Stories from Tuesday, July 1, 2008

SPIRIT LAKE - Cherokee's high-flying Braves kept up their torrid hitting and scoring streak with a 16-1, four-inning demolition of Spirit Lake in Lakes Conference baseball action here on June 23rd. After using up several pitchers playing five games in four days, including three games over the weekend while winning the Kuemper Invitational Tournament in Carroll, Cherokee relied on crafty senior pitcher Mark Johnson to shut down the Indians. ...

MILFORD - The South O'Brien softball team rang up a 2-2 record at last week's Okoboji Tournament, winning the first two games in pool play, before dropping the next two to finish fourth in the tourney. The Wolverines beat MOC-Floyd Valley 7-1 in their opener, and then took out Graettinger-Terrill 4-2, before losing 8-6 to North Sentral Kossuth, and 12-2 to Sheldon in the consolation final...

The South O'Brien softball team lost two tough War Eagle Conference games last week, falling 5-2 at 5th-rated Akron-Westfield, and losing 10-9 slugfest to Hinton in Paullina. Aphton Roberts took the mound loss against A-W, allowing one earned run on four hits and three walks, with five strikeouts. The Wolverines were victimized by three costly errors that led to four unearned runs in the game...

SPIRIT LAKE - Three 3-run innings propelled Spirit Lake to a 10-6 Lakes Conference softball victory over Cherokee Washington High here on June 23. Cherokee tallied two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to make things interesting, but could not overcome the early 7-2 Spirit Lake lead had achieved after four innings...

GALVA - In the words of Galva-Holstein coach Scott Phelps, his softball team "got roughed up a bit" here on June 24th, losing to rated Maple Valley Conference foe Woodbury Central 13-1 in five innings. Michaela Else took the loss on the mound, pitching four innings and giving up nine runs on three hits. Only one of the nine runs was earned. Else walked eight and struck out one. Ashley Buell also pitched an inning, and gave up four runs on three hits while walking two...

The Galva-Holstein softball team lost a close one to Odebolt-Arthur in the 7th place game of the Maple Valley Conference Tournament on June 23rd. O-A scored two runs in the 6th and another two runs in the 7th inning to pull out the 5-4 win. Michaela Else took the loss on the mound for the Lady Pirates, but pitched a good game. Else gave up five runs, all of them unearned, on four hits, while walking eight and striking out two...

The Cherokee County Fair this year will feature a combination of new and traditional activities this year. New attractions will include a mud volleyball tournament, a new provider for the petting zoo (A Zoo to You, Inc. of Merango, Ill.), a caricature artist, the Ashley Rassel Memorial Open Beef Show (open to exhibitors from any county) and a free gate on Sunday...

The first Cherokee County Fair, a three day event with a fine arts hall and livestock and implement exhibits, was held in 1872, a year before the city of Cherokee was incorporated. There does not seem to be an event of that type in the county again until September 17, 1908, when the predecessor of the now Cherokee County Fair, then known as the Pilot-Rock Plowing Match took place...

Marcus native Tom Wurth's, now a Nashville recording artist, came back to Cherokee to perform at last year's Cherokee County Fair, and wil be returning again this year for an encore. Wurth's first CD on Big 7/Lofton Creek Records, the self-titled "Tom Wurth," has yielded two hit singles, "Bread On the Table" and "Good Ground," both of which reflect his "country boy" upbringing in rural Iowa. ...

One of the new features at the Cherokee County Fair this year will be caricature artist Kira Layli Scott or as she calls it Kiracatures. Scott will be bringing a fun and wholesome family activity to the fair. Scott is a talented artist and she just graduated from at Iowa State University with a degree in Studio Arts. She has worked for the Virtual Reality Applications Center at the Iowa State campus...

The Cherokee County 4-H is currently gearing up for the 2008 Cherokee County Fair. Along with many traditional events that the 4-H program offers, this year there are a few new events. A new clothing category called "$15 Challenge" is an event that encourages the 4-H'ers to purchase clothing items for $15. ...

Gregg Elwyn Crouch, 83 of Ankeny, and formerly of Washta, passed away Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at the Mercy Hospice in Johnston. Funeral services were held on June 28th at the Washta United Methodist Church, with Pastor Richard Laymanl officiating. Burial was in the Sunset View Cemetery at Washta. Military rites were performed at the cemetery. An additional Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, July 1 at 2 p.m. at Ankeny First United Methodist Church, 206 SW Walnut St., Ankeny, IA....

