, right?” Shaun said, looking at Tessa. “Right,” Tessa responded.

rected by her mother. “I like to watch volleyball, baseball, softball and football,” Tessa said. “I play volleyball and run track. I used to play softball and basketball, but I don’t anymore.”

Extracurriculars

She and Jillian also show calves and goats through Ringgold County 4-H. “(Recently), I showed a bucket calf named Salt. It was amazing,” Tessa said.

Aside from school and reading, Tessa enjoys playing sports and watching those Jillian participates in, as well as watching plays di-

“I LIKE to watch volleyball, baseball, softball and football. I play volleyball and run track. I used to play softball and basketball, but I don’t anymore.”

TESSA KNIEP

Mount Ayr sixth grader

Jillian had the counterpart to Salt – a bucket calf named Pepper. In addition, the twins are involved in the United Methodist Church youth group. “Tessa joined us for a few days on our mission trip (last summer) but really provided a spark to our group,” said Chandra Poore, who co-leads the youth group with her husband. “Besides working in Ringgold and Decatur Counties, she also helped with a project in Worth County, Missouri. One day, she helped unload food at the local food bank. ... Tessa has a special place with our youth group and her faith.”

Looking out No matter what comes their way, the twins look out for each other, which has helped with Tessa’s situation, Shaun said.

“One day they’ll be playing together and having fun together, and the next they’ll be fighting like cats and dogs. But, they’re very close,” Shaun said. “Jill takes very good care of Tessa.” “And, I help Jill every time Jill needs help,” said Tessa, who then kissed Jillian’s cheek. “No kissing! You know how I feel about kissing,” Jillian said. Jillian appreciates having a twin sister because she always has someone to spend time with. “All my friends have older sisters or brothers in high school, and me and Tessa, everybody’s jealous because I have someone my age and Tessa has someone her age,” Jillian said. “My friends constantly bicker with their siblings.” “I love her,” Tessa said of Jillian and patted her leg.

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Tessa Kniep and her fraternal twin sister, Jillian Kniep, pose for a T-ball photo in 2011.

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Creston News Advertiser Friday, March 31, 2017

International competitor named Creston fan of the year By SCOTT VICKER

CNA managing editor svicker@crestonnews.com

Creston Community High School senior Cody Crawford made a career out of sinking 3-pointers on the basketball court for the Panthers. For a majority of his 121 career made 3-pointers, which rank fourth-most alltime in Creston boys basketball history, Crawfordâ€™s aunt, Jody Sheriff, stood up and gave a celebratory fist pump into the air while cheering Crawford on. Jody knows athletic excellence when she sees it, having reached the pinnacle of her sport. The 51-year-old from Greenfield owns gold and

silver medals in bowling representing the United States in international competition at the Special Olympics World Summer Games. Jody won a silver medal for the United States in 2007 at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China, and also owns a gold medal from the 1991 World Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota. â€œShe got a gold medal and Eunice Kennedy Shriver put it around her neck,â€? said Jody Sheriffâ€™s mother, Eileen Sheriff, who started the Special Olympics program in Greenfield and coached for 22 years. â€œThat was awesome. Then she went to nationals twice, once in Lincoln, Nebraska.â€?

China experience Jody was selected for the World Games team thanks to input from Special Olympics of Iowa. United Airlines Clipped Wings â€“ flight attendants and stewardesses who formed a nonprofit organization â€“ provided a $1,000 grant to help defray the cost of expenses for the trip. Only 15 Americans received such a grant. Most of Jodyâ€™s other expenses were covered by Special Olympics. Prior to leaving for the world games in China, Jody flew for the first time in her life to Nashville for practice. There, she stayed in the dorms at Vanderbilt University and attended a NashCNA photo by SCOTT VICKER ville Sounds baseball game. Jody Sheriff of Greenfield, right, pumps her fist into the air after her nephew, Cody After practicing in Nash- Crawford, made a 3-pointer during a Creston boys basketball game against Clarinda ville, Jody and her coaches this year. departed for Los Angeles, laugh. The bowling alley for the rate bowling events. and from Los Angeles to Jody won a silver medal Once in China, Jody World Games in China was Alaska to pick up a bowling stayed in a hotel and wasnâ€™t located on the third floor of in competition in Shanghai, assistant coach before an- able to spend much time a building that also included marking the second time other 12 hours on the plane with her parents Cliff and a floor for billiards and a ho- sheâ€™d won a medal for the to China. tel. The floors were synthet- United States in internaEileen. â€œIâ€™m not used to bigger But, she was surprised ic instead of typical bowling tional competition. planes,â€? said Jody, who when she got there and alley lanes. She placed second in sinwas flying for just the secWhile in China, Jody exgles competition with her found out she would have a ond time in her life. â€œSo my ceeded her average of 90 three-game series of 365, seats were in the middle sec- host family in China. in 11 out of 12 games she â€œWe didnâ€™t know we were tion of the tail of the plane. JODY | 4A going to have a host family,â€? bowled across three sepaWhen that baby took off straight up, I got sick. After Jody said. â€œWe had a big old the assistant coach started meal in this whole familyâ€™s giving me ginger ale, I felt house. They showed us how CORMIER VS. JOHNSON 2 to do a craft. So actually, Iâ€™m much better.â€? â€œShe tells everybody that on this kick with origami story,â€? Eileen said with a stuff right now.â€?

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CNA file photo

Jody Sheriff of Greenfield sports her silver medal she won in bowling at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. Jody also owns a gold medal in bowling from international competition after placing first in the World Summer Games in Minneapolis in 1991.

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JODY:

the fire.

Special Olympics

CONT. FROM | 3A

including a high game of 133. She also earned ribbons for a 297 series in doubles bowling with Deborah Semon of Nevada, and for team competition with a 321 series. But, on Feb. 5, 2015, Jody lost a majority of her souvenirs from China, and even her silver medal, in a fire that totally destroyed her parents’ house in Greenfield. Her sister, Kristy, a Special Olympics coach in Corydon, contacted the Special Olympics of Iowa office and got the ball rolling on replacing that medal. “It was unreal,” said Eileen. “I coached for 22 years and we know the state office people well. Kristy called, I guess. We didn’t know it. They talked to Washington, D.C., and they talked to China and they replaced that silver medal.” Jody’s scrapbook from her time in China, along with a set of coins and her memories, are the only other souvenirs that survived

Jody also won a gold medal in bowling at the 1991 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Minneapolis. There, she was presented her gold medal by one of Special Olympics’ biggest supporters. “Eunice Kennedy Shriver went around all over to different venues,” Eileen said. “We just happened to have her at that venue and she put the gold medal around her neck. I was just amazed.”

“EUNICE Kennedy Shriver went around all over to different venues. We just happened to have her at that venue and she put the gold medal around her (Jody’s) neck. I was just amazed.”

