Stories from Friday, April 1, 2005

This will be my last Ross Rambles column. I have taken a position on the editorial board of the National Enquirer magazine. I'll soon depart this great city for a more urban environment. To the businesses and individuals in Cherokee to whom I owe money, rest assured that your checks are in the mail...

By Ken Ross The requirements for a Hazardous Material (Hazmat) endorsement on a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) are getting tougher, according to Larry Clark, county engineer, in comments made to the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday...

The Sanford Museum is paying tribute to the explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in a big way this year. Not only is the spring exhibit in the east gallery this year based on the Lewis and Clark expedition, a series of four programs in April will deal with different aspects of the expedition...

Candidates for 2005 Washington High School Tomahawk Relay Queen and King include (front, left to right) ReNae Patterson, Allie Tisthammer, Katie Ebel and Bethany Leonard; (back, left to right) Bryon Kroger, Kyle Skaggs, Nate Gomez and Korey Stephens. Not pictured are Chris Johnson and Kristina Brown. (Photo by Ken Ross)...

By Sue Morris Special to the Chronicle Times Cherokee County will be in a group of six counties receiving a $175,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Economic Development to assist in economic development marketing efforts. Mike Blouin, IDED director, was in Le Mars Tuesday to make the announcement. The grant to the Northwest Iowa Developers Coalition is the fourth collaborative marketing proposal awarded by IDED...

By Ken Ross The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors approved the first reading of an ordinance that addresses public nuisances, updating a previous ordinance. The ordinance is based on a model that is adopted by counties across the state. John Wibe, assistant county attorney, modified the model ordinance and was present at the Tuesday supervisors meeting to explain changes...

By Paul Struck, Editor OMAHA, Neb. - It's not just anyone at any time who can say they have dined, talked, laughed and reminisced with a United States Supreme Court Justice. However, Cherokee Washington High graduate Abby Struck can say that with pleasure and conviction after she and a chosen few Creighton University School of Law students were recently treated to a formal night out with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas...