News

I love Serena Williams. Always have. I’m amazed at her athletic talent and tennis skills while luging that comely booty all over the court. She is an incredible world-class athlete with a tremendous work ethic that has propelled her to astonishing heights as the greatest female tennis player of all time (GOAT). And she’s beautiful...

The voters have spoken. There will be a new PK-4 elementary school building attached to the existing Middle School, work hopefully beginning this spring. Now, the architects, Facilities Committee, Administration, and School Board will proceed to final design and bid specs. Bids will be let in January providing there are no further snags. The bond ceiling was set at $12 million with its passage last week...

DES MOINES – If you can't make it to the State Historical Museum in Des Moines, why not let it come to O'Brien County? That's the idea behind the State Historical Society of Iowa's "History on the Move" mobile museum, a bright blue, custom-built Winnebago that travels the state's highways and back roads to share stories from the past. ...

The Cherokee County Conservation Board (CCCB) is hosting a Halloween Hike on Saturday, October 13th at Silver Sioux Recreation Area. The night will be filled with activities for everyone from 7:00pm- 8:30pm. The evening will begin with trick-or-treating in the campground. ...

On Saturday, September 29, 2018, at 6:00 pm, the Hanover Historical Society Board of Directors will host a German Feast to raise money for the Hanover Historical Society. The dinner will be held at the Aurelia Community Center, 235 Main Street, Aurelia, Iowa. Tickets for this fundraising event are $20.00 per person and must be paid for in advance...

Navigating the ups and down of the grain market can be a daunting challenge. Eleven local women furthered their education on this subject by participating in Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach’s Women Marketing Grain program.  The four-session class which taught farm and agribusiness women about grain marketing strategies and ways to stay on track for long-term market success recently wrapped up in Cherokee County. ...

A Cherokee Chamber coffee was held recently at the Spring Lake Park Yacht Club to celebrate the announcement that the City of Cherokee’s urban water quality project had been approved for funding from a Water Quality Initiative (WQI) urban conservation grant...

We too often take for granted our elected officials and the job they do on a daily basis. We take this time to remedy that oversight by publicly applauding County Auditor Kris Glienke and her savvy, dedicated staff for not only excelling in the daily County business, but steadfastly handling with aplomb our elections...

It’s not official, but when football/volleyball start, summer’s over. But what a summer it was for our area prep baseball and softball teams, especially our good neighbors to the east, Alta-Aurelia’s Warriors. In 20 years, when these kids look “back to the glory days,” this past summer is sure to be the subject of conversation...

The Cherokee City Council held a Public Hearing and adopted a Resolution on a FY19 Budget Amendment at Tuesday’s regular meeting. Main items in this amendment are the $10,000 contribution to the Cherokee County Promise (WITCC free tuition initiative) and the $90,000 Lewis Hotel payment to the new owners for roof and back wall repair which was budgeted in FY18 and not disbursed until FY19...

Cherokee County Hunger Stomp is back. It occurred the first time in 2015 when the requested $10,000 donation was used to package 50,000 meals, then deemed a huge success. In 2016 thousands more were raised to pack 60,000 meals. After taking a break in 2017 to help out with the flooding in Texas, this year the Cherokee County Ministries brought back the event...

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Cherokee County will be at the Cherokee Fairgrounds at 5:00 PM., Saturday, September 22nd. They will have traditional Relay for Life activities with a new twist. There will be a community supper with free will offering from 5:00 to 6:30. PM. Recognition of sponsors, the Opening Ceremony and the Survivor Lap will take place at 7:00 PM...

Put away all those Black & Gold “Vote Yes” yard signs and end the newspaper ad campaign in the Chronicle Times. They worked. Cherokee School District voters overwhelmingly approved a $12 million Bond Referendum Tuesday calling for construction of a new PK-4 elementary building affixed to the Middle School. The successful bond passage sets the ceiling cost at $12 million, with final design and construction costs not to exceed that amount...

The big picture. We’re taught by our teachers from second grade on to look at the big picture. When we were growing up, our parents and grandparents told us to look at the big picture. As adults entering the work place and beginning our careers, bosses and supervisors and fellow workers caution us about seeing the big picture...

BRAVE ALL-STATERS It’s tough sailing to earn all-state honors in anything. And, it’s fair to say it doesn’t happen often in our area, not to say the “powers that be” have unintentionally overlooked legitimate picks. On that note, with the help of Cherokee’s district softball Coach of the Year, Jenn Nixon, we can take a look at the all-state softball Braves’ list. ...

There are two documents of paramount importance to American history: the Declaration of Independence, which forged our national identity, and the United States Constitution, which set forth the framework for the federal government that is still in use today...

Trent (Bug) McClaren was diagnosed with Nodular Lymphocyte Predominate Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on June 20th and will be doing chemo until December 17. For a young husband, father, and worker, this was devastating news. A good outcome is expected: however getting through the fight will be a struggle. He is currently employed at Fareway in Cherokee and a member of the Army Reserves. Work has been increasingly difficult and eventually he will need to stop altogether...