EILEEN SHERIFF Jody’s mother

Special Olympics has given Jody many memorable life experiences, and has also helped her blossom into the person she is today. “When I first started out, I didn’t know anything about giving speeches,” Jody said. “Kathy Irving had classes on giving speeches. She thought I’d be good in that. And so I’ve given a lot of speeches. I told them about how you can get involved in Special Olympics.” Jody served as a global messenger at the first-ever national games held in Ames. In that role, she spoke about Special Olympics and what she’d done through Special Olympics. She introduced Gov. Terry Branstad and was on stage with Tom Arnold and Kurt Warner while giving a speech. In addition, she has also served on the board for Special Olympics Iowa. “Look what she’s done that she would have never done had she not been in Special Olympics,” Eileen said. “It’s just been wonderful to see what they can do that you don’t realize what all they can do until you get into it and practice. It led to all these ribbons and medals and just watching all the athletes, they just enjoy it. I just can’t explain how wonderful it is.” Jody has also participated in basketball skills, cheerleading and shot put and standing long jump in track and field through Special Olympics. She is unable to participate in the running events because her lungs have given her problems in recent years, including a scare in February 2016, when she was hospitalized and put on life support with double pneumonia.

CNA photo by KALEB CARTER

Jody Sheriff hoists the plaque she received after being named the Creston Activities Booster Club’s fan of the year during a ceremony at halftime of a Creston boys basketball game against Atlantic in December.

Fan of the year Jody has been a visible fixture at Creston sporting events the past several years, rarely missing a sporting event that her nephews Cody, and previously Cole Crawford, have participated in throughout the years. Cole played basketball and was a standout in baseball for Creston, while Cody has played football, basketball, golf and baseball. Her dedication to making the trip from Greenfield to Creston for home games and to almost all of the away games earned her the title of 2016 Creston Activities Booster Club Fan of the Year. Jody was presented the award in December 2016 at a Creston home boys bas-

ketball game against Atlantic during a ceremony at halftime. The award was kept a surprise from Jody and her parents, so when her name was announced, it came as a big shock. “We hid it from her for awhile, so it was a big surprise,” Cody said. “She supports everything that me and my brother have been Crawford a part of. And, she doesn’t just cheer for Cole and I, she cheers for everybody. She knows most of the players by name. So it was great seeing her reaction to that.” Cody walked out of the

locker room toward center court for the presentation. Jody received a standing ovation from the crowd when she was presented with the plaque. “It was surprising,” said Jody, who didn’t know she was receiving the award. “Cody says, ‘Come on, come on down here!’ It was pretty awesome when Cody handed it to me. We were both standing by each other.” Cody said he enjoys having a No. 1 fan in the stands. “When she doesn’t come, she usually calls me the day before or the day after and apologizes that she didn’t come,” Cody said. “It just means a lot always seeing her up there. You can always hear her, too. She’s loud, so you always know she’s there.”

CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER

Jody Sheriff of Greenfield smiles during a break in the action at a Creston boys basketball game this year. Jody rarely misses a game that her nephew, Cody Crawford, plays in.

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Creston News Advertiser Friday, March 31, 2017

The road to self-confidence By KALEB CARTER

CNA sports reporter kacarter@crestonnews.com

ORIENT — Haylee Gardner has heard your hand jokes. Sometimes, she just wishes you would be a bit more creative when coming up with them. She’s heard plenty from those who know her. “There’s kind of a standard for hand jokes. You can’t just put hand in a sentence and it’s automatically funny,” Haylee said. “Like I haven’t heard those 10 million times before …You have to be creative with the hand jokes. Sometimes I’m not creative though, like … ‘haha, got to hand it to you.’” Haylee did not grow a fully formed left hand in her mother’s womb as a result of amniotic band syndrome. This occurs when a limb or body part is entangled by a band in the womb, and blood flow, (necessary for limb and body development) is restricted, causing a lack of growth. But for her, taking the jokes about her hand in stride is the norm. Living without a hand is her norm. “Since I’ve kind of lived with it it’s really just, this is how I am, this is how I’m going to be and it’s never going to change so deal with it,” Haylee said. “I’m bad at some things, but usually people don’t think it’d be as easy to do some stuff, but it really is.”

Diving into sports Tricia and Jim Gardner moved their family around several times during Haylee’s childhood, along with her older sister and brother. Jim’s jobs, including working on the railroad as a machinist and rapid responder, fixing trains on the track, be they broken down or just experiencing issues, has led the Gardners to several different homes. From Auburn, Nebraska, to Lincoln, Nebraska, to Creston to Macksburg. Haylee began playing soccer in elementary school when in Creston. Other sports were on the horizon for her; soccer was just a start. After becoming a student at Orient-Macksburg and not originally participating in athletics, Athletic Director and Basketball Coach Kim DeJongh convinced Haylee to come out for basketball. Haylee was hesitant but gave in. Laura Stearns, a grade 7-12 special education teacher at Orient-Macksburg who often is the scorekeeper at Bulldog athletic events, has seen Haylee often tackle new activities. “She doesn’t care. She doesn’t back down,” Stearns said emphatically. With the summer before high school came her first varsity sport— softball. The team had enough players where she didn’t always start, but she did play in each game. “When she came home and said well, she’s going to play softball, I’m like, ‘You’re going to do what?’” Tricia said. “She’s like, ‘I’m going to play softball!’ and I’m like, ‘Well I guess we’ll see how it works.’” It was a work in progress. Originally, a designated batter took her place in the lineup, but DeJongh decided to put her in the batting order after a few games. She recorded three hits in 24 at-bats in the summer of 2015. Her parents were happy to see her get chances to hit, but Haylee had her own qualms.

Finding Confidence Haylee has struggled with confidence often in her time in sports. But only some of that stems from her left arm. “It was kind of scary because I didn’t want to screw up,” Haylee said. “Nobody wants to screw up. I know that my swing isn’t going to be as powerful, obviously, so I would swing, and it would be like a half-swing, half-bunt.” A change in approach was

needed to feel better about her chances at the plate. “So then coach (DeJongh) was like, ‘Well, you might as well bunt if you’re just going to bunt anyway.’ So I’m kind of a bunter now,” Haylee said as she leaned in and jokingly said in a lower voice, “Don’t tell anybody.” Learning how to play in the field came much easier. She worked on getting better defensively in softball herself. Coaches and teammates helped, but she had to figure out her methodology for playing in the field by some trial and error. “It’s natural to have to adjust things to my hand, so I’m used to having to do things differently than everyone else,” Haylee said. “So we kind of just did a couple things until we figured out what was good and now it’s just muscle-memory.” Haylee starts with the glove on her right arm and on a typical groundball play to her normal second base spot, fields the ball, quickly dumps the glove over to her left arm Gardner and swiftly plucks the ball out and fires to whatever base is needed to record an out. Gardner was charged with just one error in the 2016 season. That stat for a position player who primarily plays in the infield is quite the figure. The speed at which she improved in her glovework on the softball diamond is something she hopes to replicate in basketball. Volleyball has come even easier to her. “For hitting, you only use your right hand and for bumping I use like right here (Haylee points to her fore-

