Stories from Thursday, August 27, 2009

The Cherokee Drug Endangered Children (DEC) team is happy to announce that it has been awarded a grant from the Cherokee County Legacy Foundation. This grant allows the local DEC team to expand its efforts beyond helping substance abuse families only. DEC is now offering its services to low-income and at-risk families as well...

The magistrate nominating commissions for Cherokee, Clay, and Buena Vista counties recently met together to nominate three area attorneys to be considered for the District Associate Judge position that will be available Oct. 1, 2009, upon District Associate Judge Donavon Schaefer's retirement. Schaefer lives in Aurelia...

The State Library of Iowa has announced that the Cherokee Public Library has met the conditions for state accreditation as outlined in "In Service to Iowa: Public Library Measures of Quality, 4th ed." Achieving accreditation requires a significant, ongoing local commitment to high quality library services. Of Iowa's 543 public libraries, 338 -- including the Cherokee Public Library - are accredited...

SPENCER - The Cherokee cross country squads opened the 2009 season at the Spencer Invitational here Tuesday night, with five girls and three boys running in their respective divisions. Katy Hart led the Washington High girls, placing 49th in a time of 20.16, followed by Chyenne Mortenson 55th in 21.42, Stephanie Aguillar 62nd in 25.02, Abby Hayes 64th in 27.02, and Claudia Campuzano 65th in 27.04...

Tim Bierman, a farmer from Larrabee, Iowa, has been elected by his fellow board members as president of the National Pork Board. Dr. Gene Nemechek, a veterinarian with Tyson Foods in Springdale, Ark., has been elected vice president. Both begin immediately to serve one-year terms...

Adam and Jacey Benson of Cherokee are pleased to announce the birth of their son. Linkin Adam Benson was born on Aug. 21, 2009 at 2:17 a.m. Linkin weighted 7 lbs. and 5 oz. and measured 20 inches long. Grandparents are Dale and Mary Benson of Cherokee and Todd Johnson of Buffalo Center and Joleen Pond of Marcus...

James Michael (Mike) Powell, of Sutherland, died on Aug. 22, 2009. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Father Tim Hogan will officiate. Military Services will be provided by the Sutherland American Legion Post #152. The family would like to invite everyone in attendance at the service to join them for a time of lunch and fellowship at the Legion Hall in Sutherland following the graveside services...

It's hard to believe that summer is over and it's time to hit the books again. The Cherokee Public Library will be starting our youth programs beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8. On Sept. 8 the Preschool Story Time will be back and will run from 10:30 a.m. -- 11 a.m. ...

It was entertaining for us to travel down memory lane last week with the "Buffalo Heads" as they reunited after 27 years to perform Saturday night at the 50th Anniversary of the Bill Riley Talent Show at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. The very first winner of the very first Bill Riley Talent Show at the Cherokee County Fair in 1981, the Buffalo Heads performed at the special Winners Concert at the Iowa State Fair Saturday...