Gerald D. "Jerry" Dilocker 77, Lincoln, passed away June 24 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Lincoln, Neb. Memorial services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee, on Tuesday, July 8 at 10:30 a.m. with lunch following at the church. "Jerry" Dilocker was born June 28, 1930 at Linn Grove, Iowa, the son of Charles I. ...

Larry Clark (right) who served as Cherokee County Engineer from Jan. 1, 1995 until June 30, 2008, was recently presented a plaque honoring his service by Jeff Simonsen (left), chairman of the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors. The presentation took place during a reception in Clark's honor on June 24 Simonsen noted that Clark presided over $25 million in county projects during his 13 ½ years. Photo by Ken Ross...

One of my favorite performers died recently. Comedian George Carlin left this earth at the age of 71 due to heart failure. I became a fan of his at a young age when one night he was on TV and my mother made me turn the channel because she thought he was just too disgusting...

The American public reacts with a schizophrenic combination of denial and acceptance toward the linked issues of global warming and energy development. An attitude of denial toward global warming is understandable. Who wants to accept a warning of apocalyptic climate change, a climate change that cannot be avoided or reversed?...

With all the education about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases, it is disturbing that the Iowa Department of Public Health is reporting that Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) have reached an all time high in the state. The age range most affected is age 15 through 24, with many of those in the latter part of this range being well-educated professionals...

The Cherokee City Council has approved a bare bones list of street repairs for the upcoming fiscal year. The lack of funds for more extensive street work has some council members questioning the diversion of funds from street work to such goals as paying down bond debt...

The City of Cherokee, along with Schoon Construction, dug up some of the flower beds that are located on the West end of Main St. on June 25. The City of Cherokee will be replanting the flowerbeds with low maintenance plants and foliage with the help of John Beier of Rhoadside Blooming House. Pictured above are Dave Kirchner (operating the Bobcat) and Brett Roof on the left. Photo by Mike Leckband...

In the United States, Independence Day (commonly known as the Fourth of July) is a federal holiday, commemorating the adoption of the United States Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...

100 years ago For several years the Sunday school picnics of the various schools has been looked on by the older members of the school as nothing less than a sacrifice for the children and was generally conceded to be classed as a "decided bore." But this year a scheme was hit upon which worked to perfection, that of a union picnic and field meet, and it certainly was a success...

FONDA - Aurelia coach Bob Mikos said his Bulldogs "got off to a great start defensively in the first inning" against Newell-Fonda in June 25th Northwest Conference baseball action here. Unfortunately, said Mikos, the Bulldogs had some costly errors in the second inning, allowing the Mustangs to score six runs...

Narrow, late-inning losses have victimized the River Valley softball team of late, with the hard-luck Wolverines dropping five recent games. River Valley lost 4-2 at Westwood, with pitcher Jody Peterson getting the loss, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks, with two strikeouts. Trisha Todd and Alissa Slota had doubles to lead the Wolverines, while Shelby Chester, Jess Fundermann, and Amber Bauer each stroked a hit...

Although just nine can play at any one time, Iowa's #1 Class 2A Cherokee Braves baseball team is bolstered by many talented underclassmen waiting for their shot at the varsity level. The solid blend of skilled veterans and promising newcomers, along with exceptional coaching, has kept the Braves at or near the top of the 2A heap season after season. Here, some Braves relax in the dugout between innings of a recent game. Photo by Paul Struck...

I received a call from an irate Chronicle Times reader in Boise, Idaho the other day, taking me to task for screwing up some history of Cherokee's annual Sioux Valley Amateur Match-Play Golf Tournament, Iowa's oldest match-play tournament. As it turned out, he wasn't actually irate, but this fine gentleman, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, merely wanted me to set the record straight about Cherokee natives winning the coveted Sioux Valley Am...

Cherokee failed to score after mounting threats in the first and sixth innings, on the way to a 9-0 defeat at the hands of Hull Western Christian in Lakes Conference softball action here on June 24. The Washington High girls threatened to score in the first inning after Kelsey Essick singled, moved to second on a fielder's choice, and advanced to third on a single by Lynn Carlson. Carlson then stole second, but the two runners were stranded on a ground-out to end the inning...

There will be eight lovely Cherokee County young ladies vying for the title of 2008 Cherokee County Fair Queen at this year's fair. Following are brief biographies and photos of the contestants...