March 05, 2026
Local NewsState & NationalPublic Notices

Remember when...

By Mandy McDowell
Peter Malmberg, left, special education director for the Green Valley Area Education Agency, accepts a check for $866 from Debbie Scheel, Dianne Dunkerson and Mary Trenkle, officers of the SWCC Office Occupations club. The money was raised by the club’s Rockathon held at SWCC Feb. 16.

Peter Malmberg, left, special education director for the Green Valley Area Education Agency, accepts a check for $866 from Debbie Scheel, Dianne Dunkerson and Mary Trenkle, officers of the SWCC Office Occupations club. The money was raised by the club’s Rockathon held at SWCC Feb. 16. (CNA 1978 archived photo)

Maybe you were there when it happened or read about it the first time around, but some things are just worth repeating.

Today is Thursday, March 5, 2026. There are 301 days remaining in the year. Here’s what the CNA reported on this week in history. Do you remember?

6 years ago (2020)

The Southern Prairie YMCA Stingrays had four swimmers who qualified and competed in the 2020 Iowa YMCA State Swim Meet March 7 and 8 in Marshalltown. The Stingrays were one of 25 teams from across Iowa. The team had two swimmers who placed top eight in their events. Gretchen Hoepker placed eighth in the Girls 9-10 200-yard freestyle and RyAnn Witt placed eighth in the Girls 11-12 100-yard backstroke and sixth in the Girls 11-12 50-yard backstroke.

The Southern Prairie YMCA board voted March 4 to drop its affiliation with the YMCA and become and independent health center. The board has tentatively chosen Southern Prairie Family Health and Wellness Center as the new name, but is open to comment from the public. Executive Director Dana Dodge said the programs at the facility will not change and the emphasis on faith will remain.

Creston put three players on the Hawkeye 10 all-conference team Tuesday. Brance Baker was selected to the second team while Cael Kralik and Colby Burg were honorable mentions.

As of Monday, there have been 13 identified cases of COVID-19 in Iowa. While no confirmed cases have displayed symptoms, local and state public health institutions urge individuals to practice proper hand washing, avoid travel to areas where cases are higher in concentration and proceed with caution.

12 years ago (2014)

Southwestern Community College’s trip to the Big Apple showed how much the program has grown in just its second year. All individual athletes that qualified for the meet and the 4x400-meter relay finished better than their seeded position, which was based on their qualifying performances. The Spartans also set four new school records on the banked curves of the Armory’s track.

Sophomore post player Jenna Taylor and junior forward Natalie Mostek both received honorable mention on the Hawkeye 10 All-Conference honors released this week.

On March 8, 37 Creston FFA members attended the South Central District Leadership Convention in Chariton. Two leadership contests from Creston advanced to the state competition. The contests and participants include Maddie Travis, earning gold and advancing in agriculture broadcasting and the Experience the Action team received gold and advances with members Madison Skarda, Nicole Haley, Savannah Hartman, Olivia Hartman, Chad Lamb, Darin Hatfield and Logan Pettit.

24 years ago (2002)

A former Southwestern Community College catcher has come back to start a new era in Spartan baseball. Mike Cook, Des Moines native who played for Bill Krejci at Southwestern in 1988-89, enters his first year at the helm of the program as head coach.

Corning officials and residents were stunned this week when they opened a letter from Johnny Carson and found a check for $75,000. Carson, born in Corning, wrote the check to the Corning Skatepark Committee, which had been seeking funds to build a professionally designed skating park for area kids.

Jerry Brown of Murray will be among the new inductees to the Iowa Basketball Hall of Fame; Gary Cowell of Creston and Curt Olson, current CHS activities director, will receive school administrator awards and William Krejci of Creston, longtime baseball coach at Southwestern Community College and current athletic director there, will be inducted into the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame next week at Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

48 years ago (1978)

The News Advertiser cookbooks are sold out, with the exception of a dew “premium copies” to be given away at the Spring Frolic March 16. That means everyone should be cooking up a storm with the 1,700 cookbooks sold.

Sue Crosser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Crosser, was chosen as the Rotary student of the month for her many activities in school such as cheerleading and Student Council President.

Ten Creston school “pep buses,” carrying nearly 350 people, left at 10:30 a.m. today with students and adult fans who are attending the state girls basketball tournament in Des Moines. The Creston Pantherettes play Elk Horn-Kimballton this afternoon.

Creston