News

As temperatures rise in the Midwest, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reminds employers to protect their employees from the dangers of working in hot weather.   OSHA’s message is simple: Water. Rest. Shade. Employers should encourage workers to drink water every 15 minutes, and take frequent rest breaks in shaded areas. Employers should:...

At Monday’s School Board meeting, the Board approved publication of a Resolution to continue participation in the Instructional Support Program and set Monday, August 19th @ 5:30 PM in the WHS Conference Room as the date and place of a public hearing...

For the past 4 years, the Cherokee County Conservation Board and the Sanford Museum have been partnering to offer educational floats down our local waterways. Floats typically take a few hours and include stops on sandbars to look for artifacts. Previous floats have been from Redtail Ridge to Pearse Access, Martins Access to Barnes Access, and from 470th St to High Country Road on Mill Creek...

The 96th Annual Cherokee County Fair officially kicked off on Wednesday. The day was filled with weigh ins and placement of livestock. Highlights that went on on Thursday were the crowning of the 2019 Little Miss Cherokee County Fair, Cherokee County Can Chase Barrel Racing and performances by 3 Ring Super Circus. Upcoming events for today are the 4-H exhibits and shows, and the Tractor Pull...

The proposed new CYSBA ballfield north of the tennis courts to replace the one lost in the construction of the new elementary school addition to the Cherokee Middle School has been put on hold. This was determined at Monday night’s July School Board meeting when it was learned that the City had contacted the School District about partnering in a sports complex that would serve both entities...

Summer heat can be hard on everyone – especially our pets. When the weather is nice and warm, it’s the perfect time to get our canine friends running around outside. However, it’s important to help your dog cool off and beat the summer heat. With these tips you can help your four-legged family members stay cool this summer...

After more than two months of rumors and a strategic “corporate” hesitancy to release pertinent information, Iowa Food Group has finally completed the transaction to sell the Cherokee meat processing plant to Lopez Foods, a highly reputable national company steeped in the meat processing industry and a major supplier of McDonald’s food products...

The 200 megawatt (MW) Glaciers Edge Wind Project north of Marcus now under construction is scheduled to be on line by the end of this year. And the estimated peak property taxes from this project will benefit Cherokee County by nearly $590,000 annually...

After a 23-year wind farm construction hiatus, work on a 2nd Cherokee County wind farm has begun despite this spring’s cooler, wetter weather patterns. Developed by San Diego based EDF Renewables, the 200 megawatt (MW) Glaciers Edge Wind Project north of Marcus is scheduled to be on line by the end of this year...

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced the first case of West Nile virus infection reported in 2019, an older adult (aged 61 years to 80 years) male from Audubon County who has since recovered. “Humans get infected with West Nile virus through a mosquito bite,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Caitlin Pedati. “Until the state's first hard frost, whether it's for work or play, being outside means there's a risk for West Nile virus infection."...

Cherokee County Fair Queen Candidates made an appearance at the Chamber Coffee Friday morning to introduce themselves. From left to right are Katherine Stines, Malorie VanderLune, Rebecca Cowan and Avrey Knipper. Absent due to prior commitments were Brookllyn Wissbaum and Courtney Aden...

Father Mark Stoll is welcomed to the Immaculate Conception Church of Cherokee and Our Lady of Good Council in Holstein. He relocated her on the 2nd of July and started his services on July 3. Father Mark was raised on a farm near Hospers in Sioux County and attended Spalding Catholic Schools. ...

(This 10-part series, a collaborative effort of the newspapers of Rust Publishing, NWIA, examines the myriad issues surrounding the mental health care crisis in Iowa. Reporters and editors from the Spencer Daily Reporter, Storm Lake Pilot-Tribune and Dickinson County News have contributed to the report.)...

The 6th Annual Cherokee GLOW RUN 5K run & walk will be held Wednesday, July 17th at 9:00pm.  Registration begins at 8:00 PM. The cost is $15 for the walk/run only or $20 with t-shirt. Fee includes glow accessories. You can register at City Hall or online at http://getmeregistered.com/Cherokee5K. Registration is also available on the night of the event...

Woodbury Central pelted Cherokee pitchers for 18 hits, capitalized on eight errors, and ultimately ended the host Braves’ season via a 17-7 win in six innings of this Class 2A Regional Tourney contest here Wednesday. Woodbury Central, 15-15, advances in the tourney against Alta-Aurelia tonight at 7p.m. in Alta...

Fifty Iowa 4-H members were recognized for their 2019 state 4-H project awards at the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference during the closing ceremony held on the Iowa State University campus in Ames on Thursday, June 27. A project area is a broad topic that 4-H members can explore on their own or with the mentorship of a 4-H leader or other caring adult. ...

The Iowa Downtown Resource Center will offer several downtown forums in July focusing on the characteristics of a successful downtown, and Cherokee will be hosting one of these Cherokee’s Downtown Forum will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 24 at The Gathering Place on West Main Street...

At Tuesday’s Cherokee City Council meeting City Administrator Eric List reported that Cherokee has an opportunity to receive a “free” community video program from CGI Communications that will include four promotional videos ranging from 1 to 2 ½ minutes in length, to be used on the City’s website as well as other platforms...