CNA photo by KALEB CARTER

Haylee Gardner moves into a triple threat position, looking to score, pass or put the ball on the floor in an early season game against Lamoni this past basketball season. Haylee’s mother enjoys watching her play basketball more so than any other sport.

arm), which you’re not supposed to do,” Gardner says. She then whispers with a wry smile; “But I do it anyway.” Stearns has seen this play out before her eyes. She has watched a large number of the school’s athletic events for the last few years and has seen how Haylee has grown and adjusted quickly. A girl that was a bit less outgoing and sure of herself has quickly jumped into new and exciting activities in high school, be it participating on student council, playing drums in conference honor band like she did at one point, tak accelerated courses in school and more. “Seeing her growth from being a seventh grader, she has blossomed so much academically, athletically, social-

ly,” Stearns said, rambling off the long list of activities she has witnessed Gardner take part in. Haylee’s parents have enjoyed watching her progress. Tricia especially enjoys watching her play basketball, which is appropriate given Haylee’s growing love for the sport. “Basketball is probably my favorite sport to watch out of all of them,” Tricia said, with a glowing smile across her face. “Just because in eighth grade you’re playing with younger kids and then I was scared so bad to see her play with the varsity because I was like, ‘She’s little anyways.’ So then little and then the one hand, I was like, ‘Oh this is going to be terrible,’ and then ... this little defensive thing came

out to play. It’s definitely my favorite sport to watch her. While she doesn’t possess a strong ability to control the ball with her left, she has man-

aged to improve her ball-handling skills. Her confidence shooting GARDNER | 6A

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Creston News Advertiser Friday, March 31, 2017

GARDNER: CONT. FROM | 5A

the ball is steadily growing, too. Haylee put up 12 points in a 48-41 win over Iowa Christian Academy on Feb. 7. It took her 18 shots to do so, but she finally took the initiative to play aggressively on offense. “She just plays and some of the people just look at her like ‘What?’’ Stearns said, noting that parents often look on inquisitively, wondering if Haylee will be able to do the same things as other girls. She catches some people staring from the stands. “I’m like, ‘She’ll be fine.’” Haylee’s average of 2.0 points per game is sure to go up for the young and inexperienced Bulldog team that won four games this past winter. She also totaled 19 steals and 2.1 rebounds per game. In O-M’s last three games of the season, she attempted 35 shots. For Haylee, the confidence others have in her is a double-edged sword. “It helps when other peo-

ple have confidence in me, but it’s also really pressuring when they have confidence in me because I have to live up to that,” Gardner said. “There’s some confidence there, but I don’t want to be too confident. I don’t want to be the one who’s saying they’re always going to score the most points or they will always do the best because I don’t think I am the best.” Being part of a group of young players that have played sports together the last few years helps. Only one senior was on the Orient-Macksburg girls basketball team this year. Neither the softball team nor the volleyball team had a senior the past season. Teammate support, from those she has grown up with in a larger class of freshmen and sophomores, has never been an issue.

“IT HELPS when other people have confidence in me, but it’s also really pressuring when they have confidence in me because I have to live up to that.”

HAYLEE GARDNER

Orient-Macksburg sophomore

at my hand, you already saw it. It’s not there.” She wishes people would just ask about her hand. She catches little children staring all the time. Often, parents catch their children staring, and they pull the child away. Haylee would love it if parents would just encourage the children to ask about her hand. Tricia jokes she would probably joke to a child that she lost her hand in a mouse trap or by a shark bite. “I would prefer people to ask than walk away,” Haylee said. “If I saw someone (without a hand), I would want to ask them and I would be interested because it’s different and it’s unique.” But again, pitiful exchanges seem inevitable in her life. “I hate when people say, ‘You’re a good blank for having one hand,’” Gardner says, mocking the pitying voice some people approach her with. “It’s like, no, I want to be good in general, not the ‘you have one hand so you’re good.’ I don’t like that.”

ment last summer. After original hesitation about hitting, Gardner has taken to bunting or slap-hitting most times at the plate.

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Tricia marvels at how far her daughter has come. Despite, can’t being an unacceptable word in the Gardner home, the route Haylee has traveled in athletics surprises even her mother. She has seen her daughter become more of a leader with the freshmen on the basketball and volleyball court. “When she was born, I never thought she’d play any sports because she did have one hand,” Tricia said. “You don’t realize how many people there are out there that have one hand that have done stuff. I never knew. When she started playing sports I was like, ‘Wow.’ It’s been pretty neat, for me at least, to watch her.” Her father agreed. Jim is fairly quiet in his support, but he watches with silent pride. “I just like watching her play,” Jim said. “It’s been neat

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watching her from not getting to play so much to playing a lot.” “I’m looking forward to becoming a better athlete and being able to have confidence and shoot the ball and essentially continue to have people notice that I have one hand and that I can do things, but also get used to it,” Haylee said. Watching her confidence grow will be rewarding for everyone in the Orient and Macksburg communities. The same can be said for the young underclassmen participating in athletics with Haylee. “They’re going to excel,” Tricia said. “I’m excited to see them all have more confidence in themselves so they can win a few more.” At what rate Haylee and her classmates improve is up to them. Haylee can mostly forget about not having a hand standing in the way. “I’ll forget about it too sometimes,” Haylee said. “I’ll go for the ball sometimes and it’ll be like right there and be like … oh, if I would have had a hand, I would have got it,” she giggles. She doesn’t feel sorry for herself. She’s never been allowed to, and she’s not about to start now. If her play at the end of the basketball season is any indication, being scared to mess up won’t be an option going forward.

game, frightened by Haylee’s hand. Jim noted that it really bugs him when he sees people stare at his daughter. It bugs Haylee too, but she understands why it happens. “If I saw someone like me I would probably take a second glance because it’s just so weird. So I don’t blame them Good in general for looking twice, but staring None of this is to say that … At least be kind of discreet Haylee hasn’t had her share about it,” Haylee said, exasof uncomfortable moments perated as she thought about the way some people look. about her hand and left arm. Ms. Independent When she was playing soc- “Like if I’m walking up to you Haylee finds her experience and I’m like, ‘Oh hey how’s it cer at a younger age, a girl with her hand has affected her going?’ and you’re just staring asked to be taken out of the personality. Where that confidence has only slowly grown in her personal and athletic life, her hand gives her an in to be definitive about something, for example; her personality. “It definitely makes me … not stronger … but more of an extrovert than I probably would be if I had two hands because it’s a topic of conversation and people come up and ask you about it and you’re able to talk about something,” Haylee said. She feels more independent because of her hand. She has a reason to try to be better. There’s a silly and cunning nature to her personality that can be ascribed, by some extent, to her experience with her hand and how she interacts with people because of it. Sports are the avenue she immediately seeks to better herself in. They are the current CNA photo by KALEB CARTER Haylee Gardner takes a hack at a pitch in a game at Nodaway Valley’s softball tourna- way in which she works on her

own confidence. Tricia notes she has seen Haylee become a young woman with more conviction due in part to her participation in athletics, and that she hopes and believes more of that confidence will transfer over to Haylee’s everyday life. “Her confidence is a lot better, I think, when she plays sports,” Tricia said. “She needs more of it, but it’s even more so than just everyday stuff. She gets out there and is just more confident.”