The Cherokee City Council will hold a Public Hearing at Tuesday’s meeting concerning budget amendments for the City’s financial participation in two vital, ongoing community initiatives. Main items requiring the Public Hearing are a $50,000 pledge in support of the Cherokee County Promise, and an appropriated $90,000 payment for the Lewis Hotel renovations by the new owners...

The Cherokee Regional Medical Center Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department is pleased to announce that John Lynch, DPT, has joined their team.   Lynch earned his undergraduate degree from Northwestern College in Orange City. From there he attended the Physical Therapy program at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City earning his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in May 2018...

Kee-Stirs, a play on words, is the new name for a new bar in Cherokee which officially opened for business last weekend. Dawn Miller and Justin Bigley will operate “Kee-Stirs” in the VFW building on Maple Street here. Miller said the facility has undergone extreme cleaning and several new things are in the works...

HOLSTEIN - “It seemed like we were in control all night, but just didn’t make a couple plays,” summed up Ridge View Coach Dale Tokheim following Friday night’s 26-22 loss to Woodbury Central. “I was really happy with our effort. We moved the ball at times, but we had several guys just miss blocks or not sustain them long enough,” added Tokheim...

The Cherokee County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) held its annual conservation tour on a beautiful summer day last month. Guests were welcomed by Chairperson Russ Winterhof who also introduced special guests which included County Board of Supervisors Dennis Bush, Gary Lundquist, and Duane Mummert. Also in attendance were representatives from the offices of Senator Chuck Grassley and Representative Steve King, and CAEDC director Bill Anderson...

Ridge View School in Holstein recently dedicated the press box at Russ Kraai Field to the late Paul Voge, the long-time Galva-Holstein/Ridge View supporter and “Voice of the Pirates/Raptors,’ who announced their football games for many years. Paul’s family, students, and supporters are pictured here during the ceremony. Paul’s wife, Lois, holds the special commemorative plaque...

A Cherokee County Sheriff’s Deputy has been fired after allegedly shooting and killing a dog on Aug. 10 that reportedly had attacked two other dogs on Aug. 9, killing one of them. Cherokee County Deputy Sheriff Alec Wolf was fired after an internal investigation by Sheriff Jerod Clyde and his department. The dog allegedly shot by Wolf was reportedly owned by Austin Johnson of rural Cleghorn...

John Loughlin, co-chair of the Cherokee Facilities Committee charged with exploring the feasibility of building a new PK-4 school and gymnasium attached to the Middle School, is confident his citizen group has done its homework and zeroed in on its task as the School Bond election looms Tuesday for the School District...

Just because summer is over and the school year has begun anew, that does not mean that you (or your kids) should stop reading. I understand that it can be hard to find the time (or energy) to read with the stresses of a long school day, but here are a few of my tips to help keep you and yours in the habit of reading:...

SIOUX CITY - The Iowa National Guard Sioux City Readiness Center will host a 50th Anniversary on Saturday, Sep. 22, 2018 in honor of the 2nd Battalion, Mechanized, 133rd Infantry, Iowa Army National Guard’s mobilization to Vietnam. The event will be at the Army National Guard Armory in Sioux City...

It is our honor to induct Earl Cresap into the Hall of Fame for 2018. Earl’s passion is 4-H and he truly enjoys working with the youth. Earl began his career with 4-H in 2004  Several of his accomplishments are but not limited to: ·         helping with the youth committee.  ...

At Tuesday’s Cherokee County Board of Supervisors meeting, a public hearing was held for sale of tax sale certificates on three parcels including # 07-34-130-004 in Blair’s Addition to New Cherokee, # 07-26-127-014 in Glasson’s Addition to New Cherokee, and # 16-25-300-003 in the Southwest Corner of the Southwest Quarter of the Southwest Quarter of Section 25 in Diamond Township...

Jorja Kemp, Ames, is the featured artist this month at the Sanford Museum here. Kemp said she discovered the art form of painting with dropper bottles in 2015. “It’s a free flowing art form with happy colors” she said. “I like to pay special attention to the eyes of the animals I create using the alcohol ink mixture.”...

The Cherokee Rotary Club was honored to recently host Rotary District #5610 officers. Pictured here with Cherokee Rotary Club members, left to right, Joe M. Lundsgaard, Julie Hering-Kent, Rotary District Governor Dave Lorenz from Vermillion, S.D., Assistant Governor John Schneider from LeMars, and Cherokee Rotary member Sam Kooiker. Photo contributed...

ORANGE CITY - Cherokee’s highly regarded volleyball Braves opened their season here with impressive wins over Sheldon (21-15, 21-19) and LeMars (22-10, 21-16) at the MOC-Floyd Valley Invitational Tuesday.  The WHS Braves beat Sheldon 2-0 in their first match, wihle losing their second match to Class 4A, second state ranked Sergeant Bluff-Luton (21-9, 21-11).  The Braves won their third match of the night against LeMars 2-0...

“Get out old Dan's records Get out old Dan's records We will dance the whole night long It's fun to play the old time songs If old Dan could see us now I know he'd be so proud!” Ah-h…from Gordy Lightfoot’s “Old Dan’s Records” to any old song, for the past 12 years whenever a melody would pop into my head and I didn’t know a lyric, a refrain, or the artist, I would limp out from my office to the newsroom and ask fellow staffer Dan Whitney...

About 6:30 p.m. Tuesday the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 2-vehicle head on collision near the intersection of River Road and 540th Street in rural Cherokee County. Upon investigation it was determined that Cole Timmerman, 15, of Cherokee, was traveling south bound on River Road when he crossed the center line into an oncoming north bound vehicle driven by Kyle Stowater, 18 of Cherokee. ...

Interested voters in the Cherokee School District by now are well aware of the Sept. 11 $12 million Bond Referendum calling for a new PK-4 addition to the Middle School, replacing Roosevelt Elementary that would be sold for $4 million to the Cherokee Regional Medical Center providing the Bond passes. The $12 million figure represents a forecast $16 million project cost, less the $4 million from CRMC for the Roosevelt property...

The Grand Meadow Heritage Center will be celebrating its 42nd Annual Grand Meadow Heritage Festival on September 8th and 9th. On Saturday, the 8th they will start out the day with breakfast served 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM. At 9:00 the vendors will open, the McNeal Family Band will perform. ...

At Tuesday’s Cherokee City Council meeting a Public Hearing was held on the partial reversion of West Ridgeview Drive regarding proposed action to revert 10 feet of City-owned property to the adjacent owners of 5 S. Bow Dr. and 1 Arrow St. As there were no written or oral comments, the Mayor closed the Public Hearing...

The Cherokee Braves hosted the Storm Lake Tornadoes in the season opener last Friday night and a big second half from the Tornadoes helped them take the Battle Axe trophy back to Storm Lake for the third straight year with a 33-13 victory over the Braves...

Gospel and Christian music fans need to circle Saturday, Sept. 8th on their calendars. On that date, Nashville, TN duo Ernie & Jason Couch, will be in concert at Washta United Methodist Church. Ernie & Jason will be bringing an exciting mixture of 20th Century gospel classics and originals to town. ...

Members of the Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation (CAEDC) last week presented a Forgivable Loan check to Brad Amick, owner of The Farmhouse Restaurant in Quimby. Left to right, CAEDC Director Bill Anderson, Farmhouse owner Brad Amick, Brenda Perrin (CAEC), Willie Allbaugh (City of Quimby), and Shawn Simonsen (CAEDC) . Photo contributed...

The Cherokee School Bond Referendum is Tuesday, Sept. 11, and all registered voters residing in the Cherokee School District are eligible to vote wether you rent ow own property in the District. Polls that day at the Cherokee Community Center (upstairs) open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m...

Monday evening a public forum at Roosevelt School was held with the school board, school administrators, project architect and financial advisor, and interested taxpayers for a presentation of the Sept. 11 School Bond Referendum and how it got to this point...

New teachers at Cherokee Community School District are, left to right, Patty Reed, WHS art; Katie Karels, WHS Family & Consumer sciences; Pamela Fredericksen. Tk-6 music; and Alec Wynn, WHS/CMS Industrial Arts. Photo by Mari Bauer

We think it’s time Congress addresses and rethinks the law requiring mandatory minimum prison sentences for drug crimes enacted back in the 1980s. That law impacting non-violent criminals has caused our federal prison populations to soar, leading to overcrowding, exorbitant costs, diversion of funds from law enforcement, and sometimes dangerous criminals loosed to make room for non-violent, drug-related offenders...

So last night I went to see the Smashing Pumpkins in Sioux Falls. The tickets were courtesy of Moose and Google Q102.3. I had to play Google in Can’t Beat Google. This was last March. So I picked up tickets and then later got a text from Moose to bring my tickets in for upgraded seats. If these were an upgrade I would hate see what the original ones were because these kind of sucked. We were 2/3 ways back from the stage and we were three rows up...

The community is cordially invited to a concert with vocalist Chuck Crain, at 7 pm on Tuesday August 28, at the historical Sioux Theatre, 218 Main, Sioux Rapids. A free-will offering will be taken for this inspirational gospel ministry. Chuck is a tenor with the Southern Gospel Quartet which performs in the Presley's Jubilee show in Branson, Missouri, and on RFD-TV. ...

Effective October 30, 2018 the Cherokee Lions Club will be discontinuing their paper drive boxes that are located around the city. City of Cherokee residents can simply put their paper products out with their other recycling on Monday or Fridays. The paper can be mixed in with the other recycling...

G-H/S-C/RV new staff: Galva-Holstein, Schaller-Crestland and Ridge View welcomed several new staff members to the start of the new school year Aug. 23. New staff members include, front from left, Peggy Korlisk, cook; Melanie Pyle, S-C Elementary administrative assistant; Wanda Bruxvoort, S-C Title I reading; Brianna Witzke, S-C nurse and Lindsay Miller, S-C Elementary special education. ...