Stories from Friday, November 11, 2011

Halloween, one of the busiest and spendiest holidays on the calendar, is just past. In the past few weeks, much of the public's attention has been focused on local municipal elections and the ramifications of who's now in and out on our city councils...

Challenger Chad Brown and incumbents Wayne Pingel and James Peck were declared the winners for the three open seats on the Cherokee City Council at Tuesday's City Elections in Cherokee County. Brown decisively defeated challengers Michael Morrow and Barry Lewis for the At-Large seat vacated by Linda Burkhart, who did not seek re-election...

Kara Franken, left, and Jadyn Mohr participated in the State Dance Solo Competition that was held in Pella recently. Kara is a Senior at Ridge View High School in Holstein, and she received a I rating, while Jadyn, a Sophomore at Ridge View High School, received a II rating at Pella. Both of these young ladies are members of the Ridge View Dance Squad. Photo contributed...

Last the Times editor took an auto trip through Sheridan and Liberty townships and found most of the farmers busy in their corn fields picking the golden ears which this year will bring in golden dollars in abundance. There has been a disastrous failure of the corn crop in Argentina, there not being enough raised for even seed for next year. ...

Ben and Jen Puttmann of Urbandale are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Ellie Kay Puttmann, who was born on November 1, 2011. Ellie weighed 7 lbs 10 oz and measured 20 inches long. Her grandparents are Chuck and Jill Baumann of Washta, Sandy Bauman of Charter Oak and Ray Dorale of Ute...

Adam and April Schossow of Meriden are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Asher Marlin John Schossow. Asher was born at 7:11 a.m. on November 3, 2011 and weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. and measured 20 inches long. He was welcomed home by a brother, Alec, and two sisters, Alexis and Aaliyah. Grandparents are John and Kim Seel of Cherokee and Darrell and Becky Wolf of Ida Grove...

Ashley Kraft and Antonio Dominguez of Cherokee are happy to announce the birth of a baby girl, Samantha Marie Dominguez, at 6:48 p.m. on November 3, 2011. Samantha weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz. and measured 21 1/2 inches long. Grandparents are Brian and Diane Kraft of Cherokee and Ron and Janet Solomon of Westfield...

Opal L. Waldron of Alta,age 88, passed away at her home on Wednesday evening, Nov. 9, 2011. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 10:30 a.m. at Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Pastor Kevin Lewis will officiate. Burial will be in St. ...

Lorraine C. Herrmann of Cherokee, age 90,passed away Monday, November 7, 2011, at the Cherokee Villa Nursing Home in Cherokee. Private family services will take place at a later date. The Greenwood Funeral Home in Cherokee is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent at www.greenwoodfuneral.com...

On Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Sanford Museum a program called "Bats" will be presented. Ginger Walker, Director of the Cherokee County Conservation Board, will present the program. Bats, often the subjects of myths and fears, are remarkably common, convincingly beneficial, and outstandingly unique! In Cherokee County alone there are at least seven kinds of bats that can be found, in trees, in barns and perhaps in your house...

On consistent 3-2 votes, the Cherokee City Council Tuesday night approved a series of resolutions moving forward the proposal to issue General Obligation Notes not to exceed $250,000 for the purchase of the Olhausen Mobile Home Park, relocation of its tenants, and clean-up and development of the property for future commercial/light industrial development...

The City of Cherokee will host a reception on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 17, at City Hall from 3:30 to 5 p.m. to recognize five Cherokee City employees who have each provided 35 years of service to the citizens of Cherokee. According to City Administrator Don Eikmeier, "1976 was a landmark hiring year for the City of Cherokee." Jim Agnitsch, Steve Casey, Steve Essick , Mark Napier, and Deb Taylor all began their employment with the City in 1976...

Dec. 4th and 5th auditions for 'Alice in Wonderland Jr.' The Cherokee Community Theatre will be holding auditions for CCT's Young People's Theatre production of Disney's "Alice in Wonderland, Jr." on Sunday, December 4 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Monday, December 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Auditions will take place at the Cherokee Community Center at 530 W. Bluff Street...

On Wednesday, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on the site of the new Cherokee Railroad spur project, behind the former Jesse's Fine Meats Building on the southern edge of Cherokee, near U.S. Highway 59. Pictured, left to right, Shawn Stricklett, representative of Quad County Corn Processors; Iowa Senator Bill Anderson, Jim Mohn and Les Todd of the Cherokee Industrial Corporation; Jacob Bossman, Regional Director for U.S. ...

Dr. Kayla Ludvigson of Ludvigson Chiropractic recently made a donation to the Stray Animal Fund at Valley Veterinary Center in Cherokee. Each quarter, Ludvigson donates her new patient fees to a worthy cause in the area. Donations to the Stray Animal Fund are used to provide vaccinations, emergency surgeries, pest control, spaying and neutering of animals that are abandoned and brought to the Center by area law enforcement or residents...

The Aurelia Kiwanis Club will be sponsoring a Youth Wrestling Tournament at the Alta-Aurelia Middle School in Aurelia on Friday, December 9th, beginning at 5 p.m. Go to www.aurelia.k12.ia.us to access a registration form.

Four Cherokee Braves have earned 2011 District 2 All-District Football First Team honors, and eight Braves have earned District All-Academic Awards. Named to First Team Offense for Cherokee are senior receiver Adam Pitts, senior quarterback Nate Seliger, and junior utility player Marc Husman. Senior inebacker Rick Weaver was named First Team defense...