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Creston News Advertiser Friday, March 31, 2017

Budding coach inspired as student manager Tanner Webb shows dedication in Creston athletics n

By LARRY PETERSON and Brian Morrison. CNA senior feature writer Loyal companions lpeterson@crestonnews.com

The last text message Tanner Webb received on his cell phone from his mother, Amy, concerned a longtime personal goal. “You’re the luckiest S.O.B. I know,” her message began, “because I just paid for you to get your coaching endorsement.” A few days later, Amy Webb died on March 30, 2015, at the age of 43 from a heart attack. Tanner was just finishing his senior year of high school. “I knew then, I gotta do this now,” said Tanner, who hasn’t let cerebral palsy hold him back from his focus on becoming a teacher and coach. Tanner, now 20 and a sophomore at Southwestern Community College, hasn’t competed physically in sports since he was a small child. But, he never lost his passion for competition, as well as current events and U.S. history. He formed a life plan with two special education teachers at Creston Community High School who became coaching role models and confidants — Darrell Frain

“Those guys, and several other coaches, were at my house immediately after the news that my mom died,” Tanner said. “They were here all week. We sat and talked. It really helped to process everything. I might have given up (on coaching), but they encouraged me and told me I needed to do it and become a part of their staffs.” Despite holding a fulltime class load as a SWCC student, Webb has completed two years of being an assistant football coach for Panther linebackers and running backs, and for Frain’s traditional powerhouse wrestling program. “He will be a part of our program as long as he wants to be,” Frain said. The timing of his mother’s death didn’t coincide well with the schedule of those coaching authorization classes offered through Southwestern Community College. “I had to miss a couple of hours of the anatomy class because it was my mom’s (funeral) visitation,” Tanner said. Nonetheless, Tanner and longtime professional aide

CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER

Creston/O-M assistant wrestling coach Tanner Webb, seated next to volunteer assistant Chris Loudon, watches the action during a match at this year’s State Dual Team Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. The Panthers placed seventh in the tournament.

Steve Wilson went through the 55 hours of instruction together and received their certification. They remain partners on the football sideline, where Wilson helps protect Tanner from occasional action sending players rushing toward him along the boundary, as well as at the corner of the

mat during most wrestling meets. Another certified volunteer coach, former Panther wrestler Chris Loudon, has become involved with Tanner’s father, Kevin Webb, and Wilson in transporting Tanner to some events. “It was great to have Steve there in the classes,” Tanner said. “I might have given up and said I don’t want to do this, especially through the anatomy stuff.” Wilson is a home health care provider for Respite Connections, Inc., and a

team leader at Iowa Focus, assisting those battling mental illnesses. He said one of the primary instructors at SWCC at the time, Bill Huntington, was helpful in adapting the material for someone with Tanner’s needs.

Helpful instructor “Bill was great in that situation for Tanner at that time,” Wilson said. “It was exciting for me to see Tanner take that next step toward the goals he had, and his parents. I’d been with

Tanner since he was a seventh-grade football manager, and I saw how serious he was about working toward those goals.” Huntington, now principal for Sidney junior and senior high and recently hired for a similar position next year at Mount Ayr Community Schools, recalls Tanner as a serious student who wanted to learn more about coaching than the “X’s and O’s.” “Tanner was an excellent student,” Huntington said. WEBB | 10A

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When you shop locally... You support the schools your children attend instead of sales tax going to schools in surrounding cities and counties. You support the local owners and employees who contribute to community projects in Creston. You fuel our local economy...helping create local jobs and improve the quality of life for all of us. Support the local business men and women who support our community by being Chamber members*...they are listed below!

Advance Services Inc. Adams Street Country Lodge Adams Street Espresso Advanced Restoration Services AgriVision Equipment Group, LLC Akin Building Center Alliant Energy American Family Insurance, Turner Insurance Agency American Home Design Center American Republic Insurance Service Applegate Tax & Accounting Arlan Biere Arnold Motor Supply B.M. Sales Ben Adamson, State Farm Insurance Big Boyz Toyz Bob & Betty Jungst Bob & Freida Berning Boyd Appliance Center, Inc. Buena Vista University Built Networks by Dennis LaMasters Bunn-O-MaticCorporation Callahan Real Estate Carroll Family Chiropractic Carter Agency, Inc Casey’s Store - East Casey’s Store – Hwy 25 Casey’s Store – Hwy 34 Casey’s Store - North Casey’s Store - South Casey’s Store - West Central Iowa Power Cooperative Central Plains Automotive Central Plains Electric Charlie Brown Auto LTD Chat Mobility City of Creston Coen’s Furniture Inc. Colburn’s Corner Saloon Connections Agency on Aging Cook Video & Appliance Country Court RV Park Crest Haven Care Centre Crestmoor Golf Club, Inc. Creston Area Food Pantry & O’Riley Center Creston Audiological Services Inc. Creston Chiropractic, P.C. Creston Community Schools

Creston Farm & Home Supply Creston Farmers Market Creston Livestock Auction Creston Medical Clinic, P.C. Creston Publishing Company Creston Specialty Care Creston True Value Creston Veterinary Clinic, P.C. Creston Vision Clinic, P.C. Dairy Queen of Creston David Young DaVita Dialysis of Creston Dick & Peg Anderson DK Events Dr. Al & Pat Pokorny Dr. Brian Kinkade, O.D. Dr. Dan Coen Dr. Dave Buck Dr. Michael Buck Dr. Todd Scott Draper, Snodgrass, Mikkelsen & Co. Echo Electric Edward Jones Investments Elite Staffing Elm’s Club F & M Body Shop Family Fun Center Family Vision Center Fareway Stores, Inc. Ferrara Candy Company First National Bank Garden & Associates. Ltd Gavilon Grain LLC GO Realty Great Western Bank Greater Regional Medical Center Green Accounting & Tax Green Valley Pest Control & Lawn Care Green Valley Realty H & R Block Hahn Roofing Hair House Hammer Medical Supply Harvey Law Office Hazel Maries HCI Hospice Care Services Heartland Tire & Auto Center Hi-Crest Auto & United Super Wash Homestead Assisted Living & Memory Care Hometown Insurance Hometown Realty

