August Area Happenings

Volunteers and community members served and dined during the Community Supper at this year's American Cancer Society's Relay for Life at Koser Spring Lake Park in Cherokee. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Cancer survivors, event volunteers, and the general public were all well represented at the Community Supper at the August 3rd American Cancer Society Relay for Life event at Koser Spring Lake Park in Cherokee. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Cherokee troubador Charlie Leissler had the rapt attention of listeners in the large crowd at the August 3rd ACS Relay for Life in Cherokee. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Cherokee's Libby Peterson entertained the large crowd with her singing and guitar playing at the 2012 ACS Relay for Life event in Cherokee on August 3rd. (Photo by Diana Otto)

An entertaining Tae Kwon Do demonstration by Jung's Tae Kwon Do was a treat for the large crowd at the recent Cherokee Relay for Life. (Photo by Diana Otto)

The quilt raffle display and souvenir t-shirts were popular venues for those attending the Aug. 3 ACS Relay for Life event in Cherokee. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Cancer survivors Diana and Rich Otto of Aurelia pitched in to help serve the multitudes at the Cherokee ACS Relay for Life on August 3rd. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Yacht Club Concert - On August 4th,a Yacht Club Fundraiser Concert was held at the Gathering Place in downtown Cherokee,and more than $3,000 was collected through free-will offerings. The crowd so appreciated the musical talents of Charlie Leissler, Andy Juhl, Laura Bernhardt, Bridget Durst, Brooks Begay, Tim Anderson and Steve Alingh. The musicians played free of charge to help with the $375,000 Yacht Club project. (Photo contributed)

Dozens of 5K runners patiently waited in the rain at the Cherokee Mental Health Institute prior to the start of the August 4th Cherokee Cystic Fibrosis Trail/Fun Run benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's research. (Photo contributed)

Christa Lux and her cousin Heather participated in the Aug. 4th Cherokee CFF fundraiser benefitting Cystic Fibrosis. Christa is a CF victim. (Photo contributed)

Kevin and Carrie Lux's twin daughters Aleah, front, and Brielle, weathered the rain to show their support for their big sister Christa at the August 4th Train/Fun Run in Cherokee, which benefitted the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. (Photo contributed)

Some of the many participants in the CFF Trail/Fun Run at the Cherokee MHI keep on the lookout for other finishers in the event benefiting CF research. (Photo contributed)

It was a busy two days at the Cherokee Middle School on August 6th and 7th as Washington High School and Cherokee Middle School students registered for classes for the new school year, which begins Thursday, Aug. 16. (Photo by Paul Struck)

In good hands - Long-time Cherokee Middle School Principal Larry Weede and CMS Secretary Linda Lee were hard at it as Cherokee Washington High and CMS students registered for the new school year, which starts Aig. 16. (Photo by Paul Struck)

Cherokee Middle School Principal Larry Weede assisted and informed the many parents and students registering for classes Aug. 6 and 7 at CMS. The new school year begins Aug. 16. (Photo by Paul Struck)

Picture this - Cherokee Master Photographer Doug Pierson of Pierson Photography waits for the next student photo with gleeful anticipation at the Cherokee School District registration Aug. 6th and 7th at the Cherokee Middle School. (Photo by Paul Struck)

Seeing red - These boys apparently all got the "red shirt memo" prior to accompanying a parent to the 2012-2013 school registration days at the Cherokee Middle School August 6th and 7th. (Photo by Paul Struck)

Contestants at this year's Little Miss Marcus pageant are pictured here, riding in the parade through Marcus, as part of this year's Marcus Fair, which was held in August. (Photo contributed)

Allie Bouchard is pictured her as she is crowned Little Miss Marcus 2012 at the Marcus Community Fair. (Photo submitted)

This year's Little Miss Marcus was crowned during the Marcus Fair in mid-August. Earning a place in the Marcus Fair History this year was Allie Bouchard. (Photo by Roy Tucker)

The Country Cruisers entertained the crowds at the Marcus Community Fair with their swinging country moves and tunes. (Photo by Nancy Nelson)

