Opinion

As many of you are aware, our City Administrator Sam Kooiker resigned and is heading back to his old stomping grounds in Sheldon. The purpose of this letter is to keep the citizens of Cherokee informed as to what your Mayor and Council are doing to make sure the City stays on an even keel while we await the new Administrator...

At a recent City Council meeting, Council member Will Miller made a motion to amend the minutes of the October 23, 2018, Council meeting with an insertion of comments made by citizen Rich Cook favorable to outgoing City Administrator Sam Kooiker. Uh, OK...

The United States military recruits and dispatches our young men and women to boot camp where many are trained to defend themselves, their comrades, their country, and we the people - at all costs. They become trained killers mentally and physically steeled through patriotism, repetitive activities and verbiage, all designed to produce an efficient killing machine craving a superior’s commands and assignments to ply their expert, lethal craft...

It was telling in many ways during last week’s election when a shaken 4th District Congressman Steve King, then trailing Democrat challenger JD Scholten by 2 percentage points and thousands of votes, was interviewed on Sioux City TV ranting about out-of-state monies from wealthy left wing fat cats spreading lies and criticism of him...

It was tight, but the two biggest Iowa races between incumbent Republicans Kim Reynolds (Governor) and Steve King (4th District Representative) turned out joyous for the GOP, with Reynolds nipping Democrat Fred Hubbel, and King nicking Democrat JD Scholten...

Few Americans serve or have served in the nation’s armed forces or have family members in the military service. So, special commemorations, such as Veterans Day, become all the more important for citizens to take the time and reflect and renew the promise to those who served and are still serving the cause of peace, justice and liberty in many volatile hot spots around the world...

While everyone continues to celebrate, drive and appreciate the completion of U.S. Highway 20 as an east-west 4-lane through Iowa, there is a troubling side to all the glee - the dandy new road can and is negatively impacting some “mom and pop” businesses along the route...

MidAmerican Energy has proposed an additional investment of $922 million for its Wind XII project expected to be completed in late 2020 “somewhere in Iowa.” Over the past three years, MidAmerican Energy has moved forward with its Wind XI project, that when combined with Wind XII, will provide customers with 100 percent renewable energy on an annual basis. And, like MidAmerican’s previous wind projects, Wind XII will be accomplished without the need to ask for an increase in customers’ rates...

It’s October! TIME FOR SPOOKIN! I love Halloween so much. It’s my favorite holiday. So, of course, we have some great Halloween flavored activities for you all to enjoy this month. Coming up next week, we have our first of two Zombie Head painting workshops at the Sanford Museum. ...

Words previously spoken about altering IPERS by former Iowa Republican Governor Terry Branstad and echoed by his Lt. Governor and now Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, are causing a wildfire among IPERS members that has Republicans scrambling to stomp out...

We’re reminded of the old joke about an elderly man in the hospital when the doctor entered with a serious look on his face and said, “I have some good news and some bad news.” “Give me the bad news first,” said the man. “You’re malnourished and have a debilitating wasting illness,” said the doctor. “You have just a few months left.”...

Hello again readers! I figured today I would talk about some of the Halloween events we have going on at the library since we’re so close to the spooky day! Halloween has always been my favorite holiday of the year. I grew up loving mystery and horror literature, and Halloween embodies all of the eerie mystique I craved from authors like R.L. Stine, Lemony Snicket, and eventually Stephen King, Lovecraft, and Poe. The library has a lot to offer to youth who would like a good scare for literature...

We join the many who have come to know Cherokee City Administrator Sam Kooiker and are saddened by the news last week that he will be leaving Cherokee to next serve as City Manager at Sheldon. Kooiker, wife, Jennifer, and their three daughters will be moving to Sheldon...

Effective October 30, the Cherokee Lions Club will discontinue their paper drive boxes that are located around the City and have been faithfully serviced by dedicated Lions Club members for many years. After Oct. 30, 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...

It’s in the news non-stop, especially with this Kavanaugh ordeal. Once again it brings sexual abuse allegation to the forefront. Here I am going to play devil’s advocate. When it comes to the Kavanaugh, if what he is accused of doing actually did happen, why did his accuser wait so long to come forward? Is it because he was up for a high-ranking position in the US Government? What made her decide to do it now and not 20 or 30 years ago when the pain and horror of her situation was still fresh in her mind? She could have come forward and probably did more damage when he was in law school or go before the law review. ...

Last night as I sat out in my car waiting for Rufus to do his business, my cat, Eddie, jumped on my lap wanted attention. As I gave him a good rub down I studied him. Eddie is almost 16 years old. He was no longer the strapping muscular cat and one badass hunter. ...

“A little ditty 'bout Jack & Diane Two American kids growing up in the heart land Jacky’s gonna be a football star Diane debutante in the back seat of Jacky's car Saying oh yeah, Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone…” Fifty years later, Jack’s football career didn’t pan out and he’s a wealthy cancer research scientist and oncology pediatrician with a wonderful, loving wife and family. ...

The phone kept ringing Wednesday morning with callers excited and many seeking information about the fantastic news available only in the Chronicle Times that the former Cherokee Tyson Foods Plant was sold and new owners will operate a meat processing facility there beginning in January...