Hy-Vee Food Store Innovative Industries, Inc Iowa Focus Iowa State Savings Bank ISU Union County Extension & Outreach Iowa Tool & Manufacturing Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services J & A Flooring James Law Ofﬁce, P.C. Jane Lowe Java J’s Kawa Construction Jo Anne Duckworth, Union County Emergency Management Ken Hudson Ken’s Barber Shop Kenyon & Nielsen, P.C. Kilgore Rental Cars Kilgore’s Enterprises, Inc. KSIB Radio Learning Center of SW Iowa Leslie’s Dance & Tumbling Little Caesars M & M Motors Maple Street Memories Mario’s Sports Bar & Grill MATURA Action Corporation, Inc. McDonalds Mediacom Medicap Pharmacy Midwest Opportunities Moberg/Iowa Realty Morning Star Internal Medicine Clinic NAPA-Creston New Life Family Medicine Nishna Valley Credit Union Oakwood Commercial Capital Group Oetken Ofﬁce Machines PCSB Bank Pearson Family Funeral Services Perspective Counseling Pine Valley Golf & Bowl Pizza Ranch Pokorny BP & Automotive Service Powers Funeral Home Prairie Solid Waste Agency Precast Concrete Precision Optical Group, Inc.

Punky’s Quality Glass Quik Cash Quilts & other Notions Quilts & other Notions Creative Center R.E. Lewis Refrigeration Rhine Body Repair Rich & Terry Madison Rieman Music Roger Saxton, Stewart Realty South Central Iowa Community Foundation/ Union County Southern Hills Veterinary Services, Inc. Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority Southern Iowa Resources for Families Southern Iowa Rural Water Association Southern Prairie YMCA Southwestern Community College St Malachy Foundation St Malachy School Stalker Car Wash Stalker Chevrolet Inc Stalker Rentals State Savings Bank Stewart Realty Studio 101 Subway – Hwy 34 Subway – Walmart Super Center Summit House Super 8 of Creston Taco John’s The Lobby three C design Thrivent Financial Timberview B&B Tractor Supply Trophy Shop Tyler Insurance Services, Inc. U-Haul Union County Abstract, Inc United Farmers Cooperative Upper Crust Vanmark Equipment LLC Vernie’s Drapery Shop Vickers Programming & Service Vintage Park Apartments Walmart Super Center Westman Windows Windrow Restaurant & Sports Bar Wishing Well BuyFCirrsetston

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Creston News Advertiser Friday, March 31, 2017

January 22

Chamber BBQ Lunch Fundraiser 11:00 a.m. â€“ 1:30 p.m. at Community Center Valentine Gift Basket Giveaway Chamber Annual Banquet at Community Center 6:00 p.m. Rural/Urban Ag Day to be incorporated with the Chamber Annual Banquet Teacher/Staff Appreciation Day Easter Egg Hunt â€“ Lenox School 10:00 a.m. Lenox Public Library Bake Sale City Wide Cleanup Graduation, 2:00 p.m., Lenox School Alumni Reunion & Banquet, Lenox School City Wide Garage Sales â€“ 7:00 a.m. Seth Thompsonâ€™s Memorial Kidâ€™s Fishing Day Sign up and food at 1:00 p.m. -- ďŹ shing begins at 1:30 p.m. Chamber Par 3 Golf Tournament 5:30 p.m. social, 6:00 p.m. tee off Taylor County Fair Lenox Rodeo Parade, Main Street 7:00 p.m. Old Fashioned Fun Night, Main Street, before and after parade Rodeo, rodeo grounds

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Creston News Advertiser Friday, March 31, 2017

Queen contest starting at 5:30 p.m. Youth events, 6:30-7:00 p.m., Rodeo, 7:30 p.m. Youth events 6:30-7:00 p.m., Rodeo 7:30 p.m. Dance follow rodeo Sat Youth Rodeo Lenox Chamber 18th Annual Golf Tournament â€“ Lenox Golf Course Begins at 1:00 p.m. Car/Motorcycle/Tractor Show & Cook-off Scarecrow Contest â€“ Chamber Members decorating Main Street Chamber Halloween Parade, Main Street 4:30 p.m. leaving from ISSB Halloween â€“ Trick-or-Treat begins at 5:00 p.m. Christmas Carnival, American Legion Building â€“1:00 â€“ 2:30 p.m. Lighted Parade 6:30 p.m. Lighting Ceremony at Highland Park 7:15 p.m. Bright Lights & Shining Hospitality Depot opens 6:00 p.m. â€“ 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, Friday Saturday, Sunday, Recipe Night 4:30 p.m. â€“ 7:00 p.m. Holiday Reception Chamber Members 5:30 p.m. at Depot

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Creston News Advertiser Friday, March 31, 2017

January 22

February 14 March 24 March 24 March 28 April 15 April 15 April 23 â€“ May 1 May 21 May 27 June 3 June 3 June 15 July 13-16 July 19 July 19 July 20, 21, 22

Thurs., July 20,

Creston News Advertiser Friday, March 31, 2017

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10A

Creston News Advertiser Friday, March 31, 2017

WEBB: CONT. FROM | 7A

â€œEverybody has a basic knowledge of the sports they want to coach, but he was looking a lot to the philosophical side of it and the ethics part of it. He always wanted to engage the class in those topics. We made adaptations on things. While he may not be physically able to do things like tape ankles, heâ€™d describe how he wanted it done step by step so that you knew he understood the information. I think there is a real commitment there.â€? Both Morrison and Frain saw this interest in coaching developing as a high school freshman, when he was not a typical student manager in his approach. â€œHe did a lot of extra things on his own,â€? Morrison said. â€œHe did the normal stuff like setting up things and getting water. But he was also hanging out at drills, watching film with the team. He would go home and watch the practices (online). He was a real student of the game.â€? â€œI just love sports and

competition, probably to a fault,â€? Tanner said. When Tanner was assigned to his classroom as a freshman, his presence rejuvenated Frainâ€™s outlook on his job. Tannerâ€™s life, and his goals, became a side project. â€œHe came into my program at a good time,â€? Frain recalled. â€œHe kind of gave me a boost. Heâ€™d come in and talk sports and what was going Frain on in the world, every morning. One of our first goals ever was that he would end up being a coach. From day one.â€?