"Sweet P" earned Grand Champion Mare honors at the Marcus Fair Horse Show. Pictured, left to right,are Fran Conley,who showed the mare, and the mare's owners, Peg and Jim Corrington. (Photo contributed)

Winners of the 2012 Costume Class at the Marcus Fair Horse Show were the members of the "The Princess and the Sweet P" team. Shown, left to right, Queen Peg Corrington, Sweet P, Princess Fran Conley, King Jim Corrington and Court Jester Clare Conley. (Photo contributed)

Youth entering livestock at the Marcus Community Fair last week prepared their animals for bathing and grooming to look their best for the judges. (Photo by Nancy Nelson)

Marcus Community Fair attendees enjoyed the amusement rides and games provided by Smith's Amusements. (Photo by Nancy Nelson)

There were several amusing rides available for those attending the Marcus Community Fair last week. Beautiful weather made attending the fair all that much more fun. (Photo by Nancy Nelson)

There were several creative plant and flower displays entered in the Marcus Community Fair this year. On the left is a plant display in an antique baby buggy, and on the right is a "Fairy Garden," made from an old piece of sitting furniture. (Photo by Nancy Nelson)

Hundreds of people flocked to the grounds of the former Maryhill Visitation Church west of Cherokee on Sunday August 12, 2012, to witness the Dedication Ceremony of the Rosary Shrine and Maryhill Parish Memorial, which now stand at the site where the fallen rural church stood for over a hundred years. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Father Daniel Guenther, Pastor of the Cherokee and Marcus parishes and new Administrator of Maryhill, gave the official welcome to the Dedication of the Rosary Shrine and Maryhill Parish Memorial at Maryhill on Sunday August 12, 2012. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Father Armand Bertrand, former Cherokee and Marcus parish pastor and former Maryhill Administrator, presented the development of the memorial sites at Maryhill. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Father Gene Sitzmann also welcomed those in attendance at the Dedication Ceremony of the Rosary Shrine and Maryhill Parish Memorial. Hundreds attended the historical event. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Cherokee Deacon LeRoy Rupp, who was baptized at Maryhill, was also part of the Dedication Ceremony of the Rosary Shrine and Maryhill Parish Memorial. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Bishop Walker Nickless of the Sioux City Diocese gave his comments and reflections on rural parishes like Maryhill as he dedicated the Maryhill Parish Memorial as a sacred blessed structure on Sunday August 12th. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Bishop Walker Nickless of the Sioux City Diocese blessed the grounds of the former Maryhill Church, which are now home to the Maryhill Parish Memorial, on Sunday August 12, 2012. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

An Open House was also held at the Maryhill Visitor's Center on Auguust 12th for Father Gene Sitzmann, long-time pastor of Maryhill and organizer of the new Maryhill memorial, who is observing his 50th year since his ordination. Many former parishioners and friends came to offer their congratulations to Sitzmann on his achievement. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Volunteer appreciation - Many dedicated and reliable community leaders were among the Cherokeans who attended the Aug. 15th pizza party for RAGBRAI volunteers at Koser Spring Lake Park. (Photo by Dan Whitney)

Pizza at the Park - Among the many Cherokee citizens who attended the August 15th Pizza Party at Koser Spring Lake Park for RAGBRAI volunteers were, left to right, Randy Reeves, John Snapp, Ben Shuberg, Lindsay Bressler and Craig Wiese. (Photo by Dan Whitney)

Grateful city - City Administrator Don Eikmeier (right) was among a large number of people who gathered at Koser Spring Lake Park on Aug. 15th to celebrate Cherokee's recent RAGBRAI experience. (Photo by Dan Whitney)

Story Corner - The kids in Quimby Library's story corner enjoying the bean bags as well as the books they read. (Photo contributed)

Mary & Gang - Mary Tuttle of the ISU Extension Office, visited the Quimby Library with a firefly program and a neat firefly craft. (Photo contributed)

