John Van Nostrand

Iowa

Managing Editor at Creston News Advertiser

Managing Editor at Osceola Sentinel-Tribune

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Articles

Conservation names Hilger as director

2 months ago | crestonnews.com | John Van Nostrand

Union County Conservation Board Tuesday formally named staff member Mike Hilger as the department’s next director, replacing the retiring Doug Jones. Hilger officially began Sunday. Jones’ last day was Friday. “You called me and asked,” Hilger said how he got involved with Union County Conservation work. Hilger began as a seasonal worker in 2001. He was promoted to full-time employment in conservation in 2008.
New sheriff reviews, reacts

2 months ago | crestonnews.com | John Van Nostrand

New Union County Sheriff Brian Bolton is not new to law enforcement. After his first month on the job Bolton is learning what the department has, needs and what could, or should happen in the future. Bolton was elected to the job in November after sheriff Mark Shepherd decided not to run for another term. A former Union County sheriff deputy, Bolton was in the department from 2002 to 2012.
Rotary looking for interested student

2 months ago | crestonnews.com | John Van Nostrand

Creston’s Rotary Club is looking for a student who has completed their junior year of high school to represent the club at RYLA this summer. The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards will be July 27-Aug. 1 at Grinnell College. Students representing many Iowa Rotary clubs attend to learn about community service, listen to speakers and develop their own leadership skills. Participants are encouraged to interact among each other on team building projects held during the event.
Car registration rules give owners a choice

2 months ago | crestonnews.com | John Van Nostrand

Don’t want to wait? Live closer to another courthouse? It won’t matter as Iowa law now allows a resident to register a car for the first time in any Iowa county. Union County Treasurer Kelly Busch explained that Monday to Union County Board of Supervisors during a review of her proposed fiscal year 2026 budget. Busch said the option is more for convenience.
John Van Nostrand: All needs remembered, somehow

2 months ago | yahoo.com | John Van Nostrand

Feb. 4—A person on X posted a picture last Tuesday. The picture was one of the pieces of the Space Shuttle Challenger recovered after its explosion on Jan. 28, 1986. The picture, posted by someone with the label spacenerd, included a note of "forever remembered."I responded with, "I hope you have a photo for Saturday, Feb. 1, too."I still remember Jan. 28, 1986. I was in seventh grade, 13 years old and thinking I was having the best year of my life.
Conservation names new director

2 months ago | crestonnews.com | John Van Nostrand

It didn’t take long, or far, for Union County Conservation to find their next director. Conservation board member Tom Lesan informed the Union County Board of Supervisors Monday the board will promote Mike Hilger to the position. He will replace Doug Jones who announced his retirement last month. “I wanted you to hear from us,” Lesan said, representing the board. Supervisors approved of Hilger. Union County Conservation is scheduled to meet 5 p.m. Tuesday to formally appoint Hilger.
COLUMN: All needs remembered, somehow

2 months ago | crestonnews.com | John Van Nostrand

A person on X posted a picture last Tuesday. The picture was one of the pieces of the Space Shuttle Challenger recovered after its explosion on Jan. 28, 1986. The picture, posted by someone with the label spacenerd, included a note of “forever remembered.”I responded with, “I hope you have a photo for Saturday, Feb. 1, too.”I still remember Jan. 28, 1986. I was in seventh grade, 13 years old and thinking I was having the best year of my life.
County ponders future property evaluation tools

2 months ago | crestonnews.com | John Van Nostrand

Union County Conference board members heard information Thursday from two different companies how they can assist with future property evaluations for tax purposes. No action was taken by the board. An evaluation of residential properties began in summer 2022 and was completed in early 2024. Former county assessor Mindy Schaefer had planned for another residential evaluation in 2035 at a then-estimated cost of $1 million. Ryan Poots, representing Eagleview, explained how its work can be done.
County names new assessor

2 months ago | crestonnews.com | John Van Nostrand

Union County Conference board members Thursday approved naming assessor office staff member Jessica Hagen as the next assessor. The position has been vacant since Mindy Schaefer left Jan. 2 in a resignation. Schaefer said in December during her resignation announcement Hagen has been taking courses to become a certified Iowa county assessor. Hagen started working in the Union County office last August.
Family, fans and friendly feuds

2 months ago | crestonnews.com | John Van Nostrand

Melissa Wellhausen and Nikki Adamson were as close as sisters could be growing up in the Creston home of John and the late Sherrill Giza. When Melissa’s and Nikki’s daughters reached high school, the two were then separated only by the basketball court their daughters were playing on. Nikki’s daughter Ava is a senior at Creston High. Melissa’s daughter Carsen is a junior at Clarinda. The two have played against each other in basketball going back to middle school.