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Like in football, the former youth wrestler whose uncle, Travis Welch, competed on a Winterset state championship team, became CNA photo by RYAN KRONBERG a student of the sport in Creston/O-M assistant wrestling coach Tanner Webb shows his excitement as Panther senior Kadon Hulett finishes a practices while serving as a pin in his match at the Class 2A district tournament in Harlan. student manager. â€œI had him work with me â€œHeâ€™ll repeat a lot of what we say when he rolls up and gic most of his life. He devel- working with and coaching down the side of the mat,â€? oped the nationally respect- children until his death in with the linebackers and that first year it was new to him Frain said. â€œHe can proba- ed Exploradories wrestling 2002. Making the transition and he wanted to just take bly repeat everything Iâ€™ve club, a model urban youth said throughout the season. sports program. He also ran from student manager to it in,â€? Morrison said. â€œThis He listens to what coaches the Edmonson Youth Out- coach wasnâ€™t easy in the beWEBB | 11A are saying, and not just ours. reach Center of the YMCA, ginning. Other coaches as well. Heâ€™s paying attention, you know that just from listening to him. He wants to do well in his role and he wants us to do well, thatâ€™s the best part.â€? Frain cited examples of other coaches who have overcome obstacles to serve in the sport. â€œI told him about Joe Edmonson, who coached a club in Omaha in a wheelchair,â€? Jennifer Jane Joyce Val Frain said. â€œThe leader of the Granby club from way back, Whether recovering from an injury, illness or surgery our rehabilitation programs are tailored to your needs. Working one-on-one with a member of our professional staff Billy Martin, did it from a ensures youâ€™ll get the best possible treatment. chair. He had his team positioned around him, and his Come see us today! staff of coaches. We talked CNA photo by LARRY PETERSON about the reality of how it Tanner Webb observes a Creston/O-M wrestling practice has been done before.â€? early in the 2016-17 season. Webb has been an assistant

Edmonson, of Omaha, coach for two years after serving as a student manager Jennifer Behlers, PTA â€˘ Jane Brown, P.T. â€˘ Joyce Schildberg, P.T. â€˘ Val Bailey, Office Manager Nebraska, was a quadriplefor four years.

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CONT. FROM | 10A

year he was more vocal with the kids. He can conduct drills now and be confident in doing it. He’ll make comments to players that he would not do in that manner as a manager.”

Gradual transition Tanner agrees that he was tentative at first. “My first year I was scared to be authoritative,” Tanner said. “I knew the kids. They were my classmates not six months earlier. It was hard to be critical. I still struggle with it a little bit. But, I’ll be 21 in April and it’s time to get it done!” Dedication has never been an issue, both Morrison and Frain noted. “It’s a lot more work than just the two hours at practice after school,” Morrison said. “He’ll show up for the Sunday meetings and be there the entire time, every time. He puts time in watching film at home. He has a full slate, going to school full time, too. I hope he can continue managing his class load next year as he goes into the (bachelor’s degree) program with Buena Vista. He’s been a fixture on our sideline for six years and he’s really taken ownership with it the past two years.” Although he will explore the option of becoming accredited in special education, teaching the social sciences is his intended major. “I’ve always had an interest in history,” Tanner said. “I love politics, government, everything going on in the world. I think it’s important to understand what we’ve done in the past and be able to not just correct the mistakes, but to have a better future.” He was influenced by social studies teachers Todd

Jacobson and Clay Arnold in high school, and Randy Hughes, a former state legislator, at Southwestern Community College. “When I started taking classes out at SWCC, Mr. Hughes said, ‘You can do this and you have an ability to connect with people.’ He was an inspiration,” Tanner said Combining teaching and coaching, like his role models Frain and Morrison, is the ultimate combination in affecting lives, Tanner reasons. “Both things really do intermix with each other,” Tanner explained. “From a coaching perspective, you can get to see another side of kids on the football field or wrestling room than you do in the classroom. I think you can find better ways to help kids and get through to them. “When I started high school I had no idea what I wanted to do,” he continued. “Seeing Darrell and Brian and how they interacted with kids and wanted to help them, that set me on a path. Frain told me if I wanted to do this he would help me get in that direction.” With no favors, too. He was raised that way by Amy and Kevin. Pity was not a part of Tanner’s world. “Ever since I was 2 or 3 years old, I heard from my parents that I don’t get to make excuses,” Tanner said. “They said you’re going to have every opportunity that any other kid would have.” Ultimately, he hopes his success in overcoming his own challenges will serve as inspiration for the young people he works with after graduation. “Besides the X’s and O’s, if you attack life in a certain way, no matter what your obstacles are, you’re going to be all right,” Tanner said. “That’s how I want to inspire them.”

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Creston News Advertiser Friday, March 31, 2017

‘No limits’

Haggerty excels in athletics and at the fair.

So ever since former Corning and Southwest Valley cross country coach Sandy Winter approached Melissa about letting Connor run cross country, he’s By SCOTT VICKER been involved in numerous CNA managing editor svicker@crestonnews.com activities. When Connor was in middle school, the cross country CORNING – Southwest team was hurting for numValley senior Connor Hagbers. Connor’s class used to gerty is a typical 18-year-old have to leave the junior high in small-town Iowa. building and walk to the eleConnor participates in as mentary school for art. many activities as he can. According to Melissa, He’s consistently been the Connor used to sprint betop varsity cross country tween the two buildings, runner for the Timberwith his paraeducator barewolves the past two years, a ly able to keep up with him. staple in the distance events Melissa agreed to let Confor the Southwest Valley nor try cross country, but track and field team, shown went to every practice and every meet with him, riding Contributed photo the bus, to make sure he was Connor Haggerty is presented a trophy and ribbon from 2015 Adams County Fair Queen safe. Nichole Bashor after winning champion feeder calf at the 2015 Adams County Fair with When Connor entered his calf, Buster. high school, he ran in the junior varsity division at his had more people clap for the ones who were on an- looked out for him. him and yell for him. It was other team, would look out Melissa pointed out Trevfirst cross country meet. or Sorensen and Lane Pe“His first high school amazing some of these kids for him.” terson, both 2015 graduates cross country meet, she had who would come over and Teammates him run JV because they shake his hand. They knew Connor’s teammates at of Southwest Valley, as two go from 2 miles to 3 miles he had autism. For the most Southwest Valley acceptand she wasn’t sure how he part, the other kids, even ed him onto the team and CONNOR | 13A was going to get along with that,” said Rex Haggerty, Connor’s father. “He’s run varsity ever since.” During Connor’s junior season of cross country, he finished first for Southwest Valley in every meet. This past fall, in his senior year, he led the Timberwolves in every meet except for two. His constant improvement on the cross country course saw Connor win more medals this past fall than any other year of his career. “One thing I’m very impressed with, we’ve had kids from other schools come up, we didn’t even know who they were, shook Connor’s CNA file photo hand and said, ‘I’m glad you Southwest Valley senior Connor Haggerty runs along beat me. I’m glad you made 641.782.7081 • admissions@swcciowa.edu wa.edu the course during a cross country meet this past fall. it up there on the stage toHaggerty has consistently been Southwest Valley’s top night,’” Melissa said. “We www.swcciowa.edu/online

animals and entered exhibits in the Adams County and Iowa State Fair and served on student council. Neither Connor, who is autistic, nor his parents have set any limitations on what he can accomplish. “It’s always been, ‘See what he can do,’” said Allen Naugle, Southwest Valley head boys track and field coach. “There’s no limit. He’ll go out and do whatever. He’s pretty fearless with that.” Connor’s mother, Melissa Haggerty, was told by her uncle the best thing she could do for Connor was to keep him involved and keep him active.