Sanford Museum Director Linda Burkhart brought an American Native's Star Stories program to the Quimby Library. Here everyone is showing off their bear claw necklace craft they made. (Photo contributed)

Waiting for the doors to open - These students gathered outside the elementary building, prior to the start of classes in Aurelia on the first day of school, August 16. (Photo by Dan Whitney)

Meeting on the playground - Several Aurelia Elementary School students met on the school playground before classes started on the first day of school, August 16. (Photo by Dan Whitney)

Several Cherokee County Fire Departments took part in a major burn exercise in Alta on August 19th, as two wooden elevators at Ag Partners - estimated to have been built in 1959 - were burned to the ground in the exercise. Twenty-five fire departments from seven counties took part in the burn, including those from Aurelia, Cherokee, Marcus, Cleghorn and Quimby. Other Fire Departments included Alta, Storm Lake, Sioux Rapids, Newell, Truesdale, Rembrandt, Lawton, Moville, Anthon, Galva, Holstein, Ida Grove, Odebolt, Orange City, Danbury, Early, Schaller, Bronson and Everly. Additional agencies that participated in the exercise included the Buena Vista County Sheriff's Office, the City of Alta, the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center ambulance crew and the Buena Vista County Emergency Management Agency. BV County Emergency Management Coordinator Aimee Barritt said, "The training gives firemen the opportunity to practice working together at a large fire and how to manage the water supply - which is always an issue at a large fire." (Photo by Storm Lake Pilot-Tribune)

Middle School students wait - These Alta-Aurelia Middle School students waited outside of the school before classes on the first day of school in Aurelia, August 16th. (Photo by Dan Whitney)

Major burn - Things got pretty dark and smoky as these Cherokee Firemen battled the blaze at a large, wooden elevator in Alta during an August 19th training exercise. (Photo by Storm Lake Pilot Tribune)

Though it was a bright sunny day on Sunday Aug. 19th, you couldn't prove it to these Cherokee firefighters,who were enveloped in smoke during their training exercise in Alta. (Photo by Storm Lake Pilot-Tribune)

Where there's smoke... There's fire, as the saying goes. The Cherokee Fire Department battled the fire at the wooden grain elevator in Alta as part of a training exercise Aug. 19th involving 152 firemen from 25 fire departments in seven counties. (Photo by Storm Lake Pilot-Tribune)

Cleaning up - Workmen clean up on Aug. 20th following the Fire Burn exercise the day before. (Photo by Dan Whitney)

After the Fire - The Fire Burn exercise in Alta on Aug. 19th made for a big clean up project on August 20th. (Photo by Dan Whitney)

Flag raising - Irvin Powell Post 283 of Washta and Lyle W Barnes Post 398 of Quimby were present Monday, Aug. 20, for the first day of school flag raising ceremony at the River Valley Elementary School in Washta. Shirley Perrett, Unit President of Lyle W. Barnes #398 , presented a new flag to Principal Val Fuhrman. (Photo contributed)

River Valley's first day - Students at River Valley Elementary in Washta are pictured saluting the American Flag during their first day of school. (Photo contributed)

Pictured, left to right, are Gene Keck, Washta Comdr., John Perrett, Quimby Adj., Rich Ravnsborg, Quimby Comdr., Jim Dewit, Washta Adj., Arnie Dawson, Scott Jenkins, Mike Hanson, Larry McDermott and Sam Jenkins all of Washta. The group performed a flag raising ceremony at River Valley Elementary recently. (Photo contributed)

New look for Little Panda Josh Nusland, left, and Roger Haselhoff of Pilot Rock Signs put the finishing touches on the colorful new Little Panda Chinese Restaurant sign that was installed on August 28th at the popular eatery. located at 212 W. Maple St. in Downtown Cherokee. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Tight fit - Traffic through downtown Cherokee came to a standstill for more than 30 minutes over the noon hour on August 29th, as a tractor- trailer truck with an oversized load had to get some help to maneuver through the stoplights and power lines at the intersections of Main Street and U.S. Highway 59, and Willow Street and U.S. Highway 59. (Photo by Mike Leckband)