Stories from Monday, December 5, 2011

MARCUS - The Ridge View wrestling team started out the season with two hard-fought victories over Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn and Alta-Aurelia here Tuesday night. Ridge View defeated MMC by the score of 43-34 and then defeated Alta-Aurelia by the score of 54-30. MMC beat Alta-Aurelia, 39-33, in the meet's other dual...

Since emerging onto the Midwest music scene in 2003, Damon Dotson's demand and popularity have soared. The popular musician will be making his first appearance at the Cherokee Jazz and Blues Festival on Friday, Jan. 13 at The Other Place from 9 p.m. to midnight...

MARCUS - On Thursday, December 1, the Marcus Police Department arrested 24-year-old Kyle Allen Hodges of Marcus for 3rd Degree Sexual Abuse and 1st Degree Burglary. The arrest is the result of an investigation of a July 31, 2011 incident in which Hodges is alleged to have entered a residence in Marcus and committed a sex act on a female victim...

Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) is pleased to announce their partnership with Taco John's Restaurants in northwest Iowa for an awareness and fundraising campaign that began on November 21. This is the second year for the partnership that benefits Special Olympics Iowa athletes in northwest Iowa...

Cherokee VFW representatives Dutch Robbins, left, and Dick Waterbury (next to Robbins) recently presented letters of appreciation to Tyson Foods representatives Ralph Semerade and Jeff Blum for the $1,000 donation Tyson's made to the "Keeping the Faith Fund" at Cherokee County Work Services...

HOLSTEIN - Grant Stracke, the 10-year-old brother of Galva-Holstein teacher Emily Stracke, had an appendectomy performed over the Labor Day weekend this year and his aorta was severely severed. Grant was taken to Children's Hospital in Omaha where his family was told it was unlikely he would survive and if he did, he would most likely be severely brain damaged...

ALTA - Many may remember the old General Electric College Bowl, in which colleges from across the country competed weekly, answering questions about a variety of subjects from quiz-master Allen Ludden. The idea quickly spread around the country, and soon many local television stations followed suit with versions of their own. ...

It was another successful Christmas Parade in Cherokee on Thursday, despite a freight train that interrupted the parade while it was crossing the tracks. A speeding locomotive interrupting a parade during it's crossing of the tracks is something that is becoming a hazardous habit here in Cherokee. The same thing happened just a couple of months ago during the Cherokee High School Homecoming Parade...

The ranked Manson NW Webster girls outscored Cherokee Washington High 37-25 in the second half to claim an entertaining, fast-moving 69-60 win in Cherokee Thursday night. Cherokee led 35-32 at halftime, but fell behind early in the third quarter when the Cougars ran off 10 unanswered points by breaking the Cherokee full-court press and cashing in lay-ups or short baskets at the other end...

Junior forward Zac Smith scored 22 points and snagged 10 rebounds to register a nifty double-double to lead the Cherokee Braves to a 64-53 non-conference win over Manson NW Webster in Cherokee Thursday night. Smith was feelin' and dealin' throughout the game, despite sitting out most of the second quarter after being whistled for his second foul late in the first period...

By taking extra precautions, abiding by safety rules and practicing energy efficiency, families can save money and help prevent accidents when placing decorative Christmas lighting inside and outside their homes this holiday season. Many holiday mishaps, electrical shocks and dangerous fires can often be prevented by following the dos and don'ts to keep the holidays happy and safe...

Hazel Irene Cleghorn, 95, of Walker, Minn. passed away Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at Golden Living Center in Walker. A Memorial Service to Celebrate Hazel's life was held Saturday, at 11 a.m. at the Walker Community Church with Dan Batson officiating. There will be a gathering for family and friends one hour prior to the service...