A motion to draft an Ordinance increasing household fees for solid waste and recycling collection in Cherokee was approved by City Council Tuesday. 
Eric Lundell of Sanitary Services requested a $2 per month per household increase for the solid waste and recycling collection service they provide. Lundell said the last increase was over five years ago and costs for fuel, labor, equipment, maintenance and insurance continue to rise...

Bomgaars celebrated the Grand Opening of their new location at the former KMart building with a Chamber Ribbon Cutting on July 5th. The store, at 1111 N 2nd St., has greatly expanded and added many new lines and merchandise.

Cherokee Regional Medical Center (CRMC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa Cunningham, RN, BSN, as the new Vice President of Clinical Services/CNO. Cunningham has 12 years of healthcare management and leadership experience with her most recent position being Director of Abben Cancer Center at the Spencer Municipal Hospital,for the past nine years. Melissa also has management experience in fields of Home Health, Hospice and Public Health...

Sparklers are always popular with youngsters during the July 4th celebration. A large crowd viewed an impressive fireworks display at Spring Lake here last week as Brennan Irwin of Marcus watches his sparkler burn.

The Veterans and the VFW got a surprise while putting up their flags for the 4th. Thomas Zurhellen stopped along his way to Ft. Dodge after leaving Sioux City that morning. The commander of the Pougkeepsie Veterans of Foreign Wars post 170 is making a trek across the United States. ...

The Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation (CAEDC) hosted Iowa Senate Majority Leader, Senator Jack Whitver (R-Akeny), on June 28 for a legislative roundtable and tour of the Civil Commitment Unit for Sexual Offenders (CCUSO) and Mental Health Institute (MHI) grounds...

(Editor’s note:This is the fourth article in a 10-part series, a collaborative effort of the newspapers of Rust Publishing NWIA, examining the issues surrounding the mental health care crisis in Iowa. Reporters and editors from the Spencer Daily Reporter, Storm Lake Pilot-Tribune and Dickinson County News have contributed to the report.)”...

On Monday, July 1st Holstein City Council held the regular meeting. During the course of the meet Aquatic Board Chairman Thad Cosgrove appeared before the council to discuss the proposed site of the aquatic center and designs for it. Cosgrove’s presentation was given with confidence he could convince the council to approve the recommendations of the board...

A couple took time for a romantic interlude during the fireworks display on the 4th of July,

A vacant Kmart Store in Cherokee was not vacant for long as Cherokee Bomgaars Store last week completed the move across the street into the Kmart Store. Aware for months of Sears/Kmart retail woes, a real estate firm representing Bomgaars purchased the Cherokee Kmart building in January 2018 with such future occupancy in mind...

Cherokee Police and area law enforcement agencies are aware of many telephone scams preying on residents throughout the Cherokee area. Among those scams is one seeking your Social Security information while claiming your SS number has been “compromised” and they want to fix it. Fake fundraiser scams are also popular with the callers falsely identfying themselves as with a law emforcement, agency or local business or organization. Do not fall for these scams and hang up!...

The natural world is filled with color, shape, and design.  In 2019, the O’Brien County Conservation Board will be hosting a monthly Nature’s Art series to engage people of all ages in looking at nature through an artistic lens.   The O’Brien County Conservation Board is offering a number of opportunities this summer to for youth to get outdoors and explore!  Join the Naturalist for the next youth program.  “What’s in the Woods” will be held on Tuesday, July 9 from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m.  Children ages 5 through 12 can meet at the Lodge at Mill Creek Park.  We will spend morning exploring the woodland habitat with activities and games.. ...

A police alert issued late afternoon Monday regarding a walk-away juvenile from the Cherokee Mental Health Institute was canceled two hours later after the subject was apprehended by City Police and MHI personnel on the Cherokee Golf Course just a few blocks from the MHI campus...

If you can't make it to the State Historical Museum of Iowa in Des Moines, why not let it come to Cherokee That's the idea behind the State Historical Society of Iowa's "Iowa History 101" mobile museum, a bright blue, custom-built Winnebago that travels the state's highways and back roads to share stories from the past. The museum on wheels currently houses a 300-square-foot exhibition called "Iowa History 101" and is filled with artifacts from the State Historical Society's collection...

USDA Conservation Program has funding available A group of Iowa conservation partners is encouraging farmers to utilize a special funding opportunity for implementing monarch butterfly and other pollinator-supporting practices on their farms. Through a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project called Improving Working Lands for Monarch Butterflies, Pheasants Forever, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation are collaborating to provide incentive payments to Iowa landowners for planting diverse stands of native grasses and wildflowers that benefit pollinators and other wildlife.. ...

This year’s “Ladies Day Program “ is not just for the ladies, gentlemen and children are also welcome to participate in this event. Darcy Maulsby will be presenting “Afternoon Tea on the Titanic” at the Cherokee County Fair on Saturday July 20th starting at 1 PM. ...