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13A

CONNOR:

really good that they would do that. There’s other kids on the team who have been CONT. FROM | 1A good with him, but no like teammates in particular who Trevor and Lane were. They took Connor under their just wouldn’t put up with it if somebody treated him bad wings. Connor was quick to point or tried to treat him bad.” “When you see other kids out his fabe good to him, it makes it vorite part that much more enjoyable,” about besaid Rex. “Especially with a ing on the small school, it’s a tight-knit team. group and they cheer each “I like other on.” going on Improvement the bus with other Haggerty Connor has steadily imkids,” Conproved throughout his canor said. reer on the track, as well. “He really livened things According to Quikstats, up,” Sorensen said. “He al- Haggerty’s fastest times as ways had a smile on his face, a freshman were 12:43.67 in and when he started out, he the 3,200 meters and 6:00.05 was shy about everything. in the 1,600 meters. Last But, as time went on and he year, as a junior, Haggerty got more involved with the lowered his times to 12:14.51 team, he got out of the box and 5:49.76. a little more. It was fun to “It was really cool seeing talk to him. Everyone on the how he could overcome havteam just loved him.” ing (auHaving that support group tism) and from his teammates touched turn out Melissa’s heart. to be a re“You’ve made some real- ally good ly good friends. You’ve had a t h l e t e , ” some really good people like S o r e n s e n Trevor Sorensen and Lane said. “A Peterson,” Melissa said to lot of times Sorensen Connor. “It just makes me w h e n want to cry. It makes me feel Lane was

Connor Haggerty, 18, of Corning shows off his heifer, Maggie, at the Adams County Fair.

there, they’d tell Connor to try to stay as close to Lane as he could and that would push him. I went to a meet

last year and seeing he had learned to pace himself better without anyone to push himself off of was great. I was glad to see him grow in

Contributed photo

that scenario.” Naugle noted how as a Naugle said one of the freshman, sometimes Conbiggest areas Connor has im- nor would get stuck behind a proved during his career is CONNOR | 14A learning to race.

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Creston News Advertiser Friday, March 31, 2017

CONNOR:

a shelf that went to the state fair. He’s also made train whistles in woodworking class. Connor typically enters other exhibits, such as photography or gardening, in the fair, as well. When he took his chickens to the state fair last year, he won the herdmanship award for having the cleanest chicken pens. “We didn’t have the chickens to go the extra mile, did we, Connor?” Melissa asked, as Connor shook his head “no” with a grin on his face. “They weren’t quite perfect. It’s a little bit more challenging up there.”

CONT. FROM | 13A

runner and not pass them. “He’s gotten a lot better at learning how to pass people,” Naugle said. “The racing part, there’s been a lot of improvement. He’s really improved a lot over the four years.” Naugle said Connor sets a good example for the rest of his teammates. “He’s one of those kids, I don’t think he ever misses a practice,” Naugle said. He’s always there, he always runs, he’s always smiling, he’s always Naugle happy to be here. You wish every kid had that attitude. I hope he’s affected everybody else positively.” Sorensen agreed that Connor has had a positive impact on the teams at Southwest Valley. “Seeing him overcome obstacles, I feel like it pushed people,” Sorensen said. “And, how good he got to be in a fairly short amount of time, I think that really pushed some people.”

Fair In addition to running cross country and track, Connor also devotes his time to his animals at home and showing

School Contributed photo

Connor Haggerty and his prom date, Chloe Casagrande, prepare to depart for the 2016 Southwest Valley prom in Connor’s Ranger.

them at the fair. Connor began showing at the fair six years ago, when he showed chickens at the Adams County Fair. He has won grand champion with his chicken, Henny Penny. In fact, after he won grand champion, Melissa let Connor sell Henny Penny. Ten people from around the community each pitched in $100 and bought Henny Penny for $1,000 before giving Henny Penny back to Connor. “The community has been good to him,” Melissa said. “You take him anywhere and everybody knows Connor.” Connor also shows cattle

and a horse that has been in the family for more than 30 years. “You’ve had pretty good luck with your cows, too,” Melissa said to Connor. “Last year you won lightweight market steer and you won rate of gain with your cow and calf pair last year. You won champion two years before with Buster the feeder calf.” Just like in cross country and track, Connor’s favorite

part of showing animals at the fair is being around the other kids. When he’s taken animals and exhibits to the Iowa State Fair, he enjoys walking around the fair and visiting other fairgoers. Two years ago, Connor made a mini grandfather clock from scratch in woodworking class at Southwest Valley and took that project to the Iowa State Fair. Last year, he made

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At the school, Connor has been involved in student council and served as homecoming attendant and powderpuff attendant his freshman year. He enjoys music and sings in the choir at Southwest Valley. Naugle said he brings that love of music with him on the bus to track meets. “I think he really enjoys being with the guys,” Naugle said. “I know he enjoys the bus ride up and being with the guys. I tell you what, he remembers every song, too. It makes him a lot of fun, because he likes to sing on the bus with the guys.” Last year, Connor played a winkie soldier in the school’s

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performance of “The Wizard of Oz.” He enjoys going to the school dances and drove his Ranger to prom last year with his date. “I think he dances from the time he hits the door until they shut the lights out and say, ‘It’s time to go home,’” Rex said. Connor has enough credits to graduate this year, but Melissa said she and Rex plan to keep him in school for another year so he can mature enough to achieve his goal of attending Southwestern Community College. “I’ve talked to the cross country coach and he’s willing to let him on the team and possibly even the track team and run, but we’re not sure we’re there yet,” Melissa said. “He wants to go. He just wants to be around the kids.” Still, Connor will walk across the stage with the rest of his classmates this spring. He has always enjoyed school. Rex, who gets Connor ready to go every morning, said he has never had a problem trying to get Connor to go to school. He also helps the janitors at the school by vacuuming and washing windows during his life skills class. “He loves school,” Melissa said. “I don’t know what we’re going to do when he gets out of school.”

