Stories from Wednesday, July 1, 2009

While driving around downtown Cherokee you may have noticed the decorative landscaped areas at the corners of downtown Main Street intersections (called nodes). Some dedicated citizens and organizations have stepped forward to replant and maintain the nodes, an alternative to an easy-way-out suggestion of paving over the nodes...

With current projected climate changes and possible pandemic activities, the need for local sheltering is anticipated to increase in the future. Thanks to a grant from the Cherokee County Legacy Foundation, the county is now better prepared to handle that need...

A Concert of Hymns will be performed by vocalist Steven Rupp at the Cherokee Community Center at 4 p.m. Sunday with no charge to attend. The songs will be traditional hymns, with selections including, "How Great Thou Art," "As the Deer," "I'll Fly Away," and others. Cookies and refreshments will follow afterwards, and free-will donations will be accepted. It is anticipated that the concert will last approximately 45 minutes. Wren Smith of Correctionville will provide piano accompaniment...

The #3 Cherokee Braves won three of four recent games, including ringing up a 2-1 record at last weekend's Carroll Kuemper Invitational, losing 7-1 to second-ranked Class 3A Harlan Sunday night in the Championship game. The Braves rode the pitching of Matt Koch to nick Storm Lake 1-0 in a pitcher's duel in Cherokee Friday night, and beat Le Mars 13-3 in five innings (mercy rule), and Kuemper 9-5 in six innings (time limit) on Saturday to advance to Sunday's title game in Carroll against Harlan...

The busy and youthful Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn softball team continued to show marked improvement this season, defeating a solid Hinton club 7-3 in Hinton Monday night. Last week, the Eagles of veteran coaches Steve Blair and Leo Hupke beat LeMars Gehlen 1-0 in an eight-inning thriller, and then split two games Friday in the Spencer Tournament, beating Estherville-LC 2-0, and falling 4-3 to Spirit Lake...

SPENCER - The young Cherokee softball squad dropped four games against stiff competition at the Spencer Tournament here Friday and Saturday. On Friday, the Washington High girls lost 4-1 to Denison-Schleswig, and 9-0 to undefeated, top-ranked Class 3A Sioux City Heelan. Saturday, Cherokee lost 11-1 to Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn, and 11-1 to George-Little Rock...

The River Valley softball team picked up a couple victories in a series of eight recent games that saw the youthful Wolverines drop six competitive games, while winning two. The RV club beat Galva-Holstein/Schaller-Crestland 4-3 in an exciting contest (see accompanying story), and defeated Remsen-Union 6-5 in the Rockets tourney, while falling 3-2 at Maple Valley/Anthon-Oto, 5-1 to #1 Woodbury Central in Correctionville, 7-1 at Westwood, 4-2 to Battle Creek-Ida Grove in Correctionville, 6-4 to Kingsley-Pierson in Correctionville, and 10-0 to Remsen St. ...

Galva-Holstein/Schaller-Crestland "continues to play solid softball but isn't getting the job done to get victories," said their coach, Scott Phelps, following a 5-1 defeat by Westwood in conference play at Sloan on Friday. Taking the loss on the mound was Dana Hustedt , who gave up seven hits and three earned runs, with four walks and no strikeouts. ...

AURELIA - The young Aurelia Bulldog girls won a close Northwest Conference game against Laurens-Marathon here on Friday by a score of 5-4. Winning pitcher Erin Laursen struck out eight and didn't walk a batter and also helped her cause at the plate. ...

Sarah Ann Schueder and Nicholas Dale Sullivan were united in marriage on April 25, 2009 at 5 p.m. The ceremony took place at The Granary in rural Cherokee, and was officiated by Rev. Ethan Sayler. The bride was given in marriage by her parents, Alan and Cindy Phipps of Cherokee...

The Fareway parking lot in Cherokee was permeated with the mouth-watering aroma of some great grilling last Friday as the Cherokee County Pork Producers cranked up their cookers on behalf of the Drug Endangered Children Organization. Pork burgers, hot dogs, chips and soft drinks proved to be an enticement for those wanting to enjoy a good meal for a great cause. ...

Lori Lynn (Duysen) Gunn died Saturday, June 13, 2009, in San Diego, Calif. at the age of 37 years, nine months, and 28 days. Memorial services were held at 7 p.m. on June 22 at Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine, Iowa. Rev. Shurmaine McAlpine officated. Burial was held in Woodbine Cemetery. Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine was in charge of the arrangements...

Kristine Marie Nielsen Fries, 100, of Anita, Iowa passed away June 29, 2009 at Colonial Manor in Anita. Visitation will be held today from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. with family present to greet friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Hockenberry Family Care in Anita. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Thursday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic, with burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Anita, at 2 p.m...

The Rev. Joseph J. Dunne, 83, of Marcus, passed away on Sunday, June 28, 2009 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. A Memorial Service will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2009 at St. George's Episcopal Church in Le Mars. Rev. Karen Wacome will officiate. ...

Mildred M. Booth, 94, of Marcus, passed away on Friday, June 26, 2009 at the Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday June 30, 2009, at Grace United Methodist Church in Marcus. Rev. Gary McDonough officiated...

In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States.. ...

A benefit auction will be held for Daniel "Bud" Mattson at the West Links Golf Course in Alta on Friday July 3, from 6 p.m. to midnight. Mattson is 29 years old, and is currently undergoing chemotherapy for lung cancer. The auction starts at 8:30 p.m. There will also be supper and music and a free will donation is asked...

The Cherokee City Hall will be closed on Friday , July 3, in observance of Independence Day.

General Rules: 1. Entry Day- Tuesday July, 7 before the fair from 6 -- 8 pm, Wednesday, July 8 from 9am to noon. 2. Building will be closed to public during judging at noon on Wednesday. 3. All entries must be work of exhibitor. 4. Entries will be released at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, the last day of the fair...

My recent story concerning the management changes at Sand Seed Service evoked some memories which I would like to tell you about. The Sand and Dorr names share several connections. John Sand opened his small seed store on Main Street in 1934, just a year before my late husband, Melvin Dorr, started the Dorr Hatchery a few doors away in 1935. ...