Stories from Monday, April 8, 2013

ESTES PARK, Colo. - It was the summer of 1986, at the age of 14, when Chris Carey got his first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains, and it was then that he decided he would someday live in Estes Park, Colorado, near the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park...

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds made a stop in Cherokee on Wednesday when they were the guest speakers at the Cherokee Rotary Club Luncheon held at Danny's Sports Spot. They spoke about some of their accomplishments since they have taken office such as reduction in state spending, reducing the size of government, education, Ag business, and Iowa's economic growth. Photo by Mike Leckband...

Back by popular demand! The Cherokee Regional Medical Center Auxiliary is pleased to announce its Masquerade $5 Jewelry Sale fundraiser, with the proceeds benefiting the CRMC Auxiliary. Due to the overwhelming success of the event, the CRMC Auxiliary plans to host a spring and fall Masquerade Jewelry Sale each year. ...

On April 13, the Thiel Sanford Museum in Cherokee will present the program "Ice Age Exhibit Opening" with Chris Widga at 7:30 p.m. The Museum received a Legacy Grant and special funding from the Sanford Museum Association to redo the Ice Age exhibit in the lower level of the Sanford Museum. This is a major permanent exhibit change in the lower level of the museum...

Next week, April 14 to April 20, is National Library Week and the Cherokee Public Library will host the Cherokee Chamber Coffee this Friday to commemorate that occasion.During that event, the Library will be focusing on its recent accomplishment of digitizing all of the Cherokee newspapers from the 1870s to the present day...

A long-time desire to operate their own used car business has led Eric and Claudia Comstock of Cherokee to achieve that goal with the recent opening of "Eric's Car Company" at 1225 N. 2nd St. (U.S. Highway 59 North) in Cherokee. Located in the former Casey's General Store building across from the Hy-Vee Grocery Store, the new business began to take shape when the Comstocks purchased the former Casey's building last year after Casey's purchased the Cherokee Kum & Go and relocated to 1200 N. ...

Since last week was a "funnel week" here at the Capitol, most of our time was scheduled around committee meetings. For House members, that meant we were considering Senate bills, deciding whether or not to advance them to the floor for debate. It was an unusually quiet funnel and, judging by the number of committee cancellations, it would appear that most major policy decisions have already been made, and the focus will now be on the state budget. ...

For cities and counties across America, effectively dealing with long-term financial issues is never easy. Difficult decisions have to be made. It is crucial to develop strategies and methods to inform, listen to, and involve a broad base of community members in this process. Such an approach benefits both citizens and elected officials...

Callie Darden of Holstein has received the WITCC TRiO-Student Support Services Achiever of the Month Award for April. This award recognizes WITCC TRiO students for demonstrating qualities of leadership and citizenship while achieving collegiate academic success. ...

The WHS Speech team, directed by James and Jaylene De Vos and Cindy Husman, had a record year for 2012-2013. There were 94 students involved in Large Group Speech, and 26 students were involved in Individual Speech. Of these groups and individuals, there were many successful performances...

Abbi Agnitsch - Riggs of Cherokee is happy to announce the birth of her baby boy, born on March 29, 2013. Jackson Lee was born at 10:29 p.m.,weighed 8 lb. 8 oz., measured 20 1/2 inches long, and he joins a big sister, Krystin, and a big brothe,r Jacob, in the family. Grandparents are John and Patti Riggs and Bernie and Chopper Riggs...