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Creston News Advertiser Friday, March 31, 2017

15A

Work experience helps Neeley blossom By SCOTT VICKER

CNA managing editor svicker@crestonnews.com

Life has been a journey for Chad Neeley. But, for those who know Chad and work closely for him, it’s easy to see it has been a successful journey. Chad, 29, graduated from Creston High School in 2007. Since graduating from CHS, Chad has held several different jobs before landing the job he wanted at HyVee in Creston. Chad works in the kitchen at Hy-Vee, doing dishes, picking up dirty plates from the tables and cleaning tables. When Chad moved to Creston from Shannon City shortly after graduating from high school, he wanted to get a job at Hy-Vee. He had worked there for a short time in high school through the experience based career education (EBCE) program. “I had a little tough time getting jobs,” Chad said. “I wanted to try stocking shelves back then. That’s when the YMCA came in.” Chad worked at Southern Prairie YMCA as a janitor for about three years after graduation. There, he cleaned locker rooms, swept the gym floor and track, cleaned the treadmills and machines in the weight room and vacuumed the floor. “That was a lot of fun,” Chad said. “It was kind of a little challenging at times, but I managed.” In September 2011, Chad began working at Innovative Industries in Creston. When he left Innovative Industries in March 2012, Innovative Industries helped Chad land a job at Hy-Vee. “The thing I like most about working at Hy-Vee

is being around the people and my coworkers in the kitchen,” Chad said. “Then, I get to meet everybody in the dining room. I go and see if they need anything.” Chad enjoys joking around with his coworkers in the kitchen at Hy-Vee and said he gets along with everyone he works with. Kendalyn Huff, CEO of Heartland Management Alliance, said she can see Chad’s love for his job at Hy-Vee. “It’s his independence. He can hold a job. He gets himself there on time,” Huff said. “It’s his job and he earned it and he’s very proud of that. I would say, over the last year, if you ask Chad, he would say he enjoys his coworkers a little more. He likes being a part of, if Hy-Vee has a function, he goes now. In the past, he might not have done that. I’ve also seen him grow as he feels he’s part of the team and the Hy-Vee family.” Mary Van Otterloo, director of services at Innovative Industries in Creston, said she will occasionally go to lunch at Hy-Vee to see how Chad is getting along. She has noticed how Chad has started interacting more with customers at Hy-Vee. “He has his regulars in there that know him,” Van Otterloo said. “He has conversation with them and they talk back. Most of the time, I see smiles. I think he has formed very good relationships with some of the regular customers there. I think he’s friendly with the customers who stop in, too. That part of his job was just added in within the last year and a half. He’s communicating with the public. He hasn’t always had that opportunity. That’s growth Hy-Vee has provided with him.” Both Huff and Van Ot-

CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER

Pictured is Chad Neeley of Creston at the Hy-Vee dining area register. Chad first worked for Hy-Vee in high school through the EBCE program and then began working there again in 2012.

terloo commended Hy-Vee for being a great employer for Innovative Industries to work with. “They allow us to come in and provide the best training,” Van Otterloo said. “They’re just open-minded and a wonderful team. They have a wonderful management team.” Huff and Van Otterloo also agreed they’ve seen Chad blossom as an individual thanks to his time at Hy-Vee. For Chad’s former teacher in high school, Colleen Gangestad, it’s a proud moment when she walks into Hy-Vee and sees Chad working. “I’m really pleased to see he’s able to hold down that job and be out in the community,” Gangestad said. “He seems to do a good job when he’s there. He’s living on his own pretty much

and being able to take care of himself. That’s what our whole program was about, was independent living skills and job skills.”

High school Chad was involved in several activities in high school. He enjoyed his time in vocal music, which he participated in all four years of high school as a bass. And, Chad praised the EBCE program, which gave him the opportunity to get out into the community and try out different jobs.

Gangestad said the EBCE program placed students in the community for job shadowing and learning different jobs. Through that program, Chad worked at Super 8 Motel, Hy-Vee, Casey’s and Greater Regional Medical Center. Chad also participated in Special Olympics all throughout school. Special Olympics provided him with some lasting memories. Chad won a gold medal at the state bowling com-

CHAD | 16A

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petition for Special Olympics and was also part of the Creston High School 3-on-3 basketball team that won a gold medal at the state competition in Iowa City in 2007. He also competed in weightlifting and track and field. “Staying in the hotel in Iowa City or wherever was a lot of fun,” Chad said. “It was all pretty interesting and fun and a great experience. I don’t do that anymore nowadays. I stopped

CRESTON 641-782-7036 Afton 641-347-8725

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www.powersfh.com Callahan Real Estate is here to help you with all your real estate needs! ...please feel free to stop by and visit with one of our agents today!

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16A

Creston News Advertiser Friday, March 31, 2017

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one interested in doing a genealogy project. “Piece of advice, if you want to do any family history and you have any grandparents, now’s the time to do it,” he said. Chad said he has been able to learn some about his family history but has hit a wall in his research. Family has always been a big part of his life. Chad is the youngest of six boys in his family. “Family is huge to Chad,” Van Otterloo said. “His mom, he takes great pride in his relationship with his mom. Chad is a very kind, family-oriented young man that strives to do his best. He’s warm. He’s dedicated. Once he’s in on something and you have his trust, he is

far, it’s been a pretty good to 65, as far as working goes. very dedicated.” From competing in Spe- life. Hopefully I can make it That’s my plan, anyway.” cial Olympics in high school and branching out in the community through the EBCE program to landing a job at Hy-Vee, Chad’s journey in life has been a successful one. And at just 29 years old, Chad doesn’t see that journey slowing down anytime soon. “I’m pretty grateful for all the teachers I’ve had over the years in school,” he said. “I’ve had some pretty good teachers. They helped me through some struggles and got me through graduation. I’m lucky to have my job coach, who helped me out with that same thing, with struggles and everything. So

CONT. FROM | 15A

when I graduated. So it’s been quite awhile since I did all of that. I’m kind of rusty!” He said he was nervous about competing in Special Olympics at first, but got used to it after awhile. “I got to go to all the dances and all that good stuff,” Chad said. “We had those banquets, especially when we went to Ames. Unified Sports Day, that was in Des Moines.” “He always enjoyed Special Olympics,” Gangestad said. “The trips and things like that, the social activities, but also doing the different sports. He enjoyed bowling. He had a lot of friends at school, both in our classroom and general ed students. Everybody seemed to really like Chad, even though he was pretty shy. They got him chatting a little more. He fit in with everybody. He was very friendly with everybody.” One of Chad’s favorite memories from his various trips with Special Olym-

the Iowa State University cheerleaders at an event in Ames, where he had his picture taken with the cheerleaders. Participating in Special Olympics oftentimes gave Chad an escape. “He went through some real tough times when he was in school,” Gangestad said. “So, he always worked really hard and always wanted to do his best. He was very pleasant to work with. He was very pleasing and eager to learn.”

Hobbies Now, when Chad isn’t working, he enjoys watching TV and going to the movies. “I like to watch ‘Wheel of Fortune’ at night,” Chad said. “That’s my favorite. Plus, ‘The Price is Right’ if I don’t have to work.” For movies, Chad is a big “Star Wars” fan and is looking forward to seeing Episode XIII when it comes out in December. He also enjoys “Back to the Future.” Chad has spent some time researching his family history in an effort to fill out a family tree.

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Chad Neeley, left, is pictured with some of his co-workers in the kitchen area at Creston Pictured is the 2007 Creston High School Special Olympics 3-on-3 basketball team, with Hy-Vee. Chad enjoys working at Hy-Vee, particularly joking around with his coworkers. Chad Neeley second from right. Pictured are, from left, Jesse Harper, Christina White, Amy Brenizer, Neeley and Jeff Schaefer. The team won a gold medal at the state compics was getting to meet He offered advice to any- petition in Iowa City.

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