Stories from Monday, February 1, 2010

The formidable Cherokee Braves, keying off a stifling full-court press with sleight of hand artist Cody Ege at the point, erupted for a resounding 83-54 Lakes Conference boys basketball victory over a quality Spirit Lake team here Friday night. The Braves exploded to a 22-14 lead in the first quarter on a series of full-court pressure turnovers, let the talented Indians back into it thanks to several poorly contested inside shots, and then blew it open with eight consecutive points in the closing 30 seconds of the first half to abscond with a 46-30 halftime lead.. ...

The rated Spirit Lake girls bolted to a 14-2 lead in the first quarter and ballooned that to 36-13 at halftime on the way to a convincing 70-32 Lakes Conference win over youthful Cherokee here Friday night. The combination of the Indians offensive attack and Cherokee miscues led to the lopsided win, with two Spirit Lake players leading the scoring with 14 points apiece - Mary Brown and Kieja Veldman...

Has this ever happened to you? You finish filling your cart with the week's groceries, head to the checkout lane and place your items on the conveyor belt. The cashier announces the total and you hand over a nice stack of coupons. Then, the cashier pauses. You hear the...

The "Third Friday Live Music at The Gathering Place" series will feature the duo Shady Ladys on Friday, Feb. 19. Shady Ladys are from the Iowa Lakes area, and consist of Becky Thoreson on vocals, accordian and flute, and Tammy Hamlin on vocals and guitar...

Sue Bakker (center) talks with MHI employees Judy Smith (left) and Jennifer Boger (right) at a coffee in Sue's honor at the MHI on Thursday. Sue, the Director of Social Work at MHI, retired Friday, ending a 36-year career at MHI. Next stop for Sue and her husband Mick will be a trip to the beaches of Belize. Photo by Dan Whitney...

The many community-minded ladies who donned colorful dresses, aprons, and scarves to participate in Cherokee's first annual Great Pancake Day Race last February are encouraged to participate again this Shrove Tuesday on Feb. 16 for the second annual Great Pancake Day Race. For questions, or more information, call St. Paul's at 225-3955, or e-mail church@cherokeespumc.org. The official Pancake Day website is www.pancakerace.com. Photo by Paul Struck...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Chuck Grassley has announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded competitive grants totaling $1,544,834 to Iowa Fire Departments through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants' Operations and Safety and Vehicle Acquisition Programs. ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. ñ Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) recently announced that a total of $6,651,830 will be coming to Iowa for projects to bring broadband internet access to businesses and residents in rural communities. The grants and loans are being provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and were funded in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.Harkin worked to secure these funds through his role as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, which wrote the Recovery Act...

HOLSTEIN - The Aurelia/Galva-Holstein/Schaller-Crestland wrestlers went 2-1 in Western Valley Conference wrestling action here on Thursday. AGHSC defeated Westwood and West Harrison and lost to a very good OA-BCIG team. The AGHSC wrestling team improved to 10-14 overall in 5-5 in the Western Valley Conference with the two wins...

In this photo from last year's first annual Great Pancake Day Race in Cherokee , contestants run up the finishing hill on West Main Street to their St. Paul's Methodist Church destination. This year's race will be run again on Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 16, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall...

Florence E. "Flossie" Timmins Florence E. "Flossie" Timmins, 97, of Cherokee, died Friday, Jan. 29, 2010, in Country Side Estates, following a lengthy illness. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. today in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Cherokee. ...

Wow. Just opened the monthly utility bill and was quickly reminded of the need to review some winter energy tips offered by the U.S. Department of Energy. Some things we can do yet for this winter and other suggestions we can address during the coming year...

The overwhelming success of the historic, first-annual "Great Pancake Day Race" in Cherokee last February came as little surprise to us, once we detected the indomitable spirit of fun and camaraderie oozing throughout the community after the event was first announced...

It seems forever since I had a chance to sit down and pound out a Midway column. For the past couple of months things have been busy here at the paper and I've haven't found the time to write one. I must have started about four or five different Midways, but always get interrupted and forced to move on to more pressing matters. By the time I get back to writing them the subject just seems to have run its course. I would have loved to give you my take on the recent late-night wars...

The Computer Genies of NW Iowa will meet on Feb. 6 at 1 p.m. in the Public Library, at 46 1st Street Southwest, Le Mars. They will be meeting will be held 30 minutes earlier then normal. The program will start at 1 p.m. with discussions on the use of Google Maps, County Plat Books and Atlas, and GPS in locating birth, death, burial and census and current resident locations, in genealogical research. The club meeting will start about 3 p.m. Guests are welcome at no charge...