Local

Activities scheduled at Creston Schools.

CLEARFIELD — Woodside Post 97 of the American Legion has the following events scheduled in Clearfield Memorial Day Weekend

The following are new titles and events at Gibson Memorial Library, 200 W. Howard St. Regular library hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays; closed Sundays. Gibson Memorial Library is on Facebook and has wireless service.

Area school lunches

Even Superman needs a hand every once in a while. The families of the U.S. Army Reserve Firefighting unit in Creston now have one more resource available to them in times of need. At the end of April, Tiffany Berndt started the Creston Army Reserve Firefighter Family Readiness Group (FRG), a group that focuses on giving support and finding resources for the families of soldiers who are away from home or deployed.

The House and Senate Agriculture committees both passed farm bills this week, the Senate on Tuesday and the House late Wednesday night.

A discussion on AARP will be held 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday at Adams Street Espresso and Soda Shoppe, 213 W. Adams St.

MOUNT AYR – Mary Martsching has proved writing can come from anywhere. Martsching, 65, of Mount Ayr self-published her first novel, "Finding Heath," which was completed in April. It is available in e-book, paperback and hardcover at Barnes and Noble and Amazon. "Finding Heath" is about a 14-year-old boy named Heath who lives with his estranged grandfather on Block Island, R.I. Heath struggles with a bully at school and pressure from his basketball coach, before he suddenly finds himself in a difficult position.

Creston School Board approved the district's master contract in a special meeting Tuesday. The contract included changes to articles about health and safety, insurance, sick leave, and wages and salaries. “We think, as the bargaining team, that we represented the districts needs well,” said Chuck Scott, interim superintendent. “The teachers were satisfied at the conclusion. … We recommend approval of the master contract.”

Irish-American screen legend Maureen O'Hara and her family will be at the annual John Wayne Birthday Celebration May 24 and 25 in Winterset.

John R. Whitaker, state executive director for USDA’s Iowa Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds conservation reserve program (CRP) participants to schedule maintenance and management activities on CRP acres outside of the primary nesting season. Iowa’s primary nesting season is today through Aug. 1.

Helping young athletes make smart nutrition practices is the focus of a program from Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach for coaches, teachers and athletic directors.

Jim and Ann Werner of rural Diagonal in Ringgold County have been named the May winners of the “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award."

Creston FFA members, along with advisor Kelsey Bailey and chaperones, Wayne Hanson and Donna Watson, were among the more than 5,000 members and guests who attended the 85th annual State FFA Leadership Conference April 20-23 in Ames.

Ben and Nikki Adamson of Creston are new members of the American Angus Association.

First National Insurance Agency of Fontanelle and Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company of Grinnell have named Nodaway Valley High School senior Bradley Baudler of Fontanelle as a recipient of a 2013 Road to Success scholarship in the amount of $1,000.

Dave McLaren, regional director of the Iowa Small Business Development Center at Southwestern Community College, was named the 2013 Iowa “State Star” by the national Association of Small Business Development Centers (America’s SBDC).

Adams County Soil and Water Conservation District and Adams Mutual Insurance Association are sponsors of the annual conservation districts of Iowa’s poster contest. The 2013 theme was “Where does your water shed?”

Academic Year in America (AYA) is currently looking for Creston area families to play host to China.

Theo Hartman, a student at Creston High School, was recognized by Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kimberly Reynolds for outstanding academic achievement at the 11th annual Governor's Scholar recognition ceremony April 28 at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.

Six major drug dealers or manufactures have been put behind bars this spring — Union County Attorney Tim Kenyon reported during a board of supervisors meeting last week. Maybe you recall some of their names from the News Advertiser police blotter?

Creston Kiwanis Club presented Creston High School senior Garrett Abell with the Mickey Finn Education Scholarship.

The High Lakes Leadership Initiative Board of Directors held graduation for the class of 2013.

New titles and events at Gibson Memorial Library.

East Union High School graduate Taylor Mayne has been selected to participate in the program Flagstaff in Fidenza. Mayne is a student at Northern Arizona University School of Music in Flagstaff, Ariz.

The following are new titles and events at Gibson Memorial Library, 200 W. Howard St.

Patrick Baker, said once he had the idea to write a book, he couldn't stop writing. Baker, who recently published his book, "Fuzzy the Bear," uses forest animals to explore childhood themes such as bullying, miscommunication and friendship.