Stories from Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Fair Queen candidates (07/01/08)
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...

Times Gone By (07/01/08)
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...

Beautifying downtown (07/01/08)
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...

Clark honored (07/01/08)
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...

Drawn to the fair (07/01/08)
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...

Tom Wurth returns as Fair Headliner (07/01/08)
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. ...

History of the Cherokee County Fair (07/01/08)
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...

'08 Fair blends new and old (07/01/08)
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...

As in 'Team' (07/01/08)
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...

River Valley girls in losing streak (07/01/08)
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...

G-H Lady Pirates suffer 13-1 loss (07/01/08)
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...

Indians down Cherokee girls, 10-6 (07/01/08)
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...

#1 Cherokee Braves belt Spirit Lake, 16-1 (07/01/08)
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. ...

Struck Strikes Out : A corrective voice from the past (07/01/08)
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...

Gregg Elwyn Crouch (07/01/08)
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....

Ross Rambles: Energy policy schizophrenia (07/01/08)
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?...

From the Midway:Death of our clown (07/01/08)
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...