June Area Happenings

Junior Golf begins - On a beautiful June morning at theCherokee Golf and Country Club, Fran Galles givies last minute instructions to the golfers before they start their game, as the Junior Golf League continues play. Golfers will take one week off during the playing of the Sioux Valley Open qualifying rounds. (Photo contributed)

Lilly pads - Several lilly pads are blooming on the pond along the walking trail on the grounds of the Cherokee Mental Health Institute. (Photo contributed)

Eighteen Cherokee Middle School eighth grade students and their five chaperones took an educational trip to Washington D.C. and New York City in June. The educational tour took them to many well- known historical and popular landmarks - The Smithsonian Museums, The National Archives, The Washington Memorial, The WWII Memorial, The Jefferson Memorial, The Martin Luther King Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the changing of the guard, The White House, The Vietnam Memorial, The Korean War Memorial, The Lincoln Memorial, The U.S. Capitol Building, The Library of Congress, Mount Vernon, The Empire State Building, Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Rockefeller Center, 5th Ave., The Broadway Musical "Memphis," Central Park, Times Square, Little Italy, and Chinatown. Those members traveling were, Brett Barritt, Drake Bechtel, Austin Hamilton, Brady Lundquist, Steven Lundquist, Christian Lundy, Derek Nixon, Alex Winchell, Charlie Wych, Becca Fajardo, Kaely Hummel, Riley Dolphin, Darian Owens, Taylor Pruett, Atlanta Shaw, Taylor Vandelune, Emma Wolterman, Julie Hummel, Troy Hummel, Kelly Pitts, Julie Dolphin, and Barb Pruett. Among their many stops was The White House. (Photo contributed)

CrossRidge Youth canoe trip - Fifteen youth and adults from CrossRidge Church of Holstein enjoyed a canoe trip that started in Cherokee County at Red Tail Ridge and ended at Silver Sioux Recreation Area with a tasty meal, devotions & frisbee fun at the barn lodge. Water fun included learning how to canoe and kayak, observing God's beautiful nature, water frisbee/football, and mud fights! Canoe trip participants included: Rachel and Dakota Hunt, Logan Richard, Preston Schmidt, Nick and Josh Gross, Kaylynn Luscombe, Annette and Ally Babcock, Ted and Kristy Smith of Holstein; Will and Cole Vietor, and Ginger Walker of Cherokee; and Matt Petersen of Aurelia. Guides were Ginger and Matt. Matt Petersen also provided the smoked meat for the evening meal and sponsored the canoe trip so the event was free to the youth. Canoes were rented from Little Sioux Tours of Cherokee. (Photo contributed)

Ag Safety Day - A total of 145 students came from Aurelia, Cherokee, Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn and River Valley for the annual Cherokee County Farm Bureau Ag Safety Day held in June. The safety day covered: First Aid, Water, ATV, Electric, drugs (with the use of a canine), Gun, Wheel of Mis-Fortune, Fire, and Bike Safety. Each student present received a free bicycle helmet and a first aid kit. The students also enjoyed a delicious lunch courtesy of local businesses and the Cherokee County Pork Producers. The mission of the Agriculture Safety Day is simple, to make farm life safer and healthier for all children through education and training. (Photo contributed)

Ribbon Cutting - Cherokee Chamber of Commerce members gathered as Lisa Mazurek cut the red ribbon for her new office on West Maple Street at the June 15th Chamber Coffee. Michelle Murphy is standing next to Mazurek, and Chamber Director Julie Hering-Kent (left) and Jan Morton (right) hold the ribbon. (Photo by Dan Whitney)

Build it and they will come - The Cherokee County Conservation Department recently installed new playground equipment at Silver Sioux Recreation Area and at the new addition of Martin's Access, much to the delight of the younger residents of Cherokee County. (Photo contributed)

M-C Library receives grant - The Meriden-Cleghorn Community Library received a grant from the Cherokee County Legacy Foundation to assist in the purchasing of a additional public computer and wireless internet. Pictured is Stu Hogg from Gregg Computers with Samantha Jessup, Jonathan Jessup and Irmalinda Ponce looking on as the new computer is installed. Having wireless internet is making it easier for patrons to use their own wireless electronic devices in the comfort of the Library. The Library thanks the Cherokee County Legacy Foundation for the grant, it has helped them to serve more people in the area. During the summer the Libary will be having themed Story Time each Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. It will be fun for kids of all ages. They are always open until 7 p.m. on Mondays. For more information call 712-436-2521. (Photo contributed)

River guiding - Cherokee County Fair Queen Candidate Karissa Wych takes a turn at guiding one of Iowa River Tour's cattle tanks down the Little Sioux River on Saturday, June 16. The guided canoe, tank and tube trip, provided by Iowa River Tours, and The Big Red Bus, aimed to educate and promote tourism. (Photo by Iowa River Tours)

Hitting the trail - Cherokee County Fair Queen candidates Hanna Henson (bow of canoe) Samantha Hirschman (stern of canoe) navigate the waters of the Little Sioux River along Historic Inkpaduta Canoe Trail on Saturday, June 16. The guided canoe, tank and tube trip, provided by Iowa River Tours, and The Big Red Bus, aimed to educate the candidates in river safety and promote tourism along the famous waterway. (Photo by Iowa River Tours)

Hitting the trail - Cherokee County Fair Queen candidates Hanna Henson (bow of canoe) Samantha Hirschman (stern of canoe) navigate the waters of the Little Sioux River along Historic Inkpaduta Canoe Trail on Saturday, June 16. The guided canoe, tank and tube trip, provided by Iowa River Tours, and The Big Red Bus, aimed to educate the candidates in river safety and promote tourism along the famous waterway.

Mural update - The Quimby Mural was repainted and updated with the new 2012 Logo. Pictured are some of the artists : Naomi Urban, Doug Urban, Andrea Urban, Cathy Smith, Corliss Simmons, JoAnn Rupp and Steve Lassiter. Quimby celebrated 125 years as a community the last week of June. (Photo by Jolene Smith)

Quimby held its Quasquicentennial the last weekend in June, and Grand Marshals Mick and Judy Brown are pictured here during the Quimby 125 Parade. (Photo by Jolene Smith)

Family float - Longtime Quimby residents, the Simmons family float was one of over 100 entries in the Quimby 125 Parade. (Photo by Jolene Smith)

Car show - Over 100 entries were on display at the Quimby 125 Car Show, including this classic Skyliner - a blast from the past that years ago would have been seen at the local drive-in. (Photo by Jolene Smith)

Yesteryear - Becca and Brody Cowen are pictured riding their horse in the Quimby 125 Kid Parade, where 'Yesteryear' was the theme. (Photo by Jolene Smith)

Go-round with grandpa - Craig Schroeder and his granddaughter Morgan Munro enjoy a ride on the Merry-Go-Round at this year's Midway as part of the Quimby 125 Celebration. (Photo by Jolene Smith)

Time to visit - Korean War Veteran Albert Kleihauer and Afghanistan War Veteran, Quimby native Phillip Simonsen, visit over their slices of watermelon at the annual Quimby Watermelon Days, which was held this year during the Quimby 125 Celebration. (Photo by Jolene Smith)