Joanne and H Schar, Spencer, are July’s Artist of the Month for the Sanford Museum in Cherokee. The couple began collecting artifacts from Africa for the thirty years they spent in Africa while they served in the Peace Corp. They worked in many countries. Just to name a few are Zaire (the Congo), Madagascar, Kenya, and Burkinafso...

Cherokee Police and area law enforcement agencies are aware of many telephone scams preying on residents throughout the Cherokee area. Among those scams is one seeking your Social Security information while claiming your SS number has been “compromised” and they want to fix it. Fake fundraiser scams are also popular with the callers falsely identfying themselves as with a law emforcement, agency or local business or organization. Do not fall for these scams and hang up!...

Nestled on the edge of the town of Correctionville is a plot of land set aside for veteran memorials. The land is dedicated to the work of the Correctionville American Legion and VFW. There is an Avenue of Flags consisting of 135 American flags, each flag dedicated to a deceased veteran. ...

The throw to Cherokee catcher Nick Clark was late as a Western Christian player slides home safe in prep baseball play last week. Backing up the play for Cherokee is senior Dane Jurgenson. (Photo By Denny Holton)

Chad and Scott Reinert, owners of the Past Time Bar and Richard and Peggy Hinkhouse, owners of the Brightside Lounge hosted a dance “Party in the Parking Lot” on June 1st to raise funds for a worthy cause, which happened to be the Mentoring Program at CMS. From left to right are Richard Hinkhouse, CMS Principal Scot Aden and Chad Reinert. A check for $500 from each establishment was donated to the mentoring program...

The issues presented by mental health concerns in area schools can be as different as each individual student and as diverse as each community represented by its students. With these diverse needs, challenges unique to each building arise within school districts such as Storm Lake, Okoboji, Spencer and Spirit Lake. There is, however, a common goal of assisting children navigate the emotional turmoil of youth and develop healthy coping strategies spanning into adulthood...

The USAF Band of Mid-America’s Liberty Winds will present a concert at the Cherokee Community Center, 530 W. Bluff St, Cherokee, IA on Thursday, July 4 at 4:00 pm. Admission to the concert is free and tickets are not required. Presented in partnership with the City of Cherokee, this is a family-friendly, all-ages event. ...

HOLSTEIN - Two Holstein brothers, Robert and Richard Hintz, passed away in the last few years. They had no children and no extended family so they left all their property to Holstein charities. They owned a farm of 220 acres they sold at auction for $2.2 million, which was designated for a new pool for the city of Holstein...

At Tuesday’s brief Cherokee City Council meeting, City Administrator Eric List discussed two quotes received for applying an overlay to the floor on the lower level of the Community Center. The original tile has been removed, the concrete floor patched, and a sealant applied. However, imperfections in the concrete are visible. Quotes for applying an additional product overlay range from $28,500 to $31,482...

Cherokee will be hosting one of four forums being held in Iowa to discuss issues specific to downtowns. The Iowa Economic Development Authority’s (IEDA) Downtown Resource Center will offer the downtown forums in July focusing on the characteristics of a successful downtown...

The Land Dedication ceremony last week for the Cherokee Trails Expansion project was well attended as representatives of participating organizations were present, along with local Trails Committee members and enthusiasts. See additional photos on Page 12 in today’s CT...

The Girl Scout Troop 127 is selling artwork every Thursday at the Cherokee farmer’s market to support their next big project as well as earn their silver award. Girl Scout Troop 127 consists of five 8th grade girls, or cadets, with a passion not only for helping the community, but for art. Thus when it came time to decide on the project they would be taking part in, they choose to create an art trading card station, and to sell their own artwork as a fundraiser...

Today marks the official day back to work full time although I did work a couple of days last week. I must say it feels good to be back. For those of you that haven’t noticed I have been out of the office for six weeks due to shoulder surgery. I would have loved to have been off to do all those things that I have wanted to do. ...

Each year district and Iowa FFA officers plan and facilitate Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) Conferences for FFA members in the Northwest district. Dordt University welcomed FFA chapters from all over the Northwest district, including Cherokee FFA’s officer team, on June 4. The 2019-2020 Cherokee FFA Officer team includes: President Dustin Kohn, Vice-President Becca Cowan, Secretary Kendra Husman, Treasurer Madison Stief, Reporter Jessica Tuttle, and Sentinel Sara Williams...

The Cherokee FFA Chapter was named the Champion Team in the annual Iowa FFA Veterinary Science Career Development Event held at Iowa State University in Ames on June 20. Members of the first place team included: Maggie VandeLune, Malorie VandeLune, Avrey Knipper, and Noah Bouchard. Their agriculture education instructor and FFA advisor is Hannah Barnes. They will represent Iowa at the National Veterinary Science Career Development Event at Indianapolis, Indiana, in October...

On June 21 at 2:39 p.m. a 2011 Lincoln Town Car driven by Lorene Madge Mugge, 85, of Cleghorn crashed through the front of Carey’s Furniture Store on Cherokee’s East Main Street. Police said Mugge meant to step on the brake but stepped on the accelerator instead, lurching the car forward across the sidewalk into the store. There was moderate damage to the building and vehicle. Local law emforcement and Cherokee Fire & Rescue answered the call...