Creston Radio Food Drive

This holiday season won't be fun for everybody without the generous support of community members. Many in the area plan to go with little food in order to pay for heating and other costs. In an effort to help those in need, Creston Radio is holding its annual food drive. On Saturday, Creston Radio personalities and staff will be throughout the Creston community collecting food items and monetary donations to support the local food pantry operated by MATURA Action Corp.

Come out to visit with us and make a donation that will truly make a difference this holiday season. Volunteers with the food pantry say they recently installed a freezer to accommodate such foods as hams and turkeys. Other items to donate include non-perishable goods and household items for the bathroom and kitchen. If you don't have time to gather any items, cash donations will be accepted too.

Citizens can donate in three locations in Creston from 9:00am until noon. At Fareway, Kathy Rieck and Wayne Lents will be collecting items. At Wal-Mart Supercenter, Ben Walter and Karla Hynes will stand ready for donations. Meanwhile, Tawnya Routh, Melinda Mackey, and I will be at Hy-Vee taking any and all contributions.

Kilgore's Used Cars and Rentals who will again donate the usage of rental cargo vans to haul donated items. In addition, youth groups from Crest Baptist Church and from Youth Answering the Call of the Community, or YACC. Also, before and after making your own contribution, stay tuned to Creston Radio for live reports during the collection from 9:00am until noon.

Emergency Officials on Winter Weather

Emergency Management Coordinators across the Creston Radio listening area are gearing up for the winter season and have provided the news department with helpful tips and ideas in preparing for the worst this season. We've compiled those tips to help keep you safe over the next several months.

In your home, always have plenty of supplies on hand like batteries and firewood if you have a way to burn it, as well as medications and flashlights. If possible, maintain a generator for power outages, but make sure to operate them in accordance to the manufacturer's guidelines. And although they are becoming obsolete, officials encourage you to also keep your land line phone in service with a corded phone. If your power goes out for days, even cell phone batteries may not last. Cordless phones can't operate without electricity either.

If you lose your power during a storm, make sure to try to let your utility company know as soon as possible. Also check on loved ones and neighbors, especially any elderly ones, to ensure they are safe and sound. Listen to radio stations for information on locations of emergency shelters set up in your area which will be a much safer place to be in case of power loss.

In your car, it's a good idea to also keep supplies stocked up. A standard list includes a blanket, battery-operated radio, snacks, jumper cables, and a small shovel. Emergency officials suggest keeping a full tank of gas when driving in winter conditions as well.

However, if road conditions are poor, avoid traveling when possible. Statistics show that 70% of all winter-storm related deaths are related to traffic crashes on ice or snow covered roads. For more information, visit fema.gov.

C & M Holds Auction Saturday

An 11:00am auction is scheduled for the contents of the former Cumberland & Massena elementary school building on Saturday. It will take place in the multi-purpose room of the building, located at 200 E. 4th Street in Cumberland.

The sale bill says items to be sold include televisions, a piano, furniture, classroom supplies, file cabinets, table, chairs, desks, and more. Industrial arts and kitchen items also highlight items on the list. Officials say the building closed last year to help balance finance troubles.

Leon Man Found Dead in Ames

Foul play is not suspected in the discovery of a Leon man found dead in Ames on Sunday. Ames Police Commander Jim Robinson says they discovered 54-year-old Alan Hill in his vehicle on a street near Iowa State University's Jack Trice Stadium Sunday afternoon. According to the Decatur County Sheriff's Office, they made a call to the Ames Police Department at around 1:15pm on Sunday after his concerned family contacted law enforcement when Hill didn't return from his trip to Saturday's ISU football game. Ames Police made the discovery around 2:00pm. Officials say Hill had known medical problems. However, the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny is determining the cause of death. Funeral services for Hill were already held Wednesday at the Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home in Leon.

Medicare Part D Check-Up

The Medicare system can be a difficult one to navigate, and officials say it's just as important to do a yearly check-up of your Part D plan as it is to get an annual check-up with your doctor. Kriss Gross, with the State of Iowa's Senior Health Insurance Information Program, or SHIIP, says plans change from year to year, so it's a good idea to make sure you're still getting the best plan.

Enrollment is open now through the end of the year to change your plans for 2009. Gross says there are many small changes taking place for next year, including many increases in premiums, so it's a good idea to get some advice. There are a couple of ways to talk with an expert about the Medicare Part D plan that's best for you. SHIIP will be holding two area enrollment events offering a chance to get free, confidential assistance. One event will be held at the Montgomery County Hospital in Red Oak on Tuesday. The second event will be in Indianola at The Village from 2:00pm until 6:00pm. For more information on those events, call 1-800-351-4664.

You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE for a plan comparison and assistance in enrolling. For even more information, visit Iowa's SHIIP website at shiip.state.ia.us.

Turkey Talk

It's time to start thinking about that Thanksgiving meal next week, especially if you're planning to serve the traditional turkey as the main course. Barb Fuller, Iowa State University Extension Nutrition and Health field specialist says you'll definitely want to make plans this weekend to make sure a spectacular feast is served on Thursday.

According to Fuller, when planning to purchase a turkey, plan for one pound per person. If it's pre-stuffed, you'll want 1 ½ pounds per person. After purchasing that perfect bird, Fuller says there are three options to thaw it out. The quickest of three USDA-recommended methods is in the microwave. She points out that a turkey defrosted in the microwave should be cooked immediately.

You can also use cold water to unfreeze the bird. Fuller says to allow 30 minutes per pound to thaw. Also, make sure to change the water every 30 minutes to keep the temperature cold.

Finally, a turkey can be thawed in the refrigerator. Although this method take the longest, it's the most convenient. Fuller says to allow one day for every five pounds of total bird. So a 12-16 pound turkey will take 3-4 days to thaw.

Fuller points out to never defrost a turkey on the counter. Even if you don't get time to thaw, don't fret. Extension food safety specialist Sam Beattie says you can still cook the turkey, but make sure it gets warm enough. When cooking your bird, the internal temperature must reach 165 degrees. This should be checked with a meat thermometer in the innermost part of the thigh and wing, as well as the thickest part of the breast.

For more information, contact Fuller at the Union County Extension Office at 782-8426. You can also visit Extension's website at extension.iastate.edu.

Grazing Workshop in Corning

A grazing workshop in Corning on Monday will help cattlemen who want to reduce their grazing expenses, according to organizers. The event will take place from 10:30am until 2:00pm at the St. Patricks's Parish Center on 6th Street. There is no charge for the event, and a free lunch will also be provided. Featured speaker will be Arkansas State Grassland Conservationist Dr. Ron Morrow.

Before lunch, the workshop will focus on extending the grazing season to avoid supplemental feeding. After lunch, the topic will turn to management of pastures in order to reduce fertilizer applications. For more information, call the Adams County Extension office at 641-322-3184.

EAST Offers Free Meal

Helping people in need is the goal of a Creston High School EAST project this evening. Program facilitator Shawn Miller says the group is holding a free Thanksgiving meal from 6:00pm until 8:00pm in the High School commons today. The group has organized a potluck to include a main course, as well as sides, desserts and drinks. Additionally, some high schoolers will be providing musical entertainment for the event. For more information, contact Miller at 782-2116.

Green Valley Closed This Weekend

A special deer hunt will close Green Valley State Park this weekend. Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials say the closure will be in effect from Saturday through Monday. The muzzleloader event will be the fifth annual in which 25 hunters will have free range of up to 50 antlerless deer at a limit of two per hunter. Park ranger Alan Carr says the slots for those 25 hunters are already full and that the event will help keep the park's deer population at a manageable level. He says too many deer can destroy natural habitat as well as neighboring crops.

The hunting will take place on Saturday and Sunday. According to Carr, the Monday closure will allow staff to get the park back into order. For a safe event, he says five or six extra DNR staff will be on hand to patrol the park boundaries.

Women Arrested for Drugs

Two Creston women were released on their own recognizance Thursday evening after being arrested on drug charges. According to the Creston Police Department, 31-year-old Lindsey Hiatt and 26-year-old Nicki Jones were arrested at 5:00pm at the Union County Law Enforcement center where both were charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Car Vandalism in Creston

A kick to a door of a car in Creston on Thursday leaves a dent and $300 in damage. Amanda Still of Creston told officials that the incident happened while the vehicle was parked at her residence on Thursday afternoon.