Union County Fair Starts

The Union County Fair begins tomorrow with livestock weigh-ins and special interest judging. Harness Racing will entertain folks in the Grand Stand beginning at 1 p.m., and the Jr. Fair Horse Opening Ceremonies will take place in the horse arena at 7 p.m.

On Monday, judging begins in earnest. The Lamb Cook-off will be held at noon and amusement rides begin at 5:30. The Fair Parade begins at 5. Fair royalty will be crowned Monday evening, with the day concluding at dusk with fireworks and a laser light show.

Afton Man Sentenced

An Afton man has been sentenced to half-a-year of "home confinement" for income tax evasion.

Forty-three-year-old Scott Eugene Mitchell ran a business called Central Iowa Amusements. Prosecutors say Mitchell hid profits he was making from the rental of Iowa Lottery "TouchPlay" machines in 2004, 2005 and 2006. TouchPlay machines had been placed in convenience stores and other businesses to sell Lottery tickets, but legislators yanked the machines in May of 2006 after complaints. Mitchell is sentenced to three years probation and, for the first six months of that sentence, he is not to leave his home. A judge has also ordered Mitchell to pay the taxes he owes the federal government. According to a news release from federal prosecutors, Mitchell's back taxes could amount to about 150-thousand dollars.

Taylor County Arrests

At Approximately 9:45 a.m. on July 23 (Friday), Taylor County dispatch received a call from the Page County Sheriff that there were two vehicles eastbound on Highway 2 from Clainda, and that the drivers of the vehicles possibly did not have valid drivers licenses.

Both vehicles were located by a Taylor County Sheriff’s Officer, and were stopped. After a short investigation it was believed both drivers, Edward E Gray Jr, 32, of Coin, and Brent Lee Wagaman, 28, also of Coin, were suspended for nonpayment of Iowa fines.

Both were arrested and transported to the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and held in lieu of bond.

Both appeared in Taylor County Magistrate Court on Saturday, pled guilty, and received 30 days in jail, with credit for time served, and 20 days suspended if the balance is served by July 31.

Creston Drug Arrests

by Brad Heinrich

The Creston Police Department, The South Central Drug Task Force and the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement Counter Drug Task Force executed several arrest warrants on Thursday. The following were arrested on Union County warrants for Violation of Pseudoephederine Purchase Restrictions.

Shaun Ray Sanden, 31, 313 N Birch, David Scott Miller, 42, 312 N Birch and Thomas Donald Lewis,51, 507 N Cherry. They have been charged with Possession of precursor with the intent to manufacture a controlled substance and are being held on a $5000 bond. Also arrested yesterday at the residence at 312 N Birch were Pamela Dean Claiser, 50, 311 N Sycamore and Gary Eugene Edwards, 45, Lorimor and Michael Sherrod, 45, 407 Livingston. Claiser was charged with Possession of Paraphernalia and Possession of Precursor with the Intent to Manufacture a Controlled Substance and was released on a $5000 bond. Edwards was arrested on a Union County warrant for criminal trespass and was also charged with driving while barred. He was released on a $2000 Bond. Sherrod was charged with Possession of a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance and Possession of Marijuana. He is being held on a $2000 bond.

Road Construction

A subcontractor on the Green Valley Road project, Reilly Construction, intends to begin working on the south end of the project within the City of Creston on Monday, July 26th. Initially, the road may not be closed to through traffic but the prime contractor, Henningsen Construction, intends to begin removing the pavement very soon which will require closing isolated sections of both Green Valley Road and Route H24. The road closure locations will depend on the progress of the demolition, earthwork, and the subbase construction.

Adair County Fair Continues

The Adair County Fair kicked-off Wednesday night with crowning of the fair royalty. Savannah Ruby is the 2010 Adair County Fair Queen and Zach Jorgensen reigns as King. 2010 Little Miss Adair County is Reagan Weinheimer.

Don and Marie Lents were introduced as Adair County’s Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame Inductees for 2010.
 
The Lents family association with 4-H began back in the late 1930s when Don and Marie were Adair County 4-H members. The 4-H tradition continued when their four children Ralph, Dale, Wayne, and Cathy became members of the Eureka Eagles in Adair County. Cathy was also a member of the Prussia Merry Maids.
Don and Marie served as volunteer club leaders and Marie served on the Adair County Extension Council. They followed their children to livestock shows at the Iowa State Fair, Ak-Sar-Ben, and American Royal. After her own children were out of 4-H, Marie assisted as a clerk for the county fair beef show for more than 10 years.
 
Their grandchildren continued the legacy as Adair, Madison, and Union county 4-H’ers.

Don and Marie will be officially inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame on Sunday, August 22nd at the Iowa State Fair.

Activities continue today with the meat goat, rabbit, dairy, and dairy goat shows. The ever-popular bucket bottle calf show will begin at 3 p.m

Elm's Club Bike Night

by Brad Heinrich

Crestonians will hear the roar of bikes once again on Friday night. The Elm's Club will hold its 2nd annual Bike Night and Bike Show on Friday with the events starting at 4 pm. Proceeds raised at this event will go to the McKinley Park Fundraiser.

With so many bikes converging on uptown, parking could be an issue. There is parking available on Elm Street in front of the club or the lot at Elm and Montgomery is available as well.

There will also be a street dance starting at 8 pm. Throughout the evening there will be t-shirts, hats, and fun trinkets handed out. T- shirts are on sale at the Elm's club for $10. Last year there were around 150 bikes at the event, and the hope is that number will be doubled this year.

Adair County Auditor's Office Closed August 4

The Adair County Auditor's Office will be closed Wednesday, August 4, for Continuing Education for Elections.