Stories from Monday, February 4, 2013

Juan Pelico and Migdalia Gomez of Cherokee are happy to announce the birth of their baby boy, Samuel Gregorio Pelico Gomez. He was born at 11:43 a.m. on January 29, 2013, weighed 7 lb. 11 oz., and measured 21 inches long.

Rachel Marion Tonsager and Brian Paul Tuttle of Marcus happily announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Rachael, the daughter of Paul and Virginia Tonsager of Ellsworth, Wisconsin, earned a degree in elementary education from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn., in 2011, and is currently employed substitute teaching in area school districts, as well as at the Pizza Ranch in Marcus...

Just in time for Valentine's Day, the "We Love Animals" program gets families excited about some of the animals in our backyards. Head out to the Prairie Heritage Center for a fun-filled evening of investigating animals in our forests, prairies and wetlands. Join the O'Brien County Naturalist for stories, crafts and activities. This evening program targets families with elementary aged and younger children...

With winter bearing down on us and furnaces often kicking in, smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside all sleeping areas, and on every level of the home, including the basement are a life-saving necessity. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths per year result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms at all or no working smoke alarms...

On Wednesday January 30, 2013, the red ribbon was cut at the Mercantile Market in Correctionville, marking the opening of the culmination of a community volunteer effort to replace the town's former grocery store, which was destroyed by a fire. Since that event, Correctionville residents have had to travel 20-30 miles to buy their groceries...

Cherokee Community Theater kicks off a new series of bonus plays in adjunct to the regular season on Friday, February 8th. The Pulitzer Prize for Drama recipient for 2005, "Doubt, A Parable" by John Patrick Shanley is the first of five Pulitzer Prize winners which Director and CCT Board Vice President, Andrew Linn, will bring to the Cherokee stage as an addition to the regular three-show season. ...

From time to time, when the Little Sioux River is down, something from the past that was long forgotten emerges. In recent years, for example, bison bones found along the shores of the river. But how about a pedal car or, in this case, a pedal airplane?...

Army Staff Sgt. Kyle D. Skaggs has returned to the U.S. after being deployed overseas at a forward operating base to serve in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Operation Enduring Freedom is the official name given to anti-terrorism military operations involving U.S. ...

Brian Otto and Brittany Baker of Holstein are the proud parents of a baby boy, born on January 29, 2013. Boe Carl Otto was born at 1:47 p.m., and he weighed 7 lb. 8 oz. and measured 20 1/2 inches long. He was welcomed home by his big sister, Bree Otto. Grandparents are Rick and Amanda Otto of Galva and Dave and Karen Maudlin of Redding...

Garland Hohbach of Marcus, 82, passed away suddenly on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Marcus. Rev. Don Meyer officiated. ...

Howard D. "Tiny" Witcombe, 78, of Aurelia, passed away Wednesday evening, January 30, 2013 in the St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Sioux City. Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 4th, at 10:30 a.m. from the First United Methodist Church in Aurelia, Iowa. ...

BOONE - The pairings for the upcoming Iowa Boys High School District Basketball Tournament have been announced. Here are the scheduled games for the teams in the Chronicle Times coverage area: Marcus-Meriden-Cleghhorn will play Kingsley-Pierson at Marcus on Thursday Feb. 14, and the winner of that game will play either Gehlen Catholic or the winner of the Remsen St. Mary's - Spalding first round game on Tuesday, February 19...

MARCUS - Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn hosted Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn in War Eagle Conference basketball action on Thursday, and the Hawks triunphed over the Lady Eagles by a score of 56-40. Sarah Dreckman scored 11 points and hauled in eight rebounds for MMC, while Alisa McDermott scored 10 points, and Sarah Bird grabbed seven boards for Coach Tim Dreckman's squad...

MARCUS - The Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn boys hosted Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn here Thursday night, and the Hawks took advantage of a poor shooting night by the Eagles to pull out a 57-46 War Eagle Conference victory. Dylan Spieler scored 15 points to lead Eagle scoring and Jared Gross chipped in with a dozen points. Andrew Hoefling cleared the boards for 12 rebounds to lead